Laparoscopic and open surgery in patients with transverse colon cancer: short-term and oncological outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Studies evaluating the outcomes after laparoscopic resections of transverse colon cancers are scant. This manuscript aimed to compare surgical and oncological outcomes after laparoscopic (Lap) and open procedures for transverse colon carcinomas. METHODS: All consecutive patients who underwent resection for a cancer located in the transverse colon between 2003 and 2019 were reviewed. Patients were categorized according to the surgical approach (Lap versus open) and groups were compared. Outcome measures were the short-term results, complications and functional recovery; moreover, recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were compared overall and after propensity score matching (PSM) based on age, sex, ASA classification, BMI, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, use of postoperative chemotherapy, location of tumour, stage and grading, operation time, blood loss and complications. RESULTS: Of 248 transverse resections reviewed, 146 (81 Lap and 65 open) were selected for data analysis. Blood loss, fluid intake and the incidence of wound infection were significantly lower and the hospital stay was significantly shorter in the Lap group (P < 0.001). The operation time and incidence of complications (Clavien-Dindo classification grade 3 or above) did not differ significantly between the two groups. Mean follow-up was of 75.4 months in the Lap group and 78.6 months in the open group. Regression analyses showed that OS was associated with the postoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level (hazard ratio 1.18 (95 per cent c.i. 1.10 to 1.27); P < 0.001), BMI (hazard ratio 0.81 (95 per cent c.i. 0.68 to 0.96); P = 0.017), operation time (hazard ratio 0.99 (95 per cent c.i. 0.97 to 1.00; P = 0.010), and postoperative chemotherapy (hazard ratio 0.27 (95 per cent c.i. 0.08 to 0.96); P = 0.042), while RFS was associated with the postoperative CEA level (hazard ratio 1.13 (95 per cent c.i. 1.07 to 1.20); P < 0.001). PSM selected 42 patients for data comparison of long-term results, and showed no significant differences between groups (RFS: P = 0.530; OS: P = 0.561). CONCLUSION: Lap and open resections for transverse colon cancer provided similar outcomes in terms of severe post-operative complication and long-term results.

A novel surgical strategy for the resection of duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumours located close to the duodenal ampulla: a case report.

Although the optimal surgical procedure for the resection of duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumours has not yet been characterised due to the low prevalence of these tumours and the anatomical complexity of the duodenopancreatic region, difficult surgical procedures such as pancreaticoduodenectomy are often proposed for stromal tumours located in the second portion of the duodenum. Our case report highlights a novel surgical strategy that can be implemented as an alternative to pancreaticoduodenectomy for such tumours close to the duodenal ampulla. A 70-year-old man incidentally diagnosed with a stromal tumour close to the duodenal ampulla in the second portion of the duodenum underwent local resection guided by an endoscopic nasobiliary drainage tube with primary closure. This tube was converted to a percutaneous trans-small intestinal biliary drainage tube during the procedure to prevent biliary leakage biliary stasis due to swelling of the duodenal ampulla. He also underwent a simple distal gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction. This resulted in successful R0 resection. There were no procedure-related complications or post-surgery weight changes. Our simple novel surgical strategy may therefore be useful for avoiding pancreaticoduodenectomy and maintaining quality of life in patients with stromal tumours close to the duodenal ampulla.

Blister-based-laser-induced-forward-transfer: a non-contact, dry laser-based transfer method for nanomaterials.

We show that blister-based-laser-induced forward-transfer can be used to cleanly desorb and transfer nano- and micro-scale particles between substrates without exposing the particles to the laser radiation or to any chemical treatment that could damage the intrinsic electronic and optical properties of the materials. The technique uses laser pulses to induce the rapid formation of a blister on a thin metal layer deposited on glass via ablation at the metal/glass interface. Femtosecond laser pulses are advantageous for forming beams of molecules or small nanoparticles with well-defined velocity and narrow angular distributions. Both fs and ns laser pulses can be used to cleanly transfer larger nanoparticles including relatively fragile monolayer 2D transition metal dichalcogenide crystals and for direct transfer of nanoparticles from chemical vapour deposition growth substrates, although the mechanisms for inducing blister formation are different.

Correction: Band gap modification and photoluminescence enhancement of graphene nanoribbon filled single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Correction for 'Band gap modification and photoluminescence enhancement of graphene nanoribbon filled single-walled carbon nanotubes' by A. I. Chernov et al., Nanoscale, 2018, DOI: 10.1039/c7nr07054c.

Band gap modification and photoluminescence enhancement of graphene nanoribbon filled single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Molecule encapsulation inside the single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) core has been demonstrated to be a successful route for the modification of nanotube properties. SWCNT diameter-dependent filling results in band gap modification together with the enhancement of photoluminescence quantum yield. However, the interaction between the inner structure and the outer shell is complex. It depends on the orientation of the molecules inside, the geometry of the host nanotube and on several other mechanisms determining the resulting properties of the hybrid nanosystem. In this work we study the influence of encapsulated graphene nanoribbons on the optical properties of the host single-walled carbon nanotubes. The interplay of strain and dielectric screening caused by the internal environment of the nanotube affects its band gap. The photoluminescence of the filled nanotubes becomes enhanced when the graphene nanoribbons are polymerized inside the SWCNTs at low temperatures. We show a gradual photoluminescence quenching together with a selective signal enhancement for exact nanotube geometries, specifically (14,6) and (13,8) species. A precise adjustment of the optical properties and an enhancement of the photoluminescence quantum yield upon filling for nanotubes with specific diameters were assigned to optimal organization of the inner structures.

PKR regulates LPS-induced osteoclast formation and bone destruction in vitro and in vivo.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to clarify the precise mechanism underlying lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced osteoclastogenesis in periodontal disease with a special reference to double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We dissected the role of PKR in LPS-induced osteoclast differentiation and function using primary mouse bone marrow cells and RAW264.7 pre-osteoclastic cell line. We used a rat experimental periodontitis (PD) model induced by ligature placement with a Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS injection (PD rat) and analyzed the therapeutic effects of C16, a PKR inhibitor, on bone loss in PD rats. RESULTS: Protein kinase is strongly upregulated and phosphorylated by LPS in the osteoclasts. The inhibition of PKR suppressed LPS-stimulated osteoclast formation and activation. PKR inhibition also suppressed the LPS-mediated activation of NF-κB and MAPK, which are critical pathways for osteoclastogenesis. High expressions of PKR were detected in osteoclasts of PD rats, and the treatment with C16 effectively prevented alveolar bone destruction in PD rats. CONCLUSIONS: PKR plays a pivotal role in LPS-induced bone loss in PD and, thus, has potential as a therapeutic target for PD.

Elastic and anelastic relaxation behaviour of perovskite multiferroics II: PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3 (PZT)-PbFe0.5Ta0.5O3 (PFT).

Elastic and anelastic properties of ceramic samples of multiferroic perovskites with nominal compositions across the binary join PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3-PbFe0.5Ta0.5O3 (PZT-PFT) have been assembled to create a binary phase diagram and to address the role of strain relaxation associated with their phase transitions. Structural relationships are similar to those observed previously for PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3-PbFe0.5Nb0.5O3 (PZT-PFN), but the magnitude of the tetragonal shear strain associated with the ferroelectric order parameter appears to be much smaller. This leads to relaxor character for the development of ferroelectric properties in the end member PbFe0.5Ta0.5O3. As for PZT-PFN, there appear to be two discrete instabilities rather than simply a reorientation of the electric dipole in the transition sequence cubic-tetragonal-monoclinic, and the second transition has characteristics typical of an improper ferroelastic. At intermediate compositions, the ferroelastic microstructure has strain heterogeneities on a mesoscopic length scale and, probably, also on a microscopic scale. This results in a wide anelastic freezing interval for strain-related defects rather than the freezing of discrete twin walls that would occur in a conventional ferroelastic material. In PFT, however, the acoustic loss behaviour more nearly resembles that due to freezing of conventional ferroelastic twin walls. Precursor softening of the shear modulus in both PFT and PFN does not fit with a Vogel-Fulcher description, but in PFT there is a temperature interval where the softening conforms to a power law suggestive of the role of fluctuations of the order parameter with dispersion along one branch of the Brillouin zone. Magnetic ordering appears to be coupled only weakly with a volume strain and not with shear strain but, as with multiferroic PZT-PFN perovskites, takes place within crystals which have significant strain heterogeneities on different length scales.

