Mass, Spectroscopy, and Two-Neutron Decay of ^{16}Be

The structure and decay of the most neutron-rich beryllium isotope, ^{16}Be, has been investigated following proton knockout from a high-energy ^{17}B beam. Two relatively narrow resonances were observed for the first time, with energies of 0.84(3) and 2.15(5) MeV above the two-neutron decay threshold and widths of 0.32(8) and 0.95(15) MeV, respectively. These were assigned to be the ground (J^{π}=0^{+}) and first excited (2^{+}) state, with E_{x}=1.31(6)  MeV. The mass excess of ^{16}Be was thus deduced to be 56.93(13) MeV, some 0.5 MeV more bound than the only previous measurement. Both states were observed to decay by direct two-neutron emission. Calculations incorporating the evolution of the wave function during the decay as a genuine three-body process reproduced the principal characteristics of the neutron-neutron energy spectra for both levels, indicating that the ground state exhibits a strong spatially compact dineutron component, while the 2^{+} level presents a far more diffuse neutron-neutron distribution.

Quasifree Neutron Knockout Reaction Reveals a Small s-Orbital Component in the Borromean Nucleus ^{17}B

A kinematically complete quasifree (p,pn) experiment in inverse kinematics was performed to study the structure of the Borromean nucleus ^{17}B, which had long been considered to have a neutron halo. By analyzing the momentum distributions and exclusive cross sections, we obtained the spectroscopic factors for 1s_{1/2} and 0d_{5/2} orbitals, and a surprisingly small percentage of 9(2)% was determined for 1s_{1/2}. Our finding of such a small 1s_{1/2} component and the halo features reported in prior experiments can be explained by the deformed relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in continuum, revealing a definite but not dominant neutron halo in ^{17}B. The present work gives the smallest s- or p-orbital component among known nuclei exhibiting halo features and implies that the dominant occupation of s or p orbitals is not a prerequisite for the occurrence of a neutron halo.

Surface Localization of the Dineutron in ^{11}Li

The formation of a dineutron in the ^{11}Li nucleus is found to be localized to the surface region. The experiment measured the intrinsic momentum of the struck neutron in ^{11}Li via the (p,pn) knockout reaction at 246  MeV/nucleon. The correlation angle between the two neutrons is, for the first time, measured as a function of the intrinsic neutron momentum. A comparison with reaction calculations reveals the localization of the dineutron at r∼3.6  fm. The results also support the density dependence of dineutron formation as deduced from Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations for nuclear matter.

Liver resection with thrombectomy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and tumour thrombus in the inferior vena cava or right atrium

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumour thrombus (TT) in the inferior vena cava (IVC) or right atrium (RA) is a rare advanced disease state with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to examine survival after surgical resection.

Methods

Patients with HCC and TT of either the IVC or RA, who underwent liver resection between February 1997 and July 2017, were included. Their short‐ and long‐term outcomes and surgical details were analysed retrospectively.

Results

Thirty‐seven patients were included; 16 patients had TT in the IVC below the diaphragm, eight had TT in the IVC above the diaphragm, and 13 had TT entering the RA. Twelve patients had advanced portal vein TT (portal vein invasion (Vp) greater than Vp3 and Vp4), ten had bilobar disease, and 12 had extrahepatic disease. There were no in‐hospital deaths, although two patients died within 90 days. Median survival did not differ between patients who had resection with curative intent (18·7 months) and those with residual tumour in the lung only (20·7 months), but survival was poor for patients with residual tumour in the liver (8·3 months).

Conclusion

Liver resection with thrombectomy for advanced HCC with TT in the IVC or RA is safe and feasible, leading to moderate survival.

Evaluation of Deep Thermal Rehabilitation System Using Resonant Cavity Applicator During Knee Experiments

This paper evaluates experiments on the knee using a new heating rehabilitation system. For effective thermal rehabilitation of osteoarthritis, it is necessary to heat the deep tissue inside the knee joint. Our new rehabilitation system is based on the re-entrant type resonant cavity applicator which was developed for deep hyperthermia treatment in our previous studies. Our experimental results using agar phantoms showed our heating system is able to heat the deep tissue inside the knee without physically contacting the surface skin. In this study, we developed a prototype applicator and experimented on a healthy human subject's knee under clinical conditions. To evaluate heating performance, we conducted heating experiments with our resonant cavity applicator and a conventional microwave diathermy system and compared the results. The experimental results of temperature increase distributions inside the human body were estimated by ultrasound imaging techniques. The estimated results from our knee experiments show that our heating system is able to heat knee tissue more deeply than microwave diathermy systems can and thus would be effective for deep thermal rehabilitation applications in clinics.

