Hexyl aminolevulinate, 5-aminolevulinic acid nanoemulsion, and methyl aminolevulinate in photodynamic therapy of non-aggressive basal cell carcinomas: A non-sponsored, randomized, prospective and double-blinded trial

Abstract Background In the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of non-aggressive basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), 5-aminolevulinic acid nanoemulsion (BF-200ALA) has shown non-inferior efficacy when compared with methyl aminolevulinate (MAL), a widely used photosensitizer. Hexyl aminolevulinate (HAL) is an interesting alternative photosensitizer. To our knowledge, this is the first study using HAL-PDT in the treatment of BCCs. Objectives To compare the histological clearance, tolerability (pain and post-treatment reaction), and cosmetic outcome of MAL, BF-200 ALA, and low-concentration HAL in the PDT of non-aggressive BCCs. Methods Ninety-eight histologically verified non-aggressive BCCs met the inclusion criteria, and 54 patients with 95 lesions completed the study. The lesions were randomized to receive LED-PDT in two repeated treatments with MAL, BF-200 ALA, or HAL. Efficacy was assessed both clinically and confirmed histologically at three months by blinded observers. Furthermore, cosmetic outcome, pain, post-treatment reactions fluorescence, and photobleaching were evaluated. Results According to intention-to-treat analyses, the histologically confirmed lesion clearance was 93.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 79.9?98.3) for MAL, 90.9% (95% CI = 76.4?96.9) for BF-200 ALA, and 87.9% (95% CI = 72.7?95.2) for HAL, with no differences between the arms (p=0.84). There were no differences between the arms as regards pain, post-treatment reactions, or cosmetic outcome. Conclusions PDT with low-concentration HAL and BF-200 ALA have a similar efficacy, tolerability, and cosmetic outcome compared to MAL. HAL is an interesting new option in dermatological PDT, since good efficacy is achieved with a low concentration.Peer reviewe

Beam halo dynamics and control with hollow electron beams

Experimental measurements of beam halo diffusion dynamics with collimator scans are reviewed. The concept of halo control with a hollow electron beam collimator, its demonstration at the Tevatron, and its possible applications at the LHC are discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, in Proceedings of the 52nd ICFA Advanced Beam Dynamics Workshop on High-Intensity and High-Brightness Hadron Beams (HB2012), Beijing, China, 17-21 September 201

Microseminoprotein-Beta Expression in Different Stages of Prostate Cancer

Microseminoprotein-beta (MSMB, MSMB) is an abundant secretory protein contributed by the prostate, and is implicated as a prostate cancer (PC) biomarker based on observations of its lower expression in cancerous cells compared with benign prostate epithelium. However, as the current literature on MSMB is inconsistent, we assessed the expression of MSMB at the protein and mRNA levels in a comprehensive set of different clinical stages of PC. Immunohistochemistry using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against MSMB was used to study protein expression in tissue specimens representing prostatectomies (n = 261) and in diagnostic needle biopsies from patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) (n = 100), and in locally recurrent castration-resistant PC (CRPC) (n = 105) and CRPC metastases (n = 113). The transcript levels of MSMB, nuclear receptor co-activator 4 (NCOA4) and MSMB-NCOA4 fusion were examined by qRT-PCR in prostatectomy samples and by RNA-sequencing in benign prostatic hyperplasia, PC, and CRPC samples. We also measured serum MSMB levels and genotyped the single nucleotide polymorphism rs10993994 using DNA from the blood of 369 PC patients and 903 controls. MSMB expression in PC (29% of prostatectomies and 21% of needle biopsies) was more frequent than in CRPC (9% of locally recurrent CRPCs and 9% of CRPC metastases) (p<0.0001). Detection of MSMB protein was inversely correlated with the Gleason score in prostatectomy specimens (p = 0.024). The read-through MSMB-NCOA4 transcript was detected at very low levels in PC. MSMB levels in serum were similar in cases of PC and controls but were significantly associated with PC risk when adjusted for age at diagnosis and levels of free or total PSA (p<0.001). Serum levels of MSMB in both PC patients and controls were significantly associated with the rs10993994 genotype (p<0.0001). In conclusion, decreased expression of MSMB parallels the clinical progression of PC and adjusted serum MSMB levels are associated with PC risk

Tevatron Beam Halo Collimation System: Design, Operational Experience and New Methods

Collimation of proton and antiproton beams in the Tevatron collider is required to protect CDF and D0 detectors and minimize their background rates, to keep irradiation of superconducting magnets under control, to maintain long-term operational reliability, and to reduce the impact of beam-induced radiation on the environment. In this article we briefly describe the design, practical implementation and performance of the collider collimation system, methods to control transverse and longitudinal beam halo and two novel collimation techniques tested in the Tevatron.Comment: 25 p

Collimation with hollow electron beams

A novel concept of controlled halo removal for intense high-energy beams in storage rings and colliders is presented. It is based on the interaction of the circulating beam with a 5-keV, magnetically confined, pulsed hollow electron beam in a 2-m-long section of the ring. The electrons enclose the circulating beam, kicking halo particles transversely and leaving the beam core unperturbed. By acting as a tunable diffusion enhancer and not as a hard aperture limitation, the hollow electron beam collimator extends conventional collimation systems beyond the intensity limits imposed by tolerable losses. The concept was tested experimentally at the Fermilab Tevatron proton-antiproton collider. The first results on the collimation of 980-GeV antiprotons are presented.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Backyard chicken coop design

Key elements of chicken coop design for the backyard and small flock producer are in this short, concise, and easy-to-read publication. Topics include tips for protecting chickens from predators, coop size, ventilation, and maintenance, as well as details for roosting poles and nest boxes.Published April 2014. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalo

An ancestral molecular response to nanomaterial particulates

The varied transcriptomic response to nanoparticles has hampered the understanding of the mechanism of action. Here, by performing a meta-analysis of a large collection of transcriptomics data from various engineered nanoparticle exposure studies, we identify common patterns of gene regulation that impact the transcriptomic response. Analysis identifies deregulation of immune functions as a prominent response across different exposure studies. Looking at the promoter regions of these genes, a set of binding sites for zinc finger transcription factors C2H2, involved in cell stress responses, protein misfolding and chromatin remodelling and immunomodulation, is identified. The model can be used to explain the outcomes of mechanism of action and is observed across a range of species indicating this is a conserved part of the innate immune system.Peer reviewe

Accreting Millisecond X-Ray Pulsars

Accreting Millisecond X-Ray Pulsars (AMXPs) are astrophysical laboratories without parallel in the study of extreme physics. In this chapter we review the past fifteen years of discoveries in the field. We summarize the observations of the fifteen known AMXPs, with a particular emphasis on the multi-wavelength observations that have been carried out since the discovery of the first AMXP in 1998. We review accretion torque theory, the pulse formation process, and how AMXP observations have changed our view on the interaction of plasma and magnetic fields in strong gravity. We also explain how the AMXPs have deepened our understanding of the thermonuclear burst process, in particular the phenomenon of burst oscillations. We conclude with a discussion of the open problems that remain to be addressed in the future.Comment: Review to appear in "Timing neutron stars: pulsations, oscillations and explosions", T. Belloni, M. Mendez, C.M. Zhang Eds., ASSL, Springer; [revision with literature updated, several typos removed, 1 new AMXP added