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This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of an oxidative-dissolution of fission products (FP) when uranium (U) is dissolved in a Na2CO3–H2O2 carbonate solution. Simulated FP-oxides which contained 12 components were added to the solution to examine their dissolution behaviors. It was found that H2O2 was an effective oxidant to minimize the dissolution of FP. For the 0.5 M Na2CO3–0.5 M H2O2 solution, such elements as Re, Te, Cs, and MoO2 were dissolved with yields of 98 ± 2%, 98 ± 2%, 93 ± 2%, and 26 ± 3%, respectively, for 2 h. Among these components, Re, Te, and Cs were completely dissolved within 10–20 min without regard to the concentrations of Na2CO3, and H2O2 due to their high solubility in the carbonate solution with and without H2O2. However, MoO2 was very slowly dissolved and its yield was 29 ± 3% for 4 h. The pH of the dissolved solution revealed the greatest influence on the dissolution yields of the FP, exhibiting the most effective pH condition in the range of 10–12 in order to create a considerable suppression of the co-dissolution of FP during the oxidative-dissolution of U. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superconductors are characterized by an energy gap that represents the energy needed to break the pairs of electrons (Cooper pairs) apart. At temperatures considerably above those associated with superconductivity, the high-transition-temperature copper oxides have an additional ‘pseudogap’. It has been unclear whether this represents preformed pairs of electrons that have not achieved the coherence necessary for superconductivity, or whether it reflects some alternative ground state that competes with superconductivity. Paired electrons should display particle–hole symmetry with respect to the Fermi level (the energy of the highest occupied level in the electronic system), but competing states need not show such symmetry. Here we report a photoemission study of the underdoped copper oxide Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ that shows the opening of a symmetric gap only in the anti-nodal region, contrary to the expectation that pairing would take place in the nodal region. It is therefore evident that the pseudogap does reflect the formation of preformed pairs of electrons and that the pairing occurs only in well-defined directions of the underlying lattice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superconductors are characterized by an energy gap that represents the energy needed to break the pairs of electrons (Cooper pairs) apart. At temperatures considerably above those associated with superconductivity, the high-transition-temperature copper oxides have an additional ‘pseudogap’. It has been unclear whether this represents preformed pairs of electrons that have not achieved the coherence necessary for superconductivity, or whether it reflects some alternative ground state that competes with superconductivity. Paired electrons should display particle–hole symmetry with respect to the Fermi level (the energy of the highest occupied level in the electronic system), but competing states need not show such symmetry. Here we report a photoemission study of the underdoped copper oxide Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ that shows the opening of a symmetric gap only in the anti-nodal region, contrary to the expectation that pairing would take place in the nodal region. It is therefore evident that the pseudogap does reflect the formation of preformed pairs of electrons and that the pairing occurs only in well-defined directions of the underlying lattice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop a device to facilitate grinding experiments with microvibration for analyzing the vibration effect on surface finish of ground surfaces. A microvibration device was designed and fabricated. It can be used to provide microvibration to the workpiece vertically and/or horizontally during grinding. The relationship of the driving voltage, vibration displacement, and frequency was established. The vibration displacement of the device developed is proportional to the driving voltage amplitude for both vibration directions. The vibration frequency and displacement can be adjusted during the grinding process. Grinding experiments were carried out to compare the surface finish of silicon samples ground with and without microvibration. The results verified that microvibration of the