Study of Z Boson Production in PbPb Collisions at √S(NN)=2.76 TeV

A search for Z bosons in the μ(+)μ(-) decay channel has been performed in PbPb collisions at √S(NN)=2.76  TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC, in a 7.2 μb(-1) data sample. The number of opposite-sign muon pairs observed in the 60-120 GeV/c(2) invariant mass range is 39, corresponding to a yield per unit of rapidity (y) and per minimum bias event of [33.8±5.5(stat)±4.4(syst)]×10(-8), in the |y|<2.0 range. Rapidity, transverse momentum, and centrality dependencies are also measured. The results agree with next-to-leading order QCD calculations, scaled by the number of incoherent nucleon-nucleon collisions.

Measurement of dijet angular distributions and search for quark compositeness in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV

Dijet angular distributions are measured over a wide range of dijet invariant masses in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV, at the CERN LHC. The event sample, recorded with the CMS detector, corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 36 pb⁻¹. The data are found to be in good agreement with the predictions of perturbative QCD, and yield no evidence of quark compositeness. With a modified frequentist approach, a lower limit on the contact interaction scale for left-handed quarks of Λ⁺ = 5.6 TeV (Λ⁻ = 6.7 TeV) for destructive (constructive) interference is obtained at the 95% confidence level.

Search for pair production of second-generation scalar leptoquarks in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV

A search for pair production of second-generation scalar leptoquarks in the final state with two muons and two jets is performed using proton-proton collision data at √s = 7 TeV collected by the CMS detector at the LHC. The data sample used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 34 pb⁻¹. The number of observed events is in good agreement with the predictions from the standard model processes. An upper limit is set on the second-generation leptoquark cross section times β² as a function of the leptoquark mass, and leptoquarks with masses below 394 GeV are excluded at a 95% confidence level for β = 1, where β is the leptoquark branching fraction into a muon and a quark. These limits are the most stringent to date.

Search for pair production of first-generation scalar leptoquarks in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV

A search for pair production of first-generation scalar leptoquarks is performed in the final state containing two electrons and two jets using proton-proton collision data at √s = 7 TeV. The data sample used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 33 pb⁻¹ collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The number of observed events is in good agreement with the predictions for the standard model background processes, and an upper limit is set on the leptoquark pair production cross section times β² as a function of the leptoquark mass, where β is the branching fraction of the leptoquark decay to an electron and a quark. A 95% confidence level lower limit is set on the mass of a first-generation scalar leptoquark at 384 GeV for β = 1, which is the most stringent direct limit to date.

Rice planting systems, global warming and outbreaks of Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)

Brown Planthopper (BPH, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)) is one of the most serious pests of rice in both temperate and tropical regions of East and South Asia and has become especially problematic over the past few years. In order to analyze the effect of the change of rice cropping system on the population dynamics of BPH, field surveys of the occurrence and distribution of BPH were performed and other relevant data, including light trap data and ovary dissection data were collected in nearly 40 Chinese counties encompassing six provinces (or municipalities), including Hainan, Guangxi, Anhui, Shanghai, Fujian and Guangdong from April to October in 2007.The mixed planting areas of single- and double-cropping rice in China include Hubei, South and Central Anhui, North Hunan, and North Jiangxi. In these areas, double-cropping rice has now been greatly reduced and single-cropping rice has been rapidly increasing since 1997. The surveys revealed that when the immigration peak of BPH occurred in June and July, the single-cropping rice was at the tillering to booting stage and fit for BPH, but early rice had already matured and most of late rice had not yet been transplanted. BPH immigrants from southern rice areas prefer to inhabit and breed in single-cropping rice paddies. Moreover, farming activities between early rice and late rice interrupted the continuous growth of BPH populations in double-cropping rice paddies. As a result, in comparison with data collected 30 years ago, the spatiotemporal dynamics and migration patterns of BPH have dramatically changed in the lower-middle reaches of the Yangtze River. In the mixed planting areas, due to their high suitability, the BPH population in single-cropping rice grew so quickly that it caused serious local damage and there was mass emigration of macropterous progeny to the Yangtze River Delta in late August and early September.Global warming may also affect BPH populations, where results suggest steadily warmer autumns have occurred from the 1990s on, with such conditions gradually the norm. The combination of 'cooler summer' and 'warmer autumn' are conditions known to promote outbreaks of BPH in the lower-middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Immigrant BPH arrivals in late August and September now cause serious damage to late-maturing mid-season rice and late rice in the lower-middle reaches of the Yangtze River.

Dijet azimuthal decorrelations in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

Measurements of dijet azimuthal decorrelations in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV using the CMS detector at the CERN LHC are presented. The analysis is based on an inclusive dijet event sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.9 pb⁻¹. The results are compared to predictions from perturbative QCD calculations and various Monte Carlo event generators. The dijet azimuthal distributions are found to be sensitive to initial-state gluon radiation.

