RF coil design strategies for improving SNR at the ultrahigh magnetic field of 10.5 Tesla.

Purpose: To develop multichannel transmit and receive arrays towards capturing the ultimate-intrinsic-SNR (uiSNR) at 10.5 Tesla (T) and to demonstrate the feasibility and potential of whole-brain, high-resolution human brain imaging at this high field strength. Methods: A dual row 16-channel self-decoupled transmit (Tx) array was converted to a 16Tx/Rx transceiver using custom transmit/receive switches. A 64-channel receive-only (64Rx) array was built to fit into the 16Tx/Rx array. Electromagnetic modeling and experiments were employed to define safe operation limits of the resulting 16Tx/80Rx array and obtain FDA approval for human use. Results: The 64Rx array alone captured approximately 50% of the central uiSNR at 10.5T while the identical 7T 64Rx array captured ∼76% of uiSNR at this lower field strength. The 16Tx/80Rx configuration brought the fraction of uiSNR captured at 10.5T to levels comparable to the performance of the 64Rx array at 7T. SNR data obtained at the two field strengths with these arrays displayed dependent increases over a large central region. Whole-brain high resolution T 2 * and T 1 weighted anatomical and gradient-recalled echo EPI BOLD fMRI images were obtained at 10.5T for the first time with such an advanced array, illustrating the promise of >10T fields in studying the human brain. Conclusion: We demonstrated the ability to approach the uiSNR at 10.5T over the human brain with a novel, high channel count array, achieving large SNR gains over 7T, currently the most commonly employed ultrahigh field platform, and demonstrate high resolution and high contrast anatomical and functional imaging at 10.5T.

Development and validation of a diagnostic model for predicting cervical lymph node metastasis in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objectives: The lymph node status is crucial for guiding the surgical approach for patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma (LHC). Nonetheless, occult lymph node metastasis presents challenges to assessment and treatment planning. This study seeks to develop and validate a diagnostic model for evaluating cervical lymph node status in LHC patients. Materials and methods: This study retrospectively analyzed a total of 285 LHC patients who were treated at the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, from January 2015 to December 2020. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to construct the predictive model. Discrimination and calibration were used to assess the predictive performance of the model. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was performed to evaluate the clinical utility of the model, and validation was conducted using 10-fold cross-validation, Leave-One-Out Cross Validation, and bootstrap methods. Results: This study identified significant predictors of lymph node metastasis in LHC. A diagnostic predictive model was developed and visualized using a nomogram. The model demonstrated excellent discrimination, with a C-index of 0.887 (95% CI: 0.835-0.933). DCA analysis indicated its practical applicability, and multiple validation methods confirmed its fitting and generalization ability. Conclusion: This study successfully established and validated a diagnostic predictive model for cervical lymph node metastasis in LHC. The visualized nomogram provides a convenient tool for personalized prediction of cervical lymph node status in patients, particularly in the context of occult cervical lymph node metastasis, offering valuable guidance for clinical treatment decisions.

Islet-Resident Memory T Cells Orchestrate the Immunopathogenesis of Type 1 Diabetes through the FABP4-CXCL10 Axis.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic disease characterized by self-destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic ß cells by cytotoxic T cell activity. However, the pathogenic mechanism of T cell infiltration remains obscure. Recently, tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells have been shown to contribute to cytotoxic T cell recruitment. TRM cells are found present in human pancreas and are suggested to modulate immune homeostasis. Here, the role of TRM cells in the development of T1D is investigated. The presence of TRM cells in pancreatic islets is observed in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice before T1D onset. Mechanistically, elevated fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) potentiates the survival and alarming function of TRM cells by promoting fatty acid utilization and C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10) secretion, respectively. In NOD mice, genetic deletion of FABP4 or depletion of TRM cells using CD69 neutralizing antibodies resulted in a similar reduction of pancreatic cytotoxic T cell recruitment, a delay in diabetic incidence, and a suppression of CXCL10 production. Thus, targeting FABP4 may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for T1D.

HER2/PI3K/AKT pathway in HER2-positive breast cancer: A review.

