Serum CA125 measurement is useful in 3 cases with pericardial effusion

Previously we reported that serum CA125 level is elevated in cases of pericardial effusion. We report three cases in which serum CA125 measurement is useful for assessing clinical status. In case 1, a 19-year-old came to our hospital for cardiac tamponade. Moderate degree of pericardial effusion and high CA125 level were observed. After the pericardectomy the serum CA125 level was normalized and pericardial effusion disappeared. Case 2, a 50-year-old man with mesothelioma and in whom serum CA125 level was elevated with pericardial effusion. After cardiac drainage his condition improved, with decreased CA125 level. However, later the CA125 level rose and recurrent localized pericardial effusion with worsening condition was observed. In case 3, in a 78-year-old woman with pericardial effusion no recurrence was observed after pericardial drainage. Her CA125 value was normal. These results indicated that measurement of CA125 value is a useful marker for assessing the clinical course of this disease.     

Hydrogen donor and acceptor abilities of pitch: 1H n.m.r. study of hydrogen transfer to anthracene

Petroleum pitches, coal-extract solutions and hydrogenated coal-extract solutions are co-carbonized with anthracene at 673 K. Chloroform-soluble fractions of the system are monitored by ¹H n.m.r. for formation of 9.10 dihydroanthracene (DHA). A hydrogenated coal-extract solution is also co-carbonized at 673 K with anthracene together with thianthrene and sulphur. Ashland A240 petroleum pitch and anthracene are co-carbonized with hydrogenated anthracene oil and resultant ¹H n.m.r. spectra are analysed for DHA. The pitches and coal-extract solutions are carbonized to 823 K and the optical textures of resultant cokes are assessed by optical microscopy. The purpose of the study is to assess if pitches which form cokes with larger optical textures or have greater abilities to modify the carbonization behaviour of coals also have the ability to act as ‘hydrogen shuttles’ in the carbonization system. Results would indicate that such pitches produce the largest amounts of DHA. It is proposed that the most efficient of the modifying pitches operate by extending the zone of temperature of maximum fluidity and by increasing the value of maximum fluidity by removal by proton transfer of radicals which if left in the carbonizing system would interact to form cokes of smaller optical texture.     

Catalytic hydrogenation of linoleic acid over platinum-group metals supported on alumina

Catalytic activity and selectivity for hydrogenation of linoleic acid (cis-9,cis-12 18:2) were studied on Pt, Pd, Ru, and Ir supported on Al₂O₃. Stearic acid (18:0) and 10 different octadecenoic isomers (18:1) in the products could be separated completely by using a new capillary column coated by isocyanopropyl trisilphenylene siloxane for gas-liquid chromatography. The monoenoic acid isomers and dienoic acid isomers in the products on the various catalysts showed different distributions. The catalysts exhibited nearly equal selectivity for stearic acid formation. The 12-position double bond in linoleic acid has higher reactivity than the 9-position double bond in catalytic hydrogenation on platinum-group metal catalysts. In addition to hydrogenation products of linoleic acid, geometrical and positional dienoic acid isomers (trans-9,trans-12; trans-8,cis-12; cis-9,trans-13; trans-9,cis-13; cis-9,trans-12 18:2), due to isomerization of linoleic acid during hydrogenation, were contained in the reaction products. Ru/Al₂O₃ exhibited the highest activity for isomerization of linoleic acid with the noble metal catalysts. Conjugated octadecadienoic acid isomers have been observed in products of the reaction on Pt/Al₂O₃, Ru/Al₂O₃, and Ir/Al₂O₃. Catalytic activities of noble metals for positional and geometric isomerization of linoleic acid during hydrogenation decreased in the sequence of Ru ≥ Pt > Ir » Pd.     

Novel Mechanism by a Bis-Pyridinium Fullerene Derivative to Induce Apoptosis by Enhancing the MEK-ERK Pathway in a Reactive Oxygen Species-Independent Manner in BCR-ABL-Positive Chronic Myeloid Leukemia-Derived K562 Cells

