Holographically fabricated out-of-plane blazed gratings and channel waveguides in silica for integrated free-space beam delivery.

Grating couplers are widely used in integrated optics to generate free-space beams and facilitate localized interactions with systems such as atom or ion traps. However, etched devices often exhibit small-scale inconsistencies; exacerbated by the high index contrast of the devices, this can lead to phase errors, limiting devices to a sub-millimeter scale. Here we present the first demonstration, to our knowledge, of tilted, out-of-plane blazed gratings in planar silica fabricated by UV inscription using a 213 nm laser.

Statin, aspirin and metformin use and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma related outcomes following liver transplantation: A retrospective study.

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is a potentially curative therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC-recurrence following LT is associated with reduced survival. There is increasing interest in chemoprophylaxis to improve HCC-related outcomes post-LT.

Rotational thromboelastometry predicts future bleeding events in patients with cirrhosis.

Background And Aims: Patients with cirrhosis of the liver are in a delicate state of rebalanced haemostasis and are at risk of developing both bleeding and thrombotic complications. Conventional haemostatic tests are unable to predict bleeding and thrombosis in these patients. We aimed to explore the role of Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) in predicting bleeding and thrombotic events in patients with cirrhosis.

Surveillance MRI is associated with improved survival in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Background: The benefits of regular surveillance imaging for cholangiocarcinoma in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are unclear. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the impact of regular magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) on outcomes of patients with PSC in Australia, where the practice of MRCP surveillance is variable.

Methods: The relationship between MRCP surveillance and survival outcomes was assessed in a multicenter, retrospective cohort of patients with PSC from 9 tertiary liver centers in Australia.

Reversing malnutrition and low muscle strength with targeted enteral feeding in patients awaiting liver transplant: A randomized controlled trial.

Background And Aims: Most patients with decompensated cirrhosis fail to meet their nutrition targets. The impact of nasogastric feeding (NGF) on malnutrition in cirrhosis remains unknown. This study aims to assess the impact of pretransplant NGF on pre-liver transplant and post-liver transplant outcomes.