Non-irradiated Side Research Articles

Transmission and Reflection Spectra of Zinc Oxide Implanted with a High Dose of Cobalt Ions

Optical transmission and reflection spectra of monocrystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) plates implanted with 40 keV Co+ ions to high doses of (0.5–1.5)·1017 cm–2 are presented. With increasing dose, the transmission value decreases and the optical transmission edge shifts towards the long-wavelength region in transmission spectra. Also, in the transmission spectra, three absorption bands are observed in the range of 550–680 nm. The bands and their positions are typical of optically active Co2+ ions in the zinc cation substitution positions in the ZnO matrix. The reflection coefficient of the implanted side of the ZnO plate increases monotonically with increasing dose values. In both the initial and implanted ZnO plates, when reflection spectra are recorded from the reverse (nonirradiated) side, a characteristic structure at l = 375 nm is observed due to exciton reflection. Modeling of light transmission and reflection in cobalt-implanted ZnO samples was carried out within the framework of a three-layer model, in which the first surface layer contains cobalt nanoinclusions, the second, deeper layer is a solid solution of cobalt ion substitution in the ZnO matrix, the third layer is the unirradiated part of the ZnO plate. Modeling was used to determine effective refractive indices of two ZnO layers containing implanted cobalt admixture in different phase states.

Model of Radiation-induced Hind Limb Contracture and Skin Fibrosis Rescued by Fat Grafting

INTRODUCTION: Radiotherapy is an effective anti-cancer treatment, able to reduce tumor size and decrease local cancer recurrence. However, the long-term outcome of radiotherapy is significant and pathologic fibrosis of the soft tissue surrounding the malignancy. Radiation-induced soft tissue fibrosis can disrupt tissue esthetic appears and impair function, such as impaired swallowing and limb contracture. Fat grafting is gaining popularity as a surgical technique able to prevent or reverse the radiation-induced soft tissue fibrosis. We developed a mouse model of radiation-induced hind limb contracture and investigated the potential of grafted fat to restore mobility to the irradiated hind limb. METHODS: The hind limbs of Prrx1Cre;R26mTmG mice were irradiated with 30 Gy fractionated in 5 Gy doses every 2 days for a total of 12 days. The Prrx1Cre;R26mTmG mice were used to label a fibrogenic subpopulation of fibroblasts in ventral skin (PRRX-1+) by embryonic expression Cre. A 4-week period followed irradiation to allow limb contracture to develop, and mice were then sacrificed, and hind limbs were processed for histology. To explore the therapeutic effects of fat grafting, CD-1 nude mice were irradiated with the same irradiation protocol, and at 4 weeks, the mice were injected with 200 μl of human lipoaspirate fat or lipoaspirate enriched with stromal vascular cells (10,000 cells/200 μl) directly into the subcutaneous space on the ventral surface of the irradiated hind limbs. We used 2 control mice; mice injected with 200 μl of saline or mice who received sham surgery with no injection. Limb extension was measured every 2 weeks for a total of 12 weeks, and mice were then sacrificed for hind limb skin mechanical strength testing and histologic analysis. RESULTS: Hind limb irradiation significantly reduced limb extensibility compared to the nonirradiated side, and contracture was associated with a significant increase in the fibrogenic Prrx1+ fibroblast subpopulation in mouse ventral skin. Fat grafting progressively increased limb extension, reduced skin stiffness, and reversed the fibrotic histologic changes in the skin. The greatest improvements were found in mice who received fat grafted with stromal vascular cells. CONCLUSION: We present a mouse model of radiation-induced hind limb contracture which we use to show that grafted fat can reverse the fibrotic changes seen in irradiated skin and can improve the extensibility of contracted limbs postirradiation.

