Clinical and economic burden of invasive fungal diseases in Europe: focus on pre-emptive and empirical treatment of Aspergillus and Candida species

Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) have been widely studied in recent years, largely because of the increasing population at risk. Aspergillus and Candida species remain the most common causes of IFDs, but other fungi are emerging. The early and accurate diagnosis of IFD is critical to outcome and the optimisation of treatment. Rapid diagnostic methods and new antifungal therapies have advanced disease management in recent years. Strategies for the prevention and treatment of IFDs include prophylaxis, and empirical and pre-emptive therapy. Here, we review the available primary literature on the clinical and economic burden of IFDs in Europe from 2000 to early 2011, with a focus on the value and outcomes of different approaches.

Nootropic and hypophagic effects following long term intake of almonds (Prunus amygdalus) in rats

INTRODUCTION

Over a period of time researchers have become more interested in finding out the potential of various foods to maintain the general health and to treat diseases. Almonds are a very good source of many nutrients which may help to sharpen the memory and to reduce cardiovascular risk factors.

OBJECTIVE

The present study was conducted to evaluate the nootropic effects of almonds. Effect of oral intake of almond was also monitored on food intake and plasma cholesterol levels.

METHODS

Rats were given almond paste orally with the help of feeding tube for 28 days. Memory function in rats was assessed by Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and Radial Arm Maze (RAM). Brain tryptophan, 5-HT and 5-HIAA were estimated at the end of the treatment by HPLC-EC method.

RESULTS

A significant improvement in learning and memory of almond treated rats compared to controls was observed. Almond treated rats also exhibited a significant decrease in food intake and plasma cholesterol levels while the change in growth rate (in terms of percentage) remained comparable between the two groups. Analysis of brain tryptophan (TRP) monoamines exhibited enhanced TRP levels and serotonergic turnover in rat brain following oral intake of almonds.

CONCLUSION

The findings show that almonds possess significant hypophagic and nootropic effects. Results are discussed in context of enhanced 5-HT metabolism following almond administration.

Abstract P4-15-01: Integrin avb6 is a therapeutic target for high-risk breast cancer and enhances trastuzumab efficacy

The integrin avβ6 promotes migration, invasion and survival of cancer cells, but the biological relevance has yet to be ascertained in breast cancer. Our immunhistochemical analysis of over 2000 breast cancers has revealed that high expression of the protein for the integrin subunit beta6 (β6) is associated with very poor survival (HR = 1.99, P = 2.9×10-6) and increased metastases to distant sites (P = 0·02). This correlation was confirmed at the mRNA level via bioinformatic analysis of the 2000 women in the METABRIC cohort. Furthermore, co-expression of HER2 gave a significantly worse prognosis (HR = 3.43, P = 4×10-12), which we investigated further.

We report from in vitro studies that HER2-driven invasion is mediated by αvβ6 in an Akt2-dependent manner. Using the well-tolerated αvβ6-blocking antibody 264RAD in vivo we show that antibody-blockade of this integrin suppressed growth of BT-474 and MCF-7/HER2-18 human breast cancer xenografts similarly to trastuzumab alone (P<0.001), the antibody used for treating HER2-positive cancers (both 10mg/kg, bi-weekly). Moreover, when 264RAD was co-administered it significantly enhanced the ability of trastuzumab to suppress BT-474 tumor growth with a reduction in mean tumor volume of 94.8%+/-1.18% compared to 70.8%+/-5.98% observed with trastuzumab alone (P<0.0001) after 2 weeks treatment. This trend was reproduced even in the MCF-7/HER2-18 trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer tumors where a 76.24%+/-10.15% reduction was observed with combination therapy (P<0.0001) compared with only 44.62%+/-10.43% (P = 0.0006) and 46.6%+/-14.71% (P = 0.0004) reductions in final volume with 264RAD and trastuzumab respectively. The combination therapy was so effective it almost eradicated 100mm3 BT-474 tumors and completely eliminated small (10-20mm3) MCF-7/HER2-18 tumors.

264RAD or trastuzumab prolonged survival to a similar degree (14.3% and 33.33% treated mice alive after 100d, respectively, no significant difference) but again, when both drugs were combined 85.7% of mice were alive after 100d, a highly significant response compared with PBS (P<0.0001) or monotherapies (264RAD: P<0.0001, trastuzumab: P<0.0001). Post-therapy biochemistry revealed residual tumors expressed significantly reduced αvβ6, HER2, HER3 and downstream signaling molecules including Akt2 and Smad2, essentially a much lower ‘grade’ tumour.

