A Syngeneic Orthotopic Murine Model of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma in the C57/BL6 Mouse Using the Panc02 and 6606PDA Cell Lines

Background/Aims: To develop a clinically relevant immunocompetent murine model to study pancreatic cancer using two different syngeneic pancreatic cancer cell lines and to assess MRI for its applicability in this model. Methods: Two cell lines, 6606PDA and Panc02, were employed for the experiments. Cell proliferation and migration were monitored in vitro. Matrigel™ was tested for its role in tumor induction. Tumor cell growth was assessed after orthotopic injection of tumor cells into the pancreatic head of C57/BL6 mice by MRI and histology. Results: Proliferation and migration of Panc02 were significantly faster than those of 6606PDA. Matrigel did not affect tumor growth/migration but prevented tumor cell spread after injection thus avoiding undesired peritoneal tumor growth. MRI could reliably monitor longitudinal tumor growth in both cell lines: Panc02 had a more irregular finger-like growth, and 6606PDA grew more spherically. Both tumors showed local invasiveness. Histologically, Panc02 showed a sarcoma-like undifferentiated growth pattern, whereas 6606PDA displayed a moderately differentiated glandular tumor growth. Panc02 mice had a significantly shorter (28 days) survival than 6606PDA mice (50 days). Conclusion: This model closely mimics human pancreatic cancer. MRI was invaluable for longitudinal monitoring of tumor growth thus reducing the number of mice required. Employing two different cell lines, this model can be used for various treatment and imaging studies

SU(3)_flavor analysis of two-body weak decays of charmed baryons

We study two-body weak decays of charmed baryons \Lambda_c and \Xi_c into an octet or decuplet baryon and a pseudoscalar meson employing the SU(3) flavor symmetry. Using certain measured Cabibbo-favored modes, we fix the reduced amplitudes and predict the branching ratios of various decays of charmed baryons in the Cabibbo-enhanced, -suppressed and -doubly suppressed modes.Comment: 25 pages, No figure, Phys. Rev. D (to appear

D^0-\bar{D}^0 Mixing and CP Violation in Neutral D-meson Decays

D^0-\bar{D}^0 mixing at the detectable level or significant CP violation in the charm system may strongly signify the existence of new physics. In view of the large discovery potential associated with the fixed target experiments, the B-meson factories and the \tau-charm factories, we make a further study of the phenomenology of D^0-\bar{D}^0 mixing and CP violation in neutral $D$-meson decays. The generic formulas for the time-dependent and time-integrated decay rates of both coherent and incoherent D^0\bar{D}^0 events are derived, and their approximate expressions up to the second order of the mixing parameters x_D and y_D are presented. Explicitly we discuss D^0-\bar{D}^0 mixing and various CP-violating signals in neutral D decays to the semileptonic final states, the hadronic CP eigenstates, the hadronic non-CP eigenstates and the CP-forbidden states. A few non-trivial approaches to the separate determination of x_D and y_D and to the demonstration of direct and indirect CP asymmetries in the charm sector are suggested.Comment: Latex 42 pages (including 6 PS figures). Minor changes: a) the more popular notation for D^0-\bar{D}^0 mixing is adopted; b) the possibility to test CPT symmetry in D^0-\bar{D}^0 system is not overrated. The present version is going to appear in Phys. Rev. D 1 (January 1997

A Top Quark Soliton and its Anomalous Chromomagnetic Moment

We show that under the assumption of dynamical symmetry breaking of electro weak interactions by a top quark condensate, motivated by the Top Mode Standard Model, the top quark in this effective theory can be considered then as chiral color soliton (qualiton). This is realized in an effective four-fermion interaction with chiral $SU(3)_c$ as well as $SU(2)_L\otimes U_Y(1)$ symmetry. In the pure top sector the qualiton consists of a top valence quark and a Dirac sea of top and anti-top quark coupled to a color octet of Goldstone pions. The mass spectra, isoscalar quadratic radii and the anomalous chromomagnetic moment due to a non-trivial color form factor are calculated with zero and finite current top masses and effects at the Hadron Colliders are discussed. The anomalous chromomagnetic moment turns out to have a value consistent with the top production rates of the D0- and CDF-measurements.Comment: LaTeX, using RevTeX.sty and aps.sty, without figures, 16 pages, to be published in Physical Review D. Full postscript version and figures available on request or via ftp://hadron.tp2.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/preprint.tp2/1995/08-95.tar.g

