The aim of the present study was to compare in a prospective, multicenter trial the results early and late after pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG) versus conventional distal gastrectomy (CDG) with Billroth I anastomosis for early gastric cancer. Eighty-one patients with early gastric cancer were randomized and then underwent either PPG or CDG. Duration of operation, intraoperative blood loss, days until removal of the nasogastric tube, days until start of oral intake, and decrease in body weight were studied as parameters for outcomes early after the surgery. Late results were studied in patients followed for longer than 3 years. Change in body weight, status of oral intake, symptoms suggesting early dumping syndrome, and overall satisfaction were addressed in the questionnaire. The presence of gallstones was examined with ultrasonography. There were no differences in early results between PPG and CDG. The incidence of early dumping syndrome was lower in PPG (8%) than in CDG (33%). Other late results including the incidence of gallstones were not different between the 2 groups. These results indicate that PPG is as safe as CDG and has an advantage in terms of early dumping syndrome.

Clusters represent a new class of laser pulse targets which show both the properties of underdense and of overdense plasmas. We present analytical and numerical results (based on 2D- and 3D-PIC simulations) of the Coulomb explosion of the ion cloud that is formed when a cluster is irradiated by a high-intensity laser pulse. For laser pulse intensities in the range of 10(21)-10(22) W/cm(2), the laser light can rip electrons from atoms almost instantaneously and can create a cloud made of an electrically nonneutral plasma. Ions can then be accelerated up to high energy during the Coulomb explosion of the cloud

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Dielectric SrTiO3 thin films have been prepared on Pt/SiO2/Si-wafer by means of a conventional rf-magnetron sputtering technique. Electric and dielectric properties of the films have been studied. It is demonstrated that the leakage current of the films is strongly dependent on the atmosphere during deposition. The SrTiO3 film 75 nm in thickness fabricated in pure O2 of 26.6 Pa at 600°C obtained the lowest leakage current density of 4.0×10-9 A/cm2 at 2 V. Analysis of the leakage current vs applied voltage characteristic indicated that the conduction in the higher electric field was due to the Pool-Frenkel emission.

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