workpiece along a certain direction during grinding can affect the surface finish of the ground workpiece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report systematic high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) on Bi[sub 2]Sr[sub 2]Ca[sub n-1]Cu[sub n]O[sub 2n+4] (n = 1-3) to study the electronic structure near the Fermi level (E[sub F]) and the low energy excitation. Comprehensive ARPES data on the sudden break in the energy dispersion near E[sub F] (kink) as a function of momentum, temperature, and number of CuO[sub 2] layers indicate that the coupling of electrons with Q = (π,π) magnetic mode is dominant in the superconducting state for multi-layered cuprates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to test whether pretreatment gastric pathology in H. pylori-infected nonulcer dyspepsia (HpNUD) patients is relevant to and predictive of the symptomatic response after H. pylori eradication. Anti- H. pylori triple therapy was administered to 250 HpNUD patients, enrolled as the therapy group. In addition, 60 patients were enrolled as the control group, in which omeprazole was an alternatives to the triple therapy. Pretreatment gastric histology was evaluated thoroughly by the updated Sydney system. A [13C] urea breath test was also performed to evaluate the H. pylori eradication two months and 12 months later. For each patient, the baseline, month 2, and month 12 symptom scores were assessed for the month 2 or month 12 residual symptom ratio (RSR-2m or RSR-12m), calculated from: 100% × month 2 or month 12 score/baseline score. Based on either RSR-2m or RSR-12m, patients were categorized as good response (RSR < 50%), moderate response (50–70%), and poor response (>70%) subgroups in both therapy and control groups to define the short-term and long-term symptomatic responses. Patients with successful H. pylori eradication in the therapy group showed a higher incidence of good symptomatic response (RSR < 50%) than those from the control group (month 2: 30.3 vs 12%, P < 0.05; month 12: 34.7 vs 17.1%, P < 0.05). Univariate and multivariate analysis disclosed that patients with a higher acute inflammation score (AIS) and the lowest incidence of lymphoid follicles (LF) at pretreatment gastric histology are predisposed to having a good symptom response after H. pylori eradication (P < 0.05). For HpNUD patients who have an AIS of more than three and an absence of LF at gastric histology, more than 85% had good short-term (month 2) and long-term (month 12) symptomatic relief after H. pylori eradication. In conclusion, nearly 30% of HpNUD patients can obtain symptomatic relief following H. pylori eradication. The pretreatment gastric histology of HpNUD can be helpful to monitor the symptomatic response after H. pylori eradication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The expense of the 13C-urea breath test (UBT) to detect Helicobacter pylori infection is mainly due to the cost of 13C-urea and the analysis using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). Aim: To test whether a UBT, using a lower dose of urea and lower-priced isotope-selective nondispersive infrared spectrometry (INIS), can preserve diagnostic efficacy in clinical practice. Methods: A total of 177 dyspeptic patients received endoscopy for H. pylori culture and histology. All of them received a UBT in which the duplicate baseline, 10 min, and 15 min breath samples after ingestion of 50 mg 13C-urea were collected to analyse the excess 13CO2/12CO2 ratio (ECR) by IRMS (ABCA, Europa Scientific, UK) and INIS (UBiT-IR200, Photal Otsuka Electronics, Japan), respectively. Results: Of the 177 patients, 84 were infected and 93 were uninfected with H. pylori. A close correlation of ECR was found between IRMS and INIS (r=0.9829 at 10 min; r=0.9918 at 15 min, P < 0.0001). Analysing the 15-min samples, UBT by both IRMS and INIS achieved the same sensitivity (96.4%) and specificity (98.9%). Conclusions: INIS is as effective as IRMS for UBT, and can use a lower dose of 13C-urea. This can provide an economic UBT, using the lower-priced INIS and a low dose of 13C-urea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objectives were to test the efficacy of [13C] urea breath test (UBT) for H. pylori infection in patients before and after proton pump inhibitor (PPI) based triple therapy, and thus to trace the optimal cutoff value of UBT to monitor H. pylori eradication; and to analyze the histologic bacterial density and distribution