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The photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) can be improved by utilizing efficient front contact. However, it has always been a significant challenge for fabricating high-quality, scalable, controllable, and cost-effective front contact. This study proposes a realistic multi-layer front contact design to realize efficient single-junction PSCs and perovskite/perovskite tandem solar cells (TSCs). As a critical part of the front contact, we prepared a highly compact titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) film by industrially viable Spray Pyrolysis Deposition (SPD), which acts as a potential electron transport layer (ETL) for the fabrication of PSCs. Optimization and reproducibility of the TiO 2 ETL were discreetly investigated while fabricating a set of planar PSCs. As the front contact has a significant influence on the optoelectronic properties of PSCs, hence, we investigated the optics and electrical effects of PSCs by three-dimensional (3D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) and finite element method (FEM) rigorous simulations. The investigation allows us to compare experimental results with the outcome from simulations. Furthermore, an optimized single-junction PSC is designed to enhance the energy conversion efficiency (ECE) by > 30% compared to the planar reference PSC. Finally, the study has been progressed to the realization of all-perovskite TSC that can reach the ECE, exceeding 30%. Detailed guidance for the completion of high-performance PSCs is provided.

Since the report of the first cases of pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 in December 2019, COVID-19 has become a pandemic and is globally overwhelming healthcare systems. The symptoms of COVID-19 vary from asymptomatic infection to severe complicated pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiple organ failure leading to death. The estimated case-fatality rate among infected patients in Wuhan, the city where the first case appeared, was 1.4%, with 5.1 times increase in the death rate among those aged above 59 years than those aged 30-59 years. In the absence of a proven effective and licensed treatment, many agents that showed activity against previous coronavirus outbreaks such as SARS and MERS have been used to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. The SARS-CoV-2 is reported to be 80% homologous with SARS-CoV, and some enzymes are almost 90% homologous. Antiviral drugs are urgently required to reduce case fatality-rate and hospitalizations to relieve the burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Randomized controlled trials are ongoing to assess the efficacy and safety of several treatment regimens.

A Naphthalene diimide (NDI)-incorporated helical thienoacene was developed. The compound has high electron mobility (1.4 cm2 V-1 s-1) thanks to its two-dimensional π-π interaction assisted by the intermolecular C-HO hydrogen bonding of the NDI moieties. Moreover, its bow-shaped π-skeleton reduces molecular fluctuation and gives the compound a thermally stable solid phase, which enables us to fabricate thermally stable organic devices.

The most frequently used n-type electron transport layer (ETL) in high-efficiency perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is based on titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) films, involving a high-temperature sintering (>450 °C) process. In this work, a dense, uniform, and pinhole-free compact titanium dioxide (TiO x ) film was prepared via a facile chemical bath deposition process at a low temperature (80 °C), and was applied as a high-quality ETL for efficient planar PSCs. We tested and compared as-deposited substrates sintered at low temperatures (< 150 °C) and high temperatures (> 450 °C), as well as their corresponding photovoltaic properties. PSCs with a high-temperature treated TiO 2 compact layer (CL) exhibited power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) as high as 15.50%, which was close to those of PSCs with low-temperature treated TiO x (14.51%). This indicates that low-temperature treated TiO x can be a potential ETL candidate for planar PSCs. In summary, this work reports on the fabrication of low-temperature processed PSCs, and can be of interest for the design and fabrication of future low-cost and flexible solar modules.

A simple phthalocyanine zinc complex exhibits a visible color change in response to weak external stimuli, i.e. , changes in solvent and temperature. Its chromism was attributed to its controlled aggregation via weak interactions between the central metal and peripheral oxygen atoms. In solution, intense absorption and fluorescence bands appeared in both the longer-wavelength and NIR region in non-coordinating solvents, while a simple sharp Q band was observed in coordinating solvents. Variable-temperature absorption spectra and fluorescence lifetime measurements were used to characterize the aggregation-induced absorption and emission in non-coordinating solvents. A selective aggregation-disaggregation process was also observed in thin films of this phthalocyanine zinc complex, and the optical properties of the film depend on the annealing temperature. The changes in the NIR region lead to a sizable visible color change that is recognizable by the naked human eye. The temperature-dependent control of the aggregation process in the thin film was confirmed using operando spectroscopy techniques., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have appeared as a promising design for next-generation thin-film photovoltaics because of their cost-efficient fabrication processes and excellent optoelectronic properties. However, PSCs containing a metal oxide compact layer (CL) suffer from poor long-term stability and performance. The quality of the underlying substrate strongly influences the growth of the perovskite layer. In turn, the perovskite film quality directly affects the efficiency and stability of the resultant PSCs. Thus, substrate modification with metal oxide CLs to produce highly efficient and stable PSCs has drawn attention. In this review, metal oxide-based electron transport layers (ETLs) used in PSCs and their systemic modification are reviewed. The roles of ETLs in the design and fabrication of efficient and stable PSCs are also discussed. This review will guide the further development of perovskite films with larger grains, higher crystallinity, and more homogeneous morphology, which correlate to higher stable PSC performance. The challenges and future research directions for PSCs containing compact ETLs are also described with the goal of improving their sustainability to reach new heights of clean energy production.

Nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptors are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels that mediate fast synaptic transmission. The α4β2 nACh receptor is highly expressed in the brain and exists in two functional stoichiometries: the (α4) 2 (β2) 3 and (α4) 3 (β2) 2 that differ by an ACh-binding site at the α4-α4 interface of (α4) 3 (β2) 2 receptors. Methyllycaconitine (MLA) is an nACh receptor antagonist, and while potent at both α7 and α4β2 nACh receptors, it has a higher selectivity for the α7 nACh receptor. The anthranilate-succinimide ester side-chain is important for its activity and selectivity. Here we identify a simplified MLA analogue that contains only the A and E ring skeleton of MLA, AE succinimide, that binds close to the channel lumen to display insurmountable inhibition at α4β2 nACh receptors. Although inhibition by AE succinimide was found to be voltage-dependent indicating a possible pore channel blocker, substituted-cysteine accessibility experiments indicated it did not bind between 2'-16' region of the channel pore. Instead, we found that upon binding and in the presence of ACh, there is a conformational change to the channel membrane that was identified when the compound was assessed against (α4 V13'C)β2 nACh receptors. It was found that in the 3:2 stoichiometry the two adjacent α4 subunits containing 13' cysteine mutations formed a disulfide bond and occluded ion conductance. This was reversed by treatment with the reducing agent, dithiothreitol. Thus, AE succinimide has a different mechanism of inhibition to both MLA and other AE analogues, such as AE bicyclic alcohol, in that upon binding to an as yet unidentified site, AE succinimide in the presence of ACh induces a conformational change to the channel that generates a ligand-bound closed state.

In this study, a new, simple, and novel oblique electrostatic inkjet (OEI) technique is developed to deposit a titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) compact layer (CL) on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate without the need for a vacuum environment for the first time. The TiO 2 is used as electron transport layers (ETL) in planar perovskite solar cells (PSCs). This bottom-up OEI technique enables the control of the surface morphology and thickness of the TiO 2 CL by simply manipulating the coating time. The OEI-fabricated TiO 2 is characterized tested and the results are compared with that of TiO 2 CLs produced by spin-coating and spray pyrolysis. The OEI-deposited TiO 2 CL exhibits satisfactory surface coverage and smooth morphology, conducive for the ETLs in PSCs. The power-conversion efficiencies of PSCs with OEI-deposited TiO 2 CL as the ETL were as high as 13.19%. Therefore, the present study provides an important advance in the effort to develop simple, low-cost, and easily scaled-up techniques. OEI may be a new candidate for depositing TiO 2 CL ETLs for highly efficient planar PSCs, thus potentially contributing to future mass production.

Photoelectrochemical oxidation of thiols was enhanced with a threshold potential of -0.35 V vs. Ag/AgCl by the use of a ZnPc/PCBM:P3HT/ZnO electode, which was prepared by removing the PEDOT:PSS/Au electrode of an inverted OPV device and coating it with ZnPc. A co-photocatalysis property of ZnPc was observed in the photoelectrochemistry and scanning Kelvin probe microscopy.

Stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 (SSEA-4), a specific marker for pluripotent stem cells, plays an important role in the malignant behavior of several cancers. Here, SSEA-4 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody RM1 specific to SSEA-4 in 181 and 117 prostate cancer (PC) specimens obtained by biopsy and radical prostatectomy (RP), respectively. The relationships between SSEA-4 expression in cancer cells or the presence of SSEA-4-positive tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TICs) and clinicopathological parameters were analyzed. SSEA-4 expression in cancer cells was significantly associated with Gleason score, local progression, and lymph node and distant metastasis. In RP specimens, high SSEA-4 expression in cancer cells and the presence of SSEA-4-positive TICs were significant predictors of pT3, i.e., invasion and worse biochemical recurrence (BCR) after RP, respectively, in univariate analysis. In contrast, combination of high SSEA-4 expression in cancer cells and the presence of SSEA-4-positive TICs was an independent predictor for pT3 and BCR in multivariate analysis. Biologically this combination was also independently associated with suppression of apoptosis. Thus, the co-expression of SSEA-4 in cancer cells and TICs may have crucial roles in the malignant aggressiveness and prognosis of PC. Invasive potential and suppression of apoptosis may be linked to SSEA-4 expression.

Living systems achieve sophisticated functions using supramolecular protein assemblies, in which the protein building blocks possess a specific secondary structure and are noncovalently arranged in a preprogrammed manner. Herein, we demonstrate the one-step synthesis of one-dimensional macromolecular assemblies by simply mixing a glycine-based isocyanide with a nickel catalyst, in which helical constituent polymers are linked end-to-end through multiple hydrogen bonds. The applicable scope of this approach is not confined to a particular monomer bearing a specially designed pendant, but covers a wide range of glycine-based isocyanides with or without aromatic and other functional groups. Surprisingly, copolymerization with an analogous chiral isocyanide (1 mol %) afforded an almost perfect one-handed helical supramolecular fiber owing to intramolecular/intermolecular dual chiral amplifications. The simplicity and broad applicability of this approach, which can also afford exquisite chiral amplification, enable the creation of a wide variety of functional supramolecular assemblies and provide access to new supramolecular materials.

In the design of electron-transport layers (ETLs) to enhance the efficiency of planar perovskite solar cells (PSCs), facile electron extraction and transport are important features. Here, we consider the effects of different titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) polymorphs, anatase and brookite. We design and fabricate high-phase-purity, single-crystalline, highly conductive, and low-temperature (<180 °C)-processed brookite-based TiO 2 heterophase junctions on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) as the substrate. We test and compare single-phase anatase (A) and brookite (B) and heterophase anatase-brookite (AB) and brookite-anatase (BA) as ETLs in PSCs. The power-conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of PSCs with low-temperature-processed single-layer FTO-B as the ETL were as high as 14.92%, which is the highest reported efficiency of FTO-B-based single-layer PSC. This implies that FTO-B serves as an active phase and can be a potential candidate as an n-type ETL scaffold in planar PSCs. Moreover, the surface of highly crystalline brookite TiO 2 exhibits a tendency toward interparticle necking, leading to the formation of compact scaffolds. Furthermore, PSCs with heterophase junction FTO-AB ETLs exhibited PCEs as high as 16.82%, which is superior to those of PSCs with single-phase anatase (FTO-A) and brookite (FTO-B) as the ETLs (13.86% and 14.92%, respectively). In addition, the PSCs with FTO-AB exhibited improved efficiency and decreased hysteresis compared with those with FTO-BA (13.45%) due to the suitable band alignment with the perovskite layer, which resulted in superior photogenerated charge-carrier extraction and reduced charge accumulation at the interface between the heterophase junction and perovskite. Thus, the present work presents an effective strategy by which to develop heterophase junction ETLs and manipulate the interfacial energy band to further improve the performance of planar PSCs and enable the clean and eco-friendly fabrication of low-cost mass production.

Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE) is a genetic form of epilepsy that is caused by mutations in several genes, including genes encoding for the α4 and β2 subunits of the nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptor. Pentameric α4β2 nACh receptors are the most abundant nicotinic receptor in the mammalian brain and form two stoichiometries, the (α4) 3 (β2) 2 and (α4) 2 (β2) 3 receptors that differ in their physiological and pharmacological properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate how ADNFLE mutations β2 V287M , β2 V287L or α 4T293I manifest themselves in different receptor stoichiometries. We expressed wild-type and mutant receptors in Xenopus oocytes and measured the response to ACh and other agonists at both receptor stoichiometries. For all three mutations, the efficacy of ACh at (α4) 2 (β2) 3 receptors was increased. At (α4) 3 (β2) 2 receptors, the efficacy of activation was increased both when two molecules of agonist, either ACh or the site-selective agonist sazetidine-A, were bound at the α4-β2 interfaces, and when a third ACh molecule was bound at the α4-α4 site. Regardless of stoichiometry, the mutations increased the current elicited by low concentrations of ACh. Further, the smoking cessation agents, nicotine, varenicline and cytisine increased activation of mutant (α4) 3 (β2) 2 receptors, while only nicotine increased activation of mutant (α4) 2 (β2) 3 receptors. Chronic exposure of all agonists reduced ACh-activation levels at low and high ACh concentrations. From this, we concluded that mutations that cause ADNFLE manifest themselves in a change in efficacy regardless of the stoichiometry of the receptor., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The molecular orientation of organic molecules of zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) in single-component films on copper iodide (CuI) substrates can be controlled to achieve a molecular orientation lying flat on the substrate (flat-on) owing to π-d orbital interactions between the ZnPc molecules and the CuI. A 3-fold enhancement in the performance of organic photovoltaic cells has been reported by introducing a CuI interlayer between a ZnPc:fullerene (C60) bulk heterojunction (BHJ) film and the substrate. However, the mechanism underpinning the resultant solar cell performance enhancement was unclear. Herein, we report on the results of using in situ reflection absorption spectroscopy measurements during the vacuum deposition of coevaporated ZnPc:C60 BHJ films on various substrates to investigate the ZnPc molecular orientation. Our results revealed that the flat-on molecular orientation of ZnPc molecules in ZnPc:C60 BHJ films on CuI interlayers and flat-on ZnPc substrates can be successfully identified via the strong π-π interactions between the BHJ film and the substrate. The π-π interactions between individual ZnPc molecules are stronger than the π-d interactions between ZnPc molecules and CuI in coevaporated ZnPc:C60 films, as is evident from the molecular orientation of ZnPc, as determined by in situ reflection absorption spectroscopy. Our findings demonstrate that precisely controlling the molecular orientations of the films could enhance organic photovoltaic (OPV) performance. The present work provides important insights that will enable the design of higher performance OPV cells., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest.

In the present study, we examined the efficacy of choline acetate (ChOAc, a cholinium ionic liquid))-assisted pretreatment of bagasse powder for subsequent mechanical nanofibrillation to produce lignocellulose nanofibers. Bagasse sample with ChOAc pretreatment and subsequent nanofibrillation (ChOAc/NF-bagasse) was prepared and compared to untreated control bagasse sample (control bagasse), bagasse sample with nanofibrillation only (NF-bagasse) and with ChOAc pretreatment only (ChOAc-bagasse). The specific surface area was 0.83m 2 /g, 3.1m 2 /g, 6.3m 2 /g, and 32m 2 /g for the control bagasse, ChOAc-bagasse, NF-bagasse, and the ChOAc/NF-bagasse, respectively. Esterified bagasse/polypropylene composites were prepared using the bagasse samples. ChOAc/NF-bagasse exhibited the best dispersion in the composites. The tensile toughness of the composites was 0.52J/cm 3 , 0.73J/cm 3 , 0.92J/cm 3 , and 1.29J/cm 3 for the composites prepared using control bagasse, ChOAc-bagasse, NF-bagasse, and ChOAc/NF-bagasse, respectively. Therefore, ChOAc pretreatment and subsequent nanofibrillation of bagasse powder resulted in enhanced tensile toughness of esterified bagasse/polypropylene composites., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Vacuum deposition is a simple and controllable approach that aims to form higher-quality perovskite films compared with those formed using solution-based deposition processes. Herein, we demonstrate a novel method to promote the intercalation control of inorganic cesium lead iodide (CsPbI 3 ) perovskite thin films via alternate vacuum deposition. We also investigated the effect of layer-by-layer deposition of PbI 2 /CsI to fabricate efficient planar heterojunction CsPbI 3 thin films and solar cells. This procedure is comparatively simple when compared with commonly used coevaporation techniques; further, precise intercalation control of the CsPbI 3 thin films can be achieved by increasing the number of layers in the layer-by-layer deposition of PbI 2 /CsI. The best control and the highest reproducibility were achieved for the deposition of four double layers owing to the precise intercalation control during the deposition of the CsPbI 3 thin film. A power conversion efficiency of 6.79% was obtained via alternating vacuum deposition of two double layers with a short-circuit current density ( J sc ) of 12.06 mA/cm 2 , an open-circuit voltage ( V oc ) of 0.79 V, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.72. Our results suggest a route for inorganic precursors to be used for efficient perovskite solar cells via alternating vacuum deposition., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest.

