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BACKGROUND Rumination and worry are common risk factors of depression and anxiety. Internet-based transdiagnostic interventions targeting individuals with these specific risks may be an effective way to prevent depression and anxiety. OBJECTIVE This study developed and compared the efficacy of two Internet-based transdiagnostic interventions with online guidance to an Internet-based psychoeducation control group in reducing risks and symptoms of depression and anxiety. METHODS This three-arm randomized controlled trial compared Internet-based rumination-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (RFCBT), mindfulness-based intervention (MBI), and psychoeducation control (EDU). A total of 256 participants were randomised into one of the three courses and received a 6-module program. Participants’ level of rumination, worry, depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed at post-intervention (6 weeks), at 3-month and 9-month follow up. Efficacy was tested using Linear Mixed Model analysis. RESULTS Results showed similar levels of improvement on all outcomes across the three conditions. Change in rumination differed comparing RFCBT and MBI, where a fluctuation on rumination was noted at 3-month follow up among participants in RFCBT and an absence of long-term effect on was noted among participants in MBI at 9-month follow up. CONCLUSIONS All three conditions showed similar reduction in risks and symptoms implied that the two active interventions were not superior to psychoeducation control. The high attrition at follow-ups suggested the need for caution concerning the findings. Future studies should tease apart placebo effect and identify ways to improve adherence. CLINICALTRIAL Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Trial no: ChiCTR-IOR-15006470)

Gastric insufflation is common during face mask ventilation and results in unfavourable respiratory events in children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a muscle relaxant on gastric insufflation and determine the optimal inspiratory pressure during face mask ventilation in children. Children aged one month to five years were randomly assigned to neuromuscular blocker (NM) or non-neuromuscular blocker (non-NM) groups. After administering intravenous anesthetics, face mask ventilation commenced via pressure-controlled mechanical ventilator. Initial inspiratory pressure was 10 cmH2O and was increased by 2 cmH2O until gastric insufflation was detected via gastric ultrasonography or epigastric auscultation. The primary outcome was the difference in the inspiratory pressure that causes gastric insufflation between the two groups. Diagnostic methods that detect gastric insufflation first were also evaluated. There was no significant difference in the median [interquartile range] inspiratory pressure inducing gastric insufflation between the non-NM (n = 52) and NM groups (n = 60) (18 [16-18] cmH2O vs 18.0 [16-20] cmH2O; median difference, 0 cmH2O; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0 to 2; P = 0.57). The incidence of gastric insufflation increased with increasing inspiratory pressure. Gastric insufflation was detected first by ultrasonography in 44% and by epigastric auscultation in 19% of the non-NM group (difference in percentage, 25%; 95% CI, 6 to 42; P = 0.006) and by ultrasonography in 73% and by epigastric auscultation in 7% of the NM group (difference in percentage, 66%; 95% CI, 50 to 78; P < 0.001). A neuromuscular blocking agent has minimal effect on the inspiratory pressure that causes gastric insufflation during face mask ventilation in children. www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02471521); registered 15 June 2015.

BACKGROUND Gastric insufflation frequently occurs during facemask ventilation in children. In the present study, we compared the incidence of gastric insufflation between pressure-controlled facemask ventilation and manual facemask ventilation during general anesthesia induction in children. METHODS Children in the pressure-controlled ventilation group (n = 76) received pressure-controlled facemask ventilation at an inspiratory pressure of 13 cm H2 O. In the manual ventilation group (n = 75), facemask ventilation was manually performed by anesthesiologists, who tried to maintain an inspiratory pressure of 13 cm H2 O. The adjustable pressure limiting valve was set at 13 cm H2 O. The incidence of gastric insufflation during 90 seconds after the initiation of ventilation was assessed using epigastric auscultation and gastric ultrasonography. RESULTS The incidence of gastric insufflation was significantly higher in the manual facemask ventilation group than in the pressure-controlled ventilation group (48% vs 12%, respectively; odds ratio 7.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.38-17.9; P

The RAON is the name of the heavy ion accelerator facility under construction in Korea that includes the In-flight Fragment (IF) and Isotope Separation On-Line (ISOL) facilities to support cutting-edge research in various science fields. The superconducting linac is the driver for the IF facility that can accelerate beams from proton to uranium with 200 MeV/u, 400 kW (for uranium beam). A 70-MeV, 1-mA H− cyclotron is the driver for the ISOL facility and is followed by a post-accelerator consisting of s superconducting linac that can accelerate rare-isotope (RI) beams and deliver them to experimental halls. These facilities provide high-intensity stable ion and rare isotope (RI) beams for domestic and international users. In this paper, design and prototyping efforts for the RAON accelerator systems are presented.

This study developed a drying method and a dryer that are optimized for shiitake mushrooms. They are mainly being cultivated and consumed as food and medicine in Korea, Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. They generally contain lots of moisture. For this reason, the use of a dryer causes problems such as decomposition and spoilage, and natural dry processing is preferred. To resolve these problems, various drying methods have been proposed (e.g. hot air drying, heat pump vacuum drying) but there has been a difficulty in maintaining a medium-temperature range of 30 to 40°C, the optimal temperature environments for retaining their main components. The study developed a 2-stage decompresses resistive heat pump dryer that can operate also in medium-temperature environments - existing decompresses heat pump dryers have been able to operate only in high-temperature environments. A dryer optimized for shiitake mushrooms that are being produced and distributed in large quantities was proposed, and the utility of the machine was proved through experiments.

The Rare Isotope Science Project (RISP) is launched in Korea to build the IF and ISOL facilities. Current status of RISP is introduced.