Association of sporadic and familial Barrett's esophagus with breast cancer

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the only known precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Based on striking aggregation of breast cancer and BE/EAC within families as well as shared risk factors and molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis, we hypothesized that BE may be associated with breast cancer. Pedigree analysis of families identified prospectively at multiple academic centers as part of the Familial Barrett's Esophagus Consortium (FBEC) was reviewed and families with aggregation of BE/EAC and breast cancer are reported. Additionally, using a matched case-control study design, we compared newly diagnosed BE cases in Caucasian females with breast cancer (cases) to Caucasian females without breast cancer (controls) who had undergone upper endoscopy (EGD). Two familial pedigrees, meeting a stringent inclusion criterion, manifested familial aggregation of BE/EAC and breast cancer in an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern with incomplete penetrance. From January 2008 to October 2016, 2812 breast cancer patient charts were identified, of which 213 were Caucasian females who underwent EGD. Six of 213 (2.82%) patients with breast cancer had pathology-confirmed BE, compared to 1 of 241 (0.41%) controls (P-value < 0.05). Selected families with BE/EAC show segregation of breast cancer. A breast cancer diagnosis is marginally associated with BE. We postulate a common susceptibility between BE/EAC and breast cancer.

Development of Styrenic Copolymers for Improving Heat Resistance of Poly(methyl methacrylate)

Styrenic copolymers comprising styrene, methyl methacrylate, and maleic anhydride were developed to improve the heat-resistance property of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The optical, thermal, and mechanical properties were examined for the blend specimens prepared by an injection-molding machine using melt-mixed samples. It was found that the copolymers, which were miscible with PMMA, increase the glass transition temperature and therefore the Vicat Softening temperature. Furthermore, the blends were completely transparent as similar to PMMA.

Expression of B7-H3, a potential factor of tumor immune evasion in combination with the number of regulatory T cells, affects against recurrence-free survival in breast cancer patients

Background

In the tumor microenvironment, factors inhibiting the targeting of cancer cells by activated T cells have recently been noted. B7-H3 belongs to the B7 superfamily of immune regulatory ligands and plays an important role in the adaptive immune response of co-inhibitory/stimulatory factors in regulating T cells. However, the degree to which B7-H3 directly affects tumor immune evasion mechanisms remains unclear, particularly in patients with breast cancer. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are known as a key player in the inhibition of immune mechanisms. The present study demonstrated that expression of B7-H3 on tumor cells and the number of Tregs in the tumor microenvironment independently affected prognosis in breast cancer patients.

Methods

We immunohistochemically investigated the presence of B7-H3 and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)-positive Tregs in pathological specimens from 90 patients with breast cancer.

Results

Positive B7-H3 expression was associated with shorter recurrence-free survival (RFS) (p = 0.014). A higher percentage of Foxp3-positive cells also correlated with shorter RFS (p = 0.039). Multivariate analysis showed B7-H3 as an independent factor on RFS. Foxp3 expression in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) correlated significantly with larger tumor size (>2 cm), expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and higher nuclear grade (p = 0.003, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). No correlation was identified between expression of B7-H3 and the percentage of Foxp3-positive TILs.

Conclusions

B7-H3 and Foxp3 can be regarded as markers of poor prognosis in breast cancer. These expressions were not correlated, suggesting that B7-H3 expression plays an independent role in tumor immune evasion, regardless of Tregs.

A new heating method with dielectric bolus using resonant cavity applicator for brain tumors

In this paper, we discuss a new method of controlling heating location in the proposed resonant cavity applicator. A dielectric bolus was used to non-invasively treat brain tumors. We have already confirmed that our heating system using resonant cavity is useful to non-invasively heat brain tumors. In order to heat tumors occurring at various locations, it is necessary to control the heating area with our heating system. First, we presented the proposed heating method and a phantom model to calculate temperature distributions. The results of temperature distributions were discussed. Second, a 3-D human head model constructed from 2-D MRI images was presented. The results of specific absorption rate distributions were discussed. From these results, it was found that the proposed heating method was useful to non-invasively treat brain tumors.

