Unique molecular aggregation of novel naphthalocyanine (near IR absorbing dye)

A series of organic-soluble naphthalocyanine derivatives (Y_mMNcX₄) have been synthesized. Their spectroscopic properties in organic solutions and in thin films were studied. MNcX₄ such as MNc(t-Bu)₄ (5a-5c) and MNc(On-Bu)₄ (5j) formed H-aggregates even in dilute solutions. MNc(CO₂R')₄ (5d-5i) had much stronger H-aggregation properties compared with those ofMNc(t-Bu)₄ and MNc(On-Bu)₄. Especially, MNc(CO₂R')₇ complexes (M=Cu, Pd and Ni) existed exclusively without monomers in the aggregated state even in highly dilute solutions. MNcX₄, which has strong H-aggregation properties, showed merely H- aggregate absorption maxima in thin films. In contrast, Y₂MNcX₄ (4), which has sterically hindered Y groups, showed monomerically pure characteristics in solution. However, thin films of Y₂MNcX₄ have a J-type molecular arrangement, exhibiting a red shift of Q-band absorption. The monomeric properties of Y₂MNcX₄ in solutions and J-type molecular arrangement in thin films arise from steric hindrance of two Y groups, such as R₃SiO-in Y₂MNcX₄, which prevents strong H-aggregation of naphthalocyanine.     

Water-soluble polyion complex associates of DNA and poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-lysine) block copolymer

Complex formation of poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-lysine) (PEG-PLL) AB type block copolymer with salmon testes DNA or Col E1 plasmid DNA in aqueous milieu was studied. The PLL segment of PEG-PLL interacts with nucleic acid through an electrostatic force to form a water-soluble complex associate with a diameter of ca. 50 nm. PEG segments surrounding the core of the polyion complex prevented the complex from precipitation even under stoichiometric conditions, at which the unit ratio of L-lysine in PEG-PLL and phosphate in the DNA is equal. The profile of the thermal melting curve revealed a higher stabilization of DNA structure in PEG-PLL/DNA complexes compared to that in the complex made from DNA and PLL homopolymer with the same molecular weight as the PLL segment in PEG-PLL. This stabilizing effect on the DNA structure may be due to the compartmentalization of DNA into the microenvironment of PEG with low permittivity. The reversible nature of the PEG-PLL/DNA complex was further verified through the addition of polyanion [poly-(L-aspartic acid)]: Poly(L-aspartic acid) replaced DNA in the complex with PEG-PLL, resulting in the release of free DNA in the medium. Furthermore, the PEG-PLL/DNA complex showed high resistance against DNase I attack, suggesting DNA protection through the segregation into the core of the associate having PEG palisade.     

A recombinant adenovirus expressing wild type p53 induces apoptosis in drug-resistant human breast cancer cells: a gene therapy approach for drug-resistant cancers

The different therapeutic options available for the treatment of chronic leukemias and myelofibrosis are discussed. In reference to chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), the choice of the most appropriate treatment must take into account not only the clinical condition but also the age of the patient. While subjects under 50 might benefit from the options offered by alpha-interferon, bone marrow and peripheral stem cell transplant, in older age groups treatment of the chronic phase must still rely on standard treatment. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and its variants is a disease of mostly middle and late life, with a variable clinical course. Patients show wide differences in morbidity and mortality. Many features have been shown to influence the prognosis, and the most important ones are incorporated into the staging systems currently in use. The results obtained from the study of large trials support the concept that treatment of patients with stable stage A CLL should be postponed until progression of disease. Treatment relies principally on alkylating agents, corticosteroids and radiation therapy; the new nucleoside analogues, such as fludarabine and 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine, have recently acquired established value in improving overall survival. With regard to myelofibrosis, the histological and biological features that influence the natural course of the disease are described, as well as the choice of the most appropriate treatment, which ranges from the use of alkylating agents and androgens, to splenectomy and splenic irradiation.     

Reproducible sulfur diffusion into GaAs

The role of the phase diagram for the Ga-As-S system in the selection of the starting diffusion source composition is discussed. The temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficient of sulfur in GaAs has been measured for various diffusion source compositions. For the 10:1 (GaS:As) source, the diffusion coefficient at 810° and 910°C are 1·9×10^?14 and 0·9×10^?12 cm² sec^?1 and for the 2:1 and 1:2 sources the coefficient at 810° and 910°C are 1·9×10^?13 and 2·9×10^?12 cm² sec^?1, respectively. The activation energy of the diffusion coefficient is found to be about 4·35 and 2·95 eV for the 10:1 source and for the 2:1 and 1:2 sources, respectively. These diffusion sources yield reproducible diffusion profiles without surface damage. The surface concentration of sulfur is estimated about 3×10¹⁸ cm^?3 for the 10:1 source at 910°C diffusion. Breakdown voltage of the n⁺p junction prepared by these diffusion processes and SiN planar technology agrees extremely well with theoretical values.     

