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SummaryThe aim of the present study was to investigate the epidemiology of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) caused by Legionella longbeachae in Taiwan during 2006–2010. A total of six cases were identified prospectively, accounting for 1.6% of all laboratory-confirmed LD cases and 4.4% of culture-positive LD cases. All six cases occurred between April and August. The male to female ratio was 0.5. These six LD patients had a higher median age than those with LD due to Legionella pneumophila. Four of the six patients presented with pleural effusion and five survived the infection episode. Only two patients had a potential soil contact history prior to LD onset. The patients resided in divergent geographical areas without a common exposure history. The individual genomic DNA banding patterns of the six L. longbeachae isolates analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were unique, supporting the hypothesis that the L. longbeachae infections occurred sporadically.

Primary liver lymphoma is extremely rare. The diagnosis depends on the physician's suspicions and histological examination. We report the case of a man aged 38 years who suffered from abdominal discomfort and hypercalcemia. Sonography showed a huge, solid liver tumor, and magnetic resonance imaging showed the tumor had characteristics of hypointensity on T1-weighted and hyperintensity on T2-weighted imaging. Primary liver lymphoma was diagnosed by histological examination from biopsy. We report this rare type of liver tumor and review the clinical presentation and treatment of the disease.

The microwave dielectric properties of the (1 − x )(Mg 0.95 Co 0.05 )TiO 3 – x Ca 0.6 La 0.8/3 TiO 3 ceramic system prepared by mixed oxide route have been investigated. The crystal structures and the microstructures of the ceramics were characterized by means of X-ray and SEM. The microwave dielectric properties are functions of the sintering temperature as well as the composition. Alternation of phases between ilmenite-type structure and pseudo-cubic perovskite crystal is observed. The 0.9(Mg 0.95 Co 0.05 )TiO 3 –0.1Ca 0.6 La 0.8/3 TiO 3 ceramics possesses excellent microwave dielectric properties with a dielectric constant ɛ r of 21.86, a Q × f value of 131,000 GHz (at 7 GHz) and a τ f value of −15.5 ppm/°C at 1350 °C/4 h. It is proposed as a suitable material candidate for applications requiring low microwave dielectric loss.

The microwave dielectric properties and the microstructures of the (1− x )MgTiO 3 – x CaTiO 3 ceramic system were investigated. With partial replacement of Mg by Co, dielectric properties of the (1− x )(Mg 0.95 Co 0.05 )TiO 3 – x CaTiO 3 ceramics can be promoted. The microwave dielectric properties are strongly correlated with the sintering temperature. At 1275°C, the 0.95(Mg 0.95 Co 0.05 )TiO 3 –0.05CaTiO 3 ceramics possesses excellent microwave dielectric properties: a dielectric constant e r of 20.3, a Q × f value of 107 000 ( at 7 GHz) and a τ f value of −22.8 ppm/°C. By appropriately adjusting the x value in the (1− x )(Mg 0.95 Co 0.05 )TiO 3 – x CaTiO 3 ceramic system, zero τ f value can be achieved. With x =0.07, a dielectric constant e γ of 21.6, a Q × f value of 92 000 (at 7 GHz) and a τ f value of −1.8 ppm/°C was obtained for 0.93(Mg 0.95 Co 0.05 )TiO 3 –0.07CaTiO 3 ceramics sintered at 1275°C for 4 h.