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Abstract A well-known strategy to achieve higher energy density in lithium-based batteries consists in using metallic lithium as the anode, however, the problematics associated are many and well-known. One solution to enhance battery safety consists in protecting lithium by using a solid electrolyte. Herein the preparation of a new solid polymer composite electrolyte, encompassing room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) and ceramic powder is reported. The methacrylate monomer, easily reticulated by UV-curing allows to obtain a highly crosslinked 3D structure matrix, rich in ethoxy groups, fundamental for Li+ conduction. Encompassing of RTIL and ceramic particles allows an enhancement of the ionic conductivity as well as mechanical properties, therefore highly reducing lithium dendrite formation. Highlights • The methacrylate monomer, easily reticulated by UV-curing allows to obtain a highly crosslinked 3D structure matrix. • The obtained polymer is rich in ethoxy groups favoring Li+ conduction. • Encompassing of RTIL allows an enhancement of the ionic conductivity, as high as 0,45 mS·cm−1 at room-temperature. • Ceramic particles addition improves mechanical properties, therefore highly reducing lithium dendrite formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brigitte Dreno,1 Jean Michel Amici,2 Ann Laure Demessant-Flavigny,3 Charlotte Wright,4 Charles Taieb,5 Seemal R Desai,6 Andrew Alexis7 1Dermatology Department, CHU Nantes, CIC 1413, CRCINA, Nantes University, Nantes, Pays de la Loire, France; 2Dermatology Department, Bordeaux University Hospital, Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France; 3La Roche-Posay Dermatological Laboratoires, Levallois-Perret, France; 4Speak the Speech Consulting, Asnières-sur-Seine, Ile-de-France, France; 5Patients Priority Department, European Market Maintenance Assessment, Fontenay Sousbois, Ile-de-France, France; 6Department of Dermatology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center & Innovative Dermatology, Dallas, TX, USA; 7Skin of Color Center, Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and Mount Sinai West, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USACorrespondence: Charles TaiebPatients Priority Department, European Market Maintenance Assessment, Fontenay Sousbois, Ile-de-France, FranceTel +33 771772100Email Charles.taieb@emma.clinicAbstract: Skin conditions such as acne, atopic dermatitis, skin toxicity from oncology treatment, and scars are among the most common health conditions and negatively impact quality of life (QoL). Yet the physician perception of this impact often varies greatly from the patient perception. This is important because patient illness perception is closely linked with seeking help and treatment adherence behaviors. The objective of this review is to better understand the impact of these four highly prevalent skin conditions on QoL including their health-related economic factors to improve treatment outcomes. The literature search included literature published on QoL with acne, atopic dermatitis, scars (from any cause) and skin toxicities on PubMed between 2015 and 2020. We found that patients with skin conditions have a much higher frequency of altered QoL and psychological distress than those without. Also, skin conditions negatively impact self-image and can cause feelings of isolation, loneliness, lower self-esteem, and lower body satisfaction. Additionally, physical discomfort adds to the psychological distress. These physical and psychological impacts are an enormous financial burden on patients, their families and society. We found evidence that holistic treatment including treating the skin condition itself, providing wider peer and psychological support as well as shared decision-making, therapeutic patient education and dermatologist involvement improves outcomes. Holistic history-taking, checklists, or the use of more formal QoL scoring tools can be incorporated into routine consultations to better assess patient well-being and provide clinicians with important information for adapting treatment to individual patient requirements. In conclusion, this review highlights the overall impact of skin conditions (including psychological and QoL impacts) and the importance of providing holistic care to optimize treatment outcomes. A comprehensive QoL screening tool would be useful to help provide patient-centered treatment.Keywords: quality of life, acne, atopic dermatitis, scars, burns, skin toxicities

A novel oxygen selective highly hydrophobic membrane is prepared by non-solvent induced phase separation in which a dextrin-based nanosponge is incorporated into a poly(vinylidene fluoride co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) matrix. The membrane presents high capability to entrap moisture from air as well as good hydrophobic behaviour. The membrane was assembled in a pouch type Li–air cell, which was cycled in a galvanostatic mode at curtailed capacity, in air with 17% relative humidity (RH). Owing to the protection of the membrane, the Li–air cell was able to discharge and re-charge for approximately 145 cycles, which correspond to about 1450 h of cell operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé Le vismodegib, inhibiteur de la voie de signalisation hedgehog, est une nouvelle option thérapeutique dans les carcinomes basocellulaires localement avancés (CBCLa) pour lesquels la chirurgie ou la radiothérapie ne sont pas appropriés. Sa prescription doit faire l’objet d’une décision en réunion de concertation pluridisciplinaire. Si les taux de réponse sont élevés avec une efficacité rapide et prolongée, les réponses complètes sont rares. D’autre part, les effets secondaires fréquents peuvent limiter la poursuite du traitement ou faire discuter des traitements séquentiels. Nous rapportons deux observations qui illustrent la gravité potentielle des CBCLa, tumeurs négligées par les patients et leur entourage rendant alors leur prise en charge chirurgicale impossible ou délabrante sans garantie carcinologique. Ces observations illustrent l’indication du vismodegib et la possibilité d’utiliser une radiothérapie en association ou en relais, après obtention d’une réduction tumorale sous vismodegib. Un tel traitement doit être connu des chirurgiens prenant en charge les CBCLa, à la fois comme alternative mais aussi comme possible traitement néoadjuvant dont la place à ce titre est en cours d’évaluation. Summary The vismodegib, inhibitor of the hedgehog signaling pathway, is a new therapeutic option in locally advanced BCC when surgery or radiotherapy are inappropriate. If the response rate is high with rapid and sustained efficacy, complete responses are rare. Furthermore, the common side effects may limit continuous and prolonged treatment and lead to discuss sequential treatments. We report two cases that illustrate the severity of LaCBC, tumors neglected by patients and their families limiting therapeutic choice especially surgery that become impossible and for which vismodegib is indicated. These observations illustrate the possible interest of radiotherapy in combination or after tumor debulking by vismodegib. Vismodegib must be known by surgeons for LaCBC, mainly as an alternative beyond surgery but also as a possible neoadjuvant treatment to surgery that have to be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium–oxygen (Li–O 2 ) battery is considered as one of the most promising technologies among various electrochemical energy systems, since it can offer much higher theoretical energy density than the conventional lithium-ion battery. However, a high voltage gap between charge and discharge significantly limits the round-trip efficiency and cycle stability of Li–O 2 batteries. In the present work, mesoporous Co 3 O 4 is simply prepared and studied as a catalyst in Li–O 2 cells. The Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles possesses a high specific surface area and a spinel crystalline structure. Cyclic voltammetries demonstrate that mesoporous Co 3 O 4 catalyst enhances the kinetics for either oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) or oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Such excellent catalytic performance of Co 3 O 4 could be associated with its larger surface area and 3D ordered mesoporous structure. The electrode with mesoporous Co 3 O 4 exhibits a higher discharge capacity and lowers the over-potential for discharge process, compared with the pure carbon electrode. In Li–O 2 cells, the Co 3 O 4 cathodes show enhanced electrochemical performances, including a high round-trip efficiency and a prolonged cycle life. More than 65 stable cycles are observed with a Co 3 O 4 -catalyzed electrode, which could be attributed to the low recharge voltage, at which main side reactions due to decomposition of TEGDME-based electrolyte can be suppressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]