of H. pylori in patients with equivocal UBT. A total of 441 dyspeptic cases patients enrolled and completed the study design, including 120 noninfected and 321 H. pylori-infected patients. All 441 cases had received the same protocol of UBT, in which the baseline and 15-min gas samples after ingestion of 100 mg 13C-labeled urea were analyzed for excess 13CO2/12CO2 ratio (ECR). In addition, a first endoscopy was performed in each patient to evaluate the initial status of H. pylori by culture and histology. Of the 321 H. pylori-infected patients, 286 received a second endoscopy and a second UBT six weeks after completing any one of four regimens of the PPI-based triple therapy to document the success of H. pylori eradication. During both sessions of endoscopy, topographic gastric biopsies for histology were sampled to evaluate the distribution and density of H. pylori. Based on the diagnostic standard by culture and histology, the sensitivity and specificity of the first UBT achieved most optimally was 97.5% and 96.7%, respectively, by setting the cutoff point of ECR at 4.0. In contrast, using the same cutoff point of 4.0, the sensitivity and specificity of the second UBT in patients after therapy achieved just 80% and 97.6%, respectively. By applying cutoff points downward of 4.0, 3.5, 3, and 2.5 for the second UBT, the sensitivity was elevated to 80%, 82.8%, 88.6%, and 94.3%, respectively, while the specificity was preserved at more than 95.2%. The overall eradication rate of H. pylori was 87.8% (251/286). Seven of 35 patients with failure of therapy had equivocal ECR at the second UBT (range 2–5), and this accounted for the false negative result. All seven patients had low bacterial densities, and three patients had bacteria distributed only in high body near the cardia. In conclusion, selection of a lower cutoff value of ECR at 2.5 is helpful to maintain the diagnostic accuracy of UBT for monitoring the H. pylori eradication. The equivocal ECR of UBT after therapy would be related to the low bacterial load and its distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to examine the serum serological response among H. pylori-infected patients with various upper gastrointestinal diagnoses; to ascertain whether it could be predictive to the diagnostic outcome of dyspepsia. One hundred seventy H. pylori-infected patients with dyspeptic symptoms but without previous treatment were enrolled, including those with duodenal ulcer disease (N = 47), gastric ulcer (N = 23), nonulcer dyspepsia (N = 60), gastric cancer (N = 34), and MALToma (N = 6). Sera from dyspeptic patients without H. pylori infection (N = 33) were used as controls. During endoscopy, gastric biopsies were taken for CLO-test, histology, and culture for the detection of H. pylori infection, defined by a positive culture or positive results of both CLO-test and histology. Total H. pylori IgG antibody was tested by an ELISA method. Antibody responses to specific H. pylori proteins were tested by a western blotting system. Of patients with H. pylori-infected gastroduodenal diseases, 76.5%, 42.9%, 23.6%, 46.7%, 84.1%, 76.5%, 82.9%, and 32.4% on average, showed responses to the 116-kDa (CagA), 89-kDa (VacA), 60-kDa, 45-kDa, 35-kDa, 30-kDa, 26.5-kDa, and 19.5-kDa H. pylori-specific proteins, respectively. A significant association was found between the serological response to 19.5-kDa and 26.5-kDa proteins and malignant outcome of H. pylori infection (P<0.02). Among patients without malignancy, the absence of a band at 19.5 kDa was statistically associated with the presence of an ulcer (P<0.05). The presence of serum antibody against CagA is not different between patients with ulcer and with malignancy in clinical diagnosis. The serum test for detecting antibodies against lower-molecular-weight proteins of H. pylori, such as those of 19.5 and 26.5 kDa, could be useful to identify H. pylori-infected patients at risk of peptic ulcer or malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to develop an H. pylori-infected mouse model using clinically stored strains in Taiwan and to test whether development of H. pylori infection in an in vivo animal model is related to the status of the cagA gene. A total of 100 male BALB/c mice, 6-8 weeks old, including 80 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group, were used. Two clinically stored H. pylori isolates, a cagA-positive and a cagA-negative strain, were selected to induce the H. pylori infection in half (N = 40) of the mice in the experimental group. Bacterial isolates of 0.8 x 10(9) CFU/ml were orally inoculated in each mouse of the experimental group for three consecutive days. Ten mice in the control group were sacrificed to confirm the initial absence of H. pylori. Eight weeks after inoculation of the experimental group and no inoculation of the remaining 10 mice of the control group, each mouse was killed. Gastrectomy was then performed for rapid urease test (CLOtest) and histology. In the control group, none of 20 mice had positive results from the CLOtest or histology. In contrast, excluding eight of 80 mice that died before the eighth week, 90.3% (65/72) of the mice challenged with H. pylori showed persistent presence of H. pylori by histology. The severity of gastritis at the eighth week was more evident in H. pylori-infected mice than in control and noninfected mice (P < 0.05). Although gastritis was more severe in mice inoculated with the cagA-positive strain than with the cagA-negative strain, the rates of H. pylori infection in mice were not different between cagA-positive and -negative strains (91.4% vs 89.2%, P > 0.05). In summary, stored strains of H. pylori can be applied to induce an infection model in BALB/c mice. The less virulent cagA-negative strain can induce H. pylori infection in mice as effectively as the cagA-positive strain. The high prevalence of cagA-positive strains in Taiwanese patients may be related to factors other than only the cagA gene of the bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The class I tyrosine kinase growth-factor receptors include epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), ErbB2 (c-erbB-2, HER-2/neu), ErbB3 and ErbB4. To elucidate their role in the regulation of homeostasis and carcinogenesis, we examined the expression of the receptors in normal urothelium and in urothelial carcinoma by immunohistochemistry. EGFR was expressed in the basal cells of normal urothelium, while ErbB2, ErbB3 and ErbB4 were present mainly in the superficial layer. A distinct reciprocal distribution was observed between the EGFR and the remaining members of the subclass (P = 0.0001). Both BCL-2 protein and Ki-67 antigen (MIB-1) showed a strong positive association with EGFR (P = 0.002) and an inverse correlation with ErbB2, ErbB3 or ErbB4 (P = 0.0004, 0.0000, and 0.001, respectively). With regard to carcinoma, there was no important relationship between receptor overexpression and tumour grading (P > 0.1), while only EGFR overexpression was correlated with muscular invasion (P = 0.02). Coexpression of EGFR-ErbB3 and ErbB3-ErbB4 was more often detected in high-grade tumours and correlated with the extent of tumour invasion. Our data indicate that class I receptors are differentially expressed in normal urothelium in vivo, but an orchestrated expression pattern does not exist during tumorigenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This preliminary study attempted to test whether pretreatment gastric histology of H. pylori infection may affect the success of dual therapy and to identify which parameter of gastric histology could be improved after dual therapy. One hundred forty-five dyspeptic patients with H. pylori infection received a two-week course of dual therapy (Amoxicillin 500 mg every 6 hr plus omeprazole 20 mg twice a day). In each patient, three pairs of gastric biopsies, sampled from the antrum, lower body, and upper body near the cardia, were collected before treatment and four weeks after completion of dual therapy. The density of H. pylori (score 1-5) and parameters of the modified Sydney system were applied to test the severity of H. pylori-related gastric histology in each specimen. The total bacterial load (score 1-15) was a sum of the density of H. pylori sampled from three biopsies. The overall rate of H. pylori eradication rate by dual therapy is 73.1% (106/145). Univariate analysis of parameters in pretreatment histology disclosed that the presence of mucosal atrophy (P < 0.01), lymphoid follicles (P < 0.005), and higher-density H. pylori (P < 0.001) predisposed to dual therapy failure. Multivariate analysis by stepwise logistic regression further confirmed that both the density of bacteria and the presence of lymphoid follicles are the two major factors related to the outcome of dual therapy (P < 0.001). Four weeks after dual therapy was completed, only patients with successful eradication significantly improved in these gastric histology