A method is discussed to determine the hitherto unknown u-quark transversity distribution \(\delta u(x)\) from a planned HERMES measurement of a single target-spin asymmetry in semi-inclusive pion ...electroproduction off a transversely polarized target. Assuming u-quark dominance, the measurement yields the shapes of the transversity distribution \(\delta u(x)\) and of the ratio \(H_1^{\perp (1)u}(z)/D_1^u(z)\), of polarized and unpolarized u-quark fragmentation functions. The unknown relative normalization can be obtained by identifying the transversity distribution with the well-known helicity distribution at large x and small \(Q^2\). The systematic uncertainty of the method is dominated by the assumption of u-quark dominance.
The finding that the prevalence of asthma and allergies is less frequent in children raised on animal farms has led to the conjecture that exposure to microbial products modifies immune responses. ...The toll-like receptors (TLRs) represent an evolutionarily conserved family of innate immunity receptors with microbial molecules as ligands.
We reasoned that polymorphisms in genes encoding TLRs might modulate the protective effects observed in farming populations.
Farmers' and nonfarmers' children living in rural areas in Austria and Germany and who were enrolled in the cross-sectional ALEX study were genotyped for single nucleotide polymorphisms in the
TLR2 and
TLR4 genes. The frequencies of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic sensitization were compared between the genotypes in relation to exposure to farming and endotoxin.
Among farmers' children, those carrying a T allele in
TLR2/−16934 compared with children with genotype AA were significantly less likely to have a diagnosis of asthma (3% vs 13%,
P = .012), current asthma symptoms (3% vs 16%,
P = .004), atopic sensitization (14% vs 27%,
P = .023), and current hay fever symptoms (3% vs 14%,
P = .01). The association between
TLR2/−16934 and asthma among children of farmers was independent of atopy. No such association was found among children from the same rural communities but not living on farms.
Our results suggest that genetic variation in
TLR2 is a major determinant of the susceptibility to asthma and allergies in children of farmers.
Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subtype of myeloid leukemia characterized by differentiation block at the promyelocyte stage. Besides the presence of chromosomal rearrangement t(15;17), ...leading to the formation of PML-RARA (promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor alpha) fusion, other genetic alterations have also been implicated in APL. Here, we performed comprehensive mutational analysis of primary and relapse APL to identify somatic alterations, which cooperate with PML-RARA in the pathogenesis of APL. We explored the mutational landscape using whole-exome (n=12) and subsequent targeted sequencing of 398 genes in 153 primary and 69 relapse APL. Both primary and relapse APL harbored an average of eight non-silent somatic mutations per exome. We observed recurrent alterations of FLT3, WT1, NRAS and KRAS in the newly diagnosed APL, whereas mutations in other genes commonly mutated in myeloid leukemia were rarely detected. The molecular signature of APL relapse was characterized by emergence of frequent mutations in PML and RARA genes. Our sequencing data also demonstrates incidence of loss-of-function mutations in previously unidentified genes, ARID1B and ARID1A, both of which encode for key components of the SWI/SNF complex. We show that knockdown of ARID1B in APL cell line, NB4, results in large-scale activation of gene expression and reduced in vitro differentiation potential.
A 30-year-old male with 1 1/2-year history of an asymptomatic, large, reducible right indirect scrotal hernia presented to the emergency department complaining of a 2-week history of increasing ...abdominal distension and daily emesis. He had recently undergone an emergent exploratory laparotomy in which his asymptomatic hernia was repaired with a mesh plug from an intra-abdominal approach. The mesh plug subsequently migrated into the patient's scrotum resulting in a strangulating bowel obstruction. This paper discusses a serious complication that may result from inappropriate use and placement of a mesh plug and our approach to correct the situation utilizing a bioabsorbable mesh prosthesis.
► Skin sensitizing substances are designated in the “List of MAK and BAT values”. ► The EU “Dangerous substance directive” also provides a system of classification. ► We compared the different ...principles of classification for skin sensitizers. ► It is discussed whether discrepancies may be due to methodological differences.
A systematic classification of substances (or mixtures of substances) with regard to various toxicological endpoints is a prerequisite for the implementation of occupational safety strategies. As its principal task the “Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area” of the “Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft” (DFG-MAK Commission) derives and recommends
maximum workplace concentrations and biological tolerance values (MAK and BAT values) based exclusively on scientific arguments. Several endpoints are evaluated separately in detail, e.g. carcinogenicity, risks during pregnancy, germ cell mutagenicity or contribution to systemic toxicity after cutaneous absorption. Skin- and airway sensitization is also considered; the present paper focuses on these two endpoints.
