Cross-section measurements for 68Zn(p,2p)67Cu and 68Zn(p,2n)67Ga reactions using a newly developed separation method for the superposed [Formula: see text]-ray spectra.

We have developed a new analytical peak separation analysis for superposed [Formula: see text]-ray peaks on [Formula: see text]Cu and [Formula: see text]Ga to measure the [Formula: see text]Zn(p,2p)[Formula: see text]Cu and [Formula: see text]Zn(p,2n)[Formula: see text]Ga reactions, unlike in most previous works that were employing a radiochemical separation to measure them. Based on the nuclear data such as the [Formula: see text]-ray intensity and the half-life for each nuclide, we may develop a new analytical method that enables us to estimate the respective counts arising from each nuclide, thereby obtaining the nuclear reactions. The newly developed analytical method can universally be applied to separate the superposed [Formula: see text]-ray spectra of any two nuclides, especially superior in separating the nuclides with different half-lives. In comparison with the data in the literature, the two reactions in the present work are in good agreement with those of some previous works. In addition, we compared the present [Formula: see text]Zn(p,2n)[Formula: see text]Ga reaction without the peak separation to the data in the literature without the chemical separation, and find that a good agreement is evident, enhancing the reliability of the [Formula: see text]Zn(p,x)[Formula: see text]Zn and [Formula: see text]Zn(p,3n)[Formula: see text]Ga reactions, which are further measured in the present work.

Noninvasive Medical Tools for Evaluating Voiding Pattern in Real Life.

Voiding dysfunction is a common disease that contributes to a lower quality of life and has an increased prevalence in the elderly population. Noninvasive and objective methods such as uroflowmetry (UFM) and voiding diaries (VDs) are essential for exact diagnosis and effective treatment of this condition because patients with different causes of voiding dysfunction can complain of the same lower urinary tract symptoms. Further, different treatment options can be determined based on the diagnosis made from these symptoms. In order to improve the quality of UFM and VDs and to provide a convenient testing environment, several advances have been made by previous investigators. In this study, we investigate the history and technological mechanisms of UFM and VDs. We also aim to review UFM from the viewpoint of clinical and at-home uses, including the recently proposed toilet-shaped UFM and electronic VDs.

Effect of Device Rigidity and Physiological Loading on Spinal Kinematics after Dynamic Stabilization : An In-Vitro Biomechanical Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of posterior implant rigidity on spinal kinematics at adjacent levels by utilizing a cadaveric spine model with simulated physiological loading. METHODS: Five human lumbar spinal specimens (L3 to S1) were obtained and checked for abnormalities. The fresh specimens were stripped of muscle tissue, with care taken to preserve the spinal ligaments and facet joints. Pedicle screws were implanted in the L4 and L5 vertebrae of each specimen. Specimens were tested under 0 N and 400 N axial loading. Five different posterior rods of various elastic moduli (intact, rubber, low-density polyethylene, aluminum, and titanium) were tested. Segmental range of motion (ROM), center of rotation (COR) and intervertebral disc pressure were investigated. RESULTS: As the rigidity of the posterior rods increased, both the segmental ROM and disc pressure at L4-5 decreased, while those values increased at adjacent levels. Implant stiffness saturation was evident, as the ROM and disc pressure were only marginally increased beyond an implant stiffness of aluminum. Since the disc pressures of adjacent levels were increased by the axial loading, it was shown that the rigidity of the implants influenced the load sharing between the implant and the spinal column. The segmental CORs at the adjacent disc levels translated anteriorly and inferiorly as rigidity of the device increased. CONCLUSION: These biomechanical findings indicate that the rigidity of the dynamic stabilization implant and physiological loading play significant roles on spinal kinematics at adjacent disc levels, and will aid in further device development.

In vitro biomechanical evaluation of single impulse and repetitive mechanical shockwave devices utilized for spinal manipulative therapy.

