Local structure of REFeAsO (RE=La, Pr, Nd, Sm) oxypnictides studied by Fe K-edge EXAFS

Local structure of REOFeAs (RE=La, Pr, Nd, Sm) system has been studied as a function of chemical pressure varied due to different rare-earth size. Fe K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements in the fluorescence mode has permitted to compare systematically the inter-atomic distances and their mean square relative displacements (MSRD). We find that the Fe-As bond length and the corresponding MSRD hardly show any change, suggesting the strongly covalent nature of this bond, while the Fe-Fe and Fe-RE bond lengths decrease with decreasing rare earth size. The results provide important information on the atomic correlations that could have direct implication on the superconductivity and magnetism of REOFeAs system, with the chemical pressure being a key ingredient

Effect of Ru susbstitution on atomic displacements in the layered SmFe_{1-x}Ru_xAsO_{0.85}F_{0.15} superconductor

The effect of Ru substitution on the local structure of layered SmFe$_{1-x}$Ru$_x$AsO$_{0.85}$F$_{0.15}$ superconductor has been studied by As $K$- and Sm $L_3$ - edges x-ray-absorption spectroscopy. The extended x-ray-absorption fine-structure measurements reveal distinct Fe-As and Ru-As bondlengths in the Ru substituted samples with the latter being $\sim$0.03 \AA\ longer. Local disorder induced by the Ru substitution is mainly confined to the FeAs layer while the SmO spacer layer sustains a relative order, consistent with the x-ray-absorption near-edge structure spectra. The results suggest that, in addition to the order/disorder in the active active iron-arsenide layer, its coupling to the rare-earth\textminus oxygen spacer layer needs to be considered for describing the electronic properties of these layered superconductors

Orbital occupancies and the putative jeff = 1/2 groundstate in Ba2IrO4: a combined oxygen K edge XAS and RIXS study

The nature of the electronic groundstate of Ba2IrO4 has been addressed using soft X-ray absorption and inelastic scattering techniques in the vicinity of the oxygen K edge. From the polarization and angular dependence of XAS we deduce an approximately equal superposition of xy, yz and zx Ir4+ 5d orbitals. By combining the measured orbital occupancies, with the value of the spin-orbit coupling provided by RIXS, we estimate the crystal field splitting associated with the tetragonal distortion of the IrO6 octahedra to be small, \Delta=50(50) meV. We thus conclude definitively that Ba2IrO4 is a close realization of a spin-orbit Mott insulator with a jeff = 1/2 groundstate, thereby overcoming ambiguities in this assignment associated with the interpretation of X-ray resonant scattering experiments.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Determination of the local structure of Sr2−x_{2-x}Mx_xIrO4_4 (M = K, La) as a function of doping and temperature

The local structure of correlated spin-orbit insulator Sr$_{2-x}$M$_x$IrO$_4$ (M = K, La) has been investigated by Ir L$_3$-edge extended x-ray absorption fine structure measurements. The measurements were performed as a function of temperature for different dopings induced by substitution of Sr with La or K. It is found that Ir-O bonds have strong covalency and they hardly show any change across the N\'eel temperature. In the studied doping range, neither Ir-O bonds nor their dynamics, measured by their mean square relative displacements, show any appreciable change upon carrier doping, indicating possibility of a nanoscale phase separation in the doped system. On the other hand, there is a large increase of the static disorder in Ir-Sr correlation, larger for K doping than La doping. Similarities and differences with respect to the local lattice displacements in cuprates are briefly discussed.Comment: Main text: 6 pages, 4 figures, Supplemental information: 2 pages, 2 figure

Biomarker and pharmacodynamic activity of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) inhibitor SAR439459 as monotherapy and in combination with cemiplimab in a phase I clinical study in patients with advanced solid tumors

