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A large-volume (ϕ 12.0 cm × 12.7 cm) LaBr 3 scintillation detector equipped with a specially-designed radiation shield was evaluated for neutron resonance capture analysis at the neutron time-of-flight (TOF) facility GELINA. By using the LaBr 3 detector with and without the shield, measurements were carried out at a 13-m TOF station with three metallic samples, namely, Ni, Cr, and Fe. In addition, Monte Carlo simulations with Geant4 were performed, and the results were compared with the measurements to analyze the observed energy spectra and TOF spectra. Energy spectra obtained with the shield showed that prompt γ -ray peaks emitted from each sample can be used to identify the isotopes. Moreover, the signal-to-noise ratios of resonance peaks in a TOF spectrum with the shield were enhanced 1.5–2.5 times in comparison with those without the shield. Furthermore, simultaneous measurements conducted using the three samples demonstrated that the shield employed herein was indispensable for identifying impurities in a composite sample such as particle-like fuel debris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) has been a standard technique in early breast cancer. However, it is not clear that the SNB procedure can be applied to second breast cancer or recurrence occurring in the previously treated breast. The purpose of this study was to clarify the feasibility of the SNB procedure in breast cancer occurring in the previously treated breast, and to investigate the factors related to altered lymphatic flow. Patients and methods: Between April 2004 and December 2006, 1490 patients underwent the breast SNB procedure. Among them, 31 patients had a history of previous treatments in the same breast. Recent excision biopsy cases were not included in this group. All patients had previous breast-conserving surgery in the same breast. Sixteen patients had axillary dissection, 3 had SNB, and 12 had no axillary treatment. Ten patients had received radiation therapy to the breast and axilla. Visualization of axillary nodes, internal mammary nodes and contralateral axillary nodes was evaluated and compared with pathological results. Results: Axillary nodes were visualized in 23 patients, internal mammary nodes in 7 patients, and contralateral axillary nodes in 7 patients. The patients with previous axillary dissection exhibited altered lymph node distribution, but did not show involvement of contralateral axillary nodes. Visualization of contralateral axillary nodes occurred in 7 of the 10 patients with previous irradiation to breast irrespective of axillary dissection. Twenty-eight patients underwent SNB, 4 of whom showed cancer-positive nodes. Three patients were cancer-positive in non-ipsilateral axillary nodes (one patient showed positive opposite axillary node and two patients showed positive internal mammary nodes). Conclusion: Previous axillary dissection or irradiation to the breast greatly influences lymphatic flow. Irradiation to the breast may be a strong factor for the visualization of contralateral axillary nodes. Despite the frequent alteration of lymphatic flow, SNB seems to be feasible in secondary or recurrent breast cancer patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aims: The aim of the present study is to clarify the level of radioactive lymph node should be biopsied after the most radioactive SN is removed. Methods: SNB using radionuclide was performed in our hospital for 1179 primary breast cancers between April 2000 and October 2005; most (1177/1179) were performed successfully. Our criterion for harvesting SNs is to remove tissue until no radioactive site is present. The level of radioactivity and the order of removal of each lymph node were compared with pathologic results. Results: More than 2 (overall average 1.9) radioactive SNs were biopsied in 686 of 1177 breasts. Cancer positive results were recorded for 142 breasts with multiple SNs. In 142 breasts, 64 showed metastasis to the most radioactive node only, 39 showed metastasis other than the most radioactive node only, and 39 showed the most radioactive node and other radioactive nodes. Moreover, if several other criteria were applied, false-positive cases were increased significantly. Conclusions: It is necessary to harvest radioactive lymph nodes other than the most radioactive. Moreover, efforts to remove every radioactive lymph node will minimize false-negative results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aims: Methods of administering 99mTc-phytate during sentinel node biopsy of early breast cancer patients were compared to improve the sensitivity of the technique. Methods: Two injection methods, intradermal vs. intradermal-plus-deep injection, were compared in 648 early breast cancer patients. Intradermal injection was done in 323 consecutive patients (325 breasts), and intradermal-plus-deep injection was done in 325 consecutive patients (329 breasts). The following items were compared: (1) The number of axillary nodes detected scintigraphically and removed surgically, and the breast number of micrometastasis to axillary nodes; (2) The number of internal mammary nodes detected scintigraphically and removed surgically; and (3) The sensitivity of axillary SNB. Results: The number of axillary nodes scintigraphically detected was 1.63±0.80 (mean±SD) in patients given intradermal injection, and was 1.82±0.94 in patients given intradermal-plus-deep injection. The number of axillary nodes surgically removed was 1.78±0.93 in patients given intradermal injection, and was 1.95±0.99 in patients given intradermal-plus-deep injection. The visualization of internal mammary nodes was superior with intradermal-plus-deep injection (5/325 for intradermal, and 51/329 for intradermal-plus-deep). The putative sensitivity was 71/72 (98.6%) for the intradermal-plus-deep method and 56/62 (90.3%) for the intradermal method. The frequency of detection of micrometastasis was 24 in 71 true positive (38.8%) for the intradermal-plus-deep method and 13 in 56 true positive (23.2%) for the intradermal method. Conclusions: The SNB procedure with the intradermal-plus-deep injection method detected more axillary and internal mammary nodes, more (not statistically significant) micrometastasis and improved the putative sensitivity more than the SNB procedure with the intradermal injection method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aims: To study the significance of lymphatic drainage disruption due to a surgical scar in sentinel node mapping (SNM) in breast cancer patients. Methods: We reviewed patients with stage I breast cancer who had undergone SNM and had an old surgical scar in the ipsilateral breast. Results: Of 534 breast cancer patients who had undergone SNM, five patients had an old scar in the ipsilateral breast. Inter-pectoral nodes, internal nodes, intramammary nodes, and contralateral axillary nodes were identified as sentinel nodes in three cases. In the remaining two cases, no sentinel lymph nodes were identified. Conclusions: An old surgical scar in the breast may cause lymphatic drainage disruption, resulting in abnormal radioactive colloid uptake during SNM. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Coulomb excitation experiment was carried out with a 68Zn beam bombarding a natPb target. Two E2 matrix elements and the quadrupole moment of the 21+ state were newly derived with the least-squares search code GOSIA. The potential energy surface (PES) was calculated with the Nilsson–Strutinsky model, showing two shallow minima: the first minimum does not contain the 1g9/2 orbit below the Fermi surface, while the second minimum does. The ground state band and the intruder band seem to be constructed on the first and the second minimum, respectively. As for the ground state band, the asymmetric rotor model and the IBM in O(6) limit reproduced the experimental values rather well. The shallow PES may suggest instability of the shape. The ground state band structure may be explained assuming a soft triaxial deformation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) is a highly aggressive tumor that occurs in infancy or childhood. The prognosis, especially in infants, is very poor. Here we report the long-term survival of a 5-month-old boy with MRT that arose from the chest wall. After total resection of the tumor, the patient was given 4 cycles of doxorubicin, vincristine, and cyclophosphamide, alternating with ifosfamide and etoposide. After 18 months off therapy, he had a local recurrence at the same site. After a second total resection, he was given additional chemotherapy with 30.6-Gy local irradiation. No further recurrence has been observed for 5 years since the second complete remission. Currently, he is alive and well at 7.5 years post-onset. Our experience in this case suggests a fundamental strategy of successful treatment of this highly malignant pediatric tumor: (1) complete resection of the localized tumor, (2) intensive multiagent chemotherapy for the minimal disseminated disease, and (3) radiotherapy for local control of the disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]