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Purpose: We evaluated the association of PSA and androgen receptor splice variant-7 (AR-V7) transcript levels in patients' blood with time to treatment failure (TTF) and overall survival (OS) with abiraterone acetate and/or enzalutamide treatment in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients., Experimental Design: RNA levels of AR-V7 and PSA in peripheral blood collected before treatment were quantified using droplet digital-PCR in retrospective cohorts treated with abiraterone acetate (N = 81) or enzalutamide (N = 51) for CRPC. Multivariable Cox regression adjusted for known prognostic factors was used for analyses., Results: PSA transcripts were detected in 57% of abiraterone acetate-treated patients and in 63% of enzalutamide-treated patients. PSA-positive patients had a shorter TTF than PSA-negative patients [adjusted HR = 2.27 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26-4.10) and 2.60 (95% CI, 1.19-5.69); P = 0.006 and 0.017 in abiraterone acetate and enzalutamide cohorts, respectively]. Patients with a higher-AR-V7 transcript level had a shorter TTF with abiraterone acetate and enzalutamide in univariate analysis (median 8.0 months vs. 15.6 months, P = 0.046 in abiraterone acetate-cohort and 3.6 months vs. 5.6 months; P = 0.050 in enzalutamide cohort). In multivariable models, the association with TTF remained significant in the enzalutamide cohort (adjusted HR = 2.02; 95% CI, 1.01-4.05; P = 0.048), but statistically insignificant in the abiraterone acetate cohort. In both cohorts, we observed potential prognostic value of both PSA and AR-V7 RNA expression on OS; patients with detectable PSA transcripts and high AR-V7 predicted the poorest OS., Conclusions: PSA and AR-V7 transcripts in blood potentially serve as biomarkers predicting TTF and OS with abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide treatment. If validated prospectively, their detection could be facilitated without isolation of circulating tumor cells. Clin Cancer Res; 23(3); 726-34. ©2016 AACR., (©2016 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Particulate La 5 Ti 2 CuS 5 O 7 (LTC) photocathodes prepared by particle transfer show a positive onset potential of 0.9 V vs RHE for the photocathodic current in photoelectrochemical (PEC) H 2 evolution. However, the low photocathodic current imposes a ceiling on the solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency of PEC cells based on LTC photocathodes. To improve the photocurrent, in this work, the surface of Mg-doped LTC photocathodes was modified with TiO 2 , Nb 2 O 5 , and Ta 2 O 5 by radio frequency reactive magnetron sputtering. The photocurrent of the modified Mg-doped LTC photocathodes was doubled because these oxides formed type-II heterojunctions and extended the lifetimes of photogenerated charge carriers. The enhanced photocathodic current was attributed to hydrogen evolution at a positive potential of +0.7 V vs RHE. This work opens up possibilities for improving PEC hydrogen evolution on particulate photocathodes based on surface oxide modifications and also highlights the importance of the band gap alignment.

A (ZnSe) 0.85 (CuIn 0.7 Ga 0.3 Se 2 ) 0.15 photocathode with a bilayer structure was fabricated and found to exhibit a photocurrent almost twice that of a photocathode with a monolayer structure during hydrogen evolution from water. The cathodic photocurrent reached maximum values of 12 and 4.9 mA cm -2 at 0 and 0.6 V RHE in a neutral phosphate buffer under simulated sunlight, while the half-cell solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency was 3.0 % at 0.6 V RHE , with a maximum value of 3.6 % at 0.45 V RHE . Cross-sectional mapping of the electron-beam-induced current established that the increased photocurrent can be attributed to improved uniformity at the solid-liquid junction in the bilayer sample, which results in enhanced carrier collection., (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A Sm 2 Ti 2 S 2 O 5 (STSO) oxysulfide photocatalyst prepared by a novel flux method showed a higher degree of crystallinity and greater photocatalytic activity than that prepared by conventional polymerized complex and sulfurization processes. Co-loading with both IrO 2 , as an oxidative cocatalyst, and Pt, as a reductive cocatalyst, was found to be essential for promoting the photocatalytic activity of the STSO. Visible light-driven Z-scheme water splitting into H 2 and O 2 was realized by utilizing the STSO photocatalyst for H 2 evolution in conjunction with a WO 3 photocatalyst treated with H + and Cs + and loaded with PtO x for O 2 evolution, and a triiodide/iodide (I 3 - /I - ) redox couple as a shuttle electron mediator. Various other narrow band gap oxysulfide photocatalysts with H 2 evolution activity, such as La 5 Ti 2 CuS 5 O 7 and La 6 Ti 2 S 8 O 5 , were also shown to be applicable as H 2 evolution photocatalysts in the present Z-scheme water splitting system.

An improved variation of highly active/durable O 2 -evolving LaTiO 2 N powder-based photoelectrode has been fabricated by pre-cleaning the powder with mild polysulfonic acid and by homogeneous deposition of CoO x co-catalyst aided by microwave annealing. The treatment in aqueous solution of poly(4-styrene sulfonic acid) results in removal of surface LaTiO 2 N layers, forming fine pores in the crystallites. The CoO x co-catalyst by microwave deposition in Co(NH 3 ) 6 Cl 3 /ethylene glycol homogeneously covers the particle surface. The LaTiO 2 N powder is fabricated into particle-transferred electrodes on Ti thin film supported on solid substrate. The modified LaTiO 2 N grains on the electrode serve as a highly active O 2 -evolving photoanode achieving 8.9 mA cm -2 of the photocurrent density at 1.23 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in 0.1 m NaOH (pH 13) under solar-simulator irradiation Airmass 1.5 Global (AM 1.5G). The activity has been much improved, compared with conventional LaTiO 2 N treated in mineral acid or with CoO x deposited by impregnation. The new electrode also exhibits better durability in fixed-potential chronoamperometric tests under AM 1.5G irradiation., (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Background: Silencing SOD2 expression upregulates androgen receptor (AR) signaling and expression of SOD2 is downregulated in CRPC, compared with untreated tumors. The decreased SOD2 activity could lead to AR gain-of-function and the development of castration-resistance., Methods: We genotyped SOD2-rs4880 in a cohort of 753 prostate cancer patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) between 1996 and 2010. The rs4880 encodes Ala16Val in SOD2 and the Val variant has been demonstrated to be functionally less efficient than the Ala variant. We assessed the impact of SOD2-rs4880 variants on the time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) on ADT using multivariable Cox regression., Results: Four hundred thirty-two out of 753 (57%) had metastases at the time of ADT initiation. Overall, median TTP on ADT was 18.4 (95%CI: 15.8, 20.9) months and median overall survival (OS) from ADT initiation was 6.3 (95%CI: 5.8, 6.8) years. In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, there was no association between SOD-rs4880 and TTP or OS on ADT (P > 0.05). Results were similarly negative among patients with and without metastatic disease at ADT initiation., Conclusions: Our result suggests that a functional genetic variant in SOD2 does not determine the efficacy of ADT for prostate cancer. It is possible that the drastic downregulation of SOD2 in advanced prostate cancer cells may have overridden any influence of the genetic variation of SOD2. This study suggests the need for careful consideration about timing if the application of SOD2 mimetics for prostate cancer therapy is considered. Prostate 76:1338-1341, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

