In this work, two novel thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters, 2tDMG and 3tDMG, are synthesized for high‐efficiency organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs), The two emitters have a ...tilted face‐to‐face alignment of donor (D)/acceptor (A) units presenting intramolecular noncovalent interactions. The two TADF materials are deposited either by an evaporation‐process or by a solution‐process, both of them leading to high OLED performance. 2tDMG used as the emitter in evaporation‐processed OLEDs achieves a high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 30.8% with a very flat efficiency roll‐off of 7% at 1000 cd m−2. The solution‐processed OLEDs also display an interesting EQE of 16.2%. 3tDMG shows improved solubility and solution processability as compared to 2tDMG, and thus a high EQE of 20.2% in solution‐processed OLEDs is recorded. The corresponding evaporation‐processed OLEDs also reach a reasonably high EQE of 26.3%. Encouragingly, this work provides a novel strategy to address the imperious demands for OLEDs with high EQE and low roll‐off.
A thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitter, 2tDMG, is designed and synthesized based on the donor (D)/acceptor (A) spatially intramolecular noncovalent interaction. The D/A units are connected via a rigid linker, thereby confining them into a close‐packed coplanar configuration for small singlet–triplet splitting energy. 2tDMG achieves a high external quantum efficiency of 30.8% with a low efficiency roll‐off in evaporation‐processed organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs).
Systematic review of published prevalence of adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) after spine surgery.
To evaluate the prevalence of ASD in patients after cervical and lumbar spine surgery.
ASD is a ...common complication after spine surgery in long-term follow-up. A large body of literature has been reported on the topic, but no meta-analysis of the epidemiological data on ASD has been published
We searched the MEDLINE until March 2012 published in English language that reported the prevalence of ASD after spine surgery. We determined the ASD rates by calculating proportions and 95% confidence interval (CI) for each study and then pooled the data to derive a pooled proportion and 95% CI.
A total of 94 studies with 34,716 patients from 19 countries were included. The occurrence of radiograph ASD ranged from 4.8% to 92.2%, and the pooled prevalence was 29.3% (95% CI, 22.7%-35.8%) by the random-effects model. The occurrence of symptoms ASD ranged from 0.0% to 30.3%, and the pooled prevalence was 7.4% (95% CI, 6.4%-8.5%). In cervical position, the occurrence of radiograph ASD and symptoms ASD was 32.8% (95% CI, 17.8%-47.9%) and 6.3% (95% CI, 4.8%-7.8%); in lumbar position, the occurrence of radiograph ASD and symptoms ASD was 26.6% (95% CI, 21.3%-31.9%) and 8.5% (95% CI, 6.4%-10.7%). In the 0.5- to 2- or less, more than 2- to 5- or less, and more than 5- to 20- or less year diagnosis time, the radiograph ASD prevalence was 21.8% (16.0%-27.6%), 33.6% (21.8%-45.4%), and 37.4% (10.7%-64.1%), respectively; and the symptoms ASD prevalence was 6.5% (4.8%-8.1%), 12.1% (8.2%-16.0%), and 3.2% (2.5%-4.0%), respectively.
Spine surgery is associated with significant risk of ASD. These figures may be useful in the estimation of the burden of the ASD after spine surgery.
This work describes a strategy to produce circularly polarized thermally activated delayed fluorescence (CP-TADF). A set of two structurally similar organic emitters SFST and SFOT are constructed, ...whose spiro architectures containing asymmetric donors result in chirality. Upon grafting within the spiro frameworks, the donor and acceptor are fixed proximally in a face-to-face manner. This orientation allows intramolecular through-space charge transfer (TSCT) to occur in both emitters, leading to TADF properties. The donor units in SFST and SFOT have a sulfur and oxygen atom, respectively; such a subtle difference has great impacts on their photophysical, chiroptical, and electroluminescence (EL) properties. SFOT exhibits greatly enhanced EL performance in doped organic light-emitting diodes, with external quantum efficiency (EQE) up to 23.1%, owing to the concurrent manipulation of highly photoluminescent quantum efficiency (PLQY, ∼90%) and high exciton utilization. As a comparison, the relatively larger sulfur atom in SFST introduces heavy atom effects and leads to distortion of the molecular backbone that lengthens the donor–acceptor distance. SFST thus has lower PLQY and faster nonradiative decay rate. The collective consequence is that the EQE value of SFST, i.e., 12.5%, is much lower than that of SFOT. The chirality of these two spiro emitters results in circularly polarized luminescence. Because SFST has a more distorted molecular architecture than SFOT, the luminescence dissymmetry factor (|g lum|) of circularly polarized luminescence of one enantiomer of the former, namely, either (S)-SFST or (R)-SFST, is almost twice that of (S)-SFOT/(R)-SFOT. Moreover, the CP organic light-emitting diodes (CP-OLEDs) show obvious circularly polarized electroluminescence (CPEL) signals with g EL of 1.30 × 10–3 and 1.0 × 10–3 for (S)-SFST and (S)-SFOT, respectively.
