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Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) are the world's leading causes of blindness. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and vascular endothelial cell exposed to oxidative stress is the major cause of AMD and DR. DJ‐1, an important endogenous antioxidant, its overexpression is considered as a promising antioxidant treatment for AMD and DR. Here, we modified the tetrahedral frame nucleic acids (tFNAs) with DJ‐1 saRNAs as a delivery system, and synthesized a novel nanocomplex (tFNAs‐DJ‐1 saRNAs). In vitro studies show that tFNAs‐DJ‐1 saRNAs can efficiently transfer DJ‐1 saRNAs to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and ARPE‐19s, and significantly increased their cellular DJ‐1 level. Reactive oxygen species expression in H2O2‐treated HUVECs and ARPE‐19s were decreased, cell viability was enhanced and cell apoptosis were inhibited when tFNAs‐DJ‐1 saRNAs were delivered. Moreover, tFNAs‐DJ‐1 saRNAs preserved mitochondrial structure and function under oxidative stress conditions. In the aspect of molecular mechanism, tFNAs‐DJ‐1 saRNAs activated Erk and Nrf2 pathway, which might contribute to its protective effects against oxidative stress damage. To conclude, this study shows the successfully establishment of a simple but effective delivery system of DJ‐1 saRNAs associated with antioxidant effects in AMD and DR, which may be a promising agent for future treatment in oxidative stress‐related retinal disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal injections of 0.5 mg conbercept in patients with choroidal neovascularization secondary to pathological myopia (pmCNV). Methods: The 177 pmCNV patients were randomly assigned in a 3:1 ratio to receive conbercept or sham injection, respectively. The conbercept group receive conbercept intravitreal injections administered on a pro re nata (PRN) basis after 3 monthly loading doses. The sham group received three consecutive monthly sham injections and then one conbercept injection followed by PRN conbercept intravitreal injections. Results: At month 3, the mean BCVA for the two groups were improved by 12.0 letters (conbercept group, from 54.05 letters to 66.05 letters) and 0.6 letters (sham group, from 49.77 letters to 50.33 letters), respectively (p < 0.001). The mean central retinal thickness (CRT) at month 3 in the two groups decreased 62.0 μm (conbercept group, from 348.90 μm to 286.18 μm) and 4.4 μm (sham group, from 347.86 μm to 343.47 μm) (p < 0.001). At month 9, the mean BCVA improved by 13.3 letters in the conbercept group and 11.3 letters in the sham group. The mean CRT decreased 73.6 μm in the conbercept group and 55.9 μm in the sham group (p < 0.001). The most common ocular adverse events were associated with intravitreal injections, such as conjunctival haemorrhage and increased intraocular pressure. Conclusion: Intravitreal injections of 0.5 mg conbercept provided improvement in visual and anatomical outcomes in pmCNV patients with low rates of ocular and nonocular safety events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Creating 3D‐engineered macroscopic architectures while inheriting the superior properties of individual building blocks remains one of the fundamental challenges in nanotechnology. Stable covalent interconnection between micro/nanoblocks is a desired but underexplored strategy to meet the challenges, rather than current dependently‐used weak physical forces or organic cross‐linking, which disrupts the continuity of chemical composition and electrical properties. Herein, a novel layer‐by‐layer covalent growth protocol is developed to construct all‐graphene macrostructures (AGM) with micro‐to‐macro inheritable electrical properties by laser‐assisted covalent linkage of polyethersulfone‐derived 3D porous graphene microblocks without introducing any catalysts, templates, and additives. Creatively, along with graphene generation and inter‐layer bonding, a quality optimization process is integrated into one‐step laser irradiation, which is unique and efficient for synthesizing high‐crystalline graphene. With the covalently nondestructive bridge and free of non‐graphene foreign phase impurities, AGM shows unprecedented electrical conductivity, especially a more than 100‐fold improvement in cross‐layer conductivity compared with non‐covalent assembly. Furthermore, the covalent growth mechanism of AGM is clarified by molecular dynamics simulations. Finally, the application efficacy of AGM with enhanced isotropic conductivity is verified by using it as a supercapacitor electrode. This methodology enables the as‐obtained AGM to possess the potential for high‐performance‐pursuing, multi‐disciplinary, or large‐scale applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As compared to the predecessor Cu(In,Ga)Se2 device, the current efficiency of kesterite Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) solar cells is still much lower mainly due to the known carriers recombination issue within interface and absorber bulk. In contrast to the majority of researches concerning recombination issues that focus on either single absorber bulk or interface passivation strategy, this