We identified drug seeds for treating Huntington's disease (HD) by combining in vitro single molecule fluorescence spectroscopy, in silico molecular docking simulations, and in vivo fly and mouse HD models to screen for inhibitors of abnormal interactions between mutant Htt and physiological Ku70, an essential DNA damage repair protein in neurons whose function is known to be impaired by mutant Htt. From 19,468 and 3,010,321 chemicals in actual and virtual libraries, fifty-six chemicals were selected from combined in vitro-in silico screens; six of these were further confirmed to have an in vivo effect on lifespan in a fly HD model, and two chemicals exerted an in vivo effect on the lifespan, body weight and motor function in a mouse HD model. Two oligopeptides, hepta-histidine (7H) and Angiotensin III, rescued the morphological abnormalities of primary neurons differentiated from iPS cells of human HD patients. For these selected drug seeds, we proposed a possible common structure. Unexpectedly, the selected chemicals enhanced rather than inhibited Htt aggregation, as indicated by dynamic light scattering analysis. Taken together, these integrated screens revealed a new pathway for the molecular targeted therapy of HD.

The fabrication of semiconductor films on conductive substrates is vital to the production of high-performance electrodes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. In this work, a thin film transfer method was developed to produce Ta 3 N 5 film photoanodes for PEC water oxidation. Phase-pure Ta 3 N 5 thin films were formed on inert Si substrates via magnetron sputtering of Ta films, followed by oxidation and subsequent nitridation in a flow of gaseous NH 3 . The resulting porous Ta 3 N 5 films were uniformly transferred from the Si substrates using metallic layers that allowed ohmic contact at the Ta 3 N 5 film/metal interface. This film transfer method enables control over the film thicknesses and layered structures of the Ta 3 N 5 photoanodes. Following modification with a Co(OH) x layer acting as an oxygen-evolution catalyst, a Ta 3 N 5 photoanode with a NbN x interlayer exhibited a photocurrent of 3.5 mA cm -2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE under a simulated AM 1.5G light, a value 1.7 times that generated by a photoanode without interlayers. The present film transfer method is potentially applicable to the development of semiconductor thin films for efficient PEC energy conversion.

A commercial painless microneedle was filled with physiological saline agar, and this needle-based salt bridge was inserted into the skin (a piece of porcine skin and a flank skin of a live mouse) to make an electrical contact with its subepidermal region. The transepidermal potential (TEP), the potential difference between the skin surface and the subepidermal region, was measured using this inner electrode and a conventional agar electrode on the surface of the skin. Control of penetration depth of the inner electrode with a spacer and hydrophilic pretreatment with ozone plasma were found to be necessary for stable measurement. The TEP was reduced upon damages on the skin surface by tape stripping and acetone defatting, which indicated the fabricated needle electrode is useful for the minimally-invasive measurement of TEP and evaluation of skin barrier functions. Furthermore, we showed that the device integrating two electrodes into a single compact probe was useful to evaluate the local barrier functions and their mapping on a skin. This device could be a personal diagnostic tool in the fields of medicine and cosmetics in future.

High specificity has been an important feature in affinity labeling for target profiling. Especially, to label targets via rapidly progressing reactions with consumption of ligand (probe), high specificity of reaction with common functional groups of target protein should be achieved without reactions with similar groups of non-target proteins. Herein, we demonstrate the kinetic controlled affinity labeling of acyl CoA synthetase using a fatty acid analogue containing a phenylthioester linkage. High specificity was attained by accelerating the labeling rate in the binding pocket. This approach could be useful for profiling a series of target enzymes and transporters in signal transduction pathways., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: We evaluated the incidence and predictors of the use of long-term (2-3 years) versus shorter term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in radiation-managed men with high-risk prostate cancer., Patients and Methods: We identified 302 patients from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute patient registry who had been diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer (T3a or prostate-specific antigen [PSA] > 20 ng/mL or Gleason score 8-10) from 1993 to 2015. We assessed the intended duration of ADT and used multivariable Cox regression to evaluate the predictors of receiving a shorter course of ADT than recommended by the guidelines (< 2 years)., Results: The course of ADT intended by physicians increased after the 2008/2009 publication of trials showing the superiority of long-term versus short-term ADT, with 43.5% intending ≥ 2 years before versus 61.4% after (P = .014). Starting in 2010, 49.4% of patients actually received < 2 years of ADT. The most common reasons for receipt of shorter course ADT were intolerance of ADT side effects, patient comorbidity/age, the presence of T3a on magnetic resonance imaging only as the sole high-risk feature, or participation in a clinical trial. Moderate to severe comorbidity assessed using the Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27 (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] = 2.94), Gleason score < 8 (AHR = 5.66), and PSA < 20 ng/mL (AHR = 4.19) all predicted for receipt of shorter course ADT (P < .05 for all)., Conclusion: In a tertiary-care setting, the rates of long-course ADT for high-risk disease have increased since the 2008/2009 trials supporting its use. However, approximately one half of patients continued to receive shorter course ADT, often because of intolerance of side effects, underlying comorbidity, or physician judgment about the aggressiveness of the disease., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

TTHA0829 from Thermus thermophilus HB8 has a molecular mass of 22,754 Da and is composed of 210 amino acid residues. The expression of TTHA0829 is remarkably elevated in the latter half of logarithmic growth phase. TTHA0829 can form either a tetrameric or dimeric structure, and main-chain folding provides an N-terminal cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) domain and a C-terminal aspartate-kinase chorismate-mutase tyrA (ACT) domain. Both CBS and ACT are regulatory domains to which a small ligand molecule can bind. The CBS domain is found in proteins from organisms belonging to all kingdoms and is observed frequently as two or four tandem copies. This domain is considered as a small intracellular module with a regulatory function and is typically found adjacent to the active (or functional) site of several enzymes and integral membrane proteins. The ACT domain comprises four β-strands and two α-helices in a βαββαβ motif typical of intracellular small molecule binding domains that help control metabolism, solute transport and signal transduction. We discuss the possible role of TTHA0829 based on its structure and expression pattern. The results imply that TTHA0829 acts as a cell-stress sensor or a metabolite acceptor.

