48 research outputs found
Phenylboronic Acids Probing Molecular Recognition against Class A and Class C beta-Lactamases
Worldwide dissemination of pathogens resistant to almost all available antibiotics represent a real problem preventing efficient treatment of infectious diseases. Among antimicrobial used in therapy, \u392-lactam antibiotics represent 40% thus playing a crucial role in the management of infections treatment. We report a small series of phenylboronic acids derivatives (BAs) active against class A carbapenemases KPC-2 and GES-5, and class C cephalosporinases AmpC. The inhibitory profile of our BAs against class A and C was investigated by means of molecular docking, enzyme kinetics and X-ray crystallography. We were interested in the mechanism of recognition among class A and class C to direct the design of broad serine \u392-Lactamases (SBLs) inhibitors. Molecular modeling calculations vs GES-5 and crystallographic studies vs AmpC reasoned, respectively, the ortho derivative 2 and the meta derivative 3 binding affinity. The ability of our BAs to protect \u392-lactams from BLs hydrolysis was determined in biological assays conducted against clinical strains: Fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) tests confirmed their ability to be synergic with \u392-lactams thus restoring susceptibility to meropenem. Considering the obtained results and the lack of cytotoxicity, our derivatives represent validated probe for the design of SBLs inhibitors
Infrared enhanced analytic coupling and chiral symmetry breaking in QCD
We study the impact on chiral symmetry breaking of a recently developed model
for the QCD analytic invariant charge. This charge contains no adjustable
parameters, other than the QCD mass scale , and embodies asymptotic
freedom and infrared enhancement into a single expression. Its incorporation
into the standard form of the quark gap equation gives rise to solutions for
the dynamically generated mass that display a singular confining behaviour at
the origin. Using the Pagels-Stokar method we relate the obtained solutions to
the pion decay constant , and estimate the scale parameter ,
in the presence of four active quarks, to be about 880 MeV.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures; to appear in J. Phys.
Two loop effective potential for < A^2_\mu > in the Landau gauge in quantum chromodynamics
We construct the effective potential for the dimension two composite operator
1/2 A^{a 2}_\mu in QCD with massless quarks in the Landau gauge for an
arbitrary colour group at two loops. For SU(3) we show that an estimate for the
effective gluon mass decreases as N_f increases.Comment: 17 latex page
Infrared Properties of QCD from Dyson-Schwinger equations
I review recent results on the infrared properties of QCD from
Dyson-Schwinger equations. The topics include infrared exponents of
one-particle irreducible Green's functions, the fixed point behaviour of the
running coupling at zero momentum, the pattern of dynamical quark mass
generation and properties of light mesons.Comment: 47 pages, 19 figures, Topical Review to be published in J.Phys.G, v2:
typos corrected and some references adde
Neutron electric dipole moment: Constituent-dressing and compositeness
Contributions to the neutron's EDM, are calculated using a well-constrained
Ansatz for the nucleon's Poincare' covariant Fadde'ev amplitude. The
momentum-dependent quark dressing amplifies the contribution from the
current-quarks' EDMs; and dressed-quark confinement and binding make
distinguishable the effect of the two CP and T violating interactions: i
gamma_5 sigma_{mu nu} (p_1-p_2)_nu and gamma_5 (p_1+p_2)_mu, where p_{1,2} are
the current-quarks' momenta. The value of |d_n| obtained using the
current-quark EDMs generated by a minimal three Higgs doublet model of
spontaneous CP violation is close to the current experimental upper bound.Comment: 9 pages, LaTeX2e. Errors in Table 1 corrected; five references added.
To appear in Phys. Rev.
The NOMAD experiment at the CERN SPS
The NOMAD experiment is a short base-line search for oscillations in the CERN neutrino beam. The 's are searched for through their charged-current interactions followed by the observation of the resulting through its electronic, muonic or hadronic decays. These decays are recognized using kinematical criteria necessitating the use of a light target which enables the reconstruction of individual particles produced in the neutrino interactions. This paper describes the various components of the NOMAD detector: the target and muon drift chambers, the electromagnetic and hadronic calorimeters, the preshower and transition radiation detectors, and the veto and trigger scintillation counters. The beam and data acquisition system are also described. The quality of the reconstruction of individual particles is demonstrated through the ability of NOMAD to observe K's, 's and 's. Finally, the observation of through its electronic decay being one of the most promising channels in the search, the identification of electrons in NOMAD is discussed
The NOMAD Experiment at the CERN SPS
The NOMAD experiment is a short base-line search for Ξ½<sub>ΞΌ</sub> β Ξ½<sub>Ο</sub> oscillations in the CERN neutrino beam. The Ξ½<sub>Ο</sub>'s are searched for through their charged current interactions followed by the observation of the resulting Οβ through its electronic, muonic or hadronic decays. These decays are recognized using kinematical criteria necessitating the use of a light target which enables the reconstruction of individual particles produced in the neutrino interactions. This paper describes the various components of the NOMAD detector: the target and muon drift chambers, the electromagnetic and hadronic calorimeters, the preshower and transition radiation detectors and the veto and trigger scintillation counters. The beam and data acquisition system are also described. The quality of the reconstruction and individual particles is demonstrated through the ability of NOMAD to observe K<sub>s</sub><sup>0</sup>'s, Ξ<sup>0</sup>'s and Ο<sup>0</sup>'s. Finally, the observation of Οβ through its electronic decay being one of the most promising channels in the search, the identification of electrons in NOMAD is discussed
Search for a new gauge boson in decays
A search was made for a new light gauge boson which might be produced in
decay from neutral pions generated by 450-GeV protons in
the CERN SPS neutrino target. The X's would penetrate the downstream shielding
and be observed in the NOMAD detector via the Primakoff effect, in the process
of conversion in the external Coulomb field of a nucleus. With
protons on target, 20 candidate events with energy between
8 and 140 GeV were found from the analysis of neutrino data.
This number is in agreement with the expectation of 18.12.8 background
events from standard neutrino processes. A new 90% C.L. upper limit on the
branching ratio for
masses ranging from 0 to 120 MeV/c^2 is obtained.Comment: 15 pages, LaTex, 6 eps figures included, submitted to Physics Letters
Postoperative complications after procedure for prolapsed hemorrhoids (PPH) and stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR) procedures
Procedure for prolapsing hemorrhoids (PPH) and stapled transanal rectal resection for obstructed defecation (STARR) carry low postoperative pain, but may be followed by unusual and severe postoperative complications. This review deals with the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of adverse events that may occasionally be life threatening. PPH and STARR carry the expected morbidity following anorectal surgery, such as bleeding, strictures and fecal incontinence. Complications that are particular to these stapled procedures are rectovaginal fistula, chronic proctalgia, total rectal obliteration, rectal wall hematoma and perforation with pelvic sepsis often requiring a diverting stoma. A higher complication rate and worse results are expected after PPH for fourth-degree piles. Enterocele and anismus are contraindications to PPH and STARR and both operations should be used with caution in patients with weak sphincters. In conclusion, complications after PPH and STARR are not infrequent and may be difficult to manage. However, if performed in selected cases by skilled specialists aware of the risks and associated diseases, some complications may be prevented