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Background: The association between postoperative complications and long‐term survival after laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for gastric cancer (GC) remains uncertain. This study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors of postoperative complications and evaluate their impact on survival outcomes in patients undergoing LG. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 621 patients who underwent LG for gastric adenocarcinoma between March 2015 and December 2021. Postoperative complications were classified according to the Clavien–Dindo classification, with major complications defined as Grade III or higher. Logistic regression models with stepwise backward procedure were used to identify risk factors for complications. To assess the impact of postoperative complications on survival, uni‐ and multi‐variable Cox proportional hazard models were used for overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS). Results: Overall rate of postoperative complications was 17.6% (109 patients); 33 patients (5.3%) had major complications. Independent risk factors for major complications were Charlson comorbidities index (OR [95% CI], 1.87 [1.09–3.12], p‐value = 0.018 for each one score increase), and type of anastomosis (OR [95% CI], 0.28 [0.09–0.91], p‐value = 0.029 when comparing Billroth II with Billroth I). Multivariable analysis identified major complications as an independent prognostic factor to reduce OS (HR [95% CI], 2.32 [1.02–5.30], p‐value = 0.045) and DFS (HR [95% CI], 2.63 [1.37–5.06], p‐value = 0.004). Other prognostic factors for decreased survival outcomes were tumor size, presence of invasive lymph nodes, and T4a stage. Conclusions: Major complications rate of LG for GC was approximately 5.3%. Charlson comorbidities index and type of anastomosis were identified as risk factors for major postoperative complications. Major complications were demonstrated to pose adverse impact on survival outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Aims: The CHAMPION MG study demonstrated that ravulizumab significantly improved Myasthenia Gravis‐Activities of Daily Living (MG‐ADL) and Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) total scores versus placebo in adults with acetylcholine receptor antibody‐positive generalized myasthenia gravis (AChR+ gMG). This post hoc analysis aimed to assess these outcomes by time from MG diagnosis. Methods: Changes from baseline to week 26 in MG‐ADL and QMG total scores were analyzed by time from MG diagnosis to study entry (≤2 vs. >2 years). Within each subgroup, least‐squares (LS) mean changes for ravulizumab and placebo were compared using mixed models for repeated measures. Results: In ravulizumab‐treated patients, differences in LS mean (standard error of the mean) changes from baseline to week 26 were not statistically significant in the ≤2‐years subgroup versus the >2‐years subgroup for MG‐ADL (−4.3 [0.70] vs. −2.9 [0.37]; p =.0511) or QMG (−4.3 [0.94] vs. −2.5 [0.50]; p =.0822) scores. No clear trends were observed in the placebo group. LS mean changes from baseline were significantly greater for ravulizumab versus placebo in both the ≤2 and >2 years from diagnosis subgroups for MG‐ADL and QMG scores (all p <.05). The difference in treatment effect between the ≤2‐years and >2‐years subgroups was not statistically significant. No clinically meaningful between‐subgroup differences in treatment‐emergent adverse events were observed in ravulizumab‐treated patients. Discussion: Ravulizumab treatment improved clinical outcomes for patients with AChR+ gMG regardless of time from diagnosis. A numerical trend was observed favoring greater treatment effect with earlier versus later treatment after diagnosis. Further studies are required for confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve a competitive advantage in the market, enhance a positive brand reputation, and respond to consumers' requirement, organizations' key leaders may have to make sustainable decisions for the sake of the environment, the society and the organization simultaneously. In this study, Buddhism and compassion are proposed to extend the sustainability mindset framework in understanding key leaders' sustainable decision making to achieve a balance between concerns for environmental, societal, and economic outcomes. Data from a survey of 142 key leaders who are business owners, entrepreneurs, and managers in SMEs and startups in Vietnam provide evidence that Buddhist teaching and lifestyles are important predictors of key leaders' sustainable decision making through the mediator of compassion. Furthermore, the study also revealed that Buddhism positively and significantly influences compassion. This research, thus, makes contribution to the extant literature regarding