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The optical properties of magnetron-sputtered aluminum and AA1050 aluminum alloy sheet are examined qualitatively using total reflectance and quantitatively by means of visible spectroscopic ellipsometry. Significant changes in reflectance and optical constants are observed that are related to the incorporation of oxide in the aluminum bulk.

The optical properties of magnetron-sputtered aluminum and AA1050 aluminum alloy sheet have been examined qualitatively using total reflectance and quantitatively by means of visible spectroscopic ellipsometry (VISSE). Significant changes in reflectance and optical constants are observed, which are related to the incorporation of oxide in the aluminum bulk. The role of such oxide was determined by VISSE using the Bruggeman effective-medium approximation, with the findings validated by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the recurrence of breast cancer among patients who were using the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG IUS)., Design: A retrospective, controlled cohort analysis., Setting: Six Belgian hospitals., Patient(s): We identified 79 breast cancer patients who used the LNG IUS, and we selected a control group of 120 patients with no history of LNG IUS use and who were closely matched for age at diagnosis, tumor stage, tumor grade, and treatment modalities. Two subgroups were identified: [1] breast cancer patients who continued using the LNG IUS after diagnosis and [2] breast cancer patients who began using an LNG IUS after treatment for breast cancer., Intervention(s): Patient's data were collected and survival analysis was performed., Main Outcome Measure(s): Breast cancer recurrence rate., Result(s): There was a recurrence rate of 21.5% (17/79) among LNG IUS users and of 16.6% (20/120) among the control group (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.86-4.00; no statistically significant difference). Subgroup analysis showed that women using the LNG IUS (n = 38) at the time of breast cancer diagnosis (and who continued its use) had a statistically significantly increased risk of recurrence (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-11.35) compared with patients in the control group. There was 47.4% (18/38) nodal involvement in this subgroup, and all patients who recurred had metastatic disease., Conclusion(s): Overall, we did not find an increased risk of breast cancer recurrence associated with use of the LNG-IUS. However, in a subgroup analysis of women who developed breast cancer while using an LNG IUS and who continued to use the LNG IUS, we found a higher risk of recurrence of borderline statistical significance. Additional research is needed to confirm or refute these findings.

Zopiclone is a new nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic, the recommended dose of which is 7.5 mg. It was compared to flurazepam 30 mg in a sleep laboratory study. 12 women aged 40-60 years, with subjective sleep disorders for at least 2 months, were treated for 13 nights with each drug in a crossover double-blind design. Each active drug period was preceded by 5 days of placebo washout and followed by 35 days of withdrawal (no treatment). A baseline period of 4 nights (without treatment) was obtained before the study itself. The subjects slept in the sleep laboratory during the baseline period, during the last 3 nights on placebo, during the last 3 nights on active drug, and from the 11th to the 13th night after active drug discontinuation. Polygraphic recordings were obtained during each of these nights. The criteria of Kales and Rechtschaffen were used to score the tracings. Both drugs were shown to be effective when compared to placebo. Comparisons between the two periods with active treatment did not show significant differences for sleep onset latency, total sleep time, sleep efficiency index, stage 0, percent REM, number of REM periods, and REM latency. There was a trend towards an increase with zopiclone of the number of awakenings, percent of stage 3, percent of deep sleep, and an increase with flurazepam of the percent of light sleep. A significant difference was only found for percent of stage 2 (increased with flurazepam).