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Biomedical subjects

M J Hogan

Publications and source records attributed to M J Hogan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Testing ion-neutral interaction potentials using calculated ion transport coefficients.

Several commonly measured ion transport coefficients were investigated in order to determine their sensitivity for testing and comparing proposed ion-neutral interaction potentials. A variety of positive ions, negative ions, neutrals, and temperatures were included in order to draw as general a conclusion as possible. All transport coefficients considered were found to be sufficiently sensitive to be used to clearly distinguish between less and more accurate interaction potentials. It was also found that the longitudinal diffusion coefficient is the most sensitive test, followed by both the transverse diffusion coefficient and the ratio of the longitudinal diffusion coefficient to mobility, followed by the ratio of the transverse diffusion coefficient to mobility and that the mobility is the least sensitive test. When presently achievable levels of experimental error were also taken into account, however, there was no significant difference in the sensitivities.

Journal Article↗

Positron production by x rays emitted by betatron motion in a plasma wiggler.

Positrons in the energy range of 3-30 MeV, produced by x rays emitted by betatron motion in a plasma wiggler of 28.5 GeV electrons from the SLAC accelerator, have been measured. The extremely high-strength plasma wiggler is an ion column induced by the electron beam as it propagates through and ionizes dense lithium vapor. X rays in the range of 1-50 MeV in a forward cone angle of 0.1 mrad collide with a 1.7 mm thick tungsten target to produce electron-positron pairs. The positron spectra are found to be strongly influenced by the plasma density and length as well as the electron bunch length. By characterizing the beam propagation in the ion column these influences are quantified and result in excellent agreement between the measured and calculated positron spectra.

Journal Article↗

Identification of penumbra and infarct in acute ischemic stroke using computed tomography perfusion-derived blood flow and blood volume measurements.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We investigated whether computed tomography (CT) perfusion-derived cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) could be used to differentiate between penumbra and infarcted gray matter in a limited, exploratory sample of acute stroke patients. METHODS: Thirty patients underwent a noncontrast CT (NCCT), CT angiography (CTA), and CT perfusion (CTP) scan within 7 hours of stroke onset, NCCT and CTA at 24 hours, and NCCT at 5 to 7 days. Twenty-five patients met the criteria for inclusion and were subsequently divided into 2 groups: those with recanalization at 24 hours (n=16) and those without (n=9). Penumbra was operationally defined as tissue with an admission CBF <25 mL x 100 g(-1) x min(-1) that was not infarcted on the 5- to 7-day NCCT. Logistic regression was applied to differentiate between infarct and penumbra data points. RESULTS: For recanalized patients, CBF was significantly lower (P<0.05) for infarct (13.3+/-3.75 mL x 100 g(-1) x min(-1)) than penumbra (25.0+/-3.82 mL x 100 g(-1) x min(-1)). CBV in the penumbra (2.15+/-0.43 mL x 100 g(-1)) was significantly higher than contralateral (1.78+/-0.30 mL x 100 g(-1)) and infarcted tissue (1.12+/-0.37 mL x 100 g(-1)). Logistic regression using an interaction term (CBFxCBV) resulted in sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 97.0%, 97.2%, and 97.1%, respectively. The interaction term resulted in a significantly better (P<0.05) fit than CBF or CBV alone, suggesting that the CBV threshold for infarction varies with CBF. For patients without recanalization, CBF and CBV for infarcted regions were 15.1+/-5.67 mL x 100 g(-1) x min(-1) and 1.17+/-0.41 mL x 100 g(-1), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown in a limited sample of patients that CBF and CBV obtained from CTP can be sensitive and specific for infarction and should be investigated further in a prospective trial to assess their utility for differentiating between infarct and penumbra.

Acute Disease↗

Hose instability and wake generation by an intense electron beam in a self-ionized gas.

