Cross section and parity-violating spin asymmetries of W± boson production in polarized p + p collisions at sqrt[s] = 500 GeV

Large parity-violating longitudinal single-spin asymmetries A(L)(e+) = -0.86(-0.14) (+0.30) and A(L)(e-) = 0.88(-0.71) (+0.12) are observed for inclusive high transverse momentum electrons and positrons in polarized p+p collisions at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s] = 500 GeV with the PHENIX detector at RHIC. These e± come mainly from the decay of W± and Z0 bosons, and their asymmetries directly demonstrate parity violation in the couplings of the W± to the light quarks. The observed electron and positron yields were used to estimate W± boson production cross sections for the e± channels of σ(pp → W+ X) × BR(W+ → e+ ν(e)) = 144.1 ± 21.2(stat)(-10.3) (+3.4) (syst) ± 21.6(norm)  pb, and σ(pp → W- X) × BR(W- → e- ν[over ¯](e)) = 31.7 ± 12.1(stat)(-8.2) (+10.1) (syst) ± 4.8(norm)  pb.

Abnormal fast activity before the onset of West syndrome

In our sequential EEG study performed on 68 infants with various pre- and perinatal brain insults, we found peculiar abnormal fast activity (AFAs) in 12 patients. 9 of the 12 patients with AFAs later developed West syndrome (WS) compared with only 3 of the 56 patients without AFAs (p<0.001, χ(2) test). We analyzed these AFAs using EEG topography, and compared them with ictal fast activity (IFA) corresponding to tonic spasms observed later in the same patients after they had developed WS. We also investigated the clinical and EEG features in these patients. AFAs were first observed commonly at 4-5 months of CA, before the onset of WS. AFA topographic maps revealed posterior predominance in 11 of the 12 patients; IFA maps also showed posterior predominance but were more widely distributed. We propose that, though AFAs and IFAs are different, they share certain aspects of their pathophysiology, and that the maturational process of the occipital cortex plays an important role in the shared aspects. Since AFAs are observed before the onset of WS, they can be considered a sign that WS is imminent.

Azimuthal anisotropy of π⁰ production in Au+Au collisions at sqrt((s)NN)=200 GeV: path-length dependence of jet quenching and the role of initial geometry

We have measured the azimuthal anisotropy of π⁰ production for 1<p(T)<18  GeV/c for Au+Au collisions at sqrt((s)NN)=200  GeV. The observed anisotropy shows a gradual decrease for 3≲p(T)≲7-10  GeV/c, but remains positive beyond 10  GeV/c. The magnitude of this anisotropy is underpredicted, up to at least ∼10  GeV/c, by current perturbative QCD (PQCD) energy-loss model calculations. An estimate of the increase in anisotropy expected from initial-geometry modification due to gluon saturation effects and fluctuations is insufficient to account for this discrepancy. Calculations that implement a path-length dependence steeper than what is implied by current PQCD energy-loss models show reasonable agreement with the data.

Elliptic and hexadecapole flow of charged hadrons in Au+Au collisions at sq.rt(s(NN))=200 GeV

Differential measurements of the elliptic (v(2)) and hexadecapole (v(4)) Fourier flow coefficients are reported for charged hadrons as a function of transverse momentum (p(T)) and collision centrality or number of participant nucleons (N(part)) for Au+Au collisions at sq.rt(s(NN))=200  GeV. The v(2,4) measurements at pseudorapidity |η|≤0.35, obtained with four separate reaction-plane detectors positioned in the range 1.0<|η|<3.9, show good agreement, indicating the absence of significant Δη-dependent nonflow correlations. Sizable values for v(4)(p(T)) are observed with a ratio v(4)(p(T),N(part))/v(2)(2)(p(T),N(part))≈0.8 for 50≲N(part)≲200, which is compatible with the combined effects of a finite viscosity and initial eccentricity fluctuations. For N(part)≳200 this ratio increases up to 1.7 in the most central collisions.

Transition in yield and azimuthal shape modification in dihadron correlations in relativistic heavy ion collisions

Hard-scattered parton probes produced in collisions of large nuclei indicate large partonic energy loss, possibly with collective produced-medium response to the lost energy. We present measurements of π^{0} trigger particles at transverse momenta p{T}{t}=4-12  GeV/c and associated charged hadrons (p{T}{a}=0.5-7  GeV/c) vs relative azimuthal angle Δϕ in Au+Au and p+p collisions at sqrt[s{NN}]=200  GeV. The Au+Au distribution at low p{T}{a}, whose shape has been interpreted as a medium effect, is modified for p{T}{t}<7  GeV/c. At higher p{T}{t}, the data are consistent with unmodified or very weakly modified shapes, even for the lowest measured p{T}{a}, which quantitatively challenges some medium response models. The associated yield of hadrons opposing the trigger particle in Au+Au relative to p+p (I{AA}) is suppressed at high p{T} (I{AA}≈0.35-0.5), but less than for inclusive suppression (R{AA}≈0.2).

