Dark Matter Deficient Galaxies Produced via High-velocity Galaxy Collisions in High-resolution Numerical Simulations

Abstract The recent discovery of diffuse dwarf galaxies that are deficient in dark matter appears to challenge the current paradigm of structure formation in our universe. We describe numerical experiments to determine if so-called dark matter deficient galaxies (DMDGs) could be produced when two gas-rich, dwarf-sized galaxies collide with a high relative velocity of ∼300 km s−1. Using idealized high-resolution simulations with both mesh-based and particle-based gravito-hydrodynamics codes, we find that DMDGs can form as high-velocity galaxy collisions and separate dark matter from the warm disk gas, which subsequently is compressed by shock and tidal interaction to form stars. Then using the large simulated universe IllustrisTNG, we discover a number of high-velocity galaxy collision events in which DMDGs are expected to form. However, we did not find evidence that these types of collisions actually produced DMDGs in the TNG100-1 run. We argue that the resolution of the numerical experiment is critical to realizing the “collision-induced” DMDG formation scenario. Our results demonstrate one of many routes in which galaxies could form with unconventional dark matter fractions.</jats:p

Comparative study of the hemolymph microbiome between live and recently dead American lobsters Homarus americanus

Lobsters and other crustaceans do not have sterile hemolymph. Despite this, little is known about the microbiome in the hemolymph of the lobster Homarus americanus. The purpose of this study was to characterize the hemolymph microbiome in lobsters. The lobsters were part of a larger study on the effect of temperature on epizootic shell disease, and several died during the course of the study, providing an opportunity to examine differences in the microbiomes between live and recently dead (1−24 h) animals. The hemolymph microbiomes of live lobsters was different from those in dead animals and both were different from the tank microbiome in which the animals had been held. The microbiomes of live lobsters were more diverse and had a different suite of bacteria than those from dead animals. The dominant taxa in live lobsters belonged to Flavobacteriaceae and Rhodobacteraceae, whereas Vibrionaceae and Enterobacteriaceae were predominant in the dead lobsters. Although aquarium microbiomes overlapped with the hemolymph microbiomes, there was less overlap and lower abundance of taxa in comparison with hemolymph from live lobsters. Previous studies reporting bacteria in the digestive tract of lobsters suggested that Vibrionaceae and Enterobacteriaceae had invaded the hemolymph via the gut.Our study suggests that hemolymph bacteria abundant in live lobsters do not originate from the tank milieu and comprise a rich, natural, or native background of bacterial constituents

Cell sorting in a Petri dish controlled by computer vision.

Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) applying flow cytometry to separate cells on a molecular basis is a widespread method. We demonstrate that both fluorescent and unlabeled live cells in a Petri dish observed with a microscope can be automatically recognized by computer vision and picked up by a computer-controlled micropipette. This method can be routinely applied as a FACS down to the single cell level with a very high selectivity. Sorting resolution, i.e., the minimum distance between two cells from which one could be selectively removed was 50-70 micrometers. Survival rate with a low number of 3T3 mouse fibroblasts and NE-4C neuroectodermal mouse stem cells was 66 +/- 12% and 88 +/- 16%, respectively. Purity of sorted cultures and rate of survival using NE-4C/NE-GFP-4C co-cultures were 95 +/- 2% and 62 +/- 7%, respectively. Hydrodynamic simulations confirmed the experimental sorting efficiency and a cell damage risk similar to that of normal FACS

Statistical Analysis of the Road Network of India

In this paper we study the Indian Highway Network as a complex network where the junction points are considered as nodes, and the links are formed by an existing connection. We explore the topological properties and community structure of the network. We observe that the Indian Highway Network displays small world properties and is assortative in nature. We also identify the most important road-junctions (or cities) in the highway network based on the betweenness centrality of the node. This could help in identifying the potential congestion points in the network. Our study is of practical importance and could provide a novel approach to reduce congestion and improve the performance of the highway networ

A Pilot Study for Effectiveness and Safety of Adjunctive Pharmacopuncture to Acupuncture Treatment for Rotator Cuff Diseases: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

