Chronic hypoxia remodels the tumor microenvironment to support glioma stem cell growth

Cerebral organoids co-cultured with patient derived glioma stem cells (GLICOs) are an experimentally tractable research tool useful for investigating the role of the human brain tumor microenvironment in glioblastoma. Here we describe long-term GLICOs, a novel model in which COs are grown from embryonic stem cell cultures containing low levels of GSCs and tumor development is monitored over extended durations (ltGLICOs). Single-cell profiling of ltGLICOs revealed an unexpectedly long latency period prior to GSC expansion, and that normal organoid development was unimpaired by the presence of low numbers of GSCs. However, as organoids age they experience chronic hypoxia and oxidative stress which remodels the tumor microenvironment to promote GSC expansion. Receptor-ligand modelling identified astrocytes, which secreted various pro-tumorigenic ligands including FGF1, as the primary cell type for GSC crosstalk and single-cell multi-omic analysis revealed these astrocytes were under the control of ischemic regulatory networks. Functional validation confirmed hypoxia as a driver of pro-tumorigenic astrocytic ligand secretion and that GSC expansion was accelerated by pharmacological induction of oxidative stress. When controlled for genotype, the close association between glioma aggressiveness and patient age has very few proposed biological explanations. Our findings indicate that age-associated increases in cerebral vascular insufficiency and associated regional chronic cerebral hypoxia may contribute to this phenomenon.

SCAPS study on the effect of various hole transport layer on highly efficient 31.86% eco-friendly CZTS based solar cell

Copper Zinc Tin Sulphide (CZTS) is a propitious semiconductor for active absorber material in thin-film solar cells (SCs). Here, SC architecture comprising FTO/ZnS/CZTS/variable HTLs/Au is discussed. Fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and gold (Au) are used as front and back contacts, respectively. Zinc sulphide (ZnS) is used as an active electron transport layer (ETL), while different Cu-based materials (Cu2O, CuO, CuI, and CuSCN) are used as hole transport layers (HTL). A one-dimensional solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS-1D) is utilized to simulate the SC structure. Among different Cu-based HTLs, Cu2O is preferred as a potential candidate for high cell performance of CZTS-based SC. The effects of various layer parameters such as thickness, doping density, and carrier concentrations, electron affinity of HTL and absorber, respectively, are also discussed. After optimization of the device, variation of operating temperature and the effect of series and shunt resistance are also taken into consideration. The optimized results of thickness and acceptor concentration (NA) of absorber material are 1.5 µm and approx. 1.0 × 1019 cm-3, respectively. In addition, the function of HTL (with and without) in the designed SC structure is also studied. Capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics are also discussed to get an insight of built-in potential. We have achieved cell performances viz. efficiency = 31.86%, short circuit current density = 32.05 mA/cm2, open circuit voltage = 1.19 V, and fill factor = 83.37%.

The Outcomes of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Using Moderately Hypofractionated Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy for Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Complete resection of borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) is difficult because of its invasion to the vital vessels. Although neoadjuvant therapy is recommended for BRPC, its optimal regimens remain unclear. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy using moderately hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiotherapy (NAC-MH-IMRT) has potentials to improve the treatment outcomes with shorter treatment periods. Therefore, we evaluated the outcomes for BRPC patients treated with NAC-MH-IMRT.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Between February 2013 and June 2021, patients with BRPC treated with NAC-MH-IMRT at our institution were evaluated. All patients were classified as BRPC-A and BRPC-V according to NCCN guidelines. Information regarding patient status, tumor and treatment characteristics, margin-negative resection (R0) rates, histological effects assessed by Evans classification, and outcomes were obtained from the clinical records. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method from the start date of any first treatment for BRPC. Toxicity was evaluated by CTCAE version 5.0.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight patients were included in this study (Table). All patients underwent induction chemotherapy, and 67 were treated with IMRT at 42 Gy in 15 fractions with concurrent gemcitabine (for 65) or S-1 (for 2). All patients achieved completion of radiotherapy. Fifty-seven of the 68 patients (83.8%) underwent surgical exploration, and 48 patients (70.6%) had a resection. The R0 resection was achieved in 44 patients, and the R0 resection rate was 91.7% in resected patients. Therapeutic effects by Evans classification showed as below: Grade 1/2a/2b/3/4 = 6 (12.5%)/17 (35.4%)/17 (35.4%)/7 (14.6%)/1 (2.1%). Adjuvant chemotherapy was performed for 41 patients, and S-1 and gemcitabine were used for 40 and 1 patient(s), respectively. The median follow-up time and median survival time (MST) were 23.6 months and 42.7 months, and 2-year OS and PFS were 67.3% and 30.2%, respectively. Recurrence was observed in 54 patients (79.4%), and the first recurrence pattern was as follows: 7 (13.0%)/42 (77.8%)/5 (9.3%) patients had local recurrence, distant metastases, and both of them, respectively. Regarding ≥ Grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity related NAC-MH-IMRT, grade 3 ileus was observed in 1 patient.

