Sn–P–F containing glass matrix for the fabrication of phosphor-in-glass for use in high power LEDs

In this study, we introduce a low-melting-point (MP) glass ceramic (GlaC) material which can be used to fabricate a phosphor-in-glass (PiG) with Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ (YAG) phosphor for the realization of high-power white-light-emitting diodes (WLEDs).

Improved performance of dye-sensitized solar cells using dual-function TiO(2) nanowire photoelectrode

A unique, hierarchically structured, aggregated TiO(2) nanowire (A-TiO(2)-nw) is prepared by solvothermal synthesis and used as a dual-functioning photoelectrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The A-TiO(2)-nw shows improved light scattering compared to conventional TiO(2) nanoparticles (TiO(2)-np) and dramatically enhanced dye adsorption compared to conventional scattering particles (CSP). The A-TiO(2)-nw is used as a scattering layer for bilayer photoelectrodes (TiO(2)-np/A-TiO(2)-nw) in DSSCs to compare the cell performance to that of devices using state-of-the-art photoelectrode architectures (TiO(2)-np/CSP). The DSSCs fabricated using bilayers of TiO(2)-np/A-TiO(2)-nw show improved power conversion efficiency (9.1%) and current density (14.88 mA cm(-2)) compared to those using single-layer TiO(2)-np (7.6% and 11.84 mA cm(-2)) or TiO(2)-np/CSP bilayer structures (8.7% and 13.81 mA cm(-2)). The unique contribution of the A-TiO(2)-nw layers to the device performance is confirmed by studying the incident photon-to-current efficiency. The enhanced external quantum efficiencies at approximately 520 nm and 650 nm clearly reveal the dual functionality of A-TiO(2)-nw. These unique properties of A-TiO(2)-nw may be applied in other devices utilizing light-scattering n-type semiconductor.

Pseudomaricurvus alcaniphilus sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from tidal flat sediment and emended descriptions of the genus Pseudomaricurvus, Pseudomaricurvus alkylphenolicus Iwaki et al. 2014 and Maricurvus nonylphenolicus Iwaki et al. 2012

A novel Gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic and motile strain, designated MEBiC06469T, was isolated from tidal flat sediment of the Taean province, South Korea. Strain MEBiC06469T produced ivory-coloured colonies on marine agar 2216 medium and could degrade carboxymethyl-cellulose. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the closest relative was Pseudomaricurvus alkylphenolicus KU41GT with 96.5 % similarity. The isolate was catalase-positive but oxidase-negative. Growth was observed at 16-38 °C (optimum, 32 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.5) and in the presence of 0.0-8.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1.5 %). The only isoprenoid quinone was Q-8.The dominant fatty acids were summed feature 3 (comprised of C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c; 20.4 %) and C17 : 1ω8c (30.9 %), summed feature 8 (comprised of C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c; 9.5 %), C16 : 0 (9.0 %), C15 : 1ω8c (5.3 %), and C11 : 0 3-OH (5.2 %). Based on these phenotypic properties and phylogenetic data, strain MEBiC06469T should be classified as a novel species within the genus Pseudomaricurvus for which the name Pseudomaricurvus alcaniphilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MEBiC06469T ( = KCCM 42976T = JCM 18313T). Emended descriptions of the genus Pseudomaricurvus, Pseudomaricurvus alkylphenolicusIwaki et al. 2014, and Maricurvus nonylphenolicusIwaki et al. 2012 are also provided.

Analysis of wide color gamut of green/red bilayered freestanding phosphor film-capped white LEDs for LCD backlight

In this study, we propose green/red bilayered freestanding phosphor film-capped white light-emitting diodes (W-LEDs) using InGaN blue LEDs and narrowband red and green phosphors to realize a wide color gamut in a liquid crystal display (LCD) backlight system. The narrowband K2SiF6:Mn4+ (KSF) red and SrGa2S4:Eu2+ (SGS) green phosphors are synthesized using a facile etching synthetic process and flux-aided solid state reaction under a H2S atmosphere, respectively, and the freestanding phosphor films are fabricated using a delamination method with water-soluble polymer, polystyrene sulfonic acid, PEDOT/PSS, and interlayered phosphor film. Various phosphor concentrations of green/red bilayered freestanding phosphor film-capped W-LEDs exhibit a correlated color temperature (CCT) and luminous efficacy range of 11,390 K ~6,540 K and 99 lm/W ~124 lm/W, respectively, with an applied current of 60 mA. The W-LED with green (12.5 wt%)/red (40 wt%) bilayered phosphor film, which exhibited luminous efficacy of 105 lm/W at the CCT of 8,330 K, is selected and the color gamut of the bare LED and phosphor RG and the filtered RGB triangle is calculated to be more than ~95% and ~86.4%, respectively, relative to the NTSC in the 1931 CIE color coordinates space.

