MITO END-3: Efficacy of Avelumab immunotherapy according to molecular profiling in first-line endometrial cancer therapy

BACKGROUND

Immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy significantly improves progression-free survival compared to first-line chemotherapy alone in advanced endometrial cancer, with a much larger effect size in microsatellite-instability high (MSI-H) cases. New biomarkers might help to select patients that may have benefit among those with a microsatellite-stable (MSS) tumor.

METHODS

In a pre-planned translational analysis of the MITO END-3 trial, we assessed the significance of genomic abnormalities in patients randomized to standard carboplatin/paclitaxel without or with avelumab.

RESULTS

Out of 125 randomized patients, 109 had samples eligible for next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis, and 102 had MSI tested. According to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), there were 29 cases MSI-H, 26 MSS TP53 wild-type (wt), 47 MSS TP53 mutated (mut), and one case with POLE mutation. Four mutated genes were present in more than 30% of cases: TP53, PIK3CA, ARID1A, and PTEN. Eleven patients (10%) had a BRCA1/2 mutation (five in MSI-H and six in MSS). High TMB (≥10 Muts/Mb) was observed in all MSI-H patients, in four out of 47 MSS/TP53 mut, and no case in the MSS/TP53 wt category. The effect of avelumab on progression-free survival significantly varied according to TCGA categories, being favorable in MSI-H and worst in MSS/TP53 mut (P interaction=0.003); a similar non-significant trend was seen in survival analysis. ARID1A and PTEN also showed a statistically significant interaction with treatment effect, which was better in the presence of the mutation (ARID1A P interaction=0.01; PTEN P interaction=0.002).

CONCLUSION

The MITO END-3 trial results suggest that TP53 mutation is associated with a poor effect of avelumab, while mutations of PTEN and ARID1A are related to a positive effect of the drug in patients with advanced endometrial cancer.

Impact of surgeon learning curve in minimally invasive radical hysterectomy on early stage cervical cancer patient survival

Background

Recently, it has been sustained that only surgeons skilled in minimally invasive radical hysterectomy (MI-RH) could provide valuable oncological outcomes in early-stage cervical cancer. Still, literature lacks data correlating surgeon experience with patient survival rate.

Objective

To investigate the impact of surgeon training patient survival rate following MI-RH for early stage cervical cancer.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of 243 early-stage cervical cancer treated with MI-RH. Multiple regression analyses were undertaken to investigate the impact of the surgeons learning curve, according to the number of MI-RH, on patients prognosis.

Results

A steady trend of reduction in disease recurrence risk is associated with increased surgeon experience. The peak of the learning curve was shown at the 19th MI-RH (hazard ratio of disease-free survival: 0.321; 95%CI: 0.140-0.737; p= 0.007). The 3 years disease-free survival that a surgeon could provide to patients is significantly lower at the beginning of his/her learning path comparing to what he/she could guarantee once adequate experience had been achieved (75.4% and 91.6% respectively, p=0.005). Surgeon experience appears to be an independent prognostic factor.

Conclusion

The experience that a surgeon can achieve practicing in MI-RH significantly influences oncological outcomes of early-stage cervical cancer patients. Future studies comparing minimally invasive and open surgery should take this into account. It would be advisable that the scientific community precisely establishes the minimum training required in the field of MI-RH for early-stage cervical cancer.

Determination of antioxidant capacity and flavonoid composition of onion (Allium cepa L.) landrace 'Krishnapuram' bulb using HPLC-ESI-ITMS

This study reports for the first-time antioxidant activity and flavonoid composition of KP onion landrace which is useful for future breeding programs and to obtain geographical indication (GI) tag for the benefit of farmers. The present study was aimed to determine antioxidant capacity and flavonoid composition of bulbs of red onion (Allium cepa L.) landrace 'Krishnapuram' (KP) from India using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-Electrospray Ionization (ESI)-multistage Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry (ITMS). The antioxidant activity was assayed by Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and hypochlorous acid (HClO)-induced oxidative damage in human erythrocytes. The total phenolic (TPC) contents in KP onion bulb extract (with 80% methanol) found to be 1.10 ± 0.2 mg GAE/g FW and 38.88 ± 1.0 lM QE/g. The FRAP activity measured for the bulb extract was 13.20 ± 0.1 μM QE/g. KP onion bulb extracts protected red blood cells (RBC) effectively (23%) against the oxidative damage induced by HClO. HPLC-ESI-ITMS analysis showed the presence of eight flavonols and five anthocyanins. Quercetin 3,4' -O-diglucoside (384.71 ± 0.49 mg/kg FW) and cyanidin 3-(6″-malonylglucoside) (20.95 ± 0.60 mg/kg FW) were detected as major flavonol and anthocyanin, respectively. The study suggests that KP onion has a considerable antioxidant activity due to the presence of high TPC. Moreover, quercetin glucosides are found to be more abundant than quercetin. The differences in quercetin glycosides content among different red onions could be useful for breeding programmes in the future.

