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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical characteristics and treatment pattern of ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) in Korea and the role of adjuvant chemotherapy in early stage., Materials and Methods: Medical records of 308 cases of from 21 institutions were reviewed and data including age, performance status, endometriosis, thromboembolism, stage, cancer antigen 125, treatment, recurrence, and death were collected., Results: Regarding stage of OCCC, it was stage I in 194 (63.6%), stage II in 34 (11.1%), stage III in 66 (21.6%), and stage IV in 11 (3.6%) patients. All patients underwent surgery. Optimal surgery (residual disease ≤ 1 cm) was achieved in 89.3%. Majority of patients (80.5%) received postoperative chemotherapy. The most common regimen was taxane-platinum combination (96%). Median relapse-free survival (RFS) was 138.5 months for stage I, 33.4 for stage II, 19.3 for stage III, and 9.7 for stage IV. Median overall survival (OS) were not reached, 112.4, 48.7, and 18.3 months for stage I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Early-stage (stage I), endometriosis, and optimal debulking were identified as favorable prognostic factors for RFS. Early-stage and optimal debulking were also favorable prognostic factors for OS. Majority of patients with early-stage received adjuvant chemotherapy. However, additional survival benefit was not found in terms of recurrence., Conclusion: Majority of patients had early-stage and received postoperative chemotherapy regardless of stage. Early-stage and optimal debulking were identified as favorable prognostic factors. In stage IA or IB, adding adjuvant chemotherapy did not show difference in survival. Further study focusing on OCCC is required.

Purpose: Pneumococcal vaccination (13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine [PCV13]) is recommended to cancer patients undergoing systemic chemotherapy. However, the optimal time interval between vaccine administration and initiation of chemotherapy has been little studied in adult patients with solid malignancies., Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether administering PCV13 on the first day of chemotherapy is non-inferior to vaccinating 2 weeks prior to chemotherapy initiation. Patients were randomly assigned to two study arms, and serum samples were collected at baseline and 4 weeks after vaccination to analyze the serologic response against Streptococcus pneumoniae using a multiplexed opsonophagocytic killing assay., Results: Of the 92 patients who underwent randomization, 43 patients in arm A (vaccination 2 weeks before chemotherapy) and 44 patients in arm B (vaccination on the first day of chemotherapy) were analyzed. Immunogenicity was assessed by geometric mean and fold-increase of post-vaccination titers, seroprotection rates (percentage of patients with post-vaccination titers > 1:64), and seroconversion rates (percentage of patients with > 4-fold increase in post-vaccination titers). Serologic responses to PCV13 did not differ significantly between the two study arms according to all three types of assessments., Conclusion: The overall antibody response to PCV13 is adequate in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer during adjuvant chemotherapy, and no significant difference was found when patients were vaccinated two weeks before or on the day of chemotherapy initiation.

Colloidal CdSe nanocrystals (NCs) overcoated with an ultrathick CdS shell, also known as dot-in-bulk (DiB) structures, can support two types of excitons, one of which is core-localized and the other, shell-localized. In the case of weak "sub-single-exciton" pumping, emission alternates between the core- and shell-related channels, which leads to two-color light. This property makes these structures uniquely suited for a variety of photonic applications as well as ideal model systems for realizing complex excitonic quasi-particles that do not occur in conventional core/shell NCs. Here, we show that the DiB design can enable an unusual regime in which the same long-lived resident electron can endow trionlike characteristics to either of the two excitons of the DiB NC (core- or shell-based). These two spectrally distinct trion states are apparent in the measured photoluminescence (PL) and spin dynamics of core and shell excitons conducted over a wide range of temperatures and applied magnetic fields. Low-temperature PL measurements indicate that core- and shell-based trions are characterized by a nearly ideal (∼100%) emission quantum yield, suggesting the strong suppression of Auger recombination for both types of excitations. Polarization-resolved PL experiments in magnetic fields of up to 60 T reveal that the core- and the shell-localized trions exhibit remarkably similar spin dynamics, which in both cases are controlled by spin-flip processes involving a heavy hole.

InP quantum dots (QDs) based light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) are considered as one of the most promising candidates as a substitute for the environmentally toxic Cd-based QLEDs for future displays. However, the device architecture of InP QLEDs is almost the same as the Cd-based QLEDs even though the properties of Cd-based and InP-based QDs are quite different in their energy levels and shapes. Thus, it is highly required to develop a proper device structure for InP-based QLEDs to improve the efficiency and stability. In this work, efficient, bright, and stable InP/ZnSeS QLEDs based on an inverted top emission QLED (ITQLED) structure by newly introducing a "hole-suppressing interlayer" are demonstrated. The green-emitting ITQLEDs with the hole-suppressing interlayer exhibit a maximum current efficiency of 15.1-21.6 cd A -1 and the maximum luminance of 17 400-38 800 cd m -2 , which outperform the recently reported InP-based QLEDs. The operational lifetime is also increased when the hole-suppressing interlayer is adopted. These superb QLED performances originate not only from the enhanced light-outcoupling by the top emission structure but also from the improved electron-hole balance by introducing a hole-suppressing interlayer which can control the hole injection into QDs., (© 2019 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Introduction We conducted a multicenter, phase 2 trial using gemcitabine plus axitinib (GX) in patients with recurrent or metastatic sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma (SRCC) to evaluate its efficacy and safety. Methods Patients with advanced RCC and a sarcomatoid component of ≥25% on resected kidney or exclusive sarcomatoid carcinoma on needle biopsy were included. Patients received gemcitabine 1000 mg/m 2 intravenously on days 1 and 8 of a 3-week cycle and axitinib 5 mg twice daily. Primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors version 1.1, and secondary end points were progression-free (PFS) and overall (OS) survivals and adverse events. Results Twenty-five patients were enrolled. Median age was 61 (range: 33-80), and 84% were men. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was one in 23 patients (92%). Clear cell carcinoma was the most common histology of the carcinoma component (60%). ORR was 56%, and 28% patients achieved stable disease with a control rate of 84%. With a median follow-up duration of 24.8 months, the median PFS was 4.2 months (95% CI, 2.3-6.1) and median OS was 8.4 months (95% CI 3.3-13.4 months). The most common grade 3 or higher adverse events were neutropenia (36%), hypertension (12%), and anorexia (12%). Most adverse events were manageable, and no unexpected toxicities were found. Conclusion GX showed promising efficacy in patients with SRCC. GX could be considered as a treatment option for patients with SRCC and should be confirmed in larger clinical trials.

Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) are nanosized semiconductors whose electronic features are dictated by the quantum confinement effect. The optical, electrical, and chemical properties of QDs are influenced by their dimensions and surface landscape. The surface of II-VI and IV-VI QDs has been extensively explored; however, in-depth investigations on the surface of III-V QDs are still lagging behind. This Perspective discusses the current understanding of the surface of III-V QDs, outlines deep trap states presented by surface defects, and suggests strategies to overcome challenges associated with deep traps. Lastly, we discuss a route to create well-defined facets in III-V QDs by providing a platform for surface studies and a recently reported approach in atomistic understanding of covalent III-V QD surfaces using the electron counting model with fractional dangling bonds., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Background: Nanoparticle-mediated photothermal therapy (PTT) has been well studied as a treatment for cancer. However, the therapeutic outcome of PTT is often hindered by the penetration depth of laser light. In the tumor margin beyond the laser penetration limit, tumor recurrence often occurs, bypassing the immune response of the host. Accumulating evidence suggests the prominent role of tumor microenvironment (TME) and its interactions with the immune components contribute to an immunosuppressive milieu during the post-therapy period. Here, we explored the immunosuppressive cascade generated after PTT, which is responsible for tumor recurrence, and identified the potential targets to achieve an effective PTT period., Methods: Here, we investigated the immunosuppressive cascade generated after PTT in a CT26 tumor bearing mouse. The liposomal system loaded with the indocyanine green (ICG) was utilized for the generation of PTT with high efficiency. Immunological factors such as cytokines and protein expressions post-therapy were investigated through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow cytometry and western blot analysis., Results: Our results suggested that PTT with ICG-loaded liposomes (Lipo-ICG) was effective for the first 5 days after treatment, resulting in tumor suppression. However, an immunosuppressive and pro-inflammatory environment developed thereafter, causing the recruitment and upregulation of the immune evasion factors of heat shock protein 70, programmed death ligand 1, indoleamine-dioxygenase, interleukin-6, transforming growth factor-β, regulatory T-cells, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, to develop immunotolerance., Conclusion: Collectively, these findings have determined potential therapeutic targets to modulate the TME during PTT and achieve tumor ablation without remission., Competing Interests: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (© 2019 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.)

Balanced charge injection promises high efficiency of quantum dot-based light-emitting diodes (QD-LEDs). The most widely used approach to realize charge injection balance impedes the injection rate of the dominant charge carrier with energetic barriers. However, these approaches often accompany unwanted outcomes (e.g., the increase in operation voltage) that sacrifice the operational stability of devices. Herein, a "positive incentive" approach is proposed to enhance the efficiency and the operational stability of QD-LEDs. Specifically, the supply of hole, an inferior carrier than its counterpart, is facilitated by adopting a thin fullerene (C 60 ) interlayer at the interface between the hole injection layer (MoO X ) and hole transport layer (4,4'-bis(9-carbazolyl)-1,1'-biphenyl). The C 60 interlayer boosts the hole current by eliminating the universal energy barrier, lowers the operation voltage of QD-LEDs, and enhances the charge balance in the QD emissive layer within the working device. Consequently, QD-LEDs benefitting from the adoption of the C 60 interlayer exhibit significantly enhanced device efficiency and operation stability. Grounded on the quantitative assessment of the charge injection imbalance within the QD emissive layer, the impact of electrical parameters of QD-LEDs on their optoelectronic performance and operational stability is also discussed.

Coupling to phonon modes is a primary mechanism of excitonic dephasing and energy loss in semiconductors. However, low-energy phonons in colloidal quantum dots and their coupling to excitons are poorly understood because their experimental signatures are weak and usually obscured by the unavoidable inhomogeneous broadening of colloidal dot ensembles. We use multidimensional coherent spectroscopy at cryogenic temperatures to extract the homogeneous nonlinear optical response of excitons in a CdSe/CdZnS core/shell colloidal quantum dot ensemble. A comparison to the simulation provides evidence that the observed lineshapes arise from the coexistence of confined and delocalized vibrational modes, both of which couple strongly to excitons in CdSe/CdZnS colloidal quantum dots.

Purpose: Peritoneal carcinomatosis in gastric cancer (GC) patients results in extremely poor prognosis. Malignant ascites samples are the most appropriate biological material to use to evaluate biomarkers for peritoneal carcinomatosis. This study identified exosomal MicroRNAs (miRNAs) differently expressed between benign liver cirrhosis-associated ascites (LC-ascites) and malignant gastric cancer-associated ascites (GC-ascites), and validated their role as diagnostic biomarkers for GC-ascites., Materials and Methods: Total RNA was extracted from exosomes isolated from 165 ascites samples (73 LC-ascites and 92 GC-ascites). Initially, microarrays were used to screen the expression levels of 2,006 miRNAs in the discovery cohort (n=22). Subsequently, quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses were performed to validate the expression levels of selected exosomal miRNAs in the training (n=70) and validation (n=73) cohorts. Furthermore, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were determined in ascites samples., Results: The miR-574-3p, miR-181b-5p, miR-4481, and miR-181d were significantly downregulated in the GC-ascites samples compared to the LC-ascites samples, and miR-181b-5p showed the best diagnostic performance for GC-ascites (area under the curve [AUC]=0.798 and 0.846 for the training and validation cohorts, respectively). The diagnostic performance of CEA for GC-ascites was improved by the combined analysis of miR-181b-5p and CEA (AUC=0.981 and 0.946 for the training and validation cohorts, respectively)., Conclusions: We identified exosomal miRNAs capable of distinguishing between non-malignant and GC-ascites, showing that the combined use of miR-181b-5p and CEA could improve diagnosis., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported., (Copyright © 2019. Korean Gastric Cancer Association.)

The regional lymph node-positive bladder cancer was classified as stage IV in the AJCC 7th edition but was changed to stage IIIB in the 8th edition, revised in 2018. Among the various studies involving immune checkpoint inhibitors, groups that had only lymph node metastasis showed better outcomes than those with distant metastasis. Therefore, it is necessary to rethink the treatment strategy for lymph node-positive bladder cancer. The aim of this study was to compare the treatment outcomes of chemotherapy, surgery, and combination therapy in patients with lymph node-positive bladder cancer. From 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2015, patients with bladder cancer presenting local lymph node metastasis at the time of diagnosis were treated with a single treatment strategy, with either radical cystectomy or chemotherapy or with a combined strategy using both. Treatment outcomes were retrospectively analyzed on the basis of clinical indices and survival time. Out of 230 patients with bladder cancer, 44 (19.1%) were treated with palliative chemotherapy, 30 (13.0%) with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by cystectomy, 129 (56.1%) with cystectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, and 27 (11.7%) with cystectomy alone. Median survival among all groups was 30.4 months. For each group, median overall survival was 19.3, 49.1, 42.6, and 11.2 months, respectively. This study represents an advancement in understanding the impact of clinical treatment patterns of lymph node-positive bladder cancer through comparison of survival data of patients treated with different therapeutic strategies. Combined treatment resulted in better outcomes than did single treatments., (© 2019 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Zn chalcogenides are suitable candidates for blue-emitting fluorophores in light-emitting devices. In particular, the efforts to grow ZnSe nanocrystals (NCs) with fine control over size and shape via bottom-up approaches have faced challenges because of the slow decomposition of Zn precursors. In this study, we report direct cation exchange from CdSe NCs to ZnSe. Absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) analysis reveal that the reactivity of cation exchange depends on the degree of complexation between organic ligands and Zn halides. We controlled the binding strength of Zn complexes by changing the organic ligands and halogen species that bind with Zn. Appropriate binding strength allows for the release of Zn ions and their facile incorporation into CdSe seed NCs. Under our experimental conditions, trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO)-ZnI2 drives the efficient cation exchange reaction whereas TOPO-ZnCl2 induces no cation exchange of CdSe NCs. In addition, functional groups vary the binding strength between Zn and ligands. Oleylamine (OLAm)-ZnI2, which has a weaker ligand-ZnI2 binding than TOPO-ZnI2, breaks down the original morphologies of host CdSe NCs due to the very fast exchange rate. On the other hand, the TOPO-ZnI2 complex induces a mild exchange rate, leading to transformation into various morphologies such as CdSe nanorods (NRs) and nanoplatelets (NPLs) into CdSe/ZnSe heterostructures inaccessible via other synthesis methods. The incorporation of Zn into various morphologies of CdSe results in tunable optical transitions in blue-UV regions. The synthesis of heterostructured NCs in an elongated morphology is possible, opening opportunities in photocatalysis, light emitting diodes, and luminescent solar concentrators.