Single-Step Functionalization and Exfoliation of Graphene with Polymers under Mild Conditions.

The simultaneous polymer functionalization and exfoliation of graphene sheets by using mild bath sonication and heat treatment at low temperature is described. In particular, free-radical polymerization of three different vinyl monomers takes place in the presence of graphite flakes. The polymerization procedure leads to the exfoliation of graphene sheets and at the same time the growing polymer chains are attached onto the graphene lattice, which gives solubility and stability to the final graphene-based hybrid material. The polymer-functionalized graphene sheets possess fewer defects as compared with previously reported polymer-functionalized graphene. The success of the covalent functionalization and exfoliation of graphene was confirmed by using a variety of complementary spectroscopic, thermal, and microscopy techniques, including Raman, IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and transmission electron microscopy.

Oligothiophene/graphene supramolecular ensembles managing light induced processes: preparation, characterization, and femtosecond transient absorption studies leading to charge-separation.

Advances in organic synthetic chemistry combined with the exceptional electronic properties of carbon allotropes, particularly graphene, is the basis used to design and fabricate novel electron donor-acceptor ensembles with desired properties for technological applications. Thiophene-based materials, which are mainly thiophene-containing polymers, are known for their notable electronic properties. In this frame moving from polymer to oligomer forms, new fundamental information would help for a better understanding of their electrochemical and photophysical properties. Furthermore, a successful combination of their electronic properties with those of graphene is a challenging goal. In this study, two oligothiophene compounds, which consist of three and nine thiophene-rings and are abbreviated 3T and 9T, respectively, were synthesized and noncovalently associated with liquid phase exfoliated few-layered graphene sheets (abbreviated eG), thus forming donor-acceptor 3T/eG and 9T/eG nanoensembes. Markedly, intra-ensemble electronic interactions between the two components in the ground and excited states were evaluated with the aid of UV-Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Furthermore, redox assays revealed the one-electron oxidation of 3T accompanied by one-electron reduction due to eG in 3T/eG, whereas there were two reversible one-electron oxidations of 9T accompanied by one-electron reduction of eG9T/eG. The electrochemical band gap for the 3T/eG and 9T/eG ensembles were calculated and verified, in which the negative free-energy change for the charge-separated state of 3T/eG and 9T/eGvia the singlet excited state of 3T and 9T, respectively, were thermodynamically favorable. Finally, the results of transient pump-probe spectroscopy studies at the femtosecond time scale were supportive of charge transfer type interactions in the 3T/eG and 9T/eG ensembles. The estimated rates for intra-ensemble charge separation were found to be 9.52 × 10(9) s(-1) and 2.2 × 10(11) s(-1), respectively, for 3T/eG and 9T/eG in THF, which reveal moderate to ultrafast photoinduced events in the oligothiophene/graphene supramolecular ensembles.

Elastic and magnetoelastic relaxation behaviour of multiferroic (ferromagnetic + ferroelectric + ferroelastic) Pb(Fe0.5Nb0.5)O3 perovskite.

Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy has been used to characterize elastic and anelastic anomalies in a polycrystalline sample of multiferroic Pb(Fe(0.5)Nb(0.5))O(3) (PFN). Elastic softening begins at ~550 K, which is close to the Burns temperature marking the development of dynamical polar nanoregions. A small increase in acoustic loss at ~425 K coincides with the value of T(*) reported for polar nanoregions starting to acquire a static or quasi-static component. Softening of the shear modulus by ~30-35% through ~395-320 K, together with a peak in acoustic loss, is due to classical strain/order parameter coupling through the cubic → tetragonal → monoclinic transition sequence of ferroelectric/ferroelastic transitions. A plateau of high acoustic loss below ~320 K is due to the mobility under stress of a ferroelastic microstructure but, instead of the typical effects of freezing of twin wall motion at some low temperature, there is a steady decrease in loss and increase in elastic stiffness below ~85 K. This is attributed to freezing of a succession of strain-coupled defects with a range of relaxation times and is consistent with a report in the literature that PFN develops a tweed microstructure over a wide temperature interval. No overt anomaly was observed near the expected Néel point, ~145 K, consistent with weak/absent spin/lattice coupling but heat capacity measurements showed that the antiferromagnetic transition is actually smeared out or suppressed. Instead, the sample is weakly ferromagnetic up to ~560 K, though it has not been possible to exclude definitively the possibility that this could be due to some magnetic impurity. Overall, evidence from the RUS data is of a permeating influence of static and dynamic strain relaxation effects which are attributed to local strain heterogeneity on a mesoscopic length scale. These, in turn, must have a role in determining the magnetic properties and multiferroic character of PFN.

Does shoulder impingement syndrome affect the shoulder kinematics and associated muscle activity in archers?

BACKGROUND: Archery related injuries, such as shoulder impingement syndrome are caused by repeated motion of the shoulder. The aim of this study was to analyze differences in the shoulder kinematics and the associated muscle activity between archers with shoulder impingement and uninjured archery players. METHODS: Thirty male archers, who were divided into an impingement group and an uninjured group, were included in this study. The angle of scapular elevation, shoulder joint abduction, horizontal extension, and elbow joint flexion as well as the electromyographic activity of the upper trapezius, lower trapezius, deltoid middle, deltoid posterior, biceps brachii, and triceps brachii muscles at the point of stabilization during shooting were measured. Variables differing between impingement and uninjured groups were identified, and a stepwise regression analysis was performed to identify a combination of variables that effectively impingement syndrome. RESULTS: The results indicated that the angle of scapular elevation was significantly greater than that uninjured group (P<0.05). The angle of horizontal extension in the impingement group was significantly smaller than that in the uninjured group (P<0.05). The angle of elbow flexion in the impingement group was significantly smaller than that in the uninjured group (P<0.05). The levels of upper trapezius and deltoid middle muscle activity were significantly higher in the impingement group, while the level of lower trapezius muscle activity was significantly lower (P<0.05) when compared to the uninjured group. The impingement group had a greater angle of scapular elevation, smaller angle of horizontal extension, smaller angle of elbow flexion, higher the levels of upper trapezius, lower the levels of lower trapezius, higher deltoid middle muscle activity and higher UT/LT ratio (all differences were significant). A logistic model for predicting impingement syndrome showed that UT/LT ratio was significantly related impingement syndrome (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The authors concluded that archers with shoulder impingement syndrome exhibit different kinematics and muscle activity compared to uninjured archers. Therefore, in order to prevent shoulder joint impingement during archery, training is necessary what can make lower trapezius muscle activity increased to decrease the UT/LT ratio.

Photocatalytic application of nanosized CdS immobilized onto functionalized MWCNTs.