The propagation of an intense relativistic electron beam through a gas that is self-ionized by the beam's space charge and wakefields is examined analytically and with 3D particle-in-cell simulations. Instability arises from the coupling between a beam and the offset plasma channel it creates when it is perturbed. The traditional electron hose instability in a preformed plasma is replaced with this slower growth instability depending on the radius of the ionization channel compared to the electron blowout radius. A new regime for hose stable plasma wakefield acceleration is suggested.

Journal Article↗

Multi-GeV energy gain in a plasma-wakefield accelerator.

A plasma-wakefield accelerator has accelerated particles by over 2.7 GeV in a 10 cm long plasma module. A 28.5 GeV electron beam with 1.8 x 10(10) electrons is compressed to 20 microm longitudinally and focused to a transverse spot size of 10 microm at the entrance of a 10 cm long column of lithium vapor with density 2.8 x 10(17) atoms/cm3. The electron bunch fully ionizes the lithium vapor to create a plasma and then expels the plasma electrons. These electrons return one-half plasma period later driving a large amplitude plasma wake that in turn accelerates particles in the back of the bunch by more than 2.7 GeV.

Journal Article↗

Regulation of nestin expression after cortical ablation in adult rat brain.

During embryogenesis, transient expression of nestin in proliferating neuroepithelial stem cells signals the commitment of progenitor cells to differentiate. Although adult mammalian brain contains very little nestin, significant upregulation of nestin has been reported following cerebral injury, leading to speculation that nestin may be involved in brain repair. In this study, we assessed the temporal profile of nestin expression following ablation injury of the sensory barrel cortex and investigated the influence of contralateral whisker stimulation on nestin expression. Since the adult mammalian brain contains proliferating neuronal progenitor cells that can be labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), we also determined the association of nestin reexpression with BrdU-labeled cells. Nestin reexpression was detected predominantly in the ipsilateral cortex 3 days post-ablation. There was no significant nestin upregulation in the subcortical region. Nestin reexpression was most marked surrounding the lesion, but also extended throughout the entire lateral cortex. Nestin in the ipsilateral cortex subsided by day 7, although perilesional nestin expression was still apparent 28 days post-injury. Western blot analysis of nestin expression 3 days post-ablation confirmed a significant two-fold increase in nestin expression (p<0.05). Double immunofluorescence labeling demonstrated that the majority of nestin expression occurred in astrocytes. We were unable to detect any colocalization with neuronal makers. However, BrdU-labeled cells, which were readily detected in the subventricular zone prior to injury, were readily detected in the perilesional area 3 days post-ablation, concomitant with nestin in this area. Confocal microscopy detected several BrdU-positive cells expressing nestin. Taken together, the data support a potential role for nestin reexpression in brain repair.

Animals↗

Plasma wakefield acceleration in self-ionized gas or plasmas.

Tunnel ionizing neutral gas with the self-field of a charged particle beam is explored as a possible way of creating plasma sources for a plasma wakefield accelerator [Bruhwiler et al., Phys. Plasmas (to be published)]. The optimal gas density for maximizing the plasma wakefield without preionized plasma is studied using the PIC simulation code OSIRIS [R. Hemker et al., in Proceeding of the Fifth IEEE Particle Accelerator Conference (IEEE, 1999), pp. 3672-3674]. To obtain wakefields comparable to the optimal preionized case, the gas density needs to be seven times higher than the plasma density in a typical preionized case. A physical explanation is given.

Journal Article↗

Plasma-wakefield acceleration of an intense positron beam.

Plasma wakefields are both excited and probed by propagating an intense 28.5 GeV positron beam through a 1.4 m long lithium plasma. The main body of the beam loses energy in exciting this wakefield while positrons in the back of the same beam can be accelerated by the same wakefield as it changes sign. The scaling of energy loss with plasma density as well as the energy gain seen at the highest plasma density is in excellent agreement with simulations.

Journal Article↗

Ultrarelativistic-positron-beam transport through meter-scale plasmas.

We report on the first study of the dynamic transverse forces imparted to an ultrarelativistic positron beam by a long plasma in the underdense regime. Focusing of the 28.5 GeV beam is observed from time-resolved beam profiles after the 1.4 m plasma. The strength of the imparted force varies along the approximately 12 ps full length of the bunch as well as with plasma density. Computer simulations substantiate the longitudinal aberration seen in the data and reveal mechanisms for emittance degradation.

