CA19.9 antigen circulating in the serum of colon cancer patients: Where is it from?

CA19.9 antigen is a glycoprotein present in human serum and found elevated in various diseases. It is intensively studied since long time as a potential marker for managing cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, but its reliability is widely accepted only for pancreatic cancers. Here, we focused on the tetrasaccharide epitope (NeuAc\u3b12-3Gal\u3b21-3[Fuc\u3b11-4]GlcNAc) sialyl-Lewis a studying the biosynthesis, expression, and secretion in colon cancers and related cancer cell lines. We found that the \u3b21,3 galactosyltransferase \u3b23Gal-T5, responsible for sialyl-Lewis a synthesis, is dramatically reduced in colon adenocarcinomas, in terms of both transcript and enzyme activity levels. Moreover, no or very faint antigen is detectable in colon cancer homogenates, by dot-blot or enzyme immunoassay, while it is commonly evident in sera from different patients. In cancer cell lines synthesizing CA19.9, the amount of antigen secreted is proportional to that expressed on the cell surface, and depends on appreciable levels of \u3b23Gal-T5, which appear much higher than those measured in colon cancer specimens. Since colon cancers appear unable to synthesize relevant amount of CA19.9, we suggest that the antigen circulating in the serum of colon cancer patients may have a different and more complex origin than expected so far

A distributed power-saving framework for LTE Het-Nets exploiting Almost Blank Subframes

Almost Blank Subframes (ABS) have been defined in LTE as a means to coordinate transmissions in heterogeneous networks (HetNets), composed of macro and micro eNodeBs: the macro issues ABS periods, and refrains from transmitting during ABSs, thus creating interference-free subframes for the micros. Micros report their capacity demands to the macro via the X2 interface, and the latter provisions the ABS period accordingly. Existing algorithms for ABS provisioning usually share resources proportionally among HetNet nodes in a long-term perspective (e.g., based on traffic forecast). We argue instead that this mechanism can be exploited to save power in the HetNet: in fact, during ABSs, the macro consumes less power, since it only transmits pilot signals. Dually, the micros may inhibit data transmission themselves in some subframes, and optimally decide when to do this based on knowledge of the ABS period. This allows us to define a power saving framework that works in the short term, modifying the ABS pattern at the fastest possible pace, serving the HetNet traffic at reduced power cost. Our framework is designed using only standard signaling. Simulations show that the algorithm consumes less power than its competitors, especially at low loads, and improves the UE QoS

A practical framework for energy-efficient node activation in heterogeneous LTE networks

This paper presents a framework to activate and deactivate micro nodes in a heterogeneous multi-cell LTE network, based on load and energy efficiency consideration. The framework exploits historical data (i.e., per-macro-cell load curves) to select a set of candidate switch-on/switch-off instants of micro cells, assuming a limited number of state changes is allowed in a day. The switching instants are instead determined online, by taking into account the actual traffic as well as the load curves. Moreover, intercell interference is fully accounted for. Our simulations show that this framework allows a multi-cell network to sustain peak-hour load when necessary, and to reconfigure to a minimum coverage baseline whenever feasible, thus saving power (up to 25% in our scenarios). Moreover, the framework is robust, meaning that deviations of the actual traffic with respect to the prediction offered by the load curves can easily be handled

IMPROVED RECEIVER FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS

An iterative receiver is proposed for receiving in a cell a signal (A) and for providing information carried on said signal (A) by the execution of at least one processing iteration. The receiver comprises: an estimate assembly for receiving the signal (A) and providing, at each one of said processing iterations, a respective information estimate ; a regeneration assembly for receiving, at each processing iteration, said information estimate provided by the estimate assembly at that iteration, and for providing a regenerated signal (B) therefore based on said information estimate and on attenuation of radio channels over which the signal (A) has been transmitted; an interference estimate unit for providing, at each iteration, an interference estimate (C) based on the signal (A) and the regenerated signal (B), the estimate assembly providing, starting from a second processing iteration of said processing iterations, said information estimate based on said interference estimate; and an extraction unit for extracting said information from said information estimate

A distributed power-saving framework for LTE HetNets exploiting Almost Blank Subframes

Almost Blank Subframes (ABSs) have been defined in LTE as a means to coordinate transmissions in heterogeneous networks (HetNets), composed of macro and micro eNodeBs: the macro issues ABS periods, and refrains from transmitting during ABSs, thus creating interference-free subframes for the micros. Micros report their capacity demands to the macro via the X2 interface, and the latter provisions the ABS period accordingly. Existing algorithms for ABS provisioning usually share resources proportionally among HetNet nodes in a long-term perspective (e.g., based on traffic forecast). We argue instead that this mechanism can be exploited to save power in the HetNet: in fact, dur-ing ABSs, the macro consumes less power, since it only transmits pilot signals. Dually, the micros may inhibit data transmission themselves in some subframes, and optimally decide when to do this based on knowledge of the ABS period. This allows us to define a power saving framework that works in the short term, mod-ifying the ABS pattern at the fastest possible pace, serving the HetNet traffic at reduced power cost. Our framework is designed using only standard signaling. Simulations show that the algorithm consumes less power than its competitors, especially at low loads, and improves the UE QoS