parameters: acute activity, chronic inflammation, eosinophil infiltration, and mucosal atrophy. However, the lymphoid follicle and intestinal metaplasia were not significantly improved during the study period. The eradication rates among three subgroups with different total bacterial loads (group I: 1-5; II: 6-10; III: 11-15) disclosed a downward trend (I: 89.1%; II: 73%; III: 52.7%). It is concluded that dual therapy could improve gastric histology especially among patients with successful eradication of H. pylori. Evaluating pretreatment histologic parameters, including the density of H. pylori and the presence of lymphoid follicles, is valuable in predicting the success of dual therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability constants of Eu3+ and Am3+ with the site specific humic acid (YKHA) have been determined. The humic acid has been extracted from the soil of Yongkwang area belonging geologically to the Okchon Basin of the Korean Peninsula, where the nuclear power plant is located. The total carboxylate capacity, the acidity constant (pKa), and the binding constants with Eu3+ and Am3+ have been determined for humic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary hemangiomatosis is a rare, usually fatal disorder characterized by diffuse proliferation of blood vessels within the thorax. We describe a 7-year-old boy with cavernous-type pulmonary hemangiomatosis successfully treated with interferon alfa-2a. He presented with respiratory distress and hemoptysis that were alleviated during a 2-year follow-up period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlabelled: Bilateral agenesis of the diaphragm is a rare, life-threatening malformation. Infants with this defect rarely survive to have surgical intervention. We report a 32-week premature female infant who was born to a 36-year-old mother via vaginal delivery. The pregnancy course was complicated by hypertension and polyhydramnios. Cytogenetic study showed a normal 46 XX female karyotype. She had cyanosis, respiratory distress and scaphoid abdomen at birth. A roentgenograph confirmed the diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia. Surgery was performed at 21 h of age. Bilateral agenesis of diaphragm, herniation of abdominal organs and oesophagus and pulmonary hypoplasia were noted. Furthermore, stomach and spleen were adherent to the mediastinum and vertebrae. The patient developed hypotension and persistent hypoxaemia and expired at age of 26 h. Autopsy revealed bilateral agenesis of diaphragm, hypoplasia of lungs, and pancreas fibrosis with mild hypoplasia of islets of Langerhans.Conclusion: Bilateral agenesis of diaphragm associated with pancreas fibrosis is a rare entity, and its clinical significance needs further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amorphous NiP and NiCrP alloy coatings were prepared on copper substrates by electrodeposition. The thermal stability of the obtained coatings were evaluated by the onset temperature of phase transformation identified with differential scanning calorimetry measurements, and their high temperature oxidation resistances were characterized by the oxidation kinetics curve and the oxidation activation energy. The mechanism of the doping effect of Cr element on crystallization temperature and oxidation resistance of the alloy coatings were discussed based on X-ray diffraction analysis. The results show that the crystallization temperature of NiP amorphous alloy was 344 ∘ C , and the oxidation activation energy was calculated to be 1.54 × 10 3 J mol - 1 . As for NiCrP alloy coating with a Cr content of 1.8 wt%, the crystallization temperature increased to 403. 8 ∘ C and the calculated oxidation activation energy was 3.53 × 10 4 J mol - 1 , 2.29 times higher than the NiP coating. The remarkably enhanced high-temperature oxidation resistance of NiCrP alloy coating can be attributed to the compact metal oxide film formed on the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop and test a reliable and practical self-administrated questionnaire in Chinese to evaluate outpatient satisfaction in China. Design: In order to ensure content validity, the 19 items of this questionnaire were generated based on literature review, interview and group discussion. Acceptability was tested by the percentage of missing item responses and the time and operability of administration. Construct validity was evaluated using principal component exploratory factor analysis and item-total correlations. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and inter-subscale correlation. Setting: This study was conducted in 46 public general hospitals that report directly to the Provincial Health Department in Hunan Province, China. Subjects: In total, 5151 outpatients were selected at random and asked to complete the questionnaire after they finished their medical procedures in the outpatient area. Results: The extremely low rate of missing data (0-0.04%) suggested good acceptability of the questionnaire. Factor analysis generated six dimensions, and all item-total coefficients were >0.8. Cronbach's alpha exceeded 0.7 for all dimensions, and the inter-subscale correlation coefficients were all lower than the Cronbach's alpha coefficients of the corresponding scale. According to the results, outpatients were least satisfied with waiting time (86.8%) and most satisfied with the quality of medical care (90.1%). Conclusion: The Chinese outpatient satisfaction questionnaire has good acceptability, validity and reliability. It was effective and efficient for measuring outpatient satisfaction in a Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To eradicate Helicobacter pylori before the occurrence of precancerous changes is important to prevent gastric carcinogenesis. Aim To validate whether the corpus-predominant gastritis index ( CGI) can serve as an early marker to identify the H. pylori-infected patients at risk of gastric carcinogenesis. Methods This study enrolled 188 subjects, including 43 noncardiac gastric cancer patients, 63 of their first-degree relatives and 82 sex- and age-matched duodenal ulcer patients as controls. All received endoscopy to provide topographic gastric specimens to test for H. pylori infection and its related histological features, translated into the operative link on gastritis assessment ( OLGA), operative link on gastric intestinal metaplasia assessment ( OLGIM) stages, and the presence of CGI. Spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia ( SPEM) was assessed by immunohistochemistry staining of trefoil factor 2. Results Gastric cancer patients had higher prevalence of CGI and OLGIM stage II-IV, but not OLGA stage II-IV, than the controls ( P = 0.001, OR = 3.4[95% CI: 1.4-8.1] for CGI; OR = 5.0[95% CI: 2.0-12.8] for OLGIM). In patients with the combined presence of CGI and OLGIM stage II-IV, the risk of gastric cancer increased to 9.8 ( P < 0.001). The first-degree relatives of the gastric cancer patients had a higher rate of the presence of CGI, but not OLGA or OLGIM stage II-IV than the duodenal ulcer controls ( P = 0.001). Of the first-degree relatives, the presence of CGI increased the risk of SPEM ( P = 0.003, OR = 5.5[95% CI: 1.8-17.0]). Conclusion The corpus-predominant gastritis index, which is highly correlated to SPEM, may serve as an early marker to identify the H. pylori-infected patients at a higher risk of gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A microscopic scaling relation linking the normal and superconducting states of the cuprates in the presence of a pseudogap is presented using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. This scaling relation, complementary to the bulk universal scaling relation embodied by Homes' law, explicitly connects the momentum-dependent amplitude of the d-wave superconducting order parameter at T ~ 0 to quasiparticle scattering mechanisms operative at T ≿ Tc. The form of the scaling is proposed to be a consequence of the marginal Fermi-liquid phenomenology and the inherently strong dissipation of the normal pseudogap state of the cuprates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: We tested if host gastric Lewis antigens and the babA2 genotype of Helicobacter pylori correlated with clinico-histological outcome. Methods: We enrolled 188 dyspeptic patients (45 with duodenal ulcer, 45 with gastric ulcer, and 98 with chronic gastritis) with H pylori infection, proved by culture and gastric histology, reviewed by the updated Sydney system. Gastric expression of Lewis (Le) antigens Le[sup a], Le[sup b], Le[sup x], and Le[sup y] was determined immunochemically to determine intensity (range 0-3). The corresponding 188 H pylori isolates were screened for babA2 genotype by polymerase chain reaction. Results: All H pylori isolates had a positive babA2 genotype. We identified Le[sup a] in 33.5%, Le[sup b] in 72.9%, Le[sup x] in 86.2%, and Le[sup y] in 97.4% of biopsies from these 188 