University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

About: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia is a education organization based out in Modena, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 8179 authors who have published 22418 publications receiving 671337 citations. The organization is also known as: Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia & Universita degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia.

Measurement of b hadron production fractions in 7 TeV pp collisions

Abstract: Measurements of $b$ hadron production ratios in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV with an integrated luminosity of 3 pb$^{-1}$ are presented. We study the ratios of strange $B$ meson to light $B$ meson production $f_s/(f_u+f_d)$ and $Lambda_b^0$ baryon to light $B$ meson production $f_{Lambda_b}/(f_u+f_d)$ as a function of the charmed hadron-muon pair transverse momentum $p_T$ and the $b$ hadron pseudorapidity $eta$, for $p_T$ between 0 and 14 GeV and $eta$ between 2 and 5. We find that $f_s/(f_u+f_d)$ is consistent with being independent of $p_{rm T}$ and $eta$, and we determine $f_s/(f_u+f_d)$ = 0.134$pm$ 0.004 $^{+0.011}_{-0.010}$, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. The corresponding ratio $f_{Lambda_b}/(f_u+f_d)$ is found to be dependent upon the transverse momentum of the charmed hadron-muon pair, $f_{Lambda_b}/(f_u+f_d)=(0.404pm 0.017 (stat) pm 0.027 (syst) pm 0.105 (Br))times[1 -(0.031 pm 0.004 (stat) pm 0.003 (syst))times p_T(GeV)]$, where Br reflects an absolute scale uncertainty due to the poorly known branching fraction Br(Lambda_c^+ to pK^-pi^+)$. We extract the ratio of strange $B$ meson to light neutral $B$ meson production $f_s/f_d$ by averaging the result reported here with two previous measurements derived from the relative abundances of $bar{B}_s to D_S^+ pi ^-$ to $bar{B}^0 to D^+K^-$ and $bar{B}^0 to D^+pi^-$. We obtain $f_s/f_d=0.267^{+0.021}_{-0.020}$.

Effects of nicotine in the dopaminergic system of mice lacking the alpha4 subunit of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Abstract: The mesostriatal dopaminergic system influences locomotor activity and the reinforcing properties of many drugs of abuse including nicotine. Here we investigate the role of the alpha4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit in mediating the effects of nicotine in the mesolimbic dopamine system in mice lacking the alpha4 subunit. We show that there are two distinct populations of receptors in the substantia nigra and striatum by using autoradiographic labelling with 125I alpha-conotoxin MII. These receptors are comprised of the alpha4, beta2 and alpha6 nAChR subunits and non-alpha4, beta2, and alpha6 nAChR subunits. Non-alpha4 subunit-containing nAChRs are located on dopaminergic neurons, are functional and respond to nicotine as demonstrated by patch clamp recordings. In vivo microdialysis performed in awake, freely moving mice reveal that mutant mice have basal striatal dopamine levels which are twice as high as those observed in wild-type mice. Despite the fact that both wild-type and alpha4 null mutant mice show a similar increase in dopamine release in response to intrastriatal KCl perfusion, a nicotine-elicited increase in dopamine levels is not observed in mutant mice. Locomotor activity experiments show that there is no difference between wild-type and mutant mice in basal activity in both habituated and non-habituated environments. Interestingly, mutant mice sustain an increase in cocaine-elicited locomotor activity longer than wild-type mice. In addition, mutant mice recover from depressant locomotor activity in response to nicotine at a faster rate. Our results indicate that alpha4-containing nAChRs exert a tonic control on striatal basal dopamine release, which is mediated by a heterogeneous population of nAChRs.

Muir-Torre syndrome

Abstract: Muir-Torre syndrome is an autosomal-dominant skin condition of genetic origin, characterised by tumours of the sebaceous gland or keratoacanthoma that are associated with visceral malignant diseases. The cutaneous characteristics of Muir-Torre syndrome are sebaceous adenoma, epithelioma, carcinoma, or multiple keratoacanthomas, whereas visceral malignant diseases include colorectal, endometrial, urological, and upper gastrointestinal tumours. Although Muir-Torre syndrome has a striking familial association and features of autosomal-dominant transmission, it can arise in individuals without a family history or any known mutations. Clinical and biomolecular evidence has suggested that there are two types of Muir-Torre syndrome. The most common is a variant of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, which is characterised by defects in mismatch repair genes and early-onset tumours. The second type does not show deficiency in mismatch repair and its pathogenesis remains undefined. Diagnosis of these rare sebaceous lesions warrants the search for associated internal malignant diseases: the peculiarity of skin lesions and their biomolecular characterisation with microsatellite instability analysis and immunohistochemistry could be used to identify familial Muir-Torre syndrome, allowing clinicians to tailor a personalised programme to screen for skin and visceral malignant diseases in high-risk individuals.

The number of prognostically detrimental mutations and prognosis in primary myelofibrosis: an international study of 797 patients.

Abstract: The number of prognostically detrimental mutations and prognosis in primary myelofibrosis: an international study of 797 patients

Concordance between four European Centres of PET reporting criteria designed for use in multicentre trials in Hodgkin Lymphoma

Abstract: Purpose To determine if PET reporting criteria for the Response Adapted Treatment in Hodgkin Lymphoma (RATHL) trial could enable satisfactory agreement to be reached between ‘core’ laboratories operating in different countries.