Expression of TNF-alpha-dependent apoptosis-related genes in the peripheral blood of Malagasy subjects with tuberculosis.

The majority of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infections remain asymptomatic with only up to 10% progressing to clinical tuberculosis. However, the constituents of the effective "protective immunity" against tuberculosis responsible for containing most infections remain unknown. Evaluating gene transcriptional profiles in tuberculosis clinical cohorts is one approach to understanding the spectrum of tuberculosis progression. It is clear that apoptosis plays a role in the control of tuberculosis but the utility of apoptosis-related genes as surrogate markers of protection against tuberculosis has not been well investigated. To characterize potential surrogate markers that could discriminate different phases of the clinical tuberculosis spectrum, we investigated gene expression of several TNF-alpha dependent apoptotic genes (TNFR1, TNFR2, FLICE, FLIPs) by real-time RT-PCR of peripheral blood cells from cohorts of individuals with active tuberculosis or potential exposure to tuberculosis. Newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients (n = 23), their close household contacts (n = 80), and community controls (n = 46) were tested at intervals over a period of up to two years. Latent infection or previous Mtb contact was assessed by ELISPOT and TST and complete blood counts were performed during the follow up. Results showed significant upregulation of FLIPs expression by infected individuals regardless of clinical status at entry to the study. A higher percentage of lymphocytes was found in the infected household contacts that remained healthy. In contrast, in individuals with active TB, a significant upregulation of TNFR2 expression, a significantly higher percentage of monocytes and a significantly decreased lymphocyte count were seen, compared to subjects that remained healthy. Moreover, the household contacts who subsequently developed signs of TB also had a significantly high number of monocytes. These data suggest tuberculosis may be associated with decreased T-cell survival (perhaps due to apoptosis) while inhibition of apoptosis in monocytes could lead to a relative increase in these cells: a situation predicted to favour Mtb

Jet energy measurement with the ATLAS detector in proton-proton collisions at root s=7 TeV

The jet energy scale and its systematic uncertainty are determined for jets measured with the ATLAS detector at the LHC in proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 7TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 38 pb-1. Jets are reconstructed with the anti-kt algorithm with distance parameters R=0. 4 or R=0. 6. Jet energy and angle corrections are determined from Monte Carlo simulations to calibrate jets with transverse momenta pT≥20 GeV and pseudorapidities {pipe}η{pipe}<4. 5. The jet energy systematic uncertainty is estimated using the single isolated hadron response measured in situ and in test-beams, exploiting the transverse momentum balance between central and forward jets in events with dijet topologies and studying systematic variations in Monte Carlo simulations. The jet energy uncertainty is less than 2. 5 % in the central calorimeter region ({pipe}η{pipe}<0. 8) for jets with 60≤pT<800 GeV, and is maximally 14 % for pT<30 GeV in the most forward region 3. 2≤{pipe}η{pipe}<4. 5. The jet energy is validated for jet transverse momenta up to 1 TeV to the level of a few percent using several in situ techniques by comparing a well-known reference such as the recoiling photon pT, the sum of the transverse momenta of tracks associated to the jet, or a system of low-pT jets recoiling against a high-pT jet. More sophisticated jet calibration schemes are presented based on calorimeter cell energy density weighting or hadronic properties of jets, aiming for an improved jet energy resolution and a reduced flavour dependence of the jet response. The systematic uncertainty of the jet energy determined from a combination of in situ techniques is consistent with the one derived from single hadron response measurements over a wide kinematic range. The nominal corrections and uncertainties are derived for isolated jets in an inclusive sample of high-pT jets. Special cases such as event topologies with close-by jets, or selections of samples with an enhanced content of jets originating from light quarks, heavy quarks or gluons are also discussed and the corresponding uncertainties are determined. © 2013 CERN for the benefit of the ATLAS collaboration

