Morphological analysis of the human sperm tail during the early post-fertilization stage.

After fertilization, the human sperm tail lost its fibrous sheath at the pronuclear stage to become coiled and then attached to one of the first mitotic spindle poles. The tip of the sperm tail was branched and its degree did not change from the pronuclear stage to the second mitosis.

Adsorption Characteristics and Mechanical Responses of Lubricants Containing Polymer Additives under Fluid Lubrication with a Narrow Gap.

The adsorption behavior of poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA)-based polymer additives and their mechanical response under fluid lubrication in narrow gaps were investigated by using neutron reflectometry, microchannel devices, and the narrow gap viscometer. The surface adsorption layer formed by the polymer additive in a stationary field that was investigated by neutron reflectometry was only about 3 nm thick. On the other hand, when the sample oil containing the polymer additive was flowed into the microchannel device with channels about 500 nm deep, the adsorption layer grew over a long period of time and eventually formed a layer that appeared to be more than 100 nm thick. The mechanical response was measured during one-directional rotation with a constant gap length by using the narrow gap viscometer. The results showed that the effective viscosity increased in the low shear rate range. The same behavior was also observed in the reciprocating rotational tests, where the mechanical response showed a distinctive distortion only when the shear rate was low near 0 rpm. The results of the neutron reflectometer, incorporating the narrow gap viscometer, showed no effect of the rotational speed with regard to the structure of the homogeneous layer over a large area. However, the discrepancy between the reflectivity profile and the fitting curve became progressively more pronounced with time, confirming the formation of inhomogeneous structures with time. It is finally suggested that the inhomogeneous structure is due to the formation of local aggregates by PMA molecules, and it acts as flow resistance only in the low shear rate, resulting in an increase in effective viscosity.

Enhancement of the mechanical properties of organic-inorganic hybrid elastomers by introducing movable and reversible crosslinks.

Organic-inorganic materials have been widely utilized in various fields as multifunctional materials. Poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS), a typical inorganic polymer, has industrially appealing functions, such as transparency, biocompatibility, and gas permeability; however, it has poor mechanical properties. We incorporated organic-inorganic hybrid elastomers (PDMS-γCD-AAl⊃P(EA-HEMA) (x)) with movable crosslinks, and we utilized hydrogen bonds as reversible crosslinks. The organic polymer poly ethyl acrylate-r-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate (P(EA-HEMA)) penetrated the cavity of triacetylated γ-cyclodextrin (γCD), which was introduced into the side chains of PDMS, and it compounded with PDMS at the nanoscale. Structural studies involving visual and X-ray scattering measurements revealed that movable crosslinks improved the compatibility levels of PDMS and acrylate copolymers. However, macroscopic phase separation occurred when the number of reversible crosslinks increased. Furthermore, studies on the mobility levels of acrylate copolymers and movable crosslinks indicated that the relaxation behaviour of PDMS-γCD-AAl⊃P(EA-HEMA) (x) changed with changing numbers of reversible crosslinks. Introducing reversible crosslinks improved the Young's modulus and toughness values. The movable and reversible crosslinks between the organic and inorganic polymers contributed to the high elongation properties. The design of PDMS-γCD-AAl⊃P(EA-HEMA) (x) incorporated cooperatively movable and reversible crosslinks to achieve high compatibility of immiscible polymers and to control the mechanical properties.

Long-term hepatic function of patients with compensated cirrhosis following successful direct-acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have contributed to the improvement of outcomes for all patients with chronic hepatitis C. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term hepatic benefits of hepatitis C virus (HCV) cure by DAAs in patients with compensated cirrhosis. METHODS: This multicenter cohort study consisted of consecutive patients with compensated cirrhosis who initiated interferon-free DAA treatment before September 2016. The impact of treatment on long-term hepatic function was followed for at least 4 years after the end of treatment, and the progression to decompensation was evaluated. RESULTS: The data of 394 patients were available for study. The median age was 70, and 41% had modified albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade 2b. During a short-term follow-up 1 year after the end of treatment, FIB-4 index and ALBI score significantly improved. The achievement rates of FIB-4 < 3.25 (40%) and ALBI grade 1 (70%) reached their plateau in the first year; however, there were significant further improvements in platelet count and α-fetoprotein level after the first year. The annual incidence of decompensation was 1.30 (95% confidence interval 0.83-2.02) per 100 person-years. In multivariable analysis, male sex and modified ALBI grade 2b at baseline were associated with decompensation. CONCLUSIONS: In a large real-world cohort of patients with compensated cirrhosis treated with a DAA, remarkable improvement in hepatic function was seen after HCV cure, especially during the first year after the end of treatment. Treatment in the early stage of cirrhosis would be of great benefit for preventing liver deterioration to decompensation.

