Nanogroove array on thin metallic film as planar lens with tunable focusing

Numerical results for the distributions of light transmitted through metallic planar lenses composed of symmetric nanogroove arrays on the surfaces of a gold film are presented and explained. Both the near- and far-field distributions of the intensity of light transmitted are calculated by using a Green's function formalism. Results for an optimal transverse focus based on a quadratic variation of groove width are obtained. Meanwhile, a significant dependence of the focal length on the wavelength of light incident from the air side through the gold film into a dielectric substrate is found for this detector configuration.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figure

The Emergent Landscape of Detecting EGFR Mutations Using Circulating Tumor DNA in Lung Cancer.

The advances in targeted therapies for lung cancer are based on the evaluation of specific gene mutations especially the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The assays largely depend on the acquisition of tumor tissue via biopsy before the initiation of therapy or after the onset of acquired resistance. However, the limitations of tissue biopsy including tumor heterogeneity and insufficient tissues for molecular testing are impotent clinical obstacles for mutation analysis and lung cancer treatment. Due to the invasive procedure of tissue biopsy and the progressive development of drug-resistant EGFR mutations, the effective initial detection and continuous monitoring of EGFR mutations are still unmet requirements. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection is a promising biomarker for noninvasive assessment of cancer burden. Recent advancement of sensitive techniques in detecting EGFR mutations using ctDNA enables a broad range of clinical applications, including early detection of disease, prediction of treatment responses, and disease progression. This review not only introduces the biology and clinical implementations of ctDNA but also includes the updating information of recent advancement of techniques for detecting EGFR mutation using ctDNA in lung cancer

Using pump for bypass surgery - on-off-on again?

Background\ud Coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) has traditionally been performed with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (on-pump CABG). CABG without cardiopulmonary bypass (off-pump CABG) might reduce the number of complications related to the heart-lung machine.\ud \ud Methods\ud Objective\ud To compare off-pump to on-pump CABG in terms of short- and long-term composite of complications and death from any cause, as well as completeness and durability of the procedure/grafting, neuropsychological outcomes, and use of major resources.\ud \ud Design\ud Multi-center single-blind, randomized controlled trial.\ud \ud Setting\ud 18 Veterans Affairs medical centers, 16 of which were teaching hospitals.\ud \ud Subjects\ud 2203 patients who were scheduled for urgent or elective CABG-only procedures.\ud \ud Intervention\ud Patients were randomized to either on- or off-pump CABG. They underwent neuropsychological testing at baseline and one year, as well as follow-up angiography.\ud \ud Outcomes\ud 1) Primary short-term end-point: composite of death or major complications (reoperation, new mechanical support, cardiac arrest, coma, stroke or renal failure requiring dialysis) at discharge or day 30. 2) Primary long-term composite end-point: death from any cause within 1 year, nonfatal myocardial infarction between 30 days and 1 year, or repeat revascularization between 30 days and 1 year. 3) Secondary outcomes: completeness of revascularization, graft patency at 1 year, scores on neuropsychological tests.\ud \ud Results\ud There was no significant difference between off-pump and on-pump CABG in the rate of the 30-day composite outcome (7.0% and 5.6% respectively, P = 0.19). The rate of the 1-year composite outcome was higher for off-pump than for on-pump CABG (9.9% vs 7.4%, P = 0.04). The proportion of patients with fewer grafts completed than originally planned was higher with off-pump CABG than with on-pump CABG (17.8% vs 11.1%, P < 0.001). Follow up angiograms in 1371 patients who underwent 4093 grafts revealed that the overall rate of graft patency was lower in the off-pump group than in the on-pump group (82.6% vs. 87.8%, P < 0.01). There were no treatment-based differences in neuropsychological outcomes or short-term use of major resources..\ud \ud Conclusions\ud At 1 year of follow-up, patients in the off-pump group had worse composite outcomes and poorer graft patency than did patients in the on-pump group. No significant differences between the techniques were found in the neuropsychological outcomes or use of major resources