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Background and Aims: This study was designed to analyze the feasibility of laparoscopic right posterior sectionectomy compared to laparoscopic right hemihepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma located in the posterior segments.Material and Methods: The study included patients who underwent either laparoscopic right posterior sectionectomy or laparoscopic right hemihepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma located in segment 6 or 7 from January 2009 to December 2016 at Samsung Medical Center. After 1:1 propensity score matching, patient baseline characteristics and operative and postoperative outcomes were compared between the two groups. Disease-free survival and overall survival were compared using Kaplan–Meier log-rank test.Results: Among 61 patients with laparoscopic right posterior sectionectomy and 37 patients with laparoscopic right hemihepatectomy, 30 patients from each group were analyzed after propensity score matching. After matching, baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar including tumor size (3.4 ± 1.2 cm in laparoscopic right posterior sectionectomy vs 3.7 ± 2.1 cm in laparoscopic right hemihepatectomy, P = 0.483); differences were significant before matching (3.1 ± 1.3 cm in laparoscopic right posterior sectionectomy vs 4.3 ± 2.7 cm in laparoscopic right hemihepatectomy, P = 0.035). No significant differences were observed in operative and postoperative data except for free margin size (1.04 ± 0.71 cm in laparoscopic right posterior sectionectomy vs 2.95 ± 1.75 cm in laparoscopic right hemihepatectomy, P < 0.001). Disease-free survival (5-year survival: 38.0% in laparoscopic right posterior sectionectomy vs 47.0% in laparoscopic right hemihepatectomy, P = 0.510) and overall survival (5-year survival: 92.7% in laparoscopic right posterior sectionectomy vs 89.6% in laparoscopic right hemihepatectomy, P = 0.593) did not differ between the groups based on Kaplan–Meier log-rank test.Conclusion: For hepatocellular carcinoma in the posterior segments, laparoscopic right posterior sectionectomy was feasible compared to laparoscopic right hemihepatectomy when performed by experienced laparoscopic surgeons.

Rab coupling protein (RCP)-induced tumor cell migration has been implicated in tumor pathophysiology and patient outcomes. In the present study, we demonstrate that RCP stabilizes β1 integrin leading to increased β1 integrin levels and activation of a signaling cascade culminating in Slug induction, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and increased invasion. Ectopic expression of RCP induced Slug expression. Silencing β1 integrin efficiently inhibited RCP-induced Slug expression and subsequent cancer cell invasion. Conversely, ectopic expression of β1 integrin was sufficient to induce Slug expression. Pharmacological inhibition of integrin linked kinase (ILK), EGFR and NF-κB, as well as transfection of a dominant-negative mutant of Ras (RasN17), significantly inhibited RCP-induced Slug expression and cancer cell invasion. Strikingly, ectopic expression of RCP was sufficient to enhance metastasis of ovarian cancer cells to the lung. Collectively, we demonstrate a mechanism by which RCP promotes cancer cell aggressiveness through sequential β1 integrin stabilization, activation of an ILK/EGFR/Ras/NF-κB signaling cascade and subsequent Slug expression.

AimsOur purpose was to determine the quality of current randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in hand surgery using standardised metrics.Materials and MethodsBased on five-year mean impact factors, we selected the six journals that routinely publish studies of upper extremity surgery. Using a journal-specific search query, 62 RCTs met our inclusion criteria. Then three blinded reviewers used the Jadad and revised Coleman Methodology Score (RCMS) to assess the quality of the manuscripts.ResultsBased on the Jadad scale, 28 studies were of high quality and 34 were of low quality. Methodological deficiencies in poorly scoring trials included the absence of rate of enrolment, no power analysis, no description of withdrawal or dropout, and a failure to use validated outcomes assessments with an independent investigator.ConclusionA large number of RCTs in hand, wrist, and elbow surgery were of suboptimal quality when judged against the RCMS and Jadad scales. Even with a high level of evidence, study design and execution of RCTs should be critically assessed. Methodological deficiencies may introduce bias and lead to statistically underpowered studies.Cite this article: Bone Joint J2017;99-B:94–9.

