Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Analysis of Hydrothermal Reactions of Ethyl- and Octylamine in Sub- and Supercritical Water.

Hydrothermal reactions of aliphatic amines have recently gained importance in relation to the application of amines as film-forming corrosion inhibitors for steam-water cycles. The kinetics and mechanism of the hydrothermal reactions of ethylammomiun cation (EtAH+) and n-octylammonium cation (OctAH+) were studied for comparison with the corresponding neutral amines to elucidate their reaction products and pathways at sub- and supercritical temperatures of 300-400 °C as model reactions of aliphatic ammonium cations. We analyzed the reaction of 13C-15N-labeled EtAH+ using NMR spectroscopy and revealed that the initial hydrolysis to ethanol, known as the main path, is followed by the elimination reaction producing ethene and the disproportionation reaction giving diethylammonium cation. The OctAH+ yields octene and octanol, each of which isomerizes to thermodynamically more stable species as the major products. Comparisons were made between the reactions of the neutral amines and ammonium cations to highlight their different reactivity. The hydrolysis, alkene formation, and dehydration of alcohols to alkenes were all found to be accelerated at low pH. The formation of low-molecular-weight organic acids such as acetic acid and formic acid was not observed. These results indicate that the corrosion protection effect of film-forming amines will be maintained under practical conditions with pH values as high as around 9 to 10, and hence side reactions involving byproducts will be suppressed.

Immobilization of a flavin molecule onto poly(methacrylic acid)s and its application in aerobic oxidation catalysis: effect of polymer stereoregularity.

The isoalloxazine ring system, called flavin, was successfully immobilized on poly(methacrylic acid)s, PMAAs, with different tacticity via post-polymerization modification under suitable conditions. The resulting flavin-containing polymers showed catalytic activity for aerobic oxidation reactions, in which the polymer stereoregularity clearly influenced their catalytic activity.

[Recurrent Breast Cancer with Bone Metastasis Effectively Treated with Abemaciclib plus Endocrine Therapy-A Case Report].

We report a case of recurrent breast cancer with bone metastasis in a premenopausal woman. A 46-year-old woman underwent mastectomy for right breast cancer 6 years ago. Histopathological diagnosis was invasive ductal carcinoma, T2N3aM0, stage ⅢC. She received adjuvant chemotherapy and irradiation followed by tamoxifen. Four and a half years after surgery, serum tumor marker levels elevated, and bone metastasis in the sacral region was revealed by PET-CT scan. After suppressing ovarian function with LH-RH agonist, we switched the endocrine therapy from tamoxifen to letrozole with a CDK4/6 inhibitor. Five months after starting administration of abemaciclib, the bone metastasis disappeared on PET-CT. The elevated tumor markers normalized and have continued to decrease. Abemaciclib combined with endocrine therapy was significantly effective as first-line treatment for premenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer.

[Elderly Advanced Breast Cancer Effectively Treated with Locoregional Therapy-A Case Report].

We report a case of advanced breast cancer in an elderly patient effectively treated with locoregional therapy. The patient was an 81-year-old woman who presented with an increasing right breast lump. The tumor was 55 mm in diameter, accompanied by fixation to pectoral muscle. A core needle biopsy for right breast tumor led to a diagnosis of mucinous carcinoma, positive for estrogen receptor(ER)and progesterone receptor(PgR), negative for HER2/neu. The Ki-67 positive cell index was 10%. A bone scintigraphy revealed multiple bone metastases, so, we confirmed the diagnosis as T4cN2aM1, Stage Ⅳ. She initiated endocrine therapy by letrozole. By changing the endocrine therapy to toremifene followed by fulvestrant, the therapy achieved a partial response. However, the size of the primary tumor increased accompanied by bleeding, and surgical resection of the right breast was performed for local control. The locoregional surgery was effective, improving the patient's quality of life. She was administered lapatinib as anti-HER2 therapy in addition to the endocrine therapy. Two years and 6 months after surgery, there has been no worsening of bone metastasis or appearance of visceral metastasis.

Surface Exchange Reaction of Mixed Conductive La0.65Ca0.35FeO3-δ during Oxygen Evolution and Incorporation as Traced by Operando X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy.

