Enhanced stiffness in peri-cancerous tissue: a marker of poor prognosis in papillary thyroid carcinoma with lymph node metastasis.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic significance of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains controversial. Notably, there is evidence suggesting an association between tissue stiffness and the aggressiveness of the disease. We therefore aimed to explore the effect of tissue stiffness on LNM-related invasiveness in PTC patients. METHOD: A total of 2492 PTC patients from 3 hospitals were divided into an LNM group and a non-LNM group based on their pathological results. The effects of interior lesion stiffness (E) and peri-cancerous tissue stiffness (Eshell) on the LNM-related recurrence rate and mortality in each patient with PTC subgroup were analyzed. The activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and extracellular matrix component type 1 collagen (COL-I) in the lesion were compared and analyzed across different subgroups. The underlying biological basis of differences in each subgroup was identified using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data. RESULTS: The Eshell value and Eshell/E in the LNM group were significantly higher than those in the non-LNM group of patients with PTC (Eshell: 72.72 ±â€…5.63 vs 66.05 ±â€…4.46; Eshell/E: 1.20 ±â€…1.72 vs 1.09 ±â€…1.10, P < .001). When Eshell/E > 1.412 and LNM were both present, the recurrence rate and mortality were significantly increased compared to those of group of patients with LNM (91.67% and 7.29%, respectively). The CAF activation and COL-I content in the Eshell/E+ group were significantly higher than those in the Eshell/E- group (all P < .001), and the RNA-seq results revealed significant extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in the LNM-Eshell/E+ group. CONCLUSIONS: Stiff peri-cancerous tissue induced CAF activation, COL-I deposition, and ECM remodeling, resulting in a poor prognosis for PTC patients with LNM.

Non-lactational mastitis with multiple sinus wounds treated by integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine.

OBJECTIVE: Non-lactational mastitis (NLM) is a benign inflammatory disease of the mammary gland, with pain, swelling and redness as the main clinical manifestations. There is no unified and effective standard treatment plan for this disease at present. In addition to breast cancer, non-lactational mastitis is also becoming a presenting complaint in an increasing number of outpatients at the authors' clinic. This case report summarises the treatment and management of a 35-year-old female patient with NLM complicated with multiple sinus wounds after surgery. METHOD: The patient was treated as follows, with: timely debridement according to the local condition of the wound, with manual compression to drain exudate from the sinus wound; selected wound dressings according to their performance and characteristics to fill the sinus tract for drainage and infection control; psychological care of the patient and their family to ensure that patients actively participate in the treatment; family support to the patient to deal with negative emotions; integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine to prevent/manage infection; dietary care and control; posture management and health education to facilitate the patient's wound healing process. RESULTS: After local management with systemic treatment and management using integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, the wound healed after 46 days, with no recurrence during a follow-up period of one year. CONCLUSION: As shown in this case report, the wound should be cut and drained as soon as possible in order to prevent obstruction of the sinus drainage. Modern wound dressings are selected for the 'external' treatment of local wounds. Integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine may help in systemic therapy of the whole patient.

Integrated Flexible Microscale Mechanical Sensors Based on Cascaded Free Spectral Range-Free Cavities.

Photonic mechanical sensors offer several advantages over their electronic counterparts, including immunity to electromagnetic interference, increased sensitivity, and measurement accuracy. Exploring flexible mechanical sensors on deformable substrates provides new opportunities for strain-optical coupling operations. Nevertheless, existing flexible photonics strategies often require cumbersome signal collection and analysis with bulky setups, limiting their portability and affordability. To address these challenges, we propose a waveguide-integrated flexible mechanical sensor based on cascaded photonic crystal microcavities with inherent deformation and biaxial tensile state analysis. Leveraging the advanced multiplexing capability of the sensor, for the first time, we successfully demonstrate 2D shape reconstruction and quasi-distributed strain sensing with 110 µm spatial resolution. Our microscale mechanical sensor also exhibits exceptional sensitivity with a detected force level as low as 13.6 µN in real-time measurements. This sensing platform has potential applications in various fields, including biomedical sensing, surgical catheters, aircraft and spacecraft engineering, and robotic photonic skin development.

