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Abstract: Hydrogen line radiation can be trapped in some spatial regions within magnetic fusion experiments at high density, typically when N H(∼N e)∼1015 cm−3. The corresponding photoexcitation yields a significant additional source of ionization that must be properly characterized by numerical simulations. Kinetic Monte-Carlo codes provide a capability to study this subject; however, these codes require accurate physical models for the reaction rates, including spectral line shapes. In this paper we deal with the Zeeman–Stark model used for the Lyα transition in the EIRENE code [D. Reiter, M. Baelmans, P. Börner, Fusion Sci. Technol. 47 (2005) 172; www.eirene.de] and we address the influence of ion dynamics, which can affect these line profiles. The impact theory for ions, that we first consider, is shown to be suited for description of the lateral components of the Lorentz triplet. By contrast, comparisons to numerical simulations show that this theory is not well suited for description of the central component, which is significantly affected by incomplete and non-binary collisions. A refinement of the model in the framework of the unified theory is proposed and discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) may be associated with various rheumatological disorders. Aim To investigate the frequency and significance of ‘rheumatological’ antinuclear antibodies in the field of autoimmune chronic liver disease, with special regard to PBC. Methods We studied 105 patients with PBC, 162 autoimmune liver disease controls (type 1 and 2 autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis), 30 systemic lupus erythematosus and 50 blood donors. Sera were tested for the presence of antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (anti-ENA) by counterimmunoelectrophoresis, enzyme-linked and immunoblot (IB) assay, and for the presence of anti-centromere antibodies (ACA) by indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 cells and IB. Results The overall prevalence of IB-detected anti-ENA in PBC (30%) was higher than in type 1 autoimmune hepatitis (2.5%, P < 0.0001), type 2 autoimmune hepatitis (0%, P < 0.0001) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (11.5%, P = 0.006) and lower than in systemic lupus erythematosus (53%, P = 0.03). The most frequent anti-ENA reactivity in PBC was anti-SSA/Ro-52kD (28%). ACA were detected by IB in 21% PBC patients and never in the other subjects ( P < 0.0001). Anti-SS-A/Ro/52kD positive PBC patients had at the time of diagnosis a more advanced histological stage ( P = 0.01) and higher serum levels of bilirubin ( P = 0.01) and IgM ( P = 0.03) compared with negative ones. Conclusions In the autoimmune liver disease setting, anti-SS-A/Ro-52kD and ACA have a high specificity for PBC and can thus be of diagnostic relevance in anti-mitochondrial antibodies negative cases. If confirmed in further studies with adequate follow-up, anti-SS-A/Ro-52kD antibodies might identify PBC patients with a more advanced and active disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A study of hydrogen lines emitted in warm () and dense () plasmas is presented. Under such plasma conditions, the electronic and the ionic contributions to the line width are comparable, and the general question related to a transition from impact to quasi-static broadening arises not only for the far wings but also for the core of spectral lines. The transition from impact to quasi-static broadening for electrons is analyzed by means of Frequency Fluctuation Model (FFM). In parallel, direct integration of the semi-classical evolution equation is performed using electron electric fields calculated by Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations that permit one to correctly describe the emitter environment. New cross comparisons between benchmark MD simulations and FFM are carried out for electron broadening of the Balmer series lines, and, especially, for the H α line, for which a few experiments in the warm and dense plasma regimes are available. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background Serum antinuclear antibodies giving the ‘multiple nuclear dots’ or the ‘rim-like/membranous’ patterns are frequently detected by indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 cells in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Aim To assess the accuracy of multiple nuclear dot and rim-like/membranous antinuclear antibodies for the diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis. Methods Sera from 4371 consecutive patients referred to our laboratory were analysed under code for antinuclear antibodies testing by indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 cells. Results Review of the clinical records of the 4371 patients allowed identification of 101 patients with antimitochondrial antibody-positive primary biliary cirrhosis and 22 with antimitochondrial antibody-negative variant. Multiple nuclear dot and/or rim-like/membranous patterns were found in 59 (1.3%) of the 4371 patients: 31 antimitochondrial antibody-positive primary biliary cirrhosis, 17 antimitochondrial antibody-negative primary biliary cirrhosis and 11 non-primary biliary cirrhosis. The specificity for primary biliary cirrhosis of both the antinuclear antibodies pattern was 99%. Positive predictive value and likelihood ratio for a positive test were 86% (95% CI: 72.7–94) and 221 (95% CI: 91.7–544) for multiple nuclear dot, 79% (95% CI: 62.2–90.1) and 132 (95% CI: 56.8–312.7) for rim-like/membranous, respectively. Conclusions Multiple nuclear dot and rim-like/membranous antinuclear antibodies are rare findings. Their positivity strongly suggests the diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis, irrespective of antimitochondrial antibody status. The high specificity for primary biliary cirrhosis makes them a useful diagnostic tool especially in antimitochondrial antibody-negative patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We prove that, when G is a group equipped with a Baire and metrizable topology, if there is a second category dense subset S of G such that the right translations and are continuous for all and each left translation , , is almost-continuous (defined below) on a residual subset of G, then G is a topological group. Among other consequences, this yields that when G is a second countable locally compact right topological group, its topological centre is a topological group. