Morphological and Functional Changes in the Retina after Chronic Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy

The mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) has been widely used for studies of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). This disorder, characterized by abnormal vascularization of the retina, tends to occur in low birth weight neonates after exposure to high supplemental oxygen. Currently, the incidence of ROP is increasing because of increased survival of these infants due to medical progress. However, little is known about changes in the chronic phase after ROP. Therefore, in this study, we examined morphological and functional changes in the retina using a chronic OIR model. Both the a- and b-waves in the OIR model recovered in a time-dependent manner at 4 weeks (w), 6 w, and 8 w, but the oscillatory potential (OP) amplitudes remained depressed following a return to normoxic conditions. Furthermore, decrease in the thicknesses of the inner plexiform layer (IPL) and inner nuclear layer (INL) at postnatal day (P) 17, 4 w, and 8 w and hyperpermeability of blood vessels were observed in conjunction with the decrease in the expression of claudin-5 and occludin at 8 w. The chronic OIR model revealed the following: (1) a decrease in OP amplitudes, (2) morphological abnormalities in the retinal cells (limited to the IPL and INL) and blood vessels, and (3) an increase in retinal vascular permeability via the impairment of the tight junction proteins. These findings suggest that the experimental animal model used in this study is suitable for elucidating the pathogenesis of ROP and may lead to the development of potential therapeutic agents for ROP treatment

Expected Performance of the ATLAS Experiment - Detector, Trigger and Physics

A detailed study is presented of the expected performance of the ATLAS detector. The reconstruction of tracks, leptons, photons, missing energy and jets is investigated, together with the performance of b-tagging and the trigger. The physics potential for a variety of interesting physics processes, within the Standard Model and beyond, is examined. The study comprises a series of notes based on simulations of the detector and physics processes, with particular emphasis given to the data expected from the first years of operation of the LHC at CERN

Frequent HPV-independent p16/INK4A overexpression in head and neck cancer

Objectives p16INK4A (p16) is the most widely used clinical biomarker for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC). HPV is a favourable prognostic marker in HNSCC and is used for patient stratification. While p16 is a relatively accurate marker for HPV within the oropharynx, recent reports suggest it may be unsuitable for use in other HNSCC subsites, where a smaller proportion of tumors are HPV-driven. Materials and methods We integrated reverse phase protein array (RPPA) data for p16 with HPV status based on detection of viral transcripts by RNA-seq in a set of 210 HNSCCs profiled by The Cancer Genome Atlas project. Samples were queried for alterations in CDKN2A, and other pathway genes to investigate possible drivers of p16 expression. Results While p16 levels as measured by RPPA were significantly different by HPV status, there were multiple HPV (?) samples with similar expression levels of p16 to HPV (+) samples, particularly at non-oropharyngeal subsites. In many cases, p16 overexpression in HPV (?) tumors could not be explained by mutation or amplification of CDKN2A or by RB1 mutation. Instead, we observed enrichment for inactivating mutations in the histone H3 lysine 36 methyltransferase, NSD1 in HPV (?)/p16-high tumors. Conclusions RPPA data suggest high p16 protein expression in many HPV (?) non-oropharyngeal HNSCCs, limiting its potential utility as an HPV biomarker outside of the oropharynx. HPV-independent overexpression of wild-type p16 in non-oropharyngeal HNSCC may be linked to global deregulation of chromatin state by inactivating mutations in NSD1

Omecamtiv mecarbil in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, GALACTIC‐HF: baseline characteristics and comparison with contemporary clinical trials

