A facility to search for hidden particles at the CERN SPS: the SHiP physics case

This paper describes the physics case for a new fixed target facility at CERN SPS. The SHiP (search for hidden particles) experiment is intended to hunt for new physics in the largely unexplored domain of very weakly interacting particles with masses below the Fermi scale, inaccessible to the LHC experiments, and to study tau neutrino physics. The same proton beam setup can be used later to look for decays of tau-leptons with lepton flavour number non-conservation, [Formula: see text] and to search for weakly-interacting sub-GeV dark matter candidates. We discuss the evidence for physics beyond the standard model and describe interactions between new particles and four different portals-scalars, vectors, fermions or axion-like particles. We discuss motivations for different models, manifesting themselves via these interactions, and how they can be probed with the SHiP experiment and present several case studies. The prospects to search for relatively light SUSY and composite particles at SHiP are also discussed. We demonstrate that the SHiP experiment has a unique potential to discover new physics and can directly probe a number of solutions of beyond the standard model puzzles, such as neutrino masses, baryon asymmetry of the Universe, dark matter, and inflation.

Mortality and recurrence patterns of breast cancer patients diagnosed under a screening programme versus comparable non-screened breast cancer patients from the same population: analytical survey from 2002 to 2012

Breast cancer screening programmes seem to bring about significant benefits, including decreased mortality, although they may also have some drawbacks such as false-negative and false-positive results. This study aims to compare the clinical outcome of a group of patients undergoing a breast cancer screening programme with that of a synchronous non-screened group of patients matched for age and follow-up period. We studied basic characteristics of epidemiology, immunohistochemistry, loco-regional relapse, distant metastases, disease-free interval and overall and specific mortality. We compared 510 patients in the screened group with 394 non-screened patients, along the period of 2002-2012. Screening was applied on a target population of 49,847 and was based on double-projection, double-read mammograms. Two years were allowed per round. Overall participation for the five rounds considered was 75.2%, with 86.5% coverage, and a total cumulative population of 123,445. The non-participant women amounted 40,794. Tumour detection rate for the screened women was 3.8 per thousand (475/123,445), while the corresponding rate for non-participants was 9.4 per thousand (382/40,797). Incidence of luminal A subtype was 15% higher in screened than that in non-screened patients (95% confidence interval (CI) 8-22%). Conversely, the triple-negative subtype was 6% higher in the non-screened group (95% CI 2-10%). Incidence of breast conservative treatments and sentinel node biopsies was significantly higher in the screened group. Overall mortality was 2.6 times higher in non-screened than that in screened group (95% CI 1.2-5.6) After 10 years of experience with our own screening programme, we believe that included patients receive a benefit versus comparable non-screened breast cancer patients, with acceptable benefit-risk relation.

Synthesis and preliminary pharmacological evaluation of thiophene analogues of viloxazine as potential antidepressant drugs

A series of eight thienyloxymethylmorpholines, thiophene analogues of viloxazine, have been synthesized by three different routes. The preliminary pharmacological evaluation of this series shows antidepressant properties on the mice models used with a light sedative action. The structure-activity relationship is established in a first approximation.

[Comparison of the indexes of serologic activity with endoscopy in intestinal inflammatory disease]

The correlation of the most commonly used clinical and serologic parameters in clinical practice were studied with an endoscopic model for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Eighty patients diagnosed with IBD with colic involvement (40 patients with ulcerous colitis [UC] and 40 with Crohn's disease [CD]) were prospectively studied. The CDAI was used as a clinical index of activity in the cases of CD and the True-love and Witts index was used in those with UC. The analytical parameters studied were erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hemoglobin (Hb), platelets (Th), iron (Fe), protein-C-reactive (PCR), albumin (Ab), orosomucoid (Oro), and alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT). An excellent correlation was found in the UC in both the clinical index and serologic parameters. However, the correlation in CD was poor and only significant with iron and albumin.

[Tropical sprue]

We report the case of a 60 year old female who presented with diarrhoea and malabsorption syndrome, confirmed by the laboratory data and the radiologic examination, which developed after a journey to Egypt. The mainly finding was flattening of the villi in the jejunal biopsy; the syndrome recovered after treatment with antibiotics and folic acid. The case fulfills the diagnostic criteria of tropical sprue although this country is not considered as an endemic area.

Survey of rotavirus infection in a dairy herd: comparison between polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and two commercial tests

A survey of rotavirus infection in a dairy herd with a history of neonatal diarrhoea was carried out. Faecal samples taken from 15 cows before and after calving as well as faeces taken from their calves daily from birth to two weeks of life were tested for rotavirus by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and compared with an ELISA and a latex agglutination commercial test. Rotavirus excretion was not detected in faeces from cows around parturition by any of the three tests. However, all of their calves shed rotaviruses during the observation period. The onset of rotavirus excretion determined by PAGE ranged from day 2 to day 8 of life (day 4.8 +/- 1.8 on average) and lasted for 4 to 7 days (5.3 +/- 1.1 days on average). Chi-square test showed a significant association (P = 0.0001) between the presence of rotavirus and the altered consistency of calves faeces. All the three tests showed similar results (overall agreement 92.5%) but discrepancies were detected mainly at the beginning or at the end of the rotavirus excretion period. Results obtained with both commercial kits closely paralleled each other and parameters other than sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy or predictive values have to be considered as selection criteria.

