Survivin expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma

A series of 110 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) together with six lymph node and one distant metastatic lesions was analysed for expression of survivin, a recent apoptosis inhibitor, by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. In total, 91 cases (82.7%) of carcinoma and all metastasis (seven cases, 100%) were positive for survivin expression, with weighted survivin scores ranging from 1 to 4. In contrast, normal oral epithelium did not express survivin. There was no significant correlation between survivin expression and age, sex, tumour size, the presence of lymph node and distant metastases. Survivin expression was increased in poorly differentiated tumours, even if differences were not statistically significant. In contrast, when analysed for prognostic significance, patients with low survivin expression had statistically significant better survival rates than the group with high survivin expression (P < 0.05). These data suggest that survivin expression may identify cases of oral SCC with more aggressive and invasive phenotype

A survey of canine tick-borne diseases in India

Background: There are few published reports on canine Babesia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Hepatozoon and haemotropic Mycoplasma infections in India and most describe clinical disease in individual dogs, diagnosed by morphological observation of the microorganisms in stained blood smears. This study investigated the occurrence and distribution of canine tick-borne disease (TBD) pathogens using a combination of conventional and molecular diagnostic techniques in four cities in India. Results: On microscopy examination, only Hepatozoon gamonts were observed in twelve out of 525 (2.3%; 95% CI: 1.2, 4) blood smears. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a total of 261 from 525 dogs (49.7%; 95% CI: 45.4, 54.1) in this study were infected with one or more canine tick-borne pathogen. Hepatozoon canis (30%; 95% CI: 26.0, 34.0) was the most common TBD pathogen found infecting dogs in India followed by Ehrlichia canis (20.6%; 95% CI: 17.2, 24.3), Mycoplasma haemocanis (12.2%; 95% CI: 9.5, 15.3), Anaplasma platys (6.5%; 95% CI: 4.5, 8.9), Babesia vogeli (5.5%, 95% CI: 3.7, 7.8) and Babesia gibsoni (0.2%, 95% CI: 0.01, 1.06). Concurrent infection with more than one TBD pathogen occurred in 39% of cases. Potential tick vectors, Rhipicephalus (most commonly) and/or Haemaphysalis ticks were found on 278 (53%) of dogs examined. Conclusions: At least 6 species of canine tick-borne pathogens are present in India. Hepatozoon canis was the most common pathogen and ticks belonging to the genus Rhipicephalus were encountered most frequently. Polymerase chain reaction was more sensitive in detecting circulating pathogens compared with peripheral blood smear examination. As co-infections with canine TBD pathogens were common, Indian veterinary practitioners should be cognisant that the discovery of one such pathogen raises the potential for multiple infections which may warrant different clinical management strategies

ATHENA detector proposal - a totally hermetic electron nucleus apparatus proposed for IP6 at the Electron-Ion Collider

ATHENA has been designed as a general purpose detector capable of delivering the full scientific scope of the Electron-Ion Collider. Careful technology choices provide fine tracking and momentum resolution, high performance electromagnetic and hadronic calorimetry, hadron identification over a wide kinematic range, and near-complete hermeticity.This article describes the detector design and its expected performance in the most relevant physics channels. It includes an evaluation of detector technology choices, the technical challenges to realizing the detector and the R&D required to meet those challenges

Suppression in Pb-Pb Collisions at the LHC.

The production of the ψ(2S) charmonium state was measured with ALICE in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV, in the dimuon decay channel. A significant signal was observed for the first time at LHC energies down to zero transverse momentum, at forward rapidity (2.5<y<4). The measurement of the ratio of the inclusive production cross sections of the ψ(2S) and J/ψ resonances is reported as a function of the centrality of the collisions and of transverse momentum, in the region p_{T}<12  GeV/c. The results are compared with the corresponding measurements in pp collisions, by forming the double ratio [σ^{ψ(2S)}/σ^{J/ψ}]_{Pb-Pb}/[σ^{ψ(2S)}/σ^{J/ψ}]_{pp}. It is found that in Pb-Pb collisions the ψ(2S) is suppressed by a factor of ∼2 with respect to the J/ψ. The ψ(2S) nuclear modification factor R_{AA} was also obtained as a function of both centrality and p_{T}. The results show that the ψ(2S) resonance yield is strongly suppressed in Pb-Pb collisions, by a factor of up to ∼3 with respect to pp. Comparisons of cross section ratios with previous Super Proton Synchrotron findings by the NA50 experiment and of R_{AA} with higher-p_{T} results at LHC energy are also reported. These results and the corresponding comparisons with calculations of transport and statistical models address questions on the presence and properties of charmonium states in the quark-gluon plasma formed in nuclear collisions at the LHC

Influência do alongamento dos músculos isquiostibial e retofemoral no pico de torque e potência máxima do joelho

O alongamento muscular é utilizado nas práticas desportivas para aumentar a flexibilidade muscular e amplitude articular, mas estudos mostram que pode produzir efeitos deletérios na produção de força muscular. A proposta deste estudo foi verificar a influência imediata e tardia do alongamento dos músculos isquiostibiais e retofemoral, por meio da facilitação neuromuscular proprioceptiva (FNP), no pico de torque e potência máxima do joelho. Quinze jovens sedentárias foram distribuídas em três grupos: GA, submetidas a 12 sessões de alongamento durante quatro semanas; GB, a apenas uma sessão de alongamento imediatamente antes da avaliação final; e GC, à mobilização articular passiva do joelho, de forma a não alongar. Todas as participantes foram avaliadas quanto à amplitude de movimento (ADM) de flexão e extensão do joelho, e à dinamometria isocinética, antes e após a intervenção, mensurando-se ADM, pico de torque (PT) e potência máxima (PM) do joelho. Observou-se diferença entre as médias dos três grupos na ADM após a intervenção (p0,05). Os grupos GA e GB apresentaram melhoras na ADM e apenas o grupo GC apresentou melhora significativa em todas as variáveis isocinéticas (pMuscle stretching is often used in sports practice in order to increase muscle flexibility and joint range of motion. However, many studies have shown that muscle torque production may be reduced after stretching. The purpose of this work was to assess immediate and late effects of stretching, by proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques, on knee peak torque and maximum power. Fifteen young sedentary female subjects were evenly distributed into three groups: AG, submitted to 12 PNF stretching sessions along four weeks; BG, submitted to only one stretching session just before the final evaluation; and GC, submitted to passive knee mobilization so as not to produce muscle stretching. All of them were assessed, before and after the four-week study, as to knee range of motion (ROM) flexion and extension, as well as to isokinetic dynamometry; variables analysed were knee ROM, peak torque and maximum power. Significant mean ROM differences were found between the three groups (p0.05). A and B groups showed increased ROM at the post-test, and only the C group showed significant increase in all isokinetic variables (p<0.05). Results then suggest that PNF stretching, performed with adequate duration and intensity, may be done before sports practice with no decrease in muscle strength