The default mode network is affected in the early stage of simian immunodeficiency virus infection: a longitudinal study.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome infection can lead to cognitive dysfunction represented by changes in the default mode network. Most recent studies have been cross-sectional and thus have not revealed dynamic changes in the default mode network following acquired immune deficiency syndrome infection and antiretroviral therapy. Specifically, when brain imaging data at only one time point are analyzed, determining the duration at which the default mode network is the most effective following antiretroviral therapy after the occurrence of acquired immune deficiency syndrome. However, because infection times and other factors are often uncertain, longitudinal studies cannot be conducted directly in the clinic. Therefore, in this study, we performed a longitudinal study on the dynamic changes in the default mode network over time in a rhesus monkey model of simian immunodeficiency virus infection. We found marked changes in default mode network connectivity in 11 pairs of regions of interest at baseline and 10 days and 4 weeks after virus inoculation. Significant interactions between treatment and time were observed in the default mode network connectivity of regions of interest pairs area 31/V6.R and area 8/frontal eye field (FEF). L, area 8/FEF.L and caudal temporal parietal occipital area (TPOC).R, and area 31/V6.R and TPOC.L. ART administered 4 weeks after infection not only interrupted the progress of simian immunodeficiency virus infection but also preserved brain function to a large extent. These findings suggest that the default mode network is affected in the early stage of simian immunodeficiency virus infection and that it may serve as a potential biomarker for early changes in brain function and an objective indicator for making early clinical intervention decisions.

[Effect of bloodletting at tip of ear with different amounts on pain in patients with early-stage stye: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the curative effect between bloodletting at tip of ear with different amounts combined with western medication and western medication alone for early-stage stye. METHODS: A total of 108 patients with early-stage stye were randomly divided into a 50 µL group (36 cases, 4 cases dropped off), a 100 µL group (36 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a western medication group (36 cases, 5 cases dropped off). The patients in the western medication group were treated with levofloxacin eye drops and levofloxacin hydrochloride eye gel. Based on the treatment of the western medication group, the patients in the 50 µL group were treated with 50 µL bloodletting (about 3 drops) at tip of ear while the patients in the 100 µL group were treated with 100 µL bloodletting (about 6 drops) at tip of ear; the bloodletting was given once a day for 3 days. After treatment, the changes of visual analogue scale (VAS) and clinical effect were observed, and the patients were followed up by telephone on the 8th day. RESULTS: After treatment, the VAS score in each group was reduced (P<0.01), and the score in the 50 µL group and 100 µL group was lower than that in the western medication group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the score in the 100 µL group was lower than that in the 50 µL group (P<0.05). After treatment, the cured rate was 76.5% (26/34) in the 100 µL group, 71.9% (23/32) in the 50 µL group and 51.6% (16/31) in the western medication group, and there were no significant differences among three groups (P>0.05). One week after the onset of the disease, all the patients in the 50 µL group and 100 µL group were cured, and one patient in the western medication group was not cured, and treated with routine surgery. CONCLUSION: Based on the conventional western medication treatment, bloodletting at tip of ear can significantly reduce the pain of stye, and the effect of 100 µL bleeding is better than 50 µL.

Bloodletting at EX-HN6 as an adjunctive therapy to eye drops for stye: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of bloodletting (BL) at ear-apex (EX-HN6) as an adjunctive therapy to eye drops for stye. METHODS: This study systematically searched electronic databases from inception to March 1, 2020 in PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journals Full-text Database, and WanFang Database. All potential randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effectiveness and safety of BL at EX-HN6 as an adjunctive therapy to eye drops for stye were included in this study. Study quality of all included studies was assessed by Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool. RevMan 5.3 software was used for statistical analysis and meta-analysis performance. RESULTS: A total of 11 RCTs, involving 1718 subjects, were included in this study. Results showed that BL at EX-HN6 as an adjunctive therapy to eye drops was superior to the eye drops alone in enhancing total effectiveness rate (risk ratio [RR] 1.21, 95% confidence intervals [CIs] [1.11, 1.32], I = 79%), and total cure rate (RR 1.28, 95% CIs [1.14, 1.43], I = 69%). After removing two studies, results of subgroup analysis still showed significant improvements in total effectiveness rate (RR 1.13, 95% CIs [1.08, 1.18], I = 0%), and total cure rate (RR 1.16, 95% CIs [1.08, 1.24], I = 0%). No data of adverse reactions was reported in primary trials, thus, this study did not analyze adverse reactions of BL at EX-HN6 as an adjunctive therapy to eye drops for stye. CONCLUSION: BL at EX-HN6 as an adjunctive therapy to eye drops may benefit stye. However, high-quality RCTs addressing on this issue is still needed to warrant the findings of this study.

Diammonium-Cesium Lead Halide Perovskite with Phase-Segregated Interpenetrating Morphology for Photovoltaics.

The insertion of organic spacers into halide perovskite slabs has offered a trade-off between the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The layered structure of diammonium-intercalated cesium lead halide perovskites is virtually unexplored, in contrast to several works on the monoammonium system. In this report, we find that perovskite with 1,4-butanediammonium (BDA) and cesium cations can only form n = 1 and n = 2 layered isologues defined by the chemical formula of (BDA)Csn-1Pbn(I0.7Br0.3)3n+1, while the n = 3-4 ones will self-construct into unique heterostructures comprising separated quantum wells (QWs; n = 1-2) and 3D (n = ∞) perovskites. We highlight that the 2D/3D heterostructures show a structural resemblance to that of bulk heterojunction in organics, thus improving the charge separation and transport more than surface passivation. Solar cells based on the (BDA)Cs3Pb4I9.1Br3.9 (n = 4) absorbing layer delivered a power conversion efficiency (PCE) reaching 9.49% with ideal light and thermal stability.

