Topcoat-Assisted Perpendicular and Straightly Parallel Coexisting Orientations of Block Copolymer Films.

Highly ordered perpendicular orientation and straightly parallel orientation coexisting polystyrene-block-polydimethylsiloxane (PS-b-PDMS) cylindrical microdomains with 10 nm width can be realized by using polyvinyl acetate as a partially dewetted topcoat and solvent annealing with acetone vapor. During solvent annealing, the swelled topcoat begins to dewet and the dewetting rim sweeps the surface of the block copolymer films to align the cylindrical microdomains with the direction of dewetting propagation. However, the wetted region of the topcoat/PS-b-PDMS film forms with a perpendicular orientation due to reduced surface tension and sufficient concentration gradient in the solvent evaporation step.

Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided ethanol ablation for small pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: results of a pilot study.

Background/aims: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided ethanol ablation is gaining popularity for the treatment of focal pancreatic lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and treatment response after EUS-guided ethanol injection for small pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (p-NETs).

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database including 11 consecutive patients with p-NETs who underwent EUS-guided ethanol injection.

Compactly packaged monolithic four-wavelength VCSEL array with 100-GHz wavelength spacing for future-proof mobile fronthaul transport.

We report a cost-effective transmitter optical sub-assembly using a monolithic four-wavelength vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) array with 100-GHz wavelength spacing for future-proof mobile fronthaul transport using the data rate of common public radio interface option 6. The wavelength spacing is achieved using selectively etched cavity control layers and fine current adjustment. The differences in operating current and output power for maintaining the wavelength spacing of four VCSELs are <1.

The role of biochar, natural iron oxides, and nanomaterials as soil amendments for immobilizing metals in shooting range soil.

High concentration of toxic metals in military shooting range soils poses a significant environmental concern due to the potential release of metals, such as Pb, Cu, and Sb, and hence requires remediation. The current study examined the effectiveness of buffalo weed (Ambrosia trifida L.) biomass and its derived biochars at pyrolytic temperatures of 300 and 700 °C, natural iron oxides (NRE), gibbsite, and silver nanoparticles on metal immobilization together with soil quality after 1-year soil incubation.

Prospective cohort study on the outcomes of hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis in South Korea.

Background And Aims: The outcomes of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver cirrhosis was limitedly studied in a hepatitis B virus-endemic area. This multicenter, prospective cohort study was conducted to elucidate the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and mortality in the Korean patients with HCV-related cirrhosis.

Methods: From January 2007 through June 2012, 196 patients with HCV-related cirrhosis were prospectively enrolled and regularly followed at six university hospitals to determine HCC occurrence and mortality.

Usefulness of white-light imaging-guided narrow-band imaging for the differential diagnosis of small ampullary lesions.

Background: Small ampullary tumors and inflammatory lesions have similar endoscopic findings and are difficult to differentiate. Narrow-band imaging (NBI) can visualize microvessels and mucosal microstructure clearly and is widely used to diagnose early gastric and colon cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of NBI for differentiating ampullary tumors from benign diseases.

Efficacy and safety of a partially covered duodenal stent for malignant gastroduodenal obstruction: a pilot study.

Background: Duodenal stent placement has emerged as an effective and safe palliative treatment for patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstruction. An uncovered enteral stent, however, is susceptible to repeat stenosis because of tumor ingrowth. Although covering an enteral stent with a membrane prevents tumor ingrowth, stent migration continues to be a major unresolved problem.

Enhanced sulfamethazine removal by steam-activated invasive plant-derived biochar.

Recent investigations have shown frequent detection of pharmaceuticals in soils and waters posing potential risks to human and ecological health. Here, we report the enhanced removal of sulfamethazine (SMT) from water by physically activated biochar. Specifically, we investigated the effects of steam-activated biochars synthesized from an invasive plant (Sicyos angulatus L.

Endoscopic management of bile leakage after liver transplantation.

Background/aims: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can be an effective treatment for bile leakage after liver transplantation. We evaluated the efficacy of endoscopic treatment in liver transplantation in patients who developed bile leaks.

Methods: Forty-two patients who developed bile leaks after liver transplantation were included in the study.

Prediction of risk for hepatocellular carcinoma by response of serum α-fetoprotein to entecavir therapy.

Background And Aims: Serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) is frequently elevated in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who do not have hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Entecavir (ETV) treatment reduces AFP levels in these patients, but the clinical significance of AFP response to ETV has not been fully studied. The aims of this study were to elucidate the temporal response of AFP to ETV therapy and to determine the relationship between AFP response and the subsequent development of HCC.

Noninvasive Qureshi Grading Scheme Predicts 90-Day mRS in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background: The Qureshi grading scheme is an effective classification system for evaluating the severity of acute arterial occlusion. However, this scheme is of limited utility because it is based on invasive angiography. In this study, we assessed whether a relationship between a noninvasive Qureshi score, based on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or computed tomography angiography (CTA), and 90-day functional outcome could be observed in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Geometrical implication of ion transporters employing an ellipsoidal hollow structure in pseudo-solid electrolytes.

We demonstrate facilitated ion transport in oligomer electrolytes by introducing TiO2 hollow particles of ellipsoidal and spherical shapes. It was found that the TiO2 hollow particles of ellipsoidal shape are much more effective in constructing ionic diffusion paths for the Grotthuss mechanism, resulting in highly enhanced diffusion coefficients of ions such as I(-) and I3(-) in oligomer electrolytes. Compared to the hollow spheres of the TiO2 component, the ellipsoidal hollow particles of the TiO2 component provide 11% larger ionic diffusion coefficients, because of their geometry with a relatively small diffusion resistance.

