Engineering Gold Nanotubes with Controlled Length and Near‐Infrared Absorption for Theranostic Applications

Important aspects in engineering gold nanoparticles for theranostic applications include the control of size, optical properties, cytotoxicity, biodistribution, and clearance. In this study, gold nanotubes with controlled length and tunable absorption in the near‐infrared (NIR) region have been exploited for applications as photothermal conversion agents and in vivo photoacoustic imaging contrast agents. A length‐controlled synthesis has been developed to fabricate gold nanotubes (NTs) with well‐defined shape (i.e., inner void and open ends), high crystallinity, and tunable NIR surface plasmon resonance. A coating of poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate) (PSS) endows the nanotubes with colloidal stability and low cytotoxicity. The PSS‐coated Au NTs have the following characteristics: i) cellular uptake by colorectal cancer cells and macrophage cells, ii) photothermal ablation of cancer cells using single wavelength pulse laser irradiation, iii) excellent in vivo photoacoustic signal generation capability and accumulation at the tumor site, iv) hepatobiliary clearance within 72 h postintravenous injection. These results demonstrate that these PSS‐coated Au NTs have the ideal attributes to develop their potential as effective and safe in vivo imaging nanoprobes, photothermal conversion agents, and drug delivery vehicles. To the best of knowledge, this is the first in vitro and in vivo study of gold nanotubes.     

The design of consumer packaging: Effects of manipulations of shape,orientation, and alignment of graphical forms on consumers’ assessments

On-package graphics have the potential to influence consumers’ product-related attitudes and behaviours. In the reported study graphics designs on the labels of two products (water and vodka) were manipulated with respect to shape angularity, orientation, and left–right alignment. Participants’ evaluations indicated a preference for rounded shapes that could not be accounted for by differences in design typicality; and preference for upward shape orientation. An interaction between these response variables for ratings of purchase likelihood suggested that congruence between graphical and product form (droplet shape) may be advantageous. Effects of alignment were not consistent with existing theories, with right-aligned graphics being preferred. An explanation that distinguishes processing efficiency and hemispheric efficiency is proposed. Finally, as predicted, a halo effect was apparent, such that effects of aesthetic manipulations extended to ratings of product attributes that were not experienced. Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.     

Responses to the sensory properties of fat of neurons in the primate orbitofrontal cortex

The primate orbitofrontal cortex is a site of convergence of information from primary taste, olfactory, and somatosensory cortical areas. We describe the responses of a population of single neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex that responds to fat in the mouth. The neurons respond, when fatty foods are being eaten, to pure fat such as glyceryl trioleate and also to substances with a similar texture but different chemical composition such as paraffin oil (hydrocarbon) and silicone oil [Si(CH3)2O)n]. This is evidence that the neurons respond to the oral texture of fat, sensed by the somatosensory system. Some of the population of neurons respond unimodally to the texture of fat. Other single neurons show convergence of taste inputs, and others of olfactory inputs, onto single neurons that respond to fat. For example, neurons were found that responded to the mouth feel of fat and the taste of monosodium glutamate (both found in milk), or to the mouth feel of fat and to odor. Feeding to satiety reduces the responses of these neurons to the fatty food eaten, but the neurons still respond to some other foods that have not been fed to satiety. Thus sensory-specific satiety for fat is represented in the responses of single neurons in the primate orbitofrontal cortex. Fat is an important constituent of food that affects its palatability and nutritional effects. The findings described provide evidence that the reward value (or pleasantness) of the mouth feel of fat is represented in the primate orbitofrontal cortex and that the representation is relevant to appetite.     

Dechema corrosion handbook Vol. 3 Edited by D. Behrens,VCH Verlagsgesellschaft,Weinheim Frankfurt am Main, 1988. pp. ix + 282, price £286.00 (subscription price to series £238.00 per volume) ISBN 3-527-26654-2

4-Phenyl-5-aminopyrazole 2 obtained from phenylcyanoacetaldehyde 1 and hydrazine hydrate reacted with diethyl malonate to give 3-phenyl-5,7-dioxopyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine 3 , used as the key compound in the synthesis of arylazo dyes. The key compound 3 was coupled with various aryldiazonium salts 4 to yield 3-phenyl-7-hydroxy-6-arylazopyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimid-5-ones 5. The resulting arylazo dyes (5) were refluxed in phosphorus oxychloride to give 3-phenyl-5,7-dichloro-6-arylazo-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines 6 , which subsequently reacted with refluxing morpholine and piperidine to yield 3-phenyl-5,7-bis(morpholino and piperidino)-6-aryiazopyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines 7. The arylazo dyes 5 and 7 were applied to polyester fibres as disperse dyes and the arylazo dyes 6 were applied to polyamide fibres as disperse reactive dyes. The spectral and dyeing properties of the dyes were studied.     