patients. Patients who expressed Le[sup b] had a higher H pylori density than those who did not express Le[sup b] (p < 0.001). Among 139 patients who expressed Le[sup b], H pylori density increased with a higher Le[sup b] intensity (p < 0.05). Gastric atrophy decreased with Le[sup b] intensity and thus resulted in lower H pylori density in the antrum (p < 0.05). For the 49 patients without gastric Le[sup b] expression, H pylori density was positively related with Le[sup x] and Le[sup a] expression (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Taiwanese H pylori isolates are 100% babA2 genopositive. Gastric Le[sup b] as well as Le[sup x] intensity may be major determinants of H pylori density. While lacking gastric Le[sup b] expression, Le[sup x] and Le[sup a] were closely related to H pylori colonisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Aim: To establish a triple therapy regimen for Helicobacter pylori eradication in patients with chronic renal insufficiency. Methods: Eighty-eight patients with chronic renal insufficiency and H. pylori infection were evenly randomized into two groups receiving 1-week lansoprazole, 30 mg, clarithromycin, 500 mg, and either amoxicillin, 750 mg, or metronidazole, 500 mg, twice daily. The adverse events and compliance with triple therapy were reviewed at the week 1 visit. Patients provided stool samples at week 6 to assess the success of H. pylori eradication by H. pylori- specific stool antigen. The serum creatinine levels were monitored at enrolment, at weeks 1, 2 and 6 and on any unscheduled visit after triple therapy. Results: The success of H. pylori eradication was higher in the lansoprazole–clarithromycin–metronidazole group than in the lansoprazole–clarithromycin–amoxicillin group (intention-to-treat analysis: 84% vs. 66%, P < 0.05: per protocol analysis: 93% vs. 76%, P < 0.05). Complete drug compliance was also better in the lansoprazole–clarithromycin–metronidazole group than in the lansoprazole–clarithromycin–amoxicillin group (77% vs. 52%, P < 0.05). Patients in the lansoprazole–clarithromycin–metronidazole group had a lower risk of acute renal failure than those in the lansoprazole–clarithromycin–amoxicillin group (2% vs. 18%, P < 0.05; relative risk, 0.128, 95% confidence interval, 0.016–0.979). Conclusions: Triple therapy with metronidazole and clarithromycin, but not amoxicillin, can be used for H. pylori eradication in patients with chronic renal insufficiency, because it is more effective, well tolerated and less likely to cause deterioration of renal function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new short-lived neutron-deficient isotope 220Np was synthesized in the fusion-evaporation reaction 185Re(40Ar,5n)220Np at the gas-filled recoil separator SHANS. Based on the measurement of the correlated α-decay chains, the decay properties of 220Np with Eα=10040(18) keV and T1/2=25+14-7 μs were determined, which are in good agreement with theoretical predictions. From the new experimental results coupled with the recently reported α-decay data of 219,223Np, the α-decay systematics for Np isotopes around N=126 was established, which allows us for the first time to test the robustness of the N=126 shell closure in Z=93 Np isotopes. The results also indicate that, in the region of nuclei with Z≥83, the proton drip line has been reached for all odd-Z isotopes up to Np. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we successfully fabricate compact and uniform cadmium telluride (CdTe) films on flexible nickel foils using simple electrodeposition technique and sintering in a nitrogen atmosphere. The effect of the concentration of sodium tartrate on the structures and properties of the deposited CdTe thin films are studied. Various test techniques are used to characterize the results. The results of XRD analysis show that the highest crystallinity film is obtained when the added sodium tartrate concentration is 0.05 M. With the increase of sodium tartrate concentration, the composition of the film gradually changes from Te-rich to Cd-rich, and the thickness of the film becomes thin gradually. We also find that the CdTe thin film prepared under 0.05 M sodium tartrate shows the best optical and optoelectronic properties. Thus, a moderate amount of sodium tartrate is added into an acidic solution as surfactant for CdTe thin film fabrication. Moreover, sodium tartrate is easily volatilized from the film during the annealing process because of its small