DECAL: A Reconfigurable Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor for Tracking and Calorimetry in a 180 nm Image Sensor Process.

In this paper, we describe DECAL, a prototype Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor (MAPS) device designed to demonstrate the feasibility of both digital calorimetry and reconfigurability in ASICs for particle physics. The goal of this architecture is to help reduce the development and manufacturing costs of detectors for future colliders by developing a chip that can operate both as a digital silicon calorimeter and a tracking chip. The prototype sensor consists of a matrix of 64 × 64 55 µm pixels, and provides a readout at 40 MHz of the number of particles which have struck the matrix in the preceding 25 ns. It can be configured to report this as a total sum across the sensor (equivalent to the pad of an analogue calorimeter) or the sum per column (equivalent to a traditional strip detector). The design and operation of the sensor are described, and the results of chip characterisation are reported and compared to simulations.

Distraction Osteogenesis Using Bone Matrix Osteotensors in Ectodermal Dysplasia: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Ectodermal dysplasia patients require complex oral rehabilitation. Bone matrix Osteotensors activate the patient's own stem cells to promote new bone formation through an autogenous growth factor cascade generated by a targeted flapless bone distraction before implant and/or bone graft therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The maxillary and mandibular bone were activated 21 (for type I bone) to 45 days (for type IV bone) before implant and/or bone substitute installation. Purpose-designed Osteotensors initiated massive recruitment of stem cells in the intended bone recipient site, thereby triggering neoangiogenesis and osteogenesis. After new bone formation, root-form implants and Diskimplants were installed. Functional loading was obtained at 48 hours using highly rigid, screw-secured fixed upper and lower full-arch prostheses. RESULTS: At 3 years, all implants appeared clinically and radiologically osseointegrated with an excellent functional and esthetic outcome. CONCLUSION: Flapless distraction osteogenesis using bone matrix Osteotensors several weeks before surgery improved the initial quality and volume of the recipient bone bed. This minimally invasive approach allows future successful immediate implant-supported complete maxillomandibular fixed rehabilitation without preliminary grafting procedures in patients with an unfavorable initial bone anatomy.

Neurological and functional recovery in human stroke are associated with peripheral blood CD34+ cell mobilization.

BACKGROUND: A spontaneous mobilization of Peripheral Blood-Mononuclear CD34+ Cells (PB-MNC-CD34+) has recently been reported in human myocardial infarction and found to be related to improved heart function and survival. However, nothing is known regarding a possible relation between PB-MNC-CD34+ mobilization and neurological recovery in human acute cerebral ischemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: PB-MNC-CD34+ were determined daily after an acute cerebral ischemic attack for 14 days in 25 patients with acute ischemic stroke and compared with controls. Results indicated that stroke was followed by large and bursting mobilizations of PB-MNC-CD34+. The amplitude of the mobilizations was similar to those observed in Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) conditioned aplastic patients following myeloablative therapy before leukapheresis and autologous bone graft. The extent of PB-MNC-CD34+ mobilization in each patient was directly related to neurological and functional recoveries as assessed by NIH Stroke Scale, and modified Rankin Scale respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The mobilization of PB-MNC-CD34+ cells might be predictive of neurological and functional recovery.

Targeting NF-kappaB activation via pharmacologic inhibition of IKK2-induced apoptosis of human acute myeloid leukemia cells.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells are characterized by a constitutive and abnormal activation of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) transcription factor. This study, conducted in vitro on 18 patients, shows that targeting the IKB kinase 2 (IKK2) kinase with the specific pharmacologic inhibitor AS602868 to block NF-kappaB activation led to apoptosis of human primary AML cells. Moreover, AS602868 potentiated the apoptotic response induced by the current chemotherapeutic drugs doxorubicin, cytarabine, or etoposide (VP16). AS602868-induced cell death was associated with rupture of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and activation of cellular caspases. NF-kappaB inhibition did not affect normal CD34+ hematopoietic precursors, suggesting that it could represent a new adjuvant strategy for AML treatment.

Clinical value of the quantitative expression of the three epitopes of CD34 in 300 cases of acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The various epitopes of the CD34 molecule have been classified according to their different sensitivities to enzymatic cleavage by neuraminidase, chymopapain and a glycoprotease from Pasteurella haemolytica. Although monoclonal antibodies have been developed that specifically identify these epitopes, few studies have evaluated the distribution and quantitative expression of such epitopes on leukemic blasts. DESIGN AND METHODS: We report here a prospective multicenter study in which we examined and quantified the expression of the 3 classes of CD34 on fresh leukemic blast cells from 300 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The binding of monoclonal antibodies was studied by flow cytometry, allowing evaluation of blast cell positivity as well as their mean fluorescence intensity. These quantitative data were made comparable between centers by means of a calibration curve established with the same reagents in all laboratories. RESULTS: Quantitative expression of class I epitope was significantly higher than that of class II and class III epitopes (p<0.0001). The three classes were more frequently expressed in M0 and M1 and less in M3 and M5. The highest levels of CD34 expression were observed in M2, M0 and M1 and the lowest in M3, M5 and BAL for class II and III. CD34 expression was lower for all classes in cases with a normal karyotype, compared to in cases with structural or numerical abnormalities. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: In cases with a t(9;22) the expression of class I was significantly higher than that of class II and III and the opposite was observed in AML with t(15;17). Moreover, as a whole, a high intensity of class III CD34 appeared to be a marker of good prognosis.