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Abstract Electroanalytical and optical techniques are widely used in the development of nanomaterials-based sensor platforms. These techniques have a quick response, high sensitivity, and selectivity. Electroanalytical and optical techniques are widely used in the development of nanomaterial-based sensor platforms. These sensors must be able to detect biomarkers, pathogens, toxins, and pharmaceuticals in biological matrices associated with cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Considering these pathophysiologies, numerous investigations have been undertaken to develop sensors for early diagnosis and treatment, utilizing nanomaterials such as quantum dots. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), which are ideally nanometer-sized graphene fragments, have recently received increased attention due to their excellent physicochemical properties such as fast electron mobility, photostability, water solubility, biocompatibility, high specific surface area, and nontoxicity. Apart from the properties mentioned above, GQDs provide π–π interactions, electrostatic, and covalent interactions with an analyte, and ease of synthesis as well as the ability to combine with other nanomaterials, which have enabled their use in various sensing platforms. This review summarizes recent advances in GQDs-based nanocomposites for sensor applications, with a focus on electroanalytical and optical techniques, as well as current challenges and future prospects.

Li-ion batteries used in portable electronic devices and electric vehicles require high safety standards, necessitating the use of high-performance structural materials for battery casings. Super duplex stainless steel (SDSS) is a structural material suitable for portable electronic products owing to its excellent strength and corrosion resistance. SDSS AISI2507 was used to construct a Li-ion battery casing, a Ag coating was applied via physical vapor deposition (PVD) after the heat treatment of AISI2507 with or without a secondary phase, and the coating thickness was controlled by varying the PVD time. The thickness of the Ag coating layer increased proportionally with time, thereby enhancing the electrical conductivity. The structure and coating behavior were confirmed using FE-SEM, XRD, and GDS. The secondary phase was crystallized by the segregation of the alloy and formed a BCC structure. The FCC lattice structure exhibited excellent coating behavior on the austenite (FCC structure) of AISI2507. Conversely, the secondary phase exhibited low adhesion owing to differences in composition and crystal structure. However, the Ag coating layer on AISI2507 exhibited excellent electrical conductivity, outperforming conventional Ni-plated Li-ion battery casings comprising AISI304. However, the precipitation of the secondary phase must be controlled, as the formation of the secondary phase acts as a factor that decreases electrical conductivity from 58.8 to 53.6 (ICAS) %. The excellent performance of Ag-coated AISI2507 makes it suitable for the fabrication of enhanced Li-ion battery casings.

High-entropy alloys (HEAs), a relatively new class of materials, have attracted significant attention in materials science owing to their unique properties and potential applications. High entropy stabilizes the phase of a solid solution over a wide range of chemical compositions, yielding unique properties superior to those of conventional alloys. Therefore, this study analyzed the microstructure and electrochemical behavior of HEAs (Cantor) to evaluate their corrosion resistance, according to their manufacturing process (casting, cold rolling, and annealing). The microstructural morphologies and sizes were analyzed using electron backscatter diffraction. The electrochemical behavior was examined using open circuit potential measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarization tests, and critical pitting temperature measurements using a potentiostat. The casting process formed a nonuniform microstructure (average grain size = 19 μm). The cold rolling process caused the formation of fine grains (size = 4 μm). A uniform microstructure (grain size > 151 μm) was formed after heat treatment. The corrosion resistance of the HEAs was determined from the passivation layer formed by Cr oxidation. These microstructural differences resulted in variations in the electrochemical behavior. Microstructural and electrochemical analyses are crucial because HEAs have diverse potential applications. Therefore, this study contributes to future improvements in HEA manufacturing processes.

We report on the optimized substrate pretreatment and deposition process conditions for boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes fabricated by hot-filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD). The optimized BDD electrode with a doping concentration of 8000 ppm showed high accuracy and precision in detecting Cd(II), Pb(II), and Cu(II) ions. In addition, this demonstrates excellent selectivity against external metal ions under the optimized stripping voltammetry measurement conditions. The detection limits of the target ions of Cd(II), Pb(II), and Cu(II) were 0.55 (±0.05), 0.43 (±0.04), and 0.74 (±0.06) μg/L (S/N = 3), respectively. In real samples spiked with 100 μg/L Cd(II), Pb(II), and Cu(II), both the accuracy and precision of the BDD electrode were within 5%; the interference with organic matter was also negligible. The excellent selectivity and long-term stability indicate that the BDD electrode developed in this study are potentially useful for online water environment monitoring systems.