Abstract B165: Investigating in vivo synergistic effect of checkpoint blockade and radiation therapy against chordomas in a humanized mouse model

Abstract Introduction: With the advent of immunotherapy (IT) against various cancers, its applications to other cancers have been extensively investigated. However, it has been a challenge to apply IT to chordomas, due to lack of clinically translatable in vivo models. Currently, there are no well-established murine chordoma cell lines that can be injected to syngeneic mice or no transgenic mouse models that develop chordomas spontaneously, which would allow us to study the interaction between murine chordomas and murine immune cells. Hence, we aimed to develop a humanized mouse model, where human immune cells are engrafted into immunodeficient mice, to study the interaction between human immune system and human chordomas. We also sought to utilize it to investigate synergistic effect between IT and radiation therapy (RT) against chordoma. Materials and Methods: Fifteen 10-12-week-old NSG mice, which lack mouse T-cells, B cells, and NK cells as well as functional mouse macrophages, were sublethally (1.5Gy) irradiated and then implanted with fetal thymic tissue and CD34+ stem cells that had been harvested from a fetus, whose HLA-types were partially-matched with those of the U-CH1 chordoma cell line. Reconstitution of immune cells in NSG mice was confirmed eight weeks post-transplantation, and then each animal (15 humanized NSG mice and 12 naïve NSG mice) was injected with U-CH1 cell suspension bilaterally and subcutaneously. Next, they were treated for 4 weeks as follows: A) control, isotype antibodies (Abs) injection (n=3), B) anti-human-PD-1 Abs (n=4, 10 mg/kg, 3 times/week for 4 weeks), C) RT + isotype Abs (n=3, unilaterally to the left-sided tumor, 8Gy x 4), D) anti-human-PD-1 Abs and RT (n=5), E) naïve NSG mice (n=6, without the engraftment of human immune cells) + isotype, and F) naïve NSG mice (n=6) + anti-human-PD-1 Abs. During and after the treatment, anti-tumor activities were monitored via tumor size, flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry. Results: Eight weeks after stem cell engraftment, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 43.8% among all PBMCs (human + mouse), human T-cells of 23.4% among human PBMCs, human CD8+ T-cells of 24.3% among human T-cells, and other lymphocytes such as B cells, macrophages, and NK cells were observed in peripheral blood of humanized mice via flow cytometry, which confirmed humanization. One week after the treatment, on the irradiated side, (D) demonstrated lowest tumor volume, highest number of human PBMCs, highest % of CD8+ human (cytotoxic) T-cells, highest % of CD45RO+CD4+ human (memory) T-cells, and lowest % of PD-1+CD8+ human (exhausted) T-cells in the tumors via flow cytometry, highest IFN-gamma in the tumors via qRT-PCR, and highest CD8+ human (cytotoxic) T-cells via immunohistochemistry, compared to the other five groups with statistical significance. Of note, on the nonirradiated side, a similar trend was observed with D) harboring the smallest tumor compared to the others (P=0.09), suggesting the abscopal effect. Finally, there were no statistically significant differences amongst (A) humanized NSG mice with isotype-control antibodies, (E) naïve NSG mice with isotype-control antibodies, and (F) naïve NSG mice with anti-PD-1 antibodies on either sides, indicating that HLA-partially-mismatched immune cells derived from the fetus donor were not able to eradicate U-CH1 chordoma cells. Conclusions: We demonstrated that this humanized mouse model could be a revolutionary platform to investigate IT against rare cancers such as chordomas, where murine equivalent cell lines are not available to date, which hinders us from utilizing syngeneic or transgenic mouse models to study IT. The direct synergistic effect between IT and RT against chordoma as well as the potential abscopal effect was observed, evidenced by lowest tumor volume and highest cytotoxic T-cells and memory T-cells. Citation Format: Wataru Ishida, Kyle L. McCormick, Aayushi Mahajan, Eric Feldstein, Michael Lim, Jeffrey N. Bruce, Peter D. Canoll, Sheng-fu L Lo. Investigating in vivo synergistic effect of checkpoint blockade and radiation therapy against chordomas in a humanized mouse model [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fourth CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; Sept 30-Oct 3, 2018; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2019;7(2 Suppl):Abstract nr B165.

