Measurement of Z boson production in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=2.76 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The ATLAS experiment has observed 1995 Z boson candidates in data corresponding to 0.15  nb(-1) of integrated luminosity obtained in the 2011 LHC Pb+Pb run at sqrt[s(NN)]=2.76  TeV. The Z bosons are reconstructed via dielectron and dimuon decay channels, with a background contamination of less than 3%. Results from the two channels are consistent and are combined. Within the statistical and systematic uncertainties, the per-event Z boson yield is proportional to the number of binary collisions estimated by the Glauber model. The elliptic anisotropy of the azimuthal distribution of the Z boson with respect to the event plane is found to be consistent with zero.

Search for dark matter candidates and large extra dimensions in events with a photon and missing transverse momentum in pp collision data at sqrt[s]=7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Results of a search for new phenomena in events with an energetic photon and large missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s] = 7 TeV are reported. Data collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 fb(-1) are used. Good agreement is observed between the data and the standard model predictions. The results are translated into exclusion limits on models with large extra spatial dimensions and on pair production of weakly interacting dark matter candidates.

Expression of the Inflammatory Molecule HMGB1 in Human Osteosarcoma and its Clinical Relevance

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), known as a pro-inflammatory cytokine and chromatin-binding molecule, plays an important role in the carcinogenesis and metastasis of various tumors. The present study aimed to investigate the expression of HMGB1 in human osteosarcoma and its clinical relevance. At first, human osteosarcom tissues and their corresponding adjacent non-cancerous tissues (ANCT) from forty consecutive cases were collected. The expression of HMGB1 was detected by immunohistochemical assay through tissue microarray procedure and the correlation of HMGB1 expression with clinicopathologic factors was evaluated. Secondly, through small hairpin RNA(shRNA)-mediated HMGB1 knockdown in MG-63 osteosarcoma cells, we observed the changes of the biological behaviors of the osteosarcoma cells. As a consequence, the rate of positive expression of HMGB1 was significantly higher in osteosarcoma tissues than in the ANCT (60% vs 15%, P < 0.01). HMGB1 expression had significant positive correlation with Ennecking staging ( P = 0.034) and distant metastases ( P = 0.003), but had no correlation with the factors including age and gender of the patients, or histology and location of the tumor (each P > 0.05). Knockdown of HMGB1 down-regulated the expression of p-AKT, p-PI3K, PCNA, MMP-9 and CyclinD1, while it up-regulated the expression of cleaved caspase-3. More importantly, HMGB1 knockdown inhibited the proliferative activities and invasive potential, and induced apoptosis and cycle arrest in MG63 osteosarcoma cells. Taken together, our results indicate that HMGB1 was highly expressed in human osteosarcoma tissues, and the patients with higher HMGB1 expression in osteosarcoma tissues were more likely to have progression and metastasis of the disease. Knockdown of HMGB1 could inhibit the proliferation and invasion of osteosarcoma cells and induce its apoptosis through down-regulation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. HMGB1 could be a potential therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.

Changes in the activity and the expression of detoxification enzymes in silkworms (Bombyx mori) after phoxim feeding

Silkworm (Bombyx mori) is an economically important insect. However, non-cocoon caused by chemical insecticide poisoning has largely hindered the development of sericulture. To explore the roles of detoxification enzymes in B. mori after insecticide poisoning, we monitored the activity changes of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, glutathione-S-transferase, and carboxylesterase in B. mori midgut and fatbody after phoxim feeding. At the same time, the expression levels of detoxification enzyme-related genes were also determined by real-time quantitative PCR. Compare to the control levels, the activity of P450 in the midgut and fatbody was increased to 1.72 and 6.72 folds; the activity of GST was no change in midgut, and in fatbody increased to 1.11 folds; the activity of carboxylesterase in the midgut was decreased to 0.69 folds, and in fatbody increased to 1.13 folds. Correspondingly, the expression levels of detoxifying enzyme genes CYP6ae22, CYP9a21, GSTo1 and Bmcce were increased to 15.99, 3.32, 1.86 and 2.30 folds in the midgut and to 3.58, 1.84, 2.14 and 4.21 folds in the fatbody after phoxim treatment. These results demonstrated the important roles of detoxification enzymes in phoxim metabolism. In addition, the detected activities of such enzymes were generally lower than those in cotton bollworms (Helicoverpa armigera), which may contribute to the high susceptibility of B. mori to insecticides. Our findings laid the foundation for further investigations of the molecular mechanisms of organophosphorus pesticide metabolism in B. mori.

