Development of a prognostic model for predicting long-term visual acuity after cataract surgery in children with bilateral congenital cataracts: a single centre retrospective, observational study.

Background: To evaluate factors influencing best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in paediatric patients with bilateral congenital cataracts (CC) after cataract extraction and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, as well as develop a robust model for predicting long-term visual acuity.

Methods: This retrospective study followed 194 paediatric patients with bilateral CC from January 2008 to December 2021. The endpoint event was defined as a final BCVA < 0.

Paeonol attenuates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by regulating intestinal flora and AhR/NLRP3/Caspase-1 metabolic pathway.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a common metabolic liver injury disease that is closely associated with obesity and metabolic disorders. Paeonol, an active ingredient found in Moutan Cortex, a traditional Chinese medicine which exhibits significant therapeutic effect on liver protection, has shown promising effects in treating liver diseases, particularly NASH. However, the specific intervention mechanism of paeonol on NASH is still unknown.

The interaction between autophagy and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition mediated by NICD/ULK1 is involved in the formation of diabetic cataracts.

Background: Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness and a common ocular complication of diabetes. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of lens epithelial cells (LECs) and altered autophagic activity occur during the development of diabetic cataracts. The disturbed interaction of autophagy with EMT in LECs stimulated by high glucose levels may participate in cataract formation.

Infrared Spectroscopy of Solvation in the TaO Hydrolysis Reaction.

The solvent effect of the TaO reaction with water molecules in the gas phase is examined. Stoichiometric TaO(HO) cations are generated by the laser vaporization of a tantalum metal target in the pulsed supersonic expansion of HO/He mixed gas. The infrared photodissociation spectra of TaO(HO) cations are measured using the argon-tagging technology in the 2800-3850 cm region.

Correlation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and clinical manifestations and complications of retinitis pigmentosa.

Purpose: The role of inflammation in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) has been receiving additional attention. However, the association between inflammation and the clinical manifestations and complications of RP is still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) of RP complicated with cataract and explore the correlations between the NLR and specific clinical features of RP.

Sensitive quantitation of ESR1 mutations in cell-free DNA from breast cancer patients using base-specific invasive reaction assisted qPCR.

Acquired estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) mutation is being promoted as a key mechanism of resistance to endocrine therapies in breast cancers. It is significative to monitor ESR1 mutations in real time, which provide an opportunity to alter therapy as these mutations emerge. Previous assays based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) and digital PCR (dPCR) usually due to high costs and complicated workflows hampered their clinical adoption in general medical institutions.

Infrared photodissociation spectroscopic investigation on VO and NbO hydrolysis catalyzed by water molecules.

We investigate the hydrolysis of vanadium/niobium monoxide cation (VO+/NbO+) with water molecules in the gas phase. Cationic argon-tagged intermediates, TMO(H2O)nArm+ (TM = V, Nb; n = 1-2, m = 1-2), are prepared for examination using infrared photodissociation spectroscopy. The structures of the intermediates are elucidated by comparing them with simulated spectra.

LncRNA 1 Regulates miR-144-3p to Facilitate Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Lens Epithelial Cells via the ROS/NRF2/Notch1/Snail Pathway.

Diabetic cataract is a common complication of diabetes. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of lens epithelial cells (LECs) is a key event in the development of diabetic cataracts. Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (1) has been reported to be highly expressed in different tissues of diabetic patients.

Binary Gas Analyzer Based on a Single Gold Nanoparticle Photothermal Response.

Although thermal conductivity gas analyzers are ubiquitous in industry, shrinking the sensing unit to a microscopic scale is rarely achieved. Since heat transfer between a metal nanoparticle and its ambient gas changes the temperature, refractive index, and density of the gaseous surrounding, one may tackle the problem using a single nanoparticle's photothermal effect. Upon heating by a 532 nm laser, a single gold nanoparticle transfers heat to the surrounding gas environment, which results in a change in the photothermal polarization of a 633 nm probe laser.

Activation of autophagy inhibits epithelial to mesenchymal transition process of human lens epithelial cells induced by high glucose conditions.

Subcapsular cataracts are common phenotype of diabetic cataracts, and abnormal lens epithelial cells (LECs) under the lens capsules have been considered to involve in the pathogenesis. Our previous studies have shown that the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is responsible for the LECs to lose their original polarity and tight junctions, occurs in a diabetic cataract mouse model. Autophagy is known to function in the EMT process in multiple tissues.

Audible Sound from Vibrating Sessile Droplets for Monitoring Chemicals and Reactions in Liquid.

To reduce environmental impact and sensor footprint, researchers need cost-effective and small-size surface tension and viscosity measurement devices. New measurement principles are needed for such sensors. We demonstrate that a sessile droplet's mechanical vibration can be transformed to audible sound, by recording the ultrasonic Doppler frequency shift in the form of an acoustic signal.

Infrared Photodissociation Spectroscopy of Mass-Selected CuO(CO) Clusters in the Gas Phase.