factors influencing key leaders' sustainable decision making. Practical implications are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) is a rare, chronic, neuromuscular autoimmune disease mediated by pathogenic immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies. Patients with gMG experience debilitating muscle weakness, resulting in impaired mobility, speech, swallowing, vision and respiratory function. Efgartigimod is a human IgG1 antibody Fc fragment engineered for increased binding affinity to neonatal Fc receptor. The neonatal Fc receptor blockade by efgartigimod competitively inhibits endogenous IgG binding, leading to decreased IgG recycling and increased degradation resulting in lower IgG concentration. Methods: The safety and efficacy of efgartigimod were evaluated in the ADAPT study. Key efficacy outcome measures included Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG‐ADL) and Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) scores. Efgartigimod demonstrated significant improvement in both the MG‐ADL and QMG scores. This post hoc analysis aimed to determine whether all subdomains of MG‐ADL and QMG improved with efgartigimod treatment. Individual items of MG‐ADL and QMG were grouped into four subdomains: bulbar, ocular, limb/gross motor and respiratory. Change from baseline over 10 weeks in each subdomain was calculated for each group. Results: Greater improvements from baseline were seen across MG‐ADL subdomains in participants treated with efgartigimod compared with placebo. These improvements were typically observed 1 to 2 weeks after the first infusion and correlated with reductions in IgG. Similar results were observed across most QMG subdomains. Conclusions: These post hoc analyses of MG‐ADL and QMG subdomain data from ADAPT suggest that efgartigimod is beneficial in improving muscle function and strength across all muscle groups, leading to the observed efficacy in participants with gMG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, interest in adhesive bonding has grown as it can be considered an efficient solution in terms of strength‐to‐mass ratio when applied to lightweight structures or an interesting solution to complement conventional technologies. The study of bonded adhered joints is carried out using a technique based on the macro‐element method (ME), the ME shape functions are modeled using Taylor expansion power and Fourier expansion series. The purpose of this work is to compare the stiffness matrix obtained first from the entire Taylor series and then with the entire Fourier series. The method has been developed so far for 1D‐bar and 1D‐beam kinematics frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite halides have attracted substantial attention as materials for solar cell applications because of their fascinating optoelectronic and photovoltaic properties. We report the results of the first‐principles calculations of the strain effects on electronic and optical properties and carrier mobility of vacancy‐ordered Cs2SnI6 double perovskite. The calculated band gap energy of unstrained Cs2SnI6 is about 1.257 eV when using the Tran‐Blaha modified Becke Johnson (mBJ) exchange potential, which is in good agreement with experimental measurements. Under the applied strains, the energy band gap value increases up to 1.316 eV for −4% compressive strain and decreases to 1.211 eV for 4% tensile strain. This effect is mainly due to the fact that the conduction band minimum shifts under compressive and tensile strains. Based on carrier mobility calculations, we notice that under tensile strain the hole and electron carrier mobility diminish, whereas the carrier mobility increases by 16.3% for electrons and by 9.1% for holes under −4% compressive strain. Moreover, data of the calculated optical constants indicate that applied strains can affect the optical properties of Cs2SnI6 perovskite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic is very terrible in most big cities. These cities need many traffic police to control traffic congestion. They can change the duration of traffic lights to reduce levels of congestion of corners. However, the time changed by them is determined just only the feeling of themselves. Making decisions suitable for current congestion at that moment is not trivial. The resistant questions are how to define the logical time of traffic lights or how is an effect of this corner to the consecutive one. Maybe we need to increase the time of the green light at the next corner because of the traffic jam at this corner. The link between two corners is interaction inside concurrent processes. Besides, some exceptional cases also need to be handled, for instance, ambulances or fire trucks. The green light needs to be turned on when they come, and turn back the red light state later. This article proposes a