Faraday instability in a surface-frozen liquid

Faraday surface instability measurements of the critical acceleration, a(c), and wave number, k(c), for standing surface waves on a tetracosanol (C24H50) melt exhibit abrupt changes at T(s)=54 degrees C, approximately 4 degrees C above the bulk freezing temperature. The measured variations of a(c) and k(c) vs temperature and driving frequency are accounted for quantitatively by a hydrodynamic model, revealing a change from a free-slip surface flow, generic for a free liquid surface (T>T(s)), to a surface-pinned, no-slip flow, characteristic of a flow near a wetted solid wall (T<T(s)). The change at T(s) is traced to the onset of surface freezing, where the steep velocity gradient in the surface-pinned flow significantly increases the viscous dissipation near the surface.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) reduces the dose to the contralateral breast when compared to conventional tangential fields for primary breast irradiation: initial report

PURPOSE

This study was designed to compare the dose received by the contralateral breast during primary breast irradiation using intensity-modulated radiotherapy with the dose received via conventional tangential field techniques.

METHODS/MATERIALS

Between March 2003 and March 2004, 44 patients with breast carcinoma were treated using 6-, 10-, or mixed 6/18-MV photons(36 with tangential intensity-modulated radiotherapy technique and eight with three-dimensional technique using tangential fields with wedges) for primary breast irradiation after breast-conserving surgery. Paired thermoluminescent dosimeters were placed on each patient's contralateral breast, 4 cm from the center of the medial border of the tangential field. The thermoluminescent dosimeters were left on the patient during a single fraction and then measured 24 hours later.

RESULTS

The mean dose delivered with photons to the primary breast for all patients was 4998 cGy [SD = 52], and the mean single fraction dose was 200 cGy [SD = 9]. The mean percent of the prescribed dose to the contralateral breast was 7.74% (SD = 2.35) for patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy, compared with 9.74% [SD = 2.04] for the patients treated with conventional tangential field techniques. This represented a 20% reduction in the mean dose to the contralateral breast with the use of intensity-modulated radiotherapy when compared with the dose received via the three-dimensional technique, a result that was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Primary breast irradiation with tangential intensity-modulated radiotherapy technique significantly reduces the dose to the contralateral breast when compared with conventional tangential techniques.

Overexpression of 15-lipoxygenase in the vascular endothelium is associated with increased thymic apoptosis in LDL receptor-deficient mice

BACKGROUND

15-Lipoxygenase (15-LO) is a nonheme iron-containing enzyme that catalyzes the peroxidation of fatty acids. Herein, we studied the effect of 15-LO overexpression in the vascular endothelium on thymocyte apoptosis by evaluating thymuses from low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDL-RD) mice and LDL-RD/15-LO mice. Thymuses were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and by TUNEL whereas in vitro studies were carried out by employing freshly isolated thymocytes from the respective mice and evaluation of apoptosis by propidium iodide and annexin V cytometry.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The apoptotic index in LDL-RD/15-LO mice was significantly higher than in the LDL-RD mice. In the thymic medulla the difference was smaller, although still significant. Freshly isolated thymus cells from LDL-RD/15-LO mice exhibited a higher rate of spontaneous cell death than controls. Incubation of thymus cells in the presence of the cell-permeable caspase-3 inhibitor DEVD-CMK resulted in a decrease in the frequency of apoptotic cells in LDL-RD/15-LO thymocytes, whereas no effect was evident in control thymocytes. The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine causes the increase in apoptosis in both groups.

CONCLUSION

LDL-RD/15-LO mice exhibit increased thymocyte apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. These findings may suggest a role for 15-LO in the natural selection of thymocytes.

Crystalline phases of alkyl-thiol monolayers on liquid mercury

The structure of octadecanethiol monolyers on liquid Hg surfaces, measured with subangstrom resolution, evolves with increasing coverage from a laterally disordered phase of surface-parallel molecules to ordered rotator phases of surface-normal molecules. For the latter, an abrupt transition is found at 19 A(2)/molecule from a rectangular packing of molecules tilted by 27 degrees in the nearest-neighbor direction to a hexagonal unit cell of untilted molecules. The unit cell of the tilted phase is centered for the chains and noncentered for the headgroups. The thiol headgroups associate in pairs with a single Hg atom, and the bonds form long-range orientational order. The different order of thiols on Au(111) and on Hg highlights the subphase's role in determining the overlayer's structure.

