Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Photoluminescent Properties of 3,3′,4,4′-Tetraethyl-5,5′-divinyl-2,2′-bipyrrole Derivatives

Photoluminescent divinylbipyrroles were synthesized from 3,3′,4,4′-tetraetyl-2,2′-bipyrrole-5,5′-dicarboxaldehyde and activated methylene compounds via aldol condensation.For mechanistic clarity, molecular structures of Meldrum’s acid- and 1,3-dimethylbarbituricacid-derived divinylbipyrroles were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Photoluminescentproperties of the synthesized divinylbipyrroles in dichloromethane were found to be dependent onthe presence of electron withdrawing groups at the vinylic terminal. The divinylbipyrroles derivedfrom malononitrile, Meldrum’s acid, and 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid showed fluorescent peaks at553, 576, and 602 nm respectively. Computational studies indicated that the alkyl substituents on thebipyrrole 3 and 3′positions increased energy level of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)compared to the unsubstituted derivatives and provided rationale for the bathochromic shift of theultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectra compared to the previously reported analogs

Nivolumab Versus Gemcitabine or Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin for Patients With Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer: Open-Label, Randomized Trial in Japan (NINJA)

PURPOSE: This phase III, multicenter, randomized, open-label study investigated the efficacy and safety of nivolumab versus chemotherapy (gemcitabine [GEM] or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin [PLD]) in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eligible patients had platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer, received ≤ 1 regimen after diagnosis of resistance, and had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score of ≤ 1. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to nivolumab (240 mg once every 2 weeks [as one cycle]) or chemotherapy (GEM 1000 mg/m2 for 30 minutes [once on days 1, 8, and 15] followed by a week's rest [as one cycle], or PLD 50 mg/m2 once every 4 weeks [as one cycle]). The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate, duration of response, and safety. RESULTS: Patients (n = 316) were randomly assigned to nivolumab (n = 157) or GEM or PLD (n = 159) between October 2015 and December 2017. Median OS was 10.1 (95% CI, 8.3 to 14.1) and 12.1 (95% CI, 9.3 to 15.3) months with nivolumab and GEM or PLD, respectively (hazard ratio, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.8 to 1.3; P = .808). Median PFS was 2.0 (95% CI, 1.9 to 2.2) and 3.8 (95% CI, 3.6 to 4.2) months with nivolumab and GEM or PLD, respectively (hazard ratio, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2 to 1.9; P = .002). There was no statistical difference in overall response rate between groups (7.6% v 13.2%; odds ratio, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.2 to 1.3; P = .191). Median duration of response was numerically longer with nivolumab than GEM or PLD (18.7 v 7.4 months). Fewer treatment-related adverse events were observed with nivolumab versus GEM or PLD (61.5% v 98.1%), with no additional or new safety risks. CONCLUSION: Although well-tolerated, nivolumab did not improve OS and showed worse PFS compared with GEM or PLD in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer

Composite pheochromocytoma of the adrenal gland: a case series

Background: Composite pheochromocytoma is a rare pathological condition characterized by elements of both pheochromocytoma and neurogenic tumors. However, detailed clinical outcomes of this tumor have not been fully shown. From 2007 to 2013, we experienced three cases of adrenal composite pheochromocytoma. In this report, we investigate the clinicopathological features of these three cases of composite pheochromocytoma and compare them with previously reported cases. Case presentations: Cases 1 and 2 were a 29-year-old Japanese woman and a 59-year-old Japanese man, respectively. They underwent laparoscopic left adrenalectomy, and pathological examination revealed composite pheochromocytoma-ganglioneuroma. Case 3 was a 53-year-old Japanese man who had been receiving hemodialysis for 17 years. He underwent laparoscopic right adrenalectomy, and pathological examination revealed composite pheochromocytoma-ganglioneuroblastoma. Although the Ki67-positive rates varied from 1.0 to 6.2% among the three cases, no clinical recurrences occurred. Despite the relatively high rate of Ki67 positivity, complete tumor resection resulted in favorable clinical outcomes. Conclusion: We experienced three cases of adrenal composite pheochromocytoma. Although the clinical findings and treatment outcomes of composite pheochromocytoma were similar to those of ordinary pheochromocytoma, further studies of the biological behavior and genetic profiles of composite pheochromocytoma are necessary to achieve a better understanding of this tumor

Redetermination of diaquatris(4-oxopent-2-en-2-olato-κ2O,O′)lanthanum(III)

The structure of the title compound, [La(C5H7O2)3(H2O)2], has been redetermined to modern standards with anisotropic displacement parameters for all non-H atoms and the hydrogen-bonding pattern unambiguously established [for the previous study, see Phillips et al. (1968). Inorg. Chem. 7, 2295–2299]. The La3+ ion is coordinated by three O,O′-bidentate acetylacetate (acac−) ligands and two water molecules, resulting in a fairly regular square-antiprismatic LaO8 coordination geometry, with both aqua ligands part of the same square face. In the crystal, the neutral complex molecules are linked into [110] chains by O—H...O hydrogen bonds

Optimal Control of SiC Crystal Growth in the RF-TSSG System Using Reinforcement Learning

We have developed a reinforcement learning (RL) model to control the melt flow in the radio frequency (RF) top-seeded solution growth (TSSG) process for growing more uniform SiC crystals with a higher growth rate. In the study, the electromagnetic field (EM) strength is controlled by the RL model to weaken the influence of Marangoni convection. The RL model is trained through a two-dimensional (2D) numerical simulation of the TSSG process. As a result, the growth rate under the control of the RL model is improved significantly. The optimized RF-coil parameters based on the control strategy for the 2D melt flow are used in a three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulation for model validation, which predicts a higher and more uniform growth rate. It is shown that the present RL model can significantly reduce the development cost and offers a useful means of finding the optimal RF-coil parameters

Demonstration for Inactivation of Zooplankton by Irradiation with a Pulsed Intense Relativistic Electron Beam

Zooplankton contained in water have been successfully inactivated by irradiation with a pulsed intense relativistic electron beam (PIREB). A treatment chamber is filled with a solution of 3-wt% salt in water containing Artemia larvae as zooplankton samples and is irradiated using the PIREB (2 MeV, 0.4 kA, 140 ns). We found that up to 24% of the Artemia are inactivated by firing 10 shots of PIREB irradiation. Ships such as cargo ships use ballast water to stabilize their hulls during navigation. The ballast water is carried around the world and is dumped at a port of call, causing an undesirable propagation of microbes, bacilli and eggs and larvae of marine organisms and the growth of marine plankton in ocean ecosystems. To conserve the ocean environment, a convention was adopted by the International Maritime Organization in 2004 In the present study, we propose a new method of treatment which uses irradiation by a pulsed intense relativistic electron beam (PIREB). In this method, chemicals and/or additives are unnecessary for treatment. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the properties of PIREB injection into ballast water and the effects of irradiation by the PIREB on zooplankton. The PIREB with a kinetic energy of up to 2 MeV is generated using a field-emission foilless electron-beam diode, in which a hollow cathode and a ring anode are set at the first acceleration cell of the pulsed power generator ETIGO-II

Malignant involvement of the iliopsoas muscle associated with non‐small cell lung cancer: Two case reports

Key Clinical Message Under the current progression of molecular targeting or immune therapy, early detection and radiation therapy of iliopsoas metastasis will not only improve performance status but also enable the continuation of effective systemic cancer treatment