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Objective To share our experience of percutaneous or transthoracic closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) and ventricular septal defect (VSD) supported by echocardiography guidance. Methods From December 2010 to September 2019, 54 patients of congenital heart disease (30 cases of isolated atrial septal defect, 24 cases of ventricular septal defect) were treated with surgical operation by occluder under guidance of echocardiography closed without cardiopulmonary bypass. Fourteen cases of ASD were performed device closure through a small right sternal margin thoracotomy incision at the forth intercostal space, 16 cases of ASD underwent percutaneous occlusion surgery, and 24 cases of VSD were closed through small incision under the xiphoid process. Results The operations were successful in the 24 cases of VSD. One of the cases with minimally incision ASD occlusion was displaced 7 hours after operation, the occluder was taken out and ASD was repaired under cardiopulmonary bypass in emergency. There were 13 cases of successful occlusion and 3 cases of failure in percutaneous ASD closure patients. Among three cases, 2 cases underwent ASD closed through transthoracic closure and 1 case underwent open surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass successfully. The 46 cases were followed up for 3-103 months, with an average of (21.3±16.2)months. No occluder displacement, shedding, significant residual shunt were observed. Conclusions Echocardiography-guided percutaneous atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect is safe and effective without radiation and CPB. Percutaneous closure of atrial septal defect is suitable for children over 3 years. Atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect occlusion through small thoracic incision is feasible and easy to operate in other healthcare institutions.

The outstanding photovoltaic characteristics of lead halide perovskites have made them a potential class of materials for upcoming optoelectronic applications. However, a major obstacle to the practical use of lead halide perovskites is the inherent toxicity and low environmental stability of lead. The exploration and development of nontoxic and stable alternatives for lead halide perovskites has therefore become an urgent and critical goal in the field of photovoltaics. In this paper, blue lead-free Cs3Cu2I5 nanocrystals (NCs) with bright emission were prepared by using KI as a metal additive through an improved thermal injection strategy. A breakthrough in the previous photoluminescence quantum (PLQY) yield of 97.2% was achieved when the content of KI was optimized to be 8%. Detailed experimental and theoretical studies have also been combined to conclude that the KI additive acts to passivate surface defects and that the broad-spectrum blue emission originates from self-trapped excitons. When combined with commercial indium tin oxide (ITO), the device may achieve broad-spectrum blue electroluminescence. Its low production cost and simple structure are its main features. Furthermore, we were able to improve the utilization of high-energy ultraviolet energy and overcome the weak absorption of short-wavelength silicon-based solar cells by using nanocrystals as down-conversion luminescent materials in conjunction with silicon-based solar cells. This increased the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) for the solar cells through approximately 0.5%. The result was achieved through the principle of down-conversion. Therefore, fully inorganic metal halide Cs3Cu2I5: K+ nanocrystals have great potential for future electroluminescence and photovoltaic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is involved in hypertension, myocardial infarction and heart failure. It has been reported that circular RNA (circRNA) is a key regulatory factor of MF progression. In this study, we revealed that circ_0002295 and CXCR2 were elevated, and miR‐1287 was reduced in MF patients. Knockdown of circ_0002295 effectively suppressed the proliferation, migration and MF progression. Circ_0002295 was the molecular sponge of miR‐12878, and miR‐1287 inhibitor reversed the biological functions of circ_0002295 on the myocardial fibrosis. CXCR2 was a target gene of miR‐1287, and CXCR2 silencing relieved the impacts of miR‐1287 inhibitor on cardiac myofibroblasts. Circ_0002295 promoted MF progression by regulating the miR‐1287/CXCR2 axis, providing a possible circRNA‐targeted therapy for MF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Coulomb effect is a particularly significant topic in quasi-two-dimensional systems. Here, we carried out comprehensive measurements of electrical transport properties of fewer-layer PtSe 2 films with and without antidot arrays. For as-grown PtSe 2 films, the sheet conductance σ □ varies linearly with the logarithm of temperature at low temperature, which can be well described by the Altshuler and Aronov electron-electron