A Safe, Simple, and Facile Staining Method Using Polysiloxanes for High-Contrast Visualization of Gelator Aggregates by Transmission Electron Microscopy

The staining of TEM samples using Si atoms was investigated using aggregates of loose gels formed by twelve structurally different gelators in several solvents. Thirteen commercially available siloxanes were used as stains. TEM images of non-stained and OsO4-stained samples of molecular aggregates formed by the dodecamethylenediamide of N-methacryloyl-oxyethylaminocarbonyl-L-isoleucine in 1-propanol were poorly defined and low-contrast. However, the image of a methacryloyloxypropyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (S1)-stained sample was characterized by very clear bundles of fine fibers. The staining effect was explained by the wrapping of fibers, the stabilizing of the individual fibers, and reinforcing by S1. An S1 concentration of more than 5 mgmL(-1) was found to be necessary for satisfactory contrast. S1 was successfully applied to the observation of aggregates of eleven other gelators. S1 worked universally as an aggregate stain regardless of the gelator or solvent polarity. The staining effect was observed for other siloxanes. This effect was found to depend on the molecular weight of the siloxane (>1,000) rather than the kind of siloxane employed. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy indicated that the molecules of S1 gather on the surface of the fibers during drying, wrapping them. The results indicate that the present staining method guarantees reproducibility and universality.ArticleBULLETIN OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN.91(7):1176-1185(2018)journal articl

Symptomatic radiation pneumonitis after stereotactic body radiotherapy for multiple pulmonary oligometastases or synchronous primary lung cancer

[Purpose] Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) can be easily used for patients with tumors in various organs and is a promising local therapy for eradicating tumors in cancer patients. There is a rising clinical need for increasing knowledge of oligometastases in the treatment of multiple pulmonary tumors. This study aimed to explore the predictive factors for symptomatic radiation pneumonitis (RP) after SBRT for multiple pulmonary oligometastases or synchronous primary lung cancer (SPLC). [Methods and Materials] A total of 38 consecutive patients who had 2 or more pulmonary oligometastases (n = 21) or SPLC (n = 17) and who were treated with SBRT were investigated. Patient characteristics, tumor characteristics, and details of radiation therapy were retrospectively collected from a clinical database. The association between RP of grade 2 or worse (grade 2+ RP) and clinical or dosimetric factors was assessed using logistic regression analyses. [Results] The tumors presented ipsilaterally in 24 patients and bilaterally in 14 patients. During the median follow-up period of 4.9 years, grade 2+ RP, grade 2 RP, and grade 3 RP were observed in 9 patients (23.7%), 7 patients (18.4%), and 2 patients (5.3%), respectively. The mean lung dose (MLD) and the volume of the normal lung receiving ≥5 Gy (lung V5Gy) were significantly associated with grade 2+ RP (P = .023 and P = .012, respectively). The logistic model showed that 20% and 50% of the predicted probability of grade 2+ RP were 6.1 Gy and 9.1 Gy for MLD and 31.6 % and 42.8% for lung V5Gy, respectively. [Conclusion] Although further investigation is required to validate the metrics and establish reliable dose constraints, the dose-volume metrics for the normal lung could be predictive of the development of grade 2+ RP after SBRT for multiple pulmonary oligometastases or SPLCs

The molecular basis for genetic polymorphism of human deoxyribonuclease I: identification of the nucleotide substitution that generates the fourth allele

AbstractIn addition to the three alleles commonly responsible for the protein polymorphism of human deoxyribonuclease I, a mutation encoded by a fourth allele, DNASEI*4, was detected by isoelectric focusing. All 8 exons covering the entire open reading frame of the human DNase I gene were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and subjected to direct sequencing. Only one nucleotide substitution, a C-to-G transition (CAG → GAG), in the codon for amino acid 9 of the mature enzyme was found. This substitution resulted in the replacement of Gln with Glu (Q9E)

DRUG-ADMINISTERING PERSONS' EXPOSURE TO ORAL ANTICANCER DRUGS TO BE ADMINISTERED THROUGH A TUBE

ABSTRACTObjective: The objective of this study was to quantitatively evaluate anticancer drug exposure of non-health care professionals who administer drugsthrough a tube employing a method devised by us.Methods: The subjects were 30 general volunteers aged 22-84 years. They wore gloves and administered Indian ink, simulating an anticancer drug, toa multipurpose adult human-type patient care simulator through a tube using 5 types of syringe, and the area stained with Indian ink was measured.Results: When comparing the number of pixels among the syringes regardless of age, Syringe B showed the lowest number (11.8±3.1 cm2), and therewas a significant difference between Syringes B and E. Furthermore, we compared the total number of pixels in each age group regardless of the typeof syringe. In the 20-year-old group, it was the lowest (10.9±2.3 cm2) showing significant differences in comparison with the other groups. WhenSyringe B was used, the number of pixels was markedly lower than on adopting the other syringes.Conclusion: It was clarified that the level of exposure to anticancer drugs markedly varies depending on the type of syringe and age. It was alsoclarified that the method to evaluate exposure to anticancer drugs using Indian ink devised by us is simple and useful.Keywords: Oral anticancer drugs, Simple suspension method, Drug-administering persons' exposure

Intrafamilial clustering of genotypes of hepatitis C virus RNA.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA in the blood was measured by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 37 subjects from eight families in which 2 or more persons tested seropositive for antibodies against C100-3 or CP9. HCV-RNA was positive in 17 of 37 subjects. Two or more HCV-RNA-positive subjects were observed in six of the families. Intrafamilial HCV infection was studied by determining the HCV-RNA type (I, II, III or IV) by PCR using type-specific primers. In two families, all of the subjects showed type III infection, and in three other families, all of the subjects showed type II infection, with different types of HCV infections being observed in only one family. The HCV type was uniform in all but one. These findings suggest a possibility of intrafamilial infection between husbands and wives and between members of the same household.</p

DRUG-ADMINISTERING PERSONS' EXPOSURE TO ORAL ANTICANCER DRUGS TO BE ADMINISTERED THROUGH A TUBE

Objective: The objective of this study was to quantitatively evaluate anticancer drug exposure of non-health care professionals who administer drugs through a tube employing a method devised by us. Methods: The subjects were 30 general volunteers aged 22-84 years. They wore gloves and administered Indian ink, simulating an anticancer drug, to a multipurpose adult human-type patient care simulator through a tube using 5 types of syringe, and the area stained with Indian ink was measured. Results: When comparing the number of pixels among the syringes regardless of age, Syringe B showed the lowest number (11.8±3.1 cm2), and there was a significant difference between Syringes B and E. Furthermore, we compared the total number of pixels in each age group regardless of the type of syringe. In the 20-year-old group, it was the lowest (10.9±2.3 cm2) showing significant differences in comparison with the other groups. When Syringe B was used, the number of pixels was markedly lower than on adopting the other syringes. Conclusion: It was clarified that the level of exposure to anticancer drugs markedly varies depending on the type of syringe and age. It was also clarified that the method to evaluate exposure to anticancer drugs using Indian ink devised by us is simple and useful

Usefulness of pro-gastrin-releasing peptide as a predictor of the incidence of brain metastasis and effect of prophylactic cranial irradiation in patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer

Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) is recommended for patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) who respond well to initial treatment. However, PCI is often omitted because of its potential neurotoxicity in the era of modern diagnostic imaging devices. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the risk factors for brain metastasis (BM) in patients eligible for PCI and who may benefit more from it. Patients with LS-SCLC who responded well to definitive thoracic chemoradiotherapy were included in the present study. Competing risk regression was used to identify factors associated with BM, and the Kaplan–Meier method was used to assess overall survival (OS). Between 2004 and 2017, 62 patients were eligible for PCI and were analyzed. Of these, 38 (61.3%) underwent PCI. Overall, 17 patients (27.4%) developed BM, with a 2-year cumulative incidence of 22.8%. Multivariate analysis (MVA) revealed that pretreatment elevated pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP) levels were associated with an increased risk for BM (HR, 7.96, P = 0.0091). PCI tended to reduce the risk of BM (HR, 0.33; P = 0.051). The use of PCI was associated with improved OS in patients with ProGRP levels > 410 pg/mL (P = 0.008), but not in those with ProGRP ≤ 410 pg/mL (P = 0.9). Pretreatment ProGRP levels may be useful in predicting the development of BM in patients with LS-SCLC who achieved a good response to initial therapy and to determine which patients should undergo PCI