Observation of New Isotopes in the Fragmentation of

Five previously unknown isotopes (^{182,183}Tm, ^{186,187}Yb, ^{190}Lu) were produced, separated, and identified for the first time at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) using the Advanced Rare Isotope Separator (ARIS). The new isotopes were formed through the interaction of a ^{198}Pt beam with a carbon target at an energy of 186 MeV/u and with a primary beam power of 1.5 kW. Event-by-event particle identification of A, Z, and q for the reaction products was performed by combining measurements of the energy loss, time of flight, magnetic rigidity Bρ, and total kinetic energy. The ARIS separator has a novel two-stage design with high resolving power to strongly suppress contaminant beams. This successful new isotope search was performed less than one year after FRIB operations began and demonstrates the discovery potential of the facility which will ultimately provide 400 kW of primary beam power.

Acute hemorrhagic cholecystitis as a rare cause of hemobilia.

Hemobilia is an unusual type of gastrointestinal bleeding most frequently due to iatrogenic injury, trauma, or neoplasia. Acute cholecystitis as a cause of hemobilia is rare. We present the case study of a patient with bleeding from eroded gallbladder mucosa in the setting of severe calculous cholecystitis. The hemorrhagic episode was preceded by acute ERCP due to obstructive icterus with extraction of the calculi, followed by the development of severe acute pancreatitis. These factors initially misled the diagnosis. The bleeding was not hemodynamically important and routine diagnostic methods did not reveal its exact source. Direct choledochoscopy (SpyGlassTM) proved to be helpful in determining the right diagnosis, as it ruled out any injury or tumor in the main bile ducts and considerably supported the assumption of intrabladder bleeding. Surgical revision confirmed the cause, and subsequent cholecystectomy solved the whole problem.

Methodology for implementing early recovery after surgery protocols in colorectal surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols in colorectal surgery leads to improved quality of care and more efficient resource utilization. Despite these positive outcomes, the penetration of ERAS protocols in the Czech Republic is low. The aim of this study is to present a general methodology for implementing an ERAS protocol in colorectal surgery. METHODS: The methodology is based on the authors' extensive experience in implementing clinical protocols at various institutions in the Czech Republic, as well as published international experiences. This methodology is described in detail and supplemented with data obtained during implementation of an ERAS program at the author's institution. RESULTS: The preparatory phase includes in-depth quality of care audits and preparation of an ERAS protocol. The purpose of the audits is to identify areas of care where standardization or targeted changes in clinical practice are desirable. The implementation phase involves staff training, technical implementation support, protocol dissemination, adherence monitoring, and evaluation of a pilot phase with subsequent protocol adjustments. The evaluation phase involves data collection, maintaining a prospective database, and regular assessments. CONCLUSION: The presented methodology describes the individual steps in the process of implementing a clinical protocol into practice. This text can serve as a manual for implementing an ERAS protocol in colorectal surgery at any institution.

Video-assisted and robotic-assisted thoracoscopic pulmonary lobectomies, our experience.

INTRODUCTION: The use of video-assisted (VATS) and robotic-assisted (RATS) thoracoscopic surgery for anatomical pulmonary resections has been rapidly increasing. This study aimed to analyze our results of minimal invasive lobectomies to safely introduce these techniques to our practice. METHODS: Starting these new programs we followed the recommended steps including case observations and a proctoring. We retrospectively analyzed the data of our 7-year experience with VATS lobectomies and 1-year experience with RATS lobectomies. RESULTS: 128 minimal invasive lobectomies were performed between 4/2015 and 4/2021 in our center. The mean age of our patients was 64.7±10.5 years; 61 (47.7%) were women and 67 (52.3%) were men. Pulmonary malignancy was the main indication in 116 (90.6%) patients, including 2 patients with localized small cell lung cancer (SCLC). In 12 (9.4%) cases we operated for bronchiectasis and benign lung lesions. Stage I lung cancer was found in 57 (66.3%), stage II in 22 (25.6%) and stage III in 7 (8.1%) patients. We performed 110 VATS and 18 RATS lobectomies with a clear shift from triportal VATS to uniportal VATS and RATS in the last years. The mean operative time was 166±55.5 minutes and a conversion was approached in 8 (6.2%) cases (4 bleedings - less than 300 ml in all cases, 3 oncological cases, 1 case for a technical reason). The median postoperative length of stay was 4 days. CONCLUSION: VATS and RATS lobectomy has become a standard approach for early stages of lung cancer. Respecting the rules of introducing VATS and RATS including proctoring offers safety without any negative impact on survival or oncological radicality.