In this study, we present novel insights into the light-soaking effect of inverted polymer solar cells (PSCs), where the open-circuit voltage ( V oc ) of the cells improves over time under light irradiation. The effect was investigated by electron spin resonance (ESR) studies of bare indium tin oxide (ITO) and piperazine derivative-modified ITO/regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):[6,6]-phenyl C 61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) substrates. These results were combined with alternating current impedance spectroscopy (IS) measurements of inverted PSCs based on the above substrates. In ESR experiments with the substrates under white light irradiation, with a UV light component, many P3HT •+ radical cations were observed in the bare-ITO/P3HT:PCBM substrate. The number of radical cations was considerably suppressed in the ITO/P3HT:PCBM substrates with ITO modified by piperazine derivatives. This is because adsorbed oxygen molecules on the ITO acted as acceptor dopants for photoexcited P3HT, and the amount of adsorbed oxygen was decreased by modifying the ITO with piperazine derivatives. In IS measurements of the inverted PSCs under white light irradiation, a decrease in the electric capacitance (CPE2) of an electric double layer formed at the ITO/P3HT:PCBM interface was observed. A strong correlation was observed between the decrease of CPE2 and the increase of V oc . From these results, the light-soaking behavior was attributed to the removal of an electron injection barrier formed between ITO and PCBM, under white light irradiation., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest.

A cascade-type small-molecule organic photovoltaic cell using a crystalline diindenoperylene film as a nanostructured template is demonstrated. This cell architecture simultaneously realizes organic nanostructure and cascade energy concepts, which significantly improves the photocurrent generation and fill factor, leading to a power conversion efficiency of 5.2±0.3%., (© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are widely expressed in the brain and are implicated in a variety of physiological processes. There are two stoichiometries of the α4β2 nAChR, (α4)2(β2)3 and (α4)3(β2)2, with different sensitivities to acetylcholine (ACh), but their pharmacological profiles are not fully understood. Methyllycaconitine (MLA) is known to be an antagonist of nAChRs. Using the two-electrode voltage clamp technique and α4β2 nAChRs in the Xenopus oocyte expression system, we demonstrate that inhibition by MLA occurs via two different mechanisms; that is, a direct competitive antagonism and an apparently insurmountable mechanism that only occurs after preincubation with MLA. We hypothesized an additional MLA binding site in the α4-α4 interface that is unique to this stoichiometry. To prove this, we covalently trapped a cysteine-reactive MLA analog at an α4β2 receptor containing an α4(D204C) mutation predicted by homology modeling to be within reach of the reactive probe. We demonstrate that covalent trapping results in irreversible reduction of ACh-elicited currents in the (α4)3(β2)2 stoichiometry, indicating that MLA binds to the α4-α4 interface of the (α4)3(β2)2 and providing direct evidence of ligand binding to the α4-α4 interface. Consistent with other studies, we propose that the α4-α4 interface is a structural target for potential therapeutics that modulate (α4)3(β2)2 nAChRs.

We report a simple method to achieve efficient nanostructured organic photovoltaics via patterning copper iodide (CuI) nanocrystals on indium tin oxide by glancing angle deposition. The strong interfacial interaction between zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and CuI leads to the formation of nanopillar arrays with lying-down molecular order, which greatly improve light absorption and surface roughness for exciton dissociation. Optimized ZnPc/C(60) bilayer cell has a power conversion efficiency of 4.0 ± 0.1%, which is about 3-fold larger than that of conventional planar cell.

Aim: In January 2009 Auckland District Health Board commenced implementation of the Hand Hygiene New Zealand (HHNZ) programme to bring about a culture change and to improve hand hygiene compliance by healthcare workers. We describe the implementation process and assess the effectiveness of this programme 36 months after implementation., Method: In keeping with the HHNZ guideline the implementation was divided into five steps: roll-out and facility preparation, baseline evaluation, implementation, follow-up evaluation and sustainability. The process measure was improvement in hand hygiene compliance and the outcome measure was Staphylococcus aureus clinical infection and bacteraemia rates., Results: The mean (95% CI; range) baseline compliance rates for the national reporting wards was 35% (95% CI 24-46%, 25-61%). The overall compliance by the 7th audit period was 60% (95% CI 46-74; range 47-91). All healthcare worker groups had improvement in compliance. The reduction in healthcare-associated S. aureus bacteraemia rates following the implementation was statistically significant (p=0.027)., Conclusion: Compliance with hand hygiene improved following implementation of a culture change programme. Sustaining this improvement requires commitment and strong leadership at a senior level both nationally and within each District Health Board.

