205 research outputs found
Detrimental effects of tropisetron on permanent ischemic stroke in the rat
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recent <it>in vitro </it>evidence indicates that blockade of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor 3 (5-HT<sub>3</sub>) is able to confer protection in different models of neuronal injury. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of tropisetron, a 5-HT<sub>3 </sub>receptor antagonist, on infarct size and neurological score in a model of ischemic stroke induced by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) in the rat.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two different doses of tropisetron (5 and 10 mg/kg) or vehicle were administered intraperitoneally 30 min before pMCAO. Neurological deficit scores, mortality rate and infarct volume were determined 24 h after permanent focal cerebral ischemia.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Tropisetron failed to reduce cerebral infarction. Animals receiving tropisetron showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in neurological deficits and mortality rate.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Data from this study indicate that blockade of 5-HT<sub>3 </sub>receptors with tropisetron worsens ischemic brain injury induced by pMCAO. These findings could have important clinical implications. Patients taking tropisetron, and possibly other 5-HT<sub>3 </sub>antagonists, could potentially have a worse outcome following a brain infarct.</p
Measurement of the ratio of branching fractions BR(B0 -> K*0 gamma)/BR(Bs0 -> phi gamma)
The ratio of branching fractions of the radiative B decays B0 -> K*0 gamma
and Bs0 -> phi gamma has been measured using 0.37 fb-1 of pp collisions at a
centre of mass energy of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV, collected by the LHCb experiment. The
value obtained is BR(B0 -> K*0 gamma)/BR(Bs0 -> phi gamma) = 1.12 +/- 0.08
^{+0.06}_{-0.04} ^{+0.09}_{-0.08}, where the first uncertainty is statistical,
the second systematic and the third is associated to the ratio of fragmentation
fractions fs/fd. Using the world average for BR(B0 -> K*0 gamma) = (4.33 +/-
0.15) x 10^{-5}, the branching fraction BR(Bs0 -> phi gamma) is measured to be
(3.9 +/- 0.5) x 10^{-5}, which is the most precise measurement to date.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure, 2 table
Observation of resonances consistent with pentaquark states in decays
Observations of exotic structures in the channel, that we refer to
as pentaquark-charmonium states, in decays are
presented. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 3/fb
acquired with the LHCb detector from 7 and 8 TeV pp collisions. An amplitude
analysis is performed on the three-body final-state that reproduces the
two-body mass and angular distributions. To obtain a satisfactory fit of the
structures seen in the mass spectrum, it is necessary to include two
Breit-Wigner amplitudes that each describe a resonant state. The significance
of each of these resonances is more than 9 standard deviations. One has a mass
of MeV and a width of MeV, while the second
is narrower, with a mass of MeV and a width of MeV. The preferred assignments are of opposite parity, with one
state having spin 3/2 and the other 5/2.Comment: 48 pages, 18 figures including the supplementary material, v2 after
referee's comments, now 19 figure
Precise measurements of the properties of the B-1(5721)(0,+) and B-2*(5747)(0,+) states and observation of B-+,B-0 pi(-,+) mass structures
Invariant mass distributions of B+Ïâ and B0Ï+ combinations are investigated in order to study excited B mesons. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to 3.0 fbâ1 of pp collision data, recorded by the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. Precise measurements of the masses and widths of the B1(5721)0,+ and B2(5747)0,+ states are reported. Clear enhancements, particularly prominent at high pion transverse momentum, are seen over background in the mass range 5850-6000 MeV in both B+Ïâ and B0Ï+ combinations. The structures are consistent with the presence of four excited B mesons, labelled BJ (5840)0,+ and BJ (5960)0,+, whose masses and widths are obtained under different hypotheses for their quantum numbers
Extending the Implicit Association Test (IAT): Assessing Consumer Attitudes Based on Multi-Dimensional Implicit Associations
