Structure determination of the rutile-TiO2(110)-(1 × 2) surface using total-reflection high-energy positron diffraction (TRHEPD).

The exact structure of the rutile-TiO2(110)-(1 × 2) surface, which had been under debate over the past 30 years, was investigated using the newly developed technique of total-reflection high-energy positron diffraction (TRHEPD), which is a positron counterpart of reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED). The rocking-curves for the 00-spot obtained from the experimental diffraction patterns were compared to the curves for various models calculated with a full-dynamical theory. It was found that the rocking-curves matched those for a surface consisting of a Ti2O3 configuration, originally suggested by Onishi and Iwasawa [H. Onishi and Y. Iwasawa, Surf. Sci., 1994, 313, L783], but with a further modification of atomic positions close to the ones proposed by Wang et al. [Q. Wang, A. R. Oganov, Q. Zhu and X. F. Zhou, Phys. Rev. Lett., 2014, 113, 266101]. This result demonstrates that TRHEPD can distinguish between the existence and absence of the oxygen atoms on the topmost surface, and between the Ti atoms residing in positions at the interstitial-vertical sites and those at interstitial-horizontal sites.

S-1 as adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer: a randomized phase III study (ACTS-CC trial).

BACKGROUND: S-1 is an oral fluoropyrimidine whose antitumor effects have been demonstrated in treating various gastrointestinal cancers, including metastatic colon cancer, when administered as monotherapy or in combination chemotherapy. We conducted a randomized phase III study investigating the efficacy of S-1 as adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer by evaluating its noninferiority to tegafur-uracil plus leucovorin (UFT/LV). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients aged 20-80 years with curatively resected stage III colon cancer were randomly assigned to receive S-1 (80-120 mg/day on days 1-28 every 42 days; four courses) or UFT/LV (UFT: 300-600 mg/day and LV: 75 mg/day on days 1-28 every 35 days; five courses). The primary end point was disease-free survival (DFS) at 3 years. RESULTS: A total of 1518 patients (758 and 760 in the S-1 and UFT/LV group, respectively) were included in the full analysis set. The 3-year DFS rate was 75.5% and 72.5% in the S-1 and UFT/LV group, respectively. The stratified hazard ratio for DFS in the S-1 group compared with the UFT/LV group was 0.85 (95% confidence interval: 0.70-1.03), demonstrating the noninferiority of S-1 (noninferiority stratified log-rank test, P < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, no significant interactions were identified between the major baseline characteristics and the treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant chemotherapy using S-1 for stage III colon cancer was confirmed to be noninferior in DFS compared with UFT/LV. S-1 could be a new treatment option as adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer. CLINICALTRIALSGOV: NCT00660894.

Safety of UFT/LV and S-1 as adjuvant therapy for stage III colon cancer in phase III trial: ACTS-CC trial.

BACKGROUND: The Adjuvant Chemotherapy Trial of TS-1 for Colon Cancer (ACTS-CC) is a phase III trial designed to validate the non-inferiority of S-1 to UFT/leucovorin (LV) as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer. We report the results of a planned safety analysis. METHODS: Patients aged 20-80 years with curatively resected stage III colon cancer were randomly assigned to receive UFT/LV (UFT, 300 mg m(-2) per day as tegafur; LV, 75 mg per day on days 1-28, every 35 days, 5 courses) or S-1 (80, 100, or 120 mg per day on days 1-28, every 42 days, 4 courses). Treatment status and safety were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 1535 enrolled patients, a total of 1504 (756 allocated to S-1 and 748 to UFT/LV) were analysed. The completion rate of protocol treatment was 77% in the S-1 group and 73% in the UFT/LV group. The overall incidence of adverse events (AEs) were 80% in S-1 and 74% in UFT/LV. Stomatitis, anorexia, hyperpigmentation, and haematological toxicities were common in S-1, whereas increased alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were common in UFT/LV. The incidences of grade 3 AEs were 16% and 14%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although AE profiles differed between the groups, feasibility of the protocol treatment was good. Both S-1 and UFT/LV could be safely used as adjuvant chemotherapy.

Emission of low-energy positronium from alkali-metal coated single-crystal tungsten surfaces.

We have measured the time-of-flight of ortho-positronium emitted from Cs-, Na- and Li-coated single-crystal tungsten surfaces. The data obtained after the coating show a new positronium energy component with a specific energy loss in addition to the component whose emission energy is simply determined by the positron and the electron work functions. We suggest that this new component is attributed to the formation of positronium accompanied by inter-band transition and/or surface plasmon excitation at the surfaces.