Hyun Ji Cha,1,&ast; Chang-Hyun Han,2,3,&ast; Ju Hyun Jeon,1 Jeong Kyo Jeong,1 In Chul Jung,4 Changsop Yang,2 Byoung-Kab Kang,2 Min Ji Kim,5 Young Eun Choi,5 Young Il Kim1 1Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; 2Korean Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; 3Korean Convergence Medicine, University of Science & Technology (UST), Campus of Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; 4Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; 5Clinical Research Coordinating Team, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Young Il Kim, Tel +82-42-470-9137, Email [email protected]: Pharmacopuncture therapy has been used in the conservative treatment of rotator cuff disease adjuvant to acupuncture treatment. Despite the increasing utilization of pharmacopuncture therapy, there is still a lack of high-quality research to support its effectiveness. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility of pharmacopuncture therapy adjuvant to acupuncture treatment for rotator cuff disease.Patients and Methods: This was a parallel-grouped, pragmatic randomized controlled, pilot study. Forty patients were randomly allocated to either the experimental or the control group. All patients received acupuncture treatment for four weeks, and pharmacopuncture was additionally administered to the experimental group. After eight treatments were delivered over four weeks, follow-up assessments were performed. The primary outcome was the mean change in the visual analog scale (VAS) score for shoulder pain from baseline to visit 8. Secondary outcomes included shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI) at visits 4, 8, and 9, shoulder range of motion (ROM) at visits 4, 8, and 9, EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) at visits 8 and 9, patient global impression of change (PGIC) at visits 8 and 9, and mean rescue medication consumption at visits 8 and 9.Results: Both groups showed that each treatment effectively improved rotator cuff disease in most assessments. Particularly, the group that received acupuncture plus pharmacopuncture required fewer rescue medications than the group that received acupuncture alone. However, there was little statistically significant difference between the two groups. There were no serious adverse events experienced by patients in this study.Conclusion: Although there was little statistical difference between the two groups, the combination of acupuncture and pharmacopuncture for rotator cuff disease was associated with a reduction in the rescue medicine dosage compared with acupuncture alone. Also, it confirmed the safety of pharmacopuncture therapy. This pilot study would help design future research on the effectiveness of pharmacopuncture in rotator cuff disease.Keywords: rotator cuff disease, pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, pragmatic trial, randomized controlled tria

Value of tissue harmonic imaging (THI) and contrast harmonic imaging (CHI) in detection and characterisation of breast tumours

The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which tissue harmonic imaging (THI), speckle reduction imaging (SRI), spatial compounding (SC) and contrast can improve detection and differentiation of breast tumours. We examined 38 patients (14 benign, 24 malignant tumours) with different combinations of THI, SRI and SC. The effect on delineation, margin, tissue differentiation and posttumoral phenomena was evaluated with a three-point score. Additionally, 1oo not palpable tumours (diameters: 4–15 mm) were examined by contrast harmonic imaging (CHI) with power Doppler. After bolus injection (0.5 ml Optison), vascularisation and enhancement were observed for 20 min. The best combination for detection of margin, infiltration, echo pattern and posterior lesion boundary was the combination of SRI level 2 with SC low. THI was helpful for lesions OF more than 1 cm depth. In native Power Doppler, vessels were found in 54 of 100 lesions. Within 5 min after contrast medium (CM) injection, marginal and penetrating vessels increased in benign and malignant tumours and central vessels mostly in carcinomas (p<0.05). A diffuse CM accumulation was observed up to 20 min after injection in malignant tumours only (p<0.05). THI, SRI and SC improved delineation and tissue differentiation. Second-generation contrast agent allowed detection of tumour vascularisation with prolonged enhancement

A Case of Crohn's Disease with Improvement after Azathioprine-Induced Pancytopenia

The immunosuppressant azathioprine (AZA) is widely used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) for both inducing and maintaining remission. However, the adverse effects of AZA can often necessitate a dose reduction or discontinuation. Bone marrow suppression is one of the most serious complications with AZA treatment. On the other hand, some reports have suggested that neutropenia during AZA therapy reduced the relapse rates of IBD patients, and there have been some cases where eradication of the sensitized leukocytes by leukapheresis or bone marrow transplantation improved the IBD, which may explain the relevant role of neutropenia in controlling disease activity. This report describes the case of a 22-year-old male patient who had Crohn's colitis and complicated perianal fistulas that required immunosuppression; he achieved endoscopically determined remission and showed accelerated mucosal healing as well as clinical remission following the AZA-induced pancytopenia