interaction (EEI) effect, and then the result was further quantitatively confirmed by the ratios of a relative change of the Hall coefficient Δ R H / R H to that of sheet resistance Δ R □ / R □. While after milling of antidot arrays the PtSe 2 film possesses inhomogeneous structure, it still presents metallic transport behavior. The overall σ □ and R H characteristics can be explained by the current EEI theories in granular metals. Our results not only reveal the fundamental physics of PtSe 2 films, but also provide powerful experimental evidence for the presence of the Coulomb EEI effect in the family of transition metal dichalcogenides. This work presents the subtle change of charge transport properties by introducing antidot arrays, which may be of benefit in improving sensitivity and stability of nanoscale electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors to perioperative chemotherapy in operable gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer has become one of the research hotspots, while reliable biomarkers for efficacy are lacking. We conducted a phase 1 trial to assess the safety and efficacy of LP002, an anti‐PD‐L1 antibody, plus chemotherapy as perioperative treatment in patients with gastric or GEJ cancer. Methods: We enrolled patients with resectable and PD‐L1 positive gastric or GEJ cancers. Eligible patients received three preoperative and six postoperative cycles of intravenous LP002 with cisplatin and 5‐fluorouracil, repeated every 2 weeks. The primary endpoint was safety. Secondary endpoints included rate of margin‐free (R0) resection and pathological complete response (pCR). We also characterized changes in the tumor immune microenvironment using multiplex immunofluorescence (MIF) staining and next‐generation sequencing (NGS) with pre‐ and post‐treatment tumor samples. Results: Thirty patients were enrolled, of whom 28 had GEJ cancer. With a median follow‐up of 7.9 months, all patients completed preoperative treatment, and 27 patients underwent surgery. Twenty‐four patients underwent R0 resection. Six patients (20.0%) had Mandard tumor regression grade (TRG) 1–3, including one achieving pCR. Twenty‐seven patients had treatment‐related adverse events (TRAEs), while grade 3–4 TRAEs were observed in 11 patients. No treatment‐related deaths occurred. MIF staining revealed that TRG 1–3 group was associated with a higher density of PD‐L1+/CD68+ cells in the pre‐treatment tumor parenchyma than TRG 4–5 group (p = 0.048). NGS studies with paired pre‐ and post‐treatment tumor samples revealed the disappearance of pre‐existing mutations, the emergence of new mutations, and variations in the abundance of mutations after preoperative LP002 and chemotherapy. Meanwhile, tumor mutational burden decreased in patients with TRG 1–3 (p = 0.0313). Conclusions: LP002 plus cisplatin and 5‐fluorouracil are safe in patients with gastric or GEJ cancer, and patient selection via appropriate biomarkers is needed in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead halide perovskites have garnered widespread attention because of their excellent photoelectric and photonic properties. However, their material fabrications and optoelectronic applications are hindered by low stability. Nanoriveted structure perovskites with high stability and long afterglow dual-wavelength emission are synthesized using a shared ion strategy of perovskites and phosphors. The CsPbBr3/CsCaAl2O4:Nd,Er nanoriveted structure perovskites exhibit dual-wavelength emission of blue and green during photoexcitation, as well as a prolonged afterglow. The fabricated flexible electroluminescent devices have spectrally tunable and dual-wavelength emissions even at 60° bending. Because the CsPbBr3 quantum dots (QDs) capture the photon emitted from Er element, the electroluminescent devices retain observable dual-wavelength emissions and high synchronization in their afterglow, which decays after the removal of power. The CsPbBr3/CsCaAl2O4:Nd,Er nanoriveted structure perovskites can also be used as the light-emitting downshift layers to improve the performance of photovoltaic modules in photovoltaic devices. At cryogenic temperatures, the temperature-dependent photoluminescence spectra test reveals the energy transfer between CsPbBr3 QDs and CsCaAl2O4:Nd,Er (contradicts the energy transfer in the afterglow state). These discoveries overcome the limitations of conventional afterglow phosphors, provide new applications for long afterglow materials, and introduce an innovative approach to energy conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead‐free halide double perovskites continue to draw increasing attention in view of their nontoxicity and stability compared to lead‐based perovskites. High‐end full‐color displays and white light illumination are based on blue‐light excitation. However, the excitation of blue light of lead‐free halide double perovskites Cs2AgInCl6 at room temperature faces a great challenge, which is crucial to its commercial