study is pioneering in constructing synergistic passivation effects (SPE) to address the bulk and interface recombination issue simultaneously. By introducing a novel niobium pentoxide passivation layer into the back electrode interface (BEI), it is identified that SPE can be constructed due to Nb (& O) diffusion from Nb2O5 layer to absorber bulk and BEI during high‐temperature selenization. The chemical passivation effect is fulfilled via the intrinsic high resistance characteristic of Nb2O5 layer, and also through the NbOx passivation aiming to absorber bulk benefited from Nb (& O) diffusion. Meanwhile, the occupations of Nb (& O) on the Mo (& Se) sites induce a conduction type inversion in MoSe2 interfacial layer and create a preferable interface p+‐Mo(Se,O)2:Nb/CZTSSe, achieving an interfacial field passivation effect. Ultimately, the promoted absorber quality and improved charge carrier transportation from SPE contribute to the boost of device performance beyond 10% efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aorto‐pulmonary venous fistula combined with pulmonary arteriovenous fistula is a rare condition with an unknown incidence. We experienced a case of descending aorto‐pulmonary venous fistula combined with a pulmonary arteriovenous fistula, which was treated with pulmonary arteriovenous fistula embolization and improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Four heterometallic rare earth(III)‐cobalt(II) complexes (rare earth = Y (1), Sm (2), Nd (3), La (4)) stabilized by an o‐phenylenediamine‐bridged tris(phenolato) ligand (L) have been synthesized and characterized. In these tetranuclear complexes, one polydentate L coordinates to one rare earth(III) ion, and one cobalt(II) ion, respectively, while two rare earth ions are bridged by four acetate groups. These complexes were applied in the copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide and CO2, which showed good activity (TON up to 440) and high poly(cyclohexene carbonate) selectivity (>99%). Kinetic studies determined the equation as rate = k[CHO]1[CO2]0[initiator]1, which proves a first‐order dependence on initiator concentrations and implies a synergistic mechanism with rare earth and cobalt ions cooperating in epoxide ring‐opening and chain propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The development of inhibitors against factor FIX (FIX) is the most serious complication of FIX replacement therapy in haemophilia B (HB) patients. Currently, only few cohorts of HB inhibitor patients have been reported worldwide. Aim: This Chinese nationwide study of HB inhibitor patients explored their risk factors for FIX inhibitor development and experience on their management. Methods: We retrospectively analysed patient characteristics, F9 genotypes, treatment strategies and outcomes of HB inhibitor patients registered to the Chinese National Registry and Patient Organization Registry. Results: Forty‐four unique HB inhibitor patients were identified in 4485 unique HB patients registered by year 2021 to the two Registries. Inhibitor diagnosis were usually delayed and the low prevalence (.98%) may suggest some inhibitor patients were not identified. Their median age at inhibitor diagnosis was 7.5 (IQR, 3.0–14.8) years. Most patients (95.5%) had high‐titre inhibitors. Allergic/Anaphylactic reactions occurred in 59.1% patients. Large deletions and nonsense mutations were the most common F9 mutation types in our FIX inhibitor patients. Patients with large F9 gene deletions were more likely to develop inhibitors (p =.0002), while those with missense mutations had a low risk (p <.0001). Thirteen (29.5%) patients received immune tolerance induction (ITI) therapy using low‐dose prothrombin complex concentrate regimens. Twelve completed ITI with three (25.0%) achieving success. Nephrotic syndrome developed in two (16.7%) patients during ITI. Conclusion: This study reports the largest Chinese cohort of HB inhibitor patients. Large deletions were most significantly associated with inhibitor development. Low‐dose ITI might be feasible for FIX inhibitor eradication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, field control experiments were conducted to clarify the effects of three management practices (dwarf and close planting + no sprinkling irrigation (A1), dwarf and close planting + sprinkling irrigation (A2), and natural growth (CK) on the quality of pericarp of Zanthoxylum planispinum 'dintanensis' in a plantation setting in a rocky desertification area of Central Guizhou Province. The results showed that the ash concentration of A2 was the highest (6.70% ± 0.42%), yet there was no significant difference from A1 (6.60% ± 0.14%) and CK (6.65% ± 0.64%), and methionine and cystine were not detected (detection limits were 13.90 and 43.60 mg kg–1, respectively). A2 management could significantly promote the concentration of amino acids (P <.05); vitamin C was not detected (detection limit was 0.20 mg kg–1), vitamin E ranked as A2 > A1 > CK, and β‐carotene ranked as A1 > A2 > CK. There were significant differences among management treatments; A1, A2, and CK had no significant effect on trace elements. In conclusion, dwarf and close planting + sprinkling irrigation