In oocyte donation (OD) pregnancies, a fetus is a complete allograft to the maternal host and OD pregnancies are an independent risk factor for preeclampsia. Immunocompetent cells contribute to spiral artery remodeling and the failure of this process could contribute to the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. Recent data have shown that impaired autophagy of extravillous trophoblasts (EVT) may induce poor vascular remodeling in preeclampsia. We have studied the distribution of T cells, NK cells and macrophages in the decidua basalis of 14 normotensive OD pregnancies, 5 preeclamptic OD cases, 16 normotensive pregnancy cases, and 13 preeclamptic cases in natural pregnancy or autologous oocyte IVF-ET (NP/IVF). The populations of decidual CD3(+)T cells, CD8(+)T cells, CD4(+)T cells, Foxp3(+)Treg cells, CD56(+)NK cells, and CD68(+) macrophages in preeclampsia were significantly smaller than those in normal pregnancy in NP/IVF. Those frequencies in normotensive OD pregnancies or preeclamptic cases in OD pregnancies were similar to those in preeclamptic cases in NP/IVF. Impaired vascular remodeling was observed in OD pregnancies, regardless of the presence or absence of preeclampsia. The expression of p62, an impaired autophagy marker in EVT of normotensive or preeclamptic OD pregnancies, was significantly higher than that in normal pregnancies in NP/IVF. Immunological change in the decidua basalis and impairment of autophagy in EVT may induce impairment of spiral artery remodeling in OD pregnancies., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Some previous studies have examined anti-resorptive agent-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ARONJ) prediction using systemic markers of bone turnover as risk factors. Radiographic imaging is also effective at detecting ARONJ. In this study, computed tomography (CT)-derived bone mineral density (BMD) values and the levels of systemic markers of bone turnover were evaluated, and then each parameter was compared between patients that developed ARONJ and those who did not after treatment with systemic anti-resorptive agents. The aim of this study was to determine whether systemic markers of bone turnover and/or BMD values can be used to predict the risk of ARONJ., Methods: The subjects' serum levels of cross-linked N-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX) and bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) (systemic markers of bone turnover) were measured. BMD was calibrated to CT values using a medical imaging phantom. Then, the subjects' BMD were assessed using quantitative computed tomography. Fifty-six patients who had received systemic anti-resorptive agents were included in this study. Thirty-two of the patients developed ARONJ after receiving the drugs whereas the remaining 24 did not., Results: No correlation was observed between the serum levels of the systemic markers of bone turnover and the incidence of ARONJ. On the other hand, the ARONJ patients exhibited higher mandibular BMD values than the control group. BMD was not associated with healing or the clinical stage of ARONJ., Conclusion: These results suggest that increased mandibular BMD values are associated with ARONJ. Furthermore, mandibular BMD might serve as a novel marker for predicting the risk of ARONJ in patients that are taking anti-resorptive agents and are about to undergo tooth extraction. Accordingly, mandibular BMD could be a useful tool for aiding risk assessments and guiding treatment decisions.

Purpose: To validate the association of three previously demonstrated SLCO2B1 germline variants with time to progression (TTP) in patients receiving androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), and to evaluate if the SLCO2B1 genetic variants impacted overall survival (OS) for prostate cancer (PC)., Patients and Methods: Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), exonic SNP rs12422149 and intronic SNPs rs1789693 and rs1077858, were genotyped in an independent validation cohort of 616 patients with PC who were treated with ADT at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute from 1996 to 2013. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression adjusting for known prognostic factors estimated the association of these genetic variants with TTP and OS in patients receiving ADT. The expression of SLCO2B1 was examined in prostatectomy samples, and the impact of SLCO2B1 expression level on DHEAS (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) uptake was evaluated in cell lines., Results: The association between exonic SNP rs12422149 and TTP in patients treated with ADT was confirmed in univariable (P = .019) and multivariable analyses (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.72 for GG v AA/AG; P = .049). Because OS had not been previously evaluated, we examined the association in the combined initial and validation cohorts (N = 1,094). The intronic SNP rs1077858 was associated with OS in both univariable (P = .009; Bonferroni's method adjusted P = .027) and multivariable analyses (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.71 for GG v AA/AG; P = .012). SLCO2B1 expression in normal prostate tissue and in 22RV1 cells carrying the major allele of SNP rs1077858 was significantly lower than in cells carrying the risk allele. We show in vitro that SLCO2B1 expression levels correlated with DHEAS uptake by PC cells., Conclusion: The association of SNP rs1077858 with OS may be a result of differential SLCO2B1 expression and the consequent increased uptake of DHEAS and subsequent resistance to ADT, which, in turn, may contribute to decreased OS., Competing Interests: Authors' disclosures of potential conflicts of interest are found in the article online at www.jco.org. Author contributions are found at the end of this article., (© 2015 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.)

1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 exerts its actions by binding to vitamin D receptor (VDR). We are continuing the study related to the alteration of pocket structure of VDR by 22-alkyl substituent of ligands and the relationships between the alteration and agonistic/antagonistic activity. Previously we reported that compounds 2 (22-H), 3 (22S-Et), and 4 (22S-Bu) are VDR agonist, partial agonist and antagonist, respectively. Here, we describe the synthesis and biological evaluation of 22S-hexyl analog 5 (22S-Hex), which was designed to be a stronger VDR antagonist than 4. Unexpectedly, 5 showed partial agonistic but not antagonistic activity when bound to VDR, indicating that it is not necessarily true that the bulkier the side chain is, the stronger the antagonistic activity will be. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the VDR-ligand-binding domain (VDR-LBD) accommodating compound 5 indicated that the partial agonist activity of 5 is dependent on the mixed population of the agonistic and antagonistic conformations. Binding of compound 5 may not bring the complex into the only antagonistic conformation due to the large conformational change of the VDR-LBD. From this study it was found that fine tuning of agonistic/antagonistic activity for VDR is possible by 22-alkyl chain length of ligands., (Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

In p/n photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell systems, a low onset potential for the photoanode, as well as a high photocurrent, are critical for efficient water splitting. Here, we report a Mg-Zr cosubstituted Ta3N5 (Ta3N5:Mg+Zr) photoanode, designed to provide a more negative onset potential for PEC water splitting. The anodic photocurrent onset on Ta3N5:Mg+Zr was 0.55 V(RHE) under AM 1.5G-simulated sunlight, which represented a negative shift from the ca. 0.8 V(RHE) for pure Ta3N5. This negative shift in the onset potential of PEC water splitting was attributed to the change in the bandgap potential due to partial substitution by the foreign ions Mg(2+) and/or Zr(4+).

New systemic therapies have prolonged the lives of men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Use of these therapies in the adjuvant setting when the disease may be micrometastatic and potentially more sensitive to therapies may decrease mortality from prostate cancer. However, the conduct of adjuvant prostate cancer clinical trials is hampered by taking longer than a decade to reach the meaningful endpoint of overall survival (OS) and the fact that many men never die from prostate cancer, even if they relapse. A validated intermediate clinical endpoint (ICE) in prostate cancer that is a robust surrogate for OS has yet to be defined. This paper details the plans, process, and progress of the international Intermediate Clinical Endpoints in Cancer of the Prostate (ICECaP) working group to pool individual patient data from all available clinical trials of radiation or prostatectomy for localized disease and conduct the requisite analyses to determine whether an ICE can be identified. This paper further details the challenges and the a priori statistical analytical plans and strategies to define an ICE for adjuvant prostate cancer clinical trials. In addition, a brief review of the health economic analyses to model the benefits to patients, society and manufacturers is detailed. If successful, the results from this work will provide a robust surrogate for OS that will expedite the design and conduct of future adjuvant therapy trials using new agents that have proven activity in mCRPC. Moreover, it will also define the health economic benefits to patients and societies., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The design of optimal surface structures for photocatalysts is a key to efficient overall water splitting into H2 and O2. A unique surface modification method was devised for a photocatalyst to effectively promote overall water splitting. Photodeposition of amorphous oxyhydroxides of group IV and V transition metals (Ti, Nb, Ta) over a semiconductor photocatalyst from corresponding water-soluble metal peroxide complexes was examined. In this method, amorphous oxyhydroxide covered the whole surface of the photocatalyst particles, creating a core-shell structure. The water splitting behavior of the novel core-shell-type photocatalyst in relation to the permeation behavior of the coating layer was investigated in detail. Overall water splitting proceeded successfully after the photodeposition, owing to the prevention of the reverse reaction. The photodeposited oxyhydroxide layers were found to function as molecular sieves, selectively filtering reactant and product molecules. By exploiting the selective permeability of the coating layer, redox reactions on the photocatalyst surface could be suitably controlled, which resulted in successful overall water splitting.

