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We developed a novel suprapubic single-port robotic right hemicolectomy (spRHC) procedure for patients with right colon cancer using a da Vinci SP Surgical System. The aim of this study was to determine the safety and feasibility of this technique.We performed the spRHC procedure on five patients with right colon cancers between July and September 2020. All procedures including colon mobilization, D3 lymphadenectomy, and intracorporeal anastomosis were completed using the single-port robotic platform through a mini-transverse suprapubic incision and an additional assistant port. Data regarding patient characteristics, perioperative outcomes and pathologic results were analyzed.Four of the five patients were males. The median age was 69 years (range, 58-77 years).Two patients received preoperative chemotherapy for advanced colon cancer. The median total operative time was 160 min (range, 150-240 min). The median docking time was 4 min 40 s (range, 2 min 10 s-5 min 10 s). The median console time was 105 min (range, 100-120 min). There were no conversions to multiport or open surgeries. The median hospital stay was 7 days (range, 5-12 days). One patient experienced a wound infection. The median number of harvested lymph nodes was 41 (range, 39-50 lymph nodes).SpRHC is safe and feasible. However, further comparative studies are needed to assess whether this procedure can provide patients with significant benefits compared with multiport robotic surgery.

The da Vinci single-port (SP) system is designed to facilitate single-incision robotic surgery in a narrow space. We developed a new procedure of rectal resection using this system. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the technical feasibility and safety of SP robotic rectal resection for rectal cancer patients based on our initial experience.A study was conducted on consecutive patients with mid or low rectal cancer who had SP robotic resection at our institution between July and September 2020. The demographic characteristics, perioperative data, and pathology results of the patients were retrospectively analyzed.There were 5 patients (3 males, 2 females, median age 57 years (range 36-73 years). The median tumor height from the anal verge was 4 cm (range 3-5 cm). Two patients received preoperative chemoradiotherapy for advanced rectal cancer. A single docking was conducted, and the median docking time was 4 min 20 s (range 3 min 30 s to 5 min). The median total operation time was 195 min (range 155-240 min), and the median time of pelvic dissection was 45 min (range 36-62 min). All patients had circumferential and distal tumor-free resection margins. One patient experienced an anastomosis-related complication. The median duration of hospital stay was 7 days (range 7-8 days).Our initial experience suggests that SP robotic rectal resection is safe and feasible. Further clinical trials comparing SP and multiport robotic rectal resection should be conducted to verify the superior aspects of this new system.

The long-term outcomes of minimally invasive lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LPND) are not completely known. The aim of this study was to compare long-term outcomes between robotic and laparoscopic LPND in low rectal cancer patients with suspected lymph node metastasis in the pelvic sidewall.We retrospectively reviewed the records of all rectal cancer patients who had laparoscopic or robotic total mesorectal excision (TME) with LPND between March 2006 and June 2016. Stage IV patients were excluded. The outcomes of patients who had laparoscopic and robotic TME with LPND were compared.Twenty-nine patients had laparoscopic LPND and 70 had robotic LPND. No significant differences in patient characteristics were observed between the two groups. The urinary retention rate was lower in the robotic group than in the laparoscopic group (7.1% vs. 24.1%; p = 0.043). During a median follow-up of 44.3 months, the overall recurrence rates were 48.3% and 31.4% in the laparoscopic and robotic groups, respectively (p = 0.175). The 5-year disease-free survival rates were 50.4% and 67.0% in the laparoscopic and robotic groups, respectively (p = 0.227). The 5-year overall survival rates were 65.0% and 92.2% in the laparoscopic and robotic groups, respectively (p = 0.017).Robotic TME with LPND is safe and feasible. In particular, it is associated with lower urinary retention. Robotic TME with LPND might yield a similar local recurrence rate and 5-year disease-free survival, but favorable long-term overall survival as compared to the laparoscopic approach. However, considering the retrospective nature and both major variables of TME and LPND involved together, this should be cautiously interpreted.

Background Liver transplantation (LT) is an effective treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease caused by auto-immune hepatitis (AIH). However, diagnosis of AIH can be challenging for patients with end-stage liver disease at the time of transplantation. We classified patients into “probable” or “definite” AIH groups, using the diagnostic criteria of the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group, and compared the clinical outcomes of AIH after LT in these 2 groups. Methods We performed a retrospective study of 18 patients who were diagnosed with AIH and underwent LT from March 2003 to March 2015 at a single institute. Of the 18 patients, 8 were diagnosed with definite AIH and 10 were diagnosed with probable AIH, according to the international scoring criteria. We evaluated the patient characteristics, recurrence rate, graft loss, and survival rates after LT. Results The mean follow-up duration was 59.3 months. Age, sex, medical condition at transplantation, warm ischemic time, cold ischemic time, and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. No patient died after LT in either group, but 1 patient in the definite AIH group had graft failure. In Kaplan-Meier analysis, the 5-year recurrence rates of the definite and probable groups were 14.3% and 0%, respectively (P = .992). Conclusions The recurrence of definite AIH appeared to be higher than that of probable AIH. However, careful immunosuppressive therapy allowed the long-term survival of both definite and probable AIH patients after LT.

