The icephobic performance of alkyl-grafted aluminum surfaces

This work analyzes the anti-icing performance of flat aluminum surfaces coated with widely used alkyl-group based layers of octadecyltrimethoxysilane, fluorinated alkylsilane and stearic acid as they are subjected to repeated icing/deicing cycles. The wetting properties of the samples upon long-term immersion in water are also evaluated. The results demonstrate that smooth aluminum surfaces grafted with alkyl groups are prone to gradual degradation of their hydrophobic and icephobic properties, which is caused by interactions and reactions with both ice and liquid water. This implies that alkyl-group based monolayers on aluminum surfaces are not likely to be durable icephobic coatings unless their durability in contact with ice and/or water is significantly improved.

Investigation of the influence of coadsorbent dye upon the interfacial structure of dye-sensitized solar cells

The interface between Ru(tcterpy)(NCS)3TBA2 [black dye (BD); tcterpy = 4,4',4″-tricarboxy-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine, NCS = thiocyanato, TBA = tetrabutylammonium cation] and nanocrystalline TiO2, as found in dye-sensitized solar cells, is investigated by soft-X-ray synchrotron radiation and compared with the adsorption structure of cis-Ru(Hdcbpy)2(NCS)2TBA2 (N719; dcbpy = 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine) on TiO2 to elucidate the relationship between the adsorption mode of BD and the photocurrent with and without coadsorbed indoline dye D131. The depth profile is characterized with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and S K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure using synchrotron radiation. Both datasets indicate that one of the isothiocyanate groups of BD interacts with TiO2 via its S atom when the dye is adsorbed from a single-component solution. In contrast, the interaction is slightly suppressed when D131 is coadsorbed, indicated by the fact that the presence of D131 changes the adsorption mode of BD. Based upon these results, the number of BD dye molecules interacting with the substrate is shown to decrease by 10% when D131 is coadsorbed, and the dissociation is shown to be related to the short-circuit photocurrent in the 600-800 nm region. The design of a procedure to promote the preferential adsorption of D131 therefore leads to an improvement of the short-circuit current and conversion efficiency.

Expression and functional characterization of recombinant tributyltin-binding protein type 2

Tributyltin-binding proteins (TBT-bps) are members of the fish lipocalins that were isolated from the blood of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and function in the binding and detoxification of TBT. In this study, we constructed a baculovirus-silkworm expression system and obtained recombinant TBT-bp2 (rTBT-bp2; 31.5 kDa) from the hemolymph of silkworm larvae injected with a recombinant baculovirus containing the TBT-bp2 gene. The binding potential of rTBT-bp2 was investigated and compared to that of the previously available recombinant TBT-bp1 (rTBT-bp1). Both rTBT-bp2 and rTBT-bp1 bound to DAUDA, a typical fluorescent ligand of lipocalins, with dissociation constants of 0.97 and 1.75 µM, respectively. The Hill coefficient value indicated that rTBT-bp2 may have multiple binding sites and strong negative cooperativity. These results suggest that the typical central cavity of lipocalins composed of eight specific β-sheets is conserved in rTBT-bp2, as it is in rTBT-bp1, although rTBT-bp2 has different effects than rTBT-bp1 in TBT binding. In a competition assay, rTBT-bp2 displayed exponential binding affinity to TBT with an inhibition constant of 0.29 µM, demonstrating that TBT binds to the central ligand pocket of rTBT-bp2. However, three fatty acids did not show any affinity to rTBT-bp2. Further studies are required to elucidate the endogenous function of TBT-bps as fish lipocalins and their function in responding to xenobiotics.

Identification of perfluorooctane sulfonate binding protein in the plasma of tiger pufferfish Takifugu rubripes

It is well known that perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) preferentially accumulates in the plasma of wildlife and humans. Although earlier studies have suggested that this was due to binding of PFOS to a plasma protein, definite characterization of the protein in in vivo exposure studies was not conducted thus far. In this study, we conducted both in vitro and in vivo experiments to identify PFOS binding protein in the plasma of fish. For the in vivo studies, PFOS was administered intraperitoneally to tiger pufferfish, Takifugu rubripes, and the plasma was separated by ammonium sulfate fractionation. High concentrations of PFOS were found in the 65-70 percent ammonium sulfate fraction (190ng/mL). After SDS-PAGE and N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis, the PFOS-binding protein was identified as an apolipoprotein A-I, which was confirmed on the basis of a significant correlation to the PFOS concentration in each fraction. The plasma samples fractionated by ammonium sulfate from untreated pufferfish were subjected to PFOS binding assay by the equilibrium dialysis method. The results further confirmed that the 60-65 percent ammonium sulfate fraction showed a high PFOS-binding ratio, similar to that found from in vivo studies. We demonstrated that PFOS is likely bound to an apolipoprotein A-I in the plasma of tiger pufferfish in in vivo and in vitro studies.