Long-term assessment of recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C after viral cure by direct-acting antivirals.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence is common, even after achieving hepatitis C virus (HCV) cure. This study was carried out to assess the long-term trends and predictors of recurrence after HCV cure by direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). METHODS: This retrospective, multicenter cohort study enrolled 365 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C who required HCC treatment following sustained viral response (SVR) by DAA administration. Patients with HCC recurrence before SVR were excluded. Late HCC recurrence and its predictors beyond the post-treatment early phase (24 weeks after SVR) were evaluated. RESULTS: The data of 326 patients were available for the final analysis. The median follow-up duration from SVR determination was 2.7 years. Median age was 74, and 220 (67.5%) were 70 or over. The corresponding 5-year cumulative HCC recurrence rates of previous curative and palliative treatment groups were 45.4% and 65.7%, respectively (log-rank test: P < 0.001). Cox regression multivariable analysis revealed that cirrhosis (hazard ratio [HR] 1.85, P = 0.021), the number of HCC nodules (≥ 2) (HR 1.52, P = 0.031), and previous palliative HCC treatment (HR 1.71, P = 0.012) were independent predictors of late recurrence, in addition to the predictors of early recurrence; AFP > 7 ng/mL at 12 weeks after DAA administration, time from HCC complete response (CR) to DAA initiation (< 1 year), and the number of HCC treatments necessary to achieve CR (≥ 2). CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of fibrosis and characteristics of the previous HCC would allow for better HCC recurrence stratification, which would be helpful for developing long-term surveillance strategies.

First mitotic spindle formation is led by sperm centrosome-dependent MTOCs in humans.

Unlike in mice, multinucleated blastomeres appear at a high frequency in the two-cell-stage embryos in humans. In this Point of View article, we demonstrate that the first mitotic spindle formation led by sperm centrosome-dependent microtubule organizing centers may cause a high incidence of zygotic division errors using human tripronuclear zygotes.

Chromosomal analyses of human giant diploid oocytes by next-generation sequencing.

PURPOSE: Although giant oocytes (GOs) having about twice cytoplasmic volume compared with general oocytes in mammals including the human are rarely recovered, it is thought that GOs have potentially chromosomal abnormalities. The aim of the present study was to assess chromosome numbers in chromosome-spindle complexes (CSCs) and polar bodies of human GOs by using micromanipulation for sampling and next-generation sequencing (NGS) for analyses of the chromosome numbers. METHODS: When recovered oocytes whose cytoplasm has lager than 140 µm or above, the oocytes were defined as GOs, and recovered GOs were vitrified. After warming, the CSCs, polar bodies, and enucleated cytoplasm were collected by micromanipulation from 3 GOs. The collected samples were analyzed by NGS. RESULTS: Chromosomal aneuploidy in the GOs was confirmed in all the three GOs. Comparing the CSCs with the chromosomes from polar bodies, the deletion and overlapping chromosome numbers were complementary in each GO. CONCLUSIONS: The authors could collect the CSCs and the polar bodies from human GOs by micromanipulation, and then could analyze the chromosome numbers of the GOs by NGS method. As our data suggest that human GOs have chromosomal abnormalities, GOs should be excluded from clinical purpose as gamete sources for embryo transfer in the human.