Subsequent Surgery After Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Rates and Risk Factors From a Multicenter Cohort

BACKGROUND: While revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) can be performed to restore knee stability and improve patient activity levels, outcomes after this surgery are reported to be inferior to those after primary ACLR. Further reoperations after revision ACLR can have an even more profound effect on patient satisfaction and outcomes. However, there is a current lack of information regarding the rate and risk factors for subsequent surgery after revision ACLR. PURPOSE: To report the rate of reoperations, procedures performed, and risk factors for a reoperation 2 years after revision ACLR. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A total of 1205 patients who underwent revision ACLR were enrolled in the Multicenter ACL Revision Study (MARS) between 2006 and 2011, composing the prospective cohort. Two-year questionnaire follow-up was obtained for 989 patients (82%), while telephone follow-up was obtained for 1112 patients (92%). If a patient reported having undergone subsequent surgery, operative reports detailing the subsequent procedure(s) were obtained and categorized. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine independent risk factors for a reoperation. RESULTS: Of the 1112 patients included in the analysis, 122 patients (11%) underwent a total of 172 subsequent procedures on the ipsilateral knee at 2-year follow-up. Of the reoperations, 27% were meniscal procedures (69% meniscectomy, 26% repair), 19% were subsequent revision ACLR, 17% were cartilage procedures (61% chondroplasty, 17% microfracture, 13% mosaicplasty), 11% were hardware removal, and 9% were procedures for arthrofibrosis. Multivariate analysis revealed that patients aged <20 years had twice the odds of patients aged 20 to 29 years to undergo a reoperation. The use of an allograft at the time of revision ACLR (odds ratio [OR], 1.79; P = .007) was a significant predictor for reoperations at 2 years, while staged revision (bone grafting of tunnels before revision ACLR) (OR, 1.93; P = .052) did not reach significance. Patients with grade 4 cartilage damage seen during revision ACLR were 78% less likely to undergo subsequent operations within 2 years. Sex, body mass index, smoking history, Marx activity score, technique for femoral tunnel placement, and meniscal tearing or meniscal treatment at the time of revision ACLR showed no significant effect on the reoperation rate. CONCLUSION: There was a significant reoperation rate after revision ACLR at 2 years (11%), with meniscal procedures most commonly involved. Independent risk factors for subsequent surgery on the ipsilateral knee included age <20 years and the use of allograft tissue at the time of revision ACLR

Demographic, clinical and antibody characteristics of patients with digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis: data from the DUO Registry

OBJECTIVES: The Digital Ulcers Outcome (DUO) Registry was designed to describe the clinical and antibody characteristics, disease course and outcomes of patients with digital ulcers associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: The DUO Registry is a European, prospective, multicentre, observational, registry of SSc patients with ongoing digital ulcer disease, irrespective of treatment regimen. Data collected included demographics, SSc duration, SSc subset, internal organ manifestations, autoantibodies, previous and ongoing interventions and complications related to digital ulcers. RESULTS: Up to 19 November 2010 a total of 2439 patients had enrolled into the registry. Most were classified as either limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc; 52.2%) or diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc; 36.9%). Digital ulcers developed earlier in patients with dcSSc compared with lcSSc. Almost all patients (95.7%) tested positive for antinuclear antibodies, 45.2% for anti-scleroderma-70 and 43.6% for anticentromere antibodies (ACA). The first digital ulcer in the anti-scleroderma-70-positive patient cohort occurred approximately 5 years earlier than the ACA-positive patient group. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides data from a large cohort of SSc patients with a history of digital ulcers. The early occurrence and high frequency of digital ulcer complications are especially seen in patients with dcSSc and/or anti-scleroderma-70 antibodies