Readout fidelity of coaxial holographic digital data page recording in nanoparticle–(thiol–ene) polymer composites

We report on an experimental investigation of nanoparticle-concentration and thiol-to-ene stoichiometric ratio dependences of symbol error rates (SERs) and signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of digital data pages recorded at a wavelength of 532 nm in thiol–ene based nanoparticle–polymer composite (NPC) films by using a coaxial holographic digital data storage method. We show that SERs and SNRs at the optimized material condition can be lower than 1 × 10−4 and higher than 10, respectively, without error correction coding. These results show the usefulness of thiol–ene based NPCs as coaxial holographic data storage media

The structural phase transition in SrV6O11

Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and specific heat studies establish that strontium hexavanadium undecaoxide, SrV6O11, undergoes a P63/mmc to inversion twinned P63mc structural transition as the temperature is lowered through 322 K. The P63/mmc and P63mc structures have been determined at 353 K and at room temperature, respectively. For the room-temperature structure, seven of the ten unique atoms lie on special positions, and for the 353 K structure all of the seven unique atoms sit on special positions. The P63/mmc to P63mc structural phase transition, accompanied by a magnetic transition, is a common characteristic of AV6O11 compounds, independent of the identity of the A cations

Clinical Application of Unidirectional Porous Hydroxyapatite to Bone Tumor Surgery and Other Orthopedic Surgery

Unidirectional porous hydroxyapatite (UDPHAp) was developed as a remarkable scaffold characterized by a distinct structure with unidirectional pores oriented in the horizontal direction and connected through interposes. We evaluated the radiographic changes, clinical outcomes, and complications following UDPHAp implantation for the treatment of bone tumors. Excellent bone formation within and around the implant was observed in all patients treated with intralesional resection and UDPHAp implantation for benign bone tumors. The absorption of UDPHAp and remodeling of the bone marrow space was observed in 45% of the patients at a mean of 17 months postoperatively and was significantly more common in younger patients. Preoperative cortical thinning was completely regenerated in 84% of patients at a mean of 10 months postoperatively. No complications related to the implanted UDPHAp were observed. In a pediatric patient with bone sarcoma, when the defect after fibular resection was filled with UDPHAp implants, radiography showed complete resorption of the implant and clear formation of cortex and marrow in the resected part of the fibula. The patient could walk well without crutches and participate in sports activities. UDPHAp is a useful bone graft substitute for the treatment of benign bone tumors, and the use of this material has a low complication rate. We also review and discuss the potential of UDPHAp as a bone graft substitute in the clinical setting of orthopedic surgery

Factors Associated with Inadequate Tissue Yield in EUS-FNA for Gastric SMT

Aims. Our aim was to identify the factors that made the specimens inadequate and nondiagnostic in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) biopsy of suspected submucosal tumors (SMTs). Methods. From August 2001 to October 2009, 47 consecutive patients with subepithelial hypoechoic tumors originating in the fourth sonographic layer of the gastric wall suspected as GIST by standard EUS in Chiba University hospital underwent EUS-FNA for histologic diagnosis. We evaluated patient age, sex, location of lesion, size, pattern of growth in a stomach, and pattern of echography retrospectively. We defined a case of gaining no material or an insufficient material for immunohistological diagnosis as nondiagnostic. Results. The diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA for the diagnosis of gastric SMTs was 74.5%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that age of under 60 years (compared with patients older than 60 years: odds ratio [OR] = 11.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.761–80.48) and location of SMT at lower third area (compared with upper or middle third area: OR = 10.62, 95% CI = 1.290–87.42) were the predictive factors for inadequate tissue yield in EUS-FNA. Conclusions. The factors associated with inadequate tissue yield in EUS-FNA were younger age and the location of lesion at lower third area in stomach

Role of Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Sarcomas

Simple Summary Recent studies have shown the pro-tumoral role of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) not only in major types of carcinomas but also in sarcomas. Several types of TAM-targeted drugs have been investigated under clinical trials, which may represent a novel therapeutic approach for bone and soft-tissue sarcomas. Sarcomas are complex tissues in which sarcoma cells maintain intricate interactions with their tumor microenvironment. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a major component of tumor-infiltrating immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and have a dominant role as orchestrators of tumor-related inflammation. TAMs promote tumor growth and metastasis, stimulate angiogenesis, mediate immune suppression, and limit the antitumor activity of conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Evidence suggests that the increased infiltration of TAMs and elevated expression of macrophage-related genes are associated with poor prognoses in most solid tumors, whereas evidence of this in sarcomas is limited. Based on these findings, TAM-targeted therapeutic strategies, such as inhibition of CSF-1/CSF-1R, CCL2/CCR2, and CD47/SIRP alpha, have been developed and are currently being evaluated in clinical trials. While most of the therapeutic challenges that target sarcoma cells have been unsuccessful and the prognosis of sarcomas has plateaued since the 1990s, several clinical trials of these strategies have yielded promising results and warrant further investigation to determine their translational benefit in sarcoma patients. This review summarizes the roles of TAMs in sarcomas and provides a rationale and update of TAM-targeted therapy as a novel treatment approach for sarcomas

Pressure dependence of activity and stability of dihydrofolate reductases of the deep-sea bacterium Moritella profunda and Escherichia coli

