In situ and nonvolatile photoluminescence tuning and nanodomain writing demonstrated by all-solid-state devices based on graphene oxide

In situ and nonvolatile tuning of photoluminescence (PL) has been achieved based on graphene oxide (GO), the PL of which is receiving much attention because of various potential applications of the oxide (e.g., display, lighting, and nano-biosensor). The technique is based on in situ and nonvolatile tuning of the sp(2) domain fraction to the sp(3) domain fraction (sp(2)/sp(3) fraction) in GO through an electrochemical redox reaction achieved by solid electrolyte thin films. The all-solid-state variable PL device was fabricated by GO and proton-conducting mesoporous SiO2 thin films, which showed an extremely low PL background. The device successfully tuned the PL peak wavelength in a very wide range from 393 to 712 nm, covering that for chemically tuned GO, by adjusting the applied DC voltage within several hundred seconds. We also demonstrate the sp(2)/sp(3) fraction tuning using a conductive atomic force microscope. The device achieved not only writing, but also erasing of the sp(2)/sp(3)-fraction-tuned nanodomain (both directions operation). The combination of these techniques is applicable to a wide range of nano-optoelectronic devices including nonvolatile PL memory devices and on-demand rewritable biosensors that can be integrated into nano- and microtips which are transparent, ultrathin, flexible, and inexpensive.

Hyponatremia and hypokalemia as risk factors for falls

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Fall accidents may reduce an individual's quality of life and ability to perform the activities of daily life, and may delay recovery from illness. Consequently, medical institutions need to take measures to prevent falls. There are various risk factors for falls, including advanced age, illness and medication effects. Although hyponatremia and hypokalemia have been reported to increase the rate of falls, how they affect falls is not fully understood.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

We retrospectively examined 2948 patients, ⩾18 years old who had been hospitalized for ⩾3 days at Gifu (Japan) Municipal Hospital between May 2012 and April 2013 to determine the effects of hyponatremia and hypokalemia on the risk of falls. After the patients had been divided into fall and non-fall groups, their data were subjected to univariate and multiple regression analysis to identify significant differences.

RESULTS

The univariate analysis results revealed significant differences between the groups in terms of age (⩾65 years); the presence of hyponatremia, hypokalemia, central nervous system disease, cardiovascular disease and/or peripheral nerve/muscular disease; intake of medications that increase the risk of falls; and increased sedative dosage. The multivariate analysis results revealed significant differences between the groups in terms of the presence of hyponatremia (odds ratio (OR), 1.751; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.020-3.005), hypokalemia (OR, 2.209; 95% CI, 1.280-3.813), central nervous system disease (OR, 2.492; 95% CI, 1.629-3.814) and/or age ⩾65 years (OR, 2.180; 95% CI, 1.242-3.826).

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated that the presence of hyponatremia or hypokalemia increases the risk of falls.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation is frequently observed in giant cell tumor of bone

Giant cell tumors of bone (GCTB) are benign and locally destructive tumors that include osteoclast-type multinuclear giant cells. No available treatment is definitively effective in curing GCTB, especially in surgically unresectable cases. Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations have been reported not only in gliomas and acute myeloid leukemias, but also in cartilaginous tumors and osteosarcomas. However, IDH mutations in GCTB have not been investigated. The IDH mutations are remarkably specific to arginine 132 (R132) in IDH1 and arginine 172 (R172) or arginine 140 (R140) in IDH2; IDH1/2 mutations are known to convert α-ketoglutarate to oncometabolite R(-)-2-hydroxyglutarate. We recently reported that the most frequent IDH mutation in osteosarcomas is IDH2-R172S, which was detected by MsMab-1, a multispecific anti-IDH1/2 mAb. Herein, we newly report the IDH mutations in GCTB, which were stained by MsMab-1 in immunohistochemistry. DNA direct sequencing and subcloning identified IDH mutations of GCTB as IDH2-R172S (16 of 20; 80%). This is the first report to describe IDH mutations in GCTB, and MsMab-1 can be anticipated for use in immunohistochemical determination of IDH1/2 mutation-bearing GCTB.

The Complete Bifurcation Diagram for the Logistic Map

The complete bifurcation diagram as well as the basin of attraction for the logistic map is presented for the whole range of the control parameters, namely -2≤a≤4 where the system remains finite. Equivalence of the newly found bifurcation branch to the conventional branch is shown.

Safety analysis of two different regimens of uracil-tegafur plus leucovorin as adjuvant chemotherapy for high-risk stage II and III colon cancer in a phase III trial comparing 6 with 18 months of treatment: JFMC33-0502 trial

Purpose

The JFMC33-0502 trial is a phase III clinical study designed to determine the most appropriate duration of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with uracil–tegafur (UFT) plus leucovorin in patients with stage IIB or III colon cancer. We report the interim results of preplanned safety analyses.

Methods

Patients with stage IIB or III colon cancer who had undergone curative resection were randomly assigned to receive UFT (300 mg/m²) plus leucovorin (75 mg/day) for 6 months (control group, 4 weeks of treatment followed by a 1-week rest, five courses) or for 18 months (study group, 5 days of treatment followed by a 2-day rest, 15 courses). Treatment status and safety were evaluated.

Results

A total of 1,071 patients were enrolled, and 1,063 were included in safety analyses. Treatment completion rate at 6 months was 74.0 % in the control group and 76.7 % in the study group. Treatment completion rate in the study group at 18 months was 56.0 %. The overall incidence of adverse events (AEs) was 75.3 % in the control group and 77.6 % in the study group. The incidences of grade 3 or higher AEs were low in both groups. During the first 6 months, the incidences of the subjective AEs were significantly lower in the study group.

Conclusions

Oral UFT plus leucovorin given by either dosage schedule is a very safe regimen for adjuvant chemotherapy. In particular, 5 days of treatment followed by a 2-day rest was a useful treatment option from the viewpoint of toxicity even when given for longer than 6 months.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00280-014-2461-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor and selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor-induced apoptosis by activating caspases in human malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor cells

Background

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a key enzyme in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostanoids, and its activation is associated with carcinogenesis as well as inflammation. The antitumor effect of selective COX-2 inhibitors has been noted in various malignancies. Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a rare and aggressive soft tissue sarcoma for which effective treatments have not yet been established. The purpose of this study was to investigate a potential therapeutic role of COX-2 in MPNST.

Methods

We evaluated the expression of COX-2 in 44 cases of high-grade MPNST using immunohistochemical staining and compared the staining results with the characteristics and outcome of the patients. We also investigated the antitumor effect of etodolac, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, on MPNST cells in vitro using the MPNST cell line, FMS-1.

Results

Overexpression of COX-2 (≥50% positive cells) was observed in 29 cases (65.9%), was significantly associated with a poor overall survival (P = 0.0495), and was considered an independent risk factor for a poor outcome by the results of both univariate and multivariate analysis. Etodolac induced apoptosis of FMS-1 cells through the activation of caspase-8, -9, and -3. Moreover, several caspase inhibitors significantly inhibited etodolac-induced apoptosis.

Conclusions

Selective COX-2 inhibitors including etodolac had an antitumor effect on MPNST cells, and their use holds promise as a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with MPNST to improve their prognoses.

In situ and non-volatile bandgap tuning of multilayer graphene oxide in an all-solid-state electric double-layer transistor

The sp(2) /sp(3) domain fraction of multilayer graphene oxide (GO) is tuned in situ and in a non-volatile manner by using a proton-induced redox reaction at the interface of GO and the yttria-stabilized zirconia proton-conductor. This method opens the door for transparent, ultrathin, flexible, and low cost carbon-nanoionics devices that can control not only electronic transport, but also other properties such as photoluminescence and optics.

Radiological features of long bones in synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, osteitis syndrome and their correlation with pathological findings

Abstract The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the radiological features of long bones in synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome and to correlate these with the clinical findings. Eleven long bone lesions in seven cases of SAPHO syndrome were examined. The patients ranged in age from 6 to 63 years, with a mean of 47 years. In all seven cases, radiography, (99m)technetium bone scintigraphy, CT scan, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed. In six of the cases, bone biopsy and bone culture were carried out for 7 long bones. Seven of the involved lesions were from the shaft of the femur, one each was from the neck and the shaft of the humerus, and one was from the proximal tibia. These lesions showed radiologically hyperostosis, osteolysis, and bone infarction-like lesion. Osteolysis was occasionally accompanied by sclerotic change. Hyperostosis usually showed diaphyseal involvement, presenting low signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted MR images. Histologically, these findings corresponded to massive bone necrosis, new bone formation, fibrosis, or a mixture of these associated with mild inflammatory cell infiltration. Osteolysis involved dyaphysis, metaphysis, or epiphysis associated with arthritis, and presented low signal intensity on T1-weighted images, nonhomogeneous signal intensity lower than fat on T2-weighted images, and high signal intensity on fat suppression images. These findings corresponded to fibrosis, granulation, and inflammatory cell infiltration with lymphocyte aggregation. Bone infarction-like lesion was observed in the shaft or neck of the femur and the humerus and accompanied by calcification and cystic change. Bone cultures were negative in all cases in which bone biopsy was performed. Although hyperostosis is thought to be a characteristic bone lesion in SAPHO syndrome, the long bone lesion can occasionally show not only hyperostosis but also osteolytsis and bone infarction-like lesions.

Impact of levofloxacin dose adjustments by dispensing pharmacists on adverse reactions and costs in the treatment of elderly patients

Ensuring an appropriate dosage of renally eliminated drugs for patients with renal insufficiency is important for preventing adverse drug reactions. We investigated the effectiveness of interventions by pharmacists in a hospital pharmaceutical department. The comparative study was performed at Gifu Municipal Hospital in Japan from March to August 2011, and included an intervention (142 patients) and a control group (98 patients). Upon receiving a prescription of levofloxacin for patients aged > or = 75 years, pharmacists evaluated the patients' kidney function and adjusted the appropriate dosage at the time of dispensation. In the intervention and control groups, levofloxacin-induced adverse reactions developed in 6 of 142 (4.2%) and 13 of 98 (13.3%) patients, respectively (p < 0.05). The cost of reducing levofloxacin per patient was yen 191.1 and yen 0 in the intervention and control groups, respectively. The cost per patient for adverse reaction treatments and examinations was yen 15.5 and yen 290.0 in the intervention and control groups, respectively. The intergroup difference in the total cost per patient was yen 465.6. Dose adjustment of levofloxacin at the time of dispensation by the pharmacist for patients aged > or = 75 years resulted in a decrease in the incidence of adverse reactions and cost. These findings can be applied not only to hospitals, but also to community pharmacies, because the intervention, which is a manual system, is simply performed when pharmacists are dispensing drugs.

Pharmacoeconomic analysis of DPP-4 inhibitors

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and other incretin-related drugs have attracted attention as antidiabetic agents, but they are expensive. The Japanese government has adopted a policy of reducing healthcare costs, and medical institutions must provide medical care while considering economic efficiency. This study was a comparative survey of the usage, treatment effectiveness, and cost of DPP-4 inhibitors. The subjects were patients prescribed DPP-4 inhibitors (sitagliptin, vildagliptin, and alogliptin) at Gifu Municipal Hospital between February 2010 and August 2011. HbA1c: Japan Diabetes Society values (%) and concomitant antidiabetic agents were surveyed for 12 weeks after the start of DPP-4 inhibitors. A cost-effectiveness analysis showed that the cost required for a 0.1% decrease in HbA1c for 12 weeks was the lowest with vildagliptin (2,478 yen; decrease in HbA1c: 0.75% +/- 0.85%). In a cost analysis with a virtual cohort of 1000 patients, the number of patients who achieved the treatment target (HbA1c 6.5%) was estimated with respect to a virtual cohort created based on the HbA1c level (7.59 +/- 1.13%) at baseline of 307 patients, in cases assuming the use of each DPP-4 inhibitor. In addition, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was obtained with sitagliptin 50 mg as the reference. The number of patients achieving the treatment target was the highest with vildagliptin 100 mg (413 of 1000 patients), and the estimated ICER of 28,359 yen was the lowest. Robustness was also confirmed with a sensitivity analysis. These results suggest that vildagliptin provides a superior cost-benefit.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 mutation is a frequent event in osteosarcoma detected by a multi-specific monoclonal antibody MsMab-1

