Non-APOE variants predominately expressed in smooth muscle cells contribute to the influence of Alzheimer's disease genetic risk on white matter hyperintensities.

Introduction: White matter hyperintensity volumes (WMHVs) are disproportionally prevalent in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD), potentially reflecting neurovascular injury. We quantify the association between AD polygenic risk score (AD-PRS) and WMHV, exploring single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are proximal to genes overexpressed in cerebrovascular cell species.

Methods: In a UK-Biobank sub-sample (mean age = 64, range = 45-81 years), we associate WMHV with (1) AD-PRS estimated via SNPs across the genome (minus apolipoprotein E [APOE] locus) and (2) AD-PRS estimated with SNPs proximal to specific genes that are overexpressed in cerebrovascular cell species.

Neutrophil pyroptosis regulates corneal wound healing and post-injury neovascularisation.

Rationale: The cornea is a unique structure that maintains its clarity by remaining avascular. Corneal injuries can lead to neovascularisation (CNV) and fibrosis and are the third most common cause of blindness worldwide.

Objective: Corneal injuries induce an immune cell infiltration to initiate reparative processes.

In Vivo Assessment of an Antioxidant Hydrogel Vitreous Substitute.

The vitreous humor undergoes liquefaction with age, resulting in complications that may require a vitrectomy, or surgical removal of the vitreous from the eye. Silicone oil, a common vitreous substitute, lacks properties similar to the natural vitreous. In particular, it lacks antioxidants that may be necessary to reduce oxidative stress in the eye.

Influence of recrystallization on stability of tungsten scanning tunneling microscope tips.

The structure and electron emission properties of scanning tunneling microscope tips electrochemically etched from polycrystalline and recrystallized tungsten wires were investigated using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Tips etched using the recrystallized wire had single crystal domains larger than those seen in tips etched from the cold drawn wire. The stability of the tips under high electric fields was investigated using field emission.

Lens epithelial cell response to polymer stiffness and polymer chemistry.

Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is the most common complication of cataract surgery, and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation is the standard of care for cataract patients. Induction of post-operative epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in residual lens epithelial cells (LEC) is the main mechanism by which PCO forms. Previous studies have shown that IOLs made with different materials have varying incidence of PCO.