Numerical and experimental comparison among a new hybrid FT-music technique and existing algorithms for through-the-wall radar imaging

A fast low-cost through-the-wall radar imaging (TWRI) system, based on a vector network analyzer (VNA), a couple of switches and an array of Vivaldi antennas, has been designed, realized, and tested. To solve the TWRI inversion problem, an original theoretical modeling for a class of TWRI techniques whose basic functions are the cross-range Fourier transform (FT) of the scattered field and its covariance operator has been proposed. Using these functions, four conventional algorithms, namely the delay and sum (DAS), the FT, the multiple signal classification (MUSIC), the hybrid DAS-MUSIC and a new algorithm, the hybrid FT-MUSIC, have been derived. All these techniques have been implemented and their accuracy and field of view have been tested on canonical scatterers. Then, the algorithms have been applied to measured data collected in different scenarios constituted by a metallic bar or a human subject in the absence and in the presence of a wall between the antenna and the considered targets. Using the proposed TWRI system, it has been possible to detect a subject located up to 5-m away from the radar antenna array through a tuff wall. The proposed FT-MUSIC algorithm has evidenced performances similar to those of the DAS-MUSIC but with significantly lower execution times. Finally, FT-MUSIC performances in terms of field of view and immunity to disturbances are better compared to those of the MUSIC algorithm

Health determinants in italian type 2 diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients : a critical gender differences analysis

Different studies described the important role of wellbeing, self-care and self-efficacy (i.e. health determinants) to achieve best health outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients. However, literature has paid little attention to highlight the possible gender differences related to the T2DM perception of those health determinants. For these reason, the aim of this study was to describe T2DM patients' gender differences related to their wellbeing, self-care and self-efficacy. This study was performed by a secondary analysis of data from a cross-sectional research, conducted in an outpatient setting in Northern Italy. Data was collected from March 2014 and July 2016 in a cohort of 115 T2DM outpatients, aged from 60 to 91 years (mean = 69.78 \ub1 7.11). Our results showed that men perceived more general wellbeing than women, and more diabetes specific self-efficacy. No differences seemed to be related to self-care. Indeed, the stratification by gender of the bivariate analysis allowed to identify many peculiarities related to wellbeing domains and self-efficacy. This study had a pioneering nuance in Italian assessment of T2DM health determinants, and it could have a number of future implications. Further empirical researches should provide more information to deeply understand the T2DM patients' peculiarities, which could help nurses to improve a personalized care delivery

Coronary Artery By-Pass Grafting in Patient With Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (Case Report)

Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) is a clonal haematopoietic stem cell disease that presents with haemolytic anaemia, thrombosis and bone marrow failure. We report a case of a 51-year-old male with a history of PNH in treatment with Eculizumab admitted to our Hospital for acute chest pain and dyspnoea. The diagnosis was a triple vessel disease and patient was scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. To balance the risk between thrombosis and bleeding in this particular clinical setting, we decided to use thromboelastography (TEG) as point of care solution and we used the R parameter as the target of our anticoagulant therapy. The R parameter between 11 and 14 sec can be used as a target value to balance the risk; in addition, there was no evidence of acute hemolysis during the surgery and supplemental dose of Eculizumab was administered in order to minimize any potential exacerbation of intravascular hemolysis

Аортокоронарное шунтирование у пациента с пароксизмальной ночной гемоглобинурией (клиническое наблюдение)

Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) is a clonal haematopoietic stem cell disease that presents with haemolytic anaemia, thrombosis and bone marrow failure. We report a case of a 51-year-old male with a history of PNH in treatment with Eculizumab admitted to our Hospital for acute chest pain and dyspnoea. The diagnosis was a triple vessel disease and patient was scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. To balance the risk between thrombosis and bleeding in this particular clinical setting, we decided to use thromboelastography (TEG) as point of care solution and we used the R parameter as the target of our anticoagulant therapy. The R parameter between 11 and 14 sec can be used as a target value to balance the risk; in addition, there was no evidence of acute hemolysis during the surgery and supplemental dose of Eculizumab was administered in order to minimize any potential exacerbation of intravascular hemolysis.Пароксизмальная ночная гемоглобинурия (ПНГ) — клональное заболевание гемопоэтических стволовых клеток, которое проявляется гемолитической анемией, тромбозами и недостаточностью функции костного мозга. Пациент мужского пола 51 года с ПНГ в анамнезе, по поводу которой он получал лечение экулизумабом, поступил в больницу с жалобами на острую боль в грудной клетке и одышку. Поставили диагноз трехсосудистого поражения коронарного русла, по поводу чего запланировали проведение аортокоронарного шунтирования. Для того, чтобы избежать развития как тромбоза, так и кровотечения, в данном сложном клиническом случае, решили провести пациенту тромбоэластографическое исследование и использовать параметр R в качестве целевого при проведении антикоагулянтной терапии. При поддержании значений данного параметра в рамках 11-14 сек можно достичь оптимального баланса между риском тромбоза и кровотечения. Кроме того, во время оперативного вмешательства не наблюдали острого гемолиза, а для уменьшения риска развития внутрисосудистого гемолиза дополнительно назначили экулизумаб

Comparative effectiveness of combined IgM-Enriched immunoglobulin and extracorporeal blood purification plus standard care versus standard care for sepsis and septic shock after cardiac surgery