Journal Article↗

Transverse envelope dynamics of a 28.5-GeV electron beam in a long plasma.

The transverse dynamics of a 28.5-GeV electron beam propagating in a 1.4 m long, (0-2)x10(14) cm(-3) plasma are studied experimentally in the underdense or blowout regime. The transverse component of the wake field excited by the short electron bunch focuses the bunch, which experiences multiple betatron oscillations as the plasma density is increased. The spot-size variations are observed using optical transition radiation and Cherenkov radiation. In this regime, the behavior of the spot size as a function of the plasma density is well described by a simple beam-envelope model. Dynamic changes of the beam envelope are observed by time resolving the Cherenkov light.

Journal Article↗

X-ray emission from betatron motion in a plasma wiggler.

The successful utilization of an ion channel in a plasma to wiggle a 28.5-GeV electron beam to obtain broadband x-ray radiation is reported. The ion channel is induced by the electron bunch as it propagates through an underdense 1.4-meter-long lithium plasma. The quadratic density dependence of the spontaneously emitted betatron x-ray radiation and the divergence angle of approximately (1-3)x10(-4) radian of the forward-emitted x-rays as a consequence of betatron motion in the ion channel are in good agreement with theory. The absolute photon yield and the peak spectral brightness at 14.2-keV photon energy are estimated.

Journal Article↗

Measurements of radiation near an atomic spectral line from the interaction of a 30 GeV electron beam and a long plasma.

Emissions produced or initiated by a 30-GeV electron beam propagating through a approximately 1-m long heat pipe oven containing neutral and partially ionized vapor have been measured near atomic spectral lines in a beam-plasma wakefield experiment. The Cerenkov spatial profile has been studied as a function of oven temperature and pressure, observation wavelength, and ionizing laser intensity and delay. The Cerenkov peak angle is affected by the creation of plasma, and estimates of neutral and plasma density have been extracted. Increases in visible background radiation, consistent with increased plasma recombination emissions due to dissipation of wakefields, were simultaneously measured.

Journal Article↗

Diagnostic and interventional ultrasonography in neonatal and infant lumbar puncture.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar puncture (LP) may be unsuccessful clinically, prompting image-guided LP by radiologists. Objective. To investigate the utility of ultrasound (US) in diagnosing the cause of failed LP and in guiding LP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Neonates and infants referred for image-guided LP underwent spine US of the thecal sac. When indicated, image-guided LP was performed. RESULTS: Forty-seven evaluations and interventions were performed in 32 patients. All patients were initially evaluated after failed blind LP attempts. Twenty-three of the initial US studies showed intrathecal and/ or epidural echogenic hematoma, which obliterated the CSF space; 5 showed minimal fluid, and 4 had normal examinations. LP was deferred or cancelled in 14 cases based upon initial US findings. Image-guided LP was performed 32 times in 19 patients. US guidance was used in 26, fluoroscopy in 3, and fluoroscopy with US assistance in 3. Using US, LP was performed in 9 patients with no visible CSF: 2 samples were sufficient for culture only. Six patients had minimal CSF US: 4 provided usable CSF samples. Clear CSF space was seen in 11: all had successful LP. CONCLUSIONS: US can disclose the cause of failed LP, can help determine whether or not to intervene further, and can provide guidance for LP.

Humans↗

Percutaneous nephrostomy in children and adolescents: outpatient management.