tentative approach that uses context types, including locations, priorities of cars, velocity, and remaining time (the car comes to the corner) to determine traffic light periods. The context‐aware is applied in the infrastructure of the Internet of Things when transferring information to the corner. Maybe, in the future, the other systems such as Arduino, Raspberry pi, or other embedded systems will be joined in the designs as acting part (turn the traffic lights on/off) and communicating role (connecting to the Internet via wifi) to control the duration of the traffic lights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy consumption in buildings through the thermal radiation of windows has become a big challenge in modern life. The low mid‐infrared emissivity (εMIR) and near‐infrared blocking windows with high visible transmittance (Tvis) are highly required in modern energy‐saving buildings, while most existing low εMIR windows are severely limited by their complex and high‐cost processing conditions and could not be retrofitted to existing windows. Herein low εMIR foils based on aligned silver nanowires (AgNWs) fabricated via an economical solution process are reported with good energy‐saving performance. The foils with aligned AgNWs give lower εMIR and higher Tvis compared with randomly oriented AgNWs foils. The low‐cost process, high Tvis, low εMIR, and flexibility to apply on any surface opens a new avenue to cut down energy consumption in existing windows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymorphism of 1,1‐diamino‐2,2‐dinitroethene (FOX‐7, DADNE) has investigated by X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), IR‐spectroscopy. Two previously unknown polymorph modifications of FOX‐7 ‐ ϵ and ζ were discovered. ϵ‐FOX‐7 has prepared by hydrolysis of 2‐(dinitromethylene)‐5,5‐dinitropyrimidine‐4,6(1H,3H,5H)‐dione in a media with pH up 7–8 to Ho≈−3 and 2‐(dinitromethylene)imidazolidine‐4,5‐dione in aqueous ammonia. ϵ‐FOX‐7 is a stable and exists in temperature range 273–378 K. ζ‐polymorph of FOX‐7 can be obtained at ϵ‐FOX‐7 heating to 378–380 K. ζ→ϵ polymorph transition is a reversible and occurs at 361.7±3.1 K. At 433–453 K ζ‐FOX‐7 transforms to γ‐polymorph. ζ→γ phase transition temperature range was determined using IR‐spectroscopy because it is invisible on DSC curves. IR‐spectra of ϵ and ζ polymorphs are significantly distinct from α‐, β‐ and γ‐FOX‐7. ϵ‐FOX‐7, in contrast to monoclinic α‐polymorph, has orthorhombic type of crystal system (space group P212121). Based on received data, new scheme of FOX‐7 polymorph transition is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specific heat capacity Cp(T) is an intrinsic regolith property controlling planetary surface temperatures along with the albedo, density, and thermal conductivity. Cp(T) depends on material composition and temperature. Generally, modelers assume a fixed specific heat capacity value, or a standard temperature dependence derived from lunar basalts, mainly because of limited composition‐specific data at low temperatures relevant to planetary surfaces. In addition, Cp(T) only appears to vary by a small factor across various materials, in contrast with the bulk regolith thermal conductivity, which ranges over ∼3–4 orders of magnitude as a function of the regolith physical state (grain size, cementation, sintering, etc.). For these reasons, the impact of the basaltic assumption on modeled surface temperature is often considered unimportant although this assumption is not particularly well constrained. In this paper, we present specific heat capacity measurements and parameterizations from ∼90 to ∼290 K of 28 meteorites including those possibly originating from Mars and Vesta, and covering a wide range of planetary surface compositions. Planetary surface temperatures calculated using composition‐specific Cp(T) are within ±2 K of model runs assuming a basaltic composition. This ±2 K range approaches or exceeds typical instrumental noise or other sources of modeling uncertainties. These results suggest that a basaltic assumption for Cp(T) is generally adequate for the thermal characterization of a wide range of planetary surfaces, but possibly inadequate when looking at leveraging subtle trends to constrain subsurface layering, roughness, or seasonal/diurnal volatile transfer. Plain Language Summary: Specific heat capacity describes how much energy is required to increase the temperature of a given mass of material by 1 K. Specific heat capacity depends on the composition of the material and its temperature, and this is one of the parameters needed by modelers to calculate planetary surface temperatures. However, few specific heat capacity measurements have been acquired for planetary materials below room temperature, and modelers generally assume basaltic specific heat capacity trends