Analysis of circadian properties and healthy levels of blue light from smartphones at night

This study proposes representative figures of merit for circadian and vision performance for healthy and efficient use of smartphone displays. The recently developed figures of merit for circadian luminous efficacy of radiation (CER) and circadian illuminance (CIL) related to human health and circadian rhythm were measured to compare three kinds of commercial smartphone displays. The CIL values for social network service (SNS) messenger screens from all three displays were higher than 41.3 biolux (blx) in a dark room at night, and the highest CIL value reached 50.9 blx. These CIL values corresponded to melatonin suppression values (MSVs) of 7.3% and 11.4%, respectively. Moreover, smartphone use in a bright room at night had much higher CIL and MSV values (58.7 ~ 105.2 blx and 15.4 ~ 36.1%, respectively). This study also analyzed the nonvisual and visual optical properties of the three smartphone displays while varying the distance between the screen and eye and controlling the brightness setting. Finally, a method to possibly attenuate the unhealthy effects of smartphone displays was proposed and investigated by decreasing the emitting wavelength of blue LEDs in a smartphone LCD backlight and subsequently reducing the circadian effect of the display.

Alcanivorax gelatiniphagus sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from tidal flat sediments enriched with crude oil

A Gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped marine bacterium, designated MEBiC08158(T), was isolated from sediments collected from Taean County, Korea, near the Hebei Spirit tanker oil spill accident. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain MEBiC08158(T) was closely related to Alcanivorax marinus R8-12(T) (99.5% similarity) but was distinguishable from other members of the genus Alcanivorax (93.7-97.1%). The DNA-DNA hybridization value between strain MEBiC08158(T) and A. marinus R8-12(T) was 58.4%. Growth of strain MEBiC08158(T) was observed at 15-43 °C (optimum 37-40 °C), at pH 6.0-9.5 (optimum pH 7.0-8.0) and with 0.5-16% NaCl (optimum 1.5-3.0%). The dominant fatty acids were C16 : 0, C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c, C12 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c, C12 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (comprising C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c). Several phenotypic characteristics differentiate strain MEBiC08158(T) from phylogenetically close members of the genus Alcanivorax. Therefore, strain MEBiC08158(T) should be classified as representing a novel species of the genus Alcanivorax, for which the name Alcanivorax gelatiniphagus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MEBiC08158(T) ( = KCCM 42990(T) = JCM 18425(T)).

Synthesis and characterization of green Zn-Ag-In-S and red Zn-Cu-In-S quantum dots for ultrahigh color quality of down-converted white LEDs

Eco-friendly green Zn-Ag-In-S (ZAIS) and red Zn-Cu-In-S (ZCIS) core/shell-like alloyed quantum dots (QDs) have been synthesized by a facile hot-injection method with a multiple injection approach. Broad full-width at half-maximum (fwhm) of the photoluminescence (PL) emission and tunability of the green ZAIS and red ZCIS QDs were obtained by adopting a low-temperature core growth and high-temperature multiple alloyed reaction. The alloyed green ZAIS and red ZCIS QDs reached PL quantum yields as high as 0.61 and 0.53; fwhm of the PL peaks were as wide as 81 and 106 nm, respectively. This demonstrates the practical realization of white down-converted light-emitting diodes (DC-LEDs), fully covering the whole visible wavelength range and the cyan gap, using two broad fwhm green ZAIS and red ZCIS QDs. We also characterized the vision and color performance using luminous efficacy (LE), color rendering index (CRI), special CRI for strong red (R9), and color quality scale (CQS) of white DC-LEDs incorporated with green ZAIS and red ZCIS QDs at the correlated color temperature (CCT) range of 2700-10 000 K. The tricolor white DC-LED using broad fwhm green-emitting ZAIS and red-emitting ZCIS core/shell-like alloyed QDs exhibits a moderate LE (31.2 lm/W) and ultrahigh color qualities (CRI = 97, R9 = 97, and CQS = 94) with warm white at a CCT of 3500 K.

Hybrid 2D photonic crystal-assisted Lu3Al5O12:Ce ceramic-plate phosphor and free-standing red film phosphor for white LEDs with high color-rendering index

This paper reports the combined optical effects of a two-dimensional (2D) SiNx photonic crystal layer (PCL)-assisted Lu3Al5O12:Ce (LuAG:Ce) green ceramic-plate phosphor (CPP) and a free-standing (Sr,Ca)AlSiN3:Eu red film phosphor to enhance luminous efficacy, color rendering index (CRI), and special CRI (R9) of LuAG:Ce CPP-capped white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for high-power white LEDs at 350 mA. By introducing the 2D SiNx PCL, the luminous efficacy was improved by a factor of 1.25 and 1.15 compared to that of the conventional flat CPP-capped LED and the thickness-increased CPP-capped LED (with a thickness of 0.15 mm), respectively, while maintaining low color-rendering properties. The combining of the free-standing red film phosphor in the flat CPP-capped, the 2D PCL-assisted CPP-capped, and the thickness-increased CPP-capped LEDs led to enhancement of the CRI and the special CRI (R9); it also led to a decrease of the correlated color temperature (CCT) due to broad wavelength coverage via the addition of red emission. High CRI (94), natural white CCT (4450 K), and acceptable luminous efficacy (71.1 lm/W) were attained from the 2D PCL-assisted LuAG:Ce CPP/free-standing red film phosphor-based LED using a red phosphor concentration of 7.5 wt %. It is expected that the combination of the 2D PCL and the free-standing red film phosphor will be a good candidate for achieving a high-power white CPP-capped LED with excellent CRI.

Optimization of the theoretical photosynthesis performance and vision-friendly quality of multi-package purplish white LED lighting

This study introduces the new figures of merit for photosynthesis and photo-pigmentation performance as well as vision performance for photosynthetically efficient, vision-friendly and tunable greenhouse LED lighting sources.

The measurement of bone mineral density of bilateral proximal humeri using DXA in patients with unilateral rotator cuff tear

We propose that the measurement of the bone mineral density (BMD) of the proximal humerus be standardized using the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in patients supposed to undergo rotator cuff repair surgery as well as those with the fracture of the proximal humerus as the BMD of the proximal humerus is decreased in these patients.

INTRODUCTION

We propose that the measurement of the BMD of the proximal humerus be standardized using the DXA in patients who are supposed to undergo rotator cuff repair surgery as well as those with the fracture of the proximal humerus.

METHODS

We conducted the prospective study in 213 patients with unilateral rotator cuff tear but without contralateral shoulder pain or disease. In these patients, we preoperatively measured the BMD of the bilateral proximal humeri with a repeat measurement in 20 patients. We predefined three regions of interest (ROIs) in the proximal humerus with the consideration of the rotator cuff repair surgery as well as proximal humeral fractures.

RESULTS

The measurement of the BMD of the proximal humerus using the DXA showed excellent reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient > .90). BMD values of all three ROIs in the affected shoulder were significantly lower than those in asymptomatic shoulder (all p < 0.05). In female patients, the BMD values of ROIs in bilateral shoulder were significantly lower than those in male patients (all p < 0.001). In multiple regressions, however, there were no significant correlations between other clinical characteristics, except for the gender, and the BMD of GT in the affected shoulder.

CONCLUSIONS

It is imperative that the bone quality of the proximal humerus be accurately evaluated prior to surgery in patients who are supposed to undergo rotator cuff repair using suture anchors as well as in those with proximal humeral fractures. This is because the BMD of the proximal humerus is decreased in these patients.

Effects of Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit interactions on the ground state of two-dimensional localized spins

Starting with the indirect exchange model influenced by the Rashba and the Dresselhaus spin-orbit interactions, we derive the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction of localized spins. The strength of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction is compared with that of the Heisenberg exchange term as a function of atomic distance. Using the calculated interaction strengths, we discuss the formation of various atomic ground states as a function of temperature and external magnetic field. By plotting the magnetic field-temperature phase diagram, we present approximate phase boundaries between the spiral, Skyrmion and ferromagnetic states of the two-dimensional weak ferromagnetic system.

