Particle-yield modification in jetlike azimuthal dihadron correlations in Pb-Pb collisions at √s(NN)=2.76 TeV

The yield of charged particles associated with high-p(t) trigger particles (8<p(t)<15 GeV/c) is measured with the ALICE detector in Pb-Pb collisions at √s(NN)=2.76 TeV relative to proton-proton collisions at the same energy. The conditional per-trigger yields are extracted from the narrow jetlike correlation peaks in azimuthal dihadron correlations. In the 5% most central collisions, we observe that the yield of associated charged particles with transverse momenta p(t)>3 GeV/c on the away side drops to about 60% of that observed in pp collisions, while on the near side a moderate enhancement of 20%-30% is found.

J/ψ polarization in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

The ALICE Collaboration has studied J/ψ production in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV at the LHC through its muon pair decay. The polar and azimuthal angle distributions of the decay muons were measured, and results on the J/ψ polarization parameters λ(θ) and λ(φ) were obtained. The study was performed in the kinematic region 2.5<y<4, 2<p(t)<8 GeV/c, in the helicity and Collins-Soper reference frames. In both frames, the polarization parameters are compatible with zero, within uncertainties.

Serum capacity to neutralize superantigens does not affect the outcome of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia

Staphylococcal superantigens (SAg) could play an important role in sepsis by activating numerous T cells. We investigated whether serum capacity to neutralize SAgs can be a prognostic factor in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). In a university hospital, 105 consecutive SAB patients were enrolled during a 12-month period. The earliest serum samples prior to SAB onset were stored for a later T cell proliferation assay. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for 19 SAg genes was performed for S. aureus blood isolates. To determine the serum capacity to neutralize SAgs, T cell proliferation by the culture supernatant of each S. aureus isolate was measured in the presence and absence of the corresponding patient's serum. Twenty-six (24.8%) patients died within 4 weeks from SAB onset. Vascular catheter-related infection was associated with survival for ≥4 weeks. Unknown primary focus, Simplified Acute Physiology Score-II (SAPS-II), and specific SAg genes (tst, sec, sel, or sep) were associated with the 4-week mortality. No variables related to T cell proliferation assay showed statistical significance. In the multivariate analysis, SAPS-II ≥33 and tst were independently associated with the 4-week mortality. Serum capacity to neutralize SAg does not significantly affect SAB outcome. SAPS-II ≥33 and tst are independent predictors of the 4-week mortality.

Wortmannin inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of MCF-7 breast cancer cells

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to explore the effects of wortmannin in the proliferation and apoptosis of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.

METHODS

The authors treated cells with 0, 1, 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 nM wortmannin for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Inhibition of proliferation was measured by cell counting kit-8 assay (CCK8). Apoptosis was detected with Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide double staining by flow cytometry. Additionally, expression of proteins involved in the PI3K pathway, specifically total Akt, phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), and NF-kappaB was detected by Western blotting following 24 hours of wortmannin exposure.

RESULTS

Higher doses (6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 nM) of wortmannin significantly inhibited proliferation of MCF-7 cells after 24, 48, and 72 hours of exposure compared with control MCF-7 cells incubated with DMSO alone in DMEM (p < 0.05). This inhibition increased with concentration and duration of treatment. Similarly, wortmannin at 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 nM concentrations significantly increased apoptosis of MCF-7 cells following 24 hours of exposure (p < 0.05). Western blotting revealed that increasing concentrations of wortmannin (6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 nM, 24 hours) increasingly reduced expression of p-Akt and NF-kappaB; however, expression of total Akt was unaffected at any concentration of wortmannin.

CONCLUSIONS

Wortmannin inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of MCF-7 cells in a dose and time-dependent manner, likely through down-regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling and NF-kappaB protein expression.

Dosimetric variations of target volumes and organs at risk in nasopharyngeal carcinoma intensity-modulated radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the actual dose variability to the targets and organs at risk (OARs) during nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and to investigate the significance of replanning.

METHODS

11 NPC patients were included in this study. Each patient had both a planning CT and weekly repeated CT. Simulated plans that were generated by using the same beam configurations mapped to the repeated CT represented the actual delivered doses to the target volumes and OARs. An IMRT replanning was performed with the fifth week CT scan. Doses among the initial plan, the simulated plans and replanning were compared.

RESULTS

There were no significant dosimetric differences in the gross tumour volume, clinical target volume (CTV) 1 or CTV2 for either the simulated plans or the replanning compared with the initial plan. Dosimetric variability of both parotid glands and the brain stem were unique to each individual, and doses to the spinal cord were always maintained within the limit. Replanning in the fifth week had significantly decreased the doses delivered to both parotids (p-values of the mean dose were 0.015 and 0.026 for the left and right parotid, respectively), whereas it did not reduce the doses to the brain stem and spinal cord. There was no relationship between dose variability and weight loss.

