Optical switching a photon-avalanche-like mechanism in NdAl3(BO3)4 particles excited at 1064 nm by an auxiliary beam at 808 nm.

In recent years, an unconventional excitation of trivalent neodymium ions (N d 3+) at 1064 nm, not resonant with ground-state transitions, has been investigated with the unprecedented demonstration of a photon-avalanche-like (PA-like) mechanism, in which the temperature increase plays a fundamental role. As a proof-of-concept, N d A l 3(B O 3)4 particles were used. A consequence of the PA-like mechanism is the absorption enhancement of excitation photons providing light emission at a broad range covering the visible and near-infrared spectra. In the first study, the temperature increase was due to intrinsic nonradiative relaxations from the N d 3+ and the PA-like mechanism ensued at a given excitation power threshold (P t h ). Subsequently, an external heating source was used to trigger the PA-like mechanism while keeping the excitation power below P t h at room temperature. Here, we demonstrate the switching on of the PA-like mechanism by an auxiliary beam at 808 nm, which is in resonance with the N d 3+ ground-state transition 4 I 9/2→{4 F 5/2,2 H 9/2}. It comprises the first, to the best of our knowledge, demonstration of an optical switched PA, and the underlying physical mechanism is the additional heating of the particles due to the phonon emissions from the N d 3+ relaxation pathways when exciting at 808 nm. The present results have potential applications in controlled heating and remote temperature sensing.

Cancer Immunotherapy: Historical Perspective of a Clinical Revolution and Emerging Preclinical Animal Models.

At the turn of the last century, the emerging field of medical oncology chose a cytotoxic approach to cancer therapy over an immune-centered approach at a time when evidence in support of either paradigm did not yet exist. Today, nearly 120 years of data have established that (a) even the best cytotoxic regimens only infrequently cure late-stage malignancy and (b) strategies that supplement and augment existing antitumor immune responses offer the greatest opportunities to potentiate durable remission in cancer. Despite widespread acceptance of these paradigms today, the ability of the immune system to recognize and fight cancer was a highly controversial topic for much of the twentieth century. Why this modern paradigmatic mainstay should have been both dubious and controversial for such an extended period is a topic of considerable interest that merits candid discussion. Herein, we review the literature to identify and describe the watershed events that ultimately led to the acceptance of immunotherapy as a viable regimen for the treatment of neoplastic malignancy. In addition to noting important clinical discoveries, we also focus on research milestones and the development of critical model systems in rodents and dogs including the advanced modeling techniques that allowed development of patient-derived xenografts. Together, their use will further our understanding of cancer biology and tumor immunology, allow for a speedier assessment of the efficacy and safety of novel approaches, and ultimately provide a faster bench to beside transition.

Preoperative measurement of serum C-reactive protein: is it useful in the differential diagnosis of adnexal masses?

BACKGROUND: Serum biomarkers may help to discriminate malignant from benign adnexal masses with equivocal features on imaging. Adequate discrimination of such tumors is crucial for referring patients to either a specialized cancer center or a nonspecialized gynecology service. AIM: We aimed to investigate whether the preoperative level of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), alone or combined with CA125 and menopausal status in the Ovarian Score (OVS), is useful in the prediction of malignancy in women with ovarian tumors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 293 patients who underwent surgery in a tertiary cancer center. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) areas under the curves (AUC) for CRP, CA125 and OVS were calculated in different scenarios, as well as their sensitivity and specificity, using standard cutoff points (for CRP, 10 mg/L; for CA125, 35 U/mL). RESULTS: CA125 and the OVS performed significantly better than CRP alone in the differentiation of benign disease from epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) (AUC = 0.86 for CA125, 0.79 for OVS, and 0.73 for CRP). OVS and CRP alone were superior to CA125 only in the differentiation of borderline ovarian tumors from advanced stages of EOC and non-EOC. Sensitivity and specificity were 52.5% and 83%, respectively, for CRP, 77.9% and 66.7% for CA125, and 71.3% and 67.8% for OVS. CONCLUSIONS: OVS is as good as CA125 in the differentiation of benign tumors from ovarian cancer. The addition of CA125 and menopausal status to CRP enhanced the relatively low discriminatory power of isolated CRP.