Unlabelled: β-Galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) from Bacillus circulans ATCC 31382, designated BgaD, exhibits high transglycosylation activity to produce galacto-oligosaccharides. BgaD has been speculated to have a multiple domain architecture including a F5/8-type C domain or a discoidin domain in the C-terminal peptide region from amino acid sequence analysis. Here, we solved the first crystal structure of the C-terminal deletion mutant BgaD-D, consisting of sugar binding, Glyco&#95;hydro, catalytic and bacterial Ig-like domains, at 2.5 Å. In the asymmetric unit, two molecules of BgaD-D were identified and the value of VM was estimated to be 5.0 Å(3) · Da(-1). It has been speculated that BgaD-D consists of four domains. From the structural analysis, however, we clarified that BgaD-D consists of five domains. We identified a new domain structure comprised of β-sheets in BgaD. The catalytic domain exhibits a TIM barrel structure with a small pocket suited for accommodating the disaccharides. Detailed structural information for the amino acid residues related to activity and substrate specificity was clarified in the catalytic domain. Furthermore, using the structural information, we successfully constructed some thermostable mutants via protein engineering method., Database: Coordinates for the BgaD-D structure have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank under accession code 4YPJ., (© 2015 FEBS.)

Purpose: We examined differences in outcome in patients with biopsy Gleason score 8 vs 9-10 who received definitive local therapy., Materials and Methods: Using an institutional database we identified a cohort of 847 patients with biopsy Gleason 8-10 disease who received definitive local therapy with radiation therapy or radical prostatectomy between January 2001 and December 2011. Multivariable Cox modeling was used to assess the association of Gleason score 8 vs 9-10 with time to biochemical recurrence, metastasis and overall survival, and evaluate treatment by Gleason score interaction. Median followup in the cohort was 5.3 years., Results: Baseline patient characteristics were similar for biopsy Gleason 8 vs 9-10. Gleason 9-10 disease was associated with higher prostate specific antigen at diagnosis. As local treatment such patients were also more likely to have received radiation therapy (58% vs 46%, p = 0.001) and neoadjuvant/adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (64% vs 49%, p <0.001). Those with higher grade disease were at increased risk for metastasis (HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.11-1.79). There was a trend toward an increased risk of death in Gleason 9-10 vs 8 cases (HR 1.28, 95% CI 0.98-1.66). The increased risk of death for Gleason 9-10 was mainly observed in patients treated with radical prostatectomy with or without additional radiation therapy (HR 1.74, 95% CI 1.15-2.65)., Conclusions: Patients with localized biopsy Gleason 9-10 disease treated with definitive local therapy had worse outcomes than those diagnosed with biopsy Gleason 8 disease. Clinical trials are urgently needed that incorporate newer approaches to Gleason 9-10 cancer., (Copyright © 2015 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Importance: Statin use has been associated with improved prostate cancer outcomes. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is a precursor of testosterone and a substrate for SLCO2B1, an organic anionic transporter. We previously demonstrated that genetic variants of SLCO2B1 correlated with time to progression (TTP) during receipt of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Statins also use SLCO2B1 to enter cells, and thus we hypothesized that they may compete with DHEAS uptake by the tumor cells., Objective: To evaluate whether statin use prolongs TTP during ADT for hormone-sensitive prostate cancer., Design, Setting, and Participants: In vitro studies were performed using prostate cancer cell lines at an academic, comprehensive cancer center. Statin use was retrospectively analyzed in 926 patients who had received ADT for biochemical or metastatic recurrence or de novo metastatic prostate cancer between January 1996 and November 2013., Main Outcomes and Measures: To determine whether statins interfere with DHEAS uptake, we performed in vitro studies using prostate cancer cell lines. Next, we queried our institutional clinical database to assess for an association between statin use and TTP during ADT using multivariable Cox regression analysis and adjusted for known prognostic factors., Results: In vitro, we demonstrated that statins block DHEAS uptake by competitively binding to SLCO2B1. In our ADT cohort of 926 patients, 283 (31%) were taking a statin at ADT initiation. After a median follow-up of 5.8 years, 644 patients (70%) had experienced disease progression while receiving ADT. Median TTP during ADT was 20.3 months (95% CI, 18-24 months). Men taking statins had a longer median TTP during ADT compared with nonusers (27.5 [95% CI, 21.1-37.7] vs 17.4 [95% CI, 14.9-21.1] months; P < .001). The association remained statistically significant after adjusting for predefined prognostic factors (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.69-0.99]; P = .04). The positive statin effect was observed for both patients with and without metastases (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.58-1.07] for M0 disease and 0.84 [95% CI, 0.67-1.06] for M1 disease; P for interaction = .72)., Conclusions and Relevance: Statin use at the time of ADT initiation was associated with a significantly longer TTP during ADT even after adjustment for known prognostic factors. Our in vitro finding that statins competitively reduce DHEAS uptake, thus effectively decreasing the available intratumoral androgen pool, affords a plausible mechanism to support the clinical observation of prolonged TTP in statin users.

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices that use semiconductors to absorb solar light for water splitting offer a promising way toward the future scalable production of renewable hydrogen fuels. However, the charge recombination in the photoanode/electrolyte (solid/liquid) junction is a major energy loss and hampers the PEC performance from being efficient. Here, we show that this problem is addressed by the conformal deposition of an ultrathin p-type NiO layer on the photoanode to create a buried p/n junction as well as to reduce the charge recombination at the surface trapping states for the enlarged surface band bending. Further, the in situ formed hydroxyl-rich and hydroxyl-ion-permeable NiOOH enables the dual catalysts of CoO(x) and NiOOH for the improved water oxidation activity. Compared to the CoO(x) loaded BiVO4 (CoO(x)/BiVO4) photoanode, the ∼6 nm NiO deposited NiO/CoO(x)/BiVO4 photoanode triples the photocurrent density at 0.6 V(RHE) under AM 1.5G illumination and enables a 1.5% half-cell solar-to-hydrogen efficiency. Stoichiometric oxygen and hydrogen are generated with Faraday efficiency of unity over 12 h. This strategy could be applied to other narrow band gap semiconducting photoanodes toward the low-cost solar fuel generation devices.