Polycrystalline silicon 2 × 2 Mach-Zehnder interferometer optical switch.

In this paper, we demonstrate a broadband Mach-Zehnder interferometer optical switch based on polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si), which enables the development of multilayer photonics integrated circuits. The poly-Si is deposited under a low temperature of 620 °C to avoid unexpected thermal stress and influence on optoelectronic performance. By introducing a π/2 phase shifter and a push-pull configuration, the switch achieved low power consumption and loss caused by carrier plasma absorption (CPA). The switch operates effectively in both "Bar" and "Cross" states at voltages of -3.35 V and 3.85 V. The power consumptions are 7.98 mW and 9.39 mW, respectively. The on-chip loss is 5.9 ± 0.4 dB at 1550 nm, and the crosstalk is below -20 dB within the C-band. The switch exhibits a 10%-90% rise time of 7.7 µs and a 90%-10% fall time of 3.4 µs at 1550 nm. As far as we know, it is the first demonstration of a poly-Si switch on an 8-inch wafer pilot-line. The low-temperature deposited poly-Si switch is promising for multilayer active photonic devices and photonic-electronic applications.

Integrated Bragg grating filters based on silicon-Sb2Se3 with non-volatile bandgap engineering capability.

Integrated optical filters show outstanding capability in integrated reconfigurable photonic applications, including wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), programmable photonic processors, and on-chip quantum photonic networks. Present schemes for reconfigurable filters either have a large footprint or suffer from high static power consumption, hindering the development of reconfigurable photonic integrated systems. Here, a reconfigurable hybrid Bragg grating filter is elaborately designed through a precise, modified coupling mode theory. It is also experimentally presented by integrating non-volatile phase change material (PCM) Sb2Se3 on silicon to realize compact, low-loss, and broadband engineering operations. The fabricated filter holds a compact footprint of 0.5 µm × 43.5 µm and maintains a low insertion loss of < 0.5 dB after multiple levels of engineering to achieve crystallization. The filter is able to switch from a low-loss transmission state to the Bragg reflection state, making it a favorable solution for large-scale reconfigurable photonic circuits. With a switching extinction ratio over 30 dB at 1504.85 nm, this hybrid filter breaks the tradeoff between insertion loss and tuning range. These results reveal its potential as a new candidate for a basic element in large-scale non-volatile reconfigurable systems.

Ultra-compact scalable spectrometer with low power consumption.

An ultra-compact on-chip spectrometer was demonstrated based on an array of add-drop micro-donut resonators (MDRs). The filter array was thermally tuned by a single TiN microheater, enabling simultaneous spectral scanning across all physical channels. The MDR was designed to achieve large free spectral ranges with multimode waveguide bends and asymmetric coupling waveguides, covering a spectral range of 40 nm at the telecom waveband with five physical channels (which could be further expanded). Benefiting from the ultra-small device footprint of 150 µm2, the spectrometer achieved a low power consumption of 16 mW. Additionally, it is CMOS-compatible and enables mass fabrication, which may have potential applications in personal terminals and the consumer industry.

Flexible waveguide integrated thermo-optic switch based on TiO2 platform.

Mechanically flexible photonic devices are critical components of novel bio-integrated optoelectronic and high-end wearable systems, in which thermo-optic switches (TOSs) as optical signal control devices are crucial. In this paper, flexible titanium oxide (TiO2) TOSs based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) structure were demonstrated around 1310 nm for, it is believed, the first time. The insertion loss of flexible passive TiO2 2 × 2 multi-mode interferometers (MMIs) is -3.1 dB per MMI. The demonstrated flexible TOS achieves power consumption (Pπ) of 0.83 mW, compared with its rigid counterpart, for which Pπ is decreased by a factor of 18. The proposed device could withstand 100 consecutive bending operations without noticeable degradation in TOS performance, indicating excellent mechanical stability. These results provide a new perspective for designing and fabricating flexible TOSs for flexible optoelectronic systems in future emerging applications.

