The Case for Hypercritical Accretion in M33 X-7

The spin parameter of the black hole in M33 X-7 has recently been measured to be a*=0.77+-0.05 (Liu et al. 2008). It has been proposed that the spin of the 15.65 M_sun black hole is natal. We show that this is not a viable evolutionary path given the observed binary orbital period of 3.45 days since the explosion that would produce a black hole with the cited spin parameter and orbital period would disrupt the binary. Furthermore, we show that the system has to be evolved through the hypercritical mass transfer of about 5 M_sun from the secondary star to the black hole.Comment: 4 page

ULTRAFILTRATED FRACTION OF KOREAN RED GINSENG EXTRACT IMPROVES MEMORY IMPAIRMENT OF TG2576 MICE VIA INHIBITION OF SOLUBLE AÎ’ PRODUCTION AND ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY

Objective: The goal of this study was to research for an effective fraction on memory improvement of Korean red ginseng.Methods: In this study, 80 % ethanol red ginseng extract (RE) was divided into inner fluid (REUI) and outer fluid (REUO) by the ultrafiltration and then REUO was further separated into four fractions namely, REUO-00, REUO-30, REUO-50 and REUO-70, respectively, by Diaion HP-20 column chromatography.Results: REUO has protected more significantly the H2O2-induced SHSY-5Y cell death than REUI. Interestingly, the hydrophobic parts of the REUO (REUO-EtOHs) such as REUO-30,-50 and-70 decreased more significantly the H2O2-induced cell death than its hydrophilic part (REUO-00) in a dose-dependent manner. Then, we focused on the activity of a candidate for cholinergic functions, because memory deficits of neurodegenerative diseases are closely associated with cholinergic dysfunctions. The REUO-EtOHs (1.25 mg/ml) inhibited the activity of the acetylcholinesterase and its half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was about 2.358 mg/ml. Additionally, we investigated whether the intake of the REUO (50 mg/kg/d) during 12 w could improve memory impairment of 12-month old Tg2576 mice and decrease total soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) proteins in the mouse brain cortex. The REUO alleviated significantly the memory impairment and successfully reduced the levels of the soluble Aβ proteins in the mouse cortex.Conclusion: We finally suggest that the REUO, including majorly its hydrophobic part that may be considered as more effective for memory improvement, will be highly considered as valuable candidate for the memory-enhancing ingredients against cholinergic dysfunctions and cognitive impairments of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease.Keywords: Ginseng, Alzheimer's disease, Acetylcholinesterase, Ultrafiltration, MemoryÂ

Could Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide Test be Useful in Predicting Inhaled Corticosteroid Responsiveness in Chronic Cough? A Systematic Review

© 2016 Background Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) is a safe and convenient test for assessing T H 2 airway inflammation, which is potentially useful in the management of patients with chronic cough. Objective To summarize the current evidence on the diagnostic usefulness of FENO for predicting inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) responsiveness in patients with chronic cough. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted to identify articles published in peer-reviewed journals up to February 2015, without language restriction. We included studies that reported the usefulness of FENO (index test) for predicting ICS responsiveness (reference standard) in patients with chronic cough (target condition). The data were extracted to construct a 2 × 2 accuracy table. Study quality was assessed with Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2. Results We identified 5 original studies (2 prospective and 3 retrospective studies). We identified considerable heterogeneities in study design and outcome definitions, and thus were unable to perform a meta-analysis. The proportion of ICS responders ranged from 44% to 59%. Sensitivity and specificity ranged from 53% to 90%, and from 63% to 97%, respectively. The reported area under the curve ranged from abou t 0.60 to 0.87; however, studies with a prospective design and a lower prevalence of asthma had lower area under the curve values. None measured placebo effects or objective cough frequency. Conclusions We did not find strong evidence to support the use of FENO tests for predicting ICS responsiveness in chronic cough. Further studies need to have a randomized, placebo-controlled design, and should use validated measurement tools for cough. Standardization would facilitate the development of clinical evidence

Mergers of Binary Compact Objects

We work out the effects of hypercritical accretion, which transfers mass from the secondary to the primary (first-born) neutron star (NS) in a binary, showing that the mass of the primary would end up 0.6 M_sun greater than the secondary NS in contradiction with the very nearly equal masses of the two NS's in binaries measured to date. We discuss that the primary NS evolves into a low-mass black-hole (LMBH) due to the hypercritical accretion. Using a flat distribution in the mass ratio q (q = M_secondary/M_primary), we calculated a ratio of LMBH-NS and NS-NS systems to be 5, in rough agreement with Pinsonneault and Stanek (2006). These authors emphasize the importance of "twins", which we discuss. The two NS's in the twins would be close in mass and further increase the number of mergings.Comment: 7 pages, substantial changes, accepted for publication in Ap

