Feasibility of 3-dimensional sampling perfection with application optimized contrast sequence in the evaluation of patients with hydrocephalus

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and additive value of T2W 3-dimensional sampling perfection with application optimized contrast (3D-SPACE) with variant flip-angle mode in imaging of all types of hydrocephalus. Our secondary objective was to assess the reliability of 3D-SPACE sequence and correspondence of the results with phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI)-based data. Materials and Methods Forty-one patients with hydrocephalus have undergone 3-T MRI. T2W 3D-SPACE sequence has been obtained in addition to routine hydrocephalus protocol. Cerebrospinal fluid circulation, presence/type/etiology of hydrocephalus, obstruction level scores, and diagnostic levels of confidence were evaluated separately by 2 radiologists. In the first session, routine sequences with PC-MRI were evaluated, and in another session, only 3D-SPACE and 3-dimensional magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo sequences were evaluated. Results obtained in these sessions were compared with each other and those obtained in consensus session. Results Agreement values were very good for both 3D-SPACE and PC-MRI sequences (P < 0.001 for all). Also, the correlation of more experienced reader's 3D-SPACE-based scores and consensus-based scores was perfect (κ = 1, P < 0.001).The mean value of PC-MRI-based confidence scores were lower than those obtained in 3D-SPACE and consensus sessions. Conclusions T2W 3D-SPACE sequence provides morphologic cerebrospinal fluid flow data. It is a noninvasive technique providing extensive multiplanar reformatted images with a lower specific absorption rate. These advantages over PC-MRI make 3D-SPACE sequence a promising tool in management of patients with hydrocephalus. © 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc

Pax5 loss imposes a reversible differentiation block in B-progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Loss-of-function mutations in hematopoietic transcription factors including PAX5 occur in most cases of B-progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), a disease characterized by the accumulation of undifferentiated lymphoblasts. Although PAX5 mutation is a critical driver of B-ALL development in mice and humans, it remains unclear how its loss contributes to leukemogenesis and whether ongoing PAX5 deficiency is required for B-ALL maintenance. Here we used transgenic RNAi to reversibly suppress endogenous Pax5 expression in the hematopoietic compartment of mice, which cooperates with activated signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) to induce B-ALL. In this model, restoring endogenous Pax5 expression in established B-ALL triggers immunophenotypic maturation and durable disease remission by engaging a transcriptional program reminiscent of normal B-cell differentiation. Notably, even brief Pax5 restoration in B-ALL cells causes rapid cell cycle exit and disables their leukemia-initiating capacity. These and similar findings in human B-ALL cell lines establish that Pax5 hypomorphism promotes B-ALL self-renewal by impairing a differentiation program that can be re-engaged despite the presence of additional oncogenic lesions. Our results establish a causal relationship between the hallmark genetic and phenotypic features of B-ALL and suggest that engaging the latent differentiation potential of B-ALL cells may provide new therapeutic entry points.Grace J. Liu, Luisa Cimmino, Julian G. Jude, Yifang Hu, Matthew T. Witkowski, Mark D. McKenzie, Mutlu Kartal-Kaess, Sarah A. Best, Laura Tuohey, Yang Liao, Wei Shi, Charles G. Mullighan, Michael A. Farrar, Stephen L. Nutt, Gordon K. Smyth, Johannes Zuber, and Ross A. Dickin

Fiziksel şiddet gören kadınlarda ortopedik Travmalar ve şiddete uğrayan kadınların şiddet Algısının toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği kavramı Açısından uygulamalı bir örneği,

