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Complex moduli of oriented specimens of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyoxymethylene, polyethylene oxide), and polytetrahydrofuran were measured in sheet form as a function of direction. The dynamic tensile modulus (E′) along the stretched direction (0° direction) was found to be lower than that perpendicular to the stretched direction (90° direction) above the temperature of primary dispersion (αa) for all polymers cited above. Below the temperature of an dispersion the E′ value of 0° direction is higher than that of 90° direction as expected from the anisotropy of modulus of the crystal. This fact leads us to the model that the crystalline region (C) and this amorphous region (A) are arranged mainly in series along the stretched direction and at the same time the C region should be more or less continuous along the 90° direction. The actual drawn sample is composed of many microfibrils as proved ł y the x‐ray small‐angle scattering. Those conditions imposed on the model should be satisfied even when many microfibrils are bound together into a fiber. This picture agrees with the structural model of hot‐drawn PE presented by Hosemann after its slight modification. Effects of cold drawing on the anisotropy of modulus were also surveyed.

YB-1 appears to be a promising target to inhibit the development of castration resistance, even at the AR variant-expressing stage. Polymorphism in the YB-1 gene may be a promising predictive biomarker in hormonal therapy.

Purpose: Y-box-binding protein-1 (YB-1) is known to conduct various functions related to cell proliferation, anti-apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and castration resistance in prostate cancer. However, it is still unknown how YB-1 affects cancer biology, especially its correlations with the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Therefore, we aimed to examine the interaction between YB-1 and the MAPK pathway in prostate cancer.Experimental Design: Quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting, and co-immunoprecipitation assay were conducted in prostate cancer cells. YB-1, phosphorylated YB-1 (p-YB-1), and ERK2 protein expressions in 165 clinical specimens of prostate cancer were investigated by immunohistochemistry. YB-1, p-YB-1, and ERK2 nuclear expressions were compared with clinicopathologic characteristics and patient prognoses.Results: EGF upregulated p-YB-1, whereas MEK inhibitor (U0126, PD98059) decreased p-YB-1. Inversely, silencing of YB-1 using siRNA decreased the expression of ERK2 and phosphorylated MEK, ERK1/2, and RSK. Furthermore, YB-1 interacted with ERK2 and Raf-1 and regulated their expressions, through the proteasomal pathway. Immunohistochemical staining showed a significant correlation among the nuclear expressions of YB-1, p-YB-1, and ERK2. The Cox proportional hazards model revealed that high ERK2 expression was an independent prognostic factor [HR, 7.947; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.527-20.508; P < 0.0001].Conclusion: We revealed the functional relationship between YB-1 and MAPK signaling and its biochemical relevance to the progression of prostate cancer. In addition, ERK2 expression was an independent prognostic factor. These findings suggest that both the ERK pathway and YB-1 may be promising molecular targets for prostate cancer diagnosis and therapeutics.

Purpose: The progression of prostate cancer to metastatic and castration-resistant disease represents a critical step. We previously showed that the transcription factor Twist1, which promotes epithelialmesenchymal transition, was involved in castration-resistant progression. Similarly, protein kinase C (PKC) has been implicated in both metastatic progression and castration resistance in prostate cancer.Experimental Design: In this study, we aimed to elucidate the role of PKC/Twist1 signaling in castration resistance, and to apply this information to the development of a novel therapeutic concept using PKC inhibitor Ro31-8220 against prostate cancer using various prostate cancer cell lines.Results: Androgen deprivation and the next-generation antiandrogen enzalutamide induced PKC activation and Twist1 expression, which were reversed by the PKC inhibitor Ro31-8220. Ro31-8220 suppressed cell proliferation in androgen-dependent prostate cancer LNCaP cells, which was augmented by its combination with androgen deprivation or enzalutamide. The favorable anticancer effects of the combination of Ro31-8220 and enzalutamide were also observed in castration-resistant C4-2 and 22Rv1 cells. Furthermore, PKC phosphorylation was elevated in castration-resistant and enzalutamide-resistant cells compared with their parental cells, leading to persistent sensitivity to Ro-31-8220 in castration-and enzalutamide-resistant cells.Conclusions: Taken together, these findings indicate that PKC/Twist1 signaling contributes to castration resistance as well as enzalutamide resistance in prostate cancer, and suggest that therapeutics targeting PKC/ Twist1 signaling, such as PKC inhibitors, represent a promising novel therapeutic strategy for prostate cancer, especially castration-resistant prostate cancer, when combined with enzalutamide. Clin Cancer Res; 20(4); 951-61. Ó2013 AACR.

