Transverse momentum fluctuations and percolation of strings

The behaviour of the transverse momentum fluctuations with the centrality of the collision shown by the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider data is naturally explained by the clustering of color sources. In this framework, elementary color sources --strings-- overlap forming clusters, so the number of effective sources is modified. These clusters decay into particles with mean transverse momentum that depends on the number of elementary sources that conform each cluster, and the area occupied by the cluster. The transverse momentum fluctuations in this approach correspond to the fluctuations of the transverse momentum of these clusters, and they behave essentially as the number of effective sources.Comment: 16 pages, RevTex, 4 postscript figures. Enhanced version. New figure

Aislamiento, cultivo y caracterización de líneas celulares embrionarias bovinas

Isolation, culture, and characterization of embryonic cell lines from bovine blastocysts This study was aimed to develop methods for isolation, culture and characterization of embryonic cell lines from in vitro produced bovine blastocysts. Inner cell masses arising from blastocysts were isolated by immunosurgery onto mitomocin-C-inactivated mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF). After 10 to 15 days of culture the primary cell colonies were disaggregated, seeded in a new MEF, and cultured for 3 to 6 days up to form new colonies. The primary cell colonies, passage 2, passage 3 and post-thawed colonies expressed pluripotency markers such us SSEA-4, TRA-1-60 and Oct4 and were alkaline phosphatase positive. More research is needed to confirm pluripotency and selfrenew stage within the obtained embryonic stem-like cells (ES-like).El objetivo principal de este trabajo es el aislamiento, cultivo y caracterización de líneas embrionarias producidas a partir del aislamiento de masa celular interna (MCI) de blastocisto bovino. Las MCI se aislaron mediante inmunocirugía y se cultivaron en monocapas de fibroblastos embrionarios de ratón (MEF) mitóticamente inactivados. Tras 10-15 días de cultivo primario, las colonias surgidas se disgregaron, resembraron en una nueva MEF, y cultivaron por tiempo variable para tratar de obtener nuevas colonias. Tanto los cultivos primarios como los pases 2 y 3, así como las colonias supervivientes a la congelación, expresaron los marcadores de pluripotencia SSEA-4, TRA-1-60 y Oct4, y fueron positivos al test de la fosfatasa alcalina. A falta de pruebas para el diagnóstico de la pluripotencia y capacidad de autorrenovación, las células obtenidas presentan parte de las características de las células troncales embrionarias (ES-like)

Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and Pulmonary Embolism: An Association to Consider.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is increasingly recognized as a strong risk factor for venous thrombosis. However, there are currently no guidelines on thromboembolism prevention and management during AIHA. Here, we describe the case of a patient with AIHA and pulmonary embolism and resume the current knowledge on epidemiology, risk factors, treatment, and pathophysiology of thrombosis during AIHA, as well as new therapeutic perspectives to prevent thrombus formation during AIHA

Identification of High Platelet Reactivity Despite ADP P2Y12 Inhibitor Treatment: Two Populations in the Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein Assay and Variable PFA-P2Y Shapes of Curve.

Introduction Response to ADP P2Y <sub>12</sub> receptor inhibition by clopidogrel can be evaluated by various techniques. Here, we compared a functional rapid point-of-care technique (PFA-P2Y) with the degree of biochemical inhibition assessed by the VASP/P2Y <sub>12</sub> assay. Methods Platelet response to clopidogrel was investigated in 173 patients undergoing elective intracerebral stenting (derivation cohort n = 117; validation cohort n = 56). High platelet reactivity (HPR) was defined as PFA-P2Y occlusion time <106 seconds or VASP/P2Y <sub>12</sub> platelet reactivity index (PRI) >50%. Results In the derivation cohort, receiver operator characteristics analysis for the ability of PFA-P2Y to detect biochemical HPR showed high specificity (98.4%) but poor sensitivity (20.0%) and a very low area under the curve (0.59). The VASP/P2Y <sub>12</sub> assay revealed two coexisting platelet populations with different levels of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) phosphorylation: a fraction of highly phosphorylated, inhibited platelets and another of poorly phosphorylated, reactive platelets. Analysis of the PFA-P2Y curve shape revealed different types, categorized by time of occlusion (<106 seconds, 106 to 300 seconds, >300 seconds), and pattern (regular, irregular, and atypical). Noteworthy, curves with late occlusion and permeable curves with an irregular or atypical pattern correlated with VASP-PRI >50% and smaller sizes of the inhibited platelet subpopulation. Considering the PFA-P2Y shape of the curve for the detection of HPR improved sensitivity (72.7%) and preserved specificity (91.9%), with a rather high AUC (0.823). The validation cohort confirmed the VASP/P2Y <sub>12</sub> assay data and the usefulness of considering the PFA-P2Y curve shape. Conclusion In patients treated with acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel for 7-10 days, the VASP/P2Y <sub>12</sub> assay reveals two coexisting subpopulations of differentially inhibited platelets, whose relative sizes predict global PRI and distinct PFA-P2Y curve patterns, indicating incomplete clopidogrel efficacy. The detailed analysis of both VASP/P2Y <sub>12</sub> and PFA-P2Y is necessary for optimal detection of HPR