Nanosized semiconductor CdS immobilized onto modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) carrying poly(amidoamine) dendron units were visualized by HR-TEM. Evidently, spherical CdS nanoparticles 3-5 nm in diameter were identified. Moreover, EDX spectroscopy gave additional spectroscopic proof of the presence of CdS in the CdS-MWCNTs hybrid material. The photocatalytic activity of CdS-MWCNTs toward the decomposition of rhodamine B (RhB) was examined by monitoring spectral changes in the characteristic absorption band of RhB centred at 554 nm. The latter absorption band of RhB was found to continuously depress during visible light irradiation in the presence of CdS-MWCNTs, with faster kinetic rates as compared with the case when only reference CdS was present. The current result was rationalized in terms of efficient photoinduced electron-transfer from CdS to MWCNTs within the intrahybrid CdS-MWCNTs. In this frame, the suggested mechanism for the high and fast photocatalytic decomposition of RhB supports the accumulation of electrons in MWCNTs, which then react with molecular oxygen, thus reducing it to superoxide radical anion O2˙(-) responsible for the generation of the highly reactive species of HO˙ and HOO˙. The latter together with the holes generated in photoexcited CdS were responsible for the decomposition of RhB. Finally, the photocatalyst CdS-MWCNTs was recovered and efficiently reused for four consecutive catalytic cycles, thus highlighting its wider applicability in removing organic pollutants from water.

PDK1 controls upstream PI3K expression and PIP3 generation.

The PI3K/PDK1/Akt signaling axis is centrally involved in cellular homeostasis and controls cell growth and proliferation. Due to its key function as regulator of cell survival and metabolism, the dysregulation of this pathway is manifested in several human pathologies including cancers and immunological diseases. Thus, current therapeutic strategies target the components of this signaling cascade. In recent years, numerous feedback loops have been identified that attenuate PI3K/PDK1/Akt-dependent signaling. Here, we report the identification of an additional level of feedback regulation that depends on the negative transcriptional control of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) class IA subunits. Genetic deletion of 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) or the pharmacological inhibition of its downstream effectors, that is, Akt and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), relieves this suppression and leads to the upregulation of PI3K subunits, resulting in enhanced generation of phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3). Apparently, this transcriptional induction is mediated by the concerted action of different transcription factor families, including the transcription factors cAMP-responsive element-binding protein and forkhead box O. Collectively, we propose that PDK1 functions as a cellular sensor that balances basal PIP3 generation at levels sufficient for survival but below a threshold being harmful to the cell. Our study suggests that the efficiency of therapies targeting the aberrantly activated PI3K/PDK1/Akt pathway might be increased by the parallel blockade of feedback circuits.

Fabrication and characterization of fully flattened carbon nanotubes: a new graphene nanoribbon analogue.

Graphene nanoribbons (GNR) are one of the most promising candidates for the fabrication of graphene-based nanoelectronic devices such as high mobility field effect transistors (FET). Here, we report a high-yield fabrication of a high quality another type of GNR analogue, fully flattened carbon nanotubes (flattened CNTs), using solution-phase extraction of inner tubes from large-diameter multi-wall CNTs (MWCNTs). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations show that flattened CNTs have width of typically 20 nm and a barbell-like cross section. Measurements of the low-bias conductance of isolated flattened CNTs as a function of gate voltage shows that the flattened CNTs display ambipolar conduction which is different from those of MWCNTs. The estimated gap based on temperature dependence of conductivity measurements of isolated flattened CNTs is 13.7 meV, which is probably caused by the modified electronic structure due to the flattening.

XPS and NEXAFS studies of VUV/O3-treated aromatic polyurea and its application to microchip electrophoresis.

In this study, the authors performed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) studies of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV)/O3-treated aromatic polyurea films to investigate their treatment effects. XPS and NEXAFS spectra indicate that the benzene ring was cleaved after treatment and that carboxyl, hydroxyl, ketone and aldehyde groups were formed at the cleaved sites. The VUV/O3-treated polyurea film was applied to a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microchip for microchip electrophoresis (MCE) of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Fast electro-osmotic mobility of 4.6×10(-4) cm²/V/s as well as reduction of the BSA adhesion was achieved. This functional surface is useful for high-speed MCE analysis.

Purity-enhanced bulk synthesis of thin single-wall carbon nanotubes using iron-copper catalysts.