Starting the first robotic lobectomy program in the Eastern Europe during Coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: We report our experience in starting RATS (robotic-assisted thoracic surgery) lobectomy program during COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Data from 20 consecutive cases undergoing RATS lobectomy between August 2020 and April 2021 were prospectively accumulated into our database. RESULTS: The mean operational time was 235±69 minutes (median 210, range 175 to 370). Conversion-to-open rate was 5 %. One patient was converted to an open procedure during surgery due to surgical bleeding. One patient (5 %), with sever chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), had prolonged air leak with chest drainage 11 days and conservative treatment. Morbidity rate was 10 % (2 patients). Estimated costs of RATS lobectomy in our department were $9,590 (range $8,250-$12,730). 30-days mortality was 0%. CONCLUSIONS: Safe robotic surgery is based not only on improved robotic equipment, but also on good technical skills and medical knowledge. It requires training of the entire operating room team. The learning curve is steep, involving port placement, use of the correct robotic arms, availability of the proper instrumentation, and proper patient positioning (Tab. 2, Ref. 28).

Treatment of anastomotic leak after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Anastomotic leak (AL) is one of the most serious surgical complications after esophagectomy. Endoscopic, radiological and surgical methods are used in the treatment of AL. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate our therapeutic procedures and results of AL treatment after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy (ILE). METHODS: Retrospective audit of all ILEs performed in the years 20052019. Evaluation of AL treatment results according to Esophagectomy Complication Consensus Group (ECCG) classification and according to the primary therapeutic procedure with a focus on the treatment with esophageal stent. RESULTS: Out of 817 patients with ILE, AL was detected in 80 patients (9.8%): ECCG type I 33 (41%), type II 23 (29%) and type III 24 (30%) patients. Some 33 patients (41%) were treated conservatively. Esophageal stents were used in 39 patients (49%), of which 18 (23%) had concomitant percutaneous drainage and 17 (21%) were reoperated. Reoperation without a stent insertion was performed in 7 patients (9%). Esophageal diversion with cervical esophagostomy was performed in a total of 16 patients (20%). Esophageal stent treatment was successful in 24/39 patients (62%). Airway fistula occurred in 4 patients treated with stent (10%). Endoscopic vacuum therapy was successfully used in three patients after stent failure. Eight patients (10%) died as a result of AL. Mortality of AL type I, II and III was 0%, 4% and 29%. CONCLUSION: Successful treatment of AL requires an individual and multidisciplinary approach. The primary effort should aim to preserve anastomosis using endoscopic and radiological methods. In case of insufficient clinical effect, we recommend not to hesitate with reoperation. If primary therapy fails, the life-saving procedure is a cervical esophagostomy.

Mapping of a New Deformation Region around

We performed the first direct mass measurements of neutron-rich scandium, titanium, and vanadium isotopes around the neutron number 40 at the RIKEN RI Beam Factory using the time-of-flight magnetic-rigidity technique. The atomic mass excesses of ^{58-60}Sc, ^{60-62}Ti, and ^{62-64}V were measured for the first time. The experimental results show that the two-neutron separation energies in the vicinity of ^{62}Ti increase compared to neighboring nuclei. This shows that the masses of Ti isotopes near N=40 are affected by the Jahn-Teller effect. Therefore, a development of Jahn-Teller stabilization appears below the Cr isotopes, and the systematics in Sc, Ti, and V isotopes suggest that ^{62}Ti is located close to the peak of the Jahn-Teller effect.

