Abstract
The upgrade of the ALICE TPC will allow the experiment to cope with the high interaction rates foreseen for the forthcoming Run 3 and Run 4 at the CERN LHC. In this article, we describe the ...design of new readout chambers and front-end electronics, which are driven by the goals of the experiment. Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detectors arranged in stacks containing four GEMs each, and continuous readout electronics based on the SAMPA chip, an ALICE development, are replacing the previous elements. The construction of these new elements, together with their associated quality control procedures, is explained in detail. Finally, the readout chamber and front-end electronics cards replacement, together with the commissioning of the detector prior to installation in the experimental cavern, are presented. After a nine-year period of R&D, construction, and assembly, the upgrade of the TPC was completed in 2020.
INTRODUCTIONInflammatory markers have prognostic value in various tumors due to the role of inflammatory phenomena at different stages of tumor development. The aim of this study is to demonstrate ...the prognostic value of these markers, as well as other clinical and analytical variables in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). MATERIAL AND METHODSProspective cohort study carried out on 80 patients diagnosed with mCRPC. Clinical and analytical data were collected, and the following inflammatory markers were estimated: Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC), Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Total Platelet Count (TPC), Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Lymphocyte-Monocyte Ratio (LMR) and Systemic Inflammation Index (SII). The values of albumin, hemoglobin (Hb), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were also determined. RESULTSPatients with ANC>7500, NLR>3, PLR>150, LMR>3 and/or SII>535,000, presented significantly lower median survival time than the remaining patients, and TPC was the only marker which did not show a significant association. Moreover, NLR, PLR and SII were inversely correlated with survival time. Patients with hypoalbuminemia, anemia, and elevated LDH values had significantly lower median survival time. Albumin and hemoglobin were directly correlated to overall survival time. The need for analgesia was also associated with shorter survival. CONCLUSIONThe values of certain inflammatory markers are associated with shorter survival time in patients with mCRPC, and their use in clinical practice can be considered to evaluate the prognosis and estimate survival.
Summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. It is believed that immunological events in the early stages have great impact on the disease course. Therefore, we aimed to ...evaluate the cytokine profile of myelin basic protein (MBP)‐specific T cells from MS patients in the early phase of the disease and correlate it to clinical parameters, as well as to the effect of in vitro corticoid treatment. Peripheral T cells from MS patients were stimulated with MBP with our without hydrocortisone for 5 days. The cytokines level were determined by ELISA. The number of active brain lesions was determined by MRI scans, and the neurological disabilities were assessed by Expanded Disability Status Scale scores. Our results demonstrated that MS‐derived T cells responded to MBP by producing high levels of T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th17 cytokines. Although the production of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), granulocyte–macrophage colony‐stimulating factor, IL‐17 and IL‐22 was less sensitive to hydrocortisone inhibition, only IL‐17 and IL‐22 levels correlated with active brain lesions. The ability of hydrocortisone to inhibit IL‐17 and IL‐22 production by MBP‐specific CD4+ T cells was inversely related to the number of active brain lesions. Finally, the production of both cytokines was significantly higher in cell cultures from Afrodescendant patients and it was less sensitive to hydrocortisone inhibition. In summary, our data suggest that IL‐17‐ and IL‐22‐secreting CD4+ T cells resistant to corticoids are associated with radiological activity of the MS in early stages of the disease, mainly among Afrodescendant patients who, normally, have worse prognosis.
MoO
2
thin films were subjected to a laser localized oxidation process that allowed us to obtain different well defined MoO
x
phases. In particular, the spatially resolved MoO
2
, α-MoO
3
, β-MoO
3
, ...amorphous a-MoO
3
, and Mo
4
O
11
regions were obtained as a function of the laser power and the distance to the laser focus. The origin of this spatial phase separation was investigated through a careful and exhaustive Raman mapping study covering several micrometres away from the laser focus and taking into account the thermochemical properties of the species involved. It was found that a sublimation/deposition process, driven by the different vapour pressures of the species, was responsible for the phase separation. At higher laser powers, a solid state reaction was observed to contribute as well. In the laser annealed tracks, distant lateral sidebands of oxide deposition were observed with composition that depended on the laser power and the distance to the centre of the track. The electrical measurements between the irradiated and non-irradiated regions showed a strong rectifying behaviour, revealing a transformation from metal-like to semiconducting Mo oxide phases, which may open the way to the development of laser written all-oxide electronic circuits.
MoO
2
thin films were subjected to a laser localized oxidation process that allowed us to obtain different well defined MoO
x
phases. In particular, the spatially resolved MoO
2
, α-MoO
3
, β-MoO
3
, ...amorphous a-MoO
3
, and Mo
4
O
11
regions were obtained as a function of the laser power and the distance to the laser focus. The origin of this spatial phase separation was investigated through a careful and exhaustive Raman mapping study covering several micrometres away from the laser focus and taking into account the thermochemical properties of the species involved. It was found that a sublimation/deposition process, driven by the different vapour pressures of the species, was responsible for the phase separation. At higher laser powers, a solid state reaction was observed to contribute as well. In the laser annealed tracks, distant lateral sidebands of oxide deposition were observed with composition that depended on the laser power and the distance to the centre of the track. The electrical measurements between the irradiated and non-irradiated regions showed a strong rectifying behaviour, revealing a transformation from metal-like to semiconducting Mo oxide phases, which may open the way to the development of laser written all-oxide electronic circuits.
MoO
2
thin films were subjected to a laser localized oxidation process that allowed to obtain different well defined and spatially resolved MoO
x
phases.
Introduction
Combined stent-retriever/large-bore distal aspiration catheter (LB-DAC) thrombectomy was recently introduced to treat large-vessel occlusion; however, it is unclear whether larger inner ...diameters improve outcomes. We compared angiographic and clinical outcomes in patients with occlusions of the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery treated with mechanical thrombectomy using extra-LB-DAC versus LB-DAC in combination with stent-retrievers.
Methods
We analyzed consecutive patients with M1 occlusion included in the ROSSETTI registry treated with non-balloon guide catheter combined LB-DAC/stent-retriever thrombectomy between June 2019 and April 2022. We compared demographics, baseline clinical variables, procedural variables, angiographic outcomes, and clinical outcomes National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score at 24 h (24h-NIHSS) and modified Rankin scale score at 3 months between patients treated with extra-LB-DAC (Sofia Plus, MIVI Q6, Catalyst7; inner diameter, 0.068″–0.070″) versus LB-DAC (Sofia 5F, MIVI Q5, Catalyst 6; inner diameter, 0.055″–0.064″). Primary outcome was the first-pass effect (FPE) rate, defined as near-complete/complete reperfusion (mTICI 2c–3) after a single pass of the device.
Results
We included 324 patients (extra-LB-DAC, 185, 57.1% patients). Demographics, clinical data, and clinical outcomes were similar between the two groups; however, there was a trend towards improvement in National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score at 24 h (24h-NIHSS) in the cohort treated with extra-LB-DAC 9 points (IQR 4;16 points) vs. 12 points (IQR 4;18 points,
P
= 0.083). Patients treated with extra-LB-DAC had higher FPE rate (47% vs. 30.9%;
P
= 0.003) and higher modified FPE (mTICI ≥ 2b after a single pass) rate (65.9% vs 46.8%;
P
= 0.001). The use of extra-LB-DAC was an independent factor in predicting FPE (odds ratio 1.982, 95% confidence interval 1.250–3.143,
P
= 0.004).
Conclusion
Our results suggest that in combined LB-DAC/stent-retriever thrombectomy, a larger aspiration catheter inner diameter is associated with higher rates of FPE and mFPE.
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