RESUMO
In plants, many invading microbial pathogens are recognized by cell-surface pattern recognition receptors, which induce defense responses. Here, we show that the ceramide Phytophthora infestans-ceramide D (Pi-Cer D) from the plant pathogenic oomycete P. infestans triggers defense responses in Arabidopsis. Pi-Cer D is cleaved by an Arabidopsis apoplastic ceramidase, NEUTRAL CERAMIDASE 2 (NCER2), and the resulting 9-methyl-branched sphingoid base is recognized by a plasma membrane lectin receptor-like kinase, RESISTANT TO DFPM-INHIBITION OF ABSCISIC ACID SIGNALING 2 (RDA2). 9-Methyl-branched sphingoid base is specific to microbes and induces plant immune responses by physically interacting with RDA2. Loss of RDA2 or NCER2 function compromised Arabidopsis resistance against an oomycete pathogen. Thus, we elucidated the recognition mechanisms of pathogen-derived lipid molecules in plants.
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Proteínas de Arabidopsis , Arabidopsis , Ceramidas , Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno , Ceramidase Neutra , Phytophthora infestans , Doenças das Plantas , Arabidopsis/genética , Arabidopsis/imunologia , Arabidopsis/microbiologia , Proteínas de Arabidopsis/genética , Proteínas de Arabidopsis/metabolismo , Ceramidas/metabolismo , Ceramidase Neutra/genética , Ceramidase Neutra/metabolismo , Phytophthora infestans/patogenicidade , Doenças das Plantas/imunologia , Doenças das Plantas/microbiologia , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases/genética , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases/metabolismo , Receptores Mitogênicos/genética , Receptores Mitogênicos/metabolismoRESUMO
Crystals arise as the result of the breaking of a spatial translation symmetry. Similarly, translation symmetries can also be broken in time so that discrete time crystals appear. Here, we introduce a method to describe, characterize, and explore the physical phenomena related to this phase of matter using tools from graph theory. The analysis of the graphs allows to visualizing time-crystalline order and to analyze features of the quantum system. For example, we explore in detail the melting process of a minimal model of a period-2 discrete time crystal and describe it in terms of the evolution of the associated graph structure. We show that during the melting process, the network evolution exhibits an emergent preferential attachment mechanism, directly associated with the existence of scale-free networks. Thus, our strategy allows us to propose a previously unexplored far-reaching application of time crystals as a quantum simulator of complex quantum networks.
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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diphenylarsinic acid (DPAA) intoxication caused by drinking contaminated well water was found in Kamisu, Japan. The symptoms indicated cerebellar-brainstem and temporo-occipital involvement. However, it remains unclear how it affects the human brain. To elucidate the effect of DPAA on the human brain, we analyzed cerebral blood flow (CBF) data after the drinking of DPAA-contaminated water was stopped and investigated the correlation between DPAA exposure level and CBF by single-photon emission computed tomography (CBF-SPECT). METHODS: The DPAA-exposed inhabitants (n = 78) were divided into 35 symptomatic and 43 asymptomatic subjects and compared with 38 healthy controls. The DPAA concentration in nails or hair and well water was measured using a high-performance liquid chromatography system and coupled plasma mass spectrometry after adequate extraction treatment. CBF-SPECT data, obtained within 1 year after the drinking of contaminated well water was stopped, were analyzed by statistical parametric mapping. We also examined the relationship between variations in CBF-SPECT signals and variations in DPAA concentrations in the hair or nails of the subjects. RESULTS: Compared with control subjects, CBF in symptomatic DPAA-exposed subjects was significantly lower in the occipital lobe, including the cuneus and inferior occipital gyri. The DPAA concentration in the nails or hair of subjects was inversely and significantly related to their CBF. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that CBF-SPECT may be useful as a clinical marker to infer the effect of accumulated DPAA on the brain.
