Generation of pcdna 3.1+-gh as a recombinant expression vector of ostrich growth hormone cdna in saccharomyces cerevisiae

Growth hormone is essential hormone for vertebrates like the ostrich (Struthio camelus) for growth stimulation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein assimilation etc. Growth hormone is secreted by the pituitary gland and expressed in many cells and tissues. The purpose of this study was generation of pcDNA 3.1+-GH recombinant expression vector in order to sub-clone ostrich growth hormone cDNA into Escherichia coli. In brief, total RNA was extracted from the pituitary gland tissue and cDNA sample was synthesised. The cDNA was amplified by PCR and revealed a 672 bp fragment on 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. Then, the ostrich growth hormone cDNA was extracted from the gel and was cloned into pCR8/GW/TOPO vector by T/A cloning technique to produce pCR8/GW/TOPO-GH. After obtaining the sequence of cDNA of the ostrich in Iran, it was submitted in GenBank (Accession number: JN559394). Finally, the GH cDNA was sub-cloned using pcDNA 3.1+ into Saccharomyces cerevisiae and pcDNA 3.1+-GH recombinant expression vector was generated. The results of present study were showed that ostrich growth hormone cDNA was successfully sub-cloned into Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Therefore, the pcDNA 3.1+-GH recombinant expression vector generated in this study could be useful to express the ostrich growth hormone in yeast cells as a simple and affordable way to produce this hormone at a large scale

Vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers and quantum dot lasers

The use of cavity to manipulate photon emission of quantum dots (QDs) has been opening unprecedented opportunities for realizing quantum functional nanophotonic devices and also quantum information devices. In particular, in the field of semiconductor lasers, QDs were introduced as a superior alternative to quantum wells to suppress the temperature dependence of the threshold current in vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs). In this work, a review of properties and development of semiconductor VECSEL devices and QD laser devices is given. Based on the features of VECSEL devices, the main emphasis is put on the recent development of technological approach on semiconductor QD VECSELs. Then, from the viewpoint of both single QD nanolaser and cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED), a single-QD-cavity system resulting from the strong coupling of QD cavity is presented. A difference of this review from the other existing works on semiconductor VECSEL devices is that we will cover both the fundamental aspects and technological approaches of QD VECSEL devices. And lastly, the presented review here has provided a deep insight into useful guideline for the development of QD VECSEL technology and future quantum functional nanophotonic devices and monolithic photonic integrated circuits (MPhICs).Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:0904.369

Cardioprotective effects of deferoxamine in acute and subacute cardiotoxicities of doxorubicin: a randomized clinical trial

Background: Cardiotoxicity is a major concern following doxorubicin (DOX) use in the treatment of malignancies. We aimed to investigate whether deferoxamine (DFO) can prevent acute cardiotoxicity in children with cancer who were treated with DOX as part of their chemotherapy. Results: Sixty-two newly-diagnosed pediatric cancer patients aged 2–18 years with DOX as part of their treatment regimens were assigned to three groups: group 1 (no intervention, n = 21), group II (Deferoxamine (DFO) 10 times DOX dose, n = 20), and group III (DFO 50 mg/kg, n = 21). Patients in the intervention groups were pretreated with DFO 8-h intravenous infusion in each chemotherapy course during and after completion of DOX infusion. Conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography, serum concentrations of human brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were checked after the last course of chemotherapy. Sixty patients were analyzed. The level of cTnI was < 0.01 in all patients. Serum BNP was significantly lower in group 3 compared to control subjects (P = 0.036). No significant differences were observed in the parameters of Doppler echocardiography. Significant lower values of tissue Doppler late diastolic velocity at the lateral annulus of the tricuspid valve were noticed in group 3 in comparison with controls. By using Pearson analysis, tissue Doppler systolic velocity of the septum showed a marginally significant negative correlation with DOX dose (P = 0.05, r = − 0.308). No adverse effect was reported in the intervention groups. Conclusions: High-dose DFO (50 mg/kg) may serve as a promising cardioprotective agent at least at the molecular level in cancer patients treated with DOX. Further multicenter trials with longer follow-ups are needed to investigate its protective role in delayed DOX-induced cardiac damage. Trial registration IRCT, IRCT2016080615666N5. Registered 6 September 2016

Deferoxamine protective effect in preventing nephrotoxicity in childreunder treatment with doxorubicin: A randomized clinical trial

Background: Nephrotoxicity secondary to doxorubicin (DOX) may be associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. We aimed to assess the efficacy of Deferoxamine (DFO) in preventing DOX-induced nephrotoxicity in pediatric malignancy. Methods: This Parallel-group randomized clinical trial was done on 62 children aged 2-18 years who had new onset malignancy treated with DOX. They were randomly assigned in three groups; group 1 (no intervention, n=21), group II (DFO 10 times DOX dose, n=20), group III (DFO 50mg/kg, n=21). Patients in the intervention groups received DFO concomitant with DOX 8-hour intravenous infusion in each chemotherapy course. Blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, electrolytes, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and albumin levels, urine microalbumin, urine protein/creatinine ratio, and urine N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) as well as findings of kidney ultrasonography were compared between the groups after the last course of chemotherapy. The primary outcome was to compare the radiologic and serologic markers of glomerular and tubular damage between the 3 groups. Results: Sixty patients were analyzed. Patients treated with DFO 10 times the dose of DOX had significantly lower urine NAG level compared to the control group (P=0.032). No significant renal damage was reported in their ultrasonography in the 3 groups. DFO was safely tolerated without any adverse effect. Conclusion: DFO with 10-times the DOX dose may effectively prevent DOX-induced nephrotoxicity at least at the molecular level. Increasing the dose of DFO is not accompanied by better efficacy

