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In this paper, a passive down mixer is proposed, which is well suited for short-channel field-effect transistor technologies. The authors believe that this is the first drain-pumped transconductance mixer that requires no dc supply power. The monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) is fabricated using digital 90-nm silicon-on-insulator CMOS technology. All impedance matching, bias, and filter elements are implemented on the chip, which has a compact size of 0.5 mm x 0.47 mm. The circuit covers a radio frequency range from 30 to 40 GHz. At a RF frequency of 35 GHz, an intermediate frequency of 2.5 GHz and a local-oscillator (LO) power of 7.5 dBm, a conversion loss of 4.6 dB, a single-sideband (SSB) noise figure (NF) of 7.9 dB, an 1-dB input compression point of -6 dBm, and a third-order intercept point at the input of 2 dBm were measured. At lower LO power of 0 dBm, a conversion loss of 6.3 dBm and an SSB NF of 9.7 dB were measured, making the mixer an excellent candidate for low power-consuming wireless local-area networks. All results include the pad parasitics. To the knowledge of the authors, this is the first CMOS mixer operating at millimeter-wave frequencies. The achieved conversion loss is even lower than for passive MMIC mixers using leading edge III/V technologies, showing the excellent suitability of digital CMOS technology for analog circuits at millimeter-wave frequencies. Index Terms--CMOS, millimeter-wave frequency, mixer, monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC), silicon-on-insulator (SOI).

Summary: Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) is a rare papulosquamous disorder. Treatment is challenging; the armamentarium consists of topical corticosteroids, phototherapy, classic systemic treatments such as retinoids or immunosuppressive drugs, and most recently biologicals. However, the relative effectiveness of therapies is unclear. Our objective was to review the published literature on systemic treatment of PRP. A systematic review was conducted on PubMed and the Cochrane Library up to 5 September 2017. Studies evaluating any systemic treatments of PRP (except for historical treatments) were included. Overall, 182 studies met the predefined inclusion criteria, and reported on 475 patients and 652 courses of treatment. 42.0 % (225/514) of all patients treated with retinoids achieved an excellent response (isotretinoin: 61.1 % [102/167], etretinate: 47 % [54/115], and acitretin: 24.7 % [43/174]) compared to an excellent response rate of 33.1 % (53/160) with methotrexate. Therapy with biologicals was successful in 51.0 % of patients (71/133) (ustekinumab: 62.5 % [10/16], infliximab: 57.1 % [28/49], etanercept: 53.3 % [16/30], and adalimumab: 46.4 % [13/28]). This review balances effectiveness, side effects, experience, and drug costs in order to suggest a treatment regimen starting with isotretinoin as first‐line, methotrexate as second‐line and biologicals as third‐line treatment for this difficult‐to‐treat dermatosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment satisfaction of patients with psoriasis largely depends on the treatment modality, but evidence on preferences for specific medications is scarce. Here we assessed treatment satisfaction of 200 participants with moderate-to-severe psoriasis from a German University hospital with a 5-point scale and the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM) and determined sociodemographic and disease-related influence factors. Participants obtaining biologicals and traditional systemic medications were significantly more satisfied than those receiving phototherapy or topical agents (TSQM = 323.3, 288.0, 260.6 or 266.8; p < 0.001). The highest TSQM score was calculated for ustekinumab (350.1), followed by acitretin (338.1), adalimumab (323.0), fumaric acid esters (304.7), infliximab (300.2), etanercept (298.8), and methotrexate (272.3; p < 0.001). High disease-related quality of life impairment (β = -0.437, p < 0.001) and psoriatic arthritis (β = -0.185, p = 0.005) were associated with decreased satisfaction. Optimising satisfaction is essential to improve adherence and outcome. We show high preferences for biologicals, particularly ustekinumab, but also good satisfaction with certain traditional medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a clock-and-data recovery (CDR) for pseudo-synchronous high-density link applications. The CDR is a first-order bang-bang (BB) topology implemented in a standard CMOS process and consists of a phase interpolator, a linear half-rate phase detector, an analog filter followed by a limiter and a digital loop filter operating at a reduced clock rate. A detailed BB CDR analysis derives the maximum tracking range, slew-rate limited jitter tolerance and maximum loop delay. The circuit is optimized for high speed as well as low area and power consumption. The CDR operates from 8-28 Gb/s at a BER of <10-12 and tracks frequency deviations between the incoming data and the reference clock of up to ±122 