Background There is a lack of information regarding the oncological safety of robotic intersphincteric resection (ISR) with coloanal anastomosis. The objective of this study was to compare the long-term feasibility of robotic compared with laparoscopic ISR. Methods Between January 2008 and May 2011, consecutive patients who underwent robotic or laparoscopic ISR with coloanal anastomosis from seven institutions were included. Propensity score analyses were performed to compare outcomes for groups in a 1 : 1 case-matched cohort. The primary endpoint was 3-year disease-free survival. Results A total of 334 patients underwent ISR with coloanal anastomosis, of whom 212 matched patients (106 in each group) formed the cohort for analysis. The overall rate of conversion to open surgery was 0·9 per cent in the robotic ISR group and 1·9 per cent in the laparoscopic ISR group. Nine patients (8·5 per cent) in the laparoscopic group and three (2·8 per cent) in the robotic ISR group still had a stoma at last follow-up (P = 0·075). Total mean hospital costs were significantly higher for robotic ISR (€12 757 versus €9223 for laparoscopic ISR; P = 0·037). Overall 3-year local recurrence rates were similar in the two groups (6·7 per cent for robotic and 5·7 per cent for laparoscopic resection; P = 0·935). The combined 3-year disease-free survival rates were 89·6 (95 per cent c.i. 84·1 to 95·9) and 90·5 (85·4 to 96·6) per cent respectively (P = 0·298). Conclusion Robotic ISR with coloanal anastomosis for rectal cancer has reasonable oncological outcomes, but is currently too expensive with no short-term advantages.

Highly insulated envelope or external insulation systems are being applied in recent energy saving buildings to reduce the heat loss through envelope. Internal insulation systems are applied to most apartments in Korea because they are inexpensive and convenient to construct. However, the internal insulation systems have poor performance because of the heat bridges through structures such as slabs. The external insulation systems have better thermal performance because the heat bridges through the structure are rarely formed. However, it has problems regarding the external insulator separation because of strong winds, spread of fire because of insulator combustion in case of fire, formation of heat bridges through the connectors between structure and external insulation. In this study, the thermal performance of the sandwich insulation system for apartment buildings was evaluated according to the shear connectors and insulation materials.

This study has been conducted to analyse the domestic trends of non-CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbon) insulation materials and the thermal characteristics of carbon dioxide-foamed insulation materials. With a growing interest in low-energy building, the insulation market has developed towards high performance insulation materials. Under the Montreal Protocol to phase out the use and production of CFCs, the extruded polystyrene insulation materials have to replace Hydro-chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) with other foaming agents, for example, carbon dioxides. This study also analysed the correlation of cell size, void fraction and thermal conductivity through literature review. As a result, the thermal conductivity was found to be decreased with a higher void fraction and smaller cell size if the cell size of CO2-foamed extruded polystyrene becomes under 100 µm.

Lately, constructions of large and high-rise buildings are steadily increasing, and various building envelope systems were developed in accordance with this trend. However, insulation methods applied to the building envelope may cause interior condensation, energy loss and discoloration of walls. In this study, ventilated insulation system was applied simultaneously considering conduction, convection and radiation of heat. This research performed a field experiment to evaluate insulating performance comparing ventilated insulation system with non-ventilated insulation system.

A two-step process was used to obtain an ultrahigh purity cylindrical tantalum ingot from tantalum powder. Generally, powders cannot be used as raw materials in processes employing electron beam (EB) drip melting. We designed a process that could indeed use powders. The first step reduced the impurities in tantalum by the repeated EB melting of tantalum buttons fabricated from tantalum powder. An ultrahigh purity tantalum ingot was then fabricated by repeated EB drip melting of the refined tantalum buttons. A cylindrical ingot (O80×100 mm) with purity of 99·9998% was obtained. The purity of the raw tantalum powder was 99·9944%, while those of tantalum buttons remelted twice and four times were 99·9989 and 99·9994% respectively. The concentration of gas impurities such as C, N and O was reduced to

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) remains a challenging issue for liver transplantation surgeons. Most patients who have PVT undergo eversion thrombectomy. When thrombectomy is not successful due to diffuse PVT, other modalities are adapted, such as the use of a venous jump graft or portal tributaries. Here, we report our successful experience with reconstruction of portal flow using collateral plexus for a patient with grade 4 PVT. Thrombectomy did not restore portal flow. A pericholedochal plexus was found on the lateral wall of common bile duct. Direct end-to-end anastomosis was performed between the donor's portal vein and patient's choledochal plexus. Postoperative color Doppler ultrasound revealed normal portal flow.

Purpose. Portal vein complications (PVC) after pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) have rarely been reported. We evaluated the long-term incidence and of the risk factors for PVC after pediatric LDLT. Methods. From April 1997 to November 2008, 96 pediatric patients underwent LDLT using left lateral segments or left lobes. We investigated recipient factors, donor factors, and operative factors through medical records. The portal vein sizes in 96 recipients ranged from 2.7 mm to 13.0 mm (median = 5.0 mm). Portal vein reconstruction was usually performed with the graft portal vein anastomosed to the bifurcation of the recipient right and left portal veins, the so-called "branch patch". Results. PVC occured in 11 patients (11.5%) including early PVC (n = 3), late PVC (n = 8). The disease-free survivals at 1, 5, and 10 years after LDLT were 94.7%, 88.7%, and 86.0%. Upon univariate analysis, a portal vein size < 5 mm graft-to-recipient weight ratio (GRWR) ≥ 4%, transfusion volume ≥ 270 mL were significant risk factors for PVC. Body weight < 8 kg and previous operative history tendes to be adverse for PVC. Upon multivariate analysis by Cox regression, portal vein size < 5 mm was a highly significant factor for PVC after pediatric LDLT (hazard ratio = 5.627, P = .027). Conclusion. The disease-free survival at 10 years after LDLT was 86.0%. If the recipient's portal vein size < 5 mm received a large-for-size graft (GRWR ≥ 4%), it is important to observe by regular Doppler ultrasonography follow-up to detect PVC.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is not only a common complication after liver transplantation (OLT), but also a significant contributing factor to morbidity and mortality. We investigated risk factors for CMV syndrome and tissue-invasive CMV disease in CMV antigenemia patients after OLT in a CMV endemic area. CMV antigenemia was regarded to be >1 positive CMV pp65 antigen positive cell per 400,000 white blood cells. We examined the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and laboratory findings of liver transplant patients with CMV syndrome and tissue-invasive CMV disease. The incidence of CMV syndrome among patients with CMV antigenemia was 10.5% (37/353) and that of tissue-invasive CMV disease, 3.1% (11/353). Upon multivariate analysis the risk factors for CMV syndrome and tissue-invasive CMV disease were infection, low albumin level, high total bilirubin content, and high CMV peak titer. The 1-y, 2-y, and 3-year survival rates of subjects without CMV syndrome were 96.2%, 85.4% and 82.2% versus without tissue-invasive CMV disease, 86.9%, 83.0%, and 80.1%, or 70.3%, 56.1% and 51.8% for CMV syndrome or 72.7%, 62.3%, 49.9% for tissue-invasive CMV disease. The survival curve of patients without were superior to those with CMV syndrome (P = .000). Because OLT recipients had risk factors such as infection, low albumin level, high total bilirubin content, and high CMV peak titer, they were carefully monitored and aggressively managed due to the poor survivals of patients with CMV syndrome.