The demand for Li-ion batteries has increased because of their extensive use in vehicles and portable electronic devices. This increasing demand implies greater interaction between batteries and humans, making safety a paramount concern. Although traditional batteries are fabricated using Al, recent efforts to enhance safety have led to the adoption of AISI304. The strength and corrosion resistance of AISI304 are greater than those of Al; however, issues such as stress-induced phase transformation and low high-temperature strength have been observed during processing. Duplex stainless steel SAF2507, which is characterized by a dual-phase structure consisting of austenite and ferrite, exhibits excellent strength and corrosion resistance. Although SAF2507 demonstrated outstanding high-temperature strength up to 700 °C, it precipitated a secondary phase. The precipitation of this secondary phase, believed to be caused by the precipitation of the carbides of Cr and Mo, has been extensively studied. Research on the precipitation of the secondary phase near 1000 °C has been conducted owing to the annealing temperature (1100 °C) of the SAF2507 solution. The secondary phase precipitates at approximately 1000 °C because of slow cooling rates. However, few studies have been conducted on the precipitation of the secondary phase at approximately 700 °C. This study analyzed the precipitation behavior of the secondary phase at 700 °C when SAF2507 was applied and assessed its safety during heat generation in Li-ion batteries. The precipitation behavior was analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy for morphology, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy for composition, and X-ray diffraction for phase identification.

With increasing demand for Li-ion batteries, studies are focusing on enhancing battery performance and safety. However, studies on battery cases remain scarce. Herein, we propose the use of super duplex stainless steel SAF2507, which is a two-phase (austenite + ferrite) steel, for battery casings. Unlike conventional AISI304, SAF2507 maintains its corrosion resistance and strength at high temperatures and precipitates a secondary phase at approximately 975 °C. However, the effects of Ni plating on this secondary phase are not well documented. Therefore, the electroless Ni plating of SAF2507 after secondary-phase precipitation was studied. Briefly, heat treatment at 1000 °C was used to induce precipitation, and the electroless Ni plating behaviour over varying plating periods was analysed using open-circuit potential, potentiodynamic polarisation, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. The plating state and corrosion behaviour were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Heat-treated SAF2507 steel with a secondary phase exhibited excellent electroless Ni plating behaviour, which enhances the safety and durability of Li-ion batteries. Furthermore, uniform plating and electrochemical behaviour were achieved after 180 s, suggesting that SAF2507 is superior to AISI304. These findings contribute to the development of safer and more efficient batteries and address the growing demand for Li-ion battery case materials.

Carbon steel is subjected to several pretreatments to enable its use in highly corrosive environments, such as marine structures. However, its surface treatment is problematic owing to various processes, and these problems can be solved by replacing it with super duplex stainless steel (SDSS), which exhibits remarkable strength and corrosion resistance owing to its austenite and ferrite phases. EN 1.4410 and EN 1.4501 are the most extensively used SDSS grades in marine structures, as they exhibit exceptional strength and corrosion resistance in seawater. This study subjected EN 1.4410 and EN 1.4501 samples to specific heat treatment after casting and observed their structural alterations through field emission scanning electron microscopy. Their passivation states, with or without the Cu and W layers, were determined by examining their corrosion properties through open-circuit potential measurements, electrostatic polarisation tests, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and critical pitting temperature (CPT) analysis. The inclusion of Cu significantly improved the uniform corrosion resistance within the passivation layers, whereas the addition of W enhanced the pitting resistance (Epit, CPT). Additionally, the EIS analysis confirmed a double-layer structure in the passivation layer of EN 1.4501. Moreover, Cu did not act as a strengthening element of the passivation layer, whereas W significantly reinforced it.

