Copper(II)-salt-promoted oxidative ring-opening reactions of bicyclic cyclopropanol derivatives via radical pathways

Copper(II)-salt-promoted oxidative ring-opening reactions of bicyclic cyclopropanol derivatives were investigated. The regioselectivities of these processes were found to be influenced by the structure of cyclopropanols as well as the counter anion of the copper(II) salts. A mechanism involving rearrangement reactions of radical intermediates and their competitive trapping by copper ions is proposed

A 3D Sphere Culture System Containing Functional Polymers for Large-Scale Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Production

ヒト多能性幹細胞(ES/iPS細胞)の新たな三次元培養法 -大量培養・大規模生産を可能に-. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2014-04-25.Utilizing human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) in cell-based therapy and drug discovery requires large-scale cell production. However, scaling up conventional adherent cultures presents challenges of maintaining a uniform high quality at low cost. In this regard, suspension cultures are a viable alternative, because they are scalable and do not require adhesion surfaces. 3D culture systems such as bioreactors can be exploited for large-scale production. However, the limitations of current suspension culture methods include spontaneous fusion between cell aggregates and suboptimal passaging methods by dissociation and reaggregation. 3D culture systems that dynamically stir carrier beads or cell aggregates should be refined to reduce shearing forces that damage hPSCs. Here, we report a simple 3D sphere culture system that incorporates mechanical passaging and functional polymers. This setup resolves major problems associated with suspension culture methods and dynamic stirring systems and may be optimal for applications involving large-scale hPSC production

Open-label, randomized, comparative, phase III study on effects of reducing steroid use in combination with Palonosetron

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of a single administration of dexamethasone (DEX) on day1 against DEX administration on days1-3 in combination with palonosetron (PALO), a second-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in non-anthracycline and cyclophosphamide (AC) moderately-emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC). This phaseIII trial was conducted with a multi-center, randomized, open-label, non-inferiority design. Patients who received non-AC MEC as an initial chemotherapy were randomly assigned to either a group administered PALO (0.75mg, i.v.) and DEX (9.9mg, i.v.) prior to chemotherapy (study treatment group), or a group administered additional DEX (8mg, i.v. or p.o.) on days2-3 (control group). The primary endpoint was complete response (CR) rate. The CR rate difference was estimated by logistic regression with allocation factors as covariates. The non-inferiority margin was set at -15% (study treatment group - control group). From April 2011 to March 2013, 305patients who received non-AC MEC were randomly allocated to one of two study groups. Overall, the CR rate was 66.2% in the study treatment group (N=151) and 63.6% in the control group (N=154). PALO plus DEX day1 was non-inferior to PALO plus DEX days1-3 (difference, 2.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -7.8%-12.8%; P-value for non-inferiority test=0.0004). There were no differences between the two groups in terms of complete control rate (64.9 vs 61.7%) and total control rate (49.7% vs 47.4%). Anti-emetic DEX administration on days2-3 may be eliminated when used in combination with PALO in patients receiving non-AC MEC

Neuroreceptors and ion channels as targets of alcohol

This article represents the proceedings of a symposium at the 2000 ISBRA Meeting in Yokohama, Japan. The chairs were Toshio Narahashi and Kinya Kuriyama. The presentations were (1) Modulation of neuroreceptors and ion channels by alcohol, by T. Narahashi; (2) Inhibition by ethanol of NMDA and AMPA receptor-channels, by P. Illes, K. Wirkner, W. Fischer, K. Muhlberg, P. Scheibler, and C. Allgaier; (3) Effects of ethanol on metabotropic glutamate receptors, by K. Minami; (4) Acute alcohol actions on the 5-HT3 ligand-gated ion channel, by D. Lovinger; (5) Inhibition of NMDA receptors by MK801 attenuates ethanol-induced taurine release from the hippocampus, by F. Lallemand, R.J. Ward, and P. DeWitte; and (6) Effect of ethanol on voltage-operated Ca2+ channels in hepatic stellate cells, by T. Itatsu, Y. Takei, II. Oide, M. Hirose, X. E. Wang, S. Watanabe, M. Tateyama, R. Ochi, and N. Sato