Color-by-blue display using blue quantum dot light-emitting diodes and green/red color converting phosphors

We report a novel full-color display based on the generation of full-color by a highly efficient blue QD-LED light approach, or so called color-by-blue QD-LED display. This newly proposed color-by-blue QD-LED display combines a blue CdZnS/ZnS QD-LED blue subpixel and excitation source with front-emitting green/red phosphor subpixels. It is carefully estimated that the detailed display characteristics as well as full color-conversion and reasonable device efficiency of blue, green, and red satisfy the minimum requirements for display application. Also, we would like to emphasize that the proposed blue, green, and red device shows maximum luminance of 1570, 12920, and 3120 cd/m², respectively, luminous efficiency of 1.5, 12.1, and 2.5 cd/A, respectively, and external quantum efficiency of 6.8, 2.8, and 2.0%, respectively. It is expected that full color generation by color-by-blue QD-LED will lead to further technological advancements in the area of efficient and facile display applications.

Dopaminergic manipulations and its effects on neurogenesis and motor function in a transgenic mouse model of Huntington's disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder that is classically defined by a triad of movement and cognitive and psychiatric abnormalities with a well-established pathology that affects the dopaminergic systems of the brain. This has classically been described in terms of an early loss of dopamine D2 receptors (D2R), although interestingly the treatments most effectively used to treat patients with HD block these same receptors. We therefore sought to examine the dopaminergic system in HD not only in terms of striatal function but also at extrastriatal sites especially the hippocampus, given that transgenic (Tg) mice also exhibit deficits in hippocampal-dependent cognitive tests and a reduction in adult hippocampal neurogenesis. We showed that there was an early reduction of D2R in both the striatum and dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus in the R6/1 transgenic HD mouse ahead of any overt motor signs and before striatal neuronal loss. Despite downregulation of D2Rs in these sites, further reduction of the dopaminergic input to these sites by either medial forebrain bundle lesions or receptor blockade using sulpiride was able to improve both deficits in motor performance and adult hippocampal neurogenesis. In contrast, a reduction in dopaminergic innervation of the neurogenic niches resulted in impaired neurogenesis in healthy WT mice. This study therefore provides evidence that D2R blockade improves hippocampal and striatal deficits in HD mice although the underlying mechanism for this is unclear, and suggests that agents working within this network may have greater effects than previously thought.

Polarized white light from LEDs using remote-phosphor layer sandwiched between reflective polarizer and light-recycling dichroic filter

This study introduces an efficient polarized, white phosphor-converted, light-emitting diode (pc-LED) using a remote phosphor film sandwiched between a reflective polarizer film (RPF) and a short-wavelength pass dichroic filter (SPDF). The on-axis brightness of polarized white light emission of a RPF/SPDF-sandwiched phosphor film over a blue LED, showed greater recovery than that of a conventional unpolarized remote phosphor film over blue LED, due to the recycling effect of yellow light from an SPDF. The relative luminous efficacy of an RPF/SPDF-sandwiched phosphor film was made 1.40 times better by adding an SPDF on the backside of an RPF-capped phosphor film. A polarization ratio of 0.84 was demonstrated for a white LED with an RPF/SPDF-sandwiched phosphor film, in good agreement with the measured results from the RPF-only sample.

4-O-methylhonokiol, a PPARγ agonist, inhibits prostate tumour growth: p21-mediated suppression of NF-κB activity

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The effects of 4-O-methylhonokiol (MH), a constituent of Magnolia officinalis, were investigated on human prostate cancer cells and its mechanism of action elucidated.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

The anti-cancer effects of MH were examined in prostate cancer and normal cells. The effects were validated in vivo using a mouse xenograft model.

KEY RESULTS

MH increased the expression of PPARγ in prostate PC-3 and LNCap cells. The pull-down assay and molecular docking study indicated that MH directly binds to PPARγ. MH also increased transcriptional activity of PPARγ but decreased NF-κB activity. MH inhibited the growth of human prostate cancer cells, an effect attenuated by the PPARγ antagonist GW9662. MH induced apoptotic cell death and this was related to G(0) -G(1) phase cell cycle arrest. MH increased the expression of the cell cycle regulator p21, and apoptotic proteins, whereas it decreased phosphorylation of Rb and anti-apoptotic proteins. Transfection of PC3 cells with p21 siRNA or a p21 mutant plasmid on the cyclin D1/ cycline-dependent kinase 4 binding site abolished the effects of MH on cell growth, cell viability and related protein expression. In the animal studies, MH inhibited tumour growth, NF-κB activity and expression of anti-apoptotic proteins, whereas it increased the transcriptional activity and expression of PPARγ, and the expression of apoptotic proteins and p21 in tumour tissues.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATION

MH inhibits growth of human prostate cancer cells through activation of PPARγ, suppression of NF-κB and arrest of the cell cycle. Thus, MH might be a useful tool for treatment of prostate cancer.