Oxyapatite[Ca2Nd8(SiO4)6O2] glass-ceramics have been suggested as wasteforms for the immobilisation of rare-earth radioactive nuclides because of their high waste-loading capability and good chemical durability. In particular, a partitioning effect is predicted to contribute to an enhancement of corrosion resistance in glass-ceramics compared with that of conjugate glasses of the same composition. Because rare-earths are inherently insoluble nuclides, detection of changes in corrosion behavior between glass-ceramics and conjugate glasses under normal conditions is not easy. In this study, therefore, we revealed the partitioning effect by exposing glass-ceramics and glasses to solution of pH 2, 7 and 10 at 90 °C for 20 d. In addition, we proposed the corrosion mechanism for oxyapatite glass-ceramics under various corrosion conditions. Especially, the glassy phase dissolved first, followed by the oxyapatite phase during pH 7 corrosion.

Abstract A simple and cost-effective electrochemical synthesis of carbon-based nanomaterials for electrochemical biosensor is of great challenge these days. Our study describes a single-step electrochemical deposition strategy to prepare a nanocomposite of electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ErGO), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and polypyrrole (PPy) in an aqueous solution of pH 7.0 for dopamine (DA) detection. The ErGO/MWCNTs/PPy nanocomposites show enhanced electrochemical performance due to the strong π–π* stacking interactions among ErGO, MWCNTs, and PPy. The efficient interaction of the nanocomposites is confirmed by evaluating its physical and electrochemical characteristics using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and amperometry. The deposited nanocomposites are highly stable on the substrates and possess high surface areas, which is vital to improve the sensitivity and selectivity for DA detection. The controlled deposition of the ErGO/MWCNTs/PPy nanocomposites can provide enhanced electrochemical detection of DA. The sensor demonstrates a short time response within 2 s and is a highly sensitive approach for DA detection with a dynamic linear range of 25–1000 nM (R 2 = 0.999). The detection limit is estimated to be 2.3 nM, and the sensor sensitivity is calculated to be 8.96 μA μM−1 cm−2, with no distinct responses observed for other biological molecules.

ZnO and Ce-doped ZnO Nanofibers on (111) Pt/SiO2/Si substrates were produced using an electrospinning technique. The as-prepared composite fibres were subjected to high-temperature calcination to produce inorganic fibers. After calcining at a temperature of 500 °C, the average diameter of the ZnO and Ce-doped ZnO nanofibers were determined to be 170 nm and 225 nm, respectively. The average grain size of the ZnO and Ce-doped ZnO nanofibers were about 50 nm and 57 nm, respectively. The microstructure, chemical bonding state and photoluminescence of the produced ZnO and Ce-doped ZnO nanofibers were investigated. The Ce-doped ZnO nanofiber can be assigned to the presence of Ce ions on substitutional sites of Zn ions and the Ce3+ state from X-ray photoelectron spectra. Compared with PL spectra of ZnO nanofibers, the peak position of the UV emission of the Ce-doped ZnO nanofibers is sharply suppressed while the green emission band is highly enhanced.

Radiofrequency glow discharge optical emission spectrometry(RF-GD-OES) was used to quantitatively analyze the depth of nanometric Cr/Ni multilayers on a silicon substrate. The technique permitted the rapid and accurate depth profiling of multilayers, down to the nanometer range. The analytical parameters were optimized for the RF-GD-OES depth quantitative analysis of Cr/Ni multilayers on a Si substrate. To validate the RF-GD-OES results, a TEM image was obtained in addition to performing the AES and SIMS depth profiling. confirm the validity of the GD-OES data, TEM imagewas obtained and both AES depth profiling, and SIMS depth profiling were preformed. The findings indicate that RF-GD-OES is a promising analytical tool for the accurate and rapid depth profiling of nanometric metal multilayers on semiconducting substrates.

To investigate the temperature dependence of a synthesized Zr57V36Fe7 non evaporable vacuum getter material, the in-situ temperature x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (in-situ XPS) were performed in a UHV chamber equipped with a programmable ceramic sample heating system. The surface and bulk composition of Zr, V, and Ti was determined in the as-received state and after in-situ heating from 50℃ to 600℃ at 50℃per step. The peak fitting results for O 1s, C 1s, Zr 3d, V 2p, and Fe 2p high resolution spectra were acquired and the chemical state of the elements were then characterized as a function of heating temperature. In-situ XPS investigations showed that oxide reduction proceeds via the formation of sub-oxides with the simultaneous formation of carbides in the region near the surface. The activation temperature for completion of the Zr57V36Fe7 alloy, which approximates the XPS peaks changed from oxide to metallic state(20 % of the oxide peak), was determined around 480℃. The findings suggest that the in-situ temperature XPS technique is a useful analytical tool for evaluating activation characteristics of NEG materials.

