Recurrence Pattern Is an Independent Surgical Prognostic Factor for Long-Term Oncological Outcomes in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The perioperative outcomes of a partial hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have improved. However, high recurrence rates after a curative hepatectomy for HCC is still an issue. This study aimed to analyze the difference between various recurrence patterns. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 754 patients with HCC who underwent a curative hepatectomy between January 2012 and March 2021. Patients with recurrent events were categorized into three types: regional recurrence (type I), multiple intrahepatic recurrence (type II), or presence of any distant metastasis (type III). RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 51.2 months. Regarding recurrence, 375 (49.7%) patients developed recurrence, with 244 (32.4%), 51 (6.8%), and 80 (10.6%) patients having type I, II, and III recurrence, respectively. Type III recurrence appeared to be more common in male patients and those with major liver resection, vascular invasion, a large tumor size (>5 cm), a higher tumor grade, and higher levels of AST and AFP (p < 0.05). Patients who had distant metastasis at recurrence had the shortest recurrence time and the worst overall survival (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: our study demonstrated that recurrence with distant metastasis occurred earliest and had the worst outcome compared to regional or multiple intrahepatic recurrences.

In Situ TEM Observation of (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni)3 O4 High-Entropy Spinel Oxide Formation During Calcination at Atomic Scale.

High-entropy oxides (HEOs) are promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), owing to their stable crystal structure, superionic conductivity, and high capacity. In this study, the (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni)3 O4 HEO via solid-state reaction is prepared. To improve the synthetic efficiency, it is necessary to understand the formation mechanism. Therefore, a high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) is used to record information during calcination at increasing temperature. The overall formation process included MnO2 and NiO aggregation at 500 °C, followed by (Mn, and Ni)3 O4 combined with Co3 O4 at 600 °C to form (Mn, Co, and Ni)3 O4 . At higher temperatures, Fe2 O3 and Cr2 O3 sequentially combined with (Mn, Co, and Ni)3 O4 and formed the (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni)3 O4 at 900 °C. In addition, the valence-state-changing mechanisms and ion arrangements of (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni)3 O4 are determined using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). This study successfully revealed the formation of HEO at atomic scale. The results provide valuable insights for improving the manufacturing process of (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni)3 O4 HEOs, which is expected to play a vital role in the development of anode materials for next-generation LIBs.

Early treatment with an M1 and sigma-1 receptor agonist prevents cognitive decline in a transgenic rat model displaying Alzheimer-like amyloid pathology.

The application of the selective allosteric M1 muscarinic and sigma-1 receptor agonist, AF710B (aka ANAVEX3-71), has shown to attenuate Alzheimer's disease-like hallmarks in McGill-R-Thy1-APP transgenic rats when administered at advanced pathological stages. It remains unknown whether preventive treatment strategies applying this compound may be equally effective. We tested whether daily oral administration of AF710B (10 µg/kg) in 7-month-old, preplaque, McGill-R-Thy1-APP rats for 7 months, followed by a 4-week washout period, could prevent Alzheimer's disease-like pathological hallmarks. Long-term AF710B treatment prevented the cognitive impairment of McGill-R-Thy1-APP rats. The effect was accompanied by a reduction in the number of amyloid plaques in the hippocampus and the levels of Aß42 and Aß40 peptides in the cerebral cortex. AF710B treatment also reduced microglia and astrocyte recruitment toward CA1 hippocampal Aß-burdened neurons compared to vehicle-treated McGill-R-Thy1-APP rats, also altering the inflammatory cytokines profile. Lastly, AF710B treatment rescued the conversion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor to its mature and biologically active form. Overall, these results suggest preventive and disease-modifying properties of the compound.