application. In this study, Cs2Ag0.6Na0.4In0.8Bi0.2Cl6/xKBr(KI), which can be excited under blue light, have been synthesized by solid‐phase compression method. Under blue‐light excitation, Cs2Ag0.6Na0.4In0.8Bi0.2Cl6/16KBr and Cs2Ag0.6Na0.4In0.8Bi0.2Cl6/16KI emit 605 nm orange light and 665 nm red light, respectively. Based on that, orange and red light‐emitting devices are fabricated excited by blue light. The performance of blue‐light excitation can not only make the double perovskites widely used in light‐emitting devices, but also as a light‐emitting down‐shift layer in photovoltaic devices to improve the performance of photovoltaic modules. With the Cs2Ag0.6Na0.4In0.8Bi0.2Cl6/16KBr, the power conversion efficiency of the Si solar cell increases 4.80% and 8.14% under the sunlight and white light‐emitting devices, respectively. The blue‐light excitation of lead‐free double perovskites at room temperature offers greater development potential in the field of display devices and optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous investigations have shown that decreased expression of angiopoietin-like protein 3 (Angptl3) is protective against dyslipidemia in atherosclerosis. The present study was conducted to test the effect of 3,4,5,6- tetrahydroxyxanthone, a xanthone compound, on dyslipidemia in apolipoprotein E-deficient ([ApoE.sup.-/-]) mice. Forty mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 10): control group (C57BL/6J mice), [ApoE.sup.-/-] mice group, and two groups of [ApoE.sup.-/-] mice treated with 3,4,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone (10 or 30 mg/kg per day). Eight weeks after treatment, lipid levels in the blood and liver, expression of hepatic Angptl3, and adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase (LPL) were determined. Treatment with 3,4,5,6- tetrahydroxyxanthone (10 or 30 mg/kg) significantly decreased plasma and hepatic total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, increased plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and significantly downregulated expression of Angptl3 mRNA and protein concomitantly with upregulated expression of LPL mRNA. In addition, T0901317 (a liver X receptor ligand) caused elevated expression of hepatic Angptl3 mRNA and protein, and the effect of T0901317 was also abrogated by 3,4,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone in vivo and in vitro. The present results suggest that the beneficial effect of 3,4,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone on dyslipidemia may be related to reduced expression of Angptl3. Key words: 3,4,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone, angiopoietin-like protein 3, lipoprotein lipase, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Des etudes anterieures ont montre qu'une diminution de ''expression de la proteine de type angiopoietine 3 (Angptl3) a un effet protecteur contre la dyslipidemie dans 1' atherosclerose. La presente etude a eu pour but de verifier 1'effet du 3,4,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone, une compose xanthone, sur la dyslipidemie chez des souris ([ApoE.sup.-/-]) deficientes en apolipoproteine E. On a divise aleatoirement quarante souris en quatre groupes (n = 10) : groupe temoin (groupe de souris C57BL/6J), groupe [ApoE.sup.-/-], groupe traite an 3,4,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone (10 on 30 mg/kg par jour). Huit semaines apres le traitement, on a determine les taux de lipides dans le sang et le foie, ''expression sur ''Angptl3 hepatique et la lipoproteine lipase (LPL) du tissu adipeux. Le traitement an 3,4,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone (10 mg on 30 mg/kg) a diminue significativement le plasma, le cholesterol hepatique total, les concentrations de triglycerides, et augmente le cholesterol des lipoproteines de haute densite plasmatiques; il a aussi diminue de maniere significative ''expression de la proteine et de 1'ARNm de ''Angptl3, tout en augmentant ''expression de 1'ARNm de la LPL. Par ailleurs, le T0901317 a provoque une augmentation de ''expression de la proteine et de 1'ARNm de ''Angptl3; le 3,4,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone a supprime 1'effet du T0901317 in vivo et in vitro. Ces resultats laissent supposer que feffet benefique du 3,4,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone sur la dyslipidemie pourrait etre lie a la diminution de ''expression de 1'Angp13. Mots-cles : 3,4,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone, proteine de type angiopoietine 3, lipoproteine lipase, cholesterol total, triglyceride, cholesterol de la lipoproteine de haute densite, souris deficientes en apolipoproteine E. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction Dyslipidemia is marked by elevated levels of plasma cholesterol and (or) triglycerides (TG) or low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) that contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Previous studies [...]