Photoelectronic Responses in Solution-Processed Perovskite CH[3]NH[3]PbI[3] Solar Cells Studied by Photoluminescence and Photoabsorption Spectroscopy

Photoelectronic responses of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite CH[3]NH[3]PbI[3] on mesoporous TiO[2] electrodes are investigated. On the basis of near-band-edge optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra, the bandgap energy and exciton binding energy as a function of temperature are obtained. The exciton binding energy is much smaller than thermal energy at room temperature, which means that most excitons are thermally dissociated, and optical processes are determined by the photoexcited electrons and holes. We determined the temperature dependence of exciton binding energy, which changes from ~30 meV at 13 K to 6 meV at 300 K. In addition, the bandgap energy and the exciton binding energy show abrupt changes at 150 K due to structural phase transition. Our fundamental optical studies provide essential information for improving the device performance of solar cells based on halide perovskite semiconductors

Impact of lymph node dissection on clinical outcomes of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Inverse probability of treatment weighting with survival analysis

Background: Lymph node metastasis (LNM) has been established as a critical risk factor for prognosis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The clinical implications of lymph node dissection (LND) have been debated. This study aimed to clarify the prognostic impact of LND by multicenter retrospective analysis. Methods: A total of 310 ICC patients who had undergone curative resection between 2000 and 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The prognostic impact of LND was estimated under an inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) approach using propensity scores. Results: LND was performed for 224 patients (72%), with LNM pathologically confirmed in 90 patients (40%). Prognosis was poorer for patients with LNM (median survival, 16.9 months) than for those without (57.2 months; P Conclusions: LND could have a significant role to play in improving oncologic outcomes. Therapeutic LND should be implemented on the basis of tumor location and tumor advancement

<ORIGINAL REPORT>X-ray scanning analytical microscopic and scanning electron microscopic studies of an unusual case of dens invaginatus

A mass was extirpated from the region of the maxillary right third molar of a 20 year-old patient. It was proved to be an extreme and unerupted case of dens invaginatus. The clinical and histopathological features have been presented in a previous paper. Ameloblasts and odontoblasts were noted along the surface of enamel or dentin. In the present study, X-ray scanning analytical microscopy (XSAM), a newly developed technique, together with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied for the study of this malformed tooth. SEM study showed a strange arrangement of well-formed enamel and dentin in normal structures. The distribution of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) was clearly observed by the XSAM method. It revealed that the bulk of dentin was composed of two kinds of dentin quite different in mineral content while their SEM appearances were similar. The part of the dentin near the dentinoenamel junction had much higher Ca and P concentrations than the outer parts. In conclusion, the disagreement between the microscopic findings and the XSAM findings suggests the importance of applying various methods in studies to obtain a comprehensive understanding of such malformation. In addition, the present investigation also points out the complexity of the disturbance ranging within the term dens invaginatus

A Rac switch regulates random versus directionally persistent cell migration

Directional migration moves cells rapidly between points, whereas random migration allows cells to explore their local environments. We describe a Rac1 mechanism for determining whether cell patterns of migration are intrinsically random or directionally persistent. Rac activity promoted the formation of peripheral lamellae that mediated random migration. Decreasing Rac activity suppressed peripheral lamellae and switched the cell migration patterns of fibroblasts and epithelial cells from random to directionally persistent. In three-dimensional rather than traditional two-dimensional cell culture, cells had a lower level of Rac activity that was associated with rapid, directional migration. In contrast to the directed migration of chemotaxis, this intrinsic directional persistence of migration was not mediated by phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase lipid signaling. Total Rac1 activity can therefore provide a regulatory switch between patterns of cell migration by a mechanism distinct from chemotaxis

A Computer-Based Glucose Management System Reduces the Incidence of Forgotten Glucose Measurements: A Retrospective Observational Study

Introduction: Frequent glucose measurements are needed for good blood glucose control in hospitals; however, this requirement means that measurements can be forgotten. We developed a novel glucose management system using an iPod and electronic health records. Methods: A time schedule system for glucose measurement was developed using point-ofcare testing, an iPod, and electronic health records. The system contains the glucose measurement schedule and an alarm sounds if a measurement is forgotten. The number of times measurements were forgotten was analyzed. Results: Approximately 7000 glucose measurements were recorded per month. Before implementation of the system, the average number of times measurements were forgotten was 4.8 times per month. This significantly decreased to 2.6 times per month after the system started. We also analyzed the incidence of forgotten glucose measurements as a proportion of the total number of measurements for each period and found a significant difference between the two 9-month periods (43/64,049–24/65,870, P = 0.014, chi-squared test). Conclusions: This computer-based blood glucose monitoring system is useful for the management of glucose monitoring in hospitals