Waveguide-Integrated PdSe2 Photodetector over a Broad Infrared Wavelength Range.

Hybrid integration of van der Waals materials on a photonic platform enables diverse exploration of novel active functions and significant improvement in device performance for next-generation integrated photonic circuits, but developing waveguide-integrated photodetectors based on conventionally investigated transition metal dichalcogenide materials at the full optical telecommunication bands and mid-infrared range is still a challenge. Here, we integrate PdSe2 with silicon waveguide for on-chip photodetection with a high responsivity from 1260 to 1565 nm, a low noise-equivalent power of 4.0 pW·Hz-0.5, a 3-dB bandwidth of 1.5 GHz, and a measured data rate of 2.5 Gbit·s-1. The achieved PdSe2 photodetectors provide new insights to explore the integration of novel van der Waals materials with integrated photonic platforms and exhibit great potential for diverse applications over a broad infrared range of wavelengths, such as on-chip sensing and spectroscopy.

Fast thermo-optical modulators with doped-silicon heaters operating at 2 µm: erratum.

We correct the errors in the performance of the MRR modulator in our paper [Opt. Express29, 23508, (2021)10.1364/OE.430756]. The FWHM of the MRR device should be 0.22nm instead of 0.11nm. And thus, the Q factor, power consumption, and FOM need to be corrected. After the correction, the performance of our devices was still the best among 2µm-waveband TO modulators. All the conclusions are not changed.

Flexible passive integrated photonic devices with superior optical and mechanical performance.

Flexible integrated photonics is a rapidly emerging technology with a wide range of possible applications in the fields of flexible optical interconnects, conformal multiplexing sensing, health monitoring, and biotechnology. One major challenge in developing mechanically flexible integrated photonics is the functional component within an integrated photonic circuit with superior performance. In this work, several essential flexible passive devices for such a circuit were designed and fabricated based on a multi-neutral-axis mechanical design and a monolithic integration technique. The propagation loss of the waveguide is calculated to be 4.2 dB/cm. In addition, we demonstrate a microring resonator, waveguide crossing, multimode interferometer (MMI), and Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) for use at 1.55 µm, each exhibiting superior optical and mechanical performance. These results represent a significant step towards further exploring a complete flexible photonic integrated circuit.

High-performance silicon PIN diode switches in the 2-µm wave band.

The 2-µm wave band has attracted significant research interest due to its potential applications for next-generation high-capacity optical communication and sensing. As the key component, fast optical switches are essential for an advanced and reconfigurable optical network. Motivated by this prospect, we propose and demonstrate two typical silicon PIN diode switches at 2 µm. One is based on a coupled microring resonator (CMRR), and the other is based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) with a push-pull-like configuration. The measured insertion loss of the CMRR switch is <2.5 dB, and the cross talk is <-10.8 dB. The insertion loss of the MZI switch is <2 dB, and the cross talk is <-15.6 dB. The switch times of these two structures are both lower than 12.5 ns.

An ultra-broadband and wide-angle absorber based on a TiN metamaterial for solar harvesting.

The efficient absorption of solar spectrum radiation is the most critical step in solar thermal utilization. In this work, a near-perfect metamaterial solar absorber with broadband, wide angle, polarization insensitivity, and high-temperature resistance is proposed and investigated. The absorber takes advantage of the high melting point material, which consists of a TiN reflector, a SiO2 insulating layer, and a TiN ring array. In the spectral range of 300-2500 nm, an average absorption of 97.6% is achieved. The percentage of absorbed energy in the AM1.5 spectral radiation can reach 95.8%. The electric and magnetic field distributions show that the high absorption is attributed to the coupling effect of surface plasmon resonance, guided mode resonance and cavity resonance. Furthermore, the absorber is found to maintain high absorption performance at large angles of solar radiation and to be insensitive to polarization. The designed absorber maintains its broadband absorption performance well within certain geometric tolerances. This reduces the complexity and cost of manufacturing and facilitates practical applications. The research indicates that this work will benefit the design and application of solar thermal conversion and thermophotovoltaic systems.