Antibacterial polyetheretherketone implants immobilized with silver ions based on chelate-bonding ability of inositol phosphate: processing, material characterization, cytotoxicity, and antibacterial properties

We developed a novel antibacterial implant by forming a hydroxyapatite (HAp) film on polyetheretherketone (PEEK) substrate, and then immobilizing silver ions (Ag(+) ) on the HAp film based on the chelate-bonding ability of inositol phosphate (IP6). First, the PEEK surface was modified by immersion into concentrated sulfuric acid for 10 min. HAp film was formed on the acid-treated PEEK via the soft-solution process using simulated body fluid (SBF), urea, and urease. After HAp coating, specimens were immersed into IP6 solution, and followed by immersion into silver nitrite solution at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1, 5 or 10 mM. Ag(+) ions were immobilized on the resulting HAp film due to the chelate-bonding ability of IP6. On cell-culture tests under indirect conditions by Transwell, MC3T3-E1 cells on the specimens derived from the 0.5 and 1 mM Ag(+) solutions showed high relative growth when compared with controls. Furthermore, on evaluation of antibacterial activity in halo test, elution of Ag(+) ions from Ag(+) -immobilized HAp film inhibited bacterial growth. Therefore, the above-mentioned results demonstrated that specimens had both biocompatibility and strong antibacterial activity. The present coating therefore provides bone bonding ability to the implant surface and prevents the formation of biofilms in the early postoperative period.

Blocking of the ATP sensitive potassium channel ameliorates the ischaemia-reperfusion injury in the rat testis

There is increasing evidence that the effects of administered ATP sensitive potassium (KATP ) channel openers or blockers during ischaemia are still controversial in many organs/tissues. Testicular torsion detorsion which causes ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, cannot be predicted, thus an effective drug should be administered during or after the ischaemia. The aim of this study was to examine whether the administration of KATP channel openers or blockers during ischaemia ameliorates IR injury in the testis. Eight-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 2 h right testicular ischaemia followed by 24 h reperfusion. The selective mitochondrial (mito) KATP channel blocker, 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) (40 mg/kg), the non-selective KATP channel blocker glibenclamide (5 mg/kg), the selective mito KATP channel opener diazoxide (10 mg/kg) and the non-selective KATP channel opener cromakalim (300 μg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally 15 min prior to the ischaemia or 75 min after the induction of ischaemia. Tissue damage was evaluated by malondialdehyde concentration, myeloperoxidase activity, histological evaluation and TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labelling assay in the testis. There was a significant increase in oxidative stress, neutrophil infiltration, histological damage and apoptosis in the testicular IR model. A significant reduction in the testicular IR injury was observed with the administration of glibenclamide, but not 5-HD, diazoxide or cromakalim during ischaemia. The administration of non-selective KATP channel blocker glibenclamide ameliorated the testicular IR injury. On the other hand, the selective mito KATP channel blocker, 5-HD and KATP channel openers did not reduce the testicular IR injury. These data suggest that blocking of the membrane KATP channel may have a protective effect during the testicular ischaemia. Glibenclamide could be an effective drug to manage the post-ischaemic injury caused by the testicular torsion-detorsion.

Accumulation of organotins in wharf roach (Ligia exotica Roux) and its ability to serve as a biomonitoring species for coastal pollution

In this study, we measured the accumulation of tributyltin (TBT) in wharf roach (Ligia exotica Roux) and examined the species' ability to be used for TBT biomonitoring in coastal environments. In an exposure test, wharf roach were exposed to TBT via diet for 2d. TBT was accumulated in wharf roach, and its metabolite dibutyltin was detected. The concentrations of these compounds gradually decreased during the depuration period, but they were still detected 12d after exposure ceased (TBT 290±140ng/g; dibutyltin 1280±430ng/g). The biological half-life of TBT in wharf roach was estimated to be about 4d. In a field study conducted in 2011-2012, wharf roach were collected from 15 coastal sites in Japan and 3 sites in Manado, Indonesia. TBT was detected in both Japanese and Indonesian samples. The highest concentration of TBT was found in wharf roach collected at Bitung ferry port, Manado (57.9±16.5ng/g), which is close to a shipyard, and the highest concentration at a Japanese site was 12.3±6.2ng/g. Thus, we were able to detect organotins in the coastal environments by testing wharf roach, suggesting that L. exotica might serve as a good bioindicator for monitoring organotin pollution.