Summary Background: The use of warfarin is growing for the prevention or treatment of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases. The risk of haemorrhagic side effects is increased in patients taking warfarin. Aims: To evaluate risks related with withholding and resuming anticoagulation in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) while on warfarin therapy and the role of the second-look endoscopic examination (SEE). Methods: Records of 58 patients with native valvular heart diseases who presented with non-variceal UGIB during chronic anticoagulation with warfarin were retrospectively reviewed. Age- and gender-matched patients with non-variceal UGIB during aspirin therapy because of ischaemic heart disease were recruited as the control group. Results: Development of both recurrent bleeding and thromboembolic events were more frequent in warfarin group than in control group (7.0% vs. 0% with p = 0.03 and 16.7% vs. 2.4% with p

The microstructure and electrical resistivity of inkjet-printed silver (Ag) films annealed under ambient air were characterized. Analyses of the impurity amounts in the films using secondary-ion mass spectrometry showed that the decomposition temperature of the capping molecules was just below 170°C. Both the characteristics of the microstructure and electrical resistivity when annealed at low temperatures (lower than the decomposition temperature) were significantly different from those when annealed at high temperatures. The results show that neither microstructural features, such as grain size, nor the amounts of impurities can explain both the magnitude and characteristic decrease in electrical resistivity. The changes in electrical resistivity can be described using exponential decay kinetics. The corresponding activation energy of 0.44 eV when annealed at the high temperatures is explained by the migration of point defects such as vacancy–oxygen pairs. On the other hand, negligible dependence on tem...

A series of studies has shown that Helicobacter pylori eradication induces remission in most patients with low-grade gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. However, there have been few reports about the effect of bacterial treatment on the gastric MALT lymphoma in Korea, a well-known H. pylori endemic area. A total of 111 H. pylori-infected patients were prospectively enrolled in Seoul National University Hospital and 99 among them were completely followed up according to our protocol. After H. pylori eradication, tumoural response was evaluated by endoscopy and histopathology every 2-3 months till complete remission (CR) and every 6 months after achieving CR. Median follow-up period was 41 months (range, 11-125 months). Helicobacter pylori was successfully eradicated in all 99 patients and CR was obtained in 84 (84.8%) of 99 patients. The median time to reach CR was 3 months and 94% of CR is in continuous complete remission. Five patients with CR relapsed after 10-22 months without the evidence of H. pylori reinfection. Cumulative recurrence rate was 2.3, 7.7 and 9.3% at 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. Tumours were mainly located in distal stomach (67.7%) and tumours in distal stomach were associated with more favourable response than those in proximal stomach (P=0.001). Majority of patients with low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma treated by exclusive H. pylori eradication have a favourable long-term outcome, offering a real chance of cure. Tumour location could be a predictive factor for remission following H. pylori eradication.

Endothelial dysfunction associated with many cardiovascular diseases is largely due to reduced nitric oxide (NO) derived from endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). Piceatannol (trans-3,4,3',5'-tetrahydroxystilbene; Pic) is reported to have cardiovascular therapeutic effects. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the cardioprotective effects of Pic are still unclear. Here, we investigated whether Pic could influence endothelial NO release in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).In HUVECs exposed to Pic, NO production and phosphorylation of eNOS and protein kinase B (Akt) were determined by using a commercially available NO assay kit and Western blot analysis, respectively.Pic stimulated dose- and time-dependent NO production via eNOS phosphorylation. Pic also stimulated dose-dependent phosphorylation of Akt. Interestingly, NO production and eNOS phosphorylation in response to Pic were significantly abolished by the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt inhibitor LY294002.Pic is capable of inducing eNOS phosphorylation and the subsequent NO release, presumably, by activating PI3K/Akt pathway. The potential efficacy of Pic, a natural hydroxylated analog and a metabolite of resveratrol, may aid in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases characterized by endothelial dysfunction.

The hemming process, composed of flanging, pre-hemming and main hemming, is the last one of a series of forming processes conducted on the automotive panels, having greater influence on the outward appearance of cars rather than on their performance. The hem quality can be quantitatively defined by the hemming defects including turn-down/up, warp and roll-in/out. However, it is difficult to evaluate and predict the hem quality through an experimental measurement or a numerical calculation since the size of defects is very small. This study aims to precisely evaluate the hemming defects, especially turn-down and roll-in, through numerical and experimental approaches and to investigate the influence of process parameters on the hem quality, focused on how to simulate the same conditions as in the experiment by the finite element analysis (FEA). The FEA results on the turn-down and roll-in obtained from a model composed of the optimum-sized elements, including a spring element linked to the flanging pad, and given the double master contact condition between the inner and outer panels, had a good correlation with the experimental data. It is thought possible to make an early estimate of the hem quality in a practical automotive design by applying the methodology proposed in this study.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection elicits persistent neutrophil infiltration in gastric mucosa. The expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inhibition of apoptosis in the neutrophils could contribute to the pathogenesis of H. pylori infection. Rebamipide, a mucosal protective and ulcer-healing drug, has been known to inhibit neutrophil activation. Aim: To evaluate the effect of rebamipide on the neutrophils activated by H. pylori water-soluble proteins. Methods: After neutrophils were stimulated with H. pylori water extract (HPWE) or pre-treated with rebamipide, the expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein was assessed by quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Prostaglandin (PG) E 2 synthesis was determined by radioimmunoassay. Neutrophil apoptosis was evaluated by cytosolic oligonucleosome-bound DNA ELISA and caspase-3 activity was measured by the detection of p-nitroanilide after cleavage from labelled substrate. Results: Stimulation with HPWE up-regulated COX-2 expression and PGE 2 secretion, and inhibited neutrophil apoptosis. Rebamipide suppressed PGE 2 secretion from neutrophils dose-dependently. Rebamipide, however, did not affect neutrophil apoptosis and caspase-3 activity. Conclusions: Rebamipide effectively suppressed EGE 2 secretion from neutrophils activated by H. pylori water-soluble proteins. This is another possible mechanism of gastric mucosal protection by rebamipide.