The effect of trace Al, V, Sn and Si addition on the grain refinement, hardness, and lattice strain was discussed. From the results of variation in the average grain size, it was found that the growth restriction factor of individual additions is Si > Al > Sn > V in order of their magnitude. The c/a ratio of other Ti alloys except for the Ti-Si alloy were the same value of 1.587 as pure Ti, whereas that of the Ti-Si alloy was 1.581, the lattice strain of which affected the hardness increase. It was then suggested that Si addition to pure Ti plays an important role in the hardness increase, which can be explained by the lattice strain caused by c/a ratio reduction, the decrease in the grain size ofTi-Si alloy, and the formation of Ti silicide at higher Si content.

A high temperature combustion method was used to analyze the 14 C and 3 H activities in graphite and the dose assessment was carried out to determine the clearance in the conservative way. By this method, the 3 H and 14 C were simultaneously trapped in the nitric acid and carbosorb, respectively. Accordingly, the sample preparation time for the measurement was reduced to the half. The combustion temperature was more than 800 degrees in centigrade for obtaining total tritium and 14 C in the sample. The combustion ratio was about 99% on the graphite sample with the weight of 0.1 g. Minimum detectable activity was 0.05 Bq/g for the 14 C and 0.15 Bq/g for the 3 H at the same background counting time. The recoveries from the combustion furnace were around 100% and 90% in 14 C and 3 H, respectively. The radioactivity were 2,530 ~ 3,160 Bq/g in 14 C and 1,700 ~2,040 Bq/g in 3 H at this experiment. The experimental uncertainty was less than 6% in both radionuclides where the furnace recovery was dominant factor. An individual effective dose from beta and gamma radionuclides was estimated by consideration of the scenario of inhalation, ingestion and external exposure. 60 Co, the radioactivity of which was measured by using HPGe detector, had a predominant effect in estimating the effective dose. The estimation showed that the graphite wastes from the dismantled research reactor should be disposed of as a low level radioactive waste rather than clearance.

Purification of 4N (99.99%) and 6N (99.9999%) purity Cu rods by hydrogen plasma-arc zone melting was carried out. Weight loss in the 4N and 6N Cu rods as a function of number of zone refined passes revealed a higher rate of impurity removal by vaporization in 4N Cu when compared to 6N Cu. Purification effect was studied by analyzing major impurities like Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, Cr, Ni and Fe by O 2 + ions and C, O, As, Cl, P and S by Cs + ion sources using secondary ion mass spectrometry. A remarkable decrease of Si, Ti and Fe impurity concentrations in Cu at x / L = 0.03 after 10 zone passes was observed, but no similar purification effect along the remaining length of the zone refined copper rod was observed. Mg, Se and Ca in the Cu rods were reduced faster by a high evaporation effect due to P i / P Cu > 10 2 . On the other hand, removal of O, C, S and Se was expectedly dominated by vaporization in the form of H 2 O, CH 4, H 2 S, and H 2 Se through thermodynamically favored reactions. The overall segregation rate of the individual impurity elements was decreased with an increase in the purity from 4N to 6N of Cu rods. SIMS analysis of trace impurities was successfully carried out on HPZM Cu for quantitative estimation.

Objective Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been studied in regenerative medicine because of their unique immunologic characteristics. However, before clinical application in humans, animal models are needed to confirm their safety and efficacy. To date, appropriate methods and sources to obtain mouse MSCs have not been identified. Therefore, we investigated MSCs isolated from 3 strains of mice and 3 sources for the development of MSCs in a mouse model. Materials and Methods Male BALB/c, C3H and C57BL/6 mice were used to isolate MSCs from various tissues including bone marrow (BM), compact bone, and adipose tissue. The MSCs were maintained in StemXVivo medium. Immunophenotypes of the MSCs were analyzed by FACS and their growth potential estimated by the number of colony-forming unit fibroblasts. Results All MSCs that were isolated from BM, compact bone, and adipose tissue showed plastic-adherent, fibroblastic-like morphologic characteristics regardless of the mouse strain or cell source. However, culture of BM MSCs was less successful than the other tissue types. The FACS phenotype analysis revealed that the MSCs were positive for CD29, CD44, CD105, and Sca-1, but negative for CD34, TER-119, CD45, and CD11b. According to the results of the characterization, the adipose tissue MSCs showed higher growth potential than did other MSCs. Conclusion The results of this study showed that culture of adipose tissue and compact bone-MSCs was easier than BM MSCs. Based on the results of immunophenotype and growth potential, C57BL/6 AT-MSCs might be a suitable source to establish a mouse model of MSCs.

