Outcome of hepatectomy after systemic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: a Japanese multicenter study.

Background And Purpose: In recent years, new systemic therapies have been developed for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognosis of patients with unresectable HCC treated with R0 hepatectomy after systemic therapy.

Methods: Data from 27 patients who underwent hepatectomy for HCC after systemic therapy at six facilities were analyzed retrospectively.

Molecular-Resolution Imaging of Ionic Liquid/Alkali Halide Interfaces with Varied Surface Charge Densities via Atomic Force Microscopy.

When in contact with charged solid surfaces, ionic liquids (ILs) are known to form solvation structures consisting of alternating cation and anion layers. This phenomenon is considered to originate from the adsorption layer of counterions overcompensating the surface charge, so-called overscreening. However, the response of these layers to surfaces with near-zero or extremely high surface charge density (σ) remains inadequately understood.

Interaction between the substrate and probe in liquid metal Ga: experimental and theoretical analysis.

Interaction between two bodies in a liquid metal is an important topic for development of metallic products with high performance. We conducted atomic force microscopy measurements and achieved the interaction between the substrate and the probe in liquid Ga of an opaque and highly viscous liquid. The interaction cannot be accessed with the normal atomic force microscopy, electron microscopy, and beam reflectometry.

Fundamental and higher eigenmodes of qPlus sensors with a long probe for vertical-lateral bimodal atomic force microscopy.

The detection of vertical and lateral forces at the nanoscale by atomic force microscopy (AFM) reveals various mechanical properties on surfaces. The qPlus sensor is a widely used force sensor, which is built from a quartz tuning fork (QTF) and a sharpened metal probe, capable of high-resolution imaging in viscous liquids such as lubricant oils. Although a simultaneous detection technique of vertical and lateral forces by using a qPlus sensor is required in the field of nanotribology, it has still been difficult because the torsional oscillations of QTFs cannot be detected.

Controlled Growth of Organosilane Micropatterns on Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Surfaces Templated by Vacuum Ultraviolet Photolithography.

In this report, micropatterns of (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) were developed on hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces after patterning using 172 nm vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photolithography. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) formed on Si substrates through UV hydrosilylation of 1-hexadecene (HD) and 10-undecenoic acid (UDA) were used as hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces, respectively. For templating the HD- and UDA-SAMs, the VUV light was exposed to HD- and UDA-SAMs from the slits of photomasks in atmospheric and evacuated environments, respectively.

Chemical Etching of Silicon Assisted by Graphene Oxide in an HF-HNO Solution and Its Catalytic Mechanism.

Chemical etching of silicon assisted by various types of carbon materials is drawing much attention for the fabrication of silicon micro/nanostructures. We developed a method of chemical etching of silicon that utilizes graphene oxide (GO) sheets to promote the etching reaction in a hydrofluoric acid-nitric acid (HF-HNO) etchant. By using an optimized composition of the HF-HNO etchant, the etching rate under the GO sheets was 100 times faster than that of our HF-HO system used in a previous report.

Microstructured SiO/COP Stamps for Patterning TiO on Polymer Substrates Microcontact Printing.

Microcontact printing (μCP) techniques have sparked a surge of interests in microfabrication since they help produce arrays on a wide range of target substrates in a facile and efficient manner. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), as a well-established material for stamps, has constraints resulting from its hydrophobicity and softness, and the replication of PDMS stamps usually requires rigid masters or processes using a photoresist. Herein, a novel μCP stamp based on cyclo-olefin polymer (COP) is produced through vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) lithography.

Formation of submicron-sized silica patterns on flexible polymer substrates based on vacuum ultraviolet photo-oxidation.

Formation of precise and high-resolution silica micropatterns on polymer substrates is of importance in surface structuring for flexible device fabrication of optics, microelectronic, and biotechnology. To achieve that, substrates modified with affinity-patterns serve as a strategy for site-selective deposition. In the present paper, vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) treatment is utilized to achieve spatially-controlled surface functionalization on a cyclo-olefin polymer (COP) substrate.