or even a fixed value. Here we address this knowledge gap by presenting laboratory‐specific heat capacity measurements from ∼90 K to room temperature of 28 meteorites covering a wide range of surface compositions, including samples potentially from Mars and Vesta and various types of Solar System asteroidal bodies. The impact of using composition‐specific heat capacity compared to a standard lunar basalt is variable, but generally limited to a couple of Kelvin at most, which is typically not important when deriving the physical properties of a surface layer (e.g., grain size, cementation, density, etc.). However, such unbudgeted error can become significant when estimating uncertainties, or when seeking the subtle signature of heterogeneity (layering, roughness, etc.). Key Points: Specific heat capacity Cp(T) measurements and parameterizations are provided for 28 meteorites from ∼90 to ∼290 KPlanetary surface thermal modelers often treat Cp(T) as composition‐independent, but it can vary by ∼70% as a function of compositionThe impact of composition‐specific Cp(T) on modeled surface temperatures is modest, but not always inconsequential [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Aims: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is a common therapy for patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). IVIg may cause systemic adverse events (AEs); therefore, infusion of subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) may be preferred by some patients. In this study we document the experiences of patients transitioning from IVIg to SCIg. Methods: Transitioning subjects with CIDP were followed in a 6‐month prospective, open‐label study. The primary endpoint was percentage of subjects who withdrew for any reason (including significant AEs). The secondary endpoint was symptom progression or relapse requiring a change in management. Quality of life (QOL) and treatment satisfaction were assessed using the Short Form 36‐item Health Survey (SF‐36), Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM), and Chronic Acquired Polyneuropathy Patient‐Reported Index (CAP‐PRI). Efficacy was assessed using the Inflammatory Rasch‐built Overall Disability Scale, hand‐held dynamometry, limb motor strength testing (LMST), and timed 25‐ft walk (T25‐FW). Results: Fifteen CIDP subjects transitioned from IVIg to SCIg. Of these, three (20%) met the primary endpoint and one (7%) met the secondary endpoint. The SF‐36 showed a statistically significant improvement for the domain of role limitations‐physical after 24 weeks (P =.03), with no significant differences observed in other domains. TSQM and CAP‐PRI showed significant differences in favor of SCIg (P =.003 and.02, respectively). No significant differences were observed in efficacy after 24 weeks, except for LMST, which favored SCIg (P =.003). Eight of the 12 study completers (67%) continued with SCIg. Discussion: Transition to SCIg was associated with maintained efficacy and improved QOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose Methods Results Conclusions The efficacy and safety of ravulizumab, a terminal complement C5 inhibitor, in adults with anti‐acetylcholine receptor antibody‐positive (AChR Ab+) generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) were demonstrated in the CHAMPION MG study (NCT03920293). This analysis aimed to characterize the latency to onset of a clinically meaningful therapeutic effect for ravulizumab.Post hoc analysis of data collected for up to 60 weeks from CHAMPION MG was performed to assess the timing of response to ravulizumab. Response was analyzed based on reductions of ≥2 and ≥3 points (minimal clinically important differences [MCIDs]) in Myasthenia Gravis–Activities of Daily Living (MG‐ADL) and Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) total scores, respectively, and on more rigorous reductions of ≥3 and ≥5 points, respectively. Time to first response was assessed using the Kaplan–Meier product‐limit method.The median (95% confidence interval) time to first response was 2.1 (2.1–2.6) and 4.1 (2.3–10.0) weeks for reductions of ≥2 and ≥3 points in MG‐ADL total score, respectively (n = 139), and 4.1 (2.1–10.0) and 18.3 (11.0–33.4) weeks for reductions of ≥3 and ≥5 points in QMG total score, respectively (n = 134). Cumulative response rates at Week 60 (data cut‐off) were 88% and 82% for ≥2‐ and ≥3‐point MG‐ADL score reductions, respectively, and 86% and 59% for ≥3‐ and ≥5‐point QMG score reductions, respectively.The median times to MCID with ravulizumab treatment in patients with AChR Ab+ gMG were ~2 weeks and ~4 weeks based on MCID MG‐ADL and QMG total score reductions, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal stability of 1,3,5,5‐ tetranitrohexahydropyrimidine (TNDA) in liquid phase under isothermal conditions was studied. It was established that