Unveiling the hidden link: elevated platelets and T cell subsets in 5% of moderate COVID-19 patients 48 days post-onset.

Introduction: Platelets are hyperactived during acute COVID-19, promoting clotting and modulating immune-cell responses. Immune thrombocytopenia in adults can manifest as an uncommon complication resulting from various viral infections or as a rare adverse event associated with vaccination. However, their role in convalescent COVID-19 patients remains underexplored.

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Iron overload is common in cardiovascular disease, it is also the factor that drives ferroptosis. Noncoding RNAs play an important role in heart disease; however, their regulatory role in iron overload-mediated ferroptosis remains much unknown. In our study, the iron overload model in mice was constructed through a high-iron diet, and ammonium iron citrate  treatment was used to mimic iron overload in vitro.

Diagnosis of Forme Fruste Keratoconus Using Corvis ST Sequences with Digital Image Correlation and Machine Learning.

Purpose: This study aimed to employ the incremental digital image correlation (DIC) method to obtain displacement and strain field data of the cornea from Corvis ST (CVS) sequences and access the performance of embedding these biomechanical data with machine learning models to distinguish forme fruste keratoconus (FFKC) from normal corneas.

Methods: 100 subjects were categorized into normal (N = 50) and FFKC (N = 50) groups. Image sequences depicting the horizontal cross-section of the human cornea under air puff were captured using the Corvis ST tonometer.

Preparation of RDX/F2311/FeO/Al Composite Hollow Microspheres by Electrospray and Synergistic Energy Release during Combustion between Components.

Nanothermites and high-energy explosives have significantly improved the performance of high-energy composites and have broad application prospects. Therefore, in this study, RDX/F2311/FeO/Al composite hollow microspheres were successfully prepared utilizing the electrospray method using F2311 as a binder between components. The results show that the combustion time of the composite hollow microspheres is shortened from 2400 ms to 950 ms, the combustion process is more stable, and the energy release is more concentrated.

Mendelian Randomisation Analysis of Causal Association between Lifestyle, Health Factors, and Keratoconus.

Keratoconus (KC), a leading cause of vision impairment, has an unclear aetiology. This study used Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore the causal links between various factors (smoking, asthma, Down syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, atopic dermatitis, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels) and KC. A two-sample MR design, grounded in genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics, was adopted using data from FinnGen, UK Biobank, and other GWAS-related articles.

CorNet: Autonomous feature learning in raw Corvis ST data for keratoconus diagnosis via residual CNN approach.

Purpose: To ascertain whether the integration of raw Corvis ST data with an end-to-end CNN can enhance the diagnosis of keratoconus (KC).

Method: The Corvis ST is a non-contact device for in vivo measurement of corneal biomechanics. The CorNet was trained and validated on a dataset consisting of 1786 Corvis ST raw data from 1112 normal eyes and 674 KC eyes.

Effects of Diquafosol Sodium Ophthalmic Solution on Tear Film Matrix Metallopeptidase-9 and Corneal Nerve Density in Patients with Type 2 Diabetic Dry Eye.

Diabetes mellitus has been associated with increased dry eye disease (DED) and exacerbates DED's pathology. This preliminary short-term study aimed to evaluate the effects of 3% Diquafosol Sodium ophthalmic solution (DQS) on ocular surface inflammation and corneal nerve density in diabetic dry eye (DDE) patients. In this perspective, participants used 1 drop of 3% DQS (Diquas; Santen Pharmaceutical Co.

A protocol for a single center, randomized, controlled trial comparing the clinical efficacy of 3% diquafosol and 0.1% hyaluronic acid in diabetic patients with dry eye disease.

Background: The global prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) continues to rise and 70% of diabetic individuals have dry eye disease (DED) that leads to subsequent abnormalities of the corneal epithelium, corneal nerves, tear film, or corneal endothelium. In addition, persons with diabetes produce fewer tear secretions than healthy individuals. While several anti-inflammatory drug-based therapies for dry eye in diabetic individuals are currently being administered, their efficacy has not been studied in detail.

Relationship between ocular surface pain and corneal nerve loss in dry eye diabetics: a cross-sectional study in Shenyang, China.

Background: Diabetes mellitus has been associated with increased dry eye disease (DED) and exacerbates DED pathology.

Objective: To investigate the potential relationship between corneal nerve loss and ocular pain among diabetic patients with dry eye (DE).

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Protocol for a parallel assignment prospective, randomised, comparative trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intense pulsed light (IPL) combined with 3% diquafosol (DQS) ophthalmic solution in dry eye syndrome.

Introduction: Evaporative dry eye (EDE) is common and can lead to ocular pain, decreased visual quality and reduced quality of life. Intense pulsed light (IPL) and 3% diquafosol ophthalmic solution have been found to be beneficial in reducing signs and symptoms of dry eye.

Methods And Analysis: A randomised clinical trial will be performed at He Eye Specialist Hospital in Shenyang.

The Combined Impact of Intense Pulsed Light Combined and 3% Diquafosol Ophthalmic Solution on Evaporative Dry Eye: A Randomized Control Study.

Introduction: The primary objective of this study is to assess whether the combination of intense pulsed light (IPL) with 3% diquafosol (DQS) ophthalmic solution is more effective than intense pulsed light in alleviating signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED).

Methods: This randomized study included 66 participants with evaporative dry eye (EDE) who received IPL + DQS therapy (n = 44 eyes), IPL therapy (n = 44 eyes), or sham therapy (n = 44 eyes). All participants were examined at baseline (D0), day 14 (D14), and day 28 (D28) for non-invasive break-up time (NITBUT), tear-film lipid layer (TFLL), corneal conjunctival staining (CS), meibomian gland quality (MGQ), meibomian gland expression (MGEx), and ocular surface disease index (OSDI).

Preparation of quasi-core/shell structured composite energetic materials to improve combustion performance.

Composite explosives with fast reaction rate, high energy release efficiency, and remarkable combustion performance can be obtained by the interaction between homogeneous energetic materials and heterogeneous energetic materials and have broad application prospects. However, ordinary physical mixtures can easily cause separation between the components in the preparation process, which is not conducive to reflecting the advantages of composite materials. In this study, high-energy composite structured explosives with RDX modified by polydopamine as the core and PTFE/Al as the shell were prepared using a simple ultrasonic method.

Managing Severe Evaporative Dry Eye with Intense Pulsed Light Therapy.

Introduction: This study assessed the efficacy and safety of intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy in participants with severe evaporative dry eye disease (DED).

Methods: This randomized, controlled, single-center study included 49 adult participants (≥ 18 years) with severe evaporative DED who received either IPL therapy (n = 56 eyes) or sham therapy (n = 42 eyes) three times. The primary efficacy parameters were ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score, non-invasive tear breakup time (NITBUT), tear film lipid layer (TFLL), conjunctivocorneal staining score (CS), MG Score, meibomian gland (MG) quality, and MG expression score.

In-vivo high-speed biomechanical imaging of the cornea using Corvis ST and digital image correlation.

In-vivo corneal biomechanical characterization has gained significant clinical relevance in ophthalmology, especially in the early diagnosis of eye disorders and diseases (e.g. keratoconus).

Platelet Internalization Mediates Ferroptosis in Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Myocardial cell death is the hallmark of myocardial infarction. In the process of myocardial injury, platelets contribute to the pathogenesis by triggering intense inflammatory responses. Yet, it is still unclear if platelets regulate cardiomyocyte death directly, thereby exacerbating myocardial injury in myocardial infarction.