Fire needle pretreatment with 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy combined with low-dose isotretinoin in the treatment of severe refractory nodulocystic acne.

BACKGROUND: Nodulocystic acne is a severe form of acne, which is commonly treated with oral isotretinoin, hormones, or antibiotics. However, drug therapy often has some side effects and poor compliance. Fire needle combined with 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) is a simple, effective, short-term treatment with few adverse reactions, which is expected to be an effective physiotherapy for nodulocystic acne. Moreover, the combination with isotretinoin can reduce the dosage of the drug, thereby reducing the side effects of isotretinoin. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of fire-needle pretreated ALA-PDT combined with low-dose isotretinoin in the treatment of severe refractory nodulocystic acne. METHODS: This study reported 10 patients with refractory nodulocystic acne who received combined treatment. During the treatment period, all patients received a low dose of oral isotretinoin capsules daily. The acne lesions were pretreated with fire needle before ALA-PDT treatment. The number of acne lesions, including papules, pustules, and nodular cysts, was documented at weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12 to assess the therapeutic efficacy. Concurrently, adverse reactions such as pain, pruritus, and pigmentation changes were recorded and evaluated throughout the treatment course. RESULTS: After combined treatment, all patients achieved good therapeutic effects, with an overall effective rate of 90 % at week 12. After treatment, skin lesions such as nodules, and cysts subsided significantly. The combination therapy has no serious adverse effects and has a favorable safety profile. CONCLUSION: Fire needle pretreatment ALA-PDT combined with low-dose isotretinoin is effective and safe in the treatment of severe refractory nodular cystic acne, which is worthy of clinical promotion and research.

An Ultra-Conductive and Patternable 40 nm-Thick Polymer Film for Reliable Emotion Recognition.

Understanding psychology is an important task in modern society which helps predict human behavior and provide feedback accordingly. Monitoring of weak psychological and emotional changes requires bioelectronic devices to be stretchable and compliant for unobtrusive and high-fidelity signal acquisition. Thin conductive polymer film is regarded as an ideal interface; however, it is very challenging to simultaneously balance mechanical robustness and opto-electrical property. Here, a 40 nm-thick film based on photolithographic double-network conductive polymer mediated by graphene layer is reported, which concurrently enables stretchability, conductivity, and conformability. Photolithographic polymer and graphene endow the film photopatternability, enhance stress dissipation capability, as well as improve opto-electrical conductivity (4458 S cm-1@>90% transparency) through molecular rearrangement by π-π interaction, electrostatic interaction, and hydrogen bonding. The film is further applied onto corrugated facial skin, the subtle electromyogram is monitored, and machine learning algorithm is performed to understand complex emotions, indicating the outstanding ability for stretchable and compliant bioelectronics.

Dermatology Consultation in the Geriatrics Department of a Tertiary Hospital in China: A Retrospective Study of 178 Patients.

Objective: Dermatological consultation plays an important role in diagnosing and treating skin diseases in the Department of Geriatrics. The objective of this study is to provide an analysis of the factors leading geriatric inpatients to seek dermatological consultation, aiming to facilitate accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of skin diseases by healthcare professionals specializing in geriatrics and dermatology. Methods: The electronic health records of hospitalized patients in the Department of Geriatrics who applied for dermatological consultation at the Second Hospital of Shandong University from June 1, 2022, to June 1, 2023, were retrieved. Sex, age, number of consultations, reason for dermatology consultation, and final diagnosis by dermatologists were reviewed. Results: A total of 216 consultations of 178 patients (n=178, 95 men and 83 women) were collected in this study, of whom 153 (86.0%) required only one consultation, 19 (10.7%) required two consultations, and 4 (2.2%) required three consultations. The reasons for dermatology consultations were divided into three categories: the first was for the definitive diagnosis of a new skin condition that developed during the patient's hospitalization (n=165, 76.4%), the second was for the follow-up of the condition and adjustment of medication (n=40, 18.5%), and the third was for the evaluation of the patient's disease that existed before admission to the hospital (n=11, 5.1%). In 165 consultations, most of these diseases (n=131, 79.4%) can be diagnosed by patients' conscious symptoms and clinical manifestations. Some of them need to be diagnosed or differentially diagnosed with the help of supplementary examinations, such as microscopic examination of scabies or fungi, and pathological examination. Conclusion: This study summarized the reasons for dermatology consultations for geriatric inpatients and found that dermatitis/eczema and infectious diseases were the common types of diseases consulted. The findings of this study contribute to the enhanced comprehension and management of dermatological conditions in hospitalized patients by geriatricians, as well as facilitating more efficient diagnosis and treatment by dermatologists.