Exponential ATP amplification through simultaneous regeneration from AMP and pyrophosphate for luminescence detection of bacteria

a b s t r a c t Bacteria monitoring is essential for many industrial manufacturing processes, particularly those involving in food, biopharmaceuticals, and semiconductor production. Firefly luciferase ATP luminescence assay is a rapid and simple bacteria detection method. However, the detection limit of this assay for Escherichia coli is approximately 10 4 colony-forming units (CFU), which is insufficient for many applications. This study aims to improve the assay sensitivity by simultaneous conversion of PP i and AMP, two products of the luciferase reaction, back to ATP to form two chain-reaction loops. Because each consumed ATP continuously produces two new ATP molecules, this approach can achieve exponential amplification of ATP. Two consecutive enzyme reactions were employed to regenerate AMP into ATP: adenylate kinase converting AMP into ADP using UTP as the energy source, and acetate kinase catalyzing acetyl phosphate and ADP into ATP. The PP i -recycling loop was completed using ATP sulfurylase and adenosine 5 0 phosphosulfate. The modification maintains good quantification linearity in the ATP luminescence assay and greatly increases its bacteria detection sensitivity. This improved method can detect bacteria concentrations of fewer than 10 CFU. This exponential ATP amplification assay will benefit bacteria monitoring in public health and manufacturing processes that require high-quality water. Ó 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Bacteria monitoring is essential for many industrial manufacturing processes, and particularly those involving food, semiconductors, and biopharmaceuticals. The presence of bacteria reduces production yield and may cause serious health problems in humans. Researchers have developed several rapid assays for detecting bacteria in water. These methods include polymerase chain reactions, fluorescence in situ hybridization [1], b-D-glucuronidase activity measurement The ATP luminescence assay is a rapid, sensitive, and easy-toperform method based on the detection of ATP, a molecule ubiquitously present in all living cells. The enzyme luciferase catalyzes the oxidation of the substrate luciferin while transforming the energy derived from ATP into light, which can be quantified by a luminometer. This assay has been widely used in bacteria monitoring for food hygiene [4] and surface cleanliness The current detection limit of the ATP luminescence method for Escherichia coli is approximately 10 4 colony-forming units (CFU) 1 [12,13], which is not sensitive enough for many industrial and medical applications. Several approaches have been adopted to improve the assay sensitivity. The first strategy involves the identification of chemical extractants that can effectively disrupt bacterial cells while not interfering with the luminescence assay. Both dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) 0003-2697/$ -see front matter

Prefoldin 5 and Anti-prefoldin 5 Antibodies as Biomarkers for Uveitis in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Objective: Uveitis is the most common extra-articular manifestation of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), for which no diagnostic biomarkers have been identified. This study was conducted to identify biomarker for uveitis in AS.Methods: To identify autoantibodies associated with uveitis in AS, we performed human protein microarray analysis using sera derived from various autoimmune diseases and ELISA analysis of sera derived from AS and rheumatoid arthritis patients. In the curdlan-induced SKG mice model, ophthalmic examination was performed at week 8 post-immunization and histologic examination of the ocular lesions performed at week 16 post-immunization. Serum levels of target antibodies were assessed at various time-points. To evaluate the functional role of specific autoantibodies, an in vitro apoptosis assay using ARPE-19 cells was performed.Results: Reactivity against prefoldin subunit 5 (PFDN5) was identified in AS with uveitis. Levels of anti-PFDN5 antibodies and PFDN5 in sera from AS with uveitis patients were significantly higher than those in AS without uveitis. At week 8, half of curdlan-treated SKG mice developed anterior uveitis, while all of them developed histologically confirmed uveitis at week 16. The levels of anti-PFDN5 antibodies increased over time in the sera of curdlan-treated SKG mice along with increased expression of PFDN5 and apoptosis in the ocular lesions. Knockdown of PFDN5 in ARPE19 cells resulted in increased apoptosis, suggesting a protective role of PFDN5 against cell death in uveitis.Conclusion: AS patients with uveitis have increased levels of anti-PFDN5 antibodies, and our findings suggest that anti-PFDN5 antibodies could provide a biomarker for uveitis in AS

A Mathematical Model of Breast Tumor Progression Based on Immune Infiltration

Breast cancer is the most prominent type of cancer among women. Understanding the microenvironment of breast cancer and the interactions between cells and cytokines will lead to better treatment approaches for patients. In this study, we developed a data-driven mathematical model to investigate the dynamics of key cells and cytokines involved in breast cancer development. We used gene expression profiles of tumors to estimate the relative abundance of each immune cell and group patients based on their immune patterns. Dynamical results show the complex interplay between cells and molecules, and sensitivity analysis emphasizes the direct effects of macrophages and adipocytes on cancer cell growth. In addition, we observed the dual effect of IFN-γ role= presentation style= box-sizing: border-box; max-height: none; display: inline; line-height: normal; word-spacing: normal; overflow-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; position: relative; \u3eγ on cancer proliferation, either through direct inhibition of cancer cells or by increasing the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T-cells

