Quantum-inspired optical coherence tomography using classical light in a single-photon counting regime.

Quantum optical coherence tomography (Q-OCT) presents many advantages over its classical counterpart, optical coherence tomography (OCT), provides an increased axial resolution, and is immune to even orders of dispersion. The core of Q-OCT is the quantum interference of negatively correlated entangled photon pairs which, in the Fourier domain, are observed by means of a joint spectrum measurement. In this work, we explore the use of a spectral approach in a novel configuration where classical light pulses are employed instead of entangled photons. The intensity of these light pulses is reduced to a single photon level. We report theoretical analysis along with its experimental validation to show that although such a classical light is much easier to launch into an experimental system, it offers limited benefits compared to Q-OCT based on the entangled light. We analyze the differences in the characteristics of the joint spectrum obtained with entangled photons and with classical optical pulses and point out to the differences' source: the lack of the advantage-bringing term in the signal.

Comparison of temperature measurements in esophagus and urinary bladder in comatose patients after cardiac arrest undergoing mild therapeutic hypothermia.

BACKGROUND: Mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) is a recommended method of treatment for comatose out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors. However, the proper site of temperature measurement in MTH is still not defined. The aim of this study was to compare temperature measurements in the esophagus and urinary bladder in comatose post-OHCA patients treated with MTH. METHODS: This temperature comparison protocol was a part of a prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study. The study population included 36 unconscious patients after resuscitation for OHCA. The patient's core temperature was independently measured every hour during MTH in the urinary bladder and in the esophagus. RESULTS: The mean temperature was lower in the esophagus (differences during induction phase: 1.04 ± 0.92°C, p < 0.0001; stabilization phase: 0.54 ± 0.39°C, p < 0.0001; rewarming phase: 0.40 ± 0.47°C, p < 0.0001). Nevertheless, a strong correlation between both sites was found (R2 = 0.83, p < 0.001). The decrease in temperature observed in the esophagus during the induction phase was faster when compared with the urinary bladder (1.09 ± 0.71°C/h vs. 0.83 ± 0.41°C/h; p = 0.002). As a consequence, time to reach temperature < 34.0°C was longer when temperature was measured in the urinary bladder (the difference between medians of the time 1.0 [0-1.5] h, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Urinary bladder temperature measurements may lag behind temperature changes measured in the esophagus. Monitoring temperature simultaneously in the esophagus and in the urinary bladder is an accessible and reliable combination, although esophageal measurements seem to better reflect the dynamics of temperature changes, thus it seems to be more appropriate for MTH control. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02611934.

Analysis of the level of selected parameters of inflammation, circulating immune complexes, and related indicators (neutrophil/lymphocyte, platelet/lymphocyte, CRP/CIC) in patients with obstructive diseases.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory disorder of the airways. An important element of COPD assessment is the evaluation of immune mechanisms involved in non-specific and specific response to ongoing inflammation. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the level of selected inflammatory and immunological parameters in patients with COPD, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and circulating immune complexes (CIC), as well as CRP/CIC index. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 49 patients with obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD, asthma, and asthma-COPD overlap syndrome) hospitalised in the Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Pulmonology Centre in Bydgoszcz. Patients with COPD were divided into two subgroups, taking into account the severity of the disease according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD; stages B and D). The control group consisted of 30 healthy persons. Levels of CIC were determined by the method of Hasková, and the concentration of CRP in serum by the standard immunoturbidimetric method. RESULTS: The median values of examined parameters (neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio - NLR, platelet/lymphocyte ratio - PLR, CRP, CIC, and CRP/CIC index) were significantly higher among patients with obstructive diseases than in the control group. A tendency towards higher lymphocyte count, CRP, and CRP/CIC index in COPD stage D, compared to stage B, was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, we suggest that the role of non-specific inflammatory mechanisms may increase in more advanced COPD stages (D), compared to less advanced stages (B).

Determination of amino acids in urine of patients with prostate cancer and benign prostate growth.

