A novel LSD1 inhibitor NCD38 ameliorates MDS-related leukemia with complex karyotype by attenuating leukemia programs via activating super-enhancers

Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) regulates gene expression by affecting histone modifications and is a promising target for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with specific genetic abnormalities. Novel LSD1 inhibitors, NCD25 and NCD38, inhibited growth of MLL-AF9 leukemia as well as erythroleukemia, megakaryoblastic leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) overt leukemia cells in the concentration range that normal hematopoiesis was spared. NCD25 and NCD38 invoked the myeloid development programs, hindered the MDS and AML oncogenic programs, and commonly upregulated 62 genes in several leukemia cells. NCD38 elevated H3K27ac level on enhancers of these LSD1 signature genes and newly activated ~500 super-enhancers. Upregulated genes with super-enhancer activation in erythroleukemia cells were enriched in leukocyte differentiation. Eleven genes including GFI1 and ERG, but not CEBPA, were identified as the LSD1 signature with super-enhancer activation. Super-enhancers of these genes were activated prior to induction of the transcripts and myeloid differentiation. Depletion of GFI1 attenuated myeloid differentiation by NCD38. Finally, a single administration of NCD38 causes the in vivo eradication of primary MDS-related leukemia cells with a complex karyotype. Together, NCD38 derepresses super-enhancers of hematopoietic regulators that are silenced abnormally by LSD1, attenuates leukemogenic programs and consequently exerts anti-leukemic effect against MDS-related leukemia with adverse outcome.

Chemically induced topological zero mode at graphene armchair edges

The electronic and magnetic properties of chemically modified graphene armchair edges are studied using a combination of tight-binding calculations, first-principles modelling, and low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) experiments. The atomically resolved STM images of the hydrogen etched graphitic edges suggest the presence of localized states at the Fermi level for certain armchair edges. We demonstrate theoretically that the topological zero-energy edge mode may emerge at armchair boundaries with asymmetrical chemical termination of the two outermost atoms in the unit cell. We particularly focus our attention on armchair edges terminated by various combinations of the hydrogen (H, H₂) and methylene (CH₂) groups. The inclusion of the spin component in our calculations reveals the appearance of π-electron-based magnetism at the armchair edges under consideration.

Hydrophobic polypyrroles synthesized by aqueous chemical oxidative polymerization and their use as light-responsive liquid marble stabilizers

Hydrophobic polypyrroles doped with perfluoroalkyl dopants can function as a liquid marble stabilizer with photothermal properties.

Investigation of SO3 absorption line for in situ gas detection inside combustion plants using a 4-μm-band laser source

We have investigated 4-μm-band SO₃ absorption lines for in situSO₃ detection using a mid-infrared laser source based on difference frequency generation in a quasi-phase-matched LiNbO₃ waveguide. In the wavelength range of 4.09400-4.10600 μm, there were strong SO₃ absorption lines. The maximum absorption coefficient at a concentration of 170 ppmv was estimated to be about 3.2×10^-5  cm^-1 at a gas temperature of 190°C. In coexistence with H₂O, the reduction of the SO₃ absorption peak height was observed, which was caused by sulfuric acid formation. We discuss a method of using an SO₃ equilibrium curve to derive the total SO₃ molecule concentration.

Randomized clinical trial of single-incision versus multiport laparoscopic colectomy

BACKGROUND

The efficacy and safety of single-incision laparoscopic colectomy (SILC) for colonic cancer remain unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the outcomes of SILC compared with multiport laparoscopic colectomy (MPLC) for colonic cancer.

METHODS

Patients with histologically proven colonic carcinoma located in the caecum, ascending, sigmoid or rectosigmoid colon, clinically diagnosed as stage 0-III by CT, were eligible for this study. Patients were randomized before surgery and underwent tumour dissection with complete mesocolic excision. Safety analyses were conducted according to randomization groups.

RESULTS

A total of 200 patients were enrolled and randomized to the MPLC (100 patients) or SILC (100 patients) arm. Surgical outcomes were similar between the MPLC and SILC arms, including duration of operation (mean 162 versus 156 min respectively; P = 0·273), blood loss (mean 8·8 versus 21·4 ml; P = 0·102), conversion to open laparotomy (2·0 versus 1·0 per cent; P = 0·561), reoperation (3·0 versus 3·0 per cent; P = 1·000), time to first flatus (both median 1 day; P = 0·155) and postoperative hospital stay (both median 6; P = 0·372). The total skin incision length was significantly shorter in the SILC arm (mean 4·4 cm versus 6·8 cm in the MPLC arm; P < 0·001). The median duration of analgesia use was 5 days in the MPLC and 4 days in the SILC arm (P = 0·485). Overall complication rates were equivalent (15·0 versus 12·0 per cent respecitvely; P = 0·680).

CONCLUSION

SILC is not superior to MPLC.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

UMIN000007220 (http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm).

Home rehabilitation project for home-bound physically disabled people in Yokohama

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of home-visit rehabilitation.

Design: Before/after trial.

Setting: Home-visit rehabilitation in Yokohama city.

Subjects: Four hundred and seventy-five of 601 cases that received services during 1992, and 141 of 186 cases that received sequential visits.

Interventions: Comprehensive home-visit rehabilitation.

Main outcome measures: (1) Carer's response on change in care burden; (2) improvement in personal care performance.

Results: Care burden decreased in 40.8% of 475 subjects. All of the 141 cases that received sequential visits gained proficiency in personal care.

Conclusion: Improved performance of daily activities and reduction of care burden were found for most subjects after the rehabilitation visits.

Foams stabilized with solid particles carrying stimuli-responsive polymer hairs

Submicrometer-sized polystyrene (PS) particles carrying stimuli-responsive poly[2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDEA) hairs with degrees of polymerization of 30, 60 and 90 were synthesized by dispersion polymerization and used as a particulate foam stabilizer. The effects of the composition of these PDEA-PS particles and foam formation conditions on foamability, foam stability and foam microstructures were extensively investigated. The hairy particles were found to work as an effective stabilizer of aqueous foams in basic media, in which the PDEA hairs are not protonated and thus the particle surfaces exhibit suitable wettability at the air-water interface. In contrast, little to no foam or unstable foams were formed in acidic aqueous media, in which the hairs are protonated and are therefore water soluble. Particles carrying longer hairs resulted in greater foamability and more highly stabilized foams that were capable of persisting for more than one month. Foams were found to form in a narrower pH range when using PS particles with longer hairs, due to both entropic and image charge effects. Data obtained from the touch mixer mixing method showed that both foamability and foam stability increased with increases in the concentration of polymer particles up to 10 wt%, because higher concentrations allowed greater air-water interfacial areas to be stabilized. Conversely, only minimal foam was obtained at and above 15 wt% because of the high viscosity of the resulting aqueous particle dispersion. Trials using the homogenizer mixing method showed that foam with a cream-like texture could be formed even at 40 wt% particle concentration as a result of the improved mixing efficiency. Defoamation could be induced by exposing the foams to HCl vapor. Exposure to acidic vapor led to in situ protonation of the 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate residues, rendering the PDEA hairs hydrophilic and water soluble, and desorption of the PDEA-PS particles from the air-water interface.

Preliminary analysis of phosphorus flow in Hue Citadel

Characteristics of waste and wastewater management can affect material flows. Our research investigates the management of waste and wastewater in urban areas of developing countries and its effects on phosphorus flow based on a case study in Hue Citadel, Hue, Vietnam. One hundred households were interviewed to gain insight into domestic waste and wastewater management together with secondary data collection. Next, a phosphorus flow model was developed to quantify the phosphorus input and output in the area. The results showed that almost all wastewater generated in Hue Citadel was eventually discharged into water bodies and to the ground/groundwater. This led to most of the phosphorus output flowing into water bodies (41.2 kg P/(ha year)) and ground/groundwater (25.3 kg P/(ha year)). Sewage from the sewer system was the largest source of phosphorus loading into water bodies, while effluent from on-site sanitation systems was responsible for a major portion of phosphorus into the ground/groundwater. This elevated phosphorus loading is a serious issue in considering surface water and groundwater protection.

Synthesis of silsesquioxane-based element-block amphiphiles and their self-assembly in water

The self-assembly of silsesquioxane-based amphiphiles in water was investigated.

Aqueous foams stabilized by temperature-sensitive hairy polymer particles

Submicrometer-sized polystyrene (PS) particles carrying poly[2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDEA) hairs (PDEA-PS particles) were synthesized by free radical dispersion polymerization. The hydrophilicity-hydrophobicity balance of the PDEA could be tuned by varying the temperature at near neutral pH (a lower critical solution temperature of PDEA at pH 6.86, 41 °C) and therefore these sterically-stabilized particles acted as temperature-sensitive stabilizers for aqueous foams. At 25 °C, where the PDEA hairs were hydrated and PDEA-PS particles were colloidally stable in aqueous media, foams were formed which coalesced with time and the size of the bubble increased. At 40 and 45 °C, where the PDEA hairs were partially non-hydrated and PDEA-PS particles were close to flocculation or weakly flocculated, foams were formed and bubble coalescence and size increase speeds were slower than those observed at 25 °C. At and above 50 °C, where the PDEA hairs were non-hydrated and PDEA-PS particles were heavily flocculated in aqueous media, the more stable cream-like foams whose volume was almost the same for 1 week were formed. Scanning electron microscopy studies indicated that the particles mainly adsorbed at the air-water interface as monolayers at 25 °C and as multilayers at and above 40 °C. The foam stability and structure could be controlled by changing the temperature.

Activation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors during preconditioning low-frequency stimulation suppresses subsequent induction of long-term potentiation in hippocampal CA1 neurons

We investigated the role of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) activated during preconditioning low-frequency stimulation (LFS) in the subsequent high-frequency stimulation (HFS)-induced induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) in CA1 neurons in hippocampal slices from mature guinea pigs. Induction of LTP in the field excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) or the population spike (PS) by delivery of HFS (a tetanus of 100 pulses at 100 Hz) to the Schaffer collateral-commissural pathway to CA1 neuron synapses was suppressed when the CA1 synapses were preconditioned by LFS of 1000 pulses at 1 Hz. This effect was inhibited when the preconditioning LFS was applied in the presence of an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) antagonist, a metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) antagonist, IP3R antagonist, a calmodulin-dependent kinase II inhibitor or a calcineurin inhibitor. Furthermore, blockade of group I mGluRs immediately before the delivery of HFS blocked the inhibitory effect of the preconditioning LFS on subsequent induction of LTP by HFS. These results suggest that, in hippocampal CA1 neuron synapses, co-activation of NMDARs and IP3Rs during a preconditioning LFS results in both phosphorylation and dephosphorylation events that lead to prolonged activation of group I mGluRs that is responsible for the failure of LTP induction.

Optimizing the selection of patients with low rectal cancer for intersphincteric resection by evaluating vertical invasion to the levator and external sphincter

AIM

The indications for intersphincteric (ISR) anterior resection are not clearly defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate vertical extension of T2 or T3 low rectal cancer treated by rectal amputation to optimize patient selection for ISR.

METHOD

The abdominoperineal excision specimens of T2 or T3 low rectal cancer from 53 patients treated between 1992 and 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. Vertical invasion was quantified by measuring the shortest distance between the tumour and the striated muscle (T-SM), assuming that this represented the surgical margin that would have be achieved had an ISR been performed.

RESULTS

Involvement of the dentate line (DL) and intramural distal spread were independent risk factors for T-SM ≤ 2 mm. The T-SM was less when the inferior border of the tumour was on the distal side of the DL (r = 0.572, P < 0.001). The probability of involvement of the DL, intramural distal spread or either one of these being associated with T-SM ≤ 2 mm was 43, 46 and 43%, respectively. All patients without both intramural distal spread and involvement of the DL had T-SM > 2.

CONCLUSION

We recommend that ISR should only be performed for patients with T2 or T3 low rectal cancer in whom the lowest edge of the tumour is above the DL and there is no intramural distal spread. Such patients are relatively unlikely to have a T-SM ≤ 2 mm.

Transition of fertilizer application and agricultural pollution loads: a case study in the Nhue-Day River basin

Rapid socio-economic development in suburban areas of developing countries has induced changes in agricultural waste and nutrient management, resulting in water pollution. The study aimed at estimating agricultural nutrient cycles and their contribution to the water environment. A material flow model of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) was developed focusing on agricultural activities from 1980 to 2010 in Trai hamlet, an agricultural watershed in Nhue-Day River basin, Vietnam. The model focused on the change in household management of human excreta and livestock excreta, and chemical fertilizer consumption. The results showed that the proportion of nutrients from compost/manure applied to paddy fields decreased from 85 to 41% for both N and P between 1980 and 2010. The nutrient inputs derived from chemical fertilizer decreased 6% between 1980 and 2000 for both N and P. Then, these nutrients increased 1.4 times for N and 1.2 times for P from 2000 to 2010. As of 2010, the total inputs to paddy fields have amounted to 435 kg-N/ha/year and 90 kg-P/ha/year. Of these nutrient inputs, 40% of N and 65% of P were derived from chemical fertilizer. Thirty per cent (30%) of total N input was discharged to the water bodies through agricultural runoff and 47% of total P input accumulated in soil.

Nutritional management of anastomotic leakage after colorectal cancer surgery using elemental diet jelly

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Anastomotic leakage is major complication of colorectal surgery. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and fasting are conservative treatments for leakage in the absence of peritonitis in Japan. Elemental diet (ED) jelly is a completely digested formula and is easily absorbed without secretion of digestive juices. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety of ED jelly in management of anastomotic leakage.

