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This study explored the location of MMP-2, -3, -8 in human root dentin and the inhibition of EGCG/EGCG-3Me on dentin-originated collagen proteases activities. Also, the study evaluated EGCG/EGCG-3Me modified etch-and-rinse adhesives (Single Bond 2, SB 2) for their bonding stabilities to intraradicular dentin. Immunostaining and liquid chip analysis demonstrated that MMP-2 and MMP-8 are widely distributed in root dentin while MMP-3 shows a higher fluorescence intensity in the middle and apical third of the root. The contents of MMP-2, -3 and -8 varies in different locations of human tooth root and MMP-2 has the highest content than MMP-3 and MMP-8 at each third of teeth root. Both EGCG and EGCG-3Me showed an inhibitory effect on the root dentin-derived MMPs in a concentration dependent manner (P < 0.05) and the inhibitory activity of EGCG-3ME was stronger than that of EGCG at the same concentration (P < 0.05). EGCG and EGCG-3Me were incorporated separately into the adhesive SB 2 at concentrations of 200, and 400 μg/mL respectively. The immediate push-out strength of SB 2 was not compromised by EGCG/EGCG-3Me modification. EGCG/EGCG-3Me modified adhesive had higher push-out strength than SB 2 after thermocycling, showing no correlation with concentration., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The anti-programmed death-1 (anti-PD-1) therapy nivolumab has significant clinical activity in patients with metastatic melanoma. However, little is known about the safety and outcomes in patients receiving anti-PD-1 therapy and stereotactic radiation for the treatment of brain metastases (BMs)., Patients and Methods: Data were analyzed retrospectively from two prospective nivolumab protocols enrolling 160 patients with advanced resected and unresectable melanoma at a single institution. Patients were included if BMs were diagnosed and treated with stereotactic radiation within 6 months of receiving nivolumab. The primary end point of this study was neurotoxicity; secondary end points included BM control and survival., Results: Twenty-six patients with a total of 73 BMs treated over 30 sessions were identified. Radiation was administered before, during and after nivolumab in 33 lesions (45%), 5 lesions (7%), and 35 lesions (48%), respectively. All BMs were treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in a single session except 12 BMs treated with fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy, nine of which were in the postoperative setting. One patient experienced grade 2 headaches following SRS with symptomatic relief with steroid treatment. No other treatment-related neurologic toxicities or scalp reactions were reported. Eight (11%) local BM failures with a ≥20% increase in volume were noted. Of these lesions, hemorrhage was noted in 4, and edema was noted in 7. Kaplan-Meier estimates for local BM control following radiation at 6 and 12 months were 91% and 85%, respectively. Median overall survival (OS) from the date of stereotactic radiation and nivolumab initiation was 11.8 and 12.0 months, respectively, in patients receiving nivolumab for unresected disease (median OS was not reached in patients treated in the resected setting)., Conclusions: In our series, stereotactic radiation to melanoma BMs is well tolerated in patients who received nivolumab. BM control and OS appear prolonged compared with standard current treatment. Prospective evaluation is warranted., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

How the visual field is represented by neurons in the cerebral cortex is one of the most basic questions in visual neuroscience. However, research to date has focused heavily on the small part of the visual field within, and immediately surrounding the fovea. Studies on the cortical representation of the full visual field in the primate brain are still scarce. We have been investigating this issue with electrophysiological and anatomical methods, taking advantage of the small and lissencephalic marmoset brain, which allows easy access to the representation of the full visual field in many cortical areas. This review summarizes our main findings to date, and relates the results to a broader question: is the peripheral visual field processed in a similar manner to the central visual field, but with lower spatial acuity? Given the organization of the visual cortex, the issue can be addressed by asking: (1) Is visual information processed in the same way within a single cortical area? and (2) Are different cortical areas specialized for different parts of the visual field? The electrophysiological data from the primary visual cortex indicate that many aspects of spatiotemporal computation are remarkably similar across the visual field, although subtle variations are detectable. Our anatomical and electrophysiological studies of the extrastriate cortex, on the other hand, suggest that visual processing in the far peripheral visual field is likely to involve a distinct network of specialized cortical areas, located in the depths of the calcarine sulcus and interhemispheric fissure., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd and the Japan Neuroscience Society. All rights reserved.)

A microsomal galactose-6-O-sulfotransferase (Gal-6-O-Stase) from porcine lymph nodes, able to transfer the sulfate group from adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-phosphosulphate (PAPS) onto 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) and other sialyl LewisX (sLex)-related sugars, has been purified and characterized. The enzyme was purified to about 35,000-fold by a combination of conventional and affinity chromatographic steps. The purified enzyme preparation exhibited two protein bands at around 80-90 and 170 kDa on 7.5% SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. Both of these protein bands always comigrated in the gel when peak fractions containing Gal-6-O-Stase activity from the 3',5'-ADP-agarose column were subjected to 6% SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. These protein bands also showed similar binding patterns to WGA (wheat germ agglutinin), Con A (concanvalin A), and EBA (elderberry agglutinin). Similarly, when the enzyme preparation after the hydroxylapatite step was photolabeled with 8-azido-[32P]-PAPS, both 80-90 and 170 kDa protein bands were labeled in a specific manner. These results suggest a possible association of these two protein bands with the enzyme activity. The carbohydrate substrate specificity of this enzyme suggests that it is well suited to catalyze the sulphonation at the C-6 position of the galactose residues of oligosaccharides that are structurally similar to sLex. Furthermore, a survey of several porcine organs revealed that this enzyme was selectively expressed in lymphoid tissues such as lymph nodes (peripheral and mesenteric) and spleen. These findings suggest that this enzyme may be involved in the assembly of 3'-sialyl-6'-sulfo Lewisx, the major capping group of HEV-ligands for L-selectin., (Copyright 1999 Academic Press.)