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Biomedical subjects

G Lynch

Publications and source records attributed to G Lynch.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Search for the decay B0-->gammagamma.

We present a limit on the branching fraction for the decay B0-->gammagamma using data collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric energy e+e- collider. Based on the observation of one event in the signal region, out of a sample of 21.3x10(6) e+e--->Upsilon(4S)-->BB decays, we establish an upper limit on the branching fraction of B(B0-->gammagamma)<1.7x10(-6) at the 90% confidence level. This result substantially improves upon existing limits.

Journal Article↗

Measurement of the B--> J/psiK*(892) decay amplitudes.

We present a measurement of the decay amplitudes in B-->J/psiK*(892) channels using 20.7 fb(-1) of data collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at PEP-II. We measure a P-wave fraction R(perpendicular) = (16.0 +/- 3.2 +/- 1.4)% and a longitudinal polarization fraction (59.7 +/- 2.8 +/- 2.4)%. The measurement of a relative phase that is neither 0 nor pi, phi = 2.50 +/- 0.20 +/-0.08 radians, favors a departure from the factorization hypothesis. Although the decay B-->/psiK(pi) proceeds mainly via K*(892), there is also evidence for K2*(1430) and K(pi) S-wave contributions.

Journal Article↗

Measurements of the branching fractions of exclusive charmless B meson decays with eta(') or omega mesons.

We present the results of searches for B decays to charmless two-body final states containing eta(') or omega mesons, based on 20.7 fb(-1) of data collected with the BABAR detector. We find the branching fractions Beta(B(+)-->eta(')K(+)) = (70+/-8+/-5) x 10(-6), Beta(B(0)-->eta(')K(0)) = (42(+13)(-11) +/- 4) x 10(-6), and Beta(B(+)-->omega pi(+)) = (6.6(+2.1)(-1.8) +/- 0.7) x 10(-6), where the first error quoted is statistical and the second is systematic. We give measurements of four additional modes for which the 90% confidence level upper limits are Beta(B(+)-->eta(')pi(+)) < 12 x 10(-6), Beta(B(+)-->omega K(+)) < 4 x 10(-6), Beta(B(0)-->omega K(0)) < 13 x 10(-6), and Beta(B(0)-->omega pi(0)) < 3 x 10(-6).

Journal Article↗

Measurement of the B(0) and B(+) meson lifetimes with fully reconstructed hadronic final states.

The B(0) and B(+) meson lifetimes have been measured in e(+)e(-) annihilation data collected in 1999 and 2000 with the BABAR detector at center-of-mass energies near the Upsilon(4S) resonance. Events are selected in which one B meson is fully reconstructed in a hadronic final state while the second B meson is reconstructed inclusively. A combined fit to the B(0) and the B(+) decay time difference distributions yields tau(B(0)) = 1.546+/-0.032(stat)+/-0.022(syst) ps, tau(B(+)) = 1.673+/-0.032(stat)+/-0.023(syst) ps, and tau(B(+))/tau(B(0)) = 1.082+/-0.026(stat)+/-0.012(syst).

Journal Article↗

HIV gp120 receptors on human dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are important targets for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) because of their roles during transmission and also maintenance of immune competence. Furthermore, DCs are a key cell in the development of HIV vaccines. In both these settings the mechanism of binding of the HIV envelope protein gp120 to DCs is of importance. Recently a single C-type lectin receptor (CLR), DC-SIGN, has been reported to be the predominant receptor on monocyte-derived DCs (MDDCs) rather than CD4. In this study a novel biotinylated gp120 assay was used to determine whether CLR or CD4 were predominant receptors on MDDCs and ex vivo blood DCs. CLR bound more than 80% of gp120 on MDDCs, with residual binding attributable to CD4, reconfirming that CLRs were the major receptors for gp120 on MDDCs. However, in contrast to recent reports, gp120 binding to at least 3 CLRs was observed: DC-SIGN, mannose receptor, and unidentified trypsin resistant CLR(s). In marked contrast, freshly isolated and cultured CD11c(+ve) and CD11c(-ve) blood DCs only bound gp120 via CD4. In view of these marked differences between MDDCs and blood DCs, HIV capture by DCs and transfer mechanisms to T cells as well as potential antigenic processing pathways will need to be determined for each DC phenotype.