Infant health effects of a nurse-community health worker home visitation programme: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

  Home visiting is supported as a way to improve child health and development. Home visiting has been usually provided by nurses or community health workers (CHWs). Few studies compared the child health advantages of a nurse-CHW team approach over nurse prenatal and postnatal home visiting.

METHODS

  A randomized trial was conducted with Medicaid-insured pregnant women in Kent County, Michigan. Pregnant women were assigned to a team intervention including nurse-CHW home visitation, or standard community care (CC) including nurse home visitation. Morbidity was assessed in 530 infants over their first 12 months of life from medical claims and reported by the mother.

RESULTS

  There were no differences in overall child health between the nurse-CHW intervention and the CC arm over the first year of life. There were fewer mother-reported asthma/wheezing/croup diagnostics in the team intervention group among infants whose mothers have low psychosocial resources (13% vs. 27%, P = 0.01; adjusted OR = 0.4, P = 0.01). There were no differences in diagnosed asthma/wheezing/croup documented by medical claims. There were no differences in immunizations, hospitalizations and ear infections.

CONCLUSIONS

  There was no strong evidence that infant health was improved by the addition of CHWs to a programme of CC that included nurse home visitation. Targeting such interventions at common health problems of infancy and childhood or at diagnosed chronic conditions may prove more successful.

Transcriptional characteristics of gene expression in the midgut of domestic silkworms (Bombyx mori) exposed to phoxim

Silkworm (Bombyx mori) is not only an economically important insect but also a model system for lepidoptera. As a vital organ of digestion and nutrient absorption, the midgut of insects also serves as the first physiological barrier to chemical pesticides. In this study, microarray was performed to profile the gene expression changes in the midgut of silkworms exposed to phoxim. After 24h of phoxim exposure (4.0μg/mL), 266 genes displayed at least 2.0-fold changes in expression levels. Among them, 192 genes were up-regulated, and 74 genes were down-regulated. The most significant changes were 14.88-fold up-regulation and 23.36-fold down-regulation. According to gene ontology annotation and pathway analysis, differentially expressed genes were mainly classified into different groups based on their potential involvements in detoxification, immunne response, stress response, energy metabolism and transport. Particularly, the transcription levels of detoxification-related genes were up-regulated, such as cytochrome P450s, esterases and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), indicating increased detoxification activity in the midgut. Our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanism of pesticide metabolism in the midgut of insects, which may promote the development of highly efficient insecticides.

Search for magnetic monopoles in sqrt[s]=7 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

This Letter presents a search for magnetic monopoles with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider using an integrated luminosity of 2.0  fb(-1) of pp collisions recorded at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=7  TeV. No event is found in the signal region, leading to an upper limit on the production cross section at 95% confidence level of 1.6/ϵ  fb for Dirac magnetic monopoles with the minimum unit magnetic charge and with mass between 200 GeV and 1500 GeV, where ϵ is the monopole reconstruction efficiency. The efficiency ϵ is high and uniform in the fiducial region given by pseudorapidity |η|<1.37 and transverse kinetic energy 600-700<E(kin)sinθ<1400  GeV. The minimum value of 700 GeV is for monopoles of mass 200 GeV, whereas the minimum value of 600 GeV is applicable for higher mass monopoles. Therefore, the upper limit on the production cross section at 95% confidence level is 2 fb in this fiducial region. Assuming the kinematic distributions from Drell-Yan pair production of spin-1/2 Dirac magnetic monopoles, the efficiency is in the range 1%-10%, leading to an upper limit on the cross section at 95% confidence level that varies from 145 fb to 16 fb for monopoles with mass between 200 GeV and 1200 GeV. This limit is weaker than the fiducial limit because most of these monopoles lie outside the fiducial region.

Meta-analysis: silymarin and its combination therapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B

Silymarin is used by many patients with chronic hepatitis B, but its efficacy remains unknown. The aim of this investigation was to conduct a meta-analysis to determine the efficacy and safety of silymarin and its combination therapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. We searched Chinese and English reports from January 1966 to December 2011, using 12 databases. Two reviewers independently screened all reports to identify randomized placebo-controlled trials that evaluated silymarin and its combination therapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Twelve trials satisfied the eligibility criteria for this meta-analysis. Silymarin was equivalent to antiviral drug or protection liver drugs in serum transaminases, viral load and hepatic fibrosis markers. But silymarin combined with antiviral drug or antiviral drug and protection liver drugs significantly reduced the level of serum transaminases, hepatic fibrosis markers and serum TGF-β1, TNF-α, IL-6 versus antiviral drug or protection liver drugs. Silymarin combined with protection liver drugs significantly reduced the level of serum transaminases, TBIL, hepatic fibrosis markers and was equivalent to protection liver drugs in the normalisation rates of serum transaminases, TBIL, but protection liver drugs significantly increased the improvement rates of hepatic fibrosis markers. Silymarin combined with antiviral drug or antiviral drug and protection liver drugs may have potential therapeutic value. Treatment with silymarin appears to be safe and well tolerated. The data are too limited to exclude a substantial benefit or harm of silymarin and its combination therapy on serum transaminases, and also to support recommending this herbal compound for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.

