Search

Electron-beam characteristics of a Philips SL25 linear accelerator have been studied. Central-axis percentage depth doses, cross-beam profiles and beam output factors of 6-, 10-, and 20-MeV beams, selected from the available energy range of 4 to 22 MeV, are reported in this paper. The main thrust of this work is to determine the systematic variation of beam characteristics, especially the output factor, with standard cone sizes and cerrobend beam-shaping cutouts down to a field size of 2 X 2 cm Output factors for the standard cones (open field) are energy dependent in a complex manner, increasing with the cone size for the 6-MeV beam whereas decreasing for 10- and 20-MeV beams. The output factor falls below unity at lower energies (6 and 10 MeV) for fields with at least one side smaller than 6 cm, and stays nearly constant for the 20-MeV beam. Measured output factors of small fields are least squares fitted by a second-order polynomial function. Output factors for small rectangular fields have been derived from the one-dimensional and square-root formulas, and the equivalent-square method. Only the one-dimensional formula predicts the measured output factors of highly elongated fields to within +/- 1% experimental uncertainties. Different cones with the same size electron cutout show a varied dose response, primarily due to variation in scattered electron contamination from the cones.

The chemokine, stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1; CXCL12) and its receptor, CXCR4 are considered to be essentially required for plasma cell homing to the bone marrow (BM). It is well known that plasma cells in the BM (long-lived plasma cells) survive for a long time and have the constitutively high NF-kB activity. Since human myeloma cells are considered to be derived from these committed long-lived plasma cells, we investigated the role of SDF-1 on the survival of primary myeloma cells from myeloma patients and the possible relationship with NF-kB activity. First, we confirmed that all primary myeloma cells expressed CXCR4 but not CCR9 or CCR10 receptors on their surface and the levels of CXCR4 expression apparently correlated with maturity of BM plasma cells; mature myeloma cells (MPC-1+) as well as polyclonal plasma cells expressed higher levels of CXCR4 than those on immature myeloma cells (MPC-1-). The production of SDF-1 was found strongly in BM stromal cells but not in primary myeloma cells as well as myeloma cell lines. On the other hand, high DNA binding activity of NF-kB was constitutively detected in primary myeloma cells as well as myeloma cell lines, and these NF-kB activities significantly correlated with the expression levels of CD54 on their surface, for CD54 gene is one of the strict NF-kB target genes. Based on the expression levels of CD54 protein, interestingly, primary myeloma cells showed weaker NF-kB activities than those in monoclonal plasma cells from MGUS and polyclonal plasma cells from polyclonal gammopathy. Plasma concentrations of SDF-1 were also significantly correlated to the expression levels of CD54 on primary myeloma cells significantly (P

Human myeloma cells have the marked phenotypic heterogeneity of surface marker expressions, possibly because of loss of PAX-5 expression. Especially, ectopic expression of CD56, one of non-B cell lineage markers, is frequently detected on primary myeloma cells from more than 80% patients with overt myeloma. However, only 2 (NOP2 and AMO1) out of 10 myeloma cell lines were CD56(+). In primary myeloma cells as well as CD56(−) myeloma cell lines, the treatment with forskolin could induce the expression of CD56 in the in vitro culture. In most CD56(+) primary myeloma cells as well as myeloma cell lines, the expressions of neuronal cell markers such as neuron specific enolase (NSE), nestin, β-tubulin III or chromogranin A were found coincidentally. By gene expression profiling, CD56(+) myeloma cell lines showed the marked expressions of transcription factors involved in neuronal cell lineage. On the other hand, addition of IL-6 down-regulated the expression of CD56 in CD56(+) myeloma cell lines in the in vitro culture. In 13 out of 60 patients with overt myeloma, these myeloma cells showed CD56(−) and their values of plasma CRP were significantly increased and MPC-1(−)CD45(+) immature myeloma cells were also increased compared to those in CD56(+) myeloma cases. Therefore, these results indicate that the expression of CD56 is possibly due to phenotypic changes into neuronal cell lineage, and IL-6 can block these phenotypic changes, keeping PAX-5(−) myeloma cells being uncommitted cells to any lineage.