Enhanced moisture stability of metal halide perovskite solar cells based on sulfur-oleylamine surface modification.

As one of the most promising light-harvesting materials, perovskites have drawn tremendous attention for their unique advantages, such as high efficiency, low cost and facile fabrication compared with other photovoltaic materials. Nevertheless, poor moisture tolerance of the perovskites greatly hampers the operation of such devices and hinders their commercialization. Herein, we demonstrate a facile dipping treatment using sulfur-oleylamine solution for surface atomic modulation of perovskite films. Oleylammonium polysulfides (OPs) would be self-assembled on the etched perovskite film as an ultrathin outer layer. This layer could passivate the surface chemical activity of the outer perovskite layers. Moreover, the hydrophobic OPs significantly enhance moisture stability of such devices. As a result, the obtained device without encapsulation retains more than 70% of its initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) after 14 days of exposure to a relative humidity of 40 ± 10%.

A Gradient Heterostructure Based on Tolerance Factor in High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells with 0.84 Fill Factor.

A gradient heterosturcture is one of the basic methods to control the charge flow in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, a classical route for gradient heterosturctures is based on the diffusion technique, in which the guest ions gradually diffuse into the films from a concentrated source of dopants. The gradient heterosturcture is only accessible to the top side, and may be time consuming and costly. Here, the "intolerant" n-type heteroatoms (Sb3+ , In3+ ) with mismatched cation sizes and charge states can spontaneously enrich two sides of perovskite thin films. The dopants at specific sides can be extracted by a typical hole-transport layer. Theoretical calculations and experimental observations both indicate that the optimized charge management can be attributed to the tailored band structure and interfacial electronic hybridization, which promote charge separation and collection. The strategy enables the fabrication of PSCs with a spontaneous graded heterojunction showing high efficiency. A champion device based on Sb3+ doped film shows a stabilized power-conversion efficiency of 21.04% with a high fill factor of 0.84 and small hysteresis.

In situ and real-time ToF-SIMS analysis of light-induced chemical changes in perovskite CH3NH3PbI3.

A hybrid light/ToF-SIMS system was used to analyze the dynamic chemical changes of perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 films under light illumination, in order to reveal the mechanism of light instability for perovskite materials. Real-time material degradation and quasi-reversible iodine migration were successfully observed.

A Solution-Processed Transparent NiO Hole-Extraction Layer for High-Performance Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells.

A highly transparent NiO layer was prepared by a solution processing method with nickel(II) 2-ethylhexanoate in non-polar solvent and utilized as HTM in perovskite solar cells. Excellent optical transmittance and the matched energy level lead to the enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE, 18.15 %) than that of conventional sol-gel-processed NiO-based device (12.98 %).

Outward versus inward placement in Shang Ring circumcision for phimosis and redundant prepuce in adult men: analysis of 527 cases / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical effects of two different circumcision procedures with the Shang Ring and compare their advantages and disadvantages.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 527 adult males with phimosis or redundant prepuce underwent Shang Ring circumcision by conventional outward replacement (n = 254) and inward placement (n = 273), respectively. We observed the in-ring nocturnal pain, complications, ring-removal pain, degree of edema, recovery time, and patients' satisfaction after surgery, and compared them between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the conventional outward placement (5.9%) of the Shang Ring, the inward placement method showed the advantages of mild in-ring nocturnal pain, a low complication rate, significantly reduced ring-removal pain, and mild edema, but exhibited longer healing time.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In Shang Ring circumcision for phimosis and redundant prepuce in adult males, each of the outward and inward placement methods has advantages and disadvantages of its own, but the latter is more advantageous and feasible.</p>

[Salmonella choleraesuis C500 delivering DNA immunization against classical swine fever virus].

Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV) E2 protein eukaryotic expression plasmid pVAXE2 was constructed. The plasmid pVAXE2 was transformed into Salmonella choleraesuis C500 (S. C500) attenuated vaccine strain by electroporation to generate Salmonella choleraesuis engineering strain S. C500/pVAXE2. The characterization of S. C500/pVAXE2 in morphology, growth, biochemistry and serology indicated that it retained the same properties as its original strain S. C500 with exception of kanamycin resistance originated from the plasmid pVAXE2. The plasmid stable in the bacteria after 15 passages. Kunming mice and rabbits were vaccinated three times at two weeks interval with S. C500/pVAXE2 in oral and intramuscular routes at the dosage of 1 x 10(8) CFU for mice and 2 x 10(9) CFU for rabbits each time. The specific antibody response against CSFV and Salmonella choleraesuis was detected by ELISA. Two weeks after the third boost the immunized rabbits were challenged with 20 ID50 of hog cholera lapinized virus (HCLV), followed by a virulent strain of Salmonella choleraesuis two week later than HCLV challenge. The results showed that all immunized mice and rabbits produced significant antibodies against CSFV and Salmonella choleraesuis, and the immunized rabbits demonstrated the effective protection against the challenge of HCLV and virulent Salmonella choleraesuis. These results indicated the potential of developing multiplex swine DNA vaccine by using this bacteria as the vector.