Oral administration of spa-derived green alga improves insulin resistance in overweight subjects: Mechanistic insights from fructose-fed rats.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their receptor (RAGE) system evoke inflammatory reactions and insulin resistance in adipocytes. Spa-derived green alga Mucidosphaerium sp. (MS) had anti-inflammatory properties in vitro. We examined here whether and how MS could ameliorate insulin resistance in fructose-rich diet-fed rats, and conducted a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effects of MS on insulin resistance in overweight subjects. Oral administration of MS for 8 weeks significantly decreased random blood glucose, and fasting insulin, oxidative stress levels, and improved homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values in fructose-fed rats, which were associated with the reduction of AGEs, RAGE, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxy-guanosine, NADPH oxidase activity, macrophage and lymphocyte infiltration, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression, and adipocyte size in the adipose tissues as well as restoration of adiponectin levels. MS decreased the AGE-induced NADPH oxidase activity, ROS generation, MCP-1 and RAGE gene expression, and lipid accumulation in differentiated adipocytes, while it restored the decrease in adiponectin mRNA levels. An anti-oxidant, N-acetylcysteine mimicked the effects of MS on ROS generation, RAGE gene expression, and lipid accumulation. Oral intake of MS for 12 weeks significantly decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, HDL-cholesterol and creatinine in overweight subjects. Baseline-adjusted diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR values were significantly lower in MS treatment group than in placebo. Our present findings suggest that MS may improve insulin resistance by blocking the AGE-RAGE-oxidative stress axis in the adipose tissues.

Marked heterogeneity in the diagnosis of compensated cirrhosis of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection in a real-world setting: A large, multicenter study from Japan.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The presence of cirrhosis is an important factor for the management of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and it determines the duration of treatment for HCV with the direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimen of glecaprevir (GLE) and pibrentasvir (PIB), that is, 8 or 12 weeks, if patients do not have a history of DAA failure. However, in real-world settings, determination of cirrhosis depends on the discretion of the attending hepatologists, and it is unclear whether compensated cirrhosis was homogenously diagnosed or not. In this study, we investigated the real-world diagnosis of cirrhosis by characterizing DAA-naïve patients who underwent a 12-week GLE/PIB regimen in whom cirrhosis was diagnosed, comparing their characteristics with those of patients who underwent an 8-week regimen in whom cirrhosis was absent. METHODS: In a large, multicenter cohort study, we compared background characteristics and treatment outcomes among DAA-naïve patients who underwent an 8-week versus a 12-week GLE/PIB regimen. RESULTS: Among 977 patients enrolled, 296 (30.3%) were determined to have cirrhosis and underwent a 12-week regimen. Some patient characteristics largely overlapped between the two groups, including liver fibrosis indices. Sustained viral response rates were similar between groups after adjusting liver fibrosis index with propensity score matching. CONCLUSION: Although adequately diagnosed, the determination of cirrhosis varied widely among institutions or by hepatologists in real-world settings, and the severity of liver fibrosis overlapped significantly between patients in whom compensated cirrhosis was determined to be present and patients in whom cirrhosis was absent. Virologic efficacy was similar after adjusting for the degree of liver fibrosis.

Real-world experience of 12-week direct-acting antiviral regimen of glecaprevir and pibrentasvir in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND: In clinical trials, a pangenotype direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimen consisting of glecaprevir (GLE) and pibrentasvir (PIB) exhibited high virologic efficacy and tolerability in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This study sought to confirm these findings in real-world settings, focusing on patients with cirrhosis, history of DAA failure, or HCV genotype 3 who were treated with a 12-week regimen in a large multicenter study from Japan. METHODS: In a nationwide multicenter prospective cohort study, we analyzed background characteristics, tolerability, and treatment outcome of patients who underwent a 12-week GLE/PIB regimen. RESULTS: Of 1190 patients, 509 (42.8%) underwent the 12-week regimen, and the remaining patients underwent an 8-week regimen. The rate of sustained virologic response (SVR) of patients treated with the 12-week regimen was 99.0%, comparable with that of patients treated with the 8-week regimen. The adverse events were observed in 29.1% of patients. The main adverse event was pruritus, which was observed in 14.7%. Ten patients (2.0%) discontinued therapy during treatment period. CONCLUSION: The 12-week GLE/PIB regimen was well-tolerated with high virologic efficacy in patients with cirrhosis, experience of DAA, or HCV genotype 3; tolerability and SVR rate were comparable with those of DAA-naïve, non-cirrhotic, non-genotype 3 patients who underwent 8-week regimen.