Movement and afferent representations in human motor areas: a simultaneous neuroimaging and transcranial magnetic/peripheral nerve-stimulation study

Neuroimaging combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to primary motor cortex (M1) is an emerging technique that can examine motor-system functionality through evoked activity. However, because sensory afferents from twitching muscles are widely represented in motor areas the amount of evoked activity directly resulting from TMS remains unclear. We delivered suprathreshold TMS to left M1 or gave electrical right median nerve stimulation (MNS) in 18 healthy volunteers while simultaneously conducting functional magnetic resonance imaging and monitoring with electromyography (EMG). We examined in detail the localization of TMS-, muscle afferent- and superficial afferent-induced activity in M1 subdivisions. Muscle afferent- and TMS-evoked activity occurred mainly in rostral M1, while superficial afferents generated a slightly different activation distribution. In 12 participants who yielded quantifiable EMG, differences in brain activity ascribed to differences in movement-size were adjusted using integrated information from the EMGs. Sensory components only explained 10–20% of the suprathreshold TMS-induced activity, indicating that locally and remotely evoked activity in motor areas mostly resulted from the recruitment of neural and synaptic activity. The present study appears to justify the use of fMRI combined with suprathreshold TMS to M1 for evoked motor network imaging.

Pro-angiogenic cytokines for prediction of outcomes in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Background:

We previously reported that expressions of the pro-angiogenic cytokines angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), follistatin, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, hepatocyte growth factor, leptin, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor were associated with the response to sorafenib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the present study is to examine the same relationship in a larger cohort.

Methods:

In the current retrospective cohort study, we measured serum levels of the eightcytokines in 120 consecutive HCC patients who were treated with sorafenib. We evaluated the effects of increased expression of serum cytokines on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Results:

Elevated expression of Ang-2 correlated both with significantly shorter PFS (hazard ratio (HR), 1.84; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.21–2.81), and OS (HR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.21–3.17). Patients with more than three cytokines expressed above the median similarly had significantly shorter PFS (HR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.30–3.06) and OS (HR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.19–3.22). Differences in OS were evident in cases with the evidence of macroscopic vascular invasion or extrahepatic metastasis.

Conclusion:

High expression of Ang-2 or more than cytokines in serum is associated with poor PFS and OS in HCC patients treated with sorafenib.

Raltegravir can be used safely in HIV-1-infected patients treated with warfarin

Drug co-administration often affects the patient response to warfarin through various mechanisms. We describe here five HIV-1-infected patients on treatment with warfarin in whom the use of raltegravir was associated with a favourable outcome.

Morphological and topological transformation of membrane vesicles

Liposomes are micro-compartments made of lipid bilayer membranes withcharacteristics quite similar to those of biological membranes. To formartificial cell-like structures, we generated liposomes that containedsubunit proteins of cytoskeletons: tubulin or actin. Spherical liposomeswere transformed into bipolar or cell-like shapes by mechanical forcesgenerated by the polymerization of encapsulated subunits of microtubules.Disk- or dumbbell-shaped liposomes were developed by the polymerizationof encapsulated actin. Dynamic processes of morphological transformationsof liposomes were visualized by high intensity dark-field lightmicroscopy.Topological changes, such as fusion and division of membrane vesicles,play an essential role in cellular activities. To investigate themechanism of these processes, we visualized in real time the liposomesundergoing topological transformation. A variety of novel topologicaltransformations were found, including the opening-up of liposomes and thedirect expulsion of inner vesicles.

A cross-sectional population-based study on senile dementia in a rural city

All residents aged 65 or over in a rural city (n=5340) were studied with a self-administered questionnaire on psychiatric symptoms, physical health status, medical history, and environmental factors. After the screening, the clinical diagnosis of senile dementia was made by psychiatrists. The overall prevalence was 4.0% among responders staying at home (201/4969). The prevalence increased with age for both males and females and tended to be higher for females than males. The multilogistic analysis of the above variables showed that in the cerebrovascular type, stroke and inactive physical status might be risk factors for both gender groups. For the Alzheimer's type, age and inactive physical status might be risk factors. For overall dementia, age, stroke, and inactive physical status might be risk factors.