Summary Background : Tuberculosis has increased in parallel with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic and the use of immunosuppressive therapy, and the growing incidence of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, especially with intestinal involvement, reflects this trend. However, the duration of anti-tuberculous therapy has not been clarified in intestinal tuberculosis. Aim : To compare the efficacy of different treatment durations in tuberculous enterocolitis in terms of response and recurrence rates. Methods : Forty patients with tuberculous enterocolitis were randomized prospectively: 22 patients into a 9-month and 18 into a 15-month group. Diagnosis was made either by colonoscopic findings of discrete ulcers and histopathological findings of caseating granuloma and/or acid-fast bacilli, or by clinical improvement after therapeutic trial. Patients were followed up with colonoscopy every other month until complete response or treatment completion, and then every 6 months for 1 year and annually. Complete response was defined as a resolution of symptoms and active tuberculosis by colonoscopy. Results : Complete response was obtained in all patients in both groups. Two patients in the 9-month group and one in the 15-month group underwent operation due to intestinal obstruction and perianal fistula, respectively. No recurrence of active intestinal tuberculosis occurred during the follow-up period in either group. Conclusions : Tuberculous enterocolitis can be managed by 9-month chemotherapy without disease recurrence. Further investigations are needed in immunocompromised patients.

As the part of Japan/EU Broader Approach (BA) program for fusion, International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility/Engineering Validation and Engineering Design Activities (IFMIF/EVEDA) project is on-going. Where, High Flux Test Module (HFTM) design aiming up to 1000 °C has been intensively investigated. Innovative SiC/SiC heater is currently potential and promising option. The weak temperature dependence of the SiC/SiC up to 1000 °C was interpreted to suggest the important role of grain boundaries and fiber–matrix interphase. To control the heater properties, variety of fabrication conditions, mainly on SiC nano-powders and green-sheet, were selected and tested. The heater performance was reasonably controlled and the results of heater performance and underlying microstructure behavior are provided.

Background: Helicobacter pylori eradication has become the standard treatment for duodenal ulcer. However, there is no relevant evidence for antibacterial treatment of the white scar stage of duodenal ulcer (duodenal ulcer scar) in patients with no past history of duodenal ulcer. Aim: To investigate whether H. pylori eradication could decrease duodenal ulcer recurrence in patients with duodenal ulcer scar and no past history of duodenal ulcer. Patients and methods: We prospectively enrolled 66 patients with duodenal ulcer scar: 53 were H. pylori-positive and 13 were H. pylori-negative. H. pylori-positive patients were randomly assigned into two groups (two-to-one allocation): 36 patients were assigned to the treatment group and 17 to the follow-up group. Thirteen H. pylori-negative patients were followed up according to the study protocol. Follow-up endoscopy was performed to evaluate ulcer scar changes and H. pylori status 6 weeks after anti-H. pylori treatment and then every 6 months for up to 30 months. Results: Active duodenal ulcer recurrence was identified in seven of 23 H. pylori-positive/non-cured patients (30%). There was no duodenal ulcer recurrence in 43 H. pylori-negative/cured patients (0%), which was significantly different in terms of duodenal ulcer recurrence (P=0.001). Conclusions: H. pylori eradication is effective at preventing active duodenal ulcer recurrence in patients with duodenal ulcer scar and no past history of duodenal ulcer.

Background: Proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapies are recommended as the first-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori eradication. Aim: To evaluate the efficacies of low-dose clarithromycin triple therapy and tinidazole-containing triple therapy in a metronidazole resistance prevalent area and to compare the efficacies with standard triple therapy. Methods: In a randomized, multicentre, prospective study, a total of 352 patients with duodenal ulcer or non-ulcer dyspepsia were randomly divided into three groups according to the administered regimen: OAC250 group (omeprazole, 20 mg, amoxicillin, 1000 mg, and clarithromycin, 250 mg), OAC500 group (omeprazole, 20 mg, amoxicillin, 1000 mg, and clarithromycin, 500 mg) and OTC group (omeprazole, 20 mg, tinidazole, 500 mg, and clarithromycin, 500 mg). The three groups received each regimen twice daily for 7 days. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed before and 4 weeks after treatment. H. pylori status was determined by rapid urease test and 13C urea breath test. Results: The eradication rates in the OAC250, OAC500 and OTC groups were 76.2%, 65.7% and 64.8% (95% confidence interval: 67.9–84.4%, 56.7–74.8% and 55.7–73.9%), respectively, by intention-to-treat analysis (P=0.149) and 92.8%, 87.2% and 84.1% (95% confidence interval: 84.4–97.3%, 77.9–93.8% and 73.9–91.2%), respectively, by per protocol analysis (P=0.088). All regimens were well tolerated and compliance was excellent. Conclusions: Both low-dose clarithromycin triple therapy and tinidazole-containing triple therapy are effective and safe regimens for H. pylori eradication.

