Apolipoprotein-B subclasses as acceptors of cholesteryl esters transferred by CETP

BACKGROUND

Five apolipoprotein (apo)-defined apoB-containing lipoprotein (Lp) subclasses designated LpB, LpB:C, LpB:E, LpB:C:E and LpA-II:B:C:D:E are present in human plasma. This study was to determine whether these subclasses functioned equally as acceptors of cholesteryl esters (CE) transferred from high-density lipoproteins (HDL) by CE transfer protein in healthy subjects with normal and mildly increased plasma triglyceride (TG) levels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After 4 h incubation of plasma from 14 subjects at 37 degrees C, apoB-containing lipoproteins were separated from HDL by heparin-Mn++ precipitation and fractionated by immunochemical methods into these five subclasses. The neutral lipid (NL) composition for each subclass was measured by gas chromatography (GC) and compared between 0 h and 4 h. A subclass was considered to be a CE acceptor if its CE content increased more than 5% at 4 h and a non-acceptor if no change was observed.

RESULTS

Employing the above definition, TG-rich LpB:C and LpB:E + LpB:C:E functioned as CE acceptors and TG-poor LpB and LpA-II:B:C:D:E as non-acceptors. Both LpB:C and LpB:E + LpB:C:E could only actively accept CE as long as they retained their TG-rich character and displayed neutral lipid profiles similar to those of very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) and intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL). When, as a result of lipolysis their TG content dropped below 25%, they ceased to function as CE acceptors. In subjects with elevated plasma TG, LpB:C was the dominant CE acceptor, a condition that may have pro-atherogenic consequences.

CONCLUSIONS

Among the apoB-containing particles, LpB:C and LpB:C:E + LpB:E functioned as CE acceptors while LpB and LpA-II:B:C:D:E did not.

J/psi production in sqrt s_NN=200 GeV Cu+Cu collisions

Yields for J/psi production in Cu+Cu collisions at sqrt s_NN=200 GeV have been measured over the rapidity range |y|<2.2 and compared with results in p+p and Au+Au collisions at the same energy. The Cu+Cu data offer greatly improved precision over existing Au+Au data for J/psi production in collisions with small to intermediate numbers of participants, in the range where the quark-gluon plasma transition threshold is predicted to lie. Cold nuclear matter estimates based on ad hoc fits to d+Au data describe the Cu+Cu data up to N_part approximately 50, corresponding to a Bjorken energy density of at least 1.5 GeV/fm(3).

Particle-species dependent modification of jet-induced correlations in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

Measurements in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV of jet correlations for a trigger hadron at intermediate transverse momentum (p_{T,trig}) with associated mesons or baryons at lower p_{T,assoc} indicate strong modification of the away-side jet. The ratio of jet-associated baryons to mesons increases with centrality and p_{T,assoc}. For the most central collisions, the ratio is similar to that for inclusive measurements. This trend is incompatible with in-vacuum fragmentation but could be due to jetlike contributions from correlated soft partons, which recombine upon hadronization.

Source breakup dynamics in Au + Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV via three-dimensional two-pion source imaging

A three-dimensional correlation function obtained from midrapidity, low p(T), pion pairs in central Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV is studied. The extracted model-independent source function indicates a long range tail in the directions of the pion pair transverse momentum (out) and the beam (long). A proper breakup time tau(0) ~ 9 fm/c and a mean proper emission duration Delta tau ~ 2 fm/c, leading to sizable emission time differences ({|Delta t(LCM)|} approximately 12 fm/c), are required to allow models to be successfully matched to these tails. The model comparisons also suggest an outside-in "burning" of the emission source reminiscent of many hydrodynamical models.