Prostate cancer is the leading type of cancer diagnosed in men. Serum prostate-specific antigen levels and digital rectal exam are far from perfect when it comes to differentiation of patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. In this study, we attempt to determine whether amino acids can be used as prostate cancer biomarkers. Concentrations of derivatized amino acids and amines were quantified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 100 urine samples from the two groups including samples provided before and after prostate massage were examined quantitatively for amino acid and amine concentrations with 50 urine samples collected from cancer patients and 50 samples from patients diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Arginine, homoserine, and proline were more abundant in urine samples of cancer patients compared with arginine, homoserine, and proline levels determined in urine collected from patients with benign growth. We also show that sarcosine is not a definitive indicator of prostate cancer when analyzed in urine samples collected either before or after prostate massage.

Unemployment in TB patients - ten-year observation at regional center of pulmonology in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) affects the poorest of the poor and is an example of a disease that can contribute to the "disease-poverty trap". The variable epidemiological situation is associated with social risk factors, such as unemployment, which may favor the occurrence of this disease. The aim of this study was to analyze unemployment as a factor that can influence the incidence and course of the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed TB patients with confirmed status of employment or unemployment admitted to the Regional Center of Pulmonology in Bydgoszcz in during the years 2001 to 2010. Out of 1130 patients, 604 were unemployed and the other confirmed their employment. RESULTS: The unemployed patients were mostly single men over age 40, with a low level of education, and living in a city. We observed that the proportions of smokers and alcohol abusers were significantly higher among the unemployed patients. The advanced radiological lesions, smear-positive pulmonary TB, and extra-pulmonary sites were diagnosed significantly more often in this group. The rate of death in the course of hospitalization was significantly higher in the group of unemployed patients. CONCLUSIONS: Unemployment among TB patients is a serious problem. We found that more advanced radiological lesions were associated with more frequent treatment interruptions and a higher rate of death in the course of hospitalization. Increased efforts are needed to reduce and eliminate the problem of unemployment among patients with TB. This may, indirectly, contribute to a decrease in notifications of TB cases and improve treatment outcomes.

Alcoholism and other socio-demographic risk factors for adverse TB-drug reactions and unsuccessful tuberculosis treatment - data from ten years' observation at the Regional Centre of Pulmonology, Bydgoszcz, Poland.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases and has one of the highest mortality rates. For decades a strong association has been evident between certain socio-economic factors and TB adverse events and failure of treatment, yet there is a limited quantity of literature available on this subject, especially in the Polish literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined epidemiological data from 2025 TB patients treated at the Regional Centre of Pulmonology in Bydgoszcz, Poland between 2001 and 2010. This article focuses on the association between all forms of unsuccessful TB treatment outcomes or adverse drug reaction (ADR) and socio-demographic characteristics, condition on admission, and other biological, clinical, social, and healthcare access factors. RESULTS: The rate of TB-ADR during hospitalization was 38.9%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (P<0.001) and alcohol abuse (P=0.007) were independently associated with the occurrence of TB-ADR. The rate of unsuccessful TB treatment was 10.5%. After adjusting for confounding variables, age (P<0.001), alcohol abuse (P=0.002), and education (P=0.01) were significantly associated with unsuccessful treatment. Smoking did not have any significant influence on occurrence of either TB-ADR during hospitalization or unsuccessful treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Among our TB patients treated between 2001 and 2010, alcohol abuse significantly worsened the treatment outcome. This information will be crucial in developing strategies targeted at this demographic group.

[Molecular diagnostic tests for thrombophilia in patients referred to genetic counseling clinic because due to recurrent pregnancy failure. One center's experience]. / Badania molekularne w kierunku trombofilii u pacjentek skierowanych do poradni genetycznej z powodu niepowodzen ciazowych. Doswiadczena jednego osrodka.