Measurement of the B(+) production cross section in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=7 TeV

Measurements of the total and differential cross sections dσ/dp(T)(B) and dσ/dy(B) for B(+) mesons produced in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=7  TeV are presented. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 5.8  pb(-1) collected by the CMS experiment operating at the LHC. The exclusive decay B(+)→J/ψK(+), with J/ψ→μ(+)μ(-), is used to detect B(+) mesons and to measure the production cross section as a function of p(T)(B) and y(B). The total cross section for p(T)(B)>5  GeV and |y(B)|<2.4 is measured to be 28.1±2.4±2.0±3.1  μb, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the last is from the luminosity measurement.

Long-term phenotypic correction in factor IX knockout mice by using ΦC31 integrase-mediated gene therapy

Hemophilia B, a hereditary bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of coagulation factor IX (FIX), is an excellent candidate for gene therapy. However, to date, success in hemophilia gene therapy clinical trials has been limited due to failure to achieve or sustain therapeutic levels of factor expression. The ΦC31 integrase system efficiently integrates plasmid DNA carrying a transgene and an attB site into a limited number of endogenous pseudo attP sites in mammalian genomes, leading to robust, sustained transgene expression. A strategy utilizing plasmid DNA integrated with ΦC31 integrase may offer a facile and safe alternative for sustained human FIX (hFIX) expression. Hydrodynamic tail vein injection was used for delivery of plasmids encoding ΦC31 integrase and hFIX to the liver of FIX knockout mice. We demonstrated prolonged therapeutic levels of hFIX in this knockout mouse model of hemophilia B over a 6-month time course when ΦC31 integrase was used. Additionally, we observed sustained FIX activity in plasma and phenotypic correction of bleeding after tail clip in ΦC31-treated mice. In the livers that received integrase, we also demonstrated prolonged hFIX expression in hepatocytes by immunohistochemistry and documented sequence-specific genomic integration of the hFIX plasmid. These studies suggest the possibility that a similar approach in large animals and humans could lead to a simple and successful gene therapy for hemophilia.

Measurement of the isolated prompt photon production cross section in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

The differential cross section for the inclusive production of isolated prompt photons has been measured as a function of the photon transverse energy E(T)(γ) in pp collisions at √s=7  TeV using data recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 2.9  pb(-1). Photons are required to have a pseudorapidity |η(γ)|<1.45 and E(T)(γ)>21  GeV, covering the kinematic region 0.006<x(T)<0.086. The measured cross section is found to be in agreement with next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations.

C6-ceramide synergistically potentiates the anti-tumor effects of histone deacetylase inhibitors via AKT dephosphorylation and α-tubulin hyperacetylation both in vitro and in vivo

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) have shown promising anti-tumor effects for a variety of malignancies, however, many tumors are reportedly resistant to them. In this study, we made a novel discovery that co-administration of HDACIs (Trichostatin A (TSA) and others) and exogenous cell-permeable short-chain ceramide (C6) results in striking increase in cancer cell death and apoptosis in multiple cancer cells. These events are associated with perturbations in diverse cell signaling pathways, including inactivation of Akt/mTOR and increase in α-tubulin acetylation (both in vivo and in vitro). TSA interacts in a highly synergistic manner with C6-ceramide to disrupt HDAC6/protein phosphatase 1 (PP1)/tubulin complex, to induce α-tubulin hyperacetylation, and to release and activate PP1, which then leads to AKT dephosphorylation and eventually causes cancer cell death. Interestingly, TSA itself results in short-term ceramide accumulation, which as a result of metabolic (glycosylation) removal, does not result in evident increase of cancer cell death. However, adding C6-ceramide led to a very pronounced increase in ceramide level and marked increase in cell death. Importantly, the effective synergistic anti-tumor activity of TSA plus C6-ceramide is also seen in in vivo mice xenograft pancreatic and ovarian cancer models, indicating that this regimen (HDACI plus C6-ceramide) may represent a more effective form of therapy against pancreatic and ovarian carcinoma.

Search for stopped Gluinos in pp collisions at square root s=7 TeV

The results of the first search for long-lived gluinos produced in 7 TeV pp collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider are presented. The search looks for evidence of long-lived particles that stop in the CMS detector and decay in the quiescent periods between beam crossings. In a dataset with a peak instantaneous luminosity of 1×10(32) cm-2 s-1, an integrated luminosity of 10 pb-1, and a search interval corresponding to 62 hours of LHC operation, no significant excess above background was observed. Limits at the 95% confidence level on gluino pair production over 13 orders of magnitude of gluino lifetime are set. For a mass difference mg - mχ1(0) >100 GeV/c2, and assuming BR(g→gχ1(0))=100%, mg < 370 GeV/c2 are excluded for lifetimes from 10 μs to 1000 s.