Hepatic gene expression profiling using GeneChips in zebrafish exposed to 17alpha-methyldihydrotestosterone

Concentration and time-dependent changes in hepatic gene expression were examined in adult, female zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to 0, 0.1, 0.7, 4.9 microg/L of a model androgen, 17alpha-methyldihydrotestosterone (MDHT). At 24 and 168 h, fish were sacrificed and liver was extracted for gene expression analysis using custom Affymetrix GeneChip Zebrafish Genome Microarrays. In an effort to link gene expression changes to higher levels of biological organization, blood was collected for measurement of plasma steroid hormones (17beta-estradiol (E2), testosterone (T)) and vitellogenin (VTG) using ELISA. Body and ovary weight were also measured. A significant reduction in E2 occurred at 24h (0.7 and 4.9 microg/L) and 168 h (4.9 microg/L) following MDHT exposure. In contrast, T was significantly increased at 24h (4.9 microg/L) and 168 h (0.1, 0.7, 4.9 microg/L). 171 and 575 genes were significantly affected in a concentration-dependent manner at either 24 or 168 h by MDHT exposure at p<or=0.001 and p<or=0.01, respectively. Genes involved in retinoic acid metabolism (e.g. aldehyde dehydrogenase 8, member A1; retinol dehydrogenase 12), steroid biosynthesis and metabolism (e.g. hydroxysteroid (11beta) dehydrogenase 2; hydroxy-delta-5-steroid dehydrogenase, 3 beta-), hormone transport (e.g. sex hormone binding globulin), and regulation of cell growth and proliferation (e.g. N-myc downstream regulated gene 1; spermidinespermine N(1)-acetyltransferase) were affected by MDHT exposure. In this study, we identified genes involved in a variety of biological processes that have the potential to be used as markers of exposure to androgenic substances. Genes identified in this study provide information on the potential mode of action of strong androgens in female fish. In addition, when used for screening of EDC's, these genes may also serve as sensitive markers of exposure to androgenic compounds.

Quantifying anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide titres: clinical utility and association with tobacco exposure in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective:

To determine the significance of quantitative levels of antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP) in a population of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods:

A total of 241 consecutive sera from patients with RA sent from a large rheumatology clinic for laboratory testing were selected for precisely quantifying anti-CCP antibody titres with the anti-CCP2 assay. Patient charts were reviewed for demographic information, smoking history, clinical diagnosis, rheumatoid factor (RF) titre, radiographic information and other laboratory information (erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) level). Correlations with anti-CCP titre and RF titre, disease parameters and smoking history were assessed.

Results:

We confirm previous findings that anti-CCP seropositivity is associated with a higher incidence of erosions in patients with RA (56% vs 20% CCP+ vs CCP−, κ = 0.297, p<0.001). We also found a moderate correlation between anti-CCP titre and RF titre. However, we failed to find an association between anti-CCP titre and presence of erosions, between anti-CCP titre and CRP or ESR level, or between anti-CCP titre and age or disease duration. Interestingly, we did find significantly higher anti-CCP titres in patients with a history of smoking (452 units/ml vs 229 units/ml, smokers vs non-smokers, respectively; p = 0.02).

Conclusions:

Although anti-CCP titres were not associated with clinical parameters of disease, they are increased in patients with RA with exposure to tobacco. By contrast, no elevation in RF was noted in patients with a history of smoking. These observations are consistent with a pathogenic contribution of smoking to RA and suggest the immune stimulus for anti-CCP is distinct from that for RF.

Nationwide survey on the natural radionuclides in industrial raw minerals in South Korea

A Nationwide survey on the natural radioactivity in industrial raw mineral commodities (17 kinds of domestic and 18 kinds of imported) that are representative minerals used in production and consumption in South Korea was conducted. The target industrial minerals can be categorized into two groups. The first group covers non-metallic and metallic raw minerals with low levels of radioactivity such as clay, silica sand, carbonates, bituminous and anthracite coal, iron ores, ilmenite, rutile, and phosphate ore. The other group comprises minerals with high levels of radioactivity including zircon and monazite. One hundred and sixty-four domestic and imported samples were analysed by gamma-ray spectroscopy using an HPGe detector. The (40)K content ranges from <0.00131 to 2.69Bq g(-1), and (226)Ra and (232)Th range over <0.0006 to 0.630 and <0.0008 to 0.474Bq g(-1), respectively. There was no anthropogenic radioactive signal in any of the samples.

Measurement of Upsilon production for p + p and p + d interactions at 800 GeV/c

We report a high statistics measurement of Upsilon production with an 800 GeV/c proton beam on hydrogen and deuterium targets. The dominance of the gluon-gluon fusion process for Upsilon production at this energy implies that the cross section ratio, sigma(p+d-->Upsilon)/2sigma(p+p-->Upsilon), is sensitive to the gluon content in the neutron relative to that in the proton. Over the kinematic region 0<x(F)<0.6, this ratio is found to be consistent with unity, in striking contrast to the behavior of the Drell-Yan cross section ratio sigma(p+d)(DY)/2sigma(p+p)(DY). This result shows that the gluon distributions in the proton and neutron are very similar. The Upsilon production cross sections are also compared with the p+d and p+Cu cross sections from earlier measurements.

