88, P < 0.0001), while an older age and preserved baseline LAEF were independently associated with a deterioration of LA function (a decrease in LAEF of > 10%; OR = selleck inhibitor 1.06, P = 0.03; and OR = 1.10, P = 0.0001).

Conclusions: AF ablation appears to have a beneficial effect on LA function in patients with impaired LA function at baseline. However, it may reduce LA function in patients with an older age and preserved

baseline LAEF. (PACE 2012; 35: 327-334)”
“An energetic condensation technique, cathodic arc discharge deposition, is used to grow epitaxial Niobium (Nb) thin films on a-plane sapphire (hexagonal-closed-packed Al2O3) at moderate substrate heating temperature (<400 degrees C). The epitaxial Nb(110)/Al2O3(1,1,-2,0) thin films reached a maximum residual resistance ratio (RRR) value 214, despite using a reactor-grade Nb cathode source whose RRR was only 30. The measurements suggest that the film’s density of impurities and structural defects are lower when compared to Nb films produced by other techniques, such as magnetron sputtering, e-beam evaporation selleck kinase inhibitor or molecular-beam-epitaxy. At lower substrate temperature, textured polycrystalline Nb thin films were created, and the films might have twin symmetry grains with 110 orientations in-plane. The texture was revealed by x-ray diffraction pole figures. The twin symmetry might be caused by a combination effect of the Nb/Al2O3 three-dimensional epitaxial

relationship (“”3D-Registry”" DMXAA chemical structure Claassen’s nomenclature)

and the “”Volmer-Weber”" (Island) growth model. However, pole figures obtained by electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) found no twin symmetry on the thin films’ topmost surface (similar to 50 nm in depth). The EBSD pole figures showed only one Nb110 crystal plane orientation. A possible mechanism is suggested to explain the differences between the bulk (XRD) and surface (EBSD) pole figures. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3611406]“
“We evaluate the clinical results of a form of tumor selective particle radiation known as boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for newly-diagnosed glioblastoma (NDGB) patients, especially in combination with X-ray treatment (XRT). Between 2002 and 2006, we treated 21 patients of NDGB with BNCT utilizing sodium borocaptate and boronophenylalanine simultaneously. The first 10 were treated with only BNCT (protocol 1), and the last I I were treated with BNCT followed by XRT of 20 to 30 Gy (protocol 2) to reduce the possibility of local tumor recurrence. No chemotherapy was applied until tumor progression was observed. The patients treated with BNCT (protocol I Plus 2) showed a significant Survival prolongation compared with the institutional historical controls. BNCT also showed favorable results in Correspondence with the RTOG- and EORTC-RPA Subclasses. The median Survival time (MST) was 15.6 months for protocols I and 2 together.