Correlation between mental status and prevalence of asthenopia in Chinese college students.

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the possible association between mental status and the risk of self-reported asthenopia among college students in China.

Methods: Ten thousand students were randomly assessed in the study using a self-reported asthenopia questionnaire. Their demographic characteristics and mental status were recorded.

Mesopic pupil indices as potential risk factors for glare disability after intraocular implantable collamer lens implantation: prospective study.

Purpose: To explore the influence of preoperative factors, including varying pupil sizes and refractive attributes, on postoperative glare disability in patients undergoing implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation.

Setting: Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Effective Optical Zone and Centration Following SMILE and FS-LASIK for High Myopia Calculated With a Novel Method.

Purpose: To compare the effective optical zone (EOZ) and centration in eyes with high myopia after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) using a novel method.

Methods: Forty eyes of 40 consecutive patients with high myopia scheduled for SMILE or FS-LASIK were enrolled in the study. The EOZ, optical zone decentration, and corneal aberrations were analyzed using Scheimpflug imaging.

Development and Validation of a Novel Risk Score for All-Cause Mortality Risk Stratification Prior to Permanent Pacemaker Implantation in Octogenarians or Older.

: The demand for permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation for extremely old patients is increasing. Prior to implanting PPMs, life expectancy evaluation is essential but difficult. We aimed to develop and validate a scoring system for all-cause mortality risk stratification prior to PPM implantation in patients aged ≥80.

Visual outcomes and corneal densitometry after allogenic and autologous lenticule intrastromal keratoplasty for the correction of moderate-to-high hyperopia.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the visual outcomes and corneal densitometry (CD) after allogenic lenticule intrastromal keratoplasty (AL-LIKE) and autologous lenticule intrastromal keratoplasty (AU-LIKE) for the correction of moderate-to-high hyperopia.

Methods: Ten subjects (14 eyes) underwent AL-LIKE and eight (8 eyes) underwent AU-LIKE. Patients were examined preoperatively and 1 day, 1 month, and 6 months postoperatively.

Efficacy Comparison Between Steep-Meridian Incision and Non-Steep-Meridian Incision in Implantable Collamer Lens Surgery with Low-to-Moderate Astigmatism.

Introduction: To compare the visual outcomes of astigmatism correction with implantable collamer lens (ICL) surgery with low-to-moderate astigmatism through a steep-meridian corneal relaxing incision (SM-CRI) and non-steep-meridian corneal relaxing incision (NSM-CRI).

Methods: Seventy eyes of 70 patients with myopia and myopic astigmatism who underwent ICL V4c implantation were classified into two groups: SM-CRI and NSM-CRI. Refractive outcomes and vector analysis were evaluated preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively.

Optimal Heart Rate Control Improves Long-Term Prognosis of Decompensated Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction.

An elevated heart rate is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease; however, the relationship between heart rate control and the long-term outcomes of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains unclear. This study explored the long-term prognostic importance of heart rate control in patients hospitalized with HFrEF. : We retrieved the records of patients admitted for decompensated heart failure with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≤40%, from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2019.

Effect of keratometric astigmatism on visual outcomes following small incision lenticule extraction.

Purpose: To investigate the influence of keratometric astigmatism on visual outcomes following small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).

Methods: Eighty eyes undergoing SMILE for myopia correction were classified into two groups based on preoperative keratometric astigmatism: low keratometric astigmatism (LA) and high keratometric astigmatism (HA) groups. Refractive outcomes, vector components, and changes in higher order aberrations (HOAs) were evaluated preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively.

Factors associated with elevated plasma phenylalanine in patients with heart failure.

Elevated phenylalanine has been observed in patients with advanced heart failure (HF) and in community cohorts at risk of HF, and has been shown to have prognostic value. This study aimed to explore the factors associated with elevated phenylalanine in HF patients. Mass spectrometry was performed on blood from 669 participants, including 75 normal controls and 594 HF patients (stages A, B, and C).

Elevated plasma phenylalanine predicts mortality in critical patients with heart failure.

Aims: Previous studies found a relationship between elevated phenylalanine levels and poor cardiovascular outcomes. Potential strategies are available to manipulate phenylalanine metabolism. This study investigated whether increased phenylalanine predicted mortality in critical patients with either acute heart failure (HF) or acute on chronic HF, and its correlation with inflammation and immune cytokines.

Predictors of infection-related rehospitalization in heart failure patients and its impact on long-term survival.

Background: Infection is the most common non-cardiovascular cause of re-hospitalizations for heart failure patients. We therefore investigated the predictors of infection-related re-hospitalization (IRRH) in heart failure patients and its impact on long-term survival.

Methods And Results: We prospectively recruited 622 patients after the index hospitalization for decompensated heart fail with primary endpoints of IRRH and all-cause mortality.

Sulfonated Polyaniline as Zwitterionic and Conductive Interfaces for Anti-Biofouling on Open Electrode Surfaces in Electrodynamic Systems.

Electrodynamic systems for bioanalytical applications constantly suffer from biofouling due to electrical field-induced nonspecific bioadsorption on electrode surfaces. To minimize this issue, surface modification using anti-biofouling and conductive materials is necessary to not only protect the electrode surface from nonspecific bioadsorption but also maintain desired electrodynamic properties for electrode operation. In this study, we designed and prepared a conductive, zwitterionic, and self-doped sulfonated polyaniline (SPANI) coating on Au electrode surfaces for anti-biofouling applications.

Phenylalanine- and leucine-defined metabolic types identify high mortality risk in patients with severe infection.

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of phenylalanine and leucine in patients with severe infection.

