Rectourethral fistula after perirectal spacer placement requiring pelvic exenteration.

Despite the widespread use of perirectal spacers to reduce radiation-induced rectal toxicity during prostate cancer treatment, postmarketing data reveal rare but significant complications. This case report details a severe complication of rectourethral fistula necessitating robotic pelvic exenteration with urinary and faecal diversion following perirectal spacer placement. Although SpaceOAR has been shown to reduce rectal radiation dose, the ensuing clinical benefit remains inconclusive in real-world data.

Dissecting current rectification through asymmetric nanopores.

Rectification, the tendency of bidirectional ionic conductors to favor ion flow in a specific direction, is an intrinsic property of many ion channels and synthetic nanopores. Despite its frequent occurrence in ion channels and its phenomenological explanation using Eyring's rate theory, a quantitative relationship between the rectified current and the underlying ion-specific and voltage-dependent free energy profile has been lacking. In this study, we designed nanopores in which potassium and chloride current rectification can be manipulated by altering the electrostatic pore polarity.