The present study aimed to investigate, whether short-term experimental exposure to high levels of welding fumes would be capable of exerting acute effects in healthy subjects. Specifically, we ...assessed cardiovascular function in terms of heart rate variability (HRV) as well as the concentrations of inflammatory mediators and hemostatic proteins in blood as outcome measures. Twenty subjects without a history of airway and cardiovascular diseases were exposed to either control air or welding fume for 1 h on 2 separate days under standardized conditions. The median concentration of the alveolar particle fraction during welding was 3.5 mg/m(3 )(quartiles: 1.4-6.3 mg/m(3); range 1.0-25.3 mg/m(3)). Five hours later a panel of clinical assessments was performed, including HRV measurement and drawing of blood samples. There were no changes in symptom ratings or lung function after welding fume exposure. Exposures did also not differ regarding effects on time- and frequency-domain parameters of HRV. Similarly, blood leukocyte numbers, cell differentials and the blood levels of fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, antithrombin III, factor VIII, von Willebrand factor, ristocetin cofactor, sICAM-1, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 6, interleukin 8 and epithelial neutrophil activating peptide 78 were not altered by welding fume inhalation. However, there was a significant fall in the level of endothelin-1 (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the data did not indicate effects of clinical significance of a short-term high-level exposure to welding fumes on HRV or a set of blood hemostatic and acute inflammatory parameters in healthy subjects. The small but statistically significant effect on endothelin levels demonstrated that measurable effects could be elicited even in these individuals. Overall, welding fumes are not likely to exert acute cardiovascular effects in healthy individuals.
The aim of the memorandum on the development of health services research (HSR) in Bavaria is to operationalise the global objectives of the State Working Group "Health Services Research" (LAGeV) and ...to collectively define future topics, specific implementation steps, methods as well as ways of working for the future course of the LAGeV. The LAGeV is an expert committee that integrates and links the competencies of different actors from science, politics and health care regarding HSR and facilitates their cooperation. The memorandum is based on an explorative survey among the LAGeV members, which identified the status quo of health services research in Bavaria, potential for development, important constraints, promoting factors, specific recommendations as well as future topics for the further development of HSR in Bavaria. From the perspective of the LAGeV members, the 12 most important future topics are: 1) Interface and networking research, 2) Innovative health care concepts, 3) Health care for multimorbid patients, 4)Health care for chronically ill patients, 5) Evaluation of innovations, processes and technologies, 6) Patient orientation and user focus, 7) Social and regional inequalities in health care, 8) Health care for mentally ill patients, 9) Indicators of health care quality, 10) Regional needs planning, 11) Practical effectiveness of HSR and 12) Scientific use of routine data. Potential for development of HSR in Bavaria lies a) in the promotion of networking and sustainable structures, b) the establishment of an HSR information platform that bundles information and results in regard to current topics and aims to facilitate cooperation as well as c) in the initiation of measures and projects. The latter ought to pinpoint health care challenges and make recommendations regarding the improvement of health care and its quality. The cooperation and networking structures that were established with the LAGeV should be continuously expanded and be used to work on priority topics in order to achieve the global objectives of the LAGeV.
Exclusive electroproduction of π+ mesons was studied by scattering 27.6 GeV positrons or electrons off a transversely polarized hydrogen target. The single-spin azimuthal asymmetry with respect to ...target polarization was measured as a function of the Mandelstam variable t, the Bjorken scaling variable xB, and the virtuality Q2 of the exchanged photon. The extracted Fourier components of the asymmetry were found to be consistent with zero, except one that was found to be large and that involves interference of contributions from longitudinal and transverse virtual photons.
The first detailed measurement of the dependence on target nuclear mass of the average squared transverse momentum 〈pt2〉 of π+, π−, and K+ mesons from deep-inelastic lepton scattering is obtained as ...a function of several kinematic variables. The data were accumulated at the Hermes experiment at Desy, in which the Hera 27.6 GeV lepton beam was scattered off several nuclear gas targets. The average squared transverse momentum was clearly observed to increase with atomic mass number. The effect increases as a function of Q2 and x and remains constant as a function of both the virtual photon energy ν and the fractional hadron energy z, except that it vanishes as z approaches unity.
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