Autoantibody against a protease domain of caspase-8 in patients with systemic sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by autoantibodies against various cellular components.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the presence or levels of antibodies (Abs) against a protease domain (PD) of caspase-8 and their clinical relevance in SSc.

METHODS

Anti-caspase-8 PD Ab was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting using human recombinant caspase-8 PD. Caspase-8 activity was evaluated by spectrophotometric detection of cleavage from p-nitroanilide-labeled IETD, a substrate of caspase-8.

RESULTS

IgG anti-caspase-8 PD Ab levels in patients with SSc, systemic lupus erythematosus, or dermatomyositis were higher than in normal controls (CTL). Furthermore, anit-caspase-8 PD Ab levels in limited cutaneous SSc (ISSc) patients were elevated compared to diffuse cutameous SSc (dSSc) patients. To investigate the clinical correlation, laboratory findings were compared between SSc patients with high levels (>the mean+2SD of CTL) of anti-caspase-8 PD Ab and those with low levels. SSc patients with high level exhibited lower frequency of male and decreased C-reactive protein levels relative to those with low levels. Immunoblotting showed the anit-caspase-8 PD Ab was present in all SSc patients examined, while it was also detected in 75% of CTL. Caspase-8 activity was inhibited by IgG isolated from sera of SSc patients and CTL, although inhibitory effect was greater in SSc patients than CTL.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that immune response to caspase-8 occurs in healthy individuals, although it is greater in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases including SSc. Furthermore, high level of anti-caspase-8 PD Ab may be a serological indicator for a milder SSc subset.

Effect of 150-mg vs 300-mg loading doses of clopidogrel on platelet function in Japanese patients undergoing coronary stent placement

BACKGROUND

The loading dose of ticlopidine is 500 mg in both the US and Europe and 200 mg in Japan. A lower loading dose of clopidogrel might achieve adequate platelet inhibition in Japanese patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Platelet aggregation was serially measured at baseline, and 2, 4, 6, and 8 h after 150-mg (n=20) and 300-mg (n=20) clopidogrel loading. Platelets were stimulated with 5 and 20 micromol/L adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and aggregation was assessed by optical aggregometry. Pretreatment ADP-induced platelet aggregation in the 150-mg clopidogrel group did not differ from that of the 300-mg group. The administration of 300-mg clopidogrel loading dose resulted in lower platelet aggregation 2 h after the administration (5 micromol/L ADP: 53+/-9% vs 61+/-12%, p<0.05 and 20 micromol/L ADP: 61+/-10% vs 68+/-9%, p<0.05). A lower platelet aggregation induced with 20 micromol/L ADP was still observed 4 h after the 300-mg clopidogrel loading (58+/-10% vs 65+/-9%, p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The 150-mg clopidogrel loading does not achieve rapid platelet inhibition. The 300-mg loading dose should be used to suppress platelet function rapidly even in Japanese patients undergoing coronary stent placement.

Serum levels of P-selectin in men with high-functioning autism

Immune dysfunction has been proposed as a mechanism for the pathophysiology of autistic-spectrum disorders. The selectin family of adhesion molecules plays a prominent role in immune/inflammatory responses. We determined the serum levels of three types of soluble-form selectin (sP, sL and sE) in 15 men with high-functioning autism and 22 age-matched healthy controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Levels of sP-selectin and sL-selectin were significantly lower in patients than in controls. Furthermore, sP-selectin levels were negatively correlated with impaired social development during early childhood.

Safety and efficacy of low-dose clopidogrel in Japanese patients undergoing coronary stenting: preliminary 30-day clinical outcome

BACKGROUND

A lower maintenance dose of clopidogrel may be appropriate in Japanese patients because the maintenance dose of ticlopidine is lower in Japan than that used in the United States.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 126 patients with 153 lesions who consented to take 50-mg clopidogrel to prevent stent thrombosis were enrolled. There was 1 case of early stent thrombosis (0.65%). Side-effects of clopidogrel occurred in 5 patients (4.0%).

CONCLUSION

This preliminary study shows that 50 mg clopidogrel may be acceptable in Japanese patients.

Involvement of gaseous low molecular monoxides in the cutaneous reverse passive Arthus reaction: cytoprotective action of carbon monoxide

The deposition of immune complexes (IC) induces an acute inflammatory response with tissue injury, for which the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO) has been suggested. NO is induced by NO synthase (NOS) and CO is generated by haeme oxygenase (HO). Among HO isoenzymes, HO-1 is an induced type. To assess the role of NO and CO in the pathogenic process, the cutaneous reverse passive Arthus reaction was examined using NOS inhibitor, HO-1 stimulator and HO-1 inhibitor. To evaluate the reaction we considered oedema, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and neutrophil number. The values of these four parameters were significantly reduced in mice treated with HO-1 stimulator as compared with the positive control mice. Quite the reverse was observed in mice treated with HO-1 inhibitor. These results suggest that the HO-1/CO signalling pathway is a therapeutic target for human IC-mediated disease.

