Chromium and iridium effects on the short-term interdiffusion behaviour between Pt rich γ-γ′ bond-coatings and a Ni-Al-Cr alloy

The interdiffusion behaviour of a 5 μm thick layer of Pt deposited by electroplating on a γ-Ni-12Al-10Cr model alloy was studied in order to assess the effect of Cr. Heat treatments were performed for 1 min up to 1 h at 1100 °C under argon. Cr addition increased the uphill diffusion of Al to the surface when compared with Pt/γ-(Ni,Al) systems. Al and Cr had a positive chemical interaction in presence of Pt, as shown by the positive values of the DAlCrNi and DCrAlNi diffusion coefficients determined by modelling. Pt had a negative chemical interaction with Al and with Cr in such a way that Pt decreased their activities. According to the diffusion coefficient values, Pt had a greater influence on the Al activity than on the Cr one. Similarly, 2 μm of Pt and 3 μm of Pt-25Ir were deposited by electroplating on the same model alloy to investigate the effect of Ir. Heat treatments were performed in the same conditions as for Cr. Iridium slowed down the interdiffusion when compared with systems with Pt only. Iridium diffused slower toward the substrate than Pt and a lower Pt + Ir flux toward the substrate was found. As voids formed at the interdiffusion zone/substrate interface due to Kirkendall effect, this lower inward Pt + Ir flux resulted in a lower outward vacancy flux and then Ir reduced Kirkendall voids formation. Moreover, Ir decreased the Pt effect on Al activity by dilution or even gave an opposite contribution to the Pt one. This reduced the uphill diffusion of Al, delaying the α-NiPtAl phase formation. Diffusion paths of each model system were also identified after 15 min at 1100 °C and all highlighted the α-NiPtAl phase formation and its aptitude to be used in TBC systems

Solid solution softening or hardening induced by minor substitutional additions in a Hf20Nb31Ta31Ti18 refractory high entropy alloy

The effect of minor additions of substitutional elements such as Al, Cu, Mn, and Fe on the room-temperature (RT) and elevated-temperature hardness of a single bcc phase Hf20Nb31Ta31Ti18 refractory high entropy alloy is studied here. Interestingly, 2.5 at. % nominal addition of Fe hardened the base Hf20Nb31Ta31Ti18 alloy in the temperature range from RT to 800 \ub0C, while the same nominal content of addition of Al, Cu, and Mn softened the base alloy from RT to 1000 \ub0C. Regardless of solid solution hardening or solid solution softening, the hardness variation with temperature essentially showed the same three-stage pattern for all studied alloys here: a temperature-dependent decrease in hardness below 300 \ub0C/400 \ub0C, followed by a temperature-independent hardness plateau between 300/400 and 800 \ub0C, and finally a temperature-dependent decrease in hardness at temperatures higher than 800 \ub0C. The mechanism for solid solution hardening or softening in bcc-structured refractory high entropy alloys is discussed, together with their temperature dependence

Cell–matrix interaction via CD44 is independently regulated by different metalloproteinases activated in response to extracellular Ca2+ influx and PKC activation

CD44 is an adhesion molecule that interacts with hyaluronic acid (HA) and undergoes sequential proteolytic cleavages in its ectodomain and intramembranous domain. The ectodomain cleavage is triggered by extracellular Ca2+ influx or the activation of protein kinase C. Here we show that CD44-mediated cell–matrix adhesion is terminated by two independent ADAM family metalloproteinases, ADAM10 and ADAM17, differentially regulated in response to those stimuli. Ca2+ influx activates ADAM10 by regulating the association between calmodulin and ADAM10, leading to CD44 ectodomain cleavage. Depletion of ADAM10 strongly inhibits the Ca2+ influx-induced cell detachment from matrix. On the other hand, phorbol ester stimulation activates ADAM17 through the activation of PKC and small GTPase Rac, inducing proteolysis of CD44. Furthermore, depletion of ADAM10 or ADAM17 markedly suppressed CD44-dependent cancer cell migration on HA, but not on fibronectin. The spatio-temporal regulation of two independent signaling pathways for CD44 cleavage plays a crucial role in cell–matrix interaction and cell migration