Differential phase-diversity electrooptic modulator for cancellation of fiber dispersion and laser noise

Abstract Bandwidth and noise are fundamental considerations in all communication and signal processing systems. The group-velocity dispersion of optical fibers creates nulls in their frequency response, limiting the bandwidth and hence the temporal response of communication and signal processing systems. Intensity noise is often the dominant optical noise source for semiconductor lasers in data communication. In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a class of electrooptic modulators that is capable of mitigating both of these problems. The modulator, fabricated in thin-film lithium niobate, simultaneously achieves phase diversity and differential operations. The former compensates for the fiber’s dispersion penalty, while the latter overcomes intensity noise and other common mode fluctuations. Applications of the so-called four-phase electrooptic modulator in time-stretch data acquisition and in optical communication are demonstrated

Feasibility and Therapeutic Potential of Combined Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy with Intensive Chemotherapy for Pediatric Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Metastatic Neuroblastoma

Background Recent evidence has demonstrated high expression of somatostatin receptors in neuroblastoma (NB) cells. Because of this, we endeavored to evaluate the diagnostic performance and clinical efficacy of 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) using 177Lu-DOTATATE combined with chemotherapy in pediatric NB patients. Patients and Methods In total, 14 pediatric patients with histopathologically confirmed NB underwent 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT. Among them, the patients who were refractory or relapsed after therapy with 131I-MIBG and had intensive uptake of 68Ga-DOTATATE were referred for PRRT using 177Lu-DOTATATE. Treatment response based on follow-up imaging was classified into complete response, partial response, stable disease, and progressive disease. After each cycle of PRRT, laboratory tests were performed for evaluation of hematological, renal, and hepatic toxicities. The CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events; version 4.03) was used for grading adverse event. Curie score and International Society of Pediatric Oncology Europe Neuroblastoma score were used for semiquantitative analysis of scans of patients who underwent PRRT. In addition, overall survival was calculated as the time interval between the date of the first cycle and the end of follow-up or death. Results Overall, 14 refractory NB children including 7 boys and 7 girls with a median age of 5.5 years (ranged from 4 to 9) underwent 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT. PET/CT was positive in 10/14 patients (71.4%), and the median number of detected lesions in positive patients was 2 (range, 1-13). Of 14 patients, 5 patients underwent PRRT, including 3 boys and 2 girls. A total of 19 PRRT cycles and 66.4 GBq 177Lu-DOTATATE were given. Among these 5 patients, 2 showed an initial complete response, which relapsed a few months later, 1 showed a partial response, and 2 showed progressive disease. According to the Kaplan-Meier test, the overall survival was estimated at 14.5 months (95% confidence interval, 8.9-20.1). In evaluation of PRRT-related toxicity according to the CTCAE, 4 patients showed grade 1, and 1 showed grade 2 leukopenia. Two patients showed grade 1, and 2 others showed grade 2 anemia. Two patients showed grade 1, and 3 patients showed grade 2 thrombocytopenia. Serum creatinine in 1 patient increased to grade 1. Conclusions Combination of 177Lu-DOTATATE with chemotherapeutic agents might achieve worthwhile responses with low toxicity, encouraging survival in NB patients who have relapsed or are refractory to conventional therapy, including 131I-MIBG therapy. Imaging with 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT in such patients has a relatively high detection efficacy, demonstrating its potential use as an alternative imaging tool to conventional modalities such as 123I/131I-MIBG. However, further well-designed trials are highly warranted

Guidance Navigation and Control for the Europa Clipper Mission Concept

No abstract availabl

Results of the Guide-2 telescope testbed for the SIM Light Astrometric Observatory

The SIM Lite Astrometric Observatory is to perform narrow angle astrometry to search for Earth-like planets, and global astrometry for a broad astrophysics program, for example, mapping the distribution of dark matter in the Galaxy. The new SIM Lite consists of two Michelson interferometers and one star tracking telescope. The main six-meter baseline science interferometer observes a target star and a set of reference stars. The four-meter baseline interferometer (guide-1) monitors the attitude of the instrument in the direction of a target star. The Guide-2 telescope (G2T) tracks a bright star to monitor the attitude of the instrument in the other two orthogonal directions. A testbed has been built to demonstrate star-tracking capability of the G2T concept using a new interferometric angle metrology system. In the presence of simulated 0.2 arcsecond level of expected spacecraft attitude control system perturbations, the measured star-tracking capability of the G2T testbed system is less than 43 micro-arcsecond during single narrow angle observation