Mechanical shockwave therapy devices have been in clinical use for almost 40 years. While most often used to treat back pain, our understanding of their biomechanical performance is very limited. From biomechanical studies we know that biological tissue is viscoelastic and preferably excited around its resonance frequency. Targeting these frequencies has been the focus in extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, but these concepts are relatively new in orthopedic and rehabilitation therapies. The exact mechanism by which shockwave therapy acts is not known. Knowledge of the performance characteristics of these devices, correlated with clinical outcome studies, may lead to better patient selection, improvement of device functionality, and knowledge of the underlying working principals of therapy. The objectives of this study were to determine the ability of several commercial shockwave devices to achieve a desired thrust profile in a benchtop setting, determine the thrust profile in a clinical analog, and determine the influence of operator experience level on device performance. We conducted two different types of testing: (1) bench testing to evaluate the devices themselves, and (2) clinical equivalent testing to determine the influence of the operator. The results indicated a significant dependence of thrust output on the compliance of the test media. The Activator V-E device matched the ideal half-sine thrust profile to 94%, followed by the Impulse device (84%), the Activator IV/FS (74%), and the Activator II (48%). While most devices deviated from the ideal profile on the return path, the Impulse device exhibited a secondary peak. Moreover, the Activator V-E device provided evidence that the device performs consistently despite operator experience level. This has been a major concern in manual spinal manipulation. Based on our results, a hyper-flexible spine would receive a lower peak thrust force than a hypo-flexible spine at the same power setting. Furthermore, a hand-held operation further reduced the peak thrust force as it increased the system compliance. However, that influence was dissimilar for the different devices. Although controlled clinical trials are needed to determine the correlation between thrust profile and clinical outcome, already ongoing clinical studies indicate an improved patient satisfaction due to reduced treatment pain when devices are used with a thrust characteristic closer to an ideal sine wave.

Production of α-particle emitting ²¹¹At using 45 MeV α-beam.

Among the α-particle emitting radionuclides, (211)At is considered to be a promising radionuclide for targeted cancer therapy due to its decay properties. The range of alpha particles produced by the decay of (211)At are less than 70 µm in water with a linear energy transfer between 100 and 130 keV µm(-1), which are about the maximum relative biological effectiveness for heavy ions. It is important to note that at the present time, only a few of cyclotrons routinely produce (211)At. The direct production method is based on the nuclear reactions (209)Bi(α,2n)(211)At. Production of the radionuclide (211)At was carried out using the MC-50 cyclotron at the Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences (KIRAMS). To ensure high beam current, the α-beam was extracted with an initial energy of 45 MeV, which was degraded to obtain the appropriate α-beam energy. The calculations of beam energy degradation were performed utilizing the MCNPX. Alumina-baked targets were prepared by heating the bismuth metal powder onto a circular cavity in a furnace. When using an E(α, av) of 29.17 MeV, the very small contribution of (210)At confirms the right choice of the irradiation energy to obtain a pure production of (211)At isotope.

Comparison of cell-labeling methods with ¹²4I-FIAU and 64Cu-PTSM for cell tracking using chronic myelogenous leukemia cells expressing HSV1-tk and firefly luciferase.

Cell-tracking methods with molecular-imaging modality can monitor the biodistribution of cells. In this study, the direct-labeling method with 64Cu-pyruvaldehyde-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) (64Cu-PTSM), indirect cell-labeling methods with herpes simplex virus type 1-thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk)-mediated ¹²4I-2'-fluoro-2'-deoxy-1-ß-D-arabinofuranosyl-5-iodouracil (¹²4I-FIAU) were comparatively investigated in vitro and in vivo for tracking of human chronic myelogenous leukemia cells. K562-TL was established by retroviral transduction of the HSV1-tk and firefly luciferase gene in the K562 cell. K562-TL cells were labeled with 64Cu-PTSM or ¹²4I-FIAU. Cell labeling efficiency, viability, and radiolabels retention were compared in vitro. The biodistribution of radiolabeled K562-TL cells with each radiolabel and small-animal positron emission tomography imaging were performed. Additionally, in vivo and ex vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and tissue reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis were used for confirming those results. K562-TL cells were efficiently labeled with both radiolabels. The radiolabel retention (%) of ¹²4I-FIAU (95.2%±1.1%) was fourfold higher than 64Cu-PTSM (23.6%±0.7%) at 24 hours postlabeling. Viability of radiolabeled cells was statistically nonsignificant between ¹²4I-FIAU and 64Cu-PTSM. The radioactivity of each radiolabeled cells was predominantly accumulated in the lungs and liver at 2 hours. Both the radioactivity of 64Cu-PTSM- and ¹²4I-FIAU-labeled cells was highly accumulated in the liver at 24 hours. However, the radioactivity of ¹²4I-FIAU-labeled cells was markedly decreased from the body at 24 hours. The K562-TL cells were dominantly localized in the lungs and liver, which also verified by BLI and RT-PCR analysis at 2 and 24 hours postinjection. The 64Cu-PTSM-labeled cell-tracking method is more efficient than ¹²4I-FIAU-labeled cell tracking, because of markedly decrease of radioactivity and fast efflux of ¹²4I-FIAU in vivo. In spite of a high labeling yield and radiolabel retention of ¹²4I-FIAU in vitro, the in vivo cell-tracking method using 64Cu-PTSM could be a useful method to evaluate the distribution and targeting of various cell types, especially, stem cells and immune cells.