Hydrogen ion selective membranes formulated with 3140 RTV silicone rubber (SR) in PVC were studied to extend the life time of solid state ion sensors through improved membrane adhesion. All solid state hydrogen ion selective electrodes were prepared by incorporation of tridodecyl amine (TDDA) as an ionophore, potassium tetrakis[3.5-bis(p-chlorophenyl)borate (KTpClPB) as a lipophilic additive, bis(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DOA) as a plasticizer. Their linear dynamic range was pH 2.0-11.0 and showed the near Nernstian slope of 55.1±0.2 mV/pH (r=0.999). The ifluences from alkali and alkaline earth metal ions were studied for the response of the final ISE membrane composition. Impedance spectroscopic data showed that the resistance was increased by increasing SR content in PVC. Brewster Angle Microscopy (BAM) image showed clear differences according to the SR compositions in PVC. Life time of the all solid state membrane electrode was extended to about 2 months by preparing the membrane with PVC and SR. The standard reference material from NIST (2181 HEPES Free acid and 2182 NaHEPESate) was tested for the ISE and it gave good result.

Implementing a heterostructure by vertically stacking two-dimensional semiconductors is necessary for responding to various requirements in the future of semiconductor technology. However, the chemical-vapor deposition method, which is an existing two-dimensional (2D) material-processing method, inevitably causes heat damage to surrounding materials essential for functionality because of its high synthesis temperature. Therefore, the heterojunction of a 2D material that directly synthesized MoS2 on graphene using a laser-based photothermal reaction at room temperature was studied. The key to the photothermal-reaction mechanism is the difference in the photothermal absorption coefficients of the materials. The device in which graphene and MoS2 were vertically stacked using a laser-based photothermal reaction demonstrated its potential application as a photodetector that responds to light and its stability against cycling. The laser-based photothermal-reaction method for 2D materials will be further applied to various fields, such as transparent display electrodes, photodetectors, and solar cells, in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & aims: Elastography point quantification is a convenient method for measuring liver stiffness. It can be performed simultaneously with conventional ultrasonography. This study aimed to evaluate its diagnostic performance for assessing hepatic fibrosis in patients with autoimmune liver disease (AILD), including autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Methods: The diagnostic performance of elastography point quantification (ElastPQ) was evaluated and compared with that of serum fibrosis markers, including the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), using the receiver operating characteristics analysis with histologic evaluation as the reference standard. Results: In 49 AIH patients, sensitivity and specificity of ElastPQ were 93.6% and 44.4%, respectively, for significant fibrosis (≥ F2, cutoff 4.47 kPa), and 63.6% and 86.8% for cirrhosis (F4, cutoff 9.28 kPa). In 41 PBC patients, they were 81.8% and 73.3%, respectively, for significant fibrosis (≥ F2, cutoff 5.56 kPa), and 100% and 81.6%, respectively, for advanced fibrosis (≥ F3, cutoff 6.04 kPa). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of ElastPQ for significant fibrosis (0.77, 95% CI 0.67–0.86) and cirrhosis (0.81, 95% CI 0.65–0.96) were higher than those of APRI and FIB-4 in AILD patients. According to the multivariable analysis, histological activity, steatosis, and body max index (BMI) were not significant factors that influenced the result of ElastPQ. Conclusions: ElastPQ exhibited better diagnostic performance–without the influence of confounding factors–for assessing hepatic fibrosis in AILD patients than serum fibrosis markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistivity is an intrinsic feature that specifies the electrical properties of a material and depends on electron-phonon scattering near room temperature. Reducing the resistivity of a metal to its potentially lowest value requires eliminating grain boundaries and impurities, but to date few studies have focused on reducing the intrinsic resistivity of a pure metal itself. We could reduce the intrinsic resistivity of single-crystal Ag, which has an almost perfect structure, by impurity doping it with Cu. This paper presents our results: resistivity was reduced to 1.35 μΩcm at room temperature after 3 mol% Cu-doping of single-crystal Ag. Various mechanisms were examined in an attempt to explain the abnormal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 28 GHz superconducting electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source has been developed to produce a high current heavy ion for the linear accelerator at KBSI (Korea Basic