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Lead sulfide colloid quantum dots (PbS QDs) offer great opportunities to revolutionize large‐area short‐wave infrared (SWIR) detection technologies due to high absorption coefficients and spectral selectivity. However, a critical issue for QDs‐based SWIR detectors is high dark current noise due to thermal carriers and the large amounts of surface defect states induced by the ligand exchange process, which hinders the improvement of the room temperature detectivity and linear dynamic range. Herein, it is demonstrated that these dilemmas can be overcome by adopting a novel hybrid‐layered phototransistor device architecture composed of a self‐assembly high‐mobility organic conduction channel and a bulk heterojunction infrared absorber containing PbS QDs as sensitizers. Strong photo absorption in the photoactive layer creates photogenerated charges that are transferred to the conduction channel, where they recirculate many times due to the long trapped‐electron lifetime in the photoactive layer and the high carrier mobility of the channel. Therefore, low dark current noise and high photoconductive gain are achieved by both electrical gating and photodoping for carrier‐density modulation of phototransistors. Finally, an optimized SWIR phototransistor device with a low room‐temperature dark current of 7 pA and a high detectivity of 8 × 1012 Jones under 1650 nm light illumination is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a rapidly increasing incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC) which threatens the survival of young people, while aging also represents a challenging clinical problem. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the differences in the clinical characteristics and prognosis in stage III rectal cancer (RC), to help optimize treatment strategies. Design and methods: This study included 757 patients with stage III RC, all of whom received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and total mesorectal excision. The whole cohort was categorized as very early onset (VEO, ⩽30 years old), early onset (EO, >30 years old, ⩽50 years old), intermediate onset (IO, >50 years, ⩽70 years), or late onset (LO, >70 years old). Results: There were more female VEO patients than males, more mucinous adenocarcinoma, signet-ring cell carcinoma, pre-treatment cT4 stage, and higher pre-treatment serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 compared with the other three groups. VEO patients had the worst survival with the highest RC-related mortality (34.5%), recurrence (13.8%), and metastasis (51.7%). LO patients had the highest non-RC-related mortality rate (16.6%). The Cox regression model showed VEO was a negative independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival [DFS, hazard ratio (HR): 2.830, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.633–4.904, p < 0.001], distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS, HR: 2.969, 95% CI: 1.720–5.127, p < 0.001), overall survival (OS, HR: 2.164, 95% CI: 1.102–4.249, p = 0.025), and cancer-specific survival (CSS, HR: 2.321, 95% CI: 1.145–4.705, p = 0.020). LO was a negative independent factor on DFS (HR: 1.800, 95% CI: 1.113–2.911, p = 0.017), DMFS (HR: 1.903, 95% CI: 1.150–3.149, p = 0.012), OS (HR: 2.856, 95% CI: 1.745–4.583, p < 0.001), and CSS (HR: 2.248, 95% CI: 1.282–3.942, p = 0.005). VEO patients had better survival in the total neoadjuvant therapy-like (TNT-like) pattern on DFS (p = 0.039). IO patients receiving TNT-like patterns had better survival on DFS, OS, and CSS (p = 0.006, p = 0.018, p = 0.006, respectively). Conclusion: In stage III RC, VEO patients exhibited unique clinicopathological characteristics, with VEO a negative independent prognostic factor for DFS, DMFS, OS, and CSS. VEO and IO patients may benefit from a TNT-like treatment pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasing annually and metastasis is the principal cause of death in patients with CRC, with the liver being the most frequently affected site. Many studies have shown a strong interplay between the gut flora, particularly Fusobacterium nucleatum ( F. nucleatum ), Escherichia coli , and Bacteroides fragilis , and the development of gut tumors. Some strains can induce gut inflammation and produce toxins that directly harm gut epithelial cells, ultimately accelerating the onset and progression of CRC. However, little clinical evidence exists on the specific interplay between the gut microflora and colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM). Some research showed the existence of viable F. nucleatum in distant metastasis of CRC. Subsequently, gut microbiota products, such as lipopolysaccharides, sodium butyrate, and protein cathepsin K, were also found to affect the development of CRC. This article summarizes the mechanism and research status of the interplay between gut microflora and CRLM, discusses the importance of gut microflora in the treatment of CRLM, and proposes a new approach to understanding the mechanism of CRLM and potential treatments for the microbiome. It is anticipated that the gut microbiota will be a formidable therapeutic and prophylactic tool for treating and preventing CRLM., (Copyright ©2024 Chinese Journal of Cancer Research. All rights reserved.)