GROWTH PROCESSES OF SUBGRAIN AND MORPHOLOGY EVOLUTION IN THE SYNTHESIS OF Β-SiC FILMS AT (111) Si IN THE ATMOSPHERE OF METHANE

By the methods of transmission electron microscopy, high energy electron diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and Auger electron spectroscopy, the article studies the phase composition, orientation, substructure, and morphology of the films formed during pulsed photon treatment (PPT) by radiation of xenon lamps of silicon (111) Si substrates in an atmosphere of methane. We have established that in the range of the energy density of radiation (Ep) supplied to the substrate with a thickness of 0.45 μm for 3 s from 269 to 284 J cm-2 the oriented nanocrystalline films are formed on both surfaces of the substrates both from the irradiated and non-irradiated side β-SiC thickness of about 150 nm. In this case, the synthesis of films on the irradiated side is carried out with the possible participation of photon activation of processes and on the reverse side – only by thermal activation (short-term heat treatment (SHT). With an increase in the energy density of radiation in β-SiC films, the average subgrain size on the irradiated side is shown to increase from 4.2 nm (Ep = 269 J ·cm-2) to 7.9 nm (Ep = 284 J ·cm-2) and on the non-irradiated side 3.9 to 7.0 nm respectively. The surface roughness of the β-SiC surface proceeds consequentially on the irradiated side from 19 nm (Ep = 269 J ·cm-2) to 60 nm (Ep = 284 J ·cm-2) and on the non-irradiated side from 11 nm to 56 nm respectively. Based on the temperature dependences of the average grain size and roughness, we have estimated the apparent activation energies of the processes. The activation energy of subgrain β-SiC growth is practically independent of the activation method and is 1.3 eV. The activation energy for the evolution of roughness is 2.5 eV at a PPT and 3.5 eV at a SHT.

Activation energy of subgrain growth process and morphology evolution in β-SiC/Si(111) heterostructures synthesized by pulse photon treatment method in a methane atmosphere

Single-phase β-SiC films were grown by the pulsed photon treatment (PPT) of (111)Si wafers with the use of xenon lamp radiation in a methane atmosphere. Study of phase composition, structure and morphology revealed that β-SiC oriented nanocrystalline films are formed onto both non-irradiated and irradiated surfaces under the radiation energy range from 269 to 284 J cm−2 supplied for 3 s. The non-irradiated side was undergone the rapid thermal annealing (RTA). It is demonstrated that the average subgrain size increases from 4.2 nm (Ep = 269 J cm−2) to 7.9 nm (Ep = 284 J cm−2) and from 3.9 to 7.0 nm for the irradiated and non-irradiated sides respectively when radiation energy density rises. The surface roughness of β-SiC films increases gradually from 19 to 60 nm and from 11 to 56 nm on irradiated and non-irradiated sides respectively in the same radiation energy density range. The β-SiC subgrain growth activation energy is 1.3 eV and it does not depend on the activation method. The surface roughness evolves with the activation energy of 2.5 eV and 3.5 eV for PPT and RTA respectively.

Evaluation of Mucociliary Activity in Maxillary Antra in Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Buccal Mucosa Undergoing Post Operative Radiotherapy

A prospective longitudinal observational study was conducted on 24 patients of histopathologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa upon whom bilateral 'middle meatal antrostomy was performed during the same sitting as the tumour resection with the main aim to assess the maxillary mucociliary clearance, pre-, during and post-irradiation; and compare the findings with the non-irradiated side in the same patient to avoid any confounding factors. All patients underwent methylene blue dye clearance and saccharine clearance tests before the commencement of radiation therapy, weekly during irradiation and again at first and sixth month of completion of irradiation. Pre-radiation there was statistically no difference (P > 0.05) in clearance times between both sides. But, there was a significant (P < 0.001) increase in saccharin and methylene blue clearance times on the irradiated side in comparison to contralateral non-irradiated side, during and post-radiation. It is concluded that external beam radiotherapy for oral cancers significantly affect ciliary activity in the adjacent maxillary antrum and has no effect on the opposite side. Recovery in mucociliary activity was not seen even after 6months after radiation therapy.