Patterns of Locoregional Failure in Patients With Operable Breast Cancer Treated by Mastectomy and Adjuvant Chemotherapy With or Without Tamoxifen and Without Radiotherapy: Results From Five National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project Randomized Clinical Trials

Purpose

To assess patterns of locoregional failure (LRF) in lymph node–positive (LN+) breast cancer patients treated with mastectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy (± tamoxifen) and without postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) in five National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project trials.

Patients and Methods

We examined 5,758 patients enrolled onto the B-15, B-16, B-18, B-22, and B-25 trials. Median follow-up time was 11.1 years. Distribution of pathologic tumor size was ≤ 2 cm, 2.1 to 5 cm, and more than 5 cm in 30%, 52%, and 11% of patients, respectively. Distribution of the number of LN+ was one to three, four to nine, and ≥ 10 in 51%, 32%, and 16% of patients, respectively. Ninety percent of patients received doxorubicin-based chemotherapy.

Results

The overall 10-year cumulative incidences of isolated LRF, LRF with or without distant failure (DF), and DF alone as first event were 12.2%, 19.8%, and 43.3%, respectively. Cumulative incidences for LRF as first event with or without DF for patients with one to three, four to nine, and ≥ 10 LN+ were 13.0%, 24.4%, and 31.9%, respectively (P < .0001). For patients with a tumor size of ≤ 2 cm, 2.1 to 5.0 cm, and more than 5.0 cm, these incidences were 14.9%, 21.3%, and 24.6%, respectively (P < .0001). Multivariate analysis showed age, tumor size, premenopausal status, number of LN+, and number of dissected LN as significant predictors for LRF as first event.

Conclusion

In patients with large tumors and four or more LN+, LRF as first event remains a significant problem. Although PMRT is currently recommended for patients with four or more LN+, it may also have value in selected patients with one to three LN+. However, in the absence of a randomized trial examining the worth of radiotherapy in this group of patients, the value of PMRT remains unknown.

Temperature dependence of the structure of Langmuir films of normal-alkanes on liquid mercury

The temperature dependent phase behavior of Langmuir films of n-alkanes [CH3(CH2)(n-2)CH3, denote Cn] on mercury was studied for chain lengths 19< or =n< or =22 and temperatures 15< or =T< or =44 degrees C, using surface tensiometry and surface x-ray diffraction methods. In contrast with Langmuir films on water, where molecules invariably orient roughly surface normal, alkanes on mercury are always oriented surface parallel and show no long-range in-plane order at any surface pressure. A gas and several condensed phases of single, double, and triple layers of lying-down molecules are found, depending on n and T. At high coverages, the alkanes studied here show transitions from a triple to a double to a single layer with increasing temperature. The transition temperature from a double to a single layer is found to be approximately 5 degrees C, lower than the bulk rotator-to-liquid melting temperature, while the transition from a triple to a double layer is about as much below the double-to-single layer transition. Both monolayer and bulk transition temperatures show a linear increase with n with identical slopes of approximately 4.5 degrees C/CH2 within the range of n values addressed here. It is suggested that the film and bulk transitions are both driven by a common cause: the proliferation of gauche defects in the chain with increasing temperature.

The structure and phase diagram of Langmuir films of alcohols on mercury

The coverage-dependent phase behavior of molecular films of alcohols (CH3(CH2)n-2CH2OH, denoted as CnOH) on mercury was studied for chain lengths 8 < or = n < or = 28, using surface tensiometry and surface specific X-ray methods. Phases with surface-normal-oriented molecules are found at high coverage, showing the CS, S, and LS phases found also on water. Phases comprising surface parallel molecules, which do not exist on water, are found here at low coverage. For the lowest coverage a two-dimensional gas phase is found, followed, upon increasing the coverage, by an n-dependent sequence of condensed phases of up to four layers of surface-parallel molecules before converting to the surface-normal phases. In contrast with the surface-normal phases, all of the surface-parallel phases are found to lack long-range order in the surface-parallel direction. Adsorption energies are derived from the phase diagram for the alkyl chain and the alcohol headgroup.

