Postoperative C-reactive protein levels correlate with reduced spinal column mobility after median sternotomy: a prospective cohort study

Background

The sternum is connected to the spinal column via the ribs, forming the thorax. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the effect of a midline sternotomy on the spinal column, but no in vivo studies have been conducted to date. We investigated the changes in the range of motion of the spinal column before and after midline sternotomy and the perioperative factors that have the greatest influence.

Methods

The participants were patients who had undergone cardiac surgery through a standby midline sternotomy. Spinal range of motion in forward flexion was measured before and after surgery. The following perioperative factors were investigated: operating time, days to postoperative measurement, C-reactive protein (CRP) measurement on the third postoperative day, the day of the start of bed release, and the stage of bed release progression on the second postoperative day. Statistics were compared between the two groups before and after surgery for each factor. Multiple regression analysis (forced entry method) was then performed with the change in spinal range of motion, which showed statistical differences between the preoperative and postoperative groups, as the dependent variable and each perioperative factor as the independent variable.

Results

The study included 93 patients. Postoperatively, there was a significant decrease in thoracic spine range of motion. Multiple regression analysis showed that an increase in CRP on the third postoperative day was responsible for the decrease in thoracic range of motion (β=-0.30, P<0.01).

Conclusions

After median sternotomy, thoracic spine range of motion was decreased and correlated with postoperative inflammation.

Near-infrared light-inducible Z-scheme overall water-splitting photocatalyst without an electron mediator

We facilely prepared a solid-state heterojunction photocatalyst in which silver vanadium oxide (Ag2V4O11) and zinc rhodium oxide (ZnRh2O4) as oxygen and hydrogen evolution photocatalysts, respectively, were directly connected to generate Ag2V4O11/ZnRh2O4. Ag2V4O11/ZnRh2O4 photocatalyzed overall pure-water splitting without any electron mediator under irradiation with near-infrared light at wavelengths of up to 910 nm. The key points are that the conduction bottom potential of Ag2V4O11 is almost the same as the valence band top potential of ZnRh2O4, and that the bandgaps of Ag2V4O11 and ZnRh2O4 are 1.4 and 1.2 eV, respectively.

Synthesis of a Gold-Inserted Iron Disilicide and Rutile Titanium Dioxide Heterojunction Photocatalyst via the Vapor-Liquid-Solid Method and Its Water-Splitting Reaction

A solid-state Z-scheme system is constructed whereby rutile titania (TiO₂) and beta-iron disilicide (β-FeSi₂) were combined to act as oxygen (O₂)- and hydrogen (H₂)-evolution photocatalysts, respectively, connected by gold (Au). β-FeSi₂ island grains with diameters in the 0.5-2 μm range were formed on the surface of Au-coated TiO₂ powder by the co-sputtering method. On the surface of TiO₂ powder, the Au-Si liquidus phase was obtained via a Au-Si eutectic reaction, which contributed to the selective deposition and crystallization of β-FeSi₂ island grains onto Au. After the loading of the H₂-evolution cocatalysts platinum and chromium oxide onto β-FeSi₂, the system obtained catalyzed the evolution of H₂ and O₂ in a stoichiometric ratio from pure water under ultraviolet light irradiation. The transfer of photoexcited electrons in the conduction band (CB) of β-FeSi₂ to Pt causes the reduction of protons to H₂, and the photogeneration of holes in the valence band (VB) of TiO₂ causes the oxidation of water to O₂. In addition, the photogenerated holes in the VB of β-FeSi₂ and the photoexcited electrons in the CB of TiO₂ combined with each other in the Au layer, affording the completion of the overall photocatalytic water-splitting.

Related factors associated with exercise behavior in patients with peripheral arterial disease

[Purpose] This study aimed to identify the factors associated with exercise behavior in patients with peripheral arterial disease. [Participants and Methods] The study included 43 patients with peripheral arterial disease (mean age, 75.2 ± 5.6 years) who were admitted for endovascular treatment from January 2020 to June 2021. Participants were surveyed through questionnaires to assess their physical function for determining their exercise behavior and the presence of physical, personal, and environmental factors that might have affected their stage of change regarding exercise behavior. [Results] A comparison of physical, personal, and environmental factors between the two groups classified by the presence or absence of exercise behavior showed that subjective health and exercise self-efficacy were significantly lower in the group without exercise. Furthermore, a difference was noted in the presence or absence of work. The adjusted binomial logistic regression analysis results using each of the factors differing between the groups, plus the walking impairment questionnaire total score as explanatory variables, showed a significant relationship with exercise self-efficacy only. [Conclusion] The results of this study showed that exercise self-efficacy presented a useful predictive relationship with the presence of exercise behavior in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Facet-dependent activity of hematite nanocrystals toward the oxygen evolution reaction

Hematite showed facet-dependent OER activity and its origin was investigated based on in situ UV-vis absorption measurements and theoretical calculations.

