Photocatalytic Properties of TiO2 Thin Films Modified with Ag and Pt Nanoparticles Deposited by Gas Flow Sputtering

In this work, a gas flow sputtering (GFS) process which allows the production and deposition of metal nanoparticles (NPs) in a vacuum environment is described. Aim of the study is to prove the potential of this technology for the fabrication of new TiO2 films with enhanced photocatalytic properties. For this purpose, Ag and Pt NPs have been produced and deposited on photocatalytic float glass coated with TiO2 thin films by magnetron sputtering. The influence of the process parameters and of the metal amount on the final properties of the particles (quantity, size, size distribution, oxidation state etc.,) was widely investigated. Moreover, the effect of the NPs on the photocatalytic activity of the resulting materials was evaluated for the case of the decomposition of stearic acid (SA) during UV-A irradiation. The reduction of the water contact angle (WCA) during the irradiation period was measured in order to test the photo-induced super-hydrophilicity (PSH).

The clinical benefit of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with conventional anthracyclines: a multicentre phase II trial

This study evaluates the clinical benefit of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), previously treated with conventional anthracyclines. Seventy-nine women with MBC previously treated with anthracyclines received PLD 50 mg m⁻² every 4 weeks. All patients were previously treated with chemotherapy and 30% of patients had ⩾3 prior chemotherapies for metastatic disease. Patients were considered anthracycline resistant when they had disease progression on anthracycline therapy for MBC or within 6 months of adjuvant therapy. The overall clinical benefit rate (objective response+stable disease ⩾24 weeks) was 24% (16.1% in patients with documented anthracycline resistance vs 29% in patients classified as having non-anthracycline-resistant disease). There was no difference with respect to the clinical benefit between patients who received PLD >12 months and those who received PLD ⩽12 months since last anthracycline treatment for metastatic disease (clinical benefit 25 vs 24.1%, respectively). Median time to progression and overall survival were 3.6 and 12.3 months, respectively. The median duration of response was 12 months, and the median time to progression in patients with stable disease (any) was 9.5 months. Fourteen patients (17.7%) had a prolonged clinical benefit lasting ⩾12 months. In conclusion, PLD was associated with an evident clinical benefit in anthracycline-pretreated patients with MBC.

In vitro compatibility of tazarotene with other topical treatments of psoriasis

Tazarotene is the first receptor-selective retinoid indicated for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis. It is being used clinically in combination with other topical antipsoriatic treatments, although its stability in the presence of these products has not been examined extensively. This study examines the compatibility of tazarotene 0.05% gel with 17 other topical products used in the treatment of psoriasis, assessed over a 2-week period. Tazarotene showed minimal degradation (<10%) at 0, 8, 24, and 48 hours after compounding with each of the 17 products. In addition, after 1 and 2 weeks, degradation of tazarotene remained less than 10% for 15 of the 17 products tested. Tazarotene appeared to have minimal impact on the stability of the other products. These results suggest that tazarotene gel can be successfully coprescribed with a range of commonly used topical psoriasis treatments without adversely affecting the chemical stability of either agent.

Interactions between tazarotene and ultraviolet light

Tazarotene in combination with phototherapy is being used clinically for the treatment of plaque psoriasis. This study investigates the dose of UVB light required to induce minimal erythema and the dose of UVA light required to induce immediate pigment darkening, with and without pretreatment with tazarotene 0.1% gel. The photostability of tazarotene is also assessed. Pretreatment with tazarotene 0.1% gel 3 times per week for 2 weeks before phototherapy significantly reduced the mean minimal erythema dose (MED) for UVB from 56.25 to 42.50 mJ/cm(2) (P <.01), and significantly reduced the mean UVA exposure required to induce immediate pigment darkening from 20.18 to 18.50 J/cm(2) (P <.05). A thin application of tazarotene gel immediately before phototherapy had no significant effect on the mean MED for UVB, whereas a thick application of the gel increased the MED slightly, from 56.25 to 62.50 mJ/cm(2) (P =.1). Tazarotene remained chemically stable when used in conjunction with UVB or UVA phototherapy. To reduce the patient's potential to burn or tan, we recommend initiating UVB phototherapy at 50% to 75% of the MED when it is used in combination with tazarotene. We also recommend initiating PUVA therapy at slightly lower doses than usual. Lower total doses of UVA or UVB may be needed when patients with psoriasis are treated concomitantly with tazarotene.