METHODOLOGY

Six hundred and two patients who underwent elective surgery for left side colorectal cancer from January 2008 to December 2011 were included in the study. Pelvic drainage was performed for all patients. Sixty-three (10.5%) patients were diagnosed with an anastomotic leakage, and of these, 31 (5.2%) without diverting stoma were enrolled in this study.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients received TPN (TPN group) and 15 patients received ED jelly (ED group). The duration of intravenous infusion was significantly shorter in the ED group than in the TPN group (15 days versus 25 days, P= 0.008). In the TPN group, catheter infection was occurred in 2 patients who required re-insertion of the catheter.

CONCLUSION

Conservative management of anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery with ED jelly appears to be a safe and useful approach.

Liquid marbles as a micro-reactor for efficient radical alternating copolymerization of diene monomer and oxygen

Liquid marbles are a novel micro-reactor to efficiently synthesize polyperoxides by the radical alternating copolymerization of the 1,3-diene with oxygen.

Arl4c expression in colorectal and lung cancers promotes tumorigenesis and may represent a novel therapeutic target

We recently demonstrated that expression of ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF)-like 4c (Arl4c) induced by a combination of Wnt/β-catenin and epidermal growth factor/Ras signaling in normal epithelial cells grown in three-dimensional culture promotes cellular migration and proliferation, resulting in formation of tube-like structures, suggesting the involvement of Arl4c in epithelial morphogenesis. It is conceivable that there could be a common mechanism between epithelial morphogenesis and carcinogenesis. Therefore the current study was conducted to investigate whether Arl4c might be involved in tumorigenesis. Immunohistochemical analyses of tissue specimens obtained from colorectal and lung cancer patients revealed that Arl4c was not observed in non-tumor regions but was strongly expressed at high frequencies in tumor lesions. Inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin or Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling reduced Arl4c mRNA levels in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells and A549 lung cancer cells. Knockdown of Arl4c inhibited Rac activity and also prevented nuclear localization of yes-associated protein (YAP)/transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) in these cancer cells. Arl4c-depleted cancer cells consistently showed decreased migration, invasion and proliferation capabilities both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, direct injection of Arl4c small interfering RNA (siRNA) into HCT116 cell-derived tumors (in vivo treatment with siRNA) inhibited tumor growth in immunodeficient mice. These results suggest that Arl4c is involved in tumorigenesis and might represent a novel therapeutic target for suppressing proliferation and invasion of colorectal and lung cancer cells.

Pim-2 kinase is an important target of treatment for tumor progression and bone loss in myeloma

Pim-2 kinase is overexpressed in multiple myeloma (MM) cells to enhance their growth and survival, and regarded as a novel therapeutic target in MM. However, the impact of Pim-2 inhibition on bone disease in MM remains unknown. We demonstrated here that Pim-2 expression was also upregulated in bone marrow stromal cells and MC3T3-E1 preosteoblastic cells in the presence of cytokines known as the inhibitors of osteoblastogenesis in MM, including interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-7, tumor necrosis factor-α, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and activin A, as well as MM cell conditioned media. The enforced expression of Pim-2 abrogated in vitro osteoblastogenesis by BMP-2, which suggested Pim-2 as a negative regulator for osteoblastogenesis. Treatment with Pim-2 short-interference RNA as well as the Pim inhibitor SMI-16a successfully restored osteoblastogenesis suppressed by all the above inhibitory factors and MM cells. The SMI-16a treatment potentiated BMP-2-mediated anabolic signaling while suppressing TGF-β signaling. Furthermore, treatment with the newly synthesized thiazolidine-2,4-dione congener, 12a-OH, as well as its prototypic SMI-16a effectively prevented bone destruction while suppressing MM tumor growth in MM animal models. Thus, Pim-2 may have a pivotal role in tumor progression and bone loss in MM, and Pim-2 inhibition may become an important therapeutic strategy to target the MM cell-bone marrow interaction.

Pickering emulsion engineering: fabrication of materials with multiple cavities

Materials with millimeter to centimeter dimensions containing multiple cavities were fabricated based on Pickering emulsion engineering.