We perform two-dimensional coherent spectroscopy on CdSe/CdZnS core-shell colloidal quantum dots at cryogenic temperatures. In the two-dimensional spectra, sidebands due to electronic coupling with CdSe lattice LO-phonon modes are observed to have evolutions deviating from the exponential dephasing expected from Markovian spectral diffusion, which is instantaneous and memoryless. Comparison to simulations provides evidence that LO-phonon coupling induces energy-gap fluctuations on the finite timescales of nuclear motion. The femtosecond resolution of our technique probes exciton dynamics directly on the timescales of phonon coupling in nanocrystals.

Purpose: Adjuvant chemotherapy for gastric cancer, particularly stage III, improves survival after curative D2 gastrectomy. We investigated the clinical value of the lymph-node ratio (LNR; number of metastatic lymph nodes/number of lymph nodes examined) for selecting the appropriate adjuvant chemotherapy regimen in patients with D2-resected stage II/III gastric cancer., Methods: We reviewed the data of 819 patients who underwent curative D2 gastrectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Of them, 353 patients received platinum-based chemotherapy and 466 received TS-1. The patients were categorized into three groups according to their LNR (LNR 1, 0-0.1; LNR 2, > 0.1-0.25; and LNR 3, > 0.25), and their disease-free survival (DFS) was evaluated., Results: The DFS curves of the patients were well separated according to stage and LNR. In multivariate analyses, an LNR > 0.1 was strongly associated with the 3-year DFS (hazard ratio 2.402, 95% confidence interval 1.607-3.590, P < 0.001). Platinum-based chemotherapy improved the 3-year DFS compared to TS-1 in patients with LNR 3 group in stage III gastric cancer (platinum vs. TS-1, median DFS 26.87 vs. 16.27 months, P = 0.028). An LNR > 0.1 was associated with benefiting from platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy in stage III gastric cancer patients with lymphovascular invasion (platinum vs. TS-1, median DFS 47.57 vs. 21.77 months, P = 0.011)., Conclusions: The LNR can be used to select the appropriate adjuvant chemotherapy regimen for patients with D2-resected gastric cancer, particularly in stage III.

Galectin-3-binding protein (Gal-3BP) is a member of the family of scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) domain-containing proteins, which are associated with the immune system. However, the functional roles and signaling mechanisms of Gal-3BP in host defense and the immune response remain largely unknown. Here, we identified cellular Gal-3BP as a negative regulator of NF-κB activation and proinflammatory cytokine production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Furthermore, cellular Gal-3BP interacted with transforming growth factor β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), a crucial mediator of NF-κB activation in response to cellular stress. Gal-3BP inhibited the phosphorylation of TAK1, leading to suppression of its kinase activity and reduced protein stability. In vivo we found that Lgals3BP deficiency in mice enhanced LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokine release and rendered mice more sensitive to LPS-induced endotoxin shock. Overall, these results suggest that Gal-3BP is a novel suppressor of TAK1-dependent NF-κB activation that may have potential in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Purpose: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to explore the current awareness and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), as well as attitudes toward CAM, in patients with cancer and their family members in South Korea., Materials and Methods: Between September 21 and October 31, 2017, a 25-item questionnaire regarding CAM experiences among cancer patients and their family members was conducted in 10 oncology clinics in South Korea after institutional review board approval at each institution., Results: In total, 283/310 patients were analyzed. The median age was 60 years, and 60% were male. Most of the patients were actively receiving anticancer treatment at the time of the survey. A total of 106 patients (37%) had experienced a median of two types (interquartile range, 1 to 3) of CAM. Belief in CAM (odds ratio [OR], 3.015; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.611 to 5.640) and duration of disease (OR, 1.012; 95% CI, 1.004 to 1.020) were independent factors for using CAM in multivariable analysis. Belief in CAM was significantly associated with current use of CAM (OR, 3.633; 95% CI, 1.567 to 8.424). Lay referral was the most common reason for deciding to use CAM, and only 25% of patients (72/283) discussed CAM with their physicians., Conclusion: Patient attitudes toward and confidence in CAM modalities were strongly associated with their CAM experiences, and only a small number of patients had an open discussion about CAM with their physicians. A patient education program for CAM is needed.

Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT) is a cyclolignan compound that exerts anti-cancer effects against various types of cancers. DPT induces apoptosis and inhibits the growth of breast, brain, prostate, gastric, lung, and cervical tumors. In this study, we sought to determine the effect of DPT on cell proliferation, apoptosis, motility, and tumorigenesis of three colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines: HT29, DLD1, and Caco2. DPT inhibited the proliferation of these cells. Specifically, the compound-induced mitotic arrest in CRC cells by destabilizing microtubules and activating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway via regulation of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family proteins (increasing Bcl-2 associated X (BAX) and decreasing B-cell lymphoma-extra-large (Bcl-xL)) ultimately led to caspase-mediated apoptosis. In addition, DPT inhibited tumorigenesis in vitro, and in vivo skin xenograft experiments revealed that DPT significantly decreased tumor size and tumor weight. Taken together, our results suggest DPT to be a potent compound that is suitable for further exploration as a novel chemotherapeutic for human CRC.

Electronic devices comprised of nanocrystal (NC) thin film are projected to demonstrate enhanced figure of merit if NC building blocks self-assemble into highly uniform, 2-dimensional (2-D) superstructures with long-range order. Despite intensive research efforts and remarkable progress, long-range assembly of colloidal anisotropic NCs into thin films with orientational and positional order has remained to be addressed. One of the most promising approaches is to dissolve excess free molecules into NC solution, which has enabled the formation of NC monolayers with exceptional quality at air/solution interface. Nevertheless, the assembly mechanism and the role of free molecules have not been comprehensively elucidated, restricting the use of the approach. Here, we find that the interfacial assembly of CdSe/CdS core/shell nanorods (NRs) results in various ordered structures in the presence of free oleic acid molecules. The structures include a bundle of standing NRs, a belt of multilayered lying NRs, and a monolayer smectic phase, obtained by simple change in density of surface ligands on the NRs. Experimental observation and theoretical calculation reveal that the assembly is initiated at the air/solution interface due to the preferential depletion attraction of NRs to the interface. However, subsequent growth is significantly altered depending on the ligand density that determines the relative magnitude of interface-NR depletion attraction to inter-NR attraction. Highly ordered structures of NRs, especially for the monolayer smectic phase, are promising as a polarized light-emitting layer for thin-film optical devices. In addition, our findings on the depletion-mediated NR assembly provide important and universal design criteria for 2-D structuring of NCs with diverse geometries and compositions.

ErbB4/KITENIN signaling plays a role in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-independent EGF pathways mediating the invasiveness and tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer cells. However, whether alterations in ErbB4/KITENIN signaling play a role in the resistance to anti-EGFR therapy remains unclear. Here, we established cetuximab-resistant DLD1 and HT29 cells, and analyzed changes in ErbB4/KITENIN signaling. c-Jun, a final effector in ErbB4/KITENIN-mediated signaling, was upregulated, whereas KITENIN levels remained constant in both cetuximab-resistant cell lines. The phosphorylation of EGFR and ErbB4 was increased in cetuximab-resistant cells, suggesting that ErbB4/KITENIN signaling contributed to the acquisition of cetuximab resistance in the cells. Silencing of KITENIN and/or ErbB4 increased cetuximab sensitivity in cetuximab-resistant cells. This study is the first to report the activation of ErbB4/KITENIN-mediated signaling in cetuximab-resistant colorectal cancer cells and the potential clinical application of ErbB4/KITENIN-targeting therapy for overcoming anti-EGFR resistance.

In recent past, for next-generation device opportunities such as sub-10 nm channel field-effect transistors (FETs), tunneling FETs, and high-end display backplanes, tremendous research on multilayered molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) among transition metal dichalcogenides has been actively performed. However, nonavailability on a matured threshold voltage control scheme, like a substitutional doping in Si technology, has been plagued for the prosperity of 2D materials in electronics. Herein, an adjustment scheme for threshold voltage of MoS 2 FETs by using self-assembled monolayer treatment via octadecyltrichlorosilane is proposed and demonstrated to show MoS 2 FETs in an enhancement mode with preservation of electrical parameters such as field-effect mobility, subthreshold swing, and current on-off ratio. Furthermore, the mechanisms for threshold voltage adjustment are systematically studied by using atomic force microscopy, Raman, temperature-dependent electrical characterization, etc. For validation of effects of threshold voltage engineering on MoS 2 FETs, full swing inverters, comprising enhancement mode drivers and depletion mode loads are perfectly demonstrated with a maximum gain of 18.2 and a noise margin of ≈45% of 1/2 V DD . More impressively, quantum dot light-emitting diodes, driven by enhancement mode MoS 2 FETs, stably demonstrate 120 cd m -2 at the gate-to-source voltage of 5 V, exhibiting promising opportunities for future display application., (© 2019 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Background: Water avoidance stress (WAS) induces a naloxone-independent visceral analgesia in male rats under non-invasive conditions of monitoring. The objective of the study was to examine the role of brain CRF signaling in acute stress-induced visceral analgesia (SIVA)., Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were chronically implanted with an intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannula. The visceromotor response (VMR) to graded phasic colorectal distension (CRD: 10, 20, 40, 60 mm Hg, 20 seconds, 4 minutes intervals) was monitored using manometry. The VMR to a first CRD (baseline) was recorded 5 minutes after an ICV saline injection, followed 1 hour later by ICV injection of either CRF (30, 100, or 300 ng and 1, 3, or 5 μg/rat) or saline and a second CRD, 5 minutes later. Receptor antagonists against CRF 1 /CRF 2 (astressin-B, 30 μg/rat), CRF 2 (astressin 2 -B, 10 μg/rat), oxytocin (tocinoic acid, 20 μg/rat), or vehicle were injected ICV 5 minutes before CRF (300 ng/rat, ICV) or 15 minutes before WAS (1 hour)., Key Results: ICV CRF (100 and 300 ng) reduced the VMR to CRD at 60 mm Hg by -36.6% ± 6.8% and -48.7% ± 11.7%, respectively, vs baseline (P < 0.001), while other doses had no effect and IP CRF (10 µg/kg) induced visceral hyperalgesia. Astressin-B and tocinoic acid injected ICV induced hyperalgesia and prevented the analgesic effect of ICV CRF (300 ng/rat) and WAS, while astressin 2 -B only blocked WAS-induced SIVA., Conclusions & Inferences: These data support a role for brain CRF signaling via CRF 2 in SIVA in a model of WAS and CRD likely mediated by the activation of brain oxytocin pathway., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: Data on the efficacy of olanzapine in patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) are limited. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of olanzapine versus placebo in controlling nausea and vomiting in patients receiving MEC., Materials and Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to determine whether olanzapine can reduce the frequency of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and improve the quality of life (QOL) in patients receiving palonosetron and dexamethasone as prophylaxis for MEC-induced nausea and vomiting. The primary end point was complete response for the acute phase (0-24 hours after chemotherapy). The secondary end points were complete response for the delayed (24-120 hours) and overall phase (0-120 hours), proportion of significant nausea (visual analogue scale ≥ 25 mm), use ofrescue medications, and effect on QOL., Results: Fifty-six patients were randomized to the olanzapine (n=29) and placebo (n=27) groups. Complete response rates were not significantly different between the olanzapine and placebo groups in the acute (96.5% vs. 88.0%, p=0.326), delayed (69.0% vs. 48.0%, p=0.118), and overall phases (69.0% vs. 48.0%, p=0.118). However, the percentage of patients with significant nausea (17.2% vs. 44.0%, p=0.032) and the use of rescue medications (0.03±0.19 vs. 1.88±2.88, p=0.002) were lower in the olanzapine group than in the placebo. Furthermore, the olanzapine group demonstrated better QOL (p=0.015)., Conclusion: Olanzapine combined with palonosetron and dexamethasone significantly improved QOL and vomiting control among previously untreated patients receiving MEC, although the efficacy was limited to the reduction of the frequency of CINV.

Background: To evaluate survival outcomes and prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) who received sunitinib (SU) and pazopanib (PZ) as first-line therapy in real-world Korean clinical practice., Methods: Data of 554 patients with mRCC who received SU or PZ at eight institutions between 2012 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Based on the targeted therapy, the patients were divided into SU (n = 293) or PZ (n = 261) groups, and the clinicopathological variables and survival rates of the two groups were compared. A multivariable Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine the prognostic factors for OS., Results: The median follow-up was 16.4 months (interquartile range, 8.3-31.3). Patients in the PZ group were older, and no significant difference was observed in the performance status (PS) between the two groups. In the SU group, the dose reduction rate was higher and the incidence of grade 3 toxicity was more frequent. The objective response rates were comparable between the two groups (SU, 32.1% vs. PZ, 36.4%). OS did not differ significantly between the two groups (SU, 36.5 months vs. PZ, 40.2 months; log-rank, P = 0.955). Body mass index, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group PS > 2, synchronous metastasis, poor Heng risk criteria, and liver and bone metastases were associated with a shorter OS., Conclusion: Our real-world data of Korean patients with mRCC suggested that SU and PZ had similar efficacies as first-line therapy for mRCC. However, PZ was better tolerated than SU in Korean patients., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Usnic acid (UA), a lichen secondary substance, has considerable anticancer activity in vitro, whereas its effect in vivo is limited. Here, potassium usnate (KU) was prepared by the salinization of UA to enhance its water solubility. KU showed increased bioavailability compared with UA in the tumor, liver, and plasma of a CT26 syngeneic mouse tumor xenograft model after oral administration, as determined by LC-MS/MS analysis. KU exhibited potent anticancer effects on colorectal cancer cells and inhibited liver metastasis in an orthotopic murine colorectal cancer model. KU treatment downregulated the epithelial-mesenchymal markers Twist, Snail, and Slug and the metastasis-related genes CAPN1, CDC42, CFL1, IGF1, WASF1, and WASL in cells and tumor tissues. The present results suggest the potential application of the water-soluble form of UA, KU, in anticancer therapy.

Purpose: There is growing interest in integrating electronic patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures into routine oncology practice for symptom monitoring. Here, we evaluated the feasibility and accessibility of electronic PRO measures using a smartphone (PRO-SMART) for cancer patients receiving routine chemotherapy., Methods: The proposed PRO-SMART application obtains daily personal health record (PHR) data from cancer patients via a smartphone. An analysis report of cumulative PHR data is provided to the clinician in a format suitable for upload to electronic medical records (EMRs). Cancer outpatients who had received at least two cycles of chemotherapy and who were scheduled for two more cycles were enrolled., Results: Between February 2015 and December 2016, 111 patients were screened and 101 of these were included. One-hundred patients used PRO-SMART at least once and were included in the final analysis (90.1% overall accessibility among all screened patients). The number of symptomatic adverse events (AEs) related to chemotherapy recorded in EMRs (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) increased from 0.92 ± 0.80 to 2.26 ± 1.80 (P < 0.001), and grading of AEs increased from 0.81 ± 0.69 to 1.00 ± 0.62 (P = 0.029). After using PRO-SMART, the numeric rating scale for pain (mean ± SD) increased from 0.20 ± 0.72 to 0.99 ± 1.55 (P < 0.001). A patient-reported questionnaire revealed that 64.2% of patients found it useful and 83% found it easy to use., Conclusions: This study suggests that the proposed PRO-SMART is feasible and accessible for assessment of symptomatic AEs in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy for a prospective randomized trial.

Pancreatic metastasis is extremely rare, particularly from small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Studies on the role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) with liquid-based cytology (LBC) in the diagnosis of metastatic small-cell carcinoma in the pancreas have been rarely conducted. We report herein a case of pancreatic metastasis from SCLC diagnosed using EUS-FNA with LBC (ThinPrep). A 71-year-old man presented with chief complaints of hemoptysis and jaundice over the past 1 month. Lung & pancreas tumors with multiple liver nodules were detected on computed tomography. The aspirated material from the pancreas using EUS-FNA was prepared as a cytologic specimen with ThinPrep method, which revealed scattered and clustered "small blue cells" with scant cytoplasm and stippled chromatin with frequent apoptotic bodies. Immunocytochemical staining of the cellblock material revealed strong positivity for CD56 and thyroid transcription factor-1. Endobronchial biopsy for lung mass revealed nests of small, round, blue tumor cells with hyperchromatic nuclei showing salt and pepper chromatin, scant cytoplasm, and brisk mitotic activity. Therefore, a diagnosis of metastatic small-cell carcinoma to the pancreas with an extensive stage was finally made., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Electrical communication between an enzyme and an electrode is one of the most important factors in determining the performance of biofuel cells. Here, we introduce a glucose oxidase-coated metallic cotton fiber-based hybrid biofuel cell with efficient electrical communication between the anodic enzyme and the conductive support. Gold nanoparticles are layer-by-layer assembled with small organic linkers onto cotton fibers to form metallic cotton fibers with extremely high conductivity (>2.1×10 4  S cm -1 ), and are used as an enzyme-free cathode as well as a conductive support for the enzymatic anode. For preparation of the anode, the glucose oxidase is sequentially layer-by-layer-assembled with the same linkers onto the metallic cotton fibers. The resulting biofuel cells exhibit a remarkable power density of 3.7 mW cm -2 , significantly outperforming conventional biofuel cells. Our strategy to promote charge transfer through electrodes can provide an important tool to improve the performance of biofuel cells.

We investigate the operational instability of quantum dot (QD)-based light-emitting diodes (QLEDs). Spectroscopic analysis on the QD emissive layer within devices in chorus with the optoelectronic and electrical characteristics of devices discloses that the device efficiency of QLEDs under operation is indeed deteriorated by two main mechanisms. The first is the luminance efficiency drop of the QD emissive layer in the running devices owing to the accumulation of excess electrons in the QDs, which escalates the possibility of nonradiative Auger recombination processes in the QDs. The other is the electron leakage toward hole transport layers (HTLs) that accompanies irreversible physical damage to the HTL by creating nonradiative recombination centers. These processes are distinguishable in terms of the time scale and the reversibility, but both stem from a single origin, the discrepancy between electron versus hole injection rates into QDs. Based on experimental and calculation results, we propose mechanistic models for the operation of QLEDs in individual quantum dot levels and their degradation during operation and offer rational guidelines that promise the realization of high-performance QLEDs with proven operational stability.

A good pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) is associated with a better prognosis. However, there is no effective method to predict CRT response in LARC patients. Therefore, this study used whole-exome sequencing (WES) to identify novel biomarker predicting CRT benefit in LARC. Two independent tumor tissue sets were used to evaluate the genetic differences between the good CRT response group (15 patients achieved a pathologic complete response (pCR)) and the poor CRT response group (15 patients with pathologic stage III). After applying WES to the discovery set of 30 patients, additional samples (n = 67) were genotyped for candidate variants using TaqMan or Sanger sequencing for validation. Overall, this study included a total of 97 LARC patients. In the discovery and validation set, there was no known genetic mutation to predict response between two groups, while five candidate variants (BCL2L10 rs2231292, DLC1 rs3816748, DNAH14 rs3105571, ITIH5 rs3824658, and RAET1L rs912565) were found to be significantly associated with pCR. In the dominant model, the GC/CC genotype of DLC1 rs3816748 (p = 0.032), AC/CC genotype of DNAH14 rs3105571 (p = 0.009), and TT genotype of RAET1 rs912565 (p < 0.0001) were associated with a higher pCR rate. In the recessive model, BCL2L10 rs2231292 (p = 0.036) and ITIH5 rs3824658 (p = 0.003) were significantly associated with pCR. In the co-dominant model, 4 candidate variants (DLC1 rs3816748, DNAH14 rs3105571, ITIH5 rs3824658, and RAET1L rs912565) were significantly correlated with pCR. However, none of the candidate variants was associated with relapse-free or overall survival. The present results suggest that genetic variations of the BCL2L10 rs2231292, DLC1 rs3816748, DNAH14 rs3105571, ITIH5 rs3824658, and RAET1L rs912565 genes can be used as biomarkers predicting the CRT response for patients with LARC.

We present ligand-asymmetric Janus quantum dots (QDs) to improve the device performance of quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs). Specifically, we devise blue QLEDs incorporating blue QDs with asymmetrically modified ligands, in which the bottom ligand of QDs in contact with ZnO electron-transport layer serves as a robust adhesive layer and an effective electron-blocking layer and the top ligand ensures uniform deposition of organic hole transport layers with enhanced hole injection properties. Suppressed electron overflow by the bottom ligand and stimulated hole injection enabled by the top ligand contribute synergistically to boost the balance of charge injection in blue QDs and therefore the device performance of blue QLEDs. As an ultimate achievement, the blue QLED adopting ligand-asymmetric QDs displays 2-fold enhancement in peak external quantum efficiency (EQE = 3.23%) compared to the case of QDs with native ligands (oleic acid) (peak EQE = 1.49%). The present study demonstrates an integrated strategy to control over the charge injection properties into QDs via ligand engineering that enables enhancement of the device performance of blue QLEDs and thus promises successful realization of white light-emitting devices using QDs.

Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is a fatal condition arising in the gastrointestinal tract. PC patients administered drugs locally in the tumor region, such as in intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPCh), suffer from low drug retention time and tumor penetration. Herein, we synthesized a lithocholic acid (LCA)-conjugated disulfide-linked polyethyleneimine (ssPEI) micelle (LAPMi) nanoconstruct by covalently conjugating ssPEI and LCA, thereby forming positive charged nanomicellar structures loaded with paclitaxel (PTX) (LAPMi-PTX) for IPCh. The incorporation of a positive surface charge aided in prolonging the peritoneal retention time, presumably via ascites-induced protein corona formation, and the subsequent size expansion caused resistance against undesired clearance through lymphatic openings. Furthermore, preferential tumor penetration by LAPMi-PTX is attributable to the permeation-enhancing properties of LCA, and the subsequent tumor activatable drug release was induced by the presence of disulfide linkages. By integrating these properties, LAPMi exhibited prolonged peritoneal residence time, enhanced tumor permeation and chemotherapeutic effect evidenced by in vitro, tumor spheroid and in vivo studies. Importantly, our strategy enabled significant PC inhibition and increased the overall survival rate of tumor-bearing mice. In conclusion, we provided a new paradigm of intractable PC treatment by enabling the prolonged residence time of the nanoconstruct, thereby enhancing tumor penetration and anti-tumor therapy., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The present study was conducted to investigate the prognostic significance of p16 (also known as cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A) in the treatment of induction chemoradiotherapy for advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC). Patients who were treated with at least two cycles of induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced HPSCC were reviewed in the study. The staining results were analyzed to examine the association between the chemotherapy response and the survival outcome. A total of 45 patients were enrolled for the present study; the majority had received induction chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-FU. Following induction chemotherapy, 17 patients (37.8%) exhibited a complete response and 28 patients (62.2%) exhibited a partial response. There were 11 patients (24.4%) with p16-positive immunohistochemical stains and 30 patients (66.7%) with p53-positive immunohistochemical stains. There was no significant difference in chemotherapy response, overall survival, or progression-free survival time between groups with p16-positive and p16-negative stains. Low p53 expression and chemotherapy response were not associated with each other. High p16 expression did not correlate with low p53 expression. In this study, p16 was not determined to predict the chemotherapy response for HPSCC. High p16 expression did not correlate with survival incidence for patients with HPSCC.

p73 is a member of the p53 family of transcription factors and, like p53, plays a role as a tumor suppressor. p73 is involved in development, proliferation, apoptosis and metastasis. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying its function in inhibiting metastasis remain largely unknown. Here, we show that induction of TAp73 decreased invasion and migration activity of colorectal cancer cells, whereas knockdown of TAp73 led to increased invasion and migration activity. KAI1 was identified as a transcriptional target of TAp73 and its expression is indispensable for TAp73-mediated inhibition of cell invasion and migration. Furthermore, induction of TAp73 in colorectal cancer cells elevated KAI1 expression and decreased the frequency of hepatic metastasis in vivo. Whereas, the decreased invasion and migration activities caused by TAp73 induction were abrogated by knockdown of KAI1. Interestingly, TAp73 and KAI1 are overexpressed in primary colorectal cancers and a significant correlation between TAp73 and KAI1 expression was detected, but their expressions were significantly down-regulated in metastatic cancers. Taken together, our results support a novel role for TAp73 in controlling colorectal cancer cell invasion, migration and metastasis by regulating transcription of KAI1., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Patients usually receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation during ventilatory expiration and with their arms down, which does not reflect the normal imaging position. This study used scout images from low-dose chest computed tomography to compare the locations of the left ventricle (LV) in the expiration with arms down position (EAD) and in the full inspirational with arms raised position (IAR)., Methods: This cross-sectional study used a convenience sample and evaluated scout images that were obtained during screening with the participants in the EAD and IAR positions. The effective compression point was defined as being on the sternum above the longest anteroposterior diameter (APD) of the LV (using axial computed tomography images). The sternum was divided into three parts and the heart's position was evaluated on the EAD and the IAR images, and the distance from the xiphoid process to the LV's sternum landmark (XLVD) was measured. We also examined the compressible organs during CPR based on the EAD and IAR images., Results: We enrolled 127 participants. The LVs were located in the middle of the sternum at EAD for 117 participants (92%) and in the lower half of the sternum at IAR for 107 participants (84%). The mean XLVD was significantly different between the EAD and IAR positions (mean: 85 ± 21 mm vs. 33 ± 17 mm, respectively). The liver's left lobe was located in the lower half of the sternum at EAD for 118 participants (93%)., Conclusions: These findings indicate that the location of the LV during cardiopulmonary resuscitation might be in the middle of the sternum if the patient is treated in the EAD position.

Background: Brain metastases from gastric cancer are difficult to treat and their prognosis is poor. Despite various possible treatments, the survival rate of such patients is still unsatisfactory; therefore, new treatment modalities or combinations of therapies need to be explored., Case Presentation: We herein discuss a case of a 38-year-old man initially diagnosed with a gastric cancer brain metastasis. At first, only stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) was performed, but it was not effective. After the brain and systemic metastases progressed, SRS and anti-PD-1 therapy were administered in combination, and the brain and intra-abdominal metastatic lesions responded satisfactorily., Conclusion: The combination of anti-PD-1 therapy and SRS could be effective against gastric cancer with brain metastases.

Purpose: Induction chemotherapy (ICT) with docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) has the advantages of organ preservation and systemic control in head and neck cancer (HNC). Early prediction of CCRT efficacy may help identify patients who will benefit more from surgery than from CCRT. We investigated the role of interim 18-fluoro-2-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography computed tomography (FDG PET-CT) after ICT to predict the efficacy of CCRT and clinical outcomes., Methods: Tumor responses were retrospectively reviewed after CCRT based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. FDG PET-CT imaging was performed before and after three cycles of TPF. We examined the associations between the metabolic response (percentage decrease in the maximum standardized uptake value [SUVmax] and total metabolic tumor volume [MTV]) after ICT and complete response (CR) to CCRT, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS)., Results: We studied 43 HNC patients with a median follow-up of 32.7 months. Lymph node (LN) SUVmax and total MTV decreases from baseline after ICT were greater in patients with a CR to CCRT than in non-CR patients (LN SUVmax, 88.8% vs. 62.5%, respectively; total MTV, 99.7% vs. 89.9%, respectively). Decreases in total MTV ≥ 78% and LN SUVmax ≥73% after ICT predicted CR to CCRT and longer OS and PFS., Conclusions: Using interim FDG PET-CT to measure SUVmax and total MTV after three cycles of ICT may be a useful technique for identifying HNC patients who will benefit from CCRT and predicting survival outcomes.

Background: Endolichenic fungi are microbes that inhabit the thalli of lichens and produce various unique chemicals that can be used for pharmaceutical purposes., Purpose: This study screened a library of endolichenic fungal extracts to identify novel anticancer agents capable of suppressing the tumorigenicity of human cancer cells., Methods: Active compounds were isolated from extracts of endolichenic fungi by column chromatography and reverse-phase HPLC. The anticancer effects of the extracts on cell viability was assessed with the use of MTT assay, Western blotting, fluorescence labeling of apoptotic cell, and flow cytometric analysis; and cell motility with the use of migration, invasion and soft agar colony-formation assay in vitro; and on skin and intraperitoneal mouse xenograft tumors in vivo were investigated. The therapeutic effects of the extract alone or in combination with the conventional chemoreagent docetaxel were analyzed by sulforhodamine B assay., Results: Acetone extracts of EL002332, isolated from Endocarpon pusillum collected in the China desert in 2010, showed selective cytotoxicity against AGS human gastric cancer cells and CT26 mouse colon cancer cells. An active pure compound named myC was isolated from mycelium acetone extracts in a liquid culture system and showed more potent cytotoxicity than crude extracts in the AGS cell line. Especially, myC greatly increased the apoptotic cell population at the IC 50 concentration and activated apoptotic signaling by regulating Bcl2 family protein expression and caspase pathway activity. EL002332 crude extracts and myC decreased AGS cell motility at sub-lethal concentrations. In vivo skin and intraperitoneal xenograft tumor experiments showed that the size of tumors and the tumor score were significantly smaller in EL002332 crude extract-treated groups than in control groups. EL002332 crude extracts showed synergistic effects with docetaxel on the AGS and TMK1 cell lines., Conclusion: The endolichenic fungus EL002332 has potential anticancer activity in gastric cancer and peritoneal carcinomatosis., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) can serve as large-area sunlight collectors for photovoltaic devices. An important LSC characteristic is a concentration factor (C), which is defined as the ratio of the output and the input photon flux densities. This parameter can be also thought of as an effective enlargement factor of a solar cell active area. On the basis of thermodynamic considerations, the C-factor can reach extremely high values that exceed those accessible with traditional concentrating optics. In reality, however, the best reported values of C are around 30. Here we demonstrate that using a new type of high-emissivity quantum dots (QDs) incorporated into a specially designed cavity, we are able to achieve the C of ∼62 for spectrally integrated emission and ∼120 for the red portion of the photoluminescence spectrum. The key feature of these QDs is a seed/quantum-well/thick-shell design, which allows for obtaining a high emission quantum yield (>95%) simultaneously with a large LSC quality factor (Q LSC of ∼100) defined as the ratio of absorption coefficients at the wavelengths of incident and reemitted light. By incorporating the QDs into a specially designed cavity equipped with a top selective reflector (a Bragg mirror or a thin silver film), we are able to effectively recycle reemitted light achieving light trapping coefficients of ∼85%. The observed performance of these devices is in remarkable agreement with analytical modeling, which allows us to project that the applied approach should allow one to boost the spectrally integrated concentration factors to more than 100 by further improving light trapping and/or increasing Q LSC .

C-acetate uptake could be increased in physiologic or inflammatory conditions without evidence of cancer. We report a hepatocellular carcinoma patient with sorafenib-induced metabolic acidosis, who showed increased hepatic uptake of C-acetate. C-acetate PET/CT might be a potentially useful surrogate marker to monitor these adverse effects via the changes in C-acetate uptake patterns from before to after drug withdrawal.

To capitalize on shape- and structure-dependent properties of semiconductor nanorods (NRs), high-precision control and exquisite design of their growth are desired. Cadmium chalcogenide (CdE; E = S or Se) NRs are the most studied class of such, whose growth exhibits axial anisotropy, i.e., different growth rates along the opposite directions of {0001} planes. However, the mechanism behind asymmetric axial growth of NRs remains unclear because of the difficulty in instant analysis of growth surfaces. Here, we design colloidal dual-diameter semiconductor NRs (DDNRs) under the quantum confinement regime, which have two sections along the long axis with different diameters. The segmentation of the DDNRs allows rigorous assessment of the kinetics of NR growth at a molecular level. The reactivity of a terminal facet passivated by an organic ligand is governed by monomer diffusivity through the surface ligand monolayer. Therefore, the growth rate in two polar directions can be finely tuned by controlling the strength of ligand-ligand attraction at end surfaces. Building on these findings, we report the synthesis of single-diameter CdSe/CdS core/shell NRs with CdSe cores of controllable position, which reveals a strong structure-optical polarization relationship. The understanding of the NR growth mechanism with controllable anisotropy will serve as a cornerstone for the exquisite design of more complex anisotropic nanostructures.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease that commonly afflicts the elderly. This disease reduces the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and causes a significant social burden. Whether the effect of coexisting chronic conditions on HRQoL varies according to the presence of OA remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate this notion., Methods: A total of 13,395 participants were identified from the 2009-2013 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for analysis. HRQoL was assessed using the European quality of life-5 dimensions (EQ-5D) index. Patients with OA were defined as those diagnosed by a physician or those who displayed both, symptoms and radiological findings consistent with OA at the time of the survey. Associations between OA and 8 chronic conditions were tested using regression analysis., Results: The EQ-5D index was lower in patients with OA than in those without (mean difference, -0.145; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.138 to -0.151; P<0.001). Most patients with OA and chronic conditions showed a lower score than those without. EQ-5D was particularly lower in OA patients with hypertension, dyslipidemia, stroke, and renal failure. The estimated β coefficient for the interaction term was significant in renal failure (-0.034; 95% CI, -0.055 to -0.012), after adjusting for demographic and socio-economic variables., Conclusion: OA significantly affects HRQoL of Korean elderly individuals alone or when combined with other conditions. OA combined with renal failure is particularly detrimental. These results indicate the importance of managing OA, which is an underestimated disease in public health surveys., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Convenient multiple dosing makes oral administration an ideal route for delivery of therapeutic siRNA. However, hostile GI environments and nonspecific biological trafficking prevent achieving appropriate bioavailability of siRNA. Here, an orally administered AuNP-siRNA-glycol chitosan-taurocholic acid nanoparticle (AR-GT NPs) was developed to selectively deliver Akt2 siRNA and treat colorectal liver metastases (CLM). AR-GT NPs are dual padlocked nonviral vectors in which the initially formed AuNP-siRNA (AR) conjugates are further encompassed by bifunctional glycol chitosan-taurocholic acid (GT) conjugates. Covering the surface of AR with GT protected the Akt2 siRNA from GI degradation, facilitated active transport through enterocytes, and enhanced selective accumulation in CLM. Our studies in CLM animal models resulted in the reduction in Akt2 production, followed by initiation of apoptosis in cancer cells after oral administration of Akt2 siRNA-loaded AR-GT. This therapeutic siRNA delivery system may be a promising approach in treating liver-associated diseases.

The effective implantation of conductive and charge storage materials into flexible frames has been strongly demanded for the development of flexible supercapacitors. Here, we introduce metallic cellulose paper-based supercapacitor electrodes with excellent energy storage performance by minimizing the contact resistance between neighboring metal and/or metal oxide nanoparticles using an assembly approach, called ligand-mediated layer-by-layer assembly. This approach can convert the insulating paper to the highly porous metallic paper with large surface areas that can function as current collectors and nanoparticle reservoirs for supercapacitor electrodes. Moreover, we demonstrate that the alternating structure design of the metal and pseudocapacitive nanoparticles on the metallic papers can remarkably increase the areal capacitance and rate capability with a notable decrease in the internal resistance. The maximum power and energy density of the metallic paper-based supercapacitors are estimated to be 15.1 mW cm -2 and 267.3 μWh cm -2 , respectively, substantially outperforming the performance of conventional paper or textile-type supercapacitors.With ligand-mediated layer-by-layer assembly between metal nanoparticles and small organic molecules, the authors prepare metallic paper electrodes for supercapacitors with high power and energy densities. This approach could be extended to various electrodes for portable/wearable electronics.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of acute hemorrhagic rectal ulcer (AHRU) and to elucidate its predictive factors., Methods: The medical records of patients with AHRU were retrospectively reviewed. Their baseline clinical characteristics were compared with those of patients with non-AHRU lower gastrointestinal bleeding to identify predictive factors for AHRU., Results: Among the 118 patients who underwent emergency endoscopy due to acute massive hematochezia from 2013 to 2015, 25 (21.2%) were diagnosed as having AHRU. Of them, 22 (88.0%) were successfully managed endoscopically and 3 (12.0%) underwent surgery. Six (24.0%) patients developed rebleeding within 1-9 days after the initial bleeding, which was controlled by a repeat endoscopy. Five (20.0%) died during follow-up. A multivariate-adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed that a lower serum albumin level, worse Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status and history of constipation were significant factors for predicting AHRU. Hypoalbuminemia (<30 g/L) had a sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of 84.0%, 78.5%, 51.2% and 94.8% for predicting AHRU, respectively., Conclusions: Approximately 20% of patients with massive hematochezia had AHRU. Most patients with AHRU can be managed endoscopically. Low serum albumin level, poor ECOG performance status and prior constipation could be used in distinguishing patients with and without AHRU, facilitating the selection of optimal bowel preparation method for massive hematochezia., (© 2017 Chinese Medical Association Shanghai Branch, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

There is limited data on the clinical and biological parameters that enable the prediction of the benefits derived from additional chemotherapy after disease progression compared with standard chemotherapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The present study evaluated the role of tumor response as a clinical parameter and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as a biomarker to predict the benefit of additional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) rechallenge chemotherapy in patients with refractory mCRC. Tumor responses were retrospectively reviewed based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, early tumor shrinkage (ETS) and depth of response (DoR) following first-line chemotherapy in patients with stage IV CRC. Together with these parameters, SNPs known to be associated with the response to chemotherapy were analyzed with survival outcomes. In total, the tumor responses of 242 patients with mCRC were evaluated. Overall response and ETS were identified in 110 (45.4%) and 103 patients (42.6%), respectively, and the median DoR was 38.5±30.08%. ETS and DoR were significantly associated with survival outcomes, including progression-free survival, post-progression survival and overall survival. Among these patients, SNPs were analyzed in 171 patients. X-ray repair cross complementing 1 ( XRCC1 ) (AG/AA) with a DoR >60%, good performance status and the absence of bone lesions were associated with improved overall survival. In patients receiving third-line chemotherapy with 5-FU rechallenge therapy, the methylenetretrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) (C677T) CC genotype and a DoR >60% were significantly associated with a good prognosis in multivariate analysis. XRCC1 (AG/AA) was also associated with a good prognosis in patients with mCRC. Patients with a DoR >60% following first-line chemotherapy and a MTHFR (C677T) CC genotype exhibited a survival benefit from 5-FU retreatment. Therefore, the DoR and MTHFR genotype are potential markers for selecting patients with refractory mCRC that would benefit from 5-FU rechallenge therapy.

Purpose: Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 ( FGFR4 ) plays an important role in cancer progression during tumor proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. This study evaluated the prognostic role of FGFR4 polymorphism in patients with resected colon cancer, including the underlying mechanism., Materials and Methods: FGFR4 polymorphism was characterized in patientswho received curative resection for stage III colon cancer. FGFR4 -dependent signal pathways involving cell proliferation, invasion, and migration according to genotypes were also evaluated in transfected colon cancer cell lines., Results: Among a total of 273 patients, the GG of FGFR4 showed significantly better overall survival than the AG or AA, regardless of adjuvant treatment. In the group of AG or AA, combination of folinic acid, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) resulted in better survival than fluorouracil/leucovorin or no adjuvant chemotherapy. However, in GG, there was no difference among treatment regimens. Using multivariate analyses, the Arg388 carriers, together with age, N stage, poor differentiation, absence of a lymphocyte response, and no adjuvant chemotherapy, had a significantly worse OS than patients with the Gly388 allele. In transfected colon cancer cells, overexpression of Arg388 significantly increased cell proliferation and changes in epithelial to mesenchymal transition markers compared with cells overexpressing the Gly388 allele., Conclusion: The Arg388 allele of FGFR4 may be a biomarker and a candidate target for adjuvant treatment of patients with resected colon cancer.

Background/aims: To date, the best therapeutic modality for gastric adenoma, especially low-grade adenoma, has not been established. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of argon plasma coagulation (APC) in treating gastric adenoma compared with endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)., Methods: We included 210 patients with gastric adenoma, who underwent treatment with either APC (97 patients) or ESD (113 patients). The clinical and pathologic characteristics, mean duration of hospital stay, complications, and recurrence rates between the two groups were compared., Results: The mean adenoma size was 0.9 cm and 1.1 cm in the APC group and ESD group, respectively (p<0.001). The mean duration of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the APC group than in the ESD group (1.6 days vs. 5.8 days, p<0.001). Complications did not occur in the APC group. However, one case of perforation (0.9%) and 6 cases of bleeding (5.3%) occurred in the ESD group. The recurrence rates were 15.3% (15/97 patients) in the APC group and 3.5% (4/113 patients) in the ESD group (p=0.003). The proportion of hospitalization was less in the APC group (43.3%, 42/97) than in the ESD group (100.0%, 113/113) (p<0.001). Medical expense was less in the APC group (377,172 won) than in the ESD group (1,430,610 won) (p<0.001)., Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that APC is a safe treatment method for gastric adenoma without serious complications. However, regular endoscopic follow-up is necessary to detect any residual or recurrent lesions due to the relatively high rate of local recurrence after APC.

We present facile synthesis of bright CdS/CdSe/CdS@SiO 2 nanoparticles with 72% of quantum yields (QYs) retaining ca 80% of the original QYs. The main innovative point is the utilization of the highly luminescent CdS/CdSe/CdS seed/spherical quantum well/shell (SQW) as silica coating seeds. The significance of inorganic semiconductor shell passivation and structure design of quantum dots (QDs) for obtaining bright QD@SiO 2 is demonstrated by applying silica encapsulation via reverse microemulsion method to three kinds of QDs with different structure: CdSe core and 2 nm CdS shell (CdSe/CdS-thin); CdSe core and 6 nm CdS shell (CdSe/CdS-thick); and CdS core, CdSe intermediate shell and 5 nm CdS outer shell (CdS/CdSe/CdS-SQW). Silica encapsulation inevitably results in lower photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY) than pristine QDs due to formation of surface defects. However, the retaining ratio of pristine QY is different in the three silica coated samples; for example, CdSe/CdS-thin/SiO 2 shows the lowest retaining ratio (36%) while the retaining ratio of pristine PL QY in CdSe/CdS-thick/SiO 2 and SQW/SiO 2 is over 80% and SQW/SiO 2 shows the highest resulting PL QY. Thick outermost CdS shell isolates the excitons from the defects at surface, making PL QY relatively insensitive to silica encapsulation. The bright SiO 2 -coated SQW sample shows robustness against harsh conditions, such as acid etching and thermal annealing. The high luminescence and long-term stability highlights the potential of using the SQW/SiO 2 nanoparticles in bio-labeling or display applications.