The effect of istradefylline for Parkinson’s disease : A meta-analysis

Adenosine A2A receptor antagonists are an alternative treatment strategy for Parkinson’s disease. Several randomized placebo controlled studies have tested the effect of A2A receptor antagonist istradefylline, and more robust evidence has been acquired. This meta-analysis aimed to provide evidence for its efficacy and safety on patients with Parkinson’s disease. After a systematic literature search, we calculated the pooled standardized mean difference and risk ratio for continuous and dichotomous variables, respectively. Further, sensitivity analyses were performed to confirm the effect estimated by meta-analyses. Publication bias was assessed by funnel plot and deviation of intercept. Six studies satisfied our inclusion criteria. Istradefylline (40 mg/day) decreased off time and improved motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in homogeneous studies. Istradefylline at 20 mg/day decreased off time and improved motor symptoms, but heterogeneity was found in the analysis of the former among studies. There was a significant effect of istradefylline on dyskinesia in homogeneous studies. Publication bias, however, was observed in the comparison of dyskinesia. Other adverse events showed no significant difference. The present meta-analysis suggests that istradefylline at 40 mg/day could alleviate off time and motor symptoms derived from Parkinson’s disease. Dyskinesia might be worsened, but publication bias prevents this from being clear

Linear ubiquitination‐induced necrotic tumor remodeling elicits immune evasion

Tumor-elicited inflammation confers tumorigenic properties, including cell death resistance, proliferation, or immune evasion. To focus on inflammatory signaling in tumors, we investigated linear ubiquitination, which enhances the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway and prevents extrinsic programmed cell death under inflammatory environments. Here, we showed that linear ubiquitination was augmented especially in tumor cells around a necrotic core. Linear ubiquitination allowed melanomas to tolerate the hostile tumor microenvironment and to extend a necrosis-containing morphology. Loss of linear ubiquitination resulted in few necrotic lesions and growth regression, further leading to repression of innate anti-PD-1 therapy resistance signatures in melanoma as well as activation of interferon responses and antigen presentation that promote immune-mediated tumor eradication. Collectively, linear ubiquitination promotes tumor-specific tissue remodeling and the ensuing immune evasion

High-temperature thermoelectric properties of the double-perovskite ruthenium oxide (Sr1−x_{1-x}Lax_x)2_2ErRuO6_6

We have prepared polycrystalline samples of (Sr$_{1-x}$La$_x$)$_2$ErRuO$_6$ and (Sr$_{1-x}$La$_x$)$_2$YRuO$_6$, and have measured the resistivity, Seebeck coefficient, thermal conductivity, susceptibility and x-ray absorption in order to evaluate the electronic states and thermoelectric properties of the doped double-perovskite ruthenates. We have observed a large Seebeck coefficient of -160 $\mu$V/K and a low thermal conductivity of 7 mW/cmK for $x$=0.1 at 800 K in air. These two values are suitable for efficient oxide thermoelectrics, although the resistivity is still as high as 1 $\Omega$cm. From the susceptibility and x-ray absorption measurements, we find that the doped electrons exist as Ru$^{4+}$ in the low spin state. On the basis of the measured results, the electronic states and the conduction mechanism are discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, J. Appl. Phys. (accepted

Biliary reconstruction with right hepatic lobectomy due to delayed management of laparoscopic bile duct injuries: a case report.

We report a case requiring biliary reconstruction with right hepatic lobectomy due to biliary strictures caused by continuous cholangitis after laparoscopic bile duct injury. The patient, a 55-year-old woman, underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis at another hospital. Although a bile leakage from the intraabdominal drain was observed several days after the operation, the patient was not given adequate treatment to stop the leakage. Two months after the initial laparoscopic cholecystectomy, she was referred to our hospital. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) showed complete obstruction of the common hepatic duct, which was caused by clipping during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Cholangiography from percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) catheters revealed that sections of the secondary branches of the right intrahepatic bile duct had become constricted due to persistent cholangitis. Fortunately, the left hepatic duct was judged to be normal by imaging. Therefore, we elected to perform a right hepatic lobectomy and left hepaticojejunostomy, because we felt that performing a hepaticojejunostomy without hepatic resection would put the patient at risk of continuing to suffer from cholangitis. The patient was discharged on the 55 th postoperative day, and, 5 years after reconstructive surgery, is healthy and has remained free from biliary strictures in the remnant liver. Appropriate decision-making is essential in the treatment of biliary injury after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Surgeons should not hesitate to perform biliary reconstruction with hepatic resection to reduce the risk of cholangitis or biliary strictures of the remnant liver. More importantly, preoperative clear imaging of the biliary tree and suitable management of any biliary injury which might occur are necessary to avoid having to perform reconstructive surgery.</p

Thermoelectric transport of perfectly conducting channels in two- and three-dimensional topological insulators

Topological insulators have gapless edge/surface states with novel transport properties. Among these, there are two classes of perfectly conducting channels which are free from backscattering: the edge states of two-dimensional topological insulators and the one-dimensional states localized on dislocations of certain three-dimensional topological insulators. We show how these novel states affect thermoelectric properties of the systems and discuss possibilities to improve the thermoelectric figure of merit using these materials with perfectly conducting channels.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, proceedings for The 19th International Conference on the Application of High Magnetic Fields in Semiconductor Physics and Nanotechnology (HMF-19

Novel Charge Ordering in the Trimer Iridium Oxide BaIrO3

We have prepared polycrystalline samples of the trimer Ir oxide BaIrO3 with face-shared Ir3O12 trimers, and have investigated the origin of the phase transition at 182 K by measuring resistivity, thermopower, magnetization and synchrotron x-ray diffraction. We propose a possible electronic model and transition mechanism, starting from a localized electron picture on the basis of the Rietveld refinement. Within this model, BaIrO3 can be basically regarded as a Mott insulator, when the Ir3O12 trimer is identified to one pseudo-atom or one lattice site. The transition can be viewed as a transition from the Mott insulator phase to a kind of charge ordered insulator phase.Comment: 8 pages 5 figures, Crystals (in press