Eggshell is composed of a very ordered and mineralized structure and is important for egg quality. Eggshell strength is particularly important because of its direct association with economic outcomes and egg safety. Various factors related to laying hens and their environment affects eggshell strength. However, the molecular mechanisms of liver functions related to decreased eggshell strength of aged laying hens are largely unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to identify potential factors affecting eggshell strength in aged laying hens at the hepatic transcriptomic level. A total of five hundred 92-wk-old Hy-line Brown laying hens were screened to select those exhibiting the greatest variation in eggshell strength. Based on the final eggshell strength, 12 hens producing eggs with strong eggshell strength (SES) and weak eggshell strength (WES) were finally selected (n = 6) for liver tissue sampling. The RNA-sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the 2 groups. We identified a total of 2,084 DEGs, of which 1,358 genes were upregulated and 726 genes were downregulated in the WES group compared with SES group. According to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis, the DEGs indicated the mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway, the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway, the mitogen‑activated protein kinase signaling pathway, and the insulin resistance pathways. Genes related to fatty liver disease were upregulated in WES group compared with SES group. In addition, expression of several genes associated with oxidative stress and bone resorption activity was altered in aged laying hens with different eggshell strength. Overall, these findings contribute to the identification of genes involved in different intensity of eggshell strength, enabling more understanding of the hepatic molecular mechanism underlying in decreased eggshell strength of aged laying hens.

The current study was carried out to define the involvement of Peroxiredoxin (Prx) II in progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the underlying molecular mechanism(s). Expression and function of Prx II in HCC was determined using H-rasG12V-transformed HCC cells (H-rasG12V–HCC cells) and the tumor livers from H-rasG12V-transgenic (Tg) mice and HCC patients. Prx II was upregulated in H-rasG12V–HCC cells and H-rasG12V–Tg mouse tumor livers, the expression pattern of which highly similar to that of forkhead Box M1 (FoxM1). Moreover, either knockdown of FoxM1 or site-directed mutagenesis of FoxM1-binding site of Prx II promoter significantly reduced Prx II levels in H-rasG12V–HCC cells, indicating FoxM1 as a direct transcription factor of Prx II in HCC. Interestingly, the null mutation of Prx II markedly decreased the number and size of tumors in H-rasG12V–Tg livers. Consistent with this, knockdown of Prx II in H-rasG12V–HCC cells reduced the expression of cyclin D1, cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth and tumor formation in athymic nude mice, whereas overexpression of Prx II increased or aggravated the tumor phenotypes. Importantly, the expression of Prx II was correlated with that of FoxM1 in HCC patients. The activation of extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) pathway and the expression of FoxM1 and cyclin D1 were highly dependent on Prx II in H-rasG12V–HCC cells and H-rasG12V–Tg livers. Prx II is FoxM1-dependently-expressed antioxidant in HCC and function as an enhancer of RasG12Voncogenic potential in hepatic tumorigenesis through activation of ERK/FoxM1/cyclin D1 cascade.

Jeju horse (Natural Monument number 347) is a breed of horse that has experienced long-term isolation and domestication in Jeju Island, South Korea. We evaluated genetic features of this breed, including SNP, by whole-genome resequencing using an Illumina HiSeq 2000. A total of 5,986,852 SNP were identified in 4 Jeju horses and were divided into homozygous and heterozygous SNP (2,357,099 and 3,629,753 SNP, respectively). It revealed that 63.8% of these SNP resided in intergenic regions. Immune response genes with nonsynonymous SNP were overrepresented in Jeju horses as evidenced by Gene Ontology clustering. Among these genes, Toll-like receptors (TLR) are highly enriched. Comparing TLR genes between Jeju horses and the Przewalski's horse, TLR2and TLR4genes showed “possibly damaging” mutations in several regions by analysis with PolyPhen-2. These results provide a framework for further genetic studies in Jeju horse by domestication. Furthermore, research on functions of SNP-associated genes would aid in understanding the molecular genetic variation of horse breeds.

Pig islets are an alternative source for islet transplantation to treat type 1 diabetes (T1D), but reproducible curative potential in the pig‐to‐nonhuman primate (NHP) model has not been demonstrated. Here, we report that pig islet grafts survived and maintained normoglycemia for >6 months in four of five consecutive immunosuppressed NHPs. Pig islets were isolated from designated pathogen‐free (DPF) miniature pigs and infused intraportally into streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rhesus monkeys under pretreatment with cobra venom factor (CVF), anti‐thymocyte globulin (ATG) induction and maintenance with anti‐CD154 monoclonal antibody and low‐dose sirolimus. Ex vivoexpanded autologous regulatory T cells were adoptively transferred in three recipients. Blood glucose levels were promptly normalized in all five monkeys and normoglycemia (90–110 mg/dL) was maintained for >6 months in four cases, the longest currently up to 603 days. Intravenous glucose tolerance tests during the follow‐up period showed excellent glucose disposal capacity and porcine C‐peptide responses. Adoptive transfer of autologous regulatory T cells was likely to be associated with more stable and durable normoglycemia. Importantly, the recipients showed no serious adverse effects. Taken together, our results confirm the clinical feasibility of pig islet transplantation to treat T1D patients without the need for excessive immunosuppressive therapy. The authors report control of diabetes for longer than six months in four consecutive nonhuman primates by the transplantation of adult pig islets using a modest immunosuppressive regimen with an acceptable adverse effect profile.