Science Institute). The objective of this study is to generate fast neutrons with a proton target via a p(Li,n)Be reaction. The design and fabrication of the essential components of the ECR ion source, which include a superconducting magnet with a liquid helium re-condensed cryostat and a 10 kW high-power microwave, were completed. The waveguide components were connected with a plasma chamber including a gas supply system. The plasma chamber was inserted into the warm bore of the superconducting magnet. A high voltage system was also installed for the ion beam extraction. After the installation of the ECR ion source, we reported the results for ECR plasma ignition at ECRIS 2014 in Russia. Following plasma ignition, we successfully extracted multi-charged ions and obtained the first results in terms of ion beam spectra from various species. This was verified by a beam diagnostic system for a low energy beam transport system. In this article, we present the first results and report on the current status of the KBSI accelerator project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally assumed that large amounts of x-rays are emitted from the ion source of an Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) instrument. The total amount of x-rays should be strictly limited to avoid the extra heat load to the cryostat of the superconducting ECR ion source, since they are partly absorbed by the cold mass into the cryostat. A simulation of x-ray shielding was carried out to determine the effective thickness of the x-ray shield needed via the use of Geant4. X-ray spectra of the 10 GHz Nanogan ECR ion source were measured as a function of the thickness variation in the x-ray shield. The experimental results were compared with Geant4 results to verify the effectiveness of the x-ray shield. Based on the validity in the case of the 10 GHz ECR ion source, the x-ray shielding results are presented by assuming the spectral temperature of the 28 GHz ECR ion source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A superconducting magnet for use in an electron cyclotron resonance ion source was developed at the Korea Basic Science Institute. The superconducting magnet is comprised of three solenoids and a hexapole magnet. According to the design value, the solenoid magnets can generate a mirror field, resulting in axial magnetic fields of 3.6 T at the injection area and 2.2 T at the extraction region. A radial field strength of 2.1 T can also be achieved by hexapole magnet on the plasma chamber wall. NbTi superconducting wire was used in the winding process following appropriate techniques for magnet structure. The final assembly of the each magnet involved it being vertically inserted into the cryostat to cool down the temperature using liquid helium. The performance of each solenoid and hexapole magnet was separately verified experimentally. The construction of the superconducting coil, the entire magnet assembly for performance testing and experimental results are reported herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryostat performance is essential for the stable operation of a superconducting magnet. A closed-cycle liquid helium cryostat was adopted for use for a superconducting electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source by recondensing liquid helium vapor. The goal was to maintain the liquid helium filled reservoir at a constant level without transferring any liquid helium during the normal operation of the ECR ion source. To accomplish this, Gifford-McMahon (GM) refrigerators, which have two cold heads, were installed on the top of the cryostat. The cooling power of the GM cryocooler is 1.5 W at the second stage and 50 W at the first stage. Each stage was connected to the liquid helium reservoir, a radiation shield including high-Tc current lead, and related items. Before commissioning the ECR ion source, a preliminary evaluation of the recondensation performance was carried out with the magnet in partial operation. The design of the cryostat, its fabrication, and the experimental results are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of lithium doping concentration on the crystallization, the surface morphology, and the luminescent properties of Y1.92O3:Eu0.08 ceramic phosphors were investigated. The crystallinity, the surface morphology, and the photoluminescence (PL) of ceramics depended highly on the Li-doping concentrations. The relationship between the crystalline and morphological structures and the luminescent properties was studied, and Li-doping was found to affect not only the enhanced crystallinity but also the luminescent brightness of Y1.92O3:Eu0.08 ceramics. In particular, the incorporation of Li+ ion into the Y2O3 lattice could induce remarkable increase in the PL intensity. The strongest emission intensity was observed with Y1.68Li0.24O3-δ:Eu0.08 ceramics whose brightness was increased by a factor of 6.5 in comparison with that of Y1.92O3:Eu0.08 ceramics.