Inexpensive in situ time-integrating seawater nutrient sampler

An in situ time-integrating seawater sampler in which air escaping from the sample bottle through a capillary regulates flow of seawater into the sampler is described for determination of average plant nutrient concentration during a 10–50 h period. The sampler collected water at a constant rate which was approximately equal to that predicted from the Hagen-Poiseuille equation. The sampler has advantages over those described previously: it is less susceptible to blockage from suspended particulates in seawater, less expensive, and the seawater collection rate should be less temperature-dependent.     

Randomised trial of octreotide for long term management of cirrhosis after variceal haemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of long term octreotide as adjuvant treatment to programmed endoscopic sclerotherapy after acute variceal haemorrhage in cirrhotic portal hypertension. DESIGN: Randomised clinical trial. SETTING: University hospital. SUBJECTS: 32 patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension. INTERVENTIONS: Programmed injection sclerotherapy with subcutaneous octreotide 50 micrograms twice daily for 6 months, or programmed injection sclerotherapy alone. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Episodes of recurrent variceal bleeding and survival. RESULTS: Significantly fewer patients receiving combined octreotide and sclerotherapy had episodes of recurrent variceal bleeding compared with patients given sclerotherapy alone (1/16 v 7/16; P = 0.037, Fisher's exact test), and their survival was significantly improved (P < 0.02, log rank test); this improvement was maintained for 12 months after the end of the study. Combined treatment also resulted in a sustained decrease in portal pressure (median decrease -6.0 mm Hg, interquartile range -10 to -4.75 mm Hg, P = 0.0002) compared with sclerotherapy alone (median increase 1.5 mm Hg, interquartile range 0.25 to 3.25 mm Hg), as well as a significant improvement in liver function as assessed by plasma concentrations of bilirubin, albumin, and alanine aminotransferase and by hepatocyte metabolism of aminopyrine labelled with carbon-14. CONCLUSION: Long term octreotide may be a valuable adjuvant to endoscopic sclerotherapy for acute variceal haemorrhage in cirrhotic portal hypertension.     

Usage and adverse effects of Chinese herbal medicines

Oestrogen receptor (ER) expression in breast cancer is regarded as a phenotype that may change during the natural history of the disease or during endocrine therapy. It has been suggested that in up to 70% of tumours that show acquired resistance the mechanism may be changed in ER status from positive to negative. This paper proposes an alternative hypothesis that ER expression in a stable phenotype in breast cancer. The paper reviews the literature on ER expression during the natural history of breast cancer in patients and also presents data on the effect of endocrine therapy on ER expression. If the alternative hypothesis is true it has important implications for treatment from chemoprevention to acquired endocrine resistance in advanced disease. Equally, if the hypothesis is true, attempts to develop laboratory models of endocrine resistance where ER-positive tumours become ER negative need to be re-evaluated.     

Outcome of 259 patients with primary proliferative polycythaemia (PPP) and idiopathic thrombocythaemia (IT) treated in a regional nuclear medicine department with phosphorus-32--a 15 year review

259 patients with primary proliferative polycythaemia (PPP) and idiopathic thrombocythaemia (IT) have been treated with 32P over the last 15 years. Complete follow-up data were obtained in 238 patients. PPP was the diagnosis in 183 patients and 76 patients had IT. The sex ratio in PPP was male/female 1.1:1 and in IT 1:1.4. Patients' ages ranged from 28 to 95 years (median 72 years). The number of 32P administrations per patient ranged from 1 to 13 (median 2) and the total administered activity per patient ranged from 81.4 to 4162 MBq (median 496 MBq). The outcome showed a normalization of the full blood count in 50% of patients after a single administration of 32P and in 73% after two treatments. 13 patients (5.5%) developed myelofibrosis; 18 (7.6%) developed leukaemia while other cancers arose in 19 patients (8%). 32P therapy proved to be of particular value in the elderly. 32P is easy to administer and is cost effective, compared with the alternative of chemotherapy where good compliance and frequent hospital visits are required.