Double waveguide couplers produced by simultaneous femtosecond writing

We report on a novel method to create waveguide coupler devices in fused silica by combining the technique of beam shaping with femtosecond laser writing. The method is based on a programmable phase modulator and a dynamic variation of the phase-pattern during the writing process. The major advantage is the possibility to create complex devices in a single sweep by simultaneously writing two or more waveguides with changing separation. The guiding properties and the coupling behavior between the waveguides are investigated

Systems Biology Approaches for the Improvement of Oncolytic Virus-Based Immunotherapies

Oncolytic virus (OV)-based immunotherapy is mainly dependent on establishing an efficient cell-mediated antitumor immunity. OV-mediated antitumor immunity elicits a renewed antitumor reactivity, stimulating a T-cell response against tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and recruiting natural killer cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Despite the fact that OVs are unspecific cancer vaccine platforms, to further enhance antitumor immunity, it is crucial to identify the potentially immunogenic T-cell restricted TAAs, the main key orchestrators in evoking a specific and durable cytotoxic T-cell response. Today, innovative approaches derived from systems biology are exploited to improve target discovery in several types of cancer and to identify the MHC-I and II restricted peptide repertoire recognized by T-cells. Using specific computation pipelines, it is possible to select the best tumor peptide candidates that can be efficiently vectorized and delivered by numerous OV-based platforms, in order to reinforce anticancer immune responses. Beyond the identification of TAAs, system biology can also support the engineering of OVs with improved oncotropism to reduce toxicity and maintain a sufficient portion of the wild-type virus virulence. Finally, these technologies can also pave the way towards a more rational design of armed OVs where a transgene of interest can be delivered to TME to develop an intratumoral gene therapy to enhance specific immune stimuli

Full-Spectrum CARS Microscopy of Cells and Tissues with Ultrashort White-Light Continuum Pulses

Coherent anti-StokesRaman scattering (CARS) microscopyis an emergingnonlinear vibrational imaging technique that delivers label-free chemicalmaps of cells and tissues. In narrowband CARS, two spatiotemporallysuperimposed picosecond pulses, pump and Stokes, illuminate the sampleto interrogate a single vibrational mode. Broadband CARS (BCARS) combinesnarrowband pump pulses with broadband Stokes pulses to record broadvibrational spectra. Despite recent technological advancements, BCARSmicroscopes still struggle to image biological samples over the entireRaman-active region (400-3100 cm(-1)). Here,we demonstrate a robust BCARS platform that answers this need. Oursystem is based on a femtosecond ytterbium laser at a 1035 nm wavelengthand a 2 MHz repetition rate, which delivers high-energy pulses usedto produce broadband Stokes pulses by white-light continuum generationin a bulk YAG crystal. Combining such pulses, pre-compressed to sub-20fs duration, with narrowband pump pulses, we generate a CARS signalwith a high (<9 cm(-1)) spectral resolution inthe whole Raman-active window, exploiting both the two-color and three-colorexcitation mechanisms. Aided by an innovative post-processing pipeline,our microscope allows us to perform high-speed (approximate to 1 ms pixeldwell time) imaging over a large field of view, identifying the mainchemical compounds in cancer cells and discriminating tumorous fromhealthy regions in liver slices of mouse models, paving the way forapplications in histopathological settings

AKT participates in endothelial dysfunction in hypertension.

In hypertension, reduced nitric oxide production and blunted endothelial vasorelaxation are observed. It was recently reported that AKT phosphorylates and activates endothelial nitric oxide synthase and that impaired kinase activity may be involved in endothelial dysfunction.To identify the physiological role of the kinase in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), we used adenoviral vectors to transfer the human AKT1 gene selectively to the common carotid endothelium. In vitro, endothelial vasorelaxations to acetylcholine, isoproterenol, and insulin were blunted in control carotids from SHR compared with WKY rats, and human AKT1 overexpression corrected these responses. Similarly, blood flow assessed in vivo by Doppler ultrasound was reduced in SHR compared with WKY carotids and normalized after AKT1 gene transfer. In primary cultured endothelial cells, we evaluated AKT phosphorylation, activity, and compartmentalization and observed a mislocalization of the kinase in SHR.We conclude that AKT participates in the settings of endothelial dysfunction in SHR rats by impaired membrane localization. Our data suggest that AKT is involved in endothelium dysfunction in hypertension

Primary non-Hodgkin's breast lymphoma: Surgical approach

We report the case of a 38-year old woman affected by primary lymphoma of the right breast, with disease progression after chemotherapy and subsequent radiotherapy, successfully treated with a modified radical mastectomy. The literature of primary breast lymphomas has been reviewed and discussed in relation to our case. Our experience stresses the importance of a radical surgical approach in a locally advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the breast unresponsive to radio and chemotherapy

Robotic hybrid technique in rectal surgery for deep pelvic endometriosis

Deep pelvic endometriosis is a complex disorder that affects 6% to 12% of all women in childbearing age. The incidence of bowel endometriosis ranges between 5.3% and 12%, with rectum and sigma being the most frequently involved tracts, accounting for about 80% of cases. It has been reported that segmental colorectal resection is the best surgical option in terms of recurrence rate and improvement of symptoms. The aim of this study is to analyze indications, feasibility, limits, and short-term results of robotic (Da Vinci Surgical System)-assisted laparoscopic rectal sigmoidectomy for the treatment of deep pelvic endometriosis

Robotic hybrid technique in rectal surgery for deep pelvic endometriosis

Deep pelvic endometriosis is a complex disorder that affects 6% to 12% of all women in childbearing age. The incidence of bowel endometriosis ranges between 5.3% and 12%, with rectum and sigma being the most frequently involved tracts, accounting for about 80% of cases. It has been reported that segmental colorectal resection is the best surgical option in terms of recurrence rate and improvement of symptoms. The aim of this study is to analyze indications, feasibility, limits, and short-term results of robotic (Da Vinci Surgical System)-assisted laparoscopic rectal sigmoidectomy for the treatment of deep pelvic endometriosis

Resected specimen evaluation, anorectal manometry, endoanal ultrasonography and clinical follow-up after STARR procedures

AIM: To investigate stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR) procedures as surgical techniques for obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) by analyzing specimen evaluation, anorectal manometry, endoanal ultrasonography and clinical follow-up

Heterotopic pancreatic tissue in the gallbladder. Two case reports and brief review of the literature

Heterotopic pancreas tissue in the gallbladder is a rare benign condition with no clinical relevance and found incidentally in most cases. Only 28 cases of heterotopic pancreas are reported until 2007 in the worldwide literature. The preoperative diagnosis is very hard, so that it could be considered in differential diagnosis with other benign and malignant disease of gallbladder and biliary tree. The surgical approach for the excision of a undefined lesion and the histological identification is a correct procedure in suspect case. We report 2 cases of heterotopic pancreatic tissue of the gallbladder