Measurement of angular distributions of Drell-Yan dimuons in p+d interactions at 800 GeV/c

We report a measurement of the angular distributions of Drell-Yan dimuons produced using an 800 GeV/c proton beam on a deuterium target. The muon angular distributions in the dilepton rest frame have been measured over the kinematic range 4.5<m{mu mu}<15 GeV/c{2}, 0<p{T}<4 GeV/c, and 0<x{F}<0.8. No significant cos2phi dependence is found in these proton-induced Drell-Yan data, in contrast with the situation for pion-induced Drell-Yan data. The data are compared with expectations from models which attribute the cos2phi distribution to a QCD vacuum effect or to the presence of the transverse-momentum-dependent Boer-Mulders structure function h{1}{perpendicular}. Constraints on the magnitude of the sea-quark h{1}{perpendicular} structure functions are obtained.

Elliptic flow for phi mesons and (anti)deuterons in Au+Au collisions at square root of sNN=200 GeV

Differential elliptic flow (v(2)) for phi mesons and (anti)deuterons (d)d is measured for Au+Au collisions at square root of sNN=200 GeV. The v(2) for phi mesons follows the trend of lighter pi+/- and K+/- mesons, suggesting that ordinary hadrons interacting with standard hadronic cross sections are not the primary driver for elliptic flow development. The v(2) values for (d)d suggest that elliptic flow is additive for composite particles. This further validation of the universal scaling of v(2) per constituent quark for baryons and mesons suggests that partonic collectivity dominates the transverse expansion dynamics.

System size and energy dependence of jet-induced hadron pair correlation shapes in Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at square root sNN=200 and 62.4 GeV

We present azimuthal angle correlations of intermediate transverse momentum (1-4 GeV/c) hadrons from dijets in Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at square root sNN=62.4 and 200 GeV. The away-side dijet induced azimuthal correlation is broadened, non-Gaussian, and peaked away from Delta phi=pi in central and semicentral collisions in all the systems. The broadening and peak location are found to depend upon the number of participants in the collision, but not on the collision energy or beam nuclei. These results are consistent with sound or shock wave models, but pose challenges to Cherenkov gluon radiation models.

J/psi production versus transverse momentum and rapidity in p+p collisions at square root s=200 GeV

J/psi production in p+p collisions at square root s=200 GeV has been measured by the PHENIX experiment at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider over a rapidity range of -2.2<y<2.2 and a transverse momentum range of 0<pT<9 GeV/c. The size of the present data set allows a detailed measurement of both the pT and the rapidity distributions and is sufficient to constrain production models. The total cross section times the branching ratio is Bll sigma pp J/psi=178+/-3stat+/-53sys+/-18norm nb.

J/psi production versus centrality, transverse momentum, and rapidity in Au+Au collisions at square root sNN=200 GeV

The PHENIX experiment at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) has measured J/psi production for rapidities -2.2<y<2.2 in Au+Au collisions at square root sNN=200 GeV. The J/psi invariant yield and nuclear modification factor RAA as a function of centrality, transverse momentum, and rapidity are reported. A suppression of J/psi relative to binary collision scaling of proton-proton reaction yields is observed. Models which describe the lower energy J/psi data at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron invoking only J/psi destruction based on the local medium density predict a significantly larger suppression at RHIC and more suppression at midrapidity than at forward rapidity. Both trends are contradicted by our data.

Noble-gas nanoclusters with fivefold symmetry stabilized in superfluid helium

Macroscopic samples (volume approximately cm(3), atomic density approximately 10(19) -10(20) cm(-3)) of noble-gas nanoclusters (size approximately 5-6 nm) were produced in superfluid helium by an impurity-helium gas injection technique. X-ray diffraction measurements show that the samples consist of weakly interacting nanoclusters with fivefold symmetry, such as icosahedra and decahedra. These results open new opportunities for fundamental research of nanoclusters of noble gases and other materials in well-controlled environments using experimental techniques requiring bulk samples.