Search for quark compositeness with the dijet centrality ratio in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

A search for quark compositeness in the form of quark contact interactions, based on hadronic jet pairs (dijets) produced in proton-proton collisions at √s=7 TeV, is described. The data sample of the study corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 2.9 pb(-1) collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. The dijet centrality ratio, which quantifies the angular distribution of the dijets, is measured as a function of the invariant mass of the dijet system and is found to agree with the predictions of the standard model. A statistical analysis of the data provides a lower limit on the energy scale of quark contact interactions. The sensitivity of the analysis is such that the expected limit is 2.9 TeV; because the observed value of the centrality ratio at high invariant mass is below the expectation, the observed limit is 4.0 TeV at the 95% confidence level.

Genetic epistasis analysis of 10 peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ-correlated genes in broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content

Chicken peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), which is highly expressed in adipose tissues, is a key factor in fat accumulation in the abdominal fat pad. In this study, association and pairwise epistasis analyses were performed for all the polymorphisms detected in PPARγ and for 9 genes from PPARγ-correlated lipid metabolic pathways for abdominal fat weight (AFW) in 10th-generation populations of Northeast Agricultural University broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content. Epistatic networks were then reconstructed with the identified epistatic effects. Single-marker association analyses showed that 5 of the 20 screened polymorphisms were significantly associated with AFW (P < 0.05), and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) c.552G>A was 1 of the 5 significant loci. Pairwise interaction analyses showed that 15 pairs of polymorphisms reached a significance level of P < 2.64 × 10(-4) (adjusted by Bonferroni correction) in the lean line, 41 pairs reached significance in the fat line, and 7 pairs reached significance in both lines. Interestingly, many other loci interacted with C/EBPα c.552G>A in both lines. In epistatic network analyses, C/EBPα c.552G>A seemed to behave as a hub for the epistatic network in both lines. All these results revealed that the genetic architecture of C/EBPα c.552G>A for AFW seemed to be an apparent individual main-effect QTL but that it could be dissected into a genetic epistatic network. Our results suggest that C/EBPα c.552G>A might be the most important locus contributing to phenotypic variation in AFW among all the polymorphisms detected in this study.

Search for dijet resonances in 7 TeV pp collisions at CMS

A search for narrow resonances in the dijet mass spectrum is performed using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.9 pb⁻¹ collected by the CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. Upper limits at the 95% confidence level are presented on the product of the resonance cross section, branching fraction into dijets, and acceptance, separately for decays into quark-quark, quark-gluon, or gluon-gluon pairs. The data exclude new particles predicted in the following models at the 95% confidence level: string resonances, with mass less than 2.50 TeV, excited quarks, with mass less than 1.58 TeV, and axigluons, colorons, and E6 diquarks, in specific mass intervals. This extends previously published limits on these models.

Development of oat-based markers from barley and wheat microsatellites

Although microsatellites are an efficient and reliable genetic marker system, availability is limited in cultivated oat (Avena sativa L.). Previous research has suggested that microsatellites from related species may be adapted to oat. This study investigated the stability of existing oat microsatellites, sequenced polymorphic oat amplicons derived from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) primers, and redesigned primers to develop oat-based markers. We evaluated 161 published oat microsatellites and identified 9 with polymorphism between mapping parents Ogle1040 and TAM O-301 (OT). We also studied 30 wheat, 1 Aegilops tauschii Coss., and 9 barley primers with reported oat polymorphism. Sixteen primers (1 A. tauschii, 10 wheat, 5 barley) amplified random oat sequences and were used to generate 28 new oat STS markers. Eight primers, 4 each from wheat and barley, amplified oat repetitive motifs, generating 10 new oat SSRs. Four additional SSRs were developed from characterization of thaumatin-like pathogenesis-related protein sequences formerly utilized as the Rast1-4 oat marker. These new markers, along with 9 existing oat SSRs and 6 previously identified disease resistance loci, were mapped in the OT population, joining 3 pairs of linkage groups. Map locations of multiallelic SSRs and disease-resistance QTL interactions suggested possible homoeologous relationships among the oat chromosomes.

First measurement of Bose-Einstein correlations in proton-proton collisions at √s=0.9 and 2.36 TeV at the LHC

Bose-Einstein correlations have been measured using samples of proton-proton collisions at 0.9 and 2.36 TeV center-of-mass energies, recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The signal is observed in the form of an enhancement of pairs of same-sign charged particles with small relative four-momentum. The size of the correlated particle emission region is seen to increase significantly with the particle multiplicity of the event.

Transverse-momentum and pseudorapidity distributions of charged hadrons in pp collisions at square root of s = 7 TeV

Charged-hadron transverse-momentum and pseudorapidity distributions in proton-proton collisions at square root of s = 7  TeV are measured with the inner tracking system of the CMS detector at the LHC. The charged-hadron yield is obtained by counting the number of reconstructed hits, hit pairs, and fully reconstructed charged-particle tracks. The combination of the three methods gives a charged-particle multiplicity per unit of pseudorapidity dN(ch)/dη|(|η|<0.5) = 5.78 ± 0.01(stat) ± 0.23(syst) for non-single-diffractive events, higher than predicted by commonly used models. The relative increase in charged-particle multiplicity from square root of s = 0.9 to 7 TeV is [66.1 ± 1.0(stat) ± 4.2(syst)]%. The mean transverse momentum is measured to be 0.545 ± 0.005(stat) ± 0.015(syst)  GeV/c. The results are compared with similar measurements at lower energies.

