Discotic liquid crystals of transition metal complexes 49: establishment of helical structure of fullerene moieties in columnar mesophase of phthalocyanine-fullerene dyads

A homologous series of the phthalocyanine-fullerene dyads, C-n-PcM(OFbaC60) (n = 6, 8, 10, 12; M = Cu, Ni, Co: 3a-3f), have been synthesized to obtain homeotropic alignment at rt and investigate the effects of spacer chain length (n = 6, 8, 10, 12) and central metal (M = Cu, Ni, Co) on the mesomorphism. Interestingly, the shorter-spacer-substituted (n = 6, 8; M = Cu) dyads 3a and 3b showed a hexagonal columnar mesophase (Col(h)), whereas the longer-spacer-substituted (n = 10, 12; M = Cu, Ni, Co) dyads 3c-3f showed a tetragonal columnar mesophase (Col(tet)). Moreover, each of the homologs 3a-3e shows perfect homeotropic alignment in both the Col(h) and Col(tet) mesophases at rt. More interestingly, these columnar mesophases gave a very unique XRD reflection peak denoted as Peak H in a very small angle region of 0.8 < 2 theta < 2.0 degree. We have established at the first time from our developed two new XRD sample preparation techniques that the Peak H is due to the helical structure of fullerenes around columns formed by one-dimensionally stacked Pc cores. 1D nano array structure of donor and acceptor between two electrodes is recently proposed to obtain higher photoelectric conversion efficiency for organic thin film solar cells. This 1D nano array structure is almost compatible with the present homeotropically aligned Pc-C-60 dyads 3a-3f between two glass plates. Hence, these novel Pc-C-60 dyads 3a-3f may be very suitable to organic thin film solar cells.ArticleJOURNAL OF PORPHYRINS AND PHTHALOCYANINES. 17(11):1080-1093 (2013)journal articl

Contractile Properties of Esophageal Striated Muscle: Comparison with Cardiac and Skeletal Muscles in Rats

The external muscle layer of the mammalian esophagus consists of striated muscles. We investigated the contractile properties of esophageal striated muscle by comparison with those of skeletal and cardiac muscles. Electrical field stimulation with single pulses evoked twitch-like contractile responses in esophageal muscle, similar to those in skeletal muscle in duration and similar to those in cardiac muscle in amplitude. The contractions of esophageal muscle were not affected by an inhibitor of gap junctions. Contractile responses induced by high potassium or caffeine in esophageal muscle were analogous to those in skeletal muscle. High-frequency stimulation induced a transient summation of contractions followed by sustained contractions with amplitudes similar to those of twitch-like contractions, although a large summation was observed in skeletal muscle. The results demonstrate that esophageal muscle has properties similar but not identical to those of skeletal muscle and that some specific properties may be beneficial for esophageal peristalsis

Surgery for Perforation Complicating Colon Cancers

Eleven patients with perforation complicating colon cancers were clinically analyzed with respect to perforation sites and surgical outcome. In general, perforations complicating colon cancers are divided into two categor ies, free perforation and penetration with abscess or fistula formation. It is emphasized that surgical outcome for free perforation is unsatisfactory. Therefore, two-stage operation is recommended and the aim of the treatment should be first concentrated on peritonitis. In conclusion, complete resection of carcinoma is necessary in obtaining a satisfactory result

Discotic liquid crystals of transition metal complexes 49: establishment of helical structure of fullerene moieties in columnar mesophase of phthalocyanine-fullerene dyads

A homologous series of the phthalocyanine-fullerene dyads, C-n-PcM(OFbaC60) (n = 6, 8, 10, 12; M = Cu, Ni, Co: 3a-3f), have been synthesized to obtain homeotropic alignment at rt and investigate the effects of spacer chain length (n = 6, 8, 10, 12) and central metal (M = Cu, Ni, Co) on the mesomorphism. Interestingly, the shorter-spacer-substituted (n = 6, 8; M = Cu) dyads 3a and 3b showed a hexagonal columnar mesophase (Col(h)), whereas the longer-spacer-substituted (n = 10, 12; M = Cu, Ni, Co) dyads 3c-3f showed a tetragonal columnar mesophase (Col(tet)). Moreover, each of the homologs 3a-3e shows perfect homeotropic alignment in both the Col(h) and Col(tet) mesophases at rt. More interestingly, these columnar mesophases gave a very unique XRD reflection peak denoted as Peak H in a very small angle region of 0.8 < 2 theta < 2.0 degree. We have established at the first time from our developed two new XRD sample preparation techniques that the Peak H is due to the helical structure of fullerenes around columns formed by one-dimensionally stacked Pc cores. 1D nano array structure of donor and acceptor between two electrodes is recently proposed to obtain higher photoelectric conversion efficiency for organic thin film solar cells. This 1D nano array structure is almost compatible with the present homeotropically aligned Pc-C-60 dyads 3a-3f between two glass plates. Hence, these novel Pc-C-60 dyads 3a-3f may be very suitable to organic thin film solar cells.ArticleJOURNAL OF PORPHYRINS AND PHTHALOCYANINES. 17(11):1080-1093 (2013)journal articl

Nuclear DNA Analysis in Hepatocelular Carcinoma in Comparison with Clinicopathologic Factors

Nuclear DNA patterns were analyzed in the 33 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma on the basis of clinicopathologic standpoint. It is concluded that biologic behavior of hepatocellular cancer cells in patients with DNA aneuploidy pattern displayed highly malignant potential, indicating severe atypism, rapid growth of rupturing, the presence of cancer invasion into the wall of portal vein and distant metastasis. Furthermore, the survival time in patients with DNA aneuploidy pattern in hepatocellular carcinoma was shorter than that in patients with diploidy one

Carcinoma-containing CEA in colon cancers in primary and metastatic tumors

Carcinoma-containing CEA was measured as compared with normal tissues and metastases in the lymph nodes and the liver. The high CEA production was remarkable in the potent malignant tumors and metastases in the liver and the lymph nodes as compared with those in normal colon tissues as well as in non metastatic lymph nodes. It is reasonable to consider that high plasma CEA may well indicate advancing or highly potent malignant diseases or recurrence of colon cancers due to destruction of vascular structure by cancer invasion

Surgery for postoperative recurrence of gastric cancer

The six patients who underwent reoperation for recurrence of gastric cancer following surgery were clinically analysed, of whom one had lung metastasis and the other five local recurrences. The conditions of resectability are that carcinoma infiltration should be limited, the disease-free interval-after the first operation should be long and there are no blood-borne metastases into the lung and the liver. The surgical outcome for lung metastasis was pessimistic. It is emphasized that multidisciplinary therapy and early detection are indispensable for improving the surgical outcome in the treatment of recurrence of gastric cancer