Exploration of advanced cellulosic material for membrane filtration with outstanding antifouling property.

Membranes, at times, have issues due to membrane fouling. The membrane fouling leads to performance deterioration and poses a potential to clog the membrane. Here we present experimental works carried out with emphasis on the antifouling properties, chlorine resistance, and mechanical properties of cellulose triacetate (CTA) and cellulose esters.

Achiral Molecular Recognition of Substituted Aniline Position Isomers by Crown Ether Type Chiral Stationary Phase.

To understand the selectivity of the crown ether type chiral stationary phase (CSP), the retention selectivity for aniline and the positional isomers of substituted anilines were studied. In various substituted isomers, except nitroaniline, a remarkable decrease of retention due to steric hindrance was observed for the 2-substituted isomer. To determine the detailed molecular recognition mechanism, quantum chemical calculations were performed for the aggregates between the crown ether and the anilines.

Highly selective and straightforward recovery of gold and platinum from acidic waste effluents using cellulose-based bio-adsorbent.

Recovery of precious metals (PMs: Au and Pt) from waste resources is of high importance due to the environmental concern and imbalance in the supply-demand ratio. A new approach has been explored for the recovery of PM using earlier developed bio-adsorbent, dithiocarbamate-modified cellulose (DMC). The adsorbent exhibits excellent adsorption efficiency (~99%) over a wide range of pH (< 1-6) and high selectivity towards Au and Pt extraction from acidic solutions ([H]: ≥ 0.

Low-dose CT lung cancer screening in never-smokers and smokers: results of an eight-year observational study.

Background: This was an observational study of Japanese participants who underwent low-dose computed tomographic (LDCT) lung cancer screening between February 2004 and March 2012, to evaluate the lung cancers in never-smokers and smokers.

Methods: The study population consisted of a total of 12,114 subjects [never-smokers, 6,021 (49.70%); smokers with <30 pack-years of smoking, 3,785 (31.

Poly(4-vinylpyridine) based novel stationary phase investigated under supercritical fluid chromatography conditions.

A novel poly(4-vinylpyridine) based stationary phase was investigated for its performance under supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) mode. Due to its unique structure, this stationary phase has high molecular planarity recognition ability for aromatic samples possessing the same number of aromatic rings and π-electrons. Taking advantage of the planarity recognition ability observed, separations of structurally similar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and steroids were achieved.

Poly(butylene terephthalate) based novel achiral stationary phase investigated under supercritical fluid chromatography conditions.

Poly(butylene terephthalate) based novel stationary phase (SP), composed of planar aromatic phenyl group together with ester group monomer units, was designed for supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) use. As expected from its structure, this phase shows planarity recognition of isomeric aromatics and closely similar compounds. Interestingly, for most analytes, the retention behavior of this SP is significantly distinct from that of the 2-ethylpyridine based SPs which is among the most well-known SFC dedicated phases.

Effectiveness of Bone Suppression Imaging in the Detection of Lung Nodules on Chest Radiographs: Relevance to Anatomic Location and Observer's Experience.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of bone suppression imaging (BSI) software in lung-nodule detection on chest radiographs (CXRs) in relation to nodule location and observer's experience.

Materials And Methods: The CXRs of 80 patients, of which 40 had a lung nodule (8 to 30 mm in diameter) and 40 did not have any nodules, were interpreted by 20 observers comprising of 7 pulmonologists with >10 years of experience and 13 pulmonology residents. Each patient's image was sequentially read, first using the standard CXR and thereafter with the BSI software.

Thin-section computed tomography findings of lung adenocarcinoma with inherent metastatic potential.

Purpose: The solid component of lung ground-glass nodules on thin-section computed tomography (TSCT) reflects cancer cell progression and invasiveness. The purpose of this study was to clarify the cut-off value of preoperative TSCT findings in treating a lesion suspected of being adenocarcinoma and to recognize the timing of surgical resection for lung nodules.

Methods: We reevaluated the TSCT findings in 392 patients with clinical stage IA lung adenocarcinoma who underwent surgical resection between 2003 and 2007.

Genomic Profiling of Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lung.