[Purpose] NF-kB has a key function in the transformation, proliferation and invasion of cancer cells as well as in resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Although constitutive NF-kB activation has been reported in many human tumors, the underlying factors and mechanisms responsible for constitutive NF-kB activation in myeloma cells has not been known. The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanism of constitutive NF-kB activity in myeloma cell lines and quantification of NF-kB activity in primary myeloma cells by expression of CD54 (a NF-kB target gene). [Methods] We checked the constitutive expression of NF-kB family proteins by western blot analysis and possible dimer formation of different NF-kB family members by Immunoprecipitation-western blot reaction. Constitutive NF-kB DNA-binding activity and dimers that are responsible for NF-kB activity were analyzed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Moreover, expression of different NF-kB target genes was done by RT-PCR. [Results and discussion] Constitutive NF-kB activity was determined in myeloma cell lines and our results suggested that p50/RelB, p50/p50, p50/p52 dimers might be responsible for this. We also analyzed several NF-kB target gene expressions and found that the intensity of CD54 expression was positively correlated with total NF-kB DNA binding activity. Although there is no method to quantified NF-kB activity, it can be determine in terms of its target genes e.g. CD54. Therefore, this study provide the frame work for understanding the molecular mechanism of constitutive activation of NF-kB and would help to quantify NF-kB activation in primary myeloma cells.

Since human myeloma cells specifically lose the expression of PAX-5 gene, the master gene of B cell lineage, we frequently detect the ectopic expressions of non-B cell lineage markers such as CD56 and CD33. As for the expression of CD33, we confirmed that CD33 expression was found in primary myeloma cells from about 12% of 120 cases with overt myeloma and also in 2 myeloma cell lines (ILKM8 and Liu01 (a subclone of U266)) in the protein and mRNA levels. In primary myeloma cells as well as CD33(–) myeloma cell lines, DMSO treatment could induce the expression of CD33 in the in vitro culture. In these CD33(+) myeloma cell lines and DMSO-induced myeloma cells, we found that expressions of C/EBPα and PU.1 were markedly increased by gene expression profiling. On the other hand, IL-6 down-regulated the expression of CD33 in CD33(+) myeloma cell lines accompanying with down-regulation of C/EBPα and PU.1 expressions. Also, we found that IL-6 up-regulated the expression of C-MYC and the increased C-MYC bound to the promoter region of C/EBPα gene followed by the down-regulation of C/EBPα expression. It was confirmed that introduction of sh-RNA for C-MYC to two CD33(+) myeloma cell lines blocked the IL-6-induced down-regulation of CD33 and C/EBPα expression. Therefore, these results indicate that IL-6 can reverse the ectopic expression of non-B cell lineage markers by up-regulating C-MYC followed by its down-regulation of C/EBPα expression and also suggest that constitutive activation of STAT3 by IL-6 may keep PAX-5(–) myeloma cells being uncommitted cells to any lineage; myeloma cells could be one of stem cell-like cancer cells.

[Purpose] It is considered that human myeloma cells have the constitutively high NF-kB activity involved in survival and proliferation. PPAR (Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor) ß is ubiquitously expressed in all cells and considered to be involved in the lipid metabolism and regulating the inflammatory response and cell proliferation. We already have found that adrenal cortex hormones (DHEA and DHEA-S etc), dexamethasone (Dex) and baicalein augmented the expression of reporter gene. However, it remain to be clarified the role of PPARß in human myeloma cells. We focus on the mechanism of PPARß suppressed NF-kB activity. [Method] To know NF-kB activity of human myeloma cells, we performed EMSA with NF-kB consensus oligo. To investigate NF-kB and PPARß after stimulation of PPAR agonist, we did EMSA with NF-kB and PPAR consensus oligo. To confirm whether it is repression according the NF-kB activity suppression accompanying PPARß activation to the interaction of PPARß and NF-kB, we conducted immunoprecipitation - western blot analysis. To check whether the expression of NF-kB target genes (cIAP1, Bcl-xL, etc) were suppressed after stimulation of PPAR agonist, we performed RT-PCR analysis. [Result and discussion] It was suggested that human myeloma cell lines have constitutive NF-kB activity, and its activity mainly regulated p50. NF-kB activity and its target genes were repressed by stimulation of PPAR agonist. From the above, it was suggested that the activated PPARß interacted NF-kB and then its activity was suppressed.

