2D InSe is one of the semimetal chalcogenides that has been recently given attention thanks to its excellent electrical properties, such as high mobility near 1000 cm 2 V −1 s −1 and moderate band gap of ≈1.26 eV suitable for IR detection. Here, high-performance visible to near-infrared (470-980 nm wavelength (λ)) photodetectors using surface-doped InSe as a channel and few-layer graphenes (FLG) as electrodes are reported, where the InSe top region is relatively p-doped using AuCl 3. The surface-doped InSe photodetectors show outstanding performance, achieving a photoresponsivity (R) of ≈19 300 A W −1 and a detectivity (D*) of ≈3 × 10 13 Jones at λ = 470 nm, and R of ≈7870 A W −1 and D* of ≈1.5 × 10 13 Jones at λ = 980 nm, superior to previously reported 2D materialbased IR photodetectors operating without an applied gate bias. Surface doping using AuCl 3 renders a band bending at the junction between the InSe surface and the top FLG contact, which facilitates electron-hole pair separation and immediate photodetection. Multiple doped or undoped InSe photodetectors with different device structures are investigated, providing insight into the photodetection mechanism and optimizing performance. Encapsulation with hexagonal boron nitride dielectric also allows for 3-month stability.

Purpose We aimed to identify the impact of NUDT15 variants on thiopurine intolerance and 6-thioguanine nucleotide (6-TGN) levels in Korean children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).Materials and Methods Genotyping of NUDT15 was tested in 258 patients with ALL registered at Samsung Medical Center. Patients were classified into normal-activity (wild-type), intermediate-activity (heterozygous variant), and low-activity groups (homozygous or compound heterozygous variant). Clinical and laboratory features during the first year of maintenance therapy were investigated. ResultsA total of 182 patients were included in the final analysis. There were five (2.7%), 46 (25.3%), and 131 (72.0%) patients in low-, intermediate-, and normal-activity groups, respectively. The lowest 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) dose (mg/m2/day) was administered to the low-activity group (low-activity group 7.5 vs. intermediate-activity group 24.4 vs. normalactivity group 31.1, p < 0.01) from three months to a year after beginning maintenance therapy. The low-activity group experienced the longest duration of therapy interruption during the first year (low-activity group 169 days vs. intermediate-activity group 30 days vs. normal-activity group 16 days, p < 0.01). They also showed the lowest blood cell counts and had a longer duration of leukopenia (low-activity group 131 days vs. intermediate-activity group 92 days vs. normal-activity group 59 days, p < 0.01). 6-TGN level and its ratio to 6-MP dose were lowest in the low-activity group.ConclusionNUDT15 variants cause hematopoietic toxicity with low 6-TGN levels. NUDT15 genotyping should be conducted before administering thiopurine, and dose adjustments require caution regardless of 6-TGN levels.

The necessity of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) for meningiomas remains contentious. Here, the role of PORT in patients who underwent surgical resection for WHO grade II and III meningiomas was assessed. The record of 114 patients with WHO grade II (n = 72) and III (n = 42) meningiomas treated at Samsung Medical Center between March 1995 and April 2013 were reviewed and classified according to the extent of surgical resection and implementation of PORT. Median follow-up was 55.9 months. Simpson grade (SG) I, II, III, and IV resections were achieved in 29, 56, 9 and 20 patients, respectively. The 5-year local control (LC) and overall survival rate was 65.8 and 84.2 %, respectively. Thirty patients (26.3 %) developed local failure and five patients (4.4 %) developed distant metastases. The extent of surgical resection (SG I-II vs. III-IV) was influenced by tumor location (orbital and skull base lesions vs. others, p = 0.001) and the surgeons' experience (>10 operations, p = 0.044). Extent of surgical resection was also associated with local failure, overall progression, and overall survival (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). PORT improved LC in patients with incomplete surgical resection (SG III-IV, p = 0.049). Complete resection (SG I-II) is an important prognostic factor for LC and survival, and the extent of surgical resection (SG I-II vs. III-IV) is influenced by tumor location. PORT could improve the LC in WHO grade II-III meningioma patients who underwent incomplete surgical resection (SG III-IV).

This study investigated the prognostic significance of portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) response in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with localized concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). We retrospectively analyzed 100 patients treated with CCRT for UICC Stage T2–4N0M0 HCC with PVTT between 2002 and 2011. The radiotherapy (RT) volume included both primary tumor and PVTT, and the median radiation dose was 45 Gy. Treatment response was evaluated for up to 6 months after RT. With respect to PVTT response to treatment, complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) were achieved in 14% and 48% of patients, respectively, yielding an objective response (OR) rate of 62%. PVTT size (≤3cm diameter) was associated with a higher rate of a CR (P = 0.001). The median overall survival (OS) was 11.6 months. Independent prognostic factors for OS were OR of the tumor to RT and a CR of the PVTT. Achieving an OR in both the tumor and the PVTT demonstrated a significant correlation with improved survival (P = 0.002). Progression of intrahepatic metastasis was affected not by CCRT but by the clinical features of the PVTT, particularly the initial PVTT site. PVTT response following CCRT seems prognostically significant. CR of the PVTT was associated with improved survival. Achieving an OR in both the tumor and PVTT was also associated with improved survival.

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The number of studies examining the use of tandem high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDCT/auto-SCT) to treat high-risk or recurrent brain tumors is increasing. However, studies addressing the toxicity associated with tandem HDCT/auto-SCT, particularly during the second HDCT/auto-SCT, are very limited. For this reason, we retrospectively evaluated the toxicity of tandem HDCT/auto-SCT with carboplatin-thiotepa-etoposide (CTE) and cyclophosphamide-melphalan (CM) regimens when used to treat high-risk or recurrent brain tumors. A total of 109 patients who received a first HDCT/auto-SCT and 100 who proceeded to a second HDCT/auto-SCT between May 2005 and December 2013 were included. Hematologic recovery was rapid during both the first and second HDCT/auto-SCT. In the first HDCT/auto-SCT, mucositis-related gastrointestinal toxicity was frequent, and two (1.8 %) patients died from toxicity [one hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) and one sepsis]. In the second HDCT/auto-SCT, mucositis-related toxicity was milder than in the first round. However, hepatic VOD frequency was high (20.0 %), and six (6.0 %) patients died from toxicity (four hepatic VODs, one asphyxia, and one sepsis). Multivariate analysis indicated that age younger than 8 years was the only significant predictor for hepatic VOD. All six patients who died from toxicity during the second HDCT/auto-SCT were younger than 9 years of age. This study demonstrates that tandem HDCT/auto-SCT using CTE/CM regimens was generally feasible. However, dose reduction during the second HDCT/auto-SCT in young children might be needed to decrease the death rate from toxicity.

We compared the outcomes of immunosuppressive treatment (IST) with those of alternative donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in children and adolescents with severe aplastic anemia (SAA). The medical records of 42 patients with SAA who received frontline IST (N=19) or frontline HSCT with an alternative donor (N=23) between 1998 and 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. Six patients responded in the frontline IST group, whereas 11 underwent salvage HSCT after IST failure. Twenty-one of 23 patients who underwent frontline HSCT survived without treatment failure. The estimated failure-free survival rate of the frontline HSCT group was higher than that of the frontline IST group (91.3% vs 30.7% respectively, P<0.001). Six of 11 patients who underwent salvage HSCT experienced event-free survival (EFS). The estimated EFS of the frontline HSCT group was higher than that of the salvage HSCT group (91.3% vs 50.9% respectively, P=0.015). The outcome of alternative donor HSCT was better than commonly reported rates, especially in patients who underwent frontline HSCT. These results suggest that frontline alternative donor HSCT may be a better treatment option than IST for children and adolescents with SAA who lack a human leukocyte Ag-matched familial donor.

Management options for patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) have evolved substantially over the past decades. The American Society of Hematology published a treatment guideline for clinicians referring to the management of ITP in 2011. This evidence-based practice guideline for ITP enables the appropriate treatment of a larger proportion of patients and the maintenance of normal platelet counts. Korean authority operates a unified mandatory national health insurance system. Even though we have a uniform standard guideline enforced by insurance reimbursement, there are several unsolved issues in real practice in ITP treatment. To optimize the management of Korean ITP patients, the Korean Society of Hematology Aplastic Anemia Working Party (KSHAAWP) reviewed the consensus and the Korean data on the clinical practices of ITP therapy. Here, we report a Korean expert recommendation guide for the management of ITP.