1,2-Epoxyalkane: Another Precursor for Fabricating Alkoxy Self-Assembled Monolayers on Hydrogen-Terminated Si(111).

This work describes the UV alkoxylation of a series of 1,2-epoxyalkanes on the hydrogen-terminated silicon (H-Si) substrate. The formation of alkoxy self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and the nature of bonding at the surface of H-Si were examined using water contact angle goniometer, spectroscopic ellipsometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy. UV exposure to 1,2-epoxyalkane mesitylene solution for 60 min formed alkoxy-SAMs onto H-Si with hydrophobic properties.

Vacuum Ultraviolet Treatment of Acid- and Ester-Terminated Self-Assembled Monolayers: Chemical Conversions and Friction Reduction.

We have prepared COOH- and COOCH-terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) from undec-10-enoic acid (UDA) and methyl undec-10-enoate (MUDO) molecules on hydrogen-terminated silicon (H-Si) substrates through ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The as-prepared UDA- and MUDO-SAMs were exposed to 172 nm vacuum-UV (VUV) light in a high vacuum environment (HV, <10 Pa) for different periods. The presence of COO components at the surfaces of these SAMs without prior oxidation would simplify the understanding of the origin of the chemical conversions and the changes of surface properties, as the prior oxidation would change the surface properties and generate different oxygenated groups.

Decoration of reduced graphene oxide by gold nanoparticles: an enhanced negative photoconductivity.

Photodetection in a visible light region is important in various applications, including computation, environmental monitoring, biological detection and industrial control. Due to this, research studies to develop photoconductive devices have great significance. We report a study on the photoconductivity of reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/gold nanoparticle (AuNP) nanocomposites, emphasizing the enhancement effect induced by AuNPs.

Low Damage Reductive Patterning of Oxidized Alkyl Self-Assembled Monolayers through Vacuum Ultraviolet Light Irradiation in an Evacuated Environment.

Through 172 nm vacuum ultraviolet light irradiation in a high vacuum condition (HV-VUV), well-defined micropatterns with a varied periodic friction were fabricated at the surface of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) terminated with oxygenated groups. No apparent height contrast between the HV-VUV-irradiated and -masked areas was observed, which indicated the stability of the C-C skeleton of the assembled molecules. The trimming of oxygenated groups occurred through dissociating the C-O bonds and promoting the occurrence of α- and β-cleavages in the C═O-containing components.

Immobilization of Reduced Graphene Oxide on Hydrogen-Terminated Silicon Substrate as a Transparent Conductive Protector.

Silicon is a promising electrode material for photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic reactions. However, the chemically active surface of silicon will be easily oxidized when exposed to the oxidation environment. We immobilized graphene oxide (GO) onto hydrogen-terminated silicon (H-Si) and reduced it through ultraviolet (UV) and vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) irradiation.

Correction: Chemical conversion of self-assembled hexadecyl monolayers with active oxygen species generated by vacuum ultraviolet irradiation in an atmospheric environment.

Correction for 'Chemical conversion of self-assembled hexadecyl monolayers with active oxygen species generated by vacuum ultraviolet irradiation in an atmospheric environment' by Ahmed I. A. Soliman et al.

Vacuum-Ultraviolet Promoted Oxidative Micro Photoetching of Graphene Oxide.

Microprocessing of graphene oxide (GO) films is of fundamental importance in fabricating graphene-based devices. We demonstrate the photoetching of GO sheets using vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV, λ = 172 nm) light under controlled atmospheric pressure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and differential interference contrast microscopy (DIC) studies revealed that the photoetching of GO films successfully proceeded in the regions exposed to VUV irradiation in the oxygen-containing atmosphere.

Chemical conversion of self-assembled hexadecyl monolayers with active oxygen species generated by vacuum ultraviolet irradiation in an atmospheric environment.

Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV, λ = 172 nm) irradiation of alkyl self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) in the presence of dry air alters their surface properties. In this work, UV photochemically prepared hexadecyl (HD)-SAMs on hydrogen-terminated silicon substrates were irradiated by VUV light in dry air, which generated active oxygen species upon excitation of the atmospheric oxygen molecules. These active oxygen species converted the terminal methyl groups of the SAMs to polar functional groups, which were examined quantitatively by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and chemical labeling.

Potential-dependent structures investigated at the perchloric acid solution/iodine modified Au(111) interface by electrochemical frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy.

Electrochemical frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy (EC-FM-AFM) was adopted to analyze the electrified interface between an iodine modified Au(111) and a perchloric acid solution. Atomic resolution imaging of the electrode was strongly dependent on the electrode potential within the electrochemical window: each iodine atom was imaged in the cathodic range of the electrode potential, but not in the more anodic range where the tip is retracted by approximately 0.1 nm compared to the cathodic case for the same imaging parameters.

Clinical role of Foxp3+ regulatory T cell in Living donor related liver transplantation for prediction of life-threatening complications.

Purposes: It is no doubt that regulatory T cells (Foxp3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+)T cells: Treg) play important roles in transplant immunity. We investigated the significance of Treg expression in acute stage of living donorrelated liver transplantation (LDLT) for the possibility of the sensitive marker for immunological state and homeostatic stress after liver transplantation.

Methods: Peripheral blood was drawn from 5 recipients of LDLT preoperatively and on post operative 1, 4, 7, and 14 days.

Potential-dependent hydration structures at aqueous solution/graphite interfaces by electrochemical frequency modulation atomic force microscopy.

Potential-dependent solvation structures of aqueous electrolyte-graphite interfaces were studied using electrochemical frequency modulation atomic force microscopy. Oscillatory modulations on the force curves reversibly changed with the applied potential on the graphite electrode, and also strongly depended on the anion species in electrolyte solutions.

Valproic acid enhances the anti-tumor effect of pegylated interferon-α towards pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Background: Valproic acid (VPA) acts as a specific inhibitor of class I HDACs and it use has been proven to be safe since a long time.

Materials And Methods: In the present study, we investigated the effect of VPA in the combination with pegylated interferon-α (PEG-IFNα) in inhibition of cell proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Results: VPA enhanced the effect of PEG-IFNα, and the effect was decreased by the caspase inhibitor.

Blood vessel-based liver segmentation using the portal phase of an abdominal CT dataset.

Purpose: Blood vessel (BV) information can be used to guide body organ segmentation on computed tomography (CT) imaging. The proposed method uses abdominal BVs (ABVs) to segment the liver through the portal phase of an abdominal CT dataset. This method aims to address the wide variability in liver shape and size, separate liver from other organs of similar intensity, and segment hepatic low-intensity tumors (LITs).

Beneficial effects of enteral nutrition containing with hydrolyzed whey peptide on warm ischemia/reperfusion injury in the rat liver.

Aim: This study examined the efficacy of enteral nutrition containing hydrolyzed whey peptide (HWP) on warm ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in the rat liver.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were subjected to 30 min of warm hepatic ischemia followed by immediate p.o.

The beneficial effects of Kampo medicine Dai-ken-chu-to after hepatic resection: a prospective randomized control study.

Background/aims: After hepatic resection, delayed flatus and impaired bowel movement often cause problematic postoperative ileus. Kampo medicine, Dai-kenchu-to (DKT), is reported to have a various beneficial effects on bowel systems. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate effects of DKT after hepatic resection.

Significance of sonic hedgehog signaling after massive hepatectomy in a rat.

Purpose: To clarify the functional involvement of hedgehog signaling, especially sonic hedgehog (Shh) and glioma-associated oncogene (Gli)-1 which are known to play an important role in embryonic development and cancer, in the regeneration of a hepatectomized rat liver.

Methods: Six-week-old male Wistar rats were subjected to 70 or 90 % hepatectomy (Hx). Animals were killed at 24, 48 and 72 h after Hx.