One of the simplest methods for splitting water into H2 and O2 with solar energy entails the use of a particulate-type semiconductor photocatalyst. To harness solar energy efficiently, a new water-splitting photocatalyst that is active over a wider range of the visible spectrum has been developed. In particular, a complex perovskite-type oxynitride, LaMg(x)Ta(1-x)O(1+3x)N(2-3x)(x≥1/3), can be employed for overall water splitting at wavelengths of up to 600 nm. Two effective strategies for overall water splitting were developed. The first entails the compositional fine-tuning of a photocatalyst to adjust the bandgap energy and position by forming a series of LaMg(x)Ta(1-x)O(1+3x)N(2-3x) solid solutions. The second method is based on the surface coating of the photocatalyst with a layer of amorphous oxyhydroxide to control the surface redox reactions. By combining these two strategies, the degradation of the photocatalyst and the reverse reaction could be prevented, resulting in successful overall water splitting., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A photoanode of particulate BaTaO2N fabricated by the particle transfer method and modified with a Co cocatalyst generated a photocurrent of 4.2 mA cm(-2) at 1.2 V(RHE) in the photoelectrochemical water oxidation reaction under simulated sunlight (AM1.5G). The half-cell solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency (HC-STH) of the photoanode reached 0.7% at 1.0 V(RHE), which was an order of magnitude higher than the previously reported photoanode made from the same material. The faradaic efficiency for oxygen evolution from water was virtually 100% during the reaction for 6 h, attesting to the robustness of the oxynitride.

Background: The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 96-01 randomized trial demonstrated the benefit of adding androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to salvage radiotherapy for an increasing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) after prostatectomy, but it is unknown whether modern patients followed with ultrasensitive PSA and salvaged at a low PSA (ie, ≤ 0.5) also benefit from ADT., Patients and Methods: The cohort comprised 108 patients who received radical prostatectomy (RP), were followed by ultrasensitive PSA, and received salvage radiotherapy at a PSA of 0.5 or less. Sixty patients had negative margins, and 48 patients had positive margins at RP. Cox multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with time to secondary PSA failure and included PSA at salvage, year of treatment, Gleason score, ADT use, margin status, T stage, and PSA doubling time. Occurrence of distant metastases was documented., Results: Median follow-up after radiation was 63.09 months. A total of 24 patients had a distant metastasis. In all patients, ADT use was associated with a decreased risk of recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25-0.79; P = .006). On subgroup analysis, ADT was associated with a decreased risk of failure among patients with negative margins (HR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.12-0.61; P = .002), but not among men with positive margins (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.29-2.10; P = .63)., Conclusions: Even patients followed with ultrasensitive PSA and salvaged early with a PSA ≤ 0.5 seem to benefit from the addition of ADT to salvage radiation. However, this benefit seemed to be limited to men with negative margins; thus, men with positive margins and PSA ≤ 0.5 may be good candidates for salvage radiation alone., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The photoelectrochemical properties of (Ag,Cu)GaSe 2 (ACGSe) modified by deposition of CdS and CuGa 3 Se 5 layers were investigated. The CdS and CuGa 3 Se 5 layers formed p-n junctions with an appropriate band diagram on the surface of the electrode and they clearly increased the cathodic photocurrent and onset potential. The Pt, CdS, and CuGa 3 Se 5 modified ACGSe (Pt/CdS/CuGa 3 Se 5 /ACGSe) with an appropriate thickness of CuGa 3 Se 5 layers ( ca. 100 nm) showed a cathodic photocurrent of 8.79 mA cm -2 at 0 V RHE and an onset potential of 0.62 V RHE (defined as cathodic photocurrent of 1.0 mA cm -2 ) under simulated sunlight irradiation in 0.1 M Na 2 HPO 4 (pH 10). Pt/CdS/CuGa 3 Se 5 /ACGSe showed durable cathodic current under the observed reaction conditions and hydrogen was evolved for about 20 days.

Arterial stiffness measurements are primarily used for the early detection of arteriosclerosis. Methods and devices that can easily measure arterial stiffness at home are in demand. We propose a simple method for measuring brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) at home using a reclining chair and investigate the effects of positioning on baPWV measurement. We measured baPWV in 50 healthy men (21-70 years) in seven different measurement positions, including the supine position, sitting, sitting with the knees flexed at 45°, sitting with the knees flexed at 0°, reclining at 37°, reclining at 50°, and standing. BaPWV was significantly lower in the supine position (P < 0.01) than in the other positions. It was significantly higher in the sitting position (P < 0.01) than in the reclining position (37°). No changes in baPWV were seen changing the knee flexion angle alone while sitting. Strong correlations were also ob- served between baPWV in the supine position and that in other positions. We showed that baPWV in the supine position can be calcu- lated by making corrections to baPWV measured in the sitting position at a reclining angle. Utilizing this corrected value would allow easy measurement at home using a reclining chair.

Porous films of p-type CuInS2, prepared by sulfurization of electrodeposited metals, are surface-modified with thin layers of CdS and TiO2. This specific porous electrode evolved H2 from photoelectrochemical water reduction under simulated sunlight. Modification with thin n-type CdS and TiO2 layers significantly increased the cathodic photocurrent and onset potential through the formation of a p-n junction on the surface. The modified photocathodes showed a relatively high efficiency and stable H2 production under the present reaction conditions., (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

One of the β-glucosidases from Pyrococcus furiosus (BGLPf) is found to be a hyperthermophilic tetrameric enzyme that can degrade cellooligosaccharides. Recently, the crystal structures of the tetrameric and dimeric forms were solved. Here, a new monomeric form of BGLPf was constructed by removing the C-terminal region of the enzyme and its crystal structure was solved at a resolution of 2.8 Å in space group P1. It was discovered that the mutant enzyme forms a unique dodecameric structure consisting of two hexameric rings in the asymmetric unit of the crystal. Under biological conditions, the mutant enzyme forms a monomer. This result helps explain how BGLPf has attained its oligomeric structure and thermostability.

