Single-photon nonlinear optics with a quantum dot in a waveguide

Strong nonlinear interactions between photons enable logic operations for both classical and quantum-information technology. Unfortunately, nonlinear interactions are usually feeble and therefore all-optical logic gates tend to be inefficient. A quantum emitter deterministically coupled to a propagating mode fundamentally changes the situation, since each photon inevitably interacts with the emitter, and highly correlated many-photon states may be created . Here we show that a single quantum dot in a photonic-crystal waveguide can be utilized as a giant nonlinearity sensitive at the single-photon level. The nonlinear response is revealed from the intensity and quantum statistics of the scattered photons, and contains contributions from an entangled photon-photon bound state. The quantum nonlinearity will find immediate applications for deterministic Bell-state measurements and single-photon transistors and paves the way to scalable waveguide-based photonic quantum-computing architectures

Reduction of multidrug-resistant (Mdr) bacterial infections during the covid-19 pandemic: a retrospective study

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms are emerging as some of the main healthcare prob-lems worldwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures have been adopted to reduce nosocomial microorganism transmission. We performed a case–control study to identify if the incidence of MDR bacterial infections while using pandemic-related preventive measures is lower than in previous years. From 2017 to 2020, we monitored hospital discharges over a four-month period (P #) (1 March to 30 June) in St. Andrea Hospital, Rome. In total, we reported 1617 discharges. Pearson’s chi-squared test was used to identify significant differences. A value of p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A significant reduction in the incidence of total MDR bacterial infections was observed during the pandemic compared to in prepandemic years (p < 0.05). We also found a significantly higher incidence of MDR bacterial infections in COVID-19 departments compared with other medical departments (29% and 19%, respectively), with extended-spectrum β-lactamase Klebsiella pneumoniae as the pathogens presenting the highest increase. This study demonstrates that maintaining a high level of preventive measures could help tackle an important health problem such as that of the spread of MDR bacteria

The ligand-receptor interactions based on silicon technology

We explored the use of porous silicon (pSi) technology for the construction of a biotechnological device, in which the ligand-receptor interactions are revealed by means of laser optical measurements. Here we report the settling of chemical procedures for the functionalization of the silicon wafers and for the subsequent anchoring of biological molecules such as a purified murine monoclonal antibody (UN1 mAb), an antibody anti-P8 protein of M13 phage and an antibody anti-A20 murine lymphoma cell line. The optical analysis of the interaction on the biochips between the bound biomolecules and their corresponding ligands indicated that the pSi is suitable for thi

Different waters for different performances: Can we imagine sport-related natural mineral spring waters?

Preserving the hydration status means to balance daily fluids and salt losses with gains, where the losses depend on several physiological and environmental factors. Especially for athletes, these losses could be relevant and negatively influence the performance: therefore, their hydro-saline status must be preserved with personalized pre-and rehydration plans all along the performance period. Scientific literature in this field is mainly dedicated to artificial sport drinks. Different territories in most world areas are rich in drinking natural mineral spring waters with saline compositions that reflect their geological origin and that are used for human health (often under medical prescription). However, scarce scientific attention has been dedicated to the use of these waters for athletes. We therefore reviewed the existing literature from the innovative viewpoint of matching spring water mineral compositions with different athletic performances and their hydro-saline requirements

How appropriate is the use of rehabilitation facilities? Assessment by an evaluation tool based on the AEP protocol

Background. During the last few decades, an increasing attention has been drawn to public health expenditure and resource use. The increasing aging population has highlighted the need to deliver post-acute care and to assess its appropriateness. The ?PRUO rehab? (Protocollo di Revisione dell?Utilizzo dell?Ospedale riabilitativo) protocol was realized and validated to assess the appropriateness of use of rehabilitation units. The aims of this study were to test the validity of the PRUO-rehab tool and to analyse the causes for Inappropriate Hospital Stay (IPS) in rehabilitation units. Methods. The PRUO rehab tool was retrospectively applied to the medical records of 502 patients who stayed at least overnight in one of ten different rehabilitation units set in Northern Italy, during 2007. Results. The tool was valid and the inappropriate patient stay (IPS) score was 25.0%. Conclusion. Although reasonably low, the IPS indicates that the rehabilitation structures analysed could be used more efficiently

Endocanalicular transendothelial crossing (ETC): A novel intravasation mode used by HEK-EBNA293-VEGF-D cells during the metastatic process in a xenograft model

In cancer metastasis, intravasation of the invasive tumor cell (TCi) represents one of the most relevant events. During the last years, models regarding cancer cell intravasation have been proposed, such as the "endocanalicular transendothelial crossing" (ETC) theory. This theory describes the interplay between two adjacent endothelial cells and the TCi or a leukocyte during intravasation. Two endothelial cells create a channel with their cell membranes, in which the cell fits in without involving endothelial cell intercellular junctions, reaching the lumen through a transendothelial passage. In the present study, ten SCID mice were subcutaneously xenotransplanted with the HEK-EBNA293-VEGF-D cell line and euthanized after 35 days. Post-mortem examinations were performed and proper specimens from tumors were collected. Routine histology and immunohistochemistry for Ki-67, pAKT, pERK, ZEB-1, TWIST-1, F-actin, E-cadherin and LYVE-1 were performed followed by ultrastructural serial sections analysis. A novel experimental approach involving Computed Tomography (CT) combined with 3D digital model reconstruction was employed. The analysis of activated transcription factors supports that tumor cells at the periphery potentially underwent an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like process. Topographical analysis of LYVE-1 immunolabeled lymphatics revealed a peritumoral localisation. TEM investigations of the lymphatic vessels combined with 3D digital modelling enhanced the understanding of the endotheliocytes behavior during TCi intravasation, clarifying the ETC theory. Serial ultrastructural analysis performed within tumor periphery revealed numerous cells during the ETC process. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that ETC is an intravasation mode more frequently used by the TCi than by leukocytes during intravasation in the HEK-EBNA293-VEGF-D xenograft model and lays down the potential basis for promising future studies regarding intravasation blocking therapy