A three-dimensional neutral transport model using the DEGAS version 63 Monte Carlo code is described in order to understand the behavior of neutrals in the non-axisymmetric anchor region of the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror. A precise mesh structure with three-dimensional geometry was built up and the simulation was carried out under a plausible assumption of the particle source on the basis of experimental data. In standard ion-cyclotron-range-of-frequency heated plasmas, detailed measurements of H α line emission were performed using a 5-ch H α detector array in the outer-transition region of the east anchor cell and the experimental results were compared with tlie simulation. The spatial profile of H α emission predicted from the simulation agreed well with the experimental result and the distinctive behavior of neutrals in this region was clarified.

The instability of a high-frequency wave, such as the Langmuir wave (LW) is studied using a Vlasov-kinetic model in streaming and irradiated dusty plasma with dust charge fluctuation. In irradiated dusty plasma, dust charge fluctuation is considered to be due to the combined effect of LW perturbation and photoelectron emission. It is found that the dust charge fluctuation makes tlie LW unstable and this instability linearly adds to the Landau effect, Growth rate of the instability of LW is discussed. Discussion is also given to justify the theory and to verify it in the laboratory experiment.

The effect of polarization mode dispersion PMD remains a central consideration in the practical development of a universal commu- nication system. A huge number of measurements of polarization mode dispersion have been recorded for single-mode fibers SMFs, but the white-light interferometry setup used by our research group has yielded more relevant quantitative results, not only for SMFs but also encom- passing polarization-maintaining fibers and suggesting devices to cope with the complex scenarios of communication. The setup is unique in measuring PMD for single-mode and highly birefringent specialty fibers. Useful application results have been achieved for different light sources, which reflect exact measurements and their comparison for effective ap- plication in the field of communication and precision characterization of the optical fiber. © 2006 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.

The present study was performed to check the viability of eggs, filariform larvae and adults of Strongyloides venezuelensis exposed to various conditions for an in vitro maintenance. The eggs in the feces remained viable for about 25 days at 4 degrees C and 15 days at room temperature. However, the isolated eggs in sterile saline lost their viability within 24 hr at 4 degrees C. The eggs in morula stage were very sensitive to air drying and rapidly lost their viability (< or = 12 hr). Filariform larvae survived for a maximum period of 45 days in fecal suspension and 28 days in 0.12% nutrient broth in polyvinyl culture bags maintained at 20 degrees C. On the other hand, those isolated from nutrient broth cultures survived for a maximum period of 32 days in tap water and 22 days in sterile saline at 20 degrees C. The mature adult worms obtained from experimentally infected rats survived maximally for 9 days in serum supplemented (10% rat-serum) 0.12% nutrient broth and 4 days in serum free nutrient broth at 37 degrees C while the culture media were changed at an alternate day. The adult female worms deposited fertile eggs in serum supplemented and serum free nutrient broth cultures, however, the hatched larvae (L1) were not able to develop to the filariform stage in the culture media and found to die within 24 hr of maintenance. The present findings on an in vitro maintenance of different stages of S. venezuelensis may provide useful information for biological and biochemical studies with Strongyloides species.