Background: Chemokines and cytokines have been implicated in progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)., Methods: Retrospective data were accessed from 122 men with serum samples drawn at a median of 0.5 months after starting ADT for metastatic prostate cancer. MCP-1, IL-1-β, IL-2, IL-8, IL-6, and TNF-α levels were measured by multiplex electrochemiluminescence assays. A multivariable Cox model assessed the association of time to CRPC and overall survival by the protein levels and adjusted for clinical variables (age and prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels at start of ADT, race, ECOG status, and extent of metastases). Associations were reported as hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI)., Results: Median follow-up and overall survival were 44 and 42.2 months, respectively. ECOG performance status (≥1 vs. 0) was negatively associated with overall survival [HR = 2.8 (1.1-7.0), P = 0.03], and PSA nadir < 0.2 was predictive of longer time to development of CRPC [HR = 0.3 (0.2-0.5), P < 0.0001]. The HR for time to CRPC by protein above the median was 1.4 (95% CI: 0.9, 2.2, P = 0.13) for IL-8; 1.3 (95% CI: 0.8, 2, P = 0.18) for TNF-α; 1.0 (95% CI: 0.7, 1.6, P = 0.95) for MCP-1. The HR for median overall survival for protein levels above the median was: 1.9 (95% CI: 1.0, 3.5, P = 0.04) for IL-8; 2.0 (95% CI: 1.1, 3.5, P = 0.02) for TNF-α; 1.7 (95% CI: 1.7, 3.0, P = 0.08) for MCP-1. There was no association with IL-1-β, IL-2, or IL-6., Conclusion: Higher levels of inflammation-associated cytokines correlate with poorer prostate cancer outcomes and may guide strategies to improve prostate cancer therapy., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) ligands are therapeutic agents that are used for the treatment of psoriasis, osteoporosis, and secondary hyperparathyroidism and have immense potential as therapeutic agents for autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular diseases. However, the major side effect of VDR ligands, the development of hypercalcemia, limits their expanded use. To develop tissue-selective VDR modulators, we have designed vitamin D analogues with an adamantane ring at the side chain terminal, which would interfere with helix 12, the activation function 2, and modulate the VDR potency. Here we report 25- or 26-adamantyl-23,23,24,24-tetradehydro-19-norvitamin D derivatives (ADTK1-4, 4b,a and 5a,b). These compounds showed high VDR affinities (90% at maximum), partial agonistic activities (EC50 10(-9)-10(-8) M with 40-80% efficacy) in transactivation, and tissue-selective activity in target gene expressions. We investigate the structure-activity relationships of these compounds on the basis of their X-ray crystal structures.

Comprehensive analyses of cancer genomes promise to inform prognoses and precise cancer treatments. A major barrier, however, is inaccessibility of metastatic tissue. A potential solution is to characterize circulating tumor cells (CTCs), but this requires overcoming the challenges of isolating rare cells and sequencing low-input material. Here we report an integrated process to isolate, qualify and sequence whole exomes of CTCs with high fidelity using a census-based sequencing strategy. Power calculations suggest that mapping of >99.995% of the standard exome is possible in CTCs. We validated our process in two patients with prostate cancer, including one for whom we sequenced CTCs, a lymph node metastasis and nine cores of the primary tumor. Fifty-one of 73 CTC mutations (70%) were present in matched tissue. Moreover, we identified 10 early trunk and 56 metastatic trunk mutations in the non-CTC tumor samples and found 90% and 73% of these mutations, respectively, in CTC exomes. This study establishes a foundation for CTC genomics in the clinic.

Ample evidence supports genetic and functional heterogeneity in primary tumors, but it remains unclear whether circulating tumor cells (CTCs) also exhibit the same hierarchical organization. We examined the functional diversity of viable, single CTCs using an array of subnanoliter wells (nanowells). The compartmentalization of single cells by nanowells allowed clonal comparison and mapping of heterogeneity of single cells or preformed clusters of cells. By measuring the short-term viability, invasiveness and secretory profiles of individual CTCs, it was evident that only a rare subset of CTCs possessed malignant traits indicative of metastatic potential in late-stage, progressing metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. These CTCs were resistant to anoikis after being in the circulation, were invasive in their epithelial state, or secreted proteases capable of cleaving peptide substrates. Every CTC observed, however, did not exhibit such metastatic potential, suggesting that enumeration of CTCs alone may be insufficient to understand metastasis or stratify patients.

Paired-like homeodomain 1 (PITX1) genes are essential in human development. In the present study, PITX1 protein expression was evaluated in human normal oral mucosa, oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), with the aim of examining the expression patterns of these critical genes during the multi-stage transformation of oral epithelial dysplasia to OSCC. PITX1 and Ki-67 expression were assessed by immunohistochemistry in 26 individuals with normal oral mucosa, 106 patients with oral epithelial dysplasia and 97 OSCC patients. The labeling indices (LIs) of PITX1 and Ki-67 were calculated and their correlation with the incidence of malignancy was evaluated. The PITX1 LI of the dysplasia specimens was significantly lower than that of the normal oral mucosa samples, but significantly higher than that of the OSCC samples. The oral epithelial dysplasia patients that exhibited low PITX1 expression showed a significantly higher incidence of malignant transformation than those exhibiting high PITX1 expression, regardless of the histological grades of their oral epithelial dysplasias. On the other hand, no correlation was observed between the Ki-67 LI and the incidence of malignancy. These results suggested that PITX1 suppression is associated with malignant transformation in the oral epithelium and that PITX1 expression may serve as a novel biomarker for predicting prognosis in oral epithelial dysplasia.

β-Glucosidase from Pyrococcus furiosus (BGLPf) is a hyperthermophilic tetrameric enzyme which can degrade cellooligosaccharides to glucose under hyperthermophilic conditions and thus holds promise for the saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass at high temperature. Prior to the production of large amounts of this enzyme, detailed information regarding the oligomeric structure of the enzyme is required. Several crystals of BGLPf have been prepared over the past ten years, but its crystal structure had not been solved until recently. In 2011, the first crystal structure of BGLPf was solved and a model was constructed at somewhat low resolution (2.35 Å). In order to obtain more detailed structural data on BGLPf, the relationship between its tetrameric structure and the quality of the crystal was re-examined. A dimeric form of BGLPf was constructed and its crystal structure was solved at a resolution of 1.70 Å using protein-engineering methods. Furthermore, using the high-resolution crystal structural data for the dimeric form, a monomeric form of BGLPf was constructed which retained the intrinsic activity of the tetrameric form. The thermostability of BGLPf is affected by its oligomeric structure. Here, the biophysical and biochemical properties of engineered dimeric and monomeric BGLPfs are reported, which are promising prototype models to apply to the saccharification reaction. Furthermore, details regarding the oligomeric structures of BGLPf and the reasons why the mutations yielded improved crystal structures are discussed.

Background: Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and adipokines have been implicated in prostate cancer carcinogenesis., Method: Data from 122 men with serum samples drawn within 3 months of starting ADT for metastatic prostate cancer was accessed retrospectively. IGF-1, IGF binding protein (BP)-1, leptin, and adiponectin levels were measured by multiplex electrochemiluminescence assays. A multivariable Cox model assessed the association of time to castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and overall survival by the protein levels, adjusted for clinical variables, age and prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels at start of ADT, race, ECOG status, extent of metastases and were reported as hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI)., Results: Median follow-up and overall survival were 44 and 42.2 months, respectively. ECOG performance status (≥ 1 vs. 0) was negatively associated with overall survival [H  = 2.8 (1.1-7.0), P = 0.03], and PSA nadir <0.2 was predictive of longer time to CRPC [HR = 0.3 (0.2-0.5), P < 0.0001]. The median time to CRPC by low, middle, and top IGFBP-1 tertile distribution was 20.7, 18.1, and 12.4 months, respectively, with HR for middle versus low tertile levels 3.1 (1.7-5), P = 0.0003, and for top versus low tertile levels was 2.4 (1.3-4.2), P = 0.003. The median overall survival by low, middle and top tertile IGFBP-1 level was 48.5, 46.4, and 32.8 months, respectively, with HR for top versus low tertile 2.5 (1.2-5.1), P = 0.01. There was no association with IGF-1, adiponectin and leptin., Conclusion: Elevated IGFBP-1 appears to be associated with shorter time to CRPC and lower overall survival in men with metastatic prostate cancer., (© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Aim: To examine the relationship between preterm birth and socioeconomic factors, past history, cervical length, cervical interleukin-8, bacterial vaginosis, underlying diseases, use of medication, employment status, sex of the fetus and multiple pregnancy., Methods: In a multicenter, prospective, observational study, 1810 Japanese women registering their future delivery were enrolled at 8⁺⁰ to 12⁺⁶ weeks of gestation. Data on cervical length and delivery were obtained from 1365 pregnant women. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed., Results: Short cervical length, steroid use, multiple pregnancy and male fetus were risk factors for preterm birth before 34 weeks of gestation. Multiple pregnancy, low educational level, short cervical length and part-timer were risk factors for preterm birth before 37 weeks of gestation., Conclusion: Multiple pregnancy and cervical shortening at 20-24 weeks of gestation was a stronger risk factor for preterm birth. Any pregnant woman being part-time employee or low educational level, having a male fetus and requiring steroid treatment should be watched for the development of preterm birth., (© 2013 The Authors. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research © 2013 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