The die-upset Nd15Fe77B8 material consisting of near single domain Nd2Fe14B grains was prepared using the HDDR-treated material. Texture (c-axis alignment) of the Nd2Fe14B grains in the die-upset HDDR material was investigated, and compared with that in the die-upset melt-spun Nd-Fe-B material. The die-upset HDDR material showed a texture, in which the easy magnetisation c-axis of the Nd2Fe14B grains was aligned parallel to the compression direction. The texture obtained from the die-upset HDDR material was much poorer with respect to that from the die-upset melt-spun material (Nd13.5Fe80Ga0.5B6). The poor texture in the HDDR material was due to the greater grain size of the material. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

For the analysis of atomic processes such as recombination and ionization in the divertor plasmas, we have developed a fast-scanning multiple probe system, which is composed of single, Mach and emissive probes along with Thomson scattering system at the material and plasma (MAP)-II divertor simulator with low magnetic field (about 200 G). Measured spatial variations of electron density, electron temperature, flow velocity and plasma potential will be given in comparison with those by Thomson scattering method. To analyze the data, a new fluid model on the ion collection to a probing object in un-magnetized plasmas is developed including electron–ion recombination, molecular activated recombination and ionization. This system is applied to another divertor simulator, divertor plasma simulator (DiPS), with higher magnetic field (up to 2 kG).

DiPS (Diversified Plasma Simulator), a new versatile linear machine (length=3400 mm, diameter=200-600 mm), is developed for the simulations of divertor, space and processing plasmas with various electric probes: fast-scanning systems with single, triple, and Mach Probes, slow-scanning water-cooled single probe, gridded-energy analyzer (GEA), and several fixed single probes. For the verification of current probe theories and the development of new theories with magnetic vector field, collisional effects, various particle sources, and wide range of plasma parameters, two different plasma sources are installed: (1) For a stable high density dc plasma, a LaB 6 disk is used as the thermal electron emission source with 5 kW graphite heater. Initial plasma density of the LaB 6 source is 5 x 10 12 cm -3 , electron temperature is 8-10 eV with magnetic field around 1 kG. The electron density would be decreased severely, i.e., to 10 6 - 10 8 cm -3 with grid, and expanded into space simulation region without magnetic field; (2) Helicon plasma source is also installed for a processing simulation in DiPS and for the space propulsion study with magnetic expansion, which generates the plasma with density of 2 × 10 13 cm -3 and electron temperature 3-4 eV for the rf power of 2.5 kW at optimum pressure of 7.5 mTorr. As a unique feature for the diversified uses of sources and divertor simulator experiments, space and processing simulation chambers can be detached from and attached to the divertor simulation chamber on the rail. Initial data of various electric probes (single, triple, emissive, mach probes, GEA, etc.) are introduced for the the following conditions of DiPS with B= 1 kG, P= 130 mTorr at source region, P= 2 mTorr at divertor simulation region, n e = 1 × 10 12 - 1 x 10 14 cm -3 , T e = 2 - 3 eV, T i = 0.2 eV with laser induced fluorescence (LIF) (Ar gas), The = 1 × 10 12 - 1 × 10 13 cm -3 , Te =5 - 6 eV (He gas) at divertor simulation region, T i = 0.47 - 0.74 eV with GEA at space simulation region and υ d = 500 - 600 m/s.

We report a new fabrication process for high performance carbon nanotube field emitters. The key process of the fabrication method is trim-and-leveling the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown in trench structures by employing a polishing process, which leads to a uniform distance from the carbon nanotube tip to the electrode. In order to enable this processing, spin-on-glass liquid is applied over the CNTs to ensure strong adhesion to each other and to the substrate. The emitters thus fabricated revealed extremely stable current-voltage and aging characteristics. A sharp turn-on voltage of ∼ 1.7 V at 10 µA/cm2 was also observed. These high performances of the emitters are realized by the uniform distance between leveled emitter tips and the electrode and by the open tube tips achieved through the planarization process using spin-on-glass.

A detailed systematic study on the growth morphology of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on Si in atmospheric pressure thermal chemical vapor deposition was undertaken. The role of NH3 for vertical alignment of CNTs was investigated. The direct cause for the alignment was a dense distribution of the catalytic metal particles, but that the particles are maintained catalytically active under amorphous carbon deposits was established by NH3. It allows a dense nucleation of the CNTs, and consequently, assists vertical alignment through entanglement and mechanical leaning among the tubes. The CNTs grew in a base growth mode. Since Ni is consumed both by silicide reaction and by capture into the growing tube, the growth stops when Ni is totally depleted. It occurs earlier for smaller particles, and thus a long time of growth results in a thin bottom with poor adhesion.