Abstract OT3-03-01: Open-label, single-arm study evaluating the antitumor activity and safety of niraparib as neoadjuvant treatment in patients with localized, HER2-negative, BRCA-mutant breast cancer

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is administered to patients with operable breast cancer to downstage the tumor to allow for less extensive surgery and to provide prognostic information about drug efficacy and risk of disease recurrence. Patients who achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant treatment have a more favorable outcome than patients with residual invasive disease. Single-agent poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors have clinical efficacy in BRCA-mutated breast cancer. Niraparib, a potent and selective PARP1/2 inhibitor, is approved for maintenance treatment of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer and has demonstrated strong antitumor activity in in vivo studies with BRCA1-mutant breast cancer. The objective of this study is to evaluate the antitumor activity of single-agent niraparib in the neoadjuvant treatment of patients with localized, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, BRCAmut breast cancer.

Trial Design: This is an open-label, single-arm pilot study with a target enrollment of 20 evaluable patients. Eligible patients are those ≥18 years old with histologically-confirmed HER2-negative localized breast cancer and either a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation (germline or somatic) and no prior anti-cancer therapies for the current malignancy. Patients will receive 200 mg of oral niraparib once daily for 2 months, after which they may either proceed directly to surgery or receive chemotherapy at the discretion of the physician. The primary endpoint is tumor response rate based on the change in tumor volume as measured by breast MRI after 2 months of treatment with niraparib; a response is defined as ≥30% reduction of tumor volume from baseline. Secondary endpoints include pCR rate, tumor response rate based on the change in tumor volume as measured by breast ultrasound, and safety and tolerability. Data will be summarized in a descriptive nature by frequency distributions (number and percentage of patients) for categorical variables and by the mean, median, and standard deviation for continuous variables. Tumor response rate will be tabulated together with its 95% binomial exact confidence interval.

Funding: TESARO, Inc., Waltham, MA, USA sponsored the study.

Citation Format: Han H, Hamilton E, Irie H, Isakoff S, Jelovac D, Liem A, Liu MC, Milillo A, Nangia J, Page D, Reeves J, Santa-Maria C, Duncan M, Graham JR, Chen J, Dezube BJ, Spring L. Open-label, single-arm study evaluating the antitumor activity and safety of niraparib as neoadjuvant treatment in patients with localized, HER2-negative, BRCA-mutant breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr OT3-03-01.

Selective loading of platinum or silver cocatalyst onto a hydrogen-evolution photocatalyst in a silver-mediated all solid-state Z-scheme system for enhanced overall water splitting

Pt or Ag as a cocatalyst was selectively photo-deposited onto ZnRh₂O₄ in ZnRh₂O₄/Ag/Bi₄V₂O₁₁ and resulted in the enhancement of the overall water-splitting activity of the photocatalyst.

Facile synthesis of a red light-inducible overall water-splitting photocatalyst using gold as a solid-state electron mediator

We have prepared a solid-state heterojunction photocatalyst, which can split pure water in nearly the entire range of visible light with wavelengths of up to 740 nm.

Quantum Hall effect in epitaxial graphene with permanent magnets

We have observed the well-kown quantum Hall effect (QHE) in epitaxial graphene grown on silicon carbide (SiC) by using, for the first time, only commercial NdFeB permanent magnets at low temperature. The relatively large and homogeneous magnetic field generated by the magnets, together with the high quality of the epitaxial graphene films, enables the formation of well-developed quantum Hall states at Landau level filling factors v = ±2, commonly observed with superconducting electro-magnets. Furthermore, the chirality of the QHE edge channels can be changed by a top gate. These results demonstrate that basic QHE physics are experimentally accessible in graphene for a fraction of the price of conventional setups using superconducting magnets, which greatly increases the potential of the QHE in graphene for research and applications.