PURPOSE: To determine if percutaneous nephrostomy can be performed safely as an outpatient procedure in children and adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Percutaneous nephrostomy was performed in 102 kidneys in 87 patients at 93 separate encounters. Patients were excluded from outpatient treatment if they presented with signs of infection, were hospitalized for other reasons, were undergoing additional endourologic stone procedures, had solitary kidneys or poor renal function, had social problems precluding outpatient care, or had a procedural complication. Follow-up was performed by means of direct communication and/or chart review. RESULTS: Successful outpatient percutaneous nephrostomy was performed in 39 (42%) of the 93 encounters. Reasons for exclusion included infection (n = 23), concomitant problems requiring hospitalization (n = 11), stone therapy (n = 7), solitary kidney with renal failure (n = 3), and social reasons (n = 10). No procedure-related complication occurred. No patient required readmission within 3 weeks for a tube- or procedure-related problem. CONCLUSION: Outpatient percutaneous nephrostomy can be safely performed in a selected group of patients.

Adolescent↗

Cyclin-dependent kinases as a therapeutic target for stroke.

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are commonly known to regulate cell proliferation. However, previous reports suggest that in cultured postmitotic neurons, activation of CDKs is a signal for death rather than cell division. We determined whether CDK activation occurs in mature adult neurons during focal stroke in vivo and whether this signal was required for neuronal death after reperfusion injury. Cdk4/cyclin D1 levels and phosphorylation of its substrate retinoblastoma protein (pRb) increase after stroke. Deregulated levels of E2F1, a transcription factor regulated by pRb, are also observed. Administration of a CDK inhibitor blocks pRb phosphorylation and the increase in E2F1 levels and dramatically reduces neuronal death by 80%. These results indicate that CDKs are an important therapeutic target for the treatment of reperfusion injury after ischemia.

Animals↗

Diagnosis and treatment of teen drug use.

Small but significant decreases in adolescent abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana in recent national surveys allow clinicians to feel some optimism about defeating the specter of substance abuse. It appears that changing the perception of risk and increasing adolescent disapproval of substance abuse are key goals. For every adolescent, reducing risk factors while identifying and enhancing protective factors optimizes an individual's opportunity to avoid potentially harmful behaviors. While focusing energy and commitment on each adolescent, however, clinicians cannot ignore the need for wider social change because the proximal adolescent domains of individual, family, and school factors are interrelated and embedded in the community and societal contexts. Every sector in society plays a crucial role in preventing adolescents from experimenting with and continuing to abuse tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs, from parents, physicians, educators, and policy makers to every adult invested in the health and well-being of adolescents.

Adolescent↗

Preconditioning with cortical spreading depression decreases intraischemic cerebral glutamate levels and down-regulates excitatory amino acid transporters EAAT1 and EAAT2 from rat cerebal cortex plasma membranes.

We previously reported a 50% reduction in cortical infarct volume following transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats preconditioned 3 days earlier with cortical spreading depression (CSD). The mechanism of the protective effect of prior CSD remains unknown. Recent studies demonstrate reversal of excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) to be a principal cause for elevated extracellular glutamate levels during cerebral ischemia. The present study measured the effect of CSD preconditioning on (a) intraischemic glutamate levels and (b) regulation of glutamate transporters within the ischemic cortex of the rat. Three days following either CSD or sham preconditioning, rats were subjected to 200 min of focal cerebral ischemia, and extracellular glutamate concentration was measured by in vivo microdialysis. Cortical glutamate exposure decreased 70% from 1,772.4 +/- 1,469.2 microM-min in sham-treated (n = 8) to 569.0 +/- 707.8 microM-min in CSD-treated (n = 13) rats (p <0.05). The effect of CSD preconditioning on glutamate transporter levels in plasma membranes (PMs) prepared from rat cerebral cortex was assessed by western blot analysis. Down-regulation of the glial glutamate transporter isoforms EAAT2 and EAAT1 from the PM fraction was observed at 1, 3, and 7 days but not at 0 or 21 days after CSD. Semiquantitative lane analysis showed a maximal decrease of 90% for EAAT2 and 50% for EAAT1 at 3 days post-CSD. The neuronal isoform EAAT3 was unaffected by CSD. This period of down-regulation coincides with the time frame reported for induced ischemic tolerance. These data are consistent with reversal of glutamate transporter function contributing to glutamate release during ischemia and suggest that down-regulation of these transporters may contribute to ischemic tolerance induced by CSD.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