Pimpinella brachycarpa (family Apiaceae) is an edible green, leafy vegetable frequently consumed in Korea. The plant species is commonly used to prepare Namul, a seasoned raw vegetable dish. Recently, we reported an isolate of Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) infecting P. brachycarpa. Afterward, we surveyed further for viral diseases on P. brachycarpa plants. During June 2016, virus-like symptoms, including curling, green-yellow mosaic, and deformation of leaves were observed on P. brachycarpa in a greenhouse located in Busan, South Korea. To identify a causal virus, five symptomatic leaf samples were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy using leaf dip preparations. Icosahedral virus particles (approximately 30 nm in diameter) were observed from all test leaf samples. The symptomatic leaf samples were also analyzed by DAS-ELISA using four different polyclonal antibodies specific to Tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV), TMV, Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) (Loewe Biochemica, Germany). All samples were negative for TMGMV, TMV, ToMV, and TSWV. Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was identified from all five symptomatic P. brachycarpa plants by serological testing for the presence of CMV coat protein (CP) with CMV-ImmunoStrip kit (Agdia, Elkhart, U.S.A.). The presence of CMV was also confirmed by serological detection with a DAS-ELISA kit (Agdia). The virus (named CMV-Charm) caused necrotic local lesions on Chenopodium amaranticolor at 5 days post inoculation (dpi), while severe systemic mosaic symptoms were observed in Capsicum annuum and Nicotiana glutinosa 10 to 14 dpi. To fulfill Koch’s postulates, virus-free P. brachycarpa were inoculated mechanically by sap from local lesions on C. amaranticolor. The P. brachycarpa plants displayed identical symptoms 21 dpi to those observed in the Busan greenhouse. CMV-charm was detected from these inoculated P. brachycarpa plants. Meanwhile, mock-inoculated P. brachycarpa remained symptomless and virus-free, suggesting that CMV is the causal virus of the symptomatic P. brachycarpa plants. The presence of CMV-Charm in all naturally infected and mechanically inoculated P. brachycarpa plants was further verified by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR (Han et al. 2012). A 657-bp RT-PCR product from the CMV CP gene was amplified from all samples. There was no amplification from asymptomatic P. brachycarpa. RT-PCR products were cloned into pCR4-TOPO vector and selected cDNA clones were sequenced. Multiple alignment of the CMV-Charm CP sequence (accession no. LC177113) with CP sequences of other CMV isolates using MEGA6.0 software revealed identities of 96.8 to 99.2% and 70.6 to 73% to CMV isolates from subgroup I and subgroup II, respectively. CMV may pose a major threat for production of P. brachycarpa, because CMV is easily transmitted by various agents (such as aphids) (Palukaitis and Garcia-Árenal 2003) and P. brachycarpa is continually farmed in Korea.

We present the oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic nephroureterectomy management of pT3 upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.Between October 2003 and January 2011, 50 patients with pT3 upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma which had pathologically confirmed underwent laparoscopic nephroureterectomy at our institution. Demographic data, perioperative results, pathological findings and oncologic outcomes were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively.There were 36 patients (72%) of high grade lesion and 14 patients (28%) of low grade lesion. Lymphovascular invasion was observed in 16 patients (32%) and the surgical margin was positive in one patient. N stage was pN0 in 16 (32%), pN1 in 3 (6%), pN2 in 1 (2%) and pN3 in 1 (2%). The 5-year overall survival rate was 52.6% and the 5-year cancer-specific survival rate was 65.3%. Overall recurrence developed in 23 patients. There were 10 patients (20%) of urothelial recurrence which were all occurred in the bladder at the mean period of 13.6 months, and 7 patients of them were invasive bladder cancer. There were 16 patients (32%) of non-urothelial recurrence developed at the mean period of 9.69 months. On multivariate analyses lymphadenopathy and lymph node involvement of cancer (N+) were identified as independent predictive factors for the cancer-specific survival, and concomitant bladder tumor, grade and lymphovascular invasion were identified as independent predictive factors for the overall recurrence free survival.Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy in patients with high stage upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma appear comparable to those of open surgery in the regard of oncologic outcomes.

Supported liquid membrane containing crown ether (DC18C6) and dinonylnaphthalenesulfonic acid (DNNS) is proposed for separation and preconcentration of strontium in an aqueous environmental sample. The effects of carriers in membrane on permeability and selectivity of Sr2+ were characterized. Crown ether has a key role in the selective transport of strontium ion while DNNS facilitates the transport of both Sr2+ and Ca2+. A strontium ion can be selectively transported to an acidic strip solution against its concentration gradient across the membrane. This SLM can be used as an efficient method for separation and preconcentration of strontium in a neutral aqueous sample.

Radial profiles of plasma density and electron temperature have been measured by a fast-scanning probe (FSP) system with various neutral pressures in the MAP-II and DIPS linear devices for the divertor simulation. The probe system is made of three probe tips, two of which is for a Mach probe consisting of two opposite-directional probes, and one is for an emissive probe installed on the pneumatically driven fast-scanning system with stroke of 30 cm. In MAP-II, density at the center has been varied from 1.5 × 10 13 cm -3 to 0.7 x 10 13 cm -3 with pressures of 5.5 to 112 mtorr, while that of DiPS varied from 3.5 × 10 12 cm -3 to 9 × 10 12 cm -3 with pressures of 0.8 to 50 mtorr. Relation of density profile with the working pressure/magnetic field is analyzed by using a simple fluid model. Electron temperature at the center is also measured by the Thomson scattering method and compared with those of FSP, which is varied from 0.6 to 6.5 eV.

Two space propulsion systems, which are called K2H (KBSI-KAIST-Hanyang University) and DiPS (Diversified Plasma Simulator) devices, are being developed in parallel to explore the space propulsion p...