A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness and Safety of Prephase Steroid Treatment before Remission Induction Chemotherapy in Patients with Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Using Common Data Model-Based Real-World Data: A Retrospective Observational Study

Yoona Choi,1,2,&ast; Bo Kyung Kim,3,4,&ast; Jung-Hyun Won,2,5 Jae Won Yoo,6 Wona Choi,7 Surin Jung,7 Jae Yoon Kim,7,8 In Young Choi,7 Nack-Gyun Chung,6 Jae Wook Lee,6 Jung Yoon Choi,3,4 Hyoung Jin Kang,3,4,9 Howard Lee1,2,5,10,11 1Department of Applied Bioengineering, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 2Center for Convergence Approaches in Drug Development, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 3Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 4Seoul National University Cancer Research Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 5Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 6Department of Pediatrics, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, the Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 7Department of Medical Informatics, College of Medicine, the Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 8Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, the Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 9Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 10Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology, Suwon, Republic of Korea; 11Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Howard Lee, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea, Email [email protected] Hyoung Jin Kang, Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea, Email [email protected]: Rapid reduction of leukemic cells in the bone marrow during remission induction chemotherapy (RIC) can lead to significant complications such as tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). We investigated whether prephase steroid treatment before RIC could decrease TLS incidence and improve overall survival in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).Methods: Data were extracted from the Common Data Model databases in two tertiary-care hospitals in Seoul, South Korea. Patients were classified into the treated or untreated group if they had received RIC with prephase steroid treatment ≥ 7 days before RIC in 2012– 2021 or not, respectively. Stabilized Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting (sIPTW) was applied to ensure compatibility between the treated and untreated groups. The incidence of TLS within 14 days of starting RIC, overall survival (OS), and the incidence of adverse events of special interest were the primary endpoints. Multiple sensitivity analyses were performed.Results: Baseline characteristics were effectively balanced between the treated (n=308.4) and untreated (n=246.6) groups after sIPTW. Prephase steroid treatment was associated with a significant 88% reduction in the risk of TLS (OR 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03– 0.41). OS was numerically greater in the treated group than in the untreated group although the difference was not statistically significant (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.25– 1.64). The treated group experienced significantly elevated risks for hyperbilirubinemia and hyperglycemia. The reduction in TLS risk by prephase steroid treatment was maintained in all of the sensitivity analyses.Conclusion: Prephase steroid treatment for ≥ 7 days before RIC in pediatric patients with ALL reduces the risk of TLS, while careful monitoring for toxicities is necessary. If adequately analyzed, real-world data can provide crucial effectiveness and safety information for proper management of pediatric patients with ALL, for whom prospective randomized studies may be difficult to perform for ethical and practical reasons.Keywords: pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia, tumor lysis syndrome, remission induction chemotherapy, prephase steroid treatment, common data mode

Effect of different cytokines on mammaglobin and maspin gene expression in normal leukocytes: possible relevance to the assays for the detection of micrometastatic breast cancer

In cancer patients, the ability to detect disseminated tumour cells in peripheral blood or bone marrow could improve prognosis and consent both early detection of metastatic disease and monitoring of the efficacy of systemic therapy. These objectives remain elusive mainly due to the lack of specific genetic markers for solid tumours. The use of surrogate tissue-specific markers can reduce the specificity of the assays and give rise to a clinically unacceptable false-positive rate. Mammaglobin (MAM) and maspin are two putative breast tissue-specific markers frequently used for detection of occult tumour cells in the peripheral blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes of breast cancer patients. In this study, it was evaluated whether MAM and maspin gene expression may be induced in the normal blood and bone marrow cells exposed to a panel of cytokines, including chemotactic factors (C5a, interleukin (IL)-8), LPS, proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) and growth factors (IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor). The experimental data show that all cytokines included in the panel, except for IL-8, were able to induce maspin expression; on the contrary, MAM gene was never induced. These results suggest that MAM is more specific than maspin and that the possible interference of cytokines should be taken into account in interpreting molecular assays for detection of isolated tumour cells