Gelişmiş ve gelişmekte olan birçok dünya ülkesinde kadına uygulanan fiziki şiddet artık önüne geçilemez bir hal almıştır. Bugün Türkiye’de her 100 kadından 97’si eşinden, kardeşinden, babasından, yakınından ve hatta kendi çocuğundan şiddet görmektedir. Kadına yönelik şiddet sadece fiziksel şiddetle sınırlı değildir; sözel, psikolojik, cinsel, ekonomik ve sosyal şiddet türleri de bulunmaktadır. Türkiye’de şiddetin en önemli nedeni, kadın ve erkeğin pek çok alanda eşit fırsatlara sahip olması anlamına gelen toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği kavramına gereken önemin verilmemesi ve toplumun her katmanında ataerkil erkek egemen bir bakış açısının hakim olmasıdır. Bu bağlamda fiziksel şiddete maruz kalan kadınlarda ortaya çıkan ortopedik travmalar ve şiddet algısının toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği kavramı bakımından değerlendirilmesi ve bazı değişkenler açısından irdelenmesi çalışmanın amacını oluşturmaktadır. Araştırma yaklaşık olarak 9 ay sürmüştür. Araştırma kapsamında özellikle şiddete maruz kalan kadınlarda ortaya çıkan travmalar üzerinde çalışmalar gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmaya şiddete maruz kalan toplam (N=1254) kadın katılım sağlamıştır. Araştırmada 5’li likert ölçekten oluşan bir anket uygulanmıştır. Kullanılan anket iki bölümden oluşmaktadır. Birinci bölüm katılımcıların demografik özelliklerinin belirlenmesine yönelik sorulardan oluşmaktadır. İkinci bölümde ise 5’li likert ölçekten oluşan sorular yer almaktadır. Genel araştırma sonucunda güvenirlilik analizi Cronbach Alfa sonucunda ise 0.916 kat sayısı elde edilmiştir. Ayrıca uygulamada frekans tabloları, betimleyici istatistikler, bağımsız örneklem, t testi, pearson korelasyon analizi, tek yönlü varyans analizi ve Tukey testlerinden de faydalanılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda araştırmaya katılan şiddet mağduru kadınların büyük çoğunluğunun eğitim seviyesinin düşük olduğu görülmüştür. Birçoğunun ekonomik özgürlüğünün olmadığı, coğrafi yaşam koşullarının ise oldukça kötü olduğu belirlenmiştir. Yine şiddet mağduru olan kadınların fiziksel olarak ciddi travmalar yaşadığı, ortopedik açıdan kısa ve uzun vadeli tedavi gördüğü saptanmıştır. Katılımcıların büyük çoğunluğunun fiziki şiddet nedeniyle ortaya çıkan kalıcı ortopedik ya da sağlık açısından sorun yaratan tıbbi sorunlar yaşadığı gözlenmiştir. Bu nedenle şiddetin daha çok fiziksel açıdan uygulandığı gözlenmiştir. Ayrıca katılımcıların çoğunun iyi eğitim almalarına rağmen kendilerine uygulanan şiddete boyun eğdikleri ve uğradıkları şiddeti dile getiremedikleri için fiziksel şiddet nedeniyle ciddi travmalar yaşadıkları sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Bu bulgu da toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği kavramının henüz tam olarak kavranamadığının bir göstergesi niteliğindedir

Dilemmas on emicizumab in children with haemophilia A: A survey of strategies from PedNet centres.

INTRODUCTION Haemophilia A care has changed with the introduction of emicizumab. Experience on the youngest children is still scarce and clinical practice varies between haemophilia treatment centres. AIM We aimed to assess the current clinical practice on emicizumab prophylaxis within PedNet, a collaborative research platform for paediatricians treating children with haemophilia. METHODS An electronic survey was sent to all PedNet members (n = 32) between October 2022 and February 2023. The survey included questions on the availability of emicizumab, on the practice of initiating prophylaxis in previously untreated or minimally treated patients (PUPs or MTPs) and emicizumab use in patients with or without inhibitors. RESULTS All but four centres (28/32; 88%) responded. Emicizumab was available in clinical practice in 25/28 centres (89%), and in 3/28 for selected patients only (e.g. with inhibitors). Emicizumab was the preferred choice for prophylaxis in PUPs or MTPs in 20/25 centres; most (85%) started emicizumab prophylaxis before 1 year of age (30% before 6 months of age) and without concomitant FVIII (16/20; 80%). After the loading dose, 13/28 centres administered the recommended dosing, while the others adjusted the interval of injections to give whole vials. In inhibitor patients, the use of emicizumab during ITI was common, with low-dose ITI being the preferred protocol. CONCLUSION Most centres choose to initiate prophylaxis with emicizumab before 12 months of age and without concomitant FVIII. In inhibitor patients, ITI is mostly given in addition to emicizumab, but there was no common practice on how to proceed after successful ITI

