Structural variations in (CuL)Ln complexes of a series of lanthanide ions with a salen-type unsymmetrical Schiff base(HL): Dy and Tb derivatives as potential single-molecule magnets.

A new series of heterometallic trinuclear CuLn complexes [lanthanide ions Ln = Gd (1), Tb (2), Dy (3), Ho (4) and Er (5)] has been synthesized using a Cu(ii)-metalloligand derived from a NO donor unsymmetrical Schiff base, HL (where HL = N-α-methylsalicylidene-N'-salicylidene-1,3-propanediamine), and structurally characterized. Among these complexes, [(CuL)Gd(NO)(CHCN)] (1), [(CuL)Tb(NO)(CHCN)] (2) and [(CuL)Dy(NO)(CHCN)] (3) are isomorphic and isostructural. In these complexes two metalloligands coordinate to the central Ln(iii) (Ln = Gd, Tb and Dy respectively) ion in a transoid fashion viaμ-phenoxido oxygen atoms.

[A case of sarcomatoid malignant peritoneal mesothelioma responding to combination chemotherapy of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, adriamycin and dacarbazine(CYVADIC)].

A 66-year-old woman was seen at our hospital because of abdominal fullness. A computed tomography(CT)revealed massive tumors in abdominal cavity. The patient underwent surgery consisting of tumorectomy, segmental gastrectomy, partial resection of small intestin, transverse colectomy, left oophorectomy and gastrostomy.

High volume hydrodynamic injection of plasmid DNA via the hepatic artery results in a high level of gene expression in rat hepatocellular carcinoma induced by diethylnitrosamine.

Background: Hydrodynamic injection of naked plasmid DNA (pDNA) via the tail vein is a safe and effective method of gene transfer to the liver. However, successful gene transfer has yet to be shown for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); therefore, we investigated the feasibility and efficacy of hydrodynamic injection via the tail vein and hepatic artery in a diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCC model in rats.

Methods: HCC was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by 100 ppm DEN in drinking water.

Blocking of PI3K/Akt pathway enhances apoptosis induced by SN-38, an active form of CPT-11, in human hepatoma cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy and often resistant to chemotherapy. Many chemotherapy regimens have been tried to control advanced HCC, but have produced a low response rate and no clear impact. CPT-11, a derivative of camptothecin, works as type-I DNA topoisomerase inhibitor and showed a major objective response rate in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Akt activation protects rat liver from ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Background: Apoptosis as well as necrosis may play an important role in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Akt, a serine-threonine protein kinase, is known to promote cell survival. We investigated whether gene transfer of constitutively active or dominant negative Akt could affect hepatic I/R injury.