A safe, effective, and inexpensive vaccine against typhoid and other Salmonelladiseases is urgently needed. In order to address this need, we are developing a novel vaccine platform employing buoyant, self-adjuvanting gas vesicle nanoparticles (GVNPs) from the halophilic archaeon Halobacteriumsp. NRC-1, bioengineered to display highly conserved Salmonella entericaantigens. As the initial antigen for testing, we selected SopB, a secreted inosine phosphate effector protein injected by pathogenic S. entericabacteria during infection into the host cells. Two highly conserved sopBgene segments near the 3’- region, named sopB4 and sopB5, were each fused to the gvpCgene, and resulting SopB-GVNPs were purified by centrifugally accelerated flotation. Display of SopB4 and SopB5 antigenic epitopes on GVNPs was established by Western blotting analysis using antisera raised against short synthetic peptides of SopB. Immunostimulatory activities of the SopB4 and B5 nanoparticles were tested by intraperitoneal administration of SopB-GVNPs to BALB/c mice which had been immunized with S. entericaserovar Typhimurium 14028 ΔpmrG-HM-D(DV-STM-07), a live attenuated vaccine strain. Proinflammatory cytokines IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-9 were significantly induced in mice boosted with SopB5-GVNPs, consistent with a robust Th1 response. After challenge with virulent S. entericaserovar Typhimurium 14028, bacterial burden was found to be diminished in spleen of mice boosted with SopB4-GVNPs and absent or significantly diminished in liver, mesenteric lymph node, and spleen of mice boosted with SopB5-GVNPs, indicating that the C-terminal portions of SopB displayed on GVNPs elicit a protective response to Salmonellainfection in mice. SopB antigen-GVNPs were also found to be stable at elevated temperatures for extended periods without refrigeration. The results show that bioengineered GVNPs are likely to represent a valuable platform for antigen delivery and development of improved vaccines against Salmonellaand other diseases.

The oxidation behaviors of Mo rich alloys have been investigated in the Mo-Si-B ternary system. Seven selected alloy systems composed of two phase alloys (Mo (solid solution) + T2 (Mo5SiB2) and three phase alloys (Mo (solid solution) + T2 (Mo5SiB2) + Mo3Si) have been fabricated by arc melting elemental components. Mechanical behaviors of the selected alloy systems have been investigated in order to identify the effect of composition on the ternary system. Also, oxidation tests have been performed in order to identify the oxidation behaviors at 1 073 and 1 373 K. When the alloy compositions move towards the Mo side, the oxidation reactions were accelerated for the two phase alloys due to the presence of Mo (s. s.), while the tendency of oxidation was not fast for the three phase alloys. The oxidation behaviors at above and below 1 273 K have been discussed in terms of microstructural observations during oxidation tests.

This study was carried out to identify SNP associated with fatness traits on pig chromosome 6. In total, 11,067 putative genomic variations were detected in 125 complete bacterial artificial chromosome sequences corresponding to the region between SW2098 and SW1881, which harbors multiple QTL affecting intramuscular fat content (IMF) and backfat thickness (BFT). Among 173 putative SNP validated by MassArray, 120 SNP were used in an association study on 541 offspring produced by a cross of Korean native pig and Landrace breeds. The significance level of each SNP was determined using single marker regression analysis. Further, significant threshold values were determined using a false discovery rate. Nine out of 120 SNP showed significant effects on BFT or IMF or both. Of the 9 significant SNP, 4 were significantly associated with IMF, 7 were significantly related to BFT, and 2 SNP (Kps8172 and Kps6413) showed significant effects on both traits. Moreover, multiple regression analysis considering all significant SNP was used to correct spurious false positives due to linkage disequilibrium. Consequently, only 1 SNP (Kps6413) was significant for IMF, whereas 4 SNP including Kps6413 showed significant effects on BFT. The significant SNP had generally additive effects and on average explained 1.72% of the genetic variation for IMF and 3.92% for BFT, respectively. These markers can potentially be applied in pig breeding programs for improving IMF and BFT traits after validation in other populations.