Clinical and radiological features of rotavirus cerebellitis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Neurological manifestations, such as benign convulsions and encephalitis/encephalopathy have been reported in patients with rotavirus gastroenteritis. However, cerebellitis has not attracted much attention. The purpose of this study was to identify and report the clinical and radiologic features of rotavirus cerebellitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Records of patients with rotavirus gastroenteritis exhibiting cerebellar lesions on MR imaging were collected from multiple centers in Japan. Their clinical, laboratory, and radiologic data were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS

A diagnosis of acute cerebellitis concurrent with encephalitis was made for 11 of 13 patients identified. Two patients who were diagnosed as having injury due to hypovolemic shock were excluded from the study. All 11 patients with acute cerebellitis had disorders of consciousness with onset on days 2 to 4, followed by mutism in 10 patients. Other cerebellar symptoms included dysarthria following the mutism, hypotonia, ataxia, tremor, nystagmus, and dysmetria. MR imaging lesions in the vermis or cerebellar cortex were seen at some point (day 5 to 1 year) in 10 patients. A reversible splenial lesion (3 isolated and 3 with concurrent cerebellar lesions) was found in 6 patients scanned between days 4 and 6. Transient lesions in the cerebellar white matter/nuclei manifesting reduced diffusion were seen in 6 patients during days 5 through 7. The final MR imaging performed after 1 month showed cerebellar atrophy in 10 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The 11 patients with rotavirus cerebellitis exhibited nearly identical clinical and MR imaging features. Involvement of the cerebellar white matter/nuclei may be associated with the mutism. An isolated splenial lesion with homogeneously reduced diffusion is not always a benign sign indicative of complete clinical and radiologic recovery in patients with rotavirus gastroenteritis.

Enhanced production of direct photons in Au + Au collisions at square root(S(NN)) = 200 GeV and implications for the initial temperature

The production of e+ e- pairs for m(e+ e-)<0.3 GeV/c2 and 1<p(T)<5 GeV/c is measured in p+p and Au+Au collisions at square root(S(NN))=200 GeV. An enhanced yield above hadronic sources is observed. Treating the excess as photon internal conversions, the invariant yield of direct photons is deduced. In central Au+Au collisions, the excess of the direct photon yield over p+p is exponential in transverse momentum, with an inverse slope T=221+/-19(stat)+/-19(syst) MeV. Hydrodynamical models with initial temperatures ranging from T(init) approximately 300-600 MeV at times of approximately 0.6-0.15 fm/c after the collision are in qualitative agreement with the data. Lattice QCD predicts a phase transition to quark gluon plasma at approximately 170 MeV.

Clinical evaluation of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold test in patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical usefulness of the QuantiFERON TB-2G (QFT-2G) test in patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease without a previous history of tuberculosis (TB).

METHODS

The study consisted of 214 patients with NTM disease who satisfied the diagnostic guidelines of the American Thoracic Society.

RESULTS

The causative microorganism was Mycobacterium avium in 83 patients, M. intracellulare in 80, M. kansasii in 33, M. marinum in 12, M. szulgai in 3, M. abscessus in 2 and M. chelonei in 1. The positive response rate of QFT-2G test result was 2% in 163 patients with M. avium-intracellulare complex (MAIC) disease, 52% in 33 with M. kansasii disease, 58% in 12 with M. marinum disease, 33% in 3 with M. szulgai disease, 0% in two with M. abscessus disease and 0% in one with M. chelonei disease. The positivity of the QFT-2G test was 52% in patients with NTM disease, thought to be because NTM possesses common M. tuberculosis-specific antigens.

CONCLUSIONS

Although QFT-2G may be a useful diagnostic method to differentiate TB from MAIC disease, there are several problems to be resolved before it can be used as a diagnostic method for NTM disease (M. kansasii disease), including the determination of the positive cut-off level for QFT-2G test.

Genetic heterogeneity of betanodaviruses in juvenile production trials of Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis (Temminck & Schlegel)

Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis (Temminck & Schlegel), is one of the most important commercially exploited fish species in the world, and juvenile production techniques have been developed for its culture and stock enhancement in Japan. However, recent juvenile production has often failed because of the occurrence of viral nervous necrosis caused by betanodaviruses. In this study, we examined the genetic variability of betanodaviruses detected in the diseased juveniles to understand the transmission of the disease in a tuna hatchery. A total of 94 nucleotide sequences of betanodavirus (partial sequence of the coat protein gene, RNA2) were obtained from fish samples by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction amplification and 13 haplotypes were recognized among the sequences. The haplotype distributions in the viral populations from the diseased juveniles were related to the broodstocks from which the juveniles originated, suggesting that vertical transmission had occurred in the hatchery. The statistical parsimony network of viral haplotypes suggests that the nucleotide substitutions among the samples were accumulated in a recent population growth.

