Reaction Gas Ratio Effect on the Growth of a Diamond Film Using Microwave Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition.

In this study, diamond films were prepared using the microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) system, which included a DC bias system to enhance the nucleation of the films. The films were synthesized on Si wafers with different ratios of methane (CH4) and hydrogen (H2) gases. We have studied the effects of the CH4-to-H2 ratio on the structural and optical properties of diamond films. The thickness and surface profile of the films were characterized via field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Raman was used to investigate the structural properties of the diamond films. The refractive indexes as functions of the CH4-to-H2 ratio were measured using an ellipsometer. The FE-SEM analysis showed that the 3 and 5 sccm CH4 created diamond films. The Raman analysis indicated that a nanocrystalline diamond film was formed at 3 sccm; a general diamond film, at 5 sccm; and films similar to the a-C:H film, at 7 sccm. The ellipsometer measurement showed that the refractive index of the synthesized diamond film was around 2.42 at 3 sccm. This value decreased as the CH4 volume increased.

Cloning and characterization of one member of the chalcone synthase gene family from Solanum tuberosum L.

We have isolated a chalcone synthase gene 2 (ST-CHS2) from potato by rapid amplification of cDNA ends by PCR. CHS2 cDNA had high homology to tomato LET-CHS2 (98%), petunia PHCHSJ (94%), potato ST-CHS1B (92%), petunia PHCHSA (92%), and LET-CHS1 (90%) at the overall 389-amino acid level. Genomic hybridization analysis indicated that CHS genes of potato comprise a family of at least six individual members.

A Case of Intracardiac Lymphoma as a Presentation of Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Lymphomatous involvement of the heart is extremely rare at initial diagnosis and presentation of malignant lymphoma. Worldwide, only a few cases have been diagnosed and treated during life and only four cases were diagnosed before death in Korea. We report a case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with two right atrial masses detected by chest computed tomography and transesophageal echocardiography. The patient was an 80 year- old man and the presenting symptoms included generalized weakness, weight loss, constipation and low abdominal pain. For diagnosis, the mass of the perinephric area was biopsied under ultrasonographic guidance, and pathologically it was determined to be malignant lymphoma, diffuse large B cell type. The patient was treated with continuous low dose cyclophosphamide and prednisolone vice standard chemotherapy because of advanced age and renal dysfunction. After 2 months of treatment the masses in the atrium and the intraabdominal masses disappeared.

Three cases of congenital hepatic fibrosis with Caroli's disease in three siblings.

Congenital hepatic fibrosis is a relatively rare disease of children and young adults characterized by hard hepatomegaly, portal hypertension with relative preservation of liver function and underlying architecture, and frequent renal involvement. We experienced 3 cases of congenital hepatic fibrosis with Caroli's disease in 3 siblings, whose clinical manifestations were diverse, such as repeated cholangitis, variceal hemorrhage, or intrahepatic stones. All of them had multiple renal cysts, so we supposed that the clinical entities of these patients were in the spectrum of fibropolycystic disease of the liver and kidney.

Expression of the hepatitis B surface S and preS2 antigens in tubers of Solanum tuberosum.

In an attempt to develop an edible vaccine, we transformed a recombinant hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene encoding the middle protein of HBV that contains the surface S and preS2 antigen into potato by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The HBV gene was under control of either the CaMV 35S promoter, the double 35S promoter with the AlMV 5' non-translated leader sequence, or the tuber-specific patatin promoter. HBV mRNA levels were higher with the 35S promoter than with the double 35S and patatin promoters; however, the levels of the S and preS2 antigen in the transformed tubers were higher with the patatin promoter than with the CaMV 35S and double promoters. The levels of preS2 antigen produced are the highest reported to date. Transgenic potato tubers were fed to mice, and the mice showed an immune response against the HBV S antigen.