AIDS Vaccines↗

Measurement of J/psi production in continuum e(+)e(-) annihilations near square root of s = 10.6 GeV.

The production of J/psi mesons in continuum e(+)e(-) annihilations has been studied with the BABAR detector at energies near the Upsilon(4S) resonance. The mesons are distinguished from J/psi production in B decays through their center-of-mass momentum and energy. We measure the cross section e(+)e(-)-->J/psi X to be 2.52+/-0.21+/-0.21 pb. We set a 90% C.L. upper limit on the branching fraction for direct Upsilon(4S)-->J/psi X decays at 4.7 x 10(-4).

Journal Article↗

Measurement of branching fractions and search for CP-violating charge asymmetries in charmless two-body B decays into pions and kaons.

We present measurements, based on a sample of approximately 23x10(6) BB pairs, of the branching fractions and a search for CP-violating charge asymmetries in charmless hadronic decays of B mesons into two-body final states of kaons and pions. We find the branching fractions B(B0-->pi(+)pi(-)) = (4.1+/-1.0+/-0.7)x10(-6), B(B0-->K+pi(-)) = (16.7+/-1.6+/-1.3)x10(-6), B(B+-->K+pi(0)) = (10.8(+2.1)(-1.9)+/-1.0)x10(-6), B(B+-->K0pi(+)) = (18.2(+3.3)(-3.0)+/-2.0)x10(-6), B(B0-->K0pi(0)) = (8.2(+3.1)(-2.7)+/-1.2)x10(-6). We also report 90% confidence level upper limits for B meson decays to the pi(+)pi(0), K+K-, and K0K+ final states. In addition, charge asymmetries have been found to be consistent with zero, where the statistical precision is in the range of +/-0.10 to +/-0.18, depending on the decay mode.

Journal Article↗

Measurement of the decays B--> phiK and B--> phiK*.

We have observed the decays B--> phiK and phiK(*) in a sample of over 45 million B mesons collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II collider. The measured branching fractions are B(B+--> phiK+) = (7.7(+1.6)(-1.4)+/-0.8)x10(-6), B(B0--> phiK0) = (8.1(+3.1)(-2.5)+/-0.8)x10(-6), B(B+--> phiK(*+)) = (9.7(+4.2)(-3.4)+/-1.7)x10(-6), and B(B0--> phiK(*0)) = (8.7(+2.5)(-2.1)+/-1.1)x10(-6). We also report the upper limit B(B+--> phipi(+))<1.4x10(-6) ( 90% C.L.).

Journal Article↗

Observation of CP violation in the B(0) meson system.

We present an updated measurement of time-dependent CP-violating asymmetries in neutral B decays with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric B Factory at SLAC. This result uses an additional sample of Upsilon(4S) decays collected in 2001, bringing the data available to 32 x 10(6) BB macro pairs. We select events in which one neutral B meson is fully reconstructed in a final state containing charmonium and the flavor of the other neutral B meson is determined from its decay products. The amplitude of the CP-violating asymmetry, which in the standard model is proportional to sin2 beta, is derived from the decay time distributions in such events. The result sin2 beta = 0.59+/-0.14(stat)+/-0.05(syst) establishes CP violation in the B(0) meson system. We also determine absolute value of lambda = 0.93+/-0.09(stat)+/-0.03(syst), consistent with no direct CP violation.