To understand the pressure-adaptation mechanism of deep-sea enzymes, we studied the effects of pressure on the enzyme activity and structural stability of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) of the deep-sea bacterium Moritella profunda (mpDHFR) in comparison with those of Escherichia call (ecDHFR). mpDHFR exhibited optimal enzyme activity at 50 MPa whereas ecDHFR was monotonically inactivated by pressure, suggesting inherent pressure-adaptation mechanisms in mpDHFR. The secondary structure of apo-mpDHFR was stable up to 80 C, as revealed by circular dichroism spectra. The free energy changes due to pressure and urea unfolding of apo-mpDHFR, determined by fluorescence spectroscopy, were smaller than those of ecDHFR, indicating the unstable structure of mpDHFR against pressure and urea despite the three-dimensional crystal structures of both DHFRs being almost the same. The respective volume changes due to pressure and urea unfolding were -45 and -53 ml/mol at 25 degrees C for mpDHFR, which were smaller (less negative) than the corresponding values of -77 and -85 ml/mol for ecDHFR. These volume changes can be ascribed to the difference in internal cavity and surface hydration of each DHFR. From these results, we assume that the native structure of mpDHFR is loosely packed and highly hydrated compared with that of ecDHFR in solution

Self-Expandable Metal Stent Placement as a Bridge to Laparoscopic or Open Surgery for Obstructive Colorectal Cancer: Short-Term Outcomes of Nineteen Consecutive Cases

Purpose Laparoscopic colorectal resection is a feasible and less invasive procedure with short-term advantages compared with open surgery; however, the evidence for its efficacy for treating obstructive colorectal cancer (CRC) is lacking. In this study, we aimed to determine short-term outcomes of SEMS placement for obstructive CRC followed by laparoscopic colorectal resection.Methods As of August 2013, 51 patients with obstructive CRC underwent stent insertion. Thirty-two patients received palliation therapy not intended for tumor resection. After decompression of the proximal intestine, nine and 10 patients underwent laparoscopic and open surgery, respectively. Clinicopathological, intraoperative, and postoperative data were retrospectively collected.Results There were no differences in resection rates and curabilities between the two groups. All surgeries were performed with a single-stage anastomosis, and no anastomotic leakage was observed. There was one patient with abdominal morbidity in the open group (Open) and none in the Lap group. There was no mortality in either group. Time to flatus (3.4 ± 1.8 days, Lap; 2.6 ± 1.1 days, Open) and time to oral intake (7.9 ± 2.5 days, Lap; 7.7±1.9 days, Open) were similar between the groups. Postoperative hospitalization times for the Lap group were shorter, but the difference was not statistically significant (15.2 ± 3.9 days, Lap; 21 ± 11.7 days, Open, p = 0.21).Conclusion Our findings indicate that laparoscopic surgery combined with preoperative stent placement is feasible as well as safe compared with open surgery for obstructive CRC

LINE-1 hypomethylation status of circulating cell-free DNA in plasma as a biomarker for colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a serious public health problem and non-invasive biomarkers improving diagnosis or therapy are strongly required. Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has been a promising target for this purpose. In this study, we evaluated the potential of long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1) hypomethylation as a blood biomarker for CRC. LINE-1 hypomethylation level in plasma cfDNA in 114 CRC patients was retrospectively examined by absolute quantitative analysis of methylated alleles real-time PCR, and was expressed using LINE-1 hypomethylation index (LHI) [unmethylated copy number/ (methylated copy number + unmethylated copy number)]. Greater LHI values indicated enhanced hypomethylation. In our clinicopathological analysis, CRC patients with large tumors (≥6.0 cm), advanced N stage (≥2), and distant metastasis (M1) had statistically significantly higher cfDNA LHI than other CRC patients, suggesting cfDNA LHI as a disease progression biomarker for CRC. Furthermore, early stage I/II (n = 57) as well as advanced stage III/IV (n =57) CRC patients had significantly higher cfDNA LHI than healthy donors (n=53) [stage I/II: median 0.369 (95% confidence interval, 0.360-0.380) vs. 0.332 (0.325-0.339), P \u3c 0.0001; stage III/IV: 0.372 (0.365-0.388) vs. 0.332 (0.325-0.339), P \u3c 0.0001]. The receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that cfDNA LHI had the detection capacity of CRC with area under the curve(AUC) of 0.79 and 0.83 in stage I/II and stage III/IV CRC patients, respectively. The present study demonstrated for the first time the potential of plasma cfDNA LHI as a novel biomarker for CRC, particularly for early stage detection

Photopolymerizable nanocomposite photonic materials and their holographic applications in light and neutron optics

We present an overview of recent investigations of photopolymerizable nanocomposite photonic materials in which, thanks to their high degree of material selectivity, recorded volume gratings possess high refractive index modulation amplitude and high mechanical/thermal stability at the same time, providing versatile applications in light and neutron optics. We discuss the mechanism of grating formation in holographically exposed nanocomposite materials, based on a model of the photopolymerization-driven mutual diffusion of monomer and nanoparticles. Experimental inspection of the recorded gratings morphology by various physicochemical and optical methods is described. We then outline the holographic recording properties of volume gratings recorded in photopolymerizable nanocomposite materials consisting of inorganic/organic nanoparticles and monomers having various photopolymerization mechanisms. Finally, we show two examples of our holographic applications, holographic digital data storage and slow-neutron beam control.(VLID)286369