A Geometrically Well-Defined and Systematically Tunable Experimental Model to Transition from Planar to Mesoporous Perovskite Solar Cells

A series of perovskite solar cells with systematically varying surface area of the interface between n-type electron conducting layer (TiO₂) and perovskite are prepared by using an ordered array of straight, cylindrical nanopores generated by anodizing an aluminum layer evaporated onto a transparent conducting electrode. A series of samples with pore length varied from 100 to 500 nm are compared to each other and complemented by a classical planar cell and a mesoporous counterpart. All samples are characterized in terms of morphology, chemistry, optical properties, and performance. All samples absorb light to the same degree, and the increased interface area does not generate enhanced recombination. However, the short circuit current density increases monotonically with the specific surface area, indicating improved charge extraction efficiency. The importance of the slow interfacial rearrangement of ions associated with planar perovskite cells is shown to decrease in a systematic manner as the interfacial surface area increases. The results demonstrate that planar and mesoporous cells obey to the same physical principles and differ from each other quantitatively, not qualitatively. Additionally, the study shows that a significantly lower TiO₂ surface area compared to mesoporous TiO₂ is needed for an equal charge extraction.

THU0573 YOGA LEADS TO SUSTAINED IMPROVEMENT IN FATIGUE AND MOOD IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Background:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients experience reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Previous studies suggest that yoga, a mind-body practice, can improve physical and mental health but it has not been extensively studied in RA.

Objectives:

To investigate the effect of yoga on HRQOL and secondary on fatigue, anxiety, depression and disease activity in RA patients

Methods:

43 RA patients (mean (SD) age 55 (10) years, median (IQR) disease duration 5 (3,8) years, 93% female), stable on standard pharmacological treatment and DAS28CRP < 5.1 were randomly assigned to 12 weeks yoga intervention (2x/week 90 min; n=22) or arthritis-related educational lectures control (1x/week 60 min; n=21). Yoga based on „Yoga in daily life system“ included asanas, relaxation, pranayama and meditation. Study evaluations at baseline, post-intervention and 3-month follow-up included The Short Form-36 (SF-36) scores for Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F), Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) and Disease Activity Score-28CRP (DAS28CRP) questionnaires. Data were presented as change from baseline to each time point. Between group differences were analyzed using the t-test for normally and Mann-Whitney U test for non-normally distributed variables. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results:

35 patients (17 = intervention, 18 = control group) completed the trial period. Significant improvement in FACIT-F (p=0.013), HADS anxiety (p=0.047) and HADS depression (p=0.004) was found in yoga group compared to control at post-intervention and maintained at follow-up (p=0.025, p=0.02 and p=0.045, respectively). There was no significant difference found between groups for SF-36 MCS, PCS and DAS28CRP at all time points (all p>0.05). No serious adverse events were observed during trial period.

Conclusion:

Although no change in SF-36 scores and disease activity was observed, yoga practice produced significant and sustained improvement in fatigue and mood which strongly account for decreased life quality in RA. Despite limitations our findings suggest that yoga may be of benefit in management of RA patients.

Table.

Changes in outcomes

N= 37 (postintervention)N= 35 (follow-up)VariablesBaseline mean (SD)Change from baseline (95%CI)Difference between groups(95%CI, p-value)Change from baseline (95%CI)Difference between groups(95%CI, p-value)FACIT-F(0-52)Yoga 33.89 (10.77)Control 35.37 (9.3)4.18(-0.26,8.61)-2.17(-5.58,1.25)6.66(1.53,11.78)p= 0.0133.29(-1.23,7.82)-3.33(-7.27,0.61)6.63(0.85,12.4)p=0.025HADS-A(0-21)Yoga 7.39 (3.72)Control 6.89 (2.86)-1.94(-3.28,-0.6)0.056(-1.39,1.51)-1.83(-3.64,-0.024)p= 0.047-2.24(-3.63,-0.84)0.17(-1.38,1.71)-2.4(-4.4,-0.04)p=0.02HADS-D(0-21)Yoga 5.11 (3.03)Control 5.0 (1.82)-1.06(-1.92,-0.2)0.83(-0.06,1.72)-1.73(-2.88,-0.58)p= 0.004-0.2(-1.1,0.63)0.94(0.12,1.77)-1.18(-2.33,-0.03)p=0.045SF-36:MCS(0-100)Yoga 49.49 (11.99)Control 49.71 (8.99)2.97(-4.15,10.09)-1.59(-7.51,4.33)3.86(-4.66,12.33)p= 0.3661.25(-3.62,6.12)-0.45(-5.56,4.65)1.7(-5.09,8.49)p=0.618SF-36:PCS(0-100)Yoga 52.57 (10.11)Control 48.30 (9.76)0.44(-3.13,4.02)-1.16(-4.81,2.48)1.61(-3.31,6.53)p= 0.511-1.54(-5.44,2.35)0.35(-3.21,3.92)-1.9(-6.98,3.18)p=0.453DAS28CRPYoga 2.32 (0.81)Control 2.91 (0.84)-0.0024(-0.42,0.42)-0.096(-0.45,0.26)0.093(-0.44,0.63)p=0.7240.11(-0.43,0.66)-0.54(-0.92,-0.17)0.66(0.02,1.3)p=0.092

Disclosure of Interests:

Silva Puksic: None declared, Josko Mitrovic: None declared, Melanie-Ivana Culo: None declared, Marcela Zivkovic: None declared, Biserka Orehovec: None declared, Marko Lucijanic: None declared, Dubravka Bobek: None declared, Jadranka Morovic-Vergles Speakers bureau: Abbvie., Roche, MSD, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Mylan, Amgen, Fresenius Kabi

Off label and unlicensed drugs use in paediatric cardiology

OBJECTIVES

The use of drugs in an off label or unlicensed manner to treat children is a widespread phenomenon in Europe and the United States. The incidence of unlicensed and off label prescribing in paediatric cardiology practice has not been studied to date. This study was designed to assess the extent and nature of off label and unlicensed drug use in paediatric cardiology inpatients.

METHODS

In a prospective study, drug prescriptions in a paediatric cardiology ward were reviewed during a 2-year period. Data were collected and analyzed by special software created for this purpose.

RESULTS

The children (n = 544) studied varied in age from 4 h to 18 years. One or more off label and unlicensed prescriptions were given to 414 (76%) patients. Of the 2,130 prescriptions given during the 2-year period, more than one-half were unlicensed (11%) or off label (47%). While children aged 2-11 years received most of the unlicensed drug prescriptions (17%), neonates, who did not receive unlicensed drugs, led (64%) in the use of off label drugs. CONCLUSIONS. This study showed that the problem of off label and unlicensed drug use also exists in paediatric cardiology. The findings imply that the phenomenon of off label and unlicensed use of drugs in children can be correlated with the deficiency of paediatric drug formulations on the global market and insufficient data from clinical studies which must be performed to confirm the efficacy and safety of drugs in the paediatric population. Therefore, efforts to improve paediatric labelling are important and need the full support of all involved.