Magic Nature of Neutrons in

We perform the first direct mass measurements of neutron-rich calcium isotopes beyond neutron number 34 at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory by using the time-of-flight magnetic-rigidity technique. The atomic mass excesses of ^{55-57}Ca are determined for the first time to be -18650(160), -13510(250), and -7370(990) keV, respectively. We examine the emergence of neutron magicity at N=34 based on the new atomic masses. The new masses provide experimental evidence for the appearance of a sizable energy gap between the neutron 2p_{1/2} and 1f_{5/2} orbitals in ^{54}Ca, comparable to the gap between the neutron 2p_{3/2} and 2p_{1/2} orbitals in ^{52}Ca. For the ^{56}Ca nucleus, an open-shell property in neutrons is suggested.

Discovery of

The discovery of the important neutron-rich nucleus _{20}^{60}Ca_{40} and seven others near the limits of nuclear stability is reported from the fragmentation of a 345 MeV/u ^{70}Zn projectile beam on ^{9}Be targets at the radioactive ion-beam factory of the RIKEN Nishina Center. The produced fragments were analyzed and unambiguously identified using the BigRIPS two-stage in-flight separator. The eight new neutron-rich nuclei discovered, ^{47}P, ^{49}S, ^{52}Cl, ^{54}Ar, ^{57}K, ^{59,60}Ca, and ^{62}Sc, are the most neutron-rich isotopes of the respective elements. In addition, one event consistent with ^{59}K was registered. The results are compared with the drip lines predicted by a variety of mass models and it is found that the models in best agreement with the observed limits of existence in the explored region tend to predict the even-mass Ca isotopes to be bound out to at least ^{70}Ca.

[18 F]Fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT and prediction of histopathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study was to assess whether [18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose PET can be used to predict histopathological response early in the course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction. METHODS: Following the PET response criteria in solid tumours (PERCIST 1.0) as a standardized method for semiquantitative assessment of metabolic response, FDG-PET/CT was performed before (PET1) and after (PET2) initiation of the first cycle of chemotherapy. The relative changes in the peak standardized uptake value (ΔSUL) and total lesion glycolysis (ΔTLG) between PET1 and PET2 were correlated with histopathological response, defined as less than 50 per cent viable tumour cells in the resection specimen. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to identify the optimal cut-off value with the highest accuracy of histopathological response prediction. RESULTS: PET2 was performed a median of 16 (range 12-22) days after the start of chemotherapy. Some 27 of 90 patients who underwent surgery had a histopathological response. There was no association between the median ΔSUL or median ΔTLG and the histopathological response. A post hoc analysis in 47 patients with PET2 performed 16 days or less after the start of chemotherapy showed that ΔTLG, but not ΔSUL, was associated with the histopathological response (P = 0·009). The optimal cut-off value of ΔTLG was 66 per cent or more. CONCLUSION: FDG-PET/CT after the first cycle of chemotherapy does not predict histopathological response in patients with adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction.

Multi-layer thick gas electron multiplier (M-THGEM): A new MPGD structure for high-gain operation at low-pressure.

The operating principle and performances of the Multi-layer Thick Gaseous Electron Multiplier (M-THGEM) are presented. The M-THGEM is a novel hole-type gaseous electron multiplier produced by multi-layer printed circuit board technology; it consists of a densely perforated assembly of multiple insulating substrate sheets (e.g., FR-4), sandwiched between thin metallic-electrode layers. The electron avalanche processes occur along the successive multiplication stages within the M-THGEM holes, under the action of strong dipole fields resulting from the application of suitable potential differences between the electrodes. The present work focuses on the investigation of two different geometries: a two-layer M-THGEM (either as single or double-cascade detector) and a single three-layer M-THGEM element, tested in various low-pressure He-based gas mixtures. The intrinsically robust confinement of the avalanche volume within the M-THGEM holes provides an efficient reduction of the photon-induced secondary effects, resulting in a high-gain operation over a broad pressure range, even in pure elemental gas. The operational principle, main properties (maximum achievable gain, long-term stability, energy resolution, etc.) under different irradiation conditions, as well as capabilities and potential applications are presented and discussed.