Neuroleptic activity of 10-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-thieno[3,2-b] [1,5]benzoxazepine and benzothiazepine derivatives

Two series of compounds, structurally related to clozapine (CAS 5786-21-0), were tested for their neuroleptic activity. The derivatives 7-chloro-10-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-thieno[3,2-b][1,5]benzoxazepine and 7-chloro-10-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-thieno[3,2-b][1,5]benzothiazepine at high doses were not cataleptogenic and only very weakly antagonized the amphetamine-or apomorphine-induced stereotyped behaviour in the rat, whereas at low doses they antagonized the amphetamine-induced hypermotility in mice. Thus these compounds might be efficient neuroleptics with little propensity to cause extrapyramidal side effects. On the other hand, the unsubstituted compound 10-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-thieno[3,2-b][1,5]benzothiazepine appeared to be an efficient neuroleptic agent with a greater propensity to cause these side effects.

[Intervention against tobacco dependence in primary care. A study of 4 modalities of action]

OBJECTIVE

To study the feasibility and evaluate the outcome over a years of four methods of combatting tobacco addiction at the primary care level: one directed towards the team's staff and three aimed at patients (counselling of smokers and specific treatment with nicotine chewing-gum and group or individual support). To compare the results of group and individual support.

DESIGN

Uncontrolled intervention study. SITE. Primary care.

PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS

19 members of the Team. 121 smoking patients who attended for consultation. 62 people who requested treatment.

INTERVENTIONS

Consensus on the attitude taken to tobacco within the team. Systematic counselling to smokers. Treatment with nicotine chewing-gum and group or individual support.

MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Numbers of people who gave up after a year: among the 12 smokers in the team, 4 (33%); 8 out of the 103 people who received counselling (7.7%) (Cl 2.60-12.94%); zero out of the 20 people who never attended for treatment or left the course after the first interview; zero out of the 20 treated in a group; and 8 out of the 20 treated individually (40%) (Cl 18.53-61.47%, p less than 0.001 regarding the treatment in group).

CONCLUSIONS

The results support the effectiveness of three of the methods of intervention at the Primary Care level: intervention within the team itself, systematic counselling to smokers and treatment using nicotine chewing-gum and individual support. Group support must be reserved for staff with a specific training on Tobacco Addiction and the dynamics of group treatment.

Q fever pneumonia: a review of 164 community-acquired cases in the Basque country

One hundred and sixty four cases of Q fever pneumonia are reviewed. Coxiella burnetti is responsible for 18.8% of pneumonias acquired in the community in our region with an extremely high seasonal variation. 91% of the cases occur between January and June. 88.5% of the patients are less than 40 yrs of age and 77% are male. The most common clinical symptoms are high fever, cough, cephalalgia and myalgias. 46.5% of the patients have no respiratory symptoms although 34% of the cases report pleural pain. The radiological signs are nonspecific. With regard to laboratory data, it is often observed that the white blood cell count (WBC) is normal and the liver enzymes are abnormal (45%). Treatment with doxycycline reduces the fever more quickly than erythromycin.

Q fever pneumonia: a review of 164 community-acquired cases in the Basque country

One hundred and sixty four cases of Q fever pneumonia are reviewed. Coxiella burnetti is responsible for 18.8% of pneumonias acquired in the community in our region with an extremely high seasonal variation. 91% of the cases occur between January and June. 88.5% of the patients are less than 40 yrs of age and 77% are male. The most common clinical symptoms are high fever, cough, cephalalgia and myalgias. 46.5% of the patients have no respiratory symptoms although 34% of the cases report pleural pain. The radiological signs are nonspecific. With regard to laboratory data, it is often observed that the white blood cell count (WBC) is normal and the liver enzymes are abnormal (45%). Treatment with doxycycline reduces the fever more quickly than erythromycin.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of thiophene analogs of lotucaine

The syntheses of the three possible thiophene analogs of lotucaine, and of other structurally related derivatives, are described. Preliminary data on their local anesthetic as well as antiplatelet aggregation activities are given.

Bicyclic thiophenic derivatives as platelet aggregation inhibitors

The antiplatelet activity of twenty new thiophenic derivatives, grouped in three series, was studied according to the in vitro Born method. The DI50 for the three inducers of platelet aggregation ADP, adrenaline and collagen were calculated. The strong antiplatelet activity found in some of the compounds studied, which is even superior to that of the four classic antiplatelet drugs used is worth mentioning. The structure-activity relationships is discussed.

Synthesis and beta-adrenoceptor blocking activity of thiophenic analogues of metoprolol

The synthesis of the thiophenic analogue of metoprolol (VI) and of its related compound (VII) are described. Except for cardioselectivity at low doses, the thiophenic analogue of metoprolol behaves in a very similar way as this compound in all the aspects considered in a preliminary pharmacological study.

beta-Adrenoceptor blocking activity of halogenated thienylethanolamine derivatives

The synthesis of a number of ring-halogenated N-isopropyl- and N-tert-butyl-2-amino-1-(2-thienyl)ethanols has been carried out in order to ascertain the influence of chloro or bromo substitution at the thiophene moiety on their blocking beta-adrenoceptor activity. It was found that chloro- and bromo-substituted compounds exhibited a similar activity. Monohalo substitution at positions C4 or C5 of the thiophene ring resulted in comparable blocking potency, whereas C3 halo-substituted compounds were practically devoid of activity. The highest activity in these series was observed with compounds dihalogenated at C4 and C5, their effect on myocardial beta-receptors being comparable to that of propranolol.