A microsecond-response polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystal

A polymer-stabilized blue-phase liquid crystal (BPLC) with microsecond response time is demonstrated using a vertical field switching cell. The measured decay time is 39 mu s at room temperature (21 degrees C) and then decreases to 9.6 mu s at 44.3 degrees C. Such a response time is 1-2 orders of magnitude faster than that of a typical BPLC device. The responsible physical mechanisms are the collective effects of short pitch length, strong polymer network, and low viscosity through temperature effect. The on-state voltage of our BPLC device is 44.2 V, hysteresis is below 0.7%, and contrast ratio is over 1300:1

Dielectric dispersion on the Kerr constant of blue phase liquid crystals

Dielectric dispersions on the Kerr constant of two polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystals (BPLCs) are investigated. An extended Cole-Cole model is proposed to fit the experimental results and good agreement is obtained. As the electric field frequency increases, Kerr constant decreases and the associated dielectric heating effect gradually increases. These results will undoubtedly affect the high frequency operation of BPLC devices

The Nuts and Bolts of Implementing a Modified ERAS Protocol for Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery: Group Practice vs. Solo Practice

AIM: The ERAS protocol consists of multiple items that aim to improve the outcomes of patients receiving surgery. Adhering to the protocol is difficult. We wondered whether surgeons practicing the ERAS protocol in a group would improve patient outcomes. Methods: All patients who underwent colorectal resection for benign disease or malignancy from November 2017 to December 2018 were collected and reviewed retrospectively. According to the physician’s ward round strategy, the patients were categorized into two groups, either by solo practice or group practice. Results: This study enrolled 724 patients and divided them into two groups according to the practice method: group practice (n = 256) and solo practice (n = 468). The group practice cohort had less postoperative morbidity (14.0% vs. 21.4%, p = 0.048) and shorter postoperative hospital stays (mean: 6.6 ± 3.2 vs. 8.6 ± 5.5, p p p 50 mL (p = 0.039) significantly affected discharge within 5 days postoperatively in multivariate analyses. Conclusions: Group practice based on a modified ERAS protocol shortens postoperative hospital stays with fewer morbidities compared with solo practice in which patients receive elective minimally invasive colorectal surgery

Perianal Basal Cell Carcinoma—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Real-World Data

(1) Background: BCC is a sporadic disease that develops in areas of the skin not exposed to the sun. Perianal BCC, which occurs in the anorectal region, accounts for less than 0.2% of all BCC cases. There have been only a few reported cases of the disease, with fewer than 200 cases reported in total. Given the diagnostic challenges and potential for misdiagnosis, we conducted a systematic review of perianal basal cell carcinoma using real-world data to provide comprehensive and detailed information on the disease. (2) Methods: The study was reported based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 2020. Patients’ clinical pathologic features, tumor characteristics, treatment modalities, and outcomes were presented. (3) Results: The results of 41 studies involving 140 patients were analyzed. The most common symptoms reported by patients at presentation were anorectal bleeding, pain, and pruritus. Ulceration was the most frequently observed tumor characteristic. The majority of patients underwent local excision as their primary treatment, with only eight patients experiencing a recurrence. Our analysis did not reveal any statistically significant differences in the outcomes of different treatment modalities. (4) Conclusions: Identifying perianal BCC poses a significant challenge as it closely resembles other anal diseases, thereby making it difficult to differentiate between the different conditions. However, a wide local excision with clear margins is considered an effective treatment option for most patients. Alternative treatments, such as radiotherapy, may be recommended for patients who are unable to undergo surgery

Low voltage and high contrast blue phase liquid crystal with red-shifted Bragg reflection

We demonstrated a low voltage and high contrast polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC) by shifting the Bragg reflection to a red wavelength. To retain high contrast ratio, a left-handed BPLC is sandwiched between a right-handed circular polarizer and a left-handed circular analyzer. The driving voltage is reduced by 35% as compared to that of a transparent BPLC, while keeping submillisecond response time. The proposed approach would accelerate the emergence of BPLC for next-generation display and photonic applications

Bone Marrow Stromal Antigen 2 Is a Novel Plasma Biomarker and Prognosticator for Colorectal Carcinoma: A Secretome-Based Verification Study

Background. The cancer cell secretome has been recognized as a valuable reservoir for identifying novel serum/plasma biomarkers for different cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to verify four CRC cell-secreted proteins (tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2/trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (TACSTD2/TROP2), tetraspanin-6 (TSPAN6), bone marrow stromal antigen 2 (BST2), and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 16 (NGFR)) as potential plasma CRC biomarkers. Methods. The study population comprises 152 CRC patients and 152 controls. Target protein levels in plasma and tissue samples were assessed by ELISA and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Results. Among the four candidate proteins examined by ELISA in a small sample set, only BST2 showed significantly elevated plasma levels in CRC patients versus controls. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed the overexpression of BST2 in CRC tissues, and higher BST2 expression levels correlated with poorer 5-year survival (46.47% versus 65.57%; p=0.044). Further verification confirmed the elevated plasma BST2 levels in CRC patients (2.35 ± 0.13 ng/mL) versus controls (1.04 ± 0.03 ng/mL) (p<0.01), with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) being 0.858 comparable to that of CEA (0.867). Conclusion. BST2, a membrane protein selectively detected in CRC cell secretome, may be a novel plasma biomarker and prognosticator for CRC

Preoperative Cancer Inflammation Prognostic Index as a Superior Predictor of Short- and Long-Term Outcomes in Patients with Stage I–III Colorectal Cancer after Curative Surgery

Inflammatory reactions play a crucial role in cancer progression and may contribute to systemic inflammation. In routine clinical practice, some inflammatory biomarkers can be utilized as valuable predictors for colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aims to determine the usefulness of a novel cancer-inflammation prognostic index (CIPI) marker derived from calculating carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) multiplied by the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) values established for non-metastatic CRCs. Between January 1995 and December 2018, 12,092 patients were diagnosed with stage I to III primary CRC and had radical resection—they were all included in this study for further investigation. There were 5996 (49.6%) patients in the low-CIPI group and 6096 (50.4%) patients in the high-CIPI group according to the cutoff value of 8. For long-term outcomes, the high-CIPI group had a significantly higher incidence of recurrence (30.6% vs. 16.0%, p p < 0.001). High CIPI was an independent prognostic factor for RFS and OS in univariate and multivariate analyses. This research is the first to document the independent significance of CIPI as a prognostic factor for CRC. To ensure that it works, this CIPI needs to be tested on more CRC prediction models

Association of Preoperative Physical Activity with Short- and Long-Term Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Palliative Resection for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: An Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting Analysis

A lack of physical activity is a generally accepted risk factor for colorectal cancer. However, research on the effect of preoperative physical activity on postoperative and long-term outcomes is limited, especially in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer who underwent palliative surgery. Patients who underwent bowel resection for stage IV primary colorectal cancer between January 1995 and December 2016 were retrospectively enrolled. A total of 2185 patients were divided into two groups according to preoperative leisure-time weekly physical activity as assessed by metabolic equivalent of task (MET) values: MET &lt; 12 (n = 1845) and MET &ge; 12 (n = 340). Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to reduce imbalance and selection biases between the two groups. After the IPTW process, the MET &lt; 12 group showed a higher postoperative morbidity rate (18.7% vs. 10.6%; p &lt; 0.001) and mortality rate (2.4% vs. 0.6%; p &lt; 0.001) than the MET &ge; 12 group. No significant difference was found in overall survival. Weekly preoperative leisure-time physical activity with MET &ge; 12 was associated with reduced short-term postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing palliative resection for metastatic colorectal cancer. However, no difference was detected in long-term survival