A discrete dynamical system: The poor man's magnetohydrodynamic (PMMHD) equations

A discrete dynamical system is derived, via a Fourier-Galerkin procedure, from three-dimensional equations describing incompressible plasmas in the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) framework. The obtained six-dimensional (6D) map, consisting of logistic and nonlinear terms, can provide useful insights into incompressible plasmas dynamics when bifurcation parameters, controlling dissipative and coupling terms, are changed. The map preserves the total energy in the ideal MHD approximation (i.e., by neglecting dissipative terms), manifests a sensitive dependence to the initial conditions as well as at least one Lyapunov exponent is positive (as for chaotic systems), and is characterized by a dissipative nature of its phase space. Moreover, all fixed points of the usual MHD equations are recovered, including the fluid fixed point, the Alfvénic point, and the Taylor force-free solution. Finally, also some interesting properties, as the existence of a kinematic dynamo action, are evidenced, suggesting that discrete dynamical systems deserve consideration for the description of incompressible plasmas.

Primary Intraosseous Verrucous Carcinoma Developing from a Maxillary Odontogenic Cyst: Case Report

Primary intraosseous carcinoma (PIOC) is an extremely rare lesion, almost always occurring in cranial bones. The origin of this tumor, specific to the maxillae, is associated with the cells of the epithelial rests of Malassez. Among the histotypes which can be included in these neoplasms, verrucous carcinoma is of particular interest due to its rarity: only a single case has been reported to date. After a short survey of the literature, the authors describe a directly observed case of verrucous carcinoma arising from a maxillary odontogenic cyst.

Explosive Particle Dispersion in Plasma Turbulence

Particle dynamics are investigated in plasma turbulence, using self-consistent kinetic simulations, in two dimensions. In the steady state, the trajectories of single protons and proton pairs are studied, at different values of plasma β (ratio between kinetic and magnetic pressure). For single-particle displacements, results are consistent with fluids and magnetic field line dynamics, where particles undergo normal diffusion for very long times, with higher β's being more diffusive. In an intermediate time range, with separations lying in the inertial range, particles experience an explosive dispersion in time, consistent with the Richardson prediction. These results, obtained for the first time with a self-consistent kinetic model, are relevant for astrophysical and laboratory plasmas, where turbulence is crucial for heating, mixing, and acceleration processes.

Spatial interactions in a modified Daisyworld model: Heat diffusivity and greenhouse effects

In this work we investigate a modified version of the Daisyworld model, originally introduced by Lovelock and Watson to describe in a simple way the interactions between an Earth-like planet, its biosphere, and the incoming solar radiation. Here a spatial dependency on latitude is included, and both a variable heat diffusivity along latitudes and a simple greenhouse effect description are introduced in the model. We show that the spatial interactions between the variables of the system can locally stabilize the coexistence of the two vegetation types. The feedback on albedo is able to generate equilibrium solutions which can efficiently self-regulate the planet climate, even for values of the solar luminosity relatively far from the current Earth conditions.

Cancellation properties in Hall magnetohydrodynamics with a strong guide magnetic field

We present a signed measure analysis of compressible Hall magnetohydrodynamic turbulence with an external guide field. Signed measure analysis allows us to characterize the scaling behavior of the sign-oscillating flow structures and their geometrical properties (fractal dimensions of structures). A reduced numerical model, valid when a strong guide magnetic field is present, is used here. In order to discuss the effect of the Hall term, different values for the ion skin depth are considered in the simulations. Results show that as the Hall term is increased, the fractal dimension of the current and vorticity sheets decreases. This observation, together with previous analysis of the same fields, provides a comprehensive description of the effect of the Hall force on the formation of structures. Two main processes are identified, namely, the widening and unraveling of the sheets.