Application of metal stent implantation with endoscope and X-ray fluoroscopy combined laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of acute left hemicolon cancer obstruction.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to conduct a case-control study of endoscopic and fluoroscopic metal stent placement combined with laparoscopic surgery versus conventional open Hartmann's procedure in treating acute left-sided colon cancer obstruction. Additionally, the study aims to discuss the application value of endoscopic and X-ray-guided metal stent placement combined with laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of acute left-sided colon cancer obstruction. METHODS: From June 2011 to December 2019, 23 patients with acute left-sided colon cancer obstruction who underwent metal stent implantation combined with laparoscopic surgery under endoscopy and X-ray fluoroscopy in Wenzhou Central Hospital were collected, and 20 patients with acute left-sided colon cancer obstruction who underwent traditional emergency open Hartmann's surgery during the same period were selected as a control group. All patients were diagnosed with left colon obstruction by plain abdominal film and/or CT before the operation and colon adenocarcinoma by colonoscopic biopsy and/or postoperative pathology. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative anal exhaust time, the success rate of one-stage anastomosis, postoperative hospital stay, and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: This study showed a significant difference in the therapeutic effect between the two groups. Compared with the traditional Hartmann's operation group, the success rate of one-stage anastomosis in endoscopic and X-ray-guided metal stent placement combined with the laparoscopic operation group was significantly higher than that in the Hartmann's operation group (P < 0.05). The overall incidence of postoperative complications and hospital stay were significantly lower in the observation group than in the Hartmann's group (P < 0.05). Further subgroup analysis of the overall postoperative complication rate of the two groups showed that the traditional Hartmann's operation group was more likely to have an incomplete intestinal obstruction (P < 0.05). This study also showed no significant differences between the two groups in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, number of harvested lymph nodes, and postoperative anal exhaust time (all P > 0.05). This study also found no significant differences between the two groups in overall survival rates or recurrence-free survival rates (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The comparison of the therapeutic effects of the two groups verified the feasibility of endoscopy combined with X-ray fluoroscopy metal stent placement in combination with laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of acute left-sided colon cancer obstruction. Compared with the traditional emergency open Hartmann's procedure, metal stent implantation under endoscopy and X-ray fluoroscopy combined with laparoscopic surgery is more minimally invasive, safe, and effective. It avoids the traditional second or even third surgical trauma to effectively improve the quality of life of patients, so that patients can recover quickly after surgery.

The landscape ecological view of vertebrate species richness in urban areas across biogeographic realms.

Understanding how the spatial arrangement of remnant green spaces in cities complements biodiversity provides an opportunity for synergy between urban development and biological conservation. However, the geography of urbanization is shifting from Europe and North America to Asia and Africa, and more research is needed for fast-growing regions. To understand how shifting urbanization shapes biodiversity patterns, we analyzed the contribution of landscape factors in explaining vertebrate species richness in urban areas across biogeographic realms. We used variation partitioning to quantify and compare the relative importance of landscape factors (composition and configuration) and environmental factors (climate, elevation, and latitude) in explaining vertebrate species richness in landscapes with at least a million inhabitants across biogeographic realms. Our results pointed out that in the Indo-Malayan, the Afrotropical, and the Neotropical realm (on average of 16.46%) and China and India (11.88%), the influence of landscape factors on vertebrate species richness are significantly higher than that of the Palearctic and Nearctic realms (6.48%). Our findings outline the importance of landscape composition and configuration in shaping biodiversity patterns in regions with fast urban growth during the next two decades, such as Africa, Latin America, and Southeastern Asia. We suggest improving land governance and urban planning to construct eco-friendly landscape structures to mitigate biodiversity loss due to urbanization.

In Situ Atomic-Scale Investigation of Structural Evolution During Sodiation/Desodiation Processes in Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 -Based All-Solid-State Sodium Batteries.

Recently, all-solid-state sodium batteries (Na-ASSBs) have received increased interest owing to their high safety and potential of high energy density. The potential of Na-ASSBs based on sodium superionic conductor (NASICON)-structured Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 (Na3 VP) cathodes have been proven by their high capacity and a long cycling stability closely related to the microstructural evolution. However, the detailed kinetics of the electrochemical processes in the cathodes is still unclear. In this work, the sodiation/desodiation process of Na3 VP is first investigated using in situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The intermediate Na2 V2 (PO4 )3 (Na2 VP) phase with the P21 /c space group, which would be inhibited by constant electron beam irradiation, is observed at the atomic scale. With the calculated volume change and the electrode-electrolyte interface after cycling, it can be concluded that the  Na2 VP phase reduces the lattice mismatch between Na3 VP and NaV2 (PO4 )3 (NaVP), preventing structural collapse. Based on the density functional theory calculation (DFT), the Na+ ion migrates more rapidly in the Na2 VP structure, which facilitates the desodiation and sodiation processes. The formation of  Na2 VP phase lowers the formation energy of NaVP. This study demonstrates the dynamic evolution of the Na3 VP structure, paving the way for an in-depth understanding of electrode materials for energy-storage applications.

