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"Wang, Li-Kai"
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Constructive molecular configurations for surface-defect passivation of perovskite photovoltaics
Surface trap–mediated nonradiative charge recombination is a major limit to achieving high-efficiency metal-halide perovskite photovoltaics. The ionic character of perovskite lattice has enabled molecular defect passivation approaches through interaction between functional groups and defects. However, a lack of in-depth understanding of how the molecular configuration influences the passivation effectiveness is a challenge to rational molecule design. Here, the chemical environment of a functional group that is activated for defect passivation was systematically investigated with theophylline, caffeine, and theobromine. When N-H and C=O were in an optimal configuration in the molecule, hydrogen-bond formation between N-H and I (iodine) assisted the primary C=O binding with the antisite Pb (lead) defect to maximize surface-defect binding. A stabilized power conversion efficiency of 22.6% of photovoltaic device was demonstrated with theophylline treatment.
Journal Article
MicroRNAs play important roles in regulating the rapid growth of the Phyllostachys edulis culm internode
• Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) is a fast-growing species with uneven growth and lignification from lower to upper segments within one internode. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a vital role in post-transcriptional regulation in plants. However, how miRNAs regulate fast growth in bamboo internodes is poorly understood.
• In this study, one moso bamboo internode was divided during early rapid growth into four segments called F4 (bottom) to F1 (upper) and these were then analysed for transcriptomes, miRNAs and degradomes.
• The F4 segment had a higher number of actively dividing cells as well as a higher content of auxin (IAA), cytokinin (CK) and gibberellin (GA) compared with the F1 segment. RNA-seq analysis showed DNA replication and cell division-associated genes highly expressed in F4 rather than in F1. In total, 63 miRNAs (DEMs) were identified as differentially expressed between F4 and F1. The degradome and the transcriptome indicated that many downstream transcription factors and hormonal responses genes were modulated by DEMs. Several miR–target interactions were further validated by tobacco co-infiltration.
• Our findings give new insights into miRNA-mediated regulatory pathways in bamboo, and will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing rapid growth.
Journal Article
Mortality and risk factors associated with pulmonary embolism in coronavirus disease 2019 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
To determine, in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, the associations of pulmonary embolism (PE) with mortality and risk factors for PE as well as the therapeutic benefit of anticoagulant prophylaxis. Embase, PubMed, Cochrane controlled trials register, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to October 10, 2020. We included all published trials on PE in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 with eligibility of the trials assessed following the PRISMA guidelines. Sixteen clinical trials with 5826 patients were eligible. There were significant associations of PE with the male gender [odd ratio (OR) = 1.59, 95% CI 1.28–1.97], mechanical ventilation (OR = 3.71, 95% CI 2.57–5.36), intensive care unit admission (OR = 2.99, 95% CI 2.11–4.23), circulating D-dimer [mean difference (MD) = 5.04 µg/mL, 95% CI 3.67–6.42) and CRP (MD = 1.97 mg/dL, 95% CI 0.58– 3.35) concentrations without significant correlation between PE and mortality (OR = 1.31, 95% CI 0.82–2.08) as well as other parameters or comorbidities. After omitting one trial with strict patient selection criteria for anticoagulant prophylaxis, significant prophylactic benefit was noted (OR = 0.31, 95% CI 0.1–0.91). Our findings identified the risk factors associated with PE in COVID-19 patients and supported the therapeutic benefit of anticoagulant prophylaxis against PE in this patient population.
Journal Article
H19/let-7/LIN28 reciprocal negative regulatory circuit promotes breast cancer stem cell maintenance
Long noncoding RNA-H19 (
H19
), an imprinted oncofetal gene, has a central role in carcinogenesis. Hitherto, the mechanism by which H19 regulates cancer stem cells, remains elusive. Here we show that breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) express high levels of
H19
, and ectopic overexpression of
H19
significantly promotes breast cancer cell clonogenicity, migration and mammosphere-forming ability. Conversely, silencing of
H19
represses these BCSC properties. In concordance, knockdown of
H19
markedly inhibits tumor growth and suppresses tumorigenesis in nude mice. Mechanistically, we found that H19 functions as a competing endogenous RNA to sponge miRNA let-7, leading to an increase in expression of a let-7 target, the core pluripotency factor LIN28, which is enriched in BCSC populations and breast patient samples. Intriguingly, this gain of LIN28 expression can also feedback to reverse the H19 loss-mediated suppression of BCSC properties. Our data also reveal that LIN28 blocks mature let-7 production and, thereby, de-represses H19 expression in breast cancer cells. Appropriately,
H19
and
LIN28
expression exhibits strong correlations in primary breast carcinomas. Collectively, these findings reveal that lncRNA H19, miRNA let-7 and transcriptional factor LIN28 form a double-negative feedback loop, which has a critical role in the maintenance of BCSCs. Consequently, disrupting this pathway provides a novel therapeutic strategy for breast cancer.
Journal Article
Association of preoperative vitamin D deficiency with the risk of postoperative delirium and cognitive dysfunction: A meta-analysis
Despite vitamin D deficiency (VDD) associated with cognitive dysfunction in the general population, the impacts of preoperative VDD on postoperative delirium (POD) and cognitive dysfunction (POCD) remain to be clarified.
Meta-analysis of cohort studies.
Postoperative care.