Application of compact electron cyclotron resonance ion source

The compact electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source with a permanent magnet configuration (Kei2 source) has been developed at National Institute of Radiological Sciences for a new carbon therapy facility. The Kei2 source was designed for production of C(4+) ions; its performance such as beam intensity and stability has already reached the medical requirements. Therefore, the prototype development of the source for medical use is essentially finished. Recently, we have started a few studies on other applications of the source. One is the production of fullerenes in the ECR plasma and modified fullerenes with various atoms for new materials. A second application is the production of multiply charged ions (not only carbon) for ion implantation. In this paper, some basic experiments for these applications are reported.

Autoantibody against peroxiredoxin I, an antioxidant enzyme, in patients with systemic sclerosis: possible association with oxidative stress

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence and clinical correlation of autoantibody to peroxiredoxin (Prx) I, an antioxidant enzyme, in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

METHODS

Serum samples from SSc patients (n = 70) and healthy controls (n = 23) were examined by ELISA using human recombinant Prx I. The presence of anti-Prx I antibody was further evaluated by immunoblotting analysis. To determine the functional relevance of anti-Prx I antibody in vivo, we assessed whether anti-Prx I antibody was able to inhibit Prx I enzymatic activity using yeast thioredoxin reductase system.

RESULTS

IgG anti-Prx I antibody levels in SSc patients were significantly higher than healthy controls and this autoantibody was detected in 33% of SSc patients. The presence of IgG anti-Prx I antibody was associated with longer disease duration, more frequent presence of pulmonary fibrosis, heart involvement, and anti-topoisomerase I antibody and increased levels of serum immunoglobulin and erythrocyte sedimentation rates. IgG anti-Prx I antibody levels also correlated positively with renal vascular damage and negatively with pulmonary function tests. Furthermore, anti-Prx I antibody levels correlated positively with serum levels of 8-isoprostane, a marker of oxidative stress. Immunoblotting analysis confirmed the presence of anti-Prx I antibody. Remarkably, Prx I enzymatic activity was inhibited by IgG isolated from SSc sera containing IgG anti-Prx I antibody.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that elevated IgG anti-Prx I autoantibody is associated with the disease severity of SSc and that anti-PrxI antibody may enhance the oxidative stress by inhibiting Prx I enzymatic activity.

Measurement of bottom-quark hadron masses in exclusive J/psi decays with the CDF detector

We measure the masses of b hadrons in exclusively reconstructed final states containing a J/psi --> mu-mu+ decay using 220 pb(-1) of data collected by the CDF II experiment. We find: m(B+) = 5279.10 +/- 0.41(stat.) +/- 0.36(sys.) MeV/c2, m(B0) = 5279.63 +/- 0.53(stat.) +/- 0.33(sys.) MeV/c2, m(B(s)0) = 5366.01 +/- 0.73(stat.) +/- 0.33(sys.) MeV/c2, m(lambda(b)0) = 5619.7 +/- 1.2(stat.) +/- 1.2(sys.) MeV/c2. m(B+) - m(B0) = -0.53 +/- 0.67(stat.) +/- 0.14(sys.) MeV/c2, m(B(s)0) - m(B0) = 86.38 +/- 0.90(stat.) +/- 0.06(sys.) MeV/c2, m(lambda(b)0) - m(B0) = 339.2 +/- 1.4(stat.) +/- 0.1(sys.) MeV/c2. The measurements of the B(s)0, lambda(b)0 mass, m(B(s)0) - m(B0) and m(lambda(b)0) - m(B0) mass difference are of better precision than the current world averages.

Search for new physics using high-mass tau pairs from 1.96 TeV pp collisions

We present the results of a search for anomalous resonant production of tau lepton pairs with large invariant mass, the first such search using the CDF II Detector in Run II of the Tevatron pp collider. Such anomalous production could arise from various new physics processes. In a data sample corresponding to 195 pb(-1) of integrated luminosity we predict 2.8+/-0.5 events from standard model background processes and observe 4. We use this result to set limits on the production of heavy scalar and vector particles decaying to tau lepton pairs.

