Conventional and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in paediatric antiphospholipid antibodies-related chorea

Chorea is the most common movement disorder associated to autoimmune diseases and one of the first non thrombotic neurological complications associated with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Several treatment options have been considered, especially in young patients that failed to respond to conventional therapy. In the last years Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment (IVIG) are largely administered with beneficial and rapid effect not only in adult patients affected by autoimmune diseases, but also in children. IVIG treatment could be considered as therapeutic option also in children with antiphospholipid related chorea

Exciton transitions in tetrapod-shaped CdTe nanocrystals investigated by photomodulated transmittance spectroscopy

The excitonic nature of the optical transitions in tetrapod-shaped colloidal CdTe nanocrystals is assessed by means of photomodulated transmittance spectroscopy. The line-shape analysis of the photomodulation transmittance spectra indicates the photoinduced Stark effect as the dominant modulation mechanism, and the presence of excitonic transitions even at room temperature, with an exciton binding energy of about 25meV, larger than the bulk value

Efficiency Enhancement for an S-Band Axial Vircator Using 5-Stage Two-Step Tapered Radiators

An S-band multistage axial virtual cathode oscillator with efficiency enhancement for high pulsed power electromagnetic applications is presented. The Particle-in-Cell (PIC) results of the designed 5-stage Vircator, with two-step negative tapering in the reflectors, carried out by CST Studio suite 2021 simulation code show a peak power value of 5.54 GW and an efficiency value of 13.65% at 2.45 GHz, under a beam voltage and current equal to 520 kV and 20 kA, respectively

Laparoscopic transposition of lower pole crossing vessels (vascular hitch) in children with pelviureteric junction obstruction

Abstract BACKGROUND: Congenital hydronephrosis due to intrinsic or extrinsic uretero-pelvic-junction (UPJ) obstruction (UPJO) is a common problem in childhood UPJO may be caused by intrinsic disorganization or by extrinsic compression from crossing vessels (CV); extrinsic causes usually present symptomatically in older children. This report the large Italian experience in the treatment of children with extrinsic-UPJO by CV. METHODS: We analyzed the data of 51 children (17 girls and 34 boys, median age 10, 7 years) affected by extrinsic-UPJO were treated in three Italian institutions with laparoscopic transposition of CV (Hellström Vascular Hitch modified by Chapman).The intraoperative diuretic-test was performed in all patients before and after the vessels transpositions confirming the extrinsic-UPJO. We included in the study only patients with suspicion of vascular extrinsic obstruction of the UPJ. Symptoms at presentation were recurrent abdominal/flank pain and haematuria. All patients presented intermittent ultrasound (US) detection of hydronephrosis (range, 18-100 mm). Preoperative diagnostic studies included: US/doppler scan, MAG3-renogram, functional-magnetic-resonance-urography (fMRU). RESULTS: Median operative time was 108 minutes; median hospital stay: 3, 4 days. Unique complications: a small abdominal wall hematoma and higher junction-translocation without obstruction. During follow-up (range, 12-96 months) all patients reported resolution of their symptoms, a decrease in the hydronephrosis grade and improved drainage on diuretic renogram. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that Vascular Hitch is less technically demanding than laparoscopic pyeloplasty, resulting in a lower complication rate and a significantly reduced hospitalization. The results of our study allow us to conclude that laparoscopic VH may be a safe, feasible, and attractive alternative to treat obstructed hydronephrosis due to CV presenting a useful alternative to AHDP in the management of symptomatic children where CV are deemed the sole aetiology. We recommend careful patient selection based on preoperative clinical and radiologic findings that are diagnostic of extrinsic-UPJO, combined with intraoperative-DT to confirm the appropriate selection of corrective procedure

High Efficiency Ka-Band Spatial Combiner

A Ka-Band, High Efficiency, Small Size Spatial Combiner (SPC) is proposed in this paper, which uses an innovatively matched quadruple Fin Lines to microstrip (FLuS) transitions. At the date of this paper and at the Author's best knowledge no such FLuS innovative transitions have been reported in literature before. These transitions are inserted into a WR28 waveguide T-junction, in order to allow the integration of 16 Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPA's). A computational electromagnetic model using the finite elements method has been implemented. A mean insertion loss of 2 dB is achieved with a return loss better the 10 dB in the 31-37 GHz bandwidth

High Efficiency Ka-Band Spatial Combiner

A Ka-Band, High Efficiency, Small Size Spatial Combiner (SPC) is proposed in this paper, which uses an innovatively matched quadruple Fin Lines to microstrip (FLuS) transitions. At the date of this paper and at the Author's best knowledge no such FLuS innovative transitions have been reported in literature before. These transitions are inserted into a WR28 waveguide T-junction, in order to allow the integration of 16 Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPA's). A computational electromagnetic model using the finite elements method has been implemented. A mean insertion loss of 2 dB is achieved with a return loss better the 10 dB in the 31-37 GHz bandwidth

Safety and Efficacy of Vedolizumab in Kidney Transplant Recipients With Crohn’s Disease

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