Heating properties of a new hyperthermia system for deep tumors without contact

In this paper, heating properties of the proposed hyperthermia system for non-invasive treatment of deep tumors are discussed. Our heating system is composed of a large size resonant cavity applicator. In this heating method, a human body is placed between the two inner electrodes. It is heated by electromagnetic fields stimulated in the cavity without contact between the surface of the human body and the applicator. First, we presented the experimental results of heating a cylindrical agar phantom and a cylindrical fat-agar phantom using the proposed system. From the thermal images of the heated phantoms, the center of the agar was locally heated to maximum temperature. Second, we presented the experimental results of heating a mini pig. In the heating experiment, temperature measurements were performed by using fiber-optical thermometers inserted in four locations inside the mini pig. From the results, the deepest region of the liver was heated to the highest temperature 43.3 °C.

High-dose remote afterloading intraluminal brachytherapy in the treatment of unresectable hilar or upper bile duct carcinoma

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Background: To evaluate intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) for the treatment of unresectable hilar or upper bile duct carcinoma.

Methods: Between 1992 and 2005, 48 patients were identified who were not indicated for surgical resections. Among them, 22 patients received only biliary drainage (group I) and 26 patients received ILBT (group II). Expandable metallic stents (EMSs) were used in 17 patients and ILBT was delivered using the Varisource 200 remote afterloading unit with a 10 Ci 192Ir or 60Co. Each treatment of ILBT delivered 6 Gy at a 1-cm depth, and was repeated weekly for 5 weeks. A total of 30 Gy was administered to each patient. Survival rates between the groups were compared using Kaplan-Meier survival curves.

Results: In group I, survival rates at 6 and 12 months were 9% and 0%, respectively. Median survival was only 2 months. In contrast, group II survival rates at 6, 12, and 24 months were 77%, 54%, and 9%, respectively, and the median survival of this group was 13 months. Improved survival with the use of ILBT was significant, particularly in clinical stages III, IVa (p<0.01), and IVb (p<0.05). ILBT helped keep the bile duct lumen patent for a long period, but was not effective for the treatment of patients with positive lymph node metastasis.

Conclusions: Although randomized controlled studies will be necessary, the results of the present study are encouraging for using high-dose ILBT in the treatment of unresectable hilar or upper bile duct carcinoma without lymph node metastasis.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Care by Kampo medicine for toxicities of colorectal cancer chemotherapy: Effect of goshajinkigan (TJ-107) and powdered processed aconite root (TJ-3023) on oxaliplatin-related neurotoxicity, and effect of hangeshashinto (TJ-14) on CPT-11-related diarrhea

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Background: FOLFOX is standard therapy of advanced-stage colorectal cancer. Sensory neurotoxicity (SN) with oxaliplatin is its dose-limiting toxicity. We decided to use goshajinkigan (TJ-107) for prevention of oxaliplatin-related SN. We think that the main action is the one with powdered processed aconite root (TJ-3023). FOLFIRI is standard therapy too. But watery diarrhea is severe side effect. We decided to use hangeshashinto (TJ-14) for prevention of CPT-11-related watery diarrhea.

Methods: The subjects were 66 patients with advanced-stage colorectal cancer. All 66 patients take TJ-107 (7.5g/day) every day from first oxaliptatin infusion day. Patients profiles were: Male/Female: 29/37, median age 69 years old (42∼84), PS0/1/2/3: 57/9/0/0, clinical stage IIIC/IV: 14/52. Oxaliplatin (85mg/m2) was given as FOLFOX4 (27case), mFOLFOX6 (34) and CapeOx (5). When SN was increased, TJ-3023 was added. TJ-3023 is ingredient of TJ-107. 12 patients had severe watery diarrhea due to FOLFIRI regimen. All 12 patients take TJ-14 (7.5g/day) from appearance of watery diarrhea. Patients profiles were: Male/Female: 8/4.

Results: Total course number of FOLFOX/CapeOX was 595/21, and average number of FOLFOX/CapeOX was 8.46/4.2. Relative dose intensity of oxaliplatin were 37.6mg/m2/week. Medicine compliance of TJ-107 was 89%. 20 patients had grade 3 toxcity (neutropenia 18, thrombocytopenia 2). TTP is 8.14 months. Response Evaluation Criteria is CR/PR/SD/PD/NE:1/36/11/5/13. SN occurred in 43 patients (65.1%). TJ-3023 was added to 10 patients. SN was slightly decreased by TJ-3023. There was no neurotoxicity case with functional impairment in this study. By TJ-14, all 12 patients have a change for the better from grade 2 to grade 1 or 0 of diarrhea. There was no constipation cases.

