Background/Aims: We aimed to compare the outcomes of Helicobacter pylori eradication in patients receiving sequential therapy (ST) depending on the use of ecabet sodium (ES). Materials and Methods : Between January to December 2015, 176 patients randomly received either ST alone (n=72) or 10-day ES therapy combined with ST (n=104). After applying the exclusion criteria, 56 patients were finally assigned to the ST-only group and 84 to the ST with ES group. We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the H. pylori eradication rate and adverse events between the two groups. Results : Among the 140 patients, 121 (86.4%) achieved successful H. pylori eradication and 24 (17.1%) had adverse events. Eradication was achieved in 50 patients (89.3%) in the ST-only group and in 71 patients (84.5%) in the ST with ES group (P=0.420). No significant difference in the incidence of adverse events was found between the ST-only and ST with ES groups (12.5% vs. 20.2%, respectively; P=0.234). However, the ST with ES group tended to have a higher prevalence of nausea or vomiting than the ST-only group (11.9% vs. 1.8%; P=0.050). Conclusions : ST showed a good H. pylori eradication rate without deteriorating the adverse events regardless of adding ES.

The sound absorption coefficient, airflow resistivity and cell size of polyurethane (PU) foam with graphene as a solid-type additive and tetramethylsilane (TEMS) as a liquid-type additive were investigated. The results show that the sound absorption coefficient and airflow resistivity are closely related, and that increase of the flow resistivity improves the sound absorption coefficient of the PU foam. For the PU foam/graphene (0.2 phr) composite, the values of the sound absorption coefficient and airflow resistivity were 0.52 (frequency range of 1600 to 2500 Hz) and 292,900 Ns/m(4), respectively, which were the highest values among the investigated additive species and additive content. The sound absorption coefficient of the PU foam/graphene (0.2 phr) composite increased by 18.2% compared with that of the PU foam without graphene. The results of the sound absorption coefficient and airflow resistivity of the PU foam suggest that graphene is an effective additive in the formation of the PU foam to decrease the cell size and increase the tortuous paths of the foams, and this small cell size consequently increases the acoustic damping properties of the PU foam.

The sound absorption properties and airflow resistivity of polyurethane foams (PUFs) with multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT), perfluoroalkane (PFA), dimethylsiloxane (HMDS), and MWCNT/PFA hybrid additives were investigated with varying additive content. The results show the close relationship of the sound absorption coefficient and airflow resistivity, and increasing flow resistivity was found to improve the sound absorption coefficient of the PUF. For the PUF with MWCNT (at 0.50 phr)/PFA (at 1.25 phr) hybrid additives, the sound absorption coefficient and airflow resistivity were 0.80 (in the frequency range of 1,600–2,500 Hz) and 439,900 Ns/m4, respectively, which were the highest values among the investigated additive species and additive content. The sound absorption coefficient of the PUF with MWCNT (at 0.50 phr)/PFA (at 1.25 phr) was increased by 82.0% compared to that of the PUF without additives, probably because the PUF has the smallest cell size among the additive species and compositions investigated in this study. The results of the sound absorption coefficient, airflow resistivity, and cell size of the PUF suggest that to decrease the cell size and to increase the tortuous paths of the foams, MWCNT/PFA hybrid additives appeared to be the most effective additives and showed synergistic effects in the formation of PUF, and its small cell size increased the sound absorption properties of PUF. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E1087–E1098, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers

15535 Background: The incidence of early gastric cancer (EGC) has been increasing worldwide owing to advances with diagnositic techniques and screening programs. Radical gastrectomy with lymph node dissection is still the gold-standard treatment for EGC. The present study was designed to investigate the characteristics of EGC patients who had undergone surgery. Methods: According to the Japanese classification of gastric carcinoma, EGC is defined as a lesion confined to the mucosa or submucosa, regardless of the presence of regional lymph node metastasis. We reviewed 529 patients with gastric cancer who had undergone gastrectomy at Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Korea, from December 2002 to December 2005. Results: Two hundred sixty-one patients (49%) were diagnosed as EGC (155 intramucosal EGC (mEGC), 106 intrasubmucosal EGC (smEGC), 123 differentiated EGC, and 138 undifferentiated EGC). One hundred sixty-one patients (61.7%) were male and median age was 55. The mean diameter of tumor was 2.49 ± 1.55 cm (2.18 ± 1.45 cm in mEGC and 2.94 ± 1.60 cm in smEGC, p=0.000). The incidence of lymph node metastasis was 11.5% (30 out of 261 patients). Univariate analysis revealed that a tumor larger than 2 cm (17.6% vs. 6.3%), submucosal invasion (20.8% vs. 5.2%), and the presence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (33.3% vs. 6.6%) were significantly associated with a higher lymph node metastasis rate. There were no significant associations between lymph node metastasis and differentiation, age, gender, tumor location, macroscopic type, CEA level,or CA19- 9 level. In multivariate analysis, LVI was independent predictive factor for lymph node metastasis (p=0.005), while submucosal invasion was marginally predictive (p=0.069) and tumor size was not (p=0.208). At a median follow-up of 1023 days, only 2 patients relapsed and 1 patient died due to disease progression. Conclusions: LVI was independent predictive factor for lymph node metastasis. In cases that LVI was present after endoscopic resection, radical gastrectomy should be recommended. Endoscopic resection data will be analyzed and compared with surgery data. No significant financial relationships to disclose.