Pancreatic cancer (PC) represents a relatively rare but severe malignancy worldwide. Accumulated studies have emphasized the potential of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) as therapeutic strategies for ...several human cancers. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether a novel non-coding RNA regulatory circuitry involved in PC. Aberrantly expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs were screened out of microarray database. Following the determination of RNA expression, PANC-1 and BxPC-3 PC cells were adopted, after which the expression of miR-330-5p, PAX8 and LINC00958 were subsequently altered. RNA crosstalk was validated by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. In order to detect whether LINC00958 could act as ceRNA to competitively sponge miR-330-5p and regulate PAX8, subcellular location of LINC00958 and interaction between LINC00958 and miR-330-5p were measured by FISH and RNA pull down respectively. The epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, cell invasion, and tumor growth were determined in vitro and in vivo. LINC00958 and PAX8 were up-regulated, while miR-330-5p was down-regulated during PC. LINC00958 mainly expressed in the cytoplasm and LINC00958 competitively sponged miR-330-5p. Upregulated miR-330-5p or downregulated PAX8 inhibited the EMT process as well as the invasion and metastasis ability of the PC cells. Moreover, the results indicated that miR-330-5p negatively targeted PAX8, and LINC00958 ultimately showcasing its ability to bind to miR-330-5p through its interaction with AGO2. Therefore, silencing of LINC00958 may bind to miR-330-5p to inhibit PAX8 in a competitive fashion, thereby preventing the progression of PC.
•This study explores the effects of LINC00958 on PC via the miR-330-5p/PAX8 axis.•LINC00958 and PAX8 are highly expressed, yet miR-330-5p down-regulated in PC cells.•PAX8 is a target gene of miR-330-5p.•LINC00958 promotes PAX8 by binding with miR-330-5p in PC.•Down-regulated LINC00958 inhibits EMT, invasion, and metastasis of PC cells.
Background
As a rate‐limiting enzyme of glycolysis, pyruvate kinase muscle isozyme M2 (PKM2) participates in tumor metabolism and growth. The regulatory network of PKM2 in cancer is complex and has ...not been fully studied in bladder cancer. The 5‐methylcytidine (m5C) modification in PKM2 mRNA might participate in the pathogenesis of bladder cancer and need to be further clarified. This study aimed to investigate the biological function and regulatory mechanism of PKM2 in bladder cancer.
Methods
The expression of PKM2 and Aly/REF export factor (ALYREF) was measured by Western blotting, qRT‐PCR, and immunohistochemistry. The bioprocesses of bladder cancer cells were demonstrated by a series of experiments in vitro and in vivo. RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA‐sequencing, and dual‐luciferase reporter assays were conducted to explore the potential regulatory mechanisms of PKM2 in bladder cancer.
Results
In bladder cancer, we first demonstrated that ALYREF stabilized PKM2 mRNA and bound to its m5C sites in 3′‐untranslated regions. Overexpression of ALYREF promoted bladder cancer cell proliferation by PKM2‐mediated glycolysis. Furthermore, high expression of PKM2 and ALYREF predicted poor survival in bladder cancer patients. Finally, we found that hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1alpha (HIF‐1α) indirectly up‐regulated the expression of PKM2 by activating ALYREF in addition to activating its transcription directly.
Conclusions
The m5C modification in PKM2 mRNA in the HIF‐1α/ALYREF/PKM2 axis may promote the glucose metabolism of bladder cancer, providing a new promising therapeutic target for bladder cancer.
Our data suggested that m5C may play a critical role in hypoxia/glycolysis network and targeting HIF‐1α/ALYREF/PKM2 signaling may be a promising therapeutic strategy to treat bladder cancer.
Background
Robot-assisted laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy is a novel minimally invasive surgery technique, and its effectiveness and safety remain unknown in patients with borderline malignant ...or malignant diseases. This study aimed to prospectively evaluate the effectiveness and safety of RLPD versus open PD (OPD).
Methods
Between January 2010 and December 2013, 180 eligible patients were prospectively hospitalized for elective RLPD (
n
= 60) or OPD (
n
= 120). They were matched for tumor location, tumor type, tumor size, ASA classification, age, and sex. The main outcome measures included demographics, intraoperative variables, morbidity, postoperative recovery, and mid-term evaluation.