Microstructures and tensile properties of the amorphous Al 88 Ni 10-x Fe x Nd 2 (X= 0, 3, 5 at%) alloys at elevated temperatures and their relations with thermal stability were investigated. It was found that the crystallization of the three alloys proceeded through two stages. One is the formation of an Al phase at the low temperature side and the other is the formation of intermetallic compounds (Al 3 Ni, Al 3 Fe, Al 11 Nd 3 ) at the high temperature side. The Al particles smaller than 15 nm and compounds larger than 50 nm in diameter were formed during uniaxial tension tests and found to be uniformly distributed in the amorphous matrix. The ultimate tensile strengths of the three alloys were above 800 MPa at 580 K, which were 3 - times stronger than conventional high-strength Al alloys with heat resistance. This is possibly due to both the dispersion strengthening effect by the defect-free Al particles and the enhanced thermal stability by the depletion of Al atoms in the amorphous matrix resulting from the formation of the Al particles. In contrast, a significant decrease in strength was observed at a temperature above 580 K. This is presumably because the concentration of the solute atoms in the amorphous matrix was greatly decreased below the nominal concentration by the formation of the compounds. Elongation increased significantly from 2-3% at room temperature to over 10-20% at the temperatures higher than the crystallization temperatures. The temperature at which a largest elongation in the three alloys was obtained corresponded to the exothermic peak temperature in the DSC curve. This fact indicated that such a large elongation originated from the precipitation of the crystalline phase. On the other hand, in a temperature range in which the Al phase is formed, deformation occurs through a shear deformation mode, whereas in a higher temperature range in which the compounds are formed, it occurs viscoelastically.

Patients with unresectable, beyond Milan criteria, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) invariably undergo palliative transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of conventional TACE versus liver transplantation (LT) in unresectable (beyond Milan criteria) HCC. Twelve patients underwent LT and 86 TACE for unresectable, beyond Milan criteria HCC. The inclusion criteria were a single tumor ≤6.5 cm or ≤5 tumors and all tumors ≤5 cm based on initial radiologic findings. We excluded patients with double primary cancers, age >60 years, vascular invasion, or extrahepatic spread. Survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate analysis showed that TACE was a prognostic factor for survival (hazard ratio, 16.66, P = .000). The LT group showed significantly better survival than the TACE cohort. Two cases (16.7%) in the LT group recurred at a median time of 13.5 months. Survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 100%, 88.9%, and 76.2% in the LT group, and 85.6%, 45.6%, and 21.4% in the TACE group, respectively. Patients with unresectable, beyond Milan criteria HCC should be given the option to receive LDLT, because LT offers a significantly better likelihood of survival than TACE.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is not only a common complication after liver transplantation but also a significant contributing factor to morbidity and mortality. We investigated whether preemptive therapy can prevent CMV syndrome or tissue-invasive CMV disease in an endemic area. Preemptive therapy was initiated when more than 10 positive CMV pp65 antigen–positive cells per 400,000 white blood cells were detected, regardless of clinical manifestations. Intravenous ganciclovir as preemptive therapy was administered daily for 10 to 14 days until negative results were achieved. The incidence of initial CMV antigenemia and CMV syndrome during the posttransplantation period was 49.7% (353/710) and 5.2% (37/710), respectively. One hundred eight-two patients (51.6%) received ganciclovir as preemptive therapy. Patients with CMV antigenemia who received preemptive therapy had high Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, repeat operation, renal dysfunction, infection, low hemoglobin concentration, low platelet count, low albumin concentration, high international normalized ratio, high total bilirubin value, high aspartate transaminase concentration, and high CMV peak titer. Cytomegalovirus syndrome and tissue-invasive CMV disease were more common in these patients. The survival curve in patients without CMV syndrome was better than that in those with CMV syndrome (P = .000). Patients with more than 10 pp65 antigen–positive cells per 400,000 white blood cells should be treated aggressively with an antiviral agent as preemptive therapy because CMV infection is common in CMV-endemic areas and patients with CMV syndrome demonstrate poor survival rates.

Purpose. This study sought to define the pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid (MPA) in Korean living donor liver transplant recipients. Methods. Thirty-two liver transplant recipients (29 males, 3 females) were administered 750 mg mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) twice daily with concomitant tacrolimus. Plasma MPA concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection assay from samples drawn before dosing (C 0 ) and after dosing at 0.5 hours (C 1/2 ) and 2 hours (C 2 ), providing a total of 114 pharmacokinetic profiles at various periods from 3 days to 6 months posttransplantation (D3, D7, D14, M1, M3, and M6). Results. The mean area-under-the-curve from 0 to 2 hours (AUC 0-2 ) was 30.0 ± 11.6 μg · h/mL (range, 7.8-60.7). Of 114 pharmacokinetic profiles, 40 (35%) AUC and 7 (6.1%) trough values were within the target value (30-60 μg · h/mL and 1.7-4.0 μg/mL, respectively). The C o , C 1/2 , and C 2 concentrations showed large interindividual variability: C o (0.01-4.46 μg/mL), C 1/2 (0.14-36.86 μg/mL), and C 2 (0.79-18.19 μg/mL). A positive correlation was observed between AUC and C o (r = .6374; P < .0001), and C 2 (r = .7460; P < .0001). When analyzed according to the date posttransplant, a positive correlation between AUC and C o was shown on day 7, day 14, and at month 1. There was no difference in any pharmacokinetic parameter relative to age, weight, or albumin level. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that C o values on day 7, day 14, and at month 1 provided valuable information for MPA monitoring. C o was shown to be the most reliable monitoring time in relation to AUC. However, results from a larger randomized trial with more time intervals are eagerly awaited.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections, associated with posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) are known to develop in cytomegalovirus (CMV)-infected transplant recipients due to the indirect effects of CMV. This study evaluated risk factors for PTLD among pediatric liver transplant recipients with CMV infections. We reviewed the medical records of 119 patients ≤18 years old who underwent liver transplantation between September 1996 and April 2009. Sixty-six subjects (55.5%) displayed CMV antigenemia during the study period; 15 (12.6%) developed PTLD. Of these, 10 developed PTLD after CMV antigenemia. The other patients (n = 5) were excluded due to negative CMV antigenemia. The incidence of PTLD influenced by CMV infection was not significantly different from the incidence of PTLD without underlying CMV (P = .258). There were no differences in age, gender, antiviral prophylaxis, type of liver transplantation, or acute rejection episodes in the incidence of between patients with versus without PTLD. EBV but not CMV high-risk groups were a predictor for the development of PTLD (P = .035). CMV syndrome, tissue-invasive CMV disease, and CMV peak titer were not associated with an increased risk of PTLD. The primary risk factor for PTLD was EBV high-risk patients (donor positive/recipient negative). CMV disease was not associated with PTLD in pediatric liver transplant recipients with CMV infections.

