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Background The aim of this study to assess the efficacy and safety of adalimumab (ADA), a monoclonal antibody against tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and to explore predictors of response in Korean patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods We conducted a prospective observational multicenter study over 56 weeks in adult patients with moderately to severely active UC. Clinical response and remission were assessed by Mayo score. Mucosal healing was defined as Mayo subscore 0 or 1. Faecal calprotectin (FC) were assessed at baseline, week 8 and 56. Adalimumab drug levels were checked at week 8 and at loss of response. Missing or incomplete data were handled using the nonresponder imputation method. Results A total of 146 patients were enrolled and included in the analysis. Clinical response rates were 52.1% (76/146) and 37.7% (55/146) at week 8 and 56, respectively. Clinical remission was achieved in 24.0% (35/146) and 21.9% (32/146) of patients at week 8 and 56. Steroid-free remission rates were 21.2% (31/146) at week 56. Mucosal healing rates were 39.0% (57/146) and 30.1% (44/146) at week 8 and 56. Prior use of anti-TNF-α did not affect the clinical and endoscopic responses. Treatment persistence was achieved in 57.5% (84/146) of patients at week 56. Adalimumab drug level was significantly higher in patients with clinical response (10.8 vs. 8.0, p = 0.004), clinical remission (11.7 vs. 8.8, p = 0.007) and mucosal healing (11.0 vs. 8.5, p = 0.010) at week 8. Adalimumab dose was escalated to 40 mg weekly in 25 (17.1%) patients, and clinical response and remission were achieved in 40% and 20% of patients at week 56, respectively. Mean faecal calprotectin levels were significantly more decreased in clinical responders compared with non-responders at week 8 (336.3 mg/kg vs. 628.8 mg/kg, p < 0.001). The Fecal calprotectin levels are well correlated with endoscopic severity, and the best cut-off value to predict mucosal healing was 274 mg/kg. The lower endoscopic severity, higher body mass index and higher serum albumin level at baseline were associated with a clinical response at week 8. The lower Mayo score, lower C-reactive protein level, clinical response (74.5% vs. 38.5%, p < 0.001) and mucosal healing (52.7% vs. 30.8%, p = 0.008) at week 8 were associated with clinical response at week 56. Serious adverse drug reactions were identified in 2.7% (4/146) of patients including 1 case of pulmonary tuberculosis. Conclusion Adalimumab is safe and effective for induction and maintenance in Korean patients with UC, regardless of prior anti-TNF therapy. Adalimumab drug level is associated with the efficacy of induction therapy. A better response to induction therapy can predict a better long-term response.

Background: Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) is a clinically heterogeneous disease with a poor prognosis, requiring risk-stratified management in affected patients. Recently, tumor microenvironment including regulatory T cells (Tregs) has been implicated as a prognostic marker in certain types of lymphoma. Patients and methods: We collected 64 NKTCL cases and numerically quantified the amount of tumor-infiltrating FOXP3-positive Tregs by automated slide scanning and image analysis program after immunohistochemical staining using anti-FOXP3 antibody. Results: Patients were able to be classified into two end groups by their level of Tregs. Twenty-eight (44%) patients had Tregs

Hot electrons have been created in the plug section of the Hanbit tandem mirror in order to allow a test of high-m ballooning stability provided by a high-β hot-electron plasma in a tandem mirror. A rectangular microwave cavity was built to confine the energy from a 2-kW 14-GHz klystron. The cavity was equipped with a diamagnetic loop, a skimmer probe, and bremsstrahlung windows. An end-loss probe has been added in the cusp section in order to study the hot-electron mirror losses from the plug. The end-loss probe contains a Silicon PIN diode that is used to detect the x-rays from fast electrons striking a tantalum radiator. The end-loss probe was scanned radially to determine the radius and radial width of the hot-electron distribution ring for two different magnetic fields. A clear ring is observed for both magnetic fields. Bremsstrahlung measurements have shown the presence of a hot-electron plasma in the plug with an electron temperature in the range of 60 to 120 keV. The temperature with the optimum magnetic field is ∼ 100 keV. Diamagnetic measurements give the total stored energy. Stored-energy measurements combined with the radial dimensions determined by the end-loss detector were used to give the value of beta with assumptions on the plasma length. The average beta value is much less than 1% due to the low power and short heating time.

