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Google Scholar Google Preview OpenURL Placeholder Text WorldCat COPAC 8 The 144th Radiation Council Conference Note on January 25th. The world is facing increasing numbers of natural and man-made disasters.[1] It is of paramount importance that an interdisciplinary, cohesive response is mobilized to best cope with all such emergencies, to minimize negative health impacts and protect human life. Google Scholar Google Preview OpenURL Placeholder Text WorldCat COPAC 9 Ristevski B, Chen M. Big data analytics in medicine and healthcare. [Extracted from the article]

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Bacillus subtilis var. natto on the susceptibility of the model host, Caenorhabditis elegans, to bacterial infection. Methods and Results: Caenorhabditiselegans worms were fed with a standard food consisting of Escherichia coli OP50 strain (control) or B. subtilis (natto) during their larval stage. The worms were then infected with pathogenic bacteria. We analyzed their survival time and RNA sequencing‐based transcriptome. Upon infection with Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, the survival time of B. subtilis (natto)‐fed worms was longer than that of the control. Transcriptome analyses showed upregulation of genes associated with innate immunity and defense response to gram‐positive bacteria in B. subtilis (natto)‐fed worms. Conclusions: Bacillus subtilis (natto) conferred an increased resistance of C. elegans to gram‐positive bacteria. Our findings provided insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying B. subtilis (natto)‐regulated host immunity and emphasized its probiotic properties for preventing and alleviating infections caused by gram‐positive bacteria. Significance and Impact of the Study: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that B. subtilis (natto) confers specific resistance against gram‐positive bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the utility of the Endoscopic Pressure Study Integrated System (EPSIS) as a diagnostic tool for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The study conducted at Japanese academic hospitals examined the association between intragastric pressure (IGP) measured by EPSIS and acid reflux parameters. The results showed that patients with abnormal acid reflux and pathological reflux had lower pressure gradients in the IGP waveform. The study suggests that the pressure gradient measured by EPSIS during endoscopic assessment could be a useful adjunctive metric for diagnosing GERD. [Extracted from the article]

The present study has determined the serological diversity, virulence-gene profile and in vitro antibiogram of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolates from broiler chickens in India suspected to have died of colibacillosis. The virulence-gene profile of APEC was compared with that of the Escherichia coli isolates from faeces of apparently healthy chickens, called avian faecal E. coli (AFEC). In total, 90 representative isolates of APEC and 63 isolates of AFEC were investigated in the present study. The APEC were typed into 19 serogroups, while some isolates were rough and could not be typed. Most prevalent serogroup was O2 (24.44%). Among the eight virulence genes studied, the prevalence of seven genes (iss , iucD , tsh , cva / cvi , irp2 , papC and vat) was significantly higher in APEC than in AFEC isolates. However, there was no significant difference between APEC and AFEC isolates for possession of astA gene. The most frequent gene detected among the two groups of organisms was iss , which was present in 98.88% and 44.44% of APEC and AFEC isolates respectively. The in vitro antibiogram showed that the majority (96.6%) of APEC isolates were resistant to tetracycline, while 82.2% were resistant to cephalexin, 78.8% to cotrimoxazole, 68.8% to streptomycin and 63.3% to ampicillin. However, most of them (84.45%) were sensitive to gentamicin. Thus, it is concluded that APEC from the broiler chickens carried putative virulence genes that attributed to their pathogenicity. Furthermore, the majority of APEC isolates were found to be multi-drug resistant, which, in addition to leading treatment failures in poultry, poses a public health threat. Avian colibacillosis caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is responsible for heavy economic losses to commercial broiler farmers. The present work investigated APEC isolates and their comparison with avian faecal E. coli (AFEC) isolates. The results suggest that virulence genes were more prevalent in APEC than in AFEC and the majority of the APEC isolates exhibited a multi drug resistant pattern. The present study will serve as a reference study for future work on APEC and extra intestinal pathogenic E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The total direct count (TDC) microbial enumeration method is rapid and suitable for analysing environmental samples containing numerous un‐culturable