Aggregation of scaffolding protein DISC1 dysregulates phosphodiesterase 4 in Huntington’s disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a polyglutamine (polyQ) disease caused by aberrant expansion of the polyQ tract in Huntingtin (HTT). While motor impairment mediated by polyQ-expanded HTT has been intensively studied, molecular mechanisms for nonmotor symptoms in HD, such as psychiatric manifestations, remain elusive. Here we have demonstrated that HTT forms a ternary protein complex with the scaffolding protein DISC1 and cAMP-degrading phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) to regulate PDE4 activity. We observed pathological cross-seeding between DISC1 and mutant HTT aggregates in the brains of HD patients as well as in a murine model that recapitulates the polyQ pathology of HD (R6/2 mice). In R6/2 mice, consequent reductions in soluble DISC1 led to dysregulation of DISC1-PDE4 complexes, aberrantly increasing the activity of PDE4. Importantly, exogenous expression of a modified DISC1, which binds to PDE4 but not mutant HTT, normalized PDE4 activity and ameliorated anhedonia in the R6/2 mice. We propose that cross-seeding of mutant HTT and DISC1 and the resultant changes in PDE4 activity may underlie the pathology of a specific subset of mental manifestations of HD, which may provide an insight into molecular signaling in mental illness in general

Curative two-stage resection for synchronous triple cancers of the esophagus, colon, and liver: Report of a case

AbstractIntroductionCases of synchronous triple cancers of the esophagus and other organs curatively resected are rare.Presentation of caseA 73-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with bloody feces. He was diagnosed with synchronous triple cancers of the esophagus, colon, and liver. We selected a two-stage operation to safely achieve curative resection for all three cancers. The first stage of the operation comprised a laparoscopy-assisted sigmoidectomy and partial liver resection via open surgery. The patient was discharged without complications. Thirty days later, he was readmitted and thoracoscopic esophagectomy was performed. Although pneumonia-induced pulmonary aspiration occurred as a postoperative complication, it was treated conservatively. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 24.DiscussionEsophagectomy is a highly invasive procedure; thus, simultaneous surgery for plural organs, including the esophagus, may induce life-threatening, severe complications. Two-stage surgery is useful in reducing surgical stress in high-risk patients. For synchronous multiple cancers, the planning of two-stage surgery should be considered for each cancer to maintain organ function and reduce the stress and difficulty of each stage.ConclusionWe successfully treated synchronous triple cancers, including esophageal cancer, by a two-stage operation

Preoperative prognostic nutritional index predicts postoperative infectious complications and oncological outcomes after hepatectomy in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Background: In the surgical treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), postoperative complications may be predictive of long-term survival. This study aimed to identify an immune-nutritional index (INI) that can be used for preoperative prediction of complications. Patients and methods: Multi-institutional data from 316 patients with ICC who had undergone surgical resection were retrospectively analysed, with a focus on various preoperative INIs. Results: Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo grade III-V) were identified in 66 patients (20.8%), including Grade V complications in 7 patients (2.2%). Comparison of areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) among various INIs identified the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) as offering the highest predictive value for severe complications (AUC = 0.609, cut-off = 50, P = 0.008). Multivariate analysis revealed PNI = 50, n = 142) and a low-PNI group (PNI Conclusion: Preoperative PNI appears useful as an INI correlating with postoperative severe complications and as a prognostic indicator for ICC

Efficacy of surgical management for recurrent intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: A multi-institutional study by the Okayama Study Group of HBP surgery

Background The prognosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) has been poor, because of the high recurrence rate even after curative surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of surgical resection of recurrent ICC. Patients and methods A total of 345 cases of ICC who underwent hepatectomy with curative intent in 17 institutions were retrospectively analyzed, focusing on recurrence patterns and treatment modalities for recurrent ICC. Results Median survival time and overall 5-year recurrence-free survival rate were 17.8 months and 28.5%, respectively. Recurrences (n = 223) were classified as early (recurrence at 1 year, n = 92). Median survival time was poorer for early recurrence (16.3 months) than for late recurrence (47.7 months,p<0.0001). Treatment modalities for recurrence comprised surgical resection (n = 28), non-surgical treatment (n = 134), and best supportive care (BSC) (n = 61). Median and overall 1-/5-year survival rates after recurrence were 39.5 months and 84.6%/36.3% for surgical resection, 14.3 months and 62.5%/2.9% for non-surgical treatment, and 3 months and 4.8%/0% for BSC, respectively (p<0.0001). Multivariate analysis identified early recurrence, simultaneous intra- and extrahepatic recurrence, and surgical resection of recurrence as significant prognostic factors. In subgroup analyses, surgical resection may have positive prognostic impacts on intra- and extrahepatic recurrences, and even on early recurrence. However, simultaneous intra- and extrahepatic recurrence may not see any survival benefit from surgical management. Conclusion Surgical resection of recurrent ICC could improve survival after recurrence, especially for patients with intra- or extrahepatic recurrence as resectable oligo-metastases