Differential expression and regulation of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha and MIP-2 genes by alveolar and peritoneal macrophages in LPS-hyporesponsive C3H/HeJ mice

A point mutation in Toll-like receptor 4 (Tlr4) gene in C3H/HeJ mice underlies a defect in LPS-induced cytokine production by peritoneal macrophages (PMphi;). Whether the C-C and the C-X-C chemokines are induced differently by LPS between alveolar macrophages (AMphi;) and PMphi; in this mice remains unclear. Thus, we examined the expression and regulation of macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) in C3H/HeJ macrophages. These results showed that the accumulation of MIP-1alpha and MIP-2 mRNA increased dose dependently in response to LPS. PMphi; responded to LPS to produce significantly higher levels of both chemokine mRNA and protein than AMphi;. In addition, both macrophages produced much more MIP-2 than MIP-1alpha by the same doses of LPS stimulation. Moreover, the chemokine production by C3H/HeN macrophages was significantly higher than that of the C3H/HeJ macrophages. IFN-gamma suppressed the LPS-induced MIP-1alpha release but enhanced the LPS-induced MIP-2 secretion in both macrophages. These results show that the chemokine production was induced and regulated differentially in AMphi; and PMphi;.

Search for second and third generation leptoquarks including production via technicolor interactions in p&pmacr; collisions at radicals = 1.8 TeV

We report the results of a search for second and third generation leptoquarks using 88 pb(-1) of data recorded by the Collider Detector at Fermilab. Color triplet technipions, which play the role of scalar leptoquarks, are investigated due to their potential production in decays of strongly coupled color octet technirhos. Events with a signature of two heavy flavor jets and missing energy may indicate the decay of a second (third) generation leptoquark to a charm (bottom) quark and a neutrino. As the data are found to be consistent with standard model expectations, mass limits are determined.

Search for new particles decaying to t&tmacr; in p&pmacr; collisions at radicals = 1.8 TeV

We use 106 pb (-1) of data collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab to search for narrow-width, vector particles decaying to a top and an antitop quark. Model independent upper limits on the cross section for narrow, vector resonances decaying to t&tmacr; are presented. At the 95% confidence level, we exclude the existence of a leptophobic Z' boson in a model of top-color-assisted technicolor with mass M(Z')<480 GeV/c(2) for natural width gamma = 0.012M(Z'), and M(Z')<780 GeV/c(2) for gamma = 0.04M(Z').

Graft failure caused by pulmonary venous obstruction diagnosed by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography during lung transplantation

IMPLICATIONS

Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography can be useful to diagnose pulmonary venous anastomotic stenoses during lung transplantation.

Limits on light gravitino production and new processes with large missing transverse energy in p&pmacr; collisions at sqrt

Events collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) with an energetic jet plus large missing transverse energy can be used to search for physics beyond the standard model. We see no deviations from the expected backgrounds and set upper limits on the production of new processes. We consider in addition the production of light gravitinos and set a limit at 95% confidence level on the breaking scale sqrt[F]>/=217 GeV, which excludes gravitino masses smaller than 1.1x10(-5) eV/c(2).

Prophylactic intravenous ondansetron reduces the incidence of intrathecal morphine-induced pruritus in patients undergoing cesarean delivery

Pruritus is a common side effect of intrathecal morphine injection for postoperative pain control. Its incidence is especially high in patients undergoing cesarean delivery. We investigated the effectiveness of ondansetron in preventing intrathecal morphine-induced pruritus in such patients. We included 60 consecutive nonbreastfeeding women who were scheduled for elective cesarean delivery. After the administration of spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine and intrathecal morphine 0.15 mg injection, the patients were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 received placebo (normal saline) IV injection, Group 2 diphenhydramine 30 mg IV injection, and Group 3 ondansetron 0.1 mg/kg IV injection. The incidence of pruritus was significantly lower in the ondansetron group (25%) when compared with that in the placebo group (85%) and in the diphenhydramine group (80%) (both P < 0.05). The postoperative pain score and time to flatus passage were not significantly different among the three groups. There were no headache or extrapyramidal signs associated with ondansetron use. In conclusion, ondansetron prophylaxis significantly reduced the incidence of intrathecal morphine-induced pruritus in patients undergoing cesarean delivery.

IMPLICATIONS

Ondansetron prophylaxis significantly decreases the incidence of pruritus, a common side effect of intrathecal morphine used to treat postcesarean delivery pain.

Search for scalar top and scalar bottom quarks in pp collisions at square root s=1.8 TeV

We have searched for direct pair production of scalar top and scalar bottom quarks in 88 pb-1 of pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.8 TeV with the CDF detector. We looked for events with a pair of heavy flavor jets and missing energy, consistent with scalar top (bottom) quark decays to a charm (bottom) quark and a neutralino. The numbers of events that pass our selections show no significant deviation from standard model expectations. We compare our results to the next-to-leading order scalar quark production cross sections to exclude regions in scalar quark-neutralino mass parameter space.