Finasteride in the treatment of men with frontal male pattern hair loss

BACKGROUND

Finasteride, a specific inhibitor of type II 5alpha-reductase, decreases serum and scalp dihydrotestosterone and has been shown to be effective in men with vertex male pattern hair loss.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the efficacy of finasteride 1 mg/day in men with frontal (anterior/mid) scalp hair thinning.

METHODS

This was a 1-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled study followed by a 1-year open extension. Efficacy was assessed by hair counts (1 cm2 circular area), patient and investigator assessments, and global photographic review.

RESULTS

There was a significant increase in hair count in the frontal scalp of finasteride-treated patients (P < .001), as well as significant improvements in patient, investigator, and global photographic assessments. Efficacy was maintained or improved throughout the second year of the study. Finasteride was generally well tolerated.

CONCLUSION

In men with hair loss in the anterior/mid area of the scalp, finasteride 1 mg/day slowed hair loss and increased hair growth.

Current trends in onychomycosis therapy: a literature review

Problems with the use of griseofulvin and ketoconazole in the treatment of onychomycosis have led to studies of three new oral antifungal drugs to treat this disease: fluconazole, itraconazole, and terbinafine. These drugs have been superior in relation to a high rate of cure, shorter duration of treatment, minimal adverse effects, and prolonged duration of remission. Although both fluconazole and itraconazole are structurally related to ketoconazole, their triazole ring is more site-specific than the imidazole ring of ketoconazole, which makes these newer drugs less likely to cause liver toxicity. Terbinafine belongs to a new class of compounds called the allylamines, which are fungicidal rather than fungistatic. Terbinafine has become the first line of therapy in Europe and Canada for onychomycosis, and it has recently been approved in the United States in oral form. Itraconazole and fluconazole are available in the United States, but fluconazole is not yet approved for treatment of onychomycosis.

Interactions between calcipotriene and ultraviolet light

BACKGROUND

Calcipotriene is often used with UVB or PUVA, but interactions between UV radiation and calcipotriene have not been examined extensively.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to examine interactions between calcipotriene and UV light.

METHODS

Minimal erythema doses (MEDs) were determined with UVB and immediate pigment darkening was measured for UVA. The effect of calcipotriene ointment applied before phototesting was examined. Thick and thin applications of calcipotrience were compared. Calcipotriene ointment was applied to a small area on the skin before phototherapy. Patients received either UVB, PUVA, UVA, or no phototherapy. After phototherapy, the ointment was collected and assayed by reverse-phase, high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS

MEDs for UVB and immediate pigment darkening for UVA were unaffected by calcipotriene. Thick application of calcipotriene, however, increased the MED, UVA caused substantial reductions in the concentration of detectable calcipotriene.

CONCLUSION

When used in conjunction with PUVA, calcipotriene should be applied after exposure to UVA.

Topical calcipotriene in combination with UVB phototherapy for psoriasis

A total of 20 patients with symmetric plaque-type psoriasis were recruited for a controlled, investigator-blinded, right-left study. None of the patients had used any therapy other than emollients for 2 months prior to starting in the trial. All patients had a negative antinuclear antibody. By history, all patients had previously improved upon exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet light. Two symmetrical sites of equal severity were selected as target areas. Each patient was treated on one side with mineral oil twice daily and on the opposite side with calcipotriene 0.005% ointment twice daily. The investigator was blinded as to which site received which topical treatment. Both sides were treated with equal doses of ultraviolet B (UVB) three times weekly in graduated suberythemogenic doses. Ultraviolet B radiation was emitted by a group of 6-ft fluorescent bulbs (Light Sources FS72 T12 UVB HO) in a standard phototherapy unit. The above regimen was continued for a total of 12 weeks. The severity of psoriasis in the target sites was rated by the examiner at baseline and at weekly intervals for the 12 weeks of study. Target sites were rated by severity of erythema, scaling, plaque elevation, and pruritus, with each of these parameters being assigned a score on a four-point scale: 0, clear; 1, mild; 2, moderate; 3, severe. The four scores were added together to arrive at a total severity score for each of the target sites. Statistical analysis was performed using the paired t test, P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Eleven of the 20 patients (55%) showed a greater decrease in the severity of their psoriasis with UVB plus calcipotriene compared with UVB plus mineral oil. The difference in severity scores between the two groups was statistically significant as early as week 1 (P < 0.05). The difference between the UVB and calcipotriene group versus the UVB and mineral oil group peaked between weeks 3 and 6. The differences then decreased but remained statistically significant through to week 12 (Fig. 1). There were no instances of local cutaneous irritation, but mild photosensitivity occurred symmetrically on both sides in three patients.