The molecular and crystal structure of polytetrahydrofuran has been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The unit cell dimensions are a -5.48, b = 8.73, c (fiber axis) = 12.07 A., and p = 134.2". The space group is C2/c -C2: . Two molecular chains pass through the unit cell. The skeleton of the molecular chain has a planar zig-zag conformation and the zig-zag plane is parallel to the (100)-plane.The infrared dichroism and pleochroism were measured, and the tentative assignments for the infrared absorption bands were given and discussed. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG:Molekulare Struktur und Kristallstruktur von Polytetrahydrofuran wurden durch eine Rontgenbeugungsanalyse bestimmt. Die Elementarzelle besitzt die Abmessungen a = 5,48, b = 8,73, c (Faserachse) = 12,07 a und p = 134,2". Die Raumgruppe ist C2/c-C& Zwei Molekulketten durchlaufen die Elementarzelle. Die Ketten liegen in einer ebenen Zick-zack-Konformation vor; die dadurch definierte Ebene fallt mit der kristallographischen (100)-Ebene zusammen.Der Infrarot-Dichroismus und -Pleochroismus wurden gemessen und eine versuchsweise Zuordnung der Absorptionsbanden angegeben und diskutiert.

Radiotherapy for prostate cancer is associated with an increased incidence of secondary bladder cancer (BC). We investigated the incidence, clinicopathological characteristics, and prognosis of BC after radiotherapy, surgical therapy, and primary androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer. This study included 1,334 Japanese patients with prostate cancer treated with radiotherapy (n=631), surgical therapy (n=437), and primary ADT (n=266). During the median follow-up period of 51.2, 44.8, and 45.5 months, secondary BC occurred in 14 (2.2%), 5 (1.1%), and 0 (0%) of patients with prostate cancer treated with radiotherapy, surgical therapy, and primary ADT, respectively. The 10-year BC-free survival rate was 91.3% in the radiotherapy group, 97.4% in the surgical therapy group, and 100% in the primary ADT group. The rates of intravesical recurrence, progression to muscle-invasive BC, and BC-specific death might be higher in secondary BC after radiotherapy compared with after surgical therapy. There was a significant difference in the incidence of secondary BC among different therapeutic modalities for prostate cancer in Japanese men, indicating significantly lower comorbidity rates of secondary BC after primary ADT for prostate cancer compared with radiotherapy.

A newly isolated strain, MU-2, which produces very high β-fructofuranosidase activity, was identified asAspergillus japonicus. For enzyme production by the strain, sucrose at 20% (w/v) was the best carbon source and yeast extract at 1.5 to 3% (w/v) the best nitrogen source. Total enzymatic activity and cell growth were at maximum after 48 h, at 1.57×10(4) U/flask and 0.81 g dry cells/flask, respectively. The optimum pH value of the enzymatic reaction was between 5.0 and 5.5 and the optimum temperature 60 to 65°C. The enzyme produced 1-kestose (O-β-D-fructofuranosyl-(2→1)-β-D-fructofuranosyl α-D-glucopyranoside) and nystose (O-β-D-fructofuranosyl-(2→1)-β-D-fructofuranosyl-(2→1)-β-D-fructofuranosyl α-D-glucopyranoside) from sucrose by fructosyl-transferring activity. The strain was found to be very useful for industrial production of β-fructofuranosidase.