Current Trends and Future Prospects of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

In recent years, advances in drug therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have progressed rapidly. In addition to cytotoxic anti-cancer agents such as platinum-based drug (cisplatin and carboplatin) and taxane-based drugs (docetaxel and paclitaxel), epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (cetuximab) and immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) antibodies (nivolumab and pembrolizumab) have come to be used. The importance of anti-cancer drug therapy is increasing year by year. Therefore, we summarize clinical trials of molecular targeted therapy and biomarkers in HNSCC from previous studies. Here we show the current trends and future prospects of molecular targeted therapy in HNSCC.     

Biodegradation of different carboxylate types of cleavable surfactants bearing a 1,3-dioxolane ring

The biodegradability of new carboxylate types of “acid-sensitive” cleavable surfactants bearing a 1,3-dioxolane ring was measured by the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) method in the presence of activated sludge. The result for sodium dodecanoate, measured under the same conditions, was used as a standard for evaluating the biodegradability of these cleavable surfactants. For cleavable surfactants derived from epoxides and oxocarboxylates, the biodegradation was considerably influenced by the length of the lipophilic alkyl chain, the presence of the oxymethyl moiety in the lipophilic group, and the number of methylene units between the dioxolane ring and the carboxylate group. For another type of cleavable surfactant, 2-(long-chain alkyl)-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-dicarboxylate, the biodegradation rate for the compound, bearing a proton at position 2 in the dioxolane ring, is faster than that for the corresponding compound bearing a methyl group at position 2.     

Immunoelectron microscopic observation of connexin43 in rat odontoblasts

Gap junctions play an important role in differentiation of odontoblasts. Gap junction protein, connexin 43 is expressed in odontoblast. However, the detailed localization in odontoblasts has yet to be fully investigated. We investigated the localization of connexin43 in rat odontoblasts immuno‐electron microscopically. The rats were transcardially fixed with 1% paraformaldehyde in 0.1M phosphate buffer, and mandibles were decalcified with 10% ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. Pre‐embedding method was carried out for immuno‐electron microscopic analysis. Microscopically, gap junctions were localized between bodies of odontoblasts, and between bodies and processes of odontoblasts. The gap junctions were labeled with gold particles that indicated connexin43. These results suggest that gap junctions between odontoblasts are definitely composed of connexin43 in rats, and our methods used in this study is useful to investigate localization of connexin43 immuno‐electron microscopically. Microsc. Res. Tech., 76:988–991, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Stress intensity factors for cracks initiated from a center-holed plate with unsymmetrical lengths under tension

The values of stress intensity factors of unsymmetrical cracks initiated from hole edges under tension were calculated in a center-holed plate, that is a plate having a hole in the center of a front face. The correction factor for stress intensity in the case of the holed plate with cracks was compared with that of a center-cracked plate whose crack length was equal to the total of the hole diameter and the lengths of the cracks in the case of the holed plate. In the present study, to understand the variation of the stress intensity factor, counterplots of the stress intensity factor K_I and the correction factor F_I are employed. Also, the variation of ratio R_F of correction factors between the holed plate with crack and the center-cracked plate were investigated. Where non-dimensional hole diameter a/W is smaller than 0.2, the ratio R_F is less than 1.1 after crack growth length c/W reaches 0.1. Where, 2a, 2c and 2W are hole diameter, the growth length of the crack from hole edge, and plate width, respectively. Therefore, the stress intensity factor for cracks initiated from a holed plate can be approximated within 10% error to that of a center-cracked plate where a/W is smaller than 0.2, though the unsymmetrical cracks are initiated from the edges. Where a/W is larger than 0.3, R_F becomes larger than 1.1 in the wide range of c/W.     

Absolute measurement of activity of ¹⁹⁸Au foils using the 4πβ-γ coincidence counting method and corrections by the Monte Carlo simulation

The thermal neutron fluence rate is determined by the gold activation method. The absolute activity of the irradiated gold foil is measured by a 4πβ-γ coincidence counter. Using this method, corrections for the detection of conversion electrons and gamma rays by a 4πβ counter are very important to obtain accurate absolute activity. In this work, Monte Carlo simulations were performed to derive the correction factor K. The absolute measurement of (198)Au activity for 20-100 μm thickness Au foils were performed to verify the calculating model of the 4πβ-γ coincidence counting system.     

Enhancement of photoluminescence properties of CaAl2Si2O8:Eu2+ by SiO2 addition

SiO₂ added phosphors, CaAl₂Si₂O₈:Eu²⁺ + xSiO₂ (x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 13 mol) were synthesized by a novel liquid phase precursor (LPP) method. The photoluminescence properties of phosphor added by 5 mol of SiO₂ showed 110% enhancement in the emission intensity compared to the CaAl₂Si₂O₈:Eu²⁺ phosphor. A broad emission and excitation wavelength was observed approximately from 400 nm to 600 nm centered at 430 nm and from 280 nm to 400 nm centered at 365 nm, respectively. Photoluminescence intensity of the phosphors increased continuously by SiO₂ addition up to x = 5 mol and then it decreased with further addition of SiO₂. The observed photoluminescence properties of the phosphors were discussed related to their crystalline structure and morphology.     

Fabrication of MnOOH nanorods on a substrate in an oxygen bubbled solution with superhydrophobic properties

A leaning MnOOH nanorod film is fabricated on a substrate by a simple method using only manganese acetate, water and oxygen. The use of dissolved oxygen results in the fabrication of a leaning MnOOH nanorod film by control of the supersaturation ratio during chemical bath deposition. The resultant film with a coating of fluoroalkyltrimethoxysilane (FAS) shows high water and oil repellency.