An in vitro culture technique was established for harvesting Strongyloides venezuelensis free-living infective larvae using a nutrient broth medium as a substitute for rat-feces in polyvinyl culture bags (10 x 12 cm). The egg hatch rate (Y) in sterile saline at different incubation temperatures (X) was expressed as the quadratic function, Y = -0.192X2 + 8.673X - 19.550 (r = 0.901). The highest (100%) egghatch rate was observed at 25 degrees C. A significant difference (p < 0.05) in development rate (Y) of free-living infective larvae was observed between different concentrations of nutrient broth (X) which was highest (20.6%) in 0.12% nutrient broth concentrations, incubated at 20 degrees C for 5 days [Y = -864.032X2 + 245.995X - 0.560 (r = 0.875)]. Yields (Y) of infective larvae were observed relatively high when the culture medium was incubated at higher temperatures (X) which peaked at 25 degrees C (20.0%) than at lower temperatures, 15 degrees C (10.9%) and 20 degrees C (18.1%) [Y = -0.189X2 + 8.387X - 72.795 (r = 0.981)]. The period (Y) required for the development of infective larvae decreased with higher incubation temperatures (X) [Y = 0.035X2 - 2.025X + 32.375 (r = 0.995)]. The highest yield (19.2%) of infective larvae was obtained from culture bag inoculated with 15,000 eggs than with below and over 15,000 eggs in 0.12% nutrient broth and incubated at 25 degrees C for 4 days. The newly adapted culture method (from egg to third-stage larva) may be useful as a bio-bar/bioassay system for screening new chemical products, anthelmintics and pesticides, as well as for parasito-immunological studies with Strongyloides species.

SUMMARYSeasonal variation in testis diameter and sperm output was studied in five Finnish Landrace (Finn) and five Tasmanian Merino (Merino) rams, together with five crossbreds between these breeds (Finn-Merino), five selected phenotypically from the Finn-Dorset breed type for high juvenile testis diameter (Finn-Dorset-High) and four for low juvenile diameter (Finn-Dorset-Low). There was marked seasonal variation in testis diameter for each of the breed types. The time of the seasonal increase in testis diameter varied among the breed types, the Merino rams starting earliest—49 days before the Finns. The characteristics of seasonal variation in testis diameter thus showed similarity with the characteristics of seasonal variation in the reproductive performance of females of the breed type. Breed differences in response to season were also demonstrated by a significant breed by season interaction for sperm production, but there were no indications of a useful association between variation in sperm production and variation in the reproductive performance of related females. Overall, differences in adult testis diameter were small relative to those among juveniles.

Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} A study was conducted to investigate the role of dietary fatty acids (such as palm oil and soybean oil) on body weight and the level of serum cholesterol in goat in the Department of Physiology, Bangladesh Agricultural University. Three equal groups of goats were structured as control (n = 5), palm oil (n = 5) and soybean oil (n = 5) group and fed with normal feed, palm oil (@ 25g)and soybean oil (@ 25g) mixed feed twice a week for 2 months respectively. It was observed that the serum cholesterol of palm oil and soybean oil treated groups decreased significantly (p

The role of omentum with or without antibiotic administration was evaluated in the healing of external wounds in goats. Nine goats aged 8-10 months and weighing 7-8 kg was randomly allocated into 3 groups as A: treated with omentum, B: omentum plus antibiotic and C: control. Experimental wounds about 2.5 cm long and 0.5 cm deep was produced on each side of the midline at the lumber region in each goat. Omentum 2 cm long and 0.4 cm wide obtained from an abattoir were lodged between the wound edges and apposed with nylon thread by simple interrupted suture. Complete healing was obtained on 11, 13 and 19 days in groups B, A and C, respectively. Rectal temperature, heart and respiratory rates showed no significant (p>0.05) variation during the healing period. On histopathological studies, highest degree of inflammation was observed in group C till day 15, but on day 5 in groups A and B. The rates of fibrosis of collagen fibre, epithelialization and neo-vascularization were most intensive in group B and then in group A and C till day 10. It is suggested that omentum along with antibiotic showed good healing in goats. DOI: 10.3329/bvet.v25i1.4612 Bangl. vet. 2008. Vol. 25, No. 1, 1-8