the TNDA decomposition (kliq=3.1 ⋅ 1021⋅exp(−26865/T), Ea=223.4 kJ mol−1) is accompanied by strong autocatalysis (kcat=9.8 ⋅ 1014⋅exp(‐18056/T), Ea=150.2 kJ mol−1). The mechanism of autocatalysis was proposed. The essence of autocatalysis is the oxidation of TNDA by decomposition products, followed by the destruction of the molecule. An unusual feature of this autocatalysis is that, in contrast to autocatalysis of nitroesters, the process does not disappear at high temperatures, but rather determines the kinetics of heat release in the combustion wave. The surface temperature and combustion mechanism of TNDA were established through thermocouple studies. It was shown that the autocatalysis reaction at the surface temperature controls the burning rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetylene and ammonia are known to form a stable orthorhombic co‐crystal under the surface conditions of Saturn's moon Titan (1.5 bar = 150 kPa, 94 K). Such a material represents a potential new class of organic minerals that could play an important role in Titan's geology. In this work, the thermal expansion of this co‐crystalline system has been derived from in situ powder X‐ray diffraction data obtained between 85 and 120 K. The results indicate significant anisotropy, with the majority of the expansion occurring along the c axis (∼2% over the temperature range of interest). Rietveld refinements reveal little change to the structure compared with that previously reported by Boese, Bläser & Jansen [J. Am. Chem. Soc. (2009), 131, 2104–2106]. The expansion is consistent with the alignment of C—H...N interactions along the chains in the a and b axes, and weak intermolecular bonding in the structural layers along the c axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Our aim in this study was to identify the prevalence and clinical characteristics of LRP4/agrin-antibody-positive double-seronegative myasthenia gravis (DNMG).Methods: DNMG patients at 16 sites in the United States were tested for LRP4 and agrin antibodies, and the clinical data were collected.Results: Of 181 DNMG patients, 27 (14.9%) were positive for either low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4) or agrin antibodies. Twenty-three DNMG patients (12.7%) were positive for both antibodies. More antibody-positive patients presented with generalized symptoms (69%) compared with antibody-negative patients (43%) (P ≤ .02). Antibody-positive patients' maximum classification on the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) scale was significantly higher than that for antibody-negative patients (P ≤ .005). Seventy percent of antibody-positive patients were classified as MGFA class III, IV, or V compared with 39% of antibody-negative patients. Most LRP4- and agrin-antibody-positive patients (24 of 27, 89%) developed generalized myathenia gravis (MG), but with standard MG treatment 81.5% (22 of 27) improved to MGFA class I or II during a mean follow-up of 11 years.Discussion: Antibody-positive patients had more severe clinical disease than antibody-negative patients. Most DNMG patients responded to standard therapy regardless of antibody status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter discusses a complete implementation of high performance voltage‐controlled oscillators using enhanced group delay SIW filters. Through precisely adjusting the perturbing via‐hole position inside dual mode circular cavity resonator, phase noise of the oscillator can be minimized. The planar SIW X‐band voltage‐controlled oscillation prototypes were additionally analyzed, fabricated, and measured. Experimental results achieve the best phase noise reaching to −134.31 dBc/Hz@1 MHz. The advantages of this voltage‐controlled oscillator are simple design processes, planar compact structure, and improved figure of merit. A set of parameters that evaluate the performance of the proposed oscillator are used, and then compared with the existing ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple system is described for the introduction of gases into standard X‐ray diffraction capillaries mounted in situ in the X‐ray beam of laboratory X‐ray diffraction instruments. This system retains many of the advantages of the standard Norby cell, but does not require custom machining and has less stringent space restrictions. The system has been used to study the crystallization and interaction of volatile organics at cryogenic temperatures, but gas–solid interactions could also be studied at elevated temperatures using this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Eculizumab is effective and well tolerated in patients with antiacetylcholine receptor antibody-positive refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG; REGAIN; NCT01997229). We report an interim analysis of an open-label extension of REGAIN, evaluating