1,160 research outputs found
MYB-NFIB fusion transcript in adenoid cystic carcinoma : current state of knowledge and future directions
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is the most common type of salivary gland cancer that can also arise in other primary sites. Regardless of the site, most ACC cases carry a recurrent chromosomal translocation - t(6;9)(q22–23;p23–24) - involving the MYB oncogene and the NFIB transcription factor. Generally, a long sequence of MYB is fused to the terminal exons of NFIB, yet the break can occur in different exons for both genes, resulting in multiple chimeric variants. The fusion status can be determined by a number of methods, each of them with particular advantages. In vitro and in vivo studies have been conducted to understand the biological consequences of MYB-NFIB translocation, and such findings could contribute to improving the current inefficient therapeutic options for disseminated ACC. This review provides a discussion on relevant evidence in the context of ACC MYB-NFIB translocations to determine the current state of knowledge and discuss future directions
Comparison of the Neutrophil Proteome in Trauma Patients and Normal Controls
Background: Neutrophils have an impressive array of microbicidal weapons, and in the presence of a pathogen, progress from a quiescent state in the bloodstream to a completely activated state. Failure to regulate this activation, for example, when the blood is flooded with cytokines after severe trauma, causes inappropriate neutrophil activation that paradoxically, is associated with tissue and organ damage. Acidic proteomic maps of quiescent human neutrophils were analyzed and compared to those of activated neutrophils from severe trauma patients. The analysis revealed 114 spots whose measured volumes differed between activated and quiescent neutrophils, with 27 upregulated and 87 downregulated in trauma conditions. Among the identified proteins, grancalcin, S100-A9 and CACNB2 reinforce observed correlations between motility and ion flux, ANXA3, SNAP, FGD1 and Zfyve19 are involved in vesicular transport and exocytosis, and GSTP1, HSPA1 HSPA1L, MAOB, UCH-L5, and PPA1 presented evidence that activated neutrophils may have diminished protection against oxidative damage and are prone to apoptosis. These are discussed, along with proteins involved in cytoskeleton reorganization, reactive oxygen species production, and ion flux. Proteins such as Zfyve19, MAOB and albumin- like protein were described for the first time in the neutrophil. In this work we achieved the identification of several proteins potentially involved in inflammatory signaling after trauma, as well as proteins described for the first time in neutrophils
Measurement of B(GT)/B(F) for the Anomalous 35-Ar β+ Decay via the (p,n) Reaction
This research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation Grant NSF PHY 87-1440
Spin Transfer Measurements for (p,n) Reactions at Intermediate Energy
This research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation Grant NSF PHY 87-1440
Weak Interaction Matrix Elements and (p,n) Cross Sections
This research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation Grant NSF PHY-931478
Small-polaron hopping conductivity in bilayer manganite LaSrMnO
We report anisotropic resistivity measurements on a
LaSrMnO single crystal over a temperature range
from 2 to 400 K and in magnetic fields up to 14 T. For K, the
temperature dependence of the zero-field in-plane resistivity
obeys the adiabatic small polaron hopping mechanism, while the out-of-plane
resistivity can be ascribed by an Arrhenius law with the same
activation energy. Considering the magnetic character of the polarons and the
close correlation between the resistivity and magnetization, we developed a
model which allows the determination of . The excellent
agreement of the calculations with the measurements indicates that small
polarons play an essential role in the electrical transport properties in the
paramagnetic phase of bilayer manganites.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, to appear in Physical Review
Precision Electroweak Data and Unification of Couplings in Warped Extra Dimensions
Warped extra dimensions allow a novel way of solving the hierarchy problem,
with all fundamental mass parameters of the theory naturally of the order of
the Planck scale. The observable value of the Higgs vacuum expectation value is
red-shifted, due to the localization of the Higgs field in the extra dimension.