In the treatment of breakpoint cluster region-Abelson (BCR-ABL)-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) using BCR-ABL inhibitors, the appearance of a gatekeeper mutation (T315I) in BCR-ABL is a serious issue. Therefore, the development of novel drugs that overcome acquired resistance to BCR-ABL inhibitors by CML cells is required. We previously demonstrated that a bis-pyridinium fullerene derivative (BPF) induced apoptosis in human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)-derived K562 cells partially through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We herein show that BPF enhanced the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK-ERK) pathway in a ROS-independent manner. BPF-induced apoptosis was attenuated by trametinib, suggesting the functional involvement of the MEK-ERK pathway in apoptosis in K562 cells. In addition, the constitutive activation of the MEK-ERK pathway by the enforced expression of the BRAFV600E mutant significantly increased the sensitivity of K562 cells to BPF. These results confirmed for the first time that BPF induces apoptosis in K562 cells through dual pathways—ROS production and the activation of the MEK-ERK pathway. Furthermore, BPF induced cell death in transformed Ba/F3 cells expressing not only BCR-ABL but also T315I mutant through the activation of the MEK-ERK pathway. These results indicate that BPF is as an effective CML drug that overcomes resistance to BCR-ABL inhibitors.     

Influence of Anvil Alignment on Shearing Patterns in High‐Pressure Torsion

A two‐phase duplex stainless steel was used as a model material in order to investigate the development of flow patterns when processing using high‐pressure torsion (HPT). The results show that double‐swirls are visible on the disc surfaces when processing with controlled amounts of anvil misalignment but not when the anvils are in an essentially perfect alignment. There are also shear vortices visible on the disc surfaces when processing with controlled amounts of misalignment but not when using perfect alignment. These results demonstrate the need for exercising significant care when processing discs by HPT. Prior to introducing torsional straining, it is important to ensure that the upper and lower anvils are in good alignment to within ≈25 µm.     

Developing Superplastic Ductilities in Ultrafine-Grained Metals

Conventional superplasticity is generally achieved in metals having grain sizes in the range of ∼2 to 5 μm, but processing by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) provides the opportunity of introducing exceptional grain refinement and producing materials with ultrafine grain sizes in the submicrometer range. These materials have the potential for exhibiting excellent superplastic properties when tested in tension at elevated temperatures and examples are presented for representative aluminum and magnesium alloys. When these ultrafine-grained materials deform in superplasticity, internal cavities develop as in conventional superplastic alloys. An example is presented for an aluminum-based alloy, and it is shown that the cavity growth processes are also similar to those in conventional alloys. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Ultrafine-Grained Materials: From Basics to Application”, which occurred September 25–27, 2006, in Kloster Irsee, Germany.     

A new microcellular foam injection‐molding technology using non‐supercritical fluid physical blowing agents

A new foam injection‐molding technology was developed to produce microcellular foams without using supercritical fluid (SCF) pump units. In this technology, physical blowing agents (PBA), such as nitrogen (N₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), do not need to be brought to their SCF state. PBAs are delivered directly from their gas cylinders into the molten polymer through an injector valve, which can be controlled by a specially designed screw configuration and operation sequence. The excess PBA is discharged from the molten polymer through a venting vessel. Alternatively, additional PBA is introduced through the venting vessel when the polymer is not saturated with PBA. The amount of gas delivered into the molten polymer is controlled by the gas dosing time of the injector valve, the secondary reducing pressure of the gas cylinder and the outlet (back) pressure of the venting vessel. Microcellular polypropylene foams were prepared using the developed foam injection‐molding technology with 2–6 MPa CO₂ or 2–8 MPa N₂. High expansion foams with an average cell size of less than 25 μm were prepared. The developed technology dispels arguments for the necessity to pressurize N₂ or CO₂ to the SCF to prepare microcellular foams. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:105–113, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Spectroscopic study of lactonic rhodamine B immobilised on polytetrafluoroethylene porous film

Rhodamine B (RB) is frequently used in chemical sensors, where the sensing principle depends on its structural changes to lactone (L), zwitterion (Z), and cation (C) forms in response to the local environment. Compared to the Z- and C-forms, stabilising the L-form in matrices is difficult because of the required low environmental polarity. In this study, we report a simple and easy method to stabilise the L-form of RB on the surface of a polytetrafluoroethylene porous film (p-PTFE), in which the film is dipped in an ethanol solution containing RB and dried. This phenomenon was not observed on polyethylene film and cellulose filter paper in RB solutions. Furthermore, a chemical stability test for colourless RB/p-PTFE samples was conducted by exposing these samples to a humid environment. The test result indicated that, with an increase in the environmental humidity, the equilibrium shifted from the L-form to the Z-form of RB immobilised on the p-PTFE film.