Treatment approaches in immunosuppressed patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Immunosuppression, both iatrogenic and disease-related, is associated with a greatly increased incidence of cutaneous SCC (cSCC) and with aggressive cSCC and worse disease outcomes. Consequently, rapid access to skin cancer services and prudent surgical choices, such as circumferential margin assessment, is essential when treating advanced cSCC in an immunosuppressed patient. For high-risk cancers and control of cSCC multiplicity, additional strategies should be actively considered within the multidisciplinary clinical care team. These include minimization or revision of immunosuppressive medications, systemic chemoprevention (including retinoids, nicotinamide, capecitabine) and adjuvant therapies such as radiotherapy. Unfortunately, there is a relative paucity of good evidence for many of these treatments in the immunosuppressed. Systemic treatments for metastatic cSCC are often contraindicated in organ transplant recipients, notably checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy. There are also toxicity concerns with some conventional chemotherapies and EGFR inhibitors. Until recently, clinical trials have largely excluded immunosuppressed individuals. Development of more effective treatment for advanced cSCC in this high-risk group and prospective clinical trials are now research priorities.</p

Comparison of active vs. expectant management of the third stage of labor in women with low risk of postpartum hemorrhage: a randomized controlled trial

Objectives: To compare the ‘strictly’ active management protocol in women with low risk of postpartum hemorrhage using the expectant management protocol with respect to changes in hematologic parameters, uterotonics, blood transfusions, or additional interventions. Material and methods: A randomized controlled prospective trial in which 934 singleton parturients enrolled; 654 were randomly assigned to the active and mixed management groups. The primary outcome parameter was the reduction in hemoglobin concentrations due to delivery, and the secondary outcome parameters were changes in hemoglobin of more than 3 g/dL (ΔHb ≥ 3 g/dL), durations of the third stage of labor, need for additional uterotonic agents, blood transfusions, manual removal of the placenta, and surgical evacuation of retained products of conception. Results: The mean postpartum hemoglobin concentration was significantly higher (P = 0.04) in the active management group with a significantly lower reduction (P = 0.03). Falls of hemoglobin levels of more than 3 g/dL (ΔHb ≥ 3g/dL) were less common in the active management group though not significantly (P = 0.32). The mean duration of the third stage of labor was significantly (P &lt; 0.001) shorter in the active management group. There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to the need for additional uterotonic agents, uterine atony, blood transfusion, manual removal of the placenta, surgical evacuation of retained products of conception, and prolonged third stage of labor. Conclusions: Although active management of the third stage of labor was associated with higher postpartum hemoglobin levels, it did not influence the risk of ‘severe postpartum hemorrhage’ in women with low risk of postpartum hemorrhage

Nanowires of Lead-Free Solder Alloy SnCuAg

Ternary Sn88Ag5Cu7, Sn93Ag4Cu3, Sn58Ag18Cu24, Sn78Ag16Cu6, Sn90Ag4Cu6, Sn87Ag4Cu9 alloy nanowires were produced at various values of deposition potential by dc electrodeposition on highly ordered porous anodic alumina oxide (AAO) templates. During the deposition process some parameters, such as ion content, deposition time, pH, and temperature of the solution, were kept constant. The diameter and length of regular Sn93Ag4Cu3 nanowires electrodeposited at −1 V were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to be approximately 200–250 nm and 7-8 μm, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results indicate that the melting onset temperature of Sn93Ag4Cu3 nanowires is about 204°C

Molecular modification of spiro[fluorene-9,9′-xanthene]-based dopant-free hole transporting materials for perovskite solar cells

The molecular engineering of organic hole-transporting materials (HTMs) plays an important role in enhancing the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) as well as reducing their fabrication cost. Here, two low-cost spiro-OMeTAD analogues, namely SP-Naph and SP-SMe, featuring a spiro[fluorene-9,9-xanthene] (SFX) central core and asymmetric subunits are designed and synthesized. Specifically, the SFX core in the SP-Naph molecule is substituted with dimethoxyphenylnaphthylamine subunits to enhance conductivity and charge transport properties by expansion of the π-conjugated structure. On the other hand, in the molecular structure of SP-SMe, the methoxy groups (–OMe) from diphenylamine units were partially replaced with the methylsulfanyl groups (–SMe) to increase interaction with the perovskite surface through the “Lewis soft” S atoms. By combining various experimental and simulation methods, thestructure–property relationship of the newly synthesized HTMs was thoroughly investigated. The suitable HOMO energy level with the perovskite layer together with superior photoelectric properties and enhanced thermostability and humidity resistivity are obtained for the SP-SMe HTM. As a result, the planar n–i–p PSC with the dopant-free SP-SMe HTM yields a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.95%, which outperforms that with SP-Naph (20.51%) and doped spiro-OMeTAD (19.23%). Importantly, the device with SP-SMe also reveals enhanced operational stability under continuous 1 sun illumination and thermal stability at 65 °C. These findings provide valuable insight for the rational design of dopant-free organic HTMs based on the SFX core, which would promote the development of highly efficient and stable devices

