A Study of the Radiation Tolerance of CVD Diamond to 70 MeV Protons, Fast Neutrons and 200 MeV Pions.

We measured the radiation tolerance of commercially available diamonds grown by the Chemical Vapor Deposition process by measuring the charge created by a 120 GeV hadron beam in a 50 μm pitch strip detector fabricated on each diamond sample before and after irradiation. We irradiated one group of samples with 70 MeV protons, a second group of samples with fast reactor neutrons (defined as energy greater than 0.1 MeV), and a third group of samples with 200 MeV pions, in steps, to (8.

CT-guided blocks and neuroablation of the ganglion impar (Walther) in perineal pain: anatomy, technique, safety, and efficacy.

Objective: An alternate approach to the ganglion impar was chosen to minimize the risk of adverse events. Efficacy of the procedure was evaluated.

Methods: Charts and computed tomography (CT)-scans of patients who underwent block and neuroablation of the ganglion impar (Walther) between 2003 and 2007 were systematically reviewed with respect to adverse events and efficacy by rating pain intensity.

Contact-free infrared thermography for assessing effects during acupuncture: a randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial.

Background: Although evidence of its effects is tentative, acupuncture has long been used in the treatment of multiple maladies. So far, it has not been possible to discriminate the effects of the venue from specific results of needling itself, thus physicians merely depend on patients' statements. The authors investigated the efficacy of infrared thermography in distinguishing response to true acupuncture as compared to nonacupoint cutaneous and muscular needling (sham or minimal acupuncture), as well as without manipulation.

Cognitive performance, mood and experimental pain before and during morphine-induced analgesia in patients with chronic non-malignant pain.

This paper investigates subjective, behavioral and neurophysiological changes due to treatment with oral sustained-release morphine in six patients with severe non-malignant pain. Patients rated their mood and clinical pain on visual analog scales (VAS). Experimental pain reactions were quantified by ratings on categorical scales and evoked cerebral potentials (LEP) in response to standardized laser stimuli.