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A kinematically complete measurement of the deuteron elastic break reaction has been carried out at Ed = 140 MeV on 12C, 40Ca, 90Zr, and 208Pb targets in a wide angular range of θp , θn = 0° –8° for a detailed study of the reaction mechanism of loosely bound projectiles in kinematical regions of Coulomb-breakup dominance. A finite-range calculation of the post-form distorted-wave Born approximation is presented.

Laser endoscopic surgery, especially the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using Photofrin as a photosensitizer, has now achieved a status as effective treatment modality for lung cancer. Twenty-six lung cancer patients received the preoperative PDT for the purpose of either reducing the extent of resection or increasing operability. Bronchoscopical PDT is performed with topical anesthesia approximately 48 h after the intravenous injection of 2.0 mg/kg body weight of Photofrin. Operation was performed 2-9 weeks after initial PDT. The initial purpose of PDT, i.e. either to reduce the extent of resection or convert inoperable disease to operable status, was achieved in 22 out of 26 patients treated. The survival rate of T3 (main bronchus invasion) cases treated by surgery alone increased significantly from 50.9% to 60.0% with the application of preoperative PDT. This remarkable result may imply that this new option of PDT as preoperative laser irradiation may contribute to the management of advanced lung malignancy.

Since 1980, advanced lung carcinomas were treated with palliative laser therapy for the purpose of opening the endobronchial stenosis and obstruction by either photodynamic therapy (PDT) or Nd-YAG laser treatment at Tokyo Medical University. A total of 258 lesions were treated, 81 by PDT and 177 by Nd-YAG laser treatment. PDT achieved effective results in 61 (75%) of 81 lesions. In the Nd-YAG laser group, 143 (81%) of 177 lesions showed effective results. When the tumor was located in the trachea or main bronchi, effective results were obtained in 73% (19 of 26) of cases treated by PDT and in 93% of cases (64 of 69) treated by Nd-YAG laser. However, in cases in which the tumor was located in lobar or segmental bronchi, the tumor response was effective in 76% (42 of 55) of PDT-treated patients and 73% (79 of 108) of Nd-YAG laser-treated patients. With a mortality rate of 0%, the greatest advantage of PDT over Nd-YAG treatment was safety. Considering complications, PDT seems to be useful for obstruction of lobar and segmental bronchus. Nevertheless, when deciding among alternative therapies, physicians treating patients with advanced lung carcinoma should give careful consideration to the benefit and complications of both laser therapies and decide the most suitable modality.