Evaluation of 8-week glecaprevir/pibrentasvir treatment in direct-acting antiviral-naïve noncirrhotic HCV genotype 1 and 2infected patients in a real-world setting in Japan.

Based on high efficacy and safety demonstrated in clinical trials, treatment with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (G/P) for 8 weeks is recommended for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients who are direct-acting antiviral (DAA) naïve, genotype 1 or 2, and noncirrhotic. The aim of this study was to validate real-world experience with 8-week G/P treatment in Japan. We conducted a prospective observational cohort study in 554 patients who underwent 8-week treatment from among 1,022 patients who initiated G/P therapy. The majority (54.5%) were male, with a median age of 66 years, and HCV genotype distribution was genotype 1, 43.8%; genotype 2, 55.3%; and mixed subtype, 0.9%. Overall, the sustained virologic response rate at 12 weeks (SVR12) was 92.8% (530/571) in the intention-to-treat population and 99.3% (526/530) in the per-protocol population. The SVR12 rates by subgroups were as follows: subtype 1a, 100% (6/6); 1b, 100% (189/189); 2a, 99.3% (150/151); 2b, 99.0% (103/104); and mixed subtype, 50% (2/4). Among four patients with virologic failure following 8-week treatment with G/P, none had baseline polymorphisms or treatment-emergent amino acid substitutions in NS3. However, 2 of 4 patients with virologic failure had treatment-emergent amino acid substitutions in NS5A. Adverse events (AEs) were reported in 21.5% of patients and 1.2% of patients discontinued due to drug-related AEs. In conclusion, G/P treatment for 8 weeks was safe and effective for DAA-naïve noncirrhotic genotype 1 or 2 patients in a real-world clinical setting in Japan.

Preclinical evaluation of a new cryopreservation container for a limited number of human spermatozoa.

The aim of this study was to develop a new container for cryopreservation of a limited number of spermatozoa. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of this new container, we performed preclinical evaluations using human sperm or mouse oocytes and sperm. First, using human sperm that was frozen and then thawed, we demonstrated that the sperm recovery rate using the new container was 96.7% (58/60), which was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the recovery rate of 21.2% (11/52) when using the Cryotop®. Sperm motility rates were 19.2% (10/52) using the Cryotop® and 35.0% (21/60) using the new container. Second, murine epididymal spermatozoa were divided into three groups: fresh spermatozoa, spermatozoa frozen using a straw, and spermatozoa frozen using the new container. Sperm motility, sperm membrane and DNA integrity, in vitro development of fertilized eggs, and offspring development after embryo transfer were assessed. The motility of freeze-thawed sperm was lower in spermatozoa that were frozen using the new container than in fresh spermatozoa or those that were frozen using a straw. After intracytoplasmic sperm injection, the survival rate was 96.7% (145/150), the 2-cell development rate was 90.3% (131/145), and the blastocyst development rate was 77.2% (112/145), when using the new container. There were no differences in the sperm membrane, DNA integrity, or in the embryo development rates to the blastocyst stage among the different frozen groups. Six offspring were derived from spermatozoa freeze-thawed in the new container, and they developed normally. Thus, the new container allows easy handling of a small number of sperms and minimizes sperm loss during cryopreservation.

The preoperative HbA1c level is an independent prognostic factor for the postoperative survival after resection of non-small cell lung cancer in elderly patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a history of diabetes mellitus (DM) and the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level on the survival in patients who underwent complete resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Of the patients who underwent complete resection for NSCLC between 2007 and 2015, 468 were classified into DM (who were currently taking medication for DM) and no DM groups as well as into high HbA1c (≥ 6.5) and normal HbA1c (< 6.5) groups. RESULTS: The overall survival (OS) did not differ significantly between either pair of groups. Among the elderly patients, the OS did not differ significantly between the DM and no DM groups, but was significantly higher in the normal-HbA1c group than in the high-HbA1c group (5-year survival rate: 84.7 versus 37.2%, respectively, p < 0.01). In the elderly patients, non-adenocarcinoma histology, advanced stage, a high Charlson comorbidity index, and a high preoperative HbA1c level were found to be independent risk factors for the OS. CONCLUSION: We revealed that a high preoperative HbA1c level was associated with a poor OS in elderly patients who underwent complete resection for NSCLC. This suggests that it is necessary to achieve diabetic control prior to complete resection in NSCLC patients.

