Electron beam irradiation for the formation of thick Ag film on Ag3PO4

This study demonstrates that the electron beam irradiation of materials, typically used in characterization measurements, could be employed for advanced fabrication, modification, and functionalization of composites. We developed irradiation equipment using an electron beam irradiation source to be applied in materials modification. Using this equipment, the formation of a thick Ag film on the Ag₃PO₄ semiconductor is carried out by electron beam irradiation for the first time. This is confirmed by various experimental techniques (X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. Our calculations demonstrate that, at the earlier stages, metallic Ag growth is initiated preferentially at the (110) surface, with the reduction of surface Ag cations forming metallic Ag clusters. As the (100) and (111) surfaces have smaller numbers of exposed Ag cations, the reductions on these surfaces are slower and are accompanied by the formation of O₂ molecules.

This study demonstrates that the electron beam irradiation of materials, typically used in characterization measurements, could be employed for advanced fabrication, modification, and functionalization of composites.     

Reactive Tonsillar Enlargement Showing Strong 18F-Fdg Uptake During the Follow-Up of Follicular Lymphoma

The ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) has become a standard procedure for the diagnosis, staging, and restaging in lymphoma patients. However, a relative high rate of false-positive results has been reported. We report a case of a 40-year-old man with a previous history of a nodal follicular lymphoma, stage IVA, treated with R-CHOP, which showed strong ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in the Waldeyer’s tonsillar ring during his follow-up, being considered highly suspicious of relapsed lymphoma. A surgical removal of the palatine tonsils and adenoids was performed, which showed reactive follicular hyperplasia. Furthermore, bone marrow biopsy revealed absence of neoplasia. The patient is still in follow-up with no signs of recurrent lymphoma. This case illustrates that, despite the high sensitivity for the detection of recurrent lymphoma, ¹⁸F-FDG uptake should be interpreted with great caution and confirmatory studies should be performed before any therapy.     

Hypertension favors the inflammatory process in rats with experimentally induced periodontitis

Bonato CF, do‐Amaral CCF, Belini L, Salzedas LMP, Oliveira SHP. Hypertension favors the inflammatory process in rats with experimentally induced periodontitis. J Periodont Res 2012; 47: 783–792. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S Background and Objective: Cardiovascular diseases are significantly correlated with chronic periodontitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate bone‐loss level, neutrophil migration, CXCL2/CINC‐2α, CXCL5/LIX, CCL20/MIP‐3α and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) production, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and C‐reactive protein (CRP) release in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and normotensive (WTK) rats after experimental induction of periodontal disease. Material and Methods: Periodontitis was induced by placement of silk yarn ligatures around the first molar counterparts. The levels of CRP, CCL20/MIP‐3α and CXCL5/LIX were evaluated in the peripheral blood, and bone‐loss level, neutrophil recruitment, the production of myeloperoxidase, CXCL2, CXCL5, CCL20 and TNF‐α, and the expression of iNOS were evaluated in the gingival tissue. Histological sections were taken to evaluate and measure bone resorption and neutrophil recruitment in the furcation region. Results: Rats with periodontitis had alveolar bone resorption. SHRs with periodontitis showed marked bone loss and increased neutrophil infiltration in comparison with WTK rats. SHRs with periodontitis showed increased levels of TNF‐α and CXCL2, and a slight tendency for increased levels of CXCL5, in the gingival tissue but no increase in the level of CCL20. In SHRs, even without periodontitis, the levels of TNF‐α, CXCL2, CXCL5 and CCL20 showed a slight tendency to increase. In the WTK rats, TNF‐α, CXCL2 and CXCL5 levels were increased with periodontitis, but the level of CCL20 was not. iNOS was expressed in the gingival tissue of WTK rats and SHRs with periodontitis; however, SHRs appeared to express a higher level of iNOS than did WKT rats. The CRP level was elevated in both types of rats with periodontitis; however, the CRP level was higher in SHRs with periodontitis than in WTK rats with periodontitis. Conclusion: In SHRs, the hypertensive condition per se seems to favor the inflammatory processes that become potentiated with periodontitis, when compared with WKT rats.