Measurements of Elliptic and Triangular Flow in High-Multiplicity 3He+Au Collisions at √(s(NN))=200 GeV

We present the first measurement of elliptic (v(2)) and triangular (v(3)) flow in high-multiplicity (3)He+Au collisions at √(s(NN))=200  GeV. Two-particle correlations, where the particles have a large separation in pseudorapidity, are compared in (3)He+Au and in p+p collisions and indicate that collective effects dominate the second and third Fourier components for the correlations observed in the (3)He+Au system. The collective behavior is quantified in terms of elliptic v(2) and triangular v(3) anisotropy coefficients measured with respect to their corresponding event planes. The v(2) values are comparable to those previously measured in d+Au collisions at the same nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy. Comparisons with various theoretical predictions are made, including to models where the hot spots created by the impact of the three (3)He nucleons on the Au nucleus expand hydrodynamically to generate the triangular flow. The agreement of these models with data may indicate the formation of low-viscosity quark-gluon plasma even in these small collision systems.

Glycosaminoglycan and versican deposits in taxane-induced sclerosis

Docetaxel and paclitaxel are widely used in the treatment of various malignant neoplasms. Taxane-induced sclerosis is dose-dependent and usually not generalized. Little information on the pathogenesis of scleroderma is currently available. Here, we report a case of generalized scleroderma and a case of early-stage oedematous sclerosis, both of which presented with intense versican deposits after administration of taxane for angiosarcoma.

Species and sex differences in propofol glucuronidation in liver microsomes of humans, monkeys, rats and mice

Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) is a short-acting anesthetic commonly used in clinical practice, and is rapidly metabolized into glucuronide by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT). In the present study, propofol glucuronidation was examined in the liver microsomes of male and female humans, monkeys, rats, and mice. The kinetics of propofol glucuronidation by liver microsomes fit the substrate inhibition model for humans and mice, the Hill model for monkeys, and the isoenzyme (biphasic) model for rats. The K(m), V(max), and CL(int) values of human liver microsomes were 50 μM, 5.6 nmol/min/mg protein, and 110 μL/min/mg protein, respectively, for males, and 46 μM, 6.0 nmol/min/mg protein, and 130 μL/min/mg protein, respectively, for females. The rank order of the CL(int) or CL(max) (in vitro clearance) values of liver microsomes was mice humans > monkeys > rats (high-affinity phase) rats (low-affinity phase) in both males and females. Although no significant sex differences were observed in the values of kinetic parameters in any animal species, the in vitro clearance values of liver microsomes were males < females in humans, males = females in rats (low-affinity phase), and males > females in monkeys, rats (high-affinity phase), and mice. These results demonstrated that the kinetic profile of propofol glucuronidation by liver microsomes markedly differed among humans, monkeys, rats, and mice, and suggest that species and sex differences exist in the roles of UGT isoform(s), including UGT1A9, involved in its metabolism.

Measurement of Long-Range Angular Correlation and Quadrupole Anisotropy of Pions and (Anti)Protons in Central d+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

We present azimuthal angular correlations between charged hadrons and energy deposited in calorimeter towers in central d+Au and minimum bias p+p collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV. The charged hadron is measured at midrapidity |η|<0.35, and the energy is measured at large rapidity (-3.7<η<-3.1, Au-going direction). An enhanced near-side angular correlation across |Δη|>2.75 is observed in d+Au collisions. Using the event plane method applied to the Au-going energy distribution, we extract the anisotropy strength v_{2} for inclusive charged hadrons at midrapidity up to p_{T}=4.5 GeV/c. We also present the measurement of v_{2} for identified π^{±} and (anti)protons in central d+Au collisions, and observe a mass-ordering pattern similar to that seen in heavy-ion collisions. These results are compared with viscous hydrodynamic calculations and measurements from p+Pb at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV. The magnitude of the mass ordering in d+Au is found to be smaller than that in p+Pb collisions, which may indicate smaller radial flow in lower energy d+Au collisions.