Breast cancer is currently the most commonly occurring cancer globally. Among breast cancer cases, the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer accounts for 15% to 20% and is a crucial focus in the treatment of breast cancer. Common HER2-targeted drugs approved for treating early and/or advanced breast cancer include trastuzumab and pertuzumab, which effectively improve patient prognosis. However, despite treatment, most patients with terminal HER2-positive breast cancer ultimately suffer death from the disease due to primary or acquired drug resistance. The prevalence of aberrantly activated the protein kinase B (AKT) signaling in HER2-positive breast cancer was already observed in previous studies. It is well known that p-AKT expression is linked to an unfavorable prognosis, and the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway, as the most common mutated pathway in breast cancer, plays a major role in the mechanism of drug resistance. Therefore, in the current review, we summarize the molecular alterations present in HER2-positive breast cancer, elucidate the relationships between HER2 overexpression and alterations in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and the pathways of the alterations in breast cancer, and summarize the resistant mechanism of drugs targeting the HER2-AKT pathway, which will provide an adjunctive therapeutic rationale for subsequent resistance to directed therapy in the future.

Characterization of a polysaccharide from Amauroderma rugosum and its proangiogenic activities in vitro and in vivo.

Amauroderma rugosum (AR), also known as "Blood Lingzhi" in Chinese, is a basidiomycete belonging to the Ganodermataceae family. Four polysaccharide fractions were systematically isolated and purified from AR. Subsequently, their compositions were examined and analyzed via high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC), analysis of the monosaccharide composition, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The zebrafish model was then used to screen for proangiogenic activities of polysaccharides by inducing vascular insufficiency with VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor II (VRI). The third fraction of AR polysaccharides (PAR-3) demonstrated the most pronounced proangiogenic effects, effectively ameliorating VRI-induced intersegmental vessel deficiency in zebrafish. Concurrently, the mRNA expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and VEGF receptors were upregulated by PAR-3. Moreover, the proliferation, migration, invasion, and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were also stimulated by PAR-3, consistently demonstrating that PAR-3 possesses favorable proangiogenic properties. The activation of the Akt, ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and FAK was most likely the underlying mechanism. In conclusion, this study establishes that PAR-3 isolated from Amauroderma rugosum exhibits potential as a bioresource for promoting angiogenesis.

Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in optimizing the diagnosis of ascitic infection in patients with liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is an emerging technique for the clinical diagnosis of infectious disease that has rarely been used for the diagnosis of ascites infection in patients with cirrhosis. This study compared mNGS detection with conventional culture methods for the on etiological diagnosis of cirrhotic ascites and evaluated the clinical effect of mNGS. METHODS: A total of 109 patients with ascites due to cirrhosis were included in the study. We compared mNGS with conventional culture detection by analyzing the diagnostic results, pathogen species and clinical effects. The influence of mNGS on the diagnosis and management of ascites infection in patients with cirrhosis was also evaluated. RESULTS: Ascites cases were classified into three types: spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) (16/109, 14.7%), bacterascites (21/109, 19.3%) and sterile ascites (72/109, 66.1%). In addition, 109 patients were assigned to the ascites mNGS-positive group (80/109, 73.4%) or ascites mNGS-negative group (29/109, 26.6%). The percentage of positive mNGS results was significantly greater than that of traditional methods (73.4% vs. 28.4%, P < 0.001). mNGS detected 43 strains of bacteria, 9 strains of fungi and 8 strains of viruses. Fourteen bacterial strains and 3 fungal strains were detected via culture methods. Mycobacteria, viruses, and pneumocystis were detected only by the mNGS method. The mNGS assay produced a greater polymicrobial infection rate than the culture method (55% vs. 16%). Considering the polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) counts, the overall percentage of pathogens detected by the two methods was comparable, with 87.5% (14/16) in the PMN ≥ 250/mm3 group and 72.0% (67/93) in the PMN < 250/mm3 group (P > 0.05). Based on the ascites PMN counts combined with the mNGS assay, 72 patients (66.1%) were diagnosed with ascitic fluid infection (AFI) (including SBP and bacterascites), whereas based on the ascites PMN counts combined with the culture assay, 37 patients (33.9%) were diagnosed with AFI (P < 0.05). In 60 (55.0%) patients, the mNGS assay produced positive clinical effects; 40 (85.7%) patients had their treatment regimen adjusted, and 48 patients were improved. The coincidence rate of the mNGS results and clinical findings was 75.0% (60/80). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with conventional culture methods, mNGS can improve the detection rate of ascites pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and has significant advantages in the diagnosis of rare pathogens and pathogens that are difficult to culture; moreover, mNGS may be an effective method for improving the diagnosis of ascites infection in patients with cirrhosis, guiding early antibiotic therapy, and for reducing complications related to abdominal infection. In addition, explaining mNGS results will be challenging, especially for guiding the treatment of infectious diseases.