Search for a W' boson via the decay mode W'-->munumu in 1.8 TeV pp collisions

We report the results of a search for a W' boson produced in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.8 TeV using a 107 pb-1 data sample recorded by the Collider Detector at Fermilab. We consider the decay channel W'-->&munumu and search for anomalous production of high transverse mass munumu lepton pairs. We observe no excess of events above background and set limits on the rate of W' boson production and decay relative to standard model W boson production and decay using a fit of the transverse mass distribution observed. If we assume standard model strength couplings of the W' boson to quark and lepton pairs, we exclude a W' boson with invariant mass less than 660 GeV/c2 at 95% confidence level.

Search for scalar top quark production in p&pmacr; collisions at sqrt

We have searched for direct production of scalar top quarks at the Collider Detector at Fermilab in 88 pb(-1) of p&pmacr; collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.8 TeV. We assume the scalar top quark decays into either a bottom quark and a chargino or a bottom quark, a lepton, and a scalar neutrino. The event signature for both decay scenarios is a lepton, missing transverse energy, and at least two b-quark jets. For a chargino mass of 90 GeV/c(2) and scalar neutrino masses of at least 40 GeV/c(2), we find no evidence for scalar top production and present upper limits on the production cross section in both decay scenarios.

Evaluating factors that influence hand-arm stress while operating an electric screwdriver

The objective of this study is to evaluate the factors contributing toward hand-arm stress while operating an electric screwdriver. Hand-arm stress was investigated in terms of individual finger force exertion, flexor digitorum EMG, and hand-transmitted vibration. Two activation modes (push and push plus trigger (P + T)), two preset shut-off torque levels (low and high) and three horizontal operating distances (far, middle, and near) were evaluated. Thirteen healthy male subjects drove screws into a horizontally mounted iron plate with pre-tapped screw holes using an in-line electric screwdriver in randomly ordered experimental combinations. The results indicate that using push-to-start mode at low torque level was better than the other combinations of activation mode x torque because it resulted in less hand-arm stress. In addition, the far distance level (33-45 cm away from the work table edge) caused greater stress than the middle and near distances, and hence is best avoided. While operating an in-line electrical screwdriver, the force contribution of the small finger was greatest, followed by the ring finger. The average force contributions of the index, middle, ring, and small fingers were 19, 25, 27, and 30%, respectively, while operating with push-to-start mode.

Diffractive dijets with a leading antiproton in &pmacr;p collisions at sqrt

We report results from a study of events with a leading antiproton of beam momentum fraction 0.905<x(F)<0.965 and 4-momentum transfer squared |t|<3 GeV2 produced in &pmacr;p collisions at sqrt[s] = 1800 GeV at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. Approximately 2% of the events contain two jets of transverse energy E(jet)(T)>7 GeV. Using the dijet events, we evaluate the diffractive structure function of the antiproton and compare it with expectations based on results obtained in diffractive deep inelastic scattering experiments at the DESY ep collider HERA.

Tetrahydroprotoberberines inhibit lipid peroxidation and scavenge hydroxyl free radicals

AIM

To study the effects of tetrahydroprotoberberines (THPB) on rat liver and brain lipid peroxidation (LPO) and oxygen free radicals generation.

METHODS

The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in rat brain and liver homogenates, induction of MDA by Fe(2+)-Vit C in mitochondria, OH. generation by Fenton reaction, and O2.- generation by pyrogallol oxidation were observed in vitro.

RESULTS

(1) THPB lowered the MDA contents in the liver homogenate and mitochondria, and the IC50 values of l-THPB-18 and l-stepholidine (SPD) in the liver mitochondria were 3.1 and 12.7 mumol.L-1 respectively. SPD decreased the MDA contents in the brain homogenate and mitochondria with IC50 values of 102 and 35.0 mumol.L-1 respectively. (2) THPB scavenged OH., and the IC50 values of l-THPB-18 and SPD were 0.21 and 3.8 mumol.L-1 respectively, but no effect on O2.- was observed.

CONCLUSION

THPB could reduce the MDA contents and scavenge OH. and THPB-18 was the most potent amongst them.

Production of Upsilon(1S) mesons from chi(b) decays in p&pmacr; collisions at sqrt

We have reconstructed the radiative decays chi(b)(1P)-->Upsilon(1S)gamma and chi(b)(2P)-->Upsilon(1S)gamma in p&pmacr; collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.8 TeV, and measured the fraction of Upsilon(1S) mesons that originate from these decays. For Upsilon(1S) mesons with p(Upsilon)(T)>8.0 GeV/c, the fractions that come from chi(b)(1P) and chi(b)(2P) decays are [27.1+/-6.9(stat)+/-4. 4(syst)]% and [10.5+/-4.4(stat)+/-1.4(syst)]%, respectively. We have derived the fraction of directly produced Upsilon(1S) mesons to be [50.9+/-8.2(stat)+/-9.0(syst)]%.

