Advances, Challenges, and Future Perspectives of Microwave Reflectometry for Plasma Position and Shape Control on Future Nuclear Fusion Devices.

Providing energy from fusion and finding ways to scale up the fusion process to commercial proportions in an efficient, economical, and environmentally benign way is one of the grand challenges for engineering. Controlling the burning plasma in real-time is one of the critical issues that need to be addressed. Plasma Position Reflectometry (PPR) is expected to have an important role in next-generation fusion machines, such as DEMO, as a diagnostic to monitor the position and shape of the plasma continuously, complementing magnetic diagnostics. The reflectometry diagnostic uses radar science methods in the microwave and millimetre wave frequency ranges and is envisaged to measure the radial edge density profile at several poloidal angles providing data for the feedback control of the plasma position and shape. While significant steps have already been given to accomplish that goal, with proof of concept tested first in ASDEX-Upgrade and afterward in COMPASS, important, ground-breaking work is still ongoing. The Divertor Test Tokamak (DTT) facility presents itself as the appropriate future fusion device to implement, develop, and test a PPR system, thus contributing to building a knowledge database in plasma position reflectometry required for its application in DEMO. At DEMO, the PPR diagnostic's in-vessel antennas and waveguides, as well as the magnetic diagnostics, may be exposed to neutron irradiation fluences 5 to 50 times greater than those experienced by ITER. In the event of failure of either the magnetic or microwave diagnostics, the equilibrium control of the DEMO plasma may be jeopardized. It is, therefore, imperative to ensure that these systems are designed in such a way that they can be replaced if necessary. To perform reflectometry measurements at the 16 envisaged poloidal locations in DEMO, plasma-facing antennas and waveguides are needed to route the microwaves between the plasma through the DEMO upper ports (UPs) to the diagnostic hall. The main integration approach for this diagnostic is to incorporate these groups of antennas and waveguides into a diagnostics slim cassette (DSC), which is a dedicated complete poloidal segment specifically designed to be integrated with the water-cooled lithium lead (WCLL) breeding blanket system. This contribution presents the multiple engineering and physics challenges addressed while designing reflectometry diagnostics using radio science techniques. Namely, short-range dedicated radars for plasma position and shape control in future fusion experiments, the advances enabled by the designs for ITER and DEMO, and the future perspectives. One key development is in electronics, aiming at an advanced compact coherent fast frequency sweeping RF back-end [23-100 GHz in few µs] that is being developed at IPFN-IST using commercial Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMIC). The compactness of this back-end design is crucial for the successful integration of many measurement channels in the reduced space available in future fusion machines. Prototype tests of these devices are foreseen to be performed in current nuclear fusion machines.

Primary neuroendocrine prostate cancer with adrenal gland metastasis.

Primary neuroendocrine differentiation in prostate cancer occurs infrequently and represents a therapeutic challenge at present due to the poor prognosis involved. We present the case of a patient with de novo neuroendocrine prostate cancer who later developed metastases to adrenals bilaterally which were initially managed surgically.

Malignancy-Related Hypercalcemia in Advanced Solid Tumors: Survival Outcomes.

Purpose Malignancy-related hypercalcemia (MRH) is associated with a dismal prognosis. The widespread use of bisphosphonates (BPs), availability of more effective drugs in cancer treatment, and improvement in supportive care might have attenuated its impact. Patients and Methods To assess overall survival (OS) of patients with MRH in a contemporary setting, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 306 patients with solid cancer hospitalized for symptomatic hypercalcemia. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was performed to evaluate possible prognostic factors associated with MRH. Results All patients had serum ionized calcium > 5.5 mg/dL or total Ca > 10.5 mg/dL. Median age was 57 years, and the majority had squamous cell carcinoma (62%) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status > 1 (96%). Head and neck was the most frequent primary site (28%). Forty-five percent had no previous chemotherapy (CT), and subsequent CT was administered to 32%. Eighty-three percent received BP with no survival gain. Median OS was 40 (95% CI, 33 to 47) days. Patients with a performance status > 2, altered mental status, C-reactive protein > 30 mg/L, albumin < 2.5 g/dL, or body mass index < 18 kg/m2 had significantly poorer survival in a univariable analysis, and longer OS was related to treatment-naive patients, subsequent CT, and breast primary site. In the multivariable analysis, subsequent CT led to a median OS improvement of 144 versus 25 days (hazard ratio, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.40; P < .001). Conclusion In a contemporary setting, MRH remains a marker of poor prognosis. Patients treated with CT had better survival, which suggests that appropriate treatment of selected patients might alter the course of this syndrome.

Pulmonary nodules: a challenging diagnosis during the follow up of cancer patients.

Pulmonary nodules (PN), frequently found on imaging studies, represent a diagnostic challenge during the follow up of cancer patients. However, published data about investigation of PNs incidentally found on chest imaging is scarce. The PN may be present at the time of cancer diagnosis, or arise during the treatment or follow-up periods. In the context of the oncologic patient these lesions are quite invariably considered as metastases, what impacts directly on patients´ treatment and prognosis. The present study reports 2 cases of pulmonary nodules found in two patients already diagnosed with cancer. Case 1 referred to a woman with squamous cell carcinoma and two pulmonary nodules, and in case 2 the patient was diagnosed with duodenal adenocarcinoma. Both patients were submitted to pulmonary biopsies before the oncologic treatment. In both cases the nodules were of infectious origin, what changed significantly the neoplasia staging and the oncologic treatment intention. The authors performed a literature review as well as a discussion about the management of PN in cancer patients.

Common procedures in the pet ferret.

The domestic ferret is an increasingly popular pet in North America and Europe and may easily be incorporated into the structure and workings of most small animal hospitals. Not only does treatment of ferrets provide case diversity and intellectual challenges to the veterinarian but it may increase revenue, because most ferret owners have several ferrets. The diagnostic and supportive care procedures used commonly in ferrets are similar to those used in dogs and cats. This article presents the common diagnostic and supportive care procedures used in ferrets, with special emphasis on some of the unique aspects that make these procedures easier to learn and perform.