Excessive acetabular cover secondary to a retroverted acetabulum causes pincer impingement, which may cause early osteoarthritis of the hip. Our aim was to determine if there was a relationship between acetabular version and osteoarthritis of the hip. Using image processing and analysis software we studied 117 CT images of the hip in patients aged less than 65 years who had undergone a CT virtual colonoscopy. The mean CT joint space of the 18 hips with acetabular retroversion was narrower compared with the 99 hips with normal acetabular alignment (p < 0.0001). A correlation of r = 0.46 (p < 0.01) was found between right hip acetabular version and the mean right hip joint space and of r = 0.31 (p = 0.02) between left hip acetabular version and the mean left hip joint space. Acetabular retroversion is associated with radiological evidence of osteoarthritis of the hip. An understanding of the mechanical basis of osteoarthritis of the hip allows early treatment of the underlying structural abnormality and prevents progression of the degenerative condition.

The ABG I uncemented hip prosthesis has demonstrated an unacceptably high failure rate and poor functional outcome in our patients. A prospective review was performed of 38 implanted hips with a mean follow-up of 11 years. Sixteen hips have been revised or are candidates for revision hip surgery, due principally to polyethylene wear and pelvic osteolysis. Contributing factors were likely to be the poor wear characteristics of the polyethylene liners—which were gamma irradiated in air—and the thinness of these liners. Of further concern were the poor pain and function scores in the remaining hips [mean Harris Hip Scores (HHS) of 70 (SD 22) at 11-year follow-up]. The influence of the surgical learning curve on clinical results may have been an important factor. Undersized femoral components were associated with poor pain and functional scores in five patients with HHS < 60. All ABG I hip implants must remain under careful, long-term review.

Wider application of CT angiography (CTA) improves the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). It also permits the visualisation of saddle embolism (SE), namely thrombi, which are located at the bifurcation of the main pulmonary artery. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of SE and whether SE predicts a complicated clinical course in patients with non-high-risk PE.In total, 297 consecutive patients with non-high-risk PE confirmed using CTA in the emergency department were studied. The presence of SE and its ability to predict the occurrence of major adverse events (MAEs) within 1 month were determined.Of the 297 patients, 27 (9.1%) had an SE. The overall mortality at 1 month was 12.5%; no significant difference was observed between the SE and non-SE groups (18.5% vs 11.9%, p=0.32). However, patients with SE were more likely to receive thrombolytic therapy (29.6% vs 8.1%, p0.01) and had significantly more MAEs (59.3% vs 25.6%, p0.01).At the time of diagnosis, SE, as determined using CTA, is associated with the development of MAE within 1 month. It may be a simple method for risk stratification of patients with non-high-risk PE.The prognosis of patients with SE, especially those who are haemodynamically stable, is unclear. This study shows that patients with SE, determined with CTA, is associated with the development of MAE.

In this paper 3.3 kW on-board charger is proposed for electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Considering the life time of charger, new topology which is not using the high-voltage electrolytic capacitors is proposed. This charger is comprised of two stages that one is boost converter stage for PFC control and the other is uncontrolled LLC resonant converter for galvanic isolation and step-down of voltage. Proposed charger is implemented and it is 7.1 liters in volume and 6.8kg in weight. The experimental result indicates 92.5% of the efficiency at input voltage 220V ac and 88.3% at input voltage 110V ac under 3.3kW of output power. And the output voltage ranges is from 150V to 450V.

This study sought to study the effect of high intensity aerobic interval endurance training on peak stroke volume and maximal strength training on mechanical efficiency in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. 8 CAD patients (age 61.4 ± 3.7 years) trained 30 interval training sessions with 4 × 4 min intervals at 85-95% of peak heart rate while 10 CAD patients (age 66.5 ± 5.5 years) trained 24 sessions of maximal horizontal leg press. In the interval training group peak stroke volume increased significantly by 23% from 94.1 ± 23.0 mL · beat (-1) to 115.8 ± 22.4 mL · beat (-1) (p

