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This article reports on a case of a 39-year-old woman who was referred to a fetal cardiac program in Toronto, Canada, after a fetal cardiac mass was discovered during a second-trimester anatomy scan. The mass was identified as a cardiac tumor called rhabdomyoma, and further testing was done to determine if it was associated with tuberous sclerosis (TS). Treatment with sirolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, was initiated to relieve symptoms and prevent further deterioration. The tumor responded well to treatment, and the patient delivered a healthy baby. This case suggests that transplacental therapy with sirolimus can be effective for non-TS rhabdomyomas, and further research is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms involved. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Higher Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®) scores are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. However, little is known about the effects of DII on mortality in Mediterranean countries. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to investigate the potential association between DII scores and overall, cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in people living in a Mediterranean area. Methods: DII scores were calculated using a validated food‐frequency questionnaire. DII scores were then categorised into tertiles. Mortality was ascertained via death certificates. The association between DII scores with overall and cause‐specific mortality was assessed via a multivariable Cox's regression analysis and reported as hazard ratios (HRs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The study included 1565 participants (mean age 65.5 years; females 44.7%). After a median follow‐up of 12 years (2005–2017), 366 (23.4%) participants died. After adjusting for 17 potential confounders, people with higher DII scores had an increased risk of death compared to those in the lowest (most anti‐inflammatory) tertile (HR = 1.38; 95% CI = 1.04–1.82 for the second tertile; HR = 1.38; 95% CI = 1.03–1.86 for the third tertile). Each 1 SD increase in DII score increased the risk of death by 13%. No association was found between DII scores and cancer or CVD death when considered separately. Conclusions: Higher DII scores were associated with a significantly higher mortality risk, whereas the association with cause‐specific mortality was less clear. These findings highlight the potential importance of diet in modulating inflammation and preventing death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclusion of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) in high‐end devices, such as TVs and smart‐phones, along with the insertion of cameras embedded in daily use devices, provides the opportunity to establish optical camera communication (OCC) systems based on OLED emitters for Internet of Things (IoT). This Letter presents an experimental demonstration of this OLED‐based OCC system for IoT. The results suggest that despite the low emitted power of OLED devices, long range links can be established based on OCC. One outdoor and two indoor scenarios are tested, validating BER below 10−6 for short range and give just 3.56×10−3 for long range links. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background The role of probiotics in the management of constipation is uncertain. Aims To evaluate the effects of probiotic-enriched artichokes on treatment preference, symptom profile and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in constipated subjects when compared with ordinary artichokes. Methods Twenty constipated patients (3M/17F; 38.8 ± 14.4 years) were studied using a double-blind method and a computer-generated randomisation list. Each patient consumed 180 g per day of ordinary artichokes or artichokes enriched with Lactobacillus paracasei IMPC 2.1 for 15 days (daily dose of 2 × 1010 CFU). Relief of symptoms was evaluated using a visual analogue scale. The stool consistency and symptom profile of patients were investigated using the Bristol stool form chart and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale questionnaire ( GSRS). SCFA production in faecal samples was evaluated using HPLC. Results Eighty per cent of patients preferred probiotic-enriched artichokes to ordinary ones ( P = 0.011). Satisfactory relief of symptoms was significantly higher ( P = 0.0014) during the probiotic-enriched artichoke period. Bristol chart cluster scores were significantly higher (3.3 ± 1.2, 2.9 ± 1.3 2.2 ± 1.2, baseline, ordinary artichokes and probiotic-enriched ones, respectively; P = 0.009) and GSRS constipation was significantly lower (13.9 ± 0.9, 10.2 ± 0.8, 8.3 ± 0.9; P = 0.032) in the probiotic group compared with the baseline. As for SCFA production, propionic acid was significantly higher (2.2 ± 1.4, 2.1 ± 1.53, 1.5 ± 1.2; P = 0.035) in the probiotic group compared with baseline. Conclusion This trial shows a positive effect on symptoms in constipated patients after intake of probiotic-enriched artichokes (clinical trial NCT01212146). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riluzole is to date the only treatment that prolongs amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) survival. However, results on the efficacy of riluzole in observational population-based studies with a longer follow-up are conflicting and it is still unclear if the effect of the drug is limited to an early stage of the disease and to some specific subgroups of patients. The objective is: (i) to evaluate the effect of riluzole on ALS survival in a cohort of incident cases; (ii) to examine whether bulbar-ALS benefits from the medication to a greater extent and (iii) to assess the efficacy of the drug in elderly patients. Source of the study was a prospective population-based registry of ALS established in Puglia, Southern Italy. We examined survival of 126/130 incident ALS cases diagnosed during the period 1998–1999. Seventy-three patients were prescribed riluzole and the remaining 53 were not. Riluzole therapy increased survival rates at 12 months by approximately 10% and prolonged survival by 6 months (18.2 months vs. 12.4; peto-test: 2.78; P = 0.09). This beneficial effect was present amongst bulbar-onset ALS (peto-test: 4.11; P = 0.042), but not in subjects with limb-onset (peto-test: 0.48; P = 0.4). In patients aged >70 years riluzole treatment was associated with an 8 months longer median survival time [15.4 months vs. 7.1] and a reduction in mortality rate at 12 months by 27%, regardless of site of symptoms onset. In multivariate analysis, riluzole use was an independent predictor of survival at 12 months from the diagnosis with borderline significance ( P = 0.06). Riluzole was effective amongst cases with bulbar-onset ALS ( P = 0.04), whereas in subjects with limb-onset there was no effect on survival at 12 months ( P = 0.5). In each model riluzole did not influence survival at 24 months. Conversely, riluzole use was associated with an improvement in survival amongst elderly patients both at 12 ( P = 0.07), at 24 months ( P = 0.03) and in the entire follow-up period ( P < 0.04). In this population-based series, we found that riluzole therapy improves ALS survival. The efficacy of the drug was present amongst bulbar-onset ALS and older patients, but not in subjects with limb-onset. The favourable effect of the drug was transient, as it was lost in prolonged follow-up. Our observations support the use of riluzole at an early stage of ALS in bulbar and elderly patients. However, the appropriate duration of riluzole treatment remains to be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the case study of a 27 year old woman at 21 weeks’ gestation. Fetal echocardiography revealed multiple cardiac rhabdomyomas, with the largest lesion in the left ventricle Neurosonography and fetal magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated cerebral tubers. The kidneys appeared normal. Fetal tuberous sclerosis was suspected,

In this paper, we introduce the Matrix‐MMC propagation model for indoor wireless optical channels. This proposed method is evolved from the modified Monte Carlo (MMC)–based ray tracing algorithm, but in addition to the properties of MMC, it has the capability of capturing reflection phenomena implying changes on wavelength (eg, fluorescence, phosphorescence, or iridescence) with a simplified analytical expression. The model provides unprecedented information about the mechanism of surface reflection in a visible light communication channel, which influences the propagation of the light waves, that depends on wavelength. In this paper, we present the Matrix‐MMC method to evaluate the channel impulse response for indoor Visible Light Communication (VLC). The approach is based on Monte Carlo ray‐tracing method (MMC) with the ability to capture reflection phenomena with changes on wavelength. The Matrix‐MMC provides an accurate channel and wavelength response estimation that will be of a great interest when dealing with equalization, security applications or when trying to use VLC systems in real‐lighting scenarios, using color‐shift keying modulation or other polychromatic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, with the incursion of solid state lighting technology in our daily life, visible light communication (VLC) systems are becoming more important. This fact has generated a lot of attention on VLC to provide solutions on multiple applications where this technology can be exploited. At the same time, the growing of automation processes has created the necessity of knowing the localization of different objects and devices. Indoor localization