Background: The combination of surgery, bacterial spread-out, and artificial cardiopulmonary bypass surfaces results in a release of key inflammatory mediators leading to an overshooting systemic hyper-inflammatory condition frequently associated with compromised hemodynamics and organ dysfunction. A promising approach could be extracorporeal blood purification therapies in combination with IgM enriched immunoglobulin. This approach might perform a balanced control of both hyper and hypo-inflammatory phases as an immune-modulating intervention. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study of patients with proven infection after cardiac surgery between January 2020 and December 2021. Patients were divided into two groups: (1) the first group (Control Group) followed a standard care approach as recommended by the Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines; The second group (Active Group) underwent extracorporeal blood purification therapy (EBPT) in combination with intravenous administration of IgM enriched immunoglobulin 5 mL/kg die for at least three consecutive days, in conjunction with the standard approach (SSC Guidelines). In addition, ventriculo-arterial (V/A) coupling, Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Endotoxin Activity Assay (EAA), Procalcitonin, White Blood Cells (WBC) counts, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score and Inotropic Score were assessed in both two groups at different time points. Results: Fifty-four patients were recruited; 25 were in the Control Group, while 29 participants were in the Active Group. SOFA score significantly improved from baseline [12 (9–16)] until at T3 [8 (3–13)] in the active group; it was associated with a median EAA reduction from 1.03 (0.39–1.20) at T0 to 0.41 (0.2–0.9) at T3 in the active group compared with control group 0.70 (0.50–1.00) at T0 to 0.70 (0.50–1.00) at T3 (p < 0.001). V/A coupling tended to be lower in patients of the active arm ranging from 1.9 (1.2–2.7) at T0 to 0.8 (0.8–2.2) at T3 than in those of the control arm ranging from 2.1 (1.4–2.2) at T0 to 1.75 (1.45–2.1) at T3 (p = 0.099). The hemodynamic improvement over time was associated with evident but no significant decrease in inotropic score in the active group compared with the control group. Changes in EAA value from T0 to T4 were directly and significantly related (r = 0.39, p = 0.006) to those of V/A coupling. Conclusions: EBPT, in combination with IgM enriched immunoglobulin, was associated with a mitigated postoperative response of key cytokines with a significant decrease in IL-6, Procalcitonin, and EAA and was associated with improvement of clinical and metabolic parameters

Organometallic iridium(III) anticancer complexes with new mechanisms of action: NCI-60 screening, mitochondrial targeting, and apoptosis

Platinum complexes related to cisplatin, cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2], are successful anticancer drugs; however, other transition metal complexes offer potential for combating cisplatin resistance, decreasing side effects, and widening the spectrum of activity. Organometallic half-sandwich iridium (IrIII) complexes [Ir(Cpx)(XY)Cl]+/0 (Cpx = biphenyltetramethylcyclopentadienyl and XY = phenanthroline (1), bipyridine (2), or phenylpyridine (3)) all hydrolyze rapidly, forming monofunctional G adducts on DNA with additional intercalation of the phenyl substituents on the Cpx ring. In comparison, highly potent complex 4 (Cpx = phenyltetramethylcyclopentadienyl and XY = N,N-dimethylphenylazopyridine) does not hydrolyze. All show higher potency toward A2780 human ovarian cancer cells compared to cisplatin, with 1, 3, and 4 also demonstrating higher potency in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) NCI-60 cell-line screen. Use of the NCI COMPARE algorithm (which predicts mechanisms of action (MoAs) for emerging anticancer compounds by correlating NCI-60 patterns of sensitivity) shows that the MoA of these IrIII complexes has no correlation to cisplatin (or oxaliplatin), with 3 and 4 emerging as particularly novel compounds. Those findings by COMPARE were experimentally probed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of A2780 cells exposed to 1, showing mitochondrial swelling and activation of apoptosis after 24 h. Significant changes in mitochondrial membrane polarization were detected by flow cytometry, and the potency of the complexes was enhanced ca. 5× by co-administration with a low concentration (5 μM) of the γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase inhibitor L-buthionine sulfoximine (L-BSO). These studies reveal potential polypharmacology of organometallic IrIII complexes, with MoA and cell selectivity governed by structural changes in the chelating ligands

Asiatic Acid Inhibits Liver Fibrosis by Blocking TGF-beta/Smad Signaling In Vivo and In Vitro

Liver fibrosis is a major cause of liver failure, but treatment remains ineffective. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms and anti-hepatofibrotic activities of asiatic acid (AA) in a rat model of liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and in vitro in TGF-beta1-stimulated rat hepatic stellate cell line (HSC-T6). Treatment with AA significantly attenuated CCl4-induced liver fibrosis and functional impairment in a dosage-dependent manner, including blockade of the activation of HSC as determined by inhibiting de novo alpha smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) and collagen matrix expression, and an increase in ALT and AST (all p<0.01). The hepatoprotective effects of AA on fibrosis were associated with upregulation of hepatic Smad7, an inhibitor of TGF-beta signaling, thereby blocking upregulation of TGF-beta1 and CTGF and the activation of TGF-beta/Smad signaling. The anti-fibrosis activity and mechanisms of AA were further detected in vitro in HSC-T6. Addition of AA significantly induced Smad7 expression by HSC-T6 cells, thereby inhibiting TGF-beta1-induced Smad2/3 activation, myofibroblast transformation, and collagen matrix expression in a dosage-dependent manner. In contrast, knockdown of Smad7 in HSC-T6 cells prevented AA-induced inhibition of HSC-T6 cell activation and fibrosis in response to TGF-beta1, revealing an essential role for Smad7 in AA-induced anti-fibrotic activities during liver fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, AA may be a novel therapeutic agent for liver fibrosis. Induction of Smad7-dependent inhibition of TGF-beta/Smad-mediated fibrogenesis may be a central mechanism by which AA protects liver from injury