Molecular cloning of a novel CC chemokine, interleukin-11 receptor alpha-locus chemokine (ILC), which is located on chromosome 9p13 and a potential homologue of a CC chemokine encoded by molluscum contagiosum virus.

Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) encodes a CC chemokine MC148R which is likely to have been acquired from the host. By a homology search employing MC148R as a probe, we have identified a novel CC chemokine whose gene exists next to the IL-11 receptor alpha (IL-11Ralpha) gene in both humans and mice. Thus, this chemokine maps to chromosome 9p13 in humans where IL-11Ralpha has been assigned. We term this novel chemokine IL-11Ralpha-locus chemokine (ILC). ILC has the highest homology to MC148R among the known human CC chemokines. Furthermore, ILC is strongly and selectively expressed in the skin where infection of MCV also takes place. Thus, ILC is likely to be the original chemokine of MC148R.

Ultrastructural studies on the formation and distribution of lipid droplets in the lung capillary endothelial cells in patients with sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE WORK: We previously reported the presence of definite morphological alterations in the capillary endothelium of sarcoid lung. The aim of this study was to examine ultrastructural changes and distribution of lipid droplets in the endothelium of lung capillaries of patients with sarcoidosis. METHODS: Tissue specimens were obtained by transbronchial lung biopsy or open lung biopsy from 16 patients with sarcoidosis and 13 controls. Biopsies were evaluated by electron microscopy following lead citrate and uranyl acetate staining. RESULTS: Typical lipid droplets were observed in pulmonary capillaries of 11 out of 16 sarcoid patients (69%); the droplet frequency was higher in sarcoid patients than in control specimens. Lipid droplets were characterized by biphasic density: most droplets contained eccentrically located vacuoles (saturated fatty acids) others were characterized by low density areas (unsaturated fatty acids). Biphasic droplets were covered by large lysosomal granules and were mainly distributed in the endothelium and pericytes. Interestingly, in the latter, vacuoles increased in size while small amounts of lysosomal granules were detectable. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that biphasic droplets increase in number in pulmonary capillaries of patients with sarcoidosis with a characteristic distribution pattern from the endothelium to pericytes.

Cholangiographic study of the pancreaticobiliary ductal junction in biliary atresia.

The size and arrangement of each component of pancreaticobiliary ductal junction was investigated in 28 cases with biliary atresia in which cholangiography allowed visualization of the common bile duct, pancreatic duct, and duodenum and in which relevant data were available. As controls, seven cases of neonatal hepatitis and eight cases of intrahepatic bile duct hypoplasia were also studied. The following results were obtained. (1) The diameter of the common bile duct was shortest in biliary atresia, the value corresponding to about one-third of that for neonatal hepatitis. (2) The common bile duct was visualized in 100% of cases of intrahepatic bile duct hypoplasia and 78% of cases of biliary atresia, whereas the corresponding percentage was only 43% for neonatal hepatitis. The mean length of the common channel in cases of biliary atresia and that of intrahepatic bile duct hypoplasia was about 5 mm, which was longer than that of neonatal hepatitis. (3) The pancreatic duct type, in which the pancreatic duct merged into the bile duct, was frequent in cases of biliary atresia.

Portal hypertension after successful hepatic portoenterostomy in biliary atresia.

From 1953 through 1984, we have operated on 225 cases of biliary atresia, and 95 patients are presently surviving. Portal hypertension with esophageal varices was endoscopically confirmed in 26 of 66 patients (39%) examined, 14 with and 52 without jaundice. All these patients except two had had frequent episodes of postoperative cholangitis. Eight patients have undergone treatment for portal hypertension. The treatment for variceal bleeding in jaundice-free infants with biliary atresia should be initiated conservatively, including endoscopic sclerotherapy. The results of our experience, however, justifies the employment of shunt procedures for patients older than 6 or 7 years of age.

Reoperation in patients with biliary atresia.

Twenty-seven reoperations were done on 23 patients among 100 infants with biliary atresia who have been treated at Tohoku University Hospital between 1971 and 1981. Nineteen patients had a single reoperation and 4 patients had 2 reoperations. We present the results and the role of reoperation in biliary atresia patients in our institution. Excellent bile drainage after reoperation was obtained in 13 of 15 patients with good bile flow after the initial operation. On the contrary, good bile drainage was not obtained by reoperation in 8 of 12 cases without active bile flow after the initial operation. Cessation of bile flow after successful initial operation is an absolute indication for reoperation. Aggressive reoperations under proper indications improve the surgical results in biliary atresia patients.

Surgical limitation for biliary atresia: indication for liver transplantation.