High oxygen permeability of mixed conductive La0.65Ca0.35FeO3-δ (LCF) is applicable to pure oxygen gas generators and cathodes for solid oxide fuel cells, etc.; however, lower surface exchange reactions at temperatures below 800 °C reduce permeability. To understand the microscopic surface reaction mechanism, operando soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of an LCF film surface was conducted during the evolution and incorporation of oxygen. LCF film was prepared on yttria-stabilized zirconia and a current was applied throughout the film at ∼600 °C. From operando X-ray photoelectron spectra, surface oxide species involved in the surface exchange reaction obviously appeared on the film during the evolution of oxygen from the surface. The number of surface oxide species abruptly decreased during incorporation of oxygen. By applying the current from a negative to positive value, the numbers of surface oxide species and ligand holes near Fe3+ ions on the surface both significantly increased. The results infer that ligand holes in the Fe 3d-O 2p hybrid orbitals correspond to active reaction sites at which surface oxide species change to oxygen molecules. Increasing the number of active reaction sites is key to improving oxygen evolution of mixed conductive oxides.

[Single-laboratory Validation of an Analytical Method for Detarmination of Fusarium toxins in Buckwheat and Job's Tears].

Fusarium species infect the major cereals consumed as food and feed, contaminating them with various toxic secondary metabolites known as toxins. Among these toxins, which include trichothecenes, zearalenone (ZEA), and fumonisins, the type-B trichothecene deoxynivalenol (DON) is generally considered as the most important. The present study evaluates an analytical method for the detection and quantification of multiple Fusarium toxins, namely, DON, acetyl forms of DON (3-Ac-DON and 15-Ac-DON), a glycoside form of DON (DON-3G), and other Fusarium toxins (nivalenol, an acetyl form of NIV (fusarenonX), T-2 and HT-2 toxins, diacetoxyscirpenol, and ZEA) in Job's tears and buckwheat.

[Prediction of Prognosis in Breast Carcinoma Using Klotho Immunohistochemistry].

Klotho is one of the known anti-aging genes, and functions as an inhibitor of the insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1) pathway. However, the clinical significance of Klotho expression in cancer tissues have not been elucidated yet. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical significance of Klotho expression in breast cancer patients. We evaluated Klotho expression through immunohistochemical analysis and evaluating Ki-67 positive cell index in 142 patients who underwent surgery for breast cancer in our hospital. There was no significant correlation between age, menopausal state, historical type, hormone status, HER2 status, and distant metastases. High expression of Klotho was observed in the non-invasive compared to the invasive ductal carcinomas. The number of metastatic lymph nodes, clinical stage, and tumor size were correlated to Klotho expression level in the cancer tissues. The Klotho positive group exhibited low score for Ki-67 positive cell index than the Klotho negative group. No significant correlation in cumulative survival rates between Klotho positive and Klotho negative groups was observed. The Klotho negative group exhibited good prognosis than the Klotho positive group for the disease- free survival after the operation. These results suggest that the analysis Klotho expression in the breast cancer tissues using immunohistochemistry is a useful tool to assess the disease-free survival for breast cancer patients.

The effect of social distancing on the reach of an epidemic in social networks.

How does social distancing affect the reach of an epidemic in social networks? We present Monte Carlo simulation results of a susceptible-infected-removed with social distancing model. The key feature of the model is that individuals are limited in the number of acquaintances that they can interact with, thereby constraining disease transmission to an infectious subnetwork of the original social network. While increased social distancing typically reduces the spread of an infectious disease, the magnitude varies greatly depending on the topology of the network, indicating the need for policies that are network dependent. Our results also reveal the importance of coordinating policies at the 'global' level. In particular, the public health benefits from social distancing to a group (e.g. a country) may be completely undone if that group maintains connections with outside groups that are not following suit.

[Relationships Gastric Stasis in the Remnant Stomach and Interdigestive Migrating Motor Complex in Patients after Pylorus-Preserving Gastrectomy for Early Gastric Cancer].

The demerit of pylorus-preserving gastrectomy(PPG)is the postprandial abdominal fullness(PAF)with gastric stasis in the remnant stomach(GSRS). We investigated the relationship between clinical findings and GSRS, and between GSRS and interdigestive migrating motor complex(IMMC)in PPG patients. A total of 30 patients(17 men and 13 women, mean age of 62.3 years)after PPG for early gastric cancer(Billroth Ⅰ)were divided into 2 groups(group A; 18 patients with GSRS, group B; 12 patients without GSRS). The relationship between GSRS including clinical findings and IMMC was studied from 1.5 to 3 years after operation. A catheter equipped with a micro-tip force transducer was inserted transnassally into the remnant stomach and duodenum in a supine position, and the IMMC was studied. All patients were Stage ⅠA(mucosal cancer, no lymph node metastasis, no distant metastasis). The remnant stomach was 1/3 compared with stomach size before operation. The length of the antral cuff in group A(1.5±0.2 cm)was significantly shorter than group B(3.2±0.3 cm)(p =0.0004). Appetite was significantly recognized in group B compared with group A(p=0.0067). PAF was significantly recognized in group A compared with group B(p=0.0001). Reflux esophagitis was found in group A more than group B. Early dumping syndroms did not found significant differences in both groups. In endoscopic esophagogastric finding of the remnant stomch, gastritis with GSRS was significantly found in group A compared with group B(p=0.0001). The IMMC was significantly recognized in group B compared with group A(p<0.0001). The occurrence of the PAF due to the GSRS may be caused by abscens of the IMMC.

