Design and Application of a Variable Selection Method for Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network With LASSO.

In this paper, a novel variable selection method for neural network that can be applied to describe nonlinear industrial processes is developed. The proposed method is an iterative two-step approach. First, a multilayer perceptron is constructed.

Inhibition of NUCKS Facilitates Corneal Recovery Following Alkali Burn.

Corneal wound healing involves a complex cascade of cytokine-controlled cellular events, including inflammatory and angiogenesis responses that are regulated by transcriptional chromatin remodeling. Nuclear Ubiquitous Casein and cyclin-dependent Kinase Substrate (NUCKS) is a key chromatin modifier and transcriptional regulator of metabolic signaling. In this study, we investigated the role of NUCKS in corneal wound healing by comparing its effects on corneal alkali burn in NUCKS knockout (NKO) and NUCKS wild-type (NWT) mice.

Mitochondrial transfer of mesenchymal stem cells effectively protects corneal epithelial cells from mitochondrial damage.

Recent studies have demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can donate mitochondria to airway epithelial cells and rescue mitochondrial damage in lung injury. We sought to determine whether MSCs could donate mitochondria and protect against oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in the cornea. Co-culturing of MSCs and corneal epithelial cells (CECs) indicated that the efficiency of mitochondrial transfer from MSCs to CECs was enhanced by Rotenone (Rot)-induced oxidative stress.

Impact of Genetic Loci Identified in Genome-Wide Association Studies on Diabetic Retinopathy in Chinese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

Purpose: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) had identified novel DR-susceptibility genetic variants in various populations. We examined the associations of these DR-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with severe DR in a Chinese T2DM cohort.

Distribution of Triamcinolone Acetonide after Intravitreal Injection into Silicone Oil-Filled Eye.

There is increasing use of the vitreous cavity as a reservoir for drug delivery. We study the intraocular migration and distribution of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) after injection into silicone oil tamponade agent during and after vitrectomy surgery ex vivo (pig eye) and in vitro (glass bottle). For ex vivo assessment, intraocular migration of TA was imaged using real-time FLASH MRI scans and high-resolution T2W imaging and the in vitro model was monitored continuously with a video camera.

Is the Target of 1 Day of Stay per 1% Total Body Surface Area Burned Achieved in Chemical Burns?

The length of hospital stay (LOS) is a standard parameter used to reflect quality and evaluate outcomes in acute burn care. This study aims to assess whether the target of 1 day of stay per 1% total body surface area (TBSA) burned was achieved in acute chemical burns management and factors affecting the LOS. A retrospective analysis of the records of patients who suffered from chemical burn injuries admitted to a university burn center over a continuous 14-year period was performed.

Altered myocardial response in patients with diabetic retinopathy: an exercise echocardiography study.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) complicated by retinopathy is associated with altered left ventricular (LV) structure and resting myocardial dysfunction unlike T2DM without retinopathy. The myocardial response to stress has not been compared in patients with and without diabetic retinopathy. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the relationship between retinopathy and myocardial function in patients with T2DM at rest and during exercise echocardiography.

Cost-Effectiveness of Screening for Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration during Diabetic Retinopathy Screening.

Purpose: To determine whether screening for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) during a diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening program would be cost effective in Hong Kong.

Design: We compared and evaluated the impacts of screening, grading, and vitamin treatment for intermediate AMD compared with no screening using a Markov model. It was based on the natural history of AMD in a cohort with a mean age of 62 years, followed up until 100 years of age or death.

Is it necessary to cover the macular hole with the inverted internal limiting membrane flap in macular hole surgery? A case report.

Background: To report a case of late closure of idiopathic full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) after vitrectomy with the inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) technique.

Case Presentation: A 68-year-old lady with a stage IV FTMH underwent pars plana vitrectomy with 25 gauge plus transconjunctival system, ILM peeling and gas tamponade. The inverted ILM flap technique was adopted, except that no extra surgical manipulation was used to cover the macular hole with the ILM flap.

Systematic screening for diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Hong Kong: prevalence of DR and visual impairment among diabetic population.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR), sight threatening DR (STDR), visual impairment and other eye diseases in a systematic DR screening programme among primary care Chinese patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) in Hong Kong.

