Metal Reaction-Induced Bulk-Doping Effect in Forming Conductive Source-Drain Regions of Self-Aligned Top-Gate Amorphous InGaZnO Thin-Film Transistors.

In this paper, the aluminum (Al) treatment-induced doping effect on the formation of conductive source-drain (SD) regions of self-aligned top-gate (SATG) amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (a-InGaZnO or a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) is systematically investigated. Average carrier concentration over 1 × 1020 cm-3 and sheet resistance of around 500 Ω/sq result from the Al reaction doping. It is shown that the doping effect is of bulk despite the treatment at the surface. The doping process is disclosed to be a chemical oxidation-reduction reaction, that generates defects of oxygen vacancies and metal interstitials at the metal/a-IGZO interface. Both the generated oxygen vacancies and metal interstitials act as shallow donors, and the oxygen vacancies diffuse rapidly, leading to the bulk-doping effect. The fabricated SATG a-IGZO TFTs with the Al reaction-doped SD regions exhibit both high performance and excellent stability, featuring a low width-normalized SD resistance of about 10 Ω cm, a decent saturation mobility of 13 cm2/(V s), an off current below 1 × 10-13 A, a threshold voltage of 0.5 V, a slight hysteresis of -0.02 V, and a less than 0.1 V threshold voltage shift under 30 V gate bias stresses for 2000 s.

UVA1 irradiation inhibits fibroblast proliferation and alleviates pathological changes of scleroderma in a mouse model.

The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of different doses of ultraviolet radiation A1 (UVA1) on human fibroblast proliferation and collagen level in a mouse model of scleroderma, so as to identify appropriate irradiation doses for clinical treatment of scleroderma. Monolayer from human fibroblasts was cultured in vitro, and a mouse model of scleroderma was established by subcutaneous injection of 100 µL of 400 µg/mL bleomycin into the back of BALB/c mice for 4 weeks. The mouse models and human fibroblasts were divided into UVA1-exposed (100, 60 and 20 J/cm(2)) and UVA-unexposed groups. At 0, 24 and 48 h after exposure, cell proliferation and levels of hydroxyproline and collagen were detected. UVA1 irradiation was performed 3 times weekly for 10 weeks, and the pathological changes of skin tissues, skin thickness and collagen level were observed after phototherapy. Cell proliferation and the levels of hydroxyproline and collagen were inhibited after phototherapy, and there was a significant difference between the UVA1-exposed cells and UVA1-unexposed cells (P < 0.001). In addition, UVA1 phototherapy improved dermal sclerosis and softened the skin, and there were significant differences between the high-dose UVA1 group and the model group, and the negative group (P < 0.05). It is concluded that UVA1 radiation can reduce cell proliferation, and decrease hydroxyproline and collagen levels in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. High-dose UVA1 phototherapy has marked therapeutic effect on scleroderma in the mouse model. Decreased collagen level may be related to the reduced number and activity of cells, as well as inhibition of collagen synthesis.

Non-bullous lesions as the first manifestation of bullous pemphigoid: a retrospective analysis of 24 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical features, laboratory findings and therapy of the patients with bullous pemphigoid initially manifested as non-bullous lesions. METHODS: The medical records of 24 cases of bullous pemphigoid initially manifested as non-bullous lesions were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The male-female ratio was 2:1. The mean age of first onset was 61.71 +/- 15.82 years old. The patients presented with erythema, papules, papulovesicles, plaques, wheals, nodules or erythema multiform-like lesions before typical bullae appeared. The majority of the initial lesions were concurrent erythema, papules and plaques (11/24, 45.83%). The first blisters were located on the extremities in eight patients (33.33%). A limitation of the study was not being able to analyze the histopathological and immunopathological features of the initial non-bullous lesions as it was a retrospective study. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one-third of patients with bullous pemphigoid presented with multiform initial lesions, mainly erythema, papules and plaques simultaneously before the first blisters appeared. The extremities are the favorite sites of the first blisters. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology and immunofluorescence.