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.

Daily auricular stimulation with capsaicin ointment improved cough reflex sensitivity in elderly patients with dysphagia: a pilot study.

In our previous study, a single auricular application of capsaicin ointment, but not placebo improved cough reflex in elderly patients with dysphagia. In the present study, we examined whether daily auricular application of capsaicin ointment continued to improve cough reflex in similar patients. With a cotton swab, 0.

Aural stimulation with capsaicin prevented pneumonia in dementia patients.

Objective: In the present study, we examined the effects of daily application of capsaicin ointment to the external auditory canal for 6 months on the development of pneumonia in elderly dementia patients at high risk of aspiration.

Methods: Twenty-nine oldest-old bedridden dementia inpatients at high risk of aspiration were enrolled in the present study. Ointment containing 0.

Aural stimulation with capsaicin ointment improved swallowing function in elderly patients with dysphagia: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, comparative study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether aural stimulation with ointment containing capsaicin improves swallowing function in elderly patients with dysphagia.

Study Design: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, comparative study.

Settings: Secondary hospital.

[Aural Stimulation with Capsaicin Ointment Improved the Swallowing Function in Patients with Dysphagia: Evaluation by the SMRC Scale].

Cough and swallowing reflexes are important airway-protective mechanisms against aspiration. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, one of the side effects of which is cough, have been reported to reduce the incidence of aspiration pneumonia in hypertensive patients with stroke. ACE inhibitors have also been reported to improve the swallowing function in post-stroke patients.

Efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy on unplanned treatment interruption and nutritional status in patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer.

Objective: Efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) on unplanned treatment interruption and nutritional status was examined in patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for advanced head and neck cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed hospital charts of 44 patients with advanced head and neck cancer who were treated with CRT.

Results: CRT-induced mucositis of grade 3 or worse and inadequate oral intake of less than one third of their usual intake developed in 33 patients who were recommended PEG placement, but not in 11 patients.

Signal shape feature for automatic snore and breathing sounds classification.

Snore analysis techniques have recently been developed for sleep studies. Most snore analysis techniques require reliable methods for the automatic classification of snore and breathing sounds in the sound recording. In this study we focus on this problem and propose an automated method to classify snore and breathing sounds based on the novel feature, 'positive/negative amplitude ratio (PNAR)', to measure the shape of the sound signal.

Effects of aural stimulation with capsaicin ointment on swallowing function in elderly patients with non-obstructive dysphagia.

Objective: In the present study, an attempt was made to examine the effects of aural stimulation with ointment containing capsaicin on swallowing function in order to develop a novel and safe treatment for non-obstructive dysphagia in elderly patients.

Design: A prospective pilot, non-blinded, non-controlled study with case series evaluating a new treatment.

Setting: Secondary hospitals.

Anti-microbial and therapeutic effects of modified Burow's solution on refractory otorrhea.

Objective: Burow's solution, which contains 13% aluminum acetate, has been shown to be effective against chronic otitis media. Since the preparation of Burow's solution is time-consuming, its rapid preparation method has been recently developed. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of the modified Burow's solution on refractory otorrhea in patients with chronic suppurative otitis and its anti-microbial activity in vitro.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of maxillary sinus with metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. Case report.

A case of collision tumor in the left maxillary sinus composed of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is reported. Radiographic examination revealed masses in the liver and bilateral lung metastases. Histologically, proliferation of tumor cells with resemblance to HCC was observed, in addition to the ACC.

Gene expression of D-amino acid oxidase in cultured rat astrocytes: regional and cell type specific expression.

Neuromodulative free D-serine is present in mammalian brain, and localized to type-2 astrocytes in culture. D-amino acid oxidase (DAO) is a flavoenzyme that catalyzes D-amino acids. We examined the DAO gene expression in cultured rat astrocytes by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.