Aims: The safety and efficacy of the novel selective cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil, in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is tested in the Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure (GALACTIC‐HF) trial. Here we describe the baseline characteristics of participants in GALACTIC‐HF and how these compare with other contemporary trials. Methods and Results: Adults with established HFrEF, New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA) ≥ II, EF ≤35%, elevated natriuretic peptides and either current hospitalization for HF or history of hospitalization/ emergency department visit for HF within a year were randomized to either placebo or omecamtiv mecarbil (pharmacokinetic‐guided dosing: 25, 37.5 or 50 mg bid). 8256 patients [male (79%), non‐white (22%), mean age 65 years] were enrolled with a mean EF 27%, ischemic etiology in 54%, NYHA II 53% and III/IV 47%, and median NT‐proBNP 1971 pg/mL. HF therapies at baseline were among the most effectively employed in contemporary HF trials. GALACTIC‐HF randomized patients representative of recent HF registries and trials with substantial numbers of patients also having characteristics understudied in previous trials including more from North America (n = 1386), enrolled as inpatients (n = 2084), systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg (n = 1127), estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n = 528), and treated with sacubitril‐valsartan at baseline (n = 1594). Conclusions: GALACTIC‐HF enrolled a well‐treated, high‐risk population from both inpatient and outpatient settings, which will provide a definitive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of this novel therapy, as well as informing its potential future implementation

Avaliação da genotoxicidade e mutagenicidade das águas dos rios Jaguari, Atibaia e Piracicaba, na região de influência da refinaria de Paulínia - SP

Os avanços tecnológicos trazem muitos benefícios, no entanto vêm acompanhados de um aumento dos efluentes provenientes de diferentes tipos de indústrias, os quais geram subprodutos indesejáveis que carregam consigo muitos contaminantes químicos que são lançados todo ano no solo, ar e água. Em especial, as indústrias de refino de petróleo produzem efluentes ricos em metais pesados, químicos inorgânicos e orgânicos. Dentre os contaminantes orgânicos mais importantes do petróleo, encontram-se os Hidrocarbonetos, em especial os Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos (HPA). De maneira geral, tanto os HPA quanto seus derivados estão associados ao aumento da incidência de diversos tipos de cânceres no homem. Neste contexto, faz-se necessário o desenvolvimento e aplicação de ferramentas para avaliação de amostras ambientais possivelmente impactadas por dejetos químicos. Sendo assim, o presente trabalho tem por objetivo avaliar a genotoxicidade e a mutagenicidade das águas dos rios Jaquari-SP, Atibaia-SP e Piracicaba-SP, numa região influenciada pelos efluentes gerados pela refinaria de petróleo da cidade de Paulínia – SP. As avaliações foram feitas por meio de dois organismos-testes distintos: raízes de Allium cepa e cultura de Células de Ovário de Hamster Chinês (CHO-K1). Para os ensaios com A. cepa, foram aplicados os testes de aberrações cromossômicas (AC) e micronúcleos (MN) em células de meristemas de raízes e micronúcleos em células F1 deste mesmo órgão. Para os ensaios com células CHO-K1, foram a plicadas as técnicas do ensaio do cometa e do teste do Micronúcleo. Os resultados obtidos nessa pesquisa mostraram que as substâncias químicas geradas pelo processo de refino do petróleo apresentam características genotóxicas e/ou mutagênicas. Os resultados também permitiram o esclarecimento...Technological advances bring many advances; however they are accompanied by an increase in the effluents derived from different types of industries, which generate undesirable by-products that carry several chemical contaminants that are discharged every year in the soil, air and water. Industries of petroleum refinery, in particular, produce effluents rich in heavy metals, inorganic and organic chemicals. Among the most important organic contaminants of the petroleum, we can highlight the Hydrocarbons, in special the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). In general, both PAHs and their derivatives are associated with the increase in the incidence of several types of cancer in humans. In this context, it is necessary to develop and apply tools to assess environmental samples possibly impacted by chemical waste. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the genotoxicity and mutagenicity of waters of the Jaquari-SP, Atibaia-SP and Piracicaba-SP rivers, in a region influenced by effluents generated by a petroleum refinery of the city of Paulínia – SP. The evaluations were carried out with two distinct test organisms: roots of Allium cepa and culture of cells of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO-K1). For the assays with A. cepa, the tests of chromosome aberrations (CA) and micronuclei (MN) in meristematic cells of roots and micronuclei in F1 cells of the same organ were applied. For the assays with CHO-K1 cells, the techniques of comet assay and the micronucleus test were used. The results obtained in this study showed that the chemical substances generated by the petroleum refining process present genotoxic and/or mutagenic characteristics. The results also allowed the elucidation of the modes of action of these compounds on the genetic material of the organisms exposed. Particularly, it was observed, by the tests performed... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP