Hokkaido University

About: Hokkaido University is a education organization based out in Sapporo, Hokkaidô, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Population. The organization has 53925 authors who have published 115403 publications receiving 2651647 citations. The organization is also known as: Hokudai & Hokkaidō daigaku.

In Situ Infrared Study of Water−Sulfate Coadsorption on Gold(111) in Sulfuric Acid Solutions

Abstract: Potential-dependent reorientation of a water molecule, adsorption of sulfate, and interactions between water and sulfate on a highly ordered Au(111) electrode surface in sulfuric acid solutions have been investigated in situ as a function of applied potential by means of surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy. The spectrum of the water layer at the interface changes in both intensity and frequency as the applied potential changes due to the reorientation of water molecules. The orientations deduced from infrared spectra are in good agreement with the predictions made by molecular dynamics simulations at potentials below and around the potential of zero charge (pzc) of the electrode where sulfate adsorption is negligible. At potentials above the pzc, sulfate anion is adsorbed at 3-fold hollow sites on the (111) surface via three oxygen atoms. When the potential is increased and the fractional coverage of sulfate reaches to about one-half of full coverage, adsorbed sulfate anions start to form sh...

A phase II trial of gefitinib as first-line therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor mutations.

Abstract: Retrospective analysis has shown that activating mutations in exons 18–21 of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene are a predictor of response to gefitinib. We conducted a phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gefitinib as first-line therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR mutations. Patients with stage IIIB or IV chemotherapy-naive NSCLC with EGFR mutation were treated with 250 mg gefitinib daily. For mutational analysis, DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tissues and EGFR mutations were analysed by direct sequence of PCR products. Twenty (24%) of the 82 patients analysed had EGFR mutations (deletions in or near E746-A750, n=16; L858R, n=4). Sixteen patients were enrolled and treated with gefitinib. Twelve patients had objective response and response rate was 75% (95% CI, 48–93%). After a median follow-up of 12.7 months (range, 3.1–16.8 months), 10 patients demonstrated disease progression, with median progression-free survival of 8.9 months (95% CI, 6.7–11.1 months). The median overall survival time has not yet been reached. Most of the toxicities were mild. This study showed that gefitinib is very active and well tolerated as first-line therapy for advanced NSCLC with EGFR mutations.

Nature‐Inspired Environmental “Phosphorylation” Boosts Photocatalytic H2 Production over Carbon Nitride Nanosheets under Visible‐Light Irradiation

Abstract: Inspired by the crucial roles of phosphates in natural photosynthesis, we explored an environmental “phosphorylation” strategy for boosting photocatalytic H2 production over g-C3N4 nanosheets under visible light. As expected, a substantial improvement was observed in the rate of H2 evolution to 947 μmol h−1, and the apparent quantum yield was as high as 26.1 % at 420 nm. The synergy of enhanced proton reduction and improved hole oxidation is proposed to account for the markedly increased activity. Our findings may provide a promising and facile approach to highly efficient photocatalysis for solar-energy conversion.

Characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized patients with heart failure and reduced vs preserved ejection fraction. Report from the Japanese Cardiac Registry of Heart Failure in Cardiology (JCARE-CARD).

Abstract: Background: Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (EF) is common. We compared the characteristics, treatments, and outcomes in HF patients with reduced vs preserved EF by using the national registry database in Japan. Methods and Results: The Japanese Cardiac Registry of Heart Failure in Cardiology (JCARE-CARD) is a prospective observational study in a broad sample of patients hospitalized with worsening HF. The study enrolled 2,675 patients from 164 hospitals with an average of 2.4 years of follow-up. Patients with preserved EF (EF ≥50% by echocardiography; n=429) were more likely to be older, female, have hypertension and atrial fibrillation, and less likely to have ischemic etiology compared with those with reduced EF (EF <40%; n=985). Unadjusted risk of in-hospital mortality (6.5% vs 3.9%; P=0.03) and post-discharge mortality (22.7% vs 17.8%; P=0.058) was slightly higher in patients with preserved EF, which, however, were not different after multivariable adjustment. Patients with preserved EF had similar rehospitalization rates (36.2% vs 33.4%; P=0.515) compared with patients with reduced EF. Conclusions: HF patients with preserved EF had a similar mortality risk and equally high rates of rehospitalization as those with reduced EF. Effective management strategies are critically needed to be established for this type of HF. (Circ J 2009; 73: 1893-1900)

Superoxide dismutase recovers altered endothelium-dependent relaxation in diabetic rat aorta.

Abstract: Experiments were designed to characterize endothelium-dependent relaxation in thoracic aortic rings obtained from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. When the degree of the peak relaxation was compared, the endothelium-dependent relaxant responses to acetylcholine, histamine, or ADP in precontracted aortic rings showed that there was no significant difference between diabetic and control vessels. However, the time courses appeared quite different. The endothelium-dependent relaxant responses in diabetic vessels were more transient than those in control vessels. In addition, the rapid fade of the endothelium-dependent responses observed in diabetic vessels was significantly suppressed by pretreatment with superoxide dismutase. Pretreatment with catalase, deferoxamine, allopurinol, or indomethacin did not prevent the rapid fade of the endothelium-dependent relaxation. The endothelium-independent relaxation induced by nitric oxide also faded more quickly in diabetic vessels; this impairment was less pronounced in the presence of superoxide dismutase. These results suggest that the transient nature of the endothelium-dependent relaxation is more marked in diabetic rat aorta as a result of an enhanced accumulation of superoxide anion.