Fatty acid Langmuir films on liquid mercury: X-ray and surface tension studies

The structure and phase behavior of liquid-mercury-supported molecular films of fatty acids (CH3(CH2)n-2COOH, denoted CnOOH) were studied for molecular lengths 7 < or = n < or = 24, by surface tensiometry and X-ray methods. Two qualitatively different film structures were found, depending on coverage. For high coverage, the film consists of a monolayer of roughly surface-normal molecules, showing a pressure-dependent sequence of structures similar, though not identical, to that of the corresponding water-supported Langmuir films. At low coverage, phases consisting of surface-parallel molecules are found, not observed on the aqueous subphases employed to date. In this range, a two-dimensional (2D) gas followed by a single and, for 14 < or = n < or = 24, also by a double layer of surface-parallel molecules is found as coverage is increased. Depending on chain length, the flat-lying phases have a crystalline 2D-ordered, a smectic-like 1D-ordered, or a disordered in-plane structure consisting of molecular dimers. The structure and thermodynamics of the films are discussed.

Radiotherapy for Symptomatic Metastases to Bone in Children

Thirty-seven children less than age 19 years were treated from 1985 through 1998 with radiotherapy for symptomatic metastases to bone. The most common primary tumors were neuroblastoma (18), Ewing's sarcoma (5), and osteosarcoma (5). The interval from diagnosis of the primary tumor to treatment of the first symptomatic metastases involving bone ranged from 0 to 163 months (median 19). Thirty-seven children were treated with 150 courses of radiotherapy. Forty-three courses consisted of a single dose of 300 to 1,000 cGy. One hundred thirteen courses of radiotherapy consisted of five or fewer treatment fractions. Sixteen osseous sites were treated with two courses of radiotherapy and two sites were treated with three. The most commonly irradiated symptomatic bone sites were skull, spine, and hip/femurs. Survival from the first course of radiotherapy administered for metastases to bone varied from 1 to 52 months, with 11 patients (29.7%) surviving 12 or more months and only 3 patients (8.1%) surviving more than 2 years. The majority of children seemed to derive palliation from the radiotherapy based on assessment by family and medical personnel as well as by self-report in older patients. Children with symptomatic metastases to bone have an extremely poor prognosis, and short courses of radiotherapy are suggested as palliation. Repeat courses of radiotherapy can be given for persistent or recurrent symptoms.

The autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (Canale?Smith) in adulthood

The autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) or Canale-Smith syndrome is a recently described clinical entity consisting of chronic, non-malignant lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly together with hypergammaglobulinemia, positive autoantibodies and/or overt autoimmune diseases. It is caused by a genetic defect in the mechanism of programmed cell death (apoptosis) and is characterized by the presence of double-negative (TCR alpha/beta CD4- CD8-) T lymphocytes (DNT). Although well known in pediatric patients, ALPS is an unusual diagnosis in adults. The oldest reported patient was aged 54. We describe another two adult patients in whom a presenting autoimmune disease led to the diagnosis of ALPS.

Surface and bulk interchange energy in binary mixtures of chain molecules

The interchange (interaction) parameter, controlling the phase behaviour of a binary mixture, is determined for the bulk and the surface of binary mixtures of different types of chain molecules, using surface tensiometry and a mean-field theory. For all mixtures and concentrations studied an identical behaviour is observed at the surface, depending only on the square of the reduced chain length mismatch delta n/n, where delta n and dealta n are the difference in and average of the number of carbons of the two components.

X-Ray Spectrometry of Copper: New Results on an Old Subject

We review recent, and some less recent, measurements of several emission spectra of copper. The results are discussed with special emphasis on elucidating the structure of the Kα 1,2 and Kβ 1,3 diagram lines and their underlying transitions. These lines are found to contain ≈30 % contribution from 3d spectator hole transitions. Other multielectronic transitions, the 2p spectator hole (satellites) and 1s spectator hole (hypersatellites) transitions were also measured. They are discussed paying special attention to the evolution of the lineshapes and intensities from the excitation threshold to saturation. Trends in the measured quantities depending on the spectator hole's shell and subshell are also discussed.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies penetrate into human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and modify their apoptosis

OBJECTIVE

The interaction of extracellular anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) with neutrophilic granules may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ANCA-related disorders. It has been confirmed that apoptosis is an essential trigger associated with translocation of the cytoplasmic granules to the cell surface, and with the expression of ANCA antigens. Since cell penetration by autoantibodies and apoptosis may be associated processes, we tested the hypothesis that penetration of ANCA-autoantibodies into polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) has an effect on apoptosis and thereby can influence surface antigen expression.

METHODS

PMNs were isolated from the blood of healthy volunteers and incubated in the presence of anti-proteinase3 (PR3) enriched IgG or normal human IgG. For each period of incubation (40 minutes or 12 hours) we evaluated: 1) PMN morphology by light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for general estimation of the apoptotic process, and 2) ANCA binding to the target antigen by immunogold electron microscopy (IgEM).

