Increased expression of T-helper cell activation markers in peripheral blood of children with atopic asthma

Background: Activated T-helper (CD4) cells have been implicated to contribute to the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. However, the profile of circulating CD4 subsets in relation to disease activity and asthma severity is unclear.Objective: To study the dynamic changes in peripheral blood CD4 cells expressing the activation markers naïve/memory (CD45RA/CD45RO) and interleukin–2 light chain receptor (CD25) in asthmatic children during and after resolution of acute asthma attacks and to determine whether the expression of these activation markers would be of value in monitoring asthma severity and the response to glucocorticoid inhalation.Methods: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 20 asthmatic children aged between 0.5 and 9 years (mean±SD: 4.37±2.37 years) with acute asthma attacks, 10 children with lower respiratory tract infection and 20 healthy, age-matched subjects. CD4 cells expressing CD45RA, CD45RO, CD45RA+RO+ and CD25 were analyzed by dual flow cytometry and serum IgE was measured by ELISA. In asthmatic children, the measurements were repeated after the resolution of acute attacks.Results: During acute asthma attacks, the percentages of CD45RA, CD45RO, CD45RA+RO+ and CD25 were significantly increased as compared to the control group (p<0.05 for CD45RA and <0.0001 for the other 3 subsets). After resolution of asthma attacks, a significant reduction of all subsets was noticed and the percentages of CD45RA and CD45RO decreased to normal values while those of CD45RA+RO+ and CD25 remained significantly higher than the controls (p<0.05 for each marker). Unlike healthy children and patients with acute lower respiratory infections, asthmatic children showed increased CD45RO/CD45RA ratio (>1) and a significant increase of the percentage of CD45RA+RO+. During acute asthma attacks, patients with severe persistent asthma showed the highest percentages of all T- helper subsets when compared to those with moderate or mild persistent asthma. Positive correlations were found between serum IgE levels and both CD45RO and CD25 (r = 0.962, p<0.001 and 0.882, p<0.05 respectively) during acute asthma attacks and these correlations remained significant in remission (r = 0.632, p<0.05 and 0.589, p<0.05 respectively). Glucocorticoid inhalation therapy induced a significant reduction in the percentage of CD45RO, CD45RA+RO+ and CD25.Conclusion: Peripheral blood T-helper cell activation markers are reliable indicators for monitoring disease activity and severity of asthma. The reversed ratio of memory/ naïve T-helper cells together with the presence of a clone of cells co-expressing both naive and memory surface markers feature atopic asthma from acute lower respiratory infections. Glucocorticoid inhalation therapy induces a significant inhibition of peripheral blood T-helper cell activation markers.Key words: Children, atopic asthma, T-helper cell subsets, glucocorticoid inhalation, lower respiratory infections, CD45RO, CD45RA, CD25

Acquired craniomeningocele in an infant with craniosynostosis: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Craniosynostosis can affect the skull in various ways. The most common forms are abnormal skull shape and beaten copper pattern, while Lückenschädel (or lacunar skull) is one of the least common forms.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 3-month-old Caucasian boy with multiple suture craniosynostosis and with acquired craniomeningocele presenting as a bulging mass in the lateral occipital area.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with multiple suture craniosynostosis and acquired craniomeningocele.</p

Vitamin D in the general population of young adults with autism in the Faroe Islands

Vitamin D deficiency has been proposed as a possible risk factor for developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) levels were examined in a cross-sectional population-based study in the Faroe Islands. The case group consisting of a total population cohort of 40 individuals with ASD (aged 15–24 years) had significantly lower 25(OH)D3 than their 62 typically-developing siblings and their 77 parents, and also significantly lower than 40 healthy age and gender matched comparisons. There was a trend for males having lower 25(OH)D3 than females. Effects of age, month/season of birth, IQ, various subcategories of ASD and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule score were also investigated, however, no association was found. The very low 25(OH)D3 in the ASD group suggests some underlying pathogenic mechanism

Search for New Physics in e mu X Data at D0 Using Sleuth: A Quasi-Model-Independent Search Strategy for New Physics

We present a quasi-model-independent search for the physics responsible for electroweak symmetry breaking. We define final states to be studied, and construct a rule that identifies a set of relevant variables for any particular final state. A new algorithm ("Sleuth") searches for regions of excess in those variables and quantifies the significance of any detected excess. After demonstrating the sensitivity of the method, we apply it to the semi-inclusive channel e mu X collected in 108 pb^-1 of ppbar collisions at sqrt(s) = 1.8 TeV at the D0 experiment during 1992-1996 at the Fermilab Tevatron. We find no evidence of new high p_T physics in this sample.Comment: 23 pages, 12 figures. Submitted to Physical Review

Ratio of the Isolated Photon Cross Sections at \sqrt{s} = 630 and 1800 GeV

The inclusive cross section for production of isolated photons has been measured in \pbarp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 630$ GeV with the \D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The photons span a transverse energy ($E_T$) range from 7-49 GeV and have pseudorapidity $|\eta| < 2.5$. This measurement is combined with to previous \D0 result at $\sqrt{s} = 1800$ GeV to form a ratio of the cross sections. Comparison of next-to-leading order QCD with the measured cross section at 630 GeV and ratio of cross sections show satisfactory agreement in most of the $E_T$ range.Comment: 7 pages. Published in Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 251805, (2001

The Dijet Mass Spectrum and a Search for Quark Compositeness in bar{p}p Collisions at sqrt{s} = 1.8 TeV

Using the DZero detector at the 1.8 TeV pbarp Fermilab Tevatron collider, we have measured the inclusive dijet mass spectrum in the central pseudorapidity region |eta_jet| < 1.0 for dijet masses greater than 200 Gev/c^2. We have also measured the ratio of spectra sigma(|eta_jet| < 0.5)/sigma(0.5 < |eta_jet| < 1.0). The order alpha_s^3 QCD predictions are in good agreement with the data and we rule out models of quark compositeness with a contact interaction scale < 2.4 TeV at the 95% confidence level.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Search for High Mass Photon Pairs in p-pbar --> gamma-gamma-jet-jet Events at sqrt(s)=1.8 TeV

A search has been carried out for events in the channel p-barp --> gamma gamma jet jet. Such a signature can characterize the production of a non-standard Higgs boson together with a W or Z boson. We refer to this non-standard Higgs, having standard model couplings to vector bosons but no coupling to fermions, as a "bosonic Higgs." With the requirement of two high transverse energy photons and two jets, the diphoton mass (m(gamma gamma)) distribution is consistent with expected background. A 90(95)% C.L. upper limit on the cross section as a function of mass is calculated, ranging from 0.60(0.80) pb for m(gamma gamma) = 65 GeV/c^2 to 0.26(0.34) pb for m(gamma gamma) = 150 GeV/c^2, corresponding to a 95% C.L. lower limit on the mass of a bosonic Higgs of 78.5 GeV/c^2.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures. Replacement has new H->gamma gamma branching ratios and corresponding new mass limit

Probing Hard Color-Singlet Exchange in ppbar Collisions at root-s=630 GeV and 1800 GeV

We present results on dijet production via hard color-singlet exchange in proton-antiproton collisions at root-s = 630 GeV and 1800 GeV using the DZero detector. The fraction of dijet events produced via color-singlet exchange is measured as a function of jet transverse energy, separation in pseudorapidity between the two highest transverse energy jets, and proton-antiproton center-of-mass energy. The results are consistent with a color-singlet fraction that increases with an increasing fraction of quark-initiated processes and inconsistent with two-gluon models for the hard color-singlet.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figure