Nonextensive effects on QCD chiral phase diagram and baryon-number fluctuations within Polyakov-Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model

In this paper, a version of the Polyakov-Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (PNJL) model based on nonextensive statistical mechanics is presented. This new statistics summarizes all possible factors that violate the assumptions of the Boltzmann-Gibbs (BG) statistics to a dimensionless nonextensivity parameter $q$, and when $q$ tends to 1, it returns to the BG case. Within the nonextensive PNJL model, we found that as $q$ increases, the location of the critical end point (CEP) exhibits non-monotonic behavior. That is, for $q<1.15$, CEP moves in the direction of lower temperature and larger quark chemical potential. But for $q>1.15$, CEP turns to move in the direction of lower temperature and lower quark chemical potential. In addition, we studied the moments of the net-baryon number distribution, that is, the variance ($\sigma^{2}$), skewness (S), and kurtosis ($\kappa$). Our results are generally consistent with the latest experimental data, especially for $\sqrt{S_{NN}}>19.6\ \mathrm{GeV}$, when $q$ is set to $1.07$

Fever Screening at Airports and Imported Dengue

Airport fever screening in Taiwan, July 2003–June 2004, identified 40 confirmed dengue cases. Results obtained by capture immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG enzyme-linked immunoassay, real time 1-step polymerase chain reaction, and virus isolation showed that 33 (82.5%) of 40 patients were viremic. Airport fever screening can thus quickly identify imported dengue cases

Nocturnal CPAP improves walking capacity in COPD patients with obstructive sleep apnoea

BACKGROUND: Exercise limitation is an important issue in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and it often co-exists with obstructive sleep apnoea (overlap syndrome). This study examined the effects of nocturnal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on walking capacity in COPD patients with or without obstructive sleep apnoea. METHODS: Forty-four stable moderate-to-severe COPD patients were recruited and completed this study. They all underwent polysomnography, CPAP titration, accommodation, and treatment with adequate pressure. The incremental shuttle walking test was used to measure walking capacity at baseline and after two nights of CPAP treatment. Urinary catecholamine and heart rate variability were measured before and after CPAP treatment. RESULTS: After two nights of CPAP treatment, the apnoea-hypopnoea index and oxygen desaturation index significantly improved in both overlap syndrome and COPD patients, however these changes were significantly greater in the overlap syndrome than in the COPD group. Sleep architecture and autonomic dysfunction significantly improved in the overlap syndrome group but not in the COPD group. CPAP treatment was associated with an increased walking capacity from baseline from 226.4 ± 95.3 m to 288.6 ± 94.6 m (P < 0.05), and decreased urinary catecholamine levels, pre-exercise heart rate, oxygenation, and Borg scale in the overlap syndrome group. An improvement in the apnoea-hypopnoea index was an independent factor associated with the increase in walking distance (r = 0.564). CONCLUSION: Nocturnal CPAP may improve walking capacity in COPD patients with overlap syndrome. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT0091426

Effect of Furin inhibitor on lung adenocarcinoma cell growth and metastasis

BACKGROUND: To investigate the mechanisms of lung adenocarcinoma cell metastasis and provide a theoretical basis for the in-depth study of lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: A549 cells are incubated with different concentrations of Furin inhibitor for indicated times. The proliferation and migration were confirmed with MTT, colony formation, wound Healing and Transwell assayes. Hochest 33342 / PI double staining was used to detect apoptosis. Cell migration and apoptosis associated proteins were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot. RESULTS: We have found that Furin inhibitor play a significant role in inhibition A549 cell growth. And we also found cell migration was inhibited significantly upon Furin inhibitor treatment. CONCLUSION: The proliferration and migration of A549 cell were inhibited by Furin inbitor through down-regulation the expression of migration and apoptosis related proteins