Color-tunable arylaminoanthraquinone dyes through hydrogen-bond-assisted charge transfer interaction

We prepared a series of arylaminoanthraquinone derivatives, including those with electron-accepting sulfone units and/or with electron-donating dialkylamino units. A color-tunable anthraquinone library that reached into the NIR region could be prepared through the precise control of frontier orbitals. Fine color-tuning was achieved through proper selection and positioning of the substituents. Effective intramolecular hydrogen-bond-assisted charge transfer interaction between electron-donating aniline/p-phenylenediamine and electron-accepting anthraquinone substructures induced a significant bathochromic shift of anthraquinone. The number and position of the substituents and the molecular conformation also significantly contributed to determining photophysical properties.

A color-tunable anthraquinone library based on arylaminoanthraquinone was prepared through hydrogen-bond-assisted charge transfer interaction.     

Photochemical hole burning study of unimacromolecular micelles with a tetraphenylporphine group embedded in poly(vinyl alcohol)

We studied the highly constraining microenvironment in unimolecular micelles (unimers) of amphiphilic random terpolymers containing sodium sulfonate, cyclododecyl (CD) or lauryl (LA) groups, and a small amount of tetraphenylporphine (H₂TPP) moiety at low temperatures by using photochemical hole burning spectroscopy. The terpolymers were embedded in poly(vinyl alcohol). Only the terpolymer with CD groups forms unimers in the polymer matrix. We also measured the homopolymers containing CD or LA groups doped with H₂TPP. The burned (spectral) holes were thermally more stable in the unimer with CD clusters than in the terpolymer with LA groups and in the homopolymer with CD groups. The phonon frequency is larger in the unimer with CD clusters (15.9 cm⁻¹) than in the homopolymer containing CD groups (12.5 cm⁻¹). The results are attributed to the “pinning down” of the H₂TPP species to constrained configurations in the CD cluster.     

Clinical Features of Fibrosing Mediastinitis in Japanese Patients: Two Case Reports and a Literature Review

Fibrosing mediastinitis (FM) is a rare fibroinflammatory disease of the mediastinum with an etiology and clinical features that vary by world region. The characteristics of FM in Japan are still unknown. We herein report two Japanese patients with FM who were treated with corticosteroids and responded well. We also reviewed the Japanese literature on PubMed^Ⓡ and summarized the characteristics of 27 Japanese FM patients, including our two patients. In Japan, the predominant cases were those without a specific cause, were diffusely distributed, and responded well to corticosteroid therapy.     

Eosinophilic Granuloma of the Liver Mimicking Metastatic Liver Tumor

We herein report a case of coagulation necrosis with granulation and eosinophilic infiltration of the liver. A 37-year-old woman was diagnosed with a new mass lesion in the liver 1 month after breast cancer surgery and admitted for a further examination. Because the tumor occurred immediately after surgery, it was considered essential to determine whether or not it was a metastatic liver tumor from breast cancer. A percutaneous liver tumor biopsy revealed eosinophilic granuloma of the liver, which is considered to have a high possibility of visceral larva migrans with suspected gnathostomiasis infection. A detailed medical history and histological diagnosis are important for making a differential diagnosis.     

Methamphetamine-induced locomotor activity and sensitization in dopamine transporter and vesicular monoamine transporter 2 double mutant mice

Rationale The dopamine transporter (DAT) and the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) play pivotal roles in the action of methamphetamine (MAP), including acute locomotor effects and behavioral sensitization. However, the relative impact of heterozygous DAT and VMAT2 knockouts (KOs) on the behavioral effects of MAP remains unknown. Objectives To evaluate the roles of DAT and VMAT2 in MAP-induced locomotor behavior, we examined locomotor activity and sensitization in heterozygous DAT KO (DAT+/−), heterozygous VMAT2 KO (VMAT2+/−), double heterozygous DAT/VMAT2 KO (DAT+/−VMAT2+/−), and wild-type (WT) mice. Results Acute 1 mg/kg MAP injection induced significant locomotor increases in WT and VMAT2+/− mice but not in DAT+/− and DAT+/−VMAT2+/− mice. Acute 2 mg/kg MAP significantly increased locomotor activity in all genotypes. Repeated 1 mg/kg MAP injections revealed a delayed and attenuated development of sensitization in DAT+/− and DAT+/−VMAT2+/− mice compared to WT mice and delayed development in VMAT2+/− mice. In repeated 2 mg/kg MAP injections, DAT+/− and DAT+/−VMAT2+/− mice showed delayed but not attenuated development of sensitization, while there was no difference in the onset of sensitization between VMAT2+/− and WT mice. In DAT+/−VMAT2+/− mice, all of MAP-induced behavioral responses were similar to those in DAT+/− but not VMAT2+/− mice. Conclusions Heterozygous deletion of DAT attenuates the locomotor effects of MAP and may play larger role in behavioral responses to MAP compared to heterozygous deletion of VMAT2.     

Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone after chemotherapy with vinorelbine

PURPOSE: To describe a case of the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) after administration of vinorelbine (VNB) for recurrence of lung cancer. CASE: A 76-year-old man underwent bronchial arterial infusion (BAI) of VNB for postoperative recurrence of lung cancer. Seven days later, hyponatremia and natriuresis developed. Based on his clinical and laboratory findings, we diagnosed him with SIADH. He improved within a couple of days with fluid restriction only. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of VNB may potentially cause SIADH. This is the second report of the SIADH caused by VNB. It is important to monitor the serum sodium level and clinical findings after chemotherapy with VNB.     

Molecular classification and diagnostics of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma

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High ubiquitous mitochondrial creatine kinase expression in hepatocellular carcinoma denotes a poor prognosis with highly malignant potential

We previously reported the increased serum mitochondrial creatine kinase (MtCK) activity in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), mostly due to the increase in ubiquitous MtCK (uMtCK), and high uMtCK mRNA expression in HCC cell lines. We explored the mechanism(s) and the relevance of high uMtCK expression in HCC. In hepatitis C virus core gene transgenic mice, known to lose mitochondrial integrity in liver and subsequently develop HCC, uMtCK mRNA and protein levels were increased in HCC tissues but not in non‐tumorous liver tissues. Transient overexpression of ankyrin repeat and suppressor of cytokine signaling box protein 9 (ASB9) reduced uMtCK protein levels in HCC cells, suggesting that increased uMtCK levels in HCC cells may be caused by increased gene expression and decreased protein degradation due to reduced ASB9 expression. The reduction of uMtCK expression by siRNA led to increased cell death, and reduced proliferation, migration and invasion in HCC cell lines. Then, consecutive 105 HCC patients, who underwent radiofrequency ablation with curative intent, were enrolled to analyze their prognosis. The patients with serum MtCK activity >19.4 U/L prior to the treatment had significantly shorter survival time than those with serum MtCK activity ≤19.4 U/L, where higher serum MtCK activity was retained as an independent risk for HCC‐related death on multivariate analysis. In conclusion, high uMtCK expression in HCC may be caused by hepatocarcinogenesis per se but not by loss of mitochondrial integrity, of which ASB9 could be a negative regulator, and associated with highly malignant potential to suggest a poor prognosis. © 2013 UICC     

Comparison of regimen-related toxicity between high-dose melphalan and ICE as a preparatory regimen for autologous stem cell transplantation

Chemotherapy-susceptive multiple myeloma (MM) has an indication for high-dose melphalan (HDM) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT). HDM was a most simple and convenient regimen among various preparatory regimens, because of rapid infusion divided over 2 days. In order to assess the potential of auto-SCT by HDM in a outpatient setting, we evaluated the toxicities of HDM compared with the ICE regimen generally applied to patients with refractory or relapsed lymphoma. We reviewed 27 cases of auto-SCT from April 2003 to December 2004. The preparatory regimen was HDM (melphalan 200 mg/m(2)) for 18 cases of multiple myeloma and ICE therapy (ifosfamide 12 g/m (2), carboplatin 1,200 mg/m(2), etoposide 800 mg/m2) for 9 malignant lymphomas. Gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events for a patient per hospital day were 0.93 for myeloma and 0.95 for lymphoma (no significant differences), with GI toxicity of more than grade 3, 0.08 and 0.12, respectively (p=0.07). Hematological toxicity was not significantly different between the 2 therapies. The clinical toxicity of HDM was milder compared to ICE, especially regarding the speculated GI-associated nutritional disorders. We thus concluded that outpatient auto-SCT could be validated first in myeloma patients treated by HDM with careful supportive treatments, thereby avoiding regimen-related severe adverse events.