Electrochemical preparation of an electroactive polymer poly(dodecyloxy dibenzothiophene) (polyDDBTh) from hydroxyl dibenzothiophene (HDBTh) as a bioconverted monomer

A combination of biotechnological and electrochemical techniques is employed to synthesize an electroactive π-conjugated polymer. The monomer precursor bearing a hydroxyl group is obtained by the bioconversion of dibenzothiophene. An alkyl chain substituent is introduced by Williamson etherification with the aid of crown ether, and electrochemical polymerization is carried out by repeated potential scanning of the monomer in an electrolytic reaction solution. The polymer film thus prepared is shown to exhibit good electroactive characteristics

Monoclonal antibody A7-superparamagnetic iron oxide as contrast agent of MR imaging of rectal carcinoma

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-based colloid has been used clinically as a tissue-specific magnetic resonance contrast agent. We coupled monoclonal antibody A7 (Mab A7), which reacts specifically with human colorectal carcinoma, to Ferumoxides (SPIO) and examined the accumulation of this conjugate in xenografted tumours in nude mice. We examined in vitro immunoreactivity of Mab A7 coupled to Ferumoxides and its in vivo distribution in nude mice with human colorectal carcinoma. Magnetic resonance imaging of tumour-bearing nude mice was performed 72 h after injection of A7-Ferumoxides. A7-Ferumoxides retained binding activities that were nearly identical to intact Mab A7. More of the radiolabelled A7-Ferumoxides accumulated in the tumour than normal mouse IgG-Ferumoxides from 12 h onwards after injection (P<0.05). Both A7-Ferumoxides and normal mouse IgG-Ferumoxides disappeared from blood linearly over time. The accumulation levels in normal tissue decreased linearly over time but were lower than levels in tumours from 6 h. In magnetic resonance T2-weighted imaging of the tumour-bearing nude mice, signal intensity was reduced at the margin of the tumour by injection of A7-Ferumoxides. Mab A7 coupled to Ferumoxides is potentially suitable as a magnetic resonance contrast agent for detecting local recurrence of rectal carcinoma

DIFFERENCES IN CANCER MORTALITY, INCIDENCE, AND EARLY DETECTION RATES AMONG EIGHT MEDICAL AREAS WITHIN AKITA PREFECTURE

The purpose of this study was to obtain basic data regarding the difference among medical area within Akita prefecture with which to formulate policies to reduce cancer mortality.　We enrolled all cancer patients in Akita prefecture registered in “the population-based cancer register” between 2013 and 2017.　The cancer standardized mortality rate, cancer standardized incidence rate, and early detection rate for gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, female breast cancer, and cervical cancer were analyzed in 8 medical areas within Akita prefecture (Daisen, Yokote, Yuzawa, Ohdate, Kita-akita, Noshiro, Akita, and Yuri-Honjo). This revealed that the cancer mortality, incidence rates and early detection differed among the medical areas evaluated. Low early detection rates were correlated with high cancer standardized mortality rates in nearly all areas. The immediate challenge differed among these areas, depending upon the cancer involved. In several medical areas the early lung cancer detection rate among men was only 20%. Early detection of cervical cancer was high, exceeding 80% in several areas. Based on these results, we suggest that implementing detailed cancer controls targeted to each medical area would be an effective way to reduce the cancer mortality rate in Akita prefecture