Iterative Decoder for Quantum Turbo Codes: Performance Analysis and Enhancement.

Quantum error correction is necessary in quantum communication. In that sense, quan- tum turbo codes present a remarkably low probability of error compared to other quantum error correcting codes. The document of this Final Degree Project analyses the performance of iterative SISO decoders in quantum turbo codes, especially when the decoder is under the influence of a channel mismatch. The obtained results suggest that the closer the es- timated depolarizing probability is to the actual depolarizing probability of the channel, the lower the WER of the SISO decoder will be. In this document, chapter 1 contemplates the relevance of quantum error correcting codes in current and future quantum technologies. Chapter 2 provides the basic background on linear algebra and quantum mechanics that are crucial in order to understand quantum error correction. Chapter 3 presents a few notions in quantum error correction and the sta- bilizer codes, which are the cornerstone in order to export classical error correcting codes into the quantum world. Chapter 4 presents the actual quantum turbo codes, their construc- tion, their decoding algorithm and their performance when the decoder suffers from channel mismatch. Chapter 5 summarizes the main conclusions of this Final Degree Project, and chapter 6 provides the budget of the whole project

Available patient-centered Internet information on peri-implantitis. Can our patients understand it?

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality, readability, and popularity of patient-oriented online information about peri-implantitis. Materials and methods: The term “peri-implantitis” was searched in Google® and in Yahoo!®. The first 100 websites of each search engine were considered for further analysis. Quality was measured by DISCERN tool, and JAMA benchmarks. Readability was analyzed by Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), Flesch-Kinkaid Reading Grade (FKRG), Gunning Fog index (GFI), and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) index. Popularity was assessed by Alexa Popularity Rank (APR). Results: Only 28 websites remained after applying the exclusion criteria. The median overall DISCERN rating was 2.0 [2.0–3.0], which demonstrates the low quality of the information related to peri-implantitis. None of the websites achieved all the four JAMA benchmarks. Legibility indices showed ranges within the scores of difficult to read (FRES, 37.3 [26.9–53.9]; FKRGL, 12.8 [10.5–15.4]; GFI, 15.3 [12.5–18.0]; and SMOG, 11.1 [8.8–13.0]). Median APR was 2,228,599.0 [302,352.0–8,125,885.5]. Conclusions: Available English-written e-health information on peri-implantitis is poor in terms of quality and the analyzed websites are beyond the reading level recommended for comprehension. The popularity measurement showed great divergences between different Web pages. Clinical relevance: Information about peri-implantitis on the Internet is difficult to read by patients, which they are not capable of understand

Autophagy in periodontal disease: Evidence from a literature review

Objective To summarize evidence and data relating to the implications of autophagy in periodontal disease (PD) and to describe potential nutraceuticals or pharmaceuticals that could modulate this cell death subtype. Design Literature searches of various electronic databases (Medline via PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and EMBASE) using appropriate keywords (e.g., periodontal disease, periodontitis, alveolar bone loss, periodontal infection, tooth loss, autophagy, programmed cell death, and type 2 cell death) were performed. Then, a comprehensive literature review of the current understanding of this link was elaborated. Results Autophagy plays a pivotal role in PD, and its regulation seems to be an interesting avenue for future periodontal research, according to several in vivo and in vitro reports. Conclusion Today’s research has ascertained the role of autophagy in PD, especially its role in the host’s defence against periodontal disease drivers. A bulk of the research recognised several pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals that could potentially modulate this kind of cell death and serve as useful therapies. However, further research is warranted to reach a clinical translation, which could help in the discovery of novel host modulation therapies for PD

A model of indirect cell death caused by tumor vascular damage after high-dose radiotherapy

There is increasing evidence that high doses of radiotherapy, like those delivered in stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), trigger indirect mechanisms of cell death. Such effect seems to be two-fold. High doses may trigger an immune response and may cause vascular damage, leading to cell starvation and death. Development of mathematical response models, including indirect death, may help clinicians to design SBRT optimal schedules. Despite increasing experimental literature on indirect tumor cell death caused by vascular damage, efforts on modeling this effect have been limited. In this work, we present a biomathematical model of this effect. In our model, tumor oxygenation is obtained by solving the reaction-diffusion equation; radiotherapy kills tumor cells according to the linear-quadratic model, and also endothelial cells (EC), which can trigger loss of functionality of capillaries. Capillary death will affect tumor oxygenation, driving nearby tumor cells into severe hypoxia. Capillaries can recover functionality due to EC proliferation. Tumor cells entering a predetermined severe hypoxia status die according to a hypoxia-death model. This model fits recently published experimental data showing the effect of vascular damage on surviving fractions. It fits surviving fraction curves and qualitatively reproduces experimental values of percentages of functional capillaries 48 hours postirradiation, and hypoxic cells pre- and 48 hours postirradiation. This model is useful for exploring aspects of tumor and EC response to radiotherapy and constitutes a stepping stone toward modeling indirect tumor cell death caused by vascular damage and accounting for this effect during SBRT planning. SIGNIFICANCE: A novel biomathematical model of indirect tumor cell death caused by vascular radiation damage could potentially help clinicians interpret experimental data and design better radiotherapy schedules

Management options for low-dose methotrexate-induced oral ulcers: A systematic review

BACKGROUND: Oral ulcers caused by methotrexate (MTX) at low doses are a known side effect of this drug. Although increasingly more patients are medicated with MTX, these painful ulcers, without traumatic origin and resistant to any type of treatment, are not usually identified by health professionals as a side effect of the medication. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the absence of a consensus protocol for the effective treatment of oral lesions produced by MTX, the objective of this article was to review and analyse the information from articles related to oral ulcers produced by low-dose MTX and to record the clinical management performed and the MTX dose given to the patient. Data sources - Medline, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Participants - Patients treated with low-dose MTX (less than 25 mg/week). Interventions - Management of oral lesions caused by MTX. Study eligibility criterion, study appraisal and synthesis method: An initial search was carried out in the aforementioned databases with the terms 'methotrexate AND oral OR ulcer'. The search was carried out using both medical subject heading (MeSH) terms and a free search between January 2003 and January 2018. Of the results obtained, two independent researchers analysed abstracts that met the search criteria, that is, those that mentioned oral ulcers produced by MTX at low doses. Next, both researchers read the complete article and determined whether it met the following inclusion criteria: written in English, specified the dose of MTX prescribed for the patient and specified the protocol of action for the ulcers. A third investigator acted as a mediator in cases of dispute. Agreement was calculated using Cohen's kappa coefficient, with a k value of 0.82. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guide for systematic reviews was used. RESULTS: The initial search resulted in a total of 66 articles, of which 30 were selected to assess their inclusion in this study. Finally, 16 met the inclusion criteria. Using the Pierson and Newcastle-Ottawa scales and Bradford Hill criteria modified for studies of case series and "in relation to a case", 2 were rated as high quality, 2 were rated as low quality and 12 were rated as medium quality. The limitations of this study are based on the fact that all of the articles available to carry out the systematic review were "in relation to a case or series of cases", with the heterogeneity of data that this implies. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence on the management of oral ulcers in the oral cavity produced by MTX at low doses is scarce due to the heterogeneity of data and the measures adopted in the selected studies. Therefore, it seems that this management is relegated to the perception of the clinician rather than to a specific protocol of action. Studies with a longer follow-up duration and larger sample size are needed to guide different health professionals on the management of these lesions