Pharmacodynamic; Transforming growth factor-beta; Advanced solid tumorsFarmacodinámica; Factor de crecimiento transformante beta; Tumores sólidos avanzadosFarmacodinàmica; Factor de creixement transformador beta; Tumors sòlids avançatsSAR439459, a ‘second-generation’ human anti-transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) monoclonal antibody, inhibits all TGFβ isoforms and improves the antitumor activity of anti-programmed cell death protein-1 therapeutics. This study reports the pharmacodynamics (PD) and biomarker results from phase I/Ib first-in-human study of SAR439459 ± cemiplimab in patients with advanced solid tumors (NCT03192345). In dose-escalation phase (Part 1), SAR439459 was administered intravenously at increasing doses either every 2 weeks (Q2W) or every 3 weeks (Q3W) with cemiplimab IV at 3 mg/kg Q2W or 350 mg Q3W, respectively, in patients with advanced solid tumors. In dose-expansion phase (Part 2), patients with melanoma received SAR439459 IV Q3W at preliminary recommended phase II dose (pRP2D) of 22.5/7.5 mg/kg or at 22.5 mg/kg with cemiplimab 350 mg IV Q3W. Tumor biopsy and peripheral blood samples were collected for exploratory biomarker analyses to assess target engagement and PD, and results were correlated with patients' clinical parameters. SAR439459 ± cemiplimab showed decreased plasma and tissue TGFβ, downregulation of TGFβ-pathway activation signature, modulation of peripheral natural killer (NK) and T cell expansion, proliferation, and increased secretion of CXCL10. Conversion of tumor tissue samples from ‘immune-excluded’ to ‘immune-infiltrated’ phenotype in a representative patient with melanoma SAR439459 22.5 mg/kg with cemiplimab was observed. In paired tumor and plasma, active and total TGFβ1 was more consistently elevated followed by TGFβ2, whereas TGFβ3 was only measurable (lower limit of quantitation ≥2.68 pg/mg) in tumors. SAR439459 ± cemiplimab showed expected peripheral PD effects and TGFβ alteration. However, further studies are needed to identify biomarkers of response.This study was sponsored by Sanofi

Bimagnon studies in cuprates with Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering at the O K edge. I - An assessment on La2CuO4 and a comparison with the excitation at Cu L3 and Cu K edges

We assess the capabilities of magnetic Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering (RIXS) at the O $K$ edge in undoped cuprates by taking La_{2}CuO_{4} as a benchmark case, based on a series of RIXS measurements that we present here. By combining the experimental results with basic theory we point out the fingerprints of bimagnon in the O $K$ edge RIXS spectra. These are a dominant peak around 450 meV, the almost complete absence of dispersion both with $\pi$ and $\sigma$ polarization and the almost constant intensity vs. the transferred momentum with $\sigma$ polarization. This behavior is quite different from Cu $L_3$ edge RIXS giving a strongly dispersing bimagnon tending to zero at the center of the Brillouin zone. This is clearly shown by RIXS measurements at the Cu $L_3$ edge that we present. The Cu $L_3$ bimagnon spectra and those at Cu $K$ edge - both from the literature and from our data - however, have the same shape. These similarities and differences are understood in terms of different sampling of the bimagnon continuum. This panorama points out the unique possibilities offered by O $K$ RIXS in the study of magnetic excitations in cuprates near the center of the BZ

Il Pooling-score (P-score): Variabilit\ue0 inter- e intra-individuale nella valutazione endoscopica della gravit\ue0 della disfagia

