Nanoscrolls of Janus Monolayer Transition Metal Dichalcogenides.

Tubular structures of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have attracted attention in recent years due to their emergent physical properties, such as the giant bulk photovoltaic effect and chirality-dependent superconductivity. To understand and control these properties, it is highly desirable to develop a sophisticated method to fabricate TMDC tubular structures with smaller diameters and a more uniform crystalline orientation. For this purpose, the rolling up of TMDC monolayers into nanoscrolls is an attractive approach to fabricating such a tubular structure. However, the symmetric atomic arrangement of a monolayer TMDC generally makes its tubular structure energetically unstable due to considerable lattice strain in curved monolayers. Here, we report the fabrication of narrow nanoscrolls by using Janus TMDC monolayers, which have an out-of-plane asymmetric structure. Janus WSSe and MoSSe monolayers were prepared by the plasma-assisted surface atom substitution of WSe2 and MoSe2 monolayers, respectively, and then were rolled by solution treatment. The multilayer tubular structures of Janus nanoscrolls were revealed by scanning transmission electron microscopy observations. Atomic resolution elemental analysis confirmed that the Janus monolayers were rolled up with the Se-side surface on the outside. We found that the present nanoscrolls have the smallest diameter of about 5 nm, which is almost the same as the value predicted by the DFT calculation. The difference in work functions between the S- and Se-side surfaces was measured by Kelvin probe force microscopy, which is in good agreement with the theoretical prediction. Strong interlayer interactions and anisotropic optical responses of the Janus nanoscrolls were also revealed by Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy.

Structural Diversity of Single-Walled Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Nanotubes Grown via Template Reaction.

Monolayers of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are an ideal 2D platform for studying a wide variety of electronic properties and potential applications due to their chemical diversity. Similarly, single-walled TMD nanotubes (SW-TMDNTs)-seamless cylinders of rolled-up TMD monolayers-are 1D materials that can exhibit tunable electronic properties depending on both their chirality and composition. However, much less has been explored about their geometrical structures and chemical variations due to their instability under ambient conditions. Here, the structural diversity of SW-TMDNTs templated by boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) is reported. The outer surfaces and inner cavities of the BNNTs promote and stabilize the coaxial growth of SW-TMDNTs with various diameters, including few-nanometers-wide species. The chiral indices (n,m) of individual SW-MoS2 NTs are assigned by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and statistical analyses reveals a broad chirality distribution ranging from zigzag to armchair configurations. Furthermore, this methodology can be applied to the synthesis of various TMDNTs, such as selenides and alloyed Mo1- x Wx S2 . Comprehensive microscopic and spectroscopic analyses also suggest the partial formation of Janus MoS2(1- x ) Se2 x nanotubes. The BNNT-templated reaction provides a universal platform to characterize the chirality-dependent properties of 1D nanotubes with various electronic structures.

Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for the horseshoe kidney with indocyanine green fluorescence guidance under the modified supine position.

Introduction: Owing to the complexity of their blood supply, renal tumors in horseshoe kidneys are sometimes technically challenging to resect through laparoscopic procedures. Case presentation: A 75-year-old man presented with a 3-cm lower-pole mass in the right moiety of the horseshoe kidney. Indocyanine green administration allowed for the identification of the tumor's feeding artery, which was selectively clamped to perform laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. During the procedure, the patient was positioned in the modified supine position (30° semi-lateral position), which enabled us to approach the branch of the left renal artery. Postoperative pathologic examination of the resected mass confirmed the diagnosis of pT1a clear cell renal cell carcinoma with negative surgical margins. Conclusion: Our novel laparoscopic approach with indocyanine green fluorescence in the modified supine position facilitates the identification of and access to the tumor's feeding artery. This technique is advantageous for laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in patients with horseshoe kidney.

[Neuroendocrine Differentiation of Prostate Cancer : A Case Report].

A 79-year-old man underwent a transrectal prostate needle biopsy with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 12.0 ng/ml. He was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma (Gleason score 4＋3, cT3aN0M0) and underwent radiation therapy. Eight months later, he was administered hormone therapy because of a rise in PSA level to 8.4 ng/ml. One year and 5 months later, he experienced back pain, and computed tomography revealed multiple lymphadenopathies and irregular prostate enlargement. The PSA level was 0.097 ng/ml. Re-biopsy of the prostate and biopsy of the lymph node were performed. Pathological examination revealed neuroendocrine differentiation of the prostate. The disease progressed rapidly, and the patient died 4 months after the biopsy. Neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer is rare, and its development may not be consistent with PSA levels. Therefore, periodic imaging examinations should be conducted, even when PSA levels are low.

