Transient charge carrier dynamics in organic solar cell devices studied by simultaneous optical and electric detection.

For the clarification of dynamics of photogenerated carriers in practical organic solar cell devices, we have developed a methodology to simultaneously acquire reflection-mode transient optical absorption (ΔA) and transient electric current (Δi) signals. For a typical polythiophene:fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cell device, both the ΔA and Δi signals due to the photogenerated carriers are characterized by the power-law decays of ∝t-α, which are interpreted by detrapping-limited recombination at earlier times than ∼1 μs and trap-free diffusion/drift at later times. Furthermore, we have succeeded in observing switching of the power index α for ΔA signals as well as for Δi signals; the time at which switching occurs indicates the extraction of carriers by electrodes (transit times).

Efficacy and Safety Evaluation of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Combination With Chemotherapy for Extensive Small Cell Lung Cancer: Real-World Evidence.

Introduction: Extensive small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) are currently managed using first-line chemotherapy options, including atezolizumab (Atezo) plus etoposide and carboplatin (CE) or durvalumab (Durva) plus etoposide with either cisplatin (PE) or carboplatin (CE). However, a definitive distinction in therapeutic effects between Atezo and Durva in these regimens remains unestablished.

Methods: We analyzed data from 100 patients diagnosed with ES-SCLC who received immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) as first-line chemotherapy.

Comparative Study on Associations Between Lung Cancer Prognosis and Diagnostic Criteria Set by the European Palliative Care Research Collaboration and the Asian Working Group for Cachexia.

Background: Cachexia is a poor prognostic factor in many advanced cancers. Cachexia diagnostic criteria of the European Palliative Care Research Collaboration (EPCRC) may underestimate cachexia in Asians; therefore, new criteria have been proposed by the Asian Working Group for Cachexia (AWGC). We compared both criteria to determine differences in diagnostic rates and their association with lung cancer prognosis.

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Advanced Heart Failure Management.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) permits the assessment of gas exchange, electrocardiogram, and hemodynamic patterns throughout exercise, providing a window into multi-organ physiologic reserve during exercise. CPET provides risk stratification and informs management of advanced heart failure (HF). Increasingly, CPET is combined with echocardiography, or invasive right heart catheterization, which enables high-resolution assessment of cardiac and extracardiac limitations to exercise.