ABSTRACT
We describe a reversible quantum interface between an optical and a microwave field using a hybrid device based on their common interaction with a micromechanical resonator in a superconducting circuit. We show that, by employing state-of-the-art optoelectromechanical devices, one can realize an effective source of (bright) two-mode squeezing with an optical idler (signal) and a microwave signal, which can be used for high-fidelity transfer of quantum states between optical and microwave fields by means of continuous variable teleportation.
Subject(s)
Acromion/blood supply , Hemorrhage/diagnostic imaging , Image Enhancement , Subclavian Artery/diagnostic imaging , Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color , Aged, 80 and over , Anticoagulants/adverse effects , Anticoagulants/therapeutic use , Contrast Media/administration & dosage , Drug Therapy, Combination , Embolization, Therapeutic , Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials/diagnostic imaging , Hemorrhage/chemically induced , Hemorrhage/therapy , Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight/adverse effects , Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight/therapeutic use , Humans , Male , Phospholipids , Pulmonary Embolism/drug therapy , Rupture, Spontaneous , Sulfur HexafluorideABSTRACT
We propose a protocol for entanglement swapping which involves tripartite systems. The generation of remote entanglement induced by the Bell measurement can be easily certified by additional local measurements. We illustrate the protocol in the case of continuous variable systems where the certification is effective for an appropriate class of three-mode gaussian states. We then apply the protocol to optomechanical systems, showing how mechanical entanglement between two remote micromechanical resonators can be generated and certified via local optical measurements.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Endoscopic biopsy is commonly performed to obtain a pathological diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) lesions. When the lesions are submucosal, subserosal, or exophytic, endoscopic biopsy is often unsuccessful, and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biopsy is considered the procedure of choice in these cases. Nevertheless, in some patients both endoscopic and EUS-guided biopsy are not indicated, or yield inconclusive cyto-histological results. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of percutaneous ultrasonography (US)-guided biopsy of GI wall lesions, and to define its actual role in clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 45 consecutive US-guided biopsies of GI lesions. All biopsies were performed in patients unsuitable for endoscopic or EUS-guided biopsy, or with lesions inaccessible to endoscopic techniques, or with inconclusive results from endoscopic or EUS-guided biopsy. Biopsies were performed with an 18 or 20-gauge Tru-cut needle under US guidance. Biopsy results were compared with the final diagnosis that was based on surgical pathological findings or clinical instrumental follow-up of at least 20 months. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), overall accuracy, and complication rate of the procedure were calculated. RESULTS: One biopsy specimen (2.2 %) was inadequate for cyto-histologic examination. In the remaining 44 cases, US-guided biopsy correctly identified 39 / 40 (97.5 %) malignant lesions, and 4 / 4 (100 %) benign lesions. One case resulted in a false negative (2.2 %). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and overall diagnostic accuracy were 97.5 %, 100 %, 100 %, 80 % and 97.7 %, respectively. Including also the inadequate specimen into the analysis, they were 95.1 %, 100 %, 100 %, 66.7 % and 95.6 %, respectively. No procedure-related complications were observed. In ten cases (22.2 %), US-guided biopsy results made it possible to avoid unnecessary surgical exploration. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous US-guided core biopsy of GI wall lesions is an accurate and safe technique that makes it possible in select cases to obtain a correct pathological diagnosis and prevent unnecessary surgical exploration. Although it has been replaced by EUS-guided biopsy as the procedure of choice to sample submucosal or subserosal GI lesions, US-guided biopsy can still play a useful role in the diagnostic workup of GI lesions when endoscopy or EUS is unsuccessful for various reasons or yields inconclusive cyto-histological results.