Background: The increase in the numbers of patients requiring palliative care input prior to death, and a global economic situation where few countries are able to invest further in specialist palliative care services, has meant an increased focus upon 'generalist palliative care provision'. The goal of the present review is to ascertain what questionnaire tools exist to measure the perceived competence of generalists in palliative care provision., Method: A systematic review of both qualitative and quantitative literature was undertaken. Medline, Medline in Progress, PubMed and CINAHL databases as well as hand searches of Palliative Medicine, International Journal of Palliative Nursing and the Journal of Palliative Care were conducted for the period 1990-2010. A checklist adapted from Hawker et al (Appraising the evidence: reviewing disparate data systematically. Qual Health Res 2002;12:1284-99) was used to select and assess data., Results: 19 of the 1361 articles met the inclusion criteria. Overall, a lack of validation and a focus upon the physical aspects of symptom management was apparent. No single validated questionnaire to measure perceived competence in palliative care management among health professionals involved in generalist palliative care management could be identified., Conclusion: The rising prominence paid to generalist care provision points to an urgent need for further development of comprehensive and validated perceived competence measurement tools.

In our previous study, monoclonal antibody RM2, established toward the glycosyl epitope, reflected grade of malignancy of prostate cancer cells whereas RM2 reactivity to benign glands was negative or weak. RM2 reactivity was also detected in stroma, suggesting the glycoprotein RM2 recognizes could be released into the bloodstream. Then, we explored RM2 reactivity to sera of early prostate cancer. We compared RM2 reactivity to sera between 62 patients with early prostate cancer and 43 subjects with benign prostatic disease, and examined RM2 reactivity before and after radical prostatectomy in 15 patients by Western blotting. We also examined RM2 reactivity to sera of the other urogenital cancers. RM2 reactivity was significantly enhanced on a serum glycoprotein with molecular mass approximately 40 kDa, hereby termed GPX, in the patients with early prostate cancer when compared with those with benign prostatic disease (p < 0.0001). Setting an appropriate cutoff level, RM2 reactivity to GPX for detection of prostate cancer had sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 84%, respectively. Furthermore, the level of RM2 reactivity significantly decreased after radical prostatectomy (p = 0.006). However, increased RM2 reactivity to GPX was also observed in the other urogenital cancers. The proteomics approach identified GPX as haptoglobin-beta chain and RM2 showed preferential reactivity toward haptoglobin-beta chain derived from prostate cancer when compared with polyclonal anti-haptoglobin antibody. Haptoglobin-beta chain defined by RM2 is a novel serum marker that may be useful for detection of early prostate cancer when coupled with prostate-specific antigen because it is not specific to prostate cancer.

Mucosal secretin content of the duodenum was measured using bioptic specimen in healthy controls and patients of peptic ulcer. Immunoreactive secretin in the duodenal mucosa was found greater in healthy controls (7.73 +/- 2.71 ng/mg dry wt., mean +/- S.D.) than in gastric ulcer patients (5.76 +/- 3.51 ng/mg dry wt.) and duodenal ulcer patients (5.54 +/- 2.48 ng/mg dry wt.), but the difference was not significant. There was no significant relationship between mucosal secretin and acid output in these patients.

A randomized study of 5-FU + adriamycin (the control group) vs 5-FU + adriamycin + levamisole (LMS group) was conducted by an envelope method in 167 patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer for clinical evaluation of LMS against advanced gastrointestinal cancer. There was a significant increase in survival with the LMS group (p less than 0.05). Median survivals were 3.7 months for the control group and 6.1 months for the LMS group of all patients with gastrointestinal cancer and patients with gastric cancer, respectively. There were no differences in response rate and duration of response between both groups, but the number of PD (progressive disease) cases was significantly smaller in the LMS group than in the control group (p = 0.001). Adverse reactions occurred more frequently in the LMS group, but there was no significant difference in incidence between both groups.