Purpose: Although large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the lung shares many clinical characteristics with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), little is known about its molecular features. We analyzed lung LCNECs to identify biologically relevant genomic alterations.

Experimental Design: We performed targeted capture sequencing of all the coding exons of 244 cancer-related genes on 78 LCNEC samples [65 surgically resected cases, including 10 LCNECs combined with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) types analyzed separately, and biopsies of 13 advanced cases].

The novel one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) assay for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): Results of a multicenter prospective study.

Objectives: The precise and rapid diagnosis of the presence or absence of lymph node (LN) metastasis is essential for deciding upon an appropriate therapeutic strategy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We conducted a prospective multicenter clinical trial in Japan to evaluate a rapid, automated and objective assay system, the one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) assay (Sysmex Corp), which targets cytokeratin 19 mRNA, to detect LN metastasis of NSCLC.

Materials And Methods: A total of 410 Lymph nodes (LNs) from 111 patients with clinical stage IB to IIIA NSCLC who underwent lung resection with LN dissection were included in this study.

Postoperative oligo-recurrence of non-small-cell lung cancer: clinical features and survival†.

Objectives: Postoperative recurrences of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are usually disseminated and systemic. Recently, the concept of oligo-recurrence, which is theoretically curable by definitive local therapy (DLT), has been proposed in several cancers. The aim of this study was to clarify clinical features and outcomes of patients with postoperative oligo-recurrence of NSCLC.

Long-term outcome and prognostic factors of surgically treated thymic carcinoma: results of 306 cases from a Japanese Nationwide Database Study.

Objectives: Thymic carcinoma is a rare thymic malignancy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of clinicopathological variables and perioperative therapy for surgically treated thymic carcinoma using a nationwide database.

Methods: Of 2835 patients with surgically treated thymic epithelial tumours collected from 32 Japanese institutions, a total of 306 patients with thymic carcinomas, excluding neuroendocrine tumours, were enrolled in this retrospective study.

Mediastinal nodal involvement in patients with clinical stage I non-small-cell lung cancer: possibility of rational lymph node dissection.

Background: The aim of this study is to elucidate the optimal candidate of selective lymph node dissection (LND) that reduces the extent of mediastinal LND according to clinical information including radiological evaluation in primary non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Methods: Eight hundred and seventy-six patients with clinical(c)-stage I NSCLC (adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma), who underwent complete surgical resection between January 2003 and December 2009 were included in this study. We elucidated the lymph node metastatic incidence and distribution according to the primary tumor lobe location and extracted the associated clinicopathological factors, especially thin-section computed tomographic findings, with mediastinal lymph node involvement.

Expression profiling of receptor tyrosine kinases in high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung: a comparative analysis with adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: As the comprehensive genomic analysis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) progresses, novel treatments for this disease need to be explored. With attention to the direct connection between the receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) of tumor cells and the pharmacological effects of specific inhibitors, we systematically assessed the RTK expressions of high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas of the lung [HGNECs, including SCLC and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC)].

Patients And Methods: Fifty-one LCNEC and 61 SCLC patients who underwent surgical resection were enrolled in this research.

Clinicopathological significance of cancer stem-like cell markers in high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological significance of cancer stem-like cell (CSLC) markers in high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma (HGNEC) of the lung, including small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC).

Methods: We retrospectively studied patients who underwent surgical resection of SCLC (n = 60) and LCNEC (n = 45) to analyze their clinicopathological profiles and the immunohistochemical expression of putative CSLC markers (Caveolin, Notch, CD44, CD166, SOX2, ALDH1, and Musashi1). Staining scores for these markers in tumor cells were calculated by multiplying the percentage of positive tumor cells per lesion by the staining intensity level (0, 1, and 2); a score of ≥ 10 represented positive expression.

Surgical Outcomes of Lung Cancer in Patients with Combined Pulmonary Fibrosis and Emphysema.

Purpose: Lung cancers in patients with combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) are increasing. Objective of this investigation was to identify which clinicopathological features significantly affected surgical outcome of these patients.