We report high purity and high yield synthesis of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) of narrow diameter from iron-copper bimetal catalysts. The SWCNTs with diameter of 0.8-1.2 nm are synthesized using the zeolite-supported alcohol chemical vapour deposition method. Single metal and bimetal catalysts are systematically investigated to achieve both the enhancement of SWCNT yield and the suppression of the undesired formation of graphitic impurities. The relative yield and purity of SWCNTs are quantified using optical absorption spectroscopy with an ultracentrifuge-based purification technique. For the single metal catalyst, iron shows the highest catalytic activity compared with the other metals such as cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, copper, and platinum. It has been found that the addition of copper to iron results in the suppression of carbonaceous impurity formation without decreasing the SWCNT yield. The purity-enhanced SWCNT shows fairly low sheet resistance due to the improvement of inter-nanotube contacts. This scalable design of SWCNT synthesis with enhanced purity is therefore a promising tool for shaping future high performance devices.

Living cell-based allergen sensing using a high resolution two-dimensional surface plasmon resonance imager.

Recently, several papers indicated that the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique was available to monitor stimulation responses of mammalian cells adhered on sensor chips. On the other hand, the newly developed two-dimensional SPR (2D-SPR) imager system can obtain 2D-images of local refractive index change on the surface of a gold thin film. From these backgrounds, we expected that the 2D-SPR imager can visualize the individual response of many mammalian cells, simultaneously. Here, we report the observation of an allergenic response of a model mast cell, rat basophilic leukaemia cell (RBL-2H3), by using the high magnification 2D-SPR imaging system after pre-sensitization with 0.1 µg mL(-1) anti-dinitrophenyl immunoglobulin E (anti-DNP IgE). The response of the cells was successfully observed as the increment of the SPR signal (reflection intensity) upon stimulation with 0.1-1000 ng mL(-1) DNP-modified bovine serum albumin (DNP-BSA).

Exciton dynamics in semiconducting carbon nanotubes.

We report a femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopic study on the (6, 5) single-walled carbon nanotubes and the (7, 5) inner tubes of a dominant double-walled carbon nanotube species. We found that the dynamics of exciton relaxation probed at the first transition-allowed state (E(11)) of a given tube type exhibits a markedly slower decay when the second transition-allowed state (E(22)) is excited than that measured by exciting its first transition-allowed state (E(11)). A linear intensity dependence of the maximal amplitude of the transient absorption signal is found for the E(22) excitation, whereas the corresponding amplitude scales linearly with the square root of the E(11) excitation intensity. Theoretical modeling of these experimental findings was performed by developing a continuum model and a stochastic model with explicit consideration of the annihilation of coherent excitons. Our detailed numerical simulations show that both models can reproduce reasonably well the initial portion of decay kinetics measured upon the E(22) and E(11) excitation of the chosen tube species, but the stochastic model gives qualitatively better agreement with the intensity dependence observed experimentally than those obtained with the continuum model.

Population-based study of asymptomatic infection with Chlamydia trachomatis among female and male students.

There are few epidemiological studies of asymptomatic chlamydial infection among students in non-medical settings with minimal bias and improved accuracy; thus, useful data from screening among students are limited. We aimed to obtain accurate epidemiological information about asymptomatic chlamydial infection among students in non-medical settings. A population-based cross-sectional survey of 10,440 >or=18-year-old asymptomatic students who volunteered for a urine screening test for chlamydia was conducted. The prevalences of asymptomatic infection were 9.5% for women and 6.7% for men. Multivariate analysis revealed the risk factors to be a lifetime history of >or=4 sexual partners for women (odds ratio [OR] 3.17) and inconsistent condom use for men (OR 4.18). For both sexes, younger age at first intercourse was associated with a higher rate of inconsistent condom use. This study produced accurate epidemiological information on asymptomatic chlamydial infection. These results may contribute to the establishment of preventive countermeasures against such infection.