Structure-based design and synthesis of antiparasitic pyrrolopyrimidines targeting pteridine reductase 1

The treatment of Human African Trypanosomiasis remains a major unmet health need in sub-Saharan Africa. Approaches involving new molecular targets are important and pteridine reductase 1 (PTR1), an enzyme that reduces dihydrobiopterin in Trypanosoma spp. has been identified as a candidate target and it has been shown previously that substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines are inhibitors of PTR1 from T. brucei (J. Med. Chem. 2010, 53, 221-229). In this study, 61 new pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines have been prepared, designed with input from new crystal structures of 23 of these compounds complexed with PTR1, and evaluated in screens for enzyme inhibitory activity against PTR1 and in vitro antitrypanosomal activity. 8 compounds were sufficiently active in both screens to take forward to in vivo evaluation. Thus although evidence for trypanocidal activity in a stage I disease model in mice was obtained, the compounds were too toxic to mice for further development

Treatment with Idelalisib in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Follicular Lymphoma: The Observational Italian Multicenter FolIdela Study

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent hematological disease, often responsive to the first line of treatment, but characterized by repeated relapses. The therapeutic algorithm for relapsed/refractory FL patients comprises phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors. Idelalisib showed anticancer activity, while inducing a significant rate of toxicities. Since the evidence in the literature on its use in normal clinical practice is scarce, a retrospective multicenter study was conducted to evaluate effectiveness and tolerability in a real-life context. Seventy-two patients with a median age at diagnosis of 57.2 years—mostly with an advanced stage (88.9%) and relapsed to the most recent therapy (79.1%)—were enrolled. The median number of prior therapies was three (20.8% refractory to the last therapy before idelalisib). With a median number of 4 months of treatment, the overall response rate was 41.7% (20.8% complete responses). Median disease-free survival and overall survival were achieved at 8.4 months and at 4 years, respectively. Forty-four percent of patients experienced at least one drug-related toxicity: 6.9% hematological ones and 43% non-hematological. The study confirmed that idelalisib has anticancer effectiveness and an acceptable safety profile in relapsed/refractory FL with unfavorable prognostic characteristics, even in the context of normal clinical practice

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in octogenarians aged 85 and older can benefit from treatment with curative intent: a report on 129 patients prospectively registered in the Elderly Project of the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi (FIL)

Octogenarian patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma are managed mainly with palliation, but recent improvement in their overall condition makes potentially curative treatment a possibility. Studies have shown that half of selected octogenarians may be cured using reduced-dose anthracycline chemoimmunotherapy. However, patients aged >85 (late octogenarians [LO]) were underrepresented, and selection criteria were poorly defined. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of LO enrolled in the FIL Elderly Project in terms of the treatment received (palliative vs. curative) and of their simplified geriatric assessment (sGA), then compared them with early octogenarians (EO) aged 80-84 and with those aged 65-79 classified as UNFIT or FRAIL according to sGA enrolled in the same study. Of the 1,163 patients, 370 were >80 and 129 LO. Clinical characteristics were similar between LO and EO, but LO more frequently received palliation (50% vs. 23%; P=0.001) and had worse 2-year overall survival (OS) (48% vs. 63%; P=0.001) and 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) (43% vs. 56%; P=0.01). Patients receiving anthracycline did better than patients receiving palliation (P<0.001), without any difference between full or reduced doses. Rituximab within palliation improved outcome (2-yr OS with or without rituximab 42% vs. 22%; P=0.008). Elderly Prognostic Index (EPI) performed better than sGA in identifying different risk categories, and high-risk EPI retained an independent unfavorable effect on OS and PFS, together with treatment without anthracycline. In conclusion, late octogenarians can benefit from a curative approach with reduced-dose anthracycline and from rituximab within palliation. EPI may help in patient selection more than sGA can

Social sciences research in neglected tropical diseases 2: A bibliographic analysis

The official published version of the article can be found at the link below.Background There are strong arguments for social science and interdisciplinary research in the neglected tropical diseases. These diseases represent a rich and dynamic interplay between vector, host, and pathogen which occurs within social, physical and biological contexts. The overwhelming sense, however, is that neglected tropical diseases research is a biomedical endeavour largely excluding the social sciences. The purpose of this review is to provide a baseline for discussing the quantum and nature of the science that is being conducted, and the extent to which the social sciences are a part of that. Methods A bibliographic analysis was conducted of neglected tropical diseases related research papers published over the past 10 years in biomedical and social sciences. The analysis had textual and bibliometric facets, and focussed on chikungunya, dengue, visceral leishmaniasis, and onchocerciasis. Results There is substantial variation in the number of publications associated with each disease. The proportion of the research that is social science based appears remarkably consistent (<4%). A textual analysis, however, reveals a degree of misclassification by the abstracting service where a surprising proportion of the "social sciences" research was pure clinical research. Much of the social sciences research also tends to be "hand maiden" research focused on the implementation of biomedical solutions. Conclusion There is little evidence that scientists pay any attention to the complex social, cultural, biological, and environmental dynamic involved in human pathogenesis. There is little investigator driven social science and a poor presence of interdisciplinary science. The research needs more sophisticated funders and priority setters who are not beguiled by uncritical biomedical promises