Wideband wavelength conversion of 16 Gbaud 16-QAM and 5 Gbaud 64-QAM signals in a semiconductor optical amplifier.

We demonstrate wavelength conversion based on four-wave mixing in a semiconductor optical amplifier of signals with quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). We first demonstrate wavelength conversion of 16 Gbaud 16-QAM signals over the entire C-band using two co-polarized pumps with low power penalty at the forward error correction threshold (FEC) for a wide range of input optical-signal-to-noise-ratio (OSNR). We also demonstrate for the first time wavelength conversion of 5 Gbaud 64-QAM signals in a semiconductor optical amplifier with bit-error rate below the FEC threshold over the entire C-band and investigate the dependence of the power penalty on input OSNR with a single pump configuration.

Age, Sex, and Valve Phenotype Differences in Fibro-Calcific Remodeling of Calcified Aortic Valve.

Background In calcific aortic valve disease on tricuspid aortic valves (TAVs), men have higher aortic valve calcification and less fibrosis than women. However, little is known in bicuspid aortic valves (BAV). We thus aimed to investigate the impact of age, sex, and valve phenotype (TAVs versus BAVs) on fibro-calcific remodeling in calcific aortic valve disease. Methods and Results We included 2 cohorts: 411 patients who underwent multidetector computed tomography (37% women) for aortic valve calcification density assessment and 138 explanted aortic valves (histological cohort; 50% women). The cohorts were divided in younger (<60 years old) or older patients with BAV (≥60 years old), and TAV patients. In each group, women and men were matched. Women presented less aortic valve calcification density than men in each group of the multidetector computed tomography cohort (all P≤0.01). Moreover, in women, younger patients with BAV had the lowest aortic valve calcification density (both P=0.02). In multivariate analysis, aortic valve calcification density correlated with age (ß estimate±standard error: 6.5±1.8; P=0.0004) and male sex (109.2±18.4; P<0.0001), and there was a trend with TAVs (41.5±23.0; P=0.07). Women presented a higher collagen content than men (77.8±10.8 versus 69.9±12.9%; P<0.001) in the entire cohort. In women, younger patients with BAV had denser connective tissue than TAV and older patients with BAV (both P≤0.05), while no difference was observed between men. Conclusions In calcific aortic valve disease, women had less calcification and more fibrotic remodeling than men, regardless of the phenotype of the valve or age of the patient. Moreover, younger women with BAVs had less valve calcification. Thus, mineralization/fibrosis of the aortic valve is likely to have sex/age-specific mechanisms and be influenced by the valve morphology.

Development of immunomodulatory six base-length non-CpG motif oligonucleotides for cancer vaccination.

We have previously described a novel family of immunomodulatory synthetic oligonucleotides characterized by a phosphodiester backbone, a length of six bases and a 5'G3xG23' sequence, where x is A, C, G or T. In the present study, we have evaluated whether these 5'G3xG23' oligonucleotides possess additional activities essential for adequate cancer vaccination. Immunization for the treatment of cancer requires an adjuvant, a source of tumor-associated antigen(s), for example apoptotic cancer cells, and a way to overcome the escape of tumor cells from the immune system, for example the up-regulation of Fas ligand (FasL) on the surface of cancer cells. The results show that phosphodiester 5'G3AG23' and 5'G3TG23' oligonucleotides have a direct activity on a number of different cancer cells by inducing apoptosis (release of cytochrome C, activation of caspase-3, cleavage of poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase, degradation of nuclear mitotic apparatus protein and translocation of phophatidylserine at the cell surface). In addition, the 5'G3AG23', 5'G3CG23', and 5'G3TG23' oligonucleotides were found to down-regulate the levels of FasL on the surface of cancer cells. These immunomodulatory phosphodiester six base-length oligonucleotides, which are capable of inducing apoptosis in cancer cells as well as downregulating the expression of FasL at their cell surface, may have application as cancer cell vaccines.