The Public Repository of Xenografts enables discovery and randomized phase II-like trials in mice

More than 90% of drugs with preclinical activity fail in human trials, largely due to insufficient efficacy. We hypothesized that adequately powered trials of patient-derived xenografts (PDX) in mice could efficiently define therapeutic activity across heterogeneous tumors. To address this hypothesis, we established a large, publicly available repository of well-characterized leukemia and lymphoma PDXs that undergo orthotopic engraftment, called the Public Repository of Xenografts (PRoXe). PRoXe includes all de-identified information relevant to the primary specimens and the PDXs derived from them. Using this repository, we demonstrate that large studies of acute leukemia PDXs that mimic human randomized clinical trials can characterize drug efficacy and generate transcriptional, functional, and proteomic biomarkers in both treatment-naive and relapsed/refractory disease

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-) in seasonal allergic conjunctivitis and vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

PURPOSE: To quantify the presence of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in allergic conjunctivitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tears and peripheral blood samples were collected from patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC, n=6), vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC, n=12), and normal subjects (CT, n=12). From an additional six nonactive allergic patients, tears were collected before and after specific conjunctival allergen challenge (CAC). Upper tarsal conjunctival biopsies were obtained from five CT and five VKC patients. TNF-alpha in tears was measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay and identified in tissues by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Tear TNF-alpha levels in VKC patients were significantly increased compared to CT (p=0.03), and were significantly correlated with the severity of the disease. No differences were found between SAC and CT tear samples. TNF-alpha serum levels were higher in VKC than CT, however, this difference was not statistically significant. After CAC, tear TNF-alpha levels were found increased in only one of six patients. In VKC tissues, TNF-alpha positive cells were significantly increased compared to CT (p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: TNF-alpha may have a significant role in severe forms of allergic conjunctiviti

The HITRAN2020 molecular spectroscopic database

International audienc

The HITRAN2020 molecular spectroscopic database

The HITRAN database is a compilation of molecular spectroscopic parameters. It was established in the early 1970s and is used by various computer codes to predict and simulate the transmission and emission of light in gaseous media (with an emphasis on terrestrial and planetary atmospheres). The HITRAN compilation is composed of five major components: the line-by-line spectroscopic parameters required for high-resolution radiative-transfer codes, experimental infrared absorption cross-sections (for molecules not yet feasible for representation in a line-by-line form), collision-induced absorption data, aerosol indices of refraction, and general tables, including partition sums, that apply globally to the data. This paper describes the contents of the 2020 quadrennial edition of HITRAN. The HITRAN2020 edition takes advantage of recent experimental and theoretical data that were meticulously validated, in particular, against laboratory and atmospheric spectra. The new edition replaces the previous HITRAN edition of 2016 (including its updates during the intervening years). All five components of HITRAN have undergone major updates. In particular, the extent of the updates in the HITRAN2020 edition ranges from updating a few lines of specific molecules to complete replacements of the lists and also the introduction of additional isotopologues and new (to HITRAN) molecules: SO, CH3F, GeH4, CS2, CH3I and NF3. Many new vibrational bands were added, extending the spectral coverage and completeness of the line lists. Also, the accuracy of the parameters for major atmospheric absorbers has been increased substantially, often featuring sub-percent uncertainties. Broadening parameters associated with the water vapor s ambient pressure were introduced to HITRAN for the first time and are available now for several molecules. The HITRAN2020 edition will continue taking advantage of the relational structure and efficient interface available at www.hitran.org and the HITRAN Application Programming Interface (HAPI). The functionality of both tools has been extended for the new edition