Formation of NaCl-type monodeuteride LaD by the disproportionation reaction of LaD2

Previous x-ray diffraction measurements revealed the pressure-induced decomposition of an fcc LaH2.3 into H-rich and H-poor fcc phases around 11 GPa. The present neutron diffraction measurements on LaD2 confirm the formation of NaCl-type LaD as a counterpart of the D-rich LaD2+δ by disproportionation. First-principles enthalpy and lattice dynamic calculations demonstrate that the NaCl-type LaH is stabilized at high pressures and can be recovered at ambient conditions. Finding the NaCl-type LaH will pave the way for investigations on the site-dependent nature of hydrogen-metal interactions.

Fluid overload deteriorate chylothorax: evaluation in a canine model

No conservative treatments for chylothorax have yet been established, and surgical ligation of the thoracic duct is required in many cases. In the present study, we investigated the management of body fluid in a canine chylothorax model. Twelve beagle dogs were divided evenly into three groups: A, B, and C. Under general anesthesia, the thoracic duct was cut and opened, and the amount of lymph fluid leakage was measured. Intravenous extracellular fluid infusion was started at 5mL/kg/h for the first 2h, and then between 2 and 4h, the infusion rate was increased to 10 mL/kg/h in group A and to 20mL/kg/h in group B. During the first 2h after cutting the thoracic duct, the mean lymph fluid leakage rates in groups A, B, and C were 0.466, 0.635, and 0.575 mL/kg/h, respectively. The rates of leakage did not differ significantly among the groups. Between 2 and 4h, the mean rates of leakage were 0.750, 1.43, and 0.544mL/kg/h, respectively, being significantly higher in groups A and B than in group C. The amount of lymph fluid ascending the thoracic duct correlates with the amount of intravenous fluid infusion. For the management of chylothorax, it is important to avoid fluid overload.

Induction of elastin expression in vascular endothelial cells relates to hepatoportal sclerosis in idiopathic portal hypertension: possible link to serum anti-endothelial cell antibodies

Hepatoportal sclerosis accompanied by dense elastic fibre deposition is generally regarded as the primary lesion in the development of idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH). This study was performed to clarify the mechanism of elastic fibre deposition in the peripheral portal tracts of IPH liver in relation to serum anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA). In-vitro experiments were performed using human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC) and patients' sera. The presence of serum AECA was assayed by a cell-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using HMVEC. Immunohistochemical analysis of elastin was performed using liver tissue sections of IPH patients. IPH sera contained one or more AECA that could bind to the vascular endothelial cells of the peripheral portal tracts of the liver. When the value of AECA greater than the mean ± 2 standard deviations of healthy controls was regarded as positive, the positive detection rate of either immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgA or IgM AECA in IPH sera was 30% (10 of 33 cases). IPH sera induced the expression of elastin in HMVEC, which appeared to be associated with the presence of AECA. Apoptosis was also induced in HMVEC by the stimulation with IPH sera. In vivo, elastin expression was observed in the endothelial cells of the peripheral portal tracts of IPH livers in a proportion of cases. The disease pathogenesis of IPH seems to be heterogeneous, and this study elucidated a possible contribution of the induction of elastin expression in the portal vessels to hepatoportal sclerosis of IPH, which might be linked to serum AECA as a causative factor.

Tributyltin in blood of marine fish collected from a coastal area of northern Kyushu, Japan

We investigated levels of the pollutant tributyltin (TBT) in blood of pufferfishes (six species), Japanese sea perch, red sea bream, Japanese common goby, Japanese flounder, rockfish, conger eel, and sea mullet collected off the coast of northern Kyushu, Japan. We found considerable levels of TBT (1.4-190 ng/mL) accumulated in the blood of these fish. Blood TBT concentrations were 1.3-22.5 times liver concentrations and 4.9-78 times muscle concentrations, except in conger eel and mullet. We detected TBT (16-111 ng/mL-blood) in the plasma of the fine-patterned puffer (Takifugupoecilonotus) year-round, without any apparent seasonal trend. These results suggest that fish inhabiting coastal areas of Kyushu, Japan, continue to be contaminated with TBT.