The Role of Layer-Controlled Graphene for Tunable Microwave Heating and Its Applications to the Synthesis of Inorganic Thin Films.

In this paper, we present the first method for precisely controlling the heat generated by microwave heating by tuning the number of graphene layers grown by chemical vapor deposition. The conductivity of the graphene increases linearly with the number of graphene layers, indicating that Joule heating plays a primary role in the temperature control of the graphene layer. In this method, we successfully synthesize TiO2 and MoS2 thin films, which do not interact well with microwaves, on a layer-controlled graphene substrate for a very short time (3 min) through microwave heating.

Computed tomography fluoroscopy-guided selective nerve root block for acute cervical disc herniation.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical outcomes of computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy-guided selective nerve root block (SNRB) for severe arm pain caused by acute cervical disc herniation. METHODS: The authors analyzed the data obtained from 25 consecutive patients who underwent CT fluoroscopy-guided SNRB for severe arm pain, i.e., a visual analogue scale (VAS) score of 8 points or more, caused by acute soft cervical disc herniation. Patients with chronic arm pain, motor weakness, and/or hard disc herniation were excluded. RESULTS: The series comprised 19 men and 6 women whose mean age was 48.1 years (range 35-72 years). The mean symptom duration was 17.5 days (range 4-56 days) and the treated level was at C5-6 in 13 patients, C6-7 in 9, and both C5-6 and C6-7 in 3. Twenty-three patients underwent SNRB in 1 session and 2 underwent the procedure in 2 sessions. No complications related to the procedures occurred. At a mean follow-up duration of 11.5 months (range 6-22 months), the mean VAS score and NDI significantly improved from 9 and 58.2 to 3.4 and 28.1, respectively. Eighteen out of 25 patients (72%) showed successful clinical results. Seven patients (28%) did not improve after the procedure, and 5 of these 7 underwent subsequent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. CONCLUSION: CT fluoroscopy-guided SNRB may play a role as a primary conservative treatment for severe arm pain caused by acute cervical disc herniation.

Effects of electroacupuncture on cold allodynia in a rat model of neuropathic pain: mediation by spinal adrenergic and serotonergic receptors.

The present study was performed to examine the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on cold allodynia and its mechanisms related to the spinal adrenergic and serotonergic systems in a rat model of neuropathic pain. For the neuropathic surgery, the right superior caudal trunk was resected at the level between S1 and S2 spinal nerves innervating the tail. Two weeks after the nerve injury, EA stimulation (2 or 100 Hz) was delivered to Zusanli (ST36) for 30 min. The behavioral signs of cold allodynia were evaluated by the tail immersion test [i.e., immersing the tail in cold water (4 degrees C) and measuring the latency to an abrupt tail movement] before and after the stimulation. And then, we examined the effects of intrathecal injection of prazosin (alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist, 30 microg), yohimbine (alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist, 30 microg), NAN-190 (5-HT1A antagonist, 15 microg), ketanserin (5-HT2A antagonist, 30 microg), and MDL-72222 (5-HT3 antagonist, 12 microg) on the action of EA stimulation. Although both 2 Hz and 100 Hz EA significantly relieved the cold allodynia signs, 2 Hz EA induced more robust effects than 100 Hz EA. In addition, intrathecal injection of yohimbine, NAN-190, and MDL-72222, but not prazosin and ketanserin, significantly blocked the relieving effects of 2 Hz EA on cold allodynia. These results suggest that low-frequency (2 Hz) EA is more suitable for the treatment of cold allodynia than high-frequency (100 Hz) EA, and spinal alpha2-adrenergic, 5-HT1A and 5-HT3, but not alpha1-adrenergic and 5-HT2A, receptors play important roles in mediating the relieving effects of 2 Hz EA on cold allodynia in neuropathic rats.

Renal cell carcinoma: analysis of postoperative recurrence patterns.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively analyze the recurrence patterns of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and the factors affecting tumor recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional review board approved this study; patient informed consent was not required. There were 162 men (mean age, 54 years +/- 13 [standard deviation]) and 32 women (mean age, 56 years +/- 11) who had undergone complete surgical resection of RCC. Mean follow-up period was 45 months (range, 7-92 months). In consensus, two radiologists determined the presence or absence of tumor recurrence and recorded the time and sites of tumor recurrence. The relationships between tumor recurrence and tumor factors, including greatest diameter (> or =5 cm or <5 cm), T stage, N stage, stage group, histologic subtype, and nuclear grade, were evaluated by using Kaplan-Meier statistics. RESULTS: Tumor recurred in 41 (21%) patients. The mean time of tumor recurrence was 17 months (range, 3-50 months). Tumor recurred within 2 years after surgery in 34 (83%) patients. Tumor recurrence sites included lung (n = 29), bone (n = 13), the nephrectomy site (n = 7), brain (n = 6), liver (n = 5), mediastinal lymph nodes (n = 5), the contralateral kidney (n = 4), and the neck muscles (n = 2). The recurrence rate was greater for tumors 5 cm or larger than for those smaller than 5 cm, greater for T3a or T3b tumors than for T1 tumors, greater for stage III tumors than for stage I tumors, and greater for tumors with a nuclear grade of 3 or 4 than for those with a nuclear grade of 1 or 2 (P < .05 for all). CONCLUSION: RCC usually recurs within 2 years after surgery, with the lung being the most vulnerable site; greatest tumor diameter, T stage, stage group, and nuclear grade are important factors for recurrence.