Since 70% of women treated with trastuzumab either have, or develop resistance, we suggest combined targeting of αvβ6 and HER2 could provide an important novel therapy for thousands of women with breast cancer. In fact, over 39,000 American women annually (NIH statistics) will develop HER2+ breast cancers for which no specific therapies exist. Our data shows that in excess of 40% of these women with trastuzumab-resistant disease are also likely to express high levels of αvβ6.

Our data also suggest that routine determination of the level of expression of αvβ6 on breast cancers would be a valuable clinical tool as it identifies novel high-risk groups of women that require enhanced therapeutic intervention.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P4-15-01.

Abstract BS02-1: Hypoxia metabolism in breast cancer – How to overcome resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy

Background. Hypoxia is recognised to induce a multigene programme mainly via HIF1a and also HIF2a transcription factors. Bioinformatics analysis of multiple gene array data sets in breast cancer showed a core hypoxia response programme of approximately 90 genes associated with poor outcome independently of other factors. This core response was significantly over-expressed in triple receptor negative cancers. Additionally, microRNAs associated with hypoxia were shown to give additional worse prognosis associations (mir-210). mir-210 targeted the mitochondrial iron chaperone responsible for regulation of key enzymes in the Krebs cycle and showed an adaptive response to hypoxia involving switching off the mitochondrial metabolism.

Aims and methods. To assess in human breast cancer the hypoxia transcriptome we conducted gene microarray studies before and after 2 weeks of bevacizumab 15mg/kg single dose before neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This was correlated with imaging by DCE-MRI Ktrans analysis.

Results. The study showed that high Ktrans was an excellent predictor for the biological affect of VEGF inhibition and extensive gene induction occurred, including many components of the HIF pathway, but also glycogen metabolism and lipid metabolism.

We investigated these further in xenograft models to see which of the adaption pathways may be most important for survival under hypoxic conditions. We showed that induction of CA9, a key enzyme regulating extracellular pH, was critical for survival under anti-angiogenic therapy and blocking CA9 could synergise and also produce radiosensitivity. Reactivating mitochondria under hypoxic conditions induced by angiogenesis also showed additional anti-cancer benefits and is the basis now for a new phase I study in our department.

Additionally, surprisingly, induction of glycogen and lipid storage occurred and this was essential for survival on reoxygenation and for protection against free radical damage, which greatly increased when either pathway was inhibited.

We investigated, by bioinformatic approaches, the expression of 133 key enzymes in metabolism, showed that they were strongly associated with different subtypes of breast cancer, which may help in selection of patients for future intervention studies.

To additionally define the hypoxia transcription, we conducted RNA sequencing of MCF7 cells in normoxia and mild hypoxia. This revealed marked induction of many long non-coding RNAs, suppression of all transfer RNAs and induction of novel antisense RNAs.

Conclusions. Overall, therefore, although anti-angiogenic therapy alone is now withdrawn from clinical utility in breast cancer, the massive induction of hypoxic microenvironment and synergy with many other therapeutics, suggests that as new approach using induced essentiality should be reassessed in breast cancer.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr BS02-1.

Economic evaluation of neonatal care packages in a cluster-randomized controlled trial in Sylhet, Bangladesh

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate and compare the cost-effectiveness of two strategies for neonatal care in Sylhet division, Bangladesh.

METHODS

In a cluster-randomized controlled trial, two strategies for neonatal care--known as home care and community care--were compared with existing services. For each study arm, economic costs were estimated from a societal perspective, inclusive of programme costs, provider costs and household out-of-pocket payments on care-seeking. Neonatal mortality in each study arm was determined through household surveys. The incremental cost-effectiveness of each strategy--compared with that of the pre-existing levels of maternal and neonatal care--was then estimated. The levels of uncertainty in our estimates were quantified through probabilistic sensitivity analysis.

FINDINGS

The incremental programme costs of implementing the home-care package were 2939 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1833-7616) United States dollars (US$) per neonatal death averted and US$ 103.49 (95% CI: 64.72-265.93) per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted. The corresponding total societal costs were US$ 2971 (95% CI: 1844-7628) and US$ 104.62 (95% CI: 65.15-266.60), respectively. The home-care package was cost-effective--with 95% certainty--if healthy life years were valued above US$ 214 per DALY averted. In contrast, implementation of the community-care strategy led to no reduction in neonatal mortality and did not appear to be cost-effective.

