Visualization and automatic detection of defect distribution in GaN atomic structure from sampling Moiré phase.

Quantitative detection of defects in atomic structures is of great significance to evaluating product quality and exploring quality improvement process. In this study, a Fourier transform filtered sampling Moiré technique was proposed to visualize and detect defects in atomic arrays in a large field of view. Defect distributions, defect numbers and defect densities could be visually and quantitatively determined from a single atomic structure image at low cost. The effectiveness of the proposed technique was verified from numerical simulations. As an application, the dislocation distributions in a GaN/AlGaN atomic structure in two directions were magnified and displayed in Moiré phase maps, and defect locations and densities were detected automatically. The proposed technique is able to provide valuable references to material scientists and engineers by checking the effect of various treatments for defect reduction.

Effects of postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy on patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and multiple regional lymph node metastases.

Nodal metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is considered to be a predictor of a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the number of positive lymph nodes and the prognosis in OSCC patients with nodal metastases and to assess the effects of postoperative radiotherapy (RT) or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) on this patient group. A retrospective investigation of 98 patients with OSCC who underwent radical neck dissection and had at least three pathologically positive lymph nodes was performed. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 66.7% for patients with 3 positive nodes, while it was significantly lower for those with 4 positive nodes and those with ≥ 5 positive nodes (21.5% and 46.1%, respectively; P < 0.01). The loco-regional control and disease-specific survival rates for the surgery alone, surgery plus RT, and surgery plus CCRT groups were 46.2% and 40.5%, 66.3% and 54.4%, and 81.7% and 52.4%, respectively. For patients with ≥ 4 positive nodes, the loco-regional control rate after surgery plus CCRT was better than that observed after surgery alone (77.5% vs. 32.6%, P = 0.01). Postoperative RT and CCRT have positive impacts on the prognosis of OSCC patients with advanced stage neck disease.

Risk factors associated with inferior alveolar nerve injury after extraction of the mandibular third molar--a comparative study of preoperative images by panoramic radiography and computed tomography.

In this study we investigated the relationships among the risk factors for inferior alveolar nerve injury (IANI), and the difference between preoperative imaging findings on panoramic radiographs and computed tomography (CT), by univariate and multivariate analyses. We determined the following to be significant variables by multivariate analysis: panoramic radiographic signs, such as the loss of the white line of the inferior alveolar canal or the diversion of the canal; excessive haemorrhage during extraction; and a close relationship of the roots to the IAN (type 1 cases) on CT examination. CT findings of type 1 were associated with a significantly higher risk (odds ratio 43.77) of IANI. In addition, many panoramic findings were not consistent with CT findings (275 of 440 teeth; 62.5%). These results suggest that CT findings may be able to predict the development of IANI more accurately than panoramic findings. Panoramic radiography alone did not provide sufficiently reliable images required for predicting IANI. Therefore, when the panoramic image is suggestive of a close relationship between the impacted tooth and the IAN, CT should be recommended as a means of conducting further investigations.

Ultrastructural localization of E-cadherin and alpha-/beta-catenin in adenoid cystic carcinoma.

AIMS: To investigate the disturbance of intercellular adhesion in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), we examined the ultrastructural localization of E-cadherin (E-cad), alpha-catenin (alpha-cat) and beta-catenin (beta-cat) in ACC, and compared it with that in the normal labial gland. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using immuno-electron microscopy, in the normal labial gland, E-cad was found to be uniformly distributed along the plasmalemma, where cells were in close contact with each other, with junctional complexes, desmosomes and interdigitations; expression of alpha-cat and beta-cat was also detected. In ACC, which was classified into tubular, cribriform and trabecular types, E-cad expression seemed not to be uniform, but was observed to be along the plasmalemma where cell-to-cell contact was made. On the other hand, expression of alpha-cat or beta-cat was uneven in the trabecular-type cells which were very slender and grew in an infiltrative scattered pattern into the extracellular matrix; that was absent in the cribriform-type cells which made contact with each other mostly at the tip of the cytoplasmic processes. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the neoplastic cells of ACC express E-cad for use in intercellular adhesion, but the cadherin-catenin complex might not operate properly, which is the cause of neoplastic cell dissociation, followed by invasion and metastasis.

