Real time reaction dynamics in carbon nanotubes.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to K Suenaga.
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[reaction: see text] Enantioselective synthesis of attenols A and B was accomplished by using diastereoselective hydroboration, Lindlar reduction, and acid-catalyzed acetal formation.
OBJECTIVE: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorder that manifests as hemolytic anemia, venous thrombosis, and deficient hematopoiesis. Although allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is considered the only curative therapeutic measure, transplant-related mortality is not negligible. Several studies supported the use of nonmyeloablative stem cell transplantation (NST) for patients of advanced age or with organ dysfunction. Hence, we used NST in a PNH patient who suffered from acute renal failure due to repeated episodes of hemolysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed NST using a conditioning regimen consisting of cladribine 0.11 mg/kg x 6, busulfan 4 mg/kg x 2, and rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin 2.5 mg/kg x 2. He received peripheral blood stem cells from his human leukocyte antigen-matched brother. Prophylaxis against graft-vs-host disease was performed with cyclosporine A alone. Chimerism of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was evaluated serially using short tandem repeat analysis and flow cytometry. RESULTS: No meaningful regimen-related toxicities were documented. Donor chimerism of 90 to 100% was achieved on day 14 and thereafter. The patient is doing well, without any recurrence of hemolysis 6 months after transplant. Follow-up chimerism studies confirmed stable and functioning donor-type hematopoiesis. CONCLUSIONS: NST may become a safe and curative approach in patients with PNH. Further studies are needed to establish the role of NST for treatment of PNH.
The electronic properties of Sm-containing metallofullerenes, Sm@C74, Sm@C76 (I, II), Sm@C78, Sm@C80, Sm@C82 (I, II, III) and Sm@C84 (I, II, III), are characterized by UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). The UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectra of Sm@C74, Sm@C80, Sm@C82 (I, II, III) and Sm@C84 (I, II) are quite similar to those of the corresponding Ca, Sr, Ba, Eu, Tm, Yb-based metallofullerenes. In contrast, the absorption spectra of Sm@C76 (I, II), Sm@C78 and Sm@C84(III) show a novel feature: the onset for Sm@C78 is observed approximately 2600 nm, which corresponds to a small band gap (approximately 0.5 eV). Furthermore, the oxidation states of Sm atom in the various fullerene cages are investigated by EELS, which reveals that the Sm atom takes +2 oxidation state in the fullerene cages. A probable rationale for the tendency to have the Sm2+ state is presented based on a simple thermochemical cycle model.
Cytotoxic endoperoxides, haterumadioxins A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the Okinawan sponge Plakortis lita. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis. The absolute stereostructure of 1 was determined by degradation reactions and the modified Mosher's method. Haterumadioxins showed significant cytotoxicity against 38 human cancer cell lines.
New bisnorditerpenes, hedaols A (1), B (2), and C (3), were isolated from the Japanese brown alga Sargassum sp. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis. The absolute stereocenter of 1 was determined by the modified Mosher's method. Hedaols showed low cytotoxicity against P388 cells.
Four new monochlorinated diterpene alkaloids, haterumaimides F-I (1-4), and two known ones, dichlorolissoclimide and chlorolissoclimide, were isolated from an ascidian Lissoclinum sp. Their structures with absolute stereochemistries were elucidated by chemical and spectral analyses. Haterumaimides F-I (1-4) inhibited the first cleavage of fertilized sea urchin eggs and exhibited potent to weak cytotoxicities against P388 cells.
From April 1998 to March 2000, a cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia-guided pre-emptive approach for CMV disease was evaluated in 77 adult patients who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at the National Cancer Center Hospital. A CMV antigenemia assay was performed at least once a week after engraftment. High-level antigenemia was defined as a positive result with 10 or more positive cells per 50 000 cells and low-level antigenemia was defined as less than 10 positive cells. Among the 74 patients with initial engraftment, 51 developed positive antigenemia. Transplantation from alternative donors and the development of grade II-IV GVHD were independent risk factors for positive antigenemia. Ganciclovir was administered as pre-emptive therapy in 39 patients in a risk-adapted manner. None of the nine low-risk patients with low-level antigenemia as their initial positive result developed high-level antigenemia even though ganciclovir was withheld. Only one patient developed early CMV disease (hepatitis) during the study period. CMV antigenemia resolved in all but two cases, in whom ganciclovir was replaced with foscarnet. In eight patients, however, the neutrophil count decreased to 0.5 x 10(9)/l or less after starting ganciclovir, including three with documented infections and two with subsequent secondary graft failure. The total amount of ganciclovir and possibly the duration of high-dose ganciclovir might affect the incidence of neutropenia. We concluded that antigenemia-guided pre-emptive therapy with a decreased dose of ganciclovir and response-oriented dose adjustment might be appropriate to decrease the toxicity of ganciclovir without increasing the risk of CMV disease.
Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) is widely used to identify elemental compositions of materials studied by microscopy. We demonstrate that the sensitivity and spatial resolution of EELS can be extended to the single-atom limit. A chemical map for gadolinium (Gd) clearly reveals the distribution of Gd atoms inside a single chain of metallofullerene molecules (Gd@C82) generated within a single-wall carbon nanotube. This characterization technique thus provides the "eyes" to see and identify individual atoms in nanostructures. It is likely to find broad application in nanoscale science and technology research.
Electron microscope imaging for gadolinium metallofullerenes encapsulating in single-wall carbon nanotubes [(Gd@C82)n@SWNTs] identifies the single Gd atom encaged in each. The intermolecular distance between Gd@C82 is extremely regular, regarding the chains of Gd@C82 as novel one-dimensional crystals. Chemical state analysis of Gd atoms suggests evidence for charge transfer from Gd to either a fullerene cage or a nanotube. The slopes of the temperature dependence of electric resistance for the mat-like films of (Gd@C82)n@SWNTs and (C60)n@SWNTs are much steeper than that for empty SWNTs, suggesting the electron scattering due to the electrostatic potential from inside fullerenes playing an important role.
We report here a patient who suffered from PCR- confirmed human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6) meningoencephalitis after allogeneic purified CD34+ cell transplantation from his HLA-mismatched sibling donor, even though he had been on intense prophylaxis with i.v. ganciclovir (GCV), acyclovir (ACV) and gamma-globulin containing a specific antibody against HHV-6. Serological evaluation disclosed that both the donor and recipient had IgG antibody against HHV-6 before transplantation. His blood WBC count started to transiently increase on day 10, and all blood components had decreased by day 20. He then developed a severe headache and high blood pressure, and sporadic abnormal neurological findings including nystagmus and delirium. An analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) revealed 8 cells/microl, a glucose level of 130 mg/dl and a protein level of 201 mg/dl (normal, 50 mg/dl) on day 26. At the time, HHV-6 was detected only in CSF by a PCR-based method and he was diagnosed as having meningoencephalitis due to the local reactivation of HHV-6. Although he failed to respond to high-dose therapy with ACV (60 mg/kg/day) and gamma-globulin, the DNA of this virus disappeared from the CNS upon treatment with GCV (30 mg/kg/day) combined with the intraventricular infusion of alpha-interferon. His clinical course was further complicated with meningoencephalitis due to staphylococcus epidermidis, and he died of tentorial herniation on day 79 without the recovery of blood components. This experience may indicate that intense prophylaxis to prevent reactivation of HHV-6 in the CNS is essential for the management of such profoundly immunosuppressed patients.
A cost analysis based on changes in patient care was used to evaluate the utility of abdominal ultrasonography in both the clinical management of patients clinically suspected of having acute appendicitis and in reducing expenditure of hospital resources. Among the 200 patients suspected of having acute appendicitis, 57 actually had acute appendicitis. Interpretation of appendiceal ultrasonographic results was 98.5% accurate. The ultrasonographic result led to changes in the treatment of 103 patients. Moreover, ultrasonography led to the prevention of unnecessary appendectomy in 25 patients, providing a savings to the hospital of about Yen 8,013,450 ($65,150), and prevented unnecessary hospital admission for 78 patient-days, thus saving the hospital approximately Yen 1,199,250 ($9750). The cost of performing the 200 ultrasonographic examinations was about Yen 1,096,176 ($8912), and thus the overall savings to the hospital was approximately Yen 40,590 ($330) per patient. Ultrasonography performed in patients with suspected acute appendicitis improves patient diagnostic accuracy, thus leading to more appropriate selection of patient treatment and reduced hospital expenditure.
The advantages/disadvantages of the use of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) for allogeneic transplantation still need to be clarified, particularly in children. We compared the kinetics, efficacy, and safety of PBSC mobilization by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and collection by apheresis between healthy pediatric and adult donors. A total of 19 pediatric (median age, 6 years) and 25 adult healthy donors (median age, 37 years) were given 10 micro/kg/day of G-CSF for 5 consecutive days for PBSC mobilization, which were harvested by apheresis on days 5 and/or 6. All of the donors tolerated the whole procedures. Serum trough levels of G-CSF determined by ELISA were significantly lower in the 16 pediatric donors evaluated than in adults (n = 16) on days 3 and 4 (P < 0.05). Although the WBC counts on days 4 and 5 were significantly higher in adults than in children (P = 0.006 and 0.004, respectively), the numbers of circulating CD34+ cells/unit of blood were identical. The number of blood CD34+ cells collected per unit of blood processed was identical in both donor populations. We propose that PBSCs could be effectively mobilized and collected in small children so that they could be donors for adult patients.