Subject(s)
Biopsy, Needle , Gastrointestinal Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Gastrointestinal Diseases/pathology , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Ultrasonography, Interventional , Adenocarcinoma/blood supply , Adenocarcinoma/diagnostic imaging , Adenocarcinoma/pathology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Colonic Neoplasms/blood supply , Colonic Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Colonic Neoplasms/pathology , Duodenal Neoplasms/blood supply , Duodenal Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Duodenal Neoplasms/pathology , Female , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/blood supply , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/pathology , Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/blood supply , Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/diagnostic imaging , Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/pathology , Humans , Lymphoma/diagnostic imaging , Lymphoma/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Sensitivity and Specificity , Stomach Neoplasms/blood supply , Stomach Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Stomach Neoplasms/pathology , Ultrasonography, Doppler, ColorSubject(s)
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/administration & dosage , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/mortality , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Chemotherapy, Adjuvant/adverse effects , Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic , Disease Progression , Docetaxel , Drug Administration Schedule , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/mortality , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Survival Analysis , Taxoids/administration & dosage , Taxoids/adverse effectsABSTRACT
Decoherence may significantly affect the polarization state of optical pulses propagating in dispersive media because of the unavoidable presence of more than a single frequency in the envelope of the pulse. Here we report on the suppression of polarization decoherence in a ring cavity obtained by properly retooling for photonic qubits the "bang-bang" protection technique already employed for nuclear spins and nuclear-quadrupole qubits. Our results show that bang-bang control can be profitably extended to quantum information processes involving flying polarization qubits.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The diagnostic yield of the different types of cutting needles used to perform transthoracic biopsy is scarcely investigated. Aim of the study was to compare a Tru-cut-type (TCT) needle and a modified Menghini-type needle (MMT) in ultrasonography (US)-guided biopsy of pulmonary lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 307 subjects (191 males and 116 females, mean age 58 years) with peripheral lung lesions selected to undergo US-guided biopsy were randomized to undergo biopsy by using an 18-gauge TCT or MMT needle. The specimens were imprinted on two to three slides for cytology and then put into a formalin solution for histology. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and overall accuracy were calculated. Fisher's exact test was used to compare histology recovery rate (HRR), diagnostic accuracy, and diagnostic yield of the combination of cytology and histology in comparison with cytology alone and histology alone. RESULTS: 155 biopsies were performed using the MMT needle, 152 using the TCT needle. HRR was 112 / 155 (72.3 %) and 144 / 152 (94.7 %), respectively (p < 0.0001). Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 81.6 %, 100 %, 100 %, and 62 % for the former, respectively, and 93.6 %, 100 %, 100 %, and 86 % for the latter. A correct diagnosis was achieved in 133 / 155 biopsies (85.8 %) performed with the MMT needle, and in 145 / 152 biopsies (95.4 %) performed with the TCT needle (p = 0.0041). The combination of cytology and histology had a higher diagnostic yield than cytology alone (p < 0.001) and histology alone (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The TCT needle performs better than the MMT needle, and improves the diagnostic accuracy of US-guided transthoracic biopsy of superficial lung lesions.
Subject(s)
Biopsy, Needle/instrumentation , Lung Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Ultrasonography, Interventional/instrumentation , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Liver Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Liver Diseases/pathology , Lung/diagnostic imaging , Lung/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
We report on a 52-year-old female patient hospitalized because of uremia due to bilateral urinary tract obstruction caused by bilateral sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma (SRCC). Abdominal computed tomography with contrast showed a large mass on the left side, infiltrating the left kidney, while the right kidney was described as enlarged. The latter was investigated with sonographic angiography using contrast and selective arteriography of the renal arteries, demonstrating a pseudonodular area at the inferior pole of the right kidney. The patient underwent bilateral nephrectomy and chronic hemodialysis treatment; unfortunately, after one month she died from cachexia. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case to be reported on bilateral SRCC causing bilateral urinary tract obstruction.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Renal Cell/diagnostic imaging , Kidney Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Sarcoma/diagnostic imaging , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/surgery , Cholecystectomy , Fatal Outcome , Female , Functional Laterality , Humans , Kidney Neoplasms/surgery , Middle Aged , Nephrectomy , Renal Dialysis , Sarcoma/surgery , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
We show how stationary entanglement between an optical cavity field mode and a macroscopic vibrating mirror can be generated by means of radiation pressure. We also show how the generated optomechanical entanglement can be quantified, and we suggest an experimental readout scheme to fully characterize the entangled state. Surprisingly, such optomechanical entanglement is shown to persist for environment temperatures above 20 K using state-of-the-art experimental parameters.
ABSTRACT
A quantum computer can be implemented by trapping electrons in vacuum within an innovative confining structure. Universal processing is realized by controlling the Coulomb interaction and applying electromagnetic pulses. This system offers scalability, high clock speed, and low decoherence.