U-shape association between white blood cell count and the risk of diabetes in young Chinese adults

BACKGROUND

Chronic low-grade inflammation is related to diabetes risk in population studies. Elevated levels of white blood cells (WBC) were related to the risk of diabetes in cross-sectional studies in the Chinese population. The objective of the study is to assess the prospective association between WBC and the risk of diabetes in the Chinese population.

METHODS

We examined 7445 manual workers aged 18-59 years free from diabetes at baseline. Fasting glucose concentrations and white cell count were measured at annual health examinations from 1997 to 2007. Anthropometric measurements were taken by health workers. In the present study, each participant had at least two measurements of fasting blood glucose.

RESULTS

During a mean of 4.94 years follow-up, 178 participants developed diabetes. After controlling for known risk factors for diabetes (age, gender, smoking, drinking, parental history of diabetes, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, hepatitis B surface antigen and liver function), a U-shaped association between WBC count and diabetes was found. The hazard ratios (HR) of diabetes across quartiles of WBC count were 1.87 (95% CI 1.15-3.05), 1.00, 1.46 (0.88-2.42) and 2.04 (1.28-3.25). The association was stronger among non-smokers: compared with the second quartile, the HR of diabetes for the first and fourth quartiles of WBC were 3.00 (1.28-7.03) and 3.16 (1.33-7.53). Adjusting for hepatitis B virus infection and liver function did not change the association.

CONCLUSION

Both low and high levels of WBC count were associated with an increased risk of diabetes in young workers.

TRPC channel-mediated neuroprotection by PDGF involves Pyk2/ERK/CREB pathway

Platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF) has been reported to provide tropic support for neurons in the central nervous system. The protective role of PDGF on dopaminergic neurons, especially in the context of HIV-associated dementia (HAD), however, remains largely unknown. Here, we show that exogenous PDGF was neuroprotective against toxicity induced by HIV-1 Tat in primary midbrain neurons. Furthermore, we report the involvement of transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels in PDGF-mediated neuroprotection. TRPC channels are Ca(2+)-permeable, nonselective cation channels with a variety of physiological functions. Blocking TRPC channels with either a blocker or short-interfering RNAs (specific for TRPC 5 and 6) in primary neurons resulted in suppression of both PDGF-mediated neuroprotection as well as elevations in intracellular Ca(2+). PDGF-mediated neuroprotection involved parallel but distinct ERK/CREB and PI3K/Akt pathways. TRPC channel blocking also resulted in suppression of PDGF-induced Pyk2/ERK/CREB activation, but not Akt activation. Relevance of these findings in vivo was further corroborated by intrastriatal injections of PDGF and HIV-1 Tat in mice. Administration of PDGF was able to rescue the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra from Tat-induced neurotoxicity. This effect was attenuated by pre-treatment of mice with the TRP blocker, thus underscoring the novel role of TRPC channels in the neuroprotection mediated by PDGF.

Aquaporin-4 maintains ependymal integrity in adult mice

Ependymal cells form the walls of the ventricles, and take part in the production of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Aquaporin-4 (AQP4), a predominant water channel of the brain, is restricted to basolateral plasma membranes of ependymal cells. The highly polarized expression of AQP4 suggests it may be involved in maintaining the structural and functional integrity of the ependyma. This hypothesis was validated by using adult AQP4 knockout mice generated by our laboratory [Fan Y, Zhang J, Sun XL, Gao L, Zeng XN, Ding JH, Cao C, Niu L, Hu G (2005) Sex- and region-specific alterations of basal amino acid and monoamine metabolism in the brain of aquaporin-4 knockout mice. J Neurosci Res 82:458-464]. Histological analysis showed disorganized ependymal layer of the lateral ventricle and aqueduct in AQP4-deficiency mice. A majority (92.7%) of null mice displayed reduced lateral ventricular volume, while a small fraction (7.3%) had enlarged or normal ventricular size with a narrow aqueduct. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that AQP4 deletion resulted in decreased expression of gap junction protein connexin43 in the ependymal cells. Electron microscopy confirmed junctional complex absence at basolateral membranes of ependymocytes. Moreover, AQP4 knockout mice showed decreased CSF production and increased brain water content compared with wild-type mice. These results highlight a key role of AQP4 in maintaining the structure and function of the ependyma. In addition, variable profiles of ventricle system in adult AQP4 null mice indicate functional AQP4 polymorphisms.

