Few-electron molecular states and their transitions in a single InAs quantum dot molecule.

We study electronic configurations in a single pair of vertically coupled self-assembled InAs quantum dots, holding just a few electrons. By comparing the experimental data of nonlinear single-electron transport spectra in a magnetic field with many-body calculations, we identify the spin and orbital configurations to confirm the formation of molecular states by filling both the quantum mechanically coupled symmetric and antisymmetric states. Filling of the antisymmetric states is less favored with increasing magnetic field, and this leads to various magnetic field induced transitions in the molecular states.

Single-dot spectroscopy via elastic single-electron tunneling through a pair of coupled quantum dots.

We study the electronic structure of a single self-assembled InAs quantum dot by probing elastic single-electron tunneling through a single pair of weakly coupled dots. In the region below pinch-off voltage, the nonlinear threshold voltage behavior provides electronic addition energies exactly as the linear, Coulomb blockade oscillation does. By analyzing it, we identify the s and the p shell addition spectrum for up to six electrons in the single InAs dot, i.e., one of the coupled dots. The evolution of the shell addition spectrum with magnetic field provides Fock-Darwin spectra of the s and p shells.

Forty-five year's experience of the treatment of choriocarcinoma and invasive mole.

Our work was begun in 1949. through many yera's effort, several chemicals (such as 6 MP, 5 FU and others) were found to be effective for the treatment of choriocarcinoma (C.C.) and invasive mole (I.M.). From 1959 through 1985, 1500 patients were consecutively treated. The mortality rate of CC was reduced from > 90% to < 20%. No more death occurred in IM. All Survivors followed up for 10-38 years showed no evidence of residual disease. 80% of the young patients treated with chemotherapy alone conceived after recovery. The pregnancy outcome showed no deviation from that of the general population. All children are growing up normally many married and gave birth to normal third generations. The results indicated that chemotherapy with 5 FU achieves not only a complete remission, but also a cure, even with wide-spread metastases. The results of choriocarcinoma and invasive mole treated with mainly 5 FU were reported. The clinical experience in the management of metastases at different sites were also summarized.

Forty-five year's experience of the treatment of choriocarcinoma and invasive mole.

Our work was begun in 1949, through many yera's effort, several chemicals (such as 6 MP, 5 FU and others) were found to be effective for the treatment of choriocarcinoma (C.C.) and invasive mole (I.M.). From 1959 through 1985, 1500 patients were consecutively treated. The mortality rate of CC was reduced from > 90% to < 20%. No more death occurred in IM. All Survivors followed up for 10-38 years showed no evidence of residual disease. 80% of the young patients treated with chemotherapy alone conceived after recovery. The pregnancy outcome showed no deviation from that of the general population. All children are growing up normally many married and gave birth to normal third generations. The results indicated that chemotherapy with 5 FU achieves not only a complete remission, but also a cure, even with wide-spread metastases. The results of choriocarinoma and invasive mole treated with mainly 5 FU were reported. The clinical experience in the management of metastases at different sites were also summarized.

[Interventional therapy of hepatic cavernous hemangioma].

From March. 1991 through Dec. 1993, 39 patients with hepatic cavernous hemangioma were treated by interventional therapy. After 1-3 periods of therapy 28 were cured, in 8 case the mass reduced by 50%, and in the remaining 3 cases the tumor reduced by 30%. Symptoms disappeared in all patients. The diagnosis of hepatic cavernous hemangioma, its differential diagnosis from malignant tumors, indications for interventional therapy, the use of embolizing materials were discussed.

[Reproductive activities as a risk factor of endometriosis].

A case-control study, involving 203 cases of pelvic endometriosis and 406 randomly selected and age-matched community controls, was conducted. The results were as following: 1) A decreased risk for endometriosis was found to be related to pregnancy. The relative risk was 0.34 for para 1 and 0.08 for para 2 or more. A similar tendency was also showed in the analysis of gravidity, but this protective effect totally disappeared after adjustment for parity. Therefore, it may be revealed that it is the parity but not the gravidity which protects the women against the endometriosis. 2) There was an increased risk of 15.35 for endometriosis in women with infertility. 3) No relation emerged with age at first pregnancy to the occurrence of endometriosis as indicated in the literature. 4) The frequency of induced abortion was 42.4% in the cases and that was 63.7% in the controls. The association with the risk of the disease adjusted for education, menstruation, parity and contraception was not significant by a attentive stratification the data. 5) Two groups were relatively similar with respect to recorded condom and oral contraceptive use. However, more cases than controls did not use any contraception or only used rhythm method and coitus interruptus, and more controls than cases used an intrauterine device. The results of multivariate analysis did not approve of opinion that IUD is a risk factor of endometriosis. The results did not negate the likelihood of diminished chance of developing endometriosis in women with using oral contraceptives.

[Selective arterial embolization in the management of hemoperitoneum caused by trophoblastic disease].

In the field of gynecologic oncology, surgical intervention has been the traditional management of hemoperitoneum. Recently selective arterial embolization has been reported to effectively control gastrointestinal bleeding caused by peptic ulcer and postoperative abdominal or retroperitoneal bleeding associated with gynecologic malignancy. This study reports the use of selective arterial embolization in the management of hemoperitoneum caused by trophoblastic disease. Analysis of 4 cases provides valuable information which enhances the safety and efficiency of this procedure. Results suggest that selective arterial embolization should be considered in the management of hemoperitoneum caused by trophoblastic disease.

[Interventional treatment of non-operable central lung cancer].

