Creation of memory-memory entanglement in a metropolitan quantum network.

Towards realizing the future quantum internet1,2, a pivotal milestone entails the transition from two-node proof-of-principle experiments conducted in laboratories to comprehensive multi-node set-ups on large scales. Here we report the creation of memory-memory entanglement in a multi-node quantum network over a metropolitan area. We use three independent memory nodes, each of which is equipped with an atomic ensemble quantum memory3 that has telecom conversion, together with a photonic server where detection of a single photon heralds the success of entanglement generation. The memory nodes are maximally separated apart for 12.5 kilometres. We actively stabilize the phase variance owing to fibre links and control lasers. We demonstrate concurrent entanglement generation between any two memory nodes. The memory lifetime is longer than the round-trip communication time. Our work provides a metropolitan-scale testbed for the evaluation and exploration of multi-node quantum network protocols and starts a stage of quantum internet research.

Performance Evaluation of the VIDAS® D-Dimer Exclusion™ II Assay and the Beckman Coulter D-Dimer Assay.

BACKGROUND: The breakdown of fibrinogen and fibrin during the process of fibrinolysis creates D-dimer. A D-dimer analysis is crucial for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the validity of two different D-dimer assays. METHODS: To analyze the D-dimer, venous blood taken in a vacuette containing 3.2% sodium citrate was used. Peripheral whole blood specimens were collected from 89 subjects, and plasma was separated from these specimens. VIDAS® D-dimer Exclusion™ II and the Beckman Coulter D-dimer assays were used for the quantitative detection of D-dimer levels. The analytical performance of the two different D-dimer assays was compared. RESULTS: The plasma values of D-dimer ranged from 89.2 to 7,452.9 ng/mL (FEU) when tested on the VIDAS® platform and from 20 to 7,770 ng/mL (FEU) when tested on the Beckman Coulter platform. Our results showed that the agreement between the two methods was acceptable and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was 0.93 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A high correlation exists between quantitative D-dimer measurements conducted with the VIDAS® D-dimer Exclusion™ II and the Beckman Coulter D-dimer assays.

Evaluation of Friedewald's Formula for Plasma LDL-Cholesterol Estimation.

BACKGROUND: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) can contribute to atherosclerosis if it is oxidized within the walls of arteries. Therefore, LDL-C plays an important role in cardiovascular disease risk assessment and prevention. The current study aims to evaluate the validity of Friedewald's formula in the Taiwanese population. METHODS: In this analytical cross-sectional study, a data set containing 31,729 results was used and lipid profiles of all samples were measured using the Beckman Coulter AU680 clinical chemistry analyzer. This study was conducted from September 2016 to August 2019. RESULTS: The agreement between the direct and calculated LDL-C was significant with Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) of 0.904 (p < 0.001). Mean LDL-C levels were 99.3 ± 32.8 mg/dL and 95.3 ± 37.6 mg/dL for direct and calculated LDC-C, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Good agreement was observed between direct and calculated LDC-C. Therefore, it can be concluded that Friedewald's formula is applicable in LDL-C estimation when the direct method is not affordable.

Interference of Blood Glucose Testing by an Increase in Serum IgM Levels.

BACKGROUND: An absurd result of plasma glucose test caused by increased serum IgM levels. METHODS: Serum immunoglobulin levels are determined by using an immunoturbidimetric assay. Additionally, serial dilutions were performed to assess the absurd results. RESULTS: Our results showed that an increase in serum IgM levels induces errors in the measurement of the plasma glucose level. CONCLUSIONS: This study simply presents a message that both medical technologists and physicians need to be aware of this because improper results of blood glucose levels may result in aggressive and invasive patient management. Additionally, physicians may be led to wrong interpretation due to false levels of glucose. In fact, we do not know how often this situation accidentally occurs in the laboratory. Therefore, all medical technologists must stay alert to absurd and unusual test results and reconfirm the reason for an absurd result.

Diffuse filiform polyposis of the small intestine without inflammatory bowel disease.

Filiform polyposis is a rare disease, which typically occurs in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. We report a case of filiform polyposis occurring in a 56-year-old man with no history or evidence of inflammatory bowel disease. The patient's main symptoms were melena and anemia. We performed an emergency exploratory laparotomy, in which we observed worm-like polyps spread almost along the entire small intestine, and a partial resection of the small intestine to treat bleeding in the bowel was carried out. Two days later, the patient was noted to have melena again, and we performed an abdominal angiographic embolization, successfully stopping the bleeding. Histologic evaluation of the excised specimen revealed chronic inflammatory cells within the lamina propria without hyperplastic or adenomatous epithelial changes. Although the surgery was very successful, careful management of the patient was required, owing to the great risk of re-bleeding.

Isolated splenic metastases from gastric carcinoma: a case report and literature review.

Isolated metastases to the spleen from gastric carcinoma is very rare. Only a few cases have been reported in the literature. We herein present a case of isolated splenic metastases in a 62-year-old man, occurring 12 mo after total gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. The patient underwent a laparoscopic exploration, during which two lesions were found at the upper pole of the spleen, without involvement of other organs. A laparoscopic splenectomy was performed. Histological examination confirmed that the splenic tumor was a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma similar to the primary gastric lesion. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient has been well for 9 mo, with no tumor recurrence. The clinical data of 18 cases of isolated splenic metastases from gastric carcinoma treated by splenectomy were summarized after a literature review. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of isolated splenic metastases undergoing laparoscopic splenectomy.