is an ideal management practice improving the quality of dintanensis. Core Ideas: Effects of ecological management practices on quality of Zanthoxylum planispinum 'dintanensis'.Dwarf and close planting + sprinkling irrigation could significantly promote the concentration of amino acids.Dwarf and close planting + sprinkling irrigation improves dintanensis quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic has influenced all social spaces and older adults are susceptible to COVID‐19. Geriatric caregivers in nursing homes might experience death anxiety when faced with infected older adults and a closed working environment. Death anxiety is a negative and formidable affective state. Yet, little is currently known about the relationships among death anxiety, self‐esteem, and health‐related quality of life among geriatric caregivers during the COVID‐19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine whether self‐esteem could moderate the association between death anxiety and health‐related quality of life during the pandemic. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted in Jinan and Heze cities, Shandong Province, from November 2020 to January 2021. Participants comprised a convenience sample of 236 geriatric caregivers in nursing homes. Data on sociodemographic variables, death anxiety, self‐esteem, and health‐related quality of life were collected. Descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation, and moderated analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results: Self‐esteem moderated the association between death anxiety and health‐related quality of life (death anxiety × self‐esteem: B = −0.113, 95% CI: −0.143, −0.018). Conclusion: This study revealed that self‐esteem played a moderating role between death anxiety and health‐related quality of life during the pandemic, which implies that mental health should be given more attention, and that interventions for improving self‐esteem need to be carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Knowledge of the dynamic composition changes of combined cuticular wax and cutin in apples during their shelf life is scarce. Therefore, this issue was addressed using GC‐MS analyses of the respective epidermal components in 'Red Fuji' and 'Golden Delicious' apples at 5 days intervals during the shelf life of 25 days. Water loss from the apples was also assessed. The proportion of total n‐alkanes decreased in cuticular wax, whereas total acids increased gradually, and cutin monomer content significantly changed during the first 5 days. The predominant wax compound, nonacosane (C29), decreased by 40.13% and 26.22% in 'Red Fuji' and 'Golden Delicious' apples, respectively. The cutin monomers 10,16‐dihydroxy hexadecanoic acid (10,16‐diOH C16:0) and 9,10,18‐trihydroxyoctadecanoic acid (9,10,18‐triOH C18:0) were detected only at the beginning of shelf life in apples of both cultivars. Regression analysis indicated that the rate of water loss significantly correlated with eight components. Our results expand the understanding of the dynamics of both wax and cutin compounds in postharvest apples and help to target specific compounds to maintain the quality of apples throughout their shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of narrow‐bandgap Pb–Sn‐alloyed perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) is seriously impeded by the large open‐circuit voltage (VOC) deficit. Finding an effective approach to passivate defects in the perovskite film is critical to reduce the VOC deficit. Herein, a linear organic cation 1,3‐propanediammonium iodide (PDAI2) is used to passivate the surface defects of perovskite film, thus restraining the nonradiative recombination. After treating with PDAI2, the defect density of perovskite film is decreased to half and the carrier lifetime is prolonged more than 1.5 times. As a result, the champion Pb–Sn‐alloyed PVSC based on PDAI2 treatment exhibits a small VOC deficit of 0.39 V, and a high PCE of 20.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of monthly and pro re nata (PRN, guided by visual acuity stabilization and disease activity criteria) ranibizumab regimens in Chinese patients with neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (nAMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Methods: This double‐masked study randomized nAMD patients (1:1) to ranibizumab monthly from baseline to Month (M) 11 to a PRN regimen from M12 to M23 (monthly group, n = 167) versus ranibizumab three monthly doses followed by a PRN regimen up to M23 (PRN group, n = 166). Subgroups were assessed based on the presence/absence of PCV (indicated by indocyanine green angiography). Results: Of 334 randomized patients, 41.7% had PCV at baseline. Mean average best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) change from M3 to M4 through M12 was 3.3 letters with monthly and 1.7 letters with PRN (mean difference: 1.6; 95% CI: −2.95, −0.20, primary end‐point). Mean change in BCVA from baseline (monthly/PRN, 53.8/53.7) to M12 and M24 was 12.3 and 11.3 letters in monthly and 9.6 and 9.3 letters in PRN group. Corresponding values for patients with PCV/without PCV were 12.7/12.1 letters (M12) and 12.3/10.6 letters (M24) in monthly and 9.4/9.4 letters (M12) and 9.7/8.7 letters (M24) in PRN groups. The mean number of injections was 11.4 (monthly) and 8.2 (PRN) from Day 1 to M11 and 4.8 (monthly) and 5.0 (PRN) from M12 to M23. No new safety findings were reported. Conclusions: The study results support the use of either ranibizumab monthly or PRN regimens in Chinese patients with nAMD, regardless of presence of PCV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mixed Pb–Sn perovskites have the ideal bandgap of ≈1.2 eV for photovoltaic application. However, the undesirable p‐doping introduced by Sn2+ oxidation restrains the device's power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability. Herein, an additive strategy with p‐phenyl dimethylammonium iodide (PhDMADI) is proposed, which has a bulky divalent organic cation and facilitates the formation of Dion–Jacobson phase‐based quasi‐2D perovskites at the grain boundaries. It is found that this unique 2D/3D bulk heterojunction structure is beneficial to suppress the oxidation of Sn2+ and isolate the moisture and oxygen, resulting in a good stability of the solar cell. Moreover, the quasi‐2D perovskites can passivate defects effectively. The trap density of the perovskite film has decreased by one order of magnitude, thus the carrier lifetime is increased more than twice. These enhanced properties enable us to fabricate a device of 20.5% PCE with great stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The occurrence of antibiotic‐resistant strains has been rapidly increasing due to the wide use of antibiotics. To evaluate the current effects of antibiotic resistance on Helicobacter pylori eradication efficacy, we conducted this systematic review and meta‐analysis. Methods: Literature searches were conducted in the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 12.0 (StataCorp LP, College Station, TX, USA). Results: A total of 120 studies, including 28 707 patients, were assessed. Only first‐line therapy was considered. The pooled RR of eradication rate in patients with Helicobacter pylori strains sensitive versus resistant to clarithromycin was 0.682 (95% CI: 0.636‐0.731). The pooled RR of eradication rate in patients with Helicobacter pylori strains sensitive versus resistant to metronidazole was 0.843 (95% CI: 0.810‐0.877). The pooled RR of eradication rate in patients with Helicobacter pylori strains sensitive versus resistant to levofloxacin was 0.794 (95% CI: 0.669‐0.941). The pooled RR of eradication rate in patients with Helicobacter pylori strains sensitive versus resistant to dual clarithromycin and metronidazole was 0.674 (95% CI: 0.590‐0.770). Conclusion: Antibiotic resistance causes a decrease in the eradication rate of H pylori today. Quadruple concomitant therapy may overcome the declining H pylori eradication rate caused by metronidazole‐only resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBC) is a subtype of lymphoma with the worst prognosis. Existing treatment methods are not effective enough due to its high occurrence of metastasis. Therefore, identification of effective therapeutic targets is becoming increasingly important. In this research, long non‐coding RNA dopamine β hydroxylase antisense RNA 1 (DBH‐AS1) was found to be upregulated in DLBC tissues and cells. Knockdown of DBH‐AS1 suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancer cells. Afterwards, RNA‐binding protein BUD13 homolog (BUD13) was found to be upregulated in cancer tissues and cells while binding to DBH‐AS1. Fibronectin 1 (FN1) was the downstream messenger RNA (mRNA) of BUD13. FN1 was upregulated in DLBC and was positively correlated with DBH‐AS1. Further rescue assays proved that DBH‐AS1 mediated FN1 expression by recruiting BUD13. In the meantime, BUD13 stabilized FN1 mRNA to promote FN1 expression. In this way, DBH‐AS1/BUD13/FN1 axis was confirmed. A set of rescue assays proved that DBH‐AS1 regulated DLBC progression via BUD13 and FN1. The function and mechanism of DBH‐AS1 were investigated for the first time in DLBC. DBH‐AS1 might become a therapeutic target in lymphoma treatment in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Nitrogen doping significantly improves the electrochemical properties of graphene. Here, a new and effective methodology of preparing nitrogen‐doped graphene (NG) by thermal annealing of fluorinated graphene oxide (FGO) under the atmosphere of ammonia, is reported, in which ammonia is the reductant for FGO reduction and also the nitrogen source for nitrogen doping. This method can achieve higher nitrogen doping content than conventional approaches. RESULTS: FGO prepared from fluorinated graphite polymer (CF) is directly used as a precursor to synthesize NG. Four samples with the same reaction time and different annealing temperatures are compared, and the highest nitrogen content of the NG reaches 12.45 at% at the reaction condition of 800 °C and 3 h. The synthesized NG samples are examined as a supercapacitor electrode material, displaying excellent performance due to the high nitrogen doping and a large number of active sites. CONCLUSION: With the increase of annealing temperature, the nitrogen content of different NG samples first increases and then decreases. The specific capacitance of NG electrode material also shows the same trend as the nitrogen content. The highest specific capacitance in three‐electrode configuration attains 225.2 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1. The electrode maintains a 90% capacitance after 5000 cycles, showing good cycle stability. This synthetic method provides a new approach for the preparation of NG with high nitrogen doping as supercapacitor electrode materials. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Purpose Methods Results Conclusions Predicting the accurate preoperative staging of bladder cancer (BLCA), which markedly affects treatment decisions and patient outcomes, using traditional clinical parameters is challenging. Nevertheless, emerging studies in radiomics, especially machine learning‐based computed tomography (CT) image‐based radiomics, hold promise in improving stage prediction accuracy in various tumors. However, the comparative performance and clinical utility of models for BLCA are under investigation.We aimed to investigate the application value of machine learning‐based CT radiomics in preoperative staging prediction by comparing the performance of clinical, radiomics, and clinical–radiomics combined models.A retrospective cohort of 105 patients with initial BLCA was randomized into training (70%) and testing (30%) cohorts. Radiomics features were extracted from CT images using the optimal feature filter, followed by the application of the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm for optimum feature selection. Furthermore, machine learning algorithms were used to establish a radiomics model within the training cohort. Independent risk factors for muscle‐invasive BLCA (MIBC) obtained by multivariate logistic regression (LR) analysis were separately used to construct a clinical model. For a clinical–radiomics fusion model, radiomics features were combined with clinical parameters. Performance was evaluated based on receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, decision curve analysis (DCA), and standard performance metrics.Patients exhibited a significantly higher age (p = 0.029), larger tumor size (p = 0.01), and an increased neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR; p = 0.045) in the MIBC group than in the NMIBC group. LR analysis revealed age (p = 0.026), tumor size (p = 0.007), and NLR (p = 0.019) as significant predictors for constructing the clinical model. In the testing cohort, the radiomics model, which used an Support Vector Machine classifier, achieved the highest area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.857. The clinical–radiomics model outperformed the remaining two models, with AUC values of 0.958 and 0.893 in the training and testing cohorts, respectively. DeLong's test indicated significant differences between the three models. Calibration curves showed good agreement, and DCA confirmed the superior clinical utility of the clinical–radiomics model.Machine learning‐based CT radiomics combined with clinical parameters was a promising approach in staging BLCA accurately, which outperformed the individual models. Integrating radiomics features with clinical information holds the potential to improve personalized treatment planning and patient outcomes in BLCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: The eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) has decreased largely because of the antibiotic resistance. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of furazolidone‐containing quadruple regimens for H pylori eradication. Methods: This was an observational study of furazolidone‐containing quadruple regimens for H pylori infection in real‐world settings. Data sets were collected from the medical records and telephone interviews of patients referred to a specialist clinic for suspected H pylori reinfection from January 1, 2015, to January 1, 2018, at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University. Main outcome measures were the eradication rate and adverse reactions during medication. Results: Among 584 patients with H pylori infection that met the inclusion criteria, 561 (96.1%) were treated for the first time, 19 (3.3%) had one, and 4 (0.5%) had two or more prior to furazolidone‐containing quadruple regimens. The eradication rates for 10‐day and 14‐day regimens were 93.7% (95% CI: 91.5%‐95.9%) vs 98.2% (95% CI: 95.6%‐99.3%), respectively (P = 0.098). Adverse drug reactions occurred in 8.2% (48/584) with abdominal discomfort being the most common symptom. Overall adverse events with 10‐day regimens were lower than 14‐day regimens (6.1% vs 17.4%, P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that poor adherence (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 46.5, 95% CI: 9.7‐222.4) was correlated with failed eradication. Adverse drug reactions during medication were related to smoking and tobacco status, alcohol intake history, regimens combined with tetracycline, and poor adherence (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: Furazolidone‐containing quadruple regimens proved both safe and highly effective in a real‐world setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]