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Abstract The temperature measurement of material inside of an object is one of the key technologies for control of dynamical processes. For this purpose, various techniques such as laser-based thermography and phase-contrast imaging thermography have been studied. However, it is, in principle, impossible to measure the temperature of an element inside of an object using these techniques. One of the possible solutions is measurements of Doppler brooding effect in neutron resonance absorption (NRA). Here we present a method to measure the temperature of an element or an isotope inside of an object using NRA with a single neutron pulse of approximately 100 ns width provided from a high-power laser. We demonstrate temperature measurements of a tantalum (Ta) metallic foil heated from the room temperature up to 617 K. Although the neutron energy resolution is fluctuated from shot to shot, we obtain the temperature dependence of resonance Doppler broadening using a reference of a silver (Ag) foil kept to the room temperature. A free gas model well reproduces the results. This method enables element(isotope)-sensitive thermometry to detect the instantaneous temperature rise in dynamical processes.

IntroductionMesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is one of the most prevalent forms of focal epilepsy in surgical series, particularly among adults. Over the decades, different surgical strategies have been developed to address drug-resistant epilepsy while safeguarding neurological and cognitive functions. Among these strategies, anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL), involving the removal of the temporal pole and mesial temporal structures, has emerged as a widely employed technique. Numerous modifications have been proposed to mitigate the risks associated with aphasia, cognitive issues, and visual field defects.MethodsOur approach is elucidated through intraoperative and cadaveric dissections, complemented by neuroradiological and cadaveric measurements of key anatomical landmarks. A retrospective analysis of patients with drug-resistant MTLE who were treated using our ATL technique at IRCCS Neuromed (Pozzilli) is presented.ResultsA total of 385 patients were treated with our ATL subpial technique anatomically focused on the anterior Sylvian point (ASyP). The mean FU was 9.9 ± 5.4 years (range 1–24). In total, 84%of patients were free of seizures during the last follow-up, with no permanent neurological deficits. Transient defects were as follows: aphasia in 3% of patients, visual field defects in 2% of patients, hemiparesis in 2% of patients, and cognitive/memory impairments in 0.8% of patients. In cadaveric dissections, the ASyP was found at a mean distance from the temporal pole of 3.4 ± 0.2 cm (range 3–3.8) at the right side and 3.5 ± 0.2 cm (3.2–3.9) at the left side. In neuroimaging, the ASyP resulted anterior to the temporal horn tip in all cases at a mean distance of 3.2 ± 0.3 mm (range 2.7–3.6) at the right side and 3.5 ± 0.4 mm (range 2.8–3.8) at the left side.DiscussionTo the best of our knowledge, this study first introduces the ASyP as a reliable and reproducible cortical landmark to perform the ATL to overcome the patients’ variabilities, the risk of Meyer’s loop injury, and the bias of intraoperative measurements. Our findings demonstrate that ASyP can be a safe cortical landmark that is useful in MTLE surgery because it is constantly present and is anterior to risky temporal regions such as temporal horn and language networks.

The beneficial effects of vitamin D in humans are numerous and various, and include neuronal, immune and bone homeostasis, and regulation of cardiovascular function. Recent studies have related vitamin D levels to cancer cell proliferation, but meta-analyses on this subject have provided controversial results. This review deals with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory function of Vitamin D in chronic diseases, focusing mainly on cancer, immune diseases, cardiomyopathies. Vitamin D contributes significantly to reducing pro-oxidant biomarkers, both systemic and in specific tissues, involved in the development, progression, and recurrence of cancer, chronic and cardiometabolic diseases. The overall picture provided by this work highlights the need for new randomised controlled trials on oral Vitamin D supplementation in patients affected by cancer, or neurological and cardiovascular disorders, with the purpose of lowering risk factors for relapse of these diseases and improving patients' quality of life.

