Exact off-resonance near fields of small-size extended hemielliptic 2-D lenses illuminated by plane waves

The near fields of small-size extended hemielliptic lenses made of rexolite and isotropic quartz and illuminated by E- and H-polarized plane waves are studied. Variations in the focal domain size, shape, and location are presented versus the angle of incidence of the incoming wave. The problem is solved numerically in a two-dimensional formulation. The accuracy of results is guaranteed by using a highly efficient numerical algorithm based on the combination of the Muller boundary integral equations, the method of analytical regularization, and the trigonometric Galerkin discretization scheme. The analysis fully accounts for the finite size of the lens as well as its curvature and thus can be considered as a reference solution for other electromagnetic solvers. Moreover, the trusted description of the focusing ability of a finite-size hemielliptic lens can be useful in the design of antenna receivers.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Influence of photon-Induced photoacoustic streaming (PIPS) on root canal disinfection and post-Operative pain: a randomized clinical trial

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of a PIPS (photon-induced photoacoustic streaming) Er:YAG laser to reduce the root canal system bacterial count in vivo in comparison to the traditional irrigation technique. The post-operative patients’ quality of life (QoL) after endodontic therapy was evaluated through a questionnaire. Fifty-four patients affected by pulp necrosis with or without apical periodontitis biofilm disease were selected for endodontic treatment and randomly assigned to Group A (n = 27) with traditional irrigation and Group B (n = 27), with PIPS irrigation applied according to the protocol. Shaping was performed with ProGlider and ProTaper Next, and irrigation was performed with 5% NaOCl and 10% EDTA. Intracanal samples for culture tests were collected before and after irrigation. The microbiological analysis was evaluated by the Kolmogorov–Smirnov normality and Mann–Whitney tests (p < 0.05). A self-assessment questionnaire was used to evaluate the QoL during the 7 days after treatment; differences were analysed with Student’s t-test. Irrigation with the PIPS device was significantly effective in reducing bacterial counts, which were higher for facultative than obligate anaerobic strains, particularly for Gram-negative bacteria, without statistical significance (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences among the QoL indicators, except for the maximum pain (p = 0.02), eating difficulty (p = 0.03) and difficulty performing daily functions (p = 0.02) in the first few days post-treatment. PIPS may represent an aid to root canal disinfection not affecting the patients’ QoL, particularly for the first day after treatment

Efficacy of radiofrequency ablation in autonomous functioning thyroid nodules. A systematic review and meta-analysis

Whether thermal ablation is effective to treat toxic thyroid nodules (TTN) is still unknown. Aim of this review was to achieve more robust evidence on the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treating TTN in terms of TSH normalization, thyroid scintiscan, and volume reduction rate (VRR). A comprehensive literature search of PubMed/Medline and Scopus was performed in November 2018 to retrieve published studies. Original papers reporting TTN treated by RFA and later followed-up were eligible. Excluded were: articles not within this field, articles with unclear data, overlapping series, case/series reports. Discordances were solved in a final collegial meeting. Information was collected concerning population features, treatment procedure, follow-up, cases with TSH normalization, cases with scintiscan normalization, VRR of nodules. Pooled prevalence of patients with TSH or scintiscan normalization, and pooled VRR over time were calculated. For statistical analysis, the random-effects model was used. Eight articles published between 2008 and 2018 were included. The overall number of AFTN treated by RFA was 205. Five studies used a single session of treatment. The time of follow-up ranged from six to 24 months. The pooled rate of patients with TSH normalization was 57%. The pooled rate of patients with scintigraphically proven optimal response was 60%. The pooled VRR at 1 year was 79%. Baseline nodules volume was associated with the rate of TSH normalization. In conclusion, a moderate efficacy of RFA in treating TTN was found, and this can represent a solid starting point in this field

Alemtuzumab plus cyclosporine treatment of the autoimmune hemolytic anemia in an adult bowel transplant

An adult male underwent a bowel transplant for tufting enteropathy, receiving alemtuzumab, tacrolimus, and steroids as immunosuppressants. Five years later, he developed an autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), anti-IgG positive, with reduced reticulocyte count, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia with antiplatelet antibodies. After an unsuccessful initial treatment with high dose steroids, reduction in tacrolimus dose, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a bone marrow biopsy revealed absence of erythroid maturation with precursor hyperplasia. The patient was switched to sirolimus and received four doses of rituximab plus two courses of plasmapheresis, which decreased his transfusion requirements. After a febrile episode one month later, the AIHA relapsed with corresponding decreases in platelet and leukocyte count: cyclosporine A (CsA) was started with a second course of rituximab and IVIG without response, even though repeat bone marrow biopsy did not reveal morphology correlated to an acquired pure red cell aplasia (APRCA). Considering the similarity in his clinical and laboratory findings to APRCA, alemtuzumab was added (three doses over a week) with CsA followed by steroids. The patient was eventually discharged transfusion-independent, with increasing hemoglobin (Hb) levels and normal platelet and leukocyte count. One year later he is still disease-free with functioning graft

In vivo and in vitro expression of steroid-converting enzymes in human breast tumours: associations with interleukin-6

Enzymes modulating local steroid availability play an important role in the progression of human breast cancer. These include isoforms of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17-HSD), aromatase and steroid sulphatase (STS). The aim of this study was to investigate the expression, by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, of 17-HSD types I–IV, aromatase and steroid STS in a series of 51 human breast tumour biopsies and 22 primary cultures of epithelial and stromal cells derived from these tumours, giving a profile of the steroid-regulating network for individual tumours. Correlations between enzyme expression profiles and expression of the interleukin (IL)-6 gene were also sought. All except one tumour expressed at least one isoform of 17-HSD, either alone or in combination with aromatase and STS. Expression of 17-HSD isoforms I–IV were observed in nine tumours. Of the 15 tumours which expressed three isoforms, a combination of 17-HSD II, III and IV was most common (6/15 samples). The majority of tumours (n = 17) expressed two isoforms of 17-HSD with combinations of 17-HSD II and IV predominant (7/17 samples). Eight tumours expressed a single isoform and of these, 17-HSD I was in the majority (5/8 samples). In primary epithelial cultures, enzyme expression was ranked: HSD I (86%) > STS (77%) > HSD II (59%) > HSD IV (50%) = aromatase (50%) > HSD III (32%). Incidence of enzyme expression was generally reduced in stromal cultures which were ranked: HSD I (68%) > STS (67%) > aromatase (48%) > HSD II (43%) > HSD IV (28%) > HSD III (19%). Expression of IL-6 was associated with tumours that expressed ≥ 3 steroid-converting enzymes. These tumours were of higher grade and tended to come from patients with family history of breast cancer. In conclusion, we propose that these enzymes work in tandem with cytokines thereby providing sufficient quantities of bioactive oestrogen from less active precursors which stimulates tumour growth. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

Stress response to trace elements mixture of different embryo-larval stages of Paracentrotus lividus

peer reviewedThis study investigated for the first time the oxidative biomarkers responses in all larval stages of sea urchin. The contamination effects were reproduced by using contaminated seawater to concentrations measured in the area adjacent to an old asbestos mine at factors of 5 and 10. The results suggested that the concentrations were not sufficiently high to induce a major oxidative stress. The biometric differences make this method a more sensitive approach for assessing the effects on sea urchin larvae. Measurements of specific activities of antioxidant enzymes at each stage suggested a high capacity of the larvae to respond to oxidative stress. This normal activity of the organism must be considered in future research. This work also highlighted the importance of spawners provenance in ecotoxicological studies. These data are essential to better understand the stress responses of sea urchin larvae and provide baseline information for later environmental assessment research