It has been demonstrated that 5-HT1A receptors play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Because Gastrodia elata Bl (GE) modulates the serotonergic system, we examined whether GE could affect phencyclidine (PCP)-induced abnormal behavior in mice. Repeated treatment with PCP increased immobility time, while it decreased social interaction time and recognition memory. PCP-induced abnormal behaviors were significantly attenuated by GE, and these effects were comparable to those of 8-OH-DPAT, a 5-HT1A receptor agonist. Furthermore, GE-mediated effects were counteracted by WAY 100635, a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist. Our results suggest that the antipsychotic effects of GE are, at least in part, mediated via activation of 5-HT1A in mice.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been associated with the risk of restless legs syndrome (RLS), suggesting that dysregulation of serotonergic neurotransmission may provoke or exacerbate RLS.

To investigate the role of spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 (SCA17) in the development of parkinsonism.

Experimental results for microwave transmission losses of individual multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) are presented. Samples with MWNTs, as well as samples with-out MWNTs, were fabricated with two types of electrode materials (Nb vs. Cr/Au) and configurations to compare AC transmissions loss as passive devices at room temperature. In the MWNT-Nb samples, the transmitted current is higher and attenuation is lower than the MWNT-Cr/Au samples. However, the transmission loss increases much faster in the Nb samples than Cr/Au samples with increasing frequency. Overall, their S -parameter measurements from 0.5 GHz to 110 GHz support frequency-dependent microwave dissipation of the MWNTs and the metal-electrode contact. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

α-Synuclein gene (SNCA) multiplication was found in familial Parkinson disease (PD). We examined SNCAmultiplication in patients with familial and sporadic PD and multiple system atrophy (MSA).

The colorimetric stability upon thermal stress of a series of conjugated polymer supramolecules prepared from 10,12‐docosadiyndioic acid (DCDDA)‐derived diacetylene monomers has been explored. Polydiacetylenes obtained from DCDDA‐bis‐mBzA 3, containing m‐carboxyphenylanilido groups at the both ends of the monomer, were observed to be highly colorimetrically stable upon thermal stimulation. The blue color of a solution containing these polydiacetylene vesicles remains unchanged even when the vesicles were subjected to boiling water. The unusual colorimetric stability is further demonstrated by the observation that blue color persists until vesicles in ethylene glycol are heated to 140 °C. The nature of this unusual thermal stability was elucidated by using polydiacetylene supramolecules, prepared from analogs of DCDDA‐bis‐mBzA 3. The presence of internal amide groups as well as aromatic interactions was found to be essential for the high colorimetric stability of the polydiacetylene supramolecules.

In order to develop more user‐viable formats for polydiacetylene (PDA) biosensors, it is necessary to control the biochemical and physical properties of the PDA matrix. In this study, we prepare polydiacetylene liposomes from controlled mixtures of 10,12‐pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA) and PCDA–MI, a PCDA derivative with a maleimide headgroup. Both the chemical and physical properties of the liposome are easily manipulated by controlling the molar ratio of PCDA to PCDA–MI during liposome preparation. After preparing the liposomes, the activity of the maleimide headgroups increases linearly with the PCDA–MI content for concentrations in the range of 0–30 %. As a result, the antibody‐binding characteristics of the PDA liposomes increase with PCDA–MI content. It is also possible to modulate the physical properties of the liposome. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements show that the phase organization of the liposome is progressively lost with increasing PCDA–MI content. Furthermore, the liposomes show an increased color change in response to temperature that is also dependent on PCDA–MI content, indicating increased membrane fluidity. When PCDA:PCDA–MI liposomes are conjugated with a cell‐specific antibody the response to the antigen induces a color change that is dependent on the PCDA–MI content. Consequently, it is deduced that the increased sensitivity of the liposomes containing higher PCDA‐MI content is due to increased antibody binding and membrane fluidity. From these experiments, we identify the factors controlling the colorimetric properties of the PDA matrix and demonstrate that it is possible to modulate the sensitivity and stability of PDA biosensors by controlling the ratio of constituent monomers.

The effect of dispersant structures for dispersing single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is investigated. The monomer 3‐hexylthiophene is used as the starting material for the development of a series of oligomers that are used to disperse SWCNTs in an organic solvent. The series is obtained by varying the number of head groups, the regioregularity of head groups, and the head‐to‐tail ratios of the hexyl group in the oligomers. The SWCNT solutions are characterized with UV‐vis–near‐IR spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. An increase in the number of head groups improves the dispersity of SWCNTs, and a regioregular oligomer plays an important role in dispersing SWCNTs. Furthermore, Raman spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that the sulfur atom head groups enhance interactions between the thiophenes and the SWCNT walls. The analysis demonstrated that a well‐designed thiophene oligomer could afford well‐dispersed SWCNT solutions with long‐term dispersion stability, even with an extremely low dispersant concentration (weight ratio of CNTs/dispersant is one and the dispersant concentration is 0.1 g L–1).

