Reliability tests on 600V-rated GaN-based normally-off hybrid-drain-embedded Gate Injection Transistor (HD-GIT) are performed. High-temperature reverse-bias test on HD-GIT reveals that the lifetime is dependent on the leakage current before the reliability test. Acceleration factors for the temperature and reverse bias voltage are extracted. Based on the obtained results, devices are designed so that their lifetimes under V DS = 480V (80% de-rated) at 80°C are longer than 1000 years, which are long enough for most conventional power converter applications. Dynamic high-temperature operation life test is also performed, under which their DC characteristics are within their normal range up to 3600h. In addition, HD-GITs are within their normal range under the similar reliability tests as applied for Si-based power transistors. The physical mechanisms for the reliability of HD-GIT are discussed. We conclude that the OFF-state reliability is explained by the so-called percolation degradation model, and that the hole injection from the p-type GaN embedded in the drain plays an important role to suppress the degradation under hard-switching operation test.
Abstract Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the dominant histological subtype of esophageal cancer in Japan. However, there are few effective drugs for advanced ESCC patients (pts), and the prognosis of advanced ESCC pts remains poor. In 2019, comprehensive genome profiling (CGP) tests were approved for patients with advanced solid cancers who were refractory or intolerant to standard treatments. However, there were little data on CGP tests for advanced ESCC patients. The subjects were advanced ESCC patients received CGP tests between June 2019 and February 2022 and expected to be refractory or intolerant to standard treatments. This study evaluated characteristics of advanced ESCC patients who received CGP tests and the clinical utility of CGP tests to receive investigational new drugs. Characteristics of 12 patients were follows; median age:61(range: 48–72), male/female:10(83.3%)/2(16.7%)pts, performance status 0/1/2:2(16.7%)/9(75.0%)/1(8.3%)pts, treatment line 2/3/4:3(25.0%)/8(66.7%)/1(8.3%)pts CGP tests FoundationOne CDx/OncoGuideTM NCC Oncopanel System:8(66.7%)/4(33.3%)pts. All pts(100%) and 7pts(58.3%), 5pts(41.7%), 4pts(33.3%), 2pts(16.7%) showed TP53 mutations and CDKN2A/B loss, FGF amplification, NFE2L2 mutations, TMB-high. Seven pts(58.3%) were candidates for investigational new drugs based on CGP, 1 pt(8.3%) received investigational treatment based on CGP (ERBB2 amplification), 1 pt(8.3%) received investigational treatment not based on CGP test. 5pts(41.7%) were ineligible to trials according to deteriorated general condition or prior treatments. In 5pts(41.7%) without druggable gene alteration based on CGP tests, 2pts(16.7%) received investigational treatments not based on CGP. This study clarified the current status of CGP tests for advanced ESCC patients in our hospital. Due to the small population, further investigation was needed to evaluate the utility of CGP for ESCC pts.
Abstract Background The standard preoperative treatment for resectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LAESCC) in Japan is docetaxel, cisplatin (CDDP), and 5-fluorouracil. However, patients with renal or cardiac dysfunction and elderly patients are ineligible for a CDDP-containing regimen because of toxicities. Oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and 5-fluorouracil (FOLFOX) therapy has less renal toxicity than CDDP-containing regimens and does not require hydration. However, there are limited data on preoperative FOLFOX therapy in these patients. Methods This retrospective study analyzed patients with resectable LAESCC who were aged ≥ 75 years or had renal or cardiac dysfunction and received preoperative FOLFOX between 2019 and 2021. FOLFOX was administered every 2 weeks for 3 or 4 cycles and was followed by surgery. Adverse events associated with chemotherapy, the complete resection (R0) rate, relative dose intensity (RDI), and histopathological response were evaluated. Results Thirty-five patients were eligible. Median age was 77 (range 65–89) years; 68.6% were aged ≥ 75 years, 74.3% had renal dysfunction, and 17.1% had cardiac dysfunction. The RDI was 70.2% and 87.1% for bolus and continuous intravenous 5-fluorouracil, respectively and 85.2% for oxaliplatin. The most common grade ≥ 3 adverse events were neutropenia (60.0%) and leucopenia (28.6%). Two patients (5.7%) had febrile neutropenia and grade 3 pneumonia. Thirty-one patients underwent surgery. The R0 resection rate was 87.1%, and there was no histopathological evidence of residual tumor in 16.1%. There were no treatment-related deaths. Conclusions Preoperative FOLFOX had a manageable safety profile and showed favorable short-term efficacy in patients with resectable LAESCC who were ineligible for CDDP-containing treatment.
In prewar Japan, many banks were controlled by industrial companies through capital and personal relationships. The literature has pointed out that those banks engaged in unsound lending to their related companies, which resulted in damage to the financial system (organ bank hypothesis). In this article we examine this hypothesis by measuring director interlocking between banks and nonbanking companies. It was found that more than 80 percent of ordinary banks had director interlocking with at least one nonbanking company. Also, regression analyses confirmed that director interlocking had a negative effect on bank performance, especially for smaller banks.
We present the case of a 31-year-old woman with a chief complaint of a left breast mass. The patient visited our department for an evaluation of this left breast mass. Left breast cancer(cT1cN0M0, cStage Ⅰ, triple negative type)was diagnosed, and left partial mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy were performed. Although the pStage was the same prior to surgery, a BRCA1 mutation was identified on genetic testing. After administration of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel), consorted mastectomy, tissue expander insertion, and breast reconstruction with silicone implant were performed. Spontaneous pregnancy occurred 1 year and 10 months after the first operation. She had an uneventful delivery with a normal course of labor 2 years and 6 months after the surgery. Two years and 11 months after the first operation, she visited our institution with complaints of headache, dizziness, and difficulty eating. Upon assessment, brain, lung, liver, and bone metastases were identified on contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Concentrated glycerin and fructose, steroid administration, and whole-brain irradiation improved the symptoms due to cerebral edema. Thereafter, olaparib was started, and treatment was continued while maintaining partial response(PR).
