Pathogenetic role of tissue factor in graft-versus-host disease

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a serious complication after allogeneic stem cell transplantation, the mechanism of it is still not elucidated. Recent findings suggest that host endothelial cells are a target of alloreactive donor cytotoxic T lymphocytes in GVHD and tissue factor (TF) plays an important role not only in coagulation-inflammation cycle, but also in transplant immunology. We postulate TF expression in vascular endothelial cells(VEC) may play an pivotal role in the pathogenesis of GVHD. TF gene andprotein expression in target organs of GVHD in aGVHD mice was significantly elevated compared to that of controls as determined by real-time PCR and Western blotting. Allogeneic CD4^+^T cell and CD8^+^T cells enhanced TF, VCAM-1, TNF-[alpha], IFN-[gamma] and IL-6 expression in TNF-[alpha] prestimulated HUVECs compared to controls as determined by flowcytometry and real-time PCR. JNK and p38MAPK mediated allogeneic T cells-induced TF expression in HUVECs. These effects were largely prevented by monoclonal antibody against TF, SB203580 and SP600125. In concert, these data provide strong evidence that upregulated TF expression is related to tissue damage caused by GVHD, TF isthe key factor in GVHD mediated by endothelial cells and allogeneic T cells-induced TF and consecutive proinflammatory cytokines expression in VEC contribute to the pathogenesis of GVHD

Manifestation of important role of nuclear forces in emission of photons in scattering of pions off nuclei

Bremsstrahlung of photons emitted during the scattering of $\pi^{+}$-mesons off nuclei is studied for the first time. Role of interactions between $\pi^{+}$-mesons and nuclei in the formation of the bremsstrahlung emission is analyzed in details. We discover essential contribution of emitted photons from nuclear part of Johnson-Satchler potential to the full spectrum, in contrast to the optical Woods-Saxon potential. We observe unusual essential influence of the nuclear part of both potentials on the spectrum at high photon energies. This phenomenon opens a new experimental way to study and check non-Coulomb and nuclear interactions between pions and nuclei via measurements of the emitted photons. We provide predictions of the bremsstrahlung spectra for pion scattering off $^{44}{\rm Ca}$.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figure

Application of prenatal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging on fetal agenesis of corpus callosum

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic value and clinical application of prenatal ultrasonography (US) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for different types of fetal Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC). Material and methods: There were 42 cases of fetal ACC discovered by routine US, including complete ACC 18 cases and partial ACC 24 cases, checked by MRI within 1 week. The results were confirmed by head ultrasound after birth or brain biopsy after labor induction. Results: From prenatal ultrasonic diagnosis, 18 cases were complete ACC and 24 cases were partial ACC. MRI was able to find complete ACC in 11 cases, partial ACC in 16 cases, and non-ACC in 15 cases. Labor induction or birth confirmed that, 11 cases were complete ACC, 14 cases were partial ACC, and 17 cases were non-ACC.The results of different types of ACC were detected by ultrasound and MRI were statistically significant (p < 0.05).MRI examination was superior to ultrasound in specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, Youden index, and diagnostic index. Conclusions: MRI is high specific degrees, diagnostic performance is satisfactory, should be use as a necessary method for prenatal definitive diagnosis of ACC. However, prenatal ultrasound can be tested repeatedly and can be combined with blood flow imaging detection in real time, and it is still the preferred method for screening fetal structural malformation in a comprehensive way, which is suitable for general screening of ACC