In this brief, the high-quality carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is grown by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, and it is used as an ultrafine flip-chip interconnection material in the proposed 3-D ...integrated circuit (3DIC) system. We show a patterned growth of multiwalled CNTs on the substrate with prestructured bond pads including a complete metallization system for an electrical characterization. We succeeded in achieving reliable flip-chip connections between CNT-covered contact pads and metal pads during the room temperature bonding process. The goal is a reversible electrical and mechanical chip assembly with CNT bumps. Based on the current-voltage (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">{I} </tex-math></inline-formula>-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">{V} </tex-math></inline-formula>) measurements, the resistivity (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\rho </tex-math></inline-formula>) of the grown CNTs is found to be close to <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\sim 10^{-{6}}\,\,{\sf \Omega }\text{m} </tex-math></inline-formula>. With the proposed 3DIC process flow, the vertically electrical connection between two different Si substrates is demonstrated successfully. The connection resistance in the full 3-D system is very promising (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\sim 2.43~{\sf \Omega } </tex-math></inline-formula>), compared with other's work (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\sim 12~{\sf \Omega } </tex-math></inline-formula>). The different bonding materials (In versus Sn) and bonding times are also investigated systemically and further optimized. This brief provides a useful solution for the future electrical connection in the high-performance and high-dense 3-D integrated devices.
Summary
Background
There has been no large‐scale population‐based study on the relationship between pyogenic liver abscesses (PLA) and subsequent cancer risk.
Aim
To estimate all cancer risk ...following a diagnosis of PLA.
Methods
Based on Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, 1257 patients with PLA without prior cancers in the period 1996–2008 were identified and followed‐up. The standard incidence ratio (SIR) of each cancer was calculated as the number of observed cancer cases arising among the PLA patients divided by the expected case number of cancer cases according to the national cancer rates.
Results
Of the 1257 PLA patients identified, 598 (47.6%) had diabetes mellitus. After a median (±s.d.) follow‐up of 3.33 ± 3.45 years, 186 were diagnosed with cancers, including 56 liver cancer, 22 biliary tract cancer and 40 colorectal cancer patients. Patients with PLA had a higher risk of all cancers (SIR, 3.83; 95% CI, 3.30–4.42), liver cancer (SIR, 7.87; 95% CI, 5.94–10.21), biliary tract cancer (SIR, 34.58; 95% CI, 21.67–52.36) and colorectal cancer (SIR, 5.27; 95% CI, 3.76–7.18). The highest SIRs of all cancers, liver cancer, biliary tract cancer and colorectal cancer occurred within 90 days of follow‐up (360.82; 95% CI, 278.46–459.91, 257.28; 95% CI, 186.17–346.56, 1153.38; 95% CI 694.08–1801.24, and 52.63; 95% CI 25.2–96.8 respectively).
Conclusions
Pyogenic liver abscesses may herald the onset of cancer, especially hepato‐biliary and colon cancer. Further surveys should be conducted for the detection of occult cancers in such patients.
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•Green co-solvent systems enhanced cellulose depolymerization and product yield.•Maximum 32% of levulinic acid (LA) yielded in GVL/H2O solvent at 200 °C.•GVL/H2O system maintained ...high availability of soluble sugars.•Acetone/H2O solvent generated 17 Cmol% of LA at a lower temperature (180 °C)•Higher temperature induced polymerization of sugars in acetone/H2O solvent.
Lignocellulosic wastes constitute a significant portion of the municipal solid waste, which should be valorised for the synthesis of value-added chemicals to achieve circular bioeconomy. This study evaluates the use of γ-valerolactone (GVL) and acetone as green co-solvents to produce levulinic acid (LA) from lignocellulosic paper towel waste at different temperatures using dilute H2SO4. At the highest reaction temperature (200 °C), H2O-only system achieved ~15 Cmol% of LA at maximum. while GVL/H2O and acetone/H2O co-solvent systems enhanced the depolymerisation of paper towel waste and the subsequent conversion to LA, with the highest yield amounted to ~32 Cmol%. Acetone/H2O solvent system generated ~17 Cmol% LA at a lower temperature (180 °C), while higher temperature induced polymerisation of soluble sugars and intermediates, hindering further conversion to LA. In contrast, the availability of soluble sugars was higher in the GVL/H2O system, which favoured the production of LA at higher temperatures.
