On differential uniformity of maps that may hide an algebraic trapdoor

We investigate some differential properties for permutations in the affine group, of a vector space V over the binary field, with respect to a new group operation $\circ$, inducing an alternative vector space structure on $V$ .Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1411.768

Expression of cytokeratin 7 and 20 in pathological conditions of the bile tract

Expression of cytokeratin 7 (CK7) and cytokeratin 20 (CK20) helps to establish the origin of biliary and metastatic carcinomas. We investigated the expression of CK7 and CK20 in inflammatory, metaplastic and neoplastic conditions of the bile ducts, and evaluated possible relationships between the CK expression pattern and extrahepatic bile duct/gallbladder carcinomas (EBDCs) or intrahepatic bile duct carcinomas (IBDCs). We used immunohistochemistry for the investigation of 48 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens grouped as: A) lithiasic or inflamed surgically resected extrahepatic bile ducts/gallbladders: all were CK7+/CK20+; B) percutaneous liver biopsies from patients with chronic hepatitis C primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis: all were CK7+/CK20-; C) EBDCs: all were CK7+/CK20+, except for two cases which were CK7-/CK20-; D) IBDCs: all were CK7+/CK20-, except for one case showing CK20 positivity. Metaplastic changes were seen only among specimens in groups A and C: in these cases, CK20 was either focally or diffusely expressed. Our study suggests that the expression of cytokeratins under specific stimuli can be different from normal tissues, and that sometimes CK20 expression can be related to and precede the occurrence of metaplastic alterations

Total flow intensity, active flow intensity and volume related flow intensity as new quantitative metrics in optical coherence tomography angiography

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography (OCTA) is a non-invasive tool for the in-vivo study of the intraretinal vascular network. It is based on the analysis of motion particles within the retina to reconstruct the paths followed by the erythrocytes, i.e. retinal capillaries. To date, qualitative and quantitative information are based on the morphological features disclosed by retinal capillaries. In the present study, we proposed new quantitative functional metrics, named Total Flow Intensity (TFI), Active Flow Intensity (AFI), and Volume-related Flow Intensity (VFI), based on the processing of the blood flow signal detected by OCTA. We studied these metrics in a cohort of healthy subjects, and we assessed their clinical utility by including a cohort of age-matched patients affected by Stargardt disease. Moreover, we compared TFI, AFI, and VFI to the widely used vessel density (VD) parameter. TFI, AFI, and VFI were able to describe in detail the different properties of the retinal vascular compartment. In particular, TFI was intended as the overall amount of volumetric retinal blood flow. AFI represented a selective measure of voxels disclosing blood flow signal. VFI was developed to put in relationship the volumetric blood flow information with the not vascularized retinal volume. In conclusion, TFI, AFI, and VFI were proposed as feasible functional OCTA biomarkers based on the analysis of retinal blood flow signal

Introductions to the Community: Early-Career Researchers in the Time of COVID-19

COVID-19 has unfortunately halted lab work, conferences, and in-person networking, which is especially detrimental to researchers just starting their labs. Through social media and our reviewer networks, we met some early-career stem cell investigators impacted by the closures. Here, they introduce themselves and their research to our readers

Isomorphisms of algebras of Colombeau generalized functions

We show that for smooth manifolds X and Y, any isomorphism between the special algebra of Colombeau generalized functions on X, resp. Y is given by composition with a unique Colombeau generalized function from Y to X. We also identify the multiplicative linear functionals from the special algebra of Colombeau generalized functions on X to the ring of Colombeau generalized numbers. Up to multiplication with an idempotent generalized number, they are given by an evaluation map at a compactly supported generalized point on X.Comment: 10 page

Rapid induction of dopamine sensitization in the nucleus accumbens shell induced by a single injection of cocaine

Repeated intermittent exposure to cocaine results in the neurochemical sensitization of dopamine (DA) transmission within the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Indeed, the excitability of DA neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) is enhanced within hours of initial psychostimulant exposure. However, it is not known if this is accompanied by a comparably rapid change in the ability of cocaine to increase extracellular DA concentrations in the ventral striatum. To address this question we used fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) in awake-behaving rats to measure DA responses in the NAc shell following an initial intravenous cocaine injection, and then again 2-hours later. Both injections quickly elevated DA levels in the NAc shell, but the second cocaine infusion produced a greater effect than the first, indicating sensitization. This suggests that a single injection of cocaine induces sensitization-related plasticity very rapidly within the mesolimbic DA system

Subcutaneous administration of tocilizumab is effective in myointimal hyperplasia remodelling in refractory Takayasu arteritis

