Dynamic gelation of shear-induced filamentous domains for cellulose ether assemblies due to polyion complexation.

Assemblies of carbohydrate polymers are important in a number of applications and improved methods for their fabrication are increasingly sought after. Herein, we report that an aqueous two-phase system of alginate (Alg) and hydroxypropyl cellulose with poly(methacrylic acid) graft chains (HPC-PMA) facilitated the assembly of Alg/HPC-PMA in both phases. Dynamically formed filamentous domains in a flow field were gelled by rapid complexation with cationic polyethyleneimine (PEI).

Inhibition of quorum sensing in opportunistic pathogen, Serratia marcescens, using cyclodextrin-immobilized, multiple parallel gel filaments fabricated with dynamic flow of polymer blend solution.

Prodigiosin production in the model opportunistic human pathogen, Serratia marcescens AS-1, depends on quorum sensing (QS), the activation of which is induced by an increase in N-hexanoyl homoserine lactone (C6HSL) concentration. When mixed with C6HSL in the broth culture of S. marcescens immobilized cyclodextrin (CD) effectively formed an inclusion complex resulting in suppression of the QS-mediated prodigiosin production.

Structuring of multiple parallel pectin gel filaments by applied shear.

The bundled structure of micron-sized pectin gel filaments was formed by quick shear-induced gelation of the filamentous domains of pectin-polyethylene glycol (PEG) assemblies. Highly concentrated pectin with PEG in a separated pectin-rich phase under aqueous two-phase separation in the pectin/PEG/NaCl system enabled the formation of the pectin-PEG assembly, which was elongated in the flow direction, resulting in the generation of filamentous domains using a microfluidic device. The pectin gel filaments were formed by crosslinking with Ca in the presence of shear-responsive PEG assemblies formed in the PEG-rich phase, because the filamentous PEG assemblies prevented fusion of the pectin filaments to form the seamless cylindrical gel.

Shear-Induced Structuring for Multiple Parallel Gel Filaments Obtained from Casein-Alginate Hybrids.

The addition of more than 1 wt % sodium alginate to a 7.5 wt % sodium caseinate solution induced aqueous two-phase separation (ATPS). Alginate and caseinate were effectively condensed in the upper and lower phases, respectively, thereby forming an alginate-casein assembly.

[Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy for Stage II or III Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma].

Background: The goal of this retrospective study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of preoperative chemoradiotherapy( NACR)in patients with Stage II or Stage III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(SCC).

Methods: Between 2004 and 2014, a total of 86 patients underwent surgical resection in conjunction with NACR for esophageal SCC at our institute. Thirty-one patients(36.

Switch of SpnR function from activating to inhibiting quorum sensing by its exogenous addition.

The opportunistic human pathogen Serratia marcescens AS-1 produces the N-hexanoylhomoserine lactone (C6HSL) receptor SpnR, a homologue of LuxR from Vibrio fischeri, which activates pig clusters to produce the antibacterial prodigiosin. In this study, we attempted to artificially regulate quorum sensing (QS) by changing the role of SpnR in N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL)-mediated QS. SpnR was obtained as a fusion protein tagged with maltose-binding protein (MBP) from overexpression in Escherichia coli, and its specific affinity to C6HSL was demonstrated by quartz crystal microbalance analysis and AHL-bioassay with Chromobacterium violaceum CV026.

In vitro analysis of essential binding sites on the promoter of the Serratia marcescens spn operon with the quorum-sensing receptor SpnR.

The N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) receptor SpnR is a LuxR family protein that acts as a negative regulator of AHL-dependent quorum sensing (QS). SpnR binds to DNA in Serratia marcescens AS-1 via the spn box; however, the binding affinity of SpnR with the nucleotides on the spn box has not yet been investigated. In this study, we used an spn-box-modified sensor electrode, and quartz crystal microbalance analysis demonstrated a drastic reduction of the uptake of SpnR.

Effect of preoperative colonic drainage for obstructing colorectal cancer.

Obstructing colorectal cancer (OCRC) is believed to indicate poorer long-term survival. The purpose of this study was to compare retrospectively perioperative safety and long-term results in patients undergoing surgery for OCRC following preoperative colonic decompression with that in those undergoing elective surgery alone for nonobstructing colorectal cancer (CRC). A total of 656 consecutive CRC patients undergoing colectomy between 2001 and 2011 at our institute were eligible for inclusion in the study.

Radiochemotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in elderly patients.

Background/aims: The goal of this retrospective study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of curative radiochemotherapy (CRT) in elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer (SCC).

Methodology: Between 1986 and 2011, 38 consecutive patients aged over 75 years with esophageal SCC were initially treated with a CRT regimen comprising radiation therapy at a dose of 60 Gy and two cycles of chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil/cisplatin.

Results: Fourteen patients were aged over 80 and 24 under 79 years.

Phase II Study of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy With S-1 and CDDP in Patients With Lymph Node Metastatic Stage II or III Gastric Cancer.

Objectives: We conducted a phase II trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) comprising S-1 and cisplatin (CDDP) followed by extensive resection in the management of resectable locally advanced gastric cancer with lymph node (LN) metastases.

Methods: Patients with LN metastases from stage II or III gastric cancer received S-1 and CDDP, as NAC criteria for LN metastases were the involvement of ≥4 nodes <2 cm or ≥1 nodes ≥2 cm as confirmed by a total body computed tomography scan. All patients underwent extensive resection including D2 gastrectomy.

D2 gastrectomy with versus without bursectomy for gastric cancer.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the survival benefit of bursectomy by retrospectively comparing the prognosis in patients undergoing D2 lymphadenectomy and gastrectomy (D2 gastrectomy) with bursectomy for gastric cancer with that in patients undergoing D2 gastrectomy alone.

Methods: A total of 254 consecutive stage IA to IIIC gastric cancer patients undergoing curative intent surgery between 2004 and 2009 were enrolled. The patients were divided into 2 groups: a bursectomy group, which included patients undergoing curative D2 gastrectomy with bursectomy by one surgeon, and a nonbursectomy group, which included those undergoing curative D2 gastrectomy alone by other surgeons.

A case of complete response to S-1 plus CDDP in early-stage mucosal esophageal cancer.

We report a case of early-stage mucosal esophageal cancer, showing a complete response to S-1 and cis-diamminedichloplatinum (CDDP). The patient was a 67-year-old man with synchronous double primary early-stage mucosal esophageal and advanced gastric cancer. We planned neoadjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 and CDDP for the advanced gastric cancer and endoscopic mucosal resection for the early-stage esophageal cancer.