Zwitterionic Hydrogel Coating with Antisediment Properties for Marine Antifouling Applications.

Biofouling is a serious issue affecting the marine industry because the attached micro- and macrocontaminants can increase fuel consumption and damage ship hulls. A hydrophilic hydrogel-based coating is considered a promising antifouling material because it is environmentally friendly and the dense hydration layer can protect the substrate from microbial attachment. However, sediment adsorption can be an issue for hydrogel-based coatings. Their natural soft and porous structures can trap sediment from the marine environment and weaken the antifouling capability. There is still little research on the antisediment properties of hydrogels, and none of them deal with this problem. Here, we report on optimizing zwitterionic hydrogel-based coatings to improve their antisediment properties and achieve comparable performance to commercial biocidal coatings, which are the gold standard in the antifouling coating area. After 1 week of sediment contamination and 2 weeks of diatom coculturing, this optimized zwitterionic hydrogel coating maintained its antifouling properties with a few diatoms on the surface. Its large-scale samples also achieved antifouling performance similar to that of biocidal coatings in the Atlantic Ocean for 1.5 months. More importantly, our research provides a universal strategy to improve the antisediment properties of soft hydrogel-based coatings. For the first time, we report that the introduction of interfacial electrostatic interactions enhanced the antisediment properties of hydrogels.

Quercetin Inhibits Neuronal Pyroptosis and Ferroptosis by Modulating Microglial M1/M2 Polarization in Atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis (AS) with iron and lipid overload and systemic inflammation is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. M1 macrophage/microglia participate in neuronal pyroptosis and recently have been reported to be the ferroptosis-resistant phenotype. Quercetin plays a prominent role in preventing and treating neuroinflammation, but the protective mechanism against neurodegeneration caused by iron deposition is poorly understood. ApoE-/- mice were fed a high-fat diet with or without quercetin treatment. The Morris water maze and novel object recognition tests were conducted to assess spatial learning and memory, and nonspatial recognition memory, respectively. Prussian blue and immunofluorescence staining were performed to assess the iron levels in the whole brain and in microglia, microglia polarization, and the degree of microglia/neuron ferroptosis. In vitro, we further explored the molecular biological alterations associated with microglial polarization, neuronal pyroptosis, and ferroptosis via Western blot, flow cytometry, CCK8, LDH, propidium iodide, and coculture system. We found that quercetin improved brain lesions and spatial learning and memory in AS mice. Iron deposition in the whole brain or microglia was reversed by the quercetin treatment. In the AS group, the colocalization of iNOS with Iba1 was increased, which was reversed by quercetin. However, the colocalization of iNOS with PTGS2/TfR was not increased in the AS group, suggesting a character resisting ferroptosis. Quercetin induced the expression of Arg-1 and decreased the colocalizations of Arg-1 with PTGS2/TfR. In vitro, ox-LDL combined with ferric ammonium citrate treatment (OF) significantly shifted the microglial M1/M2 phenotype balance and increased the levels of free iron, ROS, and lipid peroxides, which was reversed by quercetin. M1 phenotype induced by OF caused neuronal pyroptosis and was promoted to ferroptosis by L-NIL treatment, which contributed to neuronal ferroptosis as well. However, quercetin induced the M1 to M2 phenotype and inhibited M2 macrophages/microglia and neuron pyroptosis or ferroptosis. In summary, quercetin alleviated neuroinflammation by inducing the M1 to M2 phenotype to inhibit neuronal pyroptosis and protected neurons from ferroptosis, which may provide a new idea for neuroinflammation prevention and treatment.

