Tritium radioactivity estimation in cement mortar by heat-extraction and liquid scintillation counting

Tritium extraction from radioactively contaminated cement mortar samples was performed using heating and liquid scintillation counting methods. Tritiated water molecules (HTO) can be present in contaminated water along with water molecules (H2O). Water is one of the primary constituents of cement mortar dough. Therefore, if tritium is present in cement mortar, the buildings and structures using this cement mortar would be contaminated by tritium. The radioactivity level of the materials in the environment exposed to tritium contamination should be determined for their disposal in accordance with the criteria of low-level radioactive waste disposal facility. For our experiments, the cement mortar samples were heated at different temperature conditions using a high-temperature combustion furnace, and the extracted tritium was collected into a 0.1 M nitric acid solution, which was then mixed with a liquid scintillator to be analyzed in a liquid scintillation counter (LSC). The tritium extraction rate from the cement mortar sample was calculated to be 90.91% and 98.54% corresponding to 9 h of heating at temperatures of 200 degrees C and 400 degrees C, respectively. The tritium extraction rate was close to 100% at 400 degrees C, although the bulk of cement mortar sample was contaminated by tritium. (C) 2021 Korean Nuclear Society, Published by Elsevier Korea LLC

Real-time detection of an airborne microorganism using inertial impaction and mini-fluorescent microscopy

To achieve successful real-time detection of airborne pathogenic microorganisms, the problem must be considered in terms of their physical size and biological characteristics. We developed an airborne microorganism detection chip to realize the detection of microorganisms, ensuring compactness, sensitivity, cost-efficiency, and portability, using three key components: an inertial impaction system, a cartridge-type impaction plate, and a mini-fluorescent microscope. The inertial impaction system was used to separate microorganisms in terms of their aerodynamic particle size, and was fabricated with three impaction stages. Numerical analysis was performed to design the system; the calculated cutoff diameter at each impaction stage was 2.02 (first stage), 0.88 (second stage), and 0.54 μm (third stage). The measured cutoff diameters were 2.24, 0.91, and 0.49 μm, respectively. A cartridge-type impaction plate was used, composed of molded polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and an actual impaction region made of a SYBR green I dye-stained agar plate. A mini-fluorescent microscope was used to distinguish microbes from non-biological particles. Images of the microorganisms deposited at the impaction zone were obtained via mini-fluorescent microscopy, and fluorescent intensities of the images were calculated using in-house image-processing software. The results showed that the developed system successfully identified aerosolized biological particles from non-biological particles in real time

Large artery intracranial occlusive disease: a large worldwide burden but a relatively neglected frontier

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Large artery intracranial occlusive disease (LAICOD) is a common and important stroke subtype. In this commentary, we review key epidemiological aspects of LAICOD. SUMMARY OF REVIEW: LAICOD has emerged as the most common stroke subtype worldwide and is associated with a high risk of recurrent stroke. Hypotheses have been proposed to explain causation, which include such factors as traditional cardiovascular risk factors, high blood volume states, and genetic abnormalities. Approaches to treatment such as antithrombotic therapies, revascularization procedures, and counterpulsation devices hold promise. CONCLUSIONS: LAICOD poses a major stroke problem worldwide and is likely the most common stroke subtype. The etiology and treatment of this disorder remain poorly defined. International collaborations are needed to pool collective knowledge and develop definitive studies to better understand causation and treatment of LAICOD

Status of Rehabilitation After Ischemic Stroke: A Korean Nationwide Study

Objective To investigate the post-stroke rehabilitation status according to stroke severity using the database of the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Methods The data of patients admitted to the neurology departments of 12 hospitals within 7 days of onset of ischemic stroke were collected. A total of 2,895 patients hospitalized between November 2010 and December 2011 were included. The patients were classified into three groups according to their initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores (mild, ≤5; moderate, >5 and ≤13; and severe, >13). Length of hospital stay (LoS) with rehabilitation, NIHSS score after acute care, and scores on modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were examined at 1 year post-stroke according to stroke severity and ongoing rehabilitation. Results The total LoS for ongoing rehabilitation significantly increased with stroke severity (mild, 91.66±149.70; moderate, 197.26±241.93; severe, 263.50±275.75 days; p<0.01). However, the proportion of LoS with ongoing rehabilitation to the total LoS tended to decline with increasing stroke severity (mild, 77.93±29.50, p<0.01; moderate, 71.83±32.13; severe, 62.29±37.19). The home discharge rate of the group that underwent continuous inpatient rehabilitation was significantly higher in patients with moderate and severe stroke, respectively (14.2% vs. 0.0%, p<0.001; 7.4% vs. 0.0%, p=0.032). Conclusion This study showed that intermittent rehabilitation was often provided after acute care, whereas ongoing rehabilitation positively affected rate of home discharge in patients with moderate and severe stroke in Korea. These results represent evidence for improving the healthcare system to promote adequate rehabilitation in the future

Effect of moderate-intensity statin therapy on plaque inflammation in patients with acute coronary syndrome: A prospective interventional study evaluated by 18F-FDG PET/CT of the carotid artery