The optical properties of dumbbell-type nanorods for solar photothermal conversion.

Due to localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), plasmonic nanoparticles have exciting potential for improving solar photothermal conversion performance and have been extensively studied. However, in addition to enhanced solar absorption, scattering is also enhanced with the occurrence of LSPR, which is detrimental to the direct absorption of solar energy. The nanoparticles that can excite magnetic resonance can alleviate the above problem but have rarely been studied. In this work, we propose a dumbbell-type nanorod that can excite both electrical resonance and magnetic resonance. The analysis of its optical properties reveals that the dumbbell-type nanorod can excite multiple absorption peaks to enhance absorption while reducing scattering. The mechanism is the coupling between electrical resonance and magnetic resonance. Furthermore, the analysis with the slotted position of the dumbbell-type nanorod shows that the slotting should not occur at the two ends of the nanorod. It is also shown that the optical properties of the dumbbell-type nanorod can be effectively tuned by adjusting the geometric parameters of the slot. The dumbbell-type nanorods are promising for solar photothermal conversion and can be a candidate material for direct absorption solar collectors (DASCs).

Optical Temperature Sensor Based on Polysilicon Waveguides.

Traditional temperature detection has limitations in terms of sensing accuracy and response time, while chip-level photoelectric sensors based on the thermo-optic effect can improve measurement sensitivity and reduce costs. This paper presents on-chip temperature sensors based on polysilicon (p-Si) waveguides. Dual-microring resonator (MRR) and asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer (AMZI) sensors are demonstrated. The experimental results show that the sensitivities of the sensors based on AMZI and MRR are 86.6 pm/K and 85.7 pm/K, respectively. The temperature sensors proposed in this paper are compatible with the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) fabrication technique. Benefitting from high sensitivity and a compact footprint, these sensors show great potential in the field of photonic-electronic applications.

Fast thermo-optical modulators with doped-silicon heaters operating at 2 µm.

The 2-µm-waveband has been recognized as a potential telecommunication window for next-generation low-loss, low-latency optical communication. Thermo-optic (TO) modulators and switches, which are essential building blocks in a large-scale integrated photonic circuit, and their performances directly affect the energy consumption and reconfiguration time of an on-chip photonic system. Previous TO modulation based on metallic heaters at 2-µm-waveband suffer from slow response time and high power consumption. In this paper, high-performance thermo-optical Mach-Zehnder interferometer and ring resonator modulators operating at 2-µm-waveband were demonstrated. By embedding a doped silicon (p++-p-p++) junction into the waveguide, our devices reached a record modulation efficiency of 0.17 nm/mW for Mach-Zehnder interferometer based modulator and its rise/fall time was 3.49 µs/3.46 µs which has been the fastest response time reported in a 2-µm-waveband TO devices so far. And a lowest Pπ power of 3.33 mW among reported 2-µm TO devices was achieved for a ring resonator-based modulator.

Two cases of refractory erythrodermic psoriasis effectively treated with secukinumab and a review of the literature.

Erythrodermic psoriasis (EP), which accounts for 1 to 2.25% of all psoriatic cases, typically occurs in patients with poor control of existing psoriasis. Secukinumab yields rapid and sustained improvements of signs and symptoms in patients with plaque psoriasis. Currently, clinical data on the treatment of EP with secukinumab are scarce. We describe two adult patients with severe EP, including one male and one female who were both ineligible for or resistant to acitretin or methotrexate treatment and had additional diseases. The patients underwent treatment with secukinumab using the standard regimen. After 4 weeks of treatment, a 75% reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score (PASI 75) was achieved in both patients. Secukinumab was well tolerated and was continued for at least 32 weeks of treatment. We report the clinical use of secukinumab in the treatment of EP and review its potential role in the management of this severe condition.

