The effects of assertiveness training in patients with schizophrenia: a randomized, single-blind, controlled study.

Aims: In this study, we investigated the effects of group assertiveness training on assertiveness, social anxiety and satisfaction with interpersonal communication among patients with chronic schizophrenia.

Background: Only limited studies highlighted the effectiveness of group assertiveness training among inpatients with schizophrenia. Given the lack of group assertiveness training among patients with schizophrenia, further development of programmes focusing on facilitating assertiveness, self-confidence and social skills among inpatients with chronic schizophrenia is needed.

Hepatic artery infusion catheter implantation without embolization of the gastroduodenal artery in cases of retrograde blood flow.

Between January 2007 and January 2008, a port/catheter system for hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy was implanted in seven patients with retrograde blood flow in the gastroduodenal artery (GDA). The GDA was not coil-embolized when the catheter tip was positioned in the right gastroepiploic artery. In all cases, implantation of the port/catheter system was successful, and there were no complications.

The fabrication of a carbon nanotube array using a catalyst-poisoning layer in the inverse nano-sphere lithography method.

A new method for the fabrication of periodic CNT arrays was developed in this study, which involves the use of the inverse nano-sphere lithography (INSL) process. Mo of a honeycomb pattern, acting as a catalyst-poisoning layer, was produced by the nano-sphere lithography (NSL) process; the Mo poisoned the catalyst and prevented CNT growth where deposited, and as a result, a periodic CNT pattern was obtained. Using this method, the uniformity of the CNT array can be improved by preventing the negative effect of arrangement defects in self-assembled monolayers.

Two-dimensional metallic nanobowl array transferred onto thermoplastic substrates by microwave heating of carbon nanotubes.

The unique heating property of microwave irradiation on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was applied in fabrication of a new architecture of two-dimensional metallic nanobowl array on a thermoplastic substrate. Vertically aligned CNT film was grown on a metal coated polystyrene (PS) submicron sphere array and then transferred onto a polycarbonate (PC) substrate by microwave heating. The back diffracted light spectra of this structure were measured and discrepancies between the spectra and that predicted from a diffraction relationship were studied.

A comparison of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and digital subtraction angiography findings in the diagnosis of infected aortic aneurysm.

Purpose: To characterize imaging findings from computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and angiogram in patients with infected aortic aneurysm.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 21 patients (men, 17; women, 4) with proven infected aortic aneurysms and compared the imaging findings (computed tomography scans, n = 21; magnetic resonance images, n = 2; and angiograms, n = 2).

Results: Aneurysms were located in the descending thoracic aorta (n = 10; 47.

Ionic versus nonionic contrast media solvents used with an epirubicin-based agent for transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: To compare the stability of epirubicin-iodized oil emulsions prepared with ionic or nonionic contrast medium and to compare the efficacy of these emulsions in a prospective, randomized, controlled trial of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: Epirubicin-iodized oil emulsions prepared with ionic and nonionic contrast media was evaluated for stability with light microscopy and magnetic resonance imaging. One hundred ninety-seven patients with inoperable HCC were randomized to receive TACE with epirubicin, prepared either with ionic (control group, n = 99) or nonionic (experimental group, n = 98) contrast medium.

Diffusion-weighted MRI features of brain abscess and cystic or necrotic brain tumors: comparison with conventional MRI.

Background And Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) can be used to distinguish brain abscesses from cystic or necrotic brain tumors, which are difficult to distinguish by conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.

Methods: Eleven consecutive patients with brain abscesses [10 pyogenic and 1 toxoplasmosis (in an AIDS patient)] and 15 with cystic or necrotic brain gliomas or metastases were enrolled in this study. None of these lesions had apparent hemorrhage based on T1-weighted image (T1WI).