Measurement of the inclusive and dijet cross-sections of b-jets in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The inclusive and dijet production cross-sections have been measured for jets containing b-hadrons (b-jets) in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV, using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The measurements use data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 34 pb^-1. The b-jets are identified using either a lifetime-based method, where secondary decay vertices of b-hadrons in jets are reconstructed using information from the tracking detectors, or a muon-based method where the presence of a muon is used to identify semileptonic decays of b-hadrons inside jets. The inclusive b-jet cross-section is measured as a function of transverse momentum in the range 20 < pT < 400 GeV and rapidity in the range |y| < 2.1. The bbbar-dijet cross-section is measured as a function of the dijet invariant mass in the range 110 < m_jj < 760 GeV, the azimuthal angle difference between the two jets and the angular variable chi in two dijet mass regions. The results are compared with next-to-leading-order QCD predictions. Good agreement is observed between the measured cross-sections and the predictions obtained using POWHEG + Pythia. MC@NLO + Herwig shows good agreement with the measured bbbar-dijet cross-section. However, it does not reproduce the measured inclusive cross-section well, particularly for central b-jets with large transverse momenta.Comment: 10 pages plus author list (21 pages total), 8 figures, 1 table, final version published in European Physical Journal

Uneven focal shoe deterioration in Tourette syndrome.

A 31-year-old single man (AB) sought neuropsychiatric consultation for treatment-resistant motor and vocal tics. He described himself expressing a total of 24 different tics, mainly facial twitches (eye blinking, raising eyebrows, mouth opening, lips licking, stereotyped grimacing) and inappropriate utterances (grunting, throat clearing, sniffing), since the age of 7. There appeared to be no family history of tic disorder. He reported occasional utterance of swear words in contextually inappropriate situations (coprolalia), and the urge to copy other people’s movements (echopraxia). Other tic-associated symptoms included self-injurious behaviours and forced touching of objects. A.B. met both DSM-IV-tr and ICD-10 criteria for Tourette syndrome, and also DSM-IV-tr criteria for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (combined type) in childhood

Risk factors for complications after appendectomy in adults

OBJETIVO: Definir os fatores de risco para as complicações após as apendicectomias em adultos. INTRODUÇÃO: os fatores de risco que levam as complicações após as apendicectomias são ainda pouco conhecidos. Sua definição pré-operatória é importante na diminuição da morbi-mortalidade pós-operatória. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo de 500 pacientes submetidos à apendicectomia no Hospital Regional da Asa Norte entre os anos de 2003 e 2004. Estes foram avaliados quanto à idade, sexo, duração dos sintomas até a procura por assistência médica, presença de febre, características da dor abdominal, hemograma, tempo de admissão até a operação, co-morbidades, incisões utilizadas nas operações, achados operatórios, utilização de drenos, complicações pós-operatórias e dias de internação hospitalar. Foram utilizadas análises de regressões logísticas para predizer e quantificar os fatores de risco para as complicações após as operações. RESULTADOS: As chances de complicações foram maiores no gênero feminino (OR=1,97, 95%, IC-1,19-3,13), na apendicite perfurada (OR=4,67, 95%, IC-2,43-8,94), na apendicite sem perfuração (OR=3,32, 95%, IC-1,72-6,38), naqueles pacientes submetidos à drenagem abdominal (OR=17,54, 95%,IC-4,83-63,77) ou com ASA II (OR=1,53, 95%, IC 2,52-15,89). As infecções do sítio cirúrgico e os abscessos intra-abdominais foram os principais fatores de morbidade. A mortalidade foi nula. CONCLUSÕES: A análise de regressão logística multivariável demonstrou que o gênero, a necrose apendicular, a drenagem da cavidade abdominal e a classificação de ASA contribuíram para o aumento das complicações pós-operatórias dos pacientes submetidos às apendicectomias.BACKGROUND: Risk factors for adverse outcomes after the surgical treatment of appendicitis in adults are poorly defined. Accurate presurgical assessment of the risk of preoperative complications and mortality is important in planning surgical therapy. METHODS: All patients undergoing surgical intervention for appendicitis from January 2003 and January 2004 were selected for study. Independent variables examined included 11 putative preoperative risk factors and 4 intraoperative process measures. Dependents variables were complications. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used for construct models predicting complications. RESULTS: There was a high risk in female (OR=1,97, 95%, IC-1,19-3,13), in appendix with perforation (OR=4,67 95%, IC-2,43-8,94), appendix without perforation (OR=3,32, 95%, IC-1,72-6,38), drainage (OR=17,54, 95%,IC-4,83-63,77) and ASA II (OR=1,53, 95%, IC 2,52-15,89). CONCLUSION: Four factors, in the logistic regression analysis, predicted a high risk of complications after the surgical treatment of appendicitis: female, necrosis with or without ruptured appendix, drainage and ASA Class II