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Abstract In this paper, we study the formation of optical bistability (OB) and optical multistability (OM) in a degenerate four-level atomic system by an external magnetic field that is excited by a probe laser field, a coupling laser field and a signal laser field. The coupling field can cause electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) for the probe field in the atomic medium, while the signal field and/or external magnetic field can switch between single-EIT and two-EIT regimes. Based on these properties, OB and OM effects can be formed at two different frequency regions of the probe field (two channels). By adjusting the magnetic field or the intensity and the frequency of laser fields, the threshold intensity and the width of OB or OM can also be changed simply. The model can be useful for experimental observations and applications in modern photonic devices.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests that post-TB lung disease (PTLD) causes significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of these clinical standards is to provide guidance on the assessment and management of PTLD and the implementation of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR).METHODS: A panel of global experts in the field of TB care and PR was identified; 62 participated in a Delphi process. A 5-point Likert scale was used to score the initial ideas for standards and after several rounds of revision the document was approved (with 100% agreement).RESULTS: Five clinical standards were defined: Standard 1, to assess patients at the end of TB treatment for PTLD (with adaptation for children and specific settings/situations); Standard 2, to identify patients with PTLD for PR; Standard 3, tailoring the PR programme to patient needs and the local setting; Standard 4, to evaluate the effectiveness of PR; and Standard 5, to conduct education and counselling. Standard 6 addresses public health aspects of PTLD and outcomes due to PR.CONCLUSION: This is the first consensus-based set of Clinical Standards for PTLD. Our aim is to improve patient care and quality of life by guiding clinicians, programme managers and public health officers in planning and implementing adequate measures to assess and manage PTLD.

Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a complex interstitial lung disease that impacts substantially on patients' daily lives, requiring personalised and integrated care. We summarise the main needs of patients with PF and their caregivers, and suggest a supportive care approach. Individualised care, education, emotional and psychological support, specialised treatments, and better access to information and resources are necessary. Management should start at diagnosis, be tailored to the patient's needs, and consider end-of-life care. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions should be individualised, including oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation, with digital healthcare utilised as appropriate. Further research is needed to address technical issues related to oxygen delivery and digital healthcare. Educational aims To identify the main needs of patients with PF and their caregivers. To describe the components of a comprehensive approach to a supportive care programme for patients with PF. To identify further areas of research to address technical issues related to the management of patients with PF.

Isoflavones are secondary phenolic metabolites found in most legumes. These compounds have important pharmacological significance such as anti-osteoporosis, anti-aging, and anti-cancer properties. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide. Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) is an important target in breast cancer treatment. In this study, we evaluated the ability of sixty isoflavones compounds to inhibit the HER2 enzyme for their potential use in breast cancer treatments by the molecular docking method. Molecular docking was done by Autodock vina software. Lipinski 5 rule is used to compare compounds with drug-like and non-drug-like properties. Pharmacokinetic parameters of potential compounds were evaluated using the pkCSM tool. Our results showed that 35 compounds inhibited HER2 stronger than the positive control. Next, we analysed the drug-likeness according to Lipinski’s rule of five and predicted pharmacokinetic-toxicological parameters of these 35 compounds. We obtained two compounds, genistein and biochanin A, which could become promising drugs for breast cancer treatment. However, in vitro and in vivo studies on the inhibition of the HER2 enzyme need to be conducted.

Hybrid nanoplasmonics is one of the most promising branch of nanophotonics which aims, in particular, to control the energy transfer between donor and acceptor nano-emitters via surface plasmons. Recently, an approach of nano-emitters positioning was introduced. It is based on two-photon polymerization of a photosensitive material which contains quantum dots as nano-emitters. This technique allowed for the integration of green quantum dots on plasmonic silver nanowires. In this article, we report on the use of this approach for integrating both green and red quantum dots on silver nanowires. The coupling between nano-emitters and propagating surface plasmons that are supported by the silver nanowires is reported and observed through their scattering at the nanowire ends. For both colors, a parametric study of the distance between the quantum dots and the nanowire extremity shows that precise control of the position of the launching sites enables control of light intensity at the wire end, through surface plasmon propagation length. More interestingly, by integrating two kinds of quantum dots on the same nanowire, we realized an efficient donor-acceptor hybrid nano-system, where green surface plasmons polaritons (from donors) are transformed into red plasmons (from acceptors) at controlled sites of the plasmonic guides, as a result of a frequency conversion of the plasmons polaritons.