Broadcasting in LTE-Advanced networks using multihop D2D communications

In an LTE-Advanced network, network-controlled Device-to-Device (D2D) communications can be combined in a multihop fashion to distribute broadcasts over user-defined (and possibly large) areas, with small latencies and occupying few resources. Such a service may be exploited for several purposes, (e.g. Internet of Things, Vehicular communications). Engineering a multihop D2D-based broadcast service requires working at both the application level on the User Equipment (UE) and at the resource-allocation level within the eNodeBs. This paper describes the necessary modifications at both the UE and the eNodeB, what the main issues are, and how to solve them efficiently. We evaluate the performance of the above service using system-level simulations, and demonstrate its advantages over standard broadcasting techniques

Simulation and Complexity Analysis of Iterative Interference Cancellation Receivers for LTE/LTE-Advanced

The paper details the simulation of a single user MIMO receiver operating according to the 3GPP/LTE standard applying a Parallel or Successive Interference Cancellation (PIC/SIC) strategy to a multicarrier (OFDMA/SC-FDMA) scheme. The algorithm details are analyzed and the PIC and SIC cancellation strategies are simulated and compared on random MIMO selective fading channels, considering limited complexities. The best PIC and SIC schemes for a given limited complexity (8 turbo decoding iterations per codeword) are compared for different codeblock lengths and spatial correlation scenarios over an EPA channel model. The 2 cycles SIC scheme shows the best performance over the selected scenarios, offering gains over the non-iterative schemes (measured at BLER values of 0.1) ranging from 1 to 4 dB in the considered cases. Larger gains are obtained with higher spatial correlation and shorter codeblock lengths. Better overall performance are obtained with lower spatial correlation and longer codeblock lengths

Epigenetic targeting of bromodomain protein BRD4 counteracts cancer cachexia and prolongs survival

Cancer cachexia is a devastating metabolic syndrome characterized by systemic inflammation and massive muscle and adipose tissue wasting. Although it is responsible for approximately one-third of cancer deaths, no effective therapies are available and the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. We previously identified the bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) protein BRD4 as an epigenetic regulator of muscle mass. Here we show that the pan-BET inhibitor (+)-JQ1 protects tumor-bearing mice from body weight loss and muscle and adipose tissue wasting. Remarkably, in C26-tumor-bearing mice (+)-JQ1 administration dramatically prolongs survival, without directly affecting tumor growth. By ChIP-seq and ChIP analyses, we unveil that BET proteins directly promote the muscle atrophy program during cachexia. In addition, BET proteins are required to coordinate an IL6-dependent AMPK nuclear signaling pathway converging on FoxO3 transcription factor. Overall, these findings indicate that BET proteins may represent a promising therapeutic target in the management of cancer cachexia

Coordinated scheduling in a Virtual-RAN prototype with OpenAirInterface

The virtualized Radio Access Network (V-RAN) is a key technology for 5G networks. In this paper we present a live prototype of Virtual RAN implementing a Coordinated Scheduling algorithm enforced by a centralized coordinator. The 5G proof of concept, devised to improve the usage of radio resource and efficiency, is realized by exploiting open-source software to fully virtualize the LTE eNodeBs, and accommodates commercial terminals. We implemented two coordination algorithms: a simple static one for testing purposes, and a dynamic one appeared in [1]. Preliminary results show that coordination actually isolates the eNodeBs, reducing inter-cell interference

Targeting SMYD3 to sensitize homologous recombination-proficient tumors to PARP-mediated synthetic lethality

SMYD3 is frequently overexpressed in a wide variety of cancers. Indeed, its inactivation reduces tumor growth in preclinical in vivo animal models. However, extensive characterization in vitro failed to clarify SMYD3 function in cancer cells, although confirming its importance in carcinogenesis. Taking advantage of a SMYD3 mutant variant identified in a high-risk breast cancer family, here we show that SMYD3 phosphorylation by ATM enables the formation of a multiprotein complex including ATM, SMYD3, CHK2, and BRCA2, which is required for the final loading of RAD51 at DNA double-strand break sites and completion of homologous recombination (HR). Remarkably, SMYD3 pharmacological inhibition sensitizes HR-proficient cancer cells to PARP inhibitors, thereby extending the potential of the synthetic lethality approach in human tumors