Search

Background and Objectives: Granulocyte transfusion (GTX) is a treatment option for severe infections in patients with neutropenia. In previous studies, hydroxyethyl starch (HES) was used to enhance red blood cell sedimentation for granulocyte collection (GC). However, there are safety concerns about HES, and HES is not readily available in some countries. Therefore, we compared the granulocyte counts and GC efficiency achieved by two apheresis systems without HES. Materials and Methods: All consecutive GC procedures performed between July 2011 and March 2018 at our hospital were analysed. COBE Spectra was used until 5 February 2016, and Spectra Optia was used afterwards. HES was not used. Results: Twenty‐six GC procedures were performed, including 18 performed using COBE Spectra and 8 using Spectra Optia. When Spectra Optia was used, >1 × 1010 neutrophils were collected from seven of the eight (88%) procedures. Although there was no significant difference in the granulocyte yield between COBE Spectra‐based and Spectra Optia‐based GC procedures, the collection efficiency of Spectra Optia was significantly higher than that of COBE Spectra (p = 0.021). Furthermore, the granulocyte yields of Spectra Optia‐based GC tended to be more strongly correlated with the peripheral blood neutrophil count on the day of apheresis than those of COBE Spectra‐based GC. Conclusion: Our results suggest that Spectra Optia achieves greater GC efficiency than COBE Spectra, even without HES. GTX may be a therapeutic option for severe neutropenia, even in places where HES is not available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria; C5 genetic variant; refractory; eculizumab; pegcetacoplan EN paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria C5 genetic variant refractory eculizumab pegcetacoplan e57 e60 4 03/22/22 20220315 NES 220315 Anti-C5 antibodies effectively inhibit intravascular haemolysis, alleviate various symptoms associated with haemolysis and prevent thrombosis in most cases with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH), thereby significantly improving the quality of life.1,2 However, some PNH cases are poor responders to anti-C5 antibody therapy and show poor prognosis.3-5 The common cause is the C3-mediated extravascular haemolysis; thus, C3 inhibitor as a possible therapeutic target has been developed specifically for them.3-7 Another cause of the refractoriness to treatment is the C5 genetic variant in a small population of PNH patient cases.3 Nishimura I et al i . identified a single missense heterozygous mutation in the C5 gene (c.2654G->A) in 11 Japanese PNH patient cases (corresponding to 3-2% of the Japanese PNH patient population) poorly responding to eculizumab. The mutation occurs in approximately 1% of the Han Chinese population.3 A very similar mutation in the C5 gene (c.2653C->T) has also been described in an Argentinian PNH patient, who was refractory to eculizumab.3 Recently, a unique heterozygous variant in the C5 gene (c.2653C->A) was identified in a Caucasian PNH patient with a poor response.8 To date, approved options for carriers of the C5 genetic variant are limited. Moreover, the PEGASUS study demonstrated an advantage of pegcetacoplan in patients who had an inadequate response to eculizumab.10 In these patients, pegcetacoplan has the potential to control not only residual intravascular haemolysis but also C3-mediated extravascular haemolysis. [Extracted from the article]

The best configuration for holographic optical heads for compact disk players is discussed from the viewpoint of considering the misalignment allowance for head components. Focus-error and tracking-error signals of the proposed head configurations are simulated with a ray-tracing method and by using optical cross transfer function theory. The misalignment allowance for the head components, such as the objective lens, the holographic optical element, and the photodetector, are calculated for several configurations. The misalignment allowance is found to increase greatly when the holographic optical element is placed in close proximity to the objective lens and then when this assembly is moved as a unit.

The electroluminescent (EL) features of oligothiophenes dispersed as a dopant in the host matrices comprising tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum have been investigated. We chose the oligothiophenes that are substituted with phenyl or methyl groups at both the molecular terminals and possess various degrees of polymerization. Regarding both the phenyl- and methyl-substituted materials, the EL spectra are progressively red-shifted with the increasing number of thiophenes. Comparing these spectra with the photoluminescent spectra, we have found out that the EL arises mostly from the dopant molecules of the oligothiophenes. The emission is dominated by energy transfer from host matrices to the dopant molecules, leading to the enhanced device efficiencies. The specific effects of the phenyl- or methyl-substitution and the extension of the π-delocalization in the molecules are also discussed. © 2002 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which analyzed the effect of device parameters on static and dynamic properties of inhomogenously current-injected bistable semiconductor lasers. Significance of optically bistable devices in optical computers and optical signal processing systems; Insight on the mechanism of transition between lasing and nonlasing states; Role of the carrier increasing rates due to the bias current and dopant concentration in the active layer to the switching on and off.

The INK4 family members p16INK4a and p15INK4b negatively regulate cell cycle progression by inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6. Loss of p16INK4a functional activity is frequently observed in tumor cells, and is thought to be one of the primary causes of carcinogenesis. In contrast, despite the biochemical similarity to p16INK4a, the frequency of defects in p15INK4b was found to be lower than in p16INK4a, suggesting that p15INK4b-inductive agents may be useful for tumor suppression. Here we report the discovery of a novel pyrido-pyrimidine derivative, JTP-70902, which exhibits p15INK4b-inducing activity in p16INK4a-inactivated human colon cancer HT-29 cells. JTP-70902 also induced another CDK-inhibitor, p27KIP1, and downregulated the expression of c-Myc and cyclin D1, resulting in G1 cell cycle arrest. MEK1/2 was identified by compound-immobilized affinity chromatography as the molecular target of JTP-70902, and this was further confirmed by the inhibitory activity of JTP-70902 against MEK1/2 in kinase assays. JTP-70902 suppressed the growth of most colorectal and some other cancer cell lines in vitro, and showed antitumor activity in an HT-29 xenograft model. However, JTP-70902 did not inhibit the growth of COLO320 DM cells; in these, constitutive extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation was not detected, and neither p15INK4b nor p27KIP1 induction was observed. Moreover, p15INK4b-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts were found to be more resistant to the growth-inhibitory effect of JTP-70902 than wild-type mouse embryonic fibroblasts. These findings suggest that JTP-70902 restores CDK inhibitor-mediated cell cycle control by inhibiting MEK1/2 and exerts a potent antitumor effect. ( Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 1809–1916) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphology of the base membranes of ion exchange membranes prepared by the paste method were observed in detail by transmission electron microscopy. The base membranes are composed of copolymer of styrene(St)-divinylbenzene(DVB) and polyvinyichloride (PVC). It was confirmed that the copolymerization of St-DVB is carried out either inside or outside of the PVC gel phase. The St-DVB content in the paste affects not only the morphology but the properties of the ion exchange membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]