Curcuma longa Extract Exerts a Myorelaxant Effect on the Ileum and Colon in a Mouse Experimental Colitis Model, Independent of the Anti-Inflammatory Effect

Background: Curcuma has long been used as an anti-inflammatory agent in inflammatory bowel disease. Since gastrointestinal motility is impaired in inflammatory states, the aim of this work was to evaluate if Curcuma Longa had any Methods: The biological activity of Curcuma extract was evaluated against Carbachol induced contraction in isolated mice intestine. Acute and chronic colitis were induced in Balb/c mice by Dextran Sulphate Sodium administration (5% and 2.5% respectively) and either Curcuma extract (200 mg/kg/day) or placebo was thereafter administered for 7 and 21 days respectively. Spontaneous contractions and the response to Carbachol and Atropine of ileum and colon were studied after colitis induction and Curcuma administration. Results: Curcuma extract reduced the spontaneous contractions in the ileum and colon; the maximal response to Carbachol was inhibited in a non-competitive and reversible manner. Similar results were obtained in ileum and colon from Curcuma fed mice. DSS administration decreased the motility, mainly in the colon and Curcuma almost restored both the spontaneous contractions and the response to Carbachol after 14 days assumption, compared to standard diet, but a prolonged assumption of Curcuma decreased the spontaneous and Carbachol-induced contractions. Conclusions: Curcuma extract has a direct and indirect myorelaxant effect on mouse ileum and colon, independent of the anti-inflammatory effect. The indirect effect is reversible and non-competitive with the cholinergic agent. These results suggest the use of curcuma extract as a spasmolytic agent

Search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying to a bb pair in events with one charged lepton and large missing transverse energy using the full CDF data set

We present a search for the standard model Higgs boson produced in association with a W boson in sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV p-pbar collision data collected with the CDF II detector at the Tevatron corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9.45 fb-1. In events consistent with the decay of the Higgs boson to a bottom-quark pair and the W boson to an electron or muon and a neutrino, we set 95% credibility level upper limits on the WH production cross section times the H->bb branching ratio as a function of Higgs boson mass. At a Higgs boson mass of 125 GeV/c2 we observe (expect) a limit of 4.9 (2.8) times the standard model value.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett (v2 contains clarifications suggested by PRL

Search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying to a bbˉb\bar{b} pair in events with no charged leptons and large missing transverse energy using the full CDF data set

We report on a search for the standard model Higgs boson produced in association with a vector boson in the full data set of proton-antiproton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 1.96$ TeV recorded by the CDF II detector at the Tevatron, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9.45 fb$^{-1}$. We consider events having no identified charged lepton, a transverse energy imbalance, and two or three jets, of which at least one is consistent with originating from the decay of a $b$ quark. We place 95% credibility level upper limits on the production cross section times standard model branching fraction for several mass hypotheses between 90 and $150 \mathrm{GeV}/c^2$. For a Higgs boson mass of $125 \mathrm{GeV}/c^2$, the observed (expected) limit is 6.7 (3.6) times the standard model prediction.Comment: Accepted by Phys. Rev. Let

Search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying to a bb pair in events with two oppositely-charged leptons using the full CDF data set

We present a search for the standard model Higgs boson produced in association with a Z boson in data collected with the CDF II detector at the Tevatron, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9.45/fb. In events consistent with the decay of the Higgs boson to a bottom-quark pair and the Z boson to electron or muon pairs, we set 95% credibility level upper limits on the ZH production cross section times the H -> bb branching ratio as a function of Higgs boson mass. At a Higgs boson mass of 125 GeV/c^2 we observe (expect) a limit of 7.1 (3.9) times the standard model value.Comment: To be submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Measurement of the difference of CP-violating asymmetries in D0 -> K+K- and D0 ->pi+pi- decays at CDF

We report a measurement of the difference (Delta Acp) between time-integrated CP--violating asymmetries in D0-> K+ K- and D0-> pi+pi- decays reconstructed in the full data set of proton-antiproton collisions collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab, corresponding to 9.7 fb-1 of integrated luminosity. The strong decay D*+->D0 pi+ is used to identify the charm meson at production as D0 or anti-D0. We measure Delta Acp = [-0.62 +- 0.21 (stat) +- 0.10 (syst)] %, which differs from zero by 2.7 Gaussian standard deviations.This result supports similar evidence for CP violation in charm-quark decays obtained in proton-proton collisions.Comment: Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 111801 (2012

Pathobiological and radiomic approach for hepatocellular carcinoma subclassification

