Stabilization of metallic phases through formation of metallic/semiconducting lateral heterostructures.

In this study, we develop a new approach for stabilization of metallic phases of monolayer MoS through the formation of lateral heterostructures composed of semiconducting/metallic MoS. The structure of metallic (a mixture of T and T') and semiconducting (2H) phases was unambiguously characterized by Raman spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence imaging, and transmission electron microscope observations. The amount of NaCl, reaction temperature, reaction time, and locations of substrates are essential for controlling the percentage of metallic/semiconducting phases in lateral heterostructures; loading a large amount of NaCl at low temperatures with short reaction times prefers metallic phases.

Efficient growth and characterization of one-dimensional transition metal tellurides inside carbon nanotubes.

Atomically thin one-dimensional (1D) van der Waals wires of transition metal monochalocogenides (TMMs) have been anticipated as promising building blocks for integrated nanoelectronics. While reliable production of TMM nanowires has eluded scientists over the past few decades, we finally demonstrated a bottom-up fabrication of MoTe nanowires inside carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Still, the current synthesis method is based on vacuum annealing of reactive MoTe, and limits access to a variety of TMMs.

Concise, Single-Step Synthesis of Sulfur-Enriched Graphene: Immobilization of Molecular Clusters and Battery Applications.

The concise synthesis of sulfur-enriched graphene for battery applications is reported. The direct treatment of graphene oxide (GO) with the commercially available Lawesson's reagent produced sulfur-enriched-reduced GO (S-rGO). Various techniques, such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), confirmed the occurrence of both sulfur functionalization and GO reduction.

Isolation of Single-Wired Transition-Metal Monochalcogenides by Carbon Nanotubes.

The successful isolation of single layers from two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW)-layered materials has opened new frontiers in condensed matter physics and materials science. Their discovery and unique properties laid the foundation for exploring 1D counterparts. However, the isolation of 1D vdW-wired materials has thus far remained a challenge, and effective techniques are demanded.

Updated 5-year survival and exploratory T x N subset analyses of ACTS-CC trial: a randomised controlled trial of S-1 versus tegafur-uracil/leucovorin as adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer.

Objective: Adjuvant Chemotherapy Trial of TS-1 for Colon Cancer (ACTS-CC), a randomised phase III trial, demonstrated that adjuvant therapy with S-1 for stage III colon cancer was non-inferior in 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) to that of tegafur-uracil plus leucovorin (UFT/LV). We updated DFS and overall survival (OS) and performed T x N subset analysis.

Methods: A total of 1518 patients with curatively resected stage III colon cancer were randomly assigned to receive S-1 (80-120  mg/day on days 1-28 every 42 days, four courses) or UFT/LV (UFT: 300-600  mg/day and LV: 75  mg/day on days 1-28 every 35 days, five courses).

Progesterone receptor subtypes in vascular smooth muscle cells of human aorta.

Progesterone is involved in various functions of the cardiovascular system, including those of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) via progesterone receptor (PR). Progesterone has also been postulated to be involved in inhibition of VSMC proliferation via PR. However, the details of PR expression have remained largely unknown in human cardiovascular VSMCs.

3beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in human aorta.

3beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) is known to be involved in steroid production and/or metabolism and to be expressed in many tissues including adrenal cortex. Expression of this enzyme has also been elucidated in human cardiovascular system but its details remain largely unknown. Therefore, in this study, we examined the status of 3beta-HSD in postmortem human aorta utilizing RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis.

Immunohistopathological and molecular genetic features of a case in which gastrointestinal stromal tumor recurred five times.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a distinct group of mesenchymal neoplasms recently shown to exhibit differentiation toward interstitial cells of Cajal. Although previous studies have shown that the clinical outcome of patients with GIST is associated with mitotic activity, the proliferation index determined by the Ki-67 labeling index, immunophenotype (CD34 and/or p53) and mutation in exon 11 of the c-kit, a definitive discrimination between benign and malignant GIST has not yet been established. We report a patient in whom malignant GIST in the abdomen recurred five times.

Giant hepatic metastasis from gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the rectum 12 years after surgery.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are non-epithelial neoplasms that arise from the gastrointestinal tract. Their variable cytologic atypia makes it difficult to predict their prognosis. We report a case of right hepatectomy for a giant metastasis detected 12 years after the surgical treatment of a rectal neoplasm, histologically demonstrated as a low-grade leiomyosarcoma initially, having morphological and immunohistochemical features of low malignancy.

Progesterone production and actions in the human central nervous system and neurogenic tumors.

Progesterone has been suggested to be involved in the functions of the nervous system, but it has yet to be examined in humans. Progesterone has also been postulated to be involved in the biological behavior of various human neurogenic tumors via progesterone receptors A and B (PR-A and PR-B). In this study we examined the expression of PR and the enzymes responsible for progesterone biosynthesis (P450scc, 3betahydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein) in human brain.