Changes in expression of PACAP in rat sensory neurons in response to sciatic nerve compression.

In the present study, expression of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and sciatic nerve following experimental sciatic nerve compression was studied with the use of quantitative immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Previously, we have investigated changes in PACAP expression after nerve transection and, here, the far more frequently encountered condition of nerve compression injury is examined. Nerve compression was performed unilaterally on the rat sciatic nerve, at mid-thigh level, by application of a narrow silicone tube around the nerve for 3, 7, 14 or 28 days, respectively. We detect a statistically significant upregulation in the number and density of PACAP mRNA expression in both small and large DRG neurons in response to nerve compression. An increased number of PACAP-immunoreactive neurons is also found in the ipsilateral DRG. In addition, PACAP immunoreactivity is observed in the compressed sciatic nerve segment and adjacent nerve tissue after nerve compression. The present findings can be compared with previous studies where we have shown that PACAP expression is upregulated in DRG; in response to peripheral inflammation (primarily in small-medium neurons), and after axotomy (dramatic upregulation in medium-large neurons). In view of the recent findings of an increased PACAP expression in DRG after nerve compression, as well as the previous findings of a modulation of PACAP expression in response to axotomy and inflammation, it is likely that PACAP is also involved in the modulation of the response to peripheral nerve compression

Proof-of-concept of a novel scalable magnetic bead-based cell separation technology

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Size-dependent long-term tissue response to biostable nanowires in the brain

AbstractNanostructured neural interfaces, comprising nanotubes or nanowires, have the potential to overcome the present hurdles of achieving stable communication with neuronal networks for long periods of time. This would have a strong impact on brain research. However, little information is available on the brain response to implanted high-aspect-ratio nanoparticles, which share morphological similarities with asbestos fibres. Here, we investigated the glial response and neuronal loss in the rat brain after implantation of biostable and structurally controlled nanowires of different lengths for a period up to one year post-surgery. Our results show that, as for lung and abdominal tissue, the brain is subject to a sustained, local inflammation when biostable and high-aspect-ratio nanoparticles of 5 μm or longer are present in the brain tissue. In addition, a significant loss of neurons was observed adjacent to the 10 μm nanowires after one year. Notably, the inflammatory response was restricted to a narrow zone around the nanowires and did not escalate between 12 weeks and one year. Furthermore, 2 μm nanowires did not cause significant inflammatory response nor significant loss of neurons nearby. The present results provide key information for the design of future neural implants based on nanomaterials

The CEDAR Project

The LHC project at CERN requires both the handling of a huge amount of engineering information and the control of the coherence of this information as the design work evolves on the machine and the experiments. A commercial Engineering Data Management System, (EDMS), is being implemented to manage data for the design, construction, installation and maintenance of both the accelerator and the experiments. This CERN-wide project is called CEDAR The World Wide Web is used to make the information accessible at CERN and in the external collaborating laboratories around the world. In this paper we describe the objectives of the CEDAR project, the different subprojects in the machine and the experiments as well as the first results of the implementation work

Exploratory Analysis of CA125-MGL and –STn Glycoforms in the Differential Diagnostics of Pelvic Masses

BackgroundThe cancer antigen 125 (CA125) immunoassay (IA) does not distinguish epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) from benign disease with the sensitivity needed in clinical practice. In recent studies, glycoforms of CA125 have shown potential as biomarkers in EOC. Here, we assessed the diagnostic abilities of two recently developed CA125 glycoform assays for patients with a pelvic mass. Detailed analysis was further conducted for postmenopausal patients with marginally elevated conventionally measured CA125 levels, as this subgroup presents a diagnostic challenge in the clinical setting.MethodsOur study population contained 549 patients diagnosed with EOC, benign ovarian tumors, and endometriosis. Of these, 288 patients were postmenopausal, and 98 of them presented with marginally elevated serum levels of conventionally measured CA125 at diagnosis. Preoperative serum levels of conventionally measured CA125 and its glycoforms (CA125-MGL and CA125-STn) were determined.ResultsThe CA125-STn assay identified EOC significantly better than the conventional CA125-IA in postmenopausal patients (85% vs. 74% sensitivity at a fixed specificity of 90%, P = 0.0009). Further, both glycoform assays had superior AUCs compared to the conventional CA125-IA in postmenopausal patients with marginally elevated CA125. Importantly, the glycoform assays reduced the false positive rate of the conventional CA125-IA.ConclusionsThe results indicate that the CA125 glycoform assays markedly improve the performance of the conventional CA125-IA in the differential diagnosis of pelvic masses. This result is especially valuable when CA125 is marginally elevated.</div

Replacing monocultures with mixed-species stands: Ecosystem service implications of two production forest alternatives in Sweden

Whereas there is evidence that mixed-species approaches to production forestry in general can provide positive outcomes relative to monocultures, it is less clear to what extent multiple benefits can be derived from specific mixed-species alternatives. To provide such insights requires evaluations of an encompassing suite of ecosystem services, biodiversity, and forest management considerations provided by specific mixtures and monocultures within a region. Here, we conduct such an assessment in Sweden by contrasting even-aged Norway spruce (Picea abies)-dominated stands, with mixed-species stands of spruce and birch (Betula pendula or B. pubescens), or spruce and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). By synthesizing the available evidence, we identify positive outcomes from mixtures including increased biodiversity, water quality, esthetic and recreational values, as well as reduced stand vulnerability to pest and pathogen damage. However, some uncertainties and risks were projected to increase, highlighting the importance of conducting comprehensive interdisciplinary evaluations when assessing the pros and cons of mixtures

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements