An on-line multi-frequency electrical resistance tomography (
ERT) device with a melt-resistive sensor and noise reduction hardware has been proposed for crystalline phase imaging in high-temperature ...molten oxide. The melt-resistive sensor consists of eight electrodes made of platinum-rhodium (Pt-20mass%Rh) alloy covered by non-conductive aluminum oxide (Al
O
) to prevent an electrical short. The noise reduction hardware has been designed by two approaches: (1) total harmonic distortion (THD) for the robust multiplexer, and (2) a current injection frequency pair: low fL and high fH, for thermal noise compensation. THD is determined by a percentage evaluation of
th harmonic distortions of ZnO at f=0.1~10,000 Hz. The fL and fH are determined by the thermal noise behavior estimation at different temperatures. At f <100 Hz, the THD percentage is relatively high and fluctuates; otherwise, THD dramatically declines, nearly reaching zero. At the determined fL≥ 10,000 Hz and fH≈ 1,000,000 Hz, thermal noise is significantly compensated. The on-line
ERT was tested in the experiments of a non-conductive Al
O
rod dipped into conductive molten zinc-borate (60ZnO-40B
O
) at 1000~1200 °C. As a result, the on-line
ERT is able to reconstruct the Al
O
rod inclusion images in the high-temperature fields with low error, ςfL, T = 5.99%, at 1000 °C, and an average error ⟨ςfL⟩ = 9.2%.
An NAD/NADH-functionalized ligand, benzobpyrido3,2-f1,7-phenanthroline (bpp), was newly synthesized. A Ru compound containing the bpp ligand, Ru(bpp)(bpy)22+, underwent 2e– and 2H+ reduction, ...generating the NADH form of the compound, Ru(bppHH)(bpy)22+, in response to visible light irradiation in CH3CN/TEA/H2O (8/1/1). The UV–vis and fluorescent spectra of both Ru(bpp)(bpy)22+ and Ru(bppHH)(bpy)22+ resembled the spectra of Ru(bpy)32+. Both complexes exhibited strong emission, with quantum yields of 0.086 and 0.031, respectively; values that are much higher than those obtained from the NAD/NADH-functionalized complexes Ru(pbn)(bpy)22+ and Ru(pbnHH)(bpy)22+ (pbn = (2-(2-pyridyl)benzob-1.5-naphthyridine, pbnHH = hydrogenated form of pbn). The reduction potential of the bpp ligand in Ru(bpp)(bpy)22+ (−1.28 V vs SCE) is much more negative than that of the pbn ligand in Ru(pbn)(bpy)22+ (−0.74 V), although the oxidation potentials of bppHH and pbnHH are essentially equal (0.95 V). These results indicate that the electrochemical oxidation of the dihydropyridine moiety in the NADH-type ligand was independent of the π system, including the Ru polypyridyl framework. Ru(bppHH)(bpy)22+ allowed the photoreduction of oxygen, generating H2O2 in 92% yield based on Ru(bppHH)(bpy)22+. H2O2 production took place via singlet oxygen generated by the energy transfer from excited Ru(bppHH)(bpy)22+ to triplet oxygen.
Background
Rac GTPase activating protein 1 (RacGAP1) plays a regulatory role in cell growth, transformation and metastasis. The aim of this study was to clarify the association between RacGAP1 ...expression and clinical outcome in patients with gastric cancer.
Methods
A total of 232 gastric cancer patients in our institute who underwent surgery without preoperative treatments were enrolled in this study. We investigated RacGAP1 expression using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and evaluated IHC scores calculated by the percentage of positive cells and intensity and its expression at the invasive front.
RACGAP1
expression was also assessed.
Results
RacGAP1 expression was observed in the nuclei of gastric cancer cells. Evaluation by IHC score showed no significant correlations with clinicopathological variables except for histological differentiation. In transcriptional analyses,
RACGAP1
expression was elevated in diffuse type gastric cancer than intestinal type without a significant difference. We observed significant correlations of RacGAP1 protein expression at the invasive front with older age, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion and advanced stage. Patients with RacGAP1 protein expression at the invasive front had significantly poorer prognosis than those without it (
P
< 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and positive RacGAP1 expression at the invasive front were independent prognostic factors (lymph node metastasis:
P
= 0.0106; distant metastasis:
P
= 0.0012; RacGAP1:
P
= 0.0011).
Conclusions
RacGAP1 expression at the invasive front in gastric cancer was significantly correlated with factors reflecting tumor progression and poor prognosis. Our data suggest that RacGAP1 might play important roles in the progression of gastric cancer.
Background
Despite improvements in gastric cancer treatment, the mortality associated with advanced gastric cancer is still high. The activation of β-adrenergic receptors by stress has been shown to ...accelerate the progression of several cancers. Accordingly, increasing evidence suggests that the blockade of β-adrenergic signaling can inhibit tumor growth. However, the effect of β-blockers, which target several signaling pathways, on gastric cancer remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the anti-tumor effects of propranolol, a non-selective β-blocker, on gastric cancer.
Methods
We explored the effect of propranolol on the MKN45 and NUGC3 gastric cancer cell lines. Its efficacy and the mechanism by which it exerts anti-tumor effects were examined using several assays (e.g., cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and wound healing) and a xenograft mouse model.
Results
We found that propranolol inhibited tumor growth and induced G1-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in both cell lines. Propranolol also decreased the expression of phosphorylated CREB-ATF and MEK-ERK pathways; suppressed the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2, 9 and vascular endothelial growth factor; and inhibited gastric cancer cell migration. In the xenograft mouse model, propranolol treatment significantly inhibited tumor growth, and immunohistochemistry revealed that propranolol led to the suppression of proliferation and induction of apoptosis.
Conclusions
Propranolol inhibits the proliferation of gastric cancer cells by inducing G1-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. These findings indicate that propranolol might have an opportunity as a new drug for gastric cancer.
Background
The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), an indicator that objectively quantifies comorbidities, reduces nutritional status; however, the impact of the CCI on the postoperative nutrition ...indexes of patients with esophageal cancer remains unclear.
Methods
In total, 336 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent surgery between January 2011 and April 2017 were included in this study. We investigated the relationship between the CCI and postoperative nutrition indexes.
Results
Patients were divided into two groups: CCI ≤1 (low CCI group) and CCI ≥2 (high CCI group). A high CCI was significantly associated with shortened overall survival (OS; 3-year OS rate of 77.9% in the low CCI group versus 59.7% in the high CCI group;
p =
0.008). Nutritional indexes, such as the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), at 1 month after esophagectomy were significantly lower in the high CCI group than in the low CCI group (
p =
0.031); however, the PNI at 6 months after surgery was similar between the high and low CCI groups. Multivariate analysis identified high CCI as an independent risk factor associated with PNI <45 in esophageal cancer patients at 1 month after esophagectomy (
p =
0.047).
Conclusion
This study showed that CCI ≥2 was significantly associated with poor PNI at 1 month after surgery for esophageal cancer, indicating that it is necessary to administer effective nutritional interventions for patients with postoperative malnutrition, especially those with multiple comorbidities.
Purpose
Anastomotic stricture after esophagectomy is a major cause of long-term morbidity and a poor quality of life. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for the development of ...anastomotic stricture after esophagectomy.
Methods
The study subjects were 213 patients who underwent esophagectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus between 2012 and 2014. Anastomotic stricture was defined as stenosis at the site of anastomosis that required endoscopic dilation. Refractory stricture was defined as that requiring more than four sessions of dilations. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the potential risk factors for the development of anastomotic stricture.
Results
In this retrospective study, 29 patients (13.6%) developed anastomotic stricture within a median period of 108 postoperative days and required a median of 2 dilations. Tumors located in the upper part of the esophagus (
p
= 0.004), the presence of cardiovascular disease (
p
= 0.024) and anastomotic leakage (
p
= 0.002) were identified as independent risk factors for the development of anastomotic stricture. The time to the diagnosis of refractory stricture (85 ± 33 days) was significantly shorter than that of non-refractory stricture (171 ± 22 days,
p
= 0.038).
Conclusions
Patients with squamous cell carcinoma in the upper esophagus with cardiovascular disease who develop postoperative anastomotic leakage should be carefully monitored to prevent the development of benign anastomotic stricture.
Difference in growth pattern is one of the proximate causes of geographic variation in body size. Such a difference in growth pattern could be explained by two extremes such as genetically determined ...outcome and phenotypic plasticity or by a combination of these. The Japanese four-lined snake (Elaphe quadrivirgata) on Yakushima Island, Japan, has small body size compared with snakes on the main islands. To examine whether the dwarfism of Yakushima snakes is a consequence of genetic modification or a direct phenotypic response to immediate environmental conditions, E. quadrivirgata from Yakushima and a main island (Shiga Prefecture in Honshu Island), were reared from hatching in a laboratory environment. Data of field surveys were used to examine feeding habits and growth in the wild. Free-ranging snakes on Yakushima had significantly smaller body size and lower growth rate than those in Shiga. Yakushima snakes consumed almost exclusively lizards, whereas frogs were the main prey for Shiga snakes. The proportion of snakes that contained food in their stomach was lower in Yakushima than in Shiga. Available information suggests that the dwarfism of Yakushima snakes cannot be explained by lower survivorship. At hatching, Yakushima snakes of both sexes were larger than Shiga snakes. However, Yakushima and Shiga snakes reached similar body size after approximately 1 year. Captive-reared snakes from the insular dwarf population can reach comparable size to those from the main island, indicating that the growth rate, and hence body size, of E. quadrivirgata is obviously highly plastic. Based on these results, I consider that the dwarfism of Yakushima snakes is attributable to a direct phenotypic response, presumably to food limitation, rather than to microevolutionary changes.
Purpose
The coexistence of sarcopenia is associated with postoperative complications, including infection after abdominal surgery. We evaluated the association between sarcopenia and surgical site ...infection (SSI) after surgery for ulcerative colitis.
Methods
The subjects of this retrospective study were 69 patients who underwent restorative proctocolectomy with perioperative abdominal computed tomography (CT). Sarcopenia was diagnosed by measuring the cross-sectional area of the right and left psoas muscles as the total psoas muscle area on CT images. We assessed whether sarcopenia was associated with SSI and clinical factors, including nutritional and inflammatory markers.
Results
The lowest quartiles defined as sarcopenia in men and women were 567.4 and 355.8 mm
2
/m
2
, respectively. According to this classification, 12 men and 6 women had sarcopenia. Patients with sarcopenia had a lower body mass index (
p
= 0.0004) and a higher C-reactive protein concentration (
p
= 0.05) than those without sarcopenia. SSIs were identified in 12 patients (17.3 %) and included six pelvic abscesses and seven wound infections. According to multivariate analysis, sarcopenia was an independent risk factor for SSI (odds ratio = 4.91, 95 % confidence interval 1.09–23.5,
p
= 0.03).
Conclusion
Sarcopenia is predictive of SSI after pouch surgery for ulcerative colitis.
The total pacing prematurity (TPP) is useful for distinguishing orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia (ORT) from atrioventricular nodal re‐entrant tachycardia, but it may not be effective in patients ...with right bundle branch block (RBBB). We faced this challenge in an elderly woman, as RBBB and a prolonged transseptal conduction made it difficult to diagnose the tachycardia using the TPP. It is important to consider the presence or absence of RBBB when evaluating the results of the TPP.
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