CHD2 Regulates Neuron-glioma Interactions in Pediatric Glioma.

High-grade gliomas (HGG) are deadly diseases for both adult and pediatric patients. Recently, it has been shown that neuronal activity promotes progression of multiple subgroups of HGG. However, epigenetic mechanisms that govern this process remain elusive. Here we report that the chromatin remodeler CHD2 regulates neuron-glioma interactions in diffuse midline glioma (DMG) characterized by onco-histone H3.1K27M. Depletion of CHD2 in H3.1K27M DMG cells compromises cell viability and neuron-to-glioma synaptic connections in vitro, neuron-induced proliferation of H3.1K27M DMG cells in vitro and in vivo, activity-dependent calcium transients in vivo, and extends the survival of H3.1K27M DMG-bearing mice. Mechanistically, CHD2 coordinates with the transcription factor FOSL1 to control the expression of axon-guidance and synaptic genes in H3.1K27M DMG cells. Together, our study reveals a mechanism whereby CHD2 controls the intrinsic gene program of the H3.1K27M DMG subtype, which in turn regulates the tumor growth-promoting interactions of glioma cells with neurons.

Mechanistic and Functional Studies on the Microbial Induction of Wolfiporia cocos Liquid Fermentation Products.

Liquid fermentation is an efficient culture for obtaining polysaccharides from edible mushrooms. In this study, the polysaccharide content and biomass were examined by introducing microorganisms into the Wolfiporia cocos fermentation system. Three edible mushroom co-fermentation systems were established, among which the Wolfiporia cocos-Ganoderma lucidum co-fermentation system significantly increased the mycelial biomass of the system by 57.71% compared to Wolfiporia cocos alone and 91.22% compared to Ganoderma lucidum alone, and the intracellular polysaccharide content was significantly increased. Physiological activities of polysaccharides showed that mycelial polysaccharides in the Wolfiporia cocos-Ganoderma lucidum system had stronger anti-tumor cell value-adding and anti-tumor cell migration activities compared with Wolfiporia cocos and Ganoderma lucidum fermentation alone. The transcriptomic study of Wolfiporia cocos mycelium induced by exogenous substances suggested that the exogenous substances could enhance the intracellular polysaccharide content of Wolfiporia cocos through the upregulation of the expression of α-glycosyltransferase encoded by ALG10 and the downregulation of α-glycosidases encoded by MAN1B in the glycolytic metabolism of Wolfiporia cocos. This study provides a new direction for the transformation of polysaccharides from Wolfiporia cocos and Ganoderma lucidum into functional foods and new product development, and provides an experimental basis.

Understanding vegetation phenology responses to easily ignored climate factors in china's mid-high latitudes.

Previous studies have primarily focused on the influence of temperature and precipitation on phenology. It is unclear if the easily ignored climate factors with drivers of vegetation growth can effect on vegetation phenology. In this research, we conducted an analysis of the start (SOS) and end (EOS) of the growing seasons in the northern region of China above 30°N from 1982 to 2014, focusing on two-season vegetation phenology. We examined the response of vegetation phenology of different vegetation types to preseason climatic factors, including relative humidity (RH), shortwave radiation (SR), maximum temperature (Tmax), and minimum temperature (Tmin). Our findings reveal that the optimal preseason influencing vegetation phenology length fell within the range of 0-60 days in most areas. Specifically, SOS exhibited a significant negative correlation with Tmax and Tmin in 44.15% and 42.25% of the areas, respectively, while EOS displayed a significant negative correlation with SR in 49.03% of the areas. Additionally, we identified that RH emerged as the dominant climatic factor influencing the phenology of savanna (SA), whereas temperature strongly controlled the SOS of deciduous needleleaf forest (DNF) and deciduous broadleaf forest (DBF). Meanwhile, the EOS of DNF was primarily influenced by Tmax. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into how various vegetation types adapt to climate change, offering a scientific basis for implementing effective vegetation adaptation measures.

