Temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction and infrared (IR) spectra were measured for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) P(HB-co-HHx) (HHx = 2.5, 3.4, 10.5, and 12 mol %) to explore their crystal and lamella structure and the C−H···OC hydrogen bonding in them. The X-ray diffraction and IR measurements of PHB and P(HB-co-HHx) revealed that the smaller the a lattice parameter, the higher the frequency (∼3008 cm-1) of the C−H stretching band of the C−H···OC hydrogen bonding along the a axis between the CH3 group of one helix and the CO group of another helix. Therefore, it seems that the C−H···OC hydrogen bonding becomes strong with the decrease in the a lattice parameter. To investigate the relation between the C−H···OC hydrogen bonding and the lamella structure, we estimated the number of C−H···OC hydrogen bonding along the c axis (the direction of the lamella thickness) based on the reported lamella thickness. It is about 8 or 9 for PHB and about 3 for P(HB-co-HHx) (HHx = 10.5 and 12 mol %). It is very likely that the C−H···OC hydrogen bondings break much more easily in P(HB-co-HHx) than in PHB because of the bulkiness of large amounts of amorphous parts. However, the polymer chains still keep the lamella structure even in the copolymers with the HHx content of more than several percent. This is the reason why the P(HB-co-HHx) copolymers show high crystallinity and essentially have the same lattice spacing as the PHB homopolymer even if the HHx content is more than 10%. We have concluded that the C−H···OC hydrogen bonding stabilizes the chain folding in the lamella structure of PHB and P(HB-co-HHx) and the high crystallinity of PHB and P(HB-co-HHx) partly comes from the C−H···OC hydrogen bonding.

We performed a variety of complete total endoscopic general surgical procedures, including colon resection, distal gastrectomy, and splenectomy, successfully with the assistance of the da Vinci computer-enhanced surgical system. The robotic system allowed us to manipulate the endoscopic instruments as effectively as during open surgery. It enhanced visualization of both the operative field and precision of the necessary techniques, as well as being less stressful for the endoscopic operating team. This technological innovation can therefore help surgeons overcome many of the difficulties associated with the endoscopic approach and thus has the potential to enable more precise, safer, and more minimally invasive surgery in the future.

Background The necessity of surgical treatment of liver metastases of gastric cancer is still controversial. Patients and methods We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study of liver-limited metastasis of gastric cancer treated surgically between 2000 and 2010. In this study, 103 patients were registered, with nine patients excluded from the analysis as they did not meet the eligibility criteria.Results Of the 94 patients, 69 underwent surgical resection, 11 underwent surgical resection combined with radiofrequency ablation or microwave coagulation therapy for small or deep tumors, and 14 underwent radiofrequency ablation or microwave coagulation therapy only. Synchronous and metachronous metastases were found in 37 and 57 patients, respectively. The 3-and 5-year overall survival rates of all the patients were 51.4 and 42.3 %, respectively. The 3-and 5-year relapse-free survival rates were 29.2 and 27.7 %, respectively. No significant difference in prognosis was observed between the patients who underwent surgical resection and those who underwent ablation therapy. The patients with hepatic solitary lesions and low-grade lymph node metastases of primary gastric cancer had significantly better overall survival and relapsefree survival. Conclusions To our knowledge, this study is the largest series and first multicenter cohort study of liver-limited metastasis of gastric cancer. The study indicated that patients with a single liver metastasis with a grade lower than N2 lymph node metastasis of the primary lesion are the best candidates for liver resection.

Strict asepsis and minimal blood loss were associated with a lower incidence of SSI following gastrointestinal surgery. The use of absorbable suture material may be involved in reducing the risk of SSI.

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Fungi were isolated from the beetles, Ips typographus f. japonicus and Yezo spruce (Picea jezoensis) trees infested with the beetles in Hokkaido, Japan. Nine species of ophiostomatoid fungi including one new species were identified. They were Ceratocystiopsis minuta, Ceratocystis polonica, Ophiostoma ainoae, O. bicolor, O. cucullatum, O. europhioides, O. penicillatum, O. piceae, and a new species described here as O. japonicum. Based on frequencies of occurrence, O. ainoae, O. bicolor, O. penicillatum, and O. piceae were regarded as dominant associates of I. typographus japonicus, and C. minuta, C. polonica, O. europhinoides, and O. japonicum were subdominant. The species of ophiostomatoid fungi associated with I. typographus japonicus in Japan are almost identical to those associated with I. typographus infesting Norway spruce (P. abies) in Europe. This study improves our knowledge of the biogeography of the ophiostomatoid fungi and the insects with which they are associated.

The incidence of gastric cancer is much higher in Japan than in other countries even though diagnostics and treatments of such patients have improved. The objective of this study was to present an overview of the past, present and future of surgical treatment for our patients with gastric cancer. We analysed data on 2152 Japanese men and women with gastric cancer who underwent surgical resection from 1965 to 1995 at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, based on a univariate and the multivariate analysis. We focused on time trends of surgical treatment and the postoperative outcome. Over the years, there have been favourable changes in the numbers of patients with early gastric cancer. In all cases of gastric cancer, the rate of 18% in the first six year period (group 1) was 57% in the last 5 year period (group 6). Size of the tumour was smaller, well-differentiated tumour tissue was more common, and lymphatic involvement was less frequent. Lymph node metastasis, liver metastasis and peritoneal dissemination all decreased. Extensive lymph node dissection was more frequently done and the rate of curative resection (curability A and B) increased. With increases in identifying the early stage of cancer and better perioperative care, mortality rates 30 days after the surgery greatly decreased. Multivariate analysis revealed that the 10 factors of depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, lymph node dissection, tumour size, liver metastasis, peritoneal dissemination, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, lesion in the whole stomach and lesion in the middle stomach were independent factors for determining the prognosis. Detection of the tumour in an early stage, standardized surgical treatment, including routine lymph node dissection, close follow-up schedules and better perioperative management are expected to increase survival time for patients with this malignancy. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign

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