Photophysical, amplified spontaneous emission and charge transport properties of oligofluorene derivatives in thin films.

We investigate the photophysical and amplified spontaneous emission properties of a series of monodisperse solution-processable oligofluorenes functionalized with hexyl chains at the C9 position of each fluorene unit. Thin films of these oligofluorenes are then used in organic field-effect transistors and their charge transport properties are examined. We have particularly focused our attention on the influence of oligofluorene length on the absorption and steady-state fluorescence spectra, on the HOMO/LUMO energy levels, on the photoluminescence lifetime and quantum yield as well as on the amplified spontaneous emission properties and the charge carrier mobilities. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction measurements demonstrate that, among all oligofluorene derivatives used in this study, only the structure and morphology of the pentafluorene film is significantly modified by a thermal treatment above the glass transition temperature, resulting in a 9 nm blue-shift of the fluorescence spectrum without significant changes in the photoluminescence quantum yield and in the amplified spontaneous emission threshold. In parallel, hole field-effect mobility is significantly increased from 8.6 × 10(-7) to 3.8 × 10(-5) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) upon thermal treatment, due to an increase of crystallinity. This study provides useful insights into the morphological control of oligofluorene thin films and how it affects their photophysical and charge transport properties. Moreover, we provide evidence that, because of the low threshold, the tunability of the amplified spontaneous emission and the photostability of the films, these oligofluorenes are promising candidates for organic solid-state laser applications.

Expression of serine and glycine-related enzymes in phyllodes tumor.

UNLABELLED: Expression patterns of proteins involved in serine and glycine metabolism, and correlations of these patterns with clinicopathologic factors in phyllodes tumor were investigated. Tissue microarrays were prepared from 203 phyllodes tumors (PT) and stained with antibodies specific for glycine decarboxylase (GLDC), phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1), phosphoserine phosphatase (PSPH), phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), and serine hydroxymethyltransferase 1 (SHMT1). These immunohistochemical results and clinicopathologic parameters were analyzed for correlation. Numbers of benign, borderline, and malignant tumors were 155, 32, and 16, respectively. Stromal expression of PHGDH, PSAT1, PSPH, SHMT1, and GLDC increased with increasing tumor grade, and epithelial expression of SHMT1 also increased with increasing tumor grade (p<0.001, and p=0.005, respectively). On univariate analysis, positive stainings for stromal PHGDH (p<0.001), stromal PSAT1 (p<0.001), stromal PSPH (p=0.003), epithelial SHMT1 (p=0.001), stromal SHMT1 (p=0.022), and stromal GLDC (p<0.001) were each associated with shorter disease-free survival. Stromal GLDC was associated with shorter overall survival (p<0.001). In conclusion, expression of proteins related to serine and glycine metabolism increased with increasing histologic grade in stromal components of phyllodes tumor. KEYWORDS: glycine, tumor grade, metabolism, phyllodes tumor, serine.

A comparison of inflammatory mediator expression between palmoplantar pustulosis and pompholyx.

BACKGROUND: Both palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) and pompholyx are clinically characterized by acute eruptions of vesicles or pustules on the palms or soles. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare the expression of certain inflammatory mediator genes and proteins between patients with PPP and pompholyx using skin tissue samples. METHODS: Skin biopsies obtained from lesional skin from patients with PPP (n = 7) and pompholyx (n = 5) were analysed by quantitative RT-PCR to measure the mRNA levels of nine genes, including IL-4, IL-8, IL-9, IL-17, IL-22, IFN-γ, CCL-20, granzyme and perforin. For immunohistochemical analysis, 34 paraffin-embedded skin specimens (PPP, n = 22; pompholyx, n = 12) were stained with anti-IL-8, IL-17A, IL-22 and granzyme B antibodies. RESULTS: Of genes analysed, IL-8 and IL-17A mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in the PPP group than the pompholyx group (P = 0.012 in both), whereas the mRNA expression of granzyme B was significantly higher in pompholyx when compared with PPP (P = 0.004). Regarding the IL-17A immunohistochemical staining, tissue from the PPP lesions contained significantly more IL-17A(+) cells in both the epidermis and papillary dermis when compared with pompholyx (P < 0.001 and P = 0.019 respectively). Moreover, the intensity of the IL-8 immunoreactivity was also greater in the PPP skin lesions than the pompholyx tissue (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: IL-8 and IL-17A, both are increased in PPP tissue, may represent important immunologic mediators that help to differentiate this clinical entity from pompholyx. This study may provide useful clues in distinguishing PPP from pompholyx, as well as helping to understand the pathogeneses of these two diseases.

Expression of interleukin-17 is correlated with interferon-α expression in cutaneous lesions of lupus erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: Type I interferon (IFN) has been reported to have an important role in the development of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A new subset of CD4+ T cells, T helper (Th)17 cells, also plays a role in the development of autoimmunity. AIM: To investigate expression of interleukin (IL)-17 and IFN-α in different CLE subsets, and their associations with the pathogenesis of LE. METHODS: Skin tissue samples from 33 cases, including chronic discoid LE (n = 24), acute (A)CLE (n = 4), subacute CLE (n = 1) and lupus panniculitis (n = 4) were collected for immunohistochemistry. Expression of IL-6, IL-17A, IFN-α, IFN-γ, myxovirus protein (Mx)A and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß was assessed in these samples. RESULTS: All LE specimens had staining for IL-6 and TGF-ß in the infiltrated inflammatory cells. IL-17A staining was seen in 84.8% of specimens, and IFN-α or MxA was seen in 93.9%. TGF-ß expression in ACLE was significantly greater than that in both chronic cutaneous (CC)LE and in lupus panniculitis (P = 0.02 for both). Expression of IL-17A was positively associated with expression of IFN-α and MxA (Spearman's ρ = 0.56 and 0.39, respectively). In addition, the Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI) correlated positively with expression of IFN-α and MxA (ρ = 0.40 for both), whereas there was no correlation with IL-17A expression. CONCLUSIONS: Two major cytokines, IL-17A and IFN-α, may play roles in the pathogenesis of CLE. Their patterns of expression positively correlated with each other.

No ancillary finding is valid to distinguish a primary ovarian hepatoid carcinoma from metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.

Primary ovarian hepatoid carcinomas (POHC) are extremely rare. Especially rare are those with phenotypic properties of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and an absence of clinical evidence of hepatic tumor. We report a case of a POHC with a common microscopic, immunophenotypic, and ultrastructural property of HCC in the absence of a liver mass. It is extremely difficult to differentiate POHC from metastatic HCC using any kinds of ancillary studies, with the exception of clinical identification of a hepatic tumor.