CONCLUSION

NAC-MH-IMRT for BRPC showed preferable outcomes and acceptable toxicities with high completion rate.

Sustainable mining of natural vein graphite via acid-extraction from waste attached to rock pieces of vein banks

A procedure based on acid extraction using a mixture of conc. sulfuric and nitric acids (8:1) to recover graphite attached to rock pieces of the vein contact zones of graphite mines, is developed as a sustainable mining practice. When the extracted graphite is heated at 600 °C for 15 min, it is converted to a highly expanded form resembling worm-like structures. The unique properties of this graphite and expanded graphite are presented by characterizing using FT-IR, Raman, SEM-EDX and XRD. This expanded graphite has the oil absorption capacity of 120 g of oil per 1 g of expanded graphite, making it the material so far known to have the highest oil absorption capacity. For comparison purpose, properties of ball-milled graphite powder which was obtained from the middle of the vein is prepared and characterized. However, the ball-milled graphite does not expand upon heat-treatment at 600 °C for 15 min. The acid-extracted graphite (AEG) has lower purity than that of ball-milled graphite (BMG), but heat-treatment increases the purity of the AEG while BMG shows opposite results. The purity of AEG has increased considerably upon heat-treatment by lowering the O wt% (weight percentage) by 6.07% to half of its original value while increasing C wt% by 8.05%. On the contrary, the C wt% of BMG has decreased by 3.71% and O wt% increased by 3.84%. The increase of purity upon heat treatment of AEG is due to the removal of some carbon and sulfur impurities as their volatile oxides. The ball-milled graphite absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere when heat-treated at 600 °C. As such, the ball-milled graphite powder can be used to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The crystallite size of AEG is 1.25 times larger than that of BMG and it has been increased by 8 and 2.9 times, respectively, upon heat-treatment at 600 °C for 15 min. This is a clear evidence to expanded nature of AEG compared to BMG.

Angstrom-Confined Electrochemical Synthesis of Sub-Unit-Cell Non-Van Der Waals 2D Metal Oxides

Bottom-up electrochemical synthesis of atomically thin materials is desirable yet challenging, especially for non-vanderWaals (non-vdW) materials. Thicknesses below a few nanometers have not been reported yet, posing the question how thin can non-vdW materials be electrochemically synthesized. This is important as materials with (sub-)unit-cell thickness often show remarkably different properties compared to their bulk form or thin films of several nanometers thickness. Here, a straightforward electrochemical method utilizing the angstrom-confinement of laminar reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanochannels is introduced to obtain a centimeter-scale network of atomically thin (<4.3 Å) 2D-transition metal oxides (2D-TMO). The angstrom-confinement provides a thickness limitation, forcing sub-unit-cell growth of 2D-TMO with oxygen and metal vacancies. It is showcased that Cr₂ O₃ , a material without significant catalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in bulk form, can be activated as a high-performing catalyst if synthesized in the 2D sub-unit-cell form. This method displays the high activity of sub-unit-cell form while retaining the stability of bulk form, promising to yield unexplored fundamental science and applications. It is shown that while retaining the advantages of bottom-up electrochemical synthesis, like simplicity, high yield, and mild conditions, the thickness of TMO can be limited to sub-unit-cell dimensions.

