Application of Optical Interferometry for Characterization of Thin-Film Adhesion

In this chapter, application of optical interferometry for the characterization of thin-film adhesion to the substrate is discussed. The thin-film system is configured as one of the end mirrors of a Michelson interferometer and oscillated with an acoustic transducer from the substrate side. The oscillation causes sinusoidal displacement of the film surface around the initial (neutral) position, and the interferometer detects its amplitude as the relative phase difference behind the beam splitter. When the driving frequency of this oscillation is tuned to a range where the film-substrate interface is dominantly oscillated, the elasticity of the interface can be analyzed from the oscillation amplitude. The principle of this method is straightforward but in reality, fluctuation of the initial phase (the relative phase corresponding to the initial film position) compromises the signal. A technique known as the carrier fringe method along with spatial frequency domain analysis is employed to reduce the noise associated with the initial phase fluctuation. The possibility of the present method to analyze the so-called blister effect on thin-film adhesion is discussed

Clinical Features and Prognosis of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis in Korean Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although early recognition and treatment with effective antibiotics have lead to improvements in the prognosis of patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), it remains to be a serious complication in cirrhotic patients. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical manifestations and prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis and SBP in Korea. METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective study examining 157 episodes of SBP in 145 patients with cirrhosis. SBP was diagnosed based on a polymorphonuclear cell count in ascitic fluid of >250 cells/mm(3) in the absence of data compatible with secondary peritonitis. RESULTS: The mean age of the cohort was 56 years, and 121 (77%) of the 157 episodes of SBP occurred in men. Microorganisms were isolated in 66 episodes (42%): Gram-negative bacteria in 54 (81.8%), Gram-positive in 11 (16.7%), and Candida in 1. Isolated Gram-negative organisms were resistant to third-generation cephalosporin in 6 cases (17%), to ciprofloxacin in 11 (20.8%), and to penicillin in 33 (62.3%). The treatment failure and in-hospital mortality rates were 12.1% and 21%, respectively. A high Model of End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, SBP caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing organisms, and hepatocellular carcinoma were independent prognostic factors of high in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: SBP remains to be a serious complication with high in-hospital mortality, especially in patients with a high MELD score.ope

A Case of Non-Functioning Huge Adrenocortical Carcinoma Extending Into Inferior Vena Cava and Right Atrium

Primary adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare tumor and its usual sites of metastasis are the lung (71%), lymph node (68%), liver (42%), and bone (26%). However, intracaval invasion extending into the right atrium is very rare and spontaneous regression of tumor burden in adrenal carcinoma is also rare. We report a case of ACC with direct invasion of the inferior vena cava and right atrium. A 34-yr-old male patient presented with progressive dyspnea, weight loss, and poor oral intake over 3 months. Non-functioning ACC with direct invasion of the inferior vena cava and right atrium was confirmed by imaging, pathologic, and hormonal study. Chemo-radio-therapy was attempted. However, tumor burden was not changed, but rather toxic hepatitis and thrombocytopenia were developed. His subjective symptoms and general conditions were improved after 1 month of conservative management and the patient was discharged. During clinical follow-up, this tumor showed spontaneous regression

Intravenous KITENIN shRNA Injection Suppresses Hepatic Metastasis and Recurrence of Colon Cancer in an Orthotopic Mouse Model

KITENIN (KAI1 C-terminal interacting tetraspanin) promotes invasion and metastasis in mouse colon cancer models. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of KITENIN knockdown by intravenous administration of short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) in an orthotopic mouse colon cancer model, simulating a primary or adjuvant treatment setting. We established orthotopic models for colon cancer using BALB/c mice and firefly luciferase-expressing CT-26 (CT26/Fluc) cells. Tumor progression and response to therapy were monitored by bioluminescence imaging (BLI). In the primary therapy model, treatment with KITENIN shRNA substantially delayed tumor growth (P = 0.028) and reduced the incidence of hepatic metastasis (P = 0.046). In the adjuvant therapy model, KITENIN shRNA significantly reduced the extent of tumor recurrence (P = 0.044). Mice treated with KITENIN shRNA showed a better survival tendency than the control mice (P = 0.074). Our results suggest that shRNA targeting KITENIN has the potential to be an effective tool for the treatment of colon cancer in both adjuvant and metastatic setting