Dielectronic Recombination of Ground-State and Metastable Li+ Ions

Dielectronic recombination has been investigated for Delta-n = 1 resonances of ground-state Li+(1s^2) and for Delta-n = 0 resonances of metastable Li+(1s2s ^3S). The ground-state spectrum shows three prominent transitions between 53 and 64 eV, while the metastable spectrum exhibits many transitions with energies < 3.2 eV. Reasonably good agreement of R-matrix, LS coupling calculations with the measured recombination rate coefficient is obtained. The time dependence of the recombination rate yields a radiative lifetime of 52.2 +- 5.0 s for the 2 ^3S level of Li+.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. A; REVTeX, 4 pages, 3 figure

Phenoconversion from probable rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder to mild cognitive impairment to dementia in a population-based sample

© 2017 The Authors Introduction Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is strongly associated with synucleinopathies. In 2012, we reported an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Parkinson disease (PD) in cognitively normal Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents, aged 70 to 89 years with probable RBD. Here, we examine their progression to dementia and other neurodegenerative phenotypes. Methods Fifteen participants with RBD who were diagnosed with either MCI or PD were longitudinally followed, and their subsequent clinical courses were reviewed. Results Over 6.4 ± 2.9 years, six of the 14 participants with MCI developed additional neurodegenerative signs, five of whom had Lewy body disease features. Four of them progressed to dementia at a mean age 84.8 ± 4.9 years, three of whom met the criteria for probable dementia with Lewy bodies. One subject with PD developed MCI, but not dementia. Discussion Our findings from the population-based sample of Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents suggest that a substantial number of RBD patients tend to develop overt synucleinopathy features over time, and RBD patients who develop MCI and subsequent dementia have clinical features most consistent with dementia with Lewy bodies

Phase I study of gemcitabine using a once every 2 weeks schedule.

Gemcitabine (2',2'-difluorodeoxycytidine) is a novel nucleoside analogue. As part of a series of studies to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of gemcitabine and the most appropriate schedule, a two-centre phase I study of gemcitabine was undertaken in patients with advanced refractory solid tumours using a once every 2 weeks schedule. Fifty-two patients were entered into the study at 14 different dose levels (40-5700 mg m-2). Weekly evaluations for toxicity were performed and the MTD for this once every 2 weeks schedule was 5700 mg m-2. The dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression, with neutropenia being most significant. Other toxicities were nausea, vomiting, fever and asthenia. One minor response was seen in a heavily pretreated breast cancer patient treated at 1200 mg m-2. Preclinical studies suggest that the efficacy of gemcitabine is more schedule than dose related, and it is concluded that this is not the most appropriate dosing schedule for gemcitabine. However, this study demonstrates the safety profile of gemcitabine, as doses over fourfold greater than that recommended for the weekly schedule of 1000 mg m-2 could be tolerated

Resonant Electron Transfer And Excitation In Two-, Three-, And Four- Electron Caq +20 And Vq +23 Ions Colliding With Helium

Significant new evidence is reported for resonant transfer and excitation in ion-atom collisions. This process, which is analogous to dielectronic recombination, occurs when a target electron is captured simultaneously with the excitation of the projectile followed by photon emission. Strong resonant behavior with structure, in agreement with theoretical calculations, is observed in the cross section for projectile K x rays coincident with single electron capture for 100-360-MeV Ca16+,17+,18+20 and 180-460-MeV V19+,20+,21+23 ions colliding with helium. © 1984 The American Physical Society

Predictors of undergoing multivisceral resection, margin status and survival in Dutch patients with locally advanced colorectal cancer

Background: The aim of this nationwide observational study was to evaluate factors associated with multivisceral resection (MVR), margin status and overall survival in locally advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). Material and methods: Patients with (y)pT4, cM0 CRC between 2006 and 2017 were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Cox-proportional hazards modelling was used for survival analysis, stratified for T4a and T4b. Annual hospital volume cut-off was 75 for colon and 40 for rectal resections. Results: A total of 11.930 patients were included and 2410 patients (20.2%) underwent MVR. Factors associated with MVR for colon and rectal cancer besides cT4 category were more recent diagnosis (OR 3.61, CI 95% 3.06–4.25 (colon) and OR 2.72, CI 95% 1.82–4.08 (rectum)) and high hospital volume (OR 1.20, CI 95% 1.05–1.38 (colon) and OR 2.17, CI 95% 1.55–3.04 (rectum)). Patients ≥70 year were less likely to undergo MVR for colon cancer (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.70–0.90). Risk factors for incomplete resection were cT4 (OR 3.08, CI 95% 2.35–4.04 (colon) and OR 1.82, CI 95% 1.13–2.94 (rectum)) and poor/undifferentiated tumors (OR 1.41, CI 95% 1.14–1.72 (colon) and OR 1.69, CI 95% 1.05–2.74 (rectum)). More recent diagnosis was independently associated with less incomplete resections in colon cancer (OR 0.58, CI 95% 0.40–0.76). Independent predictors of survival were age, resection margin, nodal status and adjuvant chemotherapy, but not MVR. Conclusion: Treatment of locally advanced CRC with MVR at population level was influenced by year of diagnosis and hospital volume. Margin status in colon cancer improved substantially over time.</p

