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We developed a measurement system for field angle resolved specific heat under multiple extreme conditions at low temperature down to 50 mK, in magnetic field up to 7 T, and under high pressure up to 10 GPa. We demonstrated the performance of our developed system by measuring field angle dependence of specific heat of pressure induced unconventional superconductor CeIrSi3.

We previously reported that the combination therapy of percutaneous ethanol injection and radiofrequency ablation (PEI-RFA) was more effective than RFA alone in inducing wider coagulated necrosis for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we thoracoscopically applied the combination therapy to the treatment of HCC located immediately under the diaphragm. RFA electrode and ethanol injection needle were inserted into the tumor through the right side of the diaphragm in 6 patients with HCC close to the diaphragm. In all cases, the tumor was completely ablated with enough safety margin around the tumor. No local tumor recurrence has been observed in a relatively short-time follow-up period. The volume of coagulated necrosis and the energy requirement for coagulation in thoracoscopic ethanol injection and RFA (T-EI-RFA) were comparable to those of PEI-RFA. Although HCC located immediately under the diaphragm is difficult to treat with a percutaneous approach due to the poor visualization by ultrasonography, T-EI-RFA is considered to be an effective treatment modality.