Poincar\'e sphere symmetries in four-wave mixing with orbital angular momentum

We explore a degenerate four-wave mixing process induced by transversely structured light beams in a rubidium vapor cell. In particular, we consider the nonlinear interaction driven by optical modes contained in the orbital angular momentum Poincar\'e sphere, which can be parametrized in terms of a polar and an azimuthal angle. In this context we investigate the transfer of spatial structure to two distinct four-wave mixing signals, possessing different propagation directions in space. We show that under usual assumptions, the output fields can also be described by modes belonging to Poincar\'e spheres, and that the angles describing the input and output modes are related according to well-defined rules. Our experimental results show good agreement with the calculations, which predict intricate field structures and a transition of the FWM transverse profile between the near- and far-field regions

Age and gender differences in physical capability levels from mid-life onwards: The Harmonisation and meta-analysis of data from eight UK cohort studies

Using data from eight UK cohorts participating in the Healthy Ageing across the Life Course (HALCyon) researchprogramme, with ages at physical capability assessment ranging from 50 to 90+ years, we harmonised data on objectivemeasures of physical capability (i.e. grip strength, chair rising ability, walking speed, timed get up and go, and standingbalance performance) and investigated the cross-sectional age and gender differences in these measures. Levels of physicalcapability were generally lower in study participants of older ages, and men performed better than women (for example,results from meta-analyses (N = 14,213 (5 studies)), found that men had 12.62 kg (11.34, 13.90) higher grip strength thanwomen after adjustment for age and body size), although for walking speed, this gender difference was attenuated afteradjustment for body size. There was also evidence that the gender difference in grip strength diminished with increasingage,whereas the gender difference in walking speed widened (p,0.01 for interactions between age and gender in bothcases). This study highlights not only the presence of age and gender differences in objective measures of physicalcapability but provides a demonstration that harmonisation of data from several large cohort studies is possible. Theseharmonised data are now being used within HALCyon to understand the lifetime social and biological determinants ofphysical capability and its changes with age

Treatment of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis in a Multinational Inception Cohort of Latin American Patients the GLADAR Experience

Background: Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has evolved dramatically in the last decade. However, little is known about the way rheumatologists in Latin America treat their patients in clinical practice, outside the scope of clinical trials.Objective: the objective of this study was to describe treatment patterns at disease onset in early RA with data from a large, multicenter, multinational inception cohort of Latin American patients.Methods: Consecutive patients with early RA (<1 year of disease duration as diagnosed by a rheumatologist) from 46 centers in 14 Latin American countries were enrolled in the study. Clinical data, laboratory assessments, and a detailed registry on type of prescriptions were collected at baseline and at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of follow-up. Hands and feet x-rays were obtained at baseline and at 12 and 24 months. All data were captured in Arthros 6.1 database. Continuous variables were expressed as means and SDs, and categorical variables were expressed as percentages and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Only therapeutic data at baseline are presented, corresponding to the period between disease onset and second visit (3 months).Results: A total of 1093 patients were included. Eighty-five percent were female, and 76% had a positive rheumatoid factor. Mean age at diagnosis was 46.5 (SD, 14.2) years, and mean disease duration at the first visit was 5.8 (SD, 3.8) months. Between baseline and second visit (3 months), 75% of patients (95% CI, 72%-78%) received disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Methotrexate (MTX) alone or in combination was the most frequently used (60.5%), followed by antimalarials (chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, 32.1%), sulfasalazine (7.1%), and leflunomide (LEF, 4%). in 474 patients (43%), initiation of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs was within the first month after the first visit. in addition, 290 patients (26%; 95% CI, 23%-29%) received combination therapy as initial treatment. the most frequently used combinations were MTX + chloroquine (45%), MTX + hydroxychloroquine (25%), and MTX + sulfasalazine (16%). Eleven patients (1%; 95% CI, 0.5%-1.8%) received biologics. Sixty-four percent (95% CI, 60%-66%) received corticosteroids. of those, 80% (95% CI, 77%-84%) received 10 mg of oral prednisone or less.Conclusions: in this cohort of Latin American patients with early RA, most patients received MTX very early in their disease course. Combination therapy was used approximately in 1 of every 4 patients as initial therapy. Biologics were rarely used at this early stage, and low-dose prednisone was commonly used.Abbott LaboratoriesAbbottHosp Italiano Buenos Aires, Serv Clin Med, Secc Reumatol, Buenos Aires, DF, ArgentinaFdn Dr Pedro M Catoggio Progreso Reumatol, Buenos Aires, DF, ArgentinaHosp Gen Dr Miguel Silva, Unidad Invest Dr Mario Alvizouri Munoz, Morelia, Michoacan, MexicoHosp Prov Rosario, Serv Reumatol, Rosario, Santa Fe, ArgentinaUniv Nacl Rosario, RA-2000 Rosario, ArgentinaHosp Privado, Ctr Med Cordoba, Dept Reumatol, Cordoba, ArgentinaHosp San Martin La Plata, Dept Reumatol, La Plata, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaUniv Fed Minas Gerais, Hosp Clin, Dept Aparelho Locomotor, Serv Reumatol, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Med Interna, Serv Reumatol, São Paulo, BrazilPontificia Univ Catolica Rio Grande do Sul, Dept Reumatol, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniv Fed Parana, Hosp Clin, Dept Clin Med, Disciplina Reumatol, BR-80060000 Curitiba, Parana, BrazilHosp Geral Goiania Dr Alberto Rassi, Secao Reumatol, Goiania, Go, BrazilPontificia Univ Catolica Chile, Fac Med, Dept Clin Immunol & Rheumatol, Santiago, ChileHosp Clin San Borja Arriaran, Dept Reumatol & Inmunol, Santiago, ChileClin Univ Bolivariana, Corp Invest Biol, Dept Inmunol Clin & Reumatol, Medellin, Antioquia, ColombiaHosp Mil, Dept Reumatol & Inmunol, Bogota, ColombiaHosp Especialidades Ctr Med La Raza, Ctr Med Nacl Siglo 21, Dept Reumatol, Mexico City, DF, MexicoUniv Autonoma Nuevo Leon, Hosp Univ Dr Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez, Dept Med Interna, Serv Reumatol, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, MexicoHosp Gen Occidente Secretaria Salud, Dept Inmunol & Reumatol, Zapopan, Jalisco, MexicoHosp Presidente Estrella Urena, Clin Corominas, Clin Union Med, Dept Reumatol, Santiago, Dominican RepHosp Univ Caracas, Minist Salud, Ctr Nacl Enfermedades Reumat, Serv Reumatol, Caracas, VenezuelaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Med Interna, Serv Reumatol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Amyloid-[beta] induced toxicity involves ganglioside expression and is sensitive to GM1 neuroprotective action

