Efimov States of Strongly Interacting Photons.

We demonstrate the emergence of universal Efimov physics for interacting photons in cold gases of Rydberg atoms. We consider the behavior of three photons injected into the gas in their propagating frame, where a paraxial approximation allows us to consider them as massive particles. In contrast to atoms and nuclei, the photons have a large anisotropy between their longitudinal mass, arising from dispersion, and their transverse mass, arising from diffraction. Nevertheless, we show that, in suitably rescaled coordinates, the effective interactions become dominated by s-wave scattering near threshold and, as a result, give rise to an Efimov effect near unitarity. We show that the three-body loss of these Efimov trimers can be strongly suppressed and determine conditions under which these states are observable in current experiments. These effects can be naturally extended to probe few-body universality beyond three bodies, as well as the role of Efimov physics in the nonequilibrium, many-body regime.

Aggressiveness of inflammation in histological prostatitis--correlation with total and free prostate specific antigen levels in men with biochemical criteria for prostate biopsy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although prostatitis can contribute to the lack of prostate specific antigen (tPSA) specificity, there is disagreement concerning the effect of histological inflammation on free PSA (fPSA). We investigated the correlation between aggressiveness of histological inflammation and tPSA, fPSA and f/tPSA in patients without detectable prostate cancer (PC). METHODS: The study included 106 patients with tPSA <10 ng/mL, without clinical prostatitis and with biopsy negative for PC. The inflammation in prostate biopsies was scored for aggressiveness using the four-point scale reported by Irani. The patients were divided into two groups of less aggressive and more aggressive inflammation and compared by use of regression analysis. RESULTS: The median tPSA, fPSA and f/tPSA levels were 6.39 ng/mL, 1.1 ng/mL and 16% in the less aggressive inflammation group and 7.3 ng/mL, 0.79 ng/mL and 10.7% in the more aggressive inflammation group, respectively. There was no significant between-group difference in tPSA levels (P=0.16), however, statistically significant between-group differences were recorded in fPSA and f/tPSA levels (P<0.001 both). Spearman's analysis yielded a significant negative correlation of inflammation aggressiveness with fPSA (r=-0.34; P<0.001) and f/tPSA (r=-0.45; P<0.001). Free PSA and f/tPSA were lower in the group with more aggressive inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Histological inflammation has a high prevalence in cancer-free prostate biopsy specimens and exerts similar effects on fPSA and f/tPSA levels as PC. Our study suggests histological prostatitis to be an important cause of decreased fPSA and f/tPSA values; therefore, when it is identified, antibiotic or anti-inflammatory therapy should be introduced to reduce the percentage of men with a continuing indication for prostate biopsy.

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome in males may be an autoimmune disease, potentially responsive to corticosteroid therapy.

UNLABELLED: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) represents the most common form of prostatitis. No known etiology factor in most cases can be found. It is possible that at least in some cases autoimmune response could be causative factor. Common treatment options include antibiotics, alpha blockers, myorelaxants, phytotherapeuticals, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hormonal treatment and surgery but corticosteroids have not been investigated. HYPOTHESIS: Chronic pelvic pain syndrome is in some cases autoimmune disease and this could have repercussions on treatment using low dose corticosteroids. RATIONALE: Currently corticosteroids are not a standard treatment option in CP/CPPS. Theoretical, experimental and scarce clinical evidence suggest that treatment with low dose corticosteroids could be beneficial in some patients with chronic prostatitis. If our hypothesis could be supported with well designed, randomized clinical trials this could change the approach of the medical treatment of CP/CPPS.

[An unusual type of congenital heart disease associated with the Holt-Oram-syndrome (author's transl)]. / Ein seltener Herzfehler als Symptom des Holt-Oram-Syndroms.

Case report of a very rare case of Holt-Oram-Syndrome (in a seven months old baby) associated with tricuspid atresia (itself a rare condition of isolated congenital heart disease) and anomalous return of pulmonary vein into the right atrium. According to the classification based on anatomy, our case corresponds to type Ia. The diagnosis was confirmed clinically, electrocardiographically, radiologically and angiographically.