Assuntos
Intoxicação por Arsênico/fisiopatologia , Arsenicais/análise , Circulação Cerebrovascular/efeitos dos fármacos , Adulto , Idoso , Encéfalo/diagnóstico por imagem , Encéfalo/fisiopatologia , Água Potável/efeitos adversos , Água Potável/análise , Feminino , Cabelo/química , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Unhas/química , Lobo Occipital/irrigação sanguínea , Lobo Occipital/efeitos dos fármacos , Tomografia Computadorizada de Emissão de Fóton ÚnicoRESUMO
A prototype C(6+) injector using a laser ion source has been developed for a compact synchrotron dedicated to carbon ion radiotherapy. The injector consists of a laser ion source and a 4-vane radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) linac. Ion beams are extracted from plasma and directly injected into the RFQ. A solenoid guides the low-energy beams into the RFQ. The RFQ is designed to accelerate high-intensity pulsed beams. A structure of monolithic vanes and cavities is adopted to reduce its power consumption. In beam acceleration tests, a solenoidal magnetic field set between the laser ion source and the RFQ helped increase both the peak currents before and after the RFQ by a factor of 4.
Assuntos
Carbono , Lasers , Radioterapia/instrumentação , Radioterapia/métodos , SíncrotronsRESUMO
Subcortical structures, which include the basal ganglia and parts of the limbic system, have key roles in learning, motor control and emotion, but also contribute to higher-order executive functions. Prior studies have reported volumetric alterations in subcortical regions in schizophrenia. Reported results have sometimes been heterogeneous, and few large-scale investigations have been conducted. Moreover, few large-scale studies have assessed asymmetries of subcortical volumes in schizophrenia. Here, as a work completely independent of a study performed by the ENIGMA consortium, we conducted a large-scale multisite study of subcortical volumetric differences between patients with schizophrenia and controls. We also explored the laterality of subcortical regions to identify characteristic similarities and differences between them. T1-weighted images from 1680 healthy individuals and 884 patients with schizophrenia, obtained with 15 imaging protocols at 11 sites, were processed with FreeSurfer. Group differences were calculated for each protocol and meta-analyzed. Compared with controls, patients with schizophrenia demonstrated smaller bilateral hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus and accumbens volumes as well as intracranial volume, but larger bilateral caudate, putamen, pallidum and lateral ventricle volumes. We replicated the rank order of effect sizes for subcortical volumetric changes in schizophrenia reported by the ENIGMA consortium. Further, we revealed leftward asymmetry for thalamus, lateral ventricle, caudate and putamen volumes, and rightward asymmetry for amygdala and hippocampal volumes in both controls and patients with schizophrenia. Also, we demonstrated a schizophrenia-specific leftward asymmetry for pallidum volume. These findings suggest the possibility of aberrant laterality in neural pathways and connectivity patterns related to the pallidum in schizophrenia.
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Encéfalo/fisiopatologia , Esquizofrenia/fisiopatologia , Adulto , Tonsila do Cerebelo , Gânglios da Base , Mapeamento Encefálico , Estudos de Coortes , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Lateralidade Funcional/fisiologia , Hipocampo , Humanos , Processamento de Imagem Assistida por Computador , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética/métodos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Escalas de Graduação Psiquiátrica , Putamen , TálamoRESUMO
A hybrid system that combines the advantages of a superconductor flux qubit and an electron spin ensemble in diamond is one of the promising devices to realize quantum information processing. Exploring the properties of the superconductor diamond system is essential for the efficient use of this device. When we perform spectroscopy of this system, significant power broadening is observed. However, previous models to describe this system are known to be applicable only when the power broadening is negligible. Here, we construct a new approach to analyze this system with strong driving, and succeed in reproducing the spectrum with the power broadening. Our results provide an efficient way to analyze this hybrid system.
