Evaluation of patients who underwent percutaneous transhepatic portal vein embolisation by Tc-99m GSA scintigraphy

Purpose: To analyse the correlation between the fold change in residual liver volume (RLV) and residual liver uptake at 15 (RLU15) before and after percutaneous transhepatic portal vein embolisation (PTPE). Material and methods: Between August 2010 and December 2016, 20 patients who underwent PTPE were retrospectively selected. Before and three weeks after PTPE, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and Tc-99m GSA scintigraphy were performed to analyse the fold changes in RLV and RLU15, respectively, as well as their correlation. Results: After PTPE, a significant increase was observed in the RLV (before: 464 ± 99 ml; after: 573 ± 118 ml, p = 0.004) and the RLU15 (before: 11.0 ± 2.9%; after: 17.7 ± 3.8%, p = 5 × 10-7). The fold increase of RLV and RLU15 in all patients was 1.25 ± 0.15 and 1.66 ± 0.33, respectively. No significant correlation was observed in the fold increase in both RLV and RLU15 (r = 0.14, p = 0.66). In patients no. 3 and 9, who were outliers, the increase in RLV was minimal and RLU15 increased greatly, and these 2 patients underwent radical hepatectomy after PTPE. Conclusions: No correlation was observed between the fold increase in RLV and RLU15 before and after PTPE. In order to accurately evaluate the residual liver function, it should be considered necessary to evaluate not only by morphological CECT volumetry, but also by functional outcome of Tc-99m GSA scintigraphy. Residual liver volume may not necessarily reflect RLF. It may be possible to improve the radical resection rate by detecting the potential increase of RLF with RLU15 of Tc-99m GSA scintigraphy

3d puzzle in cube pattern for anisotropic/isotropic mechanical control of structure fabricated bymetal additivemanufacturing

Metal additive manufacturing is a powerful tool for providing the desired functional performance through a three-dimensional (3D) structural design. Among the material functions, anisotropic mechanical properties are indispensable for enabling the capabilities of structural materials for living tissues. For biomedical materials to replace bone function, it is necessary to provide an anisotropic mechanical property that mimics that of bones. For desired control of the mechanical performance of the materials, we propose a novel 3D puzzle structure with cube-shaped parts comprising 27 (3 × 3 × 3) unit compartments. We designed and fabricated a Co–Cr–Mo composite structure through spatial control of the positional arrangement of powder/solid parts using the laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) method. The mechanical function of the fabricated structure can be predicted using the rule of mixtures based on the arrangement pattern of each part. The solid parts in the cubic structure were obtained by melting and solidifying the metal powder with a laser, while the powder parts were obtained through the remaining nonmelted powders inside the structure. This is the first report to achieve an innovative material design that can provide an anisotropic Young’s modulus by arranging the powder and solid parts using additive manufacturing technology.Ikeo N., Fukuda H., Matsugaki A., et al. 3d puzzle in cube pattern for anisotropic/isotropic mechanical control of structure fabricated bymetal additivemanufacturing. Crystals, 11, 8, 959. https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11080959

Carbon ion radiotherapy for sacral chordoma

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of carbon ion radiotherapy in patients with sacral chorodma and to compare the results of carbon ion radiotherapy with those of surgical series in literature.Methods: Between 1996 and 2007, 95 patients with sacral chordoma were included in the phase I/II and phase II study of carbon ion radiotherapy for unresectable bone and soft tissue sarcomas. There were sixty-eight males and 27 females. Median age was 66 years (30-85). Eighty-four patients were presented with primary disease and 11 patients with post operative recurrent tumor. Total dose of52.8 to 73.6 GyE was given in 16 fractions over 4 weeks (4 days a week).Results: All patients completed the planned carbon ion radiotherapy. Median survival time was 42 months (13-112). Overall survival rate at 5 years (86%) in patients with sacral chordoma treated by carbon ion radiotherapy is similar to those in reported data on patients treated by surgical resection with/without adjuvant radiotherapy. Local control rate at 5years (88%) in patients with sacral chordoma treated by carbon ion radiotherapy is better than those in reported data. Median time local failure was 35 months (13-60). Four patients treated with a total dose of 73.6 GyE experienced Grade 3/4 skin/soft tissue complications. No other treatment-related surgical interventions including colostomy or urinary diversion were carried out in this series. Fifteen patients required persistent medication for peripheral neuropathy.Conclusions: Carbon ion therapy is suggested to be an effective and safe treatment for sacral chordomas, but further experience and longer follow-up are still needed.14th Annual CTOS Meetin