The Response of CMS Combined Calorimeters to Single Hadrons, Electrons and Muons

We report on the response of the combined CMS electromagnetic (EB) and hadronic barrel (HB) calorimeters to hadrons, electrons and muons in a wide momentum range from 1 to 350 GeV/c. To our knowledge, this is the widest range of momenta in which any calorimeter system is studied. These tests, carried out at the H2 beam-line at CERN, provide a wealth of information, especially at low energies. We analyze in detail the differences in total calorimeter response to charged pions, kaons, protons and antiprotons and discuss the underlying phenomena. These data will play a crucial role in the thorough understanding of jets in CMS

Nuclear Factor Erythroid-Derived 2-Like 2-Induced Reductive Stress Favors Self-Renewal of Breast Cancer Stem-Like Cells via the FoxO3a-Bmi-1 Axis

Aims: A subpopulation of cancer cells, termed cancer stem cells (CSCs), has stemness properties, such as self-renewal and differentiation, which drive cancer recurrence and tumor resistance. CSCs possess enhanced protection capabilities to maintain reduced intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared with nonstem-like cancer cells. This study investigated whether reductive stress could regulate self-renewal activity in breast CSCs. Results: We found that manifestation of stemness in breast cancer stem-like cells was associated with an elevated production of reduced glutathione (GSH) maintained by upregulation of glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) and consequently, lowered ROS levels. This was accompanied by upregulation of phospho-AMP-activated protein kinase, FoxO3a, and Bmi-1. Notably, expression of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2) protein was substantially increased in cells undergoing sphere formation. We noticed that expression of Bmi-1 was inhibited after introduction of Nrf2 short interfering RNA into MCF-7 mammosphere cells. Silencing of Nrf2 expression suppressed the xenograft growth of subcutaneously or orthotopically injected human breast cancer cells. Innovation: Association between Nrf2 and self-renewal signaling in CSCs has been reported, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unresolved. This study demonstrates the Nrf2-mediated signaling pathway in maintenance of reductive stress in breast CSCs. Conclusion: Nrf2 overactivation in breast CSCs upregulates GCLC expression and consequently enhances GSH biosynthesis with concurrent reduction in intracellular ROS accumulation, thereby provoking the reductive stress. The consequent upregulation of nuclear FoxO3a and its binding to the promoter of the gene encoding Bmi-1 account for the self-renewal activity of breast cancer stem-like cells and their growth in a xenograft mouse model.

Electroencephalography characteristics related to risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy in patients with Dravet syndrome

ObjectiveTo investigate the quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) features associated with a high risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) in patients with Dravet syndrome (DS).MethodsPatients with DS and healthy controls (HCs) who underwent EEG were included in the study. EEG signals were recorded using a 21 channel digital EEG system, and pre-processed data were analyzed to identify quantitative EEG features associated with a high SUDEP risk. To assess the risk of SUDEP, SUDEP-7 scores were used.ResultsA total of 64 patients with DS [38 males and 26 females, aged: 128.51 ± 75.50 months (range: 23–380 months)], and 13 HCs [7 males and 6 females, aged: 95.46 ± 86.48 months (range: 13–263 months)] were included. For the absolute band power, the theta power was significantly higher in the high-SUDEP group than in the low-SUDEP group in the central brain region. For the relative band power, the theta power was also significantly higher in the high-SUDEP group than in the low-SUDEP group in the central and occipital brain regions. The alpha power was significantly lower in the high-SUDEP group than in the low-SUDEP group in the central and parietal brain regions.ConclusionPatients with high SUDEP-7 scores have different EEG features from those with low SUDEP-7 scores, suggesting that EEG may be used as a biomarker of SUDEP in DS.SignificanceEarly intervention in patients with DS at a high risk of SUDEP can reduce mortality and morbidity. Patients with high theta band powers warrant high-level supervision

Risk Factors for Posterior Cage Migration after Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery

Study DesignA retrospective clinical case series.PurposeTo determine the strength of association between cage retropulsion and its related factors.Overview of LiteratureLumbar interbody fusion with cage can obtain a firm union and can restore the disc height with normal sagittal and coronal alignment. Although lumbar interbody fusion procedures have satisfactory clinical outcomes, peri- and postoperative complications regarding the cage remain challenging.MethodsFrom January 2006 to June 2016, 1,047 patients with lumbar degenerative disc disease who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion or transforaminal interbody fusion at Gyeongsang National University Hospital were enrolled. Medical records and pre- and postoperative radiographs were reviewed to identify significant cage retropulsion-related factors. The associations between cage retropulsion with various risk factors were evaluated by calculating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using multiple logistic regression analysis.ResultsOf 1,229 disc levels, 16 cases (1.3%, 10 men and 6 women) had cage retropulsion. Univariate analysis revealed no significant differences between the cage retropulsion group and the no cage retropulsion group with regard to demographic data such as age, sex, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), smoking habits, presence of osteoporosis, and duration of follow-up. Multivariate analysis revealed that low BMI (OR, 0.875; 95% CI, 0.771–0.994; p=0.040), presence of screw loosening (OR, 27.400; 95% CI, 7.818–96.033; p<0.001), and pear-shaped disc (OR, 9.158; 95% CI, 2.455–34.160; p=0.001) were significantly associated with cage retropulsion.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that low BMI, loosening of posterior instrumentation, and pear-shaped disc were associated with cage retropulsion after lumbar interbody fusion. Therefore, when performing lumbar interbody fusion with a cage, surgeons should have skillful surgical techniques for firm fixation to prevent cage retropulsion, particularly in non-obese patients

Prevalence of Bartonella henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae in cats and dogs in Korea

Blood, saliva, and nail samples were collected from 54 dogs and 151 cats and analyzed for the presence of Bartonella henselae with a novel nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Bartonella (B.) henselae was detected in feral cat blood (41.8%), saliva (44.1%), and nail (42.7%) samples. B. henselae was also detected in pet cat blood (33.3%), saliva (43.5%), and nail (29.5%) samples and in pet dog blood (16.6%), saliva (18.5%), and nail (29.6%) samples. Nine samples were infected with B. clarridgeiae and 2 were co-infected with B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae of blood samples of dogs. This report is the first to investigate the prevalence of B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae in dogs and cats in Korea, and suggests that dogs and cats may serve as potential Bartonella reservoirs

An Energy-Efficient Algorithm for Classification of Fall Types Using a Wearable Sensor

Objective: To mitigate damage from falls, it is essential to provide medical attention expeditiously. Many previous studies have focused on detecting falls and have shown that falls can be accurately detected at least in a laboratory setting. However, a very few studies have classified the different types of falls. To this end, in this paper, a novel energy-efficient algorithm that can discriminate the five most common fall types was developed for wearable systems. Methods: A wearable system with an inertial measurement unit sensor was first developed. Then, our novel algorithm, temporal signal angle measurement (TSAM), was used to classify the different types of falls at various sampling frequencies, and the results were compared with those from three different machine learning algorithms. Results: The overall performance of the TSAM and that of the machine learning algorithms were similar. However, the TSAM outperformed the machine learning algorithms at frequencies in the range of 10-20 Hz. As the sampling frequency dropped from 200 to 10Hz, the accuracy of the TSAM ranged from 93.3% to 91.8%. The sensitivity and specificity ranges from 93.3% to 91.8%, and 98.3% to 97.9%, respectively for the same frequency range. Conclusion: Our algorithm can be utilized with energy-efficient wearable devices at low sampling frequencies to classify different types of falls. Significance: Our system can expedite medical assistance in emergency situations caused by falls by providing the necessary information to medical doctors or clinicians.1