Evaluation of radiation – Induced carotid artery stenosis after supraclavicular irradiation in patients with breast carcinoma

ObjectiveTo screen breast cancer patients for carotid artery stenosis (CAS) after supraclavicular irradiation and study its possible effect on the pathogenesis. MethodsThe study included 114 patients who received supraclavicular irradiation. They were recruited from the follow up clinic at Minia University Hospital and Minia Oncology Center from January 2015 to December 2016. Evaluation was by Carotid duplex ultrasonography. ResultsIn 28% of patients, CAS was more on the irradiated side than the non-irradiated side in the same patient. The degree of stenosis was severe on the irradiated side in 81.2% versus only 9.4% on the non-irradiated side. There was no significant difference except for the presence of co-morbidity. In nine patients with no co-morbidity, supra-clavicular irradiation was considered to be the only possible factor responsible for stenosis. ConclusionSupraclavicular irradiation may play a role in the pathogenesis of carotid stenosis in about 1/3 of breast carcinoma patients. The presence of co-morbidity has an additive role in radiation induced CAS. This stresses the importance of regular examination of the carotid artery by duplex ultrasonography. Every effort should be considered to minimize the dose to carotid artery within the clinical target volume by its proper delineation especially in high risk patients.

Alveolar bone remodeling after tooth extraction in irradiated mandible: An experimental study with canine model

ABSTRACTObjectives: The aim of the present study is to investigate the morphological and cellular changes in dental extraction socket that has been irradiated after the tooth extraction and to describe morphological characteristics of the osteocytes and osteocyte-lacunar-canalicular network (LCN) by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Material and methods: Five beagle dogs aged 1–2 years were used in this study. One side of each mandible was irradiated in two sessions and the other side of mandible (non-irradiated) served as a control. The mandible bone blocks were processed by bulk staining en bloc in basic fuchsin and the specimens were embedded routinely in polymethyl methacrylate resin without preliminary decalcification. All blocks were subjected to micro-CT imaging, after that the specimens were prepared for light microscopy and SEM. Results: Alterations in bone macrostructure are minimal in irradiated bone, but the changes in LCN are clear. In the area of the tooth extraction socket, the connections of osteocytes to the vessels and to neighboring osteocytes were not observed both in irradiated and nonirradiated bone. However, osteoclasts were located in the bone surface entering inside to the bone between osteons. In the lamellar bone of lateral sides, a decrease in canalicular connections between osteocytes and periosteum was found in irradiated bone as compared to the non-irradiated side. Conclusions: The novelty of the present study is that radiation disrupts osteocytes and their dendrites.

Impact of Prior Unilateral Chest Wall Radiotherapy on Outcomes in Bilateral Breast Reconstruction.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of prior unilateral chest wall radiotherapy on reconstructive outcomes among patients undergoing bilateral immediate breast reconstruction. A retrospective evaluation of patients with a history of unilateral chest wall radiotherapy was performed. In each patient, the previously irradiated and reconstructed breast was compared to the contralateral nonirradiated side, which served as an internal control. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed. Multiple regression statistics were computed to identify adjusted associations between chest wall radiotherapy and complications. Seventy patients were included in the study. The mean follow-up period was 51.8 months (range, 10 to 113 months). Thirty-eight patients underwent implant-based breast reconstruction; 32 patients underwent abdominal autologous flap reconstruction. Previously irradiated breast had a significantly higher rate of overall complications (51 percent versus 27 percent; p < 0.0001), infection (13 percent versus 6 percent; p = 0.026), and major skin necrosis (9 percent versus 3 percent; p = 0.046). After adjusting for age, body mass index, reconstruction method, and medical comorbidities, prior chest wall radiotherapy was a significant risk factor for breast-related complications (OR, 2.98; p < 0.0001), infection (OR, 2.59; p = 0.027), and major skin necrosis (OR, 3.47; p = 0.0266). There were no differences between implant-based and autologous reconstructions with regard to complications (p = 0.76). Prior chest wall radiotherapy is associated with a 3-fold increased risk of postoperative complications following immediate breast reconstruction. Therapeutic, III.

