Metal-centred azaphosphatriptycene gear with a photo- and thermally driven mechanical switching function based on coordination isomerism.

Metal ions can serve as a centre of molecular motions due to their coordination geometry, reversible bonding nature and external stimuli responsiveness. Such essential features of metal ions have been utilized for metal-mediated molecular machines with the ability to motion switch via metallation/demetallation or coordination number variation at the metal centre; however, motion switching based on the change in coordination geometry remain largely unexplored. Herein, we report a PtII-centred molecular gear that demonstrates control of rotor engagement and disengagement based on photo- and thermally driven cis-trans isomerization at the PtII centre. This molecular rotary motion transmitter has been constructed from two coordinating azaphosphatriptycene rotators and one PtII ion as a stator. Isomerization between an engaged cis-form and a disengaged trans-form is reversibly driven by ultraviolet irradiation and heating. Such a photo- and thermally triggered motional interconversion between engaged/disengaged states on a metal ion would provide a selector switch for more complex interlocking systems.

Vascular-inducing poly(glycolic acid)-collagen nanocomposite-fiber scaffold.

For regenerative medicine with scaffolds, the immediate cellularization of the scaffold accompanied by angiogenesis inside is an important event. Such the aim is generally pursued by combining basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) with the scaffold. In this study, we produced the nanocomposite nanofiber composed of poly(glycolic acid), PGA, and collagen to accomplish the recruitment of host cells and peripheral blood vessels without the bio-derived matter like growth factors. Structural analysis revealed that the fiber has the sheath-core like structure in which the surface region is abundant in PGA and the core region is abundant in collagen. This peculiar fibrous structure probably contributes the fragility of the fiber under the swelling in body fluid. The results of the animal experiment demonstrated that the PGA-collagen nanofiber sponge was entirely populated and vascularized within 5 days after the implantation. We hypothesized that the early fragmentation of the implanted fibrous sponge accelerated the host's inflammation reaction by phagocytized by macrophage, which followed by the recruitment of the fibroblasts and endothelial cells from the host tissue. Designing the suitable nanoscale structure of materials makes cellularization and vascularization of the scaffold possible without bio-derived factors.

[A case of type 4 advanced gastric cancer treated by S-1 simple suspension method with CDDP].

S-1 is a key drug for advanced, recurrent gastric cancer. It is difficult to administer S-1 for inoperable gastric cancer with stenosis. We report that a simple suspension method allows administration of S-1 for improved quality of life. The patient was a 65-year-old woman. She consulted a doctor regarding her poor food intake, and had a medical examination with chest-abdominal CT and gastrofiberscopy. She was diagnosed as type 4 gastric cancer with esophageal invasion. It was difficult for her to drink a cup of water due to the stenosis, but we could insert a 6 Fr-Elemental Diet (ED) tube into her stomach. S-1 was dissolved by the simple suspension method. She received combination chemotherapy of S-1 100mg/body (day 1-21) and CDDP 80 mg/body (day 8). After two courses, her intake was much improved; she was able to eat rice porridge and was discharged with improved quality of life. S-1 suspension with ED tube was effective for advanced gastric cancer with stenosis.

Controlled delivery of bFGF remodeled vascular network in muscle flap and increased perfusion capacity via minor pedicle.

BACKGROUND: The vascular pedicles of superficial skeletal muscles are classified as the dominant pedicle and the minor pedicle. The dominant pedicle can reliably provide adequate circulation to the entire muscle, but the minor pedicle cannot. Therefore, it is impossible to elevate an entire muscle flap based solely on the minor pedicle. We evaluated whether the delivery of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) would remodel the vascular network in the muscle flap and increase the perfusion capacity via the minor pedicle. METHODS: Using a controlled delivery system with acidic gelatin hydrogel microspheres, bFGF (50 microg, FGF group) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS group) was delivered to the rabbit gracilis muscle, which contained a single dominant pedicle and a minor pedicle. Seven days later, the gracilis muscle was elevated as a muscle flap on the minor pedicle, and the flap was wrapped with a silicone sheet to avoid vessel in-growth from surrounding tissue. At 7 d after operation, flap viability, microangiograms, and regional blood flow were evaluated. RESULTS: Flap viability in the FGF group (73.6 +/- 20.5%) was significantly higher than that in the PBS group (19.7 +/- 23.5%). Postmortem angiograms of the flap showed obvious communications between the distal vascular networks of the minor and dominant pedicles. Angiographic score and regional blood flow of the flap were significantly higher in the FGF group than in the PBS group. CONCLUSIONS: Controlled delivery of bFGF to rabbit gracilis muscle increased the perfusion capacity via the minor pedicle, and the minor pedicle became able to solely provide sufficient circulation to the entire muscle.

Use of internal callus distraction in the treatment of congenital brachymetatarsia.

Congenital bilateral brachymetatarsia of the fourth metatarsal bone was treated by osteotomy and bone lengthening using the internal distraction technique. The patient was cosmetically improved. This technique has some advantages over the method of external distraction.

Induction of cell arrest by transfection of macrophage migration inhibitory factor antisense plasmid.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is known to be a proinflammatory cytokine, glucocorticoid-induced immunomodulator. MIF is abundantly expressed in various cancer cells, and is considered to contribute to cell growth and differentiation. MIF inactivates the functions of wild-type p53. Consequently, if MIF expression in cancer cells can be suppressed, the functions of p53 and p21 will be restored and an anti-tumor effect can be expected due to the inducement of cell cycle arrest. In the p21 promoter there are three DNA binding sites of STAT-1, and p21 is induced without p53. In the present study, an investigation was made of associations between p53-p21 and STAT-1-p21 signal transmission by the introduction of antisense MIF plasmid and cell cycle. Two groups, namely a transfected antisense MIF plasmid group (antisense MIF group) and a transfected PBK group (PBK group, as a control), in a DLD-1 cell line were created and used in these experiments. The cell cycle, apoptosis, inhibition of growth by subcutaneous tumor, p21 promoter activity, p21 protein, p53 cis enhancer activity and STAT-1 protein were observed. In the antisense MIF group, a shift from the S phase to the G1 phase and an inhibition of growth was noted. Scarcely any apoptotic cells were noted in either group. In terms of p21 promoter, p53 cis enhancer and STAT-1 activity, an increase in activity was found in the anti-sense MIF group. In cancer cells with MIF expression, cell arrest via p21 began due to the inhibition of MIF expression, and increases in p53 transcription activity and in STAT-1 intervention at this time were confirmed.