Model-based meta-analysis to optimise S. aureus-targeted therapies for atopic dermatitis

Several clinical trials of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)-targeted therapies for atopic dermatitis (AD) have demonstrated conflicting results regarding whether they improve AD severity scores. This study performs a model-based meta-analysis to investigate possible causes of these conflicting results and suggests how to improve the efficacies of S. aureus-targeted therapies. We developed a mathematical model that describes systems-level AD pathogenesis involving dynamic interactions between S. aureus and Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus (CoNS). Our model simulation reproduced the clinically observed detrimental effects of application of S. hominis A9 (ShA9) and flucloxacillin on AD severity and showed that these effects disappeared if the bactericidal activity against CoNS was removed. A hypothetical (modelled) eradication of S. aureus by 3.0 log10 CFU/cm2, without killing CoNS, achieved comparable EASI-75 to dupilumab. This efficacy was potentiated if dupilumab was administered in conjunction with S. aureus eradication (EASI-75 at week 16; S. aureus eradication: 66.7%, dupilumab 61.6% and combination: 87.8%). The improved efficacy was also seen for virtual dupilumab poor responders. Our model simulation suggests that killing CoNS worsens AD severity and that S. aureus-specific eradication without killing CoNS could be effective for AD patients, including dupilumab poor responders. This study will contribute to design promising S. aureus-targeted therapy

Strangeness production in antiproton-nucleus collisions

Antiproton annihilations on nuclei provide a very interesting way to study the behaviour of strange particles in the nuclear medium. In low energy $\bar p$ annihilations, the hyperons are produced mostly by strangeness exchange mechanisms. Thus, hyperon production in $\bar p A$ interactions is very sensitive to the properties of the antikaon-nucleon interaction in nuclear medium. Within the Giessen Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck transport model (GiBUU), we analyse the experimental data on $\Lambda$ and $K^0_S$ production in $\bar p A$ collisions at $p_{\rm lab}=0.2-4$ GeV/c. A satisfactory overall agreement is reached, except for the $K^0_S$ production in $\bar p+^{20}$Ne collisions at $p_{\rm lab}=608$ MeV/c, where we obtain substantially larger $K^0_S$ production rate. We also study the $\Xi$ hyperon production, important in view of the forthcoming experiments at FAIR and J-PARC.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, invited talk given by A.B. Larionov at the 10th International Conference on Low Energy Antiproton Physics (LEAP2011), Vancouver, Canada, Apr 27 - May 1, 2011, Hyperfine Interact. in pres

Ultrafast Photoinduced Formation of Metallic State in a Perovskite-type Manganite with Short Range Charge and Orbital Order

Femtosecond reflection spectroscopy was performed on a perovskite-type manganite, Gd0.55Sr0.45MnO3, with the short-range charge and orbital order (CO/OO). Immediately after the photoirradiation, a large increase of the reflectivity was detected in the mid-infrared region. The optical conductivity spectrum under photoirradiation obtained from the Kramers-Kronig analyses of the reflectivity changes demonstrates a formation of a metallic state. This suggests that ferromagnetic spin arrangements occur within the time resolution (ca. 200 fs) through the double exchange interaction, resulting in an ultrafast CO/OO to FM switching.Comment: 4 figure

An unusual variant of choledochal cyst: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Choledochal cyst is an uncommon congenital disease of the biliary tract in the UK. There are five main types of choledochal cyst with several recognised sub-types. However, occasional variants do occur.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report a case of a female infant with an antenatally diagnosed choledochal cyst. The operative cholangiogram revealed an unusual intrahepatic biliary tree. The cyst was successfully excised and the infant is well at 18-months follow up.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The anatomy should be clearly defined before surgical excision as abnormal variants can occur, which usually do not fit into the known classification types and subtypes.</p

Size of Orbital Ordering Domain Controlled by the Itinerancy of the 3d Electrons in a Manganite Thin Film

An electronic effect on a macroscopic domain structure is found in a strongly correlated half-doped manganite film Nd$_{0.5}$Sr$_{0.5}$MnO3 grown on a (011) surface of SrTiO3. The sample has a high-temperature (HT) phase free from distortion above 180K and two low-temperature (LT) phases with a large shear-mode strain and a concomitant twin structure. One LT phase has a large itinerancy (A-type), and the other has a small itinerancy (CE-type), while the lattice distortions they cause are almost equal. Our x ray diffraction measurement shows that the domain size of the LT phase made by the HT-CE transition is much smaller than that by the HT-A transition, indicating that the difference in domain size is caused by the electronic states of the LT phases.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure