Genome-wide association study of pathological gambling

Background

Pathological gambling is a behavioural addiction with negative economic, social, and psychological consequences. Identification of contributing genes and pathways may improve understanding of aetiology and facilitate therapy and prevention. Here, we report the first genome-wide association study of pathological gambling. Our aims were to identify pathways involved in pathological gambling, and examine whether there is a genetic overlap between pathological gambling and alcohol dependence.

Methods

Four hundred and forty-five individuals with a diagnosis of pathological gambling according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders were recruited in Germany, and 986 controls were drawn from a German general population sample. A genome-wide association study of pathological gambling comprising single marker, gene-based, and pathway analyses, was performed. Polygenic risk scores were generated using data from a German genome-wide association study of alcohol dependence.

Results

No genome-wide significant association with pathological gambling was found for single markers or genes. Pathways for Huntington's disease (P-value = 6.63 × 10−3); 5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase signalling (P-value = 9.57 × 10−3); and apoptosis (P-value = 1.75 × 10−2) were significant. Polygenic risk score analysis of the alcohol dependence dataset yielded a one-sided nominal significant P-value in subjects with pathological gambling, irrespective of comorbid alcohol dependence status.

Conclusions

The present results accord with previous quantitative formal genetic studies which showed genetic overlap between non-substance- and substance-related addictions. Furthermore, pathway analysis suggests shared pathology between Huntington's disease and pathological gambling. This finding is consistent with previous imaging studies.

Poly(ε-caprolactone) with pH and UCST responsiveness as a 5-fluorouracil carrier

Stimuli-responsive polymers with excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability are highly demanded as carriers for controlled drug delivery.

Facile preparation of long-chain aliphatic polycarbonates containing block copolycarbonates via one-pot sequential organic catalyzed polymerization of macrocyclic carbonates and trimethylene carbonates

A universal and effective approach was reported to synthesize block copolycarbonates containing long-chain aliphatic polycarbonates and PTMC segments using the ROP differences between macrocyclic and small cyclic carbonates with TBD as catalyst.

Tailor-made chalcogen-rich polycarbonates: experimental and computational insights into chalcogen group-dependent ring opening polymerization

A versatile strategy to poly(chalcogen-carbonate) library is presented by organic base catalytic macrocarbonate polymerization. Polymerization depends sensitively on chalcogen groups.

The transcription factor ERG regulates a low shear stress-induced anti-thrombotic pathway in the microvasculature

Endothelial cells actively maintain an anti-thrombotic environment; loss of this protective function may lead to thrombosis and systemic coagulopathy. The transcription factor ERG is essential to maintain endothelial homeostasis. Here, we show that inducible endothelial ERG deletion (ErgiEC-KO) in mice is associated with spontaneous thrombosis, hemorrhages and systemic coagulopathy. We find that ERG drives transcription of the anticoagulant thrombomodulin (TM), as shown by reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation. TM expression is regulated by shear stress (SS) via Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2). In vitro, ERG regulates TM expression under low SS conditions, by facilitating KLF2 binding to the TM promoter. However, ERG is dispensable for TM expression in high SS conditions. In ErgiEC-KO mice, TM expression is decreased in liver and lung microvasculature exposed to low SS but not in blood vessels exposed to high SS. Our study identifies an endogenous, vascular bed-specific anticoagulant pathway in microvasculature exposed to low SS.

Specific Heat Study of 1D and 2D Excitations in the Layered Frustrated Quantum Antiferromagnets Cs_{2}CuCl_{4-x}Br_{x}

We report an experimental and theoretical study of the low-temperature specific heat C and magnetic susceptibility χ of the layered anisotropic triangular-lattice spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnets Cs_{2}CuCl_{4-x}Br_{x} with x=0, 1, 2, and 4. We find that the ratio J^{'}/J of the exchange couplings ranges from 0.32 to ≈0.78, implying a change (crossover or quantum phase transition) in the materials' magnetic properties from one-dimensional (1D) behavior for J^{'}/J<0.6 to two-dimensional (2D) behavior for J^{'}/J≈0.78. For J^{'}/J<0.6, realized for x=0, 1, and 4, we find a magnetic contribution to the low-temperature specific heat, C_{m}∝T, consistent with spinon excitations in 1D spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnets. Remarkably, for x=2, where J^{'}/J≈0.78 implies a 2D magnetic character, we also observe C_{m}∝T. This finding, which contrasts the prediction of C_{m}∝T^{2} made by standard spin-wave theories, shows that Fermi-like statistics also plays a significant role for the magnetic excitations in spin-1/2 frustrated 2D antiferromagnets.

Dual stimuli-responsive polypeptide prepared by thiol-ene click reaction of poly(l-cysteine) and N, N-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate

Stimuli-responsive polymers that can undergo conformational changes with external triggers have enabled themselves as smart materials for various utilizations, among which biodegradability is of particular importance to be engineered for biomedical application. In this study, a thermo and pH dual responsive polypeptide (N, N-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate-modified poly(l-cysteine)) (PLC-g-DMAEA) was prepared by the combination of N-carboxyanhydride ring-open polymerization and thiol-ene click chemistry. The biodegradable poly(l-cysteine) (PLC) with pendant thiol groups provided an easily clickable backbone for postmodification, which was demonstrated by reacting with a well-known monomer of N, N-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate (DMAEA) to achieve both temperature and pH responsiveness. The irreversible thermo-response of PLC-g-DMAEA could be attributed to the ordered β-sheets formed upon heating, leading to the trapped side groups with poor water accessibility. Moreover, this copolymer precipitated at pH ranging from 7.5 to 9.7, but protonation of tertiary amine groups (pH < 7.5) and salt forming of masked thiol groups (pH > 9.7) rendered it soluble in water. Our results revealed that a ready available vinyl monomer could be easily clicked onto the biodegradable PLC and its stimuli responsiveness would be reserved. Moreover, the primary and secondary structures of PLC might influence the conformation, thus leading to the unique responsive behavior of the resulted copolymer.

The mitochondrial type IB topoisomerase drives mitochondrial translation and carcinogenesis

Mitochondrial topoisomerase IB (TOP1MT) is a nuclear-encoded topoisomerase, exclusively localized to mitochondria, which resolves topological stress generated during mtDNA replication and transcription. Here, we report that TOP1MT is overexpressed in cancer tissues and demonstrate that TOP1MT deficiency attenuates tumor growth in human and mouse models of colon and liver cancer. Due to their mitochondrial dysfunction, TOP1MT-KO cells become addicted to glycolysis, which limits synthetic building blocks and energy supply required for the proliferation of cancer cells in a nutrient-deprived tumor microenvironment. Mechanistically, we show that TOP1MT associates with mitoribosomal subunits, ensuring optimal mitochondrial translation and assembly of oxidative phosphorylation complexes that are critical for sustaining tumor growth. The TOP1MT genomic signature profile, based on Top1mt-KO liver cancers, is correlated with enhanced survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Our results highlight the importance of TOP1MT for tumor development, providing a potential rationale to develop TOP1MT-targeted drugs as anticancer therapies.

Synthesis of main chain sulfur-containing aliphatic polycarbonates by organocatalytic ring-opening polymerization of macrocyclic carbonates

The first application of organocatalysts is reported to achieve highly active and living ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of thioether-based macrocyclic carbonates for preparing well-defined main chain thioether functional APCs.

Melamine-mediated supramolecular assembly of nucleobase-modified poly(l-lysine)

Melamine (M) was used to drive the supramolecular assembly of thymine (T)-modified poly(l-lysine) into fibers or spherical micelles through simply adjusting the substitution degree of T and the concentration of M.

Automatic substantia nigra segmentation in neuromelanin-sensitive MRI by deep neural network in patients with prodromal and manifest synucleinopathy

Neuromelanin (NM) is a black pigment located in the brain in substantia nigra pars compacta (SN) and locus coeruleus. Its loss is directly connected to the loss of nerve cells in this part of the brain, which plays a role in Parkinson’s Disease. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an ideal tool to monitor the amount of NM in the brain in vivo. The aim of the study was the development of tools and methodology for the quantification of NM in a special neuromelanin-sensitive MRI images. The first approach was done by creating regions of interest, corresponding to the anatomical position of SN based on an anatomical atlas and determining signal intensity threshold. By linking the anatomical and signal intensity information, we were able to segment the SN. As a second approach, the neural network U-Net was used for the segmentation of SN. Subsequently, the volume characterizing the amount of NM in the SN region was calculated. To verify the method and the assumptions, data available from various patient groups were correlated. The main benefit of this approach is the observer-independency of quantification and facilitation of the image processing process and subsequent quantification compared to the manual approach. It is ideal for automatic processing many image sets in one batch.

