Charge and critical density of strange quark matter

The electric charge of strange quark matter is of vital importance to experiments. A recent investigation shows that strangelets are most likely highly negatively charged, rather than slightly positively charged as previously believed. Our present study indicates that negative charges can indeed lower the critical density, and thus be favorable to the experimental searches in heavy ion collisions. However, too much negative charges can make it impossible to maintain flavor equilibrium.Comment: 4 pages, LATeX with REVTeX style, one PS figure. To be published in Phys. Rev. C 59(6), 199

Thermodynamics, strange quark matter, and strange stars

Because of the mass density-dependence, an extra term should be added to the expression of pressure. However, it should not appear in that of energy according to both the general ensemble theory and basic thermodynamic principle. We give a detail derivation of the thermodynamics with density-dependent particle masses. With our recently determined quark mass scaling, we study strange quark matter in this new thermodynamic treatment, which still indicates a possible absolute stability as previously found. However, the density behavior of the sound velocity is opposite to the previous finding, but consistent with one of our recent publication. We have also studied the structure of strange stars using the obtained equation of state.Comment: 6 pages, 6 PS figures, REVTeX styl

Mass formulas and thermodynamic treatment in the mass-density-dependent model of strange quark matter

The previous treatments for strange quark matter in the quark mass-density-dependent model have unreasonable vacuum limits. We provide a method to obtain the quark mass parametrizations and give a self-consistent thermodynamic treatment which includes the MIT bag model as an extreme. In this treatment, strange quark matter in bulk still has the possibility of absolute stability. However, the lower density behavior of the sound velocity is opposite to previous findings.Comment: Formatted in REVTeX 3.1, 5 pages, 3 figures, to appear in PRC6

Curvature energy effects on strange quark matter nucleation at finite density

We consider the effects of the curvature energy term on thermal strange quark matter nucleation in dense neutron matter. Lower bounds on the temperature at which this process can take place are given and compared to those without the curvature term.Comment: PlainTex, 6 pp., IAG-USP Rep.5

Vasorelaxation to Eugenol, Curcumin and Nanocurcumin mediated by differential augmentation of Na+, K+-ATPase activity in middle uterine artery of Capra hircus

59-67Sodium-potassium ATPase (Na, K-ATPase) is an integral protein universally distributed in the plasma membrane of all eukaryotic cells. It regulates trans-epithelial sodium ion transport, muscle contraction, nerve excitability, secretary functions and intracellular signaling. We investigated the mechanism of vasorelaxation effect of Eugenol, Curcumin and Nanocurcumin in the middle uterine artery (MUA) of goat to evaluate their possible therapeutic potential in hypertension during pregnancy or pre-eclampsia. The UA rings were isometrically contracted by K+-free MKHS to plateau and relaxed with KCl (10 μM-10 mM) following standard protocol. The K+ -vasorelaxation response (VR) was taken either in presence of ouabain with or without Eugenol/Curcumin/Nanocurcumin (10 μM). Rmax (maximum % vasorelaxation) of K+-induced VR-curve elicited in UA rings was reduced (from 6.90% and 26.55%) to 4-5% in presence of Ouabain in both NP and P goats. Rmax obtained from KVR curve elicited in UA rings were augmented in presence of Eugenol (NP: 16.22%, P: 42.67%) or Curcumin (NP:21.23%, P:35.49%) or Nanocurcumin (NP:6.91%, P:34.88%). K+ vasorelaxation was inhibited in presence of Ouabain and Eugenol/ Curcumin/Nanocurcumin (Rmax: 6.11%, 9.18%, 4.11% in non-P, respectively) and (Rmax: 5.40%, 3.39%, 6.00% in P, respectively). The results indicated that (i) there is increased function of α1- Na+, K+-ATPase in UA of P goats (ii) Eugenol, Curcumin and Nano-curcumin differentially augmented the function and expression of α1 isoenzymes of sodium pump in UA of non-P and P goats. Thus, the polyphenols potentially activate α1 isoenzymes of Na+-K+-ATPase and could possibly be useful as therapeutic in hypertension during pregnancy

Vasorelaxation to Eugenol, Curcumin and Nanocurcumin is mediated by differential augmentation of Na+, K+-ATPase activity in middle uterine artery of Capra hircus.

