Near-field optical power transmission of dipole nano-antennas

Nano-antennas in functional plasmonic applications require high near-field optical power transmission. In this study, a model is developed to compute the near-field optical power transmission in the vicinity of a nano-antenna. To increase the near-field optical power transmission from a nano-antenna, a tightly focused beam of light is utilized to illuminate a metallic nano-antenna. The modeling and simulation of these structures is performed using 3-D finite element method based full-wave solutions of Maxwell’s equations. Using the optical power transmission model, the interaction of a focused beam of light with plasmonic nanoantennas is investigated. In addition, the tightly focused beam of light is passed through a band-pass filter to identify the effect of various regions of the angular spectrum to the near-field radiation of a dipole nano-antenna. An extensive parametric study is performed to quantify the effects of various parameters on the transmission efficiency of dipole nano-antennas, including length, thickness, width, and the composition of the antenna, as well as the wavelength and half-beam angle of incident light. An optimal dipole nanoantenna geometry is identified based on the parameter studies in this work. In addition, the results of this study show the interaction of the optimized dipole nano-antenna with a magnetic recording medium when it is illuminated with a focused beam of light

The effect of insulin and sulodexide (Vessel Due F) on diabetic foot syndrome. Pilot study in elderly patients

Celem pracy była ocena skuteczności stosowania insuliny wraz z sulodeksydem (mieszanina 80% pochodnych heparyny i 20% siarczanu dermatanu) w leczeniu owrzodzeń stóp oraz określenie ich wpływu na mikrokrążenie skórne i neuropatię cukrzycową. Chorzy z zaawansowaną neuropatią cukrzycową i owrzodzeniem stopy losowo przydzielono do grupy leczonej insuliną (I) z sulodeksydem (S) (n = 12) lub do grupy kontrolnej leczonej insuliną z placebo (P) (n = 6) przez 10 tygodni. Za pomocą metody dopplerowskiego lasera oceniano skórny przepływ krwi w stopach (LDF, laser doppler flow) w spoczynku oraz po 30- i 60-sekundowym niedokrwieniu. Ocenie poddano również przewodnictwo nerwowe na podstawie czuciowych i ruchowych potencjałów wywołanych. U chorych na cukrzycę skórny przepływ po niedokrwieniu był 2,5 raza krótszy w kończynie z owrzodzeniem niż w stopie zdrowej. Obserwowano znamienny wzrost przepływów skórnych po 30- i 60-sekundowym niedokrwieniu po zakończeniu terapii (grupa IS, owrzodzenie stopy, LDF - 60 s; od 99,1 &plusmn; 14,3 do 218,6 &plusmn; 28,6 PU, p < 0,001, grupa od 110,5 &plusmn; 13,0 do 164,8 &plusmn; 15,4 PU, p < 0,05). Czas przekrwienia reaktywnego uległ wydłużeniu w grupie IS (IS: od 30,3 &plusmn; 2,9 do 43,9 &plusmn; 2,2 s, p < 0,001; IP: od 28,7 &plusmn; 3,0 do 33,3 &plusmn; 3,3 s, NS). W grupie IS 92% owrzodzeń stóp uległo zagojeniu w ciągu 46,4 dnia, natomiast w grupie IP 83% w ciągu 63,0 dnia. Badania przewodnictwa nerwowego nie wykazały różnic nasilenia neuropatii w obrębie grup i pomiędzy grupami. W stopach z owrzodzeniami sulodeksyd i insulina poprawiają przepływ skórny w odpowiedzi na niedokrwienie, nie wpływając na przewodnictwo nerwowe. Kliniczne efekty działania sulodeksydu, sumując się z działaniami insuliny, mogą istotnie skracać czas niezbędny do całkowitego wyleczenia owrzodzenia. Ostateczne potwierdzenie przedstawionych wstępnych wyników wymaga dalszych badań klinicznych.To assess the efficacy of insulin plus sulodexide (a mixture of 80% heparin-like substances and 20% dermatan sulphate) on diabetic ulcers, and its influence on foot skin microcirculation and diabetic neuropathy. Two groups of diabetic patients, suffering from severe neuropathy and ulceration, were randomly assigned to insulin (I) plus sulodexide (S) (n = 12) or insulin plus placebo (P) (n = 6) therapy, for 10 weeks. Laser Doppler assessment of foot skin flow (LDF), at rest and 30 or 60 s after arterial occlusion, and nerve conduction tests (sensorial evoked and motoric conduction potentials) have been evaluated in both groups. Postischaemic flow was 2.5 times shorter in ulcerated vs. non-ulcerated feet in diabetic patients. A significant increase in flows after 30 and 60 s ischaemia was detected in both groups at the end of therapy (IS group, ulcerated foot, LDF = 60 s: from 99.1 &#177; 14.3 to 218.6 &#177; 28.6 PU, P < 0.001. IP group = from 110.5 &#177; 13.0 to 164.8 &#177; 15.4 PU, P < 0.05). The length of reactive hyperaemia was higher in IS vs. IP group (IS: from 30.3 &#177; 2.9 to 43.9 &#177; 2.2 s, P < 0.001; IP: from 28.7 &#177; 3.0 to 33.3 &#177; 3.3 s, ns). Ninety-two percent of ulcers heals in a mean time of 46.4 days (IS group) vs. 83% and 63.0 days, respectively, in IP group. Nerve conduction studies have not demonstrated within- and between-group differences. Sulodexide and insulin improve the postischaemic skin flow in ulcerated feet, without affecting nerve conduction tests. The effect of sulodexide results additive to insulin; it is clinically relevant, in the view of the possibility of reducing the time needed to completely heal ulcers. The ultimate validation of these preliminary results requires extensive trials