UNLABELLED: The loss of three or more subsequent pregnancies before the end of the 22nd week is observed in 0.4-1% of women. Despite great advances in medicine, the causes of pregnancy failure (miscarriages, missed abortions and stillbirths), and the birth of a child or children with congenital abnormalities, are still not determined precisely THE AIM: The purpose of the research was to determine the association of polymorphisms and mutations of coagulation factors II and V genes, as well as methylenetethrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphism, with the course of pregnancy and the type of reproductive failure. METHODS: The research was performed in a group of 116 women referred to the Genetic Outpatient Clinic of the NCU SM in Bydgoszcz between 2009-2010 due to reproductive failures. The molecular tests for thrombophilia, i.e. mutation of the factor V Leiden, prothrombin gene mutation 20210G>A, and MTHFR polymorphism 677C>T were done in all patients. RESULTS: The Leiden mutation was found in 8 women (homozygotic in 2 of them) and prothrombin gene mutation in 3.85 women had the heterozygotic MTHFR polymorphism, while 24 the homozygotic one. Coexistence of the Leiden mutation and the MTHFR polymorphism was found in 3 patients with history of miscarriages. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The presence of the mutations that promote thrombophilia in the genes responsible for the foliate metabolism and for the plasma coagulation is often associated with pregnancy failures and may be their basic cause in some cases. 2. The percentage of women with pregnancy failures being heterozygotes (73.3%), homozygotes (20.7%) or both (94%) of the MTHFR gene 677C>T polymorphism is statistically significantly higher than the highest prevalence of these changes in the general population (55, 13%, and 68%, respectively). 3. The factor V gene Leiden mutation is associated mainly with recurrent spontaneous abortions. In the present study it was found only in the group of women with both early and late miscarriages.

[The analysis of smoking tobacco of patients with tuberculosis--data from ten years observation in Regional Center of Pulmonology in Bydgoszcz]. / Analiza palenia tytoniu wsród chorych na gruzlice--dane z dziesieciu lat obserwacji z Kujawsko Pomorskiego Centrum Pulmonologii w Bydgoszczy.

UNLABELLED: Tobacco smoking is recognised by the society as the the main problem of the public health in the world and as the factor of the risk of tuberculosis, it grew up last decades considerably, universally particularly in countries developing. That is why also our studies also represents in the clinical aspect the relationship between tuberculosis - as active disease and tobacco smoking. THE METHOD: The retrospective investigation comprised 2025 patients with tuberculosis in the period 10 years from Regional Center of Pulmonology in Bydgoszcz. Data these patients worked out from the central base of hospital. Age of patients was comprising in the range from 16 to 98 years. In the studied group were 665 (32.8%) women and 1360 (67.2%) men. Data on the subject of the tobacco smoking was collected from medical history applied during admission to hospital. RESULTS: There were analysed data 1403 (69.3%) smokers and 613 (30.3%) non-smoking persons. Data for 9 patients (0.4%) not establish what they belong from considered groups. For 1252 smokers was established how they long smoke. As much as 602 passed that they smoked above 20 years from among them. These symptoms as shortness of breathe and weakness related smoking persons longer more indeed often. It was confirmed that the smoking predominates among men and was indeed higher than among non-smoking persons. Smokers significant group takes out from among persons being deriving from cities above 30 thousands occupants. Percentage in smokers group homeless was significantly higher than in non-smoking. Smokers displayed oneself to be also the more faintly educated group, after the divorce. Among unemployeds smokers percentage carried out as much as 84.8, among working persons 69.1.Alcoholics percentage turned out significantly higher in smokers group. Above 5% smokers and only 1% non-smoking persons had recurrence of the disease. Percentage of patients with cachexy among smokers turned out indeed higher than among non-smoking persons. It was confirmed, that percentage to go out of wilful from the hospital among smokers was indeed higher than among non-smoking persons. CONCLUSIONS: Retrospective studies provides signs that tobacco smoking is important factor of the development of tuberculosis as symptomatic disease. Anti-nicotine education applied in the face of patients should be the standard while the treatment of tuberculosis in hospital.