Sodium-potassium ATPase (Na, K-ATPase) is an integral protein universally distributed in the plasma membrane of all eukaryotic cells. It regulates trans-epithelial sodium ion transport, muscle contraction, nerve excitability, secretary functions and intracellular signaling. We investigated the mechanism of vasorelaxation effect of Eugenol, Curcumin and Nanocurcumin in the middle uterine artery (MUA) of goat to evaluate their possible therapeutic potential in hypertension during pregnancy or pre-eclampsia. The UA rings were isometrically contracted by K+-free MKHS to plateau and relaxed with KCl (10 μM-10 mM) following standard protocol. The K+ -vasorelaxation response (VR) was taken either in presence of ouabain with or without Eugenol/Curcumin/Nanocurcumin (10 μM). Rmax (maximum % vasorelaxation) of K+-induced VR-curve elicited in UA rings was reduced (from 6.90% and 26.55%) to 4-5% in presence of Ouabain in both NP and P goats. Rmax obtained from KVR curve elicited in UA rings were augmented in presence of Eugenol (NP: 16.22%, P: 42.67%) or Curcumin (NP:21.23%, P:35.49%) or Nanocurcumin (NP:6.91%, P:34.88%). K+ vasorelaxation was inhibited in presence of Ouabain and Eugenol/ Curcumin/Nanocurcumin (Rmax: 6.11%, 9.18%, 4.11% in non-P, respectively) and (Rmax: 5.40%, 3.39%, 6.00% in P, respectively). The results indicated that (i) there is increased function of α1- Na+, K+-ATPase in UA of P goats (ii) Eugenol, Curcumin and Nano-curcumin differentially augmented the function and expression of α1 isoenzymes of sodium pump in UA of non-P and P goats. Thus, the polyphenols potentially activate α1 isoenzymes of Na+-K+-ATPase and could possibly be useful as therapeutic in hypertension during pregnancy

Arcanobacterium haemolyticum associated with pyothorax: case report

Arcanobacterium haemolyticum has an established role in the etiology of human pharyngitis. There are increasing reports of systemic infections caused by this organism. From India, we report the first case of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum causing pyothorax in an immunocompetent adolescent male patient. The probable mode of infection is also discussed. The role of A. hemolyticum as an animal pathogen needs further study

Mitapivat improves ineffective erythropoiesis and iron overload in adult patients with pyruvate kinase deficiency

Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency is a rare, hereditary disease characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia. Iron overload is a common complication regardless of age, genotype, or transfusion history. Mitapivat, an oral, allosteric PK activator, improves anemia and hemolysis in adult patients with PK deficiency. Mitapivat’s impact on iron overload and ineffective erythropoiesis was evaluated in adults with PK deficiency who were not regularly transfused in the phase 3 ACTIVATE trial and long-term extension (LTE) (#NCT03548220/#NCT03853798). Patients in the LTE received mitapivat throughout ACTIVATE/LTE (baseline to week 96; mitapivat-to-mitapivat [M/M] arm) or switched from placebo (baseline to week 24) to mitapivat (week 24 to week 96; placebo-to-mitapivat [P/M] arm). Changes from baseline in markers of iron overload and erythropoiesis were assessed to week 96. Improvements in hepcidin (mean, 4770.0 ng/L; 95% confidence interval [CI], −1532.3 to 11 072.3), erythroferrone (mean, −9834.9 ng/L; 95% CI, −14 328.4 to −5341.3), soluble transferrin receptor (mean, −56.0 nmol/L; 95% CI, −84.8 to −27.2), and erythropoietin (mean, −32.85 IU/L; 95% CI, −54.65 to −11.06) were observed in the M/M arm (n = 40) from baseline to week 24, sustained to week 96. No improvements were observed in the P/M arm (n = 40) to week 24; however, upon transitioning to mitapivat, improvements similar to those observed in the M/M arm were seen. Mean changes from baseline in liver iron concentration by magnetic resonance imaging at week 96 in the M/M arm and the P/M arm were −2.0 mg Fe/g dry weight (dw; 95% CI, −4.8 to −0.8) and −1.8 mg Fe/g dw (95% CI, −4.4 to 0.80), respectively. Mitapivat is the first disease-modifying pharmacotherapy shown to have beneficial effects on iron overload and ineffective erythropoiesis in patients with PK deficiency

Tissue Invasion by Entamoeba histolytica: Evidence of Genetic Selection and/or DNA Reorganization Events in Organ Tropism

Entamoeba histolytica infection may have various clinical manifestations. Nine out of ten E. histolytica infections remain asymptomatic, while the remainder become invasive and cause disease. The most common form of invasive infection is amebic diarrhea and colitis, whereas the most common extra-intestinal disease is amebic liver abscess. The underlying reasons for the different outcomes are unclear, but a recent study has shown that the parasite genotype is a contributor. To investigate this link further we have examined the genotypes of E. histolytica in stool- and liver abscess-derived samples from the same patients. Analysis of all 18 paired samples (16 from Bangladesh, one from the United States of America, and one from Italy) revealed that the intestinal and liver abscess amebae are genetically distinct. The results suggest either that E. histolytica subpopulations in the same infection show varying organ tropism, or that a DNA reorganization event takes place prior to or during metastasis from intestine to liver