Maize resistance to witchweed through changes in strigolactone biosynthesis

Maize (Zea mays) is a major staple crop in Africa, where its yield and the livelihood of millions are compromised by the parasitic witchweed Striga. Germination of Striga is induced by strigolactones exuded from maize roots into the rhizosphere. In a maize germplasm collection, we identified two strigolactones, zealactol and zealactonoic acid, which stimulate less Striga germination than the major maize strigolactone, zealactone. We then showed that a single cytochrome P450, ZmCYP706C37, catalyzes a series of oxidative steps in the maize-strigolactone biosynthetic pathway. Reduction in activity of this enzyme and two others involved in the pathway, ZmMAX1b and ZmCLAMT1, can change strigolactone composition and reduce Striga germination and infection. These results offer prospects for breeding Striga-resistant maize.

Dependence of Precursor Graphite Flake Size on Nitrogen Doping in Graphene Oxide and Its Effect on OER Catalytic Activity

We report the synthesis of nitrogen-doped graphene oxide, with 5.7-7.0 wt % nitrogen doping, from different sizes of precursor graphite and study its effect on the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity of IrO₂ in an acidic medium. The nitrogen-doped supports are expected to have pyridinic, pyrrolic, and graphitic functionalities at different ratios responsible for their improved performance. The N-doped supports and catalysts are synthesized via pyrolysis and the hydrothermal method using natural and synthetic graphite of three different flake sizes and evaluated for their structural and electrochemical characteristics. The average size of IrO₂ nanoparticles deposited on the N-doped supports is independent of the flake size and doping amount of nitrogen. The catalysts show optimum current densities but improved stability with increasing flake sizes of 7, 20, and 125 μm. Our results demonstrate that the selection of the flake size of the doped support is necessary to achieve durable catalysts for the OER in an acidic medium.

Mass Transport via In-Plane Nanopores in Graphene Oxide Membranes

Angstrom-confined solvents in 2D laminates can travel through interlayer spacings, through gaps between adjacent sheets, and via in-plane pores. Among these, experimental access to investigate the mass transport through in-plane pores is lacking. Our experiments allow an understanding of this mass transport via the controlled variation of oxygen functionalities, size and density of in-plane pores in graphene oxide membranes. Contrary to expectations, our transport experiments show that higher in-plane pore densities may not necessarily lead to higher water permeability. We observed that membranes with a high in-plane pore density but a low amount of oxygen functionalities exhibit a complete blockage of water. However, when water-ethanol mixtures with a weaker hydrogen network are used, these membranes show an enhanced permeation. Our combined experimental and computational results suggest that the transport mechanism is governed by the attraction of the solvents toward the pores with functional groups and hindered by the strong hydrogen network of water formed under angstrom confinement.

AB0201 INTAKE OF FISH RICH IN n-3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS IS ASSOCIATED WITH GOOD RESPONSE TO TREATMENT IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS RECEIVING TARGETED THERAPIES

Background

The management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been transformed by the use of molecular targeted therapies. Early treatment and treat-to-target approach leads to good clinical response and remission (responders), but not in all patients.

Environmental factors including diet contribute to the development, activity and severity of RA. Evidence from clinical trials suggested that dietary interventions, such as Mediterranean diet or supplementation with fish oil rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), have positive effects on RA. Japanese and Mediterranean diets are associated with longevity and characterized by high fish intake. Clinical studies have identified predictors of treatment response in individual RA patients, however, the influence of fish consumption on treatment response in RA patients treated with targeted therapies has not been elucidated.

Objectives

To assess whether fish consumption is associated with a good response to targeted therapies in RA patients with Japanese and Mediterranean dietary patterns.

Methods

The study is a collaborative international cross-sectional retrospective study enrolling patients with RA on treatment with biologics or JAK inhibitors attending to Hokkaido University Hospital, Japan or Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, Spain.

Enrolled patients were asked to complete a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ) and a detailed fish frequency questionnaire (DFFQ) referring to consumption frequency in the previous month. At study entry, alcohol consumption, tobacco habits, educational level and employment status were recorded and RA disease activity evaluated by qualified rheumatologists. Demographic, clinical/laboratory data were retrospectively extracted from the medical records.

