We have investigated carrier spin dynamics in highly uniform self-assembled InAs quantum dots. The highly uniform quantum dots allowed us to observe the spin dynamics in the ground state and that in the second state separately, without the disturbance of inhomogeneous broadening. The spin relaxation times in the ground state and the second state were measured to be 1.0 and 0.6 ns, respectively. Our measurements reveal the absence of the carrier density dependence of the spin relaxation time. The measured spin relaxation time decreases rapidly from 1.1 ns at 10 K to 200 ps at 130 K. This large change in the spin relaxation time is well explained in terms of the mechanism of acoustic phonon emission.

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BACKGROUND. The long term efficacy of combination therapy with transcatheterKatsuaki Tanaka, M.D.arterial embolization (TAE) followed by percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) was Saburo Nakamura, M.D. stage of cirrhosis (Child's Class A vs. Class B or C), and the size of the largest lesion (3-5 cm in largest dimension compared with ú 5 cm) significantly affected the Third Department of Internal Medicine, Yokosurvival rate (P õ 0.05 to P õ 0.01, log rank test). The 3-, 5-, and 7-year survival hama City University School of Medicine, Yokorates of the Child's Class A patients who had a 3-5 cm solitary lesion (n Å 22) were hama, Japan.100%, 75%, and 27%, respectively. The Cox proportional hazards model showed the stage of cirrhosis and size of the largest lesion to be independently associated with survival. No serious complications occurred during or after treatment. PEI has been reported to be high compared with that of small lesions. CONCLUSIONS. Combination therapy with15

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2a or 2b is associated with a favorable outcome after interferon therapy. However, 19% to 33% of patients do not respond to therapy. We investigated whether interferon receptor gene (IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 mRNA) expression in the liver before interferon therapy predicts long-term response to therapy in patients with genotype 2a or 2b HCV infection. Twenty-seven patients who subsequently received interferon-alpha therapy underwent liver biopsies before interferon therapy. Hepatic IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 mRNA were determined using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. Twenty (74%) patients responded to interferon therapy, while the remaining seven (26%) patients were nonresponders. The expression rates of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 mRNA in the liver were significantly higher in responders than nonresponders (p < 0.01, by chi-square test). The presence of either IFNAR1 or IFNAR2 mRNA predicted complete response to interferon treatment, with a positive predictive value of 100%. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that IFNAR1 and/or IFNAR2 mRNA expression was the only significant predictor of the effectiveness of IFN therapy (p = 0.0002). We conclude that expression of interferon receptor genes in the liver is a useful index for predicting the long-term efficacy of interferon therapy in patients with chronic genotype 2a or 2b HCV infection.

KDR mRNA is significantly overexpressed in HCC lesions and could be associated with the angiogenesis and tumour growth induced by VEGF.