Reducing black/white disparity: changes in injury mortality in the 15-24 year age group, United States, 1999-2005

In 1999, the injury death rate for black males aged 15-24 in the USA was 80% greater than for white males: 148.5 vs 82.5/100,000, a difference of 66/100,000. Injury-specific changes between 1999 and 2005 in death rates for the 15-24 age group and in racial disparity were analysed using data from CDC's WISQARS. The gap between black and white all-injury death rates in males was reduced by 24%, to a difference of 50/100,000, largely because of greater decreases in the rates for motor vehicle crashes and firearm suicide in young black men than young white men, and large increases in suicide by suffocation and unintentional poisoning in the latter. Among females, despite a reduction in the black/white gap in firearm homicide rates, the gap between the races in total injury rates changed from a small black excess to a higher rate in young white women, which was due primarily to greater increases in these white women than black women in unintentional poisoning and suicide by suffocation, and greater decreases in black women than white women in firearm suicide.

Meta- and pooled analyses of the effect of glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 deficiency on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex polygenic disease in which gene-environment interactions are very important. A number of studies have investigated the genotypes of glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 (GSTM1 and GSTT1) in relation to COPD susceptibility in different populations. However, the results of individual studies have been inconsistent.

METHODS

To address the inconsistent findings in studies of the association of the polymorphism of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes with susceptibility to COPD, we performed a meta-analysis of the published data. We searched the Medline database for case-control studies published from 1966 to July 2008. Data were extracted and pooled, and ORs were calculated with their 95%CIs.

RESULTS

Twelve eligible studies comprising 1697 patients with COPD and 1867 controls were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled result showed that the GSTM1 deficiency was associated with risk of COPD (OR 1.46, 95%CI 1.16-1.83). Subgroup analysis supported the results in smoking and non-Asian populations, but not in Asian populations. The GSTT1 deficiency was not associated with risk of COPD.

CONCLUSIONS

The GSTM1 gene is a genetic contributor to overall COPD susceptibility in non-Asian populations, and the GSTT1 gene is not associated with COPD.

Injury control: an opportunity for China

Injury control is an important health issue in China, but has been less well explored than in other countries. To encourage health policy makers to give greater attention to injury control, this report highlights the great damage caused by injuries and the neglected status of injury control in China. China's situation and the experiences and lessons from industrialized countries, especially the USA, are summarized. Finally, two opportunities to improve injury control in China are identified: establishment of a mechanism for multi-department coordination and collaboration; and improvement of injury data surveillance.

Body mass index and the risk of total and cardiovascular mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes: a large prospective study in Ukraine

BACKGROUND

Several prospective studies have evaluated the association between body mass index (BMI) and cardiovascular mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes; however, the results are controversial.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of different BMI distributions with total and cardiovascular mortality among diabetic patients.

METHODS

A total of 30 534 Ukrainian men and 58 909 women with type 2 diabetes from the nationwide population-based diabetes register were included in this study.

RESULTS

During a mean follow-up of 2.7 years, 7804 deaths were recorded, of which 3320 were due to cardiovascular disease. After adjustment for age, smoking and alcohol drinking, the hazard ratios across the five BMI categories (<23, 23-24.9, 25-29.9 (reference group), 30-34.9 and >or=35 kg/m2) among diabetic men were 1.57 (95% CI 1.42 to 1.74), 1.16 (1.05 to 1.28), 1.0, 1.01 (0.91 to 1.12) and 1.24 (1.02 to 1.50) for total mortality, and 1.67 (95% CI 1.42 to 1.95), 1.30 (1.12 to 1.51), 1.0, 1.13 (0.96 to 1.34) and 1.54 (1.16 to 2.05) for cardiovascular mortality, respectively. The respective hazard ratios among diabetic women were 1.34 (95% CI 1.22 to 1.47), 1.00 (0.91 to 1.10), 1.0, 1.04 (0.97 to 1.12) and 1.27 (1.14 to 1.41) for total mortality, and 1.36 (95% CI 1.18 to 1.57), 1.06 (0.92 to 1.21), 1.0, 1.12 (1.01 to 1.25) and 1.35 (1.15 to 1.59) for cardiovascular mortality. Additional adjustment for systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes treatments and duration of diabetes affected the results only slightly.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicated a U-shaped association between BMI and total and cardiovascular mortality among diabetic men and women.

Research on a natural sunscreen from Chinese herbs

To compare the difference in SPF values between a synthetic sunscreen and a sunscreen derived from Chinese herbs, by using optical and biological methods, we observed the effects of these sunscreens by photochemical reaction, sun protection factor (SPF) values, and UV absorption. The results showed that the synthetic sunscreen was more effective in UV absorption than the sunscreen derived from natural Chinese herbs. When they were tested biologically, it was found that the sunscreen derived from Chinese herbs was able to improve skin tonicity, as well as reduce the itching, photoerythema, squamation, burning, and reddening caused by the excessive UV radiation, while the synthetic sunscreen could not improve these conditions of the skin, and even induced some side-effects in the skin with photoerythema. By comparing the in vivo SPF values of the two types of sunscreen, they were found to be mainly similar. The results indicate that the SPF value was related to both a photo-reaction and a biological reaction. The sunscreen derived from natural Chinese herbs, although having low UV absorption, was able to exhibit the same SPF value as the synthetic sunscreen because of its biological effects.