This study evaluated the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the Pooling score (P-score) in clinical endoscopic evaluation of severity of swal- lowing disorder, considering excess residue in the pharynx and larynx. The score (minimum 4 - maximum 11) is obtained by the sum of the scores given to the site of the bolus, the amount and ability to control residue/bolus pooling, the latter assessed on the basis of cough, raclage, number of dry voluntary or re ex swallowing acts ( 5). Four judges evaluated 30 short lms of pharyngeal transit of 10 solid (1/4 of a cracker), 11 creamy (1 tablespoon of jam) and 9 liquid (1 tablespoon of 5 cc of water coloured with methlyene blue, 1 ml in 100 ml) boluses in 23 subjects (10 M/13 F, age from 31 to 76 yrs, mean age 58.56\ub111.76 years) with different pathologies. The lms were randomly distributed on two CDs, which differed in terms of the sequence of the lms, and were given to judges (after an explanatory ses- sion) at time 0, 24 hours later (time 1) and after 7 days (time 2). The inter- and intra-rater reliability of the P-score was calculated using the intra-class correlation coef cient (ICC; 3,k). The possibility that consistency of boluses could affect the scoring of the lms was considered. The ICC for site, amount, management and the P-score total was found to be, respectively, 0.999, 0.997, 1.00 and 0.999. Clinical evaluation of a criterion of severity of a swallowing disorder remains a crucial point in the management of patients with pathologies that predispose to complications. The P-score, derived from static and dynamic parameters, yielded a very high correlation among the scores attributed by the four judges during observations carried out at different times. Bolus consistencies did not affect the outcome of the test: the analysis of variance, performed to verify if the scores attributed by the four judges to the parameters selected, might be in uenced by the different consistencies of the boluses, was not signi cant. These initial data validate the clinical use of the P-score in the management of patients with deglutition disorders by a multidisciplinary team

A study of electronic structure of FeSe1−x_{1-x}Tex_{x} chalcogenides by Fe and Se K-edge x-ray absorption near edge structure measurements

Fe K-edge and Se K-edge x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) measurements are used to study FeSe$_{1-x}$Te$_{x}$ electronic structure of chalcogenides. An intense Fe K-edge pre-edge peak due to Fe 1s$\to$3d (and admixed Se/Te $p$ states) is observed, showing substantial change with the Te substitution and X-ray polarization. The main white line peak in the Se K-edge XANES due to Se 1s $\to$ 4p transition appear similar to the one expected for Se$^{2-}$ systems and changes with the Te substitution. Polarization dependence reveals that unoccupied Se orbitals near the Fermi level have predominant $p_{x,y}$ character. The results provide key information on the hybridization of Fe $3d$ and chalcogen $p$ states in the Fe-based chalcogenide superconductors

Le lesioni polipoidi della colecisti: problemi diagnostici e terapeutici

Le lesioni polipoidi della colecisti costituiscono un’entità eterogenea di difficile definizione diagnostica preoperatoria. L’indicazione chirurgica è discutibile ma in alcuni casi obbligatoria . In questo studio abbiamo analizzato i dati clinici relativi a 25 pazienti sottoposti consecutivamente a colecistectomia laparoscopica per formazioni polipoidi. Ciò al fine di evidenziare la possibile correlazione fra aspetto ecografico e valutazione istopatologica e di definire l’indicazione terapeutica

Therapy of age-related exudative macular degeneration with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs: An Italian real life study

Aim: To evaluate the real utilization of ranibizumab and aflibercept in the daily management of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated at the Eye Clinic of Campania University L.Vanvitelli. Background: Therapy with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor represents the gold standard in wet age-related macular degeneration. There are nonreal life italian studies of this therapy in the literature. Objective: To analyze in our sample the post-therapy variations of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) observed at the end of a 12-month follow-up period. Methods: This real-life study analyzes 109 patients that underwent monthly checks for the first 4 months and then every 2 months until the end of the 12-month follow-up. The sample was first analyzed in its entirety, subsequently subdivided into 3 groups based on baseline BCVA, age, and the number of intravitreal injections performed, in order to identify possible predictive elements of the anti-VEGF response. Results: On average, patients underwent 4.16 ± 1.58 intravitreal anti-VEGF injections in 1 year. At the end of the 12-month follow-up, the patients’ average BCVA increased from 33.01 letters to 33.75 letters (+0.74 ± 9,4 letters), while the average CRT decreased from 346.86 µm to 265.39 µm (-81.47 ± 121 µm). Conclusion: The study shows the efficacy of anti-VEGF therapy in the stabilization of BCVA in nAMD, confirming the differences in visual outcomes compared to clinical trials, mainly for economic-organizational reasons