Light Unstable Sterile Neutrino

The three massless active (doublet) neutrinos may mix with two heavy and one \underline {light} sterile (singlet) neutrinos so that the induced masses and mixings among the former are able to explain the present data on atmospheric and solar neutrino oscillations. If the LSND result is also to be explained, one active neutrino mass eigenstate must mix with the light sterile neutrino. A specific model is proposed with the spontaneous and soft explicit breaking of a new global $U(1)_S$ symmetry so that a sterile neutrino will decay into an active antineutrino and a nearly massless pseudo-Majoron.Comment: Discussion and references adde

Effects of melengesterol acetate on inflammatory response during Mannheimia haemolytica challenge

Previous trials conducted at Kansas State University demonstrated that melengesterol acetate (MGA) increased growth rates and tended to reduce chronic sickness in heifers naturally challenged with undifferentiated bovine respiratory disease. Our study was conducted to gain further insight into the mode of action of MGA. Crossbred heifers (n=47; 511 lb) were used to evaluate effects of MGA on lung pathology and markers of inflammation in cattle after an intrabronchial Mannheimia haemolytica challenge. On day 0, cattle were assigned to diets (54% concentrate) that provided 0 or 0.5 mg MGA per heifer daily. On day 14 each heifer was intrabronchially inoculated with M. haemolytica. Blood samples were collected from each heifer immediately before inoculation and 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 138 hours after inoculation. Heifers were then euthanized for postmortem examination. After the challenge, heifers fed MGA had greater numbers of neutrophils and white blood cells, as well as greater serum haptoglobin and fibrinogen concentrations. The incidence of post-challenge lung lesions was greater in heifers fed MGA, and lung lesion scores tended to be more severe in heifers fed MGA, compared with those of controls. These data indicate that MGA does not reduce inflammation in heifers 138 hours after M. haemolytica challenge, suggesting that there are other modes of action for the beneficial effects on growth and reduction of chronicity in feedlot heifers

Adalimumab for the treatment of patients with moderately to severely active psoriatic arthritis: Results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Objective. Adalimumab, a fully human, antitumor necrosis factor monoclonal antibody, was evaluated for its safety and efficacy compared with placebo in the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods. Patients with moderately to severely active PsA and a history of inadequate response to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs were randomized to receive 40 mg adalimumab or placebo subcutaneously every other week for 24 weeks. Study visits were at baseline, weeks 2 and 4, and every 4 weeks thereafter. The primary efficacy end points were the American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement (ACR20) response at week 12 and the change in the modified total Sharp score of structural damage at week 24. Secondary end points were measures of joint disease, disability, and quality of life in all patients, as well as the severity of skin disease in those patients with psoriasis involving at least 3% of body surface area. Results. At week 12, 58% of the adalimumab-treated patients (87 of 151) achieved an ACR20 response, compared with 14% of the placebo-treated patients (23 of 162) (P < 0.001). At week 24, similar ACR20 response rates were maintained and the mean change in the modified total Sharp score was -0.2 in patients receiving adalimumab and 1.0 in those receiving placebo (P < 0.001). Among the 69 adalimumab-treated patients evaluated with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), 59% achieved a 75% PASI improvement response at 24 weeks, compared with 1% of the 69 placebo-treated patients evaluated (P < 0.001). Disability and quality of life measures were also significantly improved with adalimumab treatment compared with placebo. Adalimumab was generally safe and well-tolerated. Conclusion. Adalimumab significantly improved joint and skin manifestations, inhibited structural changes on radiographs, lessened disability due to joint damage, and improved quality of life in patients with moderately to severely active PsA. © 2005, American College of Rheumatology.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe