Improving bonding strength by non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma-assisted technology for A5052/PEEK direct joining

The direct bonding of A5052 aluminum (Al) alloy to the engineering polymer poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) using an atmospheric pressure plasma-assisted process was demonstrated. The effect of plasma irradiation on the bonding surface of metal resin on the bonding strength following thermal press fitting method was investigated. Specimens bonded by plasma irradiation on the PEEK surface only showed a high tensile shear stress of 15.5 MPa. With increasing plasma irradiation time, the bond strength of the samples bonded to the PEEK surface by plasma irradiation increased. The increase in the bond strength between metals and polymers following direct bonding is caused by the addition of oxygen functional groups on the polymer. In contrast, specimens in which only the Al was exposed to the plasma showed a decrease in bond strength compared with unirradiated samples. This reduction in bond strength is attributed to the forming magnesium oxide, which forms in the early stages of participation due to plasma irradiation.The version of record of this article, first published in International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, is available online at Publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-023-12747-

Influence of pre-treatment using non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet on aluminum alloy A1050 to PEEK direct joining with hot-pressing process

The version of record of this article, first published in International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, is available online at Publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-023-12827-7.Aluminum alloy A1050 to polyetheretherketone (PEEK) direct joining with hot-pressing process via pre-treatment using non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet has been performed. The effect of plasma irradiation on the tensile shear strength of A1050-PEEK direct bonded specimens joined by a combination of hot-pressing process and pre-plasma treatment using non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet was investigated. A1050-PEEK bonded samples with plasma-treated PEEK only showed high tensile shear stress of 13.4 MPa. This increase in tensile shear strength is attributed to the addition of oxygen functional groups on the surface of the PEEK by reactive oxygen species produced by the plasma jet

Splenic Infarction in Acute Cytomegalovirus and Human Parvovirus Concomitant Infection

We present a case report of a 35-year-old woman who had splenic infarction. She had persistent high fever, systemic joint pain, and abnormal liver function. She was diagnosed with cytomegalovirus and human parvovirus B19 concomitant infection. Her coagulopathy test revealed no abnormal results. She was treated with intravenous ganciclovir for 13 days; consequently, her splenic infarction improved after 7 weeks. As per our knowledge, this is the first case of cytomegalovirus and parvovirus B19 coinfection complicated by splenic infarction. Cytomegalovirus and parvovirus B19 may induce a hypercoagulation state during the acute phase

3,6-Diphenyltetrazine as Cathode Active Material for Sodium Ion Batteries

3, 6-diphenyltetrazine (DPT) is an electron-deficient π-conjugated molecule with a perfectly planar structure and high crystallinity. In this study, discharge-charge tests of crystalline DPT as a cathode material for sodium ion batteries were conducted. DPT showed an initial reversible capacity of 102 mAh/g (theoretical capacity 114 mAh/g), corresponding to one electron reaction. The plateau of the discharge-charge profiles was observed at 1.9–2.1 V vs. Na/Na⁺. According to the ex-situ XRD, FT-IR, and XPS measurements to investigate the discharge-charge mechanism, the redox center was identified as the conjugated tetrazine ring. DPT was in a crystalline form in both the charged and discharged state and indicated the potential as a reversible Na ion host

無症候性腎機能障害が結腸癌術後の臨床経過に及ぼす影響

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of mild renal dysfunction on the clinical course after colectomy in patients with colon cancer. Methods: The subjects of this retrospective study were 263 patients who underwent surgical resection for colon cancer at our hospital between 2011 and 2015. Renal function was assessed based on preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values. Patients were divided into groups based on their eGFR value of 55 ml/min/1.73 m2. The Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square or Fisher exact test, and log-rank test were used in the data analysis. Results: There were 59 patients (22.4%) in the low eGFR group and 204 patients in the normal eGFR group. There were differences between the groups in age, comorbidities, and the levels of hemoglobin, albumin, and serum creatinine. The overall postoperative complication rate, frequency of severe complications, and length of stay were significantly higher in the low eGFR group than in the normal eGFR group. Multivariate analysis revealed that low eGFR was the only independent risk factor for severe complications (Clavien-Dindo classification III/IV). There were no differences in survival between the groups. Conclusion: Preoperative asymptomatic renal dysfunction may be correlated with the development of postoperative complications and a possible significant risk factor for severe complications after colon cancer surgery.博士（医学）・甲第804号・令和3年12月21日© 2021. Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.The version of record of this article, first published in Surgery Today, is available online at Publisher’s website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00595-021-02363-w.発行元が定める登録猶予期間終了の後、本文を登録予定（2021.01

Effect of Cetuximab and EGFR Small Interfering RNA Combination Treatment in NSCLC Cell Lines with Wild Type EGFR and Use of KRAS as a Possible Biomarker for Treatment Responsiveness

