Search

Reflectron-type time-of-flight mass spectrometry was applied to the time-resolved component analysis of deep oscillation magnetron sputtering (DOMS), which has been developed as a technique of modulated pulsed magnetron sputtering. In the present study, the DOMS of a Ti target was performed under an Ar gas atmosphere by using a DOMS-specific control waveform consisting of 25 current and/or power pulses. The time evolution of the formation of ionized species (Ar+, Ar2+, Ti+, and Ti2+) after the application of the first discharge pulse was observed at the position corresponding to the deposition region. This study revealed that the plasma build-up process from non-metallic plasma to metallic plasma takes approximately two micropulses (around 100 μs from ignition) in DOMS discharge. In addition, we have found the possibility of studying sputtering processes, such as the rarefaction, and refilling processes of Ar as a function of pulse number through DOMS research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-related myositis with myocarditis is a rare but potentially fatal immune-related adverse event. However, its clinical features, response to immunosuppressive treatment, and prognosis remain poorly understood. Here, we describe the clinical course of patients with ICI-related myositis overlapping with myocarditis treated at our institution and a systematic review focusing on the response to immunosuppressive therapy. Methods: We identified patients who developed ICI-induced myositis with myocarditis and were treated at our hospital using a retrospective chart review of electronic medical records. For the systematic review, studies reporting ICI-induced myositis with myocarditis were identified using the Cochrane Library and PubMed databases. Results: Of the 625 patients treated with ICIs, four developed myositis with concurrent myocarditis. All the patients received immunosuppressive therapy. We assessed the activity of myocarditis and myositis based on temporal changes in troponin and creatine kinase (CK) levels. In all patients, peak troponin values appeared later than the peak CK values (median, 17 days). The median time from the start of ICI therapy to the peak of troponin and CK levels was 42.5 and 28 days, respectively. In all patients, CK levels decreased rapidly and steadily after the initiation of immunosuppressants. However, troponin levels were unstable and increased. In all patients, CK levels normalized within one month (range, 12–27 days), but troponin levels took several months to normalize (range, 84–161 days). Fourteen cases of ICI-related myositis with myocarditis were included in the systematic review. Of the 14 cases, 12 (86%) had their CK level decreased after the initial steroid treatment, but the troponin level increased and was higher than that before the start of treatment. In addition, the peak troponin values appeared later than the peak CK values (a median of 6.5 days). Eight (89%) of 9 long-term follow-up patients had troponin levels above the normal range even after CK normalization. Conclusion: In most cases of ICI-related myositis with myocarditis, troponin levels increased after the initial steroid treatment despite decreased CK levels, and exceeded pre-steroid levels. In addition, troponin remained elevated for several months after CK normalized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A photoionization method using a vacuum ultraviolet laser was applied to the time-of-flight mass spectrometry of ions formed in high-power pulsed magnetron sputtering (HPPMS). This method is a new plasma diagnostic technique for measuring simultaneously the amounts of sputtered ionized and neutral species in HPPMS. The temporal profiles for the amounts of ions and neutrals were observed with respect to the trigger of the pulsed discharge in HPPMS. This result is discussed in connection with the atomic processes of light-emitting ionized and neutral species measured in optical emission spectroscopy for HPPMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]