Of 245 patients undergoing corrective operations for biliary atresia, jaundice was cleared in 113. In January 1988, 84 of them were living and free of jaundice and the other 19 were alive with jaundice. A vast majority of long-term survivors showed normal growth and development, and were leading normal lives for their respective ages. Portal hypertension, a common late complication, improved spontaneously or after sclerotherapy in jaundice-free patients. Therefore, liver transplantation is not recommended for jaundice-free patients even with esophageal varices. Patients with persistent severe jaundice (serum bilirubin over 10 mg/dL) and those with moderate jaundice (serum bilirubin 5 to 10 mg/dL) and severe esophageal varices require liver transplantation. Patients with moderate jaundice having no or slight varices should be carefully followed. When varices become worse or serum bilirubin rises, liver transplantation is indicated. Patients with mild jaundice (serum bilirubin lower than 5 mg/dL) have a possibility of improvement in their condition before the age of 15 years, and are not recommended for liver transplantation. The high value of the lowest postoperative bilirubin level suggests the necessity of liver transplantation in early childhood. Liver transplantation as the primary treatment for biliary atresia may be indicated only for patients over 120 days of age with an enlarged and hard liver.

[A statistical approach to Yatabe-Guilford personality inventory and manifest anxiety scale of the elderly].

In nursing, if we know an elderly person's mental condition, and that which does not make him/her too tired, this method can be very useful. Using this method we predicted the MAS score from scores of Y-G scales. We obtained the MAS score results by the following formula: MAS score not equal to 0.31 X Lack of objectivity +0.41 X Inferiority feelings -0.15 X Ascendance +0.34 X Y-G Nervousness +0.30 X Y-G Depression +9.54.

[Antibacterial and bactericidal activity of tinidazole against anaerobic bacteria comparing with metronidazole (author's transl)].

Antibacterial activity of tinidazole (1-2-(ethylsulfonyl)-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole) against anaerobic bacteria including Peptococcus, Peptostreptococcus, Eubacterium, Propionibacterium, Bacteroides and Fusobacterium was studied by agar dilution method comparing with metronidazole. In addition to this work, bactericidal effect of tinidazole and metronidazole against P. prevotii, B. fragilis ss. fragilis and F. varium was examined by quantitative culture method after incubation in GAM broth containing of 4 MIC, 2 MIC, 1 MIC and 1/2 MIC of both drugs against each of three strains for 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours. All the strains of Peptococcus and Peptostreptococcus including P. anaerobius, P. saccharolyticus, P. prevotii and Ps. anaerobius and others were susceptible to a concentration of 6.25 mcg/ml of this drug. A concentration of 3.13 mcg/ml inhibited all strains of Bacteroides including B. fragilis ss. fragilis (12 strains), ss. vulgatus (5 strains), ss. thetaiotaomicron (4 strains) and ss. distasonis (2 strains). To this concentration all strains of Fusobacterium including F. varium (20 strains), F. mortiferum (2 strains) and other Fusobacterium sp. (5 strains) were susceptible. On the contrary, Propionibacterium acnes (6 strains) was resistant to 100 mcg/ml or more of tinidazole and metronidazole. The antibacterial activity of tinidazole was stronger against Bacteroides than that of metronidazole, while almost equal against Peptococcus, Peptostreptococcus, Eubacterium and Fusobacterium. Tinidazole was bactericidal against F. varium in a concentration of 2 MIC till 24 hours of incubation but did not show such an activity on B. fragilis ss. fragilis in same concentration even after 12 hours of incubation. On the other hand, metronidazole was bactericidal against B. fragilis ss. fragilis while was not against F. varium. Against P. prevotii bactericidal activity of both drugs was similar. Tinidazole as well as metronidazole is an excellent chemotherapeutic agent against anaerobic bacteria excluding Propionibacterium acnes and Bifidobacterium adolescentis.

[Capillary endothelial cells in sarcoidosis--electron microscopic findings].

The distribution of von Willebrand (vW) factor, thrombomodulin (TM) and fibronectin (FN) in the capillary endothelial cells of the lung of patients with sarcoidosis was investigated using their monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies. The vW factor showed strong reaction with exudation towards outside and irregular dilatation or occlusion in the capillary walls surrounded sarcoid granulomas and capillaries in the remote area. The area showing alveolitis disclosed also strong reaction with exudation by vW factor. TM having a anti-coagulating function showed a very low reactivity in the lung tissues with or without of granulomas in sarcoidosis at light microscopic level, but in electron microscopically, strong reaction and broad distribution in capillary endothelial cells, involving luminal occlusion and reaction in subendothelial region. FN showed new and many capillaries formation in the growing collagenous tissues between the old sarcoid granulomas suggesting neocapillarization originating from endothelial cells. These findings suggest that the capillary endothelial cells participate strongly in formal genesis of sarcoid granulomas.