ATLAS physics performance and commissioning

ATLAS, one of the two multi-purpose detectors at the proton-proton collider LHC, is scheduled to start taking data in 2007. This paper presents the physics performance of this experiment in studying one of the main topics of the LHC physics : the Higgs search. The use of the first data for the detector commissioning and the physics measurements that can be done in the early phase of the LHC operation are also reviewed

Uniformity of the 2000 test beam module with the new optimal filtering coefficients

An original method to reconstruct electron and pion signals in the Liquid ARGon barrel calorimeter (LARG) is applied to test beam data collected at the H8 line of the CERN North Area in July and August 2000. The method is based on the use of optimal filtering coefficients and takes into account the electrical description of the read-out electronics in the reconstruction of the physics pulses. Results on improvements in the LARG response and in particular on the energy uniformity of the calorimeter are shown

Uniformity Of The 2000 Test Beam Module With The New Optimal Filtering Coefficients

An original method to reconstruct electron and pion signals in the Liquid ARGon barrel calorimeter (LARG) is applied to test beam data collected at the H8 line of the CERN North Area in July and August 2000. The method is based on the use of optimal filtering coefficients and takes into account the electrical description of the read-out electronics in the reconstruction of the physics pulses. Results on improvements in the LARG response and in particular on the energy uniformity of the calorimeter are shown

Independent validation of sepsis index for sepsis screening in the emergency department

(1) Background: The early detection of sepsis is still challenging, and there is an urgent need for biomarkers that could identify patients at a high risk of developing it. We recently developed an index, namely the Sepsis Index (SI), based on the combination of two CBC parameters: monocyte distribution width (MDW) and mean monocyte volume (MMV). In this study, we sought to independently validate the performance of SI as a tool for the early detection of patients at a high risk of sepsis in the Emergency Department (ED). (2) Methods: We enrolled all consecutive patients attending the ED with a request of the CBC. MDW and MMV were measured on samples collected in K3-EDTA tubes on the UniCel DxH 900 haematology analyser. SI was calculated based on the MDW and MMV. (3) Results: We enrolled a total of 703 patients stratified into four subgroups according to the Sepsis-2 criteria: control (498), infection (105), SIRS (52) and sepsis (48). The sepsis subgroup displayed the highest MDW (median 27.5, IQR 24.6–32.9) and SI (median 1.15, IQR 1.05–1.29) values. The ROC curve analysis for the prediction of sepsis showed a good and comparable diagnostic accuracy of the MDW and SI. However, the SI displayed an increased specificity, positive predictive value and positive likelihood ratio in comparison to MDW alone. (4) Conclusions: SI improves the diagnostic accuracy of MDW for sepsis screening

Evaluation of anti-sars-cov-2 s-rbd igg antibodies after covid-19 mrna bnt162b2 vaccine

(1) Background: The evaluation of anti-spike protein receptor-binding domain (S-RBD) antibodies represents a useful tool to estimate the individual protection against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection; (2) Methods: We evaluated anti S-RBD IgG levels by indirect chemiluminescence immunoassay on Maglumi 800 (SNIBE, California) in 2248 vaccinated subjects without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, 91 vaccinated individuals recovered from COVID-19, and 268 individuals recovered from COVID-19 who had not been vaccinated. Among those who were healthy and vaccinated, 352 subjects performed a re-dosing after about 72 days from the first measurement. (3) Results: Anti S-RBD IgG levels were lower in subjects with previous infection than vaccinated subjects, with or without previous infection (p < 0.001). No difference was observed between vaccinated subjects, with and without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Overall, anti-RBD IgG levels were higher in females than males (2110 vs. 1341 BAU/mL; p < 0.001) as well as in subjects with symptoms after vaccination than asymptomatic ones (2085 vs. 1332 BAU/mL; p = 0.001) and lower in older than younger subjects. Finally, a significant decrease in anti-RBD IgG levels was observed within a short period from a complete two-dose cycle vaccination. (4) Conclusions: Our results show an efficacy antibody response after vaccination with age-, timeand sex-related differences

Procalcitonin and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children

The role of procalcitonin (PCT) as a biomarker for sepsis in adults is well documented, while its role in infections affecting neonatal children remains controversial. Among these infections, Community-Acquired pneumonia (CAP) has been studied extensively, because it's the second cause of death in children in developing countries, and one of the most frequent causes of hospitalization in industrialized countries. The PubMed database and the Cochrane Library were used to search for the following keywords: CAP, procalcitonin, children. Thirteen articles were studied to determine the role of PCT in CAP management, specifically its usefulness for distinguishing pneumococcal infections from viral and unknown infections, for predicting severity and the correct antibiotic treatment. This paper focuses on the studies performed to identify the best inflammatory biomarker for CAP management. Although there is an increase in studies confirming the usefulness of PCT in CAP management in children, further studies are needed to have better understanding of its role for pediatric CAP management