Changes in exercise tolerance and quality of life are unrelated in lung cancer survivors who undergo video-assisted thoracic surgery.

[Purpose] The associations between changes in respiratory function, exercise tolerance, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with lung cancer who undergo lobectomy using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between exercise tolerance and QOL in patients who underwent VATS. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-six patients with lung cancer were followed for 3 months after VATS. Patients were evaluated before and 1, 4, and 12 weeks after surgery. Respiratory function, grip strength, and knee extension strength, as well as the results of timed up and go, 6-minute walk, and cardiopulmonary exercise tests, were evaluated using the 36-item short-form health survey. Longitudinal changes in physical performance and QOL were analyzed, as was the relationship between the change in physical function and QOL. [Results] The physical and social aspects of QOL significantly decreased at week 4 post-surgery, but recovered to pre-surgical levels by week 12. In contrast, physical (non-respiratory) function recovered to pre-surgical levels by week 4. There was no correlation between the percentages of change in QOL and those related to physical function. [Conclusion] Our preliminary study highlights the fact that early recovery of physical function is possible after VATS, but does not necessarily correlate with early QOL recovery. It is therefore necessary to perform perioperative interventions to promptly restore QOL after surgery.

Effectiveness and safety of daclatasvir plus asunaprevir for patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b aged 75 years and over with or without cirrhosis.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 24-week daclatasvir (NS5A inhibitor) plus asunaprevir (NS3/4 A protease inhibitor) treatment for elderly patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b infection. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter study consisted of 321 Japanese HCV genotype 1b patients who were interferon-ineligible/intolerant or non-responders to interferon-based regimens, including 103 (32.1%) aged ≥75 years and 127 (39.6%) with cirrhosis. Sustained virological response (SVR) at 24 weeks after the end of treatment and adverse effects were analyzed according to age. RESULTS: The overall SVR rate was 90.3%. In terms of by age, 94.5% (69/73), 88.3% (128/145), and 90.3% (93/103) of the patients aged <65, 65-74, and ≥75 years, respectively, achieved SVR. For the entire cohort, pre-existent NS5A resistance-associated variants and prior simeprevir failure were independently associated with treatment failure. According to the analysis of patients without these unfavorable pretreatment factors, 90.8% (89/98) aged ≥75 years achieved SVR, although this was significantly lower than for those aged <65 years (98.5%, 66/67) (P < 0.05). The frequency of adverse effects was comparable for the <75 and ≥75 age groups, the most common being an elevated alanine aminotransferase level (>150 U/L, 8.7%), however, no decompensating events were seen. CONCLUSIONS: Daclatasvir plus asunaprevir for HCV genotype 1b was well tolerated and effective for patients without pre-existent NS5A resistance-associated variants or simeprevir failure, irrespective of fibrosis status. However, it was less effective for very old patients aged ≥75 years compared to those aged <65.

[Endobronchial Watanabe Spigot in Treating Pleural Empyema with Fistula].

For pleural empyema with fistula, fenestration and subsequent omental plombage, and thoracoplasty are frequently necessary. A 57-year-old man was transported by ambulance because of impaired consciousness and septic shock due to pleural empyema on the right caused by a ruptured lung abscess. We performed empyema curettage urgently, drained 800 ml of purulent pleural effusion, and inserted 3 chest tubes. Postoperative air leakage from the ruptured lung abscess of the middle lobe was noted, and respiratory failure was prolonged. We inserted an Endobronchial Watanabe Spigot (EWS) into bronchus B5b on postoperative day 11. The air leak stopped, and the inflammatory response was gradually reduced. Computed tomography revealed decrease in free air space. We removed the chest tubes on postoperative day 35, and was able to wean off the ventilator on postoperative day 60. He was discharged on postoperative day 102. Bronchial plombage with EWS is a procedure of choice in treating pleural empyema with fistula caused by pulmonary abscess rupture, and can avoid fenestration in these patients.

[Prediction of Pleural Adherence Area Used by Ultrasound Sonography].