This prospective comparative study was conducted with an initial experience in the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital during the period of December 2007 to January 2009, with the infants of 2-12 weeks age, diagnosed as Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. Patients selection was done by simple random technique by means of lottery. For open pyloromyotomy conventional methodfor laparoscopic pyloromyotomy three trocher techniques was applied. In this study, among 60 cases with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, 30 cases were finally selected for analysis irrespectively both in laparoscopic (Group A)in open pyloromyotomy (Group B) group. Patients were studied under variables of operative time, required time of full feeds after operation, post operative hospital stayboth per and post operative complications. Regarding operative time, in Group A, mean±SD operating time (in minutes) was 61.59±51.73 whereas in Group B it was 28.33±8.40P value was 0.001. The result was statistically significant. The mean±SD time (in hours) of full feeds (ad libitum) was 35.00±31.70 hours in Group A compared to 28.95±10.99 hours in Group B and P value was found 0.342ns which was not statistically significant. On study of total length (in days) of post operative hospital stay, mean±SD was 3.09±2.252.58±1.15days in laparoscopic groupopen pyloromyotomy group respectively. The p value was 0.355ns, which was statistically insignificant. Again, on study of complications, per operatively 6(19.5%) patients had developed haemorrage, 1(3.33%) had mucosal perforation4(13.36%) had developed duodenal serosal injury in laparoscopic group whereas only 1(3.33%) patient in open pyloromyotomy group had nothing else except simple hemorrhage. The p value (0.051ns) was also statistically insignificant. In regard to post operative complications, 2(6.6%) patients had developed wound hematoma, 2(6.6%) had wound infection, 1(3.33 %) had developed wound dehiscence and incisional hernia respectively in Group A. But in group B there was no subject with any complication. This result was also statistically insignificant. So, the overall study results denote that, laparoscopic pyloromyotomy would not be considered as a superior procedure or as safe as that of traditional open pyloromyotomy for the beginners.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects and transforms human primary B cells inducing indefinite proliferation. To investigate the potential participation of chromatin mechanisms during the EBV-mediated transformation of resting B cells we performed an analysis of global changes in histone modifications. We observed a remarkable decrease and redistribution of heterochromatin marks including H4K20me3, H3K27me3 and H3K9me3. Loss of H4K20me3 and H3K9me3 occurred at constitutive heterochromatin repeats. For H3K27me3 and H3K9me3, comparison of ChIP-seq data revealed a decrease in these marks in thousands of genes, including clusters of HOX and ZNF genes, respectively. Moreover, DNase-seq data comparison between resting and EBV-transformed B cells revealed increased endonuclease accessibility in thousands of genomic sites. We observed that both loss of H3K27me3 and increased accessibility are associated with transcriptional activation. These changes only occurred in B cells transformed with EBV and not in those stimulated to proliferate with CD40L/IL-4, despite their similarities in the cell pathways involved and proliferation rates. In fact, B cells infected with EBNA-2 deficient EBV, which have much lower proliferation rates, displayed similar decreases for heterochromatic histone marks. Our study describes a novel phenomenon related to transformation of B cells, and highlights its independence of the pure acquisition of proliferation.