Conclusions: TJ-107 seem to prervent acute oxaliplatin-induced SN. TJ-3023 may be related to SN prervention mechanism. TJ-14 seem to prevent CPT-11-induced diarrhea. The continuance of chemotherapy for colorectal cancer can be expected by these Kampo medicine.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Basic study of brain injury mechanism

The purpose of this study is to discuss the mechanism of brain injury experimentally paying attention to the pressure changes on the surface of a brain agar phantom generated by a cavitation.

Heating properties of coaxial needle applicator made of SMA for hyperthermia treatments

This paper describes heating properties of the developed coaxial needle applicator made of a shape memory alloy (SMA) for brain tumor hyperthermia treatments to avoid undesirable hotspots. We estimated the temperature distribution inside an agar phantom by the finite element method (FEM) and heated the agar phantom with the developed needle applicator.

SAR analysis of a re-entrant resonant cavity applicator for brain tumor hyperthermia treatment with a 3-D anatomical human head model

A re-entrant resonant cavity applicator system for non-invasive brain tumor hyperthermia treatments was presented. We have already confirmed the effectiveness of the heating properties of this heating system with cylindrical agar phantoms and with computer simulations.

Heating properties of non-invasive hyperthermia treatment for abdominal deep tumors by 3-D FEM

This paper discusses the heating properties of a new type of hyperthermia system composed of a re-entrant type resonant cavity applicator for deep tumors of the abdominal region. In this method, a human body is placed in the gap of two inner electrodes and is non-invasively heated with electromagnetic fields stimulated in the cavity. Here, we calculated temperature distributions of a simple human abdominal phantom model that we constructed to examine the heating properties of the developed hyperthermia system. First, the proposed heating method and a simple abdominal model to calculate the temperature distribution are presented. Second, the computer simulation results of temperature distribution by 3-D FEM are presented. From these results, it was found that the proposed simple human abdominal phantom model composed of muscle, fat and lung was useful to test the heating properties of our heating method. Our heating method was also effective to non-invasively heat abdominal deep tumors.

Development of automatic impedance matching system for hyperthermia treatment using resonant cavity applicator

In this paper, we discuss a new system to make impedance matching automatically for a re-entrant resonant cavity applicator for brain tumor hyperthermia treatment non-invasively. We have already discussed about the effectiveness of the heating method using manual type impedance matching controller, with experiments of heating an agar phantom and computer simulations. However, it becomes difficult to perform an accurate impedance matching as resonant frequency becomes high. Here, in order to make a more accurate impedance matching, we developed the automatic impedance matching system (AIMS). We noticed that the reflected power was generated when the impedance matching was not complete. In this system, therefore, to reduce the reflected power fed back, the stepping motor to turn the dial of variable capacitors is controlled by developed software. To evaluate the developed AIMS, the experiments of heating the agar phantom were performed. From these results, we found that the temperature rise of the agar phantom by using AIMS was about 180% of using manual type controller under the same heating condition. It was found that the proposed system was very effective for hyperthermia treatment using resonant cavity applicator even when the resonant frequency was high.

Improvement of the matching speed of AIMS for development of an automatic totally tuning system for hyperthermia treatment using a resonant cavity applicator

In this paper, we discuss the improvement of the speed of AIMS (Automatic Impedance Matching System) to automatically make impedance matching for a re-entrant resonant cavity applicator for non-invasive deep brain tumors hyperthermia treatments. We have already discussed the effectiveness of the heating method using the AIMS, with experiments of heating agar phantoms. However, the operating time of AIMS was about 30 minutes. To develop the ATT System (Automatic Totally Tuning System) including the automatic frequency tuning system, we must improve this problem. Because, when using the ATTS, the AIMS is used repeatedly to find the resonant frequency. In order to improve the speed of impedance matching, we developed the new automatic impedance matching system program (AIMS2). In AIMS, the stepping motors were connected to the impedance matching unit's dials. These dials were turned to reduce the reflected power. AIMS consists of two phases: all range searching and detailed searching. We focused on the three factors affecting the operating speed and improved them. The first factor is the interval put between the turning of the motors and AD converter. The second factor is how the steps of the motor when operating all range searching. The third factor is the starting position of the motor when detail searching. We developed the simple ATT System (ATT-beta) based on the AIMS2. To evaluate the developed AIMS2 and ATT- beta, experiments with an agar phantom were performed. From these results, we found that the operating time of the AIMS2 is about 4 minutes, which was approximately 12% of AIMS. From ATT-beta results, it was shown that it is possible to tune frequency and automatically match impedance with the program based on the AIMS2.