The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission, scheduled for launch in 2020, will provide a step-change improvement in the measurement of terrestrial surface water storage and dynamics. In particular, it will provide the first, routine two-dimensional measurements of water surface elevations. In this paper, we aimed to (i) characterize and illustrate in two-dimensions the errors which may be found in SWOT swath measurements of terrestrial surface water, (ii) simulate the spatio-temporal sampling scheme of SWOT for the Amazon, and (iii) assess the impact of each of these on estimates of water surface slope and river discharge which may be obtained from SWOT imagery. We based our analysis on a "virtual mission" for a 300 km reach of the central Amazon (Solimões) River at its confluence with the Purus River, using a hydraulic model to provide water surface elevations according to SWOT spatio-temporal sampling to which errors were added based on a two-dimension height error spectrum derived from the SWOT design requirements. We thereby obtained water surface elevation measurements for the Amazon mainstem as may be observed by SWOT. Using these measurements, we derived estimates of river slope and discharge and compared them to those obtained directly from the hydraulic model. We found that cross-channel and along-reach averaging of SWOT measurements using reach lengths of greater than 4 km for the Solimões and 7.5 km for Purus reduced the effect of systematic height errors, enabling discharge to be reproduced accurately from the water height, assuming known bathymetry and friction. Using cross-section averaging and 20 km reach lengths, results show Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency values of 0.99 for the Solimões and 0.88 for the Purus, with 2.6 and 19.1% average overall error in discharge, respectively.

This paper experimentally deals with the measurement of the needle insertion force for breast. The experimental subjects were breast phantom, cow’s breast tissue, and human breast tissue. The needle insertion and force measurement device was used prototype biopsy robot that it was developed by National Cancer Center in Korea. The needle insertion force was measured and compared with various subjects and needle insertion speeds. As a result, the relationship between the needle insertion force and the needle insertion speed for various subjects was identified.

The use of warfarin is growing for the prevention or treatment of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases. The risk of haemorrhagic side effects is increased in patients taking warfarin.To evaluate risks related with withholding and resuming anticoagulation in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) while on warfarin therapy and the role of the second-look endoscopic examination (SEE).Records of 58 patients with native valvular heart diseases who presented with non-variceal UGIB during chronic anticoagulation with warfarin were retrospectively reviewed. Age- and gender-matched patients with non-variceal UGIB during aspirin therapy because of ischaemic heart disease were recruited as the control group.Development of both recurrent bleeding and thromboembolic events were more frequent in warfarin group than in control group (7.0% vs. 0% with p = 0.03 and 16.7% vs. 2.4% with p0.01, respectively). One of four cases of recurrent bleeding in warfarin group was found by SEE performed in an asymptomatic patient. There were six thromboembolic events which occurred on the 21st, 27th, 28th, 31st, 58th and 75th day from the presentation out of 36 patients who ceased anticoagulation. In contrast, only one from 41 in whom aspirin was discontinued experienced myocardial infarction. There was no difference in the failure of endoscopic haemostasis necessitating angiographic embolisation or surgery, hospital stay, the need of transfusion and overall mortality.Anticoagulation is recommended to be resumed before the 20th day from the cessation to prevent thromboembolic events. A routine SEE before resuming anticoagulation might be helpful to detect asymptomatic recurrent bleeding.

The purpose of this study was to develop a general method for the facile development of a new DNA biosensor which utilizes streptavidin-displayed spores as a molecular machinery.Fluorescence spectroscopy was used as a monitoring tool for the streptavidin displayed on the surface of Bacillus thuringiensis spores and as a diagnosis method for DNA detection. As a proof-of-concept, four pathogenic bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia were used for the detection of pathogenic species. In addition, a set of mutant variants of Wilson's disease were also used for the detection of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in this system.This strategy, utilizing streptavidin-displayed spores, is capable of capturing DNA targets for the detection of pathogenic bacteria and for mutation analysis in Wilson's disease.This approach could be useful as a simple platform for developing sensitive spore-based biosensors for any desired DNA targets in diagnostic applications.

This paper deals with the development of a practical postprocessor for 5-axis machine tools. Recently, special 5-axis machine tools with non-orthogonal rotary axes as well as typical 5-axis machine tools with orthogonal rotary axes have been introduced. In the present work, the general equations of NC data for 5-axis configurations with non-orthogonal rotary axes are exactly expressed by the inverse kinematics, and a Windows-based postprocessor written in Visual Basic was developed according to the proposed algorithm. The developed postprocessor is a general system suitable for all kinds of 5-axis machine tools not only with orthogonal rotary axes but also with non-orthogonal rotary axes, thereby expanding the range of application of the developed postprocessor. In addition, through implementation of the developed postprocessor and verification by a cutting simulation and machining experiment, the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm was confirmed. Compatibility was improved by allowing exchange of data formats such as RTCP controlled NC data, Vector post NC data, and POF CL data, and convenience was increased by adding the function of work-piece origin offset. Consequently, a practical post-processor for 5-axis machining has been developed.

There has been no report on the response to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy and on-demand or the relapse rate of non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) and erosive oesophagitis in Korea.To compare the risk factors, clinical symptoms and PPI responses between patients with erosive oesophagitis and NERD patients.A survey was performed prospectively in the erosive oesophagitis (205 patients) and NERD group (200 patients). Clinical symptoms, risk factors and PPI responses were analysed. On-demand therapy and the relapse rate of GERD symptoms were investigated during a one-year follow-up.BMIor = 25 (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.1-8.3), alcohol use (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.0-8.3), hiatal hernia (OR 5.0, 95% CI 1.2-20) and triglycerideor =150 mg/dL (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.7-10) were more common in the erosive oesophagitis group than in the NERD group by multivariate analysis. The ratio of oesophageal to extra-oesophageal symptoms was higher in the erosive oesophagitis group compared with the NERD group (P0.001). The PPI response rates at 8 weeks were different (P = 0.02); refractory rates were higher in the NERD group (16.7%) compared with the erosive oesophagitis group (6.0%). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in on-demand therapy or the relapse rate.These results suggest that the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of erosive oesophagitis and NERD are distinct.

