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Background/Aims: For the management of hilar malignant biliary obstruction (HMBO), endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD) is preferred over percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) because of its convenience. However, there is no established guideline for malignant hilar obstruction that requires multiple stenting. In this study, we compared the efficacy of bilateral metal stents (BMS) versus multiple plastic stents (MPS). Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed 102 patients who underwent EBD with either BMS or MPS due to HMBO caused by hilar cholangiocarcinoma between 1996 and 2018 at Samsung Medical Center. We compared the successful drainage rates, cholangitis events, overall complications, mortality, and conversion rates to PTBD between the two groups. Results: The successful drainage rates in the BMS group and the MPS group were 71.4% (25/35) and 65.6% (44/67), respectively, with no significant difference. The MPS group had a higher cholangitis risk (hazard ratio [HR], 2.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21 to 3.58) and higher 6-month mortality (HR, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.26 to 6.71) than the BMS group. There were no significant differences in overall complications or the conversion rate to PTBD between the groups. Conclusions: In patients with malignant HMBO, the BMS group showed better outcomes in terms of the cholangitis rate and 6-month mortality than the MPS group. Therefore, if possible, bilateral metal stenting is recommended for HMBO caused by hilar cholangiocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-dimensional Mn(II) framework, [Mn2(H2L)(L)0.5(MeOH)(DEF)]·0.1MeOH·0.1DEF·1.4H2O (1; H4L = 2,3-dioxido-1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid), was synthesized under solvothermal conditions in diethylformamide/methanol (DEF/MeOH), where the Mn centers adopt octahedral and unusual pentagonal bipyramidal geometries. The ligand H4L was subject to deprotonation to create μ4-H2L2– and μ6-L4– anionic bridges, leading to the construction of a coordination network. The MeOH exchange process of crystalline 1 allowed for another crystalline phase (1a), which reversibly returned to the original crystalline state upon resolvation in DEF/MeOH. After evacuation of 1a, the amorphous phase 1b was irreversibly formed, followed by the restoration of the original phase 1 upon resolvation in DEF/MeOH. Consequently, this framework underwent cyclic structural transformations from the crystalline (1) to crystalline (1a) to amorphous (1b) and back to crystalline (1) phase, which are unique transformations for soft coordination networks. Magnetic measurements demonstrated that antiferromagnetic interactions were operative between the Mn(II) ions and were effectively mediated by the oxygen moieties of the μ6-L4– bridge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because free-form concrete panels are cast in different shapes depending on the part, the mold to produce these panels must vary by size and shape, making it difficult to reuse the mold. In addition, manufacturing a curve-shaped mold is difficult and requires a lot of labor. To solve this problem, a technology to manufacture molds made of phase-changing materials (PCMs) that can be semipermanently reused to produce various types of curved shapes was developed. However, because of the characteristics of the PCM mold materials, crystallization occurs within the mold, which increases cooling times and causes deformation in the mold due to shrinkage. This paper describe the development of a composite phase-changing material mold for quality production of free-form concrete panels, and this composite is used to solve the problems mentioned previously. The composite PCM mold developed herein does not induce crystallization, which reduces the cooling energy and cooling time by 50% or more, and improves the solidification shrinkage rate to 95% or better. The composite described in this paper will help increase the productivity of free-form concrete members and reduce production costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nb-doped TiO2 (Nb:TiO2) films were grown on a hexagonal (0001)Al2O3 substrate at 650°C and ∼10−5 Torr. The Nb:TiO2 film had a small resistivity of ∼8×10−4 Ωcm at room temperature and a behavior of a slightly increasing resistance upon cooling. In addition, the Nb:TiO2 film had an optical transmittance of about 60% in the visible range. A careful analysis of the in-plane atomic structure suggests that the rutile Nb:TiO2 film on the hexagonal (0001)Al2O3 can be re-interpreted by a certain pseudo-hexagonal structure, which is discriminated from the in-plane rectangular one of the tetragonal (100)Nb:TiO2. The pseudo-hexagonal properties of the Nb:TiO2 film were characterized by negligible mosaic structure at the interface, the same electron diffraction pattern as the hexagonal Al2O3 substrate, and perfect six-fold symmetries in the pole figure and ϕ-scan XRD patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cushing's syndrome is characterized by excessive cortisol and immuno-suppression. We experienced a case of Cushing's syndrome caused by adrenocortical carcinoma that was complicated by multiple opportunistic infections. A 37-year-old woman with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) presented with decreased mental ability and high fever one week after undergoing chemotherapy. Her initial blood culture revealed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia accompanied by septic pneumonia. We admitted her to the intensive care unit and treated her for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP), candidemia, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia pneumonia with broad-spectrum antibiotics and antifungal agents. Nevertheless, her clinical