The Changes in Range of Motion after a Lumbar Spinal Arthroplasty with Charité in the Human Cadaveric Spine under Physiologic Compressive Follower Preload : A Comparative Study between Load Control Protocol and Hybrid Protocol.

OBJECTIVE: To compare two testing protocols for evaluating range of motion (ROM) changes in the preloaded cadaveric spines implanted with a mobile core type Charité lumbar artificial disc. METHODS: Using five human cadaveric lumbosacral spines (L2-S2), baseline ROMs were measured with a bending moment of 8 Nm for all motion modes (flexion/extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation) in intact spine. The ROM was tracked using a video-based motion-capturing system. After the Charité disc was implanted at the L4-L5 level, the measurement was repeated using two different methods : 1) loading up to 8 Nm with the compressive follower preload as in testing the intact spine (Load control protocol), 2) loading in displacement control until the total ROM of L2-S2 matches that when the intact spine was loaded under load control (Hybrid protocol). The comparison between the data of each protocol was performed. RESULTS: The ROMs of the L4-L5 arthroplasty level were increased in all test modalities (p < 0.05 in bending and rotation) under both load and hybrid protocols. At the adjacent segments, the ROMs were increased in all modes except flexion under load control protocol. Under hybrid protocol, the adjacent segments demonstrated decreased ROMs in all modalities except extension at the inferior segment. Statistical significance between load and hybrid protocols was observed during bending and rotation at the operative and adjacent levels (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In hybrid protocol, the Charité disc provided a relatively better restoration of ROM, than in the load control protocol, reproducing clinical observations in terms of motion following surgery.

Biomechanical evaluation of an interspinous stabilizing device, Locker.

STUDY DESIGN: A biomechanical study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the biomechanical properties of a novel dynamic interspinous device named Locke SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There has been no biomechanical study on this device. METHODS: Five human cadaveric lumbar spine specimens (L2-S1) were tested in the following sequence: (1) intact state; (2) after removal of the interspinous ligaments of L3-L4; (3) after application of the Locker at the interspinous space; (4) after destabilization of the L3-L4 motion segments; and (5) after reapplication of the Locker to the destabilized segments. Range of motion (ROM) and intradiscal pressure were measured by a video-based motion capture system and needle transducers. RESULTS: Applied to the intact spine, the Locker significantly reduced the ROM of the segment in extension and flexion without significant effect on lateral bending and/or axial rotation. When applied to the destabilized segment, it significantly reduced the ROM in all directions of movement except in axial rotation, where it failed to restore the ROM of the segment. The ROM of adjacent segments was not significantly affected by the application of the Locker. Pressures at the posterior anulus and central nucleus were decreased by application of the Locker. CONCLUSION: The Locker showed a significant stabilizing effect on the spinal motion segment both in the intact and destabilized spine without any significant effect on adjacent segments. It also decreased the pressures of the posterior anulus and central nucleus significantly. However, in the destabilized spine, it showed no stabilizing effect in axial rotation. This biomechanical property should be considered in clinical application.