Paclitaxel and epirubicin as first-line therapy for patients with metastatic breast cancer

Paclitaxel (Taxol), has aroused considerable interest for its high single-agent activity in breast cancer and novel mechanism of action. Epirubicin (Farmorubicin), the 4'epimer of doxorubicin (Adriamycin), also has high activity in breast cancer, with the advantage of a lower rate of toxic side effects-especially cardiac effects-compared with its parent compound. The combination of paclitaxel and doxorubicin has yielded response rates between 63% and 94% in phase I/II studies, but authors reported severe cardiac toxic events. The goal for the current study was to evaluate the combination of paclitaxel and epirubicin, focusing mainly on cardiac toxicity. Of a total of 85 patients entered, 68 patients with metastatic breast cancer were evaluable. Nearly 20% had primary metastatic breast cancer with large tumors. Half had received adjuvant chemotherapy. Study medication in Group A consisted of 60 mg/m2 epirubicin given over 1 hour, followed by paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 as a 3-hour IV infusion. In Group B, 90 mg/m2 epirubicin was combined with 175 mg/m2 paclitaxel, delivered as for Group A. The main toxicity in both groups was neutropenia. In Group A, the paclitaxel dose could be escalated to 200 mg/m2 in 15 patients and to 225 mg/m2 in 7 patients; dose reduction due to severe neutropenia was necessary in 11 patients. No cardiac adverse events were reported in Group A. In Group B, only one patient could be escalated to 200 mg/m2 but three patients required a dose reduction. In this group, one patient had a decrease of left ventricular ejection fraction of more than 10% without any clinical signs. Of 43 patients in Group A and 25 in Group B, the response rate was 67% in Group A and 68% in Group B. The duration of response was 8.2 months in both groups. The combination of paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 and epirubicin 60 mg/m2 or 90 mg/m2 can be safely administered. The response data were encouraging and further evaluation is warranted.

Preliminary results of a phase II study of epirubicin and paclitaxel as first-line treatment in patients with metastatic breast cancer

Preliminary results of this ongoing phase II study of paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) plus epirubicin administered as first-line treatment to women with metastatic breast cancer indicate encouraging response rates and no severe toxicity. Among the 57 patients admitted to this study, 52% had received prior adjuvant chemotherapy (85% with cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/5-fluorouracil), 46% had received radiotherapy, and 30% had received both forms of therapy; 63% of patients were postmenopausal, mainly with poorly differentiated tumors, and 80% presented with > or = 2 metastatic sites. Epirubicin 60 mg/m2 was administered intravenously as a 1-hour infusion followed by paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 infused over 3 hours. Standard premedication was given. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support was not used. Neutropenia was evident in 72% of cycles but was not severe. Instances of anemia and thrombocytopenia were rare. Alopecia was universal. All nonhematologic toxicity observed was mild or moderate (peripheral neuropathy, myalgia, nausea, vomiting World Health Organization toxicity grade < 2). At this time, 41 patients are currently evaluable for response, complete and partial remission are evident in seven and 21 patients, respectively. The overall response rate so far is 68%. An additional 12 patients show evidence of stable disease, and one has shown disease progression. Paclitaxel is considered a promising new drug in the adjuvant treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Combining it with epirubicin allows safe administration with no evidence of severe cardiotoxicity. The incidence of adverse cardiac events was much lower than that observed with combinations of paclitaxel and doxorubicin.

Phase II study of paclitaxel and cisplatin in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Few cytotoxic agents tested in adequate phase II trials involving patients with non-small cell lung cancer have produced single-agent response rates greater than 15%. Paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) is one of them, with reported response rates ranging from 21% to 36%. Platinum-based regimens have been key to the development of the most effective combination therapies for NSCLC. We are currently investigating the efficacy and toxicity of combining paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) given by 3-hour infusion, followed by cisplatin (75 mg/m2) via 1-hour infusion, on a 21-day schedule for the treatment of 75 chemotherapy-naive patients with stage IIIB (17.3%) or stage IV (82.6%) non-small cell lung cancer. Patient characteristics include a median age of 58 years (age range, 28 to 75 years) and a median Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2; 19 patients (25.3%) are women and 56 (74.7%) are men. All patients received standard prophylactic premedication as well as adequate hydration. To date, 75 subjects and 328 courses are evaluable for toxicity. Hematologic toxicities have been moderate; grade 3 or 4 neutropenia occurred in 37% of cycles (50% of patients), and grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia was observed in only 2% of cycles (2% of patients). Other notable toxicities were World Health Organization grade 2 or 3 alopecia and nausea/vomiting. Grade 1 or 2 peripheral neuropathy occurred in 26% and grade 3 or 4 in only 1% of all courses. Of 67 patients evaluable for response, complete remission was noted in three (5%) patients, partial remission in 25 (37%) patients, stable disease in 22 (33%) patients, and progressive disease in 17 (25%) patients. These results suggest that combination paclitaxel/cisplatin is active and well tolerated in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Complex regulation of the DNA-binding activity of p53 by phosphorylation: differential effects of individual phosphorylation sites on the interaction with different binding motifs

The tumor suppressor protein p53 exists in different phosphorylation states depending on the cellular environment and perhaps the stage of the cell cycle. These different phosphorylation states can be mimicked in the baculovirus expression system by employing the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid. Hyperphosphorylation of p53, particularly of Ser313 and/or Ser309, stimulated its DNA binding activity (Fuchs, Hecker and Scheidtmann, Eur. J. Biochem. 228, 625, 1995). Here we show that hyperphosphorylation of p53 has different effects on its DNA-binding activity, depending on the phosphorylation sites and the binding motif: (i) Phosphorylation of amino-terminal sites appeared to reduce binding to the RGC consensus motif, whereas additional phosphorylation of both, Ser313 and Ser309 led to enhanced binding. (ii) Upon hyperphosphorylation, binding to the RGC motif was enhanced whereas binding to the p53 response element of the bax1 gene promoter was diminished. (iii) DNA binding was also greatly enhanced by antibodies Pab 122 and 421 directed against the carboxyl terminus, but this latter effect was superimposed by the phosphorylation state of p53. Thus, the DNA binding activity of p53 appears to be regulated in a complex way in that (i) binding to a given sequence motif may be regulated by differential phosphorylation and/or by interaction with other factors; (ii) binding to different motifs may be modulated in opposite ways. Thus, the different genes that are regulated by p53 may be differently affected by these parameters.

Interim Analysis of a Phase II study of epirubicin and paclitaxel as first-line therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer

Paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ), the first taxane to be used routinely in clinical practice, has aroused considerable interest for its high single-agent activity in breast cancer and its novel mechanism of action. The 4' epimer of doxorubicin, epirubicin is an agent with high activity against breast cancer but a lower rate of toxic side effects, especially cardiotoxic events, than its parent compound. Although the paclitaxel/doxorubicin combination has yielded response rates between 63% and 94% in phase I/II studies, some severe cardiotoxic events were reported. The rationale for our study was to evaluate the paclitaxel/epirubicin combination, focusing mainly on cardiotoxicity. In all, 57 patients with metastatic breast cancer entered the study, 28% of whom had primary metastatic breast cancer with large tumors at the primary site. Half of the patients had received adjuvant chemotherapy. Study medication consisted of 60 mg/m2 epirubicin given intravenously over 1 hour, followed by paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 administered as a 3-hour intravenous infusion after premedication with steroids, antihistamines, and H2 antagonists. The main toxicity was neutropenia (World Health Organization toxicity index grade 3/4, 72%). Other hematologic side effects were rare and no febrile neutropenia was reported. Peripheral neuropathy, arthralgia, and myalgia were mild (only World Health Organization grade 1 and 2). All patients had alopecia. The paclitaxel dose was escalated to 200 mg/m2 in eight patients, four of whom received a further escalation to 225 mg/m2. Severe neutropenia necessitated dose reductions in eight patients. No cardiac adverse events were reported. Of 41 patients evaluable for response, seven had complete remissions and 21 had partial remissions (68%). An additional 12 patients (29%) had stable disease. The combination of paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 and epirubicin 60 mg/m2 can be administered safely to patients with metastatic breast cancer. Although response was not the primary end point of this trial, the response data are nonetheless encouraging and suggest that further evaluation of the role of this combination in the first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer is warranted.