Evaluation of Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease with the use of neuromelanin MR imaging and (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Progressive changes in the substantia nigra pars compacta and locus ceruleus of patients with Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease visualized by neuromelanin MRI and cardiac postganglionic sympathetic nerve function on (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy have not been fully evaluated. We compared the diagnostic value of these modalities among patients with early Parkinson disease, late Parkinson disease, and Alzheimer disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We compared contrast ratios of signal intensity in medial and lateral regions of the substantia nigra pars compacta and locus ceruleus with those of the tegmentum of the midbrain and the pons, respectively, by use of neuromelanin MRI in patients with early Parkinson disease (n = 13), late Parkinson disease (n = 31), Alzheimer disease (n = 6), and age-matched healthy control subjects (n = 20). We calculated heart-to-mediastinum ratios on (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigrams after setting regions of interest on the left cardiac ventricle and upper mediastinum.

RESULTS

The signal intensity of the lateral substantia nigra pars compacta on neuromelanin MRI was significantly reduced in early and late Parkinson disease, and that of the medial substantia nigra pars compacta was gradually and stage-dependently reduced in Parkinson disease. The signal intensity of the locus ceruleus was obviously reduced in late Parkinson disease. Signal reduction was not significant in the substantia nigra pars compacta and locus ceruleus of patients with Alzheimer disease. The heart-to-mediastinum ratio on (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigrams was stage-dependently reduced in Parkinson disease and normal in Alzheimer disease. The signal intensity ratios in substantia nigra pars compacta and locus ceruleus on neuromelanin MRI positively correlated with the heart-to-mediastinum ratio on (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigrams.

CONCLUSIONS

Both neuromelanin MRI and (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy can help to evaluate disease progression in Parkinson disease and are useful for differentiating Parkinson disease from Alzheimer disease.

Parenchymal hypointense foci associated with developmental venous anomalies: evaluation by phase-sensitive MR Imaging at 3T

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The risk of hemorrhage in the context of developmental venous anomaly is considered to be very low, but it has never been evaluated by susceptibility-weighted MR imaging at 3T. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of hypointense foci (ie, microhemorrhage or cavernous malformation) associated with DVA on phase-sensitive MR imaging, on the basis of principles similar to those of susceptibility-weighted MR imaging, and to evaluate the relationship between the hypointense foci and several factors, such as white matter hyperintense lesions adjacent to DVA on T2-weighted imaging, DVA morphology, and clinical symptoms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study retrospectively evaluated 61 lesions in 59 consecutive patients with DVA who underwent MR imaging including phase-sensitive MR imaging. Two neuroradiologists independently assessed for the presence of hypointense foci and other factors such as DVA location, depth, size, direction of draining vein on phase-sensitive MR imaging, and white matter hyperintense lesion on T2-weighted imaging. Clinical symptoms were also assessed.

RESULTS

Hypointense foci were observed in 62.3% (38/61) of lesions. White matter hyperintense lesion was more frequently observed in patients with hypointense foci (26/38) than in patients without hypointense foci (7/23) (P < .01). There was no significant association between hypointense foci and other factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support the hypothesis that microhemorrhage or cavernous malformation can be related to venous congestion caused by abnormal venous drainage. We conclude that phase-sensitive MR imagingis useful for the detection of microhemorrhage or cavernous malformation in patients with DVA, especially when associated with white matter hyperintense lesion.

Adjunctive mood stabilizer and benzodiazepine use in older Asian patients with schizophrenia, 2001-2009

OBJECTIVE

This study surveyed the use of adjunctive mood stabilizers (MS) and benzodiazepines (BZD) in older Asian schizophrenia patients and examined their demographic and clinical correlates.

METHOD

Information on hospitalized schizophrenia patients aged 55 years or more were extracted from the database of the Research on Asian Psychotropic Prescription Patterns (REAP) study. A total of 1,452 patients from 9 Asian countries and territories was included in the study. The patients' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and the prescriptions of antipsychotics, MS and BZD were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure.

RESULTS

The frequency of MS prescription was 26.7% in the pooled sample, with 25.5% in 2001, 26.9% in 2004 and 27.7% in 2009. The corresponding figures for BZD were 20.7%, 20.2%, 18.4% and 23.1%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis of the whole sample revealed that patients on MS were younger and more likely to be men and to have extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) and a longer duration of illness. Compared to patients in China, those in Japan were more likely to receive MS, while Korean patents were prescribed less MS. In contrast, there were no significant sociodemographic or clinical correlates of BZD use. Compared to patients in China, their Korean and Singaporean counterparts were more likely to be on BZD.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of MS and BZD is not uncommon in older Asian patients with schizophrenia. Given the paucity of empirical data on the efficacy of these agents in individuals with schizophrenia of any age and concerns about added side effects in older patients in particular, the rationale for the prescription of these agents in this population warrants further examination.