Methods: Ninety-three patients with infection who had a quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score ≥2 were enrolled. Plasma phenylalanine, leucine, albumin, C-reactive protein, pre-albumin, and transferrin were measured and the SOFA score at enrollment was calculated after hospitalization.

Observational study of dronedarone in Taiwanese patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background/purpose: Currently, data on the real-world use of dronedarone, an antiarrhythmic drug for atrial fibrillation (AF), are contradictory and often based on patient populations comprised of Caucasians. We prospectively investigated the efficacy and safety of dronedarone and risk factors related to treatment outcomes in a real-world use setting.

Methods: The prospective, observational, single-arm, multi-center study included a total of 824 Taiwanese patients with a diagnosis of paroxysmal or persistent AF and receiving dronedarone treatment.

Predictors of long-term survival prior to permanent pacemaker implantation in octogenarians or older.

Background: There is an increased need for permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation for older patients with multiple comorbidities. The current guidelines recommend that, before implanting PPM, clinicians should discuss life expectancy with patients and their families as part of the decision-making process. However, estimating individual life expectancy is always a challenge.

Metastatic cardiac tumor presenting as atrial fibrillation in a previously healthy woman: A case report.

Rationale: Metastatic cardiac tumor (MCT) is rare in clinical practice. MCT presenting initially as atrial fibrillation (AF) is even rarer.

Patient Concerns: We report a 47-year-old woman with no previous medical history presented with intermittent palpitation for 3 days.

Effects of hydrogen bonding on internal conversion of GFP-like chromophores. II. The meta-amino systems.

To rationalize the efficient quenching of the fluorescence and the Z → E photoisomerization of m-ABDI, the meta-amino analogue of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) chromophore, in protic solvents, the femtosecond time-resolved fluorescence and transient infrared (TRIR) spectra of m-ABDI in CD3CN, CH3OH, and CD3OD are determined. For solutions in CD3CN, the fluorescence decay lifetime is ∼7.9 ns and IR absorption lines near 1513, 1531, 1557, and 1613 cm(-1) of m-ABDI in its electronically excited state were observed with a decay time >5 ns.

Effects of hydrogen bonding on internal conversion of GFP-like chromophores. I. The para-amino systems.

To understand the effects of solvent-solute hydrogen bonding (SSHB) on the excited-state dynamics of two GFP-like chromophores, p-ABDI and p-CFABDI, we have determined the quantum yields for fluorescence (Φf) and the isomerization Z → E (ΦZE) and the femtosecond fluorescence and transient infrared absorption in selected solvents. The behavior that ΦZE ≅ 0.50 in aprotic solvents, such as CH3CN, indicates that the E-Z photoisomerization adopts a one-bond-flip mechanism through the torsion of the exocyclic C═C bond (the τ torsion) to form a perpendicular species (τ ∼90°) in the singlet excited state followed by internal conversion (IC) to the ground state and partition to form the E and Z isomers with equal probabilities.

Increased leukocyte Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase activity predicts the presence and severity of coronary vasospastic angina.

Objective: Although inhibition of Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase (ROCK) has been shown to prevent coronary vasospastic angina (CVA), direct evidence linking ROCK activity and CVA is lacking. Accordingly, we investigated whether ROCK activity is an independent marker for CVA and is altered after treatment with antispastic medications.

Methods And Results: We prospectively studied 31 Taiwanese patients who were diagnosed with CVA and 33 control subjects.

Levels of blood periostin decrease after acute myocardial infarction and are negatively associated with ventricular function after 3 months.

Background: A recent study showed that periostin (PN) induced reentry of differentiated cardiomyocytes into the cell cycle and improved heart function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study sought to investigate whether PN levels increase after AMI and whether they provide prognostic value.

Methods And Results: We recruited 123 patients: 45 with AMI, 45 with stable coronary artery disease (CAD), and 33 healthy controls (CON).

Coronary spasm-related acute myocardial infarction in a patient with essential thrombocythemia.

We report a case of essential thrombocythemia (ET) in a 30-year-old female who exhibited inferior wall ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (AMI) without significant obstructive coronary artery disease. Right coronary vasospasm was observed after intra-coronary methylergonovine administration and she received verapamil 120 mg/dthereafter and hydroxyurea 1500 mg/d for thrombocythemia. After discontinuation of the hydroxyurea for 9 mo based on the impression of coronary spasm-related instead of coronary thrombosis-related AMI, her platelet count rose but no chest pain was observed.

The diagnostic value of computed tomographic coronary angiography in patients with acute myocardial infarction versus stable angina pectoris: a preliminary report.

Background: Computed tomographic coronary angiography (CTA) is a non-invasive alternative to conventional coronary angiography (CCA) in detecting chronic coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the value of CTA in estimating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has not been evaluated.

Methods: CTA and CCA were performed on 10 patients with non-ST-elevated AMI and 17 patients with stable angina pectoris.

Three-dimensional echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular remodeling in predialysis chronic kidney disease patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relations of left ventricular (LV) mass and geometry to LV function in patients with predialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD), by real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography (RT3-DE).

Methods: Echocardiography was performed on 76 consecutively enrolled patients (51 men) with different stages of CKD, including 26 patients with mild CKD (CKD stages 1-2) and 50 patients with moderate-to-severe CKD (CKD stages 3-5). LV mass and LV end-diastolic volume were measured by RT3-DE.

Synthesis and electron-transfer properties of benzimidazole-functionalized ruthenium complexes for highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells.

Novel heteroleptic ruthenium complexes--RD1, RD5, RD10 and RD11--with ligands based on benzimidazole were synthesized and characterized for application to dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC); the remarkable performance of RD5-based DSSC is understood for its superior light-harvesting ability and slower charge-recombination kinetics.