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown origin that involves large and mediumsized arteries, primarily the aorta and its major branches. TA is a therapeutic challenge because corticosteroids and conventional immunosuppressive agents are not always effective or safe. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) has emerged as a key cytokine in the pathogenesis of TA and its serum levels have been shown to well correlate with disease activity. We report a 19 years old female patient with TA refractory to conventional immunosuppressive agents, successfully treated with subcutaneous tocilizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against IL-6 receptor, in which ultrasonography (US) was used as imaging tool to follow up the patient. Currently, clinical indices of disease activity, inflammatory markers, carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) as well as carotid pulse wave velocity (cPWV) normalised, while the prednisone dosage has been tapered. Tocilizumab appears to be a good option in refractory TA, with a remarkable steroid-sparing effect. In addition, it seems to have a favourable effect on endothelial function, as it improved cIMT and PWV

Voltammetric Study for the Determination of Diclofenac in Aqueous Solutions Using Electro-Activated Carbon Electrodes

Diclofenac (DCF) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug to treat pain and inflammatory diseases. The high consumption of the drug leads to a significant change in the ecosystem. With the aim of optimizing a fast screening analysis for DCF detection on many samples with a sensitive and cheap procedure, we considered electrochemical methods using carbon-based electrodes as sensors. The electrochemical behavior of the DCF was studied on glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) and on screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) from two different suppliers after an anodic activation. The surface of the SPCEs was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS). On all the activated electrodes, the voltammetric procedure (Differential Pulse Voltammetry) for the determination of DCF was optimized by the Experimental Design method, and the linearity range of the response, as well as the calibration and limit parameters (limits of detection—LoD; limit of quantification—LoQ), were defined. Analyses on SPCEs were performed both by immersing the electrode in the solution and by deposing a drop of solution on the electrode. DCF signals are stabilized by the polishing process and enhanced by the anodic activation and acid pH. The electrochemical response of DCF is not reversible, and its by-products tend to be adsorbed on the surfaces, particularly on GCE. The lowest limit parameters were obtained using the GCE (LoD = 1.6 µg L−1) and the SPCE, having the smallest surface, immersed in solution (LoD = 7 µg L−1)

RENAL DENERVATION RAPIDLY RESTORES CIRCULATING PROGENITOR CELLS IN PATIENTS AFFECTED BY RESISTANT HYPERTENSION

Objective: To investigate whether blood pressure (BP) lowering after renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) affects CD34+ cell number in drug-resistant hypertension (R-HTN). Design and method: We enrolled 11 patients with R-HTN, already treated with at least 6 antihypertensive drugs, including a diuretic, at full dosages; patients with offi ce BP of > 160 mmHg (>150 mmHg for type 2 diabetes) were considered eligible for the procedure. Adherence to drug treatment was accurately checked by patient’s general practitioners. Mean age was 61 ± 7.9 years; M: F 8:5. We measured clinic (sphygmomanometer) and ambulatory (Tonoport V GEHealthcare) BP, and heart rate (HR; electrocardiogram), at baseline and 30 days after RSD procedure (Symplicity; Medtronic). 24 h BP recordings and home BP protocols were consulted in addition to offi ce BP measurements at the hospital before enrollment. Results: At T0: SBP: 179.1 ± 9.3mmHg; DBP: 101.2 ± 5.5 mmHg; HR 79.9 ± 9.4; CD34+ cells: 1.66 ± 0.51. At T1 SBP values were reduced on the average of 40.2 mmHg (138.9 ± 7.3; –22.5%, p < 0.001) DBP of 18 mmHg (83.2 ± 3.2; –17.7%, p < 0.001), and HR of 10.4 bpm (67.3 ± 6.0; -17.7%, p < 0.005), and CD34+cell number increased on an average of 0.34 cells /microL (2.0 ± 0.51; +21.2%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: RSD rapidly restores CD34+cell number in patients affected by true R-HTN; if these results will be confi rmed on a larger scale, they could provide new insights about CD34+ cells and pathophysiological aspects of arterial hypertension

Clinical relevance of thymidylate syntetase expression in the signet ring cell histotype component of colorectal carcinoma

Thymidylate Synthase (TS) is the key enzyme for DNA synthesis pathways and is inhibited by 5-fluorouracil (5FU). The aim of this work was to study TS expression and the proliferation rate in the different histological types of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). 50 patients with CRC were included in this study and evaluated immunohistochemically using the monoclonal antibodies, TS106 and Ki67. 20 tumours were of the intestinal type, 15 cases were signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCCs) and 15 cases were "mixed-type", with at least two different histological components. Intestinal and mucinous histotypes were positive for TS and Ki67, while "signet ring cell" samples were negative or showed only weak and focal positivity for both the TS and Ki67 antibodies. Our results show that signet ring cells (that are also often present in intestinal and mucinous carcinomas), are in the post-mitotic phase of the cell cycle and show a low proliferation index and TS expression. As TS is the key enzyme for DNA synthesis pathways and is inhibited by 5-fluorouracil (5FU), we can hypothesise that TS expression levels in the different histotypes of CRC could affect the potential responsiveness of these tumours to fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy, with a low efficacy being expected in signet ring cell areas