It is well known that any finite missing samples of a band-limited signal can be recovered when the signal is oversampled at a rate higher than the minimum Nyquist rate. This paper handles the problem of recovering any finite missing samples when a band-limited signal is oversampled through two channels. We find sufficient conditions under which any finitely many missing samples can be recovered when samples are missing either from a single channel or both channels.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) films embedded with functional polydiacetylene (PDA) are efficiently prepared for color and fluorescence imaging. Intensely blue films are obtained by mixing and drying solutions containing PDA vesicles and PVA. A blue‐to‐red color transition is observed upon heating the polymer films. In addition, selective UV irradiation (through a photomask) of PVA films containing diacetylene monomer results in the generation of micropatterned color (without heating) and both color and fluorescent images (after heating the films at 120 °C for 10 s). Patterned two‐color (blue and red) images in the polymer film are readily obtained by a sequential process of photomasked irradiation, heating, and unmasked irradiation.

The colorimetric reversibility of polydiacetylene supramolecules, derived from a variety of functionalized diacetylenic lipids, has been subjected to detailed investigation. In an earlier effort, it was shown that polydiacetylene vesicles prepared from PCDA-mBzA 1, bearing terminal m-carboxyphenylamido groups, display complete reversibility upon thermal stimulation [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 8976]. The origin and nature of reversible thermochromism in these systems have been elucidated in-situ in the current studies by using polydiacetylene supramolecules, prepared from analogues of PCDA-mBzA 1. Issues related to the effects of (1) internal amide groups, (2) headgroup aromatic interactions, (3) lengths of the hydrophobic alkyl chains, and (4) terminal carboxylic groups on the colorimetric reversibility of the polydiacetylene supramolecules have been probed. The results demonstrate that well-developed hydrogen-bonding and aromatic interactions between headgroups are essential for complete recovery of the length of the conjugated π-electron chain following thermal stimulus. The results of this comprehensive investigation allow for the first time the rational design of reversible colorimetric sensors based on polydiacetylene supramolecules.

An original electrochemical immunosensor has now been developed that is based upon the spontaneous immobilization of biotinylated, functional lipid vesicles (FLVs) on a polymeric resist layer. An electrode was fabricated utilizing a form of electron-beam (e-beam) that has been used to fabricate 200 nm (nanoscale) wells in the resist layer covering of the gold electrode. The stability of adhered FLVs upon the nanowell (NW) electrode was observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). From these observations, we were able to determine that the assembled FLVs primarily adhered as individual molecules, that is, without the aggregation or fusion noted in earlier designs. Additionally, these immobilized FLVs demonstrated clearly defined redox activity in electrochemical measurements. Streptavidin, biotinylated capture antibody, and target proteins were consequently injected in order to set up the immunoassay environment. Electrochemical immunoassay experimentation was performed on the NW array electrode with model proteins, such as human serum albumin (HSA) and carbonic anhydrase from bovine (CAB). We observed a notable current decrease, following the redox path, interrupted by the target HSA, indicating the binding of the capture antibody with the target antigen. On the basis of these results, we propose a new type of immunosensor incorporating this mechanism of spontaneous immobilization of FLVs.

We establish operator-valued Fourier multiplier theorems on L p-spaces on $ \mathbb{T}^d $ . The conditions on the multipliers depend on the geometry of the underlying Banach spaces (UMD property and property $ (\alpha)) $ and the growth rate (estimated by means of R-boundedness) at infinity of the partial derivatives of the multipliers. We also give an application of the obtained Fourier multiplier theorems to L p-maximal regularity for a second order problem.