From 1992 Jan. to 1992 Dec. 32 patients with lung cancer which were centrally located and considered to be non-operable were treated by bronchial artery chemoembolization. Each patient received 1-3 times of this interventional therapy. Chest radiographic observation showed that, in 27 cases the lesions were significantly reduced and in 5 cases, the lesions were disappeared. There were 2 cases whose laryngeal nerves were temporally pressed by the lesion resulting in hoarseness were completely recovered. The early results were satisfactory in all of our patients. In this article, the diagnosis of central lung cancer, the techniques of interventional bronchial artery chemoembolization and how to avoid the high level paraplegia resulting from spinal injuries were also discussed.

Renal metastases of choriocarcinoma. A clinicopathological study of 31 cases.

From 1949 through 1978, 31 patients with renal metastasis were diagnosed in a total of 448 cases of choriocarcinoma admitted to our hospital, giving an incidence of 6.9%. Renal metastasis was invariably preceded by pulmonary metastases and usually accompanied by other visceral metastases, indicating that renal metastasis is the result of dissemination of tumor cells secondarily from lung metastasis through the general circulation and should be categorized as arterial metastasis. Pyelogram is useful in the presence of medullary invasion by the tumor. Renal metastatic tumors are very sensitive to chemotherapy. Good response to chemical agents may be due to high drug concentration attained in the kidney tissue during excretion. Since successful treatment of renal metastasis by chemotherapy alone may be obtained, patients can be spared a major operation without jeopardizing the prognosis.

Clinical significance of hysterography in the diagnosis of choriocarcinoma and invasive mole.

From 1963 through 1988, a total of 194 hysterographies were performed for 111 patients. Three types of abnormalities were observed on the hysterogram: filling defect, intramural invasion of the uterine wall by the contrast medium; and intravasation of the contrast medium into the pelvic veins. The pathology and clinical significance of three types of abnormalities were studied. The results showed that hysterography demonstrated better images than pelvic arteriography and B-scan for the diagnosis of choriocarcinoma and invasive mole, especially when combined with B-scan/or pelvic arteriography, a greater accuracy was achieved.

Gestational trophoblastic disease: a case-control study from the People's Republic of China.

A case-control study involving 331 patients with complete hydatidiform mole and 662 community controls matched to the cases on age and timing of pregnancy was conducted in Beijing, China. A history of a term birth was associated with reduced risk (odds ratio = 0.6, 95% confidence interval 0.4 to 0.9), with some evidence of further decrease with multiple births. Previous spontaneous abortions were not related to risk, although those with a prior induced abortion were at elevated risk, particularly if two or more abortions were involved (odds ratio = 2.8, 95% confidence interval 1.4 to 5.7). A history of having sought medical advice for infertility was associated with reduced risk (odds ratio = 0.5, 95% confidence interval 0.2 to 0.8), but those who reported use of herbal medicines during a first trimester of a previous pregnancy were at excess risk (odds ratio = 2.2, 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 3.6). In addition, a statistically significant trend in risk was observed with years of oral contraceptive use (odds ratio = 2.6, 95% confidence interval 0.9 to 6.9 for greater than or equal to 4 years of use). Dietary habits and family histories of cancer or trophoblastic disease were not related to risk in this study.

Pregnancy outcomes after successful chemotherapy for choriocarcinoma and invasive mole: long-term follow-up.

In order to preserve the fertility of young patients with choriocarcinoma and invasive mole, chemotherapy alone was given without hysterectomy in 265 cases from 1959 through 1980. By the end of 1985, 205 patients had become pregnant after recovery, with a total of 355 pregnancies. Among these, 23 were terminated by induced abortions, 26 as miscarriages, two as ectopic gestations, two as intrauterine deaths, and three as stillbirths. Among 303 livebirths (including four sets of twins), six infants died neonatally, three of whom were found to have congenital anomalies incompatible with life, and two died during infancy. All the remaining 295 children had normal growth and development, the oldest now being 25 years of age. The rates of fetal wastage, malformations, twin pregnancies, and neonatal and infantile deaths did not deviate from the normal. Cytogenetic study of the peripheral lymphocytes of 94 of the children revealed no increase of chromosomal aberrations. The rates of recurrence of disease and of death caused by recurrence of disease in these were not increased in comparison with those in patients who underwent hysterectomy. These data indicate that treatment of malignant trophoblastic neoplasms with chemotherapy alone is compatible with the preservation of fertility in most women.

Hydatidiform mole in China: a preliminary survey of incidence on more than three million women.

A nationwide retrospective survey to determine the incidence of hydatidiform mole has been conducted in China since 1979 by inquiring into the history of past pregnancies. Up to the end of 1983, a total of 3 089 399 women with 10 929 354 pregnancies from 26 provinces, special municipalities and autonomous regions had been investigated. The overall incidence was one mole in 1238 pregnancies (0.81 per 1000 pregnancies). The incidence was higher in five provinces of south-east China than in other parts of the country and higher among the coastal people than inlanders. Ethnic comparisons were made between the major Han and three main minority groups. The incidence was higher among the Zhuang in Guangxi and the Mongolians in Inner Mongolia than among the Han living in the same areas. However, in Ningxia, the incidence among the Hui (Muslims) was almost the same as that of the Han. There was no significant difference in the incidence of hydatidiform mole between urban and rural residents.The traditional view that hydatidiform mole occurs much more frequently among women in China and other Asian countries has to be revised. The present study shows that the incidence in China is higher than that among Caucasian women in some European countries, but it is by no means as high as previously believed.