[Effect of different medication time prior to corneal refractive surgery on tear film stability]

Objective: To investigate the effect of different medication time prior to corneal refractive surgery on tear film stability. Methods: Prospective cohort study. A total of 60 patients (60 eyes), including 38 males (63.3%) and 22 females (37.7%) with an average age of (24.2±5.1) years (form 18 to 37 years), who had planned for corneal refractive surgery with normal ocular surface disease index score were included in this study. The patients were divided into 1d group (medication of 1 day, 30 eyes) and 3d group (medication of 3 days, 30 eyes) randomly. The first tear break up time (FBUT), the average tear break up time (AVBUT) and the dry eye grade score were recorded on the examination day and the operation day with Keratograph 5M. The difference of FBUT and AVBUI between the two groups was compared with the independent sample t test. The difference of FBUT and AVBUT between the examination day and the operation day was compared with the paired t test. The difference of the dry eye classification between the two groups was compared using chi-square test. Results: The FBUT and AVBUT of 1d group and 3d group were (10.89±5.19)s and (10.88±6.82)s, (16.24±3.62)s and (16.21±4.74)s respectively in preoperative examination, and (10.65±6.03)s and (8.14±5.75)s, (15.14±5.30)s and (12.86±5.92)s respectively in operation day. There was no significant difference in FBUT and AVBUT between the two groups (t=0.01, 1,47, 0.02, 1.44; P>0.05). However, in the 3d group, the AVBUT of operation day decreased as compared with that of the examination day, and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.31, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the distribution of dry eye classification between the two groups (χ(2)=0.07, 3.36; P>0.05). Conclusion: Both of medication of 1 day and medication of 3 days prior to corneal refractive surgery can provide a similar tear film stability, however more attention should be paid to the medication for patients with asymptomatic but abnormal BUT. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2018, 54: 744-747).

Hepatocyte culture on 3D porous scaffolds of PCL/PMCL

The development of three-dimensional (3D) porous scaffolds for soft tissue engineering mainly focused on manipulation of scaffold properties with cell behaviors. By emulsion freeze-drying method, four types of porous scaffolds were prepared from amorphous poly(4-methy-ε-caprolactone) (PMCL) and semi-crystalline poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) at different weight ratios, named as PMCL0, PMCL30, PMCL50 and PMCL70, respectively. Visual observation on cross-sectional images of the scaffolds appeared as sponge-like materials with three-dimensional and highly porous morphologies. However, the pore size, porosity and wettability of blends were not decreased linearly with increasing amorphous PMCL. Distinguished from PMCL30 or PMCL70, PMCL50 preserved intact PCL crystals distributed in amorphous matrix, resulting in the lowest Young's modulus (E) and relatively high wettability. From in vitro cell culture, it was observed that PMCL50 scaffold supported human induced hepatocytes (hiHeps) proliferation and function preservation best among all scaffolds. hiHeps on PMCL50 inclined to adopt fibroblastic morphology, whereas formed spheroidal morphology on PMCL0. It was suggested that our bare scaffolds with tailored properties have shown remarkable capability towards hiHep proliferation and function expression.

The Brief International Cognitive Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS): results from the German validation study

BACKGROUND

Recent research has convincingly shown that the ability to work mainly depends on the cognitive status in multiple sclerosis (MS). An international committee of experts recommended a brief neuropsychological battery to evaluate cognitive performance in MS. BICAMS comprises three tests, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), the learning trials of the California Verbal Learning Test II (CVLT-II), and the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R).

OBJECTIVE

To validate BICAMS on a sample of German MS patients and healthy controls (HCs).

METHODS

According to the international guidelines for validation, examiner's instructions were standardized and translated into German. Due to the availability of better normative data for future applications in routine clinical care and classification of individual performance degree, the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) (German version: Verbaler Lern- und Merkfähigkeits-Test, VLMT) was chosen instead of CVLT-II. 172 MS patients and 100 HCs entered the study. BICAMS was administered at baseline and retest (after 3-4 weeks).

RESULTS

The groups did not differ in age, gender or education. Mean age of MS patients was 43.33 years (SD 11.64); 68% were female and 86.9% had relapsing-remitting MS. Patients performed significantly worse than HCs on the SDMT (p < 0.01) and on BVMT-R (p < 0.05) but not on VLMT. In addition, BICAMS was shown to be reliable over time: r = 0.71 for BVMT-R, r = 0.72 for VLMT and r = 0.85 for SDMT. SDMT z-score proved to be a good predictor for the ability to work in a full-time (p < 0.001) as well as in a part-time job (p < 0.001). VLMT z-score turned out to be a significant predictor only for the ability to work in a part-time job, while BVMT-R z-score showed no significant predictive value.

CONCLUSION

In this German validation study with the VLMT, the modified BICAMS (BICAMS-M) turned out to reliably detect cognitive problems in MS patients and to monitor cognitive performance over time. SDMT revealed the best predictive value for working ability. Moreover, only the SDMT was able to predict the ability to work in a part-time or full-time job. Following these results, application of the SDMT is recommended for medical statements on working ability of MS patients.

Chemo-Enzymatic Synthesis of Poly(4-piperidine lactone- b-ω-pentadecalactone) Block Copolymers as Biomaterials with Antibacterial Properties

With increasing troubles in bacterial contamination and antibiotic-resistance, new materials possessing both biocompatibility and antimicrobial efficacy are supposed to be developed for future biomedical application. Herein, we demonstrated a chemo-enzymatic ring opening polymerization (ROP) approach for block copolyester, that is, poly(4-benzyl formate piperidine lactone- b-ω-pentadecalactone) (PNPIL- b-PPDL), in a one-pot two-step process. Afterward, cationic poly(4-piperidine lactone- b-ω-pentadecalactone) (PPIL- b-PPDL) with pendent secondary amino groups was obtained via acidic hydrolysis of PNPIL- b-PPDL. The resulting cationic block copolyester exhibited high antibacterial activity against Gram negative E. coli and Gram positive S. aureus, while showed low toxicity toward NIH-3T3 cells. Moreover, the antibacterial property, cytotoxicity and degradation behavior could be tuned simply by variation of PPIL content. Therefore, we anticipate that such cationic block copolymers could potentially be applied as biomaterials for medicine or implants.

Enhanced bioreduction-responsive biodegradable diselenide-containing poly(ester urethane) nanocarriers

Stimuli-responsive nanocarriers have been limited for bench-to-bedside translation mainly because the stimuli sensitivity and responsive rate are not high enough to ensure sufficient drug concentration at the target sites for superior therapeutic benefits. Herein, we reported an enhanced bioreduction-responsive and biodegradable nanocarrier based on the amphiphilic poly(ester urethane) copolymers (PAUR-SeSe) bearing multiple diselenide groups on the backbone. The copolymer could spontaneously self-assemble into stable micelles in aqueous medium with an average diameter of 68 nm, which could be rapidly disassembled in a reductive environment as a result of the reduction-triggered cleavage of diselenide groups. Furthermore, the PAUR-SeSe micelles showed an enhanced drug release profile and cellular uptake compared with the disulfide-containing analogue (PAUR-SS). CCK8 assays revealed that the antitumor activity of DOX-loaded PAUR-SeSe micelles was much higher than that of DOX-loaded PAUR-SS micelles. Besides, the blank micelles and degradation products were nontoxic up to a tested concentration of 50 μg mL^-1. Therefore, the enhanced therapeutic efficacy and good biocompatibility demonstrated that this drug nanocarrier had great potential for smart antitumor drug delivery applications.

Well-Defined Selenium-Containing Aliphatic Polycarbonates via Lipase-Catalyzed Ring-Opening Polymerization of Selenic Macrocyclic Carbonate Monomer

The synthesis of well-defined, biodegradable selenium-containing polymers remains a formidable challenge in polymer chemistry. Herein, a selenic cyclic carbonate dimer monomer (M_Se) was developed to generate well-defined, biodegradable aliphatic polycarbonates with selenide functionality on the backbone. The monomer was synthesized via the intermolecular cyclization of di(1-hydroxyethylene) selenide and diphenyl carbonate with lipase CA as catalysts in a mass of anhydrous toluene with very dilute monomer concentration. Then living ring-opening polymerization (ROP) was executed by solution method using the same lipase CA as catalysts. Similarly, the copolymerizations with commercial trimethylene carbonate (TMC) generated random copolymers demonstrated by ¹³C NMR, regulating the density of selenium functional groups. The resulting polymers exhibited a living polymerization characteristic, as evidenced by polymerization kinetics, predictable molecular weights, narrow molecular-weight distribution, and controlled copolymer compositions. Using hydrophilic macroinitiators (PEG), amphiphilic di/triblock copolymers could be obtained, suggesting their potential as controlled drug delivery system (DDS) and hydrogel scaffolds for tissue engineering.

[Single-port VATS-assisted internal fixation of serial rib fractures]

This article describes the operative stabilization of a flail chest due to traumatic serial rib fractures with extensive chest wall deformation and respiratory insufficiency. Initial conservative treatment including systemic and regional pain management and non-invasive positive pressure ventilation did not improve the pain or ventilation. Therefore, a single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) assisted internal fixation of the ribs was performed. The thoracoscopy enabled easy repositioning of the ribs and additionally an estimation of intrathoracic injuries.

T3-Hyperthyreose bei metastasierendem follikulären Schilddrüsenkarzinom unter Substitutionstherapie

Bei einer Patientin mit follikulärem Schilddrüsenkarzinom im fortgeschrittenen Stadium mit multiplen Metastasen in Skelett, Lunge und hilären Lymphknoten zeigte sich bei normalen bis niedrigen T4-Werten eine T3-Hyperthyreose mit entsprechender klinischer Symptomatik, so daß nach Ausschluß von hormonproduzierenden Metastasen als Ursache hierfür eine vermehrte 5’-Dejodierung des T4 zu T3 zu vermuten ist.

Synthesis and gelation of copolypept(o)ides with random and block structure

Copolypept(o)ides of polysarcosine (PSar) and poly(N-isopropyl-L-glutamine) (PIGA) with random and block sequence structures were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of sarcosine N-carboxyanhydrides (Sar-NCA) and γ-benzyl-l-glutamate N-carboxyanhydrides (BLG-NCA) and post modification. With different distribution of Sar along the main chain, H-bonding pattern and secondary structure of polypeptides were turned, as well as aggregation and gelation behavior. Both copolypept(o)ides formed hydrogels above their critical gelation concentrations (CGCs) without thermo-sensitivity, which was normally reserved for PEG copolypeptides (eg, PEG-b-PIGA). In particular, a different mechanism from previously reported micellar percolation or fibrillar entanglement was suggested for gelation of the random copolypept(o)ide. Therefore, hydrogels from copolymers of PSar and PIGA represented a new approach to construct easy-handling, biocompatible, biodegradable and thermo-stable gels that could potentially be applied in biomedical fields.

Cancer-FOXP3 directly activated CCL5 to recruit FOXP3+Treg cells in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Forkheadbox protein 3 (FOXP3), initially identified as a key transcription factor for regulatory T cells (Treg cells), was also expressed in many tumors including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, its role in PDAC progression remains elusive. In this study, we utilized 120 PDAC tissues after radical resection to detect cancer-FOXP3 and Treg cells by immunohistochemistry and evaluated clinical and pathological features of these patients. Cancer-FOXP3 was positively correlated with Treg cells accumulation in tumor tissues derived from PDAC patients. In addition, high cancer-FOXP3 expression was associated with increased tumor volumes and poor prognosis in PDAC especially combined with high levels of Treg cells. Overexpression of cancer-FOXP3 promoted the tumor growth in immunocompetent syngeneic mice but not in immunocompromised or Treg cell-depleted mice. Furthermore, CCL5 was directly trans-activated by cancer-FOXP3 and promoted the recruitment of Treg cells from peripheral blood to the tumor site in vitro and in vivo. This finding has been further reinforced by the evidence that Treg cells recruitment by cancer-FOXP3 was impaired by neutralization of CCL5, thereby inhibiting the growth of PDAC. In conclusion, cancer-FOXP3 serves as a prognostic biomarker and a crucial determinant of immunosuppressive microenvironment via recruiting Treg cells by directly trans-activating CCL5. Therefore, cancer-FOXP3 could be used to select patients with better response to CCL5/CCR5 blockade immunotherapy.