Visible-Light-Sensitive Photocatalysts: Nanocluster-Grafted Titanium Dioxide for Indoor Environmental Remediation

Photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds requires photoexcited holes with strong oxidative power in the valence band (VB) of semiconductors. Although numerous types of doped semiconductors, such as nitrogen-doped TiO2, have been studied as visible-light-sensitive photocatalysts, the quantum yields of these materials were very low because of the limited oxidation power of holes in the nitrogen level above the VB. Recently, we developed visible-light-sensitive Cu(II) and Fe(III) nanocluster-grafted TiO2 using a facile impregnation method and demonstrated that visible-light absorption occurs at the interface between the nanoclusters and TiO2, as electrons in the VB of TiO2 are excited to the nanoclusters under visible-light irradiation. In addition, photogenerated holes in the VB of TiO2 efficiently oxidize organic contaminants, and the excited electrons that accumulate in nanoclusters facilitate the multielectron reduction of oxygen. Notably, Cu(II) and Fe(III) nanocluster-grafted TiO2 photocatalyst has the highest quantum yield among reported photocatalysts and has antiviral, self-cleaning, and air purification properties under illumination by indoor light fixtures equipped with white fluorescent bulbs or white light-emitting diodes.

A heterojunction photocatalyst composed of zinc rhodium oxide, single crystal-derived bismuth vanadium oxide, and silver for overall pure-water splitting under visible light up to 740 nm

We have prepared a solid-state heterojunction photocatalyst, which can split pure water under red light up to 740 nm.

Efficient oxygen evolution on hematite at neutral pH enabled by proton-coupled electron transfer

The oxygen evolution activity of hematite at neutral pH was enhanced by inducing the concerted proton-coupled electron transfer process.

Not nanocarbon but dispersant induced abnormality in lysosome in macrophages in vivo

The properties of nanocarbons change from hydrophobic to hydrophilic as a result of coating them with dispersants, typically phospholipid polyethylene glycols, for biological studies. It has been shown that the dispersants remain attached to the nanocarbons when they are injected in mice and influence the nanocarbons' biodistribution in vivo. We show in this report that the effects of dispersants also appear at the subcellular level in vivo. Carbon nanohorns (CNHs), a type of nanocarbon, were dispersed with ceramide polyethylene glycol (CPEG) and intravenously injected in mice. Histological observations and electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray analysis revealed that, in liver and spleen, the lysosome membranes were damaged, and the nanohorns formed a complex with hemosiderin in the lysosomes of the macrophages. It is inferred that the lysosomal membrane was damaged by sphigosine generated as a result of CPEG decomposition, which changed the intra lysosomal conditions, inducing the formation of the CPEG-CNH and hemosiderin complex. For comparison, when glucose was used instead of CPEG, neither the nanohorn–hemosiderin complex nor lysosomal membrane damage was found. Our results suggest that surface functionalization can control the behavior of nancarbons in cells in vivo and thereby improve their suitability for medical applications.

Polymerization of room-temperature ionic liquid monomers by electron beam irradiation with the aim of fabricating three-dimensional micropolymer/nanopolymer structures

A novel method for fabricating microsized and nanosized polymer structures from a room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) on a Si substrate was developed by the patterned irradiation of an electron beam (EB). An extremely low vapor pressure of the RTIL, 1-allyl-3-ethylimidazolium bis((trifluoromethane)sulfonyl)amide, allows it to be introduced into the high-vacuum chamber of an electron beam apparatus to conduct a radiation-induced polymerization in the nanoregion. We prepared various three-dimensional (3D) micro/nanopolymer structures having high aspect ratios of up to 5 with a resolution of sub-100 nm. In addition, the effects of the irradiation dose and beam current on the physicochemical properties of the deposited polymers were investigated by recording the FT-IR spectra and Young's modulus. Interestingly, the overall shapes of the obtained structures were different from those prepared in our recent study using a focused ion beam (FIB) even if the samples were irradiated in a similar manner. This may be due to the different transmission between the two types of beams as discussed on the basis of the theoretical calculations of the quantum beam trajectories. Perceptions obtained in this study provide facile preparation procedures for the micro/nanostructures.

Development of optically transparent water oxidation catalysts using manganese pyrophosphate compounds

One challenge in artificial photosynthetic systems is the development of active oxygen evolution catalysts composed of abundant elements. The oxygen evolution activities of manganese pyrophosphate compounds were examined in electrochemical and photochemical experiments. Electrocatalysis using calcium-manganese pyrophosphate exhibited good catalytic ability under neutral pH and an oxygen evolution reaction was driven with a small overpotential (η<100 mV). UV-vis diffuse reflectance measurements revealed that manganese pyrophosphates exhibit weak absorption in the visible light region while commonly used oxygen evolution catalysts exhibit intense absorption. Therefore, the efficient light absorption of a photocatalyst was retained even after surface modification with a manganese pyrophosphate, and photochemical oxygen evolution was achieved by using magnesium ferrite modified with manganese pyrophosphate nanoparticles under the illumination of visible light at wavelength of over 420 nm.