Preoperative VDD as the prognostic factor.
Adult patients undergoing surgery.
Databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google scholar, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception to September 2021. Random-effects modeling was applied to the pooling of results on the association between preoperative VDD and POD/POCD. The primary outcome was the association of VDD with the risk of POD/POCD, while the secondary outcomes included other prognostic factors (e.g., hypertension) with the risk of POD/POCD. A prediction interval (PI) was calculated to indicate the range of a true effect size of a future study in 95% of all populations.
Meta-analysis of seven observational studies involving 2673 patients showed that the pooled incidence of POD/POCD was 29% (95% confidence interval (CI): 18% to 44%). Our results demonstrated that preoperative VDD increased the risk of POD/POCD [odds ratio (OR) = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.21–1.97, p < 0.01; I2 = 29.2%, seven studies, 2673 patients; 95% PI: 0.89–2.67], while vitamin D insufficiency was not associated with a higher risk of POD/POCD (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.49–1.57, p = 0.66; I2 = 62.6%, four studies, 1410 patients; 95% PI: 0.09–8.79). The PI in our primary outcome (i.e., 0.89 to 2.67) containing 1.0 suggested the possibility of inconsistent results in future studies. Patients with POD/POCD were older compared to those without. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, male gender, or smoking was not recognized as risk factors for POD/POCD.
Our results demonstrated that preoperative vitamin D deficiency was associated with postoperative cognitive impairment. Given the prediction interval, more future studies are needed to elucidate associations between VDD and POD/POCD.
•Postoperative delirium and cognitive dysfunction are postsurgical cognitive disorders.•Preoperative vitamin D deficiency increased postoperative cognitive disorders' risk.•Preoperative vitamin D deficiency remained a risk factor in subgroup analysis.•The meta-analysis results suggest optimization of preoperative vitamin D status.
Journal Article
Recent progress in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived 3D cultures for cardiac regeneration
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the world due to the high incidence of the diseases coupled with the limited therapeutic options. In recent years, advances in regenerative medicine have emerged as a promising treatment. Differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into cardiac cells and emerging technologies allowing arrangement of cells into complex 3D tissue-like structures open new frontiers for transplantation and engraftment of these tissue patches onto the damaged heart. Despite the cells integrating and presenting initial neovascularization, the functional and electric properties of these patches are still not comparable with those of the host cardiac tissue. Future research optimizing maturation and integration of the iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes is paramount for cardiac cell therapy to attain clinical use. Herein, we will review the state of the art and the different approaches to constructing these 3D transplantable structures.
Journal Article
Fabrication of Na, Cl co-doped graphitic carbon nitride with enhanced photocatalytic activity for degradation of dyes and antibiotics
Co-doping is a promising approach to change the electronic structure and increase the photocatalytic ability of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). Here, we reported a facile and green fabrication of Na, Cl co-doped g-C3N4 photocatalysts. In the fabrication, sodium and chlorine were incorporated into g-C3N4 synchronously. The bandgap of Na, Cl co-doped g-C3N4 decreased compared with pure g-C3N4 and the position of the valence band moved in the direction of enhanced oxidizing power. The co-doped photocatalysts exhibited the improved visible-light absorption and the reduced recombination rate of photogenerated electrons and holes. As a result, photocatalytic activity of Na, Cl co-doped g-C3N4 was remarkably improved for the photodegradation of rhodamine B and tetracycline hydrochloride under visible light irradiation. The photocatalysis mechanism of Na, Cl co-doped g-C3N4 was also discussed according to the results of active species trapping experiments.
Journal Article
A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials on the impact of oral vitamin C supplementation on first-year outcomes in orthopedic patients
This meta-analysis aimed at investigating the impact of oral vitamin C supplementation on the post-procedural recovery of orthopedic patients, including functional outcomes and complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I). Literature search using the Medline, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases from inception till March 2021 identified seven eligible randomized controlled trials with 1,361 participants. Forest plot revealed no significant difference in the functional outcomes at 6–12 months [standardized mean difference (SMD) = −0.00, 95% CI − 0.19 to 0.18, 467 patients], risk of overall complications (RR = 0.98, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.39, 426 patients), and pain severity at 3–6 months (SMD = − 0.18, 95% CI − 0.49 to 0.12, 486 patients) between patients with and without oral vitamin C supplementation. Pooled analysis showed that vitamin C treatment reduced the risk of CRPS I regardless of dosage (RR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.85, 1143 patients). In conclusion, the current meta-analysis demonstrated that oral vitamin C supplementation may reduce the risk of complex regional pain syndrome type I but did not improve the functional outcomes in orthopedic patients. Nevertheless, because of the small number of trials included in the present study, further large-scale clinical studies are warranted to support our findings.
Journal Article
Letter to the editor: “Efficacy and safety of corticosteroids for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials”
TSA accounts for random errors from sparse data and repeated significance testing in the updated cumulative meta-analyses [2,3]. [...]performing TSA on mortality outcomes could strengthen the reliability of this result in the original meta-analysis [1]. [...]randomized controlled trials are required to confirm the mortality benefit of adjunct corticosteroid therapy for CAP. [...]while the original meta-analysis [1] provides a signal towards a mortality benefit based on available evidence, our additional TSA found this to be somewhat equivocal.
Journal Article