The repeatability of macular and peripapillary vessel density in participants with different severities of glaucoma.

Purpose: To investigate the repeatability of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters in participants with different severities of glaucoma.

Methods: Subjects with open-angle glaucoma were enrolled prospectively and categorised into mild (mean deviation [MD] of 24-2 visual field test ≥ -6 dB), moderate to advanced (-6 > MD ≥ -20 dB) and severe glaucoma groups (MD < -20 dB). OCTA was performed three times within a single visit to obtain superficial and deep macular vessel density (VD) and peripapillary vessel and capillary density.

Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Agonists Reduce Cardiovascular Events in Cancer Patients on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists (GLP1a), initially developed for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), have shown promising results in reducing cardiovascular events. We aimed to investigate the effect of GLP1a on cardiovascular events in patients receiving ICIs.

Hierarchical design of pseudosymmetric protein nanocages.

Discrete protein assemblies ranging from hundreds of kilodaltons to hundreds of megadaltons in size are a ubiquitous feature of biological systems and perform highly specialized functions. Despite remarkable recent progress in accurately designing new self-assembling proteins, the size and complexity of these assemblies has been limited by a reliance on strict symmetry. Here, inspired by the pseudosymmetry observed in bacterial microcompartments and viral capsids, we developed a hierarchical computational method for designing large pseudosymmetric self-assembling protein nanomaterials.

Four-component protein nanocages designed by programmed symmetry breaking.

Four, eight or twenty C3 symmetric protein trimers can be arranged with tetrahedral, octahedral or icosahedral point group symmetry to generate closed cage-like structures. Viruses access more complex higher triangulation number icosahedral architectures by breaking perfect point group symmetry, but nature appears not to have explored similar symmetry breaking for tetrahedral or octahedral symmetries. Here we describe a general design strategy for building higher triangulation number architectures starting from regular polyhedra through pseudosymmetrization of trimeric building blocks.

SURGICAL OUTCOMES AND INTRAOPERATIVE PARAMETERS OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL VISUALIZATION SYSTEM VERSUS CONVENTIONAL MICROSCOPES FOR MACULAR SURGERY IN HIGHLY MYOPIC EYES: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose: To investigate the surgical outcomes and intraoperative parameters of 3D visualization system for macular diseases in highly myopic eyes.

Methods: In this single-center, prospective, randomized, comparative interventional study, 40 highly myopic eyes (axial length > 26 mm) were randomly assigned to either a 3D visualization system or a conventional microscope group. Surgical outcomes and intraoperative parameters, including the number of indocyanine green injections, surgical time, and epiretinal membrane/internal limiting membrane peeling time, were compared.

Evaluating the Risk-Benefit Profile of Corticosteroid Therapy for COVID-19 Patients: A Scoping Review.

Background: The 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak was declared a global pandemic in March 2020. It quickly spread across all continents, causing significant social, environmental, health, and economic impacts. During the pandemic, there has been consideration of repurposing and repositioning of medications, such as corticosteroids, for the treatment of hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

Surgical outcomes and intraoperative parameters of 3D visualization system versus conventional microscopes for macular surgery in highly myopic eyes, a prospective randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: To investigate the surgical outcomes and intraoperative parameters of 3D visualization system for macular diseases in highly myopic eyes.

Methods: In this single-center, prospective, randomized, comparative interventional study, 40 highly myopic eyes (axial length > 26mm) were randomly assigned to either a 3D visualization system or a conventional microscope (CM) group. Surgical outcomes and intraoperative parameters, including the number of indocyanine green (ICG) injections, surgical time, and epiretinal membrane (ERM)/ internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling time, were compared.

Clinical performance of Bladder EpiCheck™ versus voided urine cytology for detecting recurrence of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) has a favorable prognosis but has high propensity for recurrence. Recent development in one of the urinary biomarker tests, Bladder EpiCheck™, offers a noninvasive and accurate method to detect NMIBC recurrence. In this study, we aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of Bladder EpiCheck™ with urine cytology to detect NMIBC recurrence.

Photothermal Temperature-Modulated Cancer Metastasis Harnessed Using Proteinase-Triggered Assembly of Near-Infrared II Photoacoustic/Photothermal Nanotheranostics.

Here we demonstrate that cancer metastasis could be modulated by the judicious tuning of physical parameters such as photothermal temperature in nanoparticle-mediated photothermal therapy (PTT). This is supported by theranostic nanosystem design and characterization, and analyses, and transcriptome-based gene profiling. In this work, the highly efficient near-infrared II (NIR-II) photoacoustic image (PA)-guided PTT are selectively activated using our developed matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-triggered assembly of gold nanodandelions (GNDs@gelatin).

Impact of atropine use for myopia control on intraocular pressure in children: A comprehensive review including postpupil dilation intraocular pressure changes.

Topical atropine has been widely used for controlling myopia progression in children, yet its long-term efficacy and safety, including potential intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation, are still being studied. The mydriasis and cyclopegia induced by atropine may reduce traction on the trabecular meshwork, together with pigment released into anterior chamber due to the friction between the iris and lens during pupil dilation, may obstruct and reduce the trabecular outflow. This review first explores postdilation IOP changes across different groups - healthy individuals, glaucoma patients, and children.

