Evidence from NHANES 2011-2014: a correlation between the weight-adjusted-waist index and cognitive abilities in the United States.

Background: Obesity exerts a significant detrimental impact on cognitive function. The weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) serves as a more precise indicator of visceral obesity that is independent of weight, in contrast to body mass index (BMI). Still, little research has been conducted on the interrelation between WWI and cognitive abilities.

Overexpression of FatB thioesterase affects plant growth and lipid metabolome leading to improved drought tolerance in and tomato.

Frequent and extreme drought exerts profound effects on vegetation growth and production worldwide. It is imperative to identify key genes that regulate plant drought resistance and to investigate their underlying mechanisms of action. Long-chain fatty acids and their derivatives have been demonstrated to participate in various stages of plant growth and stress resistance; however, the effects of medium-chain fatty acids on related functions have not been thoroughly studied.

A novel Schirmer strip-based tear matrix metalloproteinase measurement in dry eye evaluation.

Purpose: The diagnosis and evaluation of dry eye require easy-to-use, precise, and consistent tools in clinical setting. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) has been proven to be a reliable indicator of dry eye inflammation. The aim of this study is to establish an Eu-time resolved fluorescence immunochromatography (Eu-TRFICO) method for quantitative detection of MMP-9 in human tear based upon widely used Schirmer strips.

Associations Between Frailty and Risk of All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality in Patients with Prediabetes: A Population-Based Study.

Objective: Diabetes is a well-known risk factor for frailty that has been associated with adverse prognosis. However, the association of frailty with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in patients with prediabetes has not been thoroughly explored.

Methods: Participants with prediabetes were derived from the 1999-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and followed up for all-cause and CVD mortality until December 31, 2019.

Extraction and Purification of Flavonoids and Antiviral and Antioxidant Activities of L.

The aim of the present study was to optimize the process parameters for the extraction and purification of total flavonoids from L., in addition to analyzing their chemical composition and evaluating their activity against varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and antioxidant activity. The optimum extraction process was determined using one-way and response surface methods with the following conditions: ethanol concentration of 82.

Association between COVID-19 infection and uveitis flare in patients with Behcet's disease, a retrospective multicenter cohort study.

Purpose: To explore if COVID-19 infection and its subsequent immunosuppressant adjustment as well as previous vaccination status are associated with higher risks of uveitis flare in patients with Behcet's disease.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted in January 2023 among patients with Behcet's uveitis, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, with an anticipated sample size of 250. The primary objective was to examine the association between COVID-19 infection and the occurrence of uveitis flare.

A Glucose-Responsive Hydrogel Inhibits Primary and Secondary BRB Injury for Retinal Microenvironment Remodeling in Diabetic Retinopathy.

Current diabetic retinopathy (DR) treatment involves blood glucose regulation combined with laser photocoagulation or intravitreal injection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies. However, due to the complex pathogenesis and cross-interference of multiple biochemical pathways, these interventions cannot block disease progression. Recognizing the critical role of the retinal microenvironment (RME) in DR, it is hypothesized that reshaping the RME by simultaneously inhibiting primary and secondary blood-retinal barrier (BRB) injury can attenuate DR.

Quantitative urinary proteome analysis reveals potential biomarkers for disease activity of Behcet's disease uveitis.

Purpose: Behçet's disease-associated uveitis (BDU) is a severe, recurrent inflammatory condition affecting the eye and is part of a systemic vasculitis with unknown etiology, making biomarker discovery essential for disease management. In this study, we intend to investigate potential urinary biomarkers to monitor the disease activity of BDU.

Methods: Firstly, label-free data-dependent acquisition (DDA) and tandem mass tag (TMT)-labeled quantitative proteomics methods were used to profile the proteomes of urine from active and quiescent BDU patients, respectively.

Integrated micro/nano drug delivery system based on magnetically responsive phase-change droplets for ultrasound theranostics.

Phase-change droplets (PCDs) are intelligent responsive micro and nanomaterials developed based on micro/nano bubbles. Subject to external energy inputs such as temperature and ultrasound, the core substance, perfluorocarbon (PFC), undergoes a phase transition from liquid to gas. This transformation precipitates alterations in the PCDs' structure, size, ultrasound imaging capabilities, drug delivery efficiency, and other pertinent characteristics.

Effect of CO2 fractional laser combined with recombinant human epidermal growth factor gel on skin barrier.

To evaluate the impact of CO2 fractional laser combined with recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) gel on skin barrier in acne scar patients. In a retrospective analysis, we examined 105 acne scar patients admitted between July 2018 and August 2021. Of these, 51 received only CO2 fractional laser (control group), while 54 underwent a combination of CO2 fractional laser and rhEGF gel (observation group).

A Novel Risk Stratification-Based Immunomodulatory Treatment Strategy for Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease.

Purpose: To develop a more tailored immunomodulatory treatment (IMT) strategy based on a novel 2-arm risk stratification system in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) patients.