[Role of Pudendal Sensory Nerve in Patients with or without Fecal Incontinence after Low Anterior Resection for Lower Rectal Cancer].

To clarify the pudendal sensory nerve(PSN)play in preventing fecal incontinence(FI)after low anterior resection(LAR) for lower rectal cancer, the PSN function was studied at 6 months after LAR. A total of 36 patients aged 42.0 to 79.0 years (23 males and 13 females with a mean age of 62.0 years)who underwent LAR for laparoscopic radical cystectomy(LRC) were enrolled in the present study. Based on postoperative F1, these patients were divided into 2 groups[group A; patients with FI(n=12), group B; patients without FI(continence, n=24)]. These were compared with group C(n=32, control subjects, 18 males and 14 females aged 40.0 to 76.0 years with a mean age of 61.8 years). Anal mucosal electric sensitivity (AMES)threshold was measured [at the upper 1 cm oral side from dentate line(DL); a, DL; b, and lower zones 1 cm anal side from DL; c]. FI after LAR was also evaluated by the Wexner score(WS). All patients were pathological Stage Ⅰ(25 patients: T1, N0, M0; 11 patients: T2, N0, M0). Group A had a significantly larger proportion of males than group B(p< 0.05). The distance of anastomosis from anal verge(DAAV)in group A(2.4±1.8 cm)was significantly shorter than in group B(4.4±0.9 cm)(p<0.001). WS from 6 to 10 comprised 25.0% of group A, 11 to 15 comprised 50.0%, and 16 to 20 comprised 25.0%. All patients in group A(WS; 8 or more)were incontinent. In contrast, all patients in group B(WS; 0) and C(WS; 0)were continent. Patients in pre-operative defecation(WS; 0)were also continent. On the AMES(a, b, c), sensitivity of patients in group A(6.4±1.1, 5.1±0.5, 4.9±0.6 mA)was significantly higher than in groups B(2.6±0.5, 2.4 ±0.4, 2.5±0.6 mA)and C(2.3±0.4, 2.1±0.4, 2.3±0.5 mA)at all zones(p<0.001). FI after LAR with a short DAAV, especially male, may be PSN dysfunction due to operative damage of PSN.

[Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer(HBOC)in a Young Adult-A Case Report].

We report a case of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer(HBOC)in a young adult. A 31-year-old woman consulted at our hospital for a lump on her left breast. Ultrasonography revealed an irregular-shaped mass. A core needle biopsy was performed, and the pathological diagnosis was invasive ductal carcinoma. There were multiple enlarged lymph nodes in the axilla and internal mammary areas but no evidence of metastasis. She underwent mastectomy and axially dissection. The pathological findings from the surgically resected specimens showed scirrhous carcinoma positive for ER and PgR and negative for HER2/neu protein expression. The tumor size was 16 mm, and 3 axillary lymph node metastases were seen. We identified the pathological stage as T1cN3bM0, stage ⅢC. She received chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and endocrine therapy after surgery. At present, 1 year after surgery, the patient is alive without recurrence. With a low age of onset and a family history of ovarian cancer, she was diagnosed with HBOC as a result of breast cancer susceptibility gene(BRCA)genetic testing. In addition to the recommended surveillance, prophylactic surgery will be performed in the future.

[Phyllodes Tumor of the Breast Occurring near Postoperative Fibroadenoma Scar-A Case Report].

We report the case of a phyllodes tumor of the breast occurring near a postoperative scar of fibroadenoma of the breast. The patient was a 41-year-old female who had a lump in the left breast, and underwent surgical resection of the tumor 5 years ago at another hospital.The pathological diagnosis of the tumor was fibroadenoma, and surgical margin was negative. The patient underwent ultrasonography every year at the treatment hospital.Five years later, the patient noticed a tumor in her left breast and visited our hospital.The tumor was 30mm in diameter and situated near the postoperative scar.A core needle biopsy for breast tumor led to the diagnosis of a phyllodes tumor.Surgical resection was performed with 5mm margins, and pathological analysis of the surgical specimen revealed a benign phyllodes tumor.The surgical margins were not involved.One year and 6 months after surgery, no metastases or recurrence were reported.