It has been recently observed that, when the gauge fields propagate in the
bulk, unification of the gauge couplings may be achieved. Moreover, the
propagation of fermions in the bulk allows for a simple solution to potentially
dangerous proton decay problems. However, bulk gauge fields and fermions pose a
phenomenological challenge, since they tend to induce large corrections to the
precision electroweak observables. In this article, we study in detail the
effect of gauge and fermion fields propagating in the bulk in the presence of
gauge brane kinetic terms compatible with gauge coupling unification, and we
present ways of obtaining a consistent description of experimental data, while
allowing values of the first Kaluza Klein mode masses of the order of a few
TeV.Comment: 32 pages, 7 figures. References adde
TrkB-targeted therapy for mucoepidermoid carcinoma
The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) pathway was previously associated with key oncogenic outcomes in a number of adenocarcinomas. The aim of our study was to determine the role of this pathway in mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC). Three MEC cell lines (UM-HMC-2, H253 and H292) were exposed to Cisplatin, the TrkB inhibitor, ANA-12 and a combination of these drugs. Ultrastructural changes were assessed through transmission electron microscopy; scratch and Transwell assays were used to assess migration and invasion; and a clonogenic assay and spheroid-forming assay allowed assessment of survival and percentage of cancer stem cells (CSC). Changes in cell ultrastructure demonstrated Cisplatin cytotoxicity, while the effects of ANA-12 were less pronounced. Both drugs, used individually and in combination, delayed MEC cell migration, invasion and survival. ANA-12 significantly reduced the number of CSC, but the Cisplatin effect was greater, almost eliminating this cell population in all MEC cell lines. Interestingly, the spheroid forming capacity recovered, following the combination therapy, as compared to Cisplatin alone. Our studies allowed us to conclude that the TrkB inhibition, efficiently impaired MEC cell migration, invasion and survival in vitro, however, the decrease in CSC number, following the combined treatment of ANA-12 and Cisplatin, was less than that seen with Cisplatin alone; this represents a limiting factor
Unidentified gamma-ray sources off the Galactic plane as low-mass microquasars?
A subset of the unidentified EGRET gamma-ray sources with no active galactic
nucleus or other conspicuous counterpart appears to be concentrated at medium
latitudes. Their long-term variability and their spatial distribution indicate
that they are distinct from the more persistent sources associated with the
nearby Gould Belt. They exhibit a large scale height of 1.3 +/- 0.6 kpc above
the Galactic plane. Potential counterparts for these sources include
microquasars accreting from a low-mass star and spewing a continuous jet.
Detailed calculations have been performed of the jet inverse Compton emission
in the radiation fields from the star, the accretion disc, and a hot corona.
Different jet Lorentz factors, powers, and aspect angles have been explored.
The up-scattered emission from the corona predominates below 100 MeV whereas
the disc and stellar contributions are preponderant at higher energies for
moderate (~15 deg) and small (~1 deg) aspect angles, respectively. Yet, unlike
in the high-mass, brighter versions of these systems, the external Compton
emission largely fails to produce the luminosities required for 5 to 10 kpc
distant EGRET sources. Synchrotron-self-Compton emission appears as a promising
alternative.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures. Contributed paper to the "Multiwavelength
Approach to Unidentified Gamma-Ray Sources", Eds. K.S. Cheng & G.E. Romero,
to appear in Astrophysics and Space Science journa
Surface preparation of powder metallurgical tool steels by means of wire electrical discharge machining
The surface of two types of powder metallurgical (PM) tool steels (i.e., with and without nitrogen) was prepared using wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM). From each grade of tool steel, seven surfaces corresponding to one to seven passes of WEDM were prepared. The WEDM process was carried out using a brass wire as electrode and deionized water as dielectric. After eachWEDM pass the surface of the tool steels was thoroughly examined. Surface residual stresses were measured by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The measured stresses were found to be of tensile nature. The surface roughness of the WEDM specimens was measured using interference microscopy. The surface roughness as well as the residual stress measurements indicated an insignificant improvement of these parameters after four passes of WEDM. In addition, the formed recast layer was characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), XRD, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The characterization investigation clearly shows diffusion of copper and zinc from the wire electrode into the work material, even after the final WEDM step. Finally, the importance of eliminating excessive WEDM steps is thoroughly discussed
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