CONCLUSION

The home-care package represents a highly cost-effective intervention strategy that should be considered for replication and scale-up in Bangladesh and similar settings elsewhere.

MicroRNA theragnostics for the clinical management of multiple myeloma

Theragnostics represent cutting-edge, multi-disciplinary strategies that combine diagnostics with therapeutics in order to generate personalized therapies that improve patient outcome. In oncology, the approach is aimed at more accurate diagnosis of cancer, optimization of patient selection to identify those most likely to benefit from a specific therapy and to generate effective therapeutics that enhance patient survival. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are master regulators of the human genome that orchestrate myriad cellular pathways to control growth during physiologic and pathologic conditions. Compelling evidence shows that miRNA deregulation promotes events linked to tumor initiation, metastasis and drug resistance as seen in multiple myeloma (MM), an invariably fatal hematologic malignancy. miRNAs are readily detected in body fluids, for example, serum, plasma, urine, as well as circulating tumor cells to demonstrate their potential as readily accessible, non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutics. Specific miRNAs are aberrantly expressed early in myelomagenesis and may more readily detect high-risk disease than current methods. Although only recently discovered miRNAs have rapidly advanced from preclinical studies to evaluation in human clinical trials. The development of miRNA theragnostics should provide widely applicable tools for the targeted delivery of personalized medicines to improve the outcome of patients with MM.

