Preparation and Characterization of Nanocomposite Composed of TiO2 as Active Matrix

Pt/TiO2 nanocomposite films were deposited on quartz glass and ITO glass substrates by the co-sputtering method. As-deposited composite films were amorphous and content of Pt in the films could be easily controlled by the amount Pt wire placed on the TiO2 target. Pt/Ti atomic ratio in the nanocomposite increased as the length of Pt wire on the TiO2 target increased. It was determined by XPS that the chemical states of Pt in as-deposited nanocomposites were Pt metal, Pt-O-Ti and PtO2, which were dependent on the Pt/Ti atomic ratio in the nanocomposite. The size of Pt nanoparticles in the composite films increased as the temperature of heat-treatment and Pt/Ti atomic ratio in the composite films increased. Pt nanoparticles in the nanocomposite films inhibited grain growth of TiO2 during heat-treatment.

Mantle cell lymphoma of the rectum at an early stage: a case report

We report a very rare early-stage case of mantle cell lymphoma, which arose from the rectum. A 60-year-old man presented with a small elastically hard polypoid lesion in the rectum. The lesion was 1.2 x 1.2 cm in size. As a preoperatively barium enema and endoscopy suggested a benign tumor of the rectum, he underwent local excision of a rectal polypoid mass transanally under spinal anesthesia. However, histological examination revealed a malignant lymphoma, because the lesion was histologically characterized by solid growths of small to medium-sized round cells. Furthermore, immunohistochemical tests revealed B-cell marker positivity and CD5 positivity, but cyclin D1 negativity. Since it was reported that lymphomas with a mantle cell lymphoma morphology and CD5 expression, but without cyclin D1 overexpression, exist in about 10% of mantle cell lymphoma cases, we diagnosed his disease as mantle cell lymphoma. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an early-stage mantle cell lymphoma, originating from the rectum.

Tumor angiogenesis predicts recurrence with normal serum carcinoembryonic antigen in advanced rectal carcinoma patients

Many studies have established the usefulness of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) oriented serial monitoring for predicting recurrence and prognosis; however, few studies have so far investigated serum CEA-negative recurrence. The aim of this study was to elucidate the nature of CEA-negative recurrence regarding tumor angiogenesis. Fifty-seven patients with T3/T4 rectal cancer were divided into the two groups according to the serum CEA status. Angiogenesis was defined as the intratumoral vessel count by immunohistochemical staining using CD31. The CD31 count was significantly higher in the recurrent patients in both groups and the ratio of nodal involvement was significantly higher in the recurrent patients of the CEA-negative group. Local recurrence mainly developed in the CEA-negative group; however, the CD31 count did not predict the sites of recurrence nor the relapse period in the both groups. A multivariate analysis showed a high CD31 count >26) to be a prognostic factor not only for recurrence but also for survival (P = 0.001, 0.043, respectively). These results suggest that a high degree of tumor angiogenesis in sections of T3/T4 rectal cancer may therefore be an important predictor for CEA-negative recurrence.

Formation of lymphatic nodules in the guinea-pig thymus after injection of TAB vaccine with histamine

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