I12: the Joint Engineering, Environment and Processing (JEEP) beamline at Diamond Light Source

I12 is the Joint Engineering, Environmental and Processing (JEEP) beamline, constructed during Phase II of the Diamond Light Source. I12 is located on a short (5 m) straight section of the Diamond storage ring and uses a 4.2 T superconducting wiggler to provide polychromatic and monochromatic X-rays in the energy range 50-150 keV. The beam energy enables good penetration through large or dense samples, combined with a large beam size (1 mrad horizontally × 0.3 mrad vertically). The beam characteristics permit the study of materials and processes inside environmental chambers without unacceptable attenuation of the beam and without the need to use sample sizes which are atypically small for the process under study. X-ray techniques available to users are radiography, tomography, energy-dispersive diffraction, monochromatic and white-beam two-dimensional diffraction/scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering. Since commencing operations in November 2009, I12 has established a broad user community in materials science and processing, chemical processing, biomedical engineering, civil engineering, environmental science, palaeontology and physics.

Renal effects of molecular targeted therapies in oncology: a review by the Cancer and the Kidney International Network (C-KIN)

A number of cancer therapy agents are cleared by the kidney and may affect renal function, including cytotoxic chemotherapy agents, molecular targeted therapies, analgesics, antibiotics, radiopharmaceuticals and radiation therapy, and bone-targeted therapies. Many of these agents can be nephrotoxic, including targeted cancer therapies. The incidence, severity, and pattern of renal toxicities may vary according to the respective target of the drug. Here, we review the renal effects associated with a selection of currenty approved targeted cancer therapies, directed to vascular endothelial growth factor or VEGF receptor(s) (VEGF/VEGFR), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), human epidermal growth factor receptor2 (HER2), BRAF, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), programmed cell death protein-1 or its ligand (PD-1/PDL-1), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). The early diagnosis and prompt treatment of these renal alterations are essential in the daily practice where molecular targeted therapies have a definitive role in the armamentarium used in many cancers.

Self-inflicted shotgun wounds of the face: surgical and psychiatric considerations

This study reviews the evaluation and treatment of patients with extensive self-inflicted shotgun wounds to the face. Five cases are presented and assessed with regard to reason for suicide, psychological reaction to facial reconstruction, and the potential for social rehabilitation. Mechanisms of injury, acute management, and definitive surgical and psychiatric treatment programs are discussed. Survival is expected for most patients, and carefully planned surgical reconstruction must be coordinated with skilled psychiatric intervention.

Videofluoroscopic and scintigraphic analysis of dysphagia in the head and neck cancer patient

This paper presents two advances in the evaluation of swallowing function which better define the swallowing processes in the head and neck cancer patient. Videofluoroscopy, improved by computer-assisted image analysis, provides more accurate information regarding oral and pharyngeal movement of structures. Radionuclide scintigraphy, a complementary technique, quantitates bolus flow (transit times) and the degree of aspiration. Several cases demonstrate the advantages of the methods and their usefulness in evaluating the effects of cancer treatment. The improved techniques also provide opportunity for designing new strategies of medical and surgical rehabilitation.