Elastic Mid-Infrared Light Scattering: a Basis for Microscopy of Large-Scale Electrically Active Defects in Semiconducting Materials

A method of the mid-IR-laser microscopy has been proposed for the investigation of the large-scale electrically and recombination active defects in semiconductors and non-destructive inspection of semiconductor materials and structures in the industries of microelectronics and photovoltaics. The basis for this development was laid with a wide cycle of the investigations on the low-angle mid-IR-light scattering in semiconductors. The essence of the technical idea was to apply the dark-field method for spatial filtering of the scattered light in the scanning mid-IR-laser microscope. This approach enabled the visualization of large-scale electrically active defects which are the regions enriched with ionized electrically active centers. The photoexcitation of excess carriers within a small volume located in the probe mid-IR-laser beam enabled the visualization of the large-scale recombination-active defects like those revealed in the optical or electron beam induced current methods. Both these methods of the scanning mid-IR-laser microscopy are now introduced in detail in the present paper as well as a summary of techniques used in the standard method of the lowangle mid-IR-light scattering itself. Besides the techniques for direct observations, methods for analyses of the defect composition associated with the mid-IR-laser microscopy are also discussed in the paper.Comment: 44 pages, 13 figures. A good oldi

НЕТРАДИЦИОННЫЕ РЕЖИМЫ ФРАКЦИОНИРОВАНИЯ В ЛЕЧЕНИИ НЕОПЕРАБЕЛЬНОГО РАКА ЛЕГКОГО

The purpose of the study was to compare the efficacy and toxicity of hypofractionated versus hyperfractionated radiotherapy in patients with inoperable lung cancer.Material and Methods. Patients with inoperable lung cancer, who were treated between 2014 and 2017, were assigned to undergo radiotherapy in two arms: accelerated hypofractionated conformal radiotherapy arm with 70 patients (60 Gy in 25 fractions, with 2.4 Gy per fraction) and accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy with 49 patients (60–70 Gy with 1–1.5 Gy per fraction). At the same time, platinum-based chemotherapy was applied.Results. The rates of partial response, complete response, stable disease and progressive disease were 44.3, 7.2, 38.5 and 10.0 %, respectively in patients with hypofractionated conformal radiotherapy arm. The corresponding values were 71.4, 6.1, 16.4 and 6.1 %, respectively in patients with hyperfractionated radiotherapy arm. The 2-year overall survival rate was 62.8 % for the hypofractionated group and 58.1 % for the hyperfractionated group. Esophagitis III grade was observed in 4 (5.7 %) patients of the hypofractionated group and in 3 (6.5 %) patients of the hypofractionated group. Pneumonitis III grade was reported in 2 (2.9 %) patients in the hypofractionated radiotherapy arm and in 4 (8.7 %) patients in the hyperfractionated radiotherapy arm.Conclusion. Results of the study showed that 3D-conformal hypofractionated radiotherapy combined with concurrent chemotherapy resulted no in severe radiation-induced complications, and demonstrated satisfactory short-and long-term treatment outcomes. Целью исследования является изучение эффективности и переносимости режима гипофракционирования с проведением сравнительного ретроспективного анализа полученных результатов с группой пациентов, проходивших лучевую терапию в режиме гиперфракционирования.Материал и методы. За период с 2014 по 2017 г. в исследование было включено 70 пациентов с неоперабельным раком легкого. Всем пациентам проведен курс конформной лучевой терапии на ускорителе Elekta Synergy S в режиме ускоренного фракционирования (умеренного гипофракционирования): РОД 2,4 Гр, 25 фракций, СОД 60 Гр с одновременным проведением 1–2 циклов полихимиотерапии в комбинации с препаратами платины (группа 1). Для сравнительной оценки результатов были использованы ретроспективные данные о лечении 49 пациентов, проходивших конвенциональную лучевую терапию на ускорителе Philips SL 75 в режиме ускоренного гиперфракционирования: РОД 1 + 1,5 Гр до СОД 60–70 Гр с одновременным проведением 1–2 циклов полихимиотерапии в комбинации с препаратами платины (группа 2).Результаты. Частичная регрессия, полная регрессия, стабилизация, прогрессирование составили 44,3, 7,2, 38,5 и 10,0 % в 1-й группе против 71,4, 6,1, 16,4 и 6,1 % во 2-й группе соответственно. Двухлетняя общая выживаемость составила 62,8 % в 1-й группе и 58,1 % во 2-й группе. Эзофагит III степени развился у 4 (5,7 %) пациентов из 1-й группы и у 3 (6,5 %) пациентов из 2 группы. Пульмонит III степени развился у 2 (2,9 %) пациентов из 1-й группы и у 4 (8,7 %) пациентов из 2-й группы.Заключение. Применение 3D-конформной лучевой терапии в режиме умеренного гипофракционирования с одновременным проведением химиотерапии не приводит к развитию выраженных лучевых осложнений, а также позволяет добиться удовлетворительных как непосредственных, так и отдаленных результатов, что отражено в сравнительной оценке переносимости и эффективности различных видов лучевой терапии.