By December 2021, 279 patients (Japan 217, Spain 62) returned the questionnaires. A preliminary analysis was carried out with the first 58 Japanese patients in which all clinical and laboratory data could be collected. A descriptive analysis was performed and the relative risks approximated by odds ratios.

Results

Fifty-eight Japanese RA patients, 45 females, median age at entry 66 yrs [IQR 54-73], median disease duration 11yrs [IQR 7-20] were included in this analysis. Fifty-three (93%) of patients were on biologic therapies and four (7%) on JAK inhibitors with a median treatment duration of 4.5 yrs [IQR 1-7]. Concomitant treatment with conventional DMARDS and glucocorticoids were reported in 69% and 48% of patients, respectively. Forty-two (72%) patients were responders to treatment defined as DASESR ≦3.2. Another systemic autoimmune disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia or gout history were present in 29%, 29%, 9%, 33% and 10% of patients, respectively.

All patients had consumption of fish in the last month and an intake of n3-PUFA rich fish (fatty fish) was indicated by 82% (<1 time/week 34%, ≧ 1 time/week 48%).

The patients’ fatty and non-fatty fish intake scores were calculated with a mathematical formula based on the intake of each of the fish included in the DFFQ and number of responses. In the group of high fatty fish score patients (≧ 1 time/week) 94% were responders to treatment vs. 6% non-responders, [OR 8.75, CI [1.0-73.54, p= 0.022] while only 63% of patients in the high non-fatty fish score group respond to the treatment.

Conclusion

Fatty fish intake associated with a good response to treatment in patients receiving targeted therapies, suggesting that fish consumption may have some beneficial effects on RA treatment.

References

There is no reference.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements to Ms. Y. Ikea and S. Kumagai for their enriching support on the nutritional properties of fish. Supported by the Kakenhi C grant number 20K11597 from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

Development of a chemical-free floatation technology for the purification of vein graphite and characterization of the products

A novel and simple flotation technique has been developed to prepare high-purity graphite from impure graphite. In this method, a suspension of pristine powdered graphite (PG) is dispersed and stirred in water without adding froth formers or supportive chemicals. This makes fine particles of graphite move upwards and float on water. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the floated graphite (FG) has a lower c-axis parameter, indicating the removal of interlayer impurities. A notable increase in the intensity ratio of the D band to G band in the Raman spectra indicates that the FG has more edge defects due to their smaller crystallite sizes. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis shows the number of layers in FG has been reduced to 16 from 68 in PG. The absence of C=O vibration of Fourier Transformed Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy in treated and untreated samples suggests that their layers are not significantly oxidized. However, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analysis shows the presence of C-O-C ether functionalities, possibly on edge planes. Further, the product has higher purity with increased carbon content. Therefore, the technique is helpful for the value enhancement of graphite, the reduction of the chemical cost of the conventional techniques, environmental friendliness, and improvement of its applications.

URAT1-selective inhibition ameliorates insulin resistance by attenuating diet-induced hepatic steatosis and BAT whitening in mice

Background

Accumulating evidence suggests that high uric acid is strongly associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome and drives the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and insulin resistance. Although urate transporter-1 (URAT1), which is primarily expressed in the kidney, plays a critical role in the development of hyperuricemia, its pathophysiological implication in NAFLD and insulin resistance remains unclear.

Objectives

We hypothesizes that URAT1 plays an important role in obesity-induced metabolic disorders, and URAT1-selective inhibitor treatment ameliorates systemic insulin resistance, NAFLD and adipose tissue dysfunction using diet-induced obese mice.

Methods

Mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 to 18 weeks or a normal-fat diet (NFD) were treated with or without a novel oral URAT1-selective inhibitor (dotinurad [50 mg/kg/day]) for another 4 weeks.

Results

Dotinurad administration significantly ameliorated HFD-induced obesity and insulin resistance. We found that URAT1 was also expressed in the liver and brown adipose tissue (BAT) other than kidney. HFD markedly induced NAFLD, which was characterized by severe hepatic steatosis, as well as the elevation of serum ALT activity and tissue inflammatory cytokine genes (Ccl2 and TNFα), all of which were attenuated by dotinurad. Likewise, HFD significantly increased URAT1 expression in BAT, resulting in the lipid accumulation (whitening of BAT) and increased production of tissue reactive oxygen species, which were reduced by dotinurad via UCP1 activation.