Sir, We read with interest the article in the January 2004 issue by Ritter et al,[1][1] entitled ‘Intra-operative findings in varus osteoarthritis of the knee’. There is no doubt that there is a need for improvement in the methods of selection of the patients who may benefit from

30 Background: The hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcription factor has already cemented its oncogenic role in the development of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, its role in the tumorigenesis of other solid tumors remains unspecificed. Our studies focus on a novel link between HIF and prostate carcinogenesis. Methods: Using both in vitro cell culture studies as well as in vivo studies (orthotopic xenograft and genetically engineered mouse models) we investigate the role of HIF in prostate cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and progression. Results: Both HIF1 and HIF2 appear to be necessary for the proliferation and invasion of prostate cancer cell lines in vitro. Preliminary analysis of a PTEN deficient mouse model of prostate cancer suggests that expression of a stabilized form of HIF2 promotes the development of a larger prostate tumor burden and a more aggressive histology (high grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia [PIN] at earlier stages). Moreover, PTEN-deficient prostate tumors producing HIF2 are more proliferative and vascular and express increased levels of genes associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Conclusions: There has been much interest in the role of angiogenesis and hypoxia in prostate cancer progression. Our preliminary data suggest that HIF2 is able to promote PTEN-deficient prostate cancer progression in mice by increasing proliferation, angiogenesis, and EMT. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

The effect of doped buffer layers at the anode/organic interface in small molecule organic light-emitting diodes was investigated. Appropriate doping of N,N′-bis(1-naphthyl)-N,N′-diphenyl-1,1′-biphenyl-4,4′-diamine (NPB) and Cu-phthalacyanine (CuPc) layers using LiF or C60 molecules leads to improved interfacial morphology and thermal stability for both standard indium tin oxide or metals anodes, such as Au and Ag. Graded interfaces remain stable at temperatures well above the hole transport layer (i.e., NPB) glass transition temperature.

Sir, I read with interest the article by Konyves and Bannister[1][1] in the February 2005 issue entitled ‘The importance of leg length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty’. Leg length discrepancy (LLD) is a common post-operative complication following total hip replacement and, as

Sir, I read with interest the paper by Sutton et al[1][1] in the January 2004 issue entitled ‘Treatment of anaemia after joint replacement’. The treatment of anaemia after hip or knee replacement with oral iron is common, and this paper challenges the practice. The mean level of haemoglobin

We report on a new AlSiO cathode for high-contrast OLED devices. Our results suggest that the luminance efficiency can be correlated to the cathode reflectivity for a wide range of the Al/SiO ratios, while the I-V characteristics remain unchanged. Potential effects of the vacuum level shift, and other parameters, on the observed characteristics are discussed.

A computer simulation model of amorphous silicon solar cells using a Scharfetter and Gummel solution of Poisson’s equation and Taylor and Simmons occupancy statistics for the dangling bond gap states (D states), has been developed. With a suitable choice of parameters, the numerical results for solar cell collection efficiency and dark and illuminated I‐V characteristics agree well with experimental values. The model has been used specifically to study the influence of interface states at the TCO‐p (transparent conductive oxide), p‐i, i‐n, and n‐metal interfaces and to explain the beneficial role of a graded‐band‐gap layer at the p‐i interface.

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cells were fabricated by photochemical vapor deposition. A three‐separate‐chamber system was newly developed to reduce the contamination of the dopant elements as well as oxygen or water originated by the loading and unloading procedure. Wide optical band‐gap hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide was prepared using acetylene (C2H2) for the p layer. The deposition conditions for each layer were optimized and the highest‐energy conversion efficiency of 9.64% was obtained. This high conversion efficiency was mainly attributed to the large short‐circuit current which indicated that the quality of the i layer is reasonably good.

The light‐induced degradation of high‐efficiency a‐Si:H solar cells (9–11%) prepared by photo‐CVD has been investigated. For these samples, the degradation has been found to vary with i‐layer thickness and substrate temperature. The influence of different p/i interface conditions on the degradation has also been examined. The cell with a buffer layer at this interface exhibited somewhat greater degradation than the cell without the buffer layer. A general computer simulation model for a‐Si:H p‐i‐n solar cells that we have devised suggests that the buffer layer affects the degradation through a change in the i‐layer recombination rate.