A new tool for sepsis screening in the Emergency Department

In this study, we developed and evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the Sepsis Index for early sepsis screening in the Emergency Department (ED). Sepsis Index is based on the combination of monocyte distribution width (MDW) and mean monocyte volume (MMV). Sepsis Index≥1 was selected to define sepsis. We tested its diagnostic accuracy in an ED population stratified in four groups: Controls, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS), infection, and sepsis, according to Sepsis-2 criteria. Patients with sepsis displayed higher median Sepsis Index value than patients without sepsis. At the receiver operating characterictis (ROC) curve analysis for the prediction of sepsis, the area under the curve (AUC) of MDW and Sepsis Index were similar: 0.966 (95%CI 0.947-0.984), and 0.964 (95%CI 0.942-0.985), respectively. Sepsis Index showed increased specificity than MDW (94.7 vs. 90.6%), without any decrease in sensitivity (92.0%). Additionally, LR+ increased from 9.8 (MDW) to 17.4 (Sepsis Index), without any substantial change in LR-(respectively 0.09 vs. 0.08). Finally, PPV increased from 0.286 (MDW) to 0.420 (Sepsis Index). Sepsis Index improves the diagnostic accuracy of MDW alone for sepsis screening

Comparative analysis of biochip mosaic-based indirect immunofluorescence with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosing myasthenia gravis

Background: The detection of anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibodies is useful in myasthenia gravis (MG) diagnosis and management. BIOCHIP mosaic-based indirect immunofluorescence is a novel analytical method, which employs the simultaneous detection of anti-AChR and anti-MuSK antibodies in a single miniature incubation field. In this study, we compare, for the first time, the BIOCHIP MG mosaic with conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the diagnosis of MG. Methods: A total of 71 patients with MG diagnosis were included in the study. Anti-AChR and anti-MuSK antibodies were measured separately by two different ELISA and simultaneously by BIOCHIP. The results were then compared. Results: The overall concordance between ELISA and BIOCHIP for anti-AChR reactivity was 74%. Cohen’s kappa was 0.51 (95% CI 0.32–0.71), which corresponds to 90% of the maximum possible kappa (0.57), given the observed marginal frequencies. The overall concordance for anti-MuSK reactivity was 84%. Cohen’s kappa was 0.11 (95% CI 0.00–0.36), which corresponds to 41% of the maximum possible kappa (0.27). Conclusion: The overall concordance among assays is not optimal

Foxp3 and gata3 polymorphisms, vitamin d3 and multiple sclerosis

Background: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) alterations have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Recently, a crucial role of the X-Linked Forkhead Box P3 (FoxP3) for the development and the stability of Tregs has emerged, and FOXP3 gene polymorphisms have been associated with the susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. The expression of Foxp3 in Tregs is regulated by the transcription factor GATA binding-protein 3 (GATA3) and vitamin D3 . The aim of this retrospective case-control study was to investigate the potential association between FOXP3 and GATA3 genetic variants, Vitamin D3, and MS risk. Methods: We analyzed two polymorphisms in the FOXP3 gene (rs3761547 and rs3761548) and a polymorphism in the GATA3 gene (rs3824662) in 106 MS patients and 113 healthy controls. Serum 25(OH)D3 was also measured in all participants. Results: No statistically significant genotypic and allelic differences were found in the distribution of FOXP3 rs3761547 and rs3761548, or GATA3 rs3824662 in the MS patients, compared with controls. Patients that were homozygous for rs3761547 had lower 25(OH)D3 levels. Conclusions: Our findings did not show any association among FOXP3 and GATA3 SNPs, vitamin D3, and MS susceptibility

The Met80Ala and Tyr67His/Met80Ala mutants of human cytochrome cshed light on the reciprocal role of Met80 and Tyr67 in regulating ligand access into the heme pocket.

The spectroscopic and functional properties of the single Met80Ala and double Tyr67His/Met80Ala mutants of human cytochrome c have been investigated in their ferric and ferrous forms, and in the presence of different ligands, in order to clarify the reciprocal effect of these two residues in regulating the access of exogenous molecules into the heme pocket. In the ferric state, both mutants display an aquo high spin and a low spin species. The latter corresponds to an OH- ligand in Met80Ala but to a His in the double mutant. The existence of these two species is also reflected in the functional behavior of the mutants. The observation that (i) a significant peroxidase activity is present in the Met80Ala mutants, (ii) the substitution of the Tyr67 by His leads to only a slight increase of the peroxidase activity in the Tyr67His/Met80Ala double mutant with respect to wild type, while the Tyr67His mutant behaves as wild type, as previously reported, suggests that the peroxidase activity of cytochrome c is linked to an overall conformational change of the heme pocket and not only to the disappearance of the Fe-Met80 bond. Therefore, in human cytochrome c there is an interplay between the two residues at positions 67 and 80 that affects the conformation of the distal side of the heme pocket, and thus the sixth coordination of the hem