Scaling properties and intermittency of two-dimensional turbulence in pure electron plasmas

When the cold nonrelativistic guiding center approximation is valid, the transverse dynamics of highly magnetized electron plasma columns confined in Penning-Malmberg traps is analogous to that of an incompressible, inviscid, two-dimensional (2D) fluid whose vorticity corresponds, up to a constant of proportionality, to the axially averaged electron plasma density. In this work intermittency phenomena in the freely decaying 2D electron plasma turbulence are investigated through scaling properties of the probability density functions and flatness of spatial vorticity increments, computed by analyzing the results of experiments performed in the Penning-Malmberg trap ELTRAP. It is shown that the intermittency properties of the turbulence strongly depends on the initial conditions and the relation of these results to the dynamics of the system is discussed.

Molecular characterization of the receptor binding structure-activity relationships of influenza B virus hemagglutinin

Selectivity of α2,6-linked human-like receptors by B hemagglutinin (HA) is yet to be fully understood. This study integrates binding data with structure-recognition models to examine the impact of regional-specific sequence variations within the receptor-binding pocket on selectivity and structure activity relationships (SAR). The receptor-binding selectivity of influenza B HAs corresponding to either B/Victoria/2/1987 or the B/Yamagata/16/88 lineages was examined using surface plasmon resonance, solid-phase ELISA and gel-capture assays. Our SAR data showed that the presence of asialyl sugar units is the main determinant of receptor preference of α2,6 versus α2,3 receptor binding. Changes to the type of sialyl-glycan linkage present on receptors exhibit only a minor effect upon binding affinity. Homology-based structural models revealed that structural properties within the HA pocket, such as a glyco-conjugate at Asn194 on the 190-helix, sterically interfere with binding to avian receptor analogs by blocking the exit path of the asialyl sugars. Similarly, naturally occurring substitutions in the C-terminal region of the 190-helix and near the N-terminal end of the 140-loop narrows the horizontal borders of the binding pocket, which restricts access of the avian receptor analog LSTa. This study helps bridge the gap between ligand structure and receptor recognition for influenza B HA; and provides a consensus SAR model for the binding of human and avian receptor analogs to influenza B HA.

Phase-synchronization, energy cascade, and intermittency in solar-wind turbulence

The energy cascade in solar wind magnetic turbulence is investigated using MESSENGER data in the inner heliosphere. The decomposition of magnetic field time series in intrinsic functions, each characterized by a typical time scale, reveals phase reorganization. This allows for the identification of structures of all sizes generated by the nonlinear turbulent cascade, covering both the inertial and the dispersive ranges of the turbulent magnetic power spectrum. We find that the correlation (or anticorrelation) of phases occurs between pairs of neighboring time scales, whenever localized peaks of magnetic energy are present at both scales, consistent with the local character of the energy transfer process.

Long-range persistence of temperature records induced by long-term climatic phenomena

The occurrence of persistence in climatic systems has been investigated by analyzing 1167 surface temperature records, covering 110 years, in the whole United States. Due to the nonlinear and nonstationary character of temperature time series, the seasonal cycle suffers from both phase and amplitude modulations, which are not properly removed by the classical definition of the temperature anomaly. In order to properly filter out the seasonal component and the monotonic trends, we define the temperature anomaly in a different way by using the empirical mode decomposition (EMD). The essence of this method is to empirically identify the intrinsic oscillatory modes from the temperature records according to their characteristic time scale. The original signal is thus decomposed into a collection of a finite small number of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), having its own time scale and representing oscillations experiencing amplitude and phase modulations, and a residue, describing the mean trend. The sum of all the IMF components as well as the residue reconstructs the original signal. Partial reconstruction can be achieved by selectively choosing IMFs in order to remove trivial trends and noise. The EMD description in terms of time-dependent amplitude and phase functions overcomes one of the major limitation of the Fourier analysis, namely, a correct description of nonlinearities and nonstationarities. By using the EMD definition of temperature anomalies we found persistence of fluctuations with a different degree according to the geographical location, on time scales in the range 3-15 years. The spatial distribution of the detrended fluctuation analysis exponent, used to quantify the degree of memory, indicates that the long-term persistence could be related to to the presence of climatic regions, which are more sensitive to climatic phenomena such as the El Niño southern oscillation.

