Enhanced light output from deep ultraviolet light-emitting diodes enabled by high-order modes on a photonic crystal surface.

The authors demonstrate the enhanced light output from 275-nm AlGaN-based deep ultraviolet (DUV) light-emitting diode (LED) structures via the in-plane modulation of shallow photonic crystal (PC) patterns that were fabricated on the p-AlGaN contact layer surface. The employed PC lattice constants are in the range of 270-780 nm, much larger than the fundamental Bragg order lattice constant (∼95 nm). As compared to the unpatterned sample, the intensity of the top (or bottom) emission can be enhanced by up to 331% (or 246%), attributed to the high-order coherent diffraction of the internal trapped light and also the Purcell enhancement of spontaneous emission. The findings in this Letter suggest an easier way for the realization of more energy-efficient DUV LEDs which offer the advantage of high emission for various applications in disinfection and sterilization.

Atomic force microscopy application to study of the biomechanical properties of the aortic intima in the context of early atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is characterized by the infiltration of macrophages, accumulation of lipids, activation of endothelial cells and synthesis of extracellular matrix by vascular smooth muscle cells. However, there have been few atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies of the aortic intima in situ in the context of atherosclerosis. By employing a customized liquid cell for AFM, we investigated the aortic intima obtained from male C57BL/6 ApoE-deficient mice (ApoE-/- ) aged 14 weeks and male C57BL/6 ApoE-sufficient mice (ApoE+/+ ) aged between 18 and 26 weeks that were fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet for 4 weeks and performed force spectroscopy mapping of the biomechanical properties of the intima. In the aortas of ApoE-deficient mice, the intima became stiffer than that of ApoE-sufficient mice. In addition, the cytoskeleton of endothelial cells was enlarged, and extracellular matrix accumulated. The biomechanical properties of the aortic intima are altered in early atherogenesis, which may be induced by the enlargement of the endothelial cell cytoskeleton and the increased synthesis of extracellular matrix by activated smooth muscle cells.

CXCL12 and CD3E as Indicators for Tumor Microenvironment Modulation in Bladder Cancer and Their Correlations With Immune Infiltration and Molecular Subtypes.

Bladder cancer (BLCA) represents the ninth most common malignant tumor in the world and is characterized by high recurrence risk. Tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in regulating the progression of BLCA. Immunotherapy, including Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), is closely associated with TME and is widely used for treating BLCA. But parts of BLCA patients have no response to these treatment ways, thus a better understanding of the complex TME of BLCA is still needed. We downloaded the gene expression profile and corresponding clinical information of 414 BLCA patients from the TCGA database. Via the ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithm, we identified the two hub genes (CXCL12 and CD3E) and explored their correlations with immune infiltration. We found that BLCA patients with higher expression of CXCL12 and lower expression of CD3E had prolonged survival. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that both CXCL12 and CD3E were enriched in immune-related pathways. We also discovered that stromal score and the level of CXCL12 were higher in luminal subtype, and immune score and the level of CD3E were higher in the basal subtype. Furtherly, we found that CXCL12 was associated with naive B cells, resting mast cell, M2 macrophages, follicular helper T cells, and dendritic cells. CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs), and macrophages were correlated with CD3E. In conclusions, we found that CXCL12 and CD3E might serve as indicators of TME modulation in BLCA. Therapy targeting CXCL12 and CD3E had the potential as novel therapeutic strategy.

Left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: The optimal coronary revascularization strategy for patients with unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a drug-eluting stent (DES) versus coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with ULMCA disease with or without LVSD. METHODS: A total of 984 patients with ULMCA disease who received a DES (n = 511) or underwent CABG (n = 473) were included in this study. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical parameters and outcomes of ULMCA disease patients with different left ventricular ejection fraction levels. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in major adverse cardiac and cerebral events, all-cause death, cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or stroke between the CABG and DES groups with or without LVSD. The rate of target vessel revascularization was significantly higher with DES compared with CABG in patients without LVSD; however, the difference was not significant between the mild LVSD and severe LVSD groups. CONCLUSION: For patients with ULMCA disease and LVSD, there was no significant difference between DES and CABG in terms of efficacy and safety. Treatment with DES was an acceptable alternative to CABG.