Ozonated Hydrotherapy Combined with LED Yellow Light Irradiation and Oral Minocycline Treatment for Mild to Moderate Papulopustular Rosacea: A Comparative Retrospective Study.

Objective and Design: The treatment of recurrent rosacea has always been a problem. Oral minocycline has been widely used in the treatment of rosacea. However, the efficacy and safety of ozonated hydrotherapy combined with LED yellow light irradiation and oral minocycline for mild to moderate papulopustular rosacea (PPR) has not been thoroughly studied. Methods: Patients with rosacea who met the criteria and had complete clinical statistic admitted to our hospital from April 2021 to September 2022 were retrospectively collected and divided into combined therapy group and oral only group. The patients in the two groups were treated with minocycline for 8 weeks. In addition, the patients in combined therapy group were treated with ozone hydrotherapy once a week, followed by LED yellow light irradiation for a total of 4 weeks. The Investigator' s global assessment (IGA) score was used to assess the condition. The efficacy was evaluated using the patients' subjective symptom scores. Skin lesion images and adverse reactions were recorded. The recurrence rate was observed after 24 weeks of follow-up. Results: A total of 39 patients included in the study. After 4 weeks of treatment, the effective rate was 90% in combined therapy group and 52.63% in oral only group (p<0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, the total score of the patients' subjective symptom scores and the scores of itching and burning sensation in combined therapy group were lower than those in oral only group (p<0.05). After 24 weeks of follow-up, the recurrence rate of combined therapy group was 5%, and that of oral only group was 26.32%. The mild adverse reactions experienced by both groups disappeared during follow-up. Conclusion: This combination therapy has a significant, rapid and safe therapeutic effect, especially in relieving itching and burning sensations, and may reduce the recurrence rate.

Transporting randomized trial results to estimate counterfactual survival functions in target populations.

When the distributions of treatment effect modifiers differ between a randomized trial and an external target population, the sample average treatment effect in the trial may be substantially different from the target population average treatment, and accurate estimation of the latter requires adjusting for the differential distribution of effect modifiers. Despite the increasingly rich literature on transportability, little attention has been devoted to methods for transporting trial results to estimate counterfactual survival functions in target populations, when the primary outcome is time to event and subject to right censoring. In this article, we study inverse probability weighting and doubly robust estimators to estimate counterfactual survival functions and the target average survival treatment effect in the target population, and provide their respective approximate variance estimators. We focus on a common scenario where the target population information is observed only through a complex survey, and elucidate how the survey weights can be incorporated into each estimator we considered. Simulation studies are conducted to examine the finite-sample performances of the proposed estimators in terms of bias, efficiency and coverage, under both correct and incorrect model specifications. Finally, we apply the proposed method to assess transportability of the results in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes-Blood Pressure (ACCORD-BP) trial to all adults with Diabetes in the United States.

Real-time correlation of crystallization and segmental order in conjugated polymers.

Modulating the segmental order in the morphology of conjugated polymers is widely recognized as a crucial factor for achieving optimal electronic properties and mechanical deformability. However, it is worth noting that the segmental order is typically associated with the crystallization process, which can result in rigid and brittle long-range ordered crystalline domains. To precisely control the morphology, a comprehensive understanding of how highly anisotropic conjugated polymers form segmentally ordered structures with ongoing crystallization is essential, yet currently elusive. To fill this knowledge gap, we developed a novel approach with a combination of stage-type fast scanning calorimetry and micro-Raman spectroscopy to capture the series of specimens with a continuum in the polymer percent crystallinity and detect the segmental order in real-time. Through the investigation of conjugated polymers with different backbones and side-chain structures, we observed a generally existing phenomenon that the degree of segmental order saturates before the maximum crystallinity is achieved. This disparity allows the conjugated polymers to achieve good charge carrier mobility while retaining good segmental dynamic mobility through the tailored treatment. Moreover, the crystallization temperature to obtain optimal segmental order can be predicted based on Tg and Tm of conjugated polymers. This in-depth characterization study provides fundamental insights into the evolution of segmental order during crystallization, which can aid in designing and controlling the optoelectronic and mechanical properties of conjugated polymers.

