University of Wales

About: University of Wales is a education organization based out in Cardiff, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 12462 authors who have published 16873 publications receiving 700173 citations. The organization is also known as: Prifysgol Cymru.

CD8highCD57+ T lymphocytes in normal, healthy individuals are oligoclonal and respond to human cytomegalovirus.

Abstract: CD8+CD57+ lymphocytes from normal peripheral blood are divided into T cells expressing high levels of CD8 and NK cells expressing low levels of surface CD8. Increased numbers of CD8highCD57+ T cells correlate with previous exposure to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection, but no virus-specific function or function for CD8highCD57+ cells has been recorded. We have studied the TCR repertoire and responses of the CD8highCD57+ population induced by virus-infected fibroblasts in healthy individuals. Using three-color flow cytometry of PBL, we detected restricted TCRBV usage in the CD8highCD57+ subset of 11/15 subjects, compared with 1/15 in the CD8+, CD57- subset. The results of anchored PCR and sequencing also showed oligoclonality of TCR; 40-70% of CD8highCD57+ lymphocytes (10-20% of total CD8+ T cells) were derived from single clones. Such expansions were stable with time and detected in one subject over a 2-yr period. Functionally, CD8highCD57+ lymphocytes proliferated strongly to HCMV-, but not HSV-, VZV-, or influenza-infected fibroblasts in an MHC-unrestricted manner in vitro, including preferential augmentation of particular in vivo oligoclonally expanded subpopulations. HCMV-specific MHC-restricted CTL were detected, but limiting dilution analysis showed that these were a minority (< 10%) and not the oligoclonal subsets. In contrast, depletion of oligoclonally expanded CD8highCD57+ subpopulations, resulted in the increase of HCMV-specific CTL, suggesting functional heterogeneity in these cells.

Weak-force detection with superposed coherent states

Abstract: We investigate the utility of nonclassical states of simple harmonic oscillators, particularly a superposition of coherent states, for sensitive force detection. We find that like squeezed states, a superposition of coherent states allows displacement measurements at the Heisenberg limit. Entangling many superpositions of coherent states offers a significant advantage over a single-mode superposition state with the same mean photon number.

Randomized clinical trial of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication compared with proton-pump inhibitors for treatment of chronic gastro-oesophageal reflux.

Abstract: Background: Both laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) and proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy are established in the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). The aim of this study was to compare these two treatments in a randomized clinical trial. Methods: Between July 1997 and August 2001, 340 patients with a history of GORD for at least 6 months were investigated by endoscopy, 24-h pH monitoring and manometry. Of these, 217 were randomized, 109 to LNF and 108 to PPI therapy. The two groups were well matched for age, sex, weight and severity of reflux. Twenty-four-hour pH monitoring and manometry were performed 3 months after treatment, and quality of life was assessed in both groups using the Psychological General Well-being Index and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale at 3 and 12 months after treatment. Results: At 3 months there was an improvement in lower oesophageal sphincter pressure from 6·3 to 17·2 mmHg in the LNF group but no change in the PPI group (8·1 and 7·9 mmHg before and after treatment respectively) (P < 0·001). The mean DeMeester acid exposure score improved from 42·7 to 8·6 (P < 0·001) in the LNF group and from 36·9 to 17·7 in the PPI group (P < 0·001). The mean gastrointestinal symptom and general well-being scores improved from 31·7 and 95·4 respectively before treatment to 37·0 and 106·2 at 12 months after LNF, compared with changes from 34·3 and 98·5 to 35·0 and 100·4 respectively in the PPI group. The differences in both of these scores were significant between the two groups at 12 months (P = 0·003). Conclusion: LNF leads to significantly less acid exposure of the lower oesophagus at 3 months and significantly greater improvements in both gastrointestinal and general well-being after 12 months compared with PPI treatment. Copyright © 2005 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.