On the general action of boundary (super)string field theory

We reconstruct boundary superstring field theory via boundary states. After a minor modification of the fermionic two-form, all the equations needed for Batalin-Vilkovisky formulation are simply represented by closed string oscillators and the proof of gauge invariance is drastically simplified. The general form of the action of boundary superstring field theory is also obtained without any assumption and found to take exactly the same form as the bosonic one. As a special case of this action, we revisit the conjecture that the action is simply given by the disk partition function when matter and ghosts are completely decoupled.Comment: 19 pages, minor correction

Moment Tensor Analysis of Acoustic Emissions Induced by Laboratory-based Hydraulic Fracturing in Granite,

Moment Tensors of hydraulically induced AEs: Hydraulic fracturing is an important technique in the development of enhanced geothermal systems and unconventional resources. Although the fracture modes induced by hydraulic fracturing influence the recovery efficiency of the resources, the current understanding of this relationship is insufficient. In this study, we considered the acoustic emissions (AEs) induced during hydraulic fracturing under uniaxial loading conditions in the laboratory, and applied a moment tensor analysis by carefully correcting the coupling condition and directivity of AE transducers. Experiments were conducted for two types of Kurokami–jima granite samples: those with a rift plane perpendicular (Type H) or parallel (Type V) to the expected direction of fracture propagation (i.e. along the loading axis). In the experiments, both sample types experienced a significant number of shear, tensile and compressive events. The dominant fracture mode for Type H samples is found to be tensile events in which the fracture plane is parallel to the loading axis, whereas for Type V samples, shear events are dominant. This difference suggests that the dominant fracture modes induced by hydraulic fracturing are highly dependent on the relationship between the direction of fracture propagation and orientation of pre-existing weak planes

Neuroprotective response after photodynamic therapy: Role of vascular endothelial growth factor

Background: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs and/or photodynamic therapy (PDT) constitute current treatments targeting pathological vascular tissues in tumors and age-related macular degeneration. Concern that PDT might induce VEGF and exacerbate the disease has led us to current practice of using anti-VEGF drugs with PDT simultaneously. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of these therapies are not well understood. Methods: We assessed VEGF levels after PDT of normal mouse retinal tissue, using a laser duration that did not cause obvious tissue damage. To determine the role of PDT-induced VEGF and its downstream signaling, we intravitreally injected a VEGF inhibitor, VEGFR1 Fc, or a PI3K/Akt inhibitor, LY294002, immediately after PDT. Then, histological and biochemical changes of the retinal tissue were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and immunoblot analyses, respectively. Results: At both the mRNA and protein levels, VEGF was upregulated immediately and transiently after PDT. VEGF suppression after PDT resulted in apoptotic destruction of the photoreceptor cell layer in only the irradiated area during PDT. Under these conditions, activation of the anti-apoptotic molecule Akt was suppressed in the irradiated area, and levels of the pro-apoptotic protein BAX were increased. Intravitreal injection of a PI3K/Akt inhibitor immediately after PDT increased BAX levels and photoreceptor cell apoptosis. Conclusion: Cytotoxic stress caused by PDT, at levels that do not cause overt tissue damage, induces VEGF and activates Akt to rescue the neural tissue, suppressing BAX. Thus, the immediate and transient induction of VEGF after PDT is neuroprotective

Pharmacovigilance evaluation of the relationship between impaired glucose metabolism and BCR‐ABL inhibitor use by using an adverse drug event reporting database

Breakpoint cluster region‐Abelson murine leukemia (BCR‐ABL) inhibitors markedly improve the prognosis of chronic myeloid leukemia. However, high treatment adherence is necessary for successful treatment with BCR‐ABL inhibitors. Therefore, an adequate understanding of the adverse event profiles of BCR‐ABL inhibitors is essential. Although many adverse events are observed in trials, an accurate identification of adverse events based only on clinical trial results is difficult because of strict entry criteria or limited follow‐up durations. In particular, BCR‐ABL inhibitor‐induced impaired glucose metabolism remains controversial. Pharmacovigilance evaluations using spontaneous reporting systems are useful for analyzing drug‐related adverse events in clinical settings. Therefore, we conducted signal detection analyses for BCR‐ABL inhibitor‐induced impaired glucose metabolism by using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database. Signals for an increased reporting rate of impaired glucose metabolism were detected only for nilotinib use, whereas these signals were not detected for other BCR‐ABL inhibitors. Subgroup analyses showed a clearly increased nilotinib‐associated reporting rate of impaired glucose metabolism in male and younger patients. Although FAERS‐ and JADER‐based signal detection analyses cannot determine causality perfectly, our study suggests the effects on glucose metabolism are different between BCR‐ABL inhibitors and provides useful information for the selection of appropriate BCR‐ABL inhibitors