Effects of gamma irradiation on the biomechanical properties of peroneus tendons.

PurposeThis study was designed to investigate the biomechanical properties of nonirradiated (NI) and irradiated (IR) peroneus tendons to determine if they would be suitable allografts, in regards to biomechanical properties, for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction after a dose of 1.5–2.5 Mrad.MethodsSeven pairs of peroneus longus (PL) and ten pairs of peroneus brevis (PB) tendons were procured from human cadavers. The diameter of each allograft was measured. The left side of each allograft was IR at 1.5–2.5 Mrad, whereas the right side was kept aseptic and NI. The allografts were thawed, kept wet with saline, and attached in a single-strand fashion to custom freeze grips using liquid nitrogen. A preload of 10 N was then applied and, after it had reached steady state, the allografts were pulled at 4 cm/sec. The parameters recorded were the displacement and force.ResultsThe elongation at the peak load was 10.3±2.3 mm for the PB NI side and 13.5±3.3 mm for the PB IR side. The elongation at the peak load was 17.4±5.3 mm for the PL NI side and 16.3±2.0 mm for the PL IR side. For PL, the ultimate load was 2,091.6±148.7 N for NI and 2,122.8±380.0 N for IR. The ultimate load for the PB tendons was 1,485.7±209.3 N for NI and 1,318.4±296.9 N for the IR group. The ultimate stress calculations for PL were 90.3±11.3 MPa for NI and 94.8±21.0 MPa for IR. For the PB, the ultimate stress was 82.4±19.0 MPa for NI and 72.5±16.6 MPa for the IR group. The structural stiffness was 216.1±59.0 N/mm for the NI PL and 195.7±51.4 N/mm for the IR side. None of these measures were significantly different between the NI and IR groups. The structural stiffness was 232.1±45.7 N/mm for the NI PB and 161.9±74.0 N/mm for the IR side, and this was the only statistically significant difference found in this study (P=0.034).ConclusionOur statistical comparisons found no significant differences in terms of elongation, ultimate load, or ultimate stress between IR and NI PB and PL tendons. Only the PB structural stiffness was affected by irradiation. Thus, sterilizing allografts at 1.5–2.5 Mrad of gamma irradiation does not cause major alterations in the tendons’ biomechanical properties while still providing a suitable amount of sterilization for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Abstract: Technique to Promote Symmetry in Two-Staged Bilateral Breast Reconstruction in the Setting of Unilateral Post-Mastectomy Radiation

INTRODUCTION: Bilateral breast reconstruction in the setting of unilateral post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) remains one of the most difficult reconstructive challenges due to significant radiation-induced asymmetry from capsular contracture and superior migration of the irradiated reconstructed breast. We describe a novel and straightforward intraoperative technique for creating compensatory asymmetry to maximize post-radiation symmetry in immediate bilateral tissue expander (TE) and acellular dermal matrix (ADM) reconstruction requiring unilateral PMRT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of 25 bilateral TE/ADM breast reconstructions with planned unilateral PMRT was performed using this approach and outcomes were reviewed. On the PMRT side, the ADM edge was inset to a lower inframammary fold (IMF) position resulting in a near “bottoming-out” effect. On the non-PMRT side, the ADM was inset using a triple point stitch onto the IMF in a higher chest wall location. The planned PMRT side TE was over-expanded and second-stage exchanges were performed 6+ months post-PMRT. RESULTS: Post-PMRT results showed improved symmetry as the PMRT side migrated superiorly to match the contralateral non-irradiated side. Minimal pocket or IMF adjustments were required during second-stage procedures, with just six patients (24%) requiring minor lowering and one patient (4%) requiring elevation of the PMRT side IMF. Thus, a majority (72%) of patients undergoing bilateral mastectomy and unilateral PMRT did not require any IMF modifications during the second-stage procedure. CONCLUSION: A differential ADM inset and TE pocket creation for bilateral TE/ADM breast reconstructions with planned unilateral PMRT can minimize the typical adverse aesthetic effects of PMRT on reconstruction results and maximize symmetry.