CONCLUSIONS

There are no significant dose changes for target volumes and spinal cord, and doses to the brain stem and both parotid glands changed individually during NPC IMRT. Replanning helps to spare bilateral parotids.

Higher harmonic anisotropic flow measurements of charged particles in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt(s(NN)) = 2.76 TeV

We report on the first measurement of the triangular v3, quadrangular v4, and pentagonal v5 charged particle flow in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt(s(NN)) = 2.76  TeV measured with the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. We show that the triangular flow can be described in terms of the initial spatial anisotropy and its fluctuations, which provides strong constraints on its origin. In the most central events, where the elliptic flow v2 and v3 have similar magnitude, a double peaked structure in the two-particle azimuthal correlations is observed, which is often interpreted as a Mach cone response to fast partons. We show that this structure can be naturally explained from the measured anisotropic flow Fourier coefficients.

OCEANS: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase III trial of chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab (BEV) in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent epithelial ovarian (EOC), primary peritoneal (PPC), or fallopian tube cancer (FTC)

LBA5007

Background: BEV, a humanized anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody, has shown a progression-free survival (PFS) benefit in 2 frontline phase III trials in patients with EOC, PPC and FTC. The therapeutic impact of BEV in combination with carboplatin (C) and gemcitabine (G) followed by single agent BEV to disease progression (PD) was evaluated in this phase III trial in the platinum-sensitive recurrent setting. Methods: Patients had recurrent, platinum-sensitive EOC, PPC or FTC, 1 prior regimen, no prior BEV, ECOG performance status 0-1, measurable disease. Subjects were randomized to: Arm A: [IV C (AUC 4, Day (D) 1) + G (1,000 mg/m2 D1 and 8) + placebo (PL) D1] q21D x 6 cycles (c) → PL q21D until PD or unacceptable toxicity (tox) Arm B: [CG + BEV (15 mg/kg) D1] q21D x 6 c → BEV q21D until PD or tox primary endpoint was investigator assessed PFS (RECIST). Secondary endpoints included objective response (OR), overall survival (OS), duration of response and safety. The design provided 80% power to detect a 27% reduction in the hazard of progression or death in Arm B vs A, limiting the overall type I error of 5%. Results: OCEANS enrolled 484 patients (242 per arm) from 4/07 - 1/10, median follow up of 24 months. BEV plus CG followed by single agent BEV to PD significantly increased PFS compared to CG alone (HR=0.484, p<0.0001). OR increased by 21% (p<0.0001). OS data is immature with only 29% of patients having had an event. The safety profile was consistent with other BEV trials. Conclusions: Results show a statistically significant and clinically relevant benefit when bevacizumab is added to chemotherapy in patients with recurrent, platinum sensitive EOC, PPC, and FTC. This is the first phase III trial of an antiangiogenic to demonstrate a clinical benefit to these patients.

[Table: see text]

Optimization of selective emitter fabrication method for solar cells using a laser grooving

In this paper, screen-printing laser grooved buried contact (LGBC) method was applied, which is compatible with the existing screen-printed solar cell equipment and facilities. Experiments were performed in order to optimize short circuit current (I(sc)), open circuit voltage (V(oc)) and fill factor of high efficiency solar cells. To enhance I(sc), V(oc) and efficiency, heavy doping was performed at low sheet resistance in the laser grooved region of the cell. In contrast, light doping was carried out at a high sheet resistance in the non-laser grooved region. To increase fill factor, porous silicon found on the wafer after dipping in an HF solution to remove SiN(x), was cleared. The fabricated screen-printing LGBC solar cell using a 125 mm x 125 mm single crystalline silicon wafer exhibited an efficiency of 17.2%. The results show that screen-printing LGBC method can be applied for high efficiency solar cells.

Epidural ropivacaine and sufentanil and the perioperative stress response after a radical retropubic prostatectomy

BACKGROUND

The effects of an epidural opioid and a local anesthetic on the perioperative stress responses have not been fully investigated in elderly patients undergoing cancer surgery. We hypothesized that the stress response after a radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) would be attenuated by epidural ropivacaine and sufentanil.

METHODS

In this randomized, double-blinded study, we included patients above 65 years of age who were scheduled for a RRP. In addition to general anesthesia, they received either epidural saline continuously (5 ml/h) (C group, n=20); 0.3% ropivacaine (R group, n=20); or 0.3% ropivacaine combined with 1 μg/ml sufentanil (RS group; n=20). We determined the concentrations of glucose, insulin, cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and prolactin before, during, and up to 48 h after surgery.