A novel acid-labile poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-conjugated lipid, (R)-1,2-di-O-(1‘Z,9‘Z-octadecadienyl)-glyceryl-3-(ω-methoxy-poly(ethylene glycolate, MW5000) (BVEP), a neutral PEG-derivatized analogue of diplasmenylcholine, has been used at low molar ratios to disperse the nonlamellar, fusogenic lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) as unilamellar liposomes. It was anticipated that acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the vinyl ether linkages would destabilize BVEP/DOPE liposomes by removal of the water-soluble, sterically stabilizing PEG layer, thereby promoting contents release and membrane−membrane fusion. This paper describes the hydrolysis rates, contents release rates, and fusion kinetics of BVEP-stabilized DOPE liposomes at 1:99, 3:97, and 5:95 molar ratios of BVEP/DOPE. Calcein leakage kinetics indicate that 3:97 BVEP/DOPE liposomes offer the best stability at pH 7.4 while retaining favorable leakage properties at pH 4.5 (t50%release ≈ 4 h). N-Rhodamine phosphatidylethanolamine/N-nitrobenzoxadiazole phosphatidylethanolamine lipid mixing assays show that membrane fusion occurs on a much slower time scale than leakage in these systems, with ~12% lipid mixing occurring over a 24 h time period at pH 2.0. No appreciable membrane fusion occurred in these liposomes at either pH 7.4 or 4.5 when monitored for up to 3 days. ³¹P NMR spectra at pH 7.4 contain a single isotropic line shape, consistent with the presence of large liposomes. The ³¹P NMR line shape did not change significantly even after long exposure times at pH 4.0; however, Mn²⁺ addition experiments with acid-treated samples produced line-broadened spectra, indicating that all the phosphorus sites were continuous with the bulk water phase. Time-dependent cryogenic transmission electron microscopy experiments indicate that extensive liposome collapse to give small dense aggregates occurs over a 1−4 h period when 3:97 BVEP/DOPE liposomes are acidified to pH 4.5. Taken together, these results suggest that acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of BVEP/DOPE liposomes does result in dePEGylative triggering; however, the primary outcome of this cleavage process is contents leakage and liposome collapse to give &lt;100 nm particles that are presumed to be inverted hexagonal phase structures, with membrane lipid mixing occurring on a kinetically slower time scale.

Isosteric replacement of the phenolic hydroxyl group in potent vanilloid receptor (VR1) agonists with the alkylsulfonamido group provides a series of compounds which are effective antagonists to the action of the capsaicin on rat VR1 heterologously expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. In particular, compound 61, N-[2-(3,4-dimethylbenzyl)-3-pivaloyloxypropyl]-N‘-[3-fluoro-4-(methylsulfonylamino)benzyl]thiourea was a full antagonist against capsaicin, displayed a Ki value of 7.8 nM (compared to 520 nM for capsazepine and 4 nM for 5-iodoRTX), and showed excellent analgesic activity in mice. Structure−activity analysis of the influence of modifications in the A- and C-regions of 4-methylsulfonamide ligands on VR1 agonism/antagonism indicated that 3-fluoro substitution in the A-region and a 4-tert-butylbenzyl moiety in the C-region favored antagonism, whereas a 3-methoxy group in the A-region and 3-acyloxy-2-benzylpropyl moieties in the C-region favored agonism.

Abstract Delayed vertebral collapse after osteoporotic spinal fractures may cause progressive kyphosis, neurological deficits, and chronic back pain. We treated 14 consecutive patients with posterolateral decompression and posterior reconstruction and followed them over a period ranging from 24 to 54 months. The mean age was 67 (range: 62-72) years and the fracture level was T12 and L1. Seven patients were graded as Frankel stage C and seven as stage D. The mean segmental kyphotic angle was 22.6° (7-29°) preoperatively, 4.4° (1-6°) postoperatively, and 6.8° (2-15°) at the final follow-up. The pain score on a visual analogue scale improved from 9.5 preoperatively to 2.7 postoperatively, and the neurological status improved in all patients. Bone fusion was present 9 months after operation. Of four surgical complications, two were dural tears, one a superficial infection, and there was one death due to an acute adrenal insufficiency. Posterolateral decompression with posterior reconstruction is a useful treatment for patients with delayed osteoporotic vertebral collapse. Résumé Le collapsus vertébral secondaire, après une fracture vertébrale ostéoporotique, peut créer une cyphose progressive, un déficit neurologique et des lombalgies chroniques. Nous avons traité 14 malades consécutifs par décompression postérolaterale et reconstruction postérieure et les avons suivis de 24 à 54 mois. L'âge moyen était 67 (62-72) années. Le niveau de la fracture était T12 et L1. Sept malades ont été notés comme Frankel stade C et sept comme stade D. L'angle cyphotique segmentaire moyen était 22.6° (7-29°) avant l'opération, 4.4° (1-6°) postopératoire, et 6.8° (2-15°) au dernier examen. Le score de la douleur sur une échelle analogue visuelle s'est amélioré de 9.5 en préopératoire à 2.7 en postopératoire. Le statut neurologique a été amélioré chez tous les malades. La fusion osseuse était visible 9 mois après la chirurgie. Il y avait quatre complications chirurgicales, deux brèches duremériennes, une infection superficielle et un décés dû à une insuffisance surrénale aiguë. La décompression posterolateral avec reconstruction postérieure est une bonne option de traitement chez les malades avec collapsus vertébral différé.