Relationship between monocyte/lymphocyte ratio and non-culprit plaque vulnerability in patients with acute coronary syndrome: An optical coherence tomography study.

The importance of monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR) has been indicated in the initiation and progression of coronary artery disease. However, few previous researches demonstrated the relationship between MLR and plaque vulnerability. We aimed to investigate coronary non-culprit plaque vulnerability in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) by optical coherence tomography (OCT).A total of 72 ACS patients who underwent coronary angiography and OCT test in Beijing Anzhen Hospital were included in this retrospective study. The plaque vulnerability and plaque morphology were assessed by OCT.The non-culprit plaque in high MLR group exhibited more vulnerable features, characterizing as thinner thickness of fibrous cap (P = .013), greater maximum lipid core angle (P = .010) and longer lipid plaque length (P = .041). A prominently negative liner relation was found between MLR and thickness of fibrous cap (R = -0.225, P = .005). Meanwhile, the proportion of OCT-detected thin cap fibro-atheroma (TCFA) (P = .014) and plaque rupture (P = .017) were higher in high MLR group. Most importantly, multivariable logistic regression analysis showed MLR level was identified as an independent contributor to the presence of TCFA (OR:3.316, 95%: 1.448-7.593, P = .005). MLR could differentiate TCFA with a sensitivity of 60.0% and a specificity of 85.1%.Circulating MLR level has potential value in identifying the presence of vulnerable plaque in patients with ACS. MLR, as a non- invasive biomarker of inflammation, may be valuable in revealing plaque vulnerability.

Familial hypercholesterolemia in China half a century: A review of published literature.

AIMS: To investigate the status of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) research and the characteristics of patients with FH in China. METHODS: Published papers in Chinese or English language from PubMed, SinoMed and CNKI databases from 1971 to March 2018 were searched using 'Familial hypercholesterolemia', 'Chinese' and 'Han' as keywords. A systematic review of studies on familial hypercholesterolemia was then conducted. RESULTS: A total of 391 articles were found, in which 22% were in English and 78% were in Chinese; approximately 43% are case reports and 34% are genetic reports according to the study type; 52% discussed the status of the disease and 11% investigated the subclinical status according to the study content. Furthermore, 96% of the articles were published by tertiary hospitals and 46% were conducted by cardiologists. The first expert consensus was issued in February 2018. Of the 163 case reports published before 2018, 48.7% used the Chinese FH clinical diagnostic criteria and 34.4% did not clearly indicate the diagnostic criteria. The incidence rates of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and apolipoprotein B (APOB) mutations were 82% and 9%, and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) mutations were rare in Chinese patients with FH. However, the data on lipid-lowering treatment rates, compliance rates and cardiovascular events in FH remain insufficient. CONCLUSIONS: Large-scale epidemiological investigation of FH has not been demonstrated, the recognition of FH remains rudimentary, and the guidelines are incomplete in China. The diagnosis and management of Chinese FH needs to be improved.

Percutaneous coronary intervention for a Chinese familial hypercholesterolemia homozygous under the guidance of optical coherence tomography.

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia developed into severe cardiovascular consequences early. Untreated HoFH usually cannot survive over 30 years old. Acute coronary syndrome(ACS) caused by plaque rupture is one of the main causes of death in HoFH. As the highest resolution intravascular imaging technique, optical coherence tomography(OCT) can clearly show the thickness and structural characteristics of atherosclerotic plaque caps. In this study, a Chinese male HoFH received percutaneous coronary intervention for unstable angina. After analyzed his genetic and follow-up data, OCT was performed during interventional therapy. Multiple lipid rich plaques accompanied with inflammatory cell infiltration and a thin-cap fibroatheroma(TCFA) were noted, which reflected the vulnerability of plaques. The utility of OCT had certain guiding significance for strategy of interventional therapy and the long-term drug management. And this case suggested that it was important to undergo OCT examination for patients with HoFH who required percutaneous coronary intervention.