332 research outputs found
Linear Discriminant Functions in Connection with the micro-RNA Diagnosis of Colon Cancer
Early detection (localized stage) of colon cancer is associated with a five-year survival rate of 91%. Only 39% of colon cancers, however, are diagnosed at that early stage. Early and accurate diagnosis, therefore, constitutes a critical need and a decisive factor in the clinical treatment of colon cancer and its success. In this study, using supervised linear discriminant analysis, we have developed three diagnostic biomarker models that—based on global micro-RNA expression analysis of colonic tissue collected during surgery—can discriminate with a perfect accuracy between subjects with colon cancer (stages II–IV) and normal healthy subjects. We developed our three diagnostic biomarker models with 57 subjects [40 with colon cancer (stages II–IV) and 17 normal], and we validated them with 39 unknown (new and different) subjects [28 with colon cancer (stages II–IV) and 11 normal]. For all three diagnostic models, both the overall sensitivity and specificity were 100%. The nine most significant micro-RNAs identified, which comprise the input variables to the three linear discriminant functions, are associated with genes that regulate oncogenesis, and they play a paramount role in the development of colon cancer, as evidenced in the tumor tissue itself. This could have a significant impact in the fight against this disease, in that it may lead to the development of an early serum or blood diagnostic test based on the detection of those nine key micro-RNAs
Complex Formation Between Polyelectrolytes and Ionic Surfactants
The interaction between polyelectrolyte and ionic surfactant is of great
importance in different areas of chemistry and biology. In this paper we
present a theory of polyelectrolyte ionic-surfactant solutions. The new theory
successfully explains the cooperative transition observed experimentally, in
which the condensed counterions are replaced by ionic-surfactants. The
transition is found to occur at surfactant densities much lower than those for
a similar transition in non-ionic polymer-surfactant solutions. Possible
application of DNA surfactant complex formation to polynucleotide delivery
systems is also mentioned.Comment: 5 pages, latex, 3 figure
Manipulation of the follicular phase: Uterodomes and pregnancy - is there a correlation?
BACKGROUND: Manipulation of the follicular phase uterine epithelium in women undergoing infertility treatment, has not generally shown differing morphological effects on uterine epithelial characteristics using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and resultant pregnancy rates have remained suboptimal utilising these manipulations. The present study observed manipulation of the proliferative epithelium, with either 7 or 14 days of sequential oestrogen (E) therapy followed by progesterone (P) and assessed the appearance of pinopods (now called uterodomes) for their usefulness as potential implantation markers in seven women who subsequently became pregnant. Three endometrial biopsies per patient were taken during consecutive cycles: day 19 of a natural cycle - (group 1), days 11/12 of a second cycle after 7 days E then P - (group 2), and days 19/22 of a third cycle after 14 days E then P - (group 3). Embryo transfer (ET) was performed in a subsequent long treatment cycle (as per Group 3). RESULTS: Seven pregnancies resulted in seven viable births including one twins and one miscarriage. Analysis of the individual regimes showed 5 days of P treatment to have a higher correlation for uterodomes in all 3 cycles observed individually. It was also observed that all 7 women demonstrated the appearance of uterodomes in at least one of their cycles. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that manipulation of the follicular phase by shortening the period of E exposure to 7 days, does not compromise uterine epithelial morphology and we add weight to the conclusion that uterodomes indicate a receptive endometrium for implantation
Sensitivity Analysis of a Capillary Pulsating Heat Pipe: Influence of the Tube Characteristics
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Search for Lorentz and CPT Violation Effects in Muon Spin Precession
The spin precession frequency of muons stored in the storage ring has
been analyzed for evidence of Lorentz and CPT violation. Two Lorentz and CPT
violation signatures were searched for: a nonzero
(=); and a sidereal variation of
. No significant effect is found, and the following
limits on the standard-model extension parameters are obtained: GeV; GeV; and the 95% confidence level limits
GeV and
GeV.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letters, Modified to
answer the referees suggestion
An Improved Limit on the Muon Electric Dipole Moment
Three independent searches for an electric dipole moment (EDM) of the
positive and negative muons have been performed, using spin precession data
from the muon g-2 storage ring at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Details on
the experimental apparatus and the three analyses are presented. Since the
individual results on the positive and negative muon, as well as the combined
result, d=-0.1(0.9)E-19 e-cm, are all consistent with zero, we set a new muon
EDM limit, |d| < 1.9E-19 e-cm (95% C.L.). This represents a factor of 5
improvement over the previous best limit on the muon EDM.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures, 7 table
Search for Lorentz and CPT Violation Effects in Muon Spin Precession
The spin precession frequency of muons stored in the storage ring has
been analyzed for evidence of Lorentz and CPT violation. Two Lorentz and CPT
violation signatures were searched for: a nonzero
(=); and a sidereal variation of
. No significant effect is found, and the following
limits on the standard-model extension parameters are obtained: GeV; GeV; and the 95% confidence level limits
GeV and
GeV.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letters, Modified to
answer the referees suggestion
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