FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS USING A HIERARCHAL DECOMPOSITION FOR THE INTERACTION OF STRUCTURE, FLUID AND ELECTROSTATIC FIELD IN MEMS

In this study, a hierarchal decomposition for the interaction of the structure, fluid and electrostatic field or the structure-fluid-electrostatic interaction, which is one of typical phenomena in micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS), is proposed in order to solve it efficiently. The proposed decomposition partitions the structure-fluid-electrostatic interaction into the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) and the electrostatic field, and, moreover, splits the FSI into the velocity and fluid pressure fields. In this way, the whole interaction system is decomposed into the three fields in a hierarchal way. The proposed decomposition is implemented using a finite element method and is applied to a micro cantilever beam actuated by the electrostatic force in air. It follows from the comparison among the results for the structure-fluid-electrostatic interaction, the FSI and the experiment that the proposed method taking into account the full-interaction can predict the vibration characteristic of the MEMS accurately.Ⅵ International Conference on Computational Methods for Coupled Problems in Science and Engineering (COUPLED PROBLEMS 2015), 18 - 20 May, 2015, Venice, Ital

Finite element analysis using a hierarchal decomposition for the interaction of structure, fluid and electrostatic field in mems

In this study, a hierarchal decomposition for the interaction of the structure, fluid and electrostatic field or the structure-fluid-electrostatic interaction, which is one of typical phenomena in micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS), is proposed in order to solve it efficiently. The proposed decomposition partitions the structure-fluid-electrostatic interaction into the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) and the electrostatic field, and, moreover, splits the FSI into the velocity and fluid pressure fields. In this way, the whole interaction system is decomposed into the three fields in a hierarchal way. The proposed decomposition is implemented using a finite element method and is applied to a micro cantilever beam actuated by the electrostatic force in air. It follows from the comparison among the results for the structure-fluid-electrostatic interaction, the FSI and the experiment that the proposed method taking into account the full-interaction can predict the vibration characteristic of the MEMS accurately

Element-quality-based stiffening for the pseudoelastic mesh-moving technique

In this study, element-quality-based stiffening (EQBS) was developed as a method of maintaining mesh quality in the pseudoelastic mesh-moving technique. The proposed EQBS technique increases the stiffness of the element based on two element quality parameters, the element area and shape; this differs from techniques used in previous studies. Importantly, EQBS includes the previously proposed Jacobian-based stiffening (JBS) and minimum height-based stiffening (MHBS) techniques as a specific case. Therefore, it is quite general scenario of the selective stiffening of the mesh. The proposed EQBS technique was applied to the mesh-moving of a rectangular domain including a structure consisting of a square and a fin that undergo large translations and rotations. The proposed EQBS technique showed better performance than JBS on test problems with large translations and rotations applied to the structure. This is because EQBS considers the shear deformation of the element in addition to the tensile and compressive deformations

Pulmonary Sclerosing Hemangioma Detected by Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis: Report of a Case

We present a 53-year-old female suffering from familial adenomatous polyposis, who was found to have a positive nodus, lateral to the hilus of the left lung, on routine FDG-PET scan. This lesion was found to be a sclerosing hemangioma. We found an aberrant β-catenin expression on immunohistochemical staining, suggesting that sclerosing hemangioma and familial adenomatous polyposis share the same pathophysiology. It is important to be aware of the association of familial adenomatous polyposis and sclerosing hemangioma

Clinicopathological characteristics of resected adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the lung: Risk of coexistent double cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>adenosquamous carcinoma (ADSQ) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a rare disease and the biological behavior and clinicopathological characteristics have not yet been thoroughly described.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>This study reviewed the patient charts of 11 (1.6%) ADSQ cases among 779 patients with primary lung cancer who underwent a lung resection. The characteristics and clinicopathological factors were evaluated retrospectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Six of the 11 patients with ADSQ were male and five were female. The mean age was 67.3 years' olds. Three patients had pathological stage IA, one patient each had stage IB and IIA, five patients had stage IIIA, and one patient stage IIIB. Five patients had coexistent double cancer including 2 gastric, 1 rectal, 1 prostate and 1 bladder cancer. ADSQ was found less frequently in males than squamous cell carcinoma (SQ). ADSQ was found more frequently in older patients, with advanced stage, advanced T status, and lymph node metastases than adenocarcinoma (AD). The proportion with coexistent double cancer of AD, SQ, and ADSQ were 21.1, 17.6, and 45.5%, respectively. ADSQ had a significantly correlation with double cancer (ADSQ vs. non- ADSQ p = 0.03). A multivariate analysis showed no significant prognostic difference between the patients with ADSQ and non- ADSQ.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In this study, cases with ADSQ showed no significantly prognostic difference in comparison to AD and SQ. However, surgeons must be cautious of any coexistent double cancer because approximately half of all patients with ADSQ of the lung have double cancer.</p

Allelic losses on chromosome 3p are accumulated in relation to morphological changes of lung adenocarcinoma