Background: This study investigated the association of 3 components of body composition (sarcopenia, intramuscular fat deposition and visceral adiposity) with the overall or recurrence-free survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who underwent curative hepatic resection., Methods: One hundred sixty newly diagnosed and surgically treated HCC patients were retrospectively enrolled from 2003 to 2011. Three items of body composition were measured using the 3 rd lumbar level image of preoperative computed tomography (CT): psoas muscle index (PMI), psoas muscle attenuation (PMA), and visceral adipose tissue index (VATI). Sex-specific optimal cut-off for each item was determined from receiver-operating characteristic curves., Results: The HCC patients showed a median age of 55 years, 75% of male, 78% of hepatitis B surface antigen positivity, and 96% of Child-Pugh A. The sarcopenic group (PMI less than the sex-specific cutoff of 3.33 cm 2 /m 2 for men and 2.38 cm 2 /m 2 for women) had 17.5% of the patients with a lower PMA (more fat deposition) but similar VATI compared to the non-sarcopenic group. PMI showed a positive correlation with PMA (ρ=0.493, P<0.001), while there was no significant correlation between PMI and VATI, and between PMA and VATI. On the multivariate analysis, a high PMI and low VATI were independent factors affecting overall survival while PMA was not. Nevertheless, PMI and VATI were not independent factors for recurrence-free survival., Conclusions: In curatively resected HCC patients, sarcopenia and high visceral adiposity predict poor overall survival but not recurrence-free survival, while PMA did not predict overall survival., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tcr-20-2974). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2021 Translational Cancer Research. All rights reserved.)

Background/aims: The role of serum myokine levels in sarcopenia and the outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients are not clear. This study investigated the serum levels of myostatin, follistatin, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in HCC patients and their association with sarcopenia and survival., Methods: Using prospectively collected pretreatment samples from 238 HCC patients in a hospital from 2012 to 2015, the serum levels of 3 myokines were determined and compared to 50 samples from age and sex-matched healthy controls. Sarcopenia was evaluated using the psoas muscle index (PMI) measured at the third lumbar level in the computed tomography, and clinical data were collected until 2017., Results: The median levels of the 3 myokines for the male and female HCC patients were as follow: myostatin (3,979.3 and 2,976.3 pg/mL), follistatin (2,118.5 and 2,174.6 pg/mL), and IL-6 (2.5 and 2.7 pg/mL), respectively. Those in the HCC patients were all significantly higher than in the healthy controls. In the HCC patient, the median PMI was 4.43 (males) and 2.17 cm2/m2 (females) with a sarcopenic prevalence of 56.4%. The serum levels of myostatin, IL-6 and follistatin in the HCC patients showed a positive, negative, and no correlation with PMI, respectively. The serum follistatin level was an independent factor for poor survival in HCC patients., Conclusion: The serum levels of myostatin, follistatin, and IL-6 and their correlation with sarcopenia and survival were presented in HCC patients for the first time. The role of the serum follistatin level as a poor prognostic biomarker warrants further study.