Genetic effects influencing risk for major depressive disorder in China and Europe

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common, complex psychiatric disorder and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Despite twin studies indicating its modest heritability (~30-40%), extensive heterogeneity and a complex genetic architecture have complicated efforts to detect associated genetic risk variants. We combined single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) summary statistics from the CONVERGE and PGC studies of MDD, representing 10 502 Chinese (5282 cases and 5220 controls) and 18 663 European (9447 cases and 9215 controls) subjects. We determined the fraction of SNPs displaying consistent directions of effect, assessed the significance of polygenic risk scores and estimated the genetic correlation of MDD across ancestries. Subsequent trans-ancestry meta-analyses combined SNP-level evidence of association. Sign tests and polygenic score profiling weakly support an overlap of SNP effects between East Asian and European populations. We estimated the trans-ancestry genetic correlation of lifetime MDD as 0.33; female-only and recurrent MDD yielded estimates of 0.40 and 0.41, respectively. Common variants downstream of GPHN achieved genome-wide significance by Bayesian trans-ancestry meta-analysis (rs9323497; log10 Bayes Factor=8.08) but failed to replicate in an independent European sample (P=0.911). Gene-set enrichment analyses indicate enrichment of genes involved in neuronal development and axonal trafficking. We successfully demonstrate a partially shared polygenic basis of MDD in East Asian and European populations. Taken together, these findings support a complex etiology for MDD and possible population differences in predisposing genetic factors, with important implications for future genetic studies.

Preparation and evaluation of PCLA2575 membranes loaded ornidazole in vitro

The aim of this study was to evaluate the properties of the sustained release and antibacterial activity of the ornidazole-drug-loaded membranes using poly[(ethylene glycol)-caprolactone-lactide] (PCLA2575) as membrane material. Ornidazole-loaded membranes were prepared by solvent casting method with the proportion of 5 wt%, 8 wt%, and 10 wt%, respectively. In vitro drug release properties were determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometric method. The antibacterial activities against Streptococcus mutans and Fusobacterium nucleatum in vitro were observed on solid culture medium. The membrane had the high drug loadings and slow-release performance. Drug release time was shortened with the increase in the content of ornidazole, but all of them can achieve more than 7 days. The membrane had strong inhibitory effect on both S. mutans and F. nucleatum. As drug content increased, the antibacterial activities also increased. The membrane had better inhibitory effect on F. nucleatum than S. mutans. Therefore, the ornidazole drug-loaded membrane is expected to be used for the treatment of periodontal disease because of the obvious effect of periodontal pathogens inhibition and good sustained-release performance.

[Monitoring of blood parameters under course-modified MS therapy : Substance-specific relevance and current recommendations for action]

With the approval of various substances for the immunotherapy of multiple sclerosis (MS), treatment possibilities have improved significantly over the last few years. Indeed, the choice of individually tailored preparations and treatment monitoring for the treating doctor is becoming increasingly more complex. This is particularly applicable for monitoring for a treatment-induced compromise of the immune system. The following article by members of the German Multiple Sclerosis Skills Network (KKNMS) and the task force "Provision Structures and Therapeutics" summarizes the practical recommendations for approved immunotherapy for mild to moderate and for (highly) active courses of MS. The focus is on elucidating the substance-specific relevance of particular laboratory parameters with regard to the mechanism of action and the side effects profile. To enable appropriate action to be taken in clinical practice, any blood work changes that can be expected, in addition to any undesirable laboratory findings and their causes and relevance, should be elucidated.

A highly stretchable bioelastomer prepared by UV curing of liquid-like poly(4-methyl-ε-caprolactone) precursors

UV curing of PMCL precursors in the absence of any solvent or heating led to highly stretchable bioelastomers.

Schizophrenic poly(ε-caprolactone)s: synthesis, self-assembly and fluorescent decoration

Double hydrophilic copolymers PCCL-b-PPIL and their pyrene-modified copolymers showed pH-responsive “schizophrenic” aggregation behaviors.