Simple organic cooperative assembly of triazine molecules leads to three-dimensional macroscopic assemblies of low-dimensional graphitic carbon nitrides (g-CNs), for example, nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanosheets. The approach enables the characterization of the cooperative properties and photocatalytic activities of low-dimensional g-CN materials in hydrogen evolution reactions from water under visible light.

A turn-on fluorescence sensor, Cu(2+)-c-mpg-C(3)N(4), was developed for detection of CN(-) in aqueous solution by simply mixing cubic mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (c-mpg-C(3)N(4)) and aqueous solution of Cu(NO(3))(2). The highly sensitive detection of CN(-) with a detection limit of 80 nM is not only possible in aqueous solution but also in human blood serum.

4. Laryngoscope, 127:702-708, 2017.

Einfache kooperative Zusammenlagerung organischer Triazinmoleküle führt zu dreidimensionalen makroskopischen Aggregaten aus niederdimensionalen graphitischen Kohlenstoffnitriden in Form von Nanopartikeln, ‐röhren und ‐blättern. Kooperative Eigenschaften und photokatalytische Aktivitäten dieser Materialien in der Wasserstoffentwicklung aus Wasser unter Bestrahlung mit sichtbarem Licht wurden charakterisiert.

Bilateral vestibular dysfunction (BVD) refers to hypofunction of the vestibular nerves or labyrinths on both sides. Patients with BVD present with dizziness, oscillopsia, and unsteadiness, mostly during locomotion, which worsen in darkness or on uneven ground. Although aminoglycoside ototoxicity, Meniere's disease, infection, and genetic disorders frequently cause BVD, the etiology remains undetermined in up to 50% of the patients. The diagnosis of BVD requires both symptoms and documentation of deficient vestibulo-ocular reflex function using head-impulse, bithermal caloric, and rotatory chair tests. Since various neurologic and systemic disorders may present with BVD, clinicians should be cautious not to overlook the symptoms and signs of central nervous system and systemic involvements. Vestibular rehabilitation, application of vibrotactile and auditory feedbacks, and vestibular prosthesis can aid the patients with BVD along with the correction of the underlying causes.

Background and PurposeThe outcomes of acute internal carotid artery (ICA) terminus occlusions are poor. We classified ICA terminus occlusions into 2 groups according to the occlusion pattern of the circle of Willis and hypothesized that clinical outcomes would significantly differ between them.MethodsConsecutive patients with acute ICA terminus occlusions evaluated by baseline computed tomographic angiography were enrolled. We investigated the occlusion patterns in the circle of Willis, retrospectively classified patients into simple ICA terminus occlusion (STO; with good Willisian collaterals from neighboring cerebral circulation) and complex ICA terminus occlusion (CTO; with one or more of A2 anterior cerebral artery, fetal posterior cerebral artery occlusion, or hypoplastic/absent contralateral A1; or with poor collaterals from anterior communicating artery) groups, and compared their baseline characteristics and outcomes.ResultsThe STO group (n=58) showed smaller infarct volumes at 72 hours than the CTO group (n=34) (median, 81 mL [interquartile range, 38-192] vs. 414 mL [193-540], P<0.001) and more favorable outcomes (3-month modified Rankin Scale 0-3, 44.8% vs. 8.8%, P<0.001; 3-month mortality, 24.1% vs. 67.6%, P<0.001). In multivariable analyses, STO remained an independent predictor for favorable outcomes (odds ratio 6.1, P=0.010).ConclusionsFavorable outcomes in STO group suggested that the outcomes of acute ICA terminus occlusions depend on Willisian collateral status. Documenting the subtypes on computed tomographic angiography would help predict patient outcome.

HSN is more common and mostly contralesional in apogeotropic HC-BPPV. HSN may be a lateralizing sign in apogeotropic HC-BPPV. Different prevalence and patterns of HSN in apogeotropic and geotropic HC-BPPV suggest dissimilar cupular dynamics in those disorders.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to delineate the clinical and laboratory features suggestive of intralabyrinthine schwannoma (ILS). Methods: We compared the clinical features of 16 patients with ILS, who had been diagnosed at the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from 2003 to 2018, with those of 18 patients with symptomatic unilateral intracanalicular schwannoma and randomly selected 20 patients with definite or probable unilateral Meniere's disease (MD). Results: Patients with ILS presented with either recurrent spontaneous dizziness/vertigo combined with auditory symptoms ( n = 8), isolated auditory symptoms without dizziness/vertigo ( n = 7), or recurrent spontaneous dizziness/vertigo without auditory symptoms ( n = 1). Most patients reported no improvement ( n = 11) or worsening ( n = 1) of the symptoms despite medical treatments including intratympanic ( n = 5) or intravenous steroids ( n = 2). Conventional brain MRIs failed to detect ILS in about a half of the patients (7/16, 44%). However, ILS showed a filling defect on 3-dimensional (3D) heavily T2-weighted MRIs ( n = 12), and nodular enhancement on 3D contrast-enhanced T1 ( n = 15) or FLAIR MRIs ( n = 13) targeted for the inner ear. Compared to MD or intracanalicular schwannoma, ILS showed mostly abnormal head-impulse tests (HITs, p = 0.001). In contrast, the incidence of canal paresis did not differ among the groups ( p = 0.513). Conclusion: ILS may mimic MD by presenting recurrent dizziness/vertigo and auditory symptoms. ILS should be suspected in patients with recurrent audiovestibulopathy especially when (1) the duration of the dizziness is not typical for MD, (2) the patients do not respond to medical treatments, or (3) HITs are abnormal.