micro‐organisms. Conventional TDC methods require the addition of a fluorescent stain and are thus unsuitable for automatic monitoring. We unexpectedly found that heated micro‐organisms emit strong autofluorescence. This study was conducted to determine how heating enhances the autofluorescence of bacteria and fungi and to evaluate whether the phenomenon could be exploited to develop a new TDC method. Bacterial autofluorescence was augmented by heating cells at 200°C. ELISA results indicated that levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) increased in heated microbes. Catechin, an inhibitor of the Maillard reaction, disrupted the intensification of autofluorescence. These results suggest that the enhanced autofluorescence is associated with the formation of AGEs and that the reaction could be utilized as alternative probe in TDC methods. Significance and Impact of the Study: Autofluorescence of bacteria and fungi was prominently intensified by heat treatment at 200°C. This phenomenon was associated with advanced glycation end products formed in micro‐organisms via the Maillard reaction. The fluorescence signal was strong enough to be utilized as an alternative probe for fluorescent dye in the total direct count method. This phenomenon could be incorporated in an automatic apparatus for microbial enumeration, as it does not require staining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This study assessed whether multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis ( MLVA) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing discriminated diarrhoeagenic atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli ( aEPEC) from aEPEC indigenous to domestic animals or healthy people. Methods and Results MLVA genotyping of 142 aEPEC strains isolated from foods and faecal samples of domestic animals and humans revealed 126 distinct MLVA profiles that distributed to four clusters, yielding a Simpson's index of diversity ( D) of 99·8%. Cluster 2 included 87% of cattle isolates and 67% of patient isolates. The plurality (15/34, 44%) of strains from healthy humans mapped to Cluster 1, while half (18/41, 44%) of the swine strains belonged to Cluster 4. Testing for antimicrobial susceptibility revealed that 52 strains (37%) of aEPEC were resistant to one or more agents; only 10 strains (7%) exhibited resistance to more than three agents. Strains isolated from swine or food exhibited a wider variety of resistance phenotypes than bovine or human strains. Conclusions MLVA assigned the aEPEC isolates from cattle and patients to Cluster 2, distinct from aEPEC from other sources. Hog yards may be a larger source of drug-resistant strains than are cattle ranches. Significance and Impact of the Study MLVA suggests that human diarrhoeagenic aEPEC are derived from cattle and are distinct from strains carried by healthy people and other animals. Cattle appear to be reservoirs of human diarrhoeagenic aEPEC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) are major food-borne pathogens. They transmit to human through contaminated meat and meat products of animals and poultry, and frequently associated with various types of human illness including haemolytic uremic syndrome. This preliminary study showed the prevalence of STEC in 60 cloacal swab samples of live healthy broiler chickens collected randomly when sold at a wholesale market in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Isolation and identification of E. coli was carried out using Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar media and 16S rRNA gene specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among the 60 samples, 49 (81.67%) were found positive to E. coli. These E. coli isolates were screened for the detection of STEC by PCR using stx1 and stx2 gene specific primers. Among the 49 positive samples, 5 (10.20%) were found positive for stx1 gene, and 26 (53.06%) were positive for stx2 gene. In addition, 6 (12.24%) isolates were found positive to both stx1 and stx2 genes, and the remaining 12 (22.46%) were negative. The high prevalence of STEC in the broiler chicken alarms the public health impact as the people are always in close contact with these live broiler chickens in the open market as well as processing of meat at home before cooking. However, further studies are required to uncover the major source(s) for the transmission of STEC to human in rural Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship of the incidence of aspiration pneumonia with cognitive impairment and the oral condition. A total of 1,174 elderly patients were analyzed in a cross-sectional study. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, and the oral condition was evaluated with inspection and palpation. Swallowing was examined in 196 patients using video-endoscopic evaluation. The Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test were used for statistical analyses. Conditional logistic regression analysis was performed to compute odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Loss of posterior occlusion, impaired tongue movements, and impaired cognition were factors significantly related to aspiration pneumonia. The incidence of aspiration pneumonia was higher in patients with both cognitive impairment and loss of posterior occlusion compared to those having either factor alone (OR: 5.16). There was no statistical association between impaired swallowing and the incidence of aspiration pneumonia in elderly patients with normal cognitive function (cognitive impairment, OR: 3.45; normal function, OR: 0.94). The authors concluded that co-existence of cognitive impairment and oral frailty significantly enhances the risk of aspiration pneumonia. Early and simple evaluation of the oral condition and cognitive function can predict the risk of aspiration pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To pursue an urgently needed treatment target for esophageal cancer ( EC), we investigated the function of the recently discovered melanoma-associated antigen ( MAGE)- D4 in squamous cell EC. MAGE- D4 messenger RNA ( mRNA) expression was analyzed in nine EC cell lines using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. In 65 surgical specimens of squamous cell EC with no prior neoadjuvant therapy, MAGE- D4 mRNA expression in EC tissues and corresponding normal tissues was analyzed and compared, and evaluated in terms of clinicopathological factors. In representative cases, MAGE- D4 protein distribution was analyzed immunohistochemically. The heterogeneity of MAGE- D4 mRNA expression was confirmed in EC cell lines by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. In surgical specimens, MAGE- D4 mRNA expression was significantly higher in EC tissues than in corresponding normal tissues ( P < 0.001). Patients with the highest MAGE- D4 mRNA expression in EC tissues (top quartile, n = 17) had significantly shorter overall survival than patients with low expression (2-year survival: 44% and 73%, respectively, P = 0.006). Univariate analysis identified age (≥65 years), lymphatic involvement, and high MAGE- D4 mRNA expression as significant prognostic factors; high MAGE- D4 mRNA expression was also an independent prognostic factor in multivariable analysis (hazard ratio: 2.194; P = 0.039) and was significantly associated with Brinkman index ( P = 0.008) and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level ( P = 0.002). Immunohistochemical MAGE- D4b expression was consistent with MAGE- D4 mRNA profiling. Our results suggest that MAGE- D4 overexpression influences tumor progression, and MADE- D4 can be a prognostic marker and a potential molecular target in squamous cell EC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifty-eight typical EAEC isolates from children with diarrhoea were examined for HEp-2 cell adherence assay, presence of dispersin ( aap), yersiniabactin ( irp2), plasmid encoded toxins ( pet), Shigella enterotoxin1 ( set1A) and cryptic open reading frame ( shf) putative virulence genes by polymerase chain reaction as well as for biofilm production. All the isolates showed aggregative adherence pattern on HEp-2 cells. All but five isolates (91.3 %) carried aap gene. While irp2, pet, set1A and shf genes were detected in 68.9, 5.1, 39.6, and 60.3 % isolates, respectively. Thirty-three (64.7 %) isolates out of 51 tested were found to produce biofilm which was found to be significantly associated only with set1A virulence gene ( P = 0.025). Highest amount of biofilm was produced by a strain that possessed all the genes studied. Out of 14 isolates in which the most frequent gene combination ( aap, irp2 and shf) was observed, only six produced biofilm. It is concluded that there is significant heterogeneity in putative virulence genes of EAEC isolates from diarrhoeic children and biofilm formation is associated with multiple genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although several studies have reported that locally administering oncolytic viruses effectively targets malignancies, the efficacy of systemically administered oncolytic viruses is restricted. Recently, however, it was reported that systemic administration of oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus adsorbed onto antigen-specific lymphocytes was effective against malignancies. We hypothesized that intravenously administering such virus might have significant potential in treatment of the malignant tumors. We adsorbed oncolytic herpes simplex virus-1 mutant R3616 onto lymphocytes harvested from mice with acquired antitumor immunity. We administered adsorbed R3616 to peritoneally disseminated tumors and analyzed the efficacy of this treatment. Mice administered adsorbed R3616 survived significantly longer than mice administered R3616 adsorbed onto non-specific lymphocytes, or mice administered either virus or tumor antigen-specific lymphocytes alone. In this context, herpes oncolytic virus is a promising treatment not only for primary lesions, but also for multiple metastasizing lesions. This treatment strategy may become one of the most effective methods for systemic virus delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background. Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is an autosomal recessive skin disease caused by mutations in the type VII collagen gene ( COL7A1), resulting in detachment of the entire epidermis due to loss or hypoplasticity of the anchoring fibrils that normally secure the basement membrane to the underlying dermis. Trauma-induced blistering is often complicated by chronic erosions and scarring. From that perspective, pregnancy in RDEB might be considered an indication for elective caesarean section in a bid to minimize perineal blistering. To date, only four cases of pregnancy and delivery in patients with RDEB have been reported. Cases. We report three more women, each with RDEB-generalized other (RDEB-GO), all of whom had successful vaginal deliveries without major cutaneous or mucosal complications. One woman also had a second child, by vaginal delivery, indicating a lack of vaginal stenosis after the first birth. Conclusions. These cases show that RDEB-GO is not an absolute primary indication for elective caesarean section and that, perhaps surprisingly, genital/perineal blistering and scarring are not inevitable consequences of childbirth. Moreover, breastfeeding is also feasible in women with RDEB-GO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The present study aimed to develop a colony hybridization method for the exhaustive detection and isolation of diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) from samples containing numerous coliform bacteria. Methods and Results: Digoxigenin-labelled DNA probes were designed to detect seven pathotypes of DEC based on type-specific genes. A total of 615 meat, food and faeces samples identified as DEC-positive by multiple real-time PCR for the virulence genes ( eae, stx, elt, est, virB, aggR, afaB and astA) were analysed by a colony hybridization method, which involved filtering enrichment cultures through hydrophobic grid-membrane filters. DEC were isolated from 72·5% (446/615) of samples by the colony hybridization method but were only detected in 26·3% (162/615) of samples by a conventional culture method. The hybridization method was particularly effective for isolating low-level contaminants, such as enterotoxigenic and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, which were isolated from 51·8% (58/112) of samples identified as positive by PCR for the enterotoxin genes, in contrast to only 4·5% (5/112) of samples analysed by the conventional method. Conclusions: The developed colony hybridization system allows for the efficient and simultaneous isolation of all DEC pathotypes. Significance and Impact of the Study: The colony hybridization system described here permits the sensitive isolation of DEC and represents a suitable tool for ecological investigations of DEC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven hundred and thirty-five diarrhoeic faecal samples from children were investigated for presence of enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), diffusely adherent E. coli (DAEC) and Salmonella spp. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bacterial culture. Out of 675 samples from Kashmir, 55 isolates were obtained, which carried at least one virulence gene studied. Out of the 55 isolates, 36 (65.45%) were EAEC, 18 (32.72%) were ETEC while only one isolate (1.81%) was DAEC. All the EAEC isolates were found to be typical as they possessed aggR gene. Six (16.66%) EAEC isolates carried the astA gene. Out of the 18 ETEC isolates, 13 carried the elt gene alone, four possessed both the elt and est genes and the remaining one harboured the est gene alone. Five ETEC isolates also possessed astA gene. Nineteen EAEC isolates belonged to 10 different serogroups. Serogroup O153 was most frequent. The ETEC isolates also belonged to 10 different serogroups of which O159 was most predominant. Out of 224 E. coli isolates from 60 samples of Secunderabad, 27 isolates carried at least one virulence gene. Out of 27 isolates 22 (81.48%) were typical EAEC, three (11.11%) were ETEC and two (7.4%) were DAEC. Fifteen EAEC isolates belonged to seven different serogroups with O86 as most frequent. Four EAEC isolates also possessed the astA gene. All the three ETEC isolates harboured elt gene only and belonged to three different serogroups. Two isolates of Salmonella Worthington were obtained from only two samples in Kashmir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan parasite of both medical and veterinary importance worldwide. The parasite can cause severe complications in immunocompromised individuals such as AIDS patients and transplant recipients, where up to 25% of patients will develop toxoplasmic encephalitis. Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis that causes a public health concern in both developed and developing countries such as Thailand. Livestock development particularly in dairy cows of Thailand have been hampered by low production of milk and slow growth rate because of many pathogens including T. gondii. The objective of this study was to evaluate the serodiagnostic tool to be used for detection of T. gondii infection in dairy cows of Thailand. During 2006–2007, the sera of 700 cows from 55 small farm holders of the highest number of dairy cow population in the northern provinces were collected and analysed. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed by latex agglutination test (LAT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). The overall prevalence of T. gondii infection in dairy cows was 9.4% (66/700) by LAT and 17% (119/700) by ELISA. Sixty-three seropositive samples by LAT (95.5%) and 107 by ELISA (89.9%) were confirmed by IFAT. These results demonstrated that LAT had the highest specificity for detection of T. gondii infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The estimation of risk due to rockfall is often done empirically. As a rational and effective method towards performance-based design of protection measures, a three-dimensional simulation method helps to describe the motion of rockfall on a slope and to consider the effect of vegetation probabilistically. This document details a typical simulation method and analyses the manner of rockfalls paired with interference of vegetation and other factors. As application, an actual slope is analyzed where rockfall occurred during the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Finally, the validity and the benefits of the shown method are the basis for a hazard mapping for rockfall and the planning of measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serological immunoscreening was used to identify a gene encoding heat shock protein-70 from Babesia gibsoni (BgHSP-70) that showed high homology with HSP-70s from other apicomplexan parasites. This gene corresponded to a full-length cDNA containing an open reading frame of 1968 bp predicted to result in a 70-kDa mature protein consisting of 656 amino acids. Analysis of the expression levels of BgHSP-70 indicated elevated transcription from cultured parasites incubated at 40°C for 1 h, but not at 30°C. Interestingly, antiserum raised against recombinant BgHSP-70 protein reacted specifically not only with a 70-kDa protein of B. gibsoni but also with a corresponding native protein of B. microti (BmHSP-70), indicating the high degree of conservation of this protein. The BmHSP-70 gene was then isolated and characterized and the immunoprotective properties of recombinant BgHSP-70 (rBgHSP-70) and rBmHSP-70 were compared in vitro and in vivo. Both proteins had potent mitogenic effects on murine and canine mononuclear cells as evidenced by high proliferative responses and IFN-γ production after stimulation. Immunization regimes in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice using rBgHSP-70 and rBmHSP-70 elicited high antibody levels, with concurrent significant reductions in peripheral parasitaemias. Taken together, these results emphasize the potential of HSP-70s as a molecular adjuvant vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The source and routes of diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) have not been clarified because it is difficult to detect these organisms in samples with numerous coliform bacteria. We have developed multiplex real-time PCR assays for exhaustive detection of DEC. Methods and Results: Primers and TaqMan probes were designed to amplify and quantify one gene ( eae, stx1, stx2, elt, est, virB, aggR, astA, and afaB) from each of seven pathotypes of DEC, in duplex or triplex reactions under the same PCR cycling conditions. Specificity was confirmed using 860 strains including 88 DEC strains. The fluorescence threshold cycle and DNA concentrations correlated with decision coefficients of more than 0·99. Subsequently, meat samples and enrichment broths were spiked with DEC and the assays used to detect the genes. The detection limits varied from 7·1 × 102 to 1·1 × 104 CFU ml−1, depending on the target genes. All meat samples spiked with a variety of DEC (more than 10 CFU 10 g−1) were found to be positive by the method. Conclusions: The present system allows for the efficient and simultaneous determination of various DEC pathotypes. Significance and Impact of the Study: This system makes epidemiological investigations for DEC sensitive and quick, and is a useful tool to clarify the source and routes of DEC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the impact of complement component 3 (C3) deficiency on the progression of lethal Babesia rodhaini infection in immune mice. A B. gibsoni ribosomal phosphoprotein P0 (BgP0) previously reported to be a cross-protective antigen against Babesia infection was used to immunize C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and C3-deficient (C3–/–) mice. Test mice were immunized intraperitoneally (i.p.) with recombinant BgP0 (rBgP0), while controls either were immunized with PBS or did