Measurement of B(t --> Wb)/B(t--> Wq) at the collider detector at fermilab

We present a measurement of the ratio of top-quark branching fractions R = B(t --> Wb)/B(t --> Wq), where q can be a b, s, or a d quark, using lepton-plus-jets and dilepton data sets with an integrated luminosity of approximately 162 pb(-1) collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab during Run II of the Tevatron. The measurement is derived from the relative numbers of tt events with different multiplicity of identified secondary vertices. We set a lower limit of R > 0.61 at 95% confidence level.

Search for long-lived doubly charged Higgs bosons in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV

We present a search for long-lived doubly charged Higgs bosons (H(+/- +/-)), with signatures of high ionization energy loss and muonlike penetration. We use 292 pb(-1) of data collected in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV by the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. Observing no evidence of long-lived doubly charged particle production, we exclude H(+/- +/-)(L) and H(+/- +/-)(R) bosons with masses below 133 GeV/c(2) and 109 GeV/c(2), respectively. In the degenerate case we exclude H(+/- +/-) mass below 146 GeV/c(2). All limits are quoted at the 95% confidence level.

Search for Higgs bosons decaying into bb and produced in association with a vector boson in pp collisions at square root of s = 1.8 TeV

We present a new search for H0V production, where H0 is a scalar Higgs boson decaying into bb with branching ratio beta, and V is a Z0 boson decaying into e+e-, mu+mu-, or nunu. This search is then combined with previous searches for H0V where V is a W+/- boson or a hadronically decaying Z0. The data sample consists of 106 +/- 4 pb(-1) of pp collisions at square root of s = 1.8 TeV accumulated by the Collider Detector at Fermilab. Observing no evidence of a signal, we set 95% Bayesian credibility level upper limits on sigma(pp --> H0V) x beta. For H0 masses of 90, 110, and 130 GeV/c2, the limits are 7.8, 7.2, and 6.6 pb, respectively.

Evidence for B0 s-->phiphi decay and measurements of branching ratio and A(CP) for B+ -->phiK+

We present the first evidence of charmless decays of the B(0)(s) meson, the decay B(0)(s)--> phiphi, and a measurement of the branching ratio BR(B(0)(s)--> phiphi) using 180 pb(-1) of data collected by the CDF II experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. In addition, the BR and direct CP asymmetry for the B+-->phiK+ decay are measured. We obtain BR(B(0)(s)--> phiphi)=[14(+6)(-5)(stat)+/-6(syst)] x 10(-6), BR(B+-->phiK+)=[7.6+/-1.3(stat)+/-0.6(syst)] x 10(-6), and A(CP)(B+-->phiK+)= -0.07+/-0.17(stat)+0.03 / -0.02(syst). Both decays are governed in the standard model by second order (penguin) b-->s(-)ss amplitudes.

Search for anomalous kinematics in tt dilepton events at CDF II

We report on a search for anomalous kinematics of tt dilepton events in pp collisions at square root of s=1.96 TeV using 193 pb(-1) of data collected with the CDF II detector. We developed a new a priori technique designed to isolate the subset in a data sample revealing the largest deviation from standard model (SM) expectations and to quantify the significance of this departure. In the four-variable space considered, no particular subset shows a significant discrepancy, and we find that the probability of obtaining a data sample less consistent with the SM than what is observed is 1.0%-4.5%.

Measurement of the cross section for prompt diphoton production in pp collisions at square root of s=1.96 TeV

We report a measurement of the rate of prompt diphoton production in pp collisions at square root of s=1.96 TeV using a data sample of 207 pb(-1) collected with the upgraded Collider Detector at Fermilab. The background from nonprompt sources is determined using a statistical method based on differences in the electromagnetic showers. The cross section is measured as a function of the diphoton mass, the transverse momentum of the diphoton system, and the azimuthal angle between the two photons and is found to be consistent with perturbative QCD predictions.

Measurement of the W(+)W(-) production cross section in pp collisions at square root[s]=1.96 TeV using dilepton events

We present a measurement of the W(+)W(-) production cross section using 184 pb(-1) of p(p) collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab. Using the dilepton decay channel W(+)W(-)-->l(+)nul(-), where the charged leptons can be either electrons or muons, we find 17 candidate events compared to an expected background of 5.0(+2.2)(-0.8) events. The resulting W(+)W(-) production cross-section measurement of sigma(pp-->W(+)W(-))=14.6(+5.8)(-5.1)(stat)(+1.8)(-3.0)(syst) +/- 0.9(lum) pb agrees well with the standard model expectation.