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) plays a major role in the induction of type II mixed cryoglobulinaemia (MCII). The role of HCV proteins and virus–host interaction in the pathogenesis of MC remains to be defined. To address this issue, we have characterized, in detail, the monoclonal IgM and the viral component of circulating immune complexes in eight patients with HCV-associated MCII. The proportion of HCV-RNA compartmentalized in the cryoprecipitate (CP) varied greatly (10–80% of total HCV-RNA). The complementary determining region (CDR)3 sequences of monoclonal immunoglobulin M (IgM) VH and VK genes were highly homologous to rheumatoid factor and to antibodies against HCV-E2. Furthermore, the CDR3 sequences in some of our MCII patients were highly similar to those described in HCV-positive patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). From these results, it appears that, as in the case of NHL, the IgM-rheumatoid factor (RF) production in MCII patients is antigen driven, namely by E2. However, the limited number of mutations in VH and VK genes with respect to the germline and their distribution showed that the B-cell response in these cases was prevented from undergoing affinity maturation. Furthermore, in patients with monoclonal IgM and definite compartmentalization of HCV in either CP or supernatant, a highly homogeneous E2-hypervariable region (HVR)1 sequence distribution was found (90–100% identical clones), a feature of the quasispecies frequently associated with an impaired humoral immune response to HCV. These findings suggest that in patients with HCV-associated MCII, maturation of monoclonal B lymphocytes may be blocked in a primitive stage preventing serious damaging effects because of the auto-reactivity of their secreted immunoglobulins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study properties of continuous homomorphisms from β S into T* and from S* into T*, where S denotes a countably infinite semigroup and T denotes a countably infinite group. We show that they have striking algebraic properties if they do not arise as continuous extensions of homomorphisms from S to T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: The usual onset of type 1 autoimmune hepatitis occurs at puberty or around menopause, whereas disease presentation in the advanced age is less often reported.: To assess the clinical, immunological and histological features of Type 1 autoimmune hepatitis in elderly Italian patients.: We assessed, at diagnosis, the clinical and immunological features of 76 consecutive Italian patients with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis, focusing particularly on a subgroup of 20 patients presenting at≥65 years (females 95%, median age 72 years, range 65–82).: In comparison with the younger group, at the time of autoimmune hepatitis diagnosis, elderly Italian patients are more often asymptomatic (25% vs. 7%;P = 0.04), are more frequently positive for antinuclear autoantibodies (95% vs. 52%;P = 0.0004) andHLA-DR4 (45% vs. 18%;P = 0.03); among the extra-hepatic manifestations, autoimmune thyroid disorders are prevalent in the elderly group (25% vs. 5%;P = 0.02). However, no difference was observed in the histological/biochemical expression of the liver disease and response to immunosuppression.: In elderly Italian patients, autoimmune hepatitis has typical serological and genetic characteristics, is more frequently asymptomatic, although prognosis and response to therapy is similar to that of younger patients. As a concomitant autoimmune thyroid disorder is common, autoimmune hepatitis should be suspected and investigated in elderly patients with autoimmune thyroid disorder and abnormal liver function tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let G be a topological group. Denote by GLUC and GWAP the LUC–compactification and the WAP–compactification of G, respectively. GWAP can be regarded as a quotient of GLUC and the quotient map denoted by π. In this note we shall show that, when $G$ is a SIN--group, there exists a dense open subset of GLUC\ G$, consisting of points of unicity for π, of cardinality at least 22κ (G), where κ (G) denotes the compact covering number of G. We give an example to show that this statement does not hold for IN–groups, although GLUC\ G does contain at least 22κ (G) points if G is an IN–group. We also give characterisations of the completion \tilde{G} of G as a subspace of the uniform compactification uG. A consequence of the first result is an analogue of Veech’s theorem for the WAP–compactification of a SIN-group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calculations are presented of the spectral emissivity corrected for higher-order processes such as photon scattering. Usually, photon scattering is taken into account by postulating a complete frequency redistribution approximation, i.e., same absorption and emission spectra. However, cases exist in hot and dense plasmas for which partial frequency redistribution and angular redistribution play an important role for the radiative transfer mechanisms. Examples of X-ray lasers based on neon-like germanium ion emitters and hydrogen-like carbon ion emitters are considered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Discusses the number of left ideals, idempotents and right cancelable elements in the uniform compactification of a topological group. Topological group with identity; Theorems; Lemmas; Proofs.