The effect of Ab25–35 peptide, in its fibrillar and non-fibrillar forms, on ganglioside expression in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures was investigated. Gangliosides were endogenously labeled with D-[1-C14] galactose and results showed that Ab25–35 affected ganglioside expression, depending on the peptide aggregation state, that is, fibrillar Ab25–35 caused an increase in GM3 labeling and a reduction in GD1b labeling, whereas the non-fibrillar form was able to enhance GM1 expression. Interestingly, GM1 exhibited a neuroprotective effect in this organotypic model, since pre-treatment of the hippocampal slices with GM1 10 lM was able to prevent the toxicity triggered by the fibrillar Ab25–35, when measured by propidium iodide uptake protocol. With the purpose of further investigating a possible mechanism of action, we analyzed the effect of GM1 treatment (1, 6, 12 and 24 h) upon the Ab-induced alterations on GSK3b dephosphorylation/activation state. Results demonstrated an important effect after 24-h incubation, with GM1 preventing the Ab-induced dephosphorylation (activation) of GSK3b, a signaling pathway involved in apoptosis triggering and neuronal death in models of Alzheimer’s disease. Taken together, present results provide a new and important support for ganglioside participation in development of Alzheimer’s disease experimental models and suggest a protective role for GM1 in Ab-induced toxicity. This may be useful for designing new therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer’s treatment

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with paediatric cancer in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, observational cohort study

OBJECTIVES: Paediatric cancer is a leading cause of death for children. Children in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) were four times more likely to die than children in high-income countries (HICs). This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the delivery of healthcare services worldwide, and exacerbated the disparity in paediatric cancer outcomes between LMICs and HICs. DESIGN: A multicentre, international, collaborative cohort study. SETTING: 91 hospitals and cancer centres in 39 countries providing cancer treatment to paediatric patients between March and December 2020. PARTICIPANTS: Patients were included if they were under the age of 18 years, and newly diagnosed with or undergoing active cancer treatment for Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, Wilms' tumour, sarcoma, retinoblastoma, gliomas, medulloblastomas or neuroblastomas, in keeping with the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: All-cause mortality at 30 days and 90 days. RESULTS: 1660 patients were recruited. 219 children had changes to their treatment due to the pandemic. Patients in LMICs were primarily affected (n=182/219, 83.1%). Relative to patients with paediatric cancer in HICs, patients with paediatric cancer in LMICs had 12.1 (95% CI 2.93 to 50.3) and 7.9 (95% CI 3.2 to 19.7) times the odds of death at 30 days and 90 days, respectively, after presentation during the COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.001). After adjusting for confounders, patients with paediatric cancer in LMICs had 15.6 (95% CI 3.7 to 65.8) times the odds of death at 30 days (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected paediatric oncology service provision. It has disproportionately affected patients in LMICs, highlighting and compounding existing disparities in healthcare systems globally that need addressing urgently. However, many patients with paediatric cancer continued to receive their normal standard of care. This speaks to the adaptability and resilience of healthcare systems and healthcare workers globally