CT angiography for evaluation of living renal donors: comparison of four reconstruction methods.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare various reconstruction methods for CT angiographic images in evaluating living renal donors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 76 patients who underwent donor nephrectomy, vascular phase CT data were obtained using an MDCT scanner (detector array, 1.25 mm x 4; beam pitch, 1.5). Two radiologists independently reconstructed CT angiographic images using thick-slab volume rendering, thick-slab maximum intensity projection (MIP), sliding thin-slab volume rendering, and sliding thin-slab MIP. The radiologists counted the number of renal arteries, early branching arteries, and renal veins. We compared the accuracy rates for the detection of vessels achieved with the four types of reconstructed images, using the surgical findings as the gold standard. Agreement between the two observers and between the surgical and CT angiographic findings was evaluated. RESULTS: The sensitivity for detecting the supernumerary artery was significantly greater with sliding thin-slab volume rendering and sliding thin-slab MIP (97%) than with thick-slab volume rendering (59%) (p = 0.039). No significant difference between the other comparison pairs of reconstruction methods was found. The interobserver agreement for detecting supernumerary and early branching arteries with sliding thin-slab volume rendering and MIP was excellent (kappa = 0.820-0.859) and good for renal veins (kappa = 0.698-0.724), whereas the agreement of thick-slab volume rendering and MIP was good for arteries (kappa = 0.706-0.791) and moderate for veins (kappa = 0.443-0.579). The agreement between CT angiographic reconstructed images and surgical findings for detection of vessels was better with sliding thin-slab volume rendering and MIP (kappa = 0.793-1.000) than in thick-slab volume rendering and MIP (kappa = 0.306-0.613). CONCLUSION: For CT angiographic evaluation of living renal donors, sliding thin-slab reconstruction is superior to thick-slab reconstruction.

MRI of small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix with pathologic correlation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the MRI features of small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and to correlate those features with pathologic findings. CONCLUSION: Small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix can be characterized by frequent parametrial invasion and extensive lymphadenopathy, although the tumor morphology seems to be nonspecific on MRI.

Non-contiguous spinal injury in cervical spinal trauma: evaluation with cervical spine MRI.

OBJECTIVE: We wished to evaluate the incidence of non-contiguous spinal injury in the cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) or the upper thoracic spines on cervical spinal MR images in the patients with cervical spinal injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five cervical spine MR imagings for acute cervical spinal injury were retrospectively reviewed (58 men and 17 women, mean age: 35.3, range: 18 81 years). They were divided into three groups based on the mechanism of injury; axial compression, hyperflexion or hyperextension injury, according to the findings on the MR and CT images. On cervical spine MR images, we evaluated the presence of non-contiguous spinal injury in the CTJ or upper thoracic spine with regard to the presence of marrow contusion or fracture, ligament injury, traumatic disc herniation and spinal cord injury. RESULTS: Twenty-one cases (28%) showed CTJ or upper thoracic spinal injuries (C7-T5) on cervical spinal MR images that were separated from the cervical spinal injuries. Seven of 21 cases revealed overt fractures in the CTJs or upper thoracic spines. Ligament injury in these regions was found in three cases. Traumatic disc herniation and spinal cord injury in these regions were shown in one and two cases, respectively. The incidence of the non-contiguous spinal injuries in CTJ or upper thoracic spines was higher in the axial compression injury group (35.3%) than in the hyperflexion injury group (26.9%) or the hyperextension (25%) injury group. However, there was no statistical significance (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cervical spinal MR revealed non-contiguous CTJ or upper thoracic spinal injuries in 28% of the patients with cervical spinal injury. The mechanism of cervical spinal injury did not significantly affect the incidence of the noncontiguous CTJ or upper thoracic spinal injury.

Intra-articular elastofibroma of the shoulder joint.

A 19-year-old man presented with an elastofibroma in his left shoulder joint. The patient had had limitation of motion in his left arm for 3 years, especially when rotating internally. Radiography of his left shoulder showed bone erosion in the neck of the humerus. On MR imaging, a soft tissue mass was noted in the shoulder joint eroding bone. The mass showed similar signal intensity to that of surrounding muscles on T1- and T2-weighted images. At surgery, a soft, encapsulated mass was found attached to the subscapularis muscle. It was pathologically confirmed as an elastofibroma. This unusual manifestation of an elastofibroma is discussed.