Current dependent fluctuations in a Bi2_2Sr2_2CuO6+δ_{6+\delta} thin film

The current dependence of the excess conductivity is measured up to $\simeq 3 T_c$ for a Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CuO$_{6+\delta}$ thin film, as a function of doping. It is found to be anomalously sensitive to the transport current and to behave as a universal function of $T/T_c$ in the whole doping range. We discuss these results in the perspective of a granular superconductor with a gapless-like behavior

Upper critical field from normal state fluctuations in Bi2_2Sr2_2CuO6+δ_{6+\delta}

The in-plane magnetoresistance of an epitaxial Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CuO$_{6+\delta}$ thin film was systematically investigated as a function of doping, above $T_c$. The orbital magnetoconductance is used to extract the crossover field line $H_{c2}^*(T)$ in the fluctuation regime. This field is found in good agreement with the upper critical field obtained from resistivity data below $T_c$, and exhibits a similar upward curvature, thus pointing toward the existence of a critical correlation length. The consequences regarding the nature of the resistive transition are discussed

Experience du service de medecine nucleaire sahloul sousse dans la prise en charge des carcinomes differencies de la thyroïde a thyroglobuline elevee.

But : L’objectif de notre travail est de présenter notre expérience dans la prise en charge des cancer différencié de la thyroïde (CDT) à Thyroglobuline (Tg) élevée, tout en identifiant les paramètres modifiant l’efficacité de l’Irathérapie et la valeur seuil de la Tg permettant avec un balayage post thérapeutique négatif de conclure à une rémission.Matériels et méthodes : Il s’agit d’une étude rétrospective portant sur 150 patients opérés pour CDT, suivis entre 1990 et 2006 et présentant une Tg>2ng/ml.Résultats : Il s’agit de 122 femmes et 28 hommes. L’âge moyen était de 52 ans. La Tg ne dépendait pas du type histologique mais il existait une relation statistiquement significative entre la Tg et la taille tumorale, l’atteinte ganglionnaire, l’extension locorégionale, la présence de métastases et le stade TNM. La réponse thérapeutique des CDT avec une Tg élevée dépendait de l’âge des patients, des caractéristiques anatomopathologiques de la tumeur et des valeurs de la Tg.Conclusion : L’efficacité ablative est optimisée par des cures d’iode 131 qui doivent être prolongées tant que la Tg reste élevée. La surveillance à vie, au cours de la quelle on exige des seuils de Tg infèrieurs à 2ng/ml, est nécessaire. Mots clés : Cancers différenciés de la thyroide, Thyroglobuline, Irathérapie, Pronostic, Surveillance.Purpose: The aim of our work is to present our experience in the management of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) with high thyroglobulin (Tg) , to identify parameters changing iodine effectiveness and Tg threshold with negative post treatment scan conclude to remission.Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of 150 patients undergoing CDT, followed between 1990 and 2006 and having a Tg > 2ng/ml .Results: Our study concerns 122 women and 28 men. The average age was 52 years . Tg value does not depend on the histological type but there was a statistically significant relationship between Tg and tumor size, lymph node involvement, locoregional , metastasis and TNM stage . The therapeutic response of CDT with a high Tg was dependent on the age of patients, the pathological characteristics of the tumor and the Tg values ofConclusion: The ablative efficiency is optimized by 131 cures iodine should be extended until the Tg remains high. Monitoring life is necessary and the thresholds Tg below 2ng/ml is required.Keywords: Differentiated thyroid Cancers, Thyroglobulin, Iodine 131, Prediction, Monitoring

Chemokine and Chemokine Receptor Gene Polymorphism in Tunisian Hemodialysis Patients with HCV Infection

Introduction: Our aim was to investigate the possibility of a significant relationship between chemokines and chemokine receptor genes polymorphisms and the spontaneous clearance or the persistence of HCV infection. Methods: A total of 96 hemodialysis (HD) patients infected with HCV were classified into two groups: G1 included 73 patients with persistently positive HCV-RNA and G2 included 23 HD patients who have spontaneously eliminated the virus. The control group consisted of 170 healthy blood donors. All subjects were genotyped for CCR5 Δ32, CCR5 (-59029) A/G, CCR2 (64Ile) and MCP-1(-2518) A/G gene polymorphisms. Results: Our results showed statistically significant increased frequencies of the CCR2 (64Ile) and the (-59029) CCR5 A alleles in patients infected with HCV (22.1% and 35.9%) compared to G1 (24.3% and 40.6%) and compared to controls (14.4% and 20%). We also observed a lower frequency of the MCP-1 G allele and a greater frequency of the CCR5Δ32 variant in G2 (15.2% and 6.5%) compared to G1 (22.6% and 1.4%) that was not statistically significant. However, adjustment for known covariates (age, gender and HCV genotypes) didn’t confirm the results of univariate analysis. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study suggests a possible role for some of the studied chemokines polymorphisms in the spontaneous clearance or persistence of HCV infection in Tunisian population. These results should be further investigated by a prospective cohort studies and large population-based studies.Keywords: Chemokines; Receptors; Hepatitis C virus; Spontaneous Clearance; Polymorphisms