Recent advances in oral insulin delivery technologies.

With the rise in diabetes mellitus cases worldwide, oral delivery of insulin is preferred over subcutaneous insulin administration due to its good patient compliance and non-invasiveness, simplicity, and versatility. However, oral insulin delivery is hampered by various gastrointestinal barriers that result in low drug bioavailability and insufficient therapeutic efficiency. Numerous strategies have been developed to overcome these barriers and increase the bioavailability of oral insulin. Yet, no commercial oral insulin product is available to address all clinical hurdles because of various substantial obstacles related to the structural organization and physiological function of the gastrointestinal tract. Herein, we discussed the significant physiological barriers (including chemical, enzymatic, and physical barriers) that hinder the transportation and absorption of orally delivered insulin. Then, we showcased recent significant and innovative advances in oral insulin delivery technologies. Finally, we concluded the review with remarks on future perspectives on oral insulin delivery technologies and potential challenges for forthcoming clinical translation of oral insulin delivery technologies.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine vaccination coverage under varying prevalence Conditions: A cohort study in Beijing, China.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has experienced various phases including outbreaks, a global health crisis, and eventual de-escalation from a public health emergency of international concern, significantly affecting the delivery and utilization of healthcare services. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the coverage rate of routine immunization in children under varying prevalence conditions. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study in Beijing, China, utilizing stratified random sampling by birthdate to obtain a sample of 29,811 participants. Subjects were categorized into four cohorts based on when they became eligible for vaccination: the Pre-COVID Period cohort, the COVID-19 Low Epidemic Period cohort, the COVID-19 Surging Period cohort, and the COVID-19 Slowing Down Period cohort. A one-month follow-up was conducted. Cox proportional hazards model was employed to examine associations between the COVID-19 epidemic status and timely vaccination. RESULTS: Participants age-eligible for vaccination during the COVID-19 Low Epidemic Period demonstrated higher rates of timely vaccination (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.15-1.22) compared to those eligible during the Pre-COVID Period. Conversely, those eligible during the COVID-19 Surging Period displayed lower rates (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.66-0.82). No significant difference in vaccination timeliness was observed for those eligible during the COVID-19 Slowing Down Period in comparison to the Pre-COVID Period (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.91-1.09). By the end of May 2023, DTP3 rate among eligible children during the COVID-19 Surging Period had surpassed 90%. CONCLUSIONS: Significantly declining rates of timely vaccination were observed during the COVID-19 Surging Period, which lasted two months, but not during the nearly three-year-long COVID-19 Low Epidemic Period. An upward trend in vaccination timeliness followed, culminating in a return to baseline levels over the subsequent 3-4 months. Our findings suggested that the pandemic exerted a decreasing and recoverable impact on the coverage rate of routine immunizations in China.

HIV transmission and associated factors under the scale-up of HIV antiretroviral therapy: a population-based longitudinal molecular network study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevention efficacy of scaling up HIV/AIDS antiretroviral therapy (ART) on HIV transmission at the population level and determine associated factors of HIV secondary transmission. METHODS: We used HIV longitudinal molecular networks to assess the genetic linkage between baseline and newly diagnosed cases. A generalized estimating equation was applied to determine the associations between demographic, clinical characteristics and HIV transmission. RESULTS: Patients on ART had a 32% lower risk of HIV transmission than those not on ART. A 36% reduction in risk was also seen if ART-patients maintained their HIV viral load lower than 50 copies/mL. A 71% lower risk occurred when patients sustained ART for at least 3 years and kept HIV viral load less than 50 copies/mL. Patients who discontinued ART had a similar HIV transmission risk as those not on ART. Patients who were older, male, non-Han, not single, retired, infected via a heterosexual route of transmission and those who possessed higher CD4 counts had a higher risk of HIV transmission. HIV-1 subtype of CRF01_AE was less transmissible than other subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of ART in a real-world setting was supported by this longitudinal molecular network study. Promoting adherence to ART is crucial to reduce HIV transmission.

