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Using general-purpose photovoltaic device model, we have simulated the operation and functionality of a working Sn perovskite/Cu2O hole transport layer (HTL)/Cu back-contact device versus a standard Pb perovskite/Spiro HTL/Ag back-contact device. The results are extremely promising in that they showcase comparable cell efficiencies, with the Sn perovskite/Cu2O HTL/Cu back-contact device showing a highest 22.9% efficiency [Jsc of 353.4 A/m2, Voc of 0.84 V, fill factor (FF) of 0.77] at 427 nm active layer thickness compared with 24.6% of the standard Pb perovskite/Spiro HTL/Ag back-contact device (Jsc of 356.8 A/m2, Voc of 0.82 V, FF of 0.84) at the same active layer thickness. Jsc, Voc, and FF kinetics reveal that the Sn perovskite/Cu2O HTL/Cu back-contact device can perform better by reducing the recombination centers both within each layer matrix and in the interfacial contacts.

OBJECTIVE: The determinants of health-related quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease are not completely understood. The present study aimed to assess two factors in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a) whether health-related quality of life is independently associated with both bowel disease severity and psychological disorder, and b) whether Crohn’s disease is associated with more marked psychological disorder than ulcerative colitis. METHODS: 116/170 (68%) consecutive patients with inflammatory bowel disease attending a GI clinic (37 patients with ulcerative colitis, 75 patients with Crohn’s disease, and four unspecified) completed the following self-report questionnaires: demographic details, a modified disease activity index, a total severity measure, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Short Form-36. RESULTS: Thirty patients (25.9%) scored 11 or more on either the depression or anxiety subscales of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale indicating probable psychological disorder; 55% (47.4%) scored over 8 indicating possible psychological disorder. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that both psychological symptoms and disease severity or activity contributed independently to impaired health-related quality of life. After severity of disease was taken into account, there were no significant differences between Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in terms of depression scores and health-related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of psychological disorder in inflammatory bowel disease contributes to poor health-related quality of life, regardless of the severity of the condition. Detection and treatment of psychological disorder in inflammatory bowel disease carries the potential to improve health-related quality of life for these patients.

We have simulated the operation and functionality of a working Bi-based perovskite solar cell device using GPVDM and compared it against a Pb-based device. The results are extremely promising in that they showcase comparable cell efficiencies, with the Bi-based device showing a highest 20.0% efficiency (Jsc of 256 A.m-2, Voc of 1.04 V, FF of 0.75) at 450 nm active layer thickness compared to 23.4% of its Pb counterpart (Jsc of 349.3 A.m-2, Voc of 0.81 V, FF of 0.83) at 850 nm active layer thickness. The Bi-based device can thus be manufactured at approximately half its Pb-counterpart active layer thickness, to give its optimal efficiency value. A deeper study of each of the Jsc, Voc and FF trends provide keen insight into charge transfer kinetics within the device, paving the way to optimal experimental setups for fabricating the most efficient non-toxic perovskite devices.

The determinants of health-related quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease are not completely understood. The present study aimed to assess two factors in patients with inflammatory bowel diseasea) whether health-related quality of life is independently associated with both bowel disease severity and psychological disorder, and b) whether Crohn's disease is associated with more marked psychological disorder than ulcerative colitis. 116/170 (68%) consecutive patients with inflammatory bowel disease attending a GI clinic (37 patients with ulcerative colitis, 75 patients with Crohn's disease, and four unspecified) completed the following self-report questionnairesdemographic details, a modified disease activity index, a total severity measure, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Short Form-36. Thirty patients (25.9%) scored 11 or more on either the depression or anxiety subscales of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale indicating probable psychological disorder; 55% (47.4%) scored over 8 indicating possible psychological disorder. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that both psychological symptoms and disease severity or activity contributed independently to impaired health-related quality of life. After severity of disease was taken into account, there were no significant differences between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in terms of depression scores and health-related quality of life. The presence of psychological disorder in inflammatory bowel disease contributes to poor health-related quality of life, regardless of the severity of the condition. Detection and treatment of psychological disorder in inflammatory bowel disease carries the potential to improve health-related quality of life for these patients.

Background: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is used to treat intestinal failure. A minority of HPN patients are dependent on opiates and benzodiazepines to control pain and anxiety. The aim of this study was to determine what effects such drug dependence had on patient outcomes. Methods: Ten dependent patients were prospectively compared with 10 well-matched, nondependent HPN patients for the same 12-month period. Episodes of line sepsis and other complications were documented and the cost of treatment estimated. Health status was measured using the SF36 and EuroQol instruments. Results: The dependent group had significantly more episodes of central line sepsis (p = .0007) as well as other complications (p = .0002). This led to significantly longer periods of inpatient care (p =0004) and therefore higher costs of treatment. Health status was lower in the dependent group; they reported more pain (p = .04) and less energy (p = .04). Conclusions: The complication rate and increased cost of treatment for opiate- and sedative-dependent patients receiving HPN significantly detract from the overall outcome of this therapy. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 21:336-338, 1997)

To conduct a pragmatic, randomized controlled trial to assess whether thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) genotyping prior to azathioprine reduces adverse drug reactions (ADRs). A total of 333 participants were randomized 1:1 to undergo genotyping prior to azathioprine or to commence treatment without genotyping. There was no difference in the primary outcome of stopping azathioprine due to an adverse reaction (ADR, p = 0.59) between the two study arms. ADRs were more common in older patients (p = 0.01). There was no increase in stopping azathioprine due to ADRs in heterozygotes compared with wild-type individuals. The single individual with TPMT variant homozygosity experienced severe neutropenia. Our work supports the strong evidence that individuals with TPMT variant homozygosity are at high risk of severe neutropenia, whereas heterozygotes are not at increased risk of ADRs at standard doses of azathioprine. Original submitted 5 January 2011; Revised submitted 18 February 2011

Though coenzyme Q10 is sometimes prescribed for mitochondrial disorders there is no clear supporting evidence for its routine use in MNGIE. 5 Novel treatments being investigated for MNGIE include dialysis, 6 allogenic stem cell transplantation 7 and administration of carrier erythrocyte-entrapped TP. 8