A case of lateral abdominal wall hematoma treated with transcatheter arterial embolization

Paracentesis is a diagnostic, therapeutic procedure performed in patients with ascites. It is generally thought to be a safe procedure and transfusion of platelet concentrate or fresh frozen plasma is not recommended before the procedure, because the incidence of clinically significant bleeding is very low. We report a case of lateral abdominal wall hematoma due to the injury of the deep circumflex iliac artery after paracentesis in patient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis who was treated with transcatheter arterial embolization.     

A case of Castleman's disease mimicking a hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report and review of literature

Castleman's disease is a rare disease characterized by lymph node hyperplasia. Although Castleman's disease can occur wherever lymphoid tissue is found, it rarely appears in the abdominal cavity, and is especially rare adjacent to the liver. Here, we report a rare case of Castleman's disease in the portal area that mimicked a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a chronic hepatitis B patient. A 40 year-old woman with chronic hepatitis B presented with right upper quadrant discomfort. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging results showed a 2.2 cm-sized, exophytic hypervascular mass in the portal area. HCC was suspected. However, histologic examination revealed Castleman's disease. We suggest that Castleman's disease should be included as a rare differential diagnosis of a hypervascular mass in the portal area, even in patients with chronic hepatitis B.     

A case of primary colon amyloidosis presenting as hematochezia

Amyloidosis is characterized by a deposition of insoluble fibrils in various organs and tissues. Amyloid deposition, in the gastrointestinal track, provokes a dysfunction of the organ, due to an accumulation of fibrils, and causes a variety of clinical symptoms and endoscopic findings. Primary amyloidosis in the gastrointestinal tract is rarely reported in Korea. We experienced a case of recurrent intestinal bleeding, in a 59-year-old female patient with primary amyloidosis. A colonoscopy revealed the presence of multiple large circular ulcers. In the entire colon, diffuse nodular lesions with edema and bleeding were found. A colonoscopic biopsy established the diagnosis of amyloidosis, to the exclusion of other disease components. We concluded that the patient had localized amyloidosis. Though a definitive therapeutic strategy has not been established for localized gastrointestinal amyloidosis, the patient has been successfully treated with a high-dose of steroids and azathioprine.     

Korean guidelines for colorectal cancer screening and polyp detection

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in males and the fourth most common in females in Korea. Since the most of colorectal cancer occur through the prolonged transformation of adenomas into carcinomas, early detection and removal of colorectal adenomas are one of the most effective methods to prevent colorectal cancer. Considering the increasing incidence of colorectal cancer and polyps in Korea, it is very important to establish Korean guideline for colorectal cancer screening and polyp detection. Korean Multi-Society Take Force developed the guidelines with evidence-based methods. Parts of the statements drawn by systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Herein we discussed the epidemiology of colorectal cancers and adenomas in Korea, optimal screening methods for colorectal cancer, and detection for adenomas including fecal occult blood tests, radiologic tests, and endoscopic examinations.     

Correction: Role of polysilicon in poly-Si/SiOx passivating contacts for high-efficiency silicon solar cells

Correction for ‘Role of polysilicon in poly-Si/SiO_x passivating contacts for high-efficiency silicon solar cells’ by HyunJung Park et al., RSC Adv., 2019, 9, 23261–23266. DOI: 10.1039/c9ra03560e

The authors regret that the list of corresponding authors was incorrect in the original article. The corrected author list and associated contact details are as shown above.The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for these errors and any consequent inconvenience to authors and readers.     

Effect of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on palladium catalysts for direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen

When synthesizing nanoparticles in the liquid phase, polymeric materials (mainly polyvinylpyrrolidone, PVP) are applied as capping and/or stabilizing agents. The polymer layer on the nanoparticles must likely be removed since it blocks the active sites of the catalyst and inhibits mass transfer of the reactants. However, we have found that the polymer can have a positive effect on the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide. By testing Pd/SiO₂ catalysts with different amounts of PVP, it was revealed that an adequate amount of PVP resulted in a higher rate of hydrogen peroxide production (1001 mmol_H2O2 g_Pd⁻¹ h⁻¹) than pristine Pd/SiO₂ did (750 mmol_H2O2 g_Pd⁻¹ h⁻¹), unlike other PVP added Pd/SiO₂ catalysts containing excess PVP (less than 652 mmol_H2O2 g_Pd⁻¹ h⁻¹). The effect of PVP on the catalysts was examined by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, CO chemisorption, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. For the catalysts containing PVP, the oxidation state of the palladium 3d shifted to high binding energy due to electron transfer from Pd to the PVP molecules. Consequently, the presence of PVP on the catalysts inhibited oxygen dissociation and decomposition of the produced hydrogen peroxide, resulting in a high selectivity and high production rate of hydrogen peroxide.

Addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone to Pd/SiO₂ catalyst improved H₂O₂ selectivity by adjusting electronic state of palladium active species.     

Effects of metal cation doping in CeO2 support on catalytic methane steam reforming at low temperature in an electric field

Catalytic methane steam reforming was conducted at low temperature using a Pd catalyst supported on Ce_1−xM_xO₂ (x = 0 or 0.1, M = Ca, Ba, La, Y or Al) oxides with or without an electric field (EF). The effects of the catalyst support on catalytic activity and surface proton hopping were investigated. Results show that Pd/Al-CeO₂ (Pd/Ce_0.9Al_0.1O₂) showed higher activity than Pd/CeO₂ with EF, although their activity was identical without EF. Thermogravimetry revealed a larger amount of H₂O adsorbed onto Pd/Al-CeO₂ than onto Pd/CeO₂, so Al doping to CeO₂ contributes to greater H₂O adsorption. Furthermore, electrochemical conduction measurements of Pd/Al-CeO₂ revealed a larger contribution of surface proton hopping than that for Pd/CeO₂. This promotes the surface proton conductivity and catalytic activity during EF application.

Temperature dependence of electron/ion conductivity of Pd/CeO₂ and Pd/Al-CeO₂ under wet conditions with application of an electric field.     

Unprecedented surface stabilized InP quantum dots with bidentate ligands

For InP-based QDs, the current technology does not outperform CdSe-based QDs in many respects, one of which is stability. The optical stability of QDs is closely related to their surface properties, so QDs often use organic ligands for surface protection. These organic ligands are dynamically attached and detached on the QD surface; during detachment, their surfaces are easily damaged and oxidized, thereby deteriorating their optical characteristics. Therefore, we have synthesized a ligand 1,2-hexadecanedithiol with a bidentate form, inducing one ligand to bind to the QD surface strongly through the chelate effect, as a good way to improve the stability of the QDs; thus, the PL stability of the green-light-emitting InP-based QDs was greatly increased. To confirm the existence of the dithiol ligand, we used thermogravimetric analysis/simultaneous thermal analysis-mass spectroscopy (TGA/STA-MS). After that, we applied the ligand to blue-light-emitting ZnSe QDs and red-light-emitting InP QDs, and for those two types of QD we also confirmed that the stability was increased. Additionally, we tested dithiol exchanged QDs at a high temperature of 150 °C, and the increase of stability was effective even in a high temperature condition.

For InP-based QDs, the current technology does not outperform CdSe-based QDs in many respects, one of which is stability.     

Comparison of tunnel locations of double bundle ACL reconstruction using the conventional transtibial technique with anatomic tunnel locations using a 3D CT model

Introduction

The purposes of this study were: (1) to compare tunnel locations using the conventional transtibial technique with reference data, and (2) to identify factors that make it difficult to position the femoral tunnel correctly or contribute to breakage of the bone bridge between the two tibial tunnels.

Materials and methods

A prospective study was performed on 28 patients who underwent double bundle ACL reconstruction. Locations of each tunnel were determined using an anatomic coordinate axes method (ACAM). Measurements included: thickness of the bone bridge between tibial two tunnels (BB), height from the union (HU) point to expected joint surface, the ratio between the length of Blumensaat’s line and the anterior–posterior length of the lateral femoral condyle (RBL), and the ratio between anterior–posterior and proximal–distal lengths of the medial wall of the lateral femoral condyle (RAPPD).

Results

The posterior–anterior direction of femoral AM tunnel, the proximal–distal direction of femoral PL tunnel, and the posterior–anterior direction of femoral PL tunnel were statistically significantly different from the reference data. In correlation analyses between BB or HU and other variables, the AM tibial tunnel and RBL showed a moderate negative correlation. The cutoff point for tunnel breakage was an RLB of 1.14, meaning that the possibility of bone bridge breakage would increases for RBL values of >1.14.

Conclusions

It seems that conventional transtibial drilling technique used during double bundle ACL reconstruction does not reproduce correct tunnel locations compared with reference data. This problem was found to be related to the bony geometry of the medial wall of the lateral femoral condyle or the bone bridge between the two tibial tunnels. Our results indicate that RBL should be determined by pre-operative CT or plain lateral radiography, and that transtibial single bundle reconstruction or double bundle reconstruction using other methods should be attempted when the RBL exceeds 1.14.