Denis RD, Stahlman J, Stamen R, Stanecka E, Stanek RW, Stanescu C, Stanescu-Bellu M, Stanitzki MM, Stapnes S, Starchenko EA, Stark J, Staroba P, Starovoitov P, Staszewski R, Staude A, Stavina P, Steele G, Steinbach P, Steinberg P, Stekl I, Stelzer B, Stelzer HJ, Stelzer-Chilton O, Stenzel H, Stern S, Stewart GA, Stillings JA, Stockton MC, Stoerig K, Stoicea G, Stonjek S, Strachota P, Stradling AR, Straessner A, Strandberg J, Strandberg S, Strandlie A, Strang M, Strauss E, Strauss M, Strizenec P, Ströhmer R, Strom DM, Strong JA, Stroynowski R, Strube J, Stugu B, Stumer I, Stupak J, Sturm P, Styles NA, Su D, Subramania HS, Succurro A, Sugaya Y, Suhr C, Suk M, Sulin VV, Sultansoy S, Sumida T, Sun X, Sundermann JE, Suruliz K, Susinno G, Sutton MR, Suzuki Y, Suzuki Y, Svatos M, Swedish S, Sykora I, Sykora T, Ta D, Tackmann K, Taffard A, Tafirout R, Taiblum N, Takahashi Y, Takai H, Takashima R, Takeda H, Takeshita T, Takubo Y, Talby M, Talyshev A, Tamsett MC, Tan KG, Tanaka J, Tanaka R, Tanaka S, Tanaka S, Tanasijczuk AJ, Tani K, Tannoury N, Tapprogge S, Tardif D, Tarem S, Tarrade F, Tartarelli GF, Tas P, Tasevsky M, Tassi E, Tatarkhanov M, Tayalati Y, Taylor C, Taylor FE, Taylor GN, Taylor W, Teinturier M, Teischinger FA, Teixeira Dias Castanheira M, Teixeira-Dias P, Temming KK, Ten Kate H, Teng PK, Terada S, Terashi K, Terron J, Testa M, Teuscher RJ, Therhaag J, Theveneaux-Pelzer T, Thoma S, Thomas JP, Thompson EN, Thompson PD, Thompson PD, Thompson AS, Thomsen LA, Thomson E, Thomson M, Thong WM, Thun RP, Tian F, Tibbetts MJ, Tic T, Tikhomirov VO, Tikhonov YA, Timoshenko S, Tipton P, Tisserant S, Todorov T, Todorova-Nova S, Toggerson B, Tojo J, Tokár S, Tokushuku K, Tollefson K, Tomlinson L, Tomoto M, Tompkins L, Toms K, Tonoyan A, Topfel C, Topilin ND, Torchiani I, Torrence E, Torres H, Torró Pastor E, Toth J, Touchard F, Tovey DR, Trefzger T, Tremblet L, Tricoli A, Trigger IM, Trincaz-Duvoid S, Tripiana MF, Triplett N, Trischuk W, Trocmé B, Troncon C, Trottier-McDonald M, Trzebinski M, Trzupek A, Tsarouchas C, Tseng JCL, Tsiakiris M, Tsiareshka PV, Tsionou D, Tsipolitis G, Tsiskaridze S, Tsiskaridze V, Tskhadadze EG, Tsukerman II, Tsulaia V, Tsung JW, Tsuno S, Tsybychev D, Tua A, Tudorache A, Tudorache V, Tuggle JM, Turala M, Turecek D, Turk Cakir I, Turlay E, Turra R, Tuts PM, Tykhonov A, Tylmad M, Tyndel M, Tzanakos G, Uchida K, Ueda I, Ueno R, Ugland M, Uhlenbrock M, Uhrmacher M, Ukegawa F, Unal G, Undrus A, Unel G, Unno Y, Urbaniec D, Usai G, Uslenghi M, Vacavant L, Vacek V, Vachon B, Vahsen S, Valenta J, Valentinetti S, Valero A, Valkar S, Valladolid Gallego E, Vallecorsa S, Valls Ferrer JA, Van Berg R, Van Der Deijl PC, van der Geer R, van der Graaf H, Van Der Leeuw R, van der Poel E, van der Ster D, van Eldik N, van Gemmeren P, van Vulpen I, Vanadia M, Vandelli W, Vaniachine A, Vankov P, Vannucci F, Vari R, Varnes EW, Varol T, Varouchas D, Vartapetian A, Varvell KE, Vassilakopoulos VI, Vazeille F, Vazquez Schroeder T, Vegni G, Veillet JJ, Veloso F, Veness R, Veneziano S, Ventura A, Ventura D, Venturi M, Venturi N, Vercesi V, Verducci M, Verkerke W, Vermeulen JC, Vest A, Vetterli MC, Vichou I, Vickey T, Vickey Boeriu OE, Viehhauser GHA, Viel S, Villa M, Villaplana Perez M, Vilucchi E, Vincter MG, Vinek E, Vinogradov VB, Virchaux M, Virzi J, Vitells O, Viti M, Vivarelli I, Vives Vaque F, Vlachos S, Vladoiu D, Vlasak M, Vogel A, Vokac P, Volpi G, Volpi M, Volpini G, von der Schmitt H, von Radziewski H, von Toerne E, Vorobel V, Vorwerk V, Vos M, Voss R, Vossebeld JH, Vranjes N, Vranjes Milosavljevic M, Vrba V, Vreeswijk M, Vu Anh T, Vuillermet R, Vukotic I, Wagner W, Wagner P, Wahlen H, Wahrmund S, Wakabayashi J, Walch S, Walder J, Walker R, Walkowiak W, Wall R, Waller P, Walsh B, Wang C, Wang H, Wang H, Wang J, Wang J, Wang R, Wang SM, Wang T, Warburton A, Ward CP, Warsinsky M, Washbrook A, Wasicki C, Watanabe I, Watkins PM, Watson AT, Watson IJ, Watson MF, Watts G, Watts S, Waugh AT, Waugh BM, Weber MS, Weber P, Weidberg AR, Weigell P, Weingarten J, Weiser C, Wells PS, Wenaus T, Wendland D, Weng Z, Wengler T, Wenig S, Wermes N, Werner M, Werner P, Werth M, Wessels M, Wetter J, Weydert C, Whalen K, Wheeler-Ellis SJ, White A, White MJ, White S, Whitehead SR, Whiteson D, Whittington D, Wicek F, Wicke D, Wickens FJ, Wiedenmann W, Wielers M, Wienemann P, Wiglesworth C, Wiik-Fuchs LAM, Wijeratne PA, Wildauer A, Wildt MA, Wilhelm I, Wilkens HG, Will JZ, Williams E, Williams HH, Willis W, Willocq S, Wilson JA, Wilson MG, Wilson A, Wingerter-Seez I, Winkelmann S, Winklmeier F, Wittgen M, Wollstadt SJ, Wolter MW, Wolters H, Wong WC, Wooden G, Wosiek BK, Wotschack J, Woudstra MJ, Wozniak KW, Wraight K, Wright M, Wrona B, Wu SL, Wu X, Wu Y, Wulf E, Wynne BM, Xella S, Xiao M, Xie S, Xu C, Xu D, Yabsley B, Yacoob S, Yamada M, Yamaguchi H, Yamamoto A, Yamamoto K, Yamamoto S, Yamamura T, Yamanaka T, Yamaoka J, Yamazaki T, Yamazaki Y, Yan Z, Yang H, Yang UK, Yang Y, Yang Z, Yanush S, Yao L, Yao Y, Yasu Y, Ybeles Smit GV, Ye J, Ye S, Yilmaz M, Yoosoofmiya R, Yorita K, Yoshida R, Young C, Young CJ, Youssef S, Yu D, Yu DR, Yu J, Yu J, Yuan L, Yurkewicz A, Zabinski B, Zaidan R, Zaitsev AM, Zajacova Z, Zanello L, Zanzi D, Zaytsev A, Zeitnitz C, Zeman M, Zemla A, Zendler C, Zenin O, Ženiš T, Zenz S, Zerwas D, Zevi della Porta G, Zhan Z, Zhang D, Zhang H, Zhang J, Zhang X, Zhang Z, Zhao L, Zhao T, Zhao Z, Zhemchugov A, Zhong J, Zhou B, Zhou N, Zhou Y, Zhu CG, Zhu H, Zhu J, Zhu Y, Zhuang X, Zhuravlov V, Zieminska D, Zimin NI, Zimmermann R, Zimmermann S, Zimmermann S, Zinonos Z, Ziolkowski M, Zitoun R, Živković L, Zmouchko VV, Zobernig G, Zoccoli A, zur Nedden M, Zutshi V, Zwalinski L. Improved luminosity determination in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] using the ATLAS detector at the LHC