Principles of early human development and germ cell program from conserved model systems

Human primordial germ cells (hPGCs), the precursors of sperm and eggs, originate during week 2-3 of early postimplantation development(1). Using in vitro models of hPGC induction(2-4), recent studies suggest striking mechanistic differences in specification of human and mouse PGCs(5). This may partly be due to the divergence in their pluripotency networks, and early postimplantation development(6-8). Since early human embryos are inaccessible for direct studies, we considered alternatives, including porcine embryos that, as in humans, develop as bilaminar embryonic discs. Here we show that porcine PGCs (pPGCs) originate from the posterior pre-primitive streak competent epiblast by sequential upregulation of SOX17 and BLIMP1 in response to WNT and BMP signalling. Together with human and monkey in vitro models simulating peri-gastrulation development, we show conserved principles for epiblast development for competency for PGC fate, followed by initiation of the epigenetic program(9-11), regulated by a balanced SOX17–BLIMP1 gene dosage. Our combinatorial approach using human, porcine and monkey in vivo and in vitro models, provides synthetic insights on early human development

EBV-positive large B-cell lymphoma with an unusual intravascular presentation and associated haemophagocytic syndrome in an HIV-positive patient: report of a case expanding the spectrum of EBV-positive immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders.

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma is a rare and aggressive EBV-negative large B-cell lymphoma with a dismal outcome. Here, we describe the case of a 76-year-old HIV-positive patient with an acute presentation of systemic symptoms and rapidly fatal outcome. Autopsy revealed a disseminated large B-cell lymphoma with an intravascular distribution involving the liver, lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow and associated to fibrin thrombi in hepatic capillary haemangiomas. The neoplastic B cells (CD79a + / - , CD20 + / - , CD30 + , MUM1 + , PD-L1 +) showed a Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg-like morphology and were EBV-positive with a latency type II (LMP1 + , EBNA2-). Haemophagocytosis was documented in the bone marrow and lymph nodes. This case illustrates the diagnostic challenges of large B-cell lymphoma with intravascular presentation. We found only five other cases of EBV-positive large B-cell lymphoma with an intravascular presentation in the literature, three of which had an underlying immunodeficiency adding to the broad spectrum of EBV-associated lymphoma in the setting of immunosuppression

Global coagulation assays detect an early prothrombotic state in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are at highest risk of venous thromboembolism during the induction therapy (IT). These events are not predictable by conventional coagulation assays. To investigate the utility of global coagulation assays (GCAs) for assessing the hemostatic state in children with ALL during IT. We included children with ALL (n = 15) and healthy controls (n = 15). Analyses were performed at different time points during IT of the AIEOP-BFM protocols. In addition to prothrombotic biomarkers, natural anticoagulant proteins, and in vivo thrombin generation (TG) markers, ex vivo TG was measured using the gold standard calibrated automated thrombogram method, automated ST Genesia, and thrombodynamics analyzer (TD). The latter also provided measurement of fibrin clot formation. Different from conventional coagulation assays and in vivo TG markers, ex vivo GCAs detected increasing prothrombotic changes during IT. Particularly, TG measured with TD as expressed by endogenous thrombin potential was already significantly elevated at days 8 to 12 (P < .01) and continued to increase during IT compared with prior to beginning treatment, indicating a very early shift toward a procoagulant state. A similar pattern was observed for the rate of fibrin clot formation (stationary rate of clot growth: P < .01 at days 8-12). Remarkably, in patients developing thrombotic complications (n = 5), both GCAs, ST Genesia and TD, showed a significantly higher endogenous thrombin potential very early (already at days 8-12, P < .05), well before clinical manifestation. GCAs capture prothrombotic changes early during IT in ALL pediatric patients. If confirmed, this approach will allow tailoring thromboprophylaxis in children with ALL at highest risk for venous thromboembolism