Non linear excess conductivity of Bi2_2Sr2_2Can−1_{n-1}Cun_nO2n+4+x_{2n+4+x} (n = 1,2), thin films

The suppression of excess conductivity with electric field is studied for Bi$_2$Sr$_2$Ca$_{n-1}$Cu$_n$O$_{2n+4+x}$ ($n$ = 1, 2) thin films. A pulse-probe technique is used, which allows for an estimate of the sample temperature. The characteristic electric field for fluctuations suppression is found well below the expected value for all samples. For the $n=1$ material, a scaling of the excess conductivity with electric field and temperature is obtained, similar to the scaling under strong magnetic field

Facteurs predictifs de l’efficacite ablative de l’iode 131 dans les cancers differencies de la thyroïde

La prise en charge des cancers différenciés de la thyroïde (CDT) comporte souvent une radiothérapie métabolique à l’iode131 (IRA-thérapie). Le but de ce travail est d’évaluer le caractère prédictif des différents éléments anatomopathologiques, de la classification pTNM et de la stadification pronostique sur l’activité ablative requise d’iode131. Notre travail est une étude analytique rétrospective portant sur 275 cas de CDT ayant subit une thyroïdectomie totale. Tous ces patients ont eu une ou plusieurs activités ablatives. Nous avons cherché – au moyen d’une analyse statistique par test de Khi2 ou test Anova – toute corrélation entre les éléments de l’examen anatomopathologique de la tumeur, la classe pTNM, le stade pronostique correspondant d’une part  et l’efficacité de l’irathérapie ablative d’autre part. Dans notre série, une activité ablative plus élevée est nécessaire lorsque la taille du foyer tumoral dépasse les 6 cm (p=0,012), en cas de dépassement de la graisse péri thyroïdienne (

Comparative Study of Human and Automated Screening for Antinuclear Antibodies by Immunofluorescence on HEp-2 Cells

Background: Several automated systems had been developed in order to reduce inter-observer variability in indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) interpretation. We aimed to evaluate the performance of a processing system in antinuclear antibodies (ANA) screening on HEp-2 cells. Patients and Methods: This study included 64 ANA-positive sera and 107 ANA-negative sera that underwent IIF on two commercial kits of HEp-2 cells (BioSystems® and Euroimmun®). IIF results were compared with a novel automated interpretation system, the “CyclopusCADImmuno®” (CAD). Results: All ANA-positive sera images were recognized as positive by CAD (sensitivity = 100%), while 17 (15.9%) of the ANA-negative sera images were interpreted as positive (specificity = 84.1%), =0.799 (SD=0.045). Comparison of IIF pattern determination between human and CAD system revealed on HEp-2 (BioSystems®), a complete concordance in 6 (9.37%) sera, a partial concordance (sharing of at least 1 pattern) in 42 (65.6%) cases and in 16 (25%) sera the pattern interpretation was discordant. Similarly, on HEp-2 (Euroimmun®) the concordance in pattern interpretation was total in 5 (7.8%) sera, partial in 39 (60.9%) and absent in 20 (31.25%). For both tested HEp-2 cells kits agreement was enhanced for the most common patterns, homogenous, fine speckled and coarse speckled. While there was an issue in identification of nucleolar, dots and nuclear membranous patterns by CAD. Conclusion: Assessment of ANA by IIF on HEp-2 cells using the automated interpretation system, the “CyclopusCADImmuno®” is a reliable method for positive/negative differentiation. Continuous integration of IIF images would improve the pattern identification by the CAD

Study of the B +→ J / ψ Λ ¯ p decay in proton-proton collisions at √s = 8 TeV

A study of the B +→ J / ψ Λ ¯ p decay using proton-proton collision data collected at s = 8 TeV by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.6 fb−1, is presented. The ratio of branching fractions B(B+→J/ψΛ¯p)/B(B+→J/ψK∗(892)+) is measured to be (1.054 ± 0.057(stat) ± 0.035(syst) ± 0.011(B))%, where the last uncertainty reflects the uncertainties in the world-average branching fractions of Λ ¯ and K*(892) + decays to reconstructed final states. The invariant mass distributions of the J / ψ Λ ¯ , J/ψp, and Λ ¯ p systems produced in the B +→ J / ψ Λ¯ p decay are investigated and found to be inconsistent with the pure phase space hypothesis. The analysis is extended by using a model-independent angular amplitude analysis, which shows that the observed invariant mass distributions are consistent with the contributions from excited kaons decaying to the Λ ¯ p system. [Figure not available: see fulltext.