CHEMICALLY CROSS-LINKED HYDROGEL HAVING HIGH MECHANICAL STRENGTH

The mechanically tough shape memory gel (SMG) was synthesized. The chemically cross-linked process was applied using a cross-linker named methylenebisacrylamide (MBAA). The SMG was prepared by N, Ndimethyl acrylamide (DMAAm) and stearyl acrylate (SA). The DMAAm is a hydrophilic monomer, whereas SA is a hydrophobic monomer. Due to the transparency, shape memory property, low friction, and high water content, the SMG is suitable for biomedical and optical applications. The physical property such as mechanical strength of most hydrogels is not good enough. However, the properties of these hydrogels are easily controlled by changing the polymer concentration, molecular weight and cross-linker concentrations. It is found that the swelling degree increases with respect to the DMAAm concentration. The mechanical properties of transparent shape memory hydrogel were investigated by the tensile, the compression and the dynamic mechanical analysis. The Young’s modulus gradually decreases with the increase of hydrophilic components. On the other hand, higher Young’s modulus is observed by increasing the high hydrophobic concentration. It is also seen that the mechanical stress decreases with respect to the temperature, indicating the loss of Young’s modulus. The result of dynamic mechanical analysis designates that the water swollen sample has both the elastic and viscous properties

CHEMICALLY CROSS-LINKED HYDROGEL HAVING HIGH MECHANICAL STRENGTH

The mechanically tough shape memory gel (SMG) was synthesized. The chemically cross-linked process was applied using a cross-linker named methylenebisacrylamide (MBAA). The SMG was prepared by N, Ndimethyl acrylamide (DMAAm) and stearyl acrylate (SA). The DMAAm is a hydrophilic monomer, whereas SA is a hydrophobic monomer. Due to the transparency, shape memory property, low friction, and high water content, the SMG is suitable for biomedical and optical applications. The physical property such as mechanical strength of most hydrogels is not good enough. However, the properties of these hydrogels are easily controlled by changing the polymer concentration, molecular weight and cross-linker concentrations. It is found that the swelling degree increases with respect to the DMAAm concentration. The mechanical properties of transparent shape memory hydrogel were investigated by the tensile, the compression and the dynamic mechanical analysis. The Young’s modulus gradually decreases with the increase of hydrophilic components. On the other hand, higher Young’s modulus is observed by increasing the high hydrophobic concentration. It is also seen that the mechanical stress decreases with respect to the temperature, indicating the loss of Young’s modulus. The result of dynamic mechanical analysis designates that the water swollen sample has both the elastic and viscous properties

Prevalence of gambling disorder and its correlates among homeless men in Osaka city, Japan

Internationally, the prevalence of gambling disorder has been reported to be higher among homeless people than the general population; however, little is known about the factors associated with gambling disorder in this population. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of gambling disorder and its associated factors among homeless men using shelters in Osaka City. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from 30 to 2018 to 4 January 2019, using the 2017 Japanese National Survey of Gambling (JNSG) questionnaire, supplemented with questions about homeless experiences, drinking, and smoking. Using the South Oaks Gambling Screen, the presence of gambling disorder was determined by a score ≥ 5 out of 20. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to explore factors associated with lifetime gambling disorder. Lifetime and past-year prevalence of gambling disorder among 103 participants was 43.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 34.5–53.3) and 3.9% (95% CI: 1.5–9.6), respectively, which are higher than the 6.7% and 1.5% found among men in the 2017 JNSG. Reasons reported for currently gambling less were primarily financial. Factors associated with lifetime GD included “more than 20 years since the first incidence of homelessness” (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 4.97, 95% CI: 1.50–16.45) and “more than five incidences of homelessness” (AOR: 4.51, 95% CI: 1.06–19.26). When homeless individuals with gambling disorder try to rebuild and stabilize their lives, the presence or resurgence of gambling disorder may hinder the process and pose a risk of recurring homelessness. Comprehensive support services for homeless individuals with gambling disorder are required. (250 words

Familial Occurrence of a Congenital Portosystemic Shunt of the Portal Vein

A congenital portosystemic shunt of the portal vein is a very rare vascular anomaly associated with the liver. We report the case of a 5-year-old girl with a patent ductus venosus and her 31-year-old mother with a congenital portosystemic shunt. The child presented with a history of an extremely low birth weight in addition to an atrial septal defect and a patent ductus venosus. At the age of 2, she underwent ligation of the ductus venosus. Her mother was also diagnosed with a congenital vascular anomaly at the age of 16. We have followed up and evaluated her asymptomatic mother for 15 years. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the occurrence of a congenital portosystemic shunt in both a mother and her child

Erratum: Synthesis of glycerolipids containing simple linear acyl chains or aromatic rings and evaluation of their Mincle signaling activity (Chem. Commun. (2019) 55 (711–714) DOI: 10.1039/C8CC07322H)

金沢大学医薬保健研究域薬学系The authors regret that the structures of brartemicin and compounds 6a and b presented in Fig. 2 of the article were incorrect. The correct structures are depicted below. In addition, explanations of the R’ groups have been added below each compound. (Figure Presented). This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistr

Thymidine Catabolism as a Metabolic Strategy for Cancer Survival

Thymidine phosphorylase (TP), a rate-limiting enzyme in thymidine catabolism, plays a pivotal role in tumor progression; however, the mechanisms underlying this role are not fully understood. Here, we found that TP-mediated thymidine catabolism could supply the carbon source in the glycolytic pathway and thus contribute to cell survival under conditions of nutrient deprivation. In TP-expressing cells, thymidine was converted to metabolites, including glucose 6-phosphate, lactate, 5-phospho-α-D-ribose 1-diphosphate, and serine, via the glycolytic pathway both in vitro and in vivo. These thymidine-derived metabolites were required for the survival of cells under low-glucose conditions. Furthermore, activation of thymidine catabolism was observed in human gastric cancer. These findings demonstrate that thymidine can serve as a glycolytic pathway substrate in human cancer cells

Thymidine catabolism promotes NADPH oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) signalling in KB and yumoto cells

Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the thymidine catabolic pathway. TP is identical to platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor and contributes to tumour angiogenesis. TP induces the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enhances the expression of oxidative stress-responsive genes, such as interleukin (IL)-8. However, the mechanism underlying ROS induction by TP remains unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that TP promotes NADPH oxidase-derived ROS signalling in cancer cells. NADPH oxidase inhibition using apocynin or small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) abrogated the induction of IL-8 and ROS in TP-expressing cancer cells. Meanwhile, thymidine catabolism induced by TP increased the levels of NADPH and intermediates of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Both siRNA knockdown of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), a rate-limiting enzyme in PPP, and a G6PD inhibitor, dihydroepiandrosterone, reduced TP-induced ROS production. siRNA downregulation of 2-deoxy-D-ribose 5-phosphate (DR5P) aldolase, which is needed for DR5P to enter glycolysis, also suppressed the induction of NADPH and IL-8 in TP-expressing cells. These results suggested that TP-mediated thymidine catabolism increases the intracellular NADPH level via the PPP, which enhances the production of ROS by NADPH oxidase and activates its downstream signalling