Semiconductor cleaning technology for next generation material systems, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2007, nr 2

This paper gives a brief overview of the challenges wafer cleaning technology is facing in the light of advanced silicon technology moving in the direction of non-planar device structures and the need for modified cleans for semiconductors other than silicon. In the former case, the key issue is related to cleaning and conditioning of vertical surfaces in next generation CMOS gate structure as well as deep 3D geometries in MEMS devices. In the latter, an accelerated pace at which semiconductors other than silicon are being introduced into the mainstream manufacturing calls for the development of material specific wafer cleaning technologies. Examples of the problems related to each challenge are considered

Atrial fibrillation associated with ivabradine treatment: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Objective: To quantify any risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) associated with ivabradine treatment by meta-analysis of clinical trial data. Methods: Medline, Embase, Web of Knowledge and the Cochrane central register of controlled trials were searched for double-blinded randomised controlled trials of ivabradine with a minimum follow-up period of 4 weeks. For studies where AF data were unpublished, safety data were obtained from the European Medicines Agency (EMeA) website and personal communications. Studies were appraised for risk of bias using components recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. Meta-analyses were performed of relative risk of AF and absolute risk difference of AF per year of treatment. The main outcome measure was incident AF during the follow-up period. Results: AF data were available from 11 studies: one from the published report, six from the EMeA and four from personal communications. Ivabradine treatment was associated with a relative risk of AF of 1.15 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.24, p=0.0027) among 21 571 patients in the meta-analysis. From this we estimated that the number needed to harm for ivabradine would be 208 (95% CI 122 to 667) per year of treatment. Conclusions: AF is a substantially more common side effect of ivabradine treatment than one patient in 10 000, the risk presently reported in the product literature. The incidence of AF has not routinely been reported in clinical trials of ivabradine

Direct intramyocardial plasmid vascular endothelial growth factor-A165gene therapy in patients with stable severe angina pectoris A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study: The Euroinject One trial

ObjectivesIn the Euroinject One phase II randomized double-blind trial, therapeutic angiogenesis of percutaneous intramyocardial plasmid gene transfer of vascular endothelial growth factor (phVEGF-A165) on myocardial perfusion, left ventricular function, and clinical symptoms was assessed.BackgroundEvidence for safety and treatment efficacy have been presented in phase I therapeutic angiogenesis trials.MethodsEighty “no-option” patients with severe stable ischemic heart disease, Canadian Cardiovascular Society functional class 3 to 4, were assigned randomly to receive, via the NOGA-MyoStar system (Cordis Corp., Miami Lakes, Florida), either 0.5 mg of phVEGF-A165(n = 40) or placebo plasmid (n = 40) in the myocardial region showing stress-induced myocardial perfusion defects on 99mTc sestamibi/tetrofosmin single-photon emission computed tomography.ResultsNo differences among the groups were recorded at baseline with respect to clinical, perfusion, and wall motion characteristics. After three months, myocardial stress perfusion defects did not differ significantly between the VEGF gene transfer and placebo groups (38 ± 3% and 44 ± 2%, respectively). Similarly, semiquantitative analysis of the change in perfusion in the treated region of interest did not differ significantly between the two groups. Compared with placebo, VEGF gene transfer improved the local wall motion disturbances, assessed both by NOGA (p = 0.04) and contrast ventriculography (p = 0.03). Canadian Cardiovascular Society functional class classification of angina pectoris improved significantly in both groups but without difference between the groups. No phVEGF-A165-related adverse events were observed; however, NOGA procedure-related adverse events occurred in five patients.ConclusionsThe VEGF gene transfer did not significantly improve stress-induced myocardial perfusion abnormalities compared with placebo; however, improved regional wall motion, as assessed both by NOGA and by ventriculography, may indicate a favorable anti-ischemic effect. This result should encourage more studies within the field. Transient VEGF overexpression seems to be safe