Interaction between dietary fat intake and metabolic genetic risk score on 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in a Turkish adult population

Previous studies have pointed out a link between vitamin D status and metabolic traits, however, consistent evidence has not been provided yet. This cross-sectional study has used a nutrigenetic approach to investigate the interaction between metabolic-genetic risk score (GRS) and dietary intake on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations in 396 unrelated Turkish adults, aged 24–50 years. Serum 25(OH)D concentration was significantly lower in those with a metabolic-GRS ≥ 1 risk allele than those with a metabolic-GRS < 1 risk allele (p = 0.020). A significant interaction between metabolic-GRS and dietary fat intake (energy%) on serum 25(OH)D levels was identified (Pinteraction = 0.040). Participants carrying a metabolic-GRS ≥ 1 risk allele and consuming a high fat diet (≥38% of energy = 122.3 ± 52.51 g/day) had significantly lower serum 25(OH)D concentration (p = 0.006) in comparison to those consuming a low-fat diet (<38% of energy = 82.5 ± 37.36 g/d). In conclusion, our study suggests a novel interaction between metabolic-GRS and dietary fat intake on serum 25(OH)D level, which emphasises that following the current dietary fat intake recommendation (<35% total fat) could be important in reducing the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in this Turkish population. Nevertheless, further larger studies are needed to verify this interaction, before implementing personalized dietary recommendations for the maintenance of optimal vitamin D status

Relationship between the Clinical Frailty Scale and short-term mortality in patients ≥ 80 years old acutely admitted to the ICU: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is frequently used to measure frailty in critically ill adults. There is wide variation in the approach to analysing the relationship between the CFS score and mortality after admission to the ICU. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of modelling approach on the association between the CFS score and short-term mortality and quantify the prognostic value of frailty in this context. METHODS: We analysed data from two multicentre prospective cohort studies which enrolled intensive care unit patients ≥ 80 years old in 26 countries. The primary outcome was mortality within 30-days from admission to the ICU. Logistic regression models for both ICU and 30-day mortality included the CFS score as either a categorical, continuous or dichotomous variable and were adjusted for patient's age, sex, reason for admission to the ICU, and admission Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score. RESULTS: The median age in the sample of 7487 consecutive patients was 84 years (IQR 81-87). The highest fraction of new prognostic information from frailty in the context of 30-day mortality was observed when the CFS score was treated as either a categorical variable using all original levels of frailty or a nonlinear continuous variable and was equal to 9% using these modelling approaches (p < 0.001). The relationship between the CFS score and mortality was nonlinear (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Knowledge about a patient's frailty status adds a substantial amount of new prognostic information at the moment of admission to the ICU. Arbitrary simplification of the CFS score into fewer groups than originally intended leads to a loss of information and should be avoided. Trial registration NCT03134807 (VIP1), NCT03370692 (VIP2)

