Gain dynamics in quickly ionized plasma for seeded operated soft x-ray lasers.

Harmonic seeded operation of a neon-like titanium plasma-based soft x-ray laser is described. The plasma amplifier is pumped with a variation of the grazing incidence technique involving a fast and localized ionization step. We discuss its effect on gain dynamics by measuring the amplifying factor as a function of the delay between pump pulse and harmonic seed. Two different regimes are pointed out, following the pumping scheme used. For one of them, a delay in the gain generation compared with the pumping laser pulse is observed.

Combined two-photon laser-scanning microscopy and spectral microCT X-ray imaging to characterize the cellular signature and evolution of microstroke foci.

Occlusive brain ischemia and micro-strokes are the most frequent brain pathologies, particularly in older patients and a major cause of dementia. Currently, we are missing appropriate methodology to study micro-strokes in experimental animals. In vivo two-photon laser-scanning microscopy (2P-LSM) and transgenic mouse models expressing cell type specific reporters have been used to examine ischemia-related insults, e.g. perturbations of neuronal process morphology and local blood flow in the MCAO - middle cerebral artery occlusion-model. Glia and pericytes can be visualized by selective fluorescent protein expression, e.g. astrocytes by their cyan-fluorescent ECFP, pericytes by red-fluorescent tdtomato and microglia by green fluorescent EGFP expression. In these mice, the breakdown of the blood brain barrier and the immediate as well as long-term cellular responses can be monitored. A new prototype of microCT incorporating a fast X-ray XPAD3 camera has been recently set up to allow cerebral angiography at high sampling rate. Preliminary data indicate that it is useful to monitor blood perfusion disturbance (i.e. lateralization) in the brain of tumor-bearing mice following retro-orbital injection of iodinated contrast agent. We expect this technology to be adequate to assess in real time the impact of acute stroke models on brain blood perfusion. By localizing perfusion anomalies, we will evaluate the extent of non-perfused areas and correlate these observations with subsequent behavioral deficits, and with local changes in myelin content in white matter tracks. The spectral properties of the XPAD3 detector moreover allow for the simultaneous identification and localization of several contrast agents opening the way to whole body multicolor imaging of vessels and inflammatory cells in the context of microstrokes.

Off-line ion source terminal for ISAC at TRIUMF.

The off-line ion source (OLIS) terminal consists of a microwave cusp ion source, either a surface ion source or a hybrid surface-arc discharge ion source and an electrostatic switch that allows selecting any one of the sources without mechanical intervention. These sources provide variety of beams to ISAC experiments, for commissioning the accelerators, for setting up the radioactive experiments, and for tuning the beam lines. The microwave ion source has been operational since 1995 and provides singly and doubly charged beams from various stable isotopes for many ISAC experiments at high and low energy areas. Originally its prime goal was to provide beams from gaseous elements, but later two ovens and a sputtering system were added in order to provide beams from liquids and from solids. The surface ion source installed in 2002 can provide low energy spread beams from alkali and semialkali elements. It also has three separate ovens and an ionizer. Therefore, it can provide three different temperature regions simultaneously to provide different beams to ISAC. It is mainly used for laser spectroscopy experiments and other experiments, which require a finite beam quality. A hybrid surface-arc discharge ion source was also developed and installed in order to meet specific demands from experiments. This source terminal is now automated for start up and for mass selection. It is capable of providing stable beams for months without maintenance and it is also capable of providing negative ion beams if required. To date, over 40 different isotopes including many rear isotopes were delivered to various experiments from the OLIS source terminal. Performances of the ion sources and some of the results are discussed.

The endoscopic and morphological forms of early gastric cancer.

The early gastric cancer is an endoscopic notion in which gastric cancer is strictly placed to mucosis and submucosis without extensive manifestations. It is the form with favorable prognosis and better survival at 5 and 10 years. Our study tries to systematize the debut forms of early gastric cancer and their association with the lesions with malignisation risk. We also try to evaluate the incidence of endoscopic and histopathologic forms of early gastric cancer found in an internal medicine division. Our study included 435 patients with gastric cancer endoscopic and histologic diagnosed. Statistically, 64.36% were men and 35.64% were women, the mean age 48 +/- 7 years. The endoscopic forms of early gastric cancer were type I: protruded in 19 cases, type II: superficially in eight cases, type III: excavated in six cases. Early gastric cancer is diagnosed with difficulty, it represents in 7.58% of the gastric cancer, being most frequently asymptomatic. The endoscopic forms frequently found in early gastric cancer in the population were type I: protruded and type IIa: superficially elevated. The histopathological examination is compulsory at this form of gastric cancer, while in advanced gastric cancer endoscopy is often sufficient for diagnosis. Analysing the histopathological results of cases diagnosed with early gastric cancer we found: 22 cases with intestinal type and 11 cases diffuse type. Microscopically, 15 were intramucosal and 18 had submucosal invasion. I and IIa lesions were predominantly located at the antrum and are histologically differentiated adenocarcinoma. Differentiated carcinoma frequently produces an elevated lesion and the border is well demarcated. There are frequent opportunities to detect gastric cancer in the early phase and the patient can expect a complete cure by the surgical operation or endoscopical mucosal resection.

Nuclear membrane protein LAP2beta mediates transcriptional repression alone and together with its binding partner GCL (germ-cell-less).

LAP2beta is an integral membrane protein of the nuclear envelope involved in chromatin and nuclear architecture. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we have cloned a novel LAP2beta-binding protein, mGCL, which contains a BTB/POZ domain and is the mouse homologue of the Drosophila germ-cell-less (GCL) protein. In Drosophila embryos, GCL was shown to be essential for germ cell formation and was localized to the nuclear envelope. Here, we show that, in mammalian cells, GCL is co-localized with LAP2beta to the nuclear envelope. Nuclear fractionation studies reveal that mGCL acts as a nuclear matrix component and not as an integral protein of the nuclear envelope. Recently, mGCL was found to interact with the DP3alpha component of the E2F transcription factor. This interaction reduced the transcriptional activity of the E2F-DP heterodimer, probably by anchoring the complex to the nuclear envelope. We demonstrate here that LAP2beta is also capable of reducing the transcriptional activity of the E2F-DP complex and that it is more potent than mGCL in doing so. Co-expression of both LAP2beta and mGCL with the E2F-DP complex resulted in a reduced transcriptional activity equal to that exerted by the pRb protein.

[The genetic predisposition in open-angle glaucoma]. / Predispozitia genetica în glaucomul cu unghi deschis.

The genealogic tree examination of a female patient with open angle glaucoma showed the presence of eight more cases of glaucoma in the same family. The transmission was autosomal predominant with a 75% penetration of the pathological gene. In the patient's family the affection appeared practically at the same age and evolved with the same specific feature.

[Congenital imperforation of the nasolacrimal canal]. / Imperforarea congenitala a canalului lacrimo-nazal.

The medical attendance of the congenital imperforation of the tear-nasal tassel continues to be an actual problem because of the great number of cases met in practice. The analysis of 115 cases of congenital imperforation of the tear-nasal tassel shows the presence of this disease at one eye in 76 cases and at the both eyes in 39 cases. The frequency of the un perforation was greater at men. From 115 cases of congenital imperforations there have been obtained good results using tear lavages in 71 cases and tear polls in 39 cases. In 5 failure informations there was practised dacryocystorhinostomy, but only after 3 years age.