Brachytherapy in Japan

This study aimed to assess the current state of brachytherapy (BT) resources, practices and resident education in Japan. A nationwide survey was undertaken encompassing 177 establishments facilitating BT in 2022. Questionnaires were disseminated to each BT center, and feedback through online channels or postal correspondence was obtained. The questionnaire response rate was 90% (159/177), and every prefecture had a response in at least one center. The number of centers in each prefecture ranged from 0.6 to 3.6 (median: 1.3) per million population. The annual number of patients in each center ranged from 0 to 272 (median: 31). While most prefectures provided intracavitary (IC) BT for gynecological cancers and interstitial (IS) BT for prostate cancer, only one-third of the prefectures provided IS BT for cancer sites other than the prostate. The institutional image-guided BT implementation rate was 71%. IC and IS BT was performed for 15.4% of IC BT cases of gynecological cancer. Only 47% of the BT training centers answered that they could provide adequate training in BT for residents. The most common reason for this finding was the insufficient number of patients in each center. The results show that, although BT has achieved uniformity in terms of facility penetration, new technologies are not yet widespread enough. Furthermore, IS BT, which requires advanced skills, is limited to a few BT centers, and considerable number of BT training centers do not have sufficient caseloads to provide the necessary experience for their residents

Particle therapy for prostate cancer: The past, present and future

Although prostate cancer control using radiotherapy is dose‐dependent, dose–volume effects on late toxicities in organs at risk, such as the rectum and bladder, have been observed. Both protons and carbon ions offer advantageous physical properties for radiotherapy, and create favorable dose distributions using fewer portals compared with photon‐based radiotherapy. Thus, particle beam therapy using protons and carbon ions theoretically seems suitable for dose escalation and reduced risk of toxicity. However, it is difficult to evaluate the superiority of particle beam radiotherapy over photon beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer, as no clinical trials have directly compared the outcomes between the two types of therapy due to the limited number of facilities using particle beam therapy. The Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology organized a joint effort among research groups to establish standardized treatment policies and indications for particle beam therapy according to disease, and multicenter prospective studies have been planned for several common cancers. Clinical trials of proton beam therapy for intermediate‐risk prostate cancer and carbon‐ion therapy for high‐risk prostate cancer have already begun. As particle beam therapy for prostate cancer is covered by the Japanese national health insurance system as of April 2018, and the number of facilities practicing particle beam therapy has increased recently, the number of prostate cancer patients treated with particle beam therapy in Japan is expected to increase drastically. Here, we review the results from studies of particle beam therapy for prostate cancer and discuss future developments in this field

A phase I/II clinical trial for the hybrid of intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer

BackgroundThis paper describes about a study protocol of phase I/II multicenter prospective clinical trial evaluating the feasibility and efficacy of the hybrid of intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy (HBT) for locally advanced uterine cervical cancer patients.Methods and designPatients with histologically confirmed FIGO stage IB2, IIA2, IIB, and IIIB uterine cervical carcinoma width of which is larger than 5 cm assessed by MRI will be entered to this clinical trial. Protocol therapy is 30-30.6 Gy in 15-17 fractions of whole pelvic radiotherapy concurrent with weekly CDDP (40 mg/m2), followed by 24 Gy in 4 fractions of HBT and central shield EBRT up to 50-50.4 Gy in 25-28 fractions. Tumor width is assessed again within one week before the first HBT and if the tumor width is larger than 4 cm, patients proceed to the secondary registration. In phase I section, feasibility of this will be investigated. If less than 10 % out of 20 patients experienced greater than grade 3 acute non-hematologic adverse effects, the study proceeds to phase II part. In phase II part a total of 55 patients will be accrued and the efficacy of the HBT will be investigated comparing with historical control data. If the lower margin of 90 % confidence interval of the 2-year pelvic progression-free survival of the HBT trial is higher than 64 %, the HBT is considered to be more effective than conventional ICBT.DiscussionThe aim of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of the HBT for locally advanced cervical cancer. This trial will clarify the indication, feasibility, and efficacy of this new technique