Amplitude-frequency fluctuations of the seasonal cycle, temperature anomalies, and long-range persistence of climate records

The presence of long-term persistence of climate records on scales from 2 to 15 yr has been reported in the literature, even if the universality of this result is controversial. In the present paper results from monthly temperature records measured for about 250 yr in Prague and Milan are reported. Because of the nonlinear and nonstationary character of temperature time series the seasonal contribution has been identified through the empirical mode decomposition. We find that the seasonal component of the climate records is characterized by some time scales showing both amplitude and phase fluctuations. By using a more suitable definition of temperature anomalies, and thus excluding persistence effects due to seasonal oscillations and trends, the occurrence of long-term persistence has been investigated through the detrended fluctuation analysis. Our results indicate persistence on scales from 3 to 10 yr with similar values for the detrended fluctuation analysis indices.

Sign-singularity of the reduced magnetic helicity in the solar wind plasma

We investigate the scaling laws of a signed measure derived from the reduced magnetic helicity which has been determined from Cluster data in the solar wind. This quantifies the handedness of the magnetic field; namely, it can be related to the polarization of the magnetic field fluctuations (right or left hand). The measure results to be sign-singular; that is, we do not observe any scale-dependent effect at the ion- and at electron-cyclotron frequencies. Cancellations between right- and left-hand polarizations go on in the dispersive or dissipative range, beyond the electron-cyclotron frequency. This means that the mechanism responsible for the generation of the dispersive or dissipative range is rather insensitive to the polarization of the magnetic field fluctuations.

Scaling laws of turbulence and heating of fast solar wind: the role of density fluctuations

Incompressible and isotropic magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in plasmas can be described by an exact relation for the energy flux through the scales. This Yaglom-like scaling law has been recently observed in the solar wind above the solar poles observed by the Ulysses spacecraft, where the turbulence is in an Alfvénic state. An analogous phenomenological scaling law, suitably modified to take into account compressible fluctuations, is observed more frequently in the same data set. Large-scale density fluctuations, despite their low amplitude, thus play a crucial role in the basic scaling properties of turbulence. The turbulent cascade rate in the compressive case can, moreover, supply the energy dissipation needed to account for the local heating of the nonadiabatic solar wind.

Ergodicity of ideal Galerkin three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics and Hall magnetohydrodynamics models

We explore the problem of the ergodicity of magnetohydrodynamics and Hall magnetohydrodynamics in three-dimensional, ideal Galerkin systems that are truncated to a finite number of Fourier modes. We show how single Fourier modes follow the Gibbs ensemble prediction, and how the ergodicity of the phase space is restored for long-time Galerkin solutions. Running time averages and two-time correlation functions show, at long times, a convergence towards zero of time averaged single Fourier modes. This suggests a delayed approach to, rather than a breaking of, ergodicity. Finally, we present some preliminary ideas concerning the origin of the associated time scales.

Observation of inertial energy cascade in interplanetary space plasma

Direct evidence for the presence of an inertial energy cascade, the most characteristic signature of hydromagnetic turbulence (MHD), is observed in the solar wind by the Ulysses spacecraft. After a brief rederivation of the equivalent of Yaglom's law for MHD turbulence, a linear relation is indeed observed for the scaling of mixed third-order structure functions involving Elsässer variables. This experimental result firmly establishes the turbulent character of low-frequency velocity and magnetic field fluctuations in the solar wind plasma.

Chemical characterization and effects on Lepidium sativum of the native and bioremediated components of dry olive mill residue