Background Accurate prognosis is important either after acute infection or during long-term follow-up of patients infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. This study aims to predict coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity based on clinical and biological indicators, and to identify biomarkers for prognostic assessment. Methods We included 261 Vietnamese COVID-19 patients, who were classified into moderate and severe groups. Disease severity prediction based on biomarkers and clinical parameters was performed by applying machine learning and statistical methods using the combination of clinical and biological data. Results The random forest model could predict with 97% accuracy the likelihood of COVID-19 patients who subsequently worsened to the severe condition. The most important indicators were interleukin (IL)-6, ferritin and D-dimer. The model could still predict with 92% accuracy after removing IL-6 from the analysis to generalise the applicability of the model to hospitals with limited capacity for IL-6 testing. The five most effective indicators were C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, IL-6, ferritin and dyspnoea. Two different sets of biomarkers (D-dimer, IL-6 and ferritin, and CRP, D-dimer and IL-6) are applicable for the assessment of disease severity and prognosis. The two biomarker sets were further tested through machine learning algorithms and relatively validated on two Danish COVID-19 patient groups (n=32 and n=100). The results indicated that various biomarker sets combined with clinical data can be used for detection of the potential to develop the severe condition. Conclusion This study provided a simple and reliable model using two different sets of biomarkers to assess disease severity and predict clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients in Vietnam.

Impaired lung gas exchange is commonly seen in patients with pulmonary involvement related to SARS-CoV-2 acute infection or post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS). The primary aim of our study was to assess lung gas transfer, measuring the pulmonary diffusion capacity for nitric oxide (DLNO) and carbon monoxide (DLCO) in all COVID-19 patients. Our secondary aim was to decipher the respective roles of perturbed lung membrane conductance (DM) and reduced pulmonary capillary volume (VC) in patients with impaired lung gas exchange. From May to October 2020, we measured DLNO-DLCO in 118 patients during their post-COVID-19 period (4.6 months after infection) to decipher alveolo-capillary gas transfer disturbances. DLNO-DLCO measurement was also performed in 28 healthy non-smokers as controls. Patients were classified into three groups according to the severity (mild, moderate, and severe) of acute COVID-19 infection. Patients with mild COVID-19 had normal lung volumes and airways expiratory flows but impaired pulmonary gas exchange, as shown by the significant decreases in DLNO, DLCO, DM, and VC as compared with controls. VC was significantly impaired and the DLNO/DLCO ratio was increased in patients with moderate (n = 4, 11%) and severe COVID-19 (n = 23, 49%). Abnormal membrane conductance was also seen in all three groups of post-COVID-19 patients. These findings suggest a persistent alveolo-capillary gas transfer defect, implying not only reduced membrane conductance but also abnormal pulmonary vascular capacitance in all PACS patients, even those with a milder form of COVID-19 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) provides prognostic information in cystic fibrosis (CF); however, its prognostic value for patients with advanced CF lung disease is unknown. Objectives: To determine the prognostic value of CPET on the risk of death or lung transplant (LTX) within 2 years. Methods: We retrospectively collected data from 20 CF centers in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America on patients with a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) ⩽ 40% predicted who performed a cycle ergometer CPET between January 2008 and December 2017. Time to death/LTX was analyzed using mixed Cox proportional hazards regression. Conditional inference trees were modeled to identify subgroups with increased risk of death/LTX. Results: In total, 174 patients (FEV1, 30.9% ± 5.8% predicted) were included. Forty-four patients (25.5%) died or underwent LTX. Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, and FEV1 revealed percentage predicted peak oxygen uptake ( V ˙ o2peak) and peak work rate (Wpeak) as significant predictors of death/LTX: adjusted hazard ratios per each additional 10% predicted were 0.60 (95% confidence interval, 0.43–0.90; P = 0.008) and 0.60 (0.48–0.82; P < 0.001). Tree-structured regression models, including a set of 11 prognostic factors for survival, identified Wpeak to be most strongly associated with 2-year risk of death/LTX. Probability of death/LTX was 45.2% for those with a Wpeak ⩽ 49.2% predicted versus 10.9% for those with a Wpeak > 49.2% predicted (P < 0.001). Conclusions: CPET provides prognostic information in advanced CF lung disease, and Wpeak appears to be a promising marker for LTX referral and candidate selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]