Biophysical Electrical and Mechanical Stimulations for Promoting Chondrogenesis of Stem Cells on PEDOT:PSS Conductive Polymer Scaffolds.

The investigation of the effects of electrical and mechanical stimulations on chondrogenesis in tissue engineering scaffolds is essential for realizing successful cartilage repair and regeneration. The aim of articular cartilage tissue engineering is to enhance the function of damaged or diseased articular cartilage, which has limited regenerative capacity. Studies have shown that electrical stimulation (ES) promotes mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) chondrogenesis, while mechanical stimulation (MS) enhances the chondrogenic differentiation capacity of MSCs. Therefore, understanding the impact of these stimuli on chondrogenesis is crucial for researchers to develop more effective tissue engineering strategies for cartilage repair and regeneration. This study focuses on the preparation of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) conductive polymer (CP) scaffolds using the freeze-drying method. The scaffolds were fabricated with varying concentrations (0, 1, 3, and 10 wt %) of (3-glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (GOPS) as a crosslinker and an additive to tailor the scaffold properties. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the material characteristics and the phase aggregation phenomenon of PEDOT:PSS scaffolds, the researchers performed theoretical calculations of solubility parameters and surface energies of PSS, PSS-GOPS, and PEDOT polymers, as well as conducted material analyses. Additionally, the study investigated the potential of promoting chondrogenic differentiation of human adipose stem cells by applying external ES or MS on a PEDOT:PSS CP scaffold. Compared to the group without stimulation, the group that underwent stimulation exhibited significantly up-regulated expression levels of chondrogenic characteristic genes, such as SOX9 and COL2A1. Moreover, the immunofluorescence staining images exhibited a more vigorous fluorescence intensity of SOX9 and COL II proteins that was consistent with the trend of the gene expression results. In the MS experiment, the strain excitation exerted on the scaffold was simulated and transformed into stress. The simulated stress response showed that the peak gradually decreased with time and approached a constant value, with the negative value of stress representing the generation of tensile stress. This stress response quantification could aid researchers in determining specific MS conditions for various materials in tissue engineering, and the applied stress conditions could be further optimized. Overall, these findings are significant contributions to future research on cartilage repair and biophysical ES/MS in tissue engineering.

In-plane gate graphene transistor with epitaxially grown molybdenum disulfide passivation layers.

We demonstrate in-plane gate transistors based on the molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)/graphene hetero-structure. The graphene works as channels while MoS2 functions as passivation layers. The weak hysteresis of the device suggests that the MoS2 layer can effectively passivate the graphene channel. The characteristics of devices with and without removal of MoS2 between electrodes and graphene are also compared. The device with direct electrode/graphene contact shows a reduced contact resistance, increased drain current, and enhanced field-effect mobility. The higher field-effect mobility than that obtained through Hall measurement indicates that more carriers are present in the channel, rendering it more conductive.

A High-Entropy-Oxides-Based Memristor: Outstanding Resistive Switching Performance and Mechanisms in Atomic Structural Evolution.

The application of high-entropy oxide (HEO) has attracted significant attention in recent years owing to their unique structural characteristics, such as excellent electrochemical properties and long-term cycling stability. However, the application of resistive random-access memory (RRAM) has not been extensively studied, and the switching mechanism of HEO-based RRAM has yet to be thoroughly investigated. In this study, HEO (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni)3 O4 with a spinel structure is epitaxially grown on a Nb:STO conductive substrate, and Pt metal is deposited as the top electrode. After the resistive-switching operation, some regions of the spinel structure are transformed into a rock-salt structure and analyzed using advanced transmission electron microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy. From the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy, only specific elements would change their valence state, which results in excellent resistive-switching properties with a high on/off ratio on the order of 105 , outstanding endurance (>4550 cycles), long retention time (>104 s), and high stability, which suggests that HEO is a promising RRAM material.

High uniformity red µ-LED array with a current efficiency of 2.6 cd/A and ns-level response time.