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over β-iron silicide under infrared-light irradiation

We investigated the ability of β-FeSi₂ (0.80 eV) to serve as a hydrogen (H₂)-evolution photocatalyst, sensitive to infrared light (>1300 nm).

[Successful endovascular repair of a ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm with severe mural thrombus]

A 51-year-old man was transferred to our hospital on an emergency basis complaining of a sudden onset of severe left lumbar back pain. An emergency contrasted computed tomography showed a ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm( rTAAA:Crawford classification type III). The ruptured site was near the aortic bifurcation, and the aneurysm had a relatively narrow segment with an extensive mural thrombus just below the renal arteries. Considering the high mortality of open surgery for the rTAAA and the poor general condition of the patient, we decided to perform endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) as a rescue procedure using the narrowed segment by the thrombus for a proximal landing zone. The abdominal part of the thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) was successfully excluded with a stent graft to obtain complete hemostasis. The postoperative course was uneventful except for the need for hemodialysis. Even though there is a risk of developing late type 1 endoleak, this procedure can be a feasible option as a rescue procedure or a bridge to radical open surgery for ruptured TAAA in a specially anatomical setting like this case.

Ultrastructural localization of intravenously injected carbon nanohorns in tumor

Nanocarbons have many potential medical applications. Drug delivery, diagnostic imaging, and photohyperthermia therapy, especially in the treatment of tumors, have attracted interest. For the further advancement of these application studies, the microscopic localization of nanocarbons in tumor tissues and cells is a prerequisite. In this study, carbon nanohorns (CNHs) with sizes of about 100 nm were intravenously injected into mice having subcutaneously transplanted tumors, and the CNHs in tumor tissue were observed with optical and electron microscopy. In the tumor tissue, the CNHs were found in macrophages and endothelial cells within the blood vessels. Few CNHs were found in tumor cells or in the region away from blood vessels, suggesting that, under these study conditions, the enhanced permeability of tumor blood vessels was not effective for the movement of CNHs through the vessel walls. The CNHs in normal skin tissue were similarly observed. The extravasation of CNHs was not so obvious in tumor but was easily found in normal skin, which was probably due to their vessel wall structure difference. Proper understanding of the location of CNHs in tissues is helpful in the development of the medical uses of CNHs.

Suppression of inflammatory reactions by terpinen-4-ol, a main constituent of tea tree oil, in a murine model of oral candidiasis and its suppressive activity to cytokine production of macrophages in vitro

The onset of oral candidiasis is accompanied by inflammatory symptoms such as pain in the tongue, edema or tissue damage and lowers the quality of life (QOL) of the patient. In a murine oral candidiasis model, the effects were studied of terpinen-4-ol (T-4-ol), one of the main constituents of tea tree oil, Melaleuca alternifolia, on inflammatory reactions. When immunosuppressed mice were orally infected with Candida albicans, their tongues showed inflammatory symptoms within 24 h after the infection, which was monitored by an increase of myeloperoxidase activity and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 in their tongue homogenates. Oral treatment with 50 µL of 40 mg/mL terpinen-4-ol 3h after the Candida infection clearly suppressed the increase of these inflammatory parameters. In vitro analysis of the effects of terpinen-4-ol on cytokine secretion of macrophages indicated that 800 µg/mL of this substance significantly inhibited the cytokine production of the macrophages cultured in the presence of heat-killed C. albicans cells. Based on these findings, the role of the anti-inflammatory action of T-4-ol in its therapeutic activity against oral candidiasis was discussed.

Transmitral resection of a left ventricular apical papillary fibroelastoma using video-assisted thoracoscopy

Papillary fibroelastomas (PFEs) are rare benign tumors usually found on cardiac valves, and do not commonly originate from the left ventricle (LV). We report a 74-year-old female with a PFE in the LV apex. We performed complete resection of the tumor through a transmitral approach using video-assisted thoracoscopy.