Correction for counting losses in X-ray diffractometry

Non-extended and extended dead-time models, a pulse-height analyser (PHA) windowing model, and a model intermediate between the non-extended and extended models for losses in counting methods are compared. The validities of the methods are examined by application to the analysis of powder diffraction peak intensity profiles measured by a foil method. The intermediate model including parameters for the dead-time and degree of extension can reproduce both the non-extended and the extended models and also intermediate dependence between the two models. A convenient approximate formula for the intermediate model, the maximum relative deviation of which is 0.0003, is also proposed. The determination of the parameters and a correction for the measured intensities can easily be achieved by applying the approximate model, because it provides simple formulae for the correction function expressed as a combination of elementary functions. Experimental and analytical methods for precise evaluation of the parameters to specify the counting losses are also presented. Systematic deviations of the observed dependence from the non-extended and extended dead-time models have been detected by the precise analyses of experimental data, while the PHA windowing model, intermediate model and its approximation have reproduced the observed dependence within the experimental errors.

Measurement of charged-particle multiplicities in gluon and quark jets in pp collisions at square root of s = 1.8 TeV

We report the first largely model independent measurement of charged particle multiplicities in quark and gluon jets, Nq and Ng, produced at the Fermilab Tevatron in pp collisions with a center-of-mass energy of 1.8 TeV and recorded by the Collider Detector at Fermilab. The measurements are made for jets with average energies of 41 and 53 GeV by counting charged particle tracks in cones with opening angles of theta(c) = 0.28, 0.36, and 0.47 rad around the jet axis. The corresponding jet hardness Q = Ejet theta c varies in the range from 12 to 25 GeV. At Q = 19.2 GeV, the ratio of multiplicities r = Ng/Nq is found to be 1.64+/-0.17, where statistical and systematic uncertainties are added in quadrature. The results are in agreement with resummed perturbative QCD calculations.

School re-entry after a cancer diagnosis: physician attitudes about truth telling and information sharing

BACKGROUND

School re-entry for children with cancer hallmarks a return to age-appropriate activities; a process fraught with adjustment challenges. The paediatric oncologist is in a pivotal role of setting the tone and providing direction to the child, family, and other members of the health care and school team about this process. Understanding physicians' attitudes and behaviours regarding school re-entry will provide insight into these practices.

METHODS

A four-part survey (general attitudes, patient factors, work cultures and respondent characteristics) was developed and mailed to the members of US and Japanese paediatric oncology professional societies. Japanese (n=362) and US (n=350) paediatric oncologists comprised the study sample; the average respondent was a male in his mid-forties providing clinical care>or=5 hours/week practising for about 15 years. Responses to a hypothetical scenario reflecting the range of how school re-entry issues for a child on treatment may be handled was the outcome variable in this report.

RESULTS

US physicians (284/350, 84.5%) endorsed telling everyone (the school officials and classmates) about a child's diagnosis and treatment to facilitate the transition back to school. In contrast, only 93/359 (25.9%) of the Japanese respondents endorsed telling everyone. Japanese physicians were more likely to endorse telling everyone if they believed it was the physician's responsibility to tell children the truth at diagnosis (P<0.001), if they did not believe that awareness of cancer dashes hope (P=0.002), and were not influenced by type of cancer the child had (P=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in US and Japanese paediatric oncologist responses in return to school issues may reflect larger cultural issues such as: benefits and disadvantages to telling the child that he/she has cancer; hospitalization practices; and the availability of school re-entry programs. More needs to be learned about how children, their families and schools prefer to have re-entry issues handled during and after treatment and how these approaches affect the child's re-entry into school.

Measurement of partial widths and search for direct CP violation in D0 meson decays to K-K+ and pi-pi+

We present a measurement of relative partial widths and decay rate CP asymmetries in K-K+ and pi(-)pi(+) decays of D0 mesons produced in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV. We use a sample of 2x10(5) D(*+)-->D0pi(+) (and charge conjugate) decays with the D0 decaying to K-pi(+), K-K+, and pi(-)pi(+), corresponding to 123 pb(-1) of data collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab II experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. No significant direct CP violation is observed. We measure Gamma(D0-->K-K+)/Gamma(D0-->K-pi(+))=0.0992+/-0.0011+/-0.0012, Gamma(D0-->pi(-)pi(+))/Gamma(D0-->K-pi(+))=0.035 94+/-0.000 54+/-0.000 40, A(CP)(K-K+)=(2.0+/-1.2+/-0.6)%, and A(CP)(pi(-)pi(+))=(1.0+/-1.3+/-0.6)%, where, in all cases, the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic.