Altered cognitive performance and synaptic function in the hippocampus of mice lacking C3.

Previous work implicated the complement system in adult neurogenesis as well as elimination of synapses in the developing and injured CNS. In the present study, we used mice lacking the third complement component (C3) to elucidate the role the complement system plays in hippocampus-dependent learning and synaptic function. We found that the constitutive absence of C3 is associated with enhanced place and reversal learning in adult mice. Our findings of lower release probability at CA3-CA1 glutamatergic synapses in combination with unaltered overall efficacy of these synapses in C3 deficient mice implicate C3 as a negative regulator of the number of functional glutamatergic synapses in the hippocampus. The C3 deficient mice showed no signs of spontaneous epileptiform activity in the hippocampus. We conclude that C3 plays a role in the regulation of the number and function of glutamatergic synapses in the hippocampus and exerts negative effects on hippocampus-dependent cognitive performance

Factors important for efficacy of stereotactic body radiotherapy of medically inoperable stage I lung cancer. A retrospective analysis of patients treated in the Nordic countries

We reviewed results of SBRT treatment of 138 patients with medically inoperable stage I NSCLC treated during 1996 - 2003 at five different centres in Sweden and Denmark. Mean age was 74 years ( range 56 - 90) with 69 men and 72 women. SBRT was delivered using a 3D conformal multifield technique and a stereotactic body frame. Doses delivered were 30 - 48 Gy (65% isodose at the periphery of planning target volume, PTV) in 2 - 4 fractions. Equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2) was in the range of 50 - 100 Gy. Mean gross tumour volume (GTV) was 39 cm(3) (2 - 436), and planning target volume was 101 cm(3) (11 - 719). Overall response rate (CR, PR) was 61% (84/138). SD was noted in 36% (50/138). During a median follow-up period of 33 months (1 - 107), 16 (12%) local failures occurred, ten of which also included distant metastases. Local failure was associated with tumour size, target definition and central or pleura proximity. Distant metastases occurred in 25% (35/138) of the patients. Ninety-one ( 65%) patients died during follow-up of which 55 patients (60%) died of other causes than lung cancer. Three- and 5-year overall survival was 52 and 26% respectively. Lung cancer specific 3- and 5-year overall survival was 66 and 40% respectively. Fifty nine percent (83/138) of the patients had no side effects. Fourteen patients experienced grade 3 - 4 toxicity according to radiation therapy oncology group (RTOG). EQD2 (> v.s. < 55.6 Gy) showed a statistically significant benefit survival for the higher doses. SBRT for stage I NSCLC results in favourable local control not inferior to fractionated RT and with acceptable toxicity

A study on UV emission from clouds with Mini-EUSO

Mini-EUSO is the first mission of the JEM-EUSO program located on the International Space Station. One of the main goals of the mission is to provide valuable scientific data in view of future large missions devoted to study Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs) from space by exploiting the fluorescence emission generated by Extensive Air Showers (EAS) developing in the atmosphere. A space mission like Mini-EUSO experiences continuous changes in atmospheric conditions, including the cloud presence. The influence of clouds on space-based observation is, therefore, an important topic to investigate as it might alter the instantaneous exposure for EAS detection or deteriorate the quality of the EAS images with consequences on the reconstructed EAS parameters. For this purpose, JEM-EUSO is planning to have an IR camera and a lidar as part of its Atmospheric Monitoring System. At the same time, it would be extremely beneficial if the UV camera itself would be able to detect the presence of clouds, at least in some specific conditions. For this reason, we analyze a few case studies by comparing the pixel count rates from Mini-EUSO during orbits with the cloud cover (as cloud fraction). This quantity is retrieved from the Global Forecast System (GFS) model at different height levels over the Mini-EUSO trajectory. The results of this analysis are reported.ISSN:1824-803