Thirty-six patients with long-standing psychotic illness randomly selected among attenders at two community centers of Bologna were interviewed as were their therapists, in order to determine prevalence and patterns of substance use, reasons for use and effects on illness. Protocols were the same as used in previous research carried out in Boulder, Colorado. For all substances, except stimulants and over-the-counter products, prevalence rates were lower in the Bologna sample than in Boulder. Overall lifetime rates of substance use were significantly lower in the Bologna sample. Nevertheless 47.2% of the Bologna sample had a lifetime moderate to severe drug use and nearly two-thirds of the sample had a current drug use of some severity. Reasons for use equally reflected attempts to alleviate unpleasant emotional states and recreational purposes. Patients with high degrees of psychopathology had significantly lower scores on severity of drug use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An extract of cannabis (5 and 15 mg/kg expressed as Δ-THC) orally administered to rats caused an elevation of the nociceptive threshold (tail-flick latency and vocalization tests). Naloxone and naltrexone (blockers of μ-type opiate receptors) as well as MR 1452 (blocker of κ opiate receptors) did not prevent the antinociceptive effect of cannabis when used at the dose of 2 mg/kg SC; only a high dose (10 mg/kg SC) of these narcotic antagonists partially blocked cannabis antinociception. ICI 154, 129, an antagonist of δ-type opiate receptors, failed to prevent the cannabis-induced rise in nociceptive threshold when used at a dose of 2 mg/kg SC but produced a significant effect at 10 mg/kg SC. While the role of opiate receptors does not seem fundamental to cannabis antinociception, the clear-cut effectiveness shown by 6-hydroxydopamine (a neurotoxin which causes a degeneration of catecholamine-containing terminals) in reducing cannabis antinociception is indicative of a participation of catecholamines in the phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behavioral responses of the rat to an extract of Cannabis sativa were examined after IP injection of 5, 15 and 30 mg/kg (expressed as Δ tetrahydrocannabinol). The lowest dose of the extract induced stereotyped behavior (rhythmic head movements, intermittent gnawing and sniffing) together with hypersensitivity to stimuli and hyperthermia. The administration of higher doses of the extract resulted, initially, in similar behavioral effects but of greater intensity, followed by a cataleptic state alternating with atonic muscular prostration; rectal temperature was decreased. Pre-treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, which produces degeneration of catecholamine-containing nerve terminals) or pimozide (blocker of dopamine receptors) significantly reduced both stereotypy and hyperreactivity. Thermic effects were also antagonized by 6-OHDA pre-treatment. Cannabis-induced catalepsy was enhanced by pimozide but reduced by atropine (3 mg/kg SC). These results support the hypothesis that catecholamines play an important role in the complex behavioral effects of cannabis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increase was found in the opiate activity of pituitary extracts obtained from rats injected with the neuroleptic drugs trifluoperazine and sulpiride. The increase of opiate activity, measured by bioassay, was particularly evident 2 h after the administration of sulpiride. Dexamethasone completely prevented the neuroleptic-induced effect. Trifluoperazine and sulpiride may have affected dopaminergic mechanisms regulating endorphin storage in the pituitary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endogenous opioid met-enkephalin intraventricularly administered to the rat at the dose of 100 μg raised rectal temperature, whereas 400 μg of the pentapeptide caused a diphasic effect, i.e., hypothermia followed by hyperthermia. Met-enkephalin was ineffective when administered i.p. The effects on temperature were substantially similar to those elicited, for both routes of administration, by morphine, which may either raise or lower rat temperature depending on the dose. More naloxone was required to antagonize thermic effects of met-enkephalin than morphine. Finally, there was a lack of effects on temperature for metenkephalin centrally administeted to morphine-tolerant animals, thus providing further evidence, in vivo, of cross tolerance between opiates and naturally occurring ligands of opiate receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immune response against two herpesviruses has been determined in sera and matched synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compared with that of a healthy control population. The increased level of antibody to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) induced antigens in patients with RA resembles the antibody pattern observed against cytomegalovirus (CMV) induced antigens, which suggests the presence of a pathological condition in patients with RA that can reactivate latent viral infections. The antibody response against EBV and CMV observed in synovial fluids excludes the local production of specific antibodies against EBV and CMV antigens. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Some effects of intraventricular injection of mescaline are examined in conscious rabbits. By means of electrical stimulation of the tooth pulp it is shown that an acute treatment with 70, 100, 150 μg/kg of mescaline elicits analgesia, the intensity of which is dose-dependent: with daily administration of 100 μg/kg for 5 days a complete tolerance develops to the antinociceptive effect. A tolerance also develops to the behavioral effects of mescaline after repeated administrations, with the exception of the stuporous state, a symptom which, on the contrary, is accentuated as the treatment proceeds. An EEG arousal is induced in the rabbit by acutely administered mescaline; the chronic treatment (100 μg/kg) makes the return of voltage to original levels progressively slower. Finally, the confrontation of certain of the mescaline-induced effects with those of morphine suggests some biochemical and neural patterns common to the 2 drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The administration of prostaglandin E intracerebrally through a cannula implanted in a lateral ventricle, antagonizes morphine analgesia in rats. An electrical stimulation technique was adopted on the rat's tail to measure the antinociceptive activity of morphine. Some hypotheses are advanced in order to explain the sensitizing activity of prostaglandin E. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater teleost hepatocytes show hypertrophied Golgi complexes 3 days after a single intraperitoneal injection of cadmium chloride (10 mg/Kg). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]