АНАЛИЗ КАЧЕСТВА ЖИЗНИ БОЛЬНЫХ НЕОПЕРАБЕЛЬНЫМ РАКОМ ЛЕГКОГО, ПОЛУЧАЮЩИХ ЛУЧЕВУЮ И ФОТОДИНАМИЧЕСКУЮ ТЕРАПИЮ

Aim: to analyze the quality of life of patients with locally advanced inoperable lung cancer during radiation and photodynamic therapy. material and methods. the study included 59 patients with stage II–III lung cancer. the first group (Rt) included 28 patients, who received radical radiation therapy. they completed questionnaires before starting radiotherapy and 2–3 days before the completion of radiotherapy. the second group (PDt + Rt) included 31 patients, who underwent endoscopic photodynamic therapy followed by radical radiation therapy. they were interviewed three times: before PDt, 10 days after PDt (before radiation therapy), and 2–3 days before the completion of radiation therapy. two types of questionnaires were used: patient lung cancer symptom scale (Lcss) and EuroQol questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). Results. the student’s t test and Mann-Whitney u test showed no statistically significant differences in symptoms (except for the symptom «blood in the sputum») between two groups. Both treatment options demonstrated improvement in most items assessing symptoms. In the Rt group, no statistically significant improvements in the item assessing pain were found. In the PDt + Rt group, no significant improvements in the item assessing cough were observed. a comparison of the data of the intermediate (after PDt) and the final questionnaire allowed us to establish that the items «appetite», «fatigue», «pain» and «the impact of the disease on life» improved only after the completion of full-course therapy. the improvement in the item assessing cough was observed after PDt; however, the treatment outcomes showed a return (worsening) of the symptom to the level, which was before treatment. the comparison of the data of the intermediate (after PDt) and the final questionnaire showed the improvement of the items, such as «mobility», «self-care», «daily activities» and «anxiety/depression» after PDt; however, the treatment outcomes indicated a return (worsening) of the symptom to the level, which was observed before treatment. Conclusion. Both types of questionnaires provided important information about the patient’s condition. Lcss questionnaires seem to be preferable in terms of the possibility of using parametric criteria and, as a consequence, obtaining quantitative data on changes in the health of patients. the analysis did not allow us to make a conclusion about the difference in the final efficacy Rt and PDt + Rt in terms of subjective assessment of the health status by the patients themselves. the use of questionnaires in the PDt + Rt group showed that after PDt (before starting Rt) patients had positive changes in their health, which were observed in the Rt group after the completion of full-course therapy.Цель исследования – проанализировать качество жизни больных местнораспространенным неоперабельным раком легкого в процессе проведения лучевой и фотодинамической терапии. Материал и методы. В исследование включены 59 больных раком легкого II–III стадии. В первую группу (ЛТ) вошли 28 больных, получивших радикальный курс лучевой терапии, заполнявших опросники до начала облучения и за 2–3 сут до его завершения. Во вторую группу (ФДТ + ЛТ) – 31 больной, которым проводилась эндоскопическая фотодинамическая терапия с последующим радикальным курсом лучевой терапии. Они проходили анкетирование трижды: 1 – до ФДТ, 2 – через 10 дней после ФДТ (до лучевой терапии), 3 – за 2–3 сут до завершения лучевой терапии. Использовали 2 вида опросников: пациентская шкала симптомов рака легкого (Lcss) и опросник EuroQol (EQ-5D-5L). Результаты. Прямое сравнение групп между собой (кроме симптома «кровь в мокроте») по критерию Стьюдента и u-критерию Манна–Уитни не показало наличия статистически значимых различий. При обоих методах лечения достигнуто улучшение по большинству показателей. В группе ЛТ не было обнаружено статистически достоверных улучшений по показателю «боль», а в группе ФДТ + ЛТ – по показателю «кашель». Сравнение данных промежуточного (после ФДТ) и итогового анкетирования позволило установить, что показатели «аппетит», «усталость», «боль» и «влияние болезни на жизнь» улучшились только после окончания всего курса лечения. В отличие от них показатель «кашель» улучшился уже после ФДТ, а по итогам лечения наблюдалось возвращение (ухудшение) симптома на уровень до лечения.Сравнение данных промежуточного (после ФДТ) и итогового анкетирования выявило, что показатели «подвижность», «уход за собой», «повседневная деятельность» и «тревога/депрессия» улучшились после ФДТ, а по итогам лечения наблюдалось возвращение (ухудшение) этих показателей на уровень до лечения. Заключение. Оба вида анкетирования предоставляют важную информацию о состоянии пациентов. Анкеты Lcss выглядят предпочтительными с точки зрения возможности применения параметрических критериев и получения количественных данных об изменении самочувствия пациентов. Проведенный анализ пока не позволяет сделать заключение о различии в итоговой эффективностиЛТ и ФДТ + ЛТ с точки зрения субъективной оценки состояния здоровья самими пациентами. В то же время применение анкетирования на разных этапах лечения в случае группы ФДТ + ЛТ показывает, что уже после окончания ФДТ (до начала ЛТ) наблюдаются положительные изменения самочувствия пациентов, характерные для группы ЛТ после окончания всего курса терапии