Inflammation and Progressive Nephropathy in Type 1 Diabetes in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial

OBJECTIVE—Progressive nephropathy represents a substantial source of morbidity and mortality in type 1 diabetes. Increasing albuminuria is a strong predictor of progressive renal dysfunction and heightened cardiovascular risk. Early albuminuria probably reflects vascular endothelial dysfunction, which may be mediated in part by chronic inflammation

T-shaped-N-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: A new concept of dopant-free organic hole-transporting materials for perovskite solar cells

Although metal halide perovskites are positioned as the most powerful light-harvesting materials for sustainable energy conversion, there is a need for a thorough understanding of molecular design principles that would guide better engineering of organic hole-transporting materials (HTMs), which are vital for boosting the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). To address this formidable challenge, here, we developed a new design strategy based on the curved N-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (N-PAHs) merged with T-shaped phenazines being decorated with (phenyl)- di-p-methoxyphenylamine (OMeTAD) – N-PAH23/24 and -3,6-ditertbutyl carbazole. (TBCz) – N-PAH25/26. As N-PAH23/24 exhibited satisfying thermal stability, the comparative studies performed with various experimental and simulation methods revealed a pronounced correlation between the depth of the central cyclazine core and the form of T-shape units. This proved to be a crucial factor in controlling their π-π intermolecular interaction as well as self-assembly behavior with the perovskite layer, leading to enhanced humidity resistance, operational stability, and a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.39% denoted for N-PAH23, which is superior to the benchmarked device with doped spiro-OMeTAD (19.23%). These studies resulted not only in optimized stability and device performance but also opened a conceptually new chemical space in photovoltaic technology.National Science Centre: grant SONATA BIS 10, no. 2020/38/E/ST5/00267; National Science Centre, Poland, grant no. 2018/31/D/ST5/00426; scholarship awarded by the Polish Ministry of Education and Science to outstanding young scientists (2/DSP/2021); Foundation for Polish Science: START (093.2023)

Revealing the Impact of Aging on Perovskite Solar Cells Employing Nickel Phthalocyanine-Based Hole Transporting Material

The enhancement of the photovoltaic performance upon the aging process at particular environment is often observed in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), particularly for the devices with 2,2′,7,7′-tetrakis(N,N-di(4-methoxyphenyl) amino)−9,9′-spirobifluorene (spiro-OMeTAD) as hole transporting material (HTM). In this work, for the first time the effect of aging the typical n-i-p PSCs employing nickel phthalocyanine (coded as Bis-PF-Ni) solely as dopant-free HTM is investigated and as an additive in spiro-OMeTAD solution. This study reveals that the prolong aging of these devices at dry air condition (RH = 2%, 25 °C) is beneficial for the improvement of their performances. Various bulk and surface characterization techniques are utilized to understand the factors behind the spontaneous efficiency enhancement of the devices after storage. As a result, the changes in properties of the Bis-PF-Ni layer are observed and at perovskite/Bis-PF-Ni interface, which ultimately improves the charge transport and reduces non-radiative recombination. In addition, the devices with Bis-PF-Ni HTM reveal enhanced long-term ambient and thermal stability compared to the PSCs based on doped spiro-OMeTAD.National Science Centre (grant SONATA BIS 10, no. 2020/38/E/ST5/00267) and the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Sakarya University of Applied Sciences (Project Number: 212–2024)

Molecular Engineering of Azahomofullerene-based Electron Transporting Materials for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

The rational molecular design of fullerene-based molecules with exceptional physical and electrical properties is in high demand to ensure efficient charge transport at the perovskite/electron transport layer interface. In this work, novel azahomofullerene (AHF) is designed, synthesized, and introduced as the interlayer between the SnO2/perovskite interface in planar n−i−p heterojunction perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The AHF molecule (denoted as AHF-4) is proven to enhance charge transfer capability compared to the commonly used fullerene derivative [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) due to its superior coordination interaction and electronic coupling with the SnO2 surface. In addition, the AHF-4 interlayer concurrently improves the quality of the perovskite film and reduces charge recombination in PSCs. The resultant AHF-4-based device exhibits a maximum efficiency of 21.43% with lower hysteresis compared to the PCBM device (18.56%). Benefiting from the enhanced stability of the AHF-4 film toward light soaking and elevated temperature, the AHF-4-based devices show improved stability under continuous 1 sun illumination at the maximum power point and 45 °C. Our work opens a new direction to the design of AHF derivatives with favorable physical and electrical properties as an interlayer material to improve both the performance and stability of PSCs.National Science Centr