LPA signaling initiates schizophrenia-like brain and behavioral changes in a mouse model of prenatal brain hemorrhage

Genetic, environmental and neurodevelopmental factors are thought to underlie the onset of neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. How these risk factors collectively contribute to pathology is unclear. Here, we present a mouse model of prenatal intracerebral hemorrhage--an identified risk factor for schizophrenia--using a serum-exposure paradigm. This model exhibits behavioral, neurochemical and schizophrenia-related gene expression alterations in adult females. Behavioral alterations in amphetamine-induced locomotion, prepulse inhibition, thigmotaxis and social interaction--in addition to increases in tyrosine hydroxylase-positive dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area and decreases in parvalbumin-positive cells in the prefrontal cortex--were induced upon prenatal serum exposure. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a lipid component of serum, was identified as a key molecular initiator of schizophrenia-like sequelae induced by serum. Prenatal exposure to LPA alone phenocopied many of the schizophrenia-like alterations seen in the serum model, whereas pretreatment with an antagonist against the LPA receptor subtype LPA1 prevented many of the behavioral and neurochemical alterations. In addition, both prenatal serum and LPA exposure altered the expression of many genes and pathways related to schizophrenia, including the expression of Grin2b, Slc17a7 and Grid1. These findings demonstrate that aberrant LPA receptor signaling associated with fetal brain hemorrhage may contribute to the development of some neuropsychiatric disorders.

Between-Scanner and Between-Visit Variation in Normal White Matter Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Values in the Setting of a Multi-Center Clinical Trial

PURPOSE

To study the between-scanner variation and the between-visit reproducibility of brain apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements in the setting of a multi-center chemotherapy clinical trial for glioblastoma multiforme.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

ADC maps of 52 patients at six sites were calculated in-house from diffusion-weighted images obtained by seven individual scanner models of two vendors. The median and coefficient of variation (CV) of normal brain white matter ADC values from a defined region of interest were used to evaluate the differences among scanner models, vendors, magnetic fields, as well as successive visits. All patients participating in this study signed institutional review board approved informed consent. Data acquisition was performed in compliance with all applicable Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations. The study spanned from August 1, 2006, to January 29, 2008.

RESULTS

For baseline median ADC, no difference was observed between the different scanner models, different vendors, and different magnetic field strength. For baseline ADC CV, a significant difference was found between different scanner models (p = 0.0002). No between-scanner difference was observed in ADC changes between two visits. For between-visit reproducibility, significant difference was seen between the ADC values measured at two successive visits for the whole patient group.

CONCLUSION

The CVs varied significantly between scanners, presumably due to image noise. Consistent scanner parameter setup can improve reproducibility of the ADC measurements between visits.

Usefulness of quantitative susceptibility mapping for the diagnosis of Parkinson disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Quantitative susceptibility mapping allows overcoming several nonlocal restrictions of susceptibility-weighted and phase imaging and enables quantification of magnetic susceptibility. We compared the diagnostic accuracy of quantitative susceptibility mapping and R2* (1/T2*) mapping to discriminate between patients with Parkinson disease and controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For 21 patients with Parkinson disease and 21 age- and sex-matched controls, 2 radiologists measured the quantitative susceptibility mapping values and R2* values in 6 brain structures (the thalamus, putamen, caudate nucleus, pallidum, substantia nigra, and red nucleus).

RESULTS

The quantitative susceptibility mapping values and R2* values of the substantia nigra were significantly higher in patients with Parkinson disease (P < .01); measurements in other brain regions did not differ significantly between patients and controls. For the discrimination of patients with Parkinson disease from controls, receiver operating characteristic analysis suggested that the optimal cutoff values for the substantia nigra, based on the Youden Index, were >0.210 for quantitative susceptibility mapping and >28.8 for R2*. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of quantitative susceptibility mapping were 90% (19 of 21), 86% (18 of 21), and 88% (37 of 42), respectively; for R2* mapping, they were 81% (17 of 21), 52% (11 of 21), and 67% (28 of 42). Pair-wise comparisons showed that the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were significantly larger for quantitative susceptibility mapping than for R2* mapping (0.91 versus 0.69, P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Quantitative susceptibility mapping showed higher diagnostic performance than R2* mapping for the discrimination between patients with Parkinson disease and controls.