Conclusions

A novel URAT1-selective inhibitor, dotinurad, ameliorates insulin resistance by attenuating hepatic steatosis and promoting rebrowning of lipid-rich BAT in HFD-induced obese mice. URAT1 serves as a key regulator of the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome, and may be a new therapeutic target for insulin-resistant individuals, particularly those with concomitant NAFLD.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Crystallization of charged gold particles mediated by nonadsorbing like-charged polyelectrolyte

We report that the aqueous dispersions of negatively charged submicron-sized colloidal Au particles formed non-close-packed colloidal crystals by the addition of a like-charged linear polyelectrolyte, sodium polyacrylate (NaPAA). Au particles often form irregular aggregates in dispersions because of a strong van der Waals force acting between them. To prevent aggregation, we introduced negative electric charges on particle surfaces. By the addition of NaPAA, colloidal crystals were formed on the bottom of a sample cell because of the supply of Au particles by sedimentation and 2D diffusion even under very dilute conditions. Interparticle potential calculations demonstrated that the addition of NaPAA caused depletion attraction between the particles as well as a significant reduction in the interparticle repulsion because of the electrostatic screening effect. However, the electrostatic repulsion was strong enough to prevent the direct contact of particles in the excluded region between Au particles. Large-area crystals could be obtained by tilting the sample cell. By drying the sample, the Au particles came into contact and the non-space-filling crystals changed into closest packed crystals. These closest packed crystals exhibited a significant enhancement of Raman scattering intensity because of high hot-spot density.

Selective Enhancement in Phonon Scattering Leads to a High Thermoelectric Figure-of-Merit in Graphene Oxide-Encapsulated ZnO Nanocomposites

ZnO is a promising candidate for use as an environmentally friendly thermoelectric (TE) material. However, high thermal conductivity leading to a poor TE figure-of-merit (zT) needs to be addressed to achieve a significant TE efficiency for commercial applications. Here, we demonstrate that selective enhancement in phonon scattering leads to an increase in the zT of ZnO because of Al doping and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) encapsulation. These nanocomposites are synthesized via a facile and scalable method. The incorporation of 1 at% Al with 1.5 wt % RGO into ZnO has been found to show significant improvement in zT (0.52 at 1100 K), which is an order of magnitude larger compared to that of bare undoped ZnO. Photoluminescence and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements confirm that RGO encapsulation significantly quenches surface oxygen vacancies in ZnO along with nucleation of new interstitial Zn donor states. Tunneling spectroscopy performed on bare as well as composite particles reveals that the band gap of ∼3.4 eV for bare ZnO reduces effectively to ∼0.5 eV upon RGO encapsulation, facilitating charge transport. The electrical conductivity also benefits from high densification (>95%) achieved using the spark plasma sintering method, which also aids in reduction of graphene oxide into RGO. The same Al doping and RGO capping synergistically bring about drastic reduction of thermal conductivity, through enhanced interfacial and point-defect-phonon scatterings. These opposing effects on electrical and thermal conductivities lead to enhancement in the power factors as well as the zT value. Overall, a practically viable route has been demonstrated for the synthesis of oxide-RGO TE materials, which could find their potential applications in high-temperature TE power generation.

In situ electrochemical Raman investigation of charge storage in rGO and N-doped rGO

In this study, in situ electrochemical Raman spectroscopy was applied to clarify the charge storage mechanism in three types of anodes, synthetic graphite, reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-rGO). The Li+ intercalation phenomenon was measured in LiPF6 electrolyte solution using a modified coin cell setup. The synthetic graphite anode showed the splitting of the G peak at the potential E < 0.2 V vs. Li/Li+, corresponding to the formation of a graphite intercalation compound (GIC) and its second-order 2D peak was found to be red-shifted due to charge transfer and induced strain in the potential region of 0.5 to 0.15 V vs. Li/Li+. In the case of rGO, the lattice defects assisted in large and early intercalation of electrolyte ions, which is confirmed by the red-shift in the G peak (∼36 cm-1) and its early disappearance below 0.3 V vs. Li/Li+, respectively. Unlike rGO, nitrogen vacancies in N-rGO provide active sites for Li+ intercalation, resulting in enhanced charge transfer, displayed by the large red-shift in the G peak (∼55 cm-1) and blue-shift in the D peak. In addition, a new Raman peak at 1850 cm-1 was observed in N-rGO for the first time, corresponding to the formation of a reversible intermediate species from the interaction between Li+ and nitrogen vacancies. This work demonstrates the use of a simple in situ technique to get insight into the nano-carbon electrodes during device operation and to reveal the role of doped nitrogen atoms for Li+ intercalation.