RESULTS

Both normal and anti-PR3 IgG penetrate PMNs. The labeled PR3-ANCA were localized on PR3 granules, regardless of the granules' location within the cell, and in the sites where the PMN destruction processes were most expressed. The destructive processes showed extensive apoptotic characteristics, in contrast to PMNs penetrated by normal IgG.

CONCLUSION

PR3 ANCA penetrate PMNs and, via the interaction between PR3-ANCA and PR3-containing granule components, initiate a modification of the apoptotic process.

Diagram X-ray emission spectra of a hollow atom: the Kh alpha1,2 and Kh beta1,3 hypersatellites of Fe

High-resolution Fe K(h) beta(1,3) and K(h) alpha(1,2) hypersatellite spectra were measured, using monochromatized synchrotron radiation photoexcitation. The lines' energies, splitting, excitation thresholds, and the K(h) alpha(1)/K(h) alpha(2) intensity ratio were derived with high accuracy. Having both spectra, not hitherto available for any atom with high resolution, allows separating out the energy shifts of the outer levels caused by a K shell spectator vacancy. Comparison with ab initio relativistic multiconfigurational Dirac-Fock calculations reveals that while the influence of relativity and QED effects is mostly accounted for, discrepancies remain in the lines' intensity ratio, which sensitively measures the intermediacy of the coupling. Similar discrepancies, of unknown origin, are found in the energy shifts of the outer levels due to the final-state K shell spectator vacancy.

Angiosarcoma of the Breast Occurring Soon After Lumpectomy and Breast Irradiation for Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma

Angiosarcoma of the breast is a rare second malignancy after breast irradiation for carcinoma. As with most radiotherapy-associated malignancies, the usual latent period after radiotherapy is many years. The authors present a case of angiosarcoma appearing in the breast 14 months after breast irradiation after lumpectomy and axillary node dissection for infiltrating ductal carcinoma.

The incidence of lung carcinoma after surgery for breast carcinoma with and without postoperative radiotherapy

BACKGROUND

In the current study, the authors compared the incidence of subsequent primary lung carcinoma in patients with breast carcinoma who received radiotherapy as part of their treatment and in those patients who did not. The patients were participants in two large National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) breast carcinoma trials, B-04 and B-06, which prospectively randomized women to either undergo surgery alone or to undergo surgery and postoperative radiotherapy.

METHODS

The NSABP trial B-04 (1971-1974) randomized patients to undergo radical mastectomy versus total (simple) mastectomy and radiotherapy to the chest wall, axilla, and supraclavicular and internal mammary lymph node areas. For patients with a clinically uninvolved axilla, there was a third randomization arm: total mastectomy without radiotherapy. The B-06 trial (1976-1984) randomized patients between those undergoing total mastectomy versus lumpectomy versus those undergoing lumpectomy and breast irradiation, with all patients undergoing an axillary lymph node dissection. The records of all patients who developed a recurrence in the lung or a new primary lung tumor were reviewed to determine the incidence and laterality of confirmed and probable primary lung carcinoma.

RESULTS

For the 1665 evaluable patients on the NSABP B-04 trial (mean follow-up of 21.4 years), there was a total of 23 subsequent confirmed and probable ipsilateral or contralateral primary lung carcinomas. In those patients who had received comprehensive postmastectomy radiotherapy, there was a statistically significant increase in the incidence of these new primary tumors (P = 0.029). With regard to the development of confirmed new primary ipsilateral lung carcinoma alone, the incidence was statistically significantly increased (P = 0.013) in those patients who had received radiotherapy as part of their treatment, and when confirmed and probable ipsilateral lung carcinomas were analyzed, there was a strong trend toward a statistically significant increase in those patients who had received radiotherapy (P = 0.066). For the 1850 evaluable patients on the NSABP trial B-06 (mean follow-up of 19.0 years), there was a total of 30 second primary lung carcinomas but no increase in either ipsilateral or contralateral primary tumors of the lung in those patients who had received radiotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Extensive postmastectomy irradiation of the chest wall and regional lymphatic node areas, with consequent exposure of a greater volume of lung to higher doses as administered in the NSABP B-04 trial compared with postlumpectomy breast irradiation in the NSABP B-06 trial, was associated with an increased incidence of subsequent primary lung tumors, both ipsilateral and contralateral.