Preparation of New Scintillation Imaging Material Composed of Scintillator-Silica Fine Powders and its Imaging of Tritium.

A new scintillation imaging material [scintillator-silica fine powder (FP)] was prepared using silica FPs and scintillator-encapsulating silica nanoparticles (NPs) (scintillator-silica NPs). The wt% values of scintillator-silica NPs on the scintillator-silica FPs were 38, 43, 36 and 44%. Scintillation images of 3H, 63Ni, 35S, 33P, 204Tl, 89Sr and 32P dropped on the scintillator-silica FPs were obtained at about 37 kBq per 0.1-10 µl with a charge-coupled device (CCD) imager for a 5 min exposure. In particular, high-intensity CCD images of 35S were selectively obtained using the 2.25, 4.77 and 10 µm silica FPs with scintillator-silica NPs owing to the residual S of dimethyl sulfoxide in the preparation. Scintillation images of 3H at 1670 ± 9 Bq/0.5 µl and 347 ± 6 Bq/0.5 µl dropped in a 2 mm hole on the scintillator-silica FPs (6.78 and 10 µm) were also obtained using the CCD imager for a 2 h exposure.

Chronic invasive sinus and intracerebral aspergillosis controlled by combination therapy with micafungin and a daily dose of 400 mg itraconazole oral solution.

Chronic invasive aspergillosis of the sinus is frequently fatal in the absence of early surgical and chemotherapeutic intervention because of its invasion of vascular tissue. We attempted to control a case of inoperable invasive aspergillosis of the sinus with micafungin and itraconazole oral solution. We prescribed a daily oral dose of 400 mg of itraconazole, which is twice the usual dose, and monitored the serum concentration of the drug. Finally, we were able to control the spread of the lesion. This case indicates that combination therapy with micafungin and a daily dose of 400 mg itraconazole oral solution is an alternative treatment strategy for inoperable invasive aspergillosis of the sinus.

[Occurrence of squamous cell lung carcinoma in the irradiated field after radiotherapy for breast cancer].

Radiotherapy for breast cancer reduces the incidence of disease recurrence and breast cancer mortality.However, it has also been associated with an increased risk of developing secondary cancers in exposed sites.Recently, we observed a 64-year-old woman who developed squamous cell lung carcinoma in the field irradiated with a total dose of 55 Gy after conservative breast surgery for left breast cancer 16 years previously.The patient underwent left upper lobectomy combined with chest wall resection.She had no recurrence of the breast cancer for 16 years.The secondary lung cancer tumor was of a different histological type than the primary breast cancer, and it appeared in the irradiated field.In conclusion, we regarded her lung cancer as a radiation-induced cancer, although it is difficult to clearly define radiation-induced cancer.In addition, the patient 's lung cancer may not only be a result of the late effect of irradiation, but might also be due to her smoking habit.