The Liquid-Fermentation Formulation of Sanghuangporus sanghuang Optimized by Response Surface Methodology and Evaluation of Biological Activity of Extracellular Polysaccharides.

Sanghuangporus sanghuang is a rare fungus growing on mulberry trees that has immense medicinal value. This study aimed to optimize the liquid-fermentation-media formulation and culture conditions for large-scale culturing of S. sanghuang by performing one-way testing and response surface methodology. The antioxidant and anticancer activities of the extracellular polysaccharides from S. sanghuang were also analyzed. The optimal formulation and growth conditions for S. sanghuang were as follows: glucose, 30.2 ± 0.37 g/L; yeast extract, 14.60 ± 0.05 g/L; dandelion powder, 1.24 ± 0.01 g/L; shaker speed, 150 r/min; and temperature, 25 °C. We obtained 13.99 ± 0.42 g/L of mycelium biomass by culturing S. sanghuang for 15 days with the optimized formulation. This was 2-fold higher than the mycelial mass obtained with the sub-optimal formulation. The extracellular fungal polysaccharides showed significant antioxidant activity against ABTS and DPPH free radicals, and significantly reduced the in vitro growth and survival of several cancer cell lines. The anticancer activity of the extracellular fungal polysaccharides was significantly higher in the human glioma cells than in other cancer cell lines. In summary, this study optimized the liquid media formulation and conditions for the large-scale culturing of S. sanghuang. Furthermore, the extracellular polysaccharides from S. sanghuang showed significant antioxidant and anticancer activities.

Intrinsic edge states and strain-tunable spin textures in the Janus 1T-VTeCl monolayer.

Using first-principles calculations and micro-magnetic simulations, we investigate the electronic structures, the effect of biaxial strain on the topological characteristics, magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE), Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) and spin textures in the Janus 1T phase VTeCl (1T-VTeCl) monolayer. Our results show that 1T-VTeCl has an intrinsic edge state, and a topological phase transition with a sizeable band gap is achieved by applying biaxial strain. Interestingly, the MAE can be switched from the in-plane to the off-plane with a compressive strain of -5%. Microscopically, the origin of MAE is mainly associated with the large spin-orbit coupling (SOC) from the heavy nonmagnetic Te atoms rather than that from the V atoms. Furthermore, the induced DMI (0.09 meV) can occur stabilizing magnetic merons without applying temperatures and magnetic fields. Then, the skyrmions, frustrated antiferromagnetism and vortex are induced after applying a suitable compressive strain. Our study provides compelling evidence that the 1T-VTeCl monolayer with topological properties holds great potential for application in spintronic devices, as well as information storage devices based on different magnetic phases achievable through strain engineering.

Genetic Parameters of Semen Traits and Their Correlations with Conformation Traits in Chinese Holstein Bulls.

The elite bull plays an extremely important role in the genetic progression of the dairy cow population. The previous results indicated the potential positive relationship of large scrotal circumference (SC) with improved semen volume, concentration, and motility. In order to improve bull's semen quantity and quality by selection, it is necessary to estimate the genetic parameters of semen traits and their correlations with other conformation traits such as SC that could be used for an indirect selection. In this study, the genetic parameters of seven semen traits (n = 66,260) and nine conformation traits (n = 3,642) of Holstein bulls (n = 453) were estimated by using the bivariate repeatability animal model with the average information-restricted maximum likelihood (AI-REML) approach. The results showed that the estimated heritabilities of semen traits ranged from 0.06 (total number of motile sperm, TNMS) to 0.37 (percentage of abnormal sperm, PAS) and conformation traits ranged from 0.23 (pin width, PW) to 0.69 (hip height, HH). The highest genetic correlations were found between semen volume per ejaculation (SVPE), semen concentration per ejaculation (SCPE), total number of sperm (TNS), and TNMS traits that were 0.97, 0.98, 1.00, and 0.99, respectively. Phenotypic correlations between SC and SVPE, SCPE, TNS, and TNMS were 0.35, 0.35, 0.48, and 0.42, respectively. In summary, the moderate or high heritability of semen traits indicates that genetic improvement of semen quality by selection is feasible, where SC could be a useful trait for indirect selection or as correlated information to improve semen quantity and production in the practical bull breeding programs.