This paper demonstrates an AlGaInP-based 620-nm red micro-light-emitting-diode (µ-LED) array and studies the enhancement effect of the surface treatments using (NH4)2Sx solutions by comparing the characteristics of µ-LED arrays with and without the (NH4)2Sx treatment. Furthermore, our µ-LED array demonstrates a measurement of the current efficiency (2.6 cd/A), which improves the light output uniformity. Also, we apply a setup for measuring the response time at the fast ns-level to analyze the effect of passivation in AlGaInP-based µ-LED arrays.

All-Solid-State Garnet-Based Lithium Batteries at Work-In Operando TEM Investigations of Delithiation/Lithiation Process and Capacity Degradation Mechanism.

Li7 La3 Zr2 O12 (LLZO)-based all-solid-state Li batteries (SSLBs) are very attractive next-generation energy storage devices owing to their potential for achieving enhanced safety and improved energy density. However, the rigid nature of the ceramics challenges the SSLB fabrication and the afterward interfacial stability during electrochemical cycling. Here, a promising LLZO-based SSLB with a high areal capacity and stable cycle performance over 100 cycles is demonstrated. In operando transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is used for successfully demonstrating and investigating the delithiation/lithiation process and understanding the capacity degradation mechanism of the SSLB on an atomic scale. Other than the interfacial delamination between LLZO and LiCoO2 (LCO) owing to the stress evolvement during electrochemical cycling, oxygen deficiency of LCO not only causes microcrack formation in LCO but also partially decomposes LCO into metallic Co and is suggested to contribute to the capacity degradation based on the atomic-scale insights. When discharging the SSLB to a voltage of ≈1.2 versus Li/Li+ , severe capacity fading from the irreversible decomposition of LCO into metallic Co and Li2 O is observed under in operando TEM. These observations reveal the capacity degradation mechanisms of the LLZO-based SSLB, which provides important information for future LLZO-based SSLB developments.

Using angle-selective optical film to enhance the light extraction of a thin-film encapsulated 3D reflective pixel for OLED displays.

Light extraction improvement is still an important issue for active-matrix organic light-emitting diode displays (AMOLEDs). In our previous work, a three-dimensional (3D) reflective pixel configuration embedding the OLED in the concave 3D reflector and patterned high-index filler had been proposed for significant enhancement of the pixel light extraction. In this work, influences of thin film encapsulation (TFE) on light extraction of such reflective 3D OLED pixels are considered as well by simulation studies. Unfortunately, the optical simulation reveals strong reduction of the light extraction efficiency induced by TFE layers. As such, an additional angle-selective optical film structure between the pixel and the encapsulation layers is introduced to control the angular distribution of the light coupled into the encapsulation layers and to solve TFE-induced optical losses. As a result, TFE-induced losses can be substantially reduced to retain much of light extraction efficiency. The results of this study are believed to provide useful insights and guides for developing even more efficient and power-saving AMOLEDs.

The Vessels That Encapsulate Tumor Clusters (VETC) Pattern Is a Poor Prognosis Factor in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Analysis of Microvessel Density.

The outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are unsatisfactory because of its high recurrence rate. The Vessels that encapsulate tumor clusters (VETC) pattern is a unique vascular structure. In this study, we investigated the clinical−pathological features of HCC patients with the VETC pattern. We retrospectively reviewed patients with HCC who underwent curative hepatectomy at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between 2007 and 2013. The form of the VETC pattern was established using an anti-CD31 stain. The results were classified into positive (VETC+) and negative (VETC−) patterns. We investigated and compared demographic data between these two groups. Overall, 174 patients were classified into either the VETC+ or VETC− groups. The median followed-up period was 80.5 months. There were significant differences in the number of hepatitis B carriers, the occurrence of vascular invasion, tumor size, TNM staging, microvessel density, and recurrence (all p < 0.05). Regarding the prediction of disease-free survival, after COX regression multivariate analysis, VETC+ remained independently associated with recurrent episodes (p = 0.003). The intra-tumoral microvessel density, demonstrated by CD-31, was the only clinical−pathological feature independently associated with VETC+. Our study demonstrated that the VETC pattern is an independent factor of poor prognosis for DFS. Higher intra-tumoral microvessel density was significantly associated with the VETC pattern. Further studies are needed to validate our findings.