Antitumor activity of IL-32β through the activation of lymphocytes, and the inactivation of NF-κB and STAT3 signals

Cytokine and activation of lymphocytes are critical for tumor growth. We investigated whether interleukin (IL)-32β overexpression changes other cytokine levels and activates cytotoxic lymphocyte, and thus modify tumor growth. Herein, IL-32β inhibited B16 melanoma growth in IL-32β-overexpressing transgenic mice (IL-32β mice), and downregulated the expressions of anti-apoptotic proteins (bcl-2, IAP, and XIAP) and cell growth regulatory proteins (Ki-67 antigen (Ki-67) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)), but upregulated the expressions of pro-apoptotic proteins (bax, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-9). IL-32β also inhibited colon and prostate tumor growth in athymic nude mice inoculated with IL-32β-transfected SW620 colon or PC3 prostate cancer cells. The forced expression of IL-32β also inhibited cell growth in cultured colon and prostate cancer cells, and these inhibitory effects were abolished by IL-32 small interfering RNA (siRNA). IL-10 levels were elevated, but IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were reduced in the tumor tissues and spleens of IL-32β mice, and athymic nude mice. The number of cytotoxic T (CD8(+)) and natural killer (NK) cells in tumor tissues, spleen, and blood was significantly elevated in IL-32β mice and athymic nude mice inoculated with IL-32β-transfected cancer cells. Constituted activated NF-κB and STAT3 levels were reduced in the tumor tissues of IL-32β mice and athymic nude mice, as well as in IL-32β-transfected cultured cancer cells. These findings suggest that IL-32β inhibits tumor growth by increasing cytotoxic lymphocyte numbers, and by inactivating the NF-κB and STAT3 pathways through changing of cytokine levels in tumor tissues.

Visible cathodoluminescence of quantum dot films by direct irradiation of electron beam and its materialization as a field emission device

The field emission (FE) device based on quantum dot (QD) films as a cathodoluminescent (CL) material has not emerged yet due to the relatively low quantum efficiency and weak photostability of nanocrystals (NCs). Here we improve film stability and luminescence yields by preparing neat films of well-packed core-multishell QDs using spray coating method and then using low-temperature atomic layer deposition (ALD) to infill the pores of these films with metal oxides to produce inorganic nanocomposites. The ALD coatings to protect oxidation and degradation by electrons prevent internal atomic and molecular diffusion and decrease surface trap densities of QD films. Furthermore, the CL of the core-multishell QD films is 2.4 times higher than before ALD infilling. We fabricate the FE device by combining cathode structure with carbon nanotube (CNT) emitters and anode plates with QD thin film and successfully can get brilliant images of the light-emitting FE device. Our research opens a way for developing new quantum optoelectronics with high-performance.

Clinicopathological characteristics of T1 colorectal cancer without background adenoma

AIM

Background adenoma (BGA) is defined as benign adenomatous tissue contiguous to resected carcinomas, and the absence of BGA in a tumour is considered a histological criterion of de novo cancers. The present study aimed to identify the clinicopathological characteristics of T1 colorectal cancer (CRC) without BGA.

METHOD

A retrospective review was carried out of prospectively collected data from two centres: the National Cancer Center, Korea; and Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Korea. A total of 590 patients with T1 CRC, treated by endoscopic or surgical resection between January 2001 and August 2011, were enrolled. Details regarding gender, age, tumour location, endoscopic gross type, tumour size, depth of submucosal (SM) invasion, angiolymphatic invasion, tumour grade, budding and lymph node (LN) metastasis were evaluated with regard to the presence or absence of BGA.

RESULTS

BGA was absent in 197 (33.4%) patients. Tumour size <20 mm, flat or depressed type, deep SM depth and tumour budding were associated with the absence of BGA in univariate and multivariate analyses (P < 0.05). In surgically resected patients, LN metastases were significantly associated with the absence of BGA (P = 0.022).

CONCLUSION

T1 CRC without BGA presented several characteristics of small size (<20 mm), flat or depressed type, deep SM depth (SM 2/3), LN metastasis and tumour budding. These results indicate that de novo cancers may have a more invasive potential.