A gene expression atlas of the domestic pig

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This work describes the first genome-wide analysis of the transcriptional landscape of the pig. A new porcine Affymetrix expression array was designed in order to provide comprehensive coverage of the known pig transcriptome. The new array was used to generate a genome-wide expression atlas of pig tissues derived from 62 tissue/cell types. These data were subjected to network correlation analysis and clustering.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The analysis presented here provides a detailed functional clustering of the pig transcriptome where transcripts are grouped according to their expression pattern, so one can infer the function of an uncharacterized gene from the company it keeps and the locations in which it is expressed. We describe the overall transcriptional signatures present in the tissue atlas, where possible assigning those signatures to specific cell populations or pathways. In particular, we discuss the expression signatures associated with the gastrointestinal tract, an organ that was sampled at 15 sites along its length and whose biology in the pig is similar to human. We identify sets of genes that define specialized cellular compartments and region-specific digestive functions. Finally, we performed a network analysis of the transcription factors expressed in the gastrointestinal tract and demonstrate how they sub-divide into functional groups that may control cellular gastrointestinal development.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>As an important livestock animal with a physiology that is more similar than mouse to man, we provide a major new resource for understanding gene expression with respect to the known physiology of mammalian tissues and cells. The data and analyses are available on the websites <url>http://biogps.org and http://www.macrophages.com/pig-atlas</url>.</p

Oestrus control in beef cows and heifers using cloprostenol

Se realizaron 3 experimentos con el objetivo de determinar el efecto de tratamientos alternativos para controlar el ciclo estral en un programa de servicio artificial. En el Experimento 1, 80 vaquillonas y 24 vacas secas de razas de carne fueron tratadas con 2 inyecciones de Cloprostenol con un intervalo de 11 días. Luego de la segunda inyección se hizo detección de celo e inseminación artificial durante un período de 30 días, salvo en los días 3 y 4 post.tratamiento donde se inseminó a la totalidad de los animales (I.A. sistemática). Se obtuvo 49% y 25% de preñez en vaquillonas y vacas respectivamente luego de la I.A. sistemática vs 44 y 54% a la primoinseminación en 31 vaquillonas y 11 vacas que sirvieron de testigos. En el período de 30 días se logró en vaquillonas y vacas 72% y 50% en tratadas vs. 45% y 64% en testigos. El experimento II se realizó con vaquillonas en las que se aplicó sólo una inyección de Cloprostenol luego de un período de 5 días en que se detectó celo e inseminó a los animales que lo presentaban; estos animales constituyen el lote 4 (n: 36). La inyección se aplicó a aquellos animales que no manifestaron celo en dicho período.Three trials were carried out to explore alternative ways of controlling the oestrus cycle with Cloprostenol for an Artificial Insemination (A.I.) programma. In the first trial 24 dry cows and 80 heifers were given 2 doses 11 days apart. After the second doses and over the period of 30 days oestrus detection and A.I. on animals in heat was carried out, except at 3rda. and 4th. days of this period when A.I. was applied on the animals (systematic A.I.). Pregnancy rates form systematic A.I. were 49% and 25% for heifers and cows Vs 44% and 54% at primoinsemination on control animals (31 heifers and 11 cows.). Pregnancy rates over the 30 days period were 72 % for heifers and 50% for COW5 VS 45% and 65% in the control group. The second trial used only heifers on which one Cloprostenol injection was applied after a 5 days period in which oestrus detection and A.I. on anima’s in heat were carried out. Thirty six animals in heat were separated from the main lot to form the group 4.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Rapid malignant progression of an intraparenchymal choroid plexus papillomas

Background: Choroid plexus tumors (CPTs) are rare neoplasms accounting for only 0.3-0.6% of all brain tumors in adults and 2-5% in children. The World Health Organization (WHO) classification describes three histological grades: grade I is choroid plexus papilloma (CPP), grade II is atypical papilloma, and grade III is the malignant form of carcinoma. In adults, CPTs rarely have a supratentorial localization. Case Description: Here we report a very rare case of an intraparenchymal parietal CPP with a rapid histological transition from grade I to grade III WHO in a 67-year-old man, in &lt;7 months. Conclusion: Because of the rarity of these oncotypes, descriptions of each new case are useful, mostly to consider this diagnostic entity in extraventricular brain tumors of adults, despite an unusual location