course worsened and she died. Herein, we report a case of Cushing's syndrome associated with cortisol-secreting ACC that presented with multiple opportunistic infections, including MRSA bacteremia, septic pneumonia, candidemia, PJP, and IPA, illuminating a relationship between hypercortisolemia and opportunistic infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims Cachexia is frequently seen in pancreatic cancer (70%-80%) and associated with reduced survival, reduced treatment tolerance and reduction in quality of life. In recent studies, low-normal body mass index (BMI) has worse outcome (overall mortality) in cardiovascular, malignant, chronic disease (so-called obesity paradox). Skinfold thickness is strongly associated with body fatness than BMI. The aims of this prospective study were to find out significance of triceps skinfold (TSF) thickness correlation to overall survival (OS) and treatment response in patient with pancreatobiliary tract cancer along with other nutritional and body fatness parameters. Methods This is the prospective cohort study; newly diagnosed unresectable or borderline pancreatic and biliary tract cancers at Samsung Medical Center were enrolled as study patients. TSF using skin thickness caliper was measured on the half of right upper arm in every 3 weeks. BMI, body weight, and weight changes were also tracked along with TSF. The laboratory data and clinical data were monitored. This trial is registered with https:// clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT03637569). Results The total of 310 patients were enrolled and there were 224 patients with pancreatic cancers and 86 patients with biliary tract caners. The first line chemotherapy regimen of pancreatic cancer patients was Gemcitabine/Abraxane or FOLFIRNOX and 19 patients (5.9%) could not receive chemotherapy due to patients' wishes, old age and poor performance status. The first line chemotherapy regimen of biliary tract cancer patients was Gemcitabine/Cisplatin. The median OS of pancreatic cancer and biliary tract cancer were 6.4 and 7.5 months respectively. Initial body weight, TSF and serum albumin level were the independent prognostic factors among the nutritional parameters and initial stage and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group were also the independent prognostic factors as we can easily expect. Conclusions This study was the first prospective cohort study investigating OS and treatment response correlation to nutritional status in pancreatobiliary tract cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have prepared colorants-containing polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) films for the front filter of plasma display panel (PDP) by solvent casting method and investigated their optical properties. In this study, a cyanine dye and a Cu-hydrate pigment have been used as the colorants for neon-cutting and color control, respectively. The experimental results have revealed that PMMA films act as a band rejection-type color filter indicating characteristics of sharp absorptions in specific regions. In the PDP devices with our band rejection color filters, the luminance from unnecessary emissive light is sufficiently reduced, resulting in wider color gamut and higher color purity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Dendritic cells (DCs), used in clinical trials for cancer immunotherapy, require processing on an expanded scale to conform to current good manufacturing practice guidelines. This study evaluated a large-scale monocyte enrichment procedure with a commercially available cell separator (Elutra, Gambro BCT) and analyzed the capacity of enriched monocytes to differentiate into DCs. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Mononuclear cells were collected in two patients with malignant melanoma and seven healthy donors by leukapheresis. Continuous-counterflow elutriation with the Elutra was performed to enrich and purify monocytes from leukapheresis products. Purity and recovery of enriched monocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry. DCs were generated from the elutriated monocytes and characterized by phenotypic surface marker and stimulatory capacity in an allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction. RESULTS: In the leukapheresis products, the total MNC count was 7.3 × 109 ± 0.7 × 109 and the mean percentage of CD14+ monocytes was 16.5 ± 3.8 percent, which increased to 68.9 ± 7.4 percent after elutriation with the Elutra. The mean monocyte recovery was 94.3 percent. Elutriated monocytes were successfully cultured into phenotypically and functionally mature DCs. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the Elutra cell separator allows for fast and easy enrichment of monocytes within a closed system. Furthermore, these monocytes can be differentiated into functionally mature DCs. Compared to plastic adherence and immunomagnetic selection methods, the elutriation procedure is inexpensive, efficient, and very effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GaAs nanowires were epitaxially grown on Si(001) and Si(111) substrates by using Au-catalyzed vapor−liquid−solid (VLS) growth in a solid source molecular beam epitaxy system. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that almost all the GaAs nanowires were grown along 〈111〉 directions on both Si substrates for growth conditions investigated. The GaAs nanowires had a very uniform diameter along the growth direction. X-ray diffraction data and transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that the GaAs〈111〉 nanowires had a mixed crystal structure of the hexagonal wurtzite and the cubic zinc-blende. Current−voltage characteristics of junctions formed by the epitaxially grown GaAs nanowires and the Si substrate were investigated by using a current-sensing atomic force microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]