Abstract 514: Effect of radiation therapy on breast epithelial cells in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers

Abstract Women carrying BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations have significantly elevated risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. BRCA1-associated breast cancer likely originates from progenitors of the luminal epithelial lineage. Recent studies indicate that radiation therapy (RT) for BRCA1 cancer patients is associated with lower incidence of developing subsequent ipsilateral breast cancer. In the current study, we analyzed tumor-free breast tissue procured via prophylactic bilateral mastectomy from three BRCA1 and one BRCA2 mutation carriers, who had been previously treated with RT for unilateral breast cancers. Freshly isolated breast cells from the irradiated and non-irradiated breasts of the same individuals were subjected to flow cytometry, using established cell-surface markers. Two out of the three BRCA1 carriers and the BRCA2 carrier exhibited significantly diminished luminal cell population in the irradiated breast versus the non-irradiated side. The remaining BRCA1 carrier showed similar cell abundance between the two sides. Our finding suggests that prior RT could result in preferential depletion of the luminal epithelial compartment and thus reduced incidence of BRCA1-associated breast cancer. Further investigation may inform development of RT-based preventive approaches aimed at specifically decimating the source of BRCA1-associated tumors. Citation Format: Huai-Chin Chiang, Richard Elledge, Paula Larson, Ismail Jatoi, Rong Li, Yanfen Hu. Effect of radiation therapy on breast epithelial cells in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 514.

Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Alleviate Radiation-Induced Muscular Fibrosis by Suppressing the Expression of TGF-β1.

We aim to investigate the effects of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) transplantation on irradiation-induced skeletal muscle fibrosis. Sixty-four rabbits were randomly divided into ASCs group and PBS group followed by irradiation at unilateral hip with a single dose of 80 Gy. Nonirradiated side with normal skeletal muscle served as normal control. Skeletal muscle tissues were collected from eight rabbits in each group at 1 w, 4 w, 8 w, and 26 w after irradiation. Migration of ASCs was observed in the peripheral tissues along the needle passage in the injured muscle. The proportion of the area of collagen fibers to the total area in sections of ASCs group was lower than those of PBS groups at 4 w, 8 w, and 26 w after irradiation. Significant decrease was noted in the integrated optimal density of the transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in the ASCs group compared with those of PBS group at 4 w, 8 w, and 26 w after irradiation. Moreover, the expression of TGF-β1 was lower in the ASCs group compared to those of the PBS group at each time point determined by Western blot analysis. ASCs transplantation could alleviate irradiation fibrosis by suppressing the level of TGF-β1 in the irradiated skeletal muscle.

Effects of Radiation Therapy on Breast Epithelial Cells in BRCA1/2 Mutation Carriers.

Women carrying BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations have significantly elevated risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. BRCA1-associated breast cancer likely originates from progenitors of the luminal epithelial lineage. Recent studies indicate that radiation therapy (RT) for BRCA1 cancer patients is associated with lower incidence of developing subsequent ipsilateral breast cancer. In the current study, we analyzed tumor-free breast tissue procured via prophylactic bilateral mastectomy from three BRCA1 and one BRCA2 mutation carriers, who had been previously treated with RT for unilateral breast cancers. Freshly isolated breast cells from the irradiated and nonirradiated breast tissue of the same individuals were subjected to flow cytometry, using established cell-surface markers. Two out of the three BRCA1 carriers and one BRCA2 carrier exhibited significantly diminished luminal cell population in the irradiated breast versus the nonirradiated side. There was also RT-associated reduction in the colony-forming ability of the breast epithelial cells. Our finding suggests that prior RT could result in the depletion of the luminal epithelial compartment and thus reduced incidence of BRCA1/2-associated breast cancer.