Associations of Combined Lifestyle Factors with MAFLD and the Specific Subtypes in Middle-Aged and Elderly Adults: The Dongfeng-Tongji Cohort Study.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the crucial pathogenesis for intra-hepatic and extra-hepatic diseases, especially in elderly adults. Lifestyle management may be a modifiable cost-effective measure for MAFLD prevention, but the evidence is limited. A total of 23,408 middle-aged and elderly individuals were included in a longitudinal study from 2008 to 2018. Combined lifestyle scores (range 0-6) were evaluated by BMI, smoking, drinking, diet, physical activity, and sleep. Logistic regression models were used to calculate ORs for the risks of MAFLD and specific subtypes. The mean age of participants was 61.7 years, and 44.5% were men. Compared with poor lifestyle (scores 0-2), ORs (95% CIs) of the ideal lifestyle (scores 5-6) were 0.62 (0.57-0.68) for MAFLD, 0.31 (0.28-0.34) for MAFLD with excess weight and obesity, 0.97 (0.75-1.26) for MAFLD with diabetes, and 0.56 (0.51-0.62) for MAFLD with metabolic dysregulation. Additionally, lifestyle improvement was associated with lower risks of MAFLD (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.68-0.86), MAFLD with excess weight and obesity (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.63-0.81), MAFLD with diabetes (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.54-1.02) and MAFLD with metabolic dysregulation (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.43-0.55), respectively. Our findings suggest that adherence to a combined healthy lifestyle was associated with lower risks of MAFLD, particularly in excess weight/obese individuals or those with metabolic dysregulation.

5-Aminolevulinic Acid Photodynamic Therapy Combined with Intralesional Triamcinolone and 5-Fluorouracil to Treat Acne Hypertrophic Scar.

Background: Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit. Improper treatment of acne can lead to skin lesions in some people. Acne hypertrophic scar is relatively rare, but it significantly affects the appearance and beauty, and usually has a great psychological and social impact on patients. Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) injection and triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) solution in the treatment of acne hypertrophic scars. Methods: This article included 13 outpatients with acne accompanied by acne hypertrophic scar who were treated from September 2018 to September 2022. All patients received ALA-PDT combined with intralesional injection of 5-FU and TAC. At first, patients received ALA-PDT once every two weeks. After the third ALA-PDT, 5-FU and TAC were mixed in a ratio of 3:7, and then immediately injected in the local scars. The effect was observed after 1 month. If the effect is not obvious, a further injection of 5-FU and TAC to the lesion is necessary. The patients were followed up for 6 months. The Vancouver Scars Scale (VSS) was used to evaluate the efficacy before and after treatment and photos of patients were collected. Results: After ALA-PDT combined with intralesional 5-FU and TAC, all patients achieved good clinical efficacy. 23.08% of patients received one local injection and 76.92% received two local injections. After treatment, the scar lesions were reduced and flattened, and the scars became soft. The total score of VSS after treatment was significantly lower than before, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The main adverse reactions were pain, erythema, and pigmentation, which can subside within 3 weeks. There was no recurrence after 6 months of follow-up. Conclusion: ALA-PDT combined with intralesional injection of 5-FU and TAC significantly affects acne hypertrophic scars, which is worthy of further in-depth and large-scale research.

An injectable and biodegradable zwitterionic gel for extending the longevity and performance of insulin infusion catheters.

