Development of highly efficient sulfur-doped TiO2 photocatalysts hybridized with graphitic carbon nitride

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has attracted much attention as a metal-free semiconductor having visible-light absorption and relatively high chemical stability. In the present study, we hybridized g-C3N4 with sulfur-doped TiO2, which is a visible light-responsive photocatalyst with high oxidation ability, in order to improve photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation. Hybrid photocatalysts were prepared by three methods: agate mortar, sonication, and planetary mill. Activities of the hybrid photocatalysts depended on the mixing method. The sample prepared by a planetary mill showed the highest photocatalytic activity, 4-times higher than that of sulfur-doped TiO2. We concluded that the high activity of the hybridized sample under visible-light irradiation is induced by charge transfer between the two photocatalysts mimicking the Z-scheme in photosynthesis

Perioperative QOL in lung cancer patients

Objective : Patients with lung cancer generally undergo minimally invasive surgery, such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). This study examined the changes in health conditions and symptoms of patients with lung cancer using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ) C-30 questionnaires after surgery. Methods : This was a longitudinal descriptive study. One hundred and three patients with lung cancer who underwent lung resection at Tokushima University Hospital between 2012 and 2021 were eligible. They completed EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-LC13, the Cancer Dyspnea scale (CDS), and pulmonary-ADL (P-ADL) before and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Results : Regarding functional scale scores, impairments in physical and role functions persisted for 6 months after surgery. In symptom scale scores, fatigue, pain, dyspnea, and appetite loss continued for 6 months after surgery. In CDS, sense of effort, discomfort, and total dyspnea scale scores were elevated for 6 months after surgery. In P-ADL, most ADL were impaired 1 month after surgery, but recovered by 3 months. The dyspnea index of ADL was lower for 6 months after surgery. Conclusions : Impairments in health conditions and symptoms persisted for 6 months after surgery despite its minimally invasive nature

Long-term outcomes of SN idenitification

Background: Sentinel node (SN) biopsy is used in the management of numerous cancers to avoid unnecessary lymphadenectomy. This was a clinical exploration/feasibility study of a novel identification technique for SN biopsy using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging during lung cancer surgery. Methods: SN biopsy using ICG was performed on 22 patients who had cT1 or T2N0M0 lung cancer. ICG was injected just around the primary tumor. The fluorescence imaging system enabled visualization of the lymphatic vessels draining from the primary tumor toward the lymph nodes. Fluorescently labeled nodes were dissected, and patients were followed-up for prognosis and recurrence to confirm the pattern of lymph node metastasis after surgery. Results: SNs were successfully identified in 16 (72.7%) of 22 patients. A total of 13 of 16 patients had pathological N0 and three had SN metastasis. The median follow-up time was 92.7 months. Only one patient had no SN metastasis at the postoperative pathological examination and lymph node metastasis during the follow-up period. The accuracy rate was 93.8% (15/16) and the false-negative rate was 7.7% (1/13). Conclusions: SNs were identified by ICG fluorescence imaging, and this technique during lung cancer surgery had good identification and accuracy rates throughout the follow-up period

Management Of Peritoneal Effusion by Sealing with a Self-Assembling Nanofiber Polypeptide Following Pelvic Surgery

Background/Aims: PuraMatrix is a synthetic material consisting of 16-amino acid peptides that self-assemble into nanofibers, previously used as a scaffold for functional cell cultures. We conducted a clinical study to determine the safety and sealing properties of PuraMatrix in post-operative lymphorrhea following pelvic surgery in humans. Methodology: A total of 20 patients who underwent rectal cancer resection were analyzed. The study group (n = 10) consisted of patients who received PuraMatrix, matched with a control group (n = 10) of patients operated on conventionally. Results: During the 2 to 3 month follow-up period, there were no abnormal findings or adverse events in any the patients who received PuraMatrix. We found that the patients who received PuraMatrix had significantly reduced post-operative drainage volumes compared with the patients in the control group. Conclusions: PuraMatrix is a safe and effective bio-compatible sealing material for the management of post-operative peritoneal effusion following pelvic surgery

MONITORING ANAPLASTIC THYROID CANCER MODELS BY PET/CT

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare type of thyroid carcinoma with a poor prognosis. Thus, suitable preclinical tumor models are required for the development of new ATC therapies. In the present study, orthotopic tumor xenograft models were established using ATC cell lines and SCID mice, and tumor invasion and the effects of anticancer drugs were evaluated using positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) to repeatedly and non-invasively monitor these models. Three ATC cell lines (8305c, 8505c, and ACT-1) were used. Their sensitivities to two anticancer drugs (paclitaxel and lenvatinib) were investigated. The 8505c cell line was orthotopically implanted into SCID mice, which were then divided into three groups: no chemotherapy, paclitaxel (5 mg/kg, administered intraperitoneally, every week), and lenvatinib (5 mg/kg, oral route, every day) groups. PET/CT was performed and tumor growth and the effects of anticancer drugs based on tumor volume and fludeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake were evaluated. 8505c cells exhibited the highest sensitivity to the anticancer drugs. In mice implanted with 8505c cells, continuous increases in FDG uptake associated with tumor growth were detected on PET/CT in the group that received no chemotherapy. The tumor volume and FDG uptake increased by 91.5- and 2.4-fold, respectively, within 2 weeks. The increase observed in tumor volume was 26.9- and 12.2-fold in the paclitaxel and lenvatinib groups, respectively, within 2 weeks. Furthermore, the increase in FDG uptake was 1.8-fold and 1.6-fold in the paclitaxel and lenvatinib groups, respectively, within 2 weeks. In our orthotopic SCID mouse model, tumor growth and the effects of anticancer drugs were repeatedly and non-invasively monitored using PET/CT. The present method is useful for the development of new ATC treatments

ICG fluorescence for lung metastasis of HCC

Background: Indocyanine green (ICG) accumulates in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and tumor fluorescence can be observed under irradiation with near infrared light (NIR). This study investigated the clinical utility of ICG fluorescence imaging during resection of pulmonary metastases of HCC. Methods: From April 2010 to June 2018, six patients with suspected pulmonary metastasis of HCC were enrolled prospectively. Prior to surgery, all patients underwent the ICG hepatic function test following intravenous administration of ICG (0.5 mg/kg body weight). During surgery, metastatic HCC was identified by observation of ICG fluorescence, allowing assessment of the surgical margin. Tumor fluorescence was also evaluated on cut sections. Results: A total of 11 metastatic HCCs were resected in six patients at nine operations. Eight lesions were removed by wedge resection and 3 lesions were managed by lobectomy. During surgery, tumor fluorescence could be confirmed through the visceral pleura in 6 out of 7 lesions treated by wedge resection, while NIR irradiation was difficult for 1 lesion. For these 6 lesions, the median distance from the tumor to the visceral pleura and the median surgical margin were 0 mm (range, 0–2 mm) and 14 mm (range, 11–17 mm), respectively. When cut sections were examined, all tumors emitted fluorescence. All lesions were histologically confirmed to be metastatic HCC. Conclusions: In patients with pulmonary metastasis of HCC, ICG fluorescence imaging is useful for identifying the tumor and securing its margin when the lesion is peripheral and wedge resection is planned

Identification and Biochemical Characterization of High Mobility Group Protein 20A as a Novel Ca2+/S100A6 Target

During screening of protein-protein interactions, using human protein arrays carrying 19,676 recombinant glutathione s-transferase (GST)-fused human proteins, we identified the high-mobility protein group 20A (HMG20A) as a novel S100A6 binding partner. We confirmed the Ca2+-dependent interaction of HMG20A with S100A6 by the protein array method, biotinylated S100A6 overlay, and GST-pulldown assay in vitro and in transfected COS-7 cells. Co-immunoprecipitation of S100A6 with HMG20A from HeLa cells in a Ca2+-dependent manner revealed the physiological relevance of the S100A6/HMG20A interaction. In addition, HMG20A has the ability to interact with S100A1, S100A2, and S100B in a Ca2+-dependent manner, but not with S100A4, A11, A12, and calmodulin. S100A6 binding experiments using various HMG20A mutants revealed that Ca2+/S100A6 interacts with the C-terminal region (residues 311-342) of HMG20A with stoichiometric binding (HMG20A:S100A6 dimer = 1:1). This was confirmed by the fact that a GST-HMG20A mutant lacking the S100A6 binding region (residues 311-347, HMG20A-Delta C) failed to interact with endogenous S100A6 in transfected COS-7 cells, unlike wild-type HMG20A. Taken together, these results identify, for the first time, HMG20A as a target of Ca2+/S100 proteins, and may suggest a novel linkage between Ca2+/S100 protein signaling and HMG20A function, including in the regulation of neural differentiation