Fuel utilization and glucose hyperalimentation after liver resection

Clinical studies and experiments in rats were carried out to elucidate changes in fuel utilization after hepatectomy. In addition, the effect of glucose hyperalimentation on energy metabolism in the liver remnant was studied. Respiratory quotient (RQ) and substrate oxidation rate for fat and glucose were evaluated by indirect calorimetry in eight patients who had undergone liver resection. Patients had a reduced nonprotein RQ of approximately 0.85 and a reduced ratio of glucose to fat oxidation of approximately 2.0 on the 1st and 2nd postoperative days. After 80% hepatectomy, rats received either 30 kcal.kg-1.day-1 (group 1) or 200 kcal.kg-1.day-1 (group 2) of glucose for 48 h. In both rat groups, hepatic mitochondrial ATP synthesis 12 and 24 h after hepatectomy was accelerated when palmitic acid was used as the substrate and suppressed when pyruvate was used compared with sham-operated groups. This suggests that the energy substrate of the remnant liver was principally fatty acids rather than glucose, which seems to occur also in humans. Hepatic energy charge was within normal limits in group 1 (0.862 +/- 0.008) but decreased significantly in group 2 (0.818 +/- 0.006, p < 0.01) 12 h after hepatectomy. An abundance of glucose in the early postoperative period therefore caused a hepatic energy derangement by suppressing endogenous fat oxidation. This suppression was corroborated by the findings of lower immunoreactive glucagon and nonesterified fatty acid concentration in group 2. Therefore, glucose hyperalimentation in the early postoperative period after liver resection is not recommended.     

Structure and properties of N-octadecylated poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide)

N-octadecylated PPTA's with various molecular weights were synthesized from PPTA and n-octadecyl bromide via the metalation reaction. The polymer exhibited side-chain crystallization at 314 K due to the long alkyl side chains and both crystallinity and the perfection of the crystal increase with increasing in the molecular weight. The results of IR spectra and the wide angle X-ray indicate that the polymer crystallizes in hexagonal form. The mechanical and the dynamic mechanical properties of N-octadecylated PPTA's were measured. Two tan δ peaks were observed in a temperature range of 310–350 K and at 260 K, respectively, which can be designated α_c and α_a relaxation, respectively. The concentrated solutions of N-octadecylated PPTA's in tetrahydrofuran, dichloroethane, tetrachloroethane, and bromoform showed liquid crystalline behavior of lyotropic type.     

Influence of separated vortex on aerodynamic noise of an airfoil blade

In order to clarify the mechanism by which aerodynamic noise is generated from separated flow around an airfoil blade, the relation between the attack angle and the aerodynamic noise of the blade was analyzed using a wind tunnel experiment and a CFD code. In the case of rear surface separation, the separated vortex which has a large-scale structure in the direction of the blade chord is transformed into a structure that concentrates at the trailing edge with an increase in the attack angle. The aerodynamic noise level then becomes small according to the vortex scale in the blade chord. When the flow is separated at the leading edge, a separated vortex of low pressure is formed at the vicinity of the trailing edge. The pressure fluctuations on the blade surface at the vicinity of the trailing edge become large due to the vortex in the wake. It is considered that the aerodynamic noise level increases when the flow is separated at the leading edge because the separated vortex is causing the fluctuations due to wake vortex shedding.     

Effective adoptive immunotherapy by T-LAK cells retargeted with bacterial superantigen-conjugated antibody to MUC1 in xenografted severe combined immunodeficient mice

To reinforce cytotoxic activity and the targeting ability of lymphokine-activated killer cells with a T-cell phenotype (T-LAK) for adoptive immunotherapy against human bile duct carcinoma (BDC), staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) was conjugated chemically with MUSE11 monoclonal antibody (MUSE11 mAb), directed to the MUC1 antigen, using N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate and 2-iminothiolane HCl. Both SEA-conjugated MUSE11 mAb (SEA-MUSE11) and the F(ab')2 of MUSE11 mAb (SEA-F(ab')2) showed significant enhancement of T-LAK cell tumor neutralization for MUC1 positive-target tumor cells, even with a concentration of 0.01 microg/ml at an E:T ratio of 5:1 in vitro. In this in vitro test, MUC1-positive BDC cells were observed to attach to surrounding T-LAK cells in the presence of SEA-MUSE11 or SEA-F(ab')2. Remarkable tumor growth inhibition was observed in BDC-grafted severe combined immunodeficient mice to which 2 x 10(7) T-LAK cells preincubated with 2 microg of SEA-MUSE11 or SEA-F(ab')2, together with recombinant interleukin 2 (500 IU), were administered i.v. for 4 consecutive days, when tumor size was 5 mm in diameter. These results point to a promising adoptive immunotherapy for patients with BDC.