based on radio frequency signals is one of the most used techniques (Wi‐Fi, Bluetooth, UWB, RFID, etc); however, VLC is a new and interesting method, which is gaining enormous research attention. Moreover, there are environments where the use of RF technologies is restricted or even prohibited. In such cases, VLC technology becomes an interesting alternative to solve this problem. In this paper, we design and implement a novel VLC‐based indoor localization system that combines the application of a VLC scheme for downlink and an ultrasonic communication for the uplink. Practical localization experiments are carried out in an actual office room environment, and results show a localization accuracy of 4 cm on average for direct links and 10 cm for indirect links. In this paper, we design and implement a novel VLC‐based indoor localization system that combines the application of a VLC scheme for downlink and an ultrasonic communication for the uplink. Practical localization experiments are carried out in an actual office room environment, and results show a localization accuracy of 4 cm on average for direct links and 10 cm for indirect links. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhabdomyomas are the most common fetal cardiac tumours, often associated with tuberous sclerosis. Neonatal treatment for symptomatic rhabdomyomas previously described, include surgical debulking, stenting, anti-arrhythmic therapy and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibition. We document the antenatal use of sirolimus for the treatment of a large fetal rhabdomyoma causing ventricular dysfunction and pericardial effusion at 31 weeks of gestation. [Extracted from the article]

TP53 mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are associated with resistance to standard treatments and dismal outcomes. The incidence and prognostic impact of the emergence of newly detectable TP53 mutations over the course of AML therapy has not been well described. We retrospectively analyzed 200 patients with newly diagnosed TP53 wild type AML who relapsed after or were refractory to frontline therapy. Twenty-nine patients (15%) developed a newly detectable TP53 mutation in the context of relapsed/refractory disease. The median variant allelic frequency (VAF) was 15% (range, 1.1%-95.6%). TP53 mutations were more common after intensive therapy versus lower-intensity therapy (23% vs. 10%, respectively; p = 0.02) and in patients who had undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplant versus those who had not (36% vs. 12%, respectively; p = 0.005). Lower TP53 VAF was associated with an increased likelihood of complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi) compared to higher TP53 VAF (CR/CRi rate of 41% for VAF < 20% vs. 13% for VAF ≥ 20%, respectively). The median overall survival (OS) after acquisition of TP53 mutation was 4.6 months, with a 1-year OS rate of 19%. TP53 VAF at relapse was significantly associated with OS; the median OS of patients with TP53 VAF ≥ 20% was 3.5 months versus 6.1 months for those with TP53 VAF < 20% (p < 0.05). In summary, new TP53 mutations may be acquired throughout the course of AML therapy. Sequential monitoring for TP53 mutations is likely to be increasingly relevant in the era of emerging TP53-targeting therapies for AML., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Aims: To evaluate possible modifications in the manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) activity during neoplastic transformation of a cirrhotic liver and to find out whether its assessment may have predictive value to identify cirrhotic patients at a higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)., Methods: Seventy-one consecutive subjects with Child-Pugh class A liver cirrhosis were recruited. At the time of enrolment, HCC was diagnosed in 20 cirrhotic patients. The 51 cirrhotic patients without HCC were followed up for the occurrence of tumour by 6-monthly screening for 7 years. During follow-up, 16 patients developed HCC. Seventy healthy subjects formed the control group. MnSOD activity was assayed spectrophotometrically., Results: Serum MnSOD activity was significantly lower in 70 healthy subjects compared with 51 cirrhotic patients and 20 cirrhotic patients with HCC. Cirrhotic patients who developed HCC during follow-up showed significantly higher values of MnSOD activity than HCC-free patients. The best cut-off of MnSOD activity was 0.40 U/ml. At this cut-off, chi2 analysis revealed that MnSOD activity was significantly different between the HCC-free cirrhotic patients and cirrhotic patients who developed HCC., Conclusion: The present findings suggest that during neoplastic transformation of cirrhotic liver, an increase in MnSOD activity may occur already during the precancerous phase, making this enzyme a probable malignancy-associated parameter.