Mini review: The FDA-approved prescription drugs that induce ovulation in women with ovulatory problems.

Infertility is defined as not being able to become pregnant after 12 months or more of unprotected sexual intercourse. Female infertility as a serious health issue can result from ovulation disorders, menstrual cycle problems, structural problems, and environmental factors. Ovulation occurs once a month between the time of menarche and menopause. The release of a mature egg from the ovary is controlled with the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. Several hormones such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), LH (luteinizing hormone), estrogen, and progesterone play fundamental roles in the ovulation process. Both FSH and LH are the main treatment for women with ovulation disorders. Depending on the reasons for infertility, several different types of treatment are available for infertile women. Fertility drugs as an important part of treatment work like the natural hormones to treat infertility. Several fertility drugs can regulate ovulation and the release of an egg from the ovary in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. This mini-review is about the FDA-approved prescription drugs that induce ovulation in women with ovulatory problems.

Integrated silicon multifunctional mode-division multiplexing system.

Chip-scale optical interconnects have been widely investigated using the wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technology, while it has been rarely reported using the mode-division multiplexing (MDM) technology that further improves communication capacity by using multiple spatial mode channels. On the other hand, to achieve large-bandwidth multi-core computing, a flexible and reconfigurable network is highly desired. Here, we proposed and demonstrated a 4 × 4 chip-scale multifunctional MDM system to realize the interconnects among 4 dual-core computing processors. The proposed system integrates fundamental components such as high-speed modulator arrays, multimode switches, and large-bandwidth photodetector arrays, in addition to various multimode devices. The thermal heaters are utilized to achieve multifunctional routing, including inter-mode and inter-path cases. The transmission of 10 Gb/s On-Off Keying (OOK) signal is verified, which demonstrates the reconfigurable inter-core and inter-processor interconnects.

Integrated tunable mode filter for a mode-division multiplexing system.

Mode-division multiplexing (MDM) using multiple spatial modes as independent signals has been a promising technique to increase the communication capacity in conjunction with wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM). In MDM systems, mode filters are key components to filter out the undesired signals on specific mode. Analogous to a wavelength tunable filter used in a WDM system, here we propose and experimentally demonstrate a fundamental- or high-order-mode-pass tunable filter for a flexible MDM optical network based on a silicon platform. It consists of two switchable mode exchangers (MEs) and a fundamental-mode pass filter. By controlling the working state of the MEs, dynamic filtering and a tunable output can be achieved. This tunable mode filter exhibits a high extinction ratio of 18 dB and low insertion loss of 3 dB over the C-band. For further demonstration, the proposed device is tested using a modulated signal at 20 Gb/s. The eye diagrams and the bit error rates indicate a good filtering performance.

Crossing-free on-chip 2 × 2 polarization-transparent switch with signals regrouping function.

We propose and demonstrate an on-chip 2×2 polarization-transparent switch for simultaneously handling two-group polarization-division multiplexing (PDM) signals. By introducing the polarization-transparent power splitter/combiner (PPS/PPC), waveguide crossings such as those in conventional PDM switches can be avoided and, thus, the insertion losses and complexity of the device can be reduced. Furthermore, each input polarization tributary can be independently switched and routed thanks to the output selectivity of the PPS/PPC. Thus, not only a basic switch between the dual-group PDM signals, but also a precise four-channel-signal regrouping can be achieved, enabling a complete and non-redundant switching functionality. A polarization extinction ratio larger than 15 dB with reasonable insertion losses is experimentally observed. Clear and open eye diagrams can be obtained with less than 1 dB power penalties for all the measured paths.