The comparative efficacy and safety of factor Xa inhibitors and warfarin for primary thromboprophylaxis in multiple myeloma patients undergoing immunomodulatory therapy.

There are limited data on the optimal choice of anticoagulation in multiple myeloma (MM) patients receiving immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs). We conducted a propensity score-matched cohort study using the TriNetX database to compare the efficacy and safety of factor Xa inhibitors and warfarin in this patient population. Compared to warfarin, factor Xa inhibitors had a similar risk of deep vein thrombosis (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.

Periodontitis is an immune-related adverse event associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: A multi-center cohort study.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs) across various organ systems including oral health complications such as dry mouth and stomatitis. In this study, we aimed to determine the risk of periodontitis among patients on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and to test the associations between ICI-associated periodontitis and other immune-related adverse events (irAEs). We performed a retrospective cohort study involving adult cancer patients between January 2010 and November 2021.

Application of Innovative 3D Pathological Tactic for Diagnosis of Organizing Pneumonia.

Background/aim: The pathological diagnosis of organizing pneumonia (OP) relies on conventional traditional histopathological analysis, which involves examining stained thin slices of tissue. However, this method often results in suboptimal diagnostic objectivity due to low tissue sampling rates. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of tissue-clearing and infiltration-enhanced 3D spatial imaging techniques for elucidating the tissue architecture of OP.

Moonlighting glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase of Lactobacillus gasseri inhibits keratinocyte apoptosis and skin inflammation in experimental atopic dermatitis.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder affecting up to 20% of children in developed countries. Although probiotics have shown promise as adjuvant treatments for AD, their mechanisms are not well understood.

Objective: Building upon our previous studies, we investigated whether Lactobacillus gasseri and its moonlighting glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), namely LGp40, could be beneficial in AD management.

Thromboprophylaxis for outpatients with COVID-19: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Patients with COVID-19 develop an increased risk of thromboembolism. Thromboprophylaxis is recommended for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, but the role of thromboprophylaxis in outpatients with COVID-19 is less well defined. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of thromboprophylaxis among outpatients with COVID-19.

Bilateral vitrectomy in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy-characteristics and surgical outcomes.

Purpose: Comparing characteristics and outcomes of patients with bilateral proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) undergoing concurrent and sequential vitrectomy.

Methods: Patients having bilateral vitrectomy were classified into concurrent (requiring bilateral surgery simultaneously) and sequential (indicating vitrectomy in one eye later) groups. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared, and correlation between the first and second-operated eyes was analyzed.

Butyrate increases methylglyoxal production through regulation of the JAK2/Stat3/Nrf2/Glo1 pathway in castration‑resistant prostate cancer cells.

Cancer cells are characterized by increased glycolysis, known as the Warburg effect, which leads to increased production of cytotoxic methylglyoxal (MGO) and apoptotic cell death. Cancer cells often activate the protective nuclear factor erythroid 2‑related factor2 (Nrf2)/glyoxalase1 (Glo1) system to detoxify MGO. The effects of sodium butyrate (NaB), a product of gut microbiota, on Nrf2/Glos/MGO pathway and the underlying mechanisms in prostate cancer (PCa) cells were investigated in the present study.

Lamellar macular hole in highly myopic eyes and insights into its development, evolution, and treatment: a mini-review.

Lamellar macular holes (LMHs) are a manifestation of myopic tractional maculopathy (MTM). Owing to the complex and multidirectional traction force in the elongated eyeball, the clinical features, development, evolution, and treatment algorithms of LMH in highly myopic eyes may differ from those of idiopathic LMH or MTM in general. This review aimed to specifically explore the LMHs in highly myopic eyes.

Comparing reactogenicity of COVID-19 vaccine boosters: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Different COVID-19 vaccines are being utilized as boosters. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the reactogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines given as booster doses, according to vaccine type, dose, timing, participant characteristics and primary immunization regimen received.

Methods: Four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and CENTRAL) were searched for randomized controlled trials between 1 January 2020 and 1 January 2023 according to predetermined criteria.

The safety and immunogenicity of vaccines administered to pregnant women living with HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants have a higher burden of infectious diseases related morbidity and mortality compared with HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU). Immunization of pregnant women living with HIV (PWLWH) could reduce the severity and burden of infectious diseases for HEU in early infancy.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of safety and immunogenicity of vaccines administered to PWLWH and meta-analyses to test the overall effect of immunogenicity comparing pregnant women without HIV (PWWH) to PWLWH.

The impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors on outcome of patients with diabetes mellitus and colorectal cancer.

Background And Aim: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a higher risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), and those with diagnosed CRC have a poorer prognosis compared with individuals with normal glucose levels. The inhibition of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) channels has been associated with a reduction in tumor proliferation in preclinical studies. We aimed to investigate the impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on the outcome of T2DM patients with colorectal cancer.