Enterotoxin produced by enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (BFT) has been associated with mucosal inflammation and diarrhoeal diseases. In this study, the anti-inflammatory molecular mechanism of 5,7-dihydroxy-3,4,6-trimethoxyflavone (eupatilin) was characterized in an HT-29 intestinal epithelial cell line stimulated with BFT. Pre-treatment of HT-29 cells with eupatilin decreased the production significantly of both interleukin (IL)-8 and prostaglandin E(2) induced by BFT in a dose-dependent manner. BFT-activated nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) signals in HT-29 cells and pretreatment with eupatilin suppressed NF-kappaB activation that resulted in the significant inhibition of IL-8 and cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression. BFT-induced phosphorylation of both I kappaB alpha and I kappaB kinase (IKK) signals was prevented in eupatilin-pretreated HT-29 cells. Transfection of siRNA for IKK-alpha and IKK-beta decreased the production of IL-8 and prostaglandin E(2); however, the transfection of IKK-beta siRNA showed a more significant reduction of BFT-induced I kappaB alpha phosphorylation compared with that of IKK-alpha siRNA. In addition, herbimycin A, a specific inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), decreased the BFT-induced activation of IKK and NF-kappaB, suggesting that Hsp90 is associated with a pathway of IKK-NF-kappaB-IL-8/cyclo-oxygenase-2 gene signalling. Furthermore, eupatilin dissociated the complex between Hsp90 and IKK-gamma in BFT-stimulated HT-29 cells. These results suggest that eupatilin can suppress the NF-kappaB signalling pathway by targeting the Hsp90-IKK-gamma complex in intestinal epithelial cells and may attenuate BFT-induced inflammatory responses.

Prospective nationwide multicentre studies that have evaluated endoscopic findings and reflux symptoms using a well-designed questionnaire are very rare.To compare the prevalence rates of and risk factors for erosive oesophagitis and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) in the Korean population.A gastroscopic examination was performed on 25 536 subjects who visited 40 Healthcare Centers for a health check-up. A gastro-oesophageal reflux questionnaire and multivariate analysis were used to determine the risk factors for erosive oesophagitis and NERD.2019 (8%) and 996 subjects (4%) had erosive oesophagitis and non-erosive reflux disease, respectively; only 58% of subjects with erosive oesophagitis had reflux symptoms. Multivariate analysis showed that the risk factors for erosive oesophagitis and NERD differed, i.e. those of erosive oesophagitis were male, a Helicobacter pylori eradication history, alcohol, body mass indexor =25 and hiatal hernia. In contrast, the risk factors for NERD were female, age40 andor =60 vs. 40-59 years, body mass index23 and a monthly income$1000, glucoseor =126 mg/dL, smoking, a stooping posture at work and antibiotic usage.The prevalence rates of erosive oesophagitis and NERD were 8% and 4%, respectively, in Korean health check-up subjects. The risk factors for erosive oesophagitis and NERD were found to differ, which indicates that their underlying pathogeneses are distinct.

A Relativistic backward wave oscillator (RBWO) is a reliable source of a high power electromagnetic wave (HPEM). The RBWO is capable of high efficiency by a relatively long interaction region between a backward wave and an electron beam. But the pulse shortening problem occurs frequently in experiments of RBWO because of the mode competition, the RF breakdown and so on. After this mode competition between axial modes of TM01, the RF power is vanished. There also occurs a mode competition between TM01 and TM02 when the radii of the hollow electron beam are smaller than a critical value. Mode competition which is one of the main causes of pulse shortening is found to be very sensitive to the position of the electron beam in this RBWO device. Experimental study is done on 100MW RBWO and in progress on X-band hundreds MWRBWO.

Helicobacter pylori infection elicits persistent neutrophil infiltration in gastric mucosa. The expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inhibition of apoptosis in the neutrophils could contribute to the pathogenesis of H. pylori infection. Rebamipide, a mucosal protective and ulcer-healing drug, has been known to inhibit neutrophil activation.To evaluate the effect of rebamipide on the neutrophils activated by H. pylori water-soluble proteins.After neutrophils were stimulated with H. pylori water extract (HPWE) or pre-treated with rebamipide, the expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein was assessed by quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Prostaglandin (PG) E2 synthesis was determined by radioimmunoassay. Neutrophil apoptosis was evaluated by cytosolic oligonucleosome-bound DNA ELISA and caspase-3 activity was measured by the detection of p-nitroanilide after cleavage from labelled substrate.Stimulation with HPWE up-regulated COX-2 expression and PGE2 secretion, and inhibited neutrophil apoptosis. Rebamipide suppressed PGE2 secretion from neutrophils dose-dependently. Rebamipide, however, did not affect neutrophil apoptosis and caspase-3 activity.Rebamipide effectively suppressed PGE2 secretion from neutrophils activated by H. pylori water-soluble proteins. This is another possible mechanism of gastric mucosal protection by rebamipide.

Tuberculosis has increased in parallel with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic and the use of immunosuppressive therapy, and the growing incidence of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, especially with intestinal involvement, reflects this trend. However, the duration of anti-tuberculous therapy has not been clarified in intestinal tuberculosis.To compare the efficacy of different treatment durations in tuberculous enterocolitis in terms of response and recurrence rates.Forty patients with tuberculous enterocolitis were randomized prospectively: 22 patients into a 9-month and 18 into a 15-month group. Diagnosis was made either by colonoscopic findings of discrete ulcers and histopathological findings of caseating granuloma and/or acid-fast bacilli, or by clinical improvement after therapeutic trial. Patients were followed up with colonoscopy every other month until complete response or treatment completion, and then every 6 months for 1 year and annually. Complete response was defined as a resolution of symptoms and active tuberculosis by colonoscopy.Complete response was obtained in all patients in both groups. Two patients in the 9-month group and one in the 15-month group underwent operation due to intestinal obstruction and perianal fistula, respectively. No recurrence of active intestinal tuberculosis occurred during the follow-up period in either group.Tuberculous enterocolitis can be managed by 9-month chemotherapy without disease recurrence. Further investigations are needed in immunocompromised patients.