The luminosity calibration for the ATLAS detector at the LHC during pp collisions at [Formula: see text] in 2010 and 2011 is presented. Evaluation of the luminosity scale is performed using several luminosity-sensitive detectors, and comparisons are made of the long-term stability and accuracy of this calibration applied to the pp collisions at [Formula: see text]. A luminosity uncertainty of [Formula: see text] is obtained for the 47 pb-1 of data delivered to ATLAS in 2010, and an uncertainty of [Formula: see text] is obtained for the 5.5 fb-1 delivered in 2011.

Role of Nek2 on centrosome duplication and aneuploidy in breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is the most common solid tumor and the second most common cause of death in women. Despite a large body of literature and progress in breast cancer research, many molecular aspects of this complex disease are still poorly understood, hindering the design of specific and effective therapeutic strategies. To identify the molecules important in breast cancer progression and metastasis, we tested the in vivo effects of inhibiting the functions of various kinases and genes involved in the regulation/modulation of the cytoskeleton by downregulating them in mouse PyMT mammary tumor cells and human breast cancer cell lines. These kinases and cytoskeletal regulators were selected based on their prognostic values for breast cancer patient survival. PyMT tumor cells, in which a selected gene was stably knocked down were injected into the tail veins of mice, and the formation of tumors in the lungs was monitored. One of the several genes found to be important for tumor growth in the lungs was NIMA-related kinases 2 (Nek2), a cell cycle-related protein kinase. Furthermore, Nek2 was also important for tumor growth in the mammary fat pad. In various human breast cancer cell lines, Nek2 knockdown induced aneuploidy and cell cycle arrest that led to cell death. Significantly, the breast cancer cell line most sensitive to Nek2 depletion was of the triple negative breast cancer subtype. Our data indicate that Nek2 has a pivotal role in breast cancer growth at primary and secondary sites, and thus may be an attractive and novel therapeutic target for this disease.

Jet energy resolution in proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text] recorded in 2010 with the ATLAS detector

The measurement of the jet energy resolution is presented using data recorded with the ATLAS detector in proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text]. The sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35 pb-1. Jets are reconstructed from energy deposits measured by the calorimeters and calibrated using different jet calibration schemes. The jet energy resolution is measured with two different in situ methods which are found to be in agreement within uncertainties. The total uncertainties on these measurements range from 20 % to 10 % for jets within |y|<2.8 and with transverse momenta increasing from 30 GeV to 500 GeV. Overall, the Monte Carlo simulation of the jet energy resolution agrees with the data within 10 %.

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.

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.

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.