[Pulmonary contusion]. / Plicní kontuze.

Pulmonary contusion is a common finding after blunt chest trauma. It occurs in 23-35% of all cases. Alveolar capillaries are injured due to the trauma, which results in accumulation of blood and other fluids within lung tissue. The fluids interfere with gas exchange, leading to hypoxemia. The consequences of pulmonary contusion include ventilation/perfusion mismatching, increased AV shunts and loss of compliance of lung parenchyma. These physiological consequences are manifested within hours from injury and usually resolve in 7 days. Computed tomography (CT) is a sensitive and main diagnostic tool. Clinical symptoms include hypoxemia and hypercapnia, manifested predominantly during 72 hours from injury. Patients are treated primarily conservatively; surgery may be needed due to haemothorax associated with lung contusion or progression of AV shunts due to localized pulmonary contusion.Key words: pulmonary contusion blunt chest trauma computed tomography.

[Ruptures of the diaphragm]. / Ruptury bránice.

INTRODUCTION: The diaphragm is a flat muscle that divides the thoracic and abdominal cavities, and it is one of the most important muscles involved in respiration. Traumas of the diaphragm include its rupture caused by an external force, resulting in blunt or penetrating injuries. Diaphragmatic rupture is associated with the risk of a prolapse (i.e. not a typical hernia) of abdominal organs into the pleural cavity. The rupture may occur due to a blunt injury of the chest or abdomen, or due to penetrating injuries (gunshots, stab wounds, foreign bodies) in the lower part of the chest and epigastrium. Ruptures never heal spontaneously and always require suture of the diaphragmatic defect. Most acute rupture cases are managed using laparotomy; thoracotomy is preferred for lately recognised ruptures to facilitate the removal of adhesions in the thoracic cavity developed between the diaphragmatic defect and a lung. Thirty one patients with diaphragmatic rupture were operated at the 3rd Department of Surgery of the 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and University Hospital Motol between 2006 and 2016. Acute rupture was present in 60% of the cases and chronic in 40%. Right-sided rupture was found in 20% and left-sided in 80%. CONCLUSION: The authors describe surgical treatment of diaphragmatic ruptures. They recommend an early surgical treatment if diaphragmatic rupture is recognized. Generally, the prognosis of the patients depends on availability of professional health care; ideally, these patients should be treated at specialised traumacentres with specialists for abdominal and thoracic surgery. The authors advise against establishing injudicious thoracic drainage in cases where diaphragmatic rupture with herniation of abdominal organs into the thorax may be present.Key words: polytrauma - acute rupture of diaphragm - chronic rupture - suture - patch.

[Development of tracheal resection technique - our experience]. / Vývoj techniky resekcí trachey - nase zkusenosti.

INTRODUCTION: Tracheal resections are very frequent interventions on the trachea in general. In borderline cases where the tracheal resection length is too high, the situation can be resolved by inserting a stent or Montgomerys T cannula. Tracheal stenoses are of benign origin in 94%, and malignant in 6% of cases. We present a summary of tracheal resection interventions for the last 21 years. METHOD: 235 tracheal resections were performed at the authors institution in 1993-2013. In total 221 benign stenosis cases (85 % developed after tracheostomy, 15% developed after intubation) and 14 malignant cases were treated. The patients were divided into two groups: A resection in years 19932002 and B - resection in years 20032013. The comparison of these two time periods is presented with focus on surgical procedures development and recommendations based on experienced complications. RESULTS: Restenosis (early or late) is the most common complication during the process of tracheal resection treatment. Tiny fistulas in the suture can be diagnosed easily by minor air leaking and are treated conservatively without intervention. Fortunately, suture insufficiency is relatively rare. In some cases the restenoses can be resected or treated by stent application or by Montgomerys T-cannula application. Complications were observed in 2% of the treated patients, which is a number presented also by international studies. CONCLUSION: Tracheal resection is definitely an optimal solution for patients suffering from tracheal stenosis. As presented in our study, in the hands of experienced thoracic surgeons tracheal resections is a safe and final solution of tracheal stenosis. KEY WORDS: trachea - stenosis resection.