In Korea, thermal insulation standard of buildings have been tightened annually to satisfy the passive house standard from the year 2009. The current domestic policies about disseminating green buildings are progressively conducted. All buildings should be the zero energy building in the year 2025, obligatorily. The method is applied to one of the key technologies for high-performance insulation for zero energy building. The vacuum insulation panel is an excellent high performance insulation. But thermal performance of damaged vacuum insulation panels is reduced significantly. In this paper, the thermal performance of damaged vacuum insulation panels was compared and analyzed. The measurement result of thermal performance depends on the core material type. The insulation of building envelope is usually selected by economic feasibility. To evaluate the economic feasibility of VIPs, the operation cost was analyzed by simulation according to the types and damaged ratio of VIPs

A steady-state high density LaB6 dc plasma source is developed for the divertor plasma simulator (DiPS), which is a linear device for the studies on various electric probes, plasma-wall interactions, atomic processes, and for the development of plasma diagnostics. Since the LaB6 is very weak against the thermal shock, which is possibly caused by the overflow of the discharge current in a flash, and leads to cracking the LaB6 plate, the source is to be designed lower the thermal stress for stable and longer operation. Thermal shock can be mitigated by optimizing the configurations of the magnetic and electric fields with floating electrode. Magnetic cusp is formed between the LaB6 cathode and anode in order for ion bombardment to the LaB6 plate to be uniform over the surface and in order for electrons to follow the field lines and to wet the surface of the anode uniformly. Electric field is generated such that the maximum outflow of electrons toward the anode can be maximized by adjusting the direction of the field and by locating a floating electrode between LaB6 cathode and anode. The LaB6 source is composed of a cylindrical LaB6 plate with 4 inches in diameter, graphite heater and Ta heat shield. From the different electric and magnetic field configurations, the LaB 6 dc plasma source is optimized as ne=1014 cm-3 (Ar), 1013 cm-3 (He), Te=2 - 3 eV (Ar), 5 - 10 eV (He) and Ti les 0.2 eV (Ar)

Summary form only given. DiPS (diversified plasma simulator), a new versatile linear machine (length=4000 mm, diameter=200-600 mm) is introduced for development of electric probe technology and its applications. As a unique feature for the diversified uses of sources and divertor simulator experiments, space and processing simulation chambers can be detached from and attached to the divertor simulation chamber by rail. To verify current theories and develop new theories of electric probes with magnetic field, collisionality, various particle source, and wide range of plasma parameters: density=106-10 14 cm-3, electron temperature=1-10 eV, magnetic field=0-2 kG, plasma types=RF and DC. To make a stable high density DC plasma, LaB6 disk of 4 inches is used as thermal electron emission source. Heater of LaB6 disk is made of graphite and the heating power is about 5 kW. Initial plasma density of the LaB6 source is 5times1012 cm-3, electron temperature is 8-10 eV. Plasma size is about 40 mm at pressure of 1.6 mtorr in test region and 100 mtorr in source region, which can be expanded up to 100 mm in diameter with lower magnetic field. Helicon plasma source is also developed as a high density RF plasma source in DiPS, which generates the plasma with density of 2times1013 cm-3 and electron temperature 3.5 eV for the RF power of 2.5 kW at optimum pressure of 7.5 mtorr. DiPS is to be utilized as simulators for fusion edge plasmas, space plasma and processing plasma

Expression of the homeobox protein CDX1 is lost or reduced in a significant proportion of colorectal carcinomas (CRCs) but the underlying mechanism for this is unclear. We have demonstrated absence of CDX1 mRNA expression in 7 of 37 CRC cell lines and shown that all 7 cell lines have a methylated CDX1 promoter. Twenty-five cell lines showed both CDX1 mRNA expression and an unmethylated CDX1 promoter. The five remaining cell lines had a partially methylated CDX1 promoter and all expressed CDX1 mRNA; when treated with the demethylating agent, 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine, these five cell lines all showed increased CDX1 expression. No mutations were found in the promoter and coding regions of CDX1 . One polymorphism was demonstrated in each of the promoter, 5′ UTR, and coding region of exon 1 of CDX1 , but there were no associations between CDX1 mRNA expression and different polymorphic genotypes. Similarly, there was no association between CDX1 mRNA expression and loss of heterozygosity at the CDX1 locus. In conclusion, absence or reduction of CDX1 expression in CRC seems to be primarily regulated by promoter methylation and is probably selected for because of its impact on the differentiation of colonocytes.