Cherenkoscopy Is a Novel Imaging Technique With the Potential to Improve Accuracy and Detect Radiation Therapy Misadministrations During Whole Breast Radiation Therapy

Water content and sebum amount of irradiated and non-irradiated stratum corneum was measured by corneometer and sebumeter on the first and last day of RT, at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 3 months after RT. Sebum composition was analyzed by chromatography. Symptoms (pain and pruritus) were measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and signs (erythema, dryness, and desquamation) were graded blind by a dermatologist. Eligibility criteria included women aged between 30 to 65 years and no surgical resection in the measurement site. The primary endpoint was the water content recovery rate between Weeks 2 and 4 post-RT (B vs C). The recovery rate was analyzed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Seventy-six patients were analyzed. On the last day of RT and at 2 weeks post RT, water content was significantly decreased in group B (n Z 30) and C (n Z 32) vs A (n Z 14) (p < 0.05). At 4 weeks post RT, water content in group B returned to pre RT levels without significantly difference from group A (P Z 0.70), and reduction in water content was sustained in group C (p < 0.05). At 3 months post RT, the differences between three groups were not statistically significant. No adverse effects related to a moisturizer were noted. The water content recovery rate between Weeks 2 4 was significantly improved in group B vs C (0.242 vs 0.055, p < 0.05). The sebum amount and proportion of wax ester were markedly decreased in both irradiated and non-irradiated side after RT. The decrease of sebum sustained to 3 months post RT in irradiated side. Pain VAS score was improved in group A vs C on the last day of RT (p < 0.05) and in group B vs C at 3 months post-RT (p < 0.05). No difference was found on pruritus. Dryness and desquamation were significantly improved with moisturizer application (p < 0.05), but no effect on erythema. Conclusions: RT significantly reduced stratum corneum water content and induced quantifiable persistent sebaceous gland damage. Two week treatment of a heparinoid moisturizer after RT effectively improved RT-induced skin dryness. The prophylactic application of a moisturizer prevented severe skin dryness and can improve symptoms related to RD. Author Disclosure: M. Ogita: None. K. Sekiguchi: None. K. Akahane: None. J. Kawamori: None. R. Ito: None. C. Haga: None. S. Arai: None. O. Takahashi: None.

Does low-level laser therapy decrease swelling and pain resulting from orthognathic surgery?

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) could be an alternative for the treatment of swelling and pain after orthognathic surgery, but there is a paucity of data in the literature on the effects of its use. This study verified the efficacy of an LLLT protocol to reduce swelling and pain after orthognathic surgery. Ten healthy patients who underwent a bilateral sagittal split with Le Fort I osteotomy were randomly selected for this study. The LLLT protocol consisted of intraoral and extraoral application to one side of the face after surgery (irradiated side); application to the other side was simulated (non-irradiated side). The irradiated and non-irradiated sides were compared regarding the swelling coefficient and were assessed for pain using a visual analogue scale. There were no significant differences between the irradiated and non-irradiated sides regarding swelling and pain in the immediate postoperative assessment. Swelling decreased significantly on the irradiated side in the postoperative assessments on days 3, 7, 15, and 30. Self-reported pain was less intense on the irradiated side at the 24-h (1.2 vs. 3.4) and 3-day (0.6 vs. 2.1) assessments, but at 7 days after surgery neither side showed pain. This LLLT protocol can improve the tissue response and reduce the pain and swelling resulting from orthognathic surgery.