An acute metabolic complication of diabetes mellitus, especially type 1, is diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is due to an increase in blood ketone concentrations. Sodium/glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2-i) drugs have been associated with the occurrence of a particular type of DKA defined as euglycemic (euDKA), characterized by glycemic levels below 300 mg/dL. A fair number of euDKA cases in SGLT2-i-treated patients have been described, especially in the last few years when there has been a significant increased use of these drugs. This form of euDKA is particularly insidious because of its latent onset, associated with unspecific symptomatology, until it evolves (progressing) to severe systemic forms. In addition, its atypical presentation can delay diagnosis and treatment. However, the risk of euDKA associated with SGLT2-i drugs remains relatively low, but it is essential to promptly diagnose and manage it to prevent its serious life-threatening complications. In this narrative review, we intended to gather current research evidence on SGLT2i-associated euDKA from randomized controlled trials and real-world evidence studies, its diagnostic criteria and precipitating factors.

Background: Fever is one of the most frequent symptoms highlighted during medical assistance. Due to this great impact, our study has the purpose of analyzing the demographic and laboratory characteristics of patients hospitalized in our center and identifying predictive markers to make the differential diagnosis between infectious and non-infectious fever. Methods: Our population included 220 children, collected from January 2017 to August 2022, hospitalized for continuous fever (4 days or more in duration with at least one temperature peak ≥37.5 °C) and excluded cases of discharge against medical advice and/or transfer to other operating units. Demographic (mean age at the time of admission, frequency of hospitalization, and mean days of hospitalization), laboratory, and instrumental variables were analyzed in order to find correlation with fever etiology. Results: Older age at the time of hospitalization, family history of periodic fever, fever lasting more than 8 days, and longer hospitalization are strongly associated with non-infectious fever, together with anemia, high platelet count, high CRP and ferritin, and hyponatremia at the time of admission. Paracetamol is the preferred antipyretic treatment. Echocardiogram has shown anomalies in patients with infectious fever, while ECG anomalies were detected in non-infectious fever. Conclusions: Our data underline the importance of predictive markers, such as clinical and laboratory parameters, to differentiate infectious from non-infectious fevers, but further studies are necessary.