[Background] The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a therapeutic target for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Cetuximab is an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody that inhibits EGFR signaling and proliferation of colorectal cancer and head and neck cancers. Since only few NSCLC patients benefit from cetuximab therapy, we evaluated a novel combination treatment using cetuximab and EGFR small interfering RNA (siRNA) to strongly suppress EGFR signaling and searched for a biomarker in NSCLC cell lines harboring wild-type EGFR. [Methods] Alterations in EGFR and its downstream genes in five NSCLC cell lines (A549, Lu99, 86-2, Sq19 and Ma10) were assessed through sequencing. The protein expression levels of these molecules were assessed through western blotting. The effect of combination treatment was determined through cell proliferation assay, caspase-3/7 assay, invasion assay, and migration assay. [Results] All cell lines were harboring wild-type EGFR, whereas KRAS, PTEN, TP53 and TP53 were mutated in A549 and Lu99; Lu99 and Sq19; Lu99, 86-2, Sq19 and Ma10; and A549, 86-2, and Sq19 cell lines, respectively. PTEN was not expressed in Sq19, and LKB1 was not expressed in both A549 and Sq19. TP53 was not expressed in both A549 and Lu99. The combination of cetuximab and EGFR siRNA significantly suppressed cell proliferation in 86-2, Sq19 and Ma10, which express wild-type KRAS. It induced apoptosis in A549, 86-2 and Ma10 cells, which express wild type PTEN. The combination treatment had no effect either on cell invasion nor migration in all cell lines. [Conclusion] EGFR targeted therapy using the combination of cetuximab and EGFR siRNA is effective in NSCLC cell lines harboring wild-type EGFR. Wild-type KRAS may act as a potential biomarker for response to combination treatment by the induction of apoptosis in cells with wild-type PTEN

Evaluation of antigen-positive toxin-negative enzyme immunoassay results for the diagnosis of toxigenic Clostridium difficile infection

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)-associated diarrhea (CDAD) is a challenging nosocomial infectious disease. C. DIFF Quik Chek Complete assay is widely used to detect glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) antigen and toxin A/B of C. difficile simultaneously. However, the interpretation of GDH positive/toxin negative results is problematic.We performed a retrospective study of patients with GDH positive/toxin negative results to determine the probability of detecting toxigenic C. difficile and its risk factors. Between April 2012 and March 2017, we investigated cultures of fecal specimens followed by toxin detection tests. The clinical histories of patients with and without toxigenic C. difficile were compared using univariate- and multivariate-analyses. In total, 2675 patients were examined using C. Diff Quik Chek Complete assay. Among 356 GDH positive/toxin negative patients, cultures were performed in 220 cases and toxigenic C. difficile was recovered from 139 (63.2%) specimens. Patients with toxigenic C. difficile had significantly lower body mass index than those without. Over half the GDH positive/toxin negative patients were infected with toxigenic C. difficile. Lower BMI was a CDAD risk factor in this patient population. These data can be utilized to initiate isolation and clinical interventions before confirmatory test results are available

Clinicopathological characteristics and treatment strategies in early gastric cancer: a retrospective cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Both endoscopic and surgical approaches are employed in the treatment of early gastric cancer (EGC). The aim of this study was to establish appropriate treatment strategies for early gastric cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We retrospectively examined clinicopathological data of EGC patients who had undergone surgery.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 327 patients (204 males and 123 females, mean age 63.2 years) were eligible for inclusion in the study. The median follow-up period was 31 months. Of 161 mucosal (pT1a) tumors, 87 were mainly undifferentiated and 110 had an undifferentiated component. Four patients with pT1a tumors had lymph node metastases; all these tumors were signet-ring cell carcinomas and were macroscopic type 0-IIc with ulceration, and only one of them had lymphatic invasion. Among patients with submucosal tumors, four of 43 patients with pT1b1 tumors and 37 of 123 patients with pT1b2 tumors had nodal metastases. Lymph node metastases were significantly higher in mixed undifferentiated type group than differentiated type group for both groups, pT1a-pT1b1 (p = 0.0251) and pT1b2 (p = 0.0430) subgroups. Only four of 45 patients with nodal metastases were diagnosed preoperatively by computed tomography (sensitivity 8.9%, specificity 96.2%). Nine patients with pT1b tumors had recurrence after surgery, and died. The sites of initial recurrence were liver, bone, peritoneum, distant nodes, and the surgical anastomosis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The incidence of nodal metastases was approximately 5% in undifferentiated type mucosal (pT1a) tumors, and higher in submucosal (pT1b) tumors. The sensitivity of preoperative diagnosis of nodal metastases in EGC using computed tomography was relatively low in this study. Therefore at present surgery with adequate lymphadenectomy should be performed as curative treatment for undifferentiated type EGC.</p

Diazirine-Containing RNA Photo-Cross-Linking Probes for Capturing microRNA Targets

Here, we report the applicability of diazirine-containing RNA photo-cross-linking probes for the identification of microRNA (miRNA) targets. The RNA cross-linking probes were synthesized by substituting the RNA nucleobases with nucleoside analogues such as 1-<i>O</i>-[3-(3-trifluoromethyl-3<i>H</i>-diazirin-3-yl)]­benzyl-β-d-ribofuranose or 1-<i>O</i>-[4-(3-trifluoromethyl-3<i>H</i>-diazirin-3-yl)]­benzyl-β-d-ribofuranose that carry aryl trifluoromethyl diazirine moieties. The probes were successfully cross-linked with synthetic RNAs containing the four natural nucleosides on the opposite site of the nucleoside analogues. Furthermore, it was found that miRNAs containing these analogues were effective in regulating the expression of their target genes. Thus, RNAs containing the nucleoside analogues are promising candidates as photo-cross-linking probes to identify the target mRNAs of miRNAs