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) is an essential insulin replacement therapy in the management of diabetes. However, the longevity of clinical CSII is limited by skin complications, by impaired insulin absorption and by occlusions associated with the subcutaneous insertion of CSII catheters, which require replacement and rotation of the insertion site every few days. Here we show that a biodegradable zwitterionic gel covering the tip end of commercial off-the-shelf CSII catheters fully resolves early skin irritations, extends the longevity of catheters and improves the rate of insulin absorption (also with respect to conventional syringe-based subcutaneous injection) for longer than 6 months in diabetic mice, and by 11 days in diabetic minipigs (from 2 to 13 days, under standard CSII-wearing conditions of insulin pump therapy and in a continuous basal-plus-bolus-infusion setting). The implanted gel displayed anti-inflammatory and anti-foreign-body-reaction properties and promoted the local formation of new blood vessels. The gel is subcutaneously injected before the tip of catheter is inserted into it, and should be generally applicable to CSII catheters and other implantable devices.

Spatial distribution of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in tidal flat reclamation areas in China.

Tidal flat areas are important resources for land development and are becoming antibiotic resistance receivers that trigger major health concerns. The spatial distributions of forty-nine antibiotics, nine antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), one mobile gene element (MGE) gene, and nine available metals in the soils and sediments along the coastlines of the Yellow Sea in China were quantified. Hierarchical linear model analysis was used to explore relationships between the antibiotics and ARGs across multiple effects resulting from human activities and environmental factors. Fish farm sediments and farmland soils showed high levels of quinolones (QNs) (maximum 637 ng·g-1), sulfonamides (SAs) (maximum 221 ng·g-1), and corresponding ARGs. Significant positive correlations (P from 5.47 × 10-14 to 0.0487) were observed between the antibiotics (QNs, SAs, and chlortetracycline) and their corresponding ARGs (qnrA, qnrD, aac(6')-Ib-cr, dfrA, sul2, and tetA), indicating the selective pressure from antibiotics in soils and sediments. Nine available metals had positive correlations with at least one ARG, indicating heavy metal pollution could enhance the ARGs. Sheep and poultry husbandry and marine aquaculture contribute the most to the antibiotic resistance in the coastlines. In conclusion, antibiotic pollutions have promoting effects at sub-inhibitory concentrations and more attention should be given to inhibit the enrichment of ARGs during tidal flat reclamation processes. The study also suggests the induction effects from metal pollutions, MGE spread, and the antibiotic pollutions from the usage in livestock and aquaculture.

Effects of photodynamic therapy using Red LED-light combined with hypocrellin B on apoptotic signaling in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma A431 cells.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) has been demonstrating yearly increases. cSCC is a malignant cancer and exerts a major impact on patients' health and quality of life. Thus, the development and use of novel therapies in the treatment of cSCC are needed. It has been reported that LED photodynamic therapy (LED PDT) mediated by Hypocrellin B and its derivatives, a second-generation photosensitizer, can induce apoptosis in a variety of tumor cells, However, its potential pro-apoptotic effects on cSCC have yet to be investigated. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the pro-apoptotic effects and molecular mechanisms of HB-LED PDT in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma A431 cells (Subsequent abbreviation A431 cells). Such information can provide an important theoretical foundation for the clinical translation of HB-LED PDT in the treatment of cSCC. METHODS: 1. Effects of HB on A431 cells were determined using a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, which method can indirectly reflect the number of living cells. In this way, this assay can then provide a means to identify the optimal concentrations of HB required for the induction of apoptosis in A431 cells. 2. The effects of HB-LED PDT on the morphology of A431 cells and changes in the nuclei after Hoechst33342 staining as determined using inverted fluorescent microscopy. 3. Use of the Annexin V-FITC test kit to detect levels of apoptosis in A431 cells in response to treatment with HB. Changes in reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane potential following HB-LED PDT treatment in A431 cells were determined using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). 4. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western Blot were applied to assess changes in several key factors involved in apoptosis including Bax, Bcl-2, and Caspase-3, at both transcription and translation levels. With these assays, it was possible to investigate the apoptotic signaling pathway in A431 cells in response to HB-LED PDT. RESULTS: HB-LED PDT inhibited proliferation activity and promoted nuclear fragmentation within these A431 cells. HB-LED PDT inhibited mitochondrial activity, increased reactive oxygen species production, and promoted apoptosis of A431 cells. In addition, several key factors in the apoptotic signaling pathway were increased at both the transcriptional and translational levels in A431 cells in response to the HB-LED PDT, indicating that the apoptotic signaling pathway was activated by HB-LED PDT. CONCLUSION: HB-LED PDT induces apoptosis in A431 cells through a mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway. Such findings serve as an important foundation for the development of new approaches in the treatment of cSCC.