Scaling properties of azimuthal anisotropy in Au+Au and Cu+Cu Collisions at sqrt[s NN]=200 GeV

Differential measurements of elliptic flow (v2) for Au+Au and Cu+Cu collisions at sqrt[sNN]=200 GeV are used to test and validate predictions from perfect fluid hydrodynamics for scaling of v2 with eccentricity, system size, and transverse kinetic energy (KE T). For KE T identical with mT-m up to approximately 1 GeV the scaling is compatible with hydrodynamic expansion of a thermalized fluid. For large values of KE T mesons and baryons scale separately. Quark number scaling reveals a universal scaling of v2 for both mesons and baryons over the full KE T range for Au+Au. For Au+Au and Cu+Cu the scaling is more pronounced in terms of KE T, rather than transverse momentum.

Determination of the glycaemic index of various staple carbohydrate-rich foods in the UK diet

OBJECTIVE

To determine the glycaemic index (GI) of various staple carbohydrate-rich foods in the UK diet, and to consider the factors influencing the GI of foods.

DESIGN

Subjects were served with 25 or 50 g portions of glucose on three occasions, followed by a selection of test foods providing an equal amount of available carbohydrate, in random order. Each test food was consumed by 10 subjects. Capillary blood glucose levels were measured in the fasted state and over the 120 min following commencement of consumption of the foods.

SETTING

The study was carried out in a research institute (MRC Human Nutrition Research, Cambridge, UK).

SUBJECTS

Forty-two healthy adult volunteers were studied.

METHODS

The GI values of 33 foods were measured according to the WHO/FAO recommended methodology. These foods included various breads, breakfast cereals, pasta, rice and potatoes, all of which were commercially available in the UK.

CONCLUSIONS

The results illustrate a number of factors which are important in influencing the GI of a food, highlighting the importance of measuring the GI of a food, rather than assuming a previously published value for a similar food. This is useful both to researchers analysing dietary surveys or planning intervention studies, and also to health professionals advising individuals on their diets.

Evidence for a long-range component in the pion emission source in Au+Au collisions at sqrt sNN=200 GeV

Emission source functions are extracted from correlation functions constructed from charged pions produced at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV. The source parameters extracted from these functions at low k(T) give first indications of a long tail for the pion emission source. The source extension cannot be explained solely by simple kinematic considerations. The possible role of a halo of secondary pions from resonance emissions is explored.

Measurement of direct photon production in p+p collisions at sqrt[s] = 200 GeV

Cross sections for midrapidity production of direct photons in p+p collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) are reported for transverse momenta of 3 < pT < 16 GeV/c. Next-to-leading order perturbative QCD (pQCD) describes the data well for pT >5 GeV/c, where the uncertainties of the measurement and theory are comparable. We also report on the effect of requiring the photons to be isolated from parton jet energy. The observed fraction of isolated photons is well described by pQCD for pT >7 GeV/c.

Measurement of high-pT single electrons from heavy-flavor decays in p + p collisions at square root of s = 200 GeV

The momentum distribution of electrons from decays of heavy flavor (charm and bottom) for midrapidity absolute value of y < 0.35 in p + p collisions at square root of s = 200 GeV has been measured by the PHENIX experiment at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider over the transverse momentum range 0.3 < pT < 9 GeV/c. Two independent methods have been used to determine the heavy-flavor yields, and the results are in good agreement with each other. A fixed-order-plus-next-to-leading-log perturbative QCD calculation agrees with the data within the theoretical and experimental uncertainties, with the data/theory ratio of 1.71+/-0.02stat+/-0.18sys for 0.3 < pT < 9 GeV/c. The total charm production cross section at this energy has also been deduced to be sigma cc = 567+/-57stat+/-193sys microb.