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Employed cancer patients confront some challenges as they attempt to return to work after treatment. We aimed to identify correlates of return to work for cancer survivors in Japan, with an emphasis on employment status. Participants were 260 patients (aged <65 years) who had received a cancer diagnosis ≥ 1 year previously and who were employed at the time of diagnosis. Participants completed questionnaires at consultations at any Regional Cancer Center Hospitals in Yamagata, Japan between 28 November 2011 and 9 December 2011. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify correlates of return to work. Data cross-tabulation was used to evaluate relationships to workplace and income-changes by employment status. A high proportion of patients (75.8%) had returned to work. Non-regularly employed survivors were less likely to return to work (odds ratio = 5.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-21.35). Individuals with poor health, advanced-stage tumours, of advanced age and women were significantly less likely to return to work. Only 52.8% of non-regular employees continued to be employed, and their income decreased by as much as 61.1%. Social and financial support policies should be organised based on more intensive study of employment circumstances.
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Neoplasias da Mama , Emprego/estatística & dados numéricos , Sobreviventes/estatística & dados numéricos , Adaptação Psicológica , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Japão , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Razão de Chances , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
The superior frontal gyrus (SFG), an area of the brain frequently found to have reduced gray matter in patients with schizophrenia, is involved in self-awareness and emotion, which are impaired in schizophrenia. However, no genome-wide association studies of SFG volume have investigated in patients with schizophrenia. To identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with SFG volumes, we demonstrated a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of gray matter volumes in the right or left SFG of 158 patients with schizophrenia and 378 healthy subjects. We attempted to bioinformatically ascertain the potential effects of the top hit polymorphism on the expression levels of genes at the genome-wide region. We found associations between five variants on 1p36.12 and the right SFG volume at a widely used benchmark for genome-wide significance (P<5.0 × 10(-8)). The strongest association was observed at rs4654899, an intronic SNP in the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4 gamma, 3 (EIF4G3) gene on 1p36.12 (P=7.5 × 10(-9)). No SNP with genome-wide significance was found in the volume of the left SFG (P>5.0 × 10(-8)); however, the rs4654899 polymorphism was identified as the locus with the second strongest association with the volume of the left SFG (P=1.5 × 10(-6)). In silico analyses revealed a proxy SNP of rs4654899 had effect on gene expression of two genes, HP1BP3 lying 3' to EIF4G3 (P=7.8 × 10(-6)) and CAPN14 at 2p (P=6.3 × 10(-6)), which are expressed in moderate-to-high levels throughout the adult human SFG. These results contribute to understand genetic architecture of a brain structure possibly linked to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Assuntos
Lobo Frontal/patologia , Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla/estatística & dados numéricos , Substância Cinzenta/patologia , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único/genética , Esquizofrenia/genética , Esquizofrenia/patologia , Adulto , Mapeamento Encefálico/métodos , Biologia Computacional/métodos , Feminino , Expressão Gênica/genética , Humanos , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , MasculinoRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The effects of escitalopram (10 mg/d) coadministration on plasma concentrations of aripiprazole and its active metabolite, dehydroaripiprazole, were studied in 13 Japanese psychiatric patients and compared with those of paroxetine (10 mg/d) coadministration. METHODS: The patients had received 6-24 mg/d of aripiprazole for at least 2 weeks. Patients were randomly allocated to one of 2 treatment sequences: paroxetine-escitalopram (n=6) or escitalopram-paroxetine (n=7). Each sequence consisted of two 2-week phases. Plasma concentrations of aripiprazole and dehydroaripiprazole were measured using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of aripiprazole and the sum of aripiprazole and dehydroaripiprazole during paroxetine coadministration were 1.7-fold (95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.3-2.1, p<0.001) and 1.5-fold (95% CI 1.2-1.9, p<0.01) higher than those values before the coadministration. These values were not influenced by escitalopram coadministration (1.3-fold, 95% CI 1.1-1.5 and 1.3-fold, 95% CI 1.0-1.5). Plasma dehydroaripiprazole concentrations remained constant during the study. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that low doses of escitalopram can be safely coadministered with aripiprazole, at least from a pharmacokinetic point of view.