eculizumab's long-term safety and efficacy.Methods: Eculizumab (1,200 mg every 2 weeks for 22.7 months [median]) was administered to 117 patients.Results: The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with REGAIN; no cases of meningococcal infection were reported during the interim analysis period. Myasthenia gravis exacerbation rate was reduced by 75% from the year before REGAIN (P < 0.0001). Improvements with eculizumab in activities of daily living, muscle strength, functional ability, and quality of life in REGAIN were maintained through 3 years; 56% of patients achieved minimal manifestations or pharmacological remission. Patients who had received placebo during REGAIN experienced rapid and sustained improvements during open-label eculizumab (P < 0.0001).Discussion: These findings provide evidence for the long-term safety and sustained efficacy of eculizumab for refractory gMG. Muscle Nerve 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of an in-home expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) program on pulmonary, swallow, and cough function in individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).Methods: EMST was tested in a prospective, single-center, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of 48 ALS individuals who completed 8 weeks of either active EMST (n = 24) or sham EMST (n = 24). The primary outcome to assess treatment efficacy was change in maximum expiratory pressure (MEP). Secondary outcomes included: cough spirometry; swallowing; forced vital capacity; and scoring on the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised.Results: Treatment was well tolerated with 96% of patients completing the protocol. Significant differences in group change scores were noted for MEP and Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity scores (P < 0.02). No differences were noted for other secondary measures.Discussion: This respiratory training program was well-tolerated and led to improvements in respiratory and bulbar function in ALS. Muscle Nerve 59:40-46, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We evaluated the feasibility and impact of expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) on respiratory and bulbar function in persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).Methods: Twenty-five ALS patients participated in this delayed intervention open-label clinical trial. Following a lead-in period, patients completed a 5-week EMST protocol. Outcome measures included: maximum expiratory pressure (MEP); physiologic measures of swallow and cough; and penetration-aspiration scale (PAS) scores.Results: Of participants who entered the active phase of the study (n = 15), EMST was well tolerated and led to significant increases in MEPs and maximum hyoid displacement during swallowing post-EMST (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed for PAS scores or cough spirometry measures.Conclusions: EMST was feasible and well tolerated in this small cohort of ALS patients and led to improvements in expiratory force-generating pressures and swallow kinematics. Further investigation is warranted to confirm these preliminary findings. Muscle Nerve 54: 48-53, 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hepatic oncocytes with abundant granular, eosinophilic cytoplasm due to mitochondrial hyperplasia are seen in various chronic liver diseases, particularly chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Increased mitochondria in oncocytes are thought to be a compensatory mechanism for deficiencies in the hepatocellular respiratory chain, although the pathogenesis of these deficiencies has been uncertain. We selected seven cases of cirrhosis (six with oncocytes, one without) for the following analysis: histoenzymatic and immunohistochemical staining of several mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)- and nuclear DNA (nDNA)-encoded respiratory chain enzymes; immuno-staining using antibodies against double-strand-DNA (anti-DNA) and against Ki-67 (a cell proliferation marker); and Southern blot analysis for mtDNA and nDNA. Eighty percent of oncocytes showed histoenzymatic and immunohistochemical deficiencies of cytochrome c oxidase and the mtDNA-encoded subunit I of complex IV, with preserved expression of nDNA-encoded succinate dehydrogenase and the iron-sulfur subunit of complex III (FeS). Cytoplasmic (but not nuclear) anti-DNA staining was partially or completely absent in approximately 50% of oncocytes. Three cases with oncocytes studied by Southern blot showed mtDNA reductions of 66%, 71%, and 85%. In conclusion, hepatic oncocytes demonstrate significant deficiencies of mtDNA and mtDNA-encoded respiratory chain enzymes. We propose that mtDNA depletion plays an important role in hepatocellular oncocytic transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]