Hepatic gene expression profiling using Genechips in zebrafish exposed to 17alpha-ethynylestradiol

Genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic technologies continue to receive increasing interest from environmental toxicologists. This interest is due to the great potential of these technologies to identify detailed modes of action and to provide assistance in the evaluation of a contaminant's risk to aquatic organisms. Our experimental model is the zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to reference endocrine disrupting compounds in order to investigate compound-induced changes in gene transcript profiles. Adult, female zebrafish were exposed to 0, 15, 40, and 100ng/L of 17alpha-ethynylestradiol (EE2) and concentration and time-dependent changes in hepatic gene expression were examined using Affymetrix GeneChip Zebrafish Genome Microarrays. At 24, 48, and 168h, fish were sacrificed and liver mRNA was extracted for gene expression analysis (24 and 168h only). In an effort to link gene expression changes to effects on higher levels of biological organization, body and ovary weights were measured and blood was collected for measurement of plasma steroid hormones (17beta-estradiol (E2), testosterone (T)) and vitellogenin (VTG) using ELISA. EE2 exposure significantly affected gene expression, GSI, E2, T, and VTG. We observed 1622 genes that were significantly affected (p< or =0.001) in a concentration-dependent manner by EE2 exposure at either 24 or 168h. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that EE2 exposure affected genes involved in hormone metabolism, vitamin A metabolism, steroid binding, sterol metabolism, and cell growth. Plasma VTG was significantly increased at 24, 48, and 168h (p< or =0.05) at 40 and 100ng/L and at 15ng/L at 168h. E2 and T were significantly reduced following EE2 exposure at 48 and 168h. GSI was decreased in a concentration-dependent manner at 168h. In this study, we identified genes involved in a variety of biological processes that have the potential to be used as markers of exposure to estrogenic substances. Future work will evaluate the use of these genes in zebrafish exposed to weak estrogens to determine if these genes are indicative of exposure to estrogens with varying potencies.

Exotic behavior of hydrogen atoms in solid H2 at temperatures below 1 K

We present the first magnetic resonance study of atomic hydrogen embedded in solid H2 films for temperatures 150-900 mK. We found that at T approximately 150 mK average concentrations of H atoms of order 10(18 cm(-3) are very stable against recombination during two weeks of observations. The distribution of the population of the two lowest hyperfine states is found to be non-Boltzmann, with a very large occupation of the ground state. We consider the possibility of formation in solid H2 of regions with high local concentrations of H atoms, where collective quantum phenomena might occur.

Dense-medium modifications to jet-induced hadron pair distributions in Au+Au collisions at sqrt s NN=200 GeV

Azimuthal correlations of jet-induced high-p(T) charged hadron pairs are studied at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV. The distribution of jet-associated partner hadrons (1.0<p(T)<2.5 GeV/c) per trigger hadron (2.5<p(T)<4.0 GeV/c) is found to vary with collision centrality, in both shape and yield, indicating a significant effect of the nuclear collision medium on the jet fragmentation process.

Azimuthal angle correlations for rapidity separated Hadron pairs in d+Au collisions at square root of sNN=200 GeV

Deuteron-gold (d+Au) collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider provide ideal platforms for testing QCD theories in dense nuclear matter at high energy. In particular, models suggesting strong saturation effects for partons carrying small nucleon momentum fraction (x) predict modifications to jet production at forward rapidity (deuteron-going direction) in d+Au collisions. We report on two-particle azimuthal angle correlations between charged hadrons at forward/backward (deuteron/gold going direction) rapidity and charged hadrons at midrapidity in d+Au and p+p collisions at square root of sNN=200 GeV. Jet structures observed in the correlations are quantified in terms of the conditional yield and angular width of away-side partners. The kinematic region studied here samples partons in the gold nucleus with x~0.1 to ~0.01. Within this range, we find no x dependence of the jet structure in d+Au collisions.

Common suppression pattern of eta and pi0 mesons at high transverse momentum in Au + Au collisions at square root S(NN) = 200 GeV

Inclusive transverse momentum spectra of eta mesons have been measured within p(T) = 2-10 GeV/c at midrapidity by the PHENIX experiment in Au + Au collisions at square root S(NN) = 200 GeV. In central Au+Au the eta yields are significantly suppressed compared to peripheral Au + Au, d + Au, and p + p yields scaled by the corresponding number of nucleon-nucleon collisions. The magnitude, centrality, and p(T) dependence of the suppression is common, within errors, for eta and pi0. The ratio of eta to pi0 spectra at high p(T) amounts to 0.40 < R(eta/pi)0 < 0.48 for the three systems, in agreement with the world average measured in hadronic and nuclear reactions and, at large scaled momentum, in e+e- collisions.