Heating properties of the needle type applicator made of shape memory alloy by 3-D anatomical human head model

Since the human brain is protected by the skull, it is not easy to non-invasively heat deep brain tumors with electromagnetic energy for hyperthermia treatments. Generally, needle type applicators were used in clinical practice to heat brain tumors. To expand the heating area of needle type applicators, we have developed a new type of needle made of a shape memory alloy (SMA). In this paper, heating properties of the proposed SMA needle type applicator were discussed. Here, in order to apply the SMA needle type applicator clinically. First, we constructed an anatomical 3-D FEM model from MRI and X-ray CT images using 3D-CAD software. Second, we estimated electric and temperature distributions to confirm the SMA needle type applicator using the FEM soft were JMAG-Studio. From these results, it was confirmed that the proposed method can expand the heating area and control the heating of various sizes of brain tumors.

Heating properties of the re-entrant type cavity applicator for brain tumor with several resonant frequencies

We have proposed the re-entrant resonant cavity applicator system for non-invasive brain tumor hyperthermia treatment. In this method, a human head is placed in the gap of the inner electrodes. A brain tumor is heated with the electromagnetic field stimulated in the cavity without contact between the human head and the applicator. We have already presented the effectiveness of the heating properties of this system with cylinder-type agar phantoms and by computer simulations. This paper discusses the heating properties of the developed system with the human head-type agar phantom for brain tumor hyperthermia treatment. First, in order to heat deep brain tumors, we tried to heat the human head-type agar phantom by using several electromagnetic field patterns of the resonant frequency. We found that the temperature distributions can be controlled inside the agar phantom by changing the resonant frequencies. Second, to heat local and deep areas of the agar phantom, we tried to achieve heating using the two different resonant frequencies. We found distinct heating properties by changing the electromagnetic field patterns of resonant frequencies. From these results, it was found that our developed heating system can be applied to hyperthermia treatments of deep-seated brain tumors. Further, by changing resonant frequency, treatment can very correspond to the size and the position of a tumor.

Finite element analysis of the re-entrant type resonant cavity applicator for brain tumor hyperthermia

In this paper, we have proposed a new heating method in which high frequency electric fields in a re-entrant type resonant cavity are used for the heating of deeply seated tumors. In this method, a human head is placed between the gap of the inner re-entrant cylinders, and is heated with electromagnetic fields stimulated in the cavity without contact between the surface of the human head and the applicator. Here, we proposed a new method to control the heating area. In this method, the resonant frequency inside the cavity was changed, then we use the TM010-like mode and the TM012-like mode from various types of the resonant frequency. First, the computer simulation results of electric and magnetic field patterns are presented. Second, a comparison of the heating properties of TM010-like mode and TM012-like mode are discussed. The heating area of the center of agar phantom is more concentrated by using TM012-like mode than that of using TM010-like mode. From these results, it is confirmed that the proposed method can be controlled to heat the various sizes of deep tumors.

Heating properties of re-entrant resonant applicator for brain tumor by electromagnetic heating modes

This paper discusses a new method to control the heating area of a re-entrant resonant cavity applicator for brain tumor hyperthermia treatment non-invasively. We have already discussed about the effectiveness of a developed system with experiments of heating an agar phantom and computer simulations. Here, in order to heat a deep brain tumor, we propose the heating method of using several electromagnetic heating modes which are transverse magnetic (TM) modes. In this method, TM010-like and TM012-like modes obtained by selecting resonant frequencies can be used to heat the deep brain tumors. To control the heating area of the modes the agar phantom is used in the heating experiments by the developed system. From these results, we found that the heating area of the agar phantom by using TM012-like mode is about 50% of the heating area of TM010-like mode. It is found that the proposed heating system can be applicable to the hyperthermia treatment of brain tumors corresponding to the size and the position where it occurred.

Heating properties of re-entrant resonant cavity applicator for brain tumor with simple head model

We have already confirmed the effectiveness of the re-entrant resonant cavity applicator system with non-invasive experiments of heating cylindrical agar phantoms and computer simulations. This paper discusses the heating properties of the developed heating system with a human head model made of agar for brain tumor hyperthermia treatment. First, we present the results of heating a uniform agar head model with the developed heating system. In the experiments, the temperature rise at the center of the agar was about 8 degrees C, it was found that the center of the agar is heated to maximum temperature non-invasively. Second, we present the results of heating a non-uniform agar head model having an oral cavity and a nasal cavity. We found that the center of the agar can be heated to maximum temperature as well as uniform agar head model. From these results, it is confirmed that the possibility of effective hyperthermia for various types of deep-seated brain tumors.