Measurement of b-quark fragmentation fractions in p&pmacr; collisions at sqrt

We have studied the production of B hadrons in 1.8-TeV p&pmacr; collisions. We present measurements of the fragmentation fractions, f(u), f(d), f(s), and f(baryon), of produced b quarks that yield B+, B0, B(0)(s), and Lambda;(0)(b) hadrons. Reconstruction of five electron-charm final states yields f(s)/( f(u)+f(d)) = 0.213+/-0.068 and f(baryon)/( f(u)+f(d)) = 0.118+/-0.042, assuming f(u) = f(d). If all B hadrons produced in p&pmacr; collisions cascade to one of these four hadrons, we determine f(u) = f(d) = 0.375+/-0.023, f(s) = 0.160+/-0.044, and f(baryon) = 0.090+/-0.029. If we do not assume f(u) = f(d), we find f(d)/f(u) = 0.84+/-0.16.

Search for color singlet technicolor particles in p&pmacr; collisions at radicals = 1.8 TeV

We search for color singlet technirho and technipion production in p&pmacr; collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.8 TeV recorded with the Collider Detector at Fermilab. These exotic technimesons are present in a model of walking technicolor. The signatures studied are lepton plus two jets plus E(T) and multijet final states. No excess of events is seen in either final state. We set an upper limit on the technirho production cross section and exclude a region in the technipion mass versus technirho mass plane.

Search for a fourth-generation quark more massive than the Z0 boson in p&pmacr; collisions at radicals = 1.8 TeV

We present the results of a search for pair production of a fourth-generation charge -1 / 3 quark (b(')) in sqrt[s] = 1.8 TeV p&pmacr; collisions using 88 pb(-1) of data obtained with the Collider Detector at Fermilab. We assume that both quarks decay via the flavor-changing neutral current process b(')-->bZ(0) and that the b(') mass is greater than m(Z)+m(b). We studied the decay mode b(')b(');-->Z(0)Z(0)b&bmacr; where one Z0 decays into e(+)e(-) or &mgr;(+)&mgr;(-) and the other decays hadronically, giving a signature of two leptons plus jets. An upper limit on the sigma(p&pmacr;-->b(')b(');)x[B(b(')-->bZ(0))](2) is established as a function of the b(') mass. We exclude at 95% confidence level a b(') quark with mass between 100 and 199 GeV/c(2) for B(b(')-->bZ(0)) = 100%.

Transverse momentum and total cross section of e(+)e(-) pairs in the Z-boson region from p&pmacr; collisions at sqrt

The transverse momentum and total cross section of e(+)e(-) pairs in the Z-boson region of 66<M(ee)<116 GeV/c(2) from p&pmacr; collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.8 TeV are measured using 110 pb(-1) of collisions taken by the Collider Detector at Fermilab during 1992-1995. The total cross section is measured to be 248+/-11 pb. The differential transverse momentum cross section is compared with calculations that match quantum chromodynamics perturbation theory at high transverse momentum with the gluon resummation formalism at low transverse momentum.

Observation of diffractive b-quark production at the fermilab tevatron

We report a measurement of the fraction of b quarks produced diffractively in &pmacr;p collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.8 TeV. Diffraction is identified by the absence of particles in a forward pseudorapidity region. From events with an electron of transverse momentum 9.5<p(e)(T)<20 GeV/ c within the pseudorapidity region |eta|<1.1, the ratio of diffractive to total b-quark production rates is found to be R(&bmacr;b) = [0.62+/-0.19(stat)+/-0.16(syst)]%. This result is comparable in magnitude to corresponding ratios for W and dijet production but significantly lower than expectations based on factorization.

Measurement of the helicity of W bosons in top quark decays

We use the transverse momentum spectrum of leptons in the decay chain t-->bW with W-->lnu to measure the helicity of the W bosons in the top quark rest frame. Our measurement uses a t&tmacr; sample isolated in 106+/-4 pb(-1) of data collected in p&pmacr; collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.8 TeV with the CDF detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. Assuming a standard V-A weak decay, we find that the fraction of W's with zero helicity in the top rest frame is F0 = 0.91+/-0. 37(stat)+/-0.13(syst), consistent with the standard model prediction of F0 = 0.70 for a top mass of 175 GeV/c(2).