Revealing Resistive Switching Mechanism in CaFeOx Perovskite System with Electroforming-Free and Reset Voltage-Controlled Multilevel Resistance Characteristics.

Recently, perovskite (PV) oxides with ABO3 structures have attracted considerable interest from scientists owing to their functionality. In this study, CaFeOx is introduced to reveal the resistive switching properties and mechanism of oxygen vacancy transition in PV and brownmillerite (BM) structures. BM-CaFeO2.5 is grown on an Nb-STO conductive substrate epitaxially. CaFeOx exhibits excellent endurance and reliability. In addition, the CaFeOx also demonstrates an electroforming-free characteristic and multilevel resistance properties. To construct the switching mechanism, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy is used to observe the topotactic phase change in CaFeOx . In addition, scanning TEM and electron energy loss spectroscopy show the structural evolution and valence state variation of CaFeOx after the switching behavior. This study not only reveals the switching mechanism of CaFeOx , but also provides a PV oxide option for the dielectric material in resistive random-access memory (RRAM) devices.

Differential Response to Sorafenib Administration for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Sorafenib has been used to treat advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC). However, there is no evidence for a response of different target lesions to sorafenib administration. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of sorafenib on various aHCC target lesions. The outcomes of sorafenib treatment on aHCC, i.e., treatment response for all Child A status patients receiving the drug, were analyzed. Of 377 aHCC patients, 73 (19.3%) had complete/partial response to sorafenib, while 134 (35.4%) and 171 (45.2) had a stable or progressive disease, respectively, in the first six months. Of the evaluated metastatic lesions, 149 (39.4%), 48 (12.7%), 123 (32.5%), 98 (25.9%), 83 (22.0%), and 45 (11.9%) were present in liver, bone, lung, portal/hepatic vein thrombus, lymph nodes, and peritoneum, respectively. The overall survival and duration of treatment were 16.9 ± 18.3 and 8.1 ± 10.5 months (with median times of 11.4 and 4.6, respectively). Our analysis showed poor outcomes in macroscopic venous thrombus and bone, higher AFP, and multiple target lesions. ALBI grade A had a better outcome. Sorafenib administration showed good treatment outcomes in selected situations. PD patients with thrombus or multiple metastases should be considered for sorafenib second-line treatment. The ALBI liver function test should be selected as a treatment criterion.

Atomic Imaging and Thermally Induced Dynamic Structural Evolution of Two-Dimensional Cr2S3.

In this study, facile salt-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) was used to synthesize ultrathin non-van der Waals chromium sulfide (Cr2S3) with a thickness of ∼1.9 nm. The structural transformation of as-grown Cr2S3 was studied using advanced in situ heating techniques combined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Two-dimensional (2D) and quasi-one-dimensional (1D) samples were fabricated to investigate the connection between specific planes and the dynamic behavior of the structural variation. The rearrangement of atoms during the phase transition was driven by the loss of sulfur atoms at elevated temperatures, resulting in increased free energy. A decrease in the ratio of the (001) plane led to an overall increase in surface energy, thus lowering the critical phase transition temperature. Our study provides detailed insight into the mechanism of structural transformation and the critical factors governing transition temperature, thus paving the way for future studies on intriguing Cr-S compounds.

Reappraisal of the Role of Alkaline Phosphatase in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a marker of liver function and is associated with biliary tract disease. It was reported as a prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The genetic expression in tumor-tissue microarrays and the perioperative serologic changes in ALP have never been studied for their correlation with HCC prognosis. Methods: The genetic expression of ALP isoforms (placental (ALPP), intestinal (ALPI) and bone/kidney/liver (ALPL)) was analyzed in tumor and non-cancerous areas in 38 patients with HCC after partial hepatectomy. The perioperative change in ALP was further analyzed in a cohort containing 525 patients with HCC to correlate it with oncologic outcomes. A total of 43 HCC patients were enrolled for a volumetry study after major and minor hepatectomy. Results: The genetic expression of the bone/kidney/liver isoform was specifically and significantly higher in non-cancerous areas than in tumors. Patients with HCC with a higher ALP (>81 U/dL) had significantly more major hepatectomies, vascular invasion, and recurrence. Cox regression analysis showed that gender, major hepatectomies, the presence of satellite lesions, higher grades (III or IV) and perioperative changes in liver function tests were independent prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival, and a postoperative increase in the ALP ratio at postoperative day (POD) 7 vs. POD 0 > 1.46 should be emphasized. A liver regeneration rate more than 1.8 and correlation analysis revealed that the ALP level at POD 7 and 30 was significantly higher and correlated with remnant liver growth. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the perioperative ALP change was an independent prognostic factor for HCC after partial hepatectomies, and the elevation of ALP represented a functional biomarker for the liver but not an HCC biomarker. The higher regeneration capacity was possibly associated with the elevation of ALP after operation.