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Citalopram/sangue , Transtornos Mentais/sangue , Piperazinas/sangue , Quinolonas/sangue , Adulto , Aripiprazol , Povo Asiático , Citalopram/uso terapêutico , Citocromo P-450 CYP2C19/genética , Citocromo P-450 CYP2D6/genética , Quimioterapia Combinada , Eletrocardiografia , Eletroencefalografia , Feminino , Genótipo , Humanos , Masculino , Transtornos Mentais/tratamento farmacológico , Transtornos Mentais/genética , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Paroxetina/sangue , Paroxetina/uso terapêutico , Piperazinas/uso terapêutico , Quinolonas/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a new shortened 3-week treatment schedule of carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) for prostate cancer. METHODS: Beginning in May 2010, patients with T1b-T3bN0M0, histologically proven prostate adenocarcinoma were enrolled in the phase II trial of CIRT. Patients received 51.6 GyE in 12 fractions over 3 weeks (protocol 1002). The primary end point was defined as the incidence of late adverse events that were evaluated based on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. Biochemical failure was determined using the Phoenix definition (nadir +2.0 ng ml(-1)). RESULTS: Forty-six patients were enrolled, and all patients were included in the analysis. The number of low-, intermediate-, and high-risk patients was 12 (26%), 9 (20%), and 25 (54%), respectively. The median follow-up period of surviving patients was 32.3 months. Two patients had intercurrent death without recurrence, and the remaining 44 patients were alive at the time of this analysis. In the analysis of late toxicities, grade 1 (G1) rectal haemorrhage was observed in 3 (7%) patients. The incidence of G1 haematuria was observed in 6 (13%) patients, and G1 urinary frequency was observed in 17 (37%) patients. No ⩾G2 late toxicities were observed. In the analysis of acute toxicities, 2 (4%) patients showed G2 urinary frequency, and no other G2 acute toxicities were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The new shortened CIRT schedule over 3 weeks was considered as feasible. The analysis of long-term outcome is warranted.
Assuntos
Adenocarcinoma/radioterapia , Carbono/uso terapêutico , Radioterapia com Íons Pesados , Neoplasias da Próstata/radioterapia , Adenocarcinoma/tratamento farmacológico , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Antagonistas de Androgênios/uso terapêutico , Antineoplásicos Hormonais/uso terapêutico , Carbono/efeitos adversos , Terapia Combinada , Intervalo Livre de Doença , Fracionamento da Dose de Radiação , Seguimentos , Hemorragia Gastrointestinal/epidemiologia , Hemorragia Gastrointestinal/etiologia , Radioterapia com Íons Pesados/efeitos adversos , Íons Pesados/efeitos adversos , Hematúria/epidemiologia , Hematúria/etiologia , Humanos , Incidência , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Órgãos em Risco , Neoplasias da Próstata/tratamento farmacológico , Lesões por Radiação/epidemiologia , Lesões por Radiação/etiologia , Planejamento da Radioterapia Assistida por Computador , Reto/efeitos da radiação , Resultado do Tratamento , Bexiga Urinária/efeitos da radiação , Transtornos Urinários/epidemiologia , Transtornos Urinários/etiologiaRESUMO
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate long-term results of chemoradiotherapy for clinical T1b-2N0M0 esophageal cancer and to compare outcomes for operable and inoperable patients. Patients with stage I esophageal cancer (Union for International Cancer Control [UICC] 2009), excluding patients with cT1a esophageal cancer, were studied. All patients had histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma. Operable patients received cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil with concurrent radiotherapy of 60 Gy including a 2-week break. Inoperable patients received nedaplatin and 5-fluorouracil with concurrent radiotherapy of 60-70 Gy without a pause. End-points were overall survival rate (OS), cause-specific survival rate (CSS), progression-free survival rate (PFS), and locoregional control rate (LC). Thirty-seven operable patients and 30 medically inoperable patients were enrolled. There was a significant difference in only age between the operable group and inoperable group (P = 0.04). The median observation period was 67.9 months. In all patients, 5-year OS, CSS, PFS, and LC were 77.9%, 91.5%, 66.9%, and 80.8%, respectively. Comparison of the operable group and inoperable group showed that there was a significant difference in OS (5-year, 85.5% vs. 68.7%, P = 0.04), but there was no difference in CSS, PFS, or LC. Grade 3 or more late toxicity according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v 3.0 was found in seven patients. Even in medically inoperable patients with stage I esophageal cancer, LC of more than 80% can be achieved with chemoradiotherapy. However, OS in medically inoperable patients is significantly worse than that in operable patients.