Candidate Resonant Tetraneutron State Populated by the

A candidate resonant tetraneutron state is found in the missing-mass spectrum obtained in the double-charge-exchange reaction ^{4}He(^{8}He,^{8}Be) at 186 MeV/u. The energy of the state is 0.83±0.65(stat)±1.25(syst) MeV above the threshold of four-neutron decay with a significance level of 4.9σ. Utilizing the large positive Q value of the (^{8}He,^{8}Be) reaction, an almost recoilless condition of the four-neutron system was achieved so as to obtain a weakly interacting four-neutron system efficiently.

Long-term outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with pulmonary carcinoid tumors.

The aim of the study was to evaluate type of surgery, long-term survival and factors influencing outcome of pulmonary carcinoid tumors. We reviewed our database of 137 patients surgically treated for typical or atypical carcinoid tumors at our department between 1998 and 2013. There were 95 (69%) patients with typical carcinoid (87 N0, 6 N1, 2 N2) and 42 (31%) with atypical carcinoid (26 N0, 8 N1, 8 N2). Patients with atypical carcinoid were older than those with typical carcinoid (median age of 57±8.1 and 50.5±15.8 years, respectively, p<0.00001). The resection performed consisted of 6 (4.4%) pneumonectomies, 110 (80.1%) lobectomies and bilobectomies, 15 (11%) sleeve lobectomies, 2 (1.5%) resections of main bronchus and 4 (3%) wedge resections. Overall 5- and 10-year survival rates for different tumors were as follows: typical carcinoid: 97.2% and 89.9%, respectively; atypical carcinoid 71.1% and 62.2%, respectively. Statistical analyses indicated that histology (typical carcinoid, p<0.00001), age (less than 45 years, p=0.004) and nodal status (N0, p=0.0002) were significant prognostic factors for better prognosis. Histological sub-type and nodal involvement appear as the most important factors influencing the prognosis. Systemic lymphadenectomy is recommended and should always be performed.

Comparative analysis of portal hepatic infiltrating leucocytes in acute drug-induced liver injury, idiopathic autoimmune and viral hepatitis.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is often caused by innate and adaptive host immune responses. Characterization of inflammatory infiltrates in the liver may improve understanding of the underlying pathogenesis of DILI. This study aimed to enumerate and characterize leucocytes infiltrating liver tissue from subjects with acute DILI (n = 32) versus non-DILI causes of acute liver injury (n = 25). Immunostains for CD11b/CD4 (Kupffer and T helper cells), CD3/CD20 (T and B cells) and CD8/CD56 [T cytotoxic and natural killer (NK) cells] were evaluated in biopsies from subjects with acute DILI, either immunoallergic (IAD) or autoimmune (AID) and idiopathic autoimmune (AIH) and viral hepatitis (VH) and correlated with clinical and pathological features. All biopsies showed numerous CD8(+) T cells and macrophages. DILI cases had significantly fewer B lymphocytes than AIH and VH and significantly fewer NK cells than VH. Prominent plasma cells were unusual in IAD (three of 10 cases), but were associated strongly with AIH (eight of nine) and also observed in most with AID (six of nine). They were also found in five of 10 cases with VH. Liver biopsies from subjects with DILI were characterized by low counts of mature B cells and NK cells in portal triads in contrast to VH. NK cells were found only in cases of VH, whereas AIH and VH both showed higher counts of B cells than DILI. Plasma cells were associated most strongly with AIH and less so with AID, but were uncommon in IAD.

