elastography in primary open-angle glaucoma

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare sonoelastographic findings in the retina-choroid-sclera (RCS) complex and vitreous in glaucomatous and healthy eyes.Methods: For this cross-sectional comparative study, 20 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and 20 healthy volunteers were recruited. Ultrasound elastography measurements were taken with a sonographic scanner of the RCS complex, anterior vitreous (AV), posterior vitreous (PV), retrobulbar fat tissue (RFT), optic disc (OD) and optic nerve (ON) in each eye.Results: The elasticity index of the RCS complex, RFT, OD, ON, AV and PV was similar in both groups (p > 0.05), although the AV/PV strain ratio in the group of patients with glaucoma was significantly higher (p = 0.04).Conclusion: Glaucoma increases the AV/PV strain ratio. In providing reproducible and consistent values, the real-time elastography (RTE) technique may be helpful in elucidating the mechanisms of glaucoma in some aspects.Advances in knowledge: This study can help to evaluate the elasticity of the RCS complex and vitreous in glaucomatous eyes with RTE

Experimental study of the erosion of Ar/H2 plasma facing carbon surfaces: optical emission spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements

Carbon materials could be used for divertor plates in the ITER fusion device. Numerous studies (experimental or modeling) have been undertaken to better understand the chemical processes involved in carbon erosion by hydrogen atoms or ions. These works have been performed for several kinds of carbon layers and different hydrogen (or deuterium) ion fluxes. Results of an experimental study on carbon-material erosion under hydrogen bombardment will be presented. Optical emission spectroscopy and mass spectrometry have been employed to determine the presence of excited and stable molecules that are formed under these conditions. Ex situ spectroscopic ellipsometry has been used to calculate the erosion rate. In order to determine this erosion rate during plasma exposure and with a better precision, preliminary results on in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry will be presented

Factors affecting pain and fatigue in females with chronic widespread pain

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate factors related to pain intensity and global fatigue in females with Chronic Widespread Pain (CWP). Material and methods: One hundred four patients with CWP were included. The mean age was 40.28±10.82 years. Both Pain intensity and global fatigue were assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to describe anxiety and depression symptoms. Three different questionnaires (leisure time activity, and physical activity at home, at work) were used to determine physical activity levels. Dorsal regression was used to analyze the data. Results: The anxiety score was the most common factor affecting pain intensity (p=0.003). On the other hand, a moderate level of physical activity at home (p=0.027), physical activity level at work (p=0.008), and the anxiety score (p=0.027) were significant factors affecting global fatigue. Conclusion: Our results show that anxiety is the most important factor affecting both pain and global fatigue in women with CWP. These results also support the idea that the characteristics of pain, fatigue and anxiety should be evaluated separately

Immunostimulatory activity of polysaccharide-poly(I:C) nanoparticles

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Immunostimulatory properties of mushroom derived polysaccharides (PS) as stand-alone agents were tested. Next. PS were nanocomplexed with polyI:C (pIC) to yield stable nanoparticles around 200 nm in size evidenced by atomic force microscopy and dynamic light scattering analyses. PSs were selectively engaged by cells expressing TLR2 and initiated NF kappa B dependent signaling cascade leading to a Th1-biased cytokine/chemokine secretion in addition to bactericidal nitric oxide (NO) production from macrophages. Moreover, cells treated with nanoparticles led to synergistic IL6, production and upregulation of TNF alpha, MIP3 alpha, IFN gamma and IP10 transcript expression. In mice, PS-Ovalbumin-pIC formulation surpassed anti-OVA IgG responses when compared to either PS-OVA or pIC-OVA mediated immunity. Our results revealed that signal transduction initiated both by TLR2 and TLR3 via co-delivery of pIC by PS in nanoparticle depot delivery system is an effective immunization strategy. The present work implicate that the PS and nucleic acid based nanoparticle approach along with protein antigens can be harnessed to prevent infectious diseases. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserve

ON GENERALIZED SARMANOV BIVARIATE DISTRIBUTIONS

Abstract. A class of bivariate distributions which generalizes the Sarmanov class is introduced. This class possesses a simple analytical form and desirable dependence properties. The admissible range for association parameter for given bivariate distributions are derived and the range for correlation coefficients are also presented

Cetuximab-Ag₂S quantum dots for fluorescence imaging and highly effective combination of ALA-based photodynamic/chemo-therapy of colorectal cancer cells