Introduction: The classic histopathological features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still inadequate in determining patient\u2019s prognosis. Aims: (i) To improve HCC classification, including a better definition of advanced HCCs, with amultidisciplinary approach Beyond morphology; (ii) to identify the radiological features distinctive of the \u201chistologically-advanced\u201d HCCs. Materials and methods: Histopathological analysis, immunohistochemistry for CD34 and Nestin, and reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for TGF1 and IGF1R mRNA were performed on 96 HCCs for the identification of different morpho-vascular patterns; 740 miRNAs were analyzed on 22 HCCs by means of microfluidic cards; histopathological and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of 39 liver nodules were correlated. Results: Four distinct morpho-vascular HCC patterns had been identified at pathology: (A) microtrabecular with CD34-positive Nestin-negative sinusoids; (B) microtrabecular with CD34-positive Nestin-positive sinusoids; (C) with macrotrabeculae covered by CD34-positive Nestin-positive endothelium; (D) solid HCCs with CD34-positive Nestin-positive new-formed arteries. At RT-PCR a significant increase in TGF1 and IGF1R mRNA was found between pattern A and the other patterns. Moreover, each pattern correlated with a peculiar miRNA expressions. On MRI, pattern A HCCs were isointense in 50% of cases on T1-weighted images (WI) and in 57% on T2-WI. Pattern B HCCs were hyperintense on T1-WI in two-third of cases, radiological features of \u201cglycogen nodules\u201d, without hyperintensity on T2-WI. Pattern D HCCs were isointense on T1-WI in 83% of cases and hyperintense on T2-WI in 50%, all detected by typical vascular pattern on MRI. Pattern C HCCs showed the highest heterogeneity. Conclusions: Our multidisciplinary approach allowed us to identify different morphological and vascular HCC types, each of them characterized by different expression of growth factors and miRNAs, and with peculiar MRI features too. While pattern A HCCs represent the \u201cearly\u201d phase of hepatocarcinogenesis, pattern D could be recognized as advanced malignancies that skip the regenerative-dysplastic-neoplastic pathway

NEW FRICKE GEL WITH HIGH SENSITIVITY AND LOW DIFFUSION FOR3D-MRI DOSIMETRY

Fricke gel (FG) dosimeters are good candidates for 3D dose assessment in biological materials. Their effective atomic number and density are similar to those of soft tissue. In view of their chemical and morphological characteristics, FG serve as dosimeters and as phantoms at the same time. FG dosimeters are obtained by incorporating an acidic aqueous solution of ferrous ions Fe2+ into a gel matrix. After exposure to ionizing radiations ferrous ions are oxided into ferric ions (Fe3+) which modify the relaxation times and, therefore, the 3D spatial distribution of radiation dose could be obtained through MRI. In order to address the limitations of gels based on natural matrices, we have studied FG produced with a matrix of poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA) cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GTA). The proposed gel contains 10% w/v of PVA and GTA of 1%w/v. A common formulation agarose gel was also prepared and studied for comparison. PVA-GTA gel samples were irradiated using 6 MV x-ray clinical beams. The PVA-GTA FG was read out with magnetic resonance imaging. MR images were recorded with a 1.5T clinical scanner in order to optimize the acquisition parameters and obtain high contrast between irradiated and non-irradiated samples. The PVA-GTA gels were found to offer good linearity in the range of 0-15 Gy and a stable signal for several hours after irradiation. The sensitivity was about 40% higher compared to gels produced with agarose as gelling agent. The analysis of the Fe3+ ions diffusion carried out through a 7T preclinical MRI scanner for small animals showed that the diffusion process is much slower (more than five times) for PVA-GTA gels than for agarose ones. The dosimetric accuracy of the 3D gels was investigated by comparing their response to percentage depth dose and off-axis ratio measurements made with an ionization chamber in a water phantom

Fish oil-based emulsion for the treatment of parenteral nutrition associated liver disease in an adult patient

Background & aims: Reversal of parenteral nutrition associated liver disease with fish oil emulsion (FO) has been reported in infants. We report a similar case in an adult patient. Methods: A 58 year-old female on home parenteral nutrition for a short bowel syndrome due to Crohn\u2019s disease, showed a progressive worsening of liver steatosis, and a persistent increase of the plasma liver function tests (LFTs). LFTs, serum alpha-tochopherol, red blood cell membrane fatty acids and liver histology were evaluated before and after an 8 month treatment with FO. Results: The patient\u2019s LFT\u2019s improved. There was an increase of the n-3 and a decrease of the n-6 series of fatty acids in erythrocyte membrane. There was an approximate 30% increase in vitamin E status. Before FO, liver histology showed a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with grade 2 steatosis and inflammation and stage 3 fibrosis. After the treatment, steatosis and inflammation were grade 1, whereas fibrosis remained at stage 3. Conclusions: Infusion of FO was associated with consistent changes of cell membrane fatty acid structure and with mild improvement of vitamin E status. A potential role of FO in decreasing liver steatosis and inflammation with no change of liver fibrosis might be suggested