The advance of laser-driven neutron sources (LDNSs) has enabled neutron resonance spectroscopy to be performed with a single shot of a laser. In this study, we describe a detection system of epithermal (∼eV) neutrons especially designed for neutron resonance spectroscopy. A time-gated photomultiplier tube (PMT) with a high cut-off ratio was introduced for epithermal neutron detection in a high-power laser experiment at the Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University. We successfully reduced the PMT response to the intense hard X-ray generated as a result of the interaction between laser light and the target material. A time-gated circuit was designed to turn off the response of the PMT during the laser pulse and resume recording the signal when neutrons arrive. The time-gated PMT was coupled with a 6Li glass scintillator, serving as a time-of-flight (TOF) detector to measure the neutron resonance absorption values of 182W and 109Ag in a laser-driven epithermal neutron generation experiment. The neutron resonance peaks at 4.15 eV of 182W and 5.19 eV of 109Ag were detected after a single pulse of laser at a distance of 1.07 m.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak through petrosal air cells is a known complication after drilling the posterior wall of the internal acoustic canal (IAC) for resection of vestibular schwannoma (VS). Whereas mild pneumocephalus is common after retrosigmoid craniotomy, tension pneumocephalus has been rarely documented. To testify a case of fatal tension pneumocephalus after VS resection in a patient with ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt and to propose possible recommendations to limit the risk of this dramatic complication. A case of fatal tension pneumocephalus after VS resection in presence of hidden CSF fistula is illustrated with pre- and post-operative images. In the uneventful situation of concomitant post-operative CSF fistula in presence of VP shunt, tension pneumocephalus may occur. The negative pressure created by the shunt system and the presence of osteo-dural defect allow the air to enter and, at the same time, prevent the outflow. After VS resection, tension pneumocephalus can occur as a consequence of CSF fistula from petrosal air cells in the presence of functioning VP shunt. Precautions as pre-operative increase to 'virtual-off' the pressure of the valve, subsequences CT scans after surgery and sealing of the petrous air cells are recommended to avoid such as fatal complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature measurement of material inside of an object is one of the key technologies for control of dynamical processes. For this purpose, various techniques such as laser-based thermography and phase-contrast imaging thermography have been studied. However, it is, in principle, impossible to measure the temperature of an element inside of an object using these techniques. One of the possible solutions is measurements of Doppler brooding effect in neutron resonance absorption (NRA). Here we present a method to measure the temperature of an element or an isotope inside of an object using NRA with a single neutron pulse of approximately 100 ns width provided from a high-power laser. We demonstrate temperature measurements of a tantalum (Ta) metallic foil heated from the room temperature up to 617 K. Although the neutron energy resolution is fluctuated from shot to shot, we obtain the temperature dependence of resonance Doppler broadening using a reference of a silver (Ag) foil kept to the room temperature. A free gas model well reproduces the results. This method enables element(isotope)-sensitive thermometry to detect the instantaneous temperature rise in dynamical processes. Non-contact thermometry is one of the key technologies for modern science and industry. Here, authors demonstrated measurement of temperature of an element using neutron resonance spectroscopy with Doppler broadening with single intense short neutron pulse provided from high peak power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generation of quasi-monoenergetic ion pulse by laser-driven acceleration is one of the hot topics in laser plasma physics. In this study, we present a new method for the in situ deposition of an ultra-thin D2O layer on the surface of an aluminum foil target utilizing a spherical D2O capsule. Employing a 1019 W/cm2 laser, we achieve the acceleration of 10.8 MeV deuterons with an energy spread of ΔE/E = 4.6% in the most favorable shot. The energy spread depends on the exposure time of the D2O capsule in the vacuum chamber. This method has the potential to extend its applicability to other ion species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An acute metabolic complication of diabetes mellitus, especially type 1, is diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is due to an increase in blood ketone concentrations. Sodium/glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2-i) drugs have been associated with the occurrence of a particular type of DKA defined as euglycemic (euDKA), characterized by glycemic levels below 300 mg/dL. A fair number of euDKA cases in SGLT2-i-treated patients have been described, especially in the last few years when there has been a significant increased use of these drugs. This form of euDKA is particularly insidious because of its latent onset, associated with unspecific symptomatology, until it evolves (progressing) to severe systemic forms. In addition, its atypical presentation can delay diagnosis and treatment. However, the risk of euDKA associated with SGLT2-i drugs remains relatively low, but it is essential to promptly diagnose and manage it to prevent its serious life-threatening complications. In this narrative review, we intended to gather current research evidence on SGLT2i-associated euDKA from randomized controlled trials and real-world evidence studies, its diagnostic criteria and precipitating factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its associated restrictions have adversely affected clinical and psychological well-being, especially in elderly subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The aim of the stuy was to evaluate the impact of the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic on metabolic parameters, diabetes quality of life (DQoL), and locus of control (LOC) in elderly outpatients with T2D, also taking into account potential gender differences. Methods: Major clinical parameters, DQoL, and LOC were evaluated in a group of consecutive elderly T2D patients on oral hypoglycemic drugs before and after 12 months of the lockdown period. Results: The glycemic control of the study subjects (n = 94; age 65-89 years) did not significantly change during the observation period. Overall, QoL slightly improved, mainly due to a reduction in the impact domain, which explores the consequences of diabetes on daily life. Regarding the LOC questionnaire, the internal score increased, and the scores of the external and chance domains decreased, indicating a lower attribution of disease control to chance or other people. These changes were more evident in men than in women. Conclusion: In this group of elderly T2D outpatients with good glycemic control, the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic did not negatively impact health-related QoL and increased the awareness of patients’ role, especially in men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]