UNCONVENTIONAL FRACTIONATION RADIOTHERAPY REGIMENS IN TREATMENT OF INOPERABLE LUNG CANCER

The purpose of the study was to compare the efficacy and toxicity of hypofractionated versus hyperfractionated radiotherapy in patients with inoperable lung cancer.Material and Methods. Patients with inoperable lung cancer, who were treated between 2014 and 2017, were assigned to undergo radiotherapy in two arms: accelerated hypofractionated conformal radiotherapy arm with 70 patients (60 Gy in 25 fractions, with 2.4 Gy per fraction) and accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy with 49 patients (60–70 Gy with 1–1.5 Gy per fraction). At the same time, platinum-based chemotherapy was applied.Results. The rates of partial response, complete response, stable disease and progressive disease were 44.3, 7.2, 38.5 and 10.0 %, respectively in patients with hypofractionated conformal radiotherapy arm. The corresponding values were 71.4, 6.1, 16.4 and 6.1 %, respectively in patients with hyperfractionated radiotherapy arm. The 2-year overall survival rate was 62.8 % for the hypofractionated group and 58.1 % for the hyperfractionated group. Esophagitis III grade was observed in 4 (5.7 %) patients of the hypofractionated group and in 3 (6.5 %) patients of the hypofractionated group. Pneumonitis III grade was reported in 2 (2.9 %) patients in the hypofractionated radiotherapy arm and in 4 (8.7 %) patients in the hyperfractionated radiotherapy arm.Conclusion. Results of the study showed that 3D-conformal hypofractionated radiotherapy combined with concurrent chemotherapy resulted no in severe radiation-induced complications, and demonstrated satisfactory short-and long-term treatment outcomes

ANALYSIS OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS WITH INOPERABLE LUNG CANCER DURING RADIOTHERAPY AND PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY

Aim: to analyze the quality of life of patients with locally advanced inoperable lung cancer during radiation and photodynamic therapy. material and methods. the study included 59 patients with stage II–III lung cancer. the first group (Rt) included 28 patients, who received radical radiation therapy. they completed questionnaires before starting radiotherapy and 2–3 days before the completion of radiotherapy. the second group (PDt + Rt) included 31 patients, who underwent endoscopic photodynamic therapy followed by radical radiation therapy. they were interviewed three times: before PDt, 10 days after PDt (before radiation therapy), and 2–3 days before the completion of radiation therapy. two types of questionnaires were used: patient lung cancer symptom scale (Lcss) and EuroQol questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). Results. the student’s t test and Mann-Whitney u test showed no statistically significant differences in symptoms (except for the symptom «blood in the sputum») between two groups. Both treatment options demonstrated improvement in most items assessing symptoms. In the Rt group, no statistically significant improvements in the item assessing pain were found. In the PDt + Rt group, no significant improvements in the item assessing cough were observed. a comparison of the data of the intermediate (after PDt) and the final questionnaire allowed us to establish that the items «appetite», «fatigue», «pain» and «the impact of the disease on life» improved only after the completion of full-course therapy. the improvement in the item assessing cough was observed after PDt; however, the treatment outcomes showed a return (worsening) of the symptom to the level, which was before treatment. the comparison of the data of the intermediate (after PDt) and the final questionnaire showed the improvement of the items, such as «mobility», «self-care», «daily activities» and «anxiety/depression» after PDt; however, the treatment outcomes indicated a return (worsening) of the symptom to the level, which was observed before treatment. Conclusion. Both types of questionnaires provided important information about the patient’s condition. Lcss questionnaires seem to be preferable in terms of the possibility of using parametric criteria and, as a consequence, obtaining quantitative data on changes in the health of patients. the analysis did not allow us to make a conclusion about the difference in the final efficacy Rt and PDt + Rt in terms of subjective assessment of the health status by the patients themselves. the use of questionnaires in the PDt + Rt group showed that after PDt (before starting Rt) patients had positive changes in their health, which were observed in the Rt group after the completion of full-course therapy