We performed allelotyping analysis at nine regions on chromosome 3p using 56 microdissected samples from 23 primary lung adenocarcinomas to examine the process of progression within individual lung adenocarcinoma with various grades of differentiation. Identical allelic patterns among various grades of differentiation were found in eight cases. Accumulation of allelic losses from high to lower differentiated portions was found in seven cases and accumulation of allelic losses from low to higher differentiated portions was found in five cases. Various allelic patterns among various grades of differentiation were found in three cases. These results suggested that allelic losses on 3p play an important role in morphological changes of lung adenocarcinomas. We also investigated the relationship between allelic losses on 3p and histological subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma. The frequencies of allelic losses at 3p14.2 and telomeric region of 3p21.3 were higher in papillary type tumour (nine out of 14, 64% and 11 out of 15, 73%) than in bronchioloalveolar carcinoma-type tumour (one out of 8, 13%; P=0.031 and four out of 12, 33%; P = 0.057). These results indicated that allelic losses at 3p14.2 and telomeric region of 3p21.3 are related to pattern of the proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma

Bacterial infection profiles in lung cancer patients with febrile neutropenia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The chemotherapy used to treat lung cancer causes febrile neutropenia in 10 to 40% of patients. Although most episodes are of undetermined origin, an infectious etiology can be suspected in 30% of cases. In view of the scarcity of data on lung cancer patients with febrile neutropenia, we performed a retrospective study of the microbiological characteristics of cases recorded in three medical centers in the Picardy region of northern France.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We analyzed the medical records of lung cancer patients with neutropenia (neutrophil count < 500/mm³) and fever (temperature > 38.3°C).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The study included 87 lung cancer patients with febrile neutropenia (mean age: 64.2). Two thirds of the patients had metastases and half had poor performance status. Thirty-three of the 87 cases were microbiologically documented. Gram-negative bacteria (mainly enterobacteriaceae from the urinary and digestive tracts) were identified in 59% of these cases. <it>Staphylococcus </it>species (mainly <it>S. aureus</it>) accounted for a high proportion of the identified Gram-positive bacteria. Bacteremia accounted for 60% of the microbiologically documented cases of fever. 23% of the blood cultures were positive. 14% of the infections were probably hospital-acquired and 14% were caused by multidrug-resistant strains. The overall mortality rate at day 30 was 33% and the infection-related mortality rate was 16.1%. Treatment with antibiotics was successful in 82.8% of cases. In a multivariate analysis, predictive factors for treatment failure were age >60 and thrombocytopenia < 20000/mm³.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Gram-negative species were the most frequently identified bacteria in lung cancer patients with febrile neutropenia. Despite the success of antibiotic treatment and a low-risk neutropenic patient group, mortality is high in this particular population.</p

Pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma in a 21-year-old male with metastatic hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer: Report of a case

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma (SH) is a rare tumor of the lung predominantly affecting Asian women in their fifth decade of life. SH is thought to evolve from primitive respiratory epithelium and mostly shows benign biological behavior; however, cases of lymph node metastases, local recurrence and multiple lesions have been described.</p> <p>Case Presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 21-year-old Caucasian male with a history of locally advanced and metastatic rectal carcinoma (UICC IV; pT4, pN1, M1(hep)) that was eventually identified as having hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC, Lynch syndrome). After neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by low anterior resection, adjuvant chemotherapy and metachronous partial hepatectomy, he was admitted for treatment of newly diagnosed bilateral pulmonary metastases. Thoracic computed tomography showed a homogenous, sharply marked nodule in the left lower lobe. We decided in favor of atypical resection followed by systematic lymphadenectomy. Histopathological analysis revealed the diagnosis of SH.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Cases have been published with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and simultaneous SH. FAP, Gardner syndrome and Li-Fraumeni syndrome, however, had been ruled out in the present case. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing SH associated with Lynch syndrome.</p

A phase II study of single-agent gefitinib as first-line therapy in patients with stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of gefitinib (‘IRESSA') in Japanese patients with previously untreated stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This was a multi-institutional phase II study. Thirty-four patients with previously untreated stage IV NSCLC were enrolled between May 2003 and September 2004. Gefitinib was administered orally 250 mg once a day and was continued until there was either disease progression or severe toxicity. Objective tumour response rate was 26.5% (95% confidence interval, 11.7–41.3%). Adverse events were generally mild (National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria grade 1 or 2) and consisted mainly of skin rash, fatigue and liver dysfunction. No pulmonary toxicity was observed. The global health status revealed that there was no change in quality of life during the study. This study found that single-agent gefitinib is active and well tolerated in chemonaive Japanese patients with advanced NSCLC

Hemorrhage of brain metastasis from non-small cell lung cancer post gefitinib therapy: two case reports and review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Gefitinib is one of the small molecule inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR TKIs). Clinical trials have demonstrated it is effective for treatment of a subset of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Gefitinib has been generally considered to be a relatively safe agent. Besides a small proportion of fatal interstitial pneumonia, the common adverse drug reactions of gefitinib include diarrhea and skin rash, which are generally mild and reversible. Herein, we report the first two cases of brain metastasis hemorrhage that might be involved with the use of gefitinib.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>Two patients with brain metastasis from NSCLC developed brain hemorrhage after gefitinib therapy. The hemorrhage in one case occurred one month after gefitinib combined with whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT), and in the another case hemorrhage developed slowly within brain metastases eight months post gefitinib monotherapy for diffuse pulmonary metastasis from a lung cancer undergone surgical removal previously.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We speculate brain hemorrhage could be one of the adverse drug reactions of gefitinib treatment for NSCLC and suggest clinicians be aware of this possible rare entity. More data are needed to confirm our findings, especially when gefitinib is used in the settings of brain metastases from NSCLC or other origins.</p