Association of HLA-B*41:02 with Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (IgA Vasculitis) in Spanish individuals irrespective of the HLA-DRB1 status

INTRODUCTION: To determine whether the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B alleles are implicated in the susceptibility to Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) in the largest series of Caucasian HSP patients ever assessed for genetic studies. METHODS: The study population was composed of 349 Spanish patients diagnosed with HSP fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology and the Michel et al. classification criteria, and 335 sex and ethnically matched controls. HLA-B phenotypes were determined by sequencing-based typing (SBT) and analyzed by chi-square or Fisher exact test. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase of HLA-B*41:02 allele in HSP patients when compared with controls was found (8.3% versus 1.5% respectively; p = 0.0001; OR (odds ratio) =5.76 [2.15-19.3]). These results remained statistically significant after adjusting for Bonferroni correction (p = 0.0028). An internal validation also confirmed the susceptibility effect on HSP associated with HLA-B*41:02 (OR = 5.70 [1.98-16.44]). Since a former study described an association between HLA-DRB1*01:03 and HSP susceptibility, we also evaluated the implication of HLA-B*41:02 independently of HLA-DRB1*01:03. Interestingly, the association remained statistically significant (p = 0.0004, OR = 4.97 [1.8-16.9]). No HLA-B association with specific HSP clinical features was found. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that HLA-B*41:02 is associated with the susceptibility to HSP in Spanish patients irrespective of HLA-DRB1 status

Oblate collectivity in the yrast structure of 194Pt

A deep inelastic reaction using a 460 MeV 82Se beam incident upon a thick 192Os target was performed at the Legnaro National Laboratory, Italy. The resulting γ-decays were measured using the GASP array. Results for 194Pt extend the known level scheme of the yrast structure from spin I = (12 ħ) to (20 ħ). The irregularities in the sequence of the new transition energies and total Routhian surface calculations show a breakdown in collectivity with an yrast oblate shape remaining to high spin.Rubio Barroso, Berta, [email protected]

Association of HLA-B*41:02 with Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (IgA Vasculitis) in Spanish individuals irrespective of the HLA-DRB1 status

INTRODUCTION: A study was conducted to determine whether the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B alleles are implicated in the susceptibility to Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) in the largest series of Caucasian HSP patients ever assessed for genetic studies. METHODS: The study population was composed of 349 Spanish patients diagnosed with HSP fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology and the Michel et al. classification criteria, and 335 sex and ethnically matched controls. HLA-B phenotypes were determined by sequencing-based typing (SBT) and analyzed by chi-square or Fisher exact test. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase of HLA-B*41:02 allele in HSP patients when compared with controls was found (8.3% versus 1.5% respectively; P = 0.0001; OR (odds ratio) =5.76 [2.15-19.3]). These results remained statistically significant after adjusting for Bonferroni correction (P = 0.0028). An internal validation also confirmed the susceptibility effect on HSP associated with HLA-B*41:02 (OR = 5.70 [1.98-16.44]). Since a former study described an association between HLA-DRB1*01:03 and HSP susceptibility, we also evaluated the implication of HLA-B*41:02 independently of HLA-DRB1*01:03. Interestingly, the association remained statistically significant (P = 0.0004, OR = 4.97 [1.8-16.9]). No HLA-B association with specific HSP clinical features was found. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that HLA-B*41:02 is associated with the susceptibility to HSP in Spanish patients irrespective of HLA-DRB1 status.This study was supported by a grant from ‘Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias’ PI12/00193 (Spain). RLM is a recipient of a Sara Borrell postdoctoral fellowship from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III at the Spanish Ministry of Health (Spain) (CD12/00425). FG and BU are supported by funds from the RETICS Program (RIER) (RD12/0009/0013).Ye

Role of PTPN22 and CSK gene polymorphisms as predictors of susceptibility and clinical heterogeneity in patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (IgA vasculitis)

INTRODUCTION: To determine whether the PTPN22 (protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor 22)/CSK (c-src tyrosine kinase) pathway is implicated in the susceptibility and clinical heterogeneity of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) in the largest series of Caucasian HSP patients ever assessed for genetic studies. METHODS: A set of 329 Spanish patients diagnosed with HSP fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology and the Michel et al. classification criteria and 515 sex and ethnically matched controls were recruited in this study. Two well-known CSK (CSK rs34933034 and CSK rs1378942) and two functional PTPN22 (PTPN22 rs2476601 (R620W) and PTPN22 rs33996649 (R263Q)) polymorphisms, previously associated with autoimmunity, were genotyped with TaqMan single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping assays. RESULTS: No significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies between HSP patients and controls were observed when the CSK rs34933034, CSK rs1378942, PTPN22 rs2476601 (R620W) and PTPN22 rs33996649 (R263Q) polymorphisms were analyzed independently. In keeping with this observation, no significant differences were found when we assessed these polymorphisms combined conforming haplotypes. In addition, there were no differences in the allele or genotype frequencies when HSP patients were stratified according the age at disease onset, sex, presence of arthralgia/arthritis, nephritis or gastrointestinal manifestations. CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not support association between PTPN22/CSK and HSP

Enhanced and quenched B(E1) transition rates between parity doublet bands in Ra-227

