A Case of Generalized Acanthosis Nigricans with Positive Lupus Erythematosus-Related Autoantibodies and Antimicrosomal Antibody: Autoimmune Acanthosis Nigricans?

Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a hyperpigmented keratotic skin lesion known to be associated with malignant disease and endocrinopathy. We report a very rare case of generalized AN with Sjögren's syndrome- and systemic lupus erythematosus-like features but without type B insulin resistance. Neither internal malignancy nor other endocrinological disorders, including glucose intolerance, were detected during a 10-year clinical course with benign diffuse papillomatosis extending from the mucosa of the larynx to the esophagogastric junction. The case was complicated with chronic thyroiditis and interstitial pneumonia, which were not treated with any medication. AN skin lesions and mucosal papillomatosis regressed with oral cyclosporine A, accompanied by the lowering of autoantibody titers. This is the first report of generalized AN involving an area from the mucosa of the larynx to the esophagogastric junction accompanied by autoimmune manifestations which responded to systemic immunosuppressive therapy

Análise de ensaios de sanidade pós-colheita considerando a estrutura longitudinal das avaliações.

Resumo: O uso de técnicas de exploração, visualização e análise inferencial de dados provenientes de estudos de patologias pós-colheita constitui um importante componente no processo de geração e comunicação de evidências experimentais para orientar o desenvolvimento de inovações tecnológicas para controle dessas patologias. Tradicionalmente, para análise inferencial de ensaios de doenças pós colheita são utilizados modelos lineares ordinários, isoladamente, para cada data de avaliação. Os dados originais são geralmente transformados, buscando evitar violações de pressupostos de normalidade e homogeneidade de variâncias. Esses métodos apresentam limitações, especialmente por não considerarem de forma adequada a natureza das variáveis e as prováveis correlações temporais entre as observações feitas num mesmo fruto ao longo do tempo. A escolha dos métodos adequados de análise inferencial de variáveis em qualquer ensaio depende tanto do delineamento experimental utilizado, quanto da natureza das variáveis de interesse. Quando variáveis são observadas ao longo do tempo numa mesma unidade experimental, caracterizando um estudo longitudinal ou de medidas repetidas é necessária especial atenção para a modelagem das prováveis correlações temporais entre as medidas, além da questão do tipo de distribuição de probabilidade da variável. Para variáveis Normais, essa modelagem pode ser feita via Modelos Lineares Gerais; para variáveis não Normais, deve-se utilizar uma generalização dos GLM, os Modelos Lineares Generalizados Mistos. Apresentamos, um exemplo de análises exploratória, análise inferencial e visualização de dados de um ensaio para avaliar a eficiência de tratamentos térmicos para controle do bolor verde da laranja

R-matrix Floquet theory for laser-assisted electron-atom scattering

A new version of the R-matrix Floquet theory for laser-assisted electron-atom scattering is presented. The theory is non-perturbative and applicable to a non-relativistic many-electron atom or ion in a homogeneous linearly polarized field. It is based on the use of channel functions built from field-dressed target states, which greatly simplifies the general formalism.Comment: 18 pages, LaTeX2e, submitted to J.Phys.

Yukawa Hierarchy Transfer Based on Superconformal Dynamics and Geometrical Realization in String Models

We propose a scenario that leads to hierarchical Yukawa couplings and degenerate sfermion masses at the same time, in the context of extra-dimensional models, which can be naturally embedded in a wide class of string models. The hierarchy of Yukawa couplings and degeneracy of sfermion masses can be realized thanks to superconformal gauge dynamics. The sfermion mass degeneracy is guaranteed by taking the superconformal fixed point to be family independent. In our scenario, the origin of Yukawa hierarchy is attributed to geometry of compactified dimensions and the consequent volume dependence of gauge couplings in the superconformal sectors. The difference in these gauge couplings is dynamically transferred to the hierarchy of the Yukawa couplings. Thus, our scenario combines a new dynamical approach and the conventional geometrical approach to the supersymmetric flavor problem.Comment: 12 pages, latex, no figur

Hepatocyte growth factor modulates motility and invasiveness of ovarian carcinomas via Ras-mediated pathway

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a multifunctional growth factor which has pleiotrophic biological effects on epithelial cells such as proliferation, motogenesis, invasiveness and morphogenesis. Peritoneal dissemination is critical for the progression of ovarian cancer, and our study revealed that HGF induces migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. We also demonstrated that HGF stimulates autophosphorylation of its receptor, followed by activation of the Ras-MAP (mitogen-activated peptide) kinase cascade. Moreover, infection of ovarian cancer cells with Ras dominant-negative adenovirus reduced the HGF-induced motogenic and invasive activities. Additionally, both MEK and PI3-kinase pathways downstream of Ras were involved in HGF-stimulated ovarian cancer cell invasiveness. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig