p21WAF1/Cip1 expression is associated with cell differentiation but not with p53 mutations in squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx

The anti-metastatic effect of Z-100, an immunomodulatory arabinomannan extracted from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, was investigated in mice bearing B16 melanoma cells. Treatment of BF10 mice implanted with high metastatic B16F10 melanoma cells with a 10 mg/kg dose of Z-100 resulted in the reduction of experimental pulmonary metastasis as compared with that of BF10 mice treated with saline. The number of pulmonary metastatic colonies in BF1 mice (mice implanted with low metastatic B16F1 melanoma cells) was greatly increased after the inoculation of CD4+ CD11b+ CD281+ TCR alphabeta+ type 2 T cells (F10-Th2 cells) derived from BF10 mice, while only a few metastatic colonies were demonstrated in lungs of BF1 mice inoculated with naive CD4+ T cells. However, the numbers of metastatic colonies in BF1 mice were not increased when they were inoculated with the F10-Th2 cell fraction derived from Z-100-treated BF10 mice and the generation of F10-Th2 cells in BF10 mice was effectively suppressed by the Z-100 treatment. These results suggest that Z-100 inhibits pulmonary metastasis of B16 melanoma through the regulation of tumor-associated Th2 cells, which are a key cell in the acceleration of tumor metastasis.     

Rectal hemorrhage as a first sign of renal cell adenocarcinoma

We present a 3-year-old patient with stenotic kinking of the left internal carotid artery (ICA) who developed an ischaemic infarction of the left brain hemisphere followed by severe neurological sequelae after a prolonged generalized seizure. At time of the seizure the boy was in biological remission of a nephrotic syndrome and received prednisolone and cyclosporin A (CsA) treatment. The haemodynamic consequences of inborn kinking of the ICA is discussed controversely in the literature. The presented case shows that stenotic kinking of the ICA may significantly impair the blood flow towards the homolateral hemisphere and therefore may result in an ischaemic infarction. The influence of CsA on seizure activity is discussed. CONCLUSION: This case provides clinical and radiological evidence supporting an association between stenotic kinking of the carotid artery and homolateral hemispheric brain infarction.     

Continuous-Time 4th Order Butterworth Low-Pass Filter for Video Frequency Applications

In this paper, a continuous-time 4th order Butterworth low-pass filter based on current-mode processing is presented for applications over the video frequency range. A new type of integrator in which both voltage and currents may be integrated is presented and used as the main active block. The filter has been implemented using a very low-cost 2.4 m CMOS process (Mietec). The whole circuit occupies 2.8 mm² and consumes 19 mW from a ±1.5 V supply. Experimental results are given for a 4.5 MHz to 12 MHz tunable low-pass filter with 58 dB of dynamic range at 10 MHz.     

Hydrogen absorption in MgNiFe alloys

The hydrogenation properties of the alloys of overall formula Mg₂Ni_1?xFe_x (x ? 0.37) have been studied. In this range of composition multi-phase alloys were obtained containing Mg₂Ni, Mg and more or less finely dispersed Fe in different coordination as proved by the EXAFS technique and Mössbauer spectroscopy. There is no significant substitution of Ni by Fe atoms in the Mg₂Ni lattice. Two or three plateau-pressures are observed on the pressure-composition isotherms of the hydrides with the heats of formation in the range ?18.4 to 20.4 kcal/mol H₂ (?77 to ?85.4 kJ/mol H₂). The hydrides of the Fe containing alloys show higher desorption rates of hydrogen compared to the pure Mg₂Ni hydride.     

Fourier analysis of EXAFS data,a self-contained fortran program-package

This paper summarizes the main results concerning the analysis of the local convergence of quasi-newton methods in finite and infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces. Although the physicist working on the computer is essentially concerned with the finite-dimensional case (i.e. the discrete case), it is often useful for him to know under which conditions the familar results can be extended verbatim to the inifinite-dimensional case (i.e. the continous case). The analysis given in this paper stresses these aspects of the problem. As an example of an application, a survey of the particular quasi-Newton method that collapses to the well-known extrapolated Jacobi method in the linear case is presented. The interesting special case of holography for which the optimal parameter of relaxation is known a priori is mentioned.     