ppm. The sinusoidal jitter tolerance is >0.35 UIPP for jitter frequencies ≤100 MHz and the total timing jitter of the recovered half-rate output data amounts to 0.22 UIPP, at a BER = 10-12. The core CDR circuit occupies a chip area of 0.07 mm² and consumes 98 mW from a 1.1-V supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a quad optical transceiver for low-power high-density short-distance optical data communication. Each channel transmits 10 Gb/s over a multimode (MM) fiber and features a link margin of 5.2 dB at a bit error rate (BER) of 10-12. The transmit and receive amplifying circuits are implemented in an 80-nm digital CMOS process. Each driver consumes 2 mW from a 0.8-V supply, and each vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) requires 7 mA from a 2.4-V supply. The receiver excluding the output buffer consumes 6 mW from a 1.1-V supply per channel and achieves a transimpedance gain of 80.1 dBΩ. The isolation to the neighboring channels is >30 dB including the bond wires and optical components. A detailed link budget analysis takes the relevant system impairments as losses and power penalties into account, derives the specifications for the electrical circuits, and accurately predicts the link performance. This work presents the highest serial data rate for CMOS transceiver arrays and the lowest power consumption per data rate reported to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the design of a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) for a low-power, short-distance, high-density fiberoptic interconnect communication system. The single-ended circuit has been designed in an 80-mn digital CMOS process and consumes only 2.2 mW from a 1-V supply. The measured results show a transimpedance gain of 52 dBΩ and a large bandwidth of 20 GHz. This work presents the highest bandwidth at the lowest power consumption for CMOS transimpedance amplifiers reported to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Treatment options for moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) comprise antibiotics, biologics, and different surgical methods. These approaches differ substantially regarding the treatment process, success rates, and adverse events. However, information on patient preferences for HS therapies is hitherto scarce. Our aim was to assess patient preferences for medicamentous and surgical treatment of HS with conjoint analysis., Patients and Methods: In this cross-section study, computerized discrete choice experiments were used to quantify patient preferences for HS therapies decomposed into treatment modality (tablets, subcutaneous injections, surgery with secondary-intention healing or primary closure), probability of sustained therapeutic success, probability of mild or severe adverse events, and duration of treatment or wound healing., Results: Averaged over the cohort (n  =  216 patients with HS), sustained therapeutic success was considered as most important (Relative Importance Score [RIS]: 36.2), followed by the treatment modality (RIS: 24.0), and duration of treatment/wound healing (RIS: 19.9), whereas mild or severe adverse events (RIS: 10.7 or 9.3) were regarded as less relevant. Patients preferred tablets, followed by subcutaneous injections, and disliked surgery with primary closure. Preferences differed significantly dependent on age and affected body regions., Conclusions: Awareness of patient preferences is essential for patient-centered care in HS., (© 2022 The Authors. Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft.)

Background and Objectives: Depression is a highly prevalent comorbidity in psoriatic patients. The aim of this prospective study was to follow up psoriasis patients at risk for depression and to evaluate individual pathways to mental health care and the efficacy of depression screening in a real-life setting., Patients and Methods: In this prospective multicenter study, 355 patients with psoriasis were screened for depressive symptoms with the revised Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). General practitioners of patients at risk for depression were asked for further evaluation. One year later, information on mental health care provision was gathered., Results: 130 patients were screened positive for depressive symptoms, and 71 patients were followed-up (follow-up rate: 54.6 %). Psychiatric treatment was recommended for 28.2 % and accepted by 23.9 % of patients. Parameters of disease activity of psoriasis (PASI: 3.1, ∆: -1.7, P = 0.018), quality of life (Dermatology Life Quality Index [DLQI]: 6.5, ∆: -2.8, P = 0.005), and depressive symptoms (BDI-II: 13.2, ∆: -8.3, P < 0.001) improved significantly. Decrease of the BDI-II score was more pronounced in patients with higher PASI decrease., Conclusions: Screening for depressive symptoms led to increased utilization of mental health care and improvement of psoriasis, depressive symptoms, and quality of life. Thus, such screening should be implemented in routine care to optimize patient management., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft.)