This work presents a novel photo‐electrochemical architecture based on the 3D pyramid‐like graphene/p‐Si Schottky junctions. Overcoming the conventional transfer technique by which only planar ...graphene/Si Schottky junctions are currently available, this work demonstrates the 3D pyramid‐like graphene/p‐Si Schottky junction photocathode, which greatly enhances light harvesting efficiency and exhibits promising photo‐electrochemical performance for hydrogen generation. The formation of 3D pyramid‐like graphene/p‐Si Schottky junctions exhibits enhanced electrochemical activity and promotes charge separation efficiency compared with the bare pyramid Si surface without graphene. The inherent chemical inertness of graphene significantly improves the operational stability of 3D graphene/p‐Si Schottky junction photo‐electrochemical cells. The 3D pyramid‐like graphene/p‐Si Schottky junction photocathode delivers an onset potential of 0.41 V and a saturated photocurrent density of −32.5 mA cm−2 at 0 V (vs RHE) with excellent stability comparable to values reported for textured or nanostructured p‐Si photocathodes coated with ultrathin oxide layers by the conventional atomic layer deposition technique. These results suggest that the formation of graphene/Si Schottky junctions with a 3D architecture is a promising approach to improve the performance and durability of Si‐based photo‐electrochemical systems for water splitting or solar‐to‐fuel conversion.
This work demonstrates a novel 3D pyramid‐like graphene/p‐Si Schottky junction photocathode for H2 production based on the unique advantages of excellent carrier transport, high transparency, and superior corrosion protection of graphene. The formation of graphene/Si Schottky junctions with 3D architecture is a promising approach to improve the performance and durability of Si‐based photo‐electrochemical systems for water splitting or solar‐to‐fuel conversion.
A palladium‐catalyzed (Pd(PPh3)4/Ag2O/PivOH) C2‐regioselective direct dehydrogenative alkynylation of unsubstituted selenophene was achieved. The selenophenes substituted with R1 groups at 2‐position ...can be C5‐alkynylated with a variety of 4‐substituted phenylacetylenes (R2 groups). The R1 and R2 can be either electron‐withdrawing or electron‐donating groups, demonstrating a wide range of substrate scope with various functional group tolerance. The mono/C2‐alkynylated selenophenes can subsequently undergo the second direct alkynylation at C5‐position to afford symmetrical or unsymmetrical donor‐π‐acceptor 2,5‐dialkynylated selenophenes.
Abstract
To develop a tool for predicting pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (neoCRT) in patients with esophageal cancer by combining inflammatory status and tumor ...glucose metabolic activity. This study included 127 patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer who had received neoCRT followed by esophagectomy from 2007 to 2016. We collected their neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and standardized uptake value (SUV) obtained from fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET/CT) before and after neoCRT. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify potential predictive factors for pCR. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of predictors were calculated. Between pCR and non-pCR groups, there were no statistically significant differences in patient characteristics, such as sex, age, site, and clinical T/N stage. Multivariate analyses identified four independent predictors for pCR, including pre-OP NLR < 5.4 OR 11.179; 95% CI 8.385–13.495; p = 0.003, NLR change (ΔNLR) < 3 OR 4.891; 95% CI 2.274–9.180; p = 0.005, changes in SUV (ΔSUV) > 7.2 OR 3.033; 95% CI 1.354–6.791; p = 0.007, and SUV changes ratio (ΔSUV ratio) > 58% OR 3.585; 95% CI 1.576–8.152; p = 0.002. ΔNLR had the highest accuracy and NPV (84.3% and 90.3%, respectively). Combined factors of ΔNLR < 3 and ΔSUV ratio > 58% had the best PPV for pCR (84.8%). Inflammatory status (ΔNLR) and tumor glucose metabolic activity (ΔSUV ratio), when considered together, constitute a promising low-invasive tool with high efficacy for prediction of treatment response before surgery.
Background
Reconstruction of total or near‐total nasal defects is challenging and requires the re‐creation of three nasal layers. Fasciocutaneous free flaps have been used effectively for restoring ...the vascularized nasal lining and staged forehead flap for nasal skin replacement, which is a long process. The aim of this study is to share our experience of combination of preliminary free tissue transfer with paramedian forehead flap reconstruction in the same stage of complex nasal reconstruction.
Methods
From December 2015 to July 2021, 10 patients underwent nasal reconstruction with free flaps including 4 medial sural artery perforator (MSAP) flaps, 5 anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps and 1 radial forearm flap for lining and forehead flaps for skin coverage simultaneously for total or subtotal nasal defects. Nasal obstruction symptoms evaluation (NOSE) score was utilized to evaluate the functional outcome and the aesthetic results were evaluated with the last follow‐up photos with score 1–5 by 5 plastic surgeon and 5 laypersons.
Results
The size of the free flaps ranged from 3 cm x 6 cm to 6 cm x 13 cm. After excluding one patient who expired before forehead flap division due to comorbidities, the average duration between combination surgery and the division of the forehead flap pedicle of the remaining patients was 5.7 months (range, 2–12). For patients without any postoperative events, the duration was 2.2 months (range, 2–3). One free flap had partial necrosis due to infection. The average follow‐up duration was 29.6 months (range, 12–64). The NOSE score was 5.9 (range, 0–10) and the aesthetic score is 4.1 (range, 3–5) in average.
Conclusions
The combination of preliminary free tissue transfer for nasal lining restoration with a paramedian forehead flap for nasal skin replacement in the same stage may shorten the long process and achieve satisfactory reconstruction in complex nasal reconstruction.
It is important to select appropriate targeted therapies for subgroups of patients with lung adenocarcinoma who have specific gene alterations.
This prospective study was a multicenter project ...conducted in Taiwan for assessment of lung adenocarcinoma genetic tests. Five oncogenic drivers, including EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, HER2 and EML4-ALK fusion mutations, were tested. EGFR, KRAS, BRAF and HER2 mutations were assessed by MALDI-TOF MS (Cohort 1). EML4-ALK translocation was tested by Ventana method in EGFR-wild type patients (Cohort 2).
From August 2011 to November 2013, a total of 1772 patients with lung adenocarcinoma were enrolled. In Cohort 1 analysis, EGFR, KRAS, HER2 and BRAF mutations were identified in 987 (55.7%), 93 (5.2%), 36 (2.0%) and 12 (0.7%) patients, respectively. Most of these mutations were mutually exclusive, except for co-mutations in seven patients (3 with EGFR + KRAS, 3 with EGFR + HER2 and 1 with KRAS + BRAF). In Cohort 2 analysis, 29 of 295 EGFR-wild type patients (9.8%) were positive for EML4-ALK translocation. EGFR mutations were more common in female patients and non-smokers and KRAS mutations were more common in male patients and smokers. Gender and smoking status were not correlated significantly with HER2, BRAF and EML4-ALK mutations. EML4-ALK translocation was more common in patients with younger age.
This was the first study in Taiwan to explore the incidence of five oncogenic drivers in patients with lung adenocarcinoma and the results could be valuable for physicians in consideration of targeted therapy and inclusion of clinical trials.
The coronavirus disease pandemic has had a tangible impact on bronchoscopy for burn inpatients due to isolation and triage measures. We utilised the machine-learning approach to identify risk factors ...for predicting mild and severe inhalation injury and whether patients with burns experienced inhalation injury. We also examined the ability of two dichotomous models to predict clinical outcomes including mortality, pneumonia, and duration of hospitalisation.
A retrospective 14-year single-centre dataset of 341 intubated patients with burns with suspected inhalation injury was established. The medical data on day one of admission and bronchoscopy-diagnosed inhalation injury grade were compiled using a gradient boosting-based machine-learning algorithm to create two prediction models: model 1, mild vs. severe inhalation injury; and model 2, no inhalation injury vs. inhalation injury.
The area under the curve (AUC) for model 1 was 0·883, indicating excellent discrimination. The AUC for model 2 was 0·862, indicating acceptable discrimination. In model 1, the incidence of pneumonia (P < 0·001) and mortality rate (P < 0·001), but not duration of hospitalisation (P = 0·1052), were significantly higher in patients with severe inhalation injury. In model 2, the incidence of pneumonia (P < 0·001), mortality (P < 0·001), and duration of hospitalisation (P = 0·021) were significantly higher in patients with inhalation injury.
We developed the first machine-learning tool for differentiating between mild and severe inhalation injury, and the absence/presence of inhalation injury in patients with burns, which is helpful when bronchoscopy is not available immediately. The dichotomous classification predicted by both models was associated with the clinical outcomes.
•This study is the first machine learning approach for differentiating between mild and severe inhalation injury (INH).•It can also distinguish between INH and no INH.•The dichotomous classification predicted by two models is associated with subsequent clinical outcomes.
Graphene, with cracks filled with gold nanoparticles, is grown by chemical vapor deposition on a Cu substrate. The crack‐filled graphene not only exhibits superior electrical properties but also ...forms a better junction with other semiconductors. A high‐quality crack‐filled graphene/Si Schottky junction solar cell is achieved, demonstrating the highest fill factor (0.79) and best efficiency (12.3%).
The crescentic alar groove serves as a topographic landmark that frames the ala and separates this convex structure from the surrounding cosmetic subunits. This aesthetic landmark can be attenuated ...or even obliterated during wound repair in this area. Flaps spanning the alar crease are often noticeably bulky with a pin-cushioned appearance in nasal reconstruction, and it is challenging to reproduce a natural-appearing alar groove. The authors proposed a novel technique with a modified, interrupted inverted horizontal mattress suture to create an alar groove. From March of 2016 to May of 2021, 22 consecutive patients with alar defects who underwent nasal reconstruction with the paramedian forehead flap were identified. All patients underwent the authors' novel technique for the creation of the alar groove. The mean follow-up time was 3 years 7 months (range, 14 months to 5 years). A total of 32 alar crease creation suture operations were performed. All uneven wounds healed uneventfully within 2 weeks. Two cases of postoperative fading alar grooves required alar crease creation sutures to be redone. The authors' novel alar crease creation suture is a safe, straightforward, and reliable technique to create an aesthetic alar groove in forehead flap nasal reconstruction. It can create a medially shallow and laterally deep alar crease without apparent complications.
Therapeutic, IV.
Studies have reported the effects of the gut microbiota on colorectal cancer (CRC) chemotherapy, but few studies have investigated the association between gut microbiota and targeted therapy. This ...study investigated the role of the gut microbiota in the treatment outcomes of patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC). We enrolled 110 patients with mCRC and treated them with standard cancer therapy. Stool samples were collected before administering a combination of chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Patients who had a progressive disease (PD) or partial response (PR) for at least 12 cycles of therapy were included in the study. We further divided these patients into anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (cetuximab) and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (bevacizumab) subgroups. The gut microbiota of the PR group and bevacizumab-PR subgroup exhibited significantly higher α-diversity. The β-diversity of bacterial species significantly differed between the bevacizumab-PR and bevacizumab-PD groups (
P
= 0.029).
Klebsiella quasipneumoniae
exhibited the greatest fold change in abundance in the PD group than in the PR group.
Lactobacillus
and
Bifidobacterium
species exhibited higher abundance in the PD group. The abundance of
Fusobacterium nucleatum
was approximately 32 times higher in the PD group than in the PR group. A higher gut microbiota diversity was associated with more favorable treatment outcomes in the patients with mCRC. Bacterial species analysis of stool samples yielded heterogenous results.
K. quasipneumoniae
exhibited the greatest fold change in abundance among all bacterial species in the PD group. This result warrants further investigation especially in a Taiwanese population.
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with nonhepatocellular carcinoma malignancies. We aimed to evaluate whether achieving a sustained virological response (SVR, defined as HCV RNA ...seronegativity throughout posttreatment 24-week follow-up) could reduce the risk of non-hepatocellular carcinoma malignancy in a real-world nationwide Taiwanese Chronic Hepatitis C Cohort (T-COACH).
A total of 10,714 patients with chronic hepatitis C who had received interferon-based therapy (8,186 SVR and 2,528 non-SVR) enrolled in T-COACH and were linked to the National Cancer Registry database for the development of 12 extrahepatic malignancies, including those with potential associations with HCV and with the top-ranking incidence in Taiwan, over a median follow-up period was 3.79 years (range, 0-16.44 years).
During the 44,354 person-years of follow-up, 324 (3.02%) patients developed extrahepatic malignancies, without a difference between patients with and without SVR (annual incidence: 0.69% vs 0.87%, respectively). Compared with patients with SVR, patients without SVR had a significantly higher risk of gastric cancer (0.10% vs 0.03% per person-year, P = 0.004) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (0.08% vs 0.03% per person-year, respectively, P = 0.03). When considering death as a competing risk, non-SVR was independently associated with gastric cancer (hazard ratio HR/95% confidence intervals CIs: 3.29/1.37-7.93, P = 0.008). When patients were stratified by age, the effect of SVR in reducing gastric cancer (HR/CI: 0.30/0.11-0.83) and NHL (HR/CI: 0.28/0.09-0.85) was noted only in patients aged <65 years but not those aged >65 years.
HCV eradication reduced the risk of gastric cancer and NHL, in particular among younger patients, indicating that patients with chronic hepatitis C should be treated as early as possible.
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