Improved color coordinates of green monochromatic pc-LED capped with a band-pass filter

This study introduces a "greener" green monochromatic phosphor-converted light-emitting diode (pc-LED) using a band-pass filter (BPF) combined with a long-pass dichroic filter (LPDF) and a short-pass dichroic filter (SPDF) to improve the color quality of our previously developed LPDF-capped green pc-LED. This can also address the drawbacks of III-V semiconductor-type green LEDs, which show a low luminous efficacy and a poor current dependence of the efficacy and color coordinates compared to blue semiconductor-type LEDs. The optical properties of green monochromatic pc-LEDs using a BPF are compared with those of LPDF-capped green pc-LEDs, which have a broad band spectrum, and III-V semiconductor-type green LEDs by changing the transmittance wavelength range of the BPF and the peak wavelength of the green phosphors. BPF-capped green monochromatic pc-LEDs provide a high luminous efficacy (134 lm/W at 60 mA), and "greener" 1931 Commission Internationale d'Eclairage (CIE; CIEx, CIEy) color coordinates (0.24, 0.66) owing to the narrowed emission spectrum. We also propose a two-dimensional (2D) polystyrene (PS) microbead (2-μm diameter) monolayer as a scattering layer to overcome the poor angular dependence of the color coordinates of the transmitted light through a nano-multilayered dichroic filter such as an LPDF or BPF. The 2D PS scattering layer improves the angular dependence of the green color emitted from a BPF-capped green pc-LED with only 3% loss of luminous efficacy.

Toward scatter-free phosphors in white phosphor-converted light-emitting diodes: reply to comments

This is a reply to the comments by Hu et al. directed to a previous paper "Toward scatter-free phosphors in white phosphor-converted light-emitting diodes" by Park et al., [Opt. Express 20(9), 10218 (2012)].

Radiation Exposure of the Hand and Chest during C-arm Fluoroscopy-Guided Procedures

BACKGROUND

The C-arm fluoroscope is an essential tool for the intervention of pain. The aim of this study was to investigate the radiation exposure experienced by the hand and chest of pain physicians during C-arm fluoroscopy-guided procedures.

METHODS

This is a prospective study about radiation exposure to physicians during transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) and medial branch block (MBB). Four pain physicians were involved in this study. Data about effective dose (ED) at each physician's right hand and left side of the chest, exposure time, radiation absorbed dose (RAD), and the distance from the center of the X-ray field to the physician during X-ray scanning were collected.

RESULTS

Three hundred and fifteen cases were included for this study. Demographic data showed no significant differences among the physicians in the TFESIs and MBBs. In the TFESI group, there was a significant difference between the ED at the hand and chest in all the physicians. In physician A, B and C, the ED at the chest was more than the ED at the hand. The distance from the center of the X-ray field to physician A was more than that of the other physicians, and for the exposure time, the ED and RAD in physician A was less than that of the other physicians. In the MBB group, there was no difference in the ED at the hand and chest, except for physician D. The distance from the center of the X-ray field to physician A was more than that of the other physicians and the exposure time in physician A was less than that of the other physicians.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the distance from the radiation source, position of the hand, experience and technique can correlate with the radiation dose.

The outcomes of navigation-assisted bone tumour surgery: minimum three-year follow-up

We evaluated the oncological and functional outcome of 18 patients, whose malignant bone tumours were excised with the assistance of navigation, and who were followed up for more than three years. There were 11 men and seven women, with a mean age of 31.8 years (10 to 57). There were ten operations on the pelvic ring and eight joint-preserving limb salvage procedures. The resection margins were free of tumour in all specimens. The tumours, which were stage IIB in all patients, included osteosarcoma, high-grade chondrosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone, and adamantinoma. The overall three-year survival rate of the 18 patients was 88.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 75.4 to 100). The three-year survival rate of the patients with pelvic malignancy was 80.0% (95% CI 55.3 to 100), and of the patients with metaphyseal malignancy was 100%. The event-free survival was 66.7% (95% CI 44.9 to 88.5). Local recurrence occurred in two patients, both of whom had a pelvic malignancy. The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional score was 26.9 points at a mean follow-up of 48.2 months (22 to 79). We suggest that navigation can be helpful during surgery for musculoskeletal tumours; it can maximise the accuracy of resection and minimise the unnecessary sacrifice of normal tissue by providing precise intra-operative three-dimensional radiological information.