Adhesion formation after surgery for locally advanced colonic cancer in the COLOPEC trial

This study investigated the impact of laparoscopic or open resection of locally advanced colonic cancer on the incidence and severity of adhesions evaluated by laparoscopy at 18 months, primarily intended to evaluate peritoneal recurrence. Open surgery was identified as an independent risk factor for adhesions, but not intraperitoneal chemotherapy.</p

Long-term survival after hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy using mitomycin C or oxaliplatin in colorectal cancer patients with synchronous peritoneal metastases:A nationwide comparative study

Objectives: In the Netherlands, limited variability exists in performance of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) among centers treating colorectal peritoneal metastases (PM), except for the intraperitoneal drug administration. This offers a unique opportunity to investigate any disparities in survival between the two most frequently used HIPEC regimens worldwide: mitomycin C (MMC) and oxaliplatin.Methods: This was a comparative, population-based cohort study of all Dutch patients diagnosed with synchronous colorectal PM who underwent CRS-HIPEC between 2014 and 2017. They were retrieved from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Main outcome was overall survival (OS). The effect of the intraperitoneal drug on OS was investigated using multivariable Cox regression analysis.Results: In total, 297 patients treated between 2014 and 2017 were included. Among them, 177 (59.6%) received MMC and 120 (40.4%) received oxaliplatin. Only primary tumor location was different between the two groups: more left-sided colon in the Oxaliplatin group (47.5% vs. 33.3%, respectively, p=0.048). The 1-, 2- and 3-year OS were 84.6% vs. 85.8%, 61.6% vs. 63.9% and 44.7% vs. 53.5% in patients treated with MMC and oxaliplatin, respectively. Median OS was 30.7 months in the MMC group vs. 46.6 months in the oxaliplatin group (p=0.181). In multivariable analysis, no influence of intraperitoneal drug on survival was observed (adjusted HR 0.77 [0.53-1.13]).Conclusions: Long-term survival between patients treated with either MMC or oxaliplatin during CRS-HIPEC was not significantly different. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd, BASO similar to The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved.</p

F-18-FDG-Uptake in Mediastinal Lymph Nodes in Suspected Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis:Predictor or Confounder?

Introduction: Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a serious disease affecting ~0.4% of prosthetic valve recipients per year. 18F-FDG-PET/CT has high sensitivity and specificity for PVE and is included as major criterion for the diagnosis in recent guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology. We addressed the question whether increased FDG-uptake in mediastinal lymph nodes could help to support the visual diagnostic assessment of PVE.Methods: In this sub-analysis of a previously published retrospective multicentre study, 160 unique patients were identified who underwent 18F-FDG-PET/CT for evaluation of suspected PVE. 18F-FDG-PET/CT was performed in adherence to the European Association of Nuclear Medicine guidelines of 2015 and scans were assessed for signs of mediastinal lymph node activity by 2 experienced nuclear medicine physicians who were blinded to clinical context. Clinical diagnosis of PVE had been established based on surgical findings or multidisciplinary consensus after a 1-year follow-up in 80 of 160 patients (50%).Results: In total, 52 patients showed increased mediastinal lymph node activity. Mediastinal lymph node activity on 18F-FDG-PET/CT did not increase diagnostic accuracy when added to the visual analysis of scans for signs of PVE: X2: 0.118, p = 0.731). After excluding patients with known confounders for 18F-FDG-PET/CT, namely use of Bioglue® during prosthetic valve implantation and C-reactive protein levels below 40 mg/L, mediastinal lymph node activity was still not of additional diagnostic value compared to visual analysis alone (X2:0.129, p = 0.723).Discussion: Assessment of mediastinal lymph node activity did not improve 18F-FDG-PET/CT diagnostic accuracy for suspected PVE compared to visual assessment of the valve alone, as it seems to be a rather a specific finding, that might be caused by sternal wound or mediastinal infections or even by subclinical respiratory infections. Future studies might elucidate whether increased FDG active lymph nodes indicate a high-risk patient group and whether more detailed assessment of mediastinal lymph nodes could improve their additional diagnostic benefit