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Rapid induction of intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

Cultured hippocampal slices prepared from apolipoprotein E-deficient mice were exposed to an inhibitor of cathepsins B and L and then processed for immunocytochemistry using antibodies against human paired helical filaments. Dense, AT8-immunopositive deposits were found in the subiculum, stratum oriens of hippocampal field CA1, and the hilus of the dentate gyrus. This distribution agrees with that described for tangles in Alzheimer's disease. The appearance of the labeled structures fell into categories that correspond to previously proposed stages in the progression of intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles in human hippocampus. Electron microscopic analyses confirmed that microtubule disruption and twisted bundles of filaments were present in neurons in the affected areas. These results support the hypothesis that partial lysosomal dysfunction is a contributor to Alzheimer's disease and suggest a simple model for studying an important component of the disease.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Polarized distribution of alpha5 integrin in dendrites of hippocampal and cortical neurons.

The distribution of immunoreactivity for the alpha5 subunit of the fibronectin receptor was evaluated in adult rat brain with particular interest in the cellular localization of immunostaining in the hippocampal formation and neocortex. Beyond localization to neuronal perikarya and short dendritic fragments within most brain areas, alpha5 immunoreactivity (-ir) was particularly dense within primary apical dendrites of pyramidal cells in both hippocampus and neocortex and within the dendritic arbors of cerebellar Purkinje cells. In hippocampal and cortical pyramidal cells, immunostaining was clearly polarized: alpha5-ir was not detectable in basal dendrites in hippocampal neurons and was limited to proximal arbors or absent from basal dendrites in pyramidal cells in superficial and deep layers of neocortex. Beyond this, alpha5-ir was distributed within the dendritic ramifications of the dentate gyrus granule cells and within perikarya and dendrites of occasional nonpyramidal neurons. Developmental studies demonstrated that, in both hippocampus and neocortex, alpha5-ir appears first within perikarya and is distributed to dendrites during the second postnatal week. These results are in accord with the broad hypothesis that integrins contribute to apical-basal differences in dendrites and that the integrin fibronectin (alpha5beta1) receptor, in particular, contributes to some late developing features of dendritic structure or function.

Animals↗

Fluorometric and mass spectrometric analysis of nonenzymatic glycosylated albumin.

Albumin is the major transport protein in blood and intramolecular movement contributes to this function. Nonenzymatic glycosylation (NEG) of albumin occurs in diabetes and, in this study, fluorometric methods were used to determine the effect of increasing levels of NEG upon intramolecular movement in human serum albumin. Low levels of NEG significantly reduced and left-shifted Trp fluorescence, reduced quenching by acrylamide and inhibited penetration of bis-ANS, while these changes became only modestly more pronounced at higher levels of NEG. Mass spectrometry of tryptic and CNBr NEG-HSA fragments identified potential glycosylation sites and demonstrated only late glycosylation of the C- and N-terminal regions of the protein. Similar changes in diabetes may contribute to altered transport function in these patients.

Acrylamide↗

Measurement of CP-violating asymmetries in B0 decays to CP eigenstates.

We present measurements of time-dependent CP-violating asymmetries in neutral B decays to several CP eigenstates. The measurement uses a data sample of 23x10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->BbarB decays collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric B Factory at SLAC. In this sample, we find events in which one neutral B meson is fully reconstructed in a CP eigenstate containing charmonium and the flavor of the other neutral B meson is determined from its decay products. The amplitude of the CP-violating asymmetry, which in the standard model is proportional to sin2beta, is derived from the decay time distributions in such events. The result is sin2beta = 0.34+/-0.20 (stat)+/-0.05 (syst).

Journal Article↗

Delayed and isoform-specific effect of NMDA exposure on neural cell adhesion molecules in hippocampus.

Brief stimulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors has been shown to generate proteolytic fragments from the extracellular domain of neural cell adhesion molecules (NCAMs). In the present study, hippocampal slice cultures were used to demonstrate that such brief stimulation is followed by a delayed increase in the 180-kDa isoform NCAM-180. The slices were exposed to NMDA for 30 s followed by rapid quenching with the antagonist AP5. Immunoassays of the experimental samples indicated that concentrations of NCAM-180 were elevated above matched controls 2-3 h after the NMDA exposure, but not at earlier or later time points. This effect was isoform-specific as concentrations of the 140-kDa NCAM species were not found to increase. Interestingly, similar selectivity was evident with prolonged infusions of NMDA where, in contrast to the effect of brief stimulation, NCAM-180 content was reduced to 50% while levels of NCAM-140 were unchanged. Together with previous findings, the data indicate that the synaptic chemistries activated by NMDA differentially regulate NCAM-180 at the translation level and by localized activation of proteases.