Design: A retrospective clinical cohort study.

Methods: Seventy-nine VKH patients in the acute stage were stratified into low- (n = 58) and high-risk (n = 21) groups based on their exposure to risk factors.

Development of high-performance point-of-care aqueous VEGF detection system and proof-of-concept validation in RVO patients.

Objectives: To develop a sensitive point-of-care testing (POCT) aqueous vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) detection system, and assess its role for predicting the response to anti-VEGF treatment in macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO-ME) patients.

Methods: An automatic point-of-care aqueous humor Magnetic Particle Chemiluminescence Enzyme Immuno-Assay (MPCLEIA) VEGF detection system was developed. The predictive values of aqueous cytokine levels, in combination with imaging parameters, on anatomical treatment response (ATR, the relative central macular thickness change [ΔCMT/bl-CMT]) were analyzed.

Spatial-temporal differentiation of coupling coordination degree for green finance and green innovation efficiency: a case study in China.

Continued investment in finance and innovation is beneficial to economic development, and the joining of green system can accelerate the process of economic recovery from environmental distress. To better enhance the relationship of green finance and green innovation, it is vital to demonstrate the synergy between the two thoroughly. Thirty provinces in China are selected to examine the coupling coordination relationship between the two, specifically testing the spatial aggregation and evolutionary differences in the coupling coordination by adopting the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model, spatial autocorrelation, and kernel density estimation.

Discovery of the mechanism of n-propylparaben-promoting the proliferation of human breast adenocarcinoma cells by activating human estrogen receptors via metabolomics analysis.

Background: N-propylparaben (PP), a type of paraben, is commonly used as a preservative or antibacterial agent in daily chemicals, medicine, food, cosmetics, feed, and various industrial preservatives. Although PP promotes the growth of human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells by activating the human estrogen receptor (ER), the mechanism responsible for this type of programmed cell proliferation is poorly understood.

Objective: To clarify the effect of PP on cell metabolic function and the potential molecular mechanism of PP induced MCF-7 cell proliferation from a new perspective.

Development of Diagnostic Recommendations for Vitreoretinal Lymphoma.

Purpose: To develop diagnostic recommendations for diffuse large B-cell vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) in Chinese patients.

Methods: Retrospective observational case series. Seventy-three eyes of 40 VRL patients and 8 control patients were analyzed.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Interleukin-10 Biomarker for Vitreoretinal Lymphoma.

Purpose: To analyze the correlation between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels and the clinical characteristics in patients with vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL).

Design: Retrospective observational case series.

Methods: Forty-one patients were diagnosed as VRL and underwent lumbar puncture for CSF examination.

Therapeutic effect of alternating red and blue light irradiation combined with collagen in patients with acne vulgaris and the risk factors of short-term recurrence.

Objective: To explore the therapeutic effect of alternating red and blue light irradiation combined with collagen in patients with acne vulgaris and the risk factors of short-term recurrence.

Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 105 patients with acne vulgaris treated in Baoji Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2019 to February 2020. 50 patients received conventional treatment (Pumen red and blue light) were taken as the control group, and the other 55 patients treated with collagen dressing on the basis of control group were taken as the research group.

Interaction between DLC-1 and SAO-1 facilitates CED-4 translocation during apoptosis in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline.

Apoptosis is one of the major forms of programmed cell death, and it serves vital biological functions in multicellular animal and plant cells. The core mechanism of apoptosis is highly conserved in metazoans, where the translocation of CED-4/Apaf-1 from mitochondria to the nuclear membrane is required to initiate and execute apoptosis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of this translocation are poorly understood.

There Is No Evidence That Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccines Increase Risks of Uveitis Flare.

This is a retrospective study to investigate the impact of inactivated Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccination on uveitis flare in patients with uveitis. Sixty patients that were regularly followed up for uveitis for at least two months after the last dose of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines were included in the vaccination group. Sixty patients with comparable characteristics of uveitis who had not received the COVID-19 vaccines were included in the control group.

Methotrexate for chronic non-necrotizing anterior scleritis in Chinese patients.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness and corticosteroid-sparing capabilities of methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of chronic non-necrotizing anterior scleritis in Chinese patients.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of all patients with active anterior scleritis between January 2015 and June 2019 was conducted. All patients received 10 to 15 mg/wk MTX orally, and corticosteroids (10 to 40 mg/d prednisolone or equivalent methylprednisolone) with slow tapering.

Validating automated eye disease screening AI algorithm in community and in-hospital scenarios.

Purpose: To assess the accuracy and robustness of the AI algorithm for detecting referable diabetic retinopathy (RDR), referable macular diseases (RMD), and glaucoma suspect (GCS) from fundus images in community and in-hospital screening scenarios.

Methods: We collected two color fundus image datasets, namely, PUMCH (556 images, 166 subjects, and four camera models) and NSDE (534 images, 134 subjects, and two camera models). The AI algorithm generates the screening report after taking fundus images.