RESULTS

The concentrations of glucose and insulin increased in all the groups. The cortisol level increased in the C group while it decreased significantly in the RS group. Epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations increased significantly after surgery in the C group, but not in the R and RS groups. The prolactin concentration increased in all the groups, and was higher in the RS group than in the other groups (P=0.002). Post-operative pain scores and analgesic requirement were lower in the R and RS groups.

CONCLUSION

Epidural ropivacaine blunted the perioperative stress responses in elderly patients undergoing a RRP. The combination of epidural ropivacaine and sufentanil was associated with the most pronounced attenuation of the stress response. ClinicalTrial.gov registration number: NCT01086956.

Microstructural and Photoluminescence Studies on Europium Doped Yttrium Oxide Films Synthesized by Metallorganic Vapor Deposition

The microstructural and luminescence properties of europium doped yttrium oxide (Y2O3:Eu) thin films deposited by metallorganic chemical vapor deposition are presented in this work. It was found that surface morphology, crystallinity and photoluminescent emission properties are strongly dependent on substrate temperature during deposition. The depositions were carried out in a stainless steel chamber using yttrium and europium 2,2,6,6,-tetramethyl–3,5-heptanedionates as volatile precursors and O2 as the reactant gas. Post-annealing increased the crystallite size and decreased the lattice parameter, resulting in an increased photoluminescent emission intensity.

Centrality dependence of the charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

The centrality dependence of the charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.76  TeV is presented. The charged-particle density normalized per participating nucleon pair increases by about a factor of 2 from peripheral (70%-80%) to central (0%-5%) collisions. The centrality dependence is found to be similar to that observed at lower collision energies. The data are compared with models based on different mechanisms for particle production in nuclear collisions.

Bleeding events in bevacizumab-treated cancer patients who received full-dose anticoagulation and remained on study

Background:

Bevacizumab provides clinical benefit in multiple solid tumours, but is associated with some increase in bleeding risk. Thrombotic events necessitating therapeutic anticoagulation (TA) are common in cancer. This report describes the safety of concurrent bevacizumab and TA in three large placebo-controlled clinical studies.

Methods:

Study 1 (metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)), study 2 (mCRC), and study 3 (advanced non-small cell lung cancer) were blinded phase III studies. Eligibility criteria excluded patients on TA. Patients on protocol treatment who developed thrombotic events requiring TA were permitted to continue bevacizumab or placebo under specified conditions. Adverse events in patients who received bevacizumab and TA concurrently were assessed using the NCI–CTCAE scale.

Results:

While experience is limited, venous thrombotic events were the most common reason for TA initiation in the three studies. Severe bleeding event rates for patients receiving TA in the bevacizumab-treated groups were similar in frequency to the placebo groups, ranging from 0 to 8% or 0 to 67 events per 100 patient-years. No severe pulmonary bleeding was reported in any of the TA-treated populations.

Conclusions:

These data suggest that bevacizumab did not increase the risk of severe bleeding in cancer patients who received TA.

Integrity of foot-and-mouth disease virions bound to the cells

In this study, we examined the integrity of Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) particles during their binding to the surface of BHK-21 cells under physiological condition. For monitoring of the virus integrity we used blocking of the endocytosis with dynasore and cytochalasin D followed by RT-PCR for viral protein VP1 and the resistance of FMDV to the treatment of RNase A. Our results showed that integrin binding to VP1 did not cause a substantial conformational change in the viral capsid. Furthermore, treatment with RNase A showed no effect on the infectivity of intact as well as cell-bound virions. Our findings confirmed that FMDV entered the host cells in the form of intact virions.

Elliptic flow of charged particles in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

We report the first measurement of charged particle elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] =2.76 TeV with the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The measurement is performed in the central pseudorapidity region (|η|<0.8) and transverse momentum range 0.2<p t<5.0 GeV/c. The elliptic flow signal v₂, measured using the 4-particle correlation method, averaged over transverse momentum and pseudorapidity is 0.087 ± 0.002(stat) ± 0.003(syst) in the 40%-50% centrality class. The differential elliptic flow v₂ p t reaches a maximum of 0.2 near p t =3 GeV/c. Compared to RHIC Au-Au collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] 200 GeV, the elliptic flow increases by about 30%. Some hydrodynamic model predictions which include viscous corrections are in agreement with the observed increase.

Charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in central Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

The first measurement of the charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair √ S NN = 2.76 TeV is presented. For an event sample corresponding to the most central 5% of the hadronic cross section, the pseudorapidity density of primary charged particles at midrapidity is 1584 ± 4(stat) ± 76(syst), which corresponds to 8.3 ± 0.4(syst) per participating nucleon pair. This represents an increase of about a factor 1.9 relative to pp collisions at similar collision energies, and about a factor 2.2 to central Au-Au collisions at √ S NN = 2.76 TeV. This measurement provides the first experimental constraint for models of nucleus-nucleus collisions at LHC energies.