The Effect of Shadowing on Initial Conditions, Transverse Energy and Hard Probes in Ultrarelativistic Heavy Ion Collisions

The effect of shadowing on the early state of ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions is investigated along with transverse energy and hard process production, specifically Drell-Yan, $J/\psi$, and $\Upsilon$ production. We choose several parton distributions and parameterizations of nuclear shadowing, as well as the spatial dependence of shadowing, to study the influence of shadowing on relevant observables. Results are presented for Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200$ GeV and Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.5$ TeV.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Comparison of the high energy models for neutral meson photoproduction and the related hadronic processes

To critically compare the Michigan and Argonne models we perform simultaneus fits to the high-energy data for [pi]0 and [nu] photoproduction together with that for the related hadronic vector meson production reactions, in particular that for [pi]+n --> [omega]p. Thus all constraints on these models are considered simultaneously. Particular attention is given to the strength of absoptive cuts in both models, and to the role of the B-meson exchange in filling dips in the Argonne model. We find that the [varrho]-Pomeron cuts (i.e. cuts associated with large helicity flip at the N vertex) are essential to introducing unnatural parity exchange in the Michigan model, and that the B-meson contribution is incapable of filling unwanted dips which appear in any model with nonsense wrong signature zeros as required by exchange degeneracy. The flip and non-flip [varrho] and [omega] coupling strengths at the N vertex are determined. Predictions are made for various polarization asymmetries for [gamma]p --> [pi]0p and [gamma]p --> [eta]p. The differential cross section for KL0p --> KS0p is calculated and compared with the existing data.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/33569/1/0000070.pd

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Mycosis on mycosis fungoides : zoophilic dermatophytosis selectively superimposed on pre-existing cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides) plaques

We report a case of tinea corporis caused by a cattle-derived strain of Trichophyton mentagrophytes in a 44-year-old male affected by cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL, so-called mycosis fungoides). Fungal colonization of glabrous skin was strictly confined within pre-existing lymphomatous plaques. Either oral itraconazole or griseofulvin, or topical terbinafine were ineffective until the patient, who was treated with systemic retinoids and interferon-alpha for his CTCL, was shifted from leucocyte to lymphoblastoid interferon. The hypothesis that a local immunodisturbance could be responsible for the selective superimposition of tinea on CTCL lesions ('mycosis on mycosis'), and that such an immunodisturbance could be partially corrected by the interferon switch is discussed

Granulomi anulari disseminati: efficacia della terapia con solfoni

A case of disseminated granuloma annulare in a woman aged 55 is reported. Albeit suffering from hypothyroidism (multinodular goiter), the cutaneous eruption, which had been lasting for 1 year and was unresponsive to systemic corticosteroids and cyclosporin, did not depend on the endocrine disorder itself. Only palmoplantar districts were spared by confluent papulonodular plaques. No other abnormality could be detected. The histological picture was that of diffuse dermal dermatitis with rare foci of palisading granulomatous groupment of round cells. Therapeutic success was achieved through the administration of 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulphone (DDS, Dapsone; 200/day for 10 days, then followed by 100 mg/day for 20 days). After 10 days of DDS treatment, the lesions were almost completely disinfiltrated and cleared. No relapse after a follow-up of 8 months was observed. Clinical and histopathological differential diagnosis of disseminated granuloma annulare, as well as proper treatment options for this puzzling rare condition are discussed, with emphasis on the practical choice of treatments for rare, stubbornly persistent diseases, and the methodology of the evaluations of related clinical results

Laser flow cytofluorimetry in the study of papilloma virus-induced lesions

HPV insertion into the genome can cause permanent changes in cellular DNA that disturb the regulation of cell proliferation. Most HPV-induced epithelial proliferative disease are benign, but not all. We have studied both types of lesion by automated laser flow cytometry to see if there were any permanent changes in the DNA that might serve as reliable prognostic indicators. There were 101 lesions of interest to the dermatologist, stomatologist and gynecologist. Although fluctuations in yields of cells make it difficult to formulate definite conclusions, since many results are heterogeneous and hard to summarize, we found dysplastic and metaplastic lesions always to be hyper- or hypodiploid and to our surprise two cases of common wart were hyperdisploid and another hypodiploid. This present study shows that laser flow cytometry can detect changes in the genome of lesions known to become malignant when the histological degree of transformation still indicates only a preneoplastic condition. This raises the problem of how we should label lesions like common warts, since laser flow cytometry clearly shows that they have net changes, though slight, in DNA content

[Laser flow cytofluorimetry in the study of papilloma virus-induced lesions]

HPV insertion into the genome can cause permanent changes in cellular DNA that disturb the regulation of cell proliferation. Most HPV-induced epithelial proliferative disease are benign, but not all. We have studied both types of lesion by automated laser flow cytometry to see if there were any permanent changes in the DNA that might serve as reliable prognostic indicators. There were 101 lesions of interest to the dermatologist, stomatologist and gynecologist. Although fluctuations in yields of cells make it difficult to formulate definite conclusions, since many results are heterogeneous and hard to summarize, we found dysplastic and metaplastic lesions always to be hyper- or hypodiploid and to our surprise two cases of common wart were hyperdisploid and another hypodiploid. This present study shows that laser flow cytometry can detect changes in the genome of lesions known to become malignant when the histological degree of transformation still indicates only a preneoplastic condition. This raises the problem of how we should label lesions like common warts, since laser flow cytometry clearly shows that they have net changes, though slight, in DNA content

Expression of multidrug resistance proteins P-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance protein 1, breast cancer resistance protein and lung resistance related protein in locally advanced bladder cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy: biological and clinical implications.

PURPOSE: Resistance to chemotherapy is a major obstacle to overcome in the conservative treatment of patients with locally advanced bladder cancer (LABC). We investigated the predictive value of the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and prognosis of the expression of multidrug resistance (MDR) related proteins, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and lung resistance related protein/major vault protein (LRP/MVP) in LABC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry we studied the expression of MDR proteins in tumors from 83 patients with LABC treated with NACT using a bladder sparing approach. Expression was related to the response to NACT, bladder preservation and prognosis. RESULTS: P-gp, MRP1, BCRP and LRP/MVP were expressed at high levels in 53%, 59%, 28% and 70% of cases, respectively. P-gp expression correlated with shorter progression-free survival (p = 0.04) but not with overall survival. Surprisingly MRP1 expression correlated with a higher response (p = 0.005) and a higher probability of bladder preservation following NACT (p = 0.001). BCRP did not show any prognostic impact. High LRP/MVP expression was significantly associated with a worse response to NACT and a decreased probability of bladder preservation (p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that MRP1 and LRP/MVP may be useful in combination with other clinicopathological prognostic factors for selecting patients with LABC to be candidates for bladder preservation after NACT. A large prospective study is warranted to confirm the prognostic value of these MDR proteins