Helicobacter pylori eradication has become the standard treatment for duodenal ulcer. However, there is no relevant evidence for antibacterial treatment of the white scar stage of duodenal ulcer (duodenal ulcer scar) in patients with no past history of duodenal ulcer.To investigate whether H. pylori eradication could decrease duodenal ulcer recurrence in patients with duodenal ulcer scar and no past history of duodenal ulcer.We prospectively enrolled 66 patients with duodenal ulcer scar: 53 were H. pylori-positive and 13 were H. pylori-negative. H. pylori-positive patients were randomly assigned into two groups (two-to-one allocation): 36 patients were assigned to the treatment group and 17 to the follow-up group. Thirteen H. pylori-negative patients were followed up according to the study protocol. Follow-up endoscopy was performed to evaluate ulcer scar changes and H. pylori status 6 weeks after anti-H. pylori treatment and then every 6 months for up to 30 months.Active duodenal ulcer recurrence was identified in seven of 23 H. pylori-positive/non-cured patients (30%). There was no duodenal ulcer recurrence in 43 H. pylori-negative/cured patients (0%), which was significantly different in terms of duodenal ulcer recurrence (P=0.001).H. pylori eradication is effective at preventing active duodenal ulcer recurrence in patients with duodenal ulcer scar and no past history of duodenal ulcer.

Proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapies are recommended as the first-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori eradication.To evaluate the efficacies of low-dose clarithromycin triple therapy and tinidazole-containing triple therapy in a metronidazole resistance prevalent area and to compare the efficacies with standard triple therapy.In a randomized, multicentre, prospective study, a total of 352 patients with duodenal ulcer or non-ulcer dyspepsia were randomly divided into three groups according to the administered regimen: OAC250 group (omeprazole, 20 mg, amoxicillin, 1000 mg, and clarithromycin, 250 mg), OAC500 group (omeprazole, 20 mg, amoxicillin, 1000 mg, and clarithromycin, 500 mg) and OTC group (omeprazole, 20 mg, tinidazole, 500 mg, and clarithromycin, 500 mg). The three groups received each regimen twice daily for 7 days. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed before and 4 weeks after treatment. H. pylori status was determined by rapid urease test and 13C urea breath test.The eradication rates in the OAC250, OAC500 and OTC groups were 76.2%, 65.7% and 64.8% (95% confidence interval: 67.9-84.4%, 56.7-74.8% and 55.7-73.9%), respectively, by intention-to-treat analysis (P=0.149) and 92.8%, 87.2% and 84.1% (95% confidence interval: 84.4-97.3%, 77.9-93.8% and 73.9-91.2%), respectively, by per protocol analysis (P=0.088). All regimens were well tolerated and compliance was excellent.Both low-dose clarithromycin triple therapy and tinidazole-containing triple therapy are effective and safe regimens for H. pylori eradication.

Helicobacter pylori infection elicits persistent neutrophil infiltration in gastric mucosa. The expression of cyclooxygenase (COX) -2 by the neutrophils results in prostaglandin (PG) E2 synthesis, which may account for alterations in tissue homeostasis. In this study, we found that COX-2 mRNA was up-regulated in the neutrophils when stimulated with both H. pylori water extract (HPWE) and live H. pylori in a transwell model and determined by quantitative RT-PCR. PGE2 synthesis was also enhanced in the neutrophils activated by both the HPWE and live H. pylori. A specific COX-2 inhibitor (NS-398) blocked PGE2 synthesis, and an anti-ulcer agent (rebamipide) suppressed it dose dependently. An NF-kappaB inhibitor (pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate), a MAP kinase (MEK) inhibitor (PD98059), and a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor (SB203580) significantly suppressed the COX-2 gene transcription and PGE2 synthesis in the neutrophils. In conclusion, H. pylori water-soluble proteins may enhance the COX-2 expression, and this action could be mediated through the NF-kappaB and MAP kinase signaling pathways. The increased section of PGE2 by the neutrophils may play a proinflammatory role in the gastric mucosal response to H. pylori.

Activation of pro-apoptotic systems has been proven in rejection model of animal heart transplantation. The role of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) in graft rejection is not fully understood, and the expression changes of these genes in human transplanted heart have not been elucidated.Endomyocardial biopsy samples were taken from 13 consecutive patients undergoing heart transplantation at various times, and they were classified into rejection (REJ, grade 3A or more) and lack of rejection (TOL, grade 1B or less) by International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation rejection grade. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate the status of Fas and FasL expression in each sample.Fas was constitutively expressed both in REJ and TOL specimens (expression levels normalized by glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase expression in semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of REJ vs. TOL, 0.842+/-0.096 vs. 0.848+/-0.103, P=0.776); however, FasL expression was detected in 66% of REJ samples and 40% of TOL samples. Normalized levels of FasL expression were 0.591+/-0.494 (REJ) and 0.383+/-0.507 (TOL) (P0.05). FasL was expressed by cardiomyocytes as well as graft-infiltrating cells.This up-regulation of FasL may be one of possible mechanisms of apoptosis in rejection process of human cardiac allograft.