34 pages, 8 tables, 8 figures.-- et al.(ISOLDE Collaboration).-- CERN-PPE/96-134.The fast timing βγγ(t) method has been used to measure level lifetimes in the parity doublet bands in Ra-227 populated in the β(-) decay of Fr-227. In particular, T-1/2 = 254(9) ps, 236(30) ps, ≤ 41 ps and 16(13) ps have been measured for the 3/2(-) and 5/2(-) members of the K-π = 3/2(-) band and for the 1/2(-) and 3/2(-) members of the K-π = 1/2(-) band, respectively. These results indicate surprisingly fast B(E1) rates in this octupole transitional nucleus with the average |D-0| value of ≥ 0.11 e·fm for the K-π = 1/2(-) band and |D-0| = 0.10 e·fm for K-π = 3/2(-) band. The general enhancement (and occasional quenching) of E1 intra-doublet and some enhanced extra-doublet transitions in Ra-227 are interpreted within the quasiparticle-plus-phonon model with the inclusion of Coriolis coupling. Similar calculations, performed for Ra-223, are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data.This work was supported in part by the Norwegian Scientific Research Committee,the Nansen Foundation, the Swedish Natural Science Research Council, the CICYT "Plan Nacional de Altas Energias" Spain (under contract AEN94-0833-C02-02), the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and the Polish Scientific Research Committee. One of us (A.J.A.) would also like to thank the OSIRIS group for their generous hospitality.Peer reviewe

Beta decay half-life of Ra-231

2 pages, 1 table, 1 figure.-- PACS nrs.: 21.10.Tg, 23.20.Lv, 27.90.+b.The low-energy structure of Ac-231 has been investigated by means of γ, conversion electrons, γ-γ and γ-e- spectroscopy following the β(-)-decay of Ra-231. Here, we report on the precise determination of the Ra-231 β-decay half-life.Peer reviewe

High-spin states in the vibrational nucleus Cd-114

2 pages, 2 figures.-- PACS nrs.: 23.20.Lv; 27.60.+j.-- Printed version published Apr 15, 2004.High-spin states of the neutron-rich vibrational nucleus Cd-114 have been studied using the incomplete fusion reaction Pd-110(Li-7, p2n) and the GASP spectrometer in conjunction with the ISIS Si ball. About 50 new states with excitation energies up to 7 MeV and angular momentum I ≤ 18(+) were observed and for many of them, spin and parity could be firmly assigned. The band-like stuctures in Cd-114 are compared to the corresponding ones in the even-even neighbour Cd-112.This work has been supported by the European Commission within the Contract HPRI-1999-CT-00083 and by the DGI, Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, Spain, under the Project BFM2001-0184. A. J. acknowledges support by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) within the Heisenberg program.Peer reviewe

The nuclear structure of Th-229

25 pages, 5 tables, 9 figures.-- PACS nrs.: 21.10.-k; 23.20.-g; 23.20.Lv; 23.20.Nx.-- Available online Dec 5, 2001.The γ-rays following the β- decay of Ac-229 have been investigated by means of γ-ray singles and γγ-coincidence measurements using Ge detectors. Multipolarities of 40 transitions in Th-229 have been established by measuring conversion electrons with a mini-orange electron spectrometer. The half-lives of the 146.35, 164.53 and 261.96 keV levels have been measured using the advanced time delayed betagammagamma(t) method. The low-lying states in Th-229 and observed transition rates have been interpreted within the quasiparticle-phonon model with inclusion of Coriolis coupling. Two octupole correlated parity partner bands, with K-π = 5/2(±) and K-π = 3/2(±), were identified in Th-229.This work was supported in part by the Polish Scientific Research Committee, the Swedish Natural Science Research Council, the Norwegian Research Council, the Spanish CICYT under contracts AEN94–0833-C02–02 and AEN96–1662, the Canadian Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Grant Agency of Czech Republic under the contract 202/99/1718, and UK Engineering and Physical Science Research Council.Peer reviewe

Persistence of octupole correlations in Ra-231

38 pages, 8 tables, 9 figures.-- PACS nrs.: 23.20.-g; 21.10.Tg; 21.10.Re; 27.90.+b.-- Printed version published Apr 9, 2001.The structure of Ra-231, the heaviest odd Ra nucleus currently accessible for detailed spectroscopic investigation, has been studied in the beta (-) decay of Fr-231. The main purpose has been to verify whether fast B(E1) rates and significant octupole correlations recently established in Ra-229 persist in Ra-231. The excited stares in Ra-231 have been determined for the first time. Spins and parities have been deduced from conversion electron measurements, while level half-lives in the ps and ns ranges have been measured with the Advanced Time Delayed beta gamma gamma (t) method. The moderately fast B(E1) rates found For transitions connecting the lowest-lying K-pi = 5/2(+/-) and K-pi = 1/2(+/-) hands, reveal the persistence of octupole collective effects in Ra-231, although the B(E1) rates are lower than in Ra-229. These findings reinforce the differences in the B(E1) systematics between isotonic Ra and Th nuclei.This work was partially supported by the Spanish CICYT “Plan Nacional de Altas Energías” (under contracts AEN96-1662 and AEN96-1679), the Swedish Natural Science Research Council, the Czech Republic Grant Agency (under grant 202/99/1718) and the Polish Scientific Research Committee. L.M. Fraile would like to thank the OSIRIS group at Studsvik in Sweden for their generous hospitality and the Margit & Folke Pehrzon Foundation for the financial support for his stay at Studsvik.Peer reviewe