International Consensus Statement on Rhinology and Allergy: Rhinosinusitis

Background: The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document. Methods: ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. Results: ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided. Conclusion: This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS

Double reflector configuration for optimal exposure of wideband focal plane arrays with optical beamforming

\u3cp\u3eAn optimized double-reflector antenna concept for a wideband focal plane array (FPA) configuration is presented for Ka-band applications with a limited scan range, e.g., ground terminals for satellite communication. The proposed reflector configuration allows maximizing the number of active array elements and minimizing the actual array size during scanning. In addition, the FPA configuration has been optimized for wideband optical true-time-delay beamforming, resulting in wideband operation from 20 to 40 GHz. Based on a minimum required 80% aperture efficiency at 30 GHz, the double-reflector concept allows expanding the illuminated region of the array by a factor of 60 compared to traditional prime-focus configurations. The proposed configuration also decreases the magnification factor M by a factor of 2.5 compared to the double-parabolic configuration for a ±1.5° scan range.\u3c/p\u3

Optical beamformer for K-band smart antenna systems

\u3cp\u3eBeam forming using a 4×1 phased array with an optical feed network for K-band smart antenna systems is presented. Up to 45 degree steering angles are achieved. Wireless transmission throughputs of up to 3 Gbit/s using 32-OFDM subcarriers are achieved for the attained steering angles.\u3c/p\u3

Building 5G millimeter-wave wireless infrastructure:wide-scan focal plane arrays with broadband optical beamforming

A wide-scan and broadband focal-plane array (FPA) concept is introduced that provides high antenna gain and effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) with electronic beam-steering within a relative large field-of-view (FoV) up to +/-200. The antenna uses a bi-focal double-reflector concept that optimizes the illumination of the focal-plane region. In this way, we have reduced the required size of the feed array and have maximized the number of simultaneously active array elements. By using a photonics beamformer, a broadband system for the 20-40 GHz band can be created with a fiber-based interface to a central processing unit. This hybrid antenna system proves to be a very interesting concept for future 5G and beyond-5G millimeter-wave base-stations, two-way satellite communication systems and point-to-point wireless backhaul systems. A silicon BiCMOS low-noise amplifier and a photonic integrated circuit for the optical beamformer have been developed and integrated in the overall system. A system-level demonstrator was developed and experimentally validated in receive mode. Our concept provides an antenna gain of more than 40 dBi over a FoV of +/-15 degrees at 28.5 GHz. A wide-scan and broadband focal-plane array (FPA) concept is introduced in this article, which provides high antenna gain and effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) with electronic beamsteering within a relatively large field of view (FoV), up to +/-20°. The antenna uses a bifocal double-reflector concept that optimizes the illumination of the focal-plane region. In this way, we have reduced the required size of the feed array and have maximized the number of simultaneously active array elements. By using a photonics beamformer, a broadband system for the 20-40-GHz band can be created with a fiber-based interface to a central processing unit. This hybrid antenna system is a very interesting concept for future 5G and beyond [5G millimeter-wave (mm-wave) base stations, two-way satellite communication systems, and point-to-point wireless backhaul systems]. A silicon BiCMOS low-noise amplifier (LNA) and a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) for the optical beamformer have been developed and integrated into the overall system. A system-level demonstrator was developed and experimentally validated in receive mode. Our concept provides an antenna gain of more than 40 dBi over an FoV of +/-15° at 28.5 GHz

Elevated levels of circulating IL-7 and IL-15 in patients with early stage prostate cancer

Background: Chronic inflammation has been suggested to favour prostate cancer (PCA) development. Interleukins (IL) represent essential inflammation mediators. IL-2, IL-7, IL-15 and IL-21, sharing a common receptor γ chain (c-γ), control T lymphocyte homeostasis and proliferation and play major roles in regulating cancer-immune system interactions. We evaluated local IL-2, IL-7, IL-15 and IL-21 gene expression in prostate tissues from patients with early stage PCA or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). As control, we used IL-6 gene, encoding an IL involved in PCA progression. IL-6, IL-7 and IL-15 titres were also measured in patients' sera. Methods: Eighty patients with BPH and 79 with early (1 to 2c) stage PCA were enrolled. Gene expression in prostate tissues was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Serum IL concentrations and acute phase protein titres were evaluated by ELISA. Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon and χ2 tests were used to compare IL gene expression and serum titers in the two groups of patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to evaluate the possibility to distinguish sera from different groups of patients based on IL titers. Results: IL-2 and IL-21 gene expression was comparably detectable, with low frequency and at low extents, in PCA and BPH tissues. In contrast, IL-6, IL-7 and IL-15 genes were expressed more frequently (p < 0.0001, p = 0.0047 and p = 0.0085, respectively) and to significantly higher extents (p = 0.0051, p = 0.0310 and p = 0.0205, respectively) in early stage PCA than in BPH tissues. Corresponding proteins could be detected to significantly higher amounts in sera from patients with localized PCA, than in those from patients with BPH (p = 0.0153, p = 0.0174 and p = 0.0064, respectively). Analysis of ROC curves indicates that IL-7 (p = 0.0039), but not IL-6 (p = 0.2938) or IL-15 (p = 0.1804) titres were able to distinguish sera from patients with malignancy from those from patients with benign disease. Serum titres of C reactive (CRP), high mobility group B1 (HMGB1) and serum amyloid A (SAA) acute phase proteins were similar in both groups of patients. Conclusions: Expression IL-7 and IL-15 genes in prostate tissues and corresponding serum titres are significantly increased in patients with early stage PCA as compared with patients with BPH