FTO gene-lifestyle interactions on serum adiponectin concentrations and central obesity in a Turkish population

The aim of the study was to investigate whether lifestyle factors modify the association fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and obesity in a Turkish population. The study included 400 unrelated individuals, aged 24-50 years recruited in a hospital setting. Dietary intake and physical activity were assessed using 24-hour dietary recall and self-report questionnaire, respectively. A genetic risk score (GRS) was developed using FTO SNPs, rs9939609 and rs10163409. Body mass index and fat mass index were significantly associated with FTO SNP rs9939609 (P=0.001 and P=0.002, respectively) and GRS (P=0.002 and P=0.003, respectively). The interactions between SNP rs9939609 and physical activity on adiponectin concentrations, and SNP rs10163409 and dietary protein intake on increased waist circumference were statistically significant (Pinteraction=0.027 and Pinteraction=0.044, respectively). This study demonstrated that the association between FTO SNPs and central obesity might be modified by lifestyle factors in this Turkish population

Optimization of Aperture Coupled Microstrip Patch Antennas

Abstract-Aperture coupled microstrip patch antennas (ACMPA) are special class of microstrip antennas with high gain and wide impedance bandwidth. These antennas differ from other microstrip antennas with their feeding structure of the radiating patch element. Input signal couples to the radiating patch through the aperture that exists on the ground plane of the microstrip feedline. These special antennas are multilayer stacked type of antennas with so many design variables that will affect the antenna performance. This paper presents the design and optimization procedure of ACMPA while taking care of all possible design variables and parameters to get the highest possible antenna gain and minimum VSWR

Efficacy of Adjuvant Aromatase Inhibitor In Hormone Receptor-Positive Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patients According To The Body Mass Index

Background: Increased adiposity may trigger signalling pathways that induce aromatase expression. As aromatase inhibitors exert their effects by blocking the aromatase enzyme, higher body mass index (BMI) can reduce the effect of aromatase inhibitors. Thus, we aimed to investigate retrospectively the effect of BMI on the efficacy of aromatase inhibitors in hormone receptor-positive postmenopausal patients with breast cancer. Methods: Newly diagnosed hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients who were postmenopausal and non-metastatic were enrolled to the study. Patients with BMI ranging between 18.5 and 24.9 kg m−2 were considered as normal weight patients (Arm A, n=102), and patients with a BMI ranging ⩾25 kg m−2 were grouped as overweight and obese patients (Arm B, n=399). Results: In both normal weight and overweight patients, the baseline clinico-pathologic properties and the treatment history with radiotherapy and chemotherapy were similar, and with no statistically significant difference. In normal weight patients disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 93.7% and 77.6%, whereas in overweight and obese patients DFS rate was 96.8% and 85.5% in the first and third years, respectively, (P=0.08). Three year survival rate in Arm A patients was 98.3%, whereas in Arm B was 98.0% (P=0.57). When anastrozole was compared with letrozole in the subgroup analysis no difference with regard to DFS and overall survival was detected. Conclusion: These results, contradictory to the prior results, show that BMI has no worse effect on outcomes of aromatase inhibitors in postmenopausal hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients. In the subgroup analysis, letrozole and anastrozole had similar survival outcomes.WoSPubMe