Design of polarizers for a mega-watt long-pulse millimeter-wave transmission line on the large helical device

The polarizer is one of the critical components in a high-power millimeter-wave transmission line. It requires full and highly efficient coverage of any polarization states, high-power tolerance, and low-loss feature. Polarizers with rounded shape at the edge of the periodic groove surface are designed and fabricated by the machining process for a mega-watt long-pulse millimeter-wave transmission line of the electron cyclotron resonance heating system in the large helical device. The groove shape of λ/8- and λ/4-type polarizers for an 82.7 GHz transmission line is optimally designed in an integral method developed in the vector theories of diffraction gratings so that the efficiency to realize any polarization state can be maximized. The dependence of the polarization states on the combination of the two polarizer rotation angles (Φλ/8, Φλ/4) is examined experimentally in a low-power test with the newly developed polarization monitor. The results show that the measured polarization characteristics are in good agreement with the calculated ones.

Prediction of reversibility of intestinal mucosal damage after ischemia-reperfusion injury by plasma intestinal fatty acid-binding protein levels in pigs

Objective:

The aims of this study were to elucidate the association between plasma intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) level and actual pathological damage of intestinal mucosa and its reversibility.

Methods:

An intestinal ischemia-reperfusion model was created by temporary occlusion of the descending aorta in 9 pigs which were divided into 3 groups according to the duration of visceral ischemic insult: 15-minute ischemia (n=3), 30-minute ischemia (n=3) and 60-minute ischemia (n=3). Blood samples and short segments of the jejunum for pathological examinations, including immunohistochemical staining of I-FABP, Ki-67 and E-cadherin, were taken at the beginning of the operation (T1) and 15 minutes (T2), 30 minutes (T3), 45 minutes (T4) and 60 minutes (T5) after reperfusion.

Results:

Plasma I-FABP after 15 minutes of ischemia reached a peak of 1859±1089 pg/ml at T3, while the level after 30 minutes of ischemia achieved a peak level of 5053±1717 pg/ml at T5. The level after 60 minutes of ischemia demonstrated a rapid increment up to 10734±93 pg/ml at T3. There was a significant difference in the trend of plasma I-FABP levels between 30 minutes and 60 minutes of ischemia (p=0.01). The strongest immunohistochemical staining of the intestinal epithelium for I-FABP was observed at T4 after 30 minutes of ischemia, with the shedding of injured epithelium followed by re-epithelialisation, with sequential up-regulation of Ki67 and E-cadherin. However, the intestinal epithelium after 60 minutes of ischemia demonstrated the lack of I-FABP expression with irreversible damage.

Conclusion:

Plasma I-FABP levels may be a crucial marker to recognize the reversibility of damage of the intestinal epithelium after an ischemic insult and the level of 5000 pg/ml is considered to be the critical borderline for irreversibility, which might prevent diagnostic delay in the clinical setting.

Impact of recipient aging on kidney allograft in living donor transplantation

BACKGROUND

The aging of recipients is becoming increasingly important in organ transplantation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analyzed outcomes in 215 consecutive adult kidney transplant recipients from living donors who underwent transplantation at our center between November 1988 and March 2012. The list of recipients was divided by age at transplantation into those aged 16 to 29 years (n = 61), 30 to 39 years (n = 69), 40 to 49 years (n = 33), 50 to 59 years (n = 29), and those 60 years or older (elderly group, n = 23). Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to calculate the relative risk (RR) of patient death and graft failure, with recipient age included as a continuous variable.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis showed that recipient age did not significantly affect the risk of graft failure, either uncensored (RR = 1.01, P = .312) or censored for death (RR = 0.993, P = .587). Multivariate analysis, however, showed that recipient age was an independent risk factor for patient death (RR = 1.053, P = .024). The patient survival rate was the poorest in elderly group (87.0%, P = .036), whereas the both death uncensored and censored graft survival rates of this group were 78.1% and 91.3%, respectively, comparable to those of other age groups (P = .567 and P = .696). Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 1 year after transplantation was lower in elderly groups than in other groups (46.1 ± 13.0 mL/min/1.73 m(2), P = .014). However, mean δeGFR, defined as the difference between pretransplantation eGFR of the donor and eGFR of the recipient 1 year post-transplantation, did not differ significantly among age groups.

CONCLUSION

Recipient age did not affect allograft deterioration in living donor kidney transplantation, although it was an independent risk factor of recipient death.