Early diagnosis of esophageal cancer.

The doubling time of esophageal cancer, as measured by x-ray films, was studied retrospectively. The average doubling time of 19 lesions in 18 cases was 6.7 months, but in three cases the lesions doubled within a month. The developing time of depth of invasion in esophageal cancer in 19 lesions were: from mucosa to submucosa, 16 +/- 7.8 months; submucosa to advanced adventitia, 6.6 +/- 3.8 months; mucosa to advanced adventitia, 21.1 +/- 6.8 months. Lugol-staining endoscopy was effective in detecting not only lesions but also margin lines. Capsulated brushing cytology is also effective and the diagnostic rate was 94.5% in total, and 84.4% in superficial cancer. For early detection of esophageal cancer it is most desirable to have examinations once every six months and a combination of these three methods is recommended.

[Attempt of intracranial IC bypass for giant aneurysm in the cavernous portion of the carotid artery].

We report here, a novel method for internal carotid (IC) bypass between C2 and C5, by using the autologous saphenous vein. The patient was a 58 year-old female, complaining of pain and motor disturbance in her right ocular region. She suddenly developed left-sided hemiparesis during her stay in our hospital. The following CT examination demonstrated a high density homogenous round mass, which occupied the right side of the parasellar region with no perifocal edema. The contrast enhancement CT, however, suggested there was still a certain degree of blood flow in the mass. On the other hand, carotid angiography showed an occlusion of blood flow at the C5 level (interosseous portion), which seemed to indicate either giant aneurysm or cavernous angioma. The mass was identified as a giant aneurysm during surgery, and the decompression procedure by removing the intra-aneurysmal blood clot was attempted first. However, this trial failed due to an accidental severe bleeding. Because of this, we then decided to perform the grafting of autologous saphenous for a length of 10 cm between C2 and C5. Intraoperative heavy bleeding mentioned above seemed to have occurred due to release of compression by the aneurysm against the internal carotid artery through which there was restricted blood flow. Postoperative angiography demonstrated that the graft remained patent enough to be approximately equal in size to the original artery. From our experiences in this case, two important points are, we suggest, to be kept in mind while applying this method; (1) to carefully expose the C5 segment, (2) to avoid damage of the surrounding structures such as the Eustachian tube, facial nerve and cochlear nerves, and so forth. In conclusion, we strongly recommend this IC bypass technique for other types of tumors in the cavernous portion as well.

A new method of three dimensional analysis of left ventricular wall motion.

The three dimensional (3D) shape of left ventricles (LV) was reconstructed from gated blood pool emission computed tomography (GECT) to assess regional LV wall motion. The 3D LV shape was created using LV boundaries detected by a threshold method. Based on the length from each LV boundary to the end diastolic LV center of mass, regional percent shortening and phase of the first harmonic by Fourier analysis were calculated to create 3D functional images. These images clearly demonstrated the 3D extent of wall motion abnormality. In addition, the same 3D analysis was applied to biplane X-ray left ventriculography (LVG) by assuming that LV short axis sections were elliptic. Results of planar imaging, 3D analysis of GECT, 3D analysis of LVG and conventional LVG findings correlated well with each other. The 3D analysis of GECT is useful for non invasive quantitative analysis of LV wall motion.

The BTPABA pancreatic function test in giardiasis.

The test for exocrine pancreatic function using N-benzoyl-L-tyrosyl-p-aminobenzoic acid (BTPABA test) was assessed in 7 patients with giardiasis and 7 healthy controls. Cumulative percent p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) recovery in 6 hr was significantly lower in patients with giardiasis, compared with the control group. When an equivalent dose of free PABA was given, there were no differences in PABA recovery between the groups. In patients with giardiasis, the post-treatment values of BTPABA test were significantly higher than the pretreatment values and no differences were found in PABA recovery between patients with giardiasis after eradication and healthy controls. These findings indicate that Giardia lamblia interferes with the action of pancreatic chymotrypsin. It is noteworthy that giardiasis could cause an abnormal BTPABA test.