Methods: Screening for DR was provided to all subjects with DM in public primary care using digital fundus photography according to the English national screening programme. STDR was defined as preproliferative DR (R2), proliferative DR (R3) and/or maculopathy (M1).

COHORT SAFETY AND EFFICACY STUDY OF SILURON2000 EMULSIFICATION-RESISTANT SILICONE OIL AND F4H5 IN THE TREATMENT OF FULL-THICKNESS MACULAR HOLE.

Purpose: To evaluate safety and efficacy of using Siluron2000 silicone oil in the treatment of full-thickness macular hole by comparing its propensity to emulsify with emulsification of the "gold standard" Siluron5000, and to assess safety and efficacy of F4H5 (perfluorobutylpentane) in removing emulsified oil droplets from the eye.

Methods: A single-center, randomized controlled parallel group trial in 72 patients undergoing vitrectomy for treatment of full-thickness macular hole. The study comprises four treatment groups.

Inhibition of RAP1 enhances corneal recovery following alkali injury.

Purpose: Recently, RAP1 (Telomeric Repeat Binding Factor 2, Interacting Protein [TERF2IP]) was discovered as a modulator that selectively regulates nuclear factor light chain kappa enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB) signaling. The roles of RAP1 in regulation of inflammation and angiogenesis for corneal recovery following corneal injury remain poorly understood. The effects of RAP1 deletion on corneal resurfacing and neovascularization in a corneal alkali burn mouse model were examined.

Chemical burns revisited: What is the most appropriate method of decontamination?

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of decontamination by immediate surgical debridement in the acute management of chemical burns as compared to conventional dilutional approaches by irrigation or wetting. A retrospective review of the medical records of patients admitted to the Burns Centre of the Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, between 2001 and 2012, was performed. The time to recovery as reflected by the hospital stay for patients who had received immediate debridement, continuous irrigation, and wet packs was calculated and compared.

Bovine posterior limbus: an evaluation of an alternative source for corneal endothelial and trabecular meshwork stem/progenitor cells.

A growing body of evidence has revealed that stem-like cells in the posterior limbus of the eye between the corneal endothelium (CE) and trabecular meshwork (TM) may be able to rejuvenate these tissues in disease. However, these cells have not been clearly defined and we have named them PET cells (progenitor cells of the endothelium and trabeculum). A good and inexpensive animal model for PET cells is lacking, so we investigated bovine eyes as an effective large tissue source.

Layered protonated titanate nanosheets synthesized with a simple one-step, low-temperature, urea-modulated method as an effective pollutant adsorbent.

A simple one-step, low-temperature, urea-modulated method is developed for the synthesis of layered protonated titanate nanosheets (LPTNs). Urea serves as an indirect ammonium ion source, and the controlled supply of the ammonium ion slows the crystalline formation process and enables the production of the LPTNs from amorphous intermediate through aging-induced restructuring. The resulting LPTNs exhibit excellent adsorption capacities for methylene blue and Pb(2+) because of their high specific surface areas and excellent ion-exchange capability.

Reconstruction of the perineum.

The pelvic and perineal regions are affected by a heterogeneous spectrum of pathologies, many with a tendency to recur. Extensive mutilation carries physical, sexual, and psychological sequelae. Primary reconstruction reduces morbidity and shortens recovery.

An investigation of the potential association between retinal detachment and oral fluoroquinolones: a self-controlled case series study.

Objectives: A study reported a significant association between oral fluoroquinolones and the development of retinal detachment among current users of oral fluoroquinolones (Etminan M, Forooghian F, Brophy JM et al. JAMA 2012; 307: 1414-9). However, other published studies have discordant results.

Takagi-Sugeno model based analysis of EWMA RtR control of batch processes with stochastic metrology delay and mixed products.

In many batch-based industrial manufacturing processes, feedback run-to-run control is used to improve production quality. However, measurements may be expensive and cannot always be performed online. Thus, the measurement delay always exists.

Dynamic transcript profiling of Candida albicans infection in zebrafish: a pathogen-host interaction study.

Candida albicans is responsible for a number of life-threatening infections and causes considerable morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Previous studies of C. albicans pathogenesis have suggested several steps must occur before virulent infection, including early adhesion, invasion, and late tissue damage.