Dry olive mill residue (DOR) from the olive oil production by two phase centrifugation system was fractionated by a consecutive continuous solid-liquid extraction obtaining the EAF, PF, MF and WF fractions with ethyl acetate, n-propanol, methanol and water, respectively. The chemical, chromatographic and mass spectrometric analyses showed EAF, PF and MF to be mainly composed of simple phenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids and glycosilated phenols (glycosides of phenols, secoiridoids and flavonoids), whereas WF was mainly consisting of polymerin, the metal organic polymeric mixture previously identified in olive oil mill waste waters and composed of carbohydrates, melanin, proteins and metals (K, Na, Ca, Mg and Fe). The identification in DOR of oleoside, 6'-beta-glucopyranosyl-oleoside and 6'-beta-rhamnopyranosyl-oleoside, and of its organic polymeric component, known as polymerin, are reported for the first time in this paper. The inoculation of the previously mentioned fractions with saprobe fungi Coriolopsis rigida, Pycnoporus cynnabarinus or Trametes versicolor indicated these fungi to be able to metabolize both the phenols and glycosilated phenols, but not polymerin. In correspondence, EAF, PF, MF and WF, which proved to be toxic on Lepidium sativum, decreased their toxicity after incubation with the selected fungi, WF showing to be also able to stimulate the growth of the selected seeds. The phytotoxicity appeared mainly correlated to the monomeric phenols and, to a lesser extent, to the glycosilated phenols, whereas polymerin proved to be non toxic. However, the laccase activity was not associated with the decrease of phytotoxicity. The valorization of DOR as a producer of high added value substances of industrial and agricultural interest in native form and after their bioremediation for a final objective of the total DOR recycling is also discussed.

Reusing ethyl acetate and aqueous exhausted fractions of dry olive mill residue by saprobe fungi

Some saprobe fungi (Phlebia radiata, Trametes versicolor, Coriolopsis rigida, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, Fomes sclerodermus or Pleurotus pulmonarius) were able to bioconvert the ethyl acetate fraction (DEAF) and the corresponding aqueous exhausted fraction (EAF) of dry olive mill residue (DOR), reducing their phytotoxicity on Lepidium sativum seeds. Large amount of hydroxytyrosol together with other eight monomeric phenols were found in the native DEAF fraction, which represents a good source of antioxidants. P. radiata, T. versicolor and F. sclerodermus caused an effective phytotoxicity reduction of EAF in the concentration range of 25-3 gl(-1). In particular, in the range between 12.5 and 3 gl(-1), the EAF samples inoculated with P. radiata and F. sclerodermus surprisingly stimulated the germinability of L. sativum, suggesting their use as a potential biofertilizer. This is the first report which showed the bioconversion of the above fractions in shorter time with respect to the previous findings concerning DOR. The possible implications of laccase in the decrease of DEAF and EAF phytotoxicity was also discussed.

Clustering of polarity reversals of the geomagnetic field

Often in nature the temporal distribution of inhomogeneous stochastic point processes can be modeled as a realization of renewal Poisson processes with a variable rate. Here we investigate one of the classical examples, namely, the temporal distribution of polarity reversals of the geomagnetic field. In spite of the commonly used underlying hypothesis, we show that this process strongly departs from a Poisson statistics, the origin of this failure stemming from the presence of temporal clustering. We find that a Lévy statistics is able to reproduce paleomagnetic data, thus suggesting the presence of long-range correlations in the underlying dynamo process.

Periodic and aperiodic traveling pulses in population dynamics: an example from the occurrence of epidemic infections

The dynamics of the occurrence of the dengue hemorrhagic fever in the 72 provinces of Thailand is investigated by performing a proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) on spatiotemporal data. Using this technique, we are able to identify and select the contribution of different modes, selected according to the energy content, to the evolution of the epidemic during 14 years. We found that the phenomenon is characterized by periodic cycles of yearly occurrence characterized by spatial scales of about 420 km. Superimposed on this basic mode, POD analysis is able to reveal the presence of high-energetic aperiodic traveling pulses of the epidemic, which extend spatially for about 510 km from Bangkok.

Proper orthogonal decomposition of solar photospheric motions

The spatiotemporal dynamics of the solar photosphere is studied by performing a proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) of line of sight velocity fields computed from high resolution data coming from the MDI/SOHO instrument. Using this technique, we are able to identify and characterize the different dynamical regimes acting in the system. Low-frequency oscillations, with frequencies in the range 20-130 microHz, dominate the most energetic POD modes (excluding solar rotation), and are characterized by spatial patterns with typical scales of about 3 Mm. Patterns with larger typical scales of approximately 10 Mm, are associated to p-modes oscillations at frequencies of about 3000 microHz.