Aging↗

Evidence that integrins contribute to multiple stages in the consolidation of long term potentiation in rat hippocampus.

Three structurally distinct groups of antagonists were used to test the hypothesis that integrin adhesion receptors play an essential role in consolidating (stabilizing) long term potentiation of the Schaffer collaterals in rat hippocampus. Comparisons were made of percent potentiation at antagonist-treated versus control sites within CA1 stratum radiatum of the same hippocampal slice. Function blocking antibodies against the alpha5 subunit of the fibronectin receptor had no effect on baseline responses or initial potentiation but resulted in a >30% reduction, relative to within-slice control long term potentiation, 45 min later. Larger reductions were recorded in separate experiments continued for 4 h after the induction of potentiation. Alpha(v) and alpha2 subunit antibodies did not reliably affect the stabilization of potentiation. An antagonist peptide with preference for beta1 integrins produced a slowly developing decline of the type seen with alpha5 antibodies. A cyclic peptide antagonist reduced potentiation within 10 min of induction and caused an almost 40% decrease over 45 min. Two disintegrins (snake toxins that potently block integrins) were very effective in preventing the consolidation of long term potentiation: echistatin reduced potentiation by >70%, while triflavin caused approximately 50% decrease. The suppressing effects of echistatin were concentration-dependent, obtained with treatment after induction, and much more rapid than the effects of antibodies. Rapid declines in potentiation were particularly evident when the two disintegrins were applied together. These results indicate that hippocampal fibronectin receptors (alpha5/beta1 integrin) contribute importantly to a slowly developing phase of long term potentiation consolidation. They also suggest that other integrins are critical to aspects of consolidation occurring in the first few minutes after induction.

Animals↗

A placebo-controlled pilot study of the ampakine CX516 added to clozapine in schizophrenia.

CX516, a positive modulator of the glutamatergic alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptor, improves performance in tasks requiring learning and memory in animals. CX516 was added to clozapine in 4-week, placebo-controlled, dose-finding (N = 6) and fixed-dose (N = 13) trials. CX516 was tolerated well and was associated with moderate to large, between-group effect sizes compared with placebo, representing improvement in measures of attention and memory. These preliminary results suggest that CX516 and other "ampakines" hold promise for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Adult↗

Supramaximal cholecystokinin displaces Munc18c from the pancreatic acinar basal surface, redirecting apical exocytosis to the basal membrane.

Exocytosis at the apical surface of pancreatic acinar cells occurs in the presence of physiological concentrations of cholecystokinin (CCK) but is inhibited at high concentrations. Here we show that Munc18c is localized predominantly to the basal membranes of acinar cells. Supramaximal but not submaximal CCK stimulation caused Munc18c to dissociate from the plasma membrane, and this displacement was blocked by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors. Conversely, whereas the CCK analog CCK-OPE alone failed to displace Munc18c from the membrane, this agent caused Munc18c displacement following minimal PKC activation. To determine the physiological significance of this displacement, we used the fluorescent dye FM1-43 to visualize individual exocytosis events in real-time from rat acinar cells in culture. We showed that supramaximal CCK inhibition of secretion resulted from impaired apical secretion and a redirection of exocytic events to restricted basal membrane sites. In contrast, CCK-OPE evoked apical exocytosis and could only induce basolateral exocytosis following activation of PKC. Infusion of supraphysiological concentrations of CCK in rats, a treatment that induced tissue changes reminiscent of mild acute pancreatitis, likewise resulted in rapid displacement of Munc18c from the basal membrane in vivo.

Animals↗