Studies of mist deposition in the fabrication of blue organic light emitting diodes

In this work, the process of mist deposition is explored as a method used to deposit organic semiconductors for applications in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). The deposition kinetics of a specially formulated hole transport agent is studied. The results indicate that the mist-deposited organic film thickness varies linearly with precursor concentration, deposition time and substrate potential. Depending upon process parameters, a deposition rate in the range of 50 nm min−1 is readily achievable. Evolution of surface roughness revealed distinct stages in the film formation process. The growth of secondary layers was observed before the formation of a complete initial film layer. A working OLED with the hole transport layer deposited by mist deposition was demonstrated. The luminance of the device was measured to be a maximum of 3000 cd m−2 and the efficiency was 6.7 cd A−1

Effects of Selective Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitor (PG-116800) to Prevent Ventricular Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction Results of the PREMIER (Prevention of Myocardial Infarction Early Remodeling) Trial

ObjectivesWe sought to determine whether matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, PG-116800, reduced left ventricular (LV) remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI).BackgroundPG-116800 is an oral MMP inhibitor with significant antiremodeling effects in animal models of MI and ischemic heart failure.MethodsIn an international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 253 patients with first ST-segment elevation MI and ejection fraction between 15% and 40% were enrolled 48± 24 h after MI and treated with placebo or PG-116800 for 90 days. Major efficacy end points were changes in LV volumes as determined by serial echocardiography, and clinical and safety outcomes were also collected.ResultsIn total, 203 patients (80%) completed 90 days of treatment and had evaluable baseline and 90-day echocardiograms. The proportion of patients with anterior MI (78% vs. 81%) and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (90% vs. 91%) along with baseline LV ejection fraction (35.5% vs. 36.8%) did not differ between PG-116800-treated and placebo-treated patients. There was no difference in the change in LV end-diastolic volume index from days 0 to 90 with PG-116800 versus placebo (5.09 ± 1.45 ml/m2vs. 5.48 ± 1.41 ml/m2, p = 0.42). Changes in LV diastolic volume, LV systolic volume, LV ejection fraction, sphericity index, plus rates of death or reinfarction were not significantly improved with PG-116800. PG-116800 was well tolerated; however, there was increased incidence of arthralgia and joint stiffness without significant increase in overall musculoskeletal adverse events (21% vs. 15%, p = 0.33).ConclusionsMatrix metalloproteinase inhibition with PG-116800 failed to reduce LV remodeling or improve clinical outcomes after MI

Percutaneous coronary intervention in the occluded artery trial: procedural success, hazard, and outcomes over 5 years.

BACKGROUND: The Occluded Artery Trial (OAT) was a 2,201-patient randomized clinical trial comparing routine stent-based percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus optimal medical therapy alone in stable myocardial infarction (MI) survivors with persistent infarct-related artery occlusion identified day 3 to 28 post MI. Intent-to-treat analysis showed no difference between strategies with respect to the incidence of new class IV congestive heart failure, MI, or death. The influence of PCI failure, procedural hazard, and crossover on trial results has not been reported. METHODS: Study angiograms were analyzed and adjudicated centrally. Factors associated with PCI failure were examined. Time-to-event analysis using the OAT primary outcome was performed by PCI success status. Landmark analysis (up to and beyond 30 days) partitioned early hazard versus late outcome according to treatment received. RESULTS: Percutaneous coronary intervention was adjudicated successful in >87%. Percutaneous coronary intervention failure rates were similar in US and non-US sites, and did not significantly influence outcome at 60 months (hazard ratio for success vs fail 0.79, 99% CI 0.45-1.40, P = .29). Partitioning of early procedural hazard revealed no late benefit for PCI (hazard ratio for PCI success vs medical therapy alone 1.06, 99% CI 0.75-1.50, P = .66). CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous coronary intervention failure and complication rates in the OAT were low. Neither PCI failure nor early procedural hazard substantively influenced the primary trial results