Background: Asian patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are frequently prescribed moderate- -intensity statin in real practice, even during the early stage of ACS. Under assessment herein was the effect of moderate-intensity statin therapy on the resolution of plaque inflammation during the first month after ACS, a period with highest recurrent ischemic events, using dual time point 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT).Methods: This prospective study included statin-naïve patients with ACS and non-calcified carotid plaques (≥ 3 mm on ultrasound images). Baseline FDG PET/CT images of the carotid arteries of the patients were obtained. Then, all patients received atorvastatin (20 mg/day); follow-up FDG PET/CT images of the carotid arteries were then obtained after 1 month of therapy. The primary endpoint measurement was the change in the target-to-background ratio (TBR) of the carotid artery between the initial and follow-up FDG PET/CT scans.Results: Thirteen ACS patients completed the initial and follow-up FDG PET/CT scans. Moderate-intensity statin therapy failed to reduce plaque inflammation at 1 month after ACS (TBR 1.60 ± 0.20 at baseline vs. 1.50 ± 0.40 after therapy; p = 0.422) but significantly reduced serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (mean LDL-C 101.2 ± 21.1 mg/dL at baseline vs. 70.7 ± 12.4 mg/dL after therapy; p &lt; 0.001). Changes in the TBR and serum LDL-C levels were not correlated (r = –0.27, p = 0.243).Conclusions: Dual time point FDG PET/CT imaging demonstrates that moderate-intensity statin therapy was insufficient in suppressed plaque inflammation within the first month after ACS in Asian patients, even though achieving target LDL levels

KITENIN increases invasion and migration of mouse squamous cancer cells and promotes pulmonary metastasis in a mouse squamous tumor model

AbstractKAI1 C-terminal interacting tetraspanin (KITENIN) is reported to promote metastasis in mouse colon cancer models. We investigated the role of KITENIN on the progression of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In a preliminary clinical study using resected tissues from head and neck SCC patients, KITENIN was highly expressed in tumors and metastatic lymph nodes, while KAI1 was more increased in adjacent mucosa than in tumor. KITENIN-transfected mouse squamous cancer (SCC VII/KITENIN) cells showed significantly higher invasion, migration, and proliferation than empty vector-transfected cells. In syngeneic mouse squamous tumor models, more increased tumor volume and enhanced lung metastasis were found in SCC VII/KITENIN cells-injected mice. Thus, KITENIN increases invasion and migration of squamous cancer cells and thereby promotes distant metastasis in mouse squamous tumor models

Perovskite-polymer composite cross-linker approach for highly-stable and efficient perovskite solar cells.

Manipulation of grain boundaries in polycrystalline perovskite is an essential consideration for both the optoelectronic properties and environmental stability of solar cells as the solution-processing of perovskite films inevitably introduces many defects at grain boundaries. Though small molecule-based additives have proven to be effective defect passivating agents, their high volatility and diffusivity cannot render perovskite films robust enough against harsh environments. Here we suggest design rules for effective molecules by considering their molecular structure. From these, we introduce a strategy to form macromolecular intermediate phases using long chain polymers, which leads to the formation of a polymer-perovskite composite cross-linker. The cross-linker functions to bridge the perovskite grains, minimizing grain-to-grain electrical decoupling and yielding excellent environmental stability against moisture, light, and heat, which has not been attainable with small molecule defect passivating agents. Consequently, all photovoltaic parameters are significantly enhanced in the solar cells and the devices also show excellent stability

Tricuspid regurgitation: a hidden risk factor for atrial fibrillation related stroke?

Background and purposeTricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a common but overlooked valvular disease, and its association with the etiologic subtypes of ischemic stroke is unclear. We explored the relationship between TR and atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with acute ischemic stroke.MethodsThis retrospective analysis of ongoing stroke registry assessed 6,886 consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients who underwent transthoracic echocardiography during their in-hospital care. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, stroke characteristics, and echocardiographic indices were used to investigate the association between TR and total AF, and newly diagnosed AF during hospitalization and a 1-year follow-up period, respectively.ResultsTR was present in 877 (12.7%) patients (mild, 9.9%; moderate, 2.4%; severe, 0.5%). AF was identified in 24.1% (medical history, 11.1%; first detected in the emergency room, 6.6%; newly diagnosed after admission, 6.4%). TR was associated with AF [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.87 (95% confidence interval (CI), 2.63–9.03)], compared with no/trivial TR. The association between TR and AF was consistent regardless of severity (aOR [95% CI], 4.57 [2.63–7.94] for mild and 7.05 [2.57–19.31] for moderate-to-severe TR) or subtype of TR (5.44 [2.91–10.14] for isolated and 3.81 [2.00–7.28] for non-isolated TR). Among the AF-naïve patients at admission, TR was associated with newly diagnosed AF during hospitalization and a 1-year follow-up period (aOR [95% CI], 2.68 [1.81–3.97]).ConclusionsTR is associated with AF in acute ischemic stroke patients regardless of severity and subtypes of TR. TR is also associated with newly diagnosed AF after stroke

A Case of Disseminated and Fulminant Plasmacytomas That Developed during Bortezomib Treatment

Multiple myeloma is an incurable and slow growing plasma cell neoplasm. The introduction of new drugs has increased the number of treatment options. Bortezomib, the first-in-class proteasome inhibitor, has been shown to have a significant antitumor activity in the treatment of relapse/refractory patients with multiple myeloma. Additionally, plasmacytomas have shown significant response to bortezomib. In this case report, we describe a patient who developed disseminated and fulminant extramedullary plasmacytomas during combination chemotherapy treatment with bortezomib within a short period, after having shown clinical improvement