A novel virus we call zucchini green mottle mosaic virus (ZGMMV) was isolated from zucchini squash and its properties were determined. The size and shape of its virions, and other properties suggest that the virus is a tobamovirus. The coat protein (CP) genes of ZGMMV and kyuri green mottle mosaic virus (KGMMV), which also infects zucchini squash plants, were cloned and their nucleotides sequences were determined. The CP genes of ZGMMV and KGMMV are composed of 161 amino acid residues, and they share 77.6% amino acid identity. Western blot analysis showed that the two viruses are serologically related but not identical. Comparison of the sequences with those of sixteen other tobamoviruses revealed that the two viruses had much higher identity to cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), another tobamovirus infectious to cucurbit plants, than other tobamoviruses. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of ZGMMV were from 29.5 to 78.4% and from 29.3 to 77.6% identical, respectively, to those of other tobamoviruses. The predicted virion assembly origins of the two tobamoviruses were located in the CP region of the genomic RNAs, and the predicted secondary structures were more similar to that of CGMMV than those of other tobamoviruses. The seventeen tobamo-viruses could be classified into three main subgroups based on the phylogenetic tree analysis on the CP gene, and ZGMMV and KGMMV formed a third subgroup together with CGMMV and sunn-hemp mosaic virus (SHMV). These results show that ZGMMV is a previously unknown member of the Tobamovirus genus.

Ota's nevus is a dermal melanocytic disease which causes serious cosmetic problems for affected individuals. Recently Q-switched lasers with a pulse duration of 100 nsec or less became available for patient treatment. We evaluated the clinical efficacy of the Q-switched alexandrite laser (755 nm, 100 nsec) in relation to the histopathological findings. Fifty-five Korean patients with Ota's nevus were treated with a Q-switched alexandrite laser for three sessions (7.5 J/cm2) at three month intervals. Skin biopsies were taken in all of the patients before treatment and immediately after treatment in five patients. Clinical effectiveness and side effects were evaluated by direct observation and photographs. Pigment clearing was excellent in 27 patients (49%), good in 17 patients (31%), fair in 7 patients (13%) and poor in 4 (7%) patients. Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation developed in 30 patients (55%) which resolved within four months. But there were no serious complications including scarring or textural change. The therapeutic outcome was not affected by color but by depth of the nevus. Nevi of Ota with depth of 1 mm or less were associated with excellent or good results. Q-switched alexandrite laser is a very effective and safe tool for treating Ota's nevus. Depth of 1 mm or less of dermal melanocytes was a good prognostic marker.

We analyzed the significance of metastasis to the subdivided perigastric lymph node stations according to the distance from the primary gastric cancer, and the appropriateness of the recent change in the Union Internacional Contra la Cancrum (UICC) tumor node metastasis (TNM) system.Gastrectomy was performed in 753 patients with gastric cancer. The perigastric lymph nodes were divided into 6 stations according to the Japanese classification. These were subdivided into 2 categories according to the distance from the primary tumor: -1, nodes within 3 cm of the edge of the tumor; and -2, nodes more than 3 cm from the edge of the tumor. Survival rates were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method, and the difference between each group was evaluated by the log-rank method.The frequency of metastasis to the subdivided perigastric lymph node stations, numbered 1-1 to 6-2, varied between 10.0% and 41.1%. The 5-year survival rate of the patients with positive 6-1 lymph node was higher than that of the patients with positive 6-2 lymph node (31.5% and 17.5%, P = 0.0032). There were no statistically significant differences in survival between subgroups of patients who had metastatic lymph node in the other 5 stations. The frequency of metastasis to other regional lymph nodes in patients with N2 perigastric lymph nodes was higher than that in patients with N1 perigastric lymph nodes.Subdivision of the perigastric lymph nodes had little advantage. Elimination of the old system of classifying perigastric lymph nodes according to distance from the tumor is appropriate.

Ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens is a rare autosomal dominant skin disorder whose clinical findings are quite similar to those of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis. The differences between those two diseases include absence of erythroderma and different distributions in the skin in ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens. Recent studies have confirmed that ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens is caused by the mutation in the keratin 2e (K2e) gene, which is expressed in the upper spinous and granular layers. We have identified a sporadic case of ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens; based on diagnosis by histopathological findings, the K2e gene of the patient was analysed. Direct sequencing of PCR products revealed a single base change in sequences encoding the highly conserved end of the 2B rod domain segment of the K2e gene. This mutation results in substitution of the codon for glutamic acid by a codon for lysine in position 493 in K2e (E493K). Mutations of the K2e gene involving five different residue positions (Q187P, T485P, L490P, E493D, E493K and E494K) are known to cause ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens. Of these sites, E493, which is conserved in type I and type II keratin genes, is the most frequently altered amino acid in the K2e gene. These data together suggest that this codon constitutes a hot spot for mutations in the K2e gene.

628 Background: Signaling through the PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway is responsible for balancing cell survival and apoptosis. Accordingly, the present study analyzed 14 SNPs of the PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway genes and their impact on the prognosis for patients with colorectal cancer. Methods: Four hundred and forty-four consecutive patients with surgically resected colorectal adenocarcinoma were enrolled in the present study. The genomic DNA was extracted from fresh colorectal tissue and 14 polymorphisms of the PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway genes determined using a real-time PCR genotyping assay. Results: Pathologic stages after surgery were as follows: stage 0/I (n=85, 19.1%), stage II (n=149, 33.6%), stage III (n=147, 33.1%), and stage IV (n=63, 14.2%). Univariate and multivariate survival analysis including stage, age, site of disease, adjuvant chemotherapy, and CEA level showed that these polymorphisms were not associated with progression-free or overall survival. For the clinicopathologic parameters, CEA level and TNM stage were significant prognostic factors in a Cox model for survival. Conclusions: None of the 14 SNPs of the PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway genes investigated in this study was found to be an independent prognostic marker for Korean patients with surgically resected colorectal cancer. No significant financial relationships to disclose.