The violation of mirror symmetry in the weak force provides a powerful tool to study the internal structure of the proton. Experimental results have been obtained that address the role of strange ...quarks in generating nuclear magnetism. The measurement reported here provides an unambiguous constraint on strange quark contributions to the proton's magnetic moment through the electron-proton weak interaction. We also report evidence for the existence of a parity-violating electromagnetic effect known as the anapole moment of the proton. The proton's anapole moment is not yet well understood theoretically, but it could have important implications for precision weak interaction studies in atomic systems such as cesium.
The effect of the folate food fortification program on the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in the older population with coexisting vitamin B-12 deficiency is not known.
The objective was to ...determine the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia and vitamin B-12 deficiency in elderly who were using Title IIIc nutrition services, after folate food fortification in the United States.
Demographic, nutritional, cognitive, routine diagnostic, and serum methylmalonic acid (MMA) and total homocysteine (tHcy) tests were performed in a convenience sample of 103 elderly enrolled in nutrition service programs in rural northeast Georgia. A subgroup (n = 27) was treated with vitamin B-12, 2.5 mg, and a multivitamin with 400 micro g folic acid, 2 mg vitamin B-6, and 27 mg ferrous fumarate.
The total cohort included 103 participants (+/- SD age: 76.4 +/- 8.1; 80% female; 68% white, 32% African American). Vitamin B-12 deficiency (serum vitamin B-12 < 258 pmol/L and MMA > 271 nmol/L) was present in 23%. Mean serum folate was high, 39.3 nmol/L, and no subject had serum folate < 6.8 nmol/L. Mean tHcy was 17.6 +/- 7.2 micro mol/L in vitamin B-12-deficient subjects and 10.8 +/- 3.6 micro mol/L in those who were nondeficient. Determinants of high tHcy were vitamin B-12 deficiency, high serum creatinine, and low red blood cell folate. Those with vitamin B-12 deficiency were more likely to have poor cognition (58% compared with 20%, P < 0.001) and anemia (38% compared with 18%, P = 0.042). High-dose oral B-12 therapy lowered mean MMA and tHcy by 49% and 32%, respectively.
Vitamin B-12 deficiency was prevalent and was associated with poor cognition, anemia, and hyperhomocysteinemia.
We report on a new measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry in quasielastic electron scattering from the deuteron at backward angles at Q2=0.038 (GeV/c)2. This quantity provides a determination ...of the neutral weak axial vector form factor of the nucleon, which can potentially receive large electroweak corrections. The measured asymmetry A=-3.51+/-0.57 (stat)+/-0.58 (syst) ppm is consistent with theoretical predictions. We also report on updated results of the previous experiment at Q2=0.091 (GeV/c)2, which are also consistent with theoretical predictions.
Management of lymphoceles after kidney transplantation is highly variable. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the different approaches of lymphocele management among kidney transplant ...recipients.
MEDLINE and EMBASE were systematically searched for case studies published between 1954 and 2010. Inclusion criteria were symptomatic lymphoceles developing in recipients of deceased or living donor kidneys with specified intervention and outcome. Primary outcome was the rate of recurrence. Secondary outcomes were the rate of conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery, hospital stay, and complication rates.
Fifty-two retrospective case series with 1113 cases of primary lymphocele were selected for review. No randomized controlled trials or prospective cohort studies were located. Primary treatment modalities included were as follows: aspiration (n=218), sclerotherapy (n=155), drainage (n=219), laparoscopic surgery (n=333), and open surgery (n=188). Of the 218 cases of lymphocele managed with aspiration alone, 141 recurred with a recurrence rate of 59% (95% confidence interval CI: 52-67). Among those who received laparoscopic and open surgery, the recurrence rates were 8% (95% CI: 6-12) and 16% (95% CI: 10-24), respectively. The conversion rate from laparoscopic to open surgery was 12% (95% CI: 8-16).
Laparoscopic fenestration of a symptomatic lymphocele is associated with the lowest risk of lymphocele recurrence. However, the evidence base to support a recommendation for laparoscopic surgery as first line treatment is weak and highlights the need for a multicenter prospective cohort study to examine the benefits of incorporating initial simple aspiration into the management of lymphocele after kidney transplantation.
The prognosis is poor for children and adolescents with recurrent osteosarcoma (OS). Glycoprotein non-metastatic B (gpNMB) is a glycoprotein highly expressed in OS cells. We conducted a phase II ...study of glembatumumab vedotin (GV), a fully human IgG2 monoclonal antibody (CR011) against gpNMB conjugated to the microtubule inhibitor, monomethyl auristatin E.