Xanthine oxidase inhibition attenuates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in mice

Background

Accumulating evidence suggests that high serum uric acid (UA) is associated with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Although xanthine oxidase (XO) activation is a critical regulatory mechanism of the terminal step in ATP and purine degradation, the pathophysiological role of cardiac tissue XO in LV dysfunction remains unclear.

Objectives

We hypothesized that cardiac XO is activated in doxorubicin-induced LV dysfunction, and XO inhibitors ameliorate LV function by inhibiting cell death signals as well as by modifying cardiac purine metabolism.

Methods

Either doxorubicin (10 mg/kg) or vehicle was intraperitonially administered in a single injection to ICR mice. Mice were treated with or without oral XO inhibitors (febuxostat 3 mg/kg/day or topiroxostat 5 mg/kg/day) for 8 days starting 24 hours before doxorubicin-injection. The LV function was assessed by echocardiography at day 6 and by ex vivo heart perfusion at day 7.

Results

Cardiac tissue XO activity measured by a highly sensitive assay with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (n=8 each) and cardiac UA content (n=3–6) were significantly increased in doxorubicin-treated mice at day 7 and dramatically reduced by XO inhibitors. Accordingly, XO inhibitors substantially improved LV ejection fraction (n=8 each) and LV developed pressure (n=9 each) that had been impaired by doxorubicin administration. Intriguingly, the expression of GPX4, a negative regulator of ferroptosis, was decreased in doxorubicin-treated hearts but improved by XO inhibitors (n=6 each). Furthermore, metabolome analyses revealed an enhanced purine metabolism in doxorubicin-treated hearts, and XO inhibitors suppressed the serial metabolic reaction of hypoxanthine–xanthine–UA.

Conclusions

Doxorubicin administration induces cardiac tissue XO activation associated with an impaired LV function. XO inhibition attenuates the doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity partly through an anti-ferroptotic effect and the conservation of tissue ATP levels by modulating purine metabolism. The present study suggests that pharmacological XO inhibition represents a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): This study was supported in part by grants-in-aid for Ministry of Education Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Boron-doped graphene as electrocatalytic support for iridium oxide for oxygen evolution reaction

The present work details the development of IrO₂ nanoparticles (nps) supported on B-doped reduced graphene oxide as an oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalyst for electrochemical water splitting.

Modulation of methotrexate-induced intestinal mucosal injury by dietary factors

Methotrexate (MTX)-induced intestinal mucosal injury in animals has been studied to understand how MTX can cause gastrointestinal disorders, but the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal disorders is still uncertain. We have attempted to reveal how dietary factors influence intestinal toxicity due to MTX. Mice were fed normal chow (NC) or a high-fat high-sucrose diet (HFHSD) before oral administration of MTX. While MTX significantly decreased the survival rates of mice fed HFHSD, the intestinal epithelial injury was detected. MTX excretion in the feces of mice fed HFHSD was reduced. Change of diets between NC and HFHSD influences the survival. The survival rates of the mice fed a high-sucrose diet or control diet were higher than those fed HFHSD. Higher survival rates were observed in mice fed a high-fat high-sucrose diet modified (HFHSD-M) in which casein was replaced by soybean-derived proteins. The survival rates of mice treated with vancomycin were lower than those administered neomycin. Microbiome and metabolome analyses on feces suggest a similarity of the intestinal environments of mice fed NC and HFHSD-M. HFHSD may modify MTX-induced toxicity in intestinal epithelia on account of an altered MTX distribution as a result of change in the intestinal environment.