Comprehensive Investigation of Electrical and Optical Characteristics of InGaN-Based Flip-Chip Micro-Light-Emitting Diodes.

Micro-light-emitting diodes (micro-LEDs) have been regarded as the important next-generation display technology, and a comprehensive and reliable modeling method for the design and optimization of characteristics of the micro-LED is of great use. In this work, by integrating the electrical simulation with the optical simulation, we conduct comprehensive simulation studies on electrical and optical/emission properties of real InGaN-based flip-chip micro-LED devices. The integrated simulation adopting the output of the electrical simulation (e.g., the non-uniform spontaneous emission distribution) as the input of the optical simulation (e.g., the emission source distribution) can provide more comprehensive and detailed characteristics and mechanisms of the micro-LED operation than the simulation by simply assuming a simple uniform emission source distribution. The simulated electrical and emission properties of the micro-LED were well corroborated by the measured properties, validating the effectiveness of the simulation. The reliable and practical modeling/simulation methodology reported here shall be useful to thoroughly investigate the physical mechanisms and operation of micro-LED devices.

Pharmacogenetic study of methadone treatment for heroin addiction: associations between drug-metabolizing gene polymorphisms and treatment efficacy.

OBJECTIVES: Opioid dependence is currently one of the most serious problems affecting the social norms and public health system. Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) is being widely used in treating heroin-dependent patients. The mechanism of methadone metabolism and disposition has been shown to involve cytochrome P450 (CYP450) and P-glycoprotein. The aim of this study was to explore the relationships among genetic polymorphisms, BMI and effective dose of methadone used in MMT within a northern Taiwan cohort. METHODS: One hundred heroin-dependent patients were enrolled in the study. The clinical data gathered included methadone dose, sex and BMI. DNA was collected from the oral swab of the participants to analyze the relevant alleles. RESULTS: An effective methadone dose correlated with sex, BMI and the presence of ABCB1 2677GG (rs2032582) and CYP2B6 516GG (rs374527). Furthermore, the CYP2B6 516GG homozygote was related to a higher average dose of methadone (GG: 68.50 ± 32.43; GT: 52.28 ± 25.75; TT: 44.44 ± 29.64; P < 0.02), whereas the ABCB1 2677GG homozygote was related to a lower dose (GG: 51.09 ± 20.83; GT: 69.65 ± 37.51; TT: 62.52 ± 30.44; P < 0.05). We examined the predictive effect of polymorphisms combined with sex and BMI on methadone dose by conducting multiple linear regressions. Our data predicted the average dose of methadone in approximately 30% of heroin-dependent patients. CONCLUSION: The interactions between genetic polymorphisms and clinical features proved useful in identifying the effective dose of MMT for heroin-dependent patients in Taiwan more precisely.

Charge Storage of Isolated Monolayer Molybdenum Disulfide in Epitaxially Grown MoS2/Graphene Heterostructures for Memory Device Applications.

We epitaxially grew bilayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) on monolayer graphene by sulfurizing a molybdenum-trioxide film (MoO3) which was deposited with thermal evaporation. The Hall mobilities of graphene before and after the growth of MoS2 are similar, indicating that the underlying 2D layer was little affected during the deposition and sulfurization. Through the atomic-layer etching, the topmost layer of MoS2 is isolated from the source and drain electrodes. The top-gate transistor with the isolated monolayer MoS2 on top of the graphene channel exhibits hysteresis of drain current as the gate voltage varies. This may be due to the weak tunneling through 2D layers bonded by the van der Waals force in the absence of an external electric field. The long retention time of the device features robust charge storage around the isolated MoS2 layer. The one-transistor-zero-capacitor memory module based on this thin heterostructure of 2D materials can be advantageous for applications in dynamic random access memories with reduced thickness.