Down-regulation of frizzled-7 expression decreases survival, invasion and metastatic capabilities of colon cancer cells

Background:

The canonical Wnt signalling pathway is activated in most sporadic colorectal cancers (CRCs). We previously reported that FZD7 functions as a receptor for the canonical Wnt signalling pathway in colon cancer cells.

Methods and results:

In this study, we examined the function of FZD7 in survival, invasion and metastatic capabilities of colon cancer cells. FZD7_siRNA transfection decreased cell viability of HT-29 and HCT-116 colon cancer cells. Expression of c-Jun, phosphorylation of JNK and c-Jun, and activation of RhoA were suppressed after FZD7_siRNA transfection into HCT-116 cells. In vitro invasion activity and Wnt target gene expression were also reduced in HCT-116 cells transfected with FZD7_siRNA. Liver metastasis of stable FZD7_siRNA HCT-116 cell transfectants in scid mice was decreased to 40–50% compared to controls. The mRNA levels of FZD7 in 135 primary CRC tissues were examined by real-time PCR. FZD7 mRNA levels were significantly higher in stage II, III or IV tumours than in non-tumour tissues (P<0.005), and overall survival was shorter in those patients with higher FZD7 expression (P<0.001).

Conclusion:

These data suggest that FZD7 may be involved in enhancement of survival, invasion and metastatic capabilities of colon cancer cells through non-canonical Wnt signalling pathways as well as the canonical pathway.

Measurement of bottom versus charm as a function of transverse momentum with electron-hadron correlations in p + p collisions at square root of s = 200 GeV

The momentum distribution of electrons from semileptonic decays of charm and bottom quarks for midrapidity |y|<0.35 in p+p collisions at square root of s=200 GeV is measured by the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider over the transverse momentum range 2<pT<7 GeV/c. The ratio of the yield of electrons from bottom to that from charm is presented. The ratio is determined using partial D/D-->e(+/-)K(-/+)X (K unidentified) reconstruction. It is found that the yield of electrons from bottom becomes significant above 4 GeV/c in pT. A fixed-order-plus-next-to-leading-log perturbative quantum chromodynamics calculation agrees with the data within the theoretical and experimental uncertainties. The extracted total bottom production cross section at this energy is sigma(bb)=3.2(-1.1)(+1.2)(stat)(-1.3)(+1.4)(syst)mub.

Gluon-spin contribution to the proton spin from the double-helicity asymmetry in inclusive pi0 production in polarized p+p collisions at [sqrt]s=200 GeV

The double helicity asymmetry in neutral pion production for pT=1 to 12 GeV/c was measured with the PHENIX experiment to access the gluon-spin contribution, DeltaG, to the proton spin. Measured asymmetries are consistent with zero, and at a theory scale of micro2=4 GeV2 a next to leading order QCD analysis gives DeltaG[0.02,0.3]=0.2, with a constraint of -0.7<DeltaG[0.02,0.3]<0.5 at Deltachi2=9 (approximately 3sigma) for the sampled gluon momentum fraction (x) range, 0.02 to 0.3. The results are obtained using predictions for the measured asymmetries generated from four representative fits to polarized deep inelastic scattering data. We also consider the dependence of the DeltaG constraint on the choice of the theoretical scale, a dominant uncertainty in these predictions.

Use of genotype subset selections of multi-UGT1As polymorphisms to predict severe neutropenia and tumor responses of metastatic CRC patients received FOLFIRI regimen

e15038

Introduction: The pharmacogenetics of irinotecan indicate that a common polymorphism in the uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 1As (UGT1As) gene predict severe toxicity. However the tumor response to irinotecan is variable and unpredictable. Methods: Two multi-center phase II studies of FOLFIRI (FLIGHT-1 and FLIGHT-2 study) were conducted for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) in Japan. FLIGHT-1 study was first-line chemotherapy, and FLIGHT-2 study was FOLFOX-refractory second-line chemotherapy. 103 patients have been enrolled in these studies (53 patients in FLIGHT-1 and 50 patients in FLIGHT-2) from 20 institutions by April 2007 from November 2005. Seventy one patients were analyzed UGT1As polymorphisms, UGT1A1*28 (TA6>TA7), UGT1A1*6 (G>A), UGT1A1*60 (T>C), UGT1A7 (N129K; T>G), UGT1A7 (-57 T>G), UGT1A9*22 (T10>T9). Results: Out of 71 patients, 34 had G3/4 neutropenia or leukopenia, and 23 had tumor responses (CR +PR). G3/4 neutropenia was more frequent in patients with *6, N129K(G), -57(G), *22 allele than patients without these allele (p<0.05). Other polymorphism was not the predictive factor for toxicity and tumor response, independently. On the other hand, genotype subset selection of multi-UGT1As polymorphisms was useful to predict severe toxicities and tumor responses. Only 7 patients of 22 patients with TA6/TA6 and T10/T10, or TA6/TA7 and -57(T/T), or *6(G/G) and *60(T/T) had grade3/4 toxicity. Similarly, high risk group of toxicity or high and low tumor responses groups was also predicted by genotype subset selections. Conclusions: Genotype subset selections of multi-UGT1As polymorphisms were the excellent predictor for severe toxicities and tumor responses of metastatic CRC patients received FOLFIRI regimen.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