molecular weight, which can prevent the carbon precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new neutron-deficient isotope 205Ac was synthesized in the complete-fusion reaction 169Tm(40Ca, 4n)205Ac. The evaporation residues were separated in-flight by the gas-filled recoil separator SHANS in Lanzhou and subsequently identified by the α-α position and time correlation method. The α-decay energy and half-life of 205Ac were determined to be 7.935(30) MeV and 20+97-9 ms, respectively. Previously reported decay properties of the ground state in 206Ac were confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to reveal directly the momentum distribution of the superconducting gap in FeTe1-xSeMx, which has the simplest structure of all Fe-based superconductors. We found isotropic superconducting gaps on all Fermi surfaces whose sizes can be fitted by a single gap function derived from a strong coupling approach, promoting local antiferromagnetic exchange interactions as a serious candidate for the pairing origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY There were tumor strictures commonly encountered in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to limit the conventional echoendoscope for exact tumor staging and size measurements. This study evaluated the role of miniprobe endosonography (EUS) to predict the survival of ESCC patients after concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). This study prospectively enrolled ESCC patients to receive high-frequency miniprobe EUS for the assessments of the tumor size and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage. For the patients defined with advanced stages to receive CCRT as initial therapy, the tumor size parameters assessed by EUS were analyzed for their correlation with the treatment response and the patients' survivals. Fifty-four patients, >96% with advanced TNM stage III or IV, were enrolled with a medium follow-up of 320.5 days. Almost all of the 54 cases had partial or complete stricture of the esophageal lumens due to the tumor obstructions at enrollment. The overall median survival was 18.6 months, and the 1- and the 2-year survival rates were 64.9 and 45.2%, respectively. Patients with initial tumor length <6 cm assessed by the pre-CCRT EUS had a better survival than those with length ≥6 cm (median survival: >56.5 months vs. 11.5 months, P= 0.006). The patients with initial tumor length <6 cm had a higher rate of downstage than those with tumor length ≥6 cm after the first course of CCRT (80.0% vs. 16.7%, P= 0.035). Multivariate Cox regression confirmed the initial tumor length (hazard ratio [HR]= 1.21, P= 0.034) as well as the presence of distal metastasis are both independent predictors of the survival in ESCC patients receiving CCRT. For the ESCC patients, commonly with tumor stricture, the miniprobe EUS to assess tumor length before CCRT can predict the treatment response and the survivals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Patients with peptic ulcer bleeding and uraemia are prone to re-bleeding. Aim To compare the efficacy of an intravenous proton pump inhibitor in treating peptic ulcer bleeding in patients with uraemia and those without uraemia. Methods High-risk peptic ulcer bleeding patients received endoscopic therapy with epinephrine (adrenaline) injection plus intravenous omeprazole (40 mg bolus followed by 40 mg infusion every 12 h) for 3 days. Re-bleeding, volume of blood transfusion, hospital stay, need for surgery, and mortality were analysed. Results The uraemic group had similar 7-day re-bleeding rate (6/42, 14.29% vs. 6/46, 13.04%, P = 0.865) to that of non-uraemic patients, but more re-bleeding episodes beyond 7 days (4/42, 9.52% vs. 0/46, 0%, P = 0.032, OR [95% CI] = 1.105 [1.002–1.219]) and all-cause mortality (4/42 vs. 0/46 P = 0.032, OR [95% CI] = 1.105 [1.002–1.219]). The uraemic group also had more units of blood transfusion after endoscopic therapy (mean ± s.d. 4.33 ± 3.35 units vs. 2.15 ± 1.65 units, P < 0.001), longer hospital stay (mean ± s.d. 8.55 ± 8.12 days vs. 4.11 ± 1.60 days, P < 0.001) and complications during hospitalization (9/42 vs. 0/46, P = 0.001, OR [95% CI] = 1.273 [1.087–1.490]). Conclusion Endoscopic therapy with epinephrine injection plus an intravenous proton pump inhibitor can offer protection against early re-bleeding in uraemic patients with peptic ulcer bleeding, but has a limited role beyond 7 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]