Somatic mutations of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1 and IDH2 occur in gliomas, acute myeloid leukemia, and cartilaginous tumors. Somatic mosaic IDH1/2 mutations are also reported in Ollier disease and Maffucci syndrome, which are characterized by multiple central cartilaginous tumors. Although IDH1/2 mutation analysis against osteosarcoma has been performed in several studies, no IDH1/2 mutation has been reported. Herein, we newly report the IDH2-R172S mutation in three of 12 (25%) osteosarcoma patients, which was detected by direct DNA sequencing. No monoclonal antibody (mAb) has been reported against IDH2-R172S mutation. However, we demonstrate that the IDH2-R172S peptide was recognized by our established multi-specific anti-mutated IDH1/2 mAb, MsMab-1, in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot analysis revealed that MsMab-1 reacts with PA tag combined recombinant proteins of IDH2-R172S. Furthermore, MsMab-1 stained IDH2-R172S-expressing osteosarcoma tissues in immunohistochemistry. The MsMab-1 stained nine of 32 (28.1%) osteosarcomas in a tissue microarray. This report is the first describing IDH2 mutations in osteosarcoma, which can be detected by MsMab-1 mAb. Taken together, these results show that MsMab-1 can be anticipated for use in immunohistochemical determination of IDH1/2 mutation-bearing osteosarcoma.

Bacterial loads of Ureaplasma urealyticum contribute to development of urethritis in men

Ureaplasma urealyticum could be a pathogen of non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) in men. However, ureaplasma is often detected in men without NGU, and the proportion of cases possibly attributable to this pathogen is still undefined. We attempted to determine the bacterial loads of U. urealyticum significantly associated with NGU. The 16S rRNA genes of U. urealyticum were quantified by a real-time polymerase chain reaction-based assay in first-void urine (FVU) from 26 asymptomatic and 25 symptomatic men positive for U. urealyticum. The leucocyte counts in first-void urine (FVU) were determined as an objective measure of inflammatory response to ureaplasma in the hosts by automated quantitative urine particle analysis. Positive correlations were observed between copies of the 16S rRNA genes of U. urealyticum per ml and the leucocyte counts per µl in FVU (r = 0.49, p = 0.0003). Loads of ≥10(4) copies of the 16S rRNA gene of U. urealyticum/ml, corresponding to ≥5 × 10(3) cells of U. urealyticum/ml in FVU, were significantly associated with the presence of urethritis symptoms (p < 0.0001) and with higher leukocyte counts in FVU (p < 0.0001). The bacterial load of U. urealyticum, possibly of ≥5 × 10(3) cells of U. urealyticum/ml in FVU, could be significantly associated with the development of symptomatic NGU.

Comparison of the reactivity of 2-Li-C6H4CH2NMe2 with MCl4 (M=Th, U): isolation of a thorium aryl complex or a uranium benzyne complex

Why do U react like that? Reaction of 2-Li-C6H4CH2NMe2 with [MCl4(DME)n] (M=Th, n=2; M=U, n=0) results in the formation of a thorium aryl complex, [Th(2-C6H4CH2NMe2)4] or a uranium benzyne complex, [Li][U(2,3-C6H3CH2NMe2)(2-C6H4CH2NMe2)3]. A DFT analysis suggests that the formation of a benzyne complex with U but not with Th is a kinetic and not thermodynamic effect.