The morphology of primary phase in solidification of hypo-eutectic Al-Si alloys has been investigated by both experiment and numerical simulation using the modified cellular automaton(MCA) method. In order to generate the globular structure without any thermo-mechanical stirring, the effects of pouring temperature, cooling rate and inoculation on the evolution of globular structure were examined. The optimum condition for obtaining uniform and fine globular structure is that the pouring temperature should be as closely low as to the liquidus and the cooling rate should be less than 0.3°C/sec. As the pouring temperature and the cooling rate increase, the primary phase transforms from globular to rosette-like, and finally to dendritic structure. The inoculation with nucleation potency is also very effective in forming a globular structure. The dominant mechanism responsible for the evolution of globular structure was found to be the increase of nucleation sites due to the lower pouring temperature, inoculation, and uniform solute distribution due to the lower cooling rate.

A two step isothermal heating process was developed to prepare a semisolid slurry of AZ91 alloy. In the process the alloy was heated isothermally at its liquidus temperature, cooled to a semisolid temperature, and then heated isothermally at the temperature before it was deformed. This relatively simple method was found to be a highly efficient way to generate a non-dendritic microstructure. The influence of strontium addition on the soundness of semisolid formed parts was also studied. AZ91 alloy is prone to shrinkage porosity because the freezing range of the alloy is wide. Porosity formation during the process was observed to be suppressed by the microaddition of strontium.

Manganese (Mn) exposure can cause parkinsonism. Pathological changes occur mostly in the pallidum and striatum. Two patients with a long history of occupational Mn exposure presented with Mn‐induced parkinsonism. In one patient, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed findings consistent with Mn exposure, and Mn concentration was increased in the blood and urine. However, this patient's clinical features were typical of idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD). Previous pathological and positron emission tomography studies indicate that striatal dopamine transporter density is normal in Mn‐induced parkinsonism, whereas it is decreased in PD. Therefore, we performed [123I]‐(1r)‐2β‐carboxymethoxy‐3β‐(4‐iodophenyl)tropane ([123I]‐β‐CIT) single‐photon emission computed tomography. Severe reduction of striatal β‐CIT binding was indicated, which is consistent with PD. We propose three interpretations: (1) the patients have PD, and Mn exposure is incidental; (2) Mn induces selective degeneration of presynaptic dopaminergic nerve terminals, thereby causing parkinsonism; or (3) Mn exposure acts as a risk of PD in these patients. Our results and careful review of previous studies indicate that the axiom that Mn causes parkinsonism by pallidal lesion may be over‐simplified; Mn exposure and parkinsonism may be more complex than previously thought. Further studies are required to elucidate the relationship between Mn and various forms of parkinsonism. © 2002 Movement Disorder Society

The effect of partial substitution of tungsten for molybdenum on the microstructure and corrosion resistance in 22Cr–5Ni–3Mo duplex stainless steel (DSS) has been investigated following aging heat treatments in a temperature range of 600-1000°C. Electrochemical tests were carried out for the evaluation of corrosion resistance. Aging treatment had hardly influenced the general corrosion resistance. With the increase of aging time, the pitting corrosion resistance of the DSSs had decreased. After aging for 2 min at 700–900°C, the pitting potential of the 3Mo steel decreased remarkably, while that of the W substituted steel hardly changed. During aging, the intermetallic s and secondary austenite (?2) phases were precipitated, and the pitting corrosion and intergranular corrosion resistance were significantly decreased after aging at 700–750°C for 10 h, which could be caused by the ?2formation. The ?2phase could effect the depletion of molybdenum and chromium in the ?2/a and ?2/s boundaries.

The formation of mesoporous silica materials has been studied using blends of diblock (CnH2n+1(OCH2CH2)xOH, CnEOx, n = 12 − 18 and x = 2−100) and Pluronic triblock (EOxPO70EOx, x = 5−100) amphiphilic block copolymers as the structure-directing agents and sodium silicate as the silica source. The mesostructure of the silica materials thus obtained, as determined by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, changes as the volume of the hydrophilic EO group of the surfactant increases, from lamellar to two-dimensional hexagonal (p6mm), three-dimensional hexagonal, a cubic phase, and another cubic phase with Im&thremacr;m symmetry. Particle morphologies of the mesoporous silica materials are correspondingly changed from sheetlike to irregular, facetted cubic shapes depending on the periodic mesoscale symmetry of the structure. It is reasonable that the structural transformations are due to the changes in hydrophobic surface curvatures, which can be controlled readily and precisely by using polymer blends with different hydrophilic headgroup sizes of the individual components. The hydrophilic−hydrophobic ratios between the EO headgroups and carbon tail groups were optimized in order to obtain highly ordered mesoporous silica materials. Mesoporous silica materials with the same structures but different unit cell sizes, which strongly suggests different pore sizes, can be readily obtained through the present synthetic approach.

