219 research outputs found
Presynaptic Type III Neuregulin1-ErbB signaling targets α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors to axons
Type III Neuregulin1 (Nrg1) isoforms are membrane-tethered proteins capable of participating in bidirectional juxtacrine signaling. Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), which can modulate the release of a rich array of neurotransmitters, are differentially targeted to presynaptic sites. We demonstrate that Type III Nrg1 back signaling regulates the surface expression of α7 nAChRs along axons of sensory neurons. Stimulation of Type III Nrg1 back signaling induces an increase in axonal surface α7 nAChRs, which results from a redistribution of preexisting intracellular pools of α7 rather than from increased protein synthesis. We also demonstrate that Type III Nrg1 back signaling activates a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathway and that activation of this pathway is required for the insertion of preexisting α7 nAChRs into the axonal plasma membrane. These findings, in conjunction with prior results establishing that Type III Nrg1 back signaling controls gene transcription, demonstrate that Type III Nrg1 back signaling can regulate both short-and long-term changes in neuronal function
Initial/boundary-value problems of tumor growth within a host tissue
This paper concerns multiphase models of tumor growth in interaction with a
surrounding tissue, taking into account also the interplay with diffusible
nutrients feeding the cells. Models specialize in nonlinear systems of possibly
degenerate parabolic equations, which include phenomenological terms related to
specific cell functions. The paper discusses general modeling guidelines for
such terms, as well as for initial and boundary conditions, aiming at both
biological consistency and mathematical robustness of the resulting problems.
Particularly, it addresses some qualitative properties such as a priori
nonnegativity, boundedness, and uniqueness of the solutions. Existence of the
solutions is studied in the one-dimensional time-independent case.Comment: 30 pages, 5 figure
Multiphase modelling of tumour growth and extracellular matrix interaction: mathematical tools and applications
Resorting to a multiphase modelling framework, tumours are described here as a mixture of tumour and host cells within a porous structure constituted by a remodelling extracellular matrix (ECM), which is wet by a physiological extracellular fluid. The model presented in this article focuses mainly on the description of mechanical interactions of the growing tumour with the host tissue, their influence on tumour growth, and the attachment/detachment mechanisms between cells and ECM. Starting from some recent experimental evidences, we propose to describe the interaction forces involving the extracellular matrix via some concepts coming from viscoplasticity. We then apply the model to the description of the growth of tumour cords and the formation of fibrosis
O(12) limit and complete classification of symmetry schemes in proton-neutron interacting boson model
It is shown that the proton-neutron interacting boson model (pnIBM) admits
new symmetry limits with O(12) algebra which break F-spin but preserves the
quantum number M_F. The generators of O(12) are derived and the quantum number
`v' of O(12) for a given boson number N is determined by identifying the
corresponding quasi-spin algebra. The O(12) algebra generates two symmetry
schemes and for both of them, complete classification of the basis states and
typical spectra are given. With the O(12) algebra identified, complete
classification of pnIBM symmetry limits with good M_F is established.Comment: 22 pages, 1 figur
SARS-COV-2 comorbidity network and outcome in hospitalized patients in Crema, Italy
We report onset, course, correlations with comorbidities, and diagnostic accuracy of nasopharyngeal swab in 539 individuals suspected to carry SARS-COV-2 admitted to the hospital of Crema, Italy. All individuals underwent clinical and laboratory exams, SARS-COV-2 reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction on nasopharyngeal swab, and chest X-ray and/or computed tomography (CT). Data on onset, course, comorbidities, number of drugs including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin-II-receptor antagonists (sartans), follow-up swab, pharmacological treatments, non-invasive respiratory support, ICU admission, and deaths were recorded. Among 411 SARS-COV-2 patients (67.7% males) median age was 70.8 years (range 5-99). Chest CT was performed in 317 (77.2%) and showed interstitial pneumonia in 304 (96%). Fatality rate was 17.5% (74% males), with 6.6% in 60-69 years old, 21.1% in 70-79 years old, 38.8% in 80-89 years old, and 83.3% above 90 years. No death occurred below 60 years. Non-invasive respiratory support rate was 27.2% and ICU admission 6.8%. Charlson comorbidity index and high Creactive protein at admission were significantly associated with death. Use of ACE inhibitors or sartans was not associated with outcomes. Among 128 swab negative patients at admission (63.3% males) median age was 67.7 years (range 1-98). Chest CT was performed in 87 (68%) and showed interstitial pneumonia in 76 (87.3%). Follow-up swab turned positive in 13 of 32 patients. Using chest CT at admission as gold standard on the entire study population of 539 patients, nasopharyngeal swab had 80% accuracy. Comorbidity network analysis revealed a more homogenous distribution 60-40 aged SARS-COV-2 patients across diseases and a crucial different interplay of diseases in the networks of deceased and survived patients. SARS-CoV-2 caused high mortality among patients older than 60 years and correlated with pre-existing multiorgan impairment. Copyright
Partial Dynamical Symmetry in the Symplectic Shell Model
We present an example of a partial dynamical symmetry (PDS) in an interacting
fermion system and demonstrate the close relationship of the associated
Hamiltonians with a realistic quadrupole-quadrupole interaction, thus shedding
new light on this important interaction. Specifically, in the framework of the
symplectic shell model of nuclei, we prove the existence of a family of
fermionic Hamiltonians with partial SU(3) symmetry. We outline the construction
process for the PDS eigenstates with good symmetry and give analytic
expressions for the energies of these states and E2 transition strengths
between them. Characteristics of both pure and mixed-symmetry PDS eigenstates
are discussed and the resulting spectra and transition strengths are compared
to those of real nuclei. The PDS concept is shown to be relevant to the
description of prolate, oblate, as well as triaxially deformed nuclei.
Similarities and differences between the fermion case and the previously
established partial SU(3) symmetry in the Interacting Boson Model are
considered.Comment: 9 figure
Chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer: four systematic meta-analyses of individual patient data from 37 randomized trials. Advanced Ovarian Cancer Trialists' Group.
The purpose of this systematic study was to provide an up to date and reliable quantitative summary of the relative benefits of various types of chemotherapy (non-platinum vs platinum, single-agent vs combination and carboplatin vs cisplatin) in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. Also, to investigate whether well-defined patient subgroups benefit more or less from cisplatin- or carboplatin-based therapy. Meta-analyses were based on updated individual patient data from all available randomized controlled trials (published and unpublished), including 37 trials, 5667 patients and 4664 deaths. The results suggest that platinum-based chemotherapy is better than non-platinum therapy, show a trend in favour of platinum combinations over single-agent platinum, and suggest that cisplatin and carboplatin are equally effective. There is no good evidence that cisplatin is more or less effective than carboplatin in any particular subgroup of patients
Membrane Surface Nanostructures and Adhesion Property of T Lymphocytes Exploited by AFM
The activation of T lymphocytes plays a very important role in T-cell-mediated immune response. Though there are many related literatures, the changes of membrane surface nanostructures and adhesion property of T lymphocytes at different activation stages have not been reported yet. However, these investigations will help us further understand the biophysical and immunologic function of T lymphocytes in the context of activation. In the present study, the membrane architectures of peripheral blood T lymphocytes were obtained by AFM, and adhesion force of the cell membrane were measured by acquiring force–distance curves. The results indicated that the cell volume increased with the increases of activation time, whereas membrane surface adhesion force decreased, even though the local stiffness for resting and activated cells is similar. The results provided complementary and important data to further understand the variation of biophysical properties of T lymphocytes in the context of in vitro activation
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