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has been used to treat lung cancer. However, pleural adhesions may increase the risk of lung injury while making the access port. We report a case of lung cancer in which preoperative lung ultrasound sonography was used to predict the pleural adherence area. An octogenarian man had undergone chest surgery for right spontaneous pneumothorax 20 years ago. He was recently diagnosed with a right middle lobe carcinoma and thoracoscopic surgery was scheduled. On preoperative lung ultrasound sonography, adhesion in the area surrounding the previous incision line was predicted to be strong. However, a sliding lung sign was observed in the pleura on the caudal side, where no adhesions were expected. The thoracoscopic findings during the operation revealed that adhesions were present in the upper and middle regions of the pleural cavity in the locations and to the extent predicted before surgery, but no adhesion was observed on the caudal side. We were able to make an access port avoiding the adherence area in the pleural cavity. Lung ultrasound sonography was useful for detection of the adherence area between the parietal and visceral pleura in this case.

Patent blue interferes with the measurement of lipemia index in a patient with sentinel lymph node.

Lipids interfere with absorbance measurements conducted using colorimetric methods. To monitor lipemia, some systems measure absorbance using an analyzer. This report describes a novel case of interference with the lipemia index without lipemia. A 64-year-old woman with giant basal cell carcinoma underwent resection and sentinel lymph node biopsy. The patient had been subcutaneously injected with patent blue during sentinel lymph node resection. After surgery, her serum and urine were yellow-green, and the lipemia index, calculated by measuring absorbance at 658 nm (main wavelength) and 694 nm (secondary wavelength) using a JCA-BM8040 chemistry analyzer, was high. The absorbance spectrum of the patient's serum and patent blue solution were compared to determine the cause of the high lipemia index. The patient's serum and the patent blue solution showed absorption at wavelengths between 540 and 698 nm. Moreover, the absorbance was concentration-dependent for patent blue. These results thus indicated that the patient's serum contained patent blue. Here, we report a case wherein patent blue affected the lipemia index. Thus, it must be noted that patent blue injection may yield inaccurate results when evaluating lipemia index.

Significance of hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma with sustained virological response to interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

AIM: A sustained virological response (SVR) to interferon (IFN) therapy for chronic hepatitis C decreases but does not eliminate the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The significance of hepatectomy for HCC in patients with SVR has not been clarified. The short- and long-term outcomes of hepatectomy for HCC in patients with SVR were studied. METHODS: From 2006-2011, 69 patients with chronic hepatitis C underwent hepatic resection for primary HCC in our hospital. Of these, 12 patients (17.4%) had SVR to IFN therapy at the time of hepatectomy. The clinicopathological factors and long-term outcomes of these patients were retrospectively reviewed and were compared with those of patients without SVR. RESULTS: The mean time from achievement of SVR to diagnosis of HCC was 62 months (range, 7-174). The histological inflammation of liver parenchyma had improved after IFN therapy in SVR cases. The preoperative serum alanine transaminase, albumin and prothrombin time were significantly preserved in patients with SVR. Intraoperative blood loss and blood transfusion rate were lower, and recurrence-free survival rate was significantly higher, in patients with SVR. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing hepatectomy for HCC, those with SVR had better perioperative safety and a more favorable long-term prognosis than those without SVR.

Neutron reflectometry under high shear in narrow gap for tribology study.

An operando analysis method has been established for evaluating the interfacial structure of an adsorbed layer formed by an additive on a metal surface under fluid lubricated conditions. A parallel-face narrow gap viscometer installed in an energy-resolved neutron reflectometer is used to evaluate the change in the interfacial structure under high shear. The viscometer was designed to operate at a high shear rate while maintaining a µm-order constant gap between two parallel surfaces. When an additive-free base oil was sandwiched in the gap, the neutron reflectivity profiles without and with upper surface rotation were the same. This demonstrates that the reflectivity profiles can be accurately measured regardless of whether the upper surface is rotated. When a base oil containing a polymethacrylate-based additive was sandwiched in the gap, both the thickness and density of the adsorbed additive layer in the rotation (shear field) condition were lower than those in the non-rotation (static) condition. This demonstrates that the proposed method can be used to analyse the structural changes in the adsorbed layer formed by an oil additive on a surface. This combination of a neutron reflectometer and narrow gap viscometer is a promising approach to near-future tribological studies.