Sound source localization through shape reconfiguration in a snake robot

This paper describes a snake robot system that uses sound source localization. We show in this paper as to how we can localize a sound source in 3D and solve the classic forward backward problem in sound source localization using minimum number of audio sensors by using the multiple degrees of freedom of the snake robot. We describe the hardware and software architecture of the robot and show the results of several sound tracking experiments we did with our snake robot. We also present biologically inspired sound tracking behavior in different postures of a biological snake robot as "Digital Snake Charming"

悪性中皮腫における薬剤耐性の克服と分子標的治療の開発

科学研究費助成事業 研究成果報告書：基盤研究(C)2014-2017課題番号 : 2646118

Comparative Chemotherapeutic Efficacy in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with Postoperative Recurrence and Stage IV Disease

BackgroundWhether chemotherapy would be equally effective in non-small cell lung cancer patients with stage IV disease (group A) and postoperative recurrence (group B) remains unclear.Patients and MethodsIn a total of 642 non-small cell lung cancer patients with distant metastases treated by chemotherapy, the baseline patient characteristics, responses to chemotherapy and survival were compared between group A (n = 480) and group B (n = 162).ResultsAdenocarcinoma was the predominant histologic type, accounting for 78% of the patients in group A and 90% of the patients in group B (p < 0.001). Bone and brain metastases were more common in group A (p = 0.034 and p = 0.014, respectively), although pulmonary metastases were more common in group B (p < 0.001). The chemotherapy regimens used for the treatment did not differ between groups A and B. The response rates in group A and group B were 32 and 33%, respectively (p = 0.65). In contrast, the median progression-free survival (5.5 versus 4.2 months, p = 0.0065) and overall survival (21.3 versus 13.3 months, p < 0.001) were better in group B than in group A.ConclusionSurvival was superior in patients with postoperative recurrence than in those with stage IV disease, although the two groups showed comparable responses to chemotherapy

Cardio-oncology: a multidisciplinary approach for detection, prevention and management of cardiac dysfunction in cancer patients

Cardiac dysfunction that develops during or after completion of cancer therapy is a growing health concern that should be addressed in a multidisciplinary setting. Cardio-oncology is a new discipline that focuses on screening, monitoring and treating cardiovascular disease during and after cancer treatment. A baseline cardiovascular risk assessment is essential. For high-risk patients, a tailored and detailed plan for cardiovascular management throughout treatment and beyond should also be established. Anthracycline and/or trastuzumab-containing chemotherapy and chest-directed radiation therapy are well known cardiotoxic cancer therapies. Monitoring for the development of subclinical cardiotoxicity is crucial for the prevention of clinical heart failure. Detecting a decreased left ventricular ejection fraction after cancer therapy might be a late finding; therefore, earlier markers of cardiac injury are being actively explored. Abnormal myocardial strain and increased serum cardiac biomarkers (e.g. troponins and natriuretic peptides) are possible candidates for this purpose. An important method for preventing heart failure is the avoidance or minimization of the use of cardiotoxic therapies. Decisions must balance the anti-tumor efficacy of the treatment with its potential cardiotoxicity. If patients develop cardiac dysfunction or heart failure, they should be treated in accordance with established guidelines for heart failure. Cancer survivors who have been exposed to cardiotoxic cancer therapies are at high risk of developing heart failure. The management of cardiovascular risk factors and periodic screening with cardiac imaging and biomarkers should be considered in high-risk survivors

Analysis of the Antioxidative Function of the Radioprotective Japanese Traditional (Kampo) Medicine, Hangeshashinto, in an Aqueous Phase

Oral mucositis (OM) is a common and painful complication of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Hangeshashinto (HST), a Japanese traditional medicine, is known to alleviate radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy-induced OM; however, the detailed mechanism has not yet been clarified. The aim of the present study is to clarify the details of the antioxidative functions of HST against reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by radiation. The hydroxyl radical (•OH) scavenging ability and reduction ability was simultaneously measured using a modified electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping method. The superoxide (O2•−) scavenging ability was estimated by an EPR redox probing method. Water suspension of powdered HST and its seven constitutive crude drugs were tested. In addition, some of the main water soluble ingredients of the crude drugs were also tested. HST was found to scavenge both •OH and O2•−. Furthermore, HST was observed to reduce relatively stable nitroxyl radicals. Glycyrrhizae Radix (kanzo), Ginseng Radix (ninjin), Zizyphi Fructus (taiso), and glycyrrhizin (an ingredient of kanzo) were all found to be relatively good •OH scavengers. Scutellariae Radix (ogon) and Coptidis Rhizoma (oren) demonstrated reducing ability. In addition, acteoside and berberine chloride, which are water soluble ingredients of ogon and oren, respectively, also demonstrated reducing ability. Oren exhibited oxidative ability at higher concentrations, which may have a function to maintain catalytic redox action. The antioxidative function of HST probably worked in a balance of scavenging ROS, reducing stable free radicals and some minor oxidative effects

EPR based Estimation of Radiation-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species

Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is considered as essential trigger of biological effects of ionizing radiations, and may be deeply linked with the radiation quality.Amounts of total oxidation reactions (i.e. oxidative free radical species, •OH and HO2•), H2O2 generations, Oxygen consumptions, and •OH generations induced by X-ray, 20 keV/μm carbon beam, and 80 keV/μm carbon beam were estimated using EPR based techniques.Total oxidation reactions were estimated as 3, 1.3, and 0.66 μmol/L/Gy, amount of H2O2 generations were 0.2, 0.57, and 0.35 μmol/L/Gy, oxygen consumptions were 0.4, 0.39, and 0.15 μmol/L/Gy for X-ray, 20 keV/μm carbon beam, and 80 keV/μm carbon beam, respectively. The ratio of H2O2 generation per oxygen consumption were increased with LET, and were 0.5, 1.46, 2.33 for X-ray, 20 keV/μm carbon beam, and 80 keV/μm carbon beam, respectively. The •OH generations expected to be localized on the track/range of the radiation beam/ray, and both sparse (≈ 3.3 mM) and very dense (> 1.7 M) •OH generations were suggested. Percentage of sparse •OH generation decreased with LET becoming higher.The SFRBM\u27s 23rd Annual Meeting, a joint meeting with the Society for Free Radical Research International (SFRBM/SFRRI 2016

Augmented expression of cardiac ankyrin repeat protein is induced by pemetrexed and a possible marker for the pemetrexed resistance in mesothelioma cells

BackgroundPemetrexed (PEM) is an anti-cancer agent targeting DNA and RNA synthesis, and clinically in use for mesothelioma and non-small cell lung carcinoma. A mechanism of resistance to PEM is associated with elevated activities of several enzymes involved in nucleic acid metabolism.MethodsWe established two kinds of PEM-resistant mesothelioma cells which did not show any increase of the relevant enzyme activities. We screened genes enhanced in the PEM-resistant cells with a microarray analysis and confirmed the expression levels with Western blot analysis. A possible involvement of the candidates in the PEM-resistance was examined with a WST assay after knocking down the expression with si-RNA. We also analyzed a mechanism of the up-regulated expression with agents influencing AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and p53.ResultsWe found that expression of cardiac ankyrin repeat protein (CARP) was elevated in the PEM-resistant cells with a microarray and Western blot analysis. Down-regulation of CARP expression with si-RNA did not however influence the PEM resistance. Parent and PEM-resistant cells treated with PEM increased expression of CARP, AMPK, p53 and histone H2AX. The CARP up-regulation was however irrelevant to the p53 genotypes and not induced by an AMPK activator. Augmented p53 levels with nutlin-3a, an inhibitor for p53 degradation, and DNA damages were not always associated with the enhanced CARP expression.ConclusionsThese data collectively suggest that up-regulated CARP expression is a potential marker for development of PEM-resistance in mesothelioma and that the PEM-mediated enhanced expression is not directly linked with immediate cellular responses to PEM

An image cytometric technique is a concise method to detect adenoviruses and host cell proteins and to monitor the infection and cellular responses induced

BackgroundGenetically modified adenoviruses (Ad) with preferential replications in tumor cells have been examined for a possible clinical applicability as an anti-cancer agent. A simple method to detect viral and cellular proteins is valuable to monitor the viral infections and to predict the Ad-mediated cytotoxicity.MethodsWe used type 5 Ad in which the expression of E1A gene was activated by 5′-regulatory sequences of genes that were augmented in the expression in human tumors. The Ad were further modified to have the fiber-knob region replaced with that derived from type 35 Ad. We infected human mesothelioma cells with the fiber-replaced Ad, and sequentially examined cytotoxic processes together with an expression level of the viral E1A, hexon, and cellular cleaved caspase-3 with image cytometric and Western blot analyses.ResultsThe replication-competent Ad produced cytotoxicity on mesothelioma cells. The infected cells expressed E1A and hexon 24 h after the infection and then showed cleavage of caspase-3, all of which were detected with image cytometry and Western blot analysis. Image cytometry furthermore demonstrated that increased Ad doses did not enhance an expression level of E1A and hexon in an individual cell and that caspase-3-cleaved cells were found more frequently in hexon-positive cells than in E1A-positive cells. Image cytometry thus detected these molecular changes in a sensitive manner and at a single cell level. We also showed that an image cytometric technique detected expression changes of other host cell proteins, cyclin-E and phosphorylated histone H3 at a single cell level.ConclusionsImage cytometry is a concise procedure to detect expression changes of Ad and host cell proteins at a single cell level, and is useful to analyze molecular events after the infection

Rechallenge with First-Line Platinum Chemotherapy for Sensitive-Relapsed Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Background: Sensitive-relapsed small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is thought to be sensitive to chemotherapy; therefore, second-line chemotherapy is recommended. Although platinum rechallenge is performed in the second-line chemotherapy for sensitive-relapsed SCLC, it remains unclear whether such a strategy is effective. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of rechallenge chemotherapy for sensitive-relapsed SCLC. The endpoints of this study were progression-free survival from the time of relapse (PFS-Re) and overall survival from the time of relapse (OS-Re). We also compared the toxicity profile of rechallenge chemotherapy to that of first-line chemotherapy. Results: Of the 133 SCLC patients who received first-line treatment, 20 patients satisfied the definition of sensitive relapse and received rechallenge chemotherapy. Combined carboplatin and etoposide was the most commonly used rechallenge regimen, and 17 (85%) received it at a reduced dose due to hematological toxicity during the first-line treatment. Median PFS-Re and OS-Re were 4.5 months (95% CI: 3.5–5.4) and 10.5 months (95% CI: 7.9–13.0), respectively. There was no association between dose adjustment and survival. The frequency of hematologic toxicity tended to be lower with rechallenge than first-line treatment. The incidence of grade 3 febrile neutropenia decreased from 40% in first-line treatment to 15% in rechallenge. Conclusion: Platinum rechallenge could be a useful second-line option for sensitive-relapsed SCLC, having favorable efficacy and safety. Dose adjustment at rechallenge based on the toxicity profile during the first-line chemotherapy could reduce toxicity without weakening efficacy