Total cholesterol and the risk of Parkinson disease

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between serum total cholesterol at baseline and the risk of Parkinson disease (PD).

METHODS

Study cohorts included 24,773 Finnish men and 26,153 women aged 25 to 74 years without a history of PD and stroke at baseline. Hazard ratios (HRs) of incident PD were estimated for different levels of total cholesterol.

RESULTS

During a mean follow-up period of 18.1 years, 321 men and 304 women developed incident PD. After adjustment for confounding factors (age, study years, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, education, leisure-time physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, coffee and tea consumption, and history of diabetes), the HRs of PD at different levels of total cholesterol (<5, 5-5.9, 6-6.9, and >or=7 mmol/L) were 1.00, 1.33, 1.53, and 1.84 (p for trend = 0.035) in men; 1.00, 1.55, 1.57, and 1.86 (p for trend = 0.113) in women; and 1.00, 1.42, 1.56, and 1.86 (p for trend = 0.002) in men and women combined (adjusted also for sex). In both sexes combined, the increased risk of PD associated with increasing levels of serum total cholesterol was present both in subjects aged 25-44 years and in subjects aged 45-54 years at baseline, and in never smokers and smokers; however, no association was found among subjects aged 55 years or older at baseline.

CONCLUSION

This large prospective study suggests that high total cholesterol at baseline is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson disease.

Qualitative and quantitative trait loci conditioning resistance to Puccinia coronata pathotypes NQMG and LGCG in the oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivars Ogle and TAM O-301

Mapping disease resistance loci relies on the type and precision of phenotypic measurements. For crown rust of oat, disease severity is commonly assessed based on visual ratings of infection types (IT) and/or diseased leaf area (DLA) of infected plants in the greenhouse or field. These data can be affected by several variables including; (i) non-uniform disease development in the field; (ii) atypical symptom development in the greenhouse; (iii) the presence of multiple pathogenic races or pathotypes in the field, and (iv) rating bias. To overcome these limitations, we mapped crown rust resistance to single isolates in the Ogle/TAM O-301 (OT) recombinant inbred line (RIL) population using detailed measurements of IT, uredinia length (UL) and relative fungal DNA (FDNA) estimates determined by q-PCR. Measurements were taken on OT parents and recombinant inbred lines (RIL) inoculated with Puccinia coronata pathotypes NQMG and LGCG in separate greenhouse and field tests. Qualitative mapping identified an allele conferred by TAM O-301 on linkage group (LG) OT-11, which produced a bleached fleck phenotype to both NQMG and LGCG. Quantitative mapping identified two major quantitative trait loci (QTL) originating from TAM O-301 on LGs OT-11 and OT-32 which reduced UL and FDNA of both isolates in all experiments. Additionally, minor QTLs that reduced UL and FDNA were detected on LGs OT-15 and OT-8, originating from TAM O-301, and on LG OT-27, originating from Ogle. Detailed assessments of the OT population using two pathotypes in both the greenhouse and field provided comprehensive information to effectively map the genes responsible for crown rust resistance in Ogle and TAM O-301 to NQMG and LGCG.

Characterization and mapping of oat crown rust resistance genes using three assessment methods

ABSTRACT Resistance is the primary means of control for crown rust of oat (Avena sativa L.), caused by Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae, and better knowledge of the genetics of resistance will enhance resistance breeding. Disease data were generated in the field and greenhouse for parents and recombinant inbred lines of the Ogle/TAM O-301 (OT) oat mapping population using (i) a new quantitative assay that employs quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) to estimate fungal growth in the host, (ii) digital image analysis, and (iii) visual ratings. The objectives of this study were to evaluate each assessment method's ability to map a major gene from cv. Ogle and potential quantitative trait loci (QTL) contributed by Ogle and TAM O-301. All three assessment methods identified the major gene in Ogle, which was mapped to linkage group OT6. The resolution produced by q-PCR, however, enabled more precise mapping of the major gene. Quantitative analysis indicated that 64% of the phenotypic variation was accounted for using q-PCR, whereas 41 and 52% were accounted for using visual and digital assessments, respectively. Data generated by q-PCR permitted identification of QTL on linkage groups OT32, accounting for 6% of the phenotypic variation, and OT2, accounting for 4% of the variation. QTL on both OT32 and OT2 were conferred by TAM O-301, one of which (OT2) was indiscernible using data from the visual and digital assessments. The new method of precisely phenotyping crown rust resistance provided a more accurate and thorough means of dissecting resistance in the OT mapping population. Similar methods could be developed and applied to other important cereal rust diseases.