Denis RD, Stahlman J, Stamen R, Stanecka E, Stanek RW, Stanescu C, Stanescu-Bellu M, Stapnes S, Starchenko EA, Stark J, Staroba P, Starovoitov P, Staszewski R, Staude A, Stavina P, Steele G, Steinbach P, Steinberg P, Stekl I, Stelzer B, Stelzer HJ, Stelzer-Chilton O, Stenzel H, Stern S, Stewart GA, Stillings JA, Stockton MC, Stoerig K, Stoicea G, Stonjek S, Strachota P, Stradling AR, Straessner A, Strandberg J, Strandberg S, Strandlie A, Strang M, Strauss E, Strauss M, Strizenec P, Ströhmer R, Strom DM, Strong JA, Stroynowski R, Strube J, Stugu B, Stumer I, Stupak J, Sturm P, Styles NA, Soh DA, Su D, Subramania HS, Succurro A, Sugaya Y, Suhr C, Suk M, Sulin VV, Sultansoy S, Sumida T, Sun X, Sundermann JE, Suruliz K, Susinno G, Sutton MR, Suzuki Y, Suzuki Y, Svatos M, Swedish S, Sykora I, Sykora T, Sánchez J, Ta D, Tackmann K, Taffard A, Tafirout R, Taiblum N, Takahashi Y, Takai H, Takashima R, Takeda H, Takeshita T, Takubo Y, Talby M, Talyshev A, Tamsett MC, Tanaka J, Tanaka R, Tanaka S, Tanaka S, Tanasijczuk AJ, Tani K, Tannoury N, Tapprogge S, Tardif D, Tarem S, Tarrade F, Tartarelli GF, Tas P, Tasevsky M, Tassi E, Tatarkhanov M, Tayalati Y, Taylor C, Taylor FE, Taylor GN, Taylor W, Teinturier M, Teixeira Dias Castanheira M, Teixeira-Dias P, Temming KK, Ten Kate H, Teng PK, Terada S, Terashi K, Terron J, Testa M, Teuscher RJ, Therhaag J, Theveneaux-Pelzer T, Thoma S, Thomas JP, Thompson EN, Thompson PD, Thompson PD, Thompson AS, Thomsen LA, Thomson E, Thomson M, Thun RP, Tian F, Tibbetts MJ, Tic T, Tikhomirov VO, Tikhonov YA, Timoshenko S, Tipton P, Tique Aires Viegas FJ, Tisserant S, Todorov T, Todorova-Nova S, Toggerson B, Tojo J, Tokár S, Tokushuku K, Tollefson K, Tomoto M, Tompkins L, Toms K, Tonoyan A, Topfel C, Topilin ND, Torchiani I, Torrence E, Torres H, Torró Pastor E, Toth J, Touchard F, Tovey DR, Trefzger T, Tremblet L, Tricoli A, Trigger IM, Trincaz-Duvoid S, Tripiana MF, Trischuk W, Trocmé B, Troncon C, Trottier-McDonald M, Trzebinski M, Trzupek A, Tsarouchas C, Tseng JCL, Tsiakiris M, Tsiareshka PV, Tsionou D, Tsipolitis G, Tsiskaridze V, Tskhadadze EG, Tsukerman II, Tsulaia V, Tsung JW, Tsuno S, Tsybychev D, Tua A, Tudorache A, Tudorache V, Tuggle JM, Turala M, Turecek D, Turk Cakir I, Turlay E, Turra R, Tuts PM, Tykhonov A, Tylmad M, Tyndel M, Tzanakos G, Uchida K, Ueda I, Ueno R, Ugland M, Uhlenbrock M, Uhrmacher M, Ukegawa F, Unal G, Undrus A, Unel G, Unno Y, Urbaniec D, Usai G, Uslenghi M, Vacavant L, Vacek V, Vachon B, Vahsen S, Valenta J, Valente P, Valentinetti S, Valero A, Valkar S, Valladolid Gallego E, Vallecorsa S, Valls Ferrer JA, van der Graaf H, van der Kraaij E, Van Der Leeuw R, van der Poel E, van der Ster D, van Eldik N, van Gemmeren P, van Vulpen I, Vanadia M, Vandelli W, Vaniachine A, Vankov P, Vannucci F, Vari R, Varol T, Varouchas D, Vartapetian A, Varvell KE, Vassilakopoulos VI, Vazeille F, Vazquez Schroeder T, Vegni G, Veillet JJ, Veloso F, Veness R, Veneziano S, Ventura A, Ventura D, Venturi M, Venturi 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A search for [Formula: see text] resonances with the ATLAS detector in 2.05 fb-1 of proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text]

A search for top quark pair resonances in final states containing at least one electron or muon has been performed with the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The search uses a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.05 fb-1, which was recorded in 2011 at a proton-proton centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. No evidence for a resonance is found and limits are set on the production cross-section times branching ratio to [Formula: see text] for narrow and wide resonances. For narrow Z' bosons, the observed 95 % Bayesian credibility level limits range from 9.3 pb to 0.95 pb for masses in the range of mZ'=500 GeV to mZ'=1300 GeV. The corresponding excluded mass region for a leptophobic topcolour Z' boson (Kaluza-Klein gluon excitation in the Randall-Sundrum model) is mZ'<880 GeV ([Formula: see text]).