Assuntos
Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/patologia , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/terapia , Quimiorradioterapia , Neoplasias Esofágicas/patologia , Neoplasias Esofágicas/terapia , Esofagectomia , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Quimiorradioterapia/efeitos adversos , Cisplatino/administração & dosagem , Intervalo Livre de Doença , Fracionamento da Dose de Radiação , Feminino , Fluoruracila/administração & dosagem , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estadiamento de Neoplasias , Compostos Organoplatínicos/administração & dosagem , Taxa de SobrevidaRESUMO
Granulocytes were collected by the bag separation method and stored in whole blood for up to 72h. We evaluated the expressions of various surface antigens: CD62L, CD11b, CD18, CD64, CD16b, and CD95. Apoptosis was assessed both by flow cytometry and by light microscopy. Expression levels of all the surface antigens were shown to be maintained during storage for up to 72h. Approximately 80% of granulocytes were annexin V negative until 72h after collection. The storage of granulocyte concentrates collected by the bag separation method may maintain granulocyte surface antigens and lack an apoptotic marker.
Assuntos
Antígenos CD/metabolismo , Apoptose , Preservação de Sangue/instrumentação , Preservação de Sangue/métodos , Granulócitos/citologia , Granulócitos/metabolismo , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The necessity for structural MRI is greater than ever to both diagnose AD in its early stage and objectively evaluate its progression. We propose a new VBM-based software program for automatic detection of early specific atrophy in AD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A target VOI was determined by group comparison of 30 patients with very mild AD and 40 age-matched healthy controls by using SPM. Then this target VOI was incorporated into a newly developed automated software program independently running on a Windows PC for VBM by using SPM8 plus DARTEL. ROC analysis was performed for discrimination of 116 other patients with AD with very mild stage (n = 45), mild stage (n = 30) and moderate-to-advanced stages (n = 41) from 40 other age-matched healthy controls by using a z score map in the target VOI. RESULTS: Medial temporal structures involving the entire region of the entorhinal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala showed significant atrophy in the patients with very mild AD and were determined as a target VOI. When we used the severity score of atrophy in this target VOI, 91.6%, 95.8%, and 98.2% accuracies were obtained in the very mild AD, mild AD, and moderate-to-severe AD groups, respectively. In the very mild AD group, a high specificity of 97.5% with a sensitivity of 86.4% was obtained, and age at onset of AD did not influence this accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: This software program with application of SPM8 plus DARTEL to VBM provides a high performance for AD diagnosis by using MRI.
