Study of J/psi decays to Lambda Lambdabar and Sigma0 Sigma0bar

The branching ratios and Angular distributions for J/psi decays to Lambda Lambdabar and Sigma0 Sigma0bar are measured using BESII 58 million J/psi.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory

The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory is a second generation water Cherenkov detector designed to determine whether the currently observed solar neutrino deficit is a result of neutrino oscillations. The detector is unique in its use of D2O as a detection medium, permitting it to make a solar model-independent test of the neutrino oscillation hypothesis by comparison of the charged- and neutral-current interaction rates. In this paper the physical properties, construction, and preliminary operation of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory are described. Data and predicted operating parameters are provided whenever possible.Comment: 58 pages, 12 figures, submitted to Nucl. Inst. Meth. Uses elsart and epsf style files. For additional information about SNO see http://www.sno.phy.queensu.ca . This version has some new reference

Genetic Variation of Bordetella pertussis in Austria

Contains fulltext : 155346.PDF (publisher's version ) (Open Access)In Austria, vaccination coverage against Bordetella pertussis infections during infancy is estimated at around 90%. Within the last years, however, the number of pertussis cases has increased steadily, not only in children but also in adolescents and adults, indicating both insufficient herd immunity and vaccine coverage. Waning immunity in the host and/or adaptation of the bacterium to the immunised hosts could contribute to the observed re-emergence of pertussis. In this study we therefore addressed the genetic variability in B. pertussis strains from several Austrian cities. Between the years 2002 and 2008, 110 samples were collected from Vienna (n = 32), Linz (n = 63) and Graz (n = 15) by nasopharyngeal swabs. DNA was extracted from the swabs, and bacterial sequence polymorphisms were examined by MLVA (multiple-locus variable number of tandem repeat analysis) (n = 77), by PCR amplification and conventional Sanger sequencing of the polymorphic regions of the prn (pertactin) gene (n = 110), and by amplification refractory mutation system quantitative PCR (ARMS-qPCR) (n = 110) to directly address polymorphisms in the genes encoding two pertussis toxin subunits (ptxA and ptxB), a fimbrial adhesin (fimD), tracheal colonisation factor (tcfA), and the virulence sensor protein (bvgS). Finally, the ptxP promoter region was screened by ARMS-qPCR for the presence of the ptxP3 allele, which has been associated with elevated production of pertussis toxin. The MLVA analysis revealed the highest level of polymorphisms with an absence of MLVA Type 29, which is found outside Austria. Only Prn subtypes Prn1/7, Prn2 and Prn3 were found with a predominance of the non-vaccine type Prn2. The analysis of the ptxA, ptxB, fimD, tcfA and bvgS polymorphisms showed a genotype mixed between the vaccine strain Tohama I and a clinical isolate from 2006 (L517). The major part of the samples (93%) displayed the ptxP3 allele. The consequences for the vaccination strategy are discussed

PET/CT imaging of integrin αvβ3 expression in human carotid atherosclerosis.

Objectives The goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of [ 18F]Galacto-RGD positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging of αvβ3 expression in human carotid plaques. Background The integrin αvβ3 is expressed by macrophages and angiogenic endothelial cells in atherosclerotic lesions and thus is a marker of plaque inflammation and, potentially, of plaque vulnerability. [ 18F]Galacto-RGD is a PET tracer binding specifically to αvβ3. Therefore, [18F]Galacto-RGD PET/CT imaging of αvβ3 expression in human carotid plaques might provide a novel noninvasive biomarker of plaque vulnerability. Methods [18F]Galacto- RGD PET/CT imaging was performed in 10 patients with high-grade carotid artery stenosis scheduled for carotid endarterectomy. Tracer uptake was measured in the stenotic areas of the carotid arteries, as well as on the contralateral side, and was corrected for blood pool activity, measured in the distal common carotid artery (target-to-background [TB] ratio). TB ratio was correlated with immunohistochemistry of αvβ3 expression (LM609), macrophage density (CD68), and microvessel density (CD31) of the surgical specimen. In addition, ex vivo autoradiography of the surgical specimen with [18F]Galacto-RGD and competition experiments with an unlabeled αvβ3-specific RGD peptide were performed. Results [18F]Galacto-RGD PET/CT showed significantly higher TB ratios in stenotic areas compared with nonstenotic areas (p = 0.01). TB ratios correlated significantly with αvβ3 expression (R = 0.787, p = 0.026) and intensity of ex vivo autoradiography (R = 0.733, p = 0.038). Binding to atherosclerotic plaques was efficiently blocked in ex vivo competition experiments. A weak-to-moderate correlation was found with macrophage density (R = 0.367, p = 0.299) and microvessel density (R = 0.479, p = 0.176), which did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions [ 18F]Galacto-RGD PET/CT shows specific tracer accumulation in human atherosclerotic carotid plaques, which correlates with αvβ3 expression. Based on these initial data, larger prospective studies are now warranted to evaluate the potential of molecular imaging of αvβ3 expression for assessment of plaque inflammation in patients

Update der S 3-Leitlinie Prophylaxe, Diagnostik und Therapie der Hepatitis-C-Virus(HCV)-Infektion, AWMF-Register-Nr.: 021/012 [Prophylaxis, diagnosis and therapy of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection: the German guidelines on the management of HCV infection]

Die Überarbeitung der 2004 publizierten S3-Leitlinie über „Prophylaxe, Diagnostik und Therapie der Hepatitis-C-Virus(HCV)-Infektion“ wurde vereinbart als Kooperation der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten e. V. (DGVS), der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Pathologie e. V. (DGP), der Gesellschaft für Virologie (GfV), der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische Gastroenterologie und Ernährung (DPGE) sowie des Kompetenznetzes Hepatitis (Hep-Net). Durch die zusätzliche Teilnahme der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Gastroenterologie (ÖGGH) und der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Gastroenterologie (SGG) konnte eine internationale Leitlinie mit Gültigkeit im gesamten deutschen Sprachraum geschaffen werden. Hierzu wurden 7 Leitlinien-Arbeitsgruppen sowie ein Advisory Board gegründet, welche sich aus Vertretern der Fachgesellschaften sowie des Hep-Nets zusammensetzten (●▶ Tab. 1). Fachlich repräsentierten die Mitglieder die Disziplinen Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie, Infektiologie, Virologie, Pathologie, Pädiatrie, Transplantationschirurgie und Epidemiologie. Den Versorgungsstrukturen wurde durch die Beteiligung klinisch tätiger sowie niedergelassener Kollegen Rechnung getragen, die Sicht der Patienten repräsentierte die Patientenorganisation Deutsche Leberhilfe e.V