Photoelectrochemical properties of dye-dispersing allophane–titania composite electrodes

Dye-dispersing allophane-titania composite electrodes were prepared from titanium alkoxide sols containing dye and allophane. The photoelectric conversion properties of the electrodes were investigated by photoelectrochemical measurements. The photocurrent values in the UV range decreased with an increase in the allophane content, whereas those in the visible range were increased by adding 1.0% (Al/Ti ratio) allophane. As a small amount of allophane nanoparticles were highly dispersed in the titania electrodes, the dye molecules were dispersed in the electrodes without decreasing the efficiency of the electron injection from the dye to the titania conduction band. The dye molecules dispersed on the titania nanoparticle surface were capped with allophane nanoparticles which prevented desorption. The dye molecules strongly interacted with the titania nanoparticle surface and efficiently injected the excited electrons into the titania conduction band. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.ArticleAPPLIED CLAY SCIENCE. 107:138-144 (2015)journal articl

Intraperitoneal Mesenchymal Cells Promote the Development of Peritoneal Metastasis Partly by Supporting Long Migration of Disseminated Tumor Cells

<div><p>The human peritoneal cavity contains a small number of free cells of mesenchymal cell lineage. Intraperitoneal mesenchymal cells (PMC) play supportive roles in metastasis formation on the peritoneum. In this study, we found that PMC, when co-cultuerd with human gastric cancer cells, MKN45, enhanced the proliferation of MKN45 when cultured at low, but not high, cellular density. Also, PMC suppressed apoptotic cell death of MKN45 only under low density culture conditions. Time-lapse videoanalysis clearly demonstrated that PMC randomly migrated more vigorously than did MKN45, and strongly enhanced the migration behavior of co-cultured MKN45. In fact, the majority of MKN45 migrated together in direct physical contact with PMC, and the sum of migration lengths from original position of co-cultured MKN45 for 48 hours was approximately 10 times longer than that of MKN45 cultured alone. Our data suggest that enhanced migration can increase the chance of direct contact or positional proximity among sparcely distributed MKN45, which may bring survival advantages to tumor cells. This may be one of the important mechanisms of peritoneal metastasis, since only a small number of tumor cells are considered to be disseminated in the early step of metastasis formation on the peritoneum.</p></div

Effect of PMC on apoptosis of MKN45.

<p>(A) MKN45 (1x104 or 1x105) was cultured with or without PMC (1x104) in 6-well dish for 48 hours. The cells were immunostained as described in the legend of <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0154542#pone.0154542.g001" target="_blank">Fig 1</a>, and the percentages of annexinV(+) 7AAD(+) cells in CD326(+) population were calculated. Data show mean±SD of 3 different experiments. (B) Representative FACS profiles of MKN45 (1x104) cultured with (lower panels) or without (upper panels) 1x104 PMC.</p

Effect of PMC on MKN45 is not mediated by soluble factors.

<p>MKN45 (1x104) were cultured with or without PMC (1x104) in 6-well culture dishes. In some wells, PMC were separately cultured in inserts with 0.4-μm pores to inhibit direct cell-cell contact. Then the ratio of proliferation at 7 days and apoptosis at 2 days of MKN45 were examined as described in the legends of Figs <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0154542#pone.0154542.g001" target="_blank">1</a> and <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0154542#pone.0154542.g002" target="_blank">2</a>. Data show mean±SEM of 2 different experiments.</p

Tracks of MKN45 cultured with or without PMC.

<p>MKN45 (1x104) were seeded with (B) or without (A) 1x104 PMC in 3.5 cm diameter dishes and cultured on the stage of a Biostudio system in 5% CO2 incubator for 48 hours. During culture, photo images of a selected field were taken every 5 min. and the locations were separately marked for randomly selected MKN45 using image analysis software, DIPP-Motion V2D. Then, the tracks of migration of these MKN45 were expressed with the initial position fixed (red circles). Data show the tracks of 16 MKN45 cells in one of the 3 different experiments.</p

Length of migration of MKN45 cultured with or without PMC.

<p>MKN45 were cultured as described in the legend of <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0154542#pone.0154542.g004" target="_blank">Fig 4</a>. In these video movies, the distances of displacement in each time point were summed in randomly selected MKN45 using DIPP-Motion V2D software. Data show mean±SD of 43 cells in 3 different experiments.</p

Effect of PMC on in vitro growth of MKN45.

<p>MKN45 (5x10³-1x10⁵) were cultured in 6-well culture plates with or without 1x10⁴ PMC. Two to 14 days later, whole cells were harvested using 0.02% EDTA + trypsin, immunostained with FITC-conjugated annexin V, PE-conjugated mAbs CD326, and 7AAD, and resuspended in the same volume (0.5ml) of PBS+0.02% EDTA. Then, the cells were acquired for 30 seconds with FACS, and the number of cells with annexinV(-), CD326(+), 7AAD(-) were counted as alive MKN45 cells in each sample. The percentages of the numbers of MKN45 co-cultured with PMC were calculated against those of MKN45 cultured alone. Data show mean±SD of 3 different experiments. N.E: not evaluated.</p

Osteopenia Is Associated with Shorter Survival in Patients with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Background: The prognostic importance of osteopenia in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) undergoing hepatectomy is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of osteopenia on survival in patients with ICC. Methods: A total of 71 patients who underwent hepatectomy at Jichi Medical University between July 2008 and June 2022 were included in this study. Non-contrast computed tomography scan images at the eleventh thoracic vertebra were used to assess bone mineral density. The cutoff value was calculated using a threshold value of 160 Hounsfield units. Overall survival curves were made using the Kaplan–Meier method and the log-rank test was used to evaluate survival. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for overall survival were calculated using Cox’s proportional hazard model. Results: In multivariable analysis, osteopenia (HR 3.66, 95%CI 1.16–14.1, p = 0.0258) and the platelet–lymphocyte ratio (HR 6.26, 95%CI 2.27–15.9, p = 0.0008) were significant independent factors associated with overall survival. There were no significant independent prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival. Conclusions: Preoperative osteopenia is significantly associated with postoperative survival in patients with ICC undergoing hepatectomy

Osteopenia Is Associated with Shorter Survival in Patients with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Background: The prognostic importance of osteopenia in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) undergoing hepatectomy is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of osteopenia on survival in patients with ICC. Methods: A total of 71 patients who underwent hepatectomy at Jichi Medical University between July 2008 and June 2022 were included in this study. Non-contrast computed tomography scan images at the eleventh thoracic vertebra were used to assess bone mineral density. The cutoff value was calculated using a threshold value of 160 Hounsfield units. Overall survival curves were made using the Kaplan&ndash;Meier method and the log-rank test was used to evaluate survival. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for overall survival were calculated using Cox&rsquo;s proportional hazard model. Results: In multivariable analysis, osteopenia (HR 3.66, 95%CI 1.16&ndash;14.1, p = 0.0258) and the platelet&ndash;lymphocyte ratio (HR 6.26, 95%CI 2.27&ndash;15.9, p = 0.0008) were significant independent factors associated with overall survival. There were no significant independent prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival. Conclusions: Preoperative osteopenia is significantly associated with postoperative survival in patients with ICC undergoing hepatectomy