Methods: Among 4313 patients with primary lung cancers who underwent surgery between January 2008 and December 2010 in nine institutions in Japan, 265 had CPFE.

Podoplanin-expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts inhibit small cell lung cancer growth.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) expressing podoplanin (PDPN) are a favorable prognosticator in surgically resected small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Here we explore whether CAFs expressing PDPN influence proliferation of SCLC cells. Compared with control group (SCLC cells co-cultured with CAFs-Ctrl), numbers of SCLC cells co-cultured with CAFs overexpressing PDPN were decreased.

Limited resection trial for pulmonary ground-glass opacity nodules: case selection based on high-resolution computed tomography-interim results.

Objective: Our previous trial for small ground-glass opacity nodule on high-resolution computed tomography suggested all these cancers might have been radically managed with limited resection. Good correlation between radiologic and pathologic findings in early lung adenocarcinomas has been reported. We aimed to confirm limited resection efficacy as radical surgery in patients with high-resolution computed tomography-indicated minimally invasive lung cancer.

Patterns and treatment of recurrence following pulmonary resection for colorectal metastases.

Background: Pulmonary resection is the best therapeutic option for lung metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC) today. However, recurrences are frequent following pulmonary resection. We aimed to evaluate the recurrence pattern and treatment of initial pulmonary resection for metastases from CRC.

Podoplanin-expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts lead and enhance the local invasion of cancer cells in lung adenocarcinoma.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) communicate with cancer cells and play important roles in cancer invasion. We previously reported that local invasion of cancer cells was frequently observed in lung adenocarcinoma patients with podoplanin (PDPN)-expressing CAFs. However, the underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon have remained unclear.

Postoperative radiotherapy is effective for thymic carcinoma but not for thymoma in stage II and III thymic epithelial tumors: the Japanese Association for Research on the Thymus Database Study.

Background: The efficacy of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) for thymic epithelial tumors is still controversial. Using the Japanese Association for Research on the Thymus (JART) database, this study was aimed at clarifying the efficacy of PORT for Masaoka stage II and III thymic carcinoma and thymoma.

Methods: The JART database registered the records of 2835 patients collected from 32 Japanese institutions from 1991 to 2010.

Long-term outcome of surgical resection for residual or regrown advanced non-small cell lung carcinomas following EGFR-TKI treatment: report of four cases.

We report the long-term outcome of 4 patients who underwent pulmonary resection for residual or regrown primary lesion of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with a epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) gefitinib. Two patients underwent surgical resection for localized regrown primary lesion after gefitinib for stage IV disease. The remaining two patients underwent surgery for localized residual primary lesion that was downstaged to N0 after gefitinib for initially inoperable cN2 (stage IIIA) disease.

Podoplanin-positive cancer-associated fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment induce primary resistance to EGFR-TKIs in lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutation.

Purpose: The biologic characteristics of microenvironmental constituents, especially cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), can be key regulators of the cellular sensitivity to molecular-targeted therapy. Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI) have marked therapeutic effects against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR mutations, but some patients have exhibited primary resistance to EGFR-TKIs. We recently reported that podoplanin-positive fibroblasts are associated with a tumor-promoting phenotype of CAFs in lung adenocarcinoma.

Tumor-size-based morphological features of metastatic lymph node tumors from primary lung adenocarcinoma.

Most primary lung adenocarcinomas show histological diversity, however, histological diversity in the metastatic lymph node tumors (LNT) is not well defined. The aim of this study was to explore the histological characteristics of the metastatic LNT based on their sizes. We analyzed 163 primary tumors and 509 metastatic LNTs.

Ezrin-expressing lung adenocarcinoma cells and podoplanin-positive fibroblasts form a malignant microenvironment.

Purpose: Cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) together create the tumor microenvironment, which affects malignant behavior. Lung adenocarcinomas with CAFs expressing podoplanin (PDPN) are clinically aggressive, but the molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon has not been established. So we identified the characteristic immunophenotype of lung adenocarcinoma cells coexisting with PDPN-expressing CAFs (PDPN-CAFs) and examined how it relates to an aggressive clinicopathological outcome.