Helicobacter pylori induces apoptosis and alters the proliferation of gastric mucosal epithelial cells. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the inducible form of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis, is known to cause alteration in epithelial cell growth. The goal of this study was to determine whether COX-2 gene expression by H. pylori infection could influence gastric epithelial cell apoptosis. Expression of COX-2 mRNA and proteins was up-regulated in Hs746T gastric epithelial cell lines infected with H. pylori, when assessed by quantitative RT-PCR and western blot. Inhibition of COX-2 expression using NS-398, a specific COX-2 inhibitor, showed a significant increase of gastric epithelial cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activation in Hs746T cells infected with H. pylori. Moreover, the effect of NS-398 on H. pylori-induced apoptosis was reversed by the addition of PGE2. These results suggest that up-regulated COX-2 expression by H. pylori infection can inhibit apoptosis of gastric epithelial cells.

This study was conducted to investigate whether or not the eradication of H. pylori could lead to the regression of intestinal metaplasia (IM) in patients with either duodenal ulcer (DU) or benign gastric ulcer (BGU). The initial antral IM grade was 0.21 in the 72 patients of the H. pylori-eradicated DU group, this decreased to 0.17, 0.14, 0.13, and 0.09 after periods of four weeks, one year, two years, and four years, respectively, but without statistical significance. In the corpus of the DU group, where IM grade was low (0.02), there was no detectable change in IM. The initial antral IM grade of 0.69 in the 41 patients of the H. pylori-eradicated BGU group decreased substantially to 0.61, 0.44, and 0.39 after periods of four weeks and one and two years, respectively, but again without statistical significance. The initial corporal IM grade of the BGU group of 0.27 decreased to 0.20, 0.15, and 0.06 after periods of four weeks and one and two years, again without statistical significance. In contrast, the IM grades of the noneradicated DU group (N = 20) and the BGU group (N = 16) showed nearly no change in the antrum and corpus. Gastritis grades of antrum and corpus in the H. pylori-eradicated DU or BGU group significantly decreased with respect to time (P = 0.0001), but there were no significant changes in the corresponding noneradicated groups. Although there was no statistical significance, IM decreased in the antrum and corpus of the stomach with BGU and in antrum of those with DU over a two to four-year period after H. pylori eradication, suggesting the possible reversibility of IM.

To elucidate the mechanisms of the persistent neutrophil recruitment in H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa, we evaluated the activation of human neutrophils and CXC chemokine expression in neutrophils by H. pylori water-soluble surface proteins. H. pylori water extract (HPWE) was prepared from a supernatant of the H. pylori suspension in distilled water. After neutrophils were stimulated with HPWE, the mobilization of intracellular free calcium, the expression of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1beta, and the secretion of myeloperoxidase (MPO) were enhanced in the neutrophils. In H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa, transendothelial and transepithelial migration of neutrophils were observed by electron microscopy and mucosal MPO levels were elevated. Up-regulation of the expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and growth-related oncogenes (GROs; GROalpha, GRObeta and GROgamma) mRNA and protein in neutrophils by HPWE was demonstrated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. In conclusion, H. pylori-induced neutrophil recruitment may be mediated by CXC chemokines which are expressed by neutrophils activated by H. pylori water-soluble surface proteins.

Anti-Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) treatment for low-grade gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma has been the subject of attention. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of such cases which could be suitable candidates for H. pylori eradication for the purpose of cure; we focused on gross morphology and lymph node metastasis.We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 53 patients diagnosed and treated for gastric MALT lymphoma at Seoul National University Hospital between 1992 and 1996.According to Isaacson's classification, 60% of cases were low-grade, and H. pylori was detected in 88% of them. In low-grade disease, gastroscopy revealed superficial lesions in 56% of cases, ulcerofungating lesions were found in as much as 19%, and ulceroinfiltrating in 25%. Even in low-grade disease, invasion of proper muscle, or deeper, was seen in 28% of patients, and lymph node involvement in 36%; even in low-grade disease confined to mucosa and submucosa, the rate of lymph node involvement was 40%. All cases which, on gastroscopy, appeared to be gastritis or benign ulcer-like lesions were free of lymph node metastasis, but in low-grade disease, this proportion was only 16%. In 33% of cases, pre-operative clinical stage I--as shown by abdominal CT--was found post-operatively to be stage II. The negative predictive value of lymph node detection by CT was 68%.In low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma, the lymph node involvement rate was too high to be neglected. In detecting lymph node metastasis, the diagnostic accuracy of CT was too low. The proportion of suitable candidates for anti-H. pylori treatment for low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma was not high, and in clinical practice, anti-H. pylori treatment in such cases should at present be very carefully applied.

The pharmacokinetics and the dose proportionality of a new anticonvulsant compound, HEPP (D,L-3-hydroxy-3-ethyl-3-phenylpropionamide) was studied in healthy male volunteers as part of the pharmacological evaluation for new drugs. Study was performed administering doses of 250, 375, 500 and 625 mg of HEPP to six male volunteers. Blood and urine samples were collected for 72 h postdose and analysed by HPLC. Results showed that in man HEPP is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Tmax values were between 1.5 and 6.0 h. Plasma mean terminal half-life after the different doses ranged between 15.83 and 27.62 h with an overall harmonic mean value of 22.8. The mean AUC0-infinity and Cmax increased linearly with doses of 250, 375 and 500 mg but not with the dose of 625 mg. The amount of unchanged drug excreted in urine was between 3 and 6% of administered dose which shows an extensive metabolism of the drug.