Pneumonectomy for non-small cell lung cancer: predictors of early mortality and morbidity.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine independent risk factors affecting postoperative morbidity and mortality after pneumonectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: A review of 329 patients having pneumonectomy for NSCLC between January 1, 1998 and July 31,2012 was undertaken. Factors affecting morbidity and mortality were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The overall 30-day mortality rate was 5.1%. Smoking habits, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) status, neoadjuvant therapy and obesity had no statistical influence on the short-term outcome. Coronary artery disease and respiratory failure were identified as risk factors for increased 30-day mortality (p < 0.01). Right pneumonectomy and presence of respiratory failure with mechanical ventilation increased the incidence of bronchopleural fistula (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Pneumonectomy for NSCLC carries an acceptable operative morbidity and mortality. Coronary artery disease, right pneumonectomy and respiratory failure adversely affect morbidity and mortality after this procedure.

[Reexpansion pulmonary oedema after drainage of a long-term spontaneous pneumothorax - a case report]. / Reexpanzní edém plíce po drenázi dlouhotrvajícího spontánního pneumotoraxu - kazuistika.

Reexpansion pulmonary oedema is a rare but possibly lethal complication of thoracic drainage for pneumothorax. Morbidity and mortality of this complication remains high (up to 20% of lethal cases) and as such deserves our attention. We report a case of ipsilateral left-sided pulmonary oedema following chest tube insertion in a 42-year-old male patient with spontaneous pneumothorax. Pneumothorax can be expected to last for up to 3 weeks (from the first presentation of sudden dyspnoea and chest pain). The pathophysiology of this lung affection has not yet been completely elucidated; the crucial role is probably played by damage to the endothelium which is followed by increased endothelial permeability during ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rapidly reexpanding lung. The main risk factors for the development of RPE are young age (the younger the patient, the higher the risk), the female sex, the degree of lung collapse, a pneumothorax that lasts more than 24 hours, a reexpansion of the lung in less than ten minutes, the use of a suction system, and - in cases of a pleural effusion - an evacuation volume of more than 2000 ml. Although in patients with these risk factors the administration of initial negative pressure should be avoided, this procedure remains common practice in pneumothorax treatment in the Czech Republic. Thoracic surgeons are more likely to use the suction system than pulmonologists (70% versus 52%). RPE manifestation ranges from benign clinical course (patients are free of complaints with only pathological chest radiography findings) to potentially lethal rapid respiratory failure with circulatory shock. Most patients develop RPE within 1 hour of expansion and the ipsilateral lung is affected. Only rarely can pulmonary oedema be bilateral, or in the contra-lateral lung. Treatment of RPE is supportive and depends on the individual patients condition, ranging from mere monitoring to mechanical ventilation for serious cases. Positive pressure mechanical ventilation and the utilization of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) remains the gold standard of treatment.

Experimental demonstration and observation of a plasmon wave occuring at a GaAs-Au-GaN interface.

Integration of surface plasmon structures using semiconductor materials is limited due to the difficulties encountered in maintaining the resonance conditions upon packaging. We propose here a technology process allowing us to bond two semiconductors, such as gallium nitride (GaN) and gallium arsenide (GaAs), through a thin metal layer. This solution allows the excitation of a surface plasmon wave in an integrated classical Kretschmann configuration. The Letter presents various metal bonding conditions employed for Au deposited on both GaN/sapphire and GaAs substrates aiming at semiconductor-metal-semiconductor interfaces transparent at telecom wavelengths. The process conditions for the bondings are optimized using Ti/Au (3 nm/30 nm) layers on each of the wafers to be bonded under an applied pressure of 500 mbar at a low temperature of 250°C.