Comparative analysis of the semileptonic Λb→Λℓ+ℓ−\Lambda_b \rightarrow \Lambda \ell^+ \ell^- transition in SM and different SUSY scenarios using form factors from full QCD

We work out the semileptonic $\Lambda_b\rightarrow \Lambda \ell^+ \ell^-$ transition in standard as well as different supersymmetric models. In particular, considering the parametrization of the matrix elements entered the low energy effective Hamiltonian in terms of form factors in full QCD, we calculate the amplitude and differential decay rate responsible for this decay channel in supersymmetric models. We then use the form factors calculated via light cone QCD sum rules in full theory to analyze the differential branching ratio and lepton forward-backward asymmetry of this decay channel in different supersymmetric models and compare the obtained results with those of the standard model. We also discuss how the results of different supersymmetric models deviate from the standard model predictions and which SUSY scenarios are favored.Comment: 23 Pages, 8 Figures and 11 Table

Inclusive Search for Anomalous Production of High-pT Like-Sign Lepton Pairs in Proton-Antiproton Collisions at sqrt{s}=1.8 TeV

We report on a search for anomalous production of events with at least two charged, isolated, like-sign leptons with pT > 11 GeV/c using a 107 pb^-1 sample of 1.8 TeV ppbar collisions collected by the CDF detector. We define a signal region containing low background from Standard Model processes. To avoid bias, we fix the final cuts before examining the event yield in the signal region using control regions to test the Monte Carlo predictions. We observe no events in the signal region, consistent with an expectation of 0.63^(+0.84)_(-0.07) events. We present 95% confidence level limits on new physics processes in both a signature-based context as well as within a representative minimal supergravity (tanbeta = 3) model.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures. Minor textual changes, cosmetic improvements to figures and updated and expanded reference

Measurement of the Strong Coupling Constant from Inclusive Jet Production at the Tevatron pˉp\bar pp Collider

We report a measurement of the strong coupling constant, $\alpha_s(M_Z)$, extracted from inclusive jet production in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=$1800 GeV. The QCD prediction for the evolution of $\alpha_s$ with jet transverse energy $E_T$ is tested over the range 40<$E_T$<450 GeV using $E_T$ for the renormalization scale. The data show good agreement with QCD in the region below 250 GeV. In the text we discuss the data-theory comparison in the region from 250 to 450 GeV. The value of $\alpha_s$ at the mass of the $Z^0$ boson averaged over the range 40<$E_T$<250 GeV is found to be $\alpha_s(M_{Z})= 0.1178 \pm 0.0001{(\rm stat)}^{+0.0081}_{-0.0095}{\rm (exp. syst)}$. The associated theoretical uncertainties are mainly due to the choice of renormalization scale (^{+6%}_{-4%}) and input parton distribution functions (5%).Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, using RevTeX. Submitted to Physical Review Letter

Measurement of WγW\gamma and ZγZ\gamma Production in ppˉp\bar{p} Collisions at s\sqrt{s} = 1.96 TeV

The Standard Model predictions for $W\gamma$ and $Z\gamma$ production are tested using an integrated luminosity of 200 pb$^{-1}$ of \ppbar collision data collected at the Collider Detector at Fermilab. The cross sections are measured selecting leptonic decays of the $W$ and $Z$ bosons, and photons with transverse energy $E_T>7$ GeV that are well separated from leptons. The production cross sections and kinematic distributions for the $W\gamma$ and $Z\gamma$ are compared to SM predictions.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, submitted to PR