The chemical potential difference between homopolymer fractions in block copolymers can be readily used to selectively design, and cooperatively assemble, inorganic species into highly ordered three-dimensional (3d) periodic composite arrays of separated mesoscale regions. The actual details and symmetry of these regions and their long-range order can only be determined by 3d imaging and analysis with high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM). Of particular interest is the differentiation between configurations with very similar organization energies, such as the cubic and hexagonal (SBA-2) closed-packed structures. Mesoporous silica SBA-12 and functionalized SBA-12 (SH−SBA-12) have been synthesized from the 3-mercaptopropyl group by using nonionic surfactant C18H37(CH2CH2O)10 (C18EO10, Brij 76) under acidic hydrothermal condition. Relatively large single-phase domains were obtained in SH−SBA-12. The 3d structural solution of SH−SBA-12 was obtained by Fourier analyses of HREM images. The structure is composed of spherical cavities, which are arranged in a cubic close-packed structure, in which each cavity is connected to the twelve nearest-neighbor cavities through openings parallel to the 〈110〉 directions. HREM images of SBA-12 taken over large sample regions show that SBA-12 is a mixture of mostly the cubic close-packed phase, which consist of beautifully crystalline narrow bands with the same 3d structure in twin relation to each other and a relatively small amount of the 3d hexagonal close packed phase.

The synthesis of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on a Ni coated Si substrateis reported. The CNTs grown at 650 °C (see Figure) were found to be uniformly aligned with high tube density. Increasing decomposition temperature resulted in less alignment and lower tube density CNTs. It is concluded that the diameter, alignment, and density of CNTs are closely related to the surface morphology of the Ni thin film substrate.

One-hundred and twenty-two urinary isolates of Escherichia coli were studied for trimethoprim resistance. Seventy-seven (63.1%) of the 122 isolates were found to be resistant to trimethoprim. Of the 77 trimethoprim-resistant isolates, 75 dfr genes were detected in 72 isolates as follows: the dfrA17 gene was the most prevalent, being found in 27 isolates, followed by dfrA12 in 26, dfrA1 in 15, dfrA5 in four and dfrA7 in three. Southern blot and PCR mapping analysis revealed that all of the dfrA17, dfrA12, dfrA5 and dfrA7 genes were located on class 1 integrons. The dfrA1 gene inserted as a gene cassette in class 1 integrons was found in 10 of 15 isolates, and the intI2 gene of Tn7 was detected in two out of five isolates. In conjugation experiments, the dfr genes inserted in class 1 integrons were transferred to a recipient E. coli in 32 (42.7%) of the 75 dfr genes. In conclusion, the dfrA17 and dfrA12 genes were the most prevalent genes responsible for trimethoprim resistance in urinary tract isolates of E. coli from Korea and the dfr genes inserted in integrons are more widespread than those that are not related to gene cassettes.

Objective. To determine whether steroids inhibit the production of inflammatory cytokines by the inhibition of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation in fibroblast-like rheumatoid synoviocytes (FLSs) under inflammatory conditions, and to determine whether steroids stimulate the induction of synthesis of the inhibitory protein IκB-α in the anti-inflammatory immune response of these cells.
Methods. Expression of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) genes was measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the secreted IL-6 was measured with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Inhibition of the NF-κB activation was examined with the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). In order to study dexamethasone (DEX)-dependent regulation of IκB-α expression, we performed Western blotting before and after stimulation with tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α).
Results. The inflammatory cytokine study showed that DEX suppressed gene expression and the production of protein in FLSs. EMSA demonstrated that identical amounts of NF-κB were present in the nucleus of the FLSs stimulated by TNF-α, with or without pretreatment with DEX. Treatment of FLSs with DEX did not induce an increase in IκB-α sufficient to prevent nuclear translocation of NF-κB on stimulation with TNF-α.
Conclusion. DEX may suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and IL-1β, but it neither prevents the translocation of NF-κB to the nucleus nor induces the synthesis of IκB-α protein in FLSs stimulated by TNF-α.