Identification and quantification of components in extracts of Uncaria tomentosa by HPLC-ES/MS

The two main classes of secondary metabolites, alkaloids and quinovic acid glycosides, of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC. (Rubiaceae), a Peruvian plant commonly known as 'uña de gato', have been analysed. Separation of the alkaloidal fraction was achieved using a solid phase extraction method based on cationic exchange, and an analytical method employing HPLC-ES/MS has been developed. Quantitative data for commercial wild bark, cultivated bark and leaves are reported. The analysis of quinovic acid glycosides was performed directly on the crude extract using both a fast analytical method based on flow injection ES/MS, and a more complete analytical technique using HPLC-MS.

[Herpes zoster of the trigeminal nerve: a case report and review of the literature]

Herpes zoster (shingles) is caused when the varicella zoster virus that has remained latent since an earlier varicella infection (chicken-pox) is reactivated. Herpes Zoster is a less common and endemic disease than varicella: factors causing reactivation are still not well known, but it occurs in older and/or immunocompromised individuals. Following reactivation, centrifugal migration of herpes zoster virus (HZV) occurs along sensory nerves to produce a characteristic painful cutaneous or mucocutaneous vesicular eruption that is generally limited to the single affected dermatome. Herpes zoster may affect any sensory ganglia and its cutaneous nerve: the most common sites affected are thoracic dermatomes (56%), followed by cranial nerves (13%) and lumbar (13%), cervical (11%) and sacral nerves (4%). Among cranial nerves, the trigeminal and facial nerves are the most affected due to reactivation of HZV latent in gasserian and geniculated ganglia. The 1st division of the trigeminal nerve is commonly affected, whereas the 2nd and the 3rd are rarely involved. During the prodromal stage, the only presenting symptom may be odontalgia, which may prove to be a diagnostic challenge for the dentist, since many diseases can cause orofacial pain, and the diagnosis must be established before final treatment. A literature review of herpes zoster of the trigeminal nerve is presented and the clinical presentation, differential diagnosis and treatment modalities are underlined. A case report is presented.

Studies on the constituents of Cyclanthera pedata fruits: isolation and structure elucidation of new flavonoid glycosides and their antioxidant activity

The isolation of six flavon glycosides (1-6), among them four new natural compounds (1-4), from the CHCl(3)/MeOH extract of the fruits of Cyclanthera pedata is reported. All of the structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including the concerted application of one-dimensional ((1)H, (1)H TOCSY, (13)C, and (13)C DEPT-NMR) and two-dimensional NMR techniques (DQF-COSY, HSQC, and HMBC). For all of the isolated compounds the antioxidant activity was determined by measuring the free radical scavenging activity, using the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) method, and the coupled oxidation of beta-carotene and linoleic acid.

Aspartyl protease inhibitor pepstatin binds to the presenilins of Alzheimer's disease

Mutations in the presenilin genes PS1 and PS2 cause early-onset Alzheimer's disease by altering gamma-secretase cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein, the last step in the generation of Abeta peptide. Ablation of presenilin (PS) genes, or mutation of two critical aspartates, abolishes gamma-secretase cleavage, suggesting that PS may be the gamma-secretases. Independently, inhibition experiments indicate that gamma-secretase is an aspartyl protease. To characterize the putative gamma-secretase activity associated with presenilins, lysates from human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y and human brain homogenates were incubated with biotin derivatives of pepstatin, followed by immunoprecipitation of PS and associated proteins, and biotin detection by Western blotting. Precipitation with PS1 antibodies, directed to either N-terminal or loop regions, yielded the same 43 kDa band, of apparent molecular mass consistent with that of full-length PS1, although it may represent an aspartyl protease complexed with PS1. Incubation of cell lysates with pepstatin-biotin, followed by streptavidin precipitation and PS1 Western blotting, revealed PS1 fragments and full-length protein, indicating that pepstatin-biotin bound to both cleaved and uncleaved PS1. Binding could be competed by gamma-secretase inhibitor L-685,458 and could not be achieved with a PS1 mutant lacking the two transmembrane aspartates. Pepstatin-biotin was also shown to bind to PS2. PS1 was specifically absorbed to pepstatin-agarose, with an optimal pH of 6. Binding of pepstatin-biotin to PS1 from lymphocytes of a heterozygous carrier of pathologic exon 9 deletion was markedly decreased as compared to control lymphocytes, suggesting that this PS1 mutation altered the pepstatin binding site.