Successful hybrid treatment for a ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

A 49-year-old woman with a 27-year history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was admitted to our hospital with sudden-onset severe back pain. An emergency multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) revealed a ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) 80 mm in diameter. Considering her condition and comorbidities, we performed an emergency hybrid treatment: visceral reconstruction followed by endoluminal aneurysm exclusion. She recovered uneventfully, except for the need for temporary hemodialysis. TAAA complicated with SLE is extremely rare. To our knowledge, this is the first successful report in the English literature of a ruptured TAAA in a patient with SLE who underwent hybrid treatment.

Alkaline-resistant titanium dioxide thin film displaying visible-light-induced superhydrophilicity initiated by interfacial electron transfer

We synthesized a three-layer-type photocatalytic structure (TiO2/Cu(II)SiO2/SiO2), consisting of TiO2 on Cu(II)-grafted SiO2, which was deposited on a SiO2-coated glass substrate, and investigated its visible-light absorption and hydrophilic properties. Water contact angle measurements revealed visible-light-induced superhydrophilicity at the film surface that was initiated by interfacial electron transfer (IFET) at the interface of TiO2 and Cu(II)SiO2. Monitoring the oxidation state of Pb(2+) ions confirmed that the IFET-initiated holes diffused to the TiO2 surface, where they likely contributed to the hydrophilic conversion. We also demonstrated that layer-structured TiO2/Cu(II)SiO2/SiO2 was stable under alkaline conditions. Thus, we successfully synthesized alkaline-resistant TiO2 that displays visible-light-induced superhydrophilicity.

Histological assessments for toxicity and functionalization-dependent biodistribution of carbon nanohorns

Single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) intravenously administered to mice did not show severe toxicity during a 26-week test period, which was confirmed by normal gross appearance, normal weight gain and the lack of abnormality in the tissues on histological observations of the mice. SWNH biodistribution was influenced by chemical functionalization. Accumulation of SWNH in the lungs reduced as SWNH hydrophilicity increased; however, the most hydrophilic SWNHs modified with bovine serum albumin (BSA) were most likely to be trapped in the lungs, suggesting that the BSA moiety enhanced macrophage phagocytosis in the lungs. Clearance of some of the hydrophobic SWNHs from the lungs was observed, the mechanism of which is briefly discussed.

Visible-light-driven Cu(II)-(Sr(1-y)Na(y))(Ti(1-x)Mo(x))O3 photocatalysts based on conduction band control and surface ion modification

Band-gap narrowing is generally considered to be a primary method in the design of visible-light-active photocatalysts because it can decrease the photo threshold to lower energies. However, controlling the valence band by up-shifting the top of the band or inducing localized levels above the band results in quantum efficiencies under visible light much lower than those under UV irradiation (such as those reported for N-doped TiO(2): Science 2001, 293, 269. J. Phys. Chem. B 2003, 107, 5483). Herein, we report a systematic study on a novel, visible-light-driven photocatalyst based on conduction band control and surface ion modification. Cu(II)-(Sr(1-y)Na(y))(Ti(1-x)Mo(x))O(3) photocatalysts were prepared by a soft chemical method in combination with an impregnation technique. It is found that Mo(6+) as well as Na(+) doping in the SrTiO(3) can lower the bottom of the conduction band and effectively extend the absorption edge to the visible light region. The Cu(II) clusters grafted on the surface act as a co-catalyst to efficiently reduce the oxygen molecules, thus consuming the excited electrons. Consequently, photocatalytic decomposition of gaseous 2-propanol into CO(2) is achieved, that is, CH(3)CHOHCH(3) + (9)/(2)O(2) → 3CO(2) + H(2)O. For Cu(II)-(Sr(1-y)Na(y))(Ti(1-x)Mo(x))O(3) at x = 2.0% under visible light irradiation, the maximum CO(2) generation rate can reach 0.148 μmol/h; the quantum efficiency under visible light is calculated to be 14.5%, while it is 10% under UV light irradiation. Our results suggest that high visible light photocatalytic efficiency can be achieved by combining conduction band control and surface ion modification, which provides a new approach for rational design and development of high-performance photocatalysts.

