Clinical Impact and Significant Technical Points of Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) Using the Smaller Drug-Eluting Bead M1 (DC Bead M1™) for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Series.

Background: This case series evaluated the clinical impact and significant technical points of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using the smaller drug-eluting bead (DEB) M1 (DC Bead M1; 70-150 µm).

Methods: We evaluated 12 patients and 14 HCC nodules treated with DEB-TACE using the DC Bead M1 (named DEM1-TACE). In addition to evaluating the early treatment efficacy for each treated node after DEM1-TACE, the study also used interventional radiology (IVR)- computed tomography (CT) to focus on the presence or absence of retention of the homogeneous contrast medium in target nodules after DEM1-TACE as a predictor of a good treatment response.

Na[NiMnFeTi]O as an Optimized O3-Type Layered Oxide Positive Electrode Material for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Layered oxides, such as NaMeO (Me = transition metal, = 0-1), are believed to be the most promising positive electrode materials for Na-ion batteries because of their high true density, large capacities, high working potentials, and reversibility. This study identified Na[NiMnFeTi]O as an optimal composition for use as an O3-type positive electrode material in Na-ion batteries on the basis of a comprehensive phase diagram, where the end members of the triangular phase diagram were Na[NiMn]O, Na[NiTi]O, and the hypothetical composition Na[NiFe]O. By investigating the effects of the partial substitution of Mn with Fe and Ti within the Na[NiMnFeTi]O system, we optimized the capacity, working potential, and cycle performance.

An Evaluation of the Most Convenient and Effective Procedure for Reducing the Loading Time of Epirubicin Into the Drug-Eluting Bead M1 (DC Bead M1™).

Background and objective Drug-eluting beads (DEB) have been highly useful in the current treatment strategies for multiple and large hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) with or without systemic therapy. Recently, smaller beads have become available in Japan. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the most convenient and effective way to reduce the loading time of epirubicin into the drug-eluting beads M1 (DC Bead M1; 70-150 µm).

Structural basis for the effects of Ser387 phosphorylation of MgcRacGAP on its GTPase-activating activities for CDC42 and RHOA.

MgcRacGAP is a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for the Rho family GTPases. During cytokinesis, MgcRacGAP localizes to the midbody, where it activates the GTPase activity of Rho family GTPases to facilitate cytokinesis. In the midbody, Aurora B phosphorylates Ser387 within the GAP domain of human MgcRacGAP, a modification that is suggested to influence GTPase preference.

Cyanorhodopsin-II represents a yellow-absorbing proton-pumping rhodopsin clade within cyanobacteria.

Microbial rhodopsins are prevalent in many cyanobacterial groups as a light-energy-harvesting system in addition to the photosynthetic system. It has been suggested that this dual system allows efficient capture of sunlight energy using complementary ranges of absorption wavelengths. However, the diversity of cyanobacterial rhodopsins, particularly in accumulated metagenomic data, remains underexplored.