Linked content
This article is linked to Mettke et al and Mettke and Wedemeyer papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14427 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14582.
Ubiquitin is a critical modifier regulating the degradation and function of its target proteins during posttranslational modification. Here we found that ubiquitin-specific peptidase 24 (USP24) is ...highly expressed in cell lines with enhanced malignancy and in late-stage lung cancer clinical samples. Studying single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of USP24 using genomic DNA of lung cancer patients revealed an increase in SNP 7656C/T. When using RNA specimens instead of the genomic DNA of lung cancer patients, we found significant increases in the ratios of variants 930C/T and 7656T/C, suggesting that variants at these two sites are not only caused by the SNP of DNA but also by the RNA editing. USP24-930T and USP24-7656C increase USP24 expression levels by increasing RNA stability. Knocking down USP24 increased Suv39h1 level through a decrease in mouse double-minute 2 homolog levels, thus enhancing lysine-9 methylation of histone H3, and resulting in the prevention of lung cancer malignancy. In conclusion, as USP24 variant analysis revealed a higher ratio of variants in blood specimens of lung cancer patients than that in normal individuals, USP24-930T and USP24-7656C might be useful as diagnostic markers for cancer detection.
Background
A cross‐sectional retrospective study suggested a link between allergic diseases and Parkinson's disease. However, the temporal association between asthma and Parkinson's disease remains ...unknown.
Methods
From the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, 10 455 patients who were diagnosed with asthma between 1998 and 2008 and aged ≥45 years and 41 820 age‐ and sex‐matched controls were selected for our study and observed until the end of 2011. Those who developed Parkinson's disease during the follow‐up period were identified. We also examined the asthma severity, as indicated by the frequency of admission (times per year) for asthma exacerbation, and the risk of subsequent Parkinson's disease.
Results
Patients with asthma had an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease (hazard ratio HR: 3.10, 95% confidence interval CI: 2.20–4.36) after we adjusted for demographic data, health system use, medical comorbidities, and medication use. Sensitivity tests yielded consistent findings after we excluded observations on the first year (HR: 2.90, 95% CI: 2.04–4.13) and first 3 years (HR: 2.46, 95% CI: 1.64–3.69). Patients with asthma who had more frequent admissions (times per year) during the follow‐up period exhibited a greater risk of subsequent Parkinson's disease (>2: HR: 16.42, 95% CI: 5.88–45.91; 1‐2: 12.69, 95% CI: 5.03–31.71; 0‐1: HR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.91–4.49).
Conclusion
Patients with asthma had an elevated risk of developing Parkinson's disease later in life, and we observed a dose‐dependent relationship between greater asthma severity and a higher risk of subsequent Parkinson's disease.
Plasma DNA is predominantly hematopoietic in origin. The size difference between maternal- and fetal-derived DNA in maternal plasma prompted us to investigate whether there was any discrepancy in ...molecular size between hematopoietically and nonhematopoietically derived DNA in plasma.
Plasma DNA samples from 6 hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients and 1 liver transplant recipient were analyzed by massively parallel paired-end sequencing. The size of each fragment was deduced from the alignment positions of the paired reads. In sex-mismatched transplant recipients, the reads from chromosome Y were used as markers for the male donor/recipient. For other transplant recipients, the reads of the donor- and recipient-specific alleles were identified from the single-nucleotide polymorphism genotypes.