A new balloon instrument, the advanced thin ionization calorimeter (ATIC), is currently under development by an international collaboration involving researchers in the U.S., Germany, Korea, Russia and the Ukraine. The instrument will be used, in a series of long duration balloon flights, to investigate the charge composition and energy spectra of primary cosmic rays over the energy range from about 1010 to 1014 eV. The ATIC instrument is designed around a new technology, fully active Bismuth Germanate (BGO) ionization calorimeter that is used to measure the energy deposited by the cascades formed by particles interacting in an approximately 1 proton interaction length thick carbon target. The charge module comprises a highly segmented, triply redundant set of detectors (scintillator, silicon matrix and Cherenkov) that together give good incident charge resolution plus rejection of the 'backscattered' particles from the interaction. Trajectory information is obtained both from scintillator layers and from the cascade profile throughout the BGO calorimeter. This instrument is specifically designed to take advantage of the existing NASA long duration balloon flight capability in Antarctica and/or the Northern Hemisphere. The ATIC instrumentation is presented here, while a companion paper at this conference discusses the expected performance.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Organization of Advanced Sustainability Initiative for Energy System/Material (OASIS), at Muroran Institute of Technology is now intensively enforcing its efforts for industrialization of advanced SiC/SiC composites and SiC based composites by fabrication system integration of NITE method. This paper provides the brief review of the activities at OASIS, where prototype production line of green sheets and prepreg sheets are under installation. The near-net shaped preforms with the NITE green-sheets and prepreg-sheets are made into near-net shape components for potential applications under consideration by HIP and Pseudo-HIP. Aiming at the near term utilization, SiC/SiC hybrid structures with metallic materials, such as steels and other refractory metals, were fabricated with promising results. Trial to reduce the production cost has been continued.

Large volumetric shrinkage (~50 Vol%) occurs during ceramic matrix composites fabrication by hot-pressing due to infiltration and densification process of powder for matrix formation, resulting in unfortunately significant fiber-architecture and -strength damage. This study tries to explore damage-less near-net shaping technique by preform densification before hot-pressing in Nano-Infiltration and Transient Eutectic-phase (NITE) process. In particular, effects of preform densification for the damage-less near-net shaping, important influencing elements such as fiber-architecture, microstructural integrity and homogeneity, and composite's mechanical properties were evaluated using simple shaped (plate) and complex shaped composites. The preform densification demonstrated protective fiber-architecture in complex shaped composites and enhanced composites' density to 2.77/cm3 and ultimate bending strength to ~200 MPa in simple shaped composites, owing to significantly reduced volumetric shrinkage.

NITE-SiC, SiC/SiC qualification of environmental resistance in various conditions is on-going toward early utilization in advanced energy and aero-space systems. Multi-layered SiC/SiC composites for preventing environmental attacks to pyrocarbon interphase was provided. Thermal exposure test in air and liquid metal(Pb and Li-Pb) compatibility test were carried out. It was confirmed the significant loss of PyC interphase in SiC/SiC composites. In case of Li-Pb-layered SiC/SiC composites, an attack of air and liquid metal has been sucessfuly supressed by surface SiC layer

For nuclear and fusion materials R&D, high dose neutron irradiation at very high temperature is one of the most important and challenging techniques. As the part of Japan/EU Broader Approach (BA) program for fusion, International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility/Engineering Validation and Engineering Design Activities (IFMIF/EVEDA) project is on-going. Where, High Flux Test Module (HFTM) design aiming up to 1000°C has been intensively investigated. Innovative SiC/SiC and tungsten embedded SiC/SiC (W/SiC/SiC) heaters have been recognized potential and promising candidates. These heaters were fabricated successfully by NITE method and were evaluated. The SiC/SiC heater showed weak temperature dependence up to 1000°C on in-plane electrical conductivity. Irradiation capsule for heater performance evaluation under neutron irradiation in Belgian Reactor 2 (BR2) is also under preparation. The results of heater performance and basic properties evaluation and of underlying microstructure behavior analysis are provided.

Although, SiC/SiC composites are very attractive for applications at high-temperature including advanced nuclear fusion/fission plants, their high material cost has been one of biggest issues to be utilized. In the neutron irradiation environments, high crystallinity of SiC fibers and matrix is essential to stabilize the mechanical properties, but the expensive crystallized SiC fibers may enhance the cost of material. As a potential option from the cost down aspect, utilization of amorphous SiC fibers was planned. This paper concerns about the radiation damage tolerance of SiC/SiC with amorphous SiC fibers as starting reinforcing fibers. The crystallization procedure of amorphous SiC fibers was investigated during thermal treatments, and a new NITE-SiC/SiC, called as IC-NITE (IC stands for in-situ crystallized), composite was produced. Its radiation damage behaviour and microstructural stability were examined by a heavy ion irradiation experiment and TEM.

For fusion energy realization, attractive energy conversion system and fuel supply system are essentially required. The current ITER test blanket module study has dual coolant lithium lead (DCLL) system as the attractive blanket option. The concept of making ceramic thermal insulation panels for DCLL blanket has been presented, however, realistic material systems have not been proven so far. This work is trying to present the porous SiC/SiC thermal insulation panel based on the current NITE-method technology. Typical panels with through thickness and in-plane channels and porosities tailored were designed, fabricated and evaluated, successfully. Thermal conductivity of those panels were controlled, as designed, and the tailoring capability of thermal conductivity by NITE-method was presented. This concept and technology can satisfy the basic material requirements as well as economical requirements and large scale production requirements.

ITER project is progressing and the structural material of the blanket will be conventional stainless steels. In the future, the SiC/SiC composites will be employed as the important part of the reactor. Main construction of the reactor will be keep stainless steels such as SUS316L and RAFM steels, the interface technology of SiC and steels will be essential. There are many situation of to connect the SiC component and steel structures, the development of technology for the connecting is not enough. Mismatch of coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) prevent the simple diffusion bonding of plates, normally insert materials are used to absorb the mismatch of the CTE. There is a possibility to use the CTE mismatch for the connecting, and in present research, some fundamental researches of potential techniques to connect SiC/SiC composites and steels using the metallurgical method have been developed and investigated.