Fibrin-targeted perfluorocarbon nanoparticles for targeted thrombolysis

Background: Reperfusion of the ischemic brain is the most effective therapy for acute stroke, restoring blood flow to threatened tissues. Thrombolytics, such as recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, administered within 3 h of symptom onset can improve neurologic outcome, although the potential for adverse hemorrhagic events limits its use to less than 3% of acute ischemic stroke patients. Targeting of clot-dissolving therapeutics has the potential to decrease the frequency of complications while simultaneously increasing treatment effectiveness, by concentrating the available drug at the desired site and permitting a lower systemic dose. Objectives: We aimed to develop a fibrin-specific, liquid perfluorocarbon nanoparticle that is surface modified to deliver the plasminogen activator streptokinase. We also aimed to evaluate its effectiveness for targeted thrombolysis in vitro using quantitative acoustic microscopy. Methods: Human plasma clots were formed in vitro and targeted with streptokinase-loaded nanoparticles, control nanoparticles or a mixture of both. Depending on the treatment group, clots were then exposed to either phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), PBS with plasminogen or PBS with plasminogen and free streptokinase. Spatially registered ultrasound scans were performed at 15-min intervals for 1 h to quantify changes in clot morphology and backscatter. Results: Nanoparticles bound to the clot significantly increased the acoustic contrast of the targeted clot surface, permitting volumetric estimates. Profile plots of detected clot surfaces demonstrated that streptokinase-loaded, fibrin-targeted perfluoro-octylbromide nanoparticles in the presence of plasminogen induced rapid fibrinolysis (<60 min) without concurrent microbubble production and cavitation. Streptokinase-loaded or fibrin-targeted control nanoparticles insonified in PBS did not induce clot lysis. Morphologic changes in the treated group were accompanied by temporal and spatial changes in backscatter. Ultrasound exposure had no effect on the digestion process. Effective concentrations of targeted streptokinase were orders of magnitude lower than equivalently efficacious levels of free drug. Moreover, increasing competitive inhibition of fibrin-bound streptokinase nanoparticles reduced clot lysis in a monotonic fashion. As little as 1% surface targeting of streptokinase nanoparticles produced significant decreases in clot volumes (∼30%) in 1 h. Conclusion: This new nanoparticle-based thrombolytic agent provides specific and rapid fibrinolysis in vitro and may have a clinical role in early reperfusion during acute ischemic stroke.

Asymmetric addition of 1-ethynylcyclohexene to both aromatic and heteroaromatic ketones catalyzed by a chiral Schiff base-zinc complex

The evaluation of a chiral Schiff base ligand in the zinc-catalyzed asymmetric addition of 1-ethynylcyclohexene to both aromatic and heteroaromatic ketones is reported (with up to 83% enantioselectivity and up to 88% isolated yield).

Coffee consumption, serum gamma-glutamyltransferase and risk of type II diabetes

OBJECTIVES

To study the joint association of coffee consumption and serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels on the risk of developing type II diabetes.

DESIGN, SETTING AND SUBJECTS

A total of 21,826 Finnish men and women who were 35-74 years of age and without any history of diabetes at baseline (years 1982, 1987, 1992 and 1997) were included in the present analyses. They were prospectively followed up for onset of type II diabetes (n=862 cases), death or until the end of the year 2002. Coffee consumption, serum GGT and other study parameters were determined at baseline using standardized measurements. Analyses were stratified by the serum GGT level classified into two classes using the 75th sex-specific percentiles as the cut point.

RESULTS

Coffee consumption was significantly and inversely associated with incident diabetes among both men and women. Serum GGT modified the association between coffee consumption and incident diabetes. Subjects in the high category of coffee consumption with the GGT level > or = 75th percentile showed a significant inverse association for women, and for both sexes combined. The association was not significant in subjects with the GGT level < or = 75th percentile. There was a significant interaction effect of GGT and coffee consumption on risk of type II diabetes in data of women (P=0.05) and in both sexes combined (P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Habitual coffee consumption is associated with lower incidence of type II diabetes particularly in those with higher baseline serum GGT levels.

Body mass index and the risk of Parkinson disease

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of Parkinson disease (PD).

METHODS

Study cohorts included 22,367 Finnish men and 23,439 women 25 to 59 years of age without a history of PD at baseline. Hazards ratios (HRs) of incident PD were estimated for different levels of BMI.

RESULTS

During a mean follow-up period of 18.8 years, 272 men and 254 women developed incident PD. After adjustment for confounding factors (age, study years, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, education, leisure-time physical activity, smoking, and alcohol, coffee, and tea consumption), the HRs of PD at different levels of BMI (<23, 23 to 24.9, 25 to 26.9, 27 to 29.9, and > or =30 kg/m(2)) were 1.00, 1.97 (95% CI: 1.21 to 3.22), 1.83 (95% CI: 1.12 to 2.99), 2.34 (95% CI: 1.45 to 3.78), and 2.44 (95% CI: 1.44 to 4.15) in men, and 1.00, 1.50 (95% CI: 0.95 to 2.37), 1.65 (95% CI: 1.05 to 2.59), 1.79 (95% CI: 1.15 to 2.80), and 1.77 (95% CI: 1.12 to 2.78) in women, and 1.00, 1.70 (95% CI: 1.23 to 2.37), 1.70 (95% CI: 1.23 to 2.37), 2.02 (95% CI: 1.46 to 2.79), and 2.03 (95% CI: 1.44 to 2.85) in men and women combined (adjusted also for sex). In both sexes combined, the multivariate-adjusted direct association between BMI and the risk of PD was present both in subjects aged 25 to 49 years and 50 to 59 years, in never smokers and smokers and in participants diagnosed PD before and after 65 years of age.

