Molecular Layer Deposition of a Hafnium-Based Hybrid Thin Film as an Electron Beam Resist.

The development of new resist materials is vital to fabrication techniques for next-generation microelectronics. Inorganic resists are promising candidates because they have higher etch resistance, are more impervious to pattern collapse, and are more absorbing of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation than organic resists. However, there is limited understanding about how they behave under irradiation. In this work, a Hf-based hybrid thin film resist, known as "hafnicone", is deposited from the vapor-phase via molecular layer deposition (MLD), and its electron-beam and deep-ultraviolet (DUV)-induced patterning mechanism is explored. The hafnicone thin films are deposited at 100 °C by using the Hf precursor tetrakis(dimethylamido)hafnium(IV) and the organic precursor ethylene glycol. E-beam lithography, scanning electron microscopy, and profilometry are used to investigate the resist performance of hafnicone. With 3 M HCl as the developer, hafnicone behaves as a negative tone resist which exhibits a sensitivity of 400 µC/cm2 and the ability to resolve 50 nm line widths. The resist is characterized via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and infrared spectroscopy (IR) to investigate the patterning mechanism, which is described in the context of classical nucleation theory. This study of hafnicone hybrid MLD demonstrates the ability for the bottom-up vapor deposition of inorganic resists to be utilized in advanced e-beam and DUV lithographic techniques.

Vocal cord biopsy under local anesthesia, with flexible bronchoscope as an outpatient procedure, by "inside-out" technique.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonologists commonly need to take biopsies of laryngeal lesions, either found incidentally while doing bronchoscopy for other indications or while investigating patients for hoarseness of voice and cough. Biopsy of laryngeal lesions has been conventionally done under general anesthesia to provide adequate samples and minimize risks and patient discomfort. Of late, these biopsies have been done as outpatient procedures, by flexible endoscopes, under local anesthesia. However, vocal cord biopsies are often challenging due to poor patient compliance. We have tested an innovative method, which we have called the "inside-out" method, to circumvent this problem. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to analyze the feasibility, yield, and the safety of the "inside-out" technique for taking vocal cord biopsies as an outpatient procedure in awake patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study. Data of 38 patients with vocal cord lesions in whom the above technique was employed were analyzed. RESULTS: The procedure had a diagnostic yield of 78.9% with a sensitivity of 96.7% and a specificity of 100% for detecting malignancy or dysplasia. There were no major complications. CONCLUSIONS: The "inside-out" technique was found to be feasible and safe and with a high yield.

Skeletal muscle metastases on FDG PET/CT imaging.

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle metastases (SMM) are a rare occurrence despite the fact that skeletal muscle comprises more than 50% of total body mass. When present, most are asymptomatic and are often found incidentally on imaging. Several studies have reported isolated cases of patients with SMM. The goal of our study was to perform a comprehensive retrospective analysis of the incidence, frequency, and source of SMM in patients with malignancies who underwent whole-body FDG PET/CT imaging for the workup for their malignancy. METHODS: The records of 8492 consecutive patients referred for oncologic imaging at our institution during the period from January 2006 to December 2009 were reviewed. Patients who had SMM on FDG PET imaging were further assessed for collaborating evidence on other imaging modalities, pathology from tissue sampling, and follow-up scans. The incidence of SMM in our setting was calculated, and their association with various primary malignancies was also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 73 patients with SMM were identified on PET/CT imaging (incidence, 0.86%). Lung cancer was the most frequent source (25 patients [34%]), followed by gastrointestinal tract malignancies (13 patients [18%]), breast cancer (10 patients [14%]), genitourinary malignancies and lymphoma (6 patients [8%] each), melanoma (5 patients [7%]), and other miscellaneous malignancies (3 patients [4%]). Primary source remained unknown in only 5 patients (7%). Most patients with SMM generally had markedly widespread involvement which led to an unusual appearance on FDG PET/CT imaging. However, since most of these patients had stage IV malignant disease by virtue of visceral metastases elsewhere as well, they were generally not upstaged. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed the rare occurrence of SMM. Furthermore, FDG PET/CT can potentially detect unsuspected SMM. Interestingly, in our patient population, lung cancer was found to be the most frequent malignancy metastasizing to the skeletal muscles. Knowledge about the presence and appearance of widespread SMM may aid in appropriate interpretation of FDG PET/CT scans.

Traumatic bilateral carotid artery dissection.

INTRODUCTION: Bilateral carotid artery dissection following blunt trauma is a rare but potentially lethal injury if not diagnosed early and treated. CASE REPORT: We report a collision patient who suffered bilateral asymptomatic carotid artery dissections. He also had multiple fractures of the pelvis and upper and lower extremities. The patient was managed acutely with aspirin. He underwent open reduction and internal fixation of fractures without complication and was discharged home on aspirin. DISCUSSION: Carotid artery dissections are increasingly being recognized in blunt trauma patients. Management options include systemic anticoagulation versus antiplatelet therapy. The need to acutely address the carotid artery injury must be balanced with the need for hemostasis with associated solid organ injury and/or future operative procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Carotid artery dissections should be screened for in patients with appropriate mechanism of injury. This case report details the successful management of a patient of bilateral carotid artery dissection and other major orthopedic injuries using aspirin.

Comparing the volume of gliomas in the brain in FLAIR and post-contrast T1-weighted MRI sequences.

The imaging modality used to diagnose and monitor brain gliomas is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with standard protocols including contrast-enhanced T1-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) image sequences. Many clinical trials are currently using contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR image sequences to evaluate tumor response to treatment, but it is our hypothesis that FLAIR sequences will detect higher tumor volumes and, therefore, should be the preferred image sequence for this purpose. In this retrospective study, a volumetric analysis was conducted on the post-contrast T1-weighted and FLAIR MR image sequences of 38 patients with confirmed brain gliomas. The two volumes were subsequently found to have a statistically significant positive correlation. The FLAIR volume was also found to be greater than the post-contrast T1-weighted volume in all 38 patients. As a result, FLAIR image sequences provide a more complete characterization of gliomas and may be more beneficial when observing tumor response after treatment.