Eight patients with esophageal cancer were treated by a new treatment schedule consisting of low dose irradiation, crescendo cisplatin and bleomycin polyacrylate pasta. As monitored endoscopically, therapeutic responses were satisfactory: seven out of 8 patients have survived for a range of 3 to 20 months and still active at work or cancer-free. However, one patient suffered from a second malignancy of adenocarcinoma of the upper esophagus different from the initial squamous cell carcinoma at the lower esophagus which had successfully been treated 3 months before. The present therapeutic design aims at treatment of lymphatic spreads in the adjacent structures as well as the original tumor in the esophagus and submucosal invasions. It is basically a consecutive, multimodal integration of selective concentration of therapeutic effects (extensive radiotherapy, topical application of bleomycin polyacrylate pasta, lymphatic chasing with colloidal bleomycin, and spatial concentration of cisplatin as the result of radiation-induced inflammation), perpetuation of the repairable DNA damage, and biological amplifications (protection against esophageal perforation with polyacrylate coating, and specific cancer cell recruitment). Application of the present therapeutic design is being expanded to the treatment of cancer of other specific sites such as the head and neck tumors and rectal cancer with undeniable prospects.

The therapeutic effects of a new antiulcer drug, a p-hydroxyphenyl-propionic ester of tranexamic acid (cetraxate, CET) hydrochloride, were investigated in 234 patients with gastric ulcer by double blind controlled study using trans-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl-5,9,13-trimethyltetradeca-4,8,12-trienoate (gefarnate) as the standard drug in 18 medical institutions. The cure rates confirmed by endoscopic examination in CET-treated patients were 28, 61 and 73% each after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of medication, while those in gefarnate-treated patients were 23, 47 and 55%, respectively, with statistical significance after 8 and 12 weeks. Global utility rate based on the judgement by the physician in charge also supported the results with cure rate. Stratified analysis again confirmed the superiority of CET hydrochloride against gefarnate in the hospitalized patients in terms of both cure rate and global utility rate. However, there was no significant difference between the two drugs as to the effects in the out-patients. Among the symptoms, there was also a significant difference between the improvement rate of epigastralgia with the two drugs in favour of CET hydrochloride. No serious side effects were reported throughout the study.

A histopathological survey of surgical materials from 143 patients with rectal carcinoma subjected to chemotherapy and low-dose radiotherapy with tegafur and bleomycin was carried out. The chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy brought about better results than chemotherapy alone. In 4 of the 58 patients treated with radiochemotherapy, no cancer cells could be found in surgical specimens. Exfoliation into the rectal lumen of cohorts of cancer cells may occur in some cases of rectal carcinoma thus treated, resulting in cancer cell elimination.

The effect of UFT-MMC- or UFT-ACR-therapy on the unresectable or recurrent gastric cancer was studied by a multicenter, randomized-controlled trial. All the patients who were randomly divided into the two groups were administered orally with 400 or 600 mg/day of UFT everyday. In addition, the UFT-MMC group was intravenously injected weekly for three weeks and then triweekly after six weeks with 6 or 8 mg/body of MMC, while the UFT-ACR group was intravenously injected with 20 mg/body of ACR for 5 serial-days every three weeks. Out of 88 cases registered, 75 (85.2%) were evaluable, consisting of 40 (31 complete cases) in UFT-MMC and 35 (27 complete cases) in UFT-ACR. There was no difference in various background factors between the two groups. PR, NC and PD was 10/31, 15/31 and 6/31 in the UFT-MMC group, whereas 0/27, 22/27 and 5/27 in the UFT-ACR group, respectively. The efficacy in the former group was higher, though not significant (U-test, p = 0.052), than that in the latter group. However, there was no difference in the 50% survival time (4.9 months in UFT-MMC vs. 5.4 months in UFT-ACR) of the either group.

99mTc-pertechnetate was used for the diagnoses of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Oral administration was useful for the detection of the stenosis and obstruction on the esophagus and the pylorus to the poor risk patients. Mucosal imaging of the stomach was clearly revealed by intravenous administration, and the scintigram of the patient with stomach cancer showed a cold region. Taking the gastric scintiphoto, temporal radioactivity in the stomach region was recorded (gastrogram). This seems to be a new and prospective approach to the clinical gastroenterology.