Extraordinary water adsorption characteristics of graphene oxide

The laminated structure of graphene oxide (GO) confers unique interactions with water molecules which may be utilised in a range of applications that require materials with tuneable hygroscopic properties. The precise role of the expandable interlayer spacing and functional groups in GO laminates has not completely been understood to date. Herein, we report the experimental and theoretical investigations on the adsorption and desorption behaviour of water in GO laminates as a function of relative pressure. We observed that GO imparts high water uptake capacity of up to 0.58 gram of water per gram of GO (g g-1), which is significantly higher than silica gel as a conventional desiccant material. More interestingly, the adsorption and desorption kinetics of GO is five times higher than silica gel. The observed extraordinary adsorption/desorption rate can be attributed to the high capillary pressure in GO laminates as well as micro meter sized tunnel-like wrinkles located at the surface.

Layer thickness dependence of the terahertz emission based on spin current in ferromagnetic heterostructures

The emission with a bandwidth of 1.5 terahertz based on the spin current in the ferromagnetic heterostructure Co/Pt is demonstrated. The spin transient launched by the NIR femtosecond laser pulse in the Co/Pt is converted into the in-plane charge current due to the inverse spin Hall effect, which gives rise to the terahertz emission towards free space. The dependence of the terahertz emission on the Pt-layer thickness is investigated. To optimize the geometry structure of the new type of emitter, we developed the theoretical model by carefully analyzing the spin transport. Our model reveals the importance to take into account the interfacial spin loss. It can be used to analyze more complex heterostructures.

PRR11 immunoreactivity is a weak prognostic factor in non-mucinous invasive adenocarcinoma of the lung

INTRODUCTION

Proline-rich protein 11 (PRR11) functions in the progression of cell cycle, and silencing the PRR11 gene in lung cancer cells results in the inhibition of cellular proliferation, cell cycle progression, cell migration, invasion and colony formation. PRR11 may therefore be a therapeutic target in lung cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Microarrays of surgical specimens of non-mucinous invasive adenocarcinoma of the lung, from 346 subjects that were not given preoperative therapy, were autoimmunostained with PRR11 and, except for trace and pseudo-positivity, assessed as "positive" at any proportion and intensity.

RESULTS

PRR11 immunoreactivity demonstrated a tendency to associate with an aggressive phenotype (tumor size, vascular invasion, and adjuvant therapy) and some effect on overall survival (Hazard ratio 1.51).

CONCLUSIONS

PRR11 may be a weak prognostic indicator of overall survival of patients with non-mucinous invasive adenocarcinoma of the lung.

A model-based cost-effectiveness analysis of osteoporosis screening and treatment strategy for postmenopausal Japanese women

Although an osteoporosis screening program has been implemented as a health promotion project in Japan, its cost-effectiveness has yet to be elucidated fully. We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis and found that osteoporosis screening and treatment would be cost-effective for Japanese women over 60 years.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of osteoporosis screening and drug therapy in the Japanese healthcare system for postmenopausal women with no history of fracture.

METHODS

A patient-level state transition model was developed to predict the outcomes of Japanese women with no previous fracture. Lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were estimated for women who receive osteoporosis screening and alendronate therapy for 5 years and those who do not receive the screening and treatments. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of the screening option compared with the no screening option was estimated. Sensitivity analyses were performed to examine the influence of parameter uncertainty on the base case results.

RESULTS

The ICERs of osteoporosis screening and treatments for Japanese women aged 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, and 75-79 years were estimated to be $89,242, $64,010, $40,596, $27,697, $17,027, and $9771 per QALY gained, respectively. Deterministic sensitivity analyses showed that several parameters such as the disutility due to vertebral fracture had a significant influence on the base case results. Applying a willingness to pay of $50,000 per QALY gained, the probability that the screening option became cost-effectiveness estimated to 50.9, 56.3, 59.1, and 64.7 % for women aged 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, and 75-79 years, respectively. Scenario analyses showed that the ICER for women aged 55-59 years with at least one clinical risk factor was below $50,000 per QALY.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) screening and alendronate therapy for osteoporosis would be cost-effective for postmenopausal Japanese women over 60 years. In terms of cost-effectiveness, the individual need for osteoporosis screening should be determined by age and clinical risk factors.