Development of monitoring tool by pharmacists

Purpose: Drug side effects often lead to serious outcomes. Administration of second-generation antipsychotics has resulted in diabetic ketoacidosis and diabetic coma leading to death. Therefore, pharmacists are required to collect information on clinical test values, determine the appropriate test timing, and coordinate with doctors for further clinical laboratory orders, all of which are labor- and time-intensive tasks. In this study, we developed a side effect-monitoring tool and aimed to clarify the influence and efficiency of monitoring side effects by using the tool in patients taking atypical antipsychotics in whom it is necessary to check clinical test values such as blood sugar levels. Methods: We extracted clinical test values for patients treated with second-generation antipsychotics from electronic medical records. The test values are automatically displayed in the side effect grade classification specified by CTCAE ver. 4.0. A database was constructed using scripts to provide alerts for the timing of clinical testing. The pharmacist used this tool to confirm clinical test values for patients taking medication and requested the physician to inspect orders based on the appropriate test timings. Results: The management tool reduced the pharmacists’ effort in collecting information on patients’ prescription status and test values. It enabled patients to undergo tests at the appropriate time according to the progression of glucose metabolism and allowed for easy monitoring of side effects. Conclusion: The results suggested that regardless of pharmacists’ experience or skill, the introduction of this tool enables centralization of side-effect monitoring and can contribute to proper drug use

Doxorubicin Embedded into Nanofibrillated Bacterial Cellulose (NFBC) Produces a Promising Therapeutic Outcome for Peritoneally Metastatic Gastric Cancer in Mice Models via Intraperitoneal Direct Injection

Natural materials such as bacterial cellulose are gaining interest for their use as drug-delivery vehicles. Herein, the utility of nanofibrillated bacterial cellulose (NFBC), which is produced by culturing a cellulose-producing bacterium (Gluconacetobacter intermedius NEDO-01) in a medium supplemented with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) that is referred to as CM-NFBC, is described. Recently, we demonstrated that intraperitoneal administration of paclitaxel (PTX)-containing CM-NFBC efficiently suppressed tumor growth in a peritoneally disseminated cancer xenograft model. In this study, to confirm the applicability of NFBC in cancer therapy, a chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin (DXR), embedded into CM-NFBC, was examined for its efficiency to treat a peritoneally disseminated gastric cancer via intraperitoneal administration. DXR was efficiently embedded into CM-NFBC (DXR/CM-NFBC). In an in vitro release experiment, 79.5% of DXR was released linearly into the peritoneal wash fluid over a period of 24 h. In the peritoneally disseminated gastric cancer xenograft model, intraperitoneal administration of DXR/CM-NFBC induced superior tumor growth inhibition (TGI = 85.5%) by day 35 post-tumor inoculation, compared to free DXR (TGI = 62.4%). In addition, compared with free DXR, the severe side effects that cause body weight loss were lessened via treatment with DXR/CM-NFBC. These results support the feasibility of CM-NFBC as a drug-delivery vehicle for various anticancer agents. This approach may lead to improved therapeutic outcomes for the treatment of intraperitoneally disseminated cancers

A multi-center, prospective, clinical study to evaluate the anti-reflux efficacy of laparoscopic double-flap technique (lD-FLAP Study)

Background: Double-flap technique (DFT) is a reconstruction procedure after proximal gastrectomy (PG). We previously reported a multi-center, retrospective study in which the incidence of reflux esophagitis (RE) (Los Angeles Classification ≥Grade B [LA-B]) 1 year after surgery was 6.0%. There have been many reports, but all of them were retrospective. Thus, a multi-center, prospective study was conducted. Methods: Laparoscopic PG + DFT was performed for cT1N0 upper gastric cancer patients. The primary endpoint was the incidence of RE (≥LA-B) 1 year after surgery. The planned sample size was 40, based on an estimated incidence of 6.0% and an upper threshold of 20%. Results: Forty patients were recruited, and 39, excluding one with conversion to total gastrectomy, received protocol treatment. Anastomotic leakage (Clavien–Dindo ≥Grade III) was observed in one patient (2.6%). In 38 patients, excluding one case of postoperative mortality, RE (≥LA-B) was observed in two patients (5.3%) 1 year after surgery, and the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval was 17.3%, lower than the 20% threshold. Anastomotic stricture requiring dilatation was observed in two patients (5.3%). One year after surgery, body weight change was 88.9 ± 7.0%, and PNI Conclusion: Laparoscopic DFT showed anti-reflux efficacy. Taken together with the acceptable incidence of anastomotic stricture, DFT can be an option for reconstruction procedure after PG

On open-closed extension of boundary string field theory

We investigate a classical open-closed string field theory whose open string sector is given by boundary string field theory. The open-closed interaction is introduced by the overlap of a boundary state with a closed string field. With the help of the Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism, the closed string sector is determined to be the HIKKO closed string field theory. We also discuss the gauge invariance of this theory in both open and closed string sides.Comment: 25 pages, 2 figures, comments and a reference added, typos correcte