Anti-metastatic effects of AGS-30 on breast cancer through the inhibition of M2-like macrophage polarization.

AGS-30, a new andrographolide derivative, showed significant anticancer and anti-angiogenic characteristics. However, its role in controlling macrophage polarization and tumor immune response is unknown. Thus, the main goals of this study are to investigate how AGS-30 regulates macrophage polarization and how it suppresses breast cancer metastasis. AGS-30 inhibited IL-4 and IL-13-induced RAW 264.7 and THP-1 macrophages into M2-like phenotype. However, AGS-30 did not affect the LPS and IFN-γ-induced polarization of M1-like macrophages. AGS-30 reduced the mRNA expressions of CD206, Arg-1, Fizz-1, Ym-1, VEGF, IL-10, MMP2, and MMP9 in M2-like macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, andrographolide treatment at 5 µM did not affect M1-like and M2-like macrophage polarization. The conditioned medium from M2-like macrophages increased 4T1 breast cancer cell migration and invasion, whereas AGS-30 inhibited these effects. In the 4T1 breast tumor xenograft mice, the tumor volume and weight were reduced without affecting body weight after receiving AGS-30. AGS-30 treatment also reduced lung and liver metastasis, with reduced STAT6, CD31, VEGF, and Ki67 protein expressions. Moreover, the tumors had considerably fewer M2-like macrophages and Arg-1 expression, but the proportion of M1-like macrophages and iNOS expression increased after AGS-30 treatment. Same results were found in the tail vein metastasis model. In conclusion, this study shows that AGS-30 inhibits breast cancer growth and metastasis, probably through inhibiting M2-like macrophage polarization. Our findings suggest that AGS-30 may be a potential immunotherapeutic alternative for metastatic breast cancer.

The possible influence of third-order shim coils on gradient-magnet interactions: an inter-field and inter-site study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the possible influence of third-order shim coils on the behavior of the gradient field and in gradient-magnet interactions at 7 T and above. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gradient impulse response function measurements were performed at 5 sites spanning field strengths from 7 to 11.7 T, all of them sharing the same exact whole-body gradient coil design. Mechanical fixation and boundary conditions of the gradient coil were altered in several ways at one site to study the impact of mechanical coupling with the magnet on the field perturbations. Vibrations, power deposition in the He bath, and field dynamics were characterized at 11.7 T with the third-order shim coils connected and disconnected inside the Faraday cage. RESULTS: For the same whole-body gradient coil design, all measurements differed greatly based on the third-order shim coil configuration (connected or not). Vibrations and gradient transfer function peaks could be affected by a factor of 2 or more, depending on the resonances. Disconnecting the third-order shim coils at 11.7 T also suppressed almost completely power deposition peaks at some frequencies. DISCUSSION: Third-order shim coil configurations can have major impact in gradient-magnet interactions with consequences on potential hardware damage, magnet heating, and image quality going beyond EPI acquisitions.

Circ0060467 sponges miR-6805 to promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression through regulating AIFM2 and GPX4 expression.

BACKGROUND: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) represent a subset of non-coding RNAs implicated in the regulation of diverse biological processes, including tumorigenesis. However, the expression and functional implications of circ0060467 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain elusive. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the role of circ0060467 in modulating the progression of HCC. METHODS: Differentially expressed circRNAs in HCC tissues were identified through circRNA microarray assays. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays revealed the upregulation of circ0060467 in both HCC cell lines and tissues. Various assays were conducted to investigate the roles of circ0060467 in HCC progression. Additionally, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays and luciferase assays were carried out to assess the interactions between circ0060467, microRNA-6085 (miR-6085), apoptosis-inducing factor mitochondria-associated 2 (AIFM2), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in HCC. RESULTS: Microarray and qRT-PCR analyses demonstrated a marked elevation of circ0060467 in HCC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of circ0060467 suppressed HCC cell proliferation. Luciferase reporter and RIP assays confirmed the binding of circ0060467, AIFM2, and GPX4 to miR-6805. Subsequent experiments revealed that circ0060467 competes with AIFM2 and GPX4, thereby inhibiting cancer cell ferroptosis by binding to miR-6085 and promoting hepatocellular carcinoma progression. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, circ0060467 modulates the levels of AIFM2 and GPX4, crucial regulators of tumor cell ferroptosis, by acting as a sponge for miR-6085 in HCC. Thus, circ0060467 may represent a novel diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for HCC.

Strain Regulation and Defect Passivation of FA-Based Perovskite Materials for Highly Efficient Solar Cells.

Formamidine lead triiodide (FAPbI3 ) perovskites have attracted increasing interest for photovoltaics attributed to the optimal bandgap, high thermal stability, and the record power conversion efficiency (PCE). However, the materials still face several key challenges, such as phase transition, lattice defects, and ion migration. Therefore, external ions (e.g., cesium ions (Cs+ )) are usually introduced to promote the crystallization and enhance the phase stability. Nevertheless, the doping of Cs+ into the A-site easily leads to lattice compressive strain and the formation of pinholes. Herein, trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) is introduced into the precursor to provide tensile strain outside the perovskite lattice through intermolecular forces. The special strain compensation strategy further improves the crystallization of perovskite and inhibits the ion migration. Moreover, the TOPO molecule significantly passivates grain boundaries and undercoordinated Pb2+ defects via the forming of P═O─Pb bond. As a result, the target solar cell devices with the synergistic effect of Cs+ and TOPO additives have achieved a significantly improved PCE of 22.71% and a high open-circuit voltage of 1.16 V (voltage deficit of 0.36 V), with superior stability under light exposure, heat, or humidity conditions.

Exceptional Hole-Selective Properties of Ta2O5 Films via Sn4+ Doping for High Performance Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells.

Carrier-selective passivating contacts using transition metal oxides (TMOs) have attracted great attention for crystalline silicon (c-Si) heterojunction solar cells recently. Among them, tantalum oxide (Ta2O5) exhibits outstanding advantages, such as a wide bandgap, good surface passivation, and a small conduction band offset with c-Si, which is typically used as an electron-selective contact layer. Interestingly, it is first demonstrated that solution-processed Ta2O5 films exhibit a high hole selectivity, which blocks electrons and promotes hole transport simultaneously. Through the ozone pre-treatment of Ta2O5/p-Si interface and optimization of the film thickness (≈9 nm), the interfacial recombination is suppressed and the contact resistivity is reduced from 178.0 to 29.3 mΩ cm2. Moreover, the Sn4+ doping increases both the work function and oxygen vacancies of the film, contributing to the improved hole-selective contact performance. As a result, the photoelectric conversion efficiencies of Ta2O5/p-Si heterojunction solar cells are significantly improved from 14.84% to 18.47%, with a high thermal stability up to 300 °C. The work has provided a feasible strategy to explore new features of TMOs for carrier-selective contact applications, that is, bipolar carrier transport properties.

An updated meta-analysis of Chinese herbal medicine for the prevention of COVID-19 based on Western-Eastern medicine.

Background and aims: Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) was used to prevent and treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in clinical practices. Many studies have demonstrated that the combination of CHM and Western medicine can be more effective in treating COVID-19 compared to Western medicine alone. However, evidence-based studies on the prevention in undiagnosed or suspected cases remain scarce. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effectiveness of CHM in preventing recurrent, new, or suspected COVID-19 diseases. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search using ten databases including articles published between December 2019 and September 2023. This search aimed to identify studies investigating the use of CHM to prevent COVID-19. Heterogeneity was assessed by a random-effects model. The relative risk (RR) and mean differences were calculated using 95% confidence intervals (CI). The modified Jadad Scale and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) were employed to evaluate the quality of randomized controlled trials and cohort studies, respectively. Results: Seventeen studies with a total of 47,351 patients were included. Results revealed that CHM significantly reduced the incidence of COVID-19 (RR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.11-0.53, p = 0.0004), influenza (RR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.18-0.76, p = 0.007), and severe pneumonia exacerbation rate (RR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.05-0.64, p = 0.009) compared to non-treatment or conventional control group. Evidence evaluation indicated moderate quality evidence for COVID-19 incidence and serum complement components C3 and C4 in randomized controlled trials. For the incidence of influenza and severe pneumonia in RCTs as well as the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ lymphocytes, the evidence quality was low. The remaining outcomes including the disappearance rate of symptoms and adverse reactions were deemed to be of very low quality. Conclusion: CHM presents a promising therapeutic option for the prevention of COVID-19. However, additional high-quality clinical trials are needed to further strengthen evidential integrity.