Retroperitoneal Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Reduces Bowel Dysfunction

Objective: To assess the effect of intestinal manipulation and mesenteric traction on gastro-intestinal function and postoperative recovery in patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. Methods: Thirty-five patients undergoing AAA repair were randomised into 3 groups. Group I (n = II) had repair via retroperitoneal approach while Group II (n = 12) and Group III (n = 12) were repaired via transperitoneal approach with bowel packed within the peritoneal cavity or exteriorised in a bowel bag respectively. Gastric emptying was measured pre-operatively (day 0), day 1 and day 3 using paracetamol absorption test (PAT) and area under curve (P-AUC) was calculated. Intestinal permeability was measured using the Lactulose-Mannitol test. Results: Aneurysm size, operation time and PAT (on day 0 and day 3) were similar in the three groups. On day 1, the P-AUC was significantly higher in Group I, when compared with Group II and Group III (P = .02). Resumption of diet was also significantly earlier in Group I as compared to Group II and Group III. The intestinal permeability was significantly increased in Group II and Group III at day 1 when compared with day 0, with no significant increase in Group I. Retroperitoneal repair was also associated with significantly shorter intensive care unit (P = .04) and hospital stay (P = .047), when compared with the combined transperitoneal repair group (Group II and III). Conclusion: Retroperitoneal AAA repair minimises intestinal dysfunction and may lead to quicker patient recovery when compared to transperitoneal repair.

Non-local quantum gates: a cavity-quantum-electrodynamics implementation

The problems related to the management of large quantum registers could be handled in the context of distributed quantum computation: unitary non-local transformations among spatially separated local processors are realized performing local unitary transformations and exchanging classical communication. In this paper, a scheme is proposed for the implementation of universal non-local quantum gates such as a controlled NOT (CNOT) and a controlled quantum phase gate (CQPG). The system chosen for their physical implementation is a cavity-quantum-electrodynamics (CQED) system formed by two spatially separated microwave cavities and two trapped Rydberg atoms. The procedures to follow for the realization of each step necessary to perform a specific non-local operation are described.

Reconstructing the dynamics of a movable mirror in a detuned optical cavity

We consider the dynamics of a movable mirror in a Fabry-Perot cavity coupled through radiation pressure to the cavity field and in contact with a thermal bath at finite temperature. In contrast to previous approaches, we consider arbitrary values of the effective detuning between the cavity and an external input field. We analyse the radiation-pressure effect on the Brownian motion of the mirror and its significance in the density noise spectrum of the output cavity field. Important properties of the mirror dynamics can be gathered directly from this noise spectrum. The presented reconstruction provides an experimentally useful tool in the characterization of the energy and rigidity of the mirror as modified by the coupling with light. We also give a quantitative analysis of the recent experimental observation of self-cooling of a micromechanical oscillator.

Concentration and purification of entanglement for qubit systems with ancillary cavity fields

We propose schemes for entanglement concentration and purification for qubit systems encoded in flying atomic pairs. We use cavity-quantum electrodynamics as an illustrative setting within which our proposals can be implemented. Maximally entangled pure states of qubits can be produced as a result of our protocols. In particular, the concentration protocol yields Bell states with the largest achievable theoretical probability while the purification scheme produces arbitrarily pure Bell states. The requirements for the implementation of these protocols are modest, within the state of the art, and we address all necessary steps in two specific setups based on experimentally mature microwave technology.

Physicochemical characterization of bioactive polyacrylic acid organogels as potential antimicrobial implants for the buccal cavity

This study describes the formulation and physicochemical characterization of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) organogels, designed as bioactive implants for improved treatment of infectious diseases of the oral cavity. Organogels were formulated containing a range of concentrations of PAA (3-10% w/w) and metronidazole (2 or 5% w/w, representing a model antimicrobial agent) in different nonaqueous solvents, namely, glycerol (Gly), polyethylene glycol (PEG 400), or propylene glycol (PG). Characterization of the organogels was performed using flow rheometry, compressional analysis, oscillatory rheometry, in vitro mucoadhesion, moisture uptake, and drug release, methods that provide information pertaining to the nonclinical and clinical use of these systems. Increasing the concentration of PAA significantly increased the consistency, compressibility, storage modulus, loss modulus, dynamic viscosity, mucoadhesion, and the rate of drug release. These observations may be accredited to enhanced molecular polymer entanglement. In addition, the choice of solvent directly affected the physicochemical parameters of the organogels, with noticeable differences observed between the three solvents examined. These differences were accredited to the nature of the interaction of PAA with each solvent and, importantly, the density of the resultant physical cross-links. Good correlation was observed between the viscoelastic properties and drug release, with the exception of glycerol-based formulations containing 5 and 10% w/w PAA. This disparity was due to excessive swelling during the dissolution analysis. Ideally, formulations should exhibit controlled drug release, high viscoelasticity, and mucoadhesion, but should flow under minimal stresses. Based on these criteria, PEG 400-based organogels composed of 5% or 10% w/w PAA exhibited suitable physicochemical properties and are suggested to be a potentially interesting strategy for use as bioactive implants designed for use in the oral cavity. © 2008 American Chemical Society.