Results
Over the study period, the RLPD group had a significantly longer but decreasing operative time (median 410 vs. 323 min;
P
< 0.001), less blood loss (median 400 vs. 500 mL;
P
= 0.005), better nutritional status recovery, expedited off-bed return to activity (3.2 vs. 4.8 d;
P
< 0.001), faster resumption of bowel movement (3.6 vs. 5.2 d;
P
< 0.001), and shorter hospital stay (20 vs. 25 d;
P
= 0.002) compared to the OPD group. The two groups had similar surgical morbidities and mortality as well as R0 resection rate and number of lymph nodes resected. Among patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, the two groups had similar overall and disease-free survival (ACTRN12614000299606).
Conclusions
This first largest, prospective matched study demonstrated that for treating selected borderline and malignant pathologies, RLPD was associated with a significant learning curve effect and expedited postoperative recovery, but had a surgical and oncological safety profile similar to OPD.
Background
Spleen preservation (SP) is beneficial for patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy of benign and borderline tumors; however, the conventional laparoscopy approach (C-LDP) is less ...effective in controlling splenic vessel bleeding. The benefits of the robotic-assisted approach (RA-LDP) in SP have not been clearly described. This study aimed to evaluate whether a robotic approach could improve SP rate and effectiveness/safety profile of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP).
Methods
Matched for scheduled SP, age, sex, ASA classification, tumor size, tumor location, and pathological type, 69 patients undergoing RA-LDP and 50 undergoing C-LDP between January 2005 and May 2014 were included. Main outcome measures included SP rate, operative time (OT), blood loss, transfusion frequency, morbidity, postoperative hospital stay (PHS), and oncologic safety.
Results
Among matched patients scheduled for SP, RA-LDP was associated with significantly higher overall (95.7 vs. 39.4 %) and Kimura SP rates (72.3 vs. 21.2 %), shorter OT (median 120 vs. 200 min), less blood loss (median 100 vs. 300 mL), lower transfusion frequency (2.1 vs. 18.2 %), and shorter mean PHS (10.2 vs. 14.5 days). Among matched patients scheduled for splenectomy, RA-LDP was associated with similar OT, blood loss, transfusion frequency, and PHS. The two approaches were similar in overall morbidity, frequency of pancreatic fistula, and oncologic outcome among patients undergoing splenectomy for malignant tumors.
Conclusions
RA-LDP was associated with a significantly better SP rate and reduced OT, blood loss, transfusion requirement, and PHS for patients undergoing SP compared to C-LDP, but offered less benefits for patients undergoing splenectomy.
The impact of twin shields tunneling undercrossing with an oblique angle on the existing tunnels is complicated and still lacks of understanding. This paper investigated the deformation behaviors of ...the existing tunnels with new twin tunnels construction undercrossing obliquely based on numerical simulation on a case history in Changsha, China. The accuracy of numerical analysis was verified in comparison with the field measurement. The variation of the ground settlement trough and the earth pressure acting on the existing tunnel during the shield tunneling was analyzed. Then, the transversal deformation, internal forces and torsion behavior of the existing tunnels induced by the new tunnels excavation were obtained. Additionally, a parametric study was conducted to investigate the impact of the intersection angle between the new and existing tunnels on the deformation behaviors of the existing tunnel. The results show that due to oblique intersection, the transversal deformation and internal forces of the existing tunnel show obvious asymmetrical characteristic, and an unrecoverable local torsional deformation of the existing tunnel on both side of new tunnel can be observed after shield tunneling. The parametrical analysis indicates that the intersection angle significantly influences on the maximum settlement of the existing tunnel bottom, which is up to 27.53% larger in parallel case than that in perpendicular case, and decreases rapidly as the interaction angle varies from 30° to 60°. Nevertheless, the maximum settlement of the existing tunnel crown is unaffected by the intersection angle.
In December 2019, a new type viral pneumonia cases occurred in Wuhan, Hubei Province; and then named "2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)" by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 12 January 2020. ...For it is a never been experienced respiratory disease before and with infection ability widely and quickly, it attracted the world's attention but without treatment and control manual. For the request from frontline clinicians and public health professionals of 2019-nCoV infected pneumonia management, an evidence-based guideline urgently needs to be developed. Therefore, we drafted this guideline according to the rapid advice guidelines methodology and general rules of WHO guideline development; we also added the first-hand management data of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University. This guideline includes the guideline methodology, epidemiological characteristics, disease screening and population prevention, diagnosis, treatment and control (including traditional Chinese Medicine), nosocomial infection prevention and control, and disease nursing of the 2019-nCoV. Moreover, we also provide a whole process of a successful treatment case of the severe 2019-nCoV infected pneumonia and experience and lessons of hospital rescue for 2019-nCoV infections. This rapid advice guideline is suitable for the first frontline doctors and nurses, managers of hospitals and healthcare sections, community residents, public health persons, relevant researchers, and all person who are interested in the 2019-nCoV.