Transport processes in reversed-field-pinch plasmas: inconsistency with the self-organized-criticality paradigm

A statistical analysis of the anomalous particle flux in the edge region of the RFX experiment has revealed that laminar times between bursts, which account for more than 50% of the losses, have a power law distribution and that flux fluctuations are not self-similar. These properties are found in contrast with a wide class of self-organized-criticality models so that it is concluded that there is no experimental evidence of avalanchelike process occurrence in the plasma of RFX.

Scaling laws and forecasting in athletic world records

In this study, we analysed running world records and found that the mean speed of the race, mu, as a function of the record time, tau, can be described asymptotically by two well-defined scaling laws of the form mu approximately tau(-beta). There is a break in the scaling laws (approximately 1000 m) between the shorter and the longer races at a characteristic time of around 150-170 s, after which a new scaling regime emerges. This is the first occasion that this characteristic time has been clearly found in physical terms; we interpreted it as the transition time between the anaerobic and the aerobic energy expenditure of athletes. This phenomenon is independent of the athletes' sex and is also found in swimming races with similar values of the characteristic time. We also investigated the forecasting of world records using historical data. Using an approach based on the identification of non-Poissonian events for a sequence of temporal point processes, we found that the sequence of improvements in all athletic records from 1900 to the present day cannot be considered as a sequence of completely random events.

Homoclinic gluing bifurcations during the light induced reorientation in nematic-liquid-crystal films

An s-polarized laser beam that impinges at small incidence angle on a homeotropically aligned nematic liquid crystal produces very interesting nonlinear phenomena. In this paper, we show that, due to the symmetry of the system, a cascade of successive homoclinic gluing bifurcations is responsible for the transition towards a stochastic regime in the experiment. We compare the experimental results with a model describing a sequence of gluing bifurcations.

Search of self-organized criticality processes in magnetically confined plasmas: hints from the reversed field pinch configuration

In order to test the self-organized criticality (SOC) paradigm in transport processes, a novel technique has been applied for the first time to plasmas confined in reversed field pinch configuration. This technique consists of an analysis of the probability distribution function of the times between bursts in density fluctuations measured by microwave reflectometry and electrostatic probes. The same analysis has also been applied to intermittent events sorted out from the Gaussian background. In both cases, the experimental results disagree with the predictions for a SOC system.

Identification of Hb Villejuif [beta123(H1)Thr-->Ile] in Southern Italy

Hb Villejuif [beta123(H1)Thr-->Ile] is a silent and asymptomatic variant described in 1989 in an 87-year-old woman of French origin suffering from coincidental polycythemia vera. This paper reports the second observation of Hb Villejuif in three related subjects from Montesarchio, Southern Italy. All routine techniques for hemoglobin analysis yielded normal results with the exception of a slight increase in the Hb A2 value. The occurrence of a variant beta-globin was rapidly assessed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometric analysis and the abnormal chain purified by high performance liquid chromatography. The amino acid replacement Thr-->Ile at beta123 was determined by tandem electrospray mass spectrometric analysis of the tryptic digest of the variant beta chain. The corresponding DNA mutation was established as C-->T at the second position of codon 123 (ACC-->ATC) by polymerase chain reaction amplification techniques.

Nonlinear dynamics optically induced in nematic liquid crystals

We report the analysis of the dynamical regimes induced in a homeotropically aligned nematic liquid-crystal layer when an s-polarized laser beam impinges at a small incident angle. These regimes are studied by analyzing the time series of the variation of the polarization state of a light probe beam, recorded at different light intensities. A detailed description of the dynamical regimes, based on the analysis of the wavelet transforms performed on the observed time series, is presented. We recognize a first Hopf bifurcation followed by a gluing bifurcation, and a further transition toward an irregular regime. Similarities between our experimental results and a scenario of transition to chaos via a sequence of gluing bifurcations have been discussed.