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has a poor prognosis and urgently needs better therapeutic approaches. 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) induced protoprophyrin IX (PpIX) based photodynamic therapy (PDT) is already approved in the clinic for several cancers but not yet well investigated for CRC. Currently, systemic administration of ALA offers a limited degree of tumour selectivity, except for intracranial tumours, limiting its wider use in the clinic. Combination of effective ALA-PDT with chemotherapy may provide a promising alternative approach for CRC treatment. Herein, theranostic Ag2S quantum dots (AS-2MPA) optically trackable in near-infrared (NIR), conjugated with endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeting Cetuximab (Cet) and loaded with ALA for PDT monotherapy or ALA/5-fluorouracil (5FU) for the combination therapy is proposed for enhanced treatment of EGFR(+) CRC. AS-2MPA-Cet endowed excellent targeting of the high EGFR expressing cells and showed a strong intracellular signal for NIR optical detection in a comparative study performed on SW480, HCT116, and HT29 cells, which are high, medium and low EGFR expressers. Targeting provided enhanced uptake of the ALA loaded nanoparticles by strong EGFR expressing cells and formation of higher levels of PpIX. Cells also differ in their efficiency to convert ALA to PpIX, and SW480 was the best, followed by HT29, while HCT116 were determined as unsuitable for ALA-PDT. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated in 2D cell cultures and 3D spheroids of SW480 and HT29 cells using AS-2MPA with either electrostatically loaded, hydrazone or amide linked ALA to achieve different levels of pH or enzyme sensitive release. Most effective phototoxicity was observed in SW480 cells using AS-2MPA-ALA-electrostatic-Cet due enhanced uptake of the particles, fast ALA release and effective ALA-to-PpIX conversion. Targeted delivery reduced the effective ALA concentration significantly which was further reduced with codelivery of 5FU. Delivery of ALA via covalent linkage was also effective for PDT, but required longer incubation time for the release of ALA in therapeutic doses. Phototoxicity was correlated with high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptotic/necrotic cell death. Hence, both AS-2MPA-ALA-Cet based PDT and AS-2MPA-ALA-Cet-5FU based Chemo/PDT combination therapy coupled with strong NIR tracking of the nanoparticles demonstrate an exceptional therapeutic effect on CRC cells and an excellent potential for synergistic multistage tumour targeting therapy

Isatuximab plus carfilzomib and dexamethasone versus carfilzomib and dexamethasone in elderly patients with relapsed multiple myeloma: IKEMA subgroup analysis

In this subgroup analysis of the randomized, Phase 3 IKEMA study (NCT03275285), we evaluated efficacy and safety of the anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody isatuximab (Isa) in combination with carfilzomib-dexamethasone (Isa-Kd) versus Kd in older (≥70 years of age, n = 86) and younger (<70 years, n = 216) patients with relapsed multiple myeloma (MM). Patients received Isa 10 mg/kg intravenously weekly for 4 weeks, then every 2 weeks in the Isa-Kd arm, and approved schedule of carfilzomib (twice weekly) and dexamethasone in both study arms. Primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS); key secondary efficacy endpoints included rates of overall response (ORR), very good partial response or better (≥VGPR), minimal residual disease negativity (MRD–), and complete response (CR). Addition of Isa to Kd resulted in improved PFS in elderly patients (hazard ratio, 0.36 [95% CI, 0.18–0.75]) consistent with the significant PFS improvement observed in the overall IKEMA population. Treatment with Isa-Kd improved depth of response versus Kd, with higher rates of ≥VGPR (73.1% vs. 55.9%), MRD– (23.1% vs. 11.8%), and CR (38.5% vs. 23.5%). Although the incidence of grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was higher in Isa-Kd, the incidence of serious TEAEs was similar between arms. Fewer elderly patients definitively discontinued treatment due to TEAEs in Isa-Kd than Kd: 11.8% versus 23.5%. In conclusion, Isa-Kd provides a consistent benefit versus Kd in elderly patients, with a manageable safety profile, and represents a new treatment option for patients with relapsed MM, independent of age

Isatuximab plus carfilzomib and dexamethasone in relapsed multiple myeloma patients with high-risk cytogenetics: IKEMA subgroup analysis

Introduction: The presence of high-risk chromosomal abnormalities [t(4;14), del(17p), and t(14;16)] has been linked with inferior outcomes in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). A prespecified interim analysis of the Phase 3 IKEMA study (NCT03275285) demonstrated that isatuximab (Isa) + carfilzomib (K) and dexamethasone (d; Isa-Kd) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) versus Kd in patients with relapsed MM. This prespecified subgroup analysis of IKEMA examined efficacy and safety in patients with high-risk cytogenetics. Methods: High-risk cytogenetics was assessed by central laboratory and patients were classified as high risk if abnormalities were present in ≥1 of the following: del(17p): 50% cutoff; t(4;14), and/or t(14;16): 30% cutoff. Results: Of the randomized patients, 23.5% (Isa-Kd) and 25.2% (Kd) had ≥1 high-risk chromosomal abnormality. A PFS benefit was seen in favor of Isa-Kd for patients with standard-risk (HR 0.440; 95% CI 0.266–0.728) and high-risk cytogenetics (HR 0.724; 95% CI 0.361–1.451). Grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were more common with Isa-Kd (85.7%) versus Kd (63.3%) in patients with high-risk cytogenetics; however, the incidence of serious TEAEs (64.3% vs. 66.7%) was similar. Conclusions: Isa-Kd is a new treatment option for the difficult-to-treat subgroup of patients with relapsed MM and high-risk cytogenetics

Polarization study of single color centers in aluminum nitride

Color centers in wide-bandgap semiconductors are a promising class of solid-state quantum light source, many of which operate at room temperature. We examine a family of color centers in aluminum nitride, which emits close to 620 nm. We present a technique to rapidly map an ensemble of these single photon emitters, identifying all emitters, not just those with absorption dipole parallel to the laser polarization. We demonstrate a fast technique to determine their absorption polarization orientation in the c-plane, finding they are uniformly distributed in orientation, in contrast to many other emitters in crystalline materials