Estimation of applicability of scattered radiation for XRF

The applicability of coherently and incoherently scattered radiation was investigated on the example of quantifying the Nb content in wolframite. The calculated and experimental intensities of Nb

Genome-wide association analysis with selective genotyping identifies candidate loci for adult height at 8q21.13 and 15q22.33-q23 in Mongolians

We performed a genome-wide association study with 23,465 microsatellite markers to identify genes related to adult height. Selective genotyping was applied to extremely tall and extremely short individuals from the Khalkh-Mongolian population. Two loci, 8q21.13 and 15q22.33, which showed the strongest association with microsatellites were subjected to further analyses of SNPs in 782 tall and 773 short individuals. The most significant association was observed with SNP rs2220456 at 8q21.13 (P = 0.000016). In the LD block at 15q22.32, SNP rs8038652 located in intron 1 of IQCH was strongly associated (P = 0.0003), especially the AA genotype of the SNP under a recessive model was strongly associated with adult height (P = 0.000046)

Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with major portal vein thrombosis by combined therapy with subcutaneous interferon-α and intra-arterial 5-fluorouracil; role of type 1 interferon receptor expression

We previously reported the beneficial effects of combination therapy of interferon (IFN)-α/5-fluorouracil (FU) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumour thrombi in the major portal branches. This report describes the results of longer follow-up and includes more than double the number of patients relative to the original report, and evaluates the role of IFN-α/type 2 interferon receptor (IFNAR2) expression on the response to the combination therapy. The study subjects were 55 patients with advanced HCC and tumour thrombi in the major branches of the portal vein (Vp3 or 4). They were treated with at least two courses of IFN-α/5-FU without major complication. In the 55 patients, 24 (43.6%) showed objective response (eight (14.5%) showed complete response, 16 (29.1%) partial response), four (7.3%) showed no response, and 27 (49.1%) showed progressive disease. Immunohistochemically, IFNAR2 expression was detected in nine out of 13 (69.2%) patients. There was significant difference in the time-to-progression survival (P=0.0002) and the overall survival (P<0.0001) between IFNAR2-positive and -negative cases. There was a significant correlation between IFNAR2 expression and response to IFN-α/5-FU combination therapy in univariate analysis (P=0.0070). IFN-α/5-FU combination therapy is a promising modality for advanced HCC with tumour thrombi in the major portal branches and could significantly depend on IFNAR2 expression

Activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway induces chemoresistance to interferon-α/5-fluorouracil combination therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Type I IFN receptor type 2 (IFNAR2) expression correlates significantly with clinical response to interferon (IFN)-α/5-fluorouracil (5-FU) combination therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, some IFNAR2-positive patients show no response to the therapy. This result suggests the possibility of other factors, which would be responsible for resistance to IFN-α/5-FU therapy. The aim of this study was to examine the mechanism of anti-proliferative effects of IFN-α/5-FU therapy and search for a biological marker of chemoresistance to such therapy. Gene expression profiling and molecular network analysis were used in the analysis of non-responders and responders with IFNAR2-positive HCC. The Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway contributed to resistance to IFN-α/5-FU therapy. Immunohistochemical analysis showed positive epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) expression, the target molecule of Wnt/β-catenin signalling, only in non-responders. In vitro studies showed that activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling by glycogen synthesis kinase-3 inhibitor (6-bromoindirubin-3′-oxime (BIO)) induced chemoresistance to IFN-α/5-FU. BrdU-based cell proliferation ELISA and cell cycle analysis showed that concurrent addition of BIO and IFN-α/5-FU significantly to hepatoma cell cultures reduced the inhibitory effects of the latter two on DNA synthesis and accumulation of cells in the S-phase. The results indicate that activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway induces chemoresistance to IFN-α/5-FU therapy and suggest that Ep-CAM is a potentially useful marker for resistance to such therapy, especially in IFNAR2-positive cases

About the first experiment at JINR nuclotron deuteron beam with energy 2.52 gev on investigation of transmutation of I-129, NP-237, PU-238 and PU-239 in the field of neutrons generated in pbtarget with U-blanket

The experiment described in this communication is a part of the scientific program „Investigations of physical aspects of electronuclear method of energy production and transmutation of radioactive waste of atomic energetic using relativistic beams from the JINR Synchrophasotron/Nuclotron“ - the project „Energy plus Transmutation“. The performing of the first experiment at deuteron beam with energy 2.52 GeV at the electronuclear setup which consists of Pb-target with U-blanket (206.4 kg of natural uranium) and transmutation samples and its preliminary results are described. The hermetic samples of isotopes of I-129, Np-237, Pu-238 and Pu-239 which are produced in atomic reactors and industry setups which use nuclear materials and nuclear technologies were irradiated in the field of electronuclear neutrons produced in the Pbtarget surrounded with the U-blanket setup “Energy plus transmutation”. The estimations of its transmutations (radioecological aspect) were obtained in result of measurements of gamma activities of these samples. The information about space-energy distribution of neutrons in the volume of the Pb-target and the U-blanket was obtained with help of sets of activation threshold detectors (Al, V, Cu, Co, Y, In, I, Ta, Au, W, Bi and other), solid state nuclear track detectors, He-3 neutron detectors and nuclear emulsions

LKR/SDH Plays Important Roles throughout the Tick Life Cycle Including a Long Starvation Period

BACKGROUND:Lysine-ketoglutarate reductase/saccharopine dehydrogenase (LKR/SDH) is a bifunctional enzyme catalyzing the first two steps of lysine catabolism in plants and mammals. However, to date, the properties of the lysine degradation pathway and biological functions of LKR/SDH have been very little described in arthropods such as ticks. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We isolated and characterized the gene encoding lysine-ketoglutarate reductase (LKR, EC 1.5.1.8) and saccharopine dehydrogenase (SDH, EC 1.5.1.9) from a tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, cDNA library that encodes a bifunctional polypeptide bearing domains similar to the plant and mammalian LKR/SDH enzymes. Expression of LKR/SDH was detected in all developmental stages, indicating an important role throughout the tick life cycle, including a long period of starvation after detachment from the host. The LKR/SDH mRNA transcripts were more abundant in unfed and starved ticks than in fed and engorged ticks, suggesting that tick LKR/SDH are important for the starved tick. Gene silencing of LKR/SDH by RNAi indicated that the tick LKR/SDH plays an integral role in the osmotic regulation of water balance and development of eggs in ovary of engorged females. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:Transcription analysis and gene silencing of LKR/SDH indicated that tick LKR/SDH enzyme plays not only important roles in egg production, reproduction and development of the tick, but also in carbon, nitrogen and water balance, crucial physiological processes for the survival of ticks. This is the first report on the role of LKR/SDH in osmotic regulation in animals including vertebrate and arthropods