A phase II study of docetaxel and carboplatin in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer after treatment with non-platinum regimens

e19087

Background: Docetaxel and platinum is active in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as first-line chemotherapy, and docetaxel is also effective in previously-treated patients. This study was designed to evaluate activity and toxicity of docetaxel and carboplatin as second-line chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC patients treated with non-platinum regimens. Methods: Patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC treated with non-platinum regimens, a performance status ≤ 2, and an adequate organ function were eligible. Patients were treated with docetaxel 50 mg/m2/day and carboplatin AUC 5 mg/ml/min on day 1 of each 21-day cycle. Primary endpoint was response rate. Results: Twenty-nine patients with a median age of 63 years were included. Median number of cycles for docetaxel and carboplatin was 3.2. Grade 3/4 neutropenia and anemia occurred in 21 (72.4%) and 2 patients (7.0%), respectively. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 2 patients (7.0%). Grade 3 non-hematological toxicity included diarrhea and peripheral neuropathy in each 1 patients (3.5%). Complete and partial response was observed in 1 and 4 patients, respectively. Overall response rate was 17.2% (95%CI: 5.9–35.8). Median survival time was 12.7 months (95%CI: 7.8–17.6) and 1- year survival rate was 52.5% (95%CI: 31.8–73.2). Conclusions: The combination of docetaxel and carboplatin as second-line chemotherapy may be promising in advanced NSCLC patients treated with non-platinum regimens.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Minoxidil in severe hypertension

Minoxidil has been administered to 16 patients with severe hypertension and renal failure. In every patient the indication for minoxidil treatment was resistance to conventional drugs. The final dose of minoxidil was 2.5--30 mg (average 20) and it was combined with a beta-blocking agent and a diuretic (or dialysis). The therapy was given for 1--27 months (average 12). The average supine BP fell from 200/130 to 164/96 mmHg and the upright BP from 200/120 to 152/90 mmHg. No hypotensive reactions occurred. In most patients the progression of hypertensive organ changes was arrested. No major vascular complications have occurred during the 16 years of treatment. Prickling of the skin and hirsutism were common side-effects. The other side-effects observed were oedema in five patients and development of latent diabetes in three. In four patients minoxidil treatment was discontinued for following reasons: successful reconstruction of the renal artery after stenosis, renal transplantation, severe oedema and hirsutism. The risk of hirsutism is a contraindication to prolonged minoxidil administration in most femal patients. Minoxidil is especially indicated in uncontrolled renal hypertension.

Sentinel lymph node detection in breast cancer patients by real-time virtual sonography constructed with three-dimensional computed tomography-lymphography

Abstract #1026

Background: Ultrasonography (US) is one tool for preoperative diagnosis of lymph node metastases in breast cancer. However, US cannot detect true sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs).&#x2028; Methods: We identified SLNs in 60 clinically node-negative breast cancer patients using a real-time virtual sonography (RVS) system to display in real time a virtual multi-planar reconstruction obtained from computed tomography (CT) volume data corresponding to the same cross-sectional image from US. CT volume data were obtained from our original three-dimensional CT lymphography (3DCT-LG), which accurately detects SLNs in breast cancer. SLN metastases were assessed by shape and visibility of the hilum. All patients underwent SLN biopsy and SLN metastases were examined pathologically.&#x2028; Results: In all 60 patients, we were able to detect the same SLNs visualized by 3DCT-LG. Suspicious SLN metastases were identified in 7 of the 60 patients, and 4 of 7 patients were pathologically positive. Positive predictive value was 57%. The remaining 53 patients displayed non-suspect SLNs in which absence of metastasis from the SLN was confirmed histologically. Overall accuracy was 95%.&#x2028; Conclusions: This is a first attempt at preoperatively identifying SLNs using US guided by the RVS system in breast cancer patients. Although evaluation of SLN metastases was unsatisfactory, this method may be useful for preoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology for diagnosis of SLN metastases.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 1026.