Phosphorylation studies on rat p53 using the baculovirus expression system. Manipulation of the phosphorylation state with okadaic acid and influence on DNA binding

To elucidate the role of phosphorylation of p53 we used the baculovirus expression system to obtain high yields of protein eventually in distinct phosphorylation states. Initially, we obtained only marginal phosphorylation, despite high levels of expression. Two-dimensional phosphopeptide maps exhibited the same pattern as known from rat cells although some sites were underrepresented. Coexpression of simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen or cyclin-dependent kinases, cdc2 or cdk2, had only marginal effects on the phosphorylation state of p53. However, when we employed the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid, overall phosphorylation of p53 was drastically enhanced in a dose-dependent manner and resembled that of p53 from SV40-transformed rat cells. This hyperphosphorylation resulted in enhanced binding of a consensus oligonucleotide as revealed by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. To assess the role of individual phosphorylation sites, we generated a set of mutants at putative or identified sites. All mutants retained the ability to bind wild-type conformation-specific antibody Pab1620, to complex with SV40 large T antigen, and to bind to the consensus oligonucleotide. Moreover, most mutants exhibited enhanced DNA binding upon okadaic acid treatment, except for a mutant at the cdk site which failed to do so. These data show that: (a) insect cells contain all the protein kinases necessary for phosphorylation of a mammalian protein, p53; (b) in insect cells the ratio of kinase/phosphatase activities differs from that in mammalian cells so that underphosphorylation of recombinant proteins in this system may result from high phosphatase activities rather than saturation of kinases with recombinant substrate; (c) the system can be manipulated to obtain subpopulations of recombinant protein in a desired phosphorylation state, and (d) phosphorylation may regulate the DNA-binding activity of p53.

Temporary ectropion due to topical fluorouracil

A patient with multiple actinic keratoses was treated with the standard regimen of 5 percent fluorouracil cream. The patient noted bilateral ectropion within two weeks of receiving therapy. The ectropion completely resolved with discontinuation of therapy. This is the first reported case of transient ectropion associated with 5-fluorouracil therapy.

Proton transport and phosphorylation of tonoplast polypeptides from zucchini are stimulated by the phospholipid platelet-activating factor

The ether phospholipid platelet-activating factor and certain similar phospholipids, including lysophosphatidylcholine, are known to stimulate both H(+) transport and protein phosphorylation in plant microsomal membranes. In the present work, several polypeptides in highly purified tonoplast membranes from zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) showed platelet-activating factor-dependent phosphorylation. Comparison of protein phosphorylation in different membrane fractions separated by sucrose step density gradient centrifugation indicated that some of the phosphoproteins were contaminants or were common to several membrane fractions, but platelet-activating factor-dependent phosphorylation of peptides at 30, 53, and perhaps 100 kilodaltons was tonoplast specific. The phosphoprotein of 53 kilodaltons was shown by three different approaches (one- and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, western blots, and immunoprecipitation) to cross-react with antibody raised against the B subunit of the tonoplast ATPase from red beet (Beta vulgaris L.).

Comparison of estradiol receptor investigations and histochemical investigations on enzymes in human mammary cancers

The best way to predict the responsiveness of human breast carcinomas to hormone therapy is to investigate the estradiol receptor-binding abilities of these tumors. This binding induces many hormone-regulated changes in the activities of several enzymes. Therefore, enzyme activities after short-term organ culture exposed to added hormones were tested to see whether a correlation of enzyme activities exists with estradiol receptor binding. The results from both the estradiol receptor investigations and histochemical investigations on enzymes revealed a high degree of conformity, which confirms the existence of such a correlation. However, for this reason histochemical investigations on enzymes cannot eliminate the discrepancy between the experimentally verified existence of estradiol receptor binding and the response of mammary tumors to hormone therapy, which is not higher than 50-60%.