The vitamin D receptor (VDR), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, functions as a ligand-dependent transcription factor for various genes. Hereditary vitamin D-resistant rickets (HVDRR), an autosomal recessive disease, is caused by mutations in the VDR. In particular, the missense mutations R274L and W286R in the ligand-binding domain of the VDR can severely reduce or even eliminate natural hormone responsiveness. Here, we report a crystal structure analysis of the R270L and W282R mutants of rat VDR (human R274L and W286R, respectively) in complex with the natural hormone and synthetic ligands. We also studied the folding properties of the mutant proteins by using circular dichroism spectra. Our study indicates that these mutations result in only local structural modifications. We discuss why these mutations disrupt the VDR function and provide clues to develop effective ligands for the treatment of HVDRR.

A new polymorph of acetohexamide (Form VI) was prepared via the formation of a complex with 2-hydoxybutyl-β-cyclodextrin (HB-β-CD) in aqueous solution. An alkaline solution of acetohexamide and HB-β-CD was adjusted to pH 4.0 by titration with hydrochloric acid. The resulting opaque solution was filtered through paper and allowed to stand at 4°C for 24h. The resulting precipitate was isolated on a filter and analyzed for polymorph content by powder X-ray diffractometry and thermal analysis. The diffraction pattern and thermal behavior of the precipitate was different from those of previously reported acetohexamide polymorphs (Forms I, III, IV and V), indicating that a new polymorph of the drug, i.e. Form VI was produced. This new polymorph was fairly stable against conversion to a stable form even at accelerated storage conditions. Crystalline Form VI was highly soluble in water and dissolved more rapidly than the other known polymorphs. This property was reflected in the blood concentrations of the drug after oral administration to rats., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Intermediate end points are desirable to expedite the integration of neoadjuvant systemic therapy into the treatment strategy for high-risk localized prostate cancer. Endorectal magnetic resonance imaging at 1.5 Tesla (1.5T erMRI) response has been utilized as an end point in neoadjuvant trials but has not been correlated with clinical outcomes., Methods: Data were pooled from two trials exploring neoadjuvant chemotherapy in high-risk localized prostate cancer. Trial 1 explored docetaxel for 6 months and Trial 2 explored docetaxel plus bevacizumab for 4.5 months, both before radical prostatectomy. erMRI was done at baseline and end of chemotherapy. 1.5T erMRI response, based upon T2W sequences, was recorded. Multivariable Cox regression was undertaken to evaluate the association between clinical parameters and biochemical recurrence., Results: There were 53 evaluable patients in the combined analysis: 20 (33%) achieved a PSA response, 16 (27%) achieved an erMRI partial response and 24 (40%) achieved an erMRI minor response. Median follow-up was 4.2 years, and 33 of 53 evaluable (62%) patients developed biochemical recurrence. On multivariable analysis, PSA response did not correlate with biochemical recurrence (hazard ratio=0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.25-1.33) and paradoxically erMRI response was associated with a significantly shorter time to biochemical recurrence (hazard ratio=2.47, 95% CI 1.00-6.13)., Conclusions: Response by 1.5T erMRI does not correlate with a decreased likelihood of biochemical recurrence in patients with high-risk localized prostate cancer treated with neoadjuvant docetaxel and may be associated with inferior outcomes. These data do not support the use of 1.5T erMRI response as a primary end point in neoadjuvant chemotherapy trials.

Background: This study sought to characterize Modern patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and identify pretreatment clinical predictors of survival., Methods: A cohort of men with CRPC with and without metastases (M) treated with secondary hormonal therapy (2eHT) and/or chemotherapy (CT) was identified from the authors' institutional database. Associations of patient and disease characteristics at diagnosis, at androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) initiation, at CRPC index date, and survival were evaluated. CRPC index date was defined as the start date of either 2eHT or CT, whichever came first., Results: In the cohort of 622 men, 434 men (70%) had M-positive disease; 552 men (89%) received 2eHT and 70 men (11%) received CT as their initial CRPC treatment. There were 410 deaths (66%) at the time of analysis. Median overall survival (OS) was 35 months (quartile 1, quartile 3: 21 months, 61 months). In multivariate analyses, higher biopsy Gleason score, the presence of M at ADT initiation, shorter time from ADT start to CRPC, higher prostate-specific antigen and poorer Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status at CRPC and M at CRPC were predictive of shorter OS. Interestingly, whereas some men with biopsy Gleason scores of 6 died of their disease (N = 42), they had a longer OS after CRPC compared with those with a Gleason score ≥ 7., Conclusions: This large retrospective study of patients with CRPC in a tertiary cancer center shows that biopsy Gleason score of 6 is associated with a less aggressive CRPC course, and the impact that M at ADT initiation and CRPC have on outcome is quantified., (Copyright © 2013 American Cancer Society.)

A starch-inducible homologous expression system in Acremonium cellulolyticus was constructed to successfully produce recombinant cellulolytic enzymes. A. cellulolyticus Y-94 produced amylolytic enzymes and cellulolytic enzymes as major proteins in the culture supernatant when grown with soluble starch (SS) and Solka-Flock cellulose (SF), respectively. To isolate a strong starch-inducible promoter, glucoamylase (GlaA), which belongs to glycoside hydrolase family 15, was purified from the SS culture of Y-94, and its gene was identified in the genome sequence. The 1.4-kb promoter and 0.4-kb terminator regions of glaA were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and used in the construction of a plasmid that drives the expression of the cellobiohydrolase I (Cel7A) gene from A. cellulolyticus. The resultant expression plasmid, containing pyrF as a selection marker, was randomly integrated into the genome of the A. cellulolyticus Y-94 uracil auxotroph. The prototrophic transformant, Y203, produced recombinant Cel7A as an extracellular protein under control of the glaA promoter in the SS culture. Recombinant and wild-type Cel7A were purified from the SS culture of Y203 and the SF culture of A. cellulolyticus CF-2612, respectively. Both enzymes were found to have the same apparent molecular weight (60 kDa), thermostability (T m 67.0 °C), and optimum pH (pH 4.5), and showed similar catalytic properties for soluble and insoluble substrates. These results suggest that the A. cellulolyticus starch-inducible expression system will be helpful for characterization and improvement of fungal cellulolytic enzymes.