Background: The authors present a procedural extension of the popular Implicit Association Test (IAT; [1]) that allows for indirect measurement of attitudes on multiple dimensions (e.g., safeâunsafe; youngâold; innovativeâconventional, etc.) rather than on a single evaluative dimension only (e.g., goodâbad). Methodology/Principal Findings: In two within-subjects studies, attitudes toward three automobile brands were measured on six attribute dimensions. Emphasis was placed on evaluating the methodological appropriateness of the new procedure, providing strong evidence for its reliability, validity, and sensitivity. Conclusions/Significance: This new procedure yields detailed information on the multifaceted nature of brand associations that can add up to a more abstract overall attitude. Just as the IAT, its multi-dimensional extension/application (dubbed md-IAT) is suited for reliably measuring attitudes consumers may not be consciously aware of, able to express, or willing to share with the researcher [2,3].Product Innovation ManagementIndustrial Design Engineerin
Differential branching fractions and isospin asymmetries of B -> K ((*)) Ό(+) Ό(-) decays
The isospin asymmetries of B -> K Ό(+) Ό(-) and B -> K (*) Ό(+) Ό(-) decays and the partial branching fractions of the B (0) -> K (0) Ό(+) Ό(-), B (+) -> K (+) Ό(+) Ό(-) and B (+) -> K (*+) Ό(+) Ό(-) decays are measured as functions of the dimuon mass squared, q (2). The data used correspond to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1) from proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7 TeV and 8 TeV in 2011 and 2012, respectively. The isospin asymmetries are both consistent with the Standard Model expectations. The three measured branching fractions favour lower values than their respective theoretical predictions, however they are all individually consistent with the Standard Model
Searches for Majorana neutrinos in B- decays
Searches for heavy Majorana neutrinos in B- decays in final states containing
hadrons plus a \mu- \mu- pair have been performed using 0.41/fb of data
collected with the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions at a
center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. The D+ \mu- \mu- and D*+ \mu- \mu- final states
can arise from the presence of virtual Majorana neutrinos of any mass. Other
final states containing \pi+, Ds+, or D0\pi+ can be mediated by an on-shell
Majorana neutrino. No signals are found and upper limits are set on Majorana
neutrino production as a function of mass, and also on the B- decay branching
fractions.Comment: 18 pages, 15 figure
Measurement of the Îb0, Îb-, and Ωb- Baryon Masses
Bottom baryons decaying to a J/Ï meson and a hyperon are reconstructed using 1.0ââfb-1 of data collected in 2011 with the LHCb detector. Significant Îb0âJ/ÏÎ, Îb-âJ/ÏÎ- and Ωb-âJ/ÏΩ- signals are observed and the corresponding masses are measured to be M(Îb0)=5619.53±0.13(stat.)±0.45(syst.)ââMeV/c2, M(Îb-)=5795.8±0.9(stat.)±0.4(syst.)ââMeV/c2, M(Ωb-)=6046.0±2.2(stat.)±0.5(syst.)ââMeV/c2, while the differences with respect to the Îb0 mass are M(Îb-)-M(Îb0)=176.2±0.9(stat.)±0.1(syst.)ââMeV/c2, M(Ωb-)-M(Îb0)=426.4±2.2(stat.)±0.4(syst.)ââMeV/c2. These are the most precise mass measurements of the Îb0, Îb- and Ωb- baryons to date. Averaging the above Îb0 mass measurement with that published by LHCb using 35ââpb-1 of data collected in 2010 yields M(Îb0)=5619.44±0.13(stat.)±0.38(syst.)ââMeV/c2
Restricting Glycolysis Preserves T Cell Effector Functions and Augments Checkpoint Therapy
Tumor-derived lactic acid inhibits T and natural killer (NK) cell function and, thereby, tumor immunosurveillance. Here, we report that melanoma patients with high expression of glycolysis-related genes show a worse progression free survival upon anti-PD1 treatment. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac lowers lactate secretion of tumor cells and improves anti-PD1-induced T cell killing in vitro. Surprisingly, diclofenac, but not other NSAIDs, turns out to be a potent inhibitor of the lactate transporters monocarboxylate transporter 1 and 4 and diminishes lactate efflux. Notably, T cell activation, viability, and effector functions are preserved under diclofenac treatment and in a low glucose environment in vitro. Diclofenac, but not aspirin, delays tumor growth and improves the efficacy of checkpoint therapy in vivo. Moreover, genetic suppression of glycolysis in tumor cells strongly improves checkpoint therapy. These findings support the rationale for targeting glycolysis in patients with high glycolytic tumors together with checkpoint inhibitors in clinical trials
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