The mutation associated with Hb Peterborough [beta111(G13)Val-->Phe] originated from Southern Italy

Hb Peterborough [beta111(G13)Val-->Phe], an unstable hemoglobin variant with low oxygen affinity, was first described in two patients of Italian origin. This paper reports the first observation of this variant in Campania, Southern Italy, in two unrelated patients suffering from mild anemia. The variant was separated from Hb A by cation exchange chromatography on a high performance liquid chromatographic system with an automated procedure that might be useful for diagnostic purposes. The amino acid replacement, Val-Phe at [beta111, was assessed by tandem electrospray mass spectrometry analysis, and the corresponding DNA mutation was established as G-->T at the first position of codon 111 (GTC-TTC) by polymerase chain reaction amplification techniques. A family study showed that the two original carriers of Hb Peterborough were members of the same family as the proband examined in this study. This finding, and the presence of a second unrelated family carrying Hb Peterborough in Campania, strongly suggests that the DNA mutation associated with this variant originated in Southern Italy.

Intermittency and turbulence in a magnetically confined fusion plasma

We investigate the intermittency of magnetic turbulence as measured in reversed field pinch plasmas. We show that the probability distribution functions of magnetic field differences are not scale invariant; that is, the wings of these functions are more important at the smallest scales, a classical signature of intermittency. We show that scaling laws appear also in a region very close to the external wall of the confinement device, and we present evidences that the observed intermittency increases moving towards the wall.

Scavenging of peroxynitrite by oxyhemoglobin and identification of modified globin residues

Peroxynitrite is a strong oxidant involved in cell injury. In tissues, most of peroxynitrite reacts preferentially with CO(2) or hemoproteins, and these reactions affect its fate and toxicity. CO(2) promotes tyrosine nitration but reduces the lifetime of peroxynitrite, preventing, at least in part, membrane crossing. The role of hemoproteins is not easily predictable, because the heme intercepts peroxynitrite, but its oxidation to ferryl species and tyrosyl radical(s) may catalyze tyrosine nitration. The modifications induced by peroxynitrite/CO(2) on oxyhemoglobin were determined by mass spectrometry, and we found that alphaTyr42, betaTyr130, and, to a lesser extent, alphaTyr24 were nitrated. The suggested nitration mechanism is tyrosyl radical formation by long-range electron transfer to ferrylhemoglobin followed by a reaction with (*)NO(2). Dityrosine (alpha24-alpha42) and disulfides (beta93-beta93 and alpha104-alpha104) were also detected, but these cross-linkings were largely due to modifications occurring under the denaturing conditions employed for mass spectrometry. Moreover, immunoelectrophoretic techniques showed that the 3-nitrotyrosine content of oxyhemoglobin sharply increased only in molar excess of peroxynitrite, thus suggesting that this hemoprotein is not a catalyst of nitration. The noncatalytic role may be due to the formation of the nitrating species (*)NO(2) mainly in molar excess of peroxynitrite. In agreement with this hypothesis, oxyhemoglobin strongly inhibited tyrosine nitration of a target dipeptide (Ala-Tyr) and of membrane proteins from ghosts resealed with oxyhemoglobin. Erythrocytes were poor inhibitors of Ala-Tyr nitration on account of the membrane barrier. However, at the physiologic hematocrit, Ala-Tyr nitration was reduced by 65%. This "sink" function was facilitated by the huge amount of band 3 anion exchanger on the cell membrane. We conclude that in blood oxyhemoglobin is a peroxynitrite scavenger of physiologic relevance.

Low-dose monitored mitotane treatment achieves the therapeutic range with manageable side effects in patients with adrenocortical cancer

Eight patients with adrenocortical cancer were treated with low doses of mitotane (2-3 g daily) while monitoring drug plasma levels. When the mitotane concentrations reached the therapeutic range (defined as mitotane plasma levels between 14-20 microg/mL), a dose reduction was performed to avoid toxicity. Thereafter, the mitotane dose was tailored according to plasma levels. A progressive increase in plasma mitotane concentrations was observed during treatment, and a highly significant linear correlation was found between plasma drug levels and the total mitotane dose. The therapeutic threshold was reached in all patients after 3-5 months and a total mitotane dose of 283-387 g/days (median, 363). The duration of treatment was 8-40 months (median, 9). Toxicity was manageable in all but one patient, who discontinued treatment. It is therefore possible to design a standard low dose schedule, e.g. 3 g/daily for about 3-4 months with following dose adjustments guided by the monitoring of plasma mitotane levels. This approach is able to provide therapeutic mitotane concentrations and limit the unwanted effects. The present data provide a rationale to change the approach to mitotane treatment in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma from high dose to low dose regimens.