[Breast Papilloma with Rapid Growth Difficult to Distinguish from Carcinoma-A Case Report].

We report a case of papilloma of the breast with rapid growth in a 39-year-old female who had a lump in the left breast. The follow-up for the breast tumor was performed at another hospital.Three years after her first visit, 3 tumors measuring 1.8 cm, 0.5 cm, and 0.3 cm in diameter were detected. The patient visited our hospital to diagnose these tumors. We performed core needle biopsy for the tumor, and the pathological diagnosis was benign papilloma.After 1 year, the tumor grew to 3.0 cm in diameter, and we repeated the core needle biopsy. The pathological diagnosis remained as benign papilloma; however, the ultrasonography and MRI results showed that the tumor was malignant.Surgical resection was performed for the tumors, and pathological analysis of the surgical specimen revealed 3 benign papillomas with no involvement of the surgical margin.Six years after surgery, no recurrence was reported.

[Function of Pudendal Motor Nerve in Patients with or Without Fecal Incontinence after Low Anterior Resection for Lower Rectal Cancer].

To clarify the pudendal motor nerve(PMN)play in preventing fecal incontinence(FI)after low anterior resection(LAR) for lower rectal cancer, the PMN function was studied at early postoperative period after LAR. A total of 30 patients aged 43 to 78 years (21 men and 9 women with a mean age of 62.4 years) who underwent LAR for LRC were enrolled in the present study. Based on postoperative FI, these patients were divided into 2 groups(group A: patients with FI[n=10], group B: patients without FI[continence, n=20]). These were compared with group C(n=28, control subjects, 18 men and 10 women aged 46 to 76 years with a mean age of 60.2 years). Magnetic stimulation at the S2-4 sacral levels has been shown to activate the PMN root of the cauda equina. PMN latency(PMNL)at posterior sides of the anal canal was studied. FI after LAR was also evaluated by the Wexner score(WS). All patients were pathological Stage Ⅰ(20 patients: T1, N0, M0; 10 patients: T2, N0, M0). Group A had a significantly larger proportion of men than group B(p<0.05). The distance of anastomosis from anal verge(DAAV)in group A(2.4±1.7 cm)was significantly shorter than in group B(4.4±0.9 cm)(p< 0.001). WS from 8 to 10(mean: 9.25)comprised 20.0% of group A, 11 to 15(mean: 13.5)50.0%, and 16 to 20(mean: 18.5)comprised 30.0%. All patients in group A(WS: 8 or more)were incontinent. In contrast, all patients in group B(WS: 0)and C(WS: 0)were continent. Patients in pre-operative defecation(WS: 0)were also continent. As for PMNL, the conduction delay in group A(7.9±0.9 ms)was significantly longer than in groups B(4.1±0.6 ms)and C(3.9±0.3 ms) (p<0.001, respectively). FI after LAR with a short DAAV may be EAS dysfunction due to damage of PMN.

[Local Recurrence of Breast Cancer Eight Years after Mastectomy-A Case Report].

A 68-year-old woman had undergone mastectomy for right breast cancer when she was 60 years of age. The histopathological diagnosis had been scirrhous carcinoma, T1N0M0, stage Ⅰ. She had received anastrozole as the adjuvant therapy for 5 years. Eight years after the operation, she consulted our department because of a lump on the right chest wall. The metastatic work-up revealed no evidence of metastases. Tumorectomy was performed. Histopathological findings from the surgically resected specimens showed scirrhous carcinoma, positive for ER and PgR, and negative for HER2/neu protein expression. The Ki-67 positive cell index was 25%. Therefore, we diagnosed the patient with local recurrence of breast cancer. Since surgical margins were positive, irradiation was performed at the recurrence site, and letrozole was administered. Local recurrence is a target of the curative treatment and requires a multidisciplinary approach, including surgery, drugs, and radiation therapy. We report a case of local recurrence of breast cancer 8 years after mastectomy.

[Usefulness of Automated Breast Ultrasound for Deciding on a Surgical Approach in a Patient with Breast Cancer- A Case Report].