Assuntos
Algoritmos , Doença de Alzheimer/patologia , Encéfalo/patologia , Interpretação de Imagem Assistida por Computador/métodos , Reconhecimento Automatizado de Padrão/métodos , Software , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Inteligência Artificial , Feminino , Humanos , Aumento da Imagem/métodos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Validação de Programas de ComputadorRESUMO
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We have been performing the superselective transarterial infusion of high-dose cisplatin for advanced maxillary cancer since 1998 and the local control rate, disease free survival rate, and organ preservation have improved markedly compared with our former therapy. This study evaluates the effectiveness of superselective transarterial infusion therapy by using high-dose cisplatin on maxillary cancer with orbital invasion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We treated 23 patients with maxillary cancer by using superselective transarterial infusion therapy with high-dose cisplatin and concomitant radiation therapy for 10 years. Of all patients, 15 showed orbital invasion, with 11 of these tumors fed by both internal maxillary and ophthalmic arteries. In all patients, we performed superselective transarterial infusion therapy via the internal maxillary artery and/or the other feeding branches from the external carotid artery. After the operation, we determined whether a pCR had occurred by checking for the presence of viable cells. In addition, we calculated the overall survival rate, preservation rate of the eyeball, and disease-free survival rate. RESULTS: For all 23 patients, pCR and overall survival rates were 95.7% and 78.4%, respectively. To date, 2 of these patients died of lung metastasis without local recurrence. For the 15 patients with orbital invasion, the respective pCR and disease-free survival rates were 93.3% and 87.5%. Eyeballs were preserved in all patients, and local recurrence occurred in only 1 patient, at the inferior wall of the maxillary sinus (not in the orbit). CONCLUSIONS: Superselective transarterial infusion therapy with high-dose cisplatin remarkably improved the local control rate and disease-free survival rate of maxillary cancer. Even in patients with orbital invasion, a high local control rate was achieved, with preservation of the eyeball, through infusion only into branches of the external carotid artery.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/administração & dosagem , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/tratamento farmacológico , Cisplatino/administração & dosagem , Neoplasias Maxilares/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Orbitárias/tratamento farmacológico , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/patologia , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/radioterapia , Artéria Carótida Externa , Terapia Combinada , Intervalo Livre de Doença , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Feminino , Humanos , Infusões Intra-Arteriais , Masculino , Neoplasias Maxilares/patologia , Neoplasias Maxilares/radioterapia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Invasividade Neoplásica , Neoplasias Orbitárias/patologia , Neoplasias Orbitárias/radioterapia , Taxa de SobrevidaRESUMO
Recently developed heavy ion irradiation therapy using a carbon beam (CB) against systemic malignancy has numerous advantages. However, the clinical results of CB therapy against glioblastoma still have room for improvement. Therefore, we tried to clarify the molecular mechanism of CB-induced glioma cell death. T98G and U251 human glioblastoma cell lines were irradiated by CB, and caspase-dependent apoptosis was induced in both cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Knockdown of Bax (BCL-2-associated X protein) and Bak (BCL-2-associated killer) and overexpression of Bcl-2 or Bcl-xl (B-cell lymphoma-extra large) showed the involvement of Bcl-2 family proteins upstream of caspase activation, including caspase-8, in CB-induced glioma cell death. We also detected the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and the knockdown of ERK regulator mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)1/2 or overexpression of a dominant-negative (DN) ERK inhibited CB-induced glioma cell death upstream of the mitochondria. In addition, application of MEK-specific inhibitors for defined periods showed that the recovery of activation of ERK between 2 and 36 h after irradiation is essential for CB-induced glioma cell death. Furthermore, MEK inhibitors or overexpression of a DN ERK failed to significantly inhibit X-ray-induced T98G and U251 cell death. These results suggested that the MEK-ERK cascade has a crucial role in CB-induced glioma cell death, which is known to have a limited contribution to X-ray-induced glioma cell death.