Abstract P6-06-06: The therapeutic potential and hazard of exposure to Cerbera odollam leaf extracts

Background: Despite its significance in leading to the reduction of breast cancer mortality rates, therapeutic regiments for breast cancer still face two major problems: (1) the heterogeneity of the tumours and (2) the prevalence of drug resistance towards anti-estrogen therapy. The leaf extracts from Cerbera odollam were screened for active compounds with the potential to overcome these problems.

Methods: Hormone responsive (MCF7) and hormone-independent cell lines (MDA-MB-231) were treated with the fractionated methanolic extracts of C. odollam followed by analyses on cell cycle perturbations and gene expression changes resulting from the treatment. The stated analyses were performed by flow cytometry, semi-quantitative RT-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence. The active fraction was identified, upon which HPLC separation was performed to identify the putative active compound.

Results: Initial experiments revealed that a fractionated extract contains a potent cytostatic agent which is active towards hormone-responsive but not hormone-independent breast cell lines [the Estrogen Receptor-alpha (ERα) positive MCF7 cells remained static in growth for 10 days]. Comparison of the effects of the active and inactive fractions on MCF7 cells revealed key differences in cell growth and expression of ERα and its downstream regulated genes. The active compound was identified to be neriifolin (a cardiac glycoside) which also exhibited prolonged cytostatic effects (for 10 days upon treatment of 18.7 nM) similar to the active fraction. Gene expression analyses suggested that the ERα/Estrogen (E2) regulatory pathway and p53-dependent p21WAF1 transactivaton could be the cellular targets.

Conclusion: Although neriifolin could be a potential drug for breast cancer treatment, its severity in down regulation of the ERα/E2 regulatory pathway which is critical during female development indicates the potential health hazard from our exposure to C. odollam. We are now focusing on establishing assay to evaluate whether neriifolin could cause drug resistance (similar to tamoxifen) by silencing ERα expression through hypermethylation of the ERα promoter.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-06-06.

Visual Semiotics &amp; Uncertainty Visualization: An Empirical Study

This paper presents two linked empirical studies focused on uncertainty visualization. The experiments are framed from two conceptual perspectives. First, a typology of uncertainty is used to delineate kinds of uncertainty matched with space, time, and attribute components of data. Second, concepts from visual semiotics are applied to characterize the kind of visual signification that is appropriate for representing those different categories of uncertainty. This framework guided the two experiments reported here. The first addresses representation intuitiveness, considering both visual variables and iconicity of representation. The second addresses relative performance of the most intuitive abstract and iconic representations of uncertainty on a map reading task. Combined results suggest initial guidelines for representing uncertainty and discussion focuses on practical applicability of results.

PEDF inhibits growth and invasiveness of endometrial cancer cells in vitro

AIM

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is pluripotent in both antiangiogenesis and direct tumor inhibition. We thus investigated role of PEDF in endometrial cancer cells in vitro.

METHODS

Exogenous PEDF was delivered into Ishikawa and KLE cells by adenovirus system. Realtime RT-PCR was used to detect expressional change of several angiogenesis-related factors. Proliferation and viability tests were performed to establish suitable transduction titre. Cell cycle and apoptosis assays were conducted to evaluate inhibitive effects of PEDF on tumor cell growth. Transwell tests were carried out to investigate the retardation of tumor cell invasiveness by PEDF.

RESULTS

PEDF induced decrease in viability, proliferation and invasiveness of both endometrial tumor cell lines. Incremented cell apoptosis and aggregated population in G1 phase of cell cycle was noted in PEDF groups. PEDF also induced down-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and up-regulation of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) in both cell lines.

CONCLUSION

Adenovirus mediated PEDF is potent in retarding the growth and invasiveness of endometrial cancer cells. PEDF can become promising as novel therapeutic strategy in endometrial carcinoma.

Search for direct top squark pair production in final states with one isolated lepton, jets, and missing transverse momentum in sqrt[s] = 7 TeV pp collisions using 4.7 fb(-10 of ATLAS data

A search is presented for direct top squark pair production in final states with one isolated electron or muon, jets, and missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s] = 7 TeV. The measurement is based on 4.7 fb(-1) of data collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Each top squark is assumed to decay to a top quark and the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP). The data are found to be consistent with standard model expectations. Top squark masses between 230 GeV and 440 GeV are excluded with 95% confidence for massless LSPs, and top squark masses around 400 GeV are excluded for LSP masses up to 125 GeV.