Effect of a fixed-dose combination of Telmisartan/S-amlodipine on circadian blood pressure compared with Telmisartan monotherapy: TENUVA-BP study

Abstract Background This study evaluated the circadian efficacy of a telmisartan 40 mg/S-amlodipine 2.5 mg fixed-dose combination (Telmisartan40/S-Amlodipine2.5) compared to telmisartan 80 mg (Telmisartan80) in patients with essential hypertension who did not respond to 2–4 weeks treatment with telmisartan 40 mg. Methods Eligible patients with essential hypertension (clinic mean sitting systolic blood pressure [MSSBP] ≥140 mmHg, or ≥ 130 mmHg in those with diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease) were randomly assigned to Telmisartan40/S-Amlodipine2.5 or Telmisartan80 for 8 weeks. All patients underwent ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) at baseline and 8 weeks later. Primary endpoints were changes in mean 24-h SBP and DBP on 24-h ABPM from baseline after 8 weeks. Secondary endpoints were changes in daytime, nighttime, and morning SBP and DBP, and clinic MSSBP and MSDBP. Results A total of 316 Korean patients were enrolled, 217 patients were randomized to treatment, and 192 patients completed the study. Compared to Telmisartan80, Telmisartan40/S-Amlodipine2.5 showed significantly better reductions in 24-h mean SBP and DBP after 8 weeks. Telmisartan40/S-Amlodipine2.5 also significantly reduced secondary endpoints compared to Telmisartan80. Among 15 adverse events (7 [Telmisartan40/S-Amlodipine2.5] and 8 [Telmisartan80]), there were five adverse drug reactions; 14 events were mild, and none were identified with significant between-group differences. Conclusions Telmisartan40/S-Amlodipine2.5 was tolerable and more effective than Telmisartan80 in lowering 24-h mean ambulatory BP in patients with essential hypertension not responding adequately to Telmisartan40. Our findings support the fact that the combination of S-amlodipine with telmisartan is more appropriate than increasing the dose of telmisartan monotherapy. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT02231788 . Registered 4 September 2014

Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography at 80 kVp and Knowledge-Based Iterative Model Reconstruction Is Non-Inferior to that at 100 kVp with Iterative Reconstruction

The aims of this study were to compare the image noise and quality of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) at 80 kVp with knowledge-based iterative model reconstruction (IMR) to those of CCTA at 100 kVp with hybrid iterative reconstruction (IR), and to evaluate the feasibility of a low-dose radiation protocol with IMR. Thirty subjects who underwent prospective electrocardiogram-gating CCTA at 80 kVp, 150 mAs, and IMR (Group A), and 30 subjects with 100 kVp, 150 mAs, and hybrid IR (Group B) were retrospectively enrolled after sample-size calculation. A BMI of less than 25 kg/m2 was required for inclusion. The attenuation value and image noise of CCTA were measured and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated at the proximal right coronary artery and left main coronary artery. The image noise was analyzed using a non-inferiority test. The CCTA images were qualitatively evaluated using a four-point scale. The radiation dose was significantly lower in Group A than Group B (0.69 ± 0.08 mSv vs. 1.39 ± 0.15 mSv, p < 0.001). The attenuation values were higher in Group A than Group B (p < 0.001). The SNR and CNR in Group A were higher than those of Group B. The image noise of Group A was non-inferior to that of Group B. Qualitative image quality of Group A was better than that of Group B (3.6 vs. 3.4, p = 0.017). CCTA at 80 kVp with IMR could reduce the radiation dose by about 50%, with non-inferior image noise and image quality than those of CCTA at 100 kVp with hybrid IR

Directed Induction of Functional Motor Neuron-Like Cells from Genetically Engineered Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Cell replacement using stem cells is a promising therapeutic approach to treat degenerative motor neuron (MN) disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal cord injury. Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are a desirable cell source for autologous cell replacement therapy to treat nervous system injury due to their plasticity, low immunogenicity, and a lower risk of tumor formation than embryonic stem cells. However, hMSCs are inefficient with regards to differentiating into MN-like cells. To solve this limitation, we genetically engineered hMSCs to express MN-associated transcription factors, Olig2 and Hb9, and then treat the hMSCs expressing Olig2 and Hb9 with optimal MN induction medium (MNIM). This method of induction led to higher expression (>30% of total cells) of MN markers. Electrophysiological data revealed that the induced hMSCs had the excitable properties of neurons and were able to form functional connections with muscle fibers in vitro. Furthermore, when the induced hMSCs were transplanted into an injured organotypic rat spinal cord slice culture, an ex vivo model of spinal cord injury, they exhibited characteristics of MNs. The data strongly suggest that induced Olig2/Hb9-expressing hMSCs were clearly reprogrammed and directed toward a MN-like lineage. We propose that methods to induce Olig2 and Hb9, followed by further induction with MNIM have therapeutic potential for autologous cell replacement therapy to treat degenerative MN disorders