Background MERS-CoV is a newly emerged human coronavirus reported closely related with HKU4 and HKU5 Bat coronaviruses. Bat and MERS corona-viruses are structurally related. Therefore, it is of interest to estimate the degree of conserved antigenic sites among them. It is of importance to elucidate the shared antigenic-sites and extent of conservation between them to understand the evolutionary dynamics of MERS-CoV. Results Multiple sequence alignment of the spike (S), membrane (M), enveloped (E) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins was employed to identify the sequence conservation among MERS and Bat (HKU4, HKU5) coronaviruses. We used various in silico tools to predict the conserved antigenic sites. We found that MERS-CoV shared 30 % of its S protein antigenic sites with HKU4 and 70 % with HKU5 bat-CoV. Whereas 100 % of its E, M and N protein’s antigenic sites are found to be conserved with those in HKU4 and HKU5. Conclusion This sharing suggests that in case of pathogenicity MERS-CoV is more closely related to HKU5 bat-CoV than HKU4 bat-CoV. The conserved epitopes indicates their evolutionary relationship and ancestry of pathogenicity. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13029-016-0049-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The generation of B cells is a complex process requiring several cellular transitions, including cell commitment and differentiation. Proper transcriptional control to establish the genetic programs characteristic of each cellular stage is essential for the correct development of B lymphocytes. Deregulation of these particular transcriptional programs may result in a block in B-cell maturation, contributing to the development of hematological malignancies such as leukemia and lymphoma. However, very little is currently known about the role of transcriptional repressors in normal and aberrant B lymphopoiesis. Here we report that histone deacetylase 7 (HDAC7) is underexpressed in pro-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pro-B-ALL) and Burkitt lymphoma. Ectopic expression of HDAC7 induces apoptosis, leads to the downregulation of c-Myc and inhibits the oncogenic potential of cells in vivo, in a xenograft model. Most significantly, we have observed low levels of HDAC7 expression in B-ALL patient samples, which is correlated with the increased levels of c-Myc. From a mechanistic angle, we show that ectopically expressed HDAC7 localizes to the nucleus and interacts with the transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor C (MEF2C) and the corepressors HDAC3 and SMRT. Accordingly, both the HDAC7-MEF2C interaction domain as well as its catalytic domain are involved in the reduced cell viability induced by HDAC7. We conclude that HDAC7 has a potent anti-oncogenic effect on specific B-cell malignancies, indicating that its deregulation may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. This work was supported by a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO; SAF2011-28290; to MP). MP was supported by a Ramón y Cajal contract from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICIIN). LR-G was supported by an IDIBELL PhD fellowship. NL-B acknowledges the funding from MICIIN (SAF2012-36199).

The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein pRb restricts cell growth through inhibition of cell cycle progression. Increasing evidence suggests that pRb also promotes differentiation, but the mechanisms are poorly understood, and the key question remains as to how differentiation in tumor cells can be enhanced in order to diminish their aggressive potential. Previously, we identified the histone demethylase KDM5A (lysine [K]-specific demethylase 5A), which demethylates histone H3 on Lys4 (H3K4), as a pRB-interacting protein counteracting pRB's role in promoting differentiation. Here we show that loss of Kdm5a restores differentiation through increasing mitochondrial respiration. This metabolic effect is both necessary and sufficient to induce the expression of a network of cell type-specific signaling and structural genes. Importantly, the regulatory functions of pRB in the cell cycle and differentiation are distinct because although restoring differentiation requires intact mitochondrial function, it does not necessitate cell cycle exit. Cells lacking Rb1 exhibit defective mitochondria and decreased oxygen consumption. Kdm5a is a direct repressor of metabolic regulatory genes, thus explaining the compensatory role of Kdm5a deletion in restoring mitochondrial function and differentiation. Significantly, activation of mitochondrial function by the mitochondrial biogenesis regulator Pgc-1α (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ-coactivator 1α; also called PPARGC1A) a coactivator of the Kdm5a target genes, is sufficient to override the differentiation block. Overexpression of Pgc-1α, like KDM5A deletion, inhibits cell growth in RB-negative human cancer cell lines. The rescue of differentiation by loss of KDM5A or by activation of mitochondrial biogenesis reveals the switch to oxidative phosphorylation as an essential step in restoring differentiation and a less aggressive cancer phenotype. This work was supported by R01CA138631 (to E.V.B.) and R01GM094220 (to J.R.) from the National Institutes of Health, educational grant SAF2009-06954 (to N.L.-B.) from the Spanish Ministry of Science, and a fellowship from the Agencia de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca of the Catalonian Government, Spain (to A.B.M.M.K.I.)