Patients aged ≥12 years and <50 years with relapsed or refractory OS were eligible. GV 1.9 mg/kg/dose was administered on day 1 of each 21 day cycle. Pharmacokinetics were mandatory in patients aged <15 years. gpNMB expression was measured by immunohistochemistry. The primary end-point was disease control at 4 months and Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours response. A 2-stage design was used to determine efficacy.
Twenty-two patients were enrolled, and all were evaluable for response. Antibody–drug conjugate levels were detectable in patients, although small numbers limit comparison to adult data. The toxicities observed were similar to the previous studies with GV. The most common grade III adverse event was rash. One death from end organ failure occurred possibly related to GV. Of the 22 patients, one patient had a partial response, and two had stable disease. There was no correlation between gpNMB expression and response to GV.
GV was well tolerated in this population. Although there was some antitumour activity, the extent of disease control in stage I did not meet the level required to proceed to stage II.
NCT02487979.
•GV was well tolerated with no unexpected toxicities in AYAs with recurrent OS.•AOST1521 rapidly enrolled AYAs (median age 20 years) with recurrent OS.•Although disease control was not met, some AYAs had responses, and there may be a role for GV in OS.
The parasitic mite Varroa destructor is the greatest single driver of the global honey bee health decline. Better understanding of the association of this parasite and its host is critical to ...developing sustainable management practices. Our work shows that this parasite is not consuming hemolymph, as has been the accepted view, but damages host bees by consuming fat body, a tissue roughly analogous to the mammalian liver. Both hemolymph and fat body in honey bees were marked with fluorescent biostains. The fluorescence profile in the guts of mites allowed to feed on these bees was very different from that of the hemolymph of the host bee but consistently matched the fluorescence profile unique to the fat body. Via transmission electron microscopy, we observed externally digested fat body tissue in the wounds of parasitized bees. Mites in their reproductive phase were then fed a diet composed of one or both tissues. Mites fed hemolymph showed fitness metrics no different from the starved control. Mites fed fat body survived longer and produced more eggs than those fed hemolymph, suggesting that fat body is integral to their diet when feeding on brood as well. Collectively, these findings strongly suggest that Varroa are exploiting the fat body as their primary source of sustenance: a tissue integral to proper immune function, pesticide detoxification, overwinter survival, and several other essential processes in healthy bees. These findings underscore a need to revisit our understanding of this parasite and its impacts, both direct and indirect, on honey bee health.
There is lack of consensus in the literature regarding the comparative efficacy of in situ aortic‐only compared with dual (aortic and portal venous) perfusion for retrieval and transplantation of the ...liver. Recipient outcomes from the Australia/New Zealand Liver Transplant Registry (2007‐2016), including patient and graft survival and causes of graft loss, were stratified by perfusion route. Subgroup analyses were conducted for higher‐risk donors. A total of 1382 liver transplantation recipients were analyzed (957 aortic‐only; 425 dual perfusion). There were no significant differences in 5‐year graft and patient survivals between the aortic‐only and dual cohorts (80.1% versus 84.6% and 82.6% versus 87.8%, respectively) or in the odds ratios of primary nonfunction, thrombotic graft loss, or graft loss secondary to biliary complications or acute rejection. When analyzing only higher‐risk donors (n = 369), multivariate graft survival was significantly less in the aortic‐only cohort (hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.26‐0.92). Overall, there was a trend toward improved outcomes when dual perfusion was used, which became significant when considering higher‐risk donors alone. Inferences into the ideal perfusion technique in multiorgan procurement will require further investigation by way of a randomized controlled trial, and outcomes after the transplantation of other organs will also need to be considered.
Simultaneous pancreas and kidney (SPK) transplantation is performed to restore normoglycemia and renal function in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal failure. The National ...Pancreas Transplant Unit (NPTU) in Sydney provides a service to a population spread across 7.4 million km. We aimed to see if SPK transplantation outcomes differed between recipients from metropolitan (M) centers and those from nonmetropolitan (NM) regions.
Using a prospectively collected database, patient and graft survival were analyzed. Patients were categorized according to region of residence and by distance from the NPTU.
Between January 2001 and May 2010, 165 patients underwent first-time SPK transplantation at the NPTU. There were 126 M and 39 NM recipients. Median distance from the NPTU was 732 km for donors (range, 0-3930 km) and 887 km for recipients (range, 1-4114 km). Median follow-up was 5.2 years (range, 1.1-10.3 years). Actuarial 5-year patient survival was 94% in M and 95% in NM groups. At 5 years, non-death-censored pancreas graft survival was 75% and 82% among M and NM patients, respectively, while kidney allograft survival was 88% in M and 92% in NM groups. There was no significant difference in patient and graft survival between groups. Distance of donor and recipient from the NPTU did not influence graft or patient survival.
SPK transplantation can be performed with excellent outcomes at a national center with a vast catchment area, irrespective of donor or recipient location.
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