Search for a supersymmetric partner to the top quark in final states with jets and missing transverse momentum at sqrt[s] = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for direct pair production of supersymmetric top squarks (t(1)) is presented, assuming the t(1) decays into a top quark and the lightest supersymmetric particle, χ(1)(0), and that both top quarks decay to purely hadronic final states. A total of 16 (4) events are observed compared to a predicted standard model background of 13.5(-3.6)(+3.7)(4.4(-1.3)(+1.7)) events in two signal regions based on ∫Ldt = 4.7 fb(-1) of pp collision data taken at sqrt[s] = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. An exclusion region in the t(1) versus χ(1)(0) mass plane is evaluated: 370<m(t)(1)}<465 GeV is excluded for m(χ)(1)(0) ~ 0 GeV while m(t)(1) = 445 GeV is excluded for m(χ)(1)(0) ≤ 50 GeV.

Elevated expression of ETS-1 gene in a metastatic, tumorigenic human prostate epithelial cell line transformed by the v-Ki-ras oncogene

A suitable in vitro model system to investigate mechanisms of human prostate carcinogenesis is much needed. We have previously demonstrated that an immortal, but non-tumorigenic, human prostate epithelial cell line (267B(1)) can be malignantly transformed by the v-Ki-ras oncogene, and it can serve as a useful model for investigation of the progression steps of prostate carcinogenesis. In this study, we report for the first time the invasive/metastatic phenotype of the v-Ki-ras transformed 267B, cells (267B(1)/Ki-ras). In addition, comparing non-tumorigenic 267B, and metastatic tumorigenic 267B(1)/Ki-ras human prostate epithelial cell lines, we have found that expression of ETS-1 and ERGB mRNA was elevated to 2-5 fold in the metastatic and tumorigenic 267B(1)/Ki-ras cell line. A specific ETS-1 monoclonal antibody E44 also revealed that the expression of ETS-1 protein level in 267B(1)/Ki-ras cell line was higher than those in 267B, cell line. However, other members of the ETS gene family such as ETS-2, GABP alpha and their mRNA expression levels were similar in both cell lines. The activation of MAP kinase, a downstream target for Ki-ras, was also shown. The expression of urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA) was also increased in the metastatic 267B(1)/Ki-ras line. An obvious capability of invasion was observed in the 267B(1)/Ki-ras cell line, but not in the 267B(1) line using BioCoat Matrigel invasion chamber assay system. The present study has provided evidence that the v-Ki-ras oncogene may activate the nuclear target gene, ETS-1 gene, to mediate tumorigenic and metastatic capacity of the v-Ki-ras transformed prostate epithelial cells.

MiR-155 inhibits the sensitivity of lung cancer cells to cisplatin via negative regulation of Apaf-1 expression

MicroRNA-155 (miR-155) overexpression is often found in malignancies including lung cancer. The objective of this study is to verify the hypothesis, based on the results of bioinformatics analysis, that miR-155 modulates cellular apoptosis and DNA damage through the regulation of Apaf-1 and is thus involved in the development and progression of lung cancer. First, we measured the expression of miR-155 and the Apaf-1 protein in lung cancer tissues. The results showed that expression of miR-155 was significantly higher in lung cancer tissues than in paracancerous and normal tissues; whereas Apaf-1 expression was lower in the lung cancerous tissues. We then established miR-155-silenced and Apaf-1-overexpressed A549 cell lines by transfection with pMAGic2.0-BIC-siRNA and pcDNA3.1-Apaf-1, respectively. These cell lines were then treated with cisplatin, and apoptosis and DNA damage were assessed, with non-transfected A549 cells used as negative controls. The results showed that, relative to controls, the silencing of miR-155 resulted in elevated expression of the Apaf-1 protein, whereas Apaf-1 mRNA levels remained unchanged. Both the silencing of miR-155 and the overexpression Apaf-1 greatly increased the sensitivity of A549 cells to cisplatin treatment, as evidenced by elevated rates of apoptosis and DNA damage. Furthermore, dual-transfection of A549 cells with miR-155 siRNA and Apaf-1 siRNA resulted in the attenuation of apoptosis and DNA damage. In conclusion, the inhibition of miR-155 can enhance the sensitivity of A549 cells to cisplatin treatment by modulation of cellular apoptosis and DNA damage through an Apaf-1-mediated pathway.