[Phase II study on peplomycin for esophageal cancer].

For the purpose of verifying the effectiveness of peplomycin, one of the derivatives of bleomycin, against carcinoma of the esophagus and the safety of it, the analysis of the data for total 113 cases collected from 25 institutions in Japan was made. The results are as follows. It was effective in 19 out of 74 evaluable cases of carcinoma of the esophagus (25.7%). In case of treatment with peplomycin alone, it was effective in 6 out of 39 cases (15.4%). In case of the combination treatment with peplomycin and some other therapy, it was effective in 13 out of 35 cases (37.1%). As for the side effects, the incidence of fever was the highest in both the cases of peplomycin alone and the combination treatment such as 39.6% and 37.0%, respectively. Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, respiratory symptoms and tiredness were found in relatively many cases. In the clinical laboratory tests, the vital capacity after the treatment tended to be lower than that before the treatment, but there was little change in the hematological tests, pulmonary function test and renal function test.

[Fundamental and clinical studies of cefotaxime in neonates and immature infants].

Cefotaxime (CTX) was used in the treatment and prophylaxis of infections in neonates and immature infants. The following results were obtained. 1. Mean serum concentrations (bioassay) 30 minutes after a single intravenous injection of about 20 mg/kg of CTX were 44.5 mcg/ml in neonates and 47.2 mcg/ml in immature infants aged 0-3 days, 45.8 mcg/ml in neonates and 56.4 mcg/ml in an immature infant aged 4-7 days and 40.6 mcg/ml in neonates and 38.1 mcg/ml in immature infants aged 8 or more days. Six hour values were respectively 10.9 mcg/ml, 17.0 mcg/ml, 4.6 mcg/ml, 13.4 mcg/ml, 3.8 mcg/ml and 2.7 mcg/ml. 2. Mean serum concentration half-lives were 3.0 hours in neonates and 3.2 hours in immature infants aged 0-3 days, 1.8 hours in neonates and 3.2 hours in an immature infant aged 4-7 days, and 1.5 hours in neonates and 1.6 hours in immature infants aged 8 or more days. 3. Urinary recovery rates were 0.8-78.0% for 0-6 hours after treatment. 4. Adequate clinical efficacy can be expected by the intravenous injection of CTX in doses of 20 mg/kg 2 times daily, every 12 hours, in neonates and immature infants aged 0-3 days, 20 mg/kg 3 times daily, every 8 hours, in neonates and immature infants aged 4-7 days, and 20 mg/kg 3 to 4 times daily, every 6-8 hours, in neonates and immature infants aged 8 or more days. 5. The clinical efficacy of CTX was good in all 4 cases of sepsis (including suspected case), excellent in 1 case of urinary tract infection, and good in all 4 cases of fever of unknown origin for a cure rate of 100%. 6. Adverse reactions were not noted in any cases.

[Examination of blood levels and urinary excretion of cefmetazole in the mature and immature neonates (author's transl)].

1. Cefmetazole was administered to mature and immature neonates for the purpose of treatment and prophylaxis of infections, and the blood level was examined. The mean blood level (moni-trol I standard) of cefmetazole after a single administration, 20 mg/kg intravenously, were 63.9 mcg/ml in 0 to 3 days old neonates and 57.4 mcg/ml in 4 to 7 days old neonates after 30 minutes, and 24.2 mcg/ml and 12.4 mcg/ml, respectively, after 6 hours. 2. The mean half-life of the blood level was 5.42 hours in 0 to 3 days old neonates and 2.55 hours in 4 to 7 old neonates. 3. The urinary excretion was varied, but approximately 80% of the administered dose seemed to be excreted during 0 to 12 hours. 4. Cefmetazole is seemed to be clinically effective by a single dose of 20 mg/kg giving twice daily in every 12 hours in 0 to 3 days old neonates, a dose of 20 mg/kg giving three times daily in every 8 hours in 4 to 7 days old infants, and a single dose of 20 mg/kg giving 3 to 4 times in every 6 to 8 hours in older than 8 days old neonates.