Precision Measurement of the Proton Flux in Primary Cosmic Rays from Rigidity 1 GV to 1.8 TV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

A precise measurement of the proton flux in primary cosmic rays with rigidity (momentum/charge) from 1 GV to 1.8 TV is presented based on 300 million events. Knowledge of the rigidity dependence of the proton flux is important in understanding the origin, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays. We present the detailed variation with rigidity of the flux spectral index for the first time. The spectral index progressively hardens at high rigidities.</p

Haploinsufficiency of Cyfip2 Causes Lithium-Responsive Prefrontal Dysfunction

OBJECTIVE: Genetic variants of the cytoplasmic FMR1-interacting protein 2 (CYFIP2) encoding an actin-regulatory protein are associated with brain disorders, including intellectual disability and epilepsy. However, specific in vivo neuronal defects and potential treatments for CYFIP2-associated brain disorders remain largely unknown. Here, we characterized Cyfip2 heterozygous (Cyfip2+/- ) mice to understand their neurobehavioral phenotypes and underlying pathological mechanisms. Furthermore, we examined a potential treatment for such phenotypes of the Cyfip2+/- mice and specified a neuronal function mediating its efficacy. METHODS: We performed behavioral analyses on Cyfip2+/- mice. We combined molecular, ultrastructural, and in vitro and in vivo electrophysiological analyses on Cyfip2+/- prefrontal neurons. We also selectively reduced CYFIP2 in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of mice with viral injections. RESULTS: Adult Cyfip2+/- mice exhibited lithium-responsive abnormal behaviors. We found increased filamentous actin, enlarged dendritic spines, and enhanced excitatory synaptic transmission and excitability in the adult Cyfip2+/- PFC that was restricted to layer 5 (L5) neurons. Consistently, adult Cyfip2+/- mice showed increased seizure susceptibility and auditory steady-state responses from the cortical electroencephalographic recordings. Among the identified prefrontal defects, lithium selectively normalized the hyperexcitability of Cyfip2+/- L5 neurons. RNA-sequencing revealed reduced expression of potassium channel genes in the adult Cyfip2+/- PFC. Viral-mediated CYFIP2 reduction in the PFC was sufficient to induce L5 hyperexcitability and lithium-responsive abnormal behavior. INTERPRETATION: These results suggest that L5-specific prefrontal dysfunction, especially hyperexcitability, underlies both the pathophysiology and lithium-mediated amelioration of neurobehavioral phenotypes in adult Cyfip2+/- mice, which can be implicated in CYFIP2-associated brain disorders. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.11Nsciescopu

Phase I study of proteasome inhibitor bortezomib plus CHOP in patients with advanced, aggressive T-cell or NK/T-cell lymphoma

The aim of the study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and safety of the combination of bortezomib and cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (CHOP) as first-line therapy in advanced, aggressive T-cell lymphoma. Patients received increasing doses of bortezomib on days 1 and 8 (weekly schedule, 1.0, 1.3, and 1.6 mg/m2/dose) in addition to 750 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide, 50 mg/m2 doxorubicin, 1.4 mg/m2 vincristine on day 1 and 100 mg/day prednisolone on days 1 to 5, every 3 weeks. Six cycles of therapy administered every 21 days were planned. Thirteen patients, who had stage III/IV chemonaive aggressive T-cell lymphoma, received a total of 55 cycles of treatment. One patient experienced hematologic dose-limiting toxicity (grade 4 neutropenia associated with febrile episode) at the 1.0 mg/m2/dose of bortezomib. There was no dose-limiting non-hematologic toxicity. The MTD was not reached at 1.6 mg/m2 dose level of bortezomib. The overall complete remission rate in all patients was 61.5% (95% confidence interval = 31.6–86.1). Bortezomib can be safely combined with CHOP chemotherapy and constitutes an active regimen in advanced-stage, aggressive T-cell lymphoma patients. The recommended dose for subsequent phase II studies of bortezomib plus CHOP is 1.6 mg/m2/dose of bortezomib on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks as first-line treatment