[A study on the inheritance of dried tofu output of soybean]

The P1, P2, F1, F2 and F2:3 in plant generation of three crosses of Liuhexiaoyeqing x Xinyixiaohedou, Shangraoganbusi x Huaiyinqiuhedou and Liuhexiaoyeqing x Nannong 73-935 were used to study the inheritance of dried tofu output. The results of the joint analyses of multiple plant generations showed a consistant one major gene plus polygene mixed inheritance model. The heritability values for dried tofu output were as high as 87.84%-99.98%. In plant generation F2:3 of these crosses, the heritabilities of major gene were 51.80%-61.85%, and those of polygene were 36.12%-48.03%. Therefore, both major gene and polygene effects were important and should be utilized in breeding program.

The effect of handle angle on MAWL, wrist posture, RPE, and heart rate

In manual material handling tasks, the handle serves as the interface between the human operator and the box (the materials). Handle angle design can affect both wrist posture and lifting ability. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of handle angle on maximal acceptable weight of lifting (MAWL), perceived whole-body exertion, whole-body workload, wrist posture, and perceived wrist exertion. The results indicate that handle angle had a significant effect on wrist posture and wrist rating of perceived exertion (RPE). A box with a 0 degrees handle angle induced the greatest ulnar deviation and the highest wrist RPE. A 75 degrees handle angle induced the greatest radial deviation and a relatively high wrist RPE. A 30 degrees handle angle resulted in the greatest MAWL and the lowest level of wrist RPE. Overall, these findings suggest that 30 degrees and 45 degrees handle angles can provide favorable coupling conditions for the cutout-type handhold container handle. Actual or practical applications include the ergonomic design of container handles for manual material handling tasks industry.

Differential expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase gene by alveolar and peritoneal macrophages in lipopolysaccharide-hyporesponsive C3H/HeJ mice

In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-hyporesponsive C3H/HeJ mice, alveolar macrophages (AMphi) produce much more tumour necrosis factor-alpha than peritoneal macrophages (PMphi) when stimulated with LPS (10 microgram/ml), but the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression and production of nitric oxide (NO) in AMphi are not found. In the present study, we determined the induction of iNOS gene expression, using semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and the release of NO in AMphi and PMphi from C3H/HeJ and C3H/HeN mice. The results showed the induction of iNOS mRNA accumulation in a dose-dependent manner by LPS alone or in combination with interferon-gamma in both macrophages. The effects of the stimuli on iNOS gene expression and NO production were significantly higher in AMphi than in the PMphi of C3H/HeJ mice. The response of macrophages from C3H/HeN mice was similar to those from C3H/HeJ mice, but the difference of iNOS gene expression between AMphi and PMphi in C3H/HeN mice was not as striking as in C3H/HeJ mice. The results show that the iNOS gene expression and NO production were activated differently in AMphi and PMphi and suggest that the functional properties of macrophages isolated from distinct origins are different.

Rescue for acute myocarditis with shock by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

BACKGROUND

Acute myocarditis (AM) complicated with refractory cardiogenic shock carries a very high mortality. We report our experience in treating these patients, who were rescued by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and intravenous immunoglobulin.

METHODS

Over a 5-year period, 5 patients with AM were rescued with ECMO in our hospital. Femoral venoarterial ECMO was performed in 4 patients, and right atrium-left atrium-aorta ECMO in the other 1 due to ventricular dysfunction. Hemofiltration was applied to 3 patients. Marked elevated creatine kinase, its MB form, and troponin T (TnT) were found before ECMO.

RESULTS

All the patients could be weaned off the ECMO after 140.0+/-57.7 hours of ECMO support. One patient died of multiple organ failure 10 days later after removal of ECMO, resulting in a 20% mortality. Renal function returned to normal in all survivors. The 4 survivors were discharged uneventfully in 23.3+/-8.3 days and resumed functional class I status. The TnT level declined to the low level within 3 days (slope -4.94+/-1.18 ng/mL/day), and might be an indicator of good recovery of myocardium.

CONCLUSIONS

ECMO can provide an effective and simple treatment for critical AM with a satisfactory result and reduce the possibility of progressive cardiomyopathy.

Airway management and transesophageal echocardiographic monitoring for pulmonary artery sling

Pulmonary artery sling is an uncommon vascular anomaly and can be life threatening when it causes tracheal compression. We report on a 14-day-old boy who presented with respiratory distress soon after birth. A series of examinations showed tracheal stenosis due to a pulmonary artery sling. Surgery was performed with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass. The external compression and intrisic stenosis could not be resolved by vascular surgery because of tracheal malacia and a complete tracheal ring. We recommend cutting extra holes 1 to 2 cm from the distal end of the endotracheal tube for endobronchial intubation. The airway obstruction was resolved successfully with a custom-made endobronchial tube. However, the patient died of pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax induced by barotrauma, on the fourth postoperative day.