CONCLUSION

Body mass index is associated with a risk of Parkinson disease. The effect is graded and independent of other risk factors.

Sustained activation of Src-family tyrosine kinases by ischemia: A potential mechanism mediating extracellular signal-regulated kinase cascades in hippocampal dentate gyrus

In the present report, we investigated the association between the sustained activation of Src family tyrosine kinases (primarily Src kinase) with the biphasic phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) induced by ischemia in the rat hippocampal CA3/dentate gyrus subfield. Post-ischemia reperfusion resulted in the phosphorylation of ERK in a Ras-dependent manner; down-regulation of NMDA receptors or Src family protein kinases by ketamine or 4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl) pyrazolo[3,4-d] pyrimidine (PP2) potently antagonized the activation of ERK, indicating that NMDA receptors and Src family tyrosine kinases are essential for the up-regulation of ERK activity following ischemic stimuli. Additionally, an ischemia-induced association between RKIP and Raf-1 resulted in the inhibition of the ERK signaling cascade through an inhibition of Src-mediated Raf-1 phosphorylation at Tyr340/341 residues. This ischemia-induced inhibition of ERK was not associated with other downstream pathways involving Raf-1 phosphorylation at Ser 259 elicited by protein kinase B (Akt). Dissociation of Raf-1 from RKIP by 24 h reperfusion or (4S)-3-[(E)-but-2-enoyl]-4-benzyl-2-oxazolidinone (locostatin) influenced the second phase of ERK activation elicited by the Src-Raf cassette. We propose that, following ischemia, the Src family tyrosine kinases are critical for modulation of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK cascade, in which RKIP is involved in biphasic phosphorylation of ERK via a blockade of Src-Raf cascades.

Coffee consumption and risk of total and cardiovascular mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Higher habitual coffee drinking has been associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The relation between coffee consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been examined in many studies, but the issue remains controversial. This study was designed to assess the association between coffee consumption and CVD mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We prospectively followed 3,837 randomly ascertained Finnish patients with type 2 diabetes aged 25 to 74 years. Coffee consumption and other study parameters were determined at baseline. The International Classification of Diseases was used to identify CHD, CVD and stroke cases using computerised record linkage to the national Death Registry. The associations between coffee consumption at baseline and risk of total, CVD, CHD, and stroke mortality were analysed by using Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

During the average follow-up of 20.8 years, 1,471 deaths were recorded, of which 909 were coded as CVD, 598 as CHD and 210 as stroke. The respective multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios in participants who drank 0-2, 3-4, 5-6, and > or =7 cups of coffee daily were 1.00, 0.77, 0.68 and 0.70 for total mortality (P<0.001 for trend), 1.00, 0.79, 0.70 and 0.71 for CVD mortality (P=0.006 for trend), 1.00, 0.78, 0.70 and 0.63 for CHD mortality (p=0.01 for trend), and 1.00, 0.77, 0.64 and 0.90 for stroke mortality (p=0.12 for trend).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

In this large prospective study we found that in type 2 diabetic patients coffee drinking is associated with reduced total, CVD and CHD mortality.

The effect of diabetes and stroke at baseline and during follow-up on stroke mortality

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

The aim of this study was to compare the magnitude of the effect of diabetes and stroke at baseline and during follow-up on risk of stroke mortality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study cohorts included 25,155 Finnish men and 26,423 women aged 25-74 years. Data on diabetes and stroke history at baseline, their incidence during follow-up, and stroke death were obtained from national registers.

RESULTS

During a mean follow-up of 18.9 years, 838 stroke deaths were recorded. In the baseline study, hazard ratios (HRs) for stroke mortality were 5.26 for men with prior diabetes only, 4.76 for men with prior stroke only, and 13.4 for men with both prior diabetes and stroke compared with men without diabetes and stroke at baseline and during follow-up. In women, the corresponding hazard ratios were 7.29, 5.27 and 5.52, respectively. When only diabetes and stroke status during the follow-up were considered, the hazard ratios for stroke mortality were 1.41 for men and 1.56 for women with incident diabetes only, 5.62 for men and 5.58 for women with incident stroke only, and 5.59 for men and 4.48 for women with both incident diabetes and stroke compared with men and women without diabetes and stroke at baseline and during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Diabetes and stroke, present either at baseline or during follow-up, markedly increase the risk of stroke death. Prior stroke at baseline carries a similar risk of stroke mortality as prior diabetes. There is a greater risk of stroke mortality associated with incident stroke during follow-up than with incident diabetes.