Prognostic model with alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and presence of Gleason pattern 5 for worse overall survival in low-risk metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Randomized trials showed the survival benefits of the combined use of androgen receptor axis-targeted agents with androgen deprivation therapy in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), regardless of the risk. However, treating patients with low-risk mHSPC with such intensive treatment is still debatable. METHODS: This retrospective study included 155 low-risk patients among 467 mHSPC patients treated in our affiliated institutions. The association between predictive factors and treatment outcomes was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Predictive factors for castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)-free survival were investigated using Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: During the median follow-up of 39 months, 38.7% of patients developed CRPC and 14.2% died. In the multivariate analyses, a presence of Gleason pattern 5 (hazard ratio [HR] 2.04), high alkaline phosphatase (HR 1.007) and high lactate dehydrogenase (HR 1.009) were significant predictive factors for shorter CRPC-free survival. Finally, 155 patients were stratified into favorable- and unfavorable-risk groups based on the numbers of the predictive factors. The overall survival (OS) in the unfavorable-risk group (total scores: 2-3) was significantly worse than that of the favorable-risk group (total score: 0-1) (P = 0.02). This prognostic model was assessed with 50 low-risk mHSPC patients from the external validation dataset and found both the time to CRPC, and the OS in the unfavorable-risk group was significantly worse than that of the favorable-risk group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of Gleason pattern 5, high alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase can predict those with worse OS in low-risk mHSPC patients.

Is there any difference in human pupillary reaction to acupuncture between light- and dark-adaptive conditions?

OBJECTIVES: To determine if acupuncture stimulation elicits a pupillary response under light adaptation and whether there is any difference in the pupillary response between light and dark adaptation environments during acupuncture stimulation. METHODS: The participants consisted of 55 healthy individuals who had no known eye diseases or pupil abnormalities. Experiment 1 compared pupillary responses between acupuncture stimulation and no-stimulation groups under light adaptation. Experiment 2 compared pupillary responses to acupuncture between two conditions (dark and light adaptation) with a two-period repeated measurement crossover design. For both experiments the pupil diameter was continuously measured for 3 min before stimulation, during stimulation and for 3 min after stimulation. For all acupuncture stimulation interventions an acupuncture needle was inserted superficially at the TE5 acupuncture point followed by gentle tapping stimulation for 90 s. RESULTS: In experiment 1 the pupil diameter was significantly decreased during (p<0.01) and after stimulation (p<0.0001) compared with the pupil diameter before stimulation under light adaptation. No significant difference was noted in the serial changes in pupil diameter in the no-stimulation group. In experiment 2 the pupil diameter was significantly decreased 90 s after stimulation (p<0.05) and 150 s after stimulation (p<0.05) under light adaptation conditions. Furthermore, the pupil diameter was significantly decreased 120 s after stimulation (p<0.05) and 150 s after stimulation (p<0.01) under dark adaptation conditions. No significant difference in the serial changes in pupil diameter was noted between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that pupil constriction occurs following acupuncture stimulation under light adaptation and this response is no different from that seen under dark adaptation.

Is there any difference in human pupillary reaction when different acupuncture points are stimulated?

OBJECTIVES: To determine if there is any difference in pupillary response among different acupuncture stimulation sites. METHODS: The subjects were 14 healthy males who had no known eye diseases or abnormality in their pupils. They received five different interventions: no acupuncture stimulation (hereinafter 'no-stimulation') and acupuncture stimulation at four sites (TE5, ST7, CV12 and ST36). The Latin square design was used to allocate stimulation order. For all acupuncture stimulation interventions, a disposable acupuncture needle was inserted superficially at the acupuncture point. Gentle repetitive tapping stimulation was applied manually during the subject's exhalation phase of respiration, for 90 s. The pupil diameter was continuously measured for 2 min before stimulation, during stimulation and for 2 min after stimulation. Statistical analysis was conducted on serial changes in pupil diameter during acupuncture stimulation on each respective site and during non-stimulation session by analysis of variance and Fisher (least significant difference) multiple comparison, with linear analysis using a mixed model. RESULTS: Pupil diameter reduction occurred at 30 s after stimulation on ST7 (p=0.008) and 60 s after stimulation (p=0.014) compared with pre-stimulation. The decrease of pupillary diameter occurred 60 s after stimulation on TE5 (p=0.028) compared with pre-stimulation. On ST36, CV12 and during the non-stimulation intervention, no significant change in the pupil diameter was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Pupillary reaction varies depending on the different stimulation sites.

[One-week effects of Tamsulosin on benign prostatic hyperplasia assessed with a daily symptom score].

The early effects of Tamsulosin within one week of administration on lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were investigated. Patients with newly diagnosed BPH were randomized into a Tamsulosin group and a Eviprostat group. Changes in subjective symptoms daily for 7 days after the start of administration and in the 4th week (8 times in total) were evaluated using seven symptoms in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the quality of life (QOL) index entered in a self-scoring diary kept by the patients daily. In the Tamsulosin group, the IPSS total score showed significant improvements. Significant improvements were observed in the incomplete emptying and frequency scores from the day after the start of administration, in the intermittence and straining scores from day 2, in the urgency and weak stream scores from day 3 and in the nocturia score from day 5. The QOL index significantly improved on day 7. In comparison with Eviprostat, Tamsulosin showed a stronger improvement tendency in the total IPSS, voiding symptoms score and incomplete emptying score and the difference was significant. The difference between the two groups was especially marked for the intermittence and weak stream scores and Tamsulosin showed significantly better early effects. Tamsulosin also showed significantly better early effects than Eviprostat in the QOL index. In conclusion, it was clear that Tamsulosin caused significant improvement in lower urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH as a whole from a very early stage within one week after administration.