Functional analysis of yeast essential genes using a promoter-substitution cassette and the tetracycline-regulatable dual expression system

A promoter-substitution cassette has been constructed that allows one-step substitution of chromosomal gene promoters for the tetracycline-regulatable tetO promoter in yeast cells, which uses kanMX4 as selective marker for geneticin resistance. Oligonucleotides for PCR amplification of the cassette are designed to allow homologous recombination through short flanking regions of homology with the upstream sequences of the chromosomal gene, upon transformation of target cells. By testing three essential genes of chromosome XV (YOL135c, YOL142w and YOL144w), the system causes tetracycline-dependent conditional growth of the cells, being modulatable by intermediate concentrations of the effector. Analysis of terminal phenotypes of the promoter-substituted cells in the presence of the antibiotic may facilitate functional analysis of essential orphan genes. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Repair of left ventricular aneurysm: long-term results of linear repair versus endoaneurysmorrhaphy

BACKGROUND: Recently, endoaneurysomorrhaphy has been proposed as a more physiologic repair of postinfarction left ventricular aneurysm than is linear repair. There are only a few studies comparing the short-term and long-term results of the two techniques. METHODS: Clinical outcomes and echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular volume and sphericity in 27 patients who underwent endoaneurysmorrhaphy were compared with those in 20 patients who had linear repair. RESULTS: The two groups were matched with respect to age, gender, comorbid risk factors, functional class, urgency of the operation, and concomitant procedures. Preoperatively, left ventricular ejection fraction was lower in the endoaneurysmorrhaphy group (0.25 +/- 0.08 versus 0.30 +/- 0.09; p = 0.03). Follow-up was available in 44 patients (94%) and ranged from 2 to 86 months (mean, 41.0 +/- 26.5 months). Thirty-day operative mortality, perioperative complications, 5-year survival, and freedom from cardiac death were similar. Early postoperative percentage increase in left ventricular ejection fraction was greater after endoaneurysmorrhaphy (0.51 +/- 0.64 versus 0.18 +/- 0.48; p = 0.036). Long-term functional improvement was significantly better in the endoaneurysmorrhaphy group: At the time of last follow-up, 88% of patients were in New York Heart Association class I/II, compared with 53% after linear repair (p = 0.01). There were no measurable differences between the groups with respect to left ventricular ejection fraction (0.28 +/- 0.11 versus 0.27 +/- 0.11; p = 0.90), left ventricular volume (171.6 +/- 59.1 versus 169.9 +/- 54.4 mL; p = 0.94), and sphericity index (0.61 +/- 0.09 versus 0.61 +/- 0.12; p = 1.0). CONCLUSIONS: Despite having a similar effect on left ventricular geometry, endoaneurysmorrhaphy resulted in a greater increase in postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction and a substantially improved long-term clinical outcome.     

1‐V continuous‐time equalizers for multi‐gigabit short‐haul optical fiber communications

Two new CMOS analog continuous‐time equalizers for high‐speed short‐haul optical fiber communications are presented in this paper. The proposed structures compensate the limited bandwidth‐length product of 1‐mm step‐index polymer optical fiber channels (45 MHz, 100 m) and have been designed in a standard 0.18‐µm CMOS process. The equalizers are aimed for multi‐gigabit short‐range applications, targeting up to 2 Gb/s through a 50‐m step‐index polymer optical fiber. The prototypes operate with a single supply voltage of only 1 V and overcome the severe limitations suffered by the widely used degenerated differential pair caused by the low supply voltage. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Physical properties and electrochemical performance of molybdenum–lead-germanate glasses and glass ceramics

Glasses and glass ceramics of the xMoO₃(100?x)[7GeO₂·3PbO] system where x=0–30 mol% MoO₃ were synthesized and characterized in order to obtain information about the structural correlations and the relationship between structure and physical properties in these materials. Changes of the FTIR, UV–vis and EPR data are discussed in view of the glass network structural changes determined by the evolution of molybdenum ions state, glass composition and MoO₃ concentration.The spectroscopic studies indicate that with increasing of MoO₃ content a fraction of the Mo⁶⁺ ions convert Mo³⁺ and Mo⁵⁺ ions. Accordingly, these modifications cause the depolymerization of the host network, the increase of the structural disorder and formation of GeO₂ and PbMoO₄ crystalline phases. The shape of EPR spectra is modified by the increase of the MoO₃ concentration indicating that molybdenum ions exists in glass and glass ceramics in more than one valence state. The EPR spectra contain a broad line located at g～5.2 and, for the samples with a MoO₃ content up to x≥15 mol%, the presence of the hyperfine structure characteristic for the Mo⁵⁺ ions can be observed, too.The electrochemical performances of the glass and glass ceramics samples with x=10 and 30 mol% MoO₃ were demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry.     

Reliability of commercially available hydrogen sensors for detection of hydrogen at critical concentrations: Part I – Testing facility and methodologies

A facility for testing the performance of hydrogen safety sensors under a wide range of ambient conditions is described. A specific test protocol was developed to test sensors under conditions which could reasonably be expected during the sensors' service life. The tests were based on those described in IEC 61779 and were adapted following consultation with car manufacturers and after careful consideration of the sensors expected service environmental conditions. The protocol was evaluated by using it to test a large number of commercially available sensors. Observations made and experience gained during the testing campaign allowed the test protocol to be fine-tuned bearing in mind the sensor performance and behaviour during tests. The result of this work is an experimentally evaluated methodology which may be used as a guideline for testing the suitability of hydrogen sensors for automotive applications.