Lymphangiography to treat postoperative lymphatic leakage: a technical review.

In addition to imaging the lymphatics and detecting various types of lymphatic leakage, lymphangiography is a therapeutic option for patients with chylothorax, chylous ascites, and lymphatic fistula. Percutaneous thoracic duct embolization, transabdominal catheterization of the cisterna chyli or thoracic duct, and subsequent embolization of the thoracic duct is an alternative to surgical ligation of the thoracic duct. In this pictorial review, we present the detailed technique, clinical applications, and complications of lymphangiography and thoracic duct embolization

E-beam-enhanced solid-state mechanical amorphization of alpha-quartz: Reducing deformation barrier via localized excess electrons as mobile anions

Under hydrostatic pressure, alpha-quartz undergoes solid-state mechanical amorphization wherein the interpenetration of SiO4 tetrahedra occurs and the material loses crystallinity. This phase transformation requires a high hydrostatic pressure of 14 GPa because the repulsive forces resulting from the ionic nature of the Si-O bonds prevent the severe distortion of the atomic configuration. Herein, we experimentally and computationally demonstrate that e-beam irradiation changes the nature of the interatomic bonds in alpha-quartz and enhances the solid-state mechanical amorphization at nanoscale. Specifically, during in situ uniaxial compression, a larger permanent deformation occurs in alpha-quartz micropillars compressed during e-beam irradiation than in those without e-beam irradiation. Microstructural analysis reveals that the large permanent deformation under e-beam irradiation originates from the enhanced mechanical amorphization of alpha-quartz and the subsequent viscoplastic deformation of the amorphized region. Further, atomic-scale simulations suggest that the delocalized excess electrons introduced by e-beam irradiation move to highly distorted atomic configurations and alleviate the repulsive force, thus reducing the barrier to the solid-state mechanical amorphization. These findings deepen our understanding of electron-matter interactions and can be extended to new glass forming and processing technologies at nano- and microscale.Comment: 24 pages, 6 figure

The value of chest CT for prediction of breast tumor size: comparison with pathology measurement

BACKGROUND: Little information is available on the use of chest computed tomography (CT) to predict breast tumor size in breast cancer, despite the fact that chest CT examinations are being increasingly used. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of chest CT for predicting breast tumor size using pathology measurements as reference standards. METHODS: Tumor sizes (defined as greatest diameter) were retrospectively measured on the preoperative chest CT images of 285 patients with surgically proven unifocal, invasive breast carcinoma. Greatest tumor diameters as determined by chest CT and pathologic examinations were compared by linear regression and Spearman’s rho correlation analysis. Concordance between CT and pathology results was defined as a diameter difference of <5 mm. Subgroup analyses were also performed with respect to tumor size (<20 mm or ≥20 mm) and histological subtype (invasive ductal carcinoma(IDC) or non-IDC). RESULTS: CT and pathology measured diameters were found to be linearly related (size at pathology = 1.086 × CT determined tumor size - 1.141; Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient = 0.84, P<0.001). Most tumors (n = 228, 80.0%) were concordant by chest CT and pathology, but 36 tumors (12.7%) were underestimated by CT (average underestimation, 11 mm; range, 6–36 mm) and 21 tumors (7.4%) were overestimated (average overestimation by CT, 10 mm; range, 6–19 mm). The concordance rate between the two sets of measurements was greater for tumor of <20 mm and for IDC (P<0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Tumor size by chest CT is well correlated with pathology determined tumor size in breast cancer patients, and the diameters of the majority of tumors by chest CT and pathology differed by <5 mm. In addition, the concordance rate was higher for breast tumors of <20 mm and for tumors of the IDC histologic subtype

Could Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide Test be Useful in Predicting Inhaled Corticosteroid Responsiveness in Chronic Cough? A Systematic Review

© 2016 Background Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) is a safe and convenient test for assessing T H 2 airway inflammation, which is potentially useful in the management of patients with chronic cough. Objective To summarize the current evidence on the diagnostic usefulness of FENO for predicting inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) responsiveness in patients with chronic cough. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted to identify articles published in peer-reviewed journals up to February 2015, without language restriction. We included studies that reported the usefulness of FENO (index test) for predicting ICS responsiveness (reference standard) in patients with chronic cough (target condition). The data were extracted to construct a 2 × 2 accuracy table. Study quality was assessed with Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2. Results We identified 5 original studies (2 prospective and 3 retrospective studies). We identified considerable heterogeneities in study design and outcome definitions, and thus were unable to perform a meta-analysis. The proportion of ICS responders ranged from 44% to 59%. Sensitivity and specificity ranged from 53% to 90%, and from 63% to 97%, respectively. The reported area under the curve ranged from abou t 0.60 to 0.87; however, studies with a prospective design and a lower prevalence of asthma had lower area under the curve values. None measured placebo effects or objective cough frequency. Conclusions We did not find strong evidence to support the use of FENO tests for predicting ICS responsiveness in chronic cough. Further studies need to have a randomized, placebo-controlled design, and should use validated measurement tools for cough. Standardization would facilitate the development of clinical evidence

Study on Practical Measures for the Development of Korean Track and Field

PURPOSE In this study, in-depth interviews were conducted with track-and-field athletes and leaders who participated in the Tokyo Olympics. The study aimed to present practical measures for the development of Korean track and field, which people at the forefront of Korean track and field thought. METHODS In-depth interviews were conducted using semi-structured questions for a total of five track-and-field national athletes and four track and field coaches. RESULTS A total of 39 subcategories and 104 concepts were derived with regard to four research questions: the process up to the Tokyo Olympics, the actual condition of Korean track and field, a comparison with track-and-field power nation, and practical measures for becoming track-and-field power nation. CONCLUSIONS Practical measures are needed to improve and develop the competitiveness of Korean track and field, which is expected to improve its competitiveness and help develop Korean track and field in the future