Hemodynamic studies of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas using arterial spin-labeling MR imaging

Arterial spin-labeling (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables non-invasive acquisition of the brain perfusion information in cerebrovascular disease. We investigated hemodynamic changes in intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) using ASL-MRI. ASL-MRI by a Q2TIPS sequence on a 3.0-Tesla MRI was performed for three patients with Cognard's IIa+b type of DAVFs before and after treatment. Perfusion images obtained by ASL-MRI (ASL images) before treatment were visually compared with those by single-photon emission computed tomography images (SPECT images). Increasing rates of temporal changes of regional perfusion values in ASL images (ASL values) before and after treatment were also calculated. In all three patients, ASL images before treatment demonstrated high perfusion in regions around the shunting areas, where normal or low perfusion were detected on SPECT images; thus, ASL images might have demonstrated the abundant arterial shunting flow via the fistulas. On days eight to 20 after treatment, ASL values around the shunt areas remained the same or decreased, and those in the regions other than the shunt areas increased in all three patients. This might have been due to a combination of the following: a decrease in shunt flow volume, an amelioration of venous congestion, and a sustained an upward shift in the autoregulation of the brain perfusion pressure. All regional ASL values decreased on days 112 and 120 after treatment in two patients, which possibly reflects a reduction in the upward shift in autoregulation. ASL-MRI might be useful for identifying the hemodynamic behavior of DAVFs before and after treatment.

Gene expression-based pharmacodynamic biomarkers: the beginning of a new era in biomarker-driven anti-tumor drug development

Pharmacodynamic (PD) biomarkers play a pivotal role in anti-tumor drug development as a biochemical measurement to estimate the level of drug interaction with the target, or to assess the downstream impact of its interaction with the target. Although immunohistochemistry (IHC)-based protein biomarkers have been conventionally used as PD biomarkers, gene expression-based PD biomarkers have recently emerged as quantitative biomarkers. This review introduces examples of gene expression-based mRNA biomarkers that have been validated in preclinical or clinical studies of several anti-tumor agents including HDAC, mTOR, and B-RAF inhibitors. The measurement of PD biomarker levels in tumors has proven to be ideal; however, in clinical studies, easily accessible surrogate tissues have been used for analysis. In the present review, we also discuss the advantages and disadvantages in using surrogate tissues, such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), skin tissue, and circulating tumor cells, in the assessment of PD biomarkers. PD biomarkers are generally classified into two categories: 1) target engagement biomarkers and 2) early efficacy biomarkers. This classification depends on their respective distance from target intervention. The strategies used to identify and distinguish between these two types of PD biomarkers via expression profiling are also discussed. Finally, we propose two novel approaches for PD marker identification. One approach utilizes mRNA expression profiling of tumors prior to drug treatment rather than post-treatment samples. The second method involves the application of microRNA expression profiles to determine PD effects. In conclusion, the recent advances in mRNA and microRNA profiling and the identification of gene expression-based PD biomarkers may aid investigators to drive drug development through the establishment of quantitative PD effects.

Conduction band energy level control of titanium dioxide: toward an efficient visible-light-sensitive photocatalyst

Through the use of a strategy that involves narrowing the TiO(2) band gap by shifting its conduction band positively and utilizing the catalytic activity of photoproduced Cu(I) for oxygen reduction, a novel visible-light-sensitive TiO(2) photocatalyst, Cu(II)-grafted Ti(1-3x)W(x)Ga(2x)O(2), was designed and synthesized. The Cu(II)/Ti(1-3x)W(x)Ga(2x)O(2) photocatalyst produced high activity under visible-light irradiation. In fact, it decomposed 2-propanol to CO(2) via acetone under visible light (>400 nm) with a high quantum efficiency of 13%. The turnover number for this reaction exceeded 22, indicating that it functioned catalytically.

Surface residual stress dependence on photoinduced highly hydrophilic conversion and back-reaction in the dark of rutile single crystals

The wettability changes of TiO(2) surface, photo-induced hydrophilic conversion and back-reaction in the dark, were evaluated using rutile (100) and (001) single crystals with diamond polishing (DP) and chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) treatments. Dynamic hardness measurements indicated that the DP surface had a residual compressive stress; however, the CMP surface did not. The rate of hydrophilic conversion was greatly suppressed (approximately one fourteenth) on the DP surface compared to the CMP surface, showing that the photoinduced hydrophilicity was greatly suppressed on the surface with compressive stress although the number of photogenerated carriers at the DP surface was estimated to decrease to only ca. half that at the CMP surface. In addition, when a heat treatment relaxed the compressive stress, the hydrophilicity was greatly increased. The back-reaction in the dark, i.e., the degradation of the photo-produced hydrophilic state, was ca. two times faster on the DP surface with compressive stress. The results strongly suggest that the pressure effect caused by the compressive stress could be the main reason for the degradation of the hydrophilicity and acceleration of the back reaction.