Background/aims: (18)F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET) has been used to assess the biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we investigated the usefulness of (18)F-FDG PET for predicting tumor progression and survival in patients with intermediate Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) intermediate-stage HCC treated by transarterial chemoembolization (TACE)., Methods: From February 2006 to March 2013, 210 patients treated with TACE, including 77 patients with BCLC intermediate-stage HCC, underwent examination by (18)F-FDG PET. (18)F-FDG uptake was calculated based on the tumor maximum (Tmax) standardized uptake value (SUV), the liver mean (Lmean) SUV, and the ratio of the Tmax SUV to the Lmean SUV (Tmax/Lmean)., Results: The mean follow-up period for the 77 patients (52 males, 25 females; average age, 63.3 years) was 22.2 months. The median time to progression of HCC in patients with a low Tmax/Lmean (< 1.83) and high Tmax/Lmean (≥ 1.83) was 17 and 6 months, respectively (p < 0.001). The median overall survival time of patients with a low and high Tmax/Lmean was 44 and 14 months, respectively (p = 0.003). Multivariate analysis revealed that the Tmax/Lmean was an independent predictor of overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.210 to 3.156; p = 0.006) and tumor progression (HR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.264 to 3.308; p = 0.004)., Conclusions: (18)F-FDG uptake calculated by the Tmax/Lmean using PET predicted tumor progression and survival in patients with BCLC intermediate-stage HCC treated by TACE.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus neurolysis (EUS-CPN) is a well-established intervention to palliate malignant pain. We report a patient who developed hepatic and splenic infarction and bowel ischemia following EUS-CPN. A 69-year-old man with known lung cancer and pancreatic metastasis was transferred for debilitating, significant epigastric pain for several months. The patient underwent EUS-CPN to palliate the pain. After the procedure, the patient complained continuously of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting; hematemesis and hematochezia were newly developed. Abdominal computed tomography revealed infarction of the liver and spleen and ischemia of the stomach and proximal small bowel. On esophagogastroduodenoscopy, hemorrhagic gastroduodenitis, and multiple gastric ulcers were noted without active bleeding. The patient expired on postoperative day 27 despite the best supportive care.

Background/aims: Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a slowly progressing autoimmune disease of the liver that is characterized by portal inflammation and immune-mediated destruction of the intrahepatic bile ducts. Serum total bilirubin is one of the various prognostic factors that have been proposed. A recent study found that PBC with accompanying autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) carries a negative prognosis. This study examined the clinical characteristics of PBC and analyzed the factors that affect its prognosis., Methods: Patients diagnosed with PBC between January 1998 and December 2010 based on clinical and histopathological findings were compiled and analyzed retrospectively., Results: Among 27 patients, 24 (1 male and 23 females, ages 50.0±9.3 years) were followed up. The follow-up period was 8.6±0.9 years. Of the 24 patients, 9 patients progressed to liver cirrhosis (LC). Comparison between patients who did and did not progress to LC revealed statistically significant differences in the patients' serum total bilirubin (2.7±1.8 vs. 0.8±0.4, P=0.012), the Mayo risk score (5.1±0.7 vs. 3.9±0.6, P=0.001), the revised IAHG (International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group) score (9.2±2.3 vs. 5.4±3.0, P=0.004) and frequency of AIH overlap (5/9 [55.6%] vs. 0/15 [0%], P=0.001) at the time of diagnosis., Conclusions: We propose that serum total bilirubin, the Mayo risk score, and the revised IAHG score at the time of diagnosis are helpful for predicting PBC prognosis. In particular, since all of the patients with accompanying AIH progressed to LC, the presence of overlap syndrome at the time of diagnosis is helpful for predicting PBC prognosis and providing an adequate treatment.

Background/aims: Accurate diagnosis of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is difficult without considering the possibility of underlying diseases, especially autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). We investigated the clinical patterns in patients with a history of medication, liver-function abnormalities, and in whom liver biopsy was conducted, focusing on accompaniment by AIH., Methods: The clinical, serologic, and histologic findings of 29 patients were compared and analyzed. The patients were aged 46.2±12.8 years (mean±SD), and 72.4% of patient were female. The most common symptom and causal drug were jaundice (58.6%) and herbal medications (55.2%), respectively., Results: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase levels were 662.2±574.8 U/L, 905.4±794.9 U/L, 12.9±10.8 mg/dL, 195.8±123.3 U/L, and 255.3±280.8 U/L, respectively. According to serologic and histologic findings, 21 cases were diagnosed with DILI and 8 with AIH. The AIH group exhibited significantly higher AST levels (537.1±519.1 vs. 1043.3±600.5 U/L), globulin levels (2.7±0.4 vs. 3.3±0.5 g/dL), and prothrombin time (12.9±2.4 vs. 15.2±3.9 s; P<0.05). Antinuclear antibody was positive in 7 of 21 cases of DILI and all 8 cases of AIH (P=0.002). The simplified AIH score was 3.7±0.9 in the DILI group and 6.5±0.9 in the AIH group (P<0.001)., Conclusions: Accurate diagnosis is necessary for patients with a history of medication and visits for liver-function abnormalities; in particular, the possibility of AIH should be considered.