Large-Scale Direct-Writing of Aligned Nanofibers for Flexible Electronics.

Nanofibers/nanowires usually exhibit exceptionally low flexural rigidities and remarkable tolerance against mechanical bending, showing superior advantages in flexible electronics applications. Electrospinning is regarded as a powerful process for this 1D nanostructure; however, it can only be able to produce chaotic fibers that are incompatible with the well-patterned microstructures in flexible electronics. Electro-hydrodynamic (EHD) direct-writing technology enables large-scale deposition of highly aligned nanofibers in an additive, noncontact, real-time adjustment, and individual control manner on rigid or flexible, planar or curved substrates, making it rather attractive in the fabrication of flexible electronics. In this Review, the ground-breaking research progress in the field of EHD direct-writing technology is summarized, including a brief chronology of EHD direct-writing techniques, basic principles and alignment strategies, and applications in flexible electronics. Finally, future prospects are suggested to advance flexible electronics based on orderly arranged EHD direct-written fibers. This technology overcomes the limitations of the resolution of fabrication and viscosity of ink of conventional inkjet printing, and represents major advances in manufacturing of flexible electronics.

Intracranial Clear Cell Meningiomas: Study on Clinical Features and Predictors of Recurrence.

OBJECTIVE: Clear cell meningioma (CCM) is a rare histologic subtype of meningioma that is classified as World Health Organization grade II tumor. We conducted the present study to characterize clinical features of intracranial CCM and investigate the prognostic factors associated with surgical recurrence-free survival of the patients. METHODS: PubMed and Embase were searched for case reports and series relevant to CCM. For each included study, relevant data were extracted, including patients' characteristics, pathology findings, therapeutic modality, and outcome. RESULTS: A total of 146 intracranial CCMs patients were included, comprising 73 females and 73 males. The median age of the patients at surgery was 32 years. Most tumors (58.2%) were located in the skull base region. Ninety-nine (67.8%) patients underwent gross total resection (GTR), and 47 (32.2%) patients underwent subtotal resection (STR). Seventy-four (50.7%) patients had tumor recurrence during the follow-up. Recurrence-free survival rates at 1 and 5 years after resection were 86% and 37%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that STR (hazard ratio [HR], 4.13; P < 0.001) and male gender (HR, 1.69; P = 0.030) were associated with increased recurrence while postoperative radiotherapy (HR, 0.51; P = 0.040) was related to decreased recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that intracranial CCM has its own unique clinical features compared with the other 2 types of grade II meningiomas. Patients with subtotally resected tumors, males, or those who did not receive postoperative radiotherapy are at greater risk of recurrence. GTR should be the primary goal in the surgical management of intracranial CCMs. Our data also highlight the value of radiotherapy in intracranial CCM patients.

Population Pharmacokinetics of Phenytoin Based on NONMEM in Patients with Intracranial Tumor During the First Week of Post-Craniotomy.

BACKGROUND: It was reported that phenytoin can prevent early post traumatic seizures. The present study aims to establish a population pharmacokinetic (PPK) model of oral phenytoin in patients with intracranial tumor during the early periods, the first week, of post-craniotomy to optimize phenytoin dosage regimen. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with intracranial tumor were genotyped for CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 by real time PCR (TaqMan probe), and subsequently their phenytoin dosage regimens were designed according to the results of previous literature. A total of 123 plasma concentrations of oral phenytoin during the early periods of post-craniotomy, patient demographics, clinical biochemical indicators and drug combination were collected. A PPK model was performed using the nonlinear mixed effects model (NONMEM) program. RESULTS: The final PPK model equations of oral phenytoin were found to be as follows: for patients with CYP2C9 *1/*1, Vmax=22.66.(BWT/60.96)0.454(mg/h) and Km; =4.03 (mg/L); for patients with CYP2C9*1/*3, Vmax = 16.65.(BWT / 60.96 )0.454(mg/h) and Km =5.96 (mg/L). The PPK model was proved to be stable and effective by bootstrap method. Clinical individualized dosage regimens of additional 50 patients were designed by above PPK model. Concentrations on the morning of Day 7 (D7 concentrations) of 56% (28/50) of these patients were within the therapeutic range (10.20mg/L), which demonstrated better improvement than that of 37.1% of above 62 patients. CONCLUSION: The final PPK model of oral phenytoin may be helpful to design phenytoin individualized dosage regimen at the early stage of post-craniotomy when characteristics of patients meet these of subpopulation in the study.

[Stereotactic microelectrode-guided posteroventral pallidotomy for Parkinson's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To assess postoperative effects of microelectrode-guided posteroventral pallidotomy (PVP) for Parkinson's disease. METHODS: Intraoperative microelectrode recordings and microstimulation were used to explore the globus pallidus to performance of posteroventral pallidotomy in 48 patients with Parkinson's disease (47 unilateral and 1 bilateral). Assessment was made at baseline preoperatively and at 6 months intervals postoperatively, with unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS). RESULTS: All patients were significantly improved on the limbs contralateral to the lesion side 6 - 34 months after operation (mean 24 months). The improvement was seen in the 'on' or 'off' state: UPDRS scores with patients on levodopa were improved by an average of 28.7%, while off medication scores showed reductions (47.6%) at 24 months. There were no deaths and no visual complications, but there were 4 patients (8.3%) of a delayed contralateral limbs dystonia after pallidotomy. CONCLUSIONS: The techniques of microelectrode recording and microstimulation indicate the location of the internal capsule and optic tract, which allow easy identification of these structure and facilitate PVP target in conjunction with radiofrequency microelectrode stimulation.