Fire Needle Combined Topical Mupirocin for the Treatment of Simple Skin Abscesses in Pediatric Patients: A Case Series.

Background: Skin abscesses are a common skin condition usually caused by bacterial infections and their incidence is increasing in children. Its current management strategy is still mainly incision and drainage, sometimes with antibiotics. In pediatric patients, surgical incision and drainage of skin abscesses is challenging compared to in adults because of their specific age and psychological characteristics and high aesthetic requirements. Therefore, it is important to seek better treatment options. Patients and methods: We reported 17 cases of skin abscesses in pediatric patients aged 1 to 9 years. Ten cases had lesions on the face and neck and 7 cases on the trunk and limbs. They all received treatment based on fire needle combined with topical mupirocin. Results: The lesions of all 17 pediatric patients healed within 4 to 14 days, with a median time of 6 days, and all achieved satisfactory results with no scarring left behind. No adverse events were observed in all patients, and no recurrence occurred within 4 weeks. Conclusion: For skin abscesses in pediatric patients, early application of a combination therapy based on fire needle is convenient, aesthetic, economical, safe and clinically important as an alternative to incision and drainage, and deserves further clinical promotion.

Molecular Structure and Conformational Design of Donor-Acceptor Conjugated Polymers to Enable Predictable Optoelectronic Property.

Tuning the optoelectronic properties of donor-acceptor conjugated polymers (D-A CPs) is of great importance in designing various organic optoelectronic devices. However, there remains a critical challenge in precise control of bandgap through synthetic approach, since the chain conformation also affects molecular orbital energy levels. Here, D-A CPs with different acceptor units are explored that show an opposite trend in energy band gaps with the increasing length of oligothiophene donor units. By investigating their chain conformation and molecular orbital energy, it is found that the molecular orbital energy alignment between donor and acceptor units plays a crucial role in dictating the final optical bandgap of D-A CPs. For polymers with staggered orbital energy alignment, the higher HOMO with increasing oligothiophene length leads to a narrowing of the optical bandgap despite decreased chain rigidity. On the other hand, for polymers with sandwiched orbital energy alignment, the increased band gap with increasing oligothiophene length originates from the reduction of bandwidth due to more localized charge density distribution. Thus, this work provides a molecular understanding of the role of backbone building blocks on the chain conformation and bandgaps of D-A CPs for organic optoelectronic devices through the conformation design and segment orbital energy alignment.

Enabling quantitative analysis of complex polymer blends by infrared nanospectroscopy and isotopic deuteration.

Atomic-force microscopy coupled with infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) deciphers surface morphology of thin-film polymer blends and composites by simultaneously mapping physical topography and chemical composition. However, acquiring quantitative phase and composition information from multi-component blends can be challenging using AFM-IR due to the possible overlapping infrared absorption bands between different species. Isotope labeling one of the blend components introduces a new type of bond (carbon-deuterium vibration) that can be targeted using AFM-IR and responds at wavelengths sufficiently shifted toward unoccupied regions (around 2200 cm-1). In this project, AFM-IR was used to probe the surface morphology and chemical composition of three polymer blends containing deuterated polystyrene; each blend is expected to exhibit various degrees of miscibility. AFM-IR results successfully demonstrated that deuterium labeling prevents infrared spectral overlap and enables the visualization of blend phases that could not normally be distinguished by other scanning probe techniques. The nanoscale domain composition was resolved by fast infrared spectrum analysis. Overall, we presented isotope labeling as a robust approach for circumventing obstacles preventing the quantitative analysis of multiphase systems by AFM-IR.