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Apoptose , Caspases/metabolismo , MAP Quinases Reguladas por Sinal Extracelular/metabolismo , Glioma/enzimologia , Quinases de Proteína Quinase Ativadas por Mitógeno/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-bcl-2/metabolismo , Caspase 8/metabolismo , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , MAP Quinases Reguladas por Sinal Extracelular/antagonistas & inibidores , MAP Quinases Reguladas por Sinal Extracelular/genética , Glioma/radioterapia , Humanos , Mitocôndrias/metabolismo , Quinases de Proteína Quinase Ativadas por Mitógeno/antagonistas & inibidores , Quinases de Proteína Quinase Ativadas por Mitógeno/genética , Interferência de RNA , RNA Interferente Pequeno/metabolismo , Proteína Killer-Antagonista Homóloga a bcl-2/genética , Proteína Killer-Antagonista Homóloga a bcl-2/metabolismo , Proteína X Associada a bcl-2/genética , Proteína X Associada a bcl-2/metabolismo , Proteína bcl-X/genética , Proteína bcl-X/metabolismoRESUMO
Femtosecond laser pulses were used to make plasma filaments near an isolated positively or negatively highly biased electrode. The electrode was well positioned to sustain a high voltage up to U(max)=+/-400 kV to avoid the induced breakdown or a glow discharge; the shape of the electrode was chosen to reduce the corona effects at the maximal voltage. The filament's UV emission is shown to be very sensitive to the voltage applied: it increases nonlinearly with the electrode potential. Along with nanosecond filament-induced flashes at both polarities, long, about a half microsecond, corona flashes were observed at the negative polarity.
RESUMO
An ion spectrometer, composed of a time-of-flight spectrometer (TOFS) and a Thomson parabola spectrometer (TPS), has been developed to measure energy spectra and to analyze species of laser-driven ions. Two spectrometers can be operated simultaneously, thereby facilitate to compare the independently measured data and to combine advantages of each spectrometer. Real-time and shot-to-shot characterizations have been possible with the TOFS, and species of ions can be analyzed with the TPS. The two spectrometers show very good agreement of maximum proton energy even for a single laser shot. The composite ion spectrometer can provide two complementary spectra measured by TOFS with a large solid angle and TPS with a small one for the same ion source, which are useful to estimate precise total ion number and to investigate fine structure of energy spectrum at high energy depending on the detection position and solid angle. Advantage and comparison to other online measurement system, such as the TPS equipped with microchannel plate, are discussed in terms of overlay of ion species, high-repetition rate operation, detection solid angle, and detector characteristics of imaging plate.
Assuntos
Lasers , Espectrometria de Massas/métodos , Eletricidade , Íons , Magnetismo , Espectrometria de Massas/instrumentação , Prótons , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
An optically dense ionization wave (IW) produced by two femtosecond (approximately 10/30 fs) laser pulses focused cylindrically and crossing each other may become an efficient coherent x-ray converter in accordance with the Semenova-Lampe theory. The resulting velocity of a quasiplane IW in the vicinity of pulse intersection changes with the angle between the pulses from the group velocity of ionizing pulses to infinity allowing a tuning of the wavelength of x rays and their bunching. The x-ray spectra after scattering of a lower frequency and long coherent light pulse change from the monochromatic to high order harmoniclike with the duration of the ionizing pulses.
RESUMO
Genetic factors, such as apolipoprotein E (ApoE) polymorphisms, are thought to play an important role in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent association studies have suggested that the Val66Met polymorphism in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene could play a role in the development of AD. To identify genotypic effects of the BDNF and the ApoE genes on disease progression in preclinical AD, we assessed morphological changes using serial magnetic resonance imaging during the preclinical period of AD in 35 individuals. When all subjects were analyzed as one group, progressive atrophy was noted in the limbic, paralimbic and neocortical areas. Individuals of the BDNF Val/Val genotype showed progressive atrophy in the left medial temporal areas, whereas the BDNF Met allele carriers showed additional changes in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and the precuneus. An interaction between the BDNF genotype and progressive morphological changes was found in the PCC. The noncarriers for the ApoE epsilon4 allele showed progressive atrophy in the bilateral medial temporal areas. In addition to changes in the medial temporal areas, epsilon4 carriers showed progressive atrophy in the PCC, ACC and precuneus. An interaction between the ApoE genotype and progressive morphological change was noted in the right medial temporal area. The present preliminary study indicates that polymorphisms of the ApoE and the BDNF genes could affect disease progression in preclinical AD and implies that the Met-BDNF polymorphism could be an additional risk factor for rapid disease progression in preclinical AD.