Effective Approach toward Selective Near-Infrared Dyes: Rational Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Thieno[3,4-b]thiophene-Based Quinoidal Oligomers.

This paper describes syntheses, photophysical properties, and electrochemical characteristics of three thieno[3,4-b]thiophene (TT)-based quinoidal oligomers OnTTO. The rigid planar backbones of these oligomers give the molecules narrow absorption bands, and the main absorption bands were significantly red-shifted when the TT units were extended and demonstrated wide transparent windows. The compound O4TTO was found to possess strong absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) region approaching 1200 nm but remained transparent in the visible region. Electrochemical experiments have shown that the energy band gaps gradually narrow when the TT units are increased. Optical properties predicted by density functional theory calculations are in good agreement with the experimental optical results. These dye molecules could be promising candidates for future NIR photodetectors, filters, and bioimaging technologies.

Use of a Novel Clinical Decision-Making Tool in Vestibular Schwannoma Treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the usefulness of a personalized tool and its effect on the decision-making process for those with vestibular schwannoma (VS). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Single institution, academic tertiary care lateral skull base surgery program. PATIENTS: Patients diagnosed with VS. INTERVENTIONS: A comprehensive clinical decision support (CDS) tool was constructed from a previously published retrospective patient-reported data obtained from members of the Acoustic Neuroma Association from January to March 2017. Demographic, tumor, and treatment modality data, including associated side effects, were collected for 775 patients and integrated in an interactive and personalized web-based tool. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pre- and posttool questionnaires assessing the process of deciding treatment for VS using a decisional conflict scale (DCS) and satisfaction with decision (SWD) scale were compared. RESULTS: A pilot study of 33 patients evaluated at a single institution tertiary care center with mean ± SD age of 63.9 ± 13.5 years and with average tumor size of 7.11 ± 4.75 mm were surveyed. CDS implementation resulted in a mean ± SD total DCS score decrease from 43.6 ± 15.5 to 37.6 ± 16.4 ( p < 0.01) and total SWD score increase from 82.8 ± 16.1 to 86.2 ± 14.4 ( p = 0.04), indicating a significant decrease in decisional conflict and increase in satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing a decision-making tool after diagnosis of VS reduced decisional conflict and improved satisfaction with decision. Patients considered the tool to be an aid to their medical knowledge, further improving their comfort and understanding of their treatment options. These findings provide a basis for developing predictive tools that will assist patients in making informed medical decisions in the future.