Objective: To evaluate long-term follow-up of a phase II trial of chemohormonal therapy in 62 men with prostate cancer biochemical relapse (BR)., Methods: Treatment was 4 cycles of docetaxel (70 mg/m(2)) every 3 weeks and estramustine 280 mg three times a day (days 1-5) followed by 15 months of goserelin acetate/bicalutamide. The primary endpoint was the proportion with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) <0.1 with recovered testosterone 5 years after completion of therapy. Secondary endpoints included time to progression (TTP), time to reinitiate androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), the proportion with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), and overall survival (OS)., Results: Median follow-up was 8.6 years (range 1.3-11.1 years). At 5 year follow-up, 7 patients (11%) had PSA <0.1 (5 undetectable); 8 (13%) had PSA >0.1 but without reinitiation of ADT (median PSA 0.37). Of the 15 (24%) men without reinitiation of ADT, and 14 have recovered testosterone to normal range. Median TTP for the complete cohort was 35.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 31.7-39.2). Baseline PSA <3.0 ng/dL, no prior ADT, and prostatectomy (vs radiation) were associated with longer TTP (P = .0001, P = .0055, and P = .0398, respectively). At the time of analysis, 42 men (68%) had restarted ADT, 23 men had CRPC (37%), and 11 (18%) had chemotherapy. Median time to reinitiation of ADT was 32.6 months (range 0-107.6 months). Median OS has not been reached; there were 15 deaths., Conclusion: Chemotherapy plus ADT for BR resulted in durable (>5 years) complete responses (<0.1 ng/mL) in 7 men (11%). Twenty-four percent of men have not re-initiated ADT 5 years from completion of protocol therapy., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: We have examined the risk factors and management processes of the persistent occiput posterior (pOP) position by analyzing medical records from our hospital., Material and Methods:  Medical records and delivery notes from January 2007 to December 2009 were reviewed and 103 patients were identified as having the pOP position during active labor. A total of 1054 patients who had occiput anterior (OA) deliveries were used as control., Results:  There was no significant difference in population background between the pOP and control groups. Fifty-eight (56%) cases of pOP were identified before the birth of the fetal head whereas 45 were found to be in pOP at the birth. Among these cases identified as pOP before the birth, 30 (52%) patients underwent an attempt to rotate pOP to OA manually. A total of 14 (47%) attempts were successful and delivered OA vaginally. Of 16 cases whose attempts failed, five (31%) had cesarean delivery and 11 had vaginal OP delivery. The overall cesarean rate in this group was 16.7%. Twenty-eight patients who did not have any corrective intervention had a significantly higher rate of cesarean section (60.7%, P<0.001 by χ(2) analysis). The advanced head station and the wider dilatation resulted in a successful manual rotation., Conclusions: Attempts to correct pOP by manual rotation have better results when the head is in the mid-pelvis. Also, posture change reduces cesarean section rate. The current data suggest attempts to correct pOP to OA reduce cesarean section rate., (© 2012 The Authors. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research © 2012 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Unlabelled: Study Type--Therapy (cohort) Level of Evidence 2a. What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Despite expanding treatment options for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), therapies with long response duration remain intangible due to prostate cancer cells' natural ability to develop iterative resistance. Androgen receptor (AR) signaling has been shown to play a critical role in CRPC and its expression is regulated by the PI3K-Akt pathway. Thus inhibition of AR signalling and PI3K-Akt-mTOR (a downstream mediator of the PI3K-Akt pathway) pathway is a logical combination in CRPC and we report a phase II trial of RAD001 and bicalutamide. Our study is the first clinical trial report of an AR inhibitor of PI3K-Akt-mTOR. The AR pathway and the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway are two of the most relevant growth pathway for CRPC. Despite low efficacy results from our trial there will be significant interest in the field for these data (dose, schedule, response, toxicity, trial design) as newer generations of both AR inhibitors and PI3K-Akt-mTOR inhibitors are in development and likely will be tested in combination in CRPC., Objectives: • To determine best overall response and duration of response of RAD001, a selective inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin, in combination with bicalutamide in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). • To characterize the toxicity profile of RAD001 in combination with bicalutamide in patients with CRPC., Patients and Methods: • A phase II study was conducted to explore the efficacy and tolerability of RAD001 (10 mg daily) in combination with bicalutamide (50 mg daily) in men with progressive CRPC. • The primary endpoint was a composite of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and measurable disease response by standard criteria. • This single-stage trial with a sample size of 38 eligible patients provided 90% power to differentiate a response rate of ≥ 40% from a response rate of ≤ 20%, as expected for bicalutamide alone (α= 0.10, power = 0.90)., Results: • In total, 36 men were enrolled, with a median (range) age of 68 (60-72) years and median (range) baseline PSA level of 22.2 (8.4-121.3) ng/mL, and 89% had metastatic disease. • There were 31 (86%) patients had previously used bicalutamide for a median duration of 7.4 months. • There were two patients with a confirmed PSA level decline ≥ 50%. • The median (interquartile range) time to progression was 8.7 (7.9-15.9) weeks. • The most common toxicity was grade 1/2 mucositis, which was observed in 20 (56%) patients., Conclusion: • The combination of RAD001 and bicalutamide in men with CRPC was well tolerated but had low activity and failed to achieve the primary endpoint of improved response compared to the results previously achieved for bicalutamide alone in this population., (© 2012 THE AUTHORS. BJU INTERNATIONAL © 2012 BJU INTERNATIONAL.)

Background: Stromal cells are believed to affect cancer invasion and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the distribution of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and the incidence of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), focusing on clinicopathological factors and patient prognosis, as well as cancer invasion., Methods: The study included 108 patients with OSCC. Anti-α-smooth muscle actin, CD68, and CD163 antibodies were used to identify CAFs and TAMs. CAFs were divided into 4 grades on the basis of staining intensity: negative (0), scanty (1), focal (2), and abundant (3). The most intensive areas of macrophage concentration in each tumor invasive stroma were also evaluated., Results: The cancer specimens were divided into Grade 0/1, Grade 2, and Grade 3 on the basis of CAF grade. In addition, they were divided into low- and high-grade groups on the basis of the number of CD68-positive and CD163-positive macrophages. The latter were significantly increased in the Grade 2 CAF group compared to the Grade 0/1 group (P = 0.009). Kaplan-Meier and multivariate survival analyses revealed that Grade 2 CAFs (P = 0.003) and high CD163-positive macrophage levels (P = 0.007) significantly correlated with a poor outcome in patients with OSCC, and that a high CD163-positive macrophage level was a significant and an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.045)., Conclusions: Cancer-associated fibroblasts and CD163-positive macrophages may be potential prognostic predictors of OSCC., (© 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)