Since breast reconstruction has been covered by health insurance, we can choose a procedure that combines the cosmetic satisfaction of patients with curability. We report about a patient with breast cancer that who underwent nipple-sparing mastectomy after evaluating the intraductal spread by automated breast ultrasound system(ABUS), while hand held ultrasound( HHUS)showed only limited information on the intraductal spread of the lesion. A 52-year old woman with an abnormal screening finding was referred to our hospital. HHUS showed an irregular and poorly defined hypoechoic mass lesion with a lactiferous duct extending to directly under the nipple. A core needle biopsy revealed invasive ductal carcinoma. We performed ABUS to assess the intraductal spread in the lesion because the patient requested breast reconstruction. The coronal section of the breast in the ABUS did not showintraductal spread. We, therefore, decided to perform a nipple-sparing mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Intraoperative evaluation by frozen and permanent sections showed negative margins. The ABUS findings helped in the evaluation of the intraductal spread of the lesion and in the choice of the optimal procedure for the patient.

[Usefulness of Breast Ultrasound in Follow-Up of Post-Operative Metachronous Contralateral Breast Cancer-A Case Report].

Mammography is the standard screening toolfor post-operative breast cancer, with annualcheck -ups recommended; however, it misses some cancers. We report a case a metachronous contralateral breast cancer detected by breast ultrasound 8 years and 6 months after operation. A 72-year-old women visited our hospital for follow-up 8 years and 6 months after the operation. She was diagnosed with right breast cancer at 63 years of age and underwent partial mastectomy with axially lymph node dissection. The pathological diagnose was scirrhous carcinoma. After chemotherapy and radiation therapy, she underwent screening with annual examinations. The mammography finding was normal, but an ultrasound showed a mass lesion in the contralateral breast. The pathological diagnosis of the biopsy specimen was mucinous carcinoma. A history of breast cancer is known to suggest an increased risk of metachronous contralateral breast cancer. Therefore, regular follow-up with breast ultrasound, not only mammography, is recommended.

[A Case of an Elderly Individual with Breast Cancer Diagnosed as Paget's Disease after Mastectomy].

We report here a case of a 78-year-old woman, who underwent mastectomy for breast cancer. Mammography showed a mass in the right MO area with an unclear boundary. Ultrasound examination revealed an irregular mass of 40×29×19mm in the right C region. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI showed a 34mm tumor with contrast effect in the C area of the right breast. We performed a core needle biopsy on the mass, and the histopathological diagnosis was apocrine carcinoma(ER-, PgR-, HER2 3+, and Ki-67 30%)of clinical T2N0M0, stageⅡA. Right mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy were performed. In the postoperative pathological examination, the main lesion was apocrine carcinoma(ER-, PgR-, HER2 3+, Ki-67 20%)and Paget's disease(ER-, PgR-, HER2 3+, Ki-67 30%). After surgery, the patient was given trastuzumab therapy.

NMR Analysis of Poly(Lactic Acid) via Statistical Models.

The physical properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) are influenced by its stereoregularity and stereosequence distribution, and its polymer stereochemistry can be effectively studied by NMR spectroscopy. In previously published NMR studies of PLA tacticity, the NMR data were fitted to pair-addition Bernoullian models. In this work, we prepared several PLA samples with a tin catalyst at different L,L-lactide and D,D-lactide ratios. Upon analysis of the tetrad intensities with the pair-addition Bernoullian model, we found substantial deviations between observed and calculated intensities due to the presence of transesterification and racemization during the polymerization processes. We formulated a two-state (pair-addition Bernoullian and single-addition Bernoullian) model, and it gave a better fit to the observed data. The use of the two-state model provides a quantitative measure of the extent of transesterification and racemization, and potentially yields useful information on the polymerization mechanism.

[A Case of Duplicated Cancer Simultaneously Causing Breast and Endometrial Cancer].

Recently, with the increase in the number of young cancer patients, we often encounter multiple primary cancer(MPC). In MPC, careful examination is necessary because the treatment order and policies change greatly depending on the stage and prognosis of each tumor. We report a case of synchronous MPC of endometrialcancer and breast cancer. The patient was a 40-year-old woman who underwent endometrial cytology by a previous doctor due to illicit bleeding. As a result of the diagnosis of classⅢB, she underwent gynecological examination in our hospital. Endometroid adenocarcinoma Grade 2 was diagnosed based on endoscopic findings. On pelvic MRI, a lesion adjacent to the neck showed a low signal in the uterine body compared to that in the endocardium. During the preoperative examination, CT showed contrast nodules in the right breast, and ultrasonography was performed at the department of breast surgery. Ultrasonography showed a low-echo mass of 23 mm in the right upper midline region. The needle biopsy results were papillotubular cancer(ER-negative, PgR-negative, HER2 1+, Ki-67 77%). Based on these findings, right breast cancer and endometrial cancer were diagnosed. Initially, we performed right mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy; we then performed pancreatectomy in the gynecology department 2 weeks after discharge. After surgery, gynecology studied 6 courses of TC therapy, and currently, EC is undergoing breast surgery.