Mycobacterium paratuberculosis has been suggested as a causative organism of Crohn's disease. Despite a long-term debate to prove this possibility, the role of this bacteria in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease is still a subject of controversy. In the present study, serum antibodies (IgG, IgA, and IgM) to the protoplasmic antigen of M. paratuberculosis were quantified in patients with Crohn's disease and in control subjects by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay whose specificity was increased by preabsorbing the sera with cell extracts of Mycobacterium phlei. As compared to normal controls (1/20; 0.062+/-0.022), a significant difference was seen in the antibody-positive prevalence rate and mean values of the serum IgG titer in patients with Crohn's disease (5/13; 0.102+/-0.039) (P < 0.05), but not in patients with ulcerative colitis (2/20; 0.065+/-0.035) and tuberculosis (0/4; 0.053+/-0.008). No significant differences were seen in the antibody-positive prevalence rate and mean values of the serum IgA and IgM titers among the four study groups. These results indicate the unique immune response to M. paratuberculosis in patients with Crohn's disease, suggesting that this organism may play some role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease.
Multielement nanotubes comprising multiple phases, with diameters of a few tens of nanometers and lengths up to 50 micrometers, were successfully synthesized by means of reactive laser ablation. The experimentally determined structure consists of a beta-phase silicon carbide core, an amorphous silicon oxide intermediate layer, and graphitic outer shells made of boron nitride and carbon layers separated in the radial direction. The structure resembles a coaxial nanocable with a semiconductor-insulator-metal (or semiconductor-insulator-semiconductor) geometry and suggests applications in nanoscale electronic devices that take advantage of this self-organization mechanism for multielement nanotube formation.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Tray adhesive, which is used for the adhesion of elastomer rubber impression materials to a custom resin tray, lowers the retention of the impression materials to the impression modeling plastics, as some ingredients of tray adhesive make the impression modeling plastic soft and tacky. PURPOSE: The efficacy of tray adhesive, which is used for the adhesion of elastomer rubber impression materials to a custom resin tray, on the adhesion between elastomer rubber impression material and impression modeling plastic was investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four silicone rubber impression materials (two addition reaction types and two condensation reaction types), two polysulfide rubber impression materials, and one impression modeling plastic were used in this study. Tensile strength between elastomer rubber impression material and impression modeling plastic with or without the application of tray adhesive was evaluated. RESULTS: Although tray adhesives for both addition reaction type and both condensation reaction type of silicone impression materials and one tray adhesive for polysulfide rubber impression material increased the tensile strength between the impression material and impression modeling plastic, one tray adhesive for polysulfide rubber impression material decreased the tensile strength when sufficient drying time was not applied.
For the treatment of childhood solid tumors, we performed a pilot feasibility study of consecutive high-dose therapies, in which each course was followed by transplantation with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mobilized peripheral blood cells which had been separated into CD34-positive and -negative fractions by an Isolex system (Baxter). Positive selection of CD34+ cells has been associated with inevitable cell loss. To overcome this loss, CD34+ cells that had migrated into the negative fraction were saved and used for the first transplant, which was followed by a second transplant after a 3- to 5-month interval. In this phase I feasibility study, the results in six children were evaluated for safety and engraftment. Multi-drug cytoreductive regimens using ranimustine (MCNU), melphalan, thiotepa, carboplatin, cyclophosphamide or VP-16 were comparable between the two transplant procedures in terms of their intensity. The number of CD34+ cells in the 'CD34(+) fraction' was 3.31 x 10(6)/kg (0.63-4.3 x 10(6)/kg), while this number in the 'CD34(-) fraction' could not be evaluated correctly due their scarcity (<0.1%). The median numbers of infused MNC and CFU-GM were, respectively, 4.2 x 10(6)/kg and 1.75 x 10(5)/kg in the CD34(+) fraction, and 4.8 x 10(8)/kg and 3.35 x 10(5)/kg in the CD34(-) fraction. The number of days required to achieve an ANC >0.5 x 10(9)/l and a platelet count >20 x 10(9)/l and >50 x 10(9)/l were, respectively, 14.5, 15.0 and 19.5 in the first transplant with CD34- cells, and 13.5, 18.0 and 25.0 in the second transplant with CD34+ cells, with no essential difference between the two treatments. Although the small number of patients, the variation in clinical status and treatment, and the short follow-up invalidate any evaluation of the therapeutic benefit of this strategy, the encouraging results support the feasibility of this strategy, which enables an escalation of dose intensity with an improved cost/benefit ratio.