In male patients receiving female hematopoietic stem cells, more chromosome Y-derived DNA molecules (nonhematopoietically derived) were ≤150 bp than the autosome-derived ones (mainly hematopoietically derived) (median difference, 9.9%). In other hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, more recipient-specific DNA molecules (nonhematopoietically derived) were ≤150 bp than the donor-specific ones (hematopoietically derived) (median difference, 14.8%). In the liver transplant recipient, more donor-derived DNA molecules (liver derived) were ≤150 bp than the recipient-derived ones (mainly hematopoietically derived) (difference, 13.4%). The nonhematopoietically derived DNA exhibited a reduction in a 166-bp peak compared with the hematopoietically derived DNA. A 10-bp periodicity in size distribution below approximately 143 bp was observed in both DNA populations.
Massively parallel sequencing is a powerful tool for studying posttransplantation chimerism. Plasma DNA molecules exhibit a distinct fragmentation pattern, with the nonhematopoietically derived molecules being shorter than the hematopoietically derived ones.
Objective/Background Pseudoaneurysm formation occurs in 2–10% of hemodialysis arteriovenous grafts (AVGs). Surgical repair often requires pseudoaneurysm resection, interposition graft placement, and ...insertion of a catheter as a bridge. Endovascular stent graft repair is a controversial alternative therapy. This study was performed to examine the effectiveness and mid-term outcomes of stent graft repair for AVG pseudoaneurysms. Methods All patients who had undergone stent graft repair for AVG pseudoaneurysms between December 2012 and July 2015 were identified from hospital medical records for retrospective analysis. Outcome measures were technical success, early and late complications, and primary and secondary patency rates. Results A total of 37 stent graft repairs of AVG pseudoaneurysms were performed in 35 patients (42.9% men; mean age 66.9 years). The mean time from AVG creation to pseudoaneurysm repair was 69 months. The indications of treatment (as per the institutional policy) were large pseudoaneurysm (56.7%), impending rupture (27.1%), and bleeding (16.2%). Mean pseudoaneurysm diameter was 23.0 mm. The most common diameter and length of stent graft used were 7 mm (67.6%) and 50 mm (48.6%), respectively. Technical success was 100%. Only one early complication occurred after stent graft repair, which was due to recurrence of the pseudoaneurysm as a result of a short landing zone. Late complications included infection (17.1%) and thrombosis (37.1%). The 1, 6, and 12 month primary patency rates were 89.2%, 55.5%, and 22.0%, respectively. The 1, 6, and 12 month secondary patency rates were 100%, 88.6%, and 78.6%, respectively. The median follow up was 12.3 months. Conclusions The study demonstrates that endovascular stent graft repair is an effective and safe alternative therapy for AVG pseudoaneurysms. However, the rate of thrombosis and infection was high and needs to be balanced against open surgery in future studies.
PEP02, also known as MM-398, is a novel nanoliposomal irinotecan that has improved pharmacokinetics and tumour bio-distribution of the free drug. This phase 2 study evaluated PEP02 monotherapy as ...second-line treatment for pancreatic cancer.
Patients who had metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, Karnofsky performance status ≥70, and had progressed following gemcitabine-based therapy were eligible. Intravenous injection of PEP02 120 mg m(-2) was given every 3 weeks. Simon 2-stage design was used. The primary objective was 3-month survival rate (OS(3-month)).
A total of 40 patients were enrolled. The most common severe adverse events included neutropenia, abdominal pain, asthenia, and diarrhoea. Three patients (7.5%) achieved an objective response, with an additional 17 (42.5%) demonstrating stable disease for a minimum of two cycles. Ten (31.3%) of 32 patients with an elevated baseline CA19-9 had a >50% biomarker decline. The study met its primary end point with an OS(3-month) of 75%, with median progression-free survival and overall survival of 2.4 and 5.2 months, respectively.
PEP02 demonstrates moderate antitumour activity with a manageable side effect profile for metastatic, gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer patients. Given the limited treatment options available to this patient population, a phase 3 trial of PEP02 (MM-398), referred to as NAPOLI-1, is currently underway.
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