Deformation Profile in Rotary Laser Dieless Drawing Process for Metal Microtubes

A novel rotary laser dieless drawing process for metal microtube with local heating using a laser irradiated from one direction is proposed. A metal microtube is rotated about a tensile axis by rotary stage with chucks for circumferential uniform temperature distribution. A tube of stainless steel SUS304 with an outer diameter of 0.5mm and thickness of 0.13mm is used in the experiments. The rotating effects on outer diameter variation and outer radius error are evaluated in laser dieless drawing. As a result, the outer diameter variation under a condition of non-rotation is higher than that under condition of rotation. Thus, the limit of stable drawing condition can be enhanced by rotating effect in laser dieless drawing. In addition, in case of laser heating irradiated from one direction under non-rotating, the deformation amount of irradiated side is larger than that of non-irradiated side in laser dieless drawing. Meanwhile, the microtube is drawn subequally under condition of rotation due to circumferential uniform temperature distribution. Thus, the distorted radial deformation can be restrained by rotating effect. From these results, the effectiveness of the proposed rotary laser dieless drawing for fabricating metal microtubes can be demonstrated experimentally.

Fast electron penetration in laser-irradiated solids

In this letter we present data comparing the yield of Cu K-α radiation for foils of differing thickness irradiated with a Ti:Sapphire laser generating 40 fs pulses at 800 nm and incident at 45°. At tight focus, the yields for all thicknesses are similar, whilst away from best focus there are clear differences. We discuss the origin of these similarities and differences in terms of the penetration of fast electrons into the foil and the possible importance of refluxing of fast electrons as they reach the non-irradiated side of the foil.

Immediate breast reconstruction with prostheses after conservative treatment plus intraoperative radiotherapy. Long term esthetic and oncological outcomes

Electron intraoperative radiotherapy (ELIOT) has been introduced for breast conservative treatment (BCT) with promising oncological outcome. Thus, immediate breast reconstruction with prosthesis after BCT became possible due to minimal radiation effect on local tissue from ELIOT. We reported oncological and esthetical results of 29 BCT patients who had immediate implant reconstruction plus 21 Gy-ELIOT as the sole radiation treatment. All patients had prosthesis in ipsilateral breast and had simultaneous contralateral augmentation for symmetrical procedure. The average age was 52.3 years. There were stage Ia thirteen cases, stage Ib seven cases, stage IIa six cases and stage IIIb one case and two cases of intraepithelial neoplasia. From 54.2 (36–88) months follow up, the capsular contracture grading in the reconstructed breast from ELIOT-side is comparable with non-irradiated contralateral side. There was one patient who developed local recurrence (LR) and later on dead with breast related event (LR = 0.76% per year). There was no primary ipsilateral carcinomas and distant metastasis.

Successful Photopatch Testing with Ketoprofen Using One-Hour Occlusion

The standard procedure for photopatch testing includes 24-h occlusion of the allergen, followed by irradiation at 5 J/cm2 ultraviolet A (UVA). Due to the timing, a separate visit to the clinic is needed for UV irradiation. The aim of this study was to determine whether a reduction in occlusion time from 24 h to 1 h, in order to simplify the testing procedure, influences test results when photopatch testing with ketoprofen. A total of 22 patients with a known or suspected photo-allergy to ketoprofen were simultaneously photopatch-tested with ketoprofen using both 1 h and 24 h occlusion. One side of the patient's back was irradiated with 5 J/cm2 UVA, and the other side was covered. Measurements were made after 3 days on both irradiated and non-irradiated sides. A total of 20 controls were photopatch-tested with ketoprofen using 1 h occlusion. All of the patients showed positive reactions on the irradiated side. No positive reactions were observed on the non-irradiated side. All controls were negative. In conclusion, 1 h occlusion time is sufficient to establish photo-contact allergy to ketoprofen. No adjustments in UVA or ketoprofen dose were needed. Limiting occlusion time to 1 h could simplify the photopatch test procedure by eliminating one visit to the clinic. These results apply only to ketoprofen; further studies are needed to determine whether a similar approach can be used with other components of photopatch test series.