not receive any immunization. Following the immunization regime, test WT mice induced a specifically strong humoral response consisting of mixed immunoglobulins IgG1 and IgG2 associated with high production of IFN-γ in the supernatant of splenocytes. While test C3–/– mice had significantly decreased total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2b responses, the secretions of IL-12 and IFN-γ tended to be lower than those in WT mice. Furthermore, partial protection was only observed in rBgP0-immunized WT mice but not in C3–/– mice or controls. Indeed, rBgP0-immunized WT mice showed significant reductions in the initiation of parasitaemia correlated with delayed mortalities and considerable survival rates. Taken together, our results indicate that cross-protection was impaired in C3–/– mice in view of the decrease in the antibody responses and cytokine production and the high susceptibility to infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To determine the subtypes of stx and eae genes of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) from calves and to ascertain the typical and atypical nature of EPEC. Methods and Results: One hundred and eighty-seven faecal samples from 134 diarrhoeic and 53 healthy calves were investigated for the presence of stx, eae and ehxA virulence genes by polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Subtype analysis of stx 1 exhibited stx 1c in 13 (31·70%) isolates, while that of stx 2 revealed stx 2c in eight (24·24%) and stx 2d in two (6·06%) isolates. Subtyping of eae gene showed the presence of eae-β, eae-η and eae-ζ in two, three and four isolates respectively. None of the E. coli isolates possessed stx 2e, stx 2f, eae-α, eae-δ, eae-ε and eae-ξ. All EPEC isolates were atypical. Conclusions: stx 1, stx 1c, stx 2, stx 2c, stx 2d, eae-β, eae-η and eae-ζ subtypes are prevalent in STEC and EPEC isolates in India. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first subtype analysis of stx 2 and eae genes of animal E. coli isolates in India and emphasizes the need to investigate their transmission to humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apoptosis has been found to help in the defence against pathogens. Infection with the obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii is known to trigger host-cell apoptosis. When using a T. gondii -infected macrophage cell line, J774A.1, treatment with IFN-γ significantly enhanced apoptosis in noninfected bystander cells while parasitized cells became relatively resistant. Infection and IFN-γ treatment activated the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and the production of nitric oxide (NO) and treatment of cells with an iNOS inhibitor, NG-monomethlyl-l-arginine acetate (l-NMMA) reduced the apoptosis frequency. However, the reversal was only partial suggesting that not only NO, but also other, as of yet, unknown factors are induced. Finally, we studied the effect in vivo by infecting mice with either a virulent or an avirulent strain. Challenge with the virulent strain lead to a higher parasite burden, induced host-cell apoptosis in peritoneal cells, and produced higher levels of IFN-γ and NO. Moreover, treatment of mice with a NO synthase inhibitor, aminoguanidine, partially inhibited the host-cell apoptosis induced by the parasite infection. Altogether, our findings indicate that apoptosis in bystander host cells is due to the secretion of NO and other soluble factors released by parasite-infected cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The D2 + was irradiated into SiC up to the saturation and thereafter He+ irradiation was performed to elucidate interaction mechanism between hydrogen isotope retained in SiC and irradiated energetic He+ by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). It was found that D was trapped by both of Si and C by D2 + irradiation and only D bound to Si interacted with irradiated He+ in the initial He+ irradiation stage. Some damaged structures were introduced into SiC by both of D2 + and He+ irradiation. By heating after the irradiation experiments, most of SiC structure was recovered at the temperature above 1000 K. However, some free C was migrated toward the surface and aggregated on the surface of SiC. This fact indicates that the C impurity would contaminate the plasma and/or the tritium breeding materials, which is thought to be contacted with the SiC inserts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The annihilation behavior of irradiation defects induced in neutron-irradiated Li2TiO3 and Li2ZrO3 were investigated with the tritium release behavior. It was revealed that the common characteristics in both samples were that the annihilation process of irradiation defects consisted of two first-order processes and E’-center could act as tritium trapping site, and otherwise was the way how the E’-center annihilated. The difference was suggested to attribute to the mobility of M as M4+ (or M3+, etc.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]