Clinical features of pancreatic involvement in von Hippel-Lindau disease: a retrospective study of 55 cases in a single center.

Background: von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the development of multiple tumors in the central nervous system and visceral organs. In this study, we describe clinical features of pancreatic involvement in VHL disease, of which there have been few reported studies to date.

Methods: We reviewed medical records of 63 VHL patients, diagnosed at Asan Medical Center between January 1995 and December 2013.

Distribution and accumulative pattern of tetracyclines and sulfonamides in edible vegetables of cucumber, tomato, and lettuce.

Veterinary antibiotics can be released to environment by the animals' excretions, which thereby poses human health and ecological risks. Six antibiotics (tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, sulfamethazine, sulfamethoxazole, and sulfadimethoxine) at three concentrations (5, 10, and 20 mg kg(-1) soil) were employed in pots filled with a loamy sand upland soil. Three types of vegetable seedlings, including cucumber (Cucumis sativus), cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and lettuce (Lactuca sativa), were also cultivated during 45 d in the greenhouse.

Interfacial ionic 'liquids': connecting static and dynamic structures.

It is well known that room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) often adopt a charge-separated layered structure, i.e. with alternating cation- and anion-rich layers, at electrified interfaces.

Emergence of multidrug resistant infection in patients with severe acute pancreatitis.

Background/objectives: Infection is the most important risk factor contributing to death in severe acute pancreatitis. Multidrug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections are an emerging problem in severe acute pancreatitis.

Methods: From January 2009 to December 2011 the medical records of 46 patients with infected severe acute pancreatitis were reviewed retrospectively to identify risk factors for the development of MDR bacterial infection and assess the related outcomes.

Effects of hyaluronic acid and γ-globulin concentrations on the frictional response of human osteoarthritic articular cartilage.

Synovial fluid plays an important role in lubricating synovial joints. Its main constituents are hyaluronic acid (HA) and γ-globulin, acting as boundary lubricants for articular cartilage. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the concentration-dependent effect of HA and γ-globulin on the boundary-lubricating ability of human osteoarthritis (OA) cartilage.

Newly designed, fully covered metal stents for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided transmural drainage of peripancreatic fluid collections: a prospective randomized study.

Background And Study Aims: Peripancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) have been adequately drained using multiple plastic stents placed in a single-step endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) procedure. Recent reports have presented the usefulness of metal stents for this procedure; however, there has been no prospective comparative study on their effectiveness and safety. We conducted a prospective randomized study to compare multiple plastic stents with fully covered, self-expanding metal stents (FCSEMSs) for the drainage of PFCs.

Transumbilical retrieval of surgical specimens through a multichannel port.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery is often used to excise adnexal masses; however, the retrieval of specimens such as large cystic masses through conventional 5- or 10-mm ports is difficult and time-consuming. We compared outcomes between conventional laparoscopic surgery for adnexal masses and transumbilical specimen retrieval through a multichannel port during single- or 2-port laparoscopy.

Methods: A total of 341 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for adnexal masses from November 2006 to December 2010 were included.

Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided gallbladder drainage for acute cholecystitis: from evidence to practice.

With the evolution of the linear echoendoscope and the improved ability to direct a needle within the field of interest, the therapeutic potential of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has greatly expanded. Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided transmural gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) may be the next frontier for therapeutic EUS. Since EUS-GBD was first described in 2007, recent reports have suggested it as an alternative to external gallbladder drainage for acute cholecystitis.

Role of hyaluronic acid and phospholipid in the lubrication of a cobalt-chromium head for total hip arthroplasty.

The tribological performance of total hip arthroplasty has an important influence on its success rate. This study examined the concentration-dependent role of hyaluronic acid (HA) and phospholipid (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, DPPC) in the boundary lubricating ability of retrieved cobalt-chromium femoral heads. The microscale frictional coefficients (μ) were measured by atomic force microscopy using a rectangular silicon cantilever integrated with sharp silicon tips.

Computational biophysical, biochemical, and evolutionary signature of human R-spondin family proteins, the member of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

In human, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a significant role in cell growth, cell development, and disease pathogenesis. Four human (Rspo)s are known to activate canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Presently, (Rspo)s serve as therapeutic target for several human diseases.

Recent trends of polymer mediated liposomal gene delivery system.

Advancement in the gene delivery system have resulted in clinical successes in gene therapy for patients with several genetic diseases, such as immunodeficiency diseases, X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) blindness, thalassemia, and many more. Among various delivery systems, liposomal mediated gene delivery route is offering great promises for gene therapy. This review is an attempt to depict a portrait about the polymer based liposomal gene delivery systems and their future applications.

Survival effect of tumor size and extrapancreatic extension in surgically resected pancreatic cancer: proposal for improved T classification.

The T classification for pancreatic cancer of the American Joint Committee on Cancer may be inaccurate owing to lack of consideration of tumor size in cases of extension beyond the pancreas. To examine the accuracy of American Joint Committee on Cancer staging and to determine the prognostic implication of combined tumor size and extrapancreatic extension, 6145 cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database were categorized according to tumor size and extension as follows: group 1 (G1, ≤2 cm and limited to the pancreas), G2 (>2 cm and limited to the pancreas), G3 (≤2 cm with extrapancreatic extension), and G4 (>2 cm with extrapancreatic extension). The median survival of G1, G2, G3, and G4 were 23, 15, 19, and 14 months, respectively (P < .