Stoichiometric CuO(CO) ( = 3-7) clusters were generated via a laser vaporization supersonic cluster source in the gas phase and identified by infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the C-O stretching region. The infrared spectra were interpreted, and the cluster structures were determined by density functional calculations. The ground states of the CuO(CO) complexes were formed by a dicopper superoxide carbonyl with [(OC)CuOOCu(CO)] ( + = ) structures in which the CO ligands coordinate a zigzag Cu(OO)Cu core.

Influencing Mechanisms of Urban Heat Island on Respiratory Diseases.

Background: Urban heat island (UHI) is being intensified with the progress of urbanization. Meanwhile, respiratory diseases caused by high temperature become common. This study explores the influences of UHI on respiratory diseases (J00-J99) and the evolutionary characteristics of the spatial pattern of such influences.

External validity of a prognostic nomogram for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on the 8th edition of the AJCC/UICC staging system: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system does not perform well for guiding individualized induction or adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We attempted to externally validate the Pan's nomogram, developed based on the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)/Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) staging system, for patients with locoregionally advanced disease. In addition, we investigated the reliability of Pan's nomogram for selection of participants in future clinical trials.

The total number of lymph nodes harvested from pathological T3N0 rectal cancer patients: Prognostic significance and potential indication for postoperative radiotherapy.

Background: Lymph node status is important in staging colorectal cancer. The use of combination treatment for pathological T3N0 (pT3N0) rectal cancer patients has been controversial. We aimed to explore the prognostic significance of the total number of lymph nodes harvested from pT3N0 rectal cancer patients.

Nanometer-Thick Newton Black Film for Selective Formaldehyde Gas Detection.

A fluorescence spectroscopic assay using Newton black film (NBF) for sensitive and selective detection of gaseous formaldehyde at room temperature is reported. The method relies on the Hantzsch reaction of formaldehyde with ammonium citrate and acetylacetone, plus a combination of the large surface area-to-volume ratio (5 × 10 m) and efficient uptake of gas by the nanometer-thick aqueous core of NBF. The assay has a limit of detection (LOD) of 4 ppb, a linear signal-to-concentration correlation up to 300 ppb of HCHO gas in the air, and a nonlinear monotonic increasing correlation in the range of 300 ppb to 1.

Controlled fluorescence quenching by antibody-conjugated graphene oxide to measure tau protein.

We report an ultrasensitive immunoassay for tau protein-a key marker of Alzheimer's disease. This sensing platform relies on graphene oxide (GO) surfaces conjugated with anti-human tau antibody to provide quantitative binding sites for the tau protein. The GO quenches standard fluorescein isothiocyanate labelled tau (tau-FITC) when tau protein and tau-FITC are both present and compete for the binding sites.

Identification and Characterization of Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase from Oleaginous Fungus Mucor circinelloides.

Acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) is a pivotal regulator of triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis. The oleaginous fungus Mucor circinelloides has four putative DGATs: McDGAT1A, McDGAT1B, McDGAT2A, and McDGAT2B, classified into the DGAT1 and DGAT2 subfamilies, respectively. To identify and characterize DGATs in M.

Sensing Parts per Million Level Ammonia and Parts per Billion Level Acetic Acid in the Gas Phase by Common Black Film with a Fluorescent pH Probe.

Relying on the nanometer-thick water core and large surface area-to-volume ratio (∼2 × 10 m) of common black film (CBF), we are able to use a pH-sensitive dye (carboxy-seminaphthorhodafluor-1, SNARF-1) to detect ammonia and acetic acid gas adsorption into the CBF, with the limit of detection reaching 0.8 ppm for NH gas and 3 ppb for CHCOOH gas in the air. Data analysis reveals that fluorescence signal change is linearly proportional to the gas concentration up to 15 ppm and 65 ppb for NH and CHCOOH, respectively.

Microsphere Assisted Super-resolution Optical Imaging of Plasmonic Interaction between Gold Nanoparticles.

Conventional far-field microscopy cannot directly resolve the sub-diffraction spatial distribution of localized surface plasmons in metal nanostructures. Using BaTiO microspheres as far-field superlenses by collecting the near-field signal, we can map the origin of enhanced two-photon photoluminescence signal from the gap region of gold nanosphere dimers and gold nanorod dimers beyond the diffraction limit, on a conventional far-field microscope. As the angle θ between dimer's structural axis and laser polarisation changes, photoluminescence intensity varies with a cosθ function, which agrees quantitatively with numerical simulations.

Validation and comparison of the 7th and 8th edition of AJCC staging systems for non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and proposed staging systems from Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Guangxi.

Objectives: We aimed to validate and compare the 7th and 8th edition of AJCC staging systems for non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and proposed staging systems from Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Guangxi.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively included 899 patients treated between November 5, 2002 and May 27, 2010. Separation and discrimination of each staging system in overall survival were primarily compared.

Validation of published nomograms and accordingly individualized induction chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objectives: We have attempted to validate two published nomograms in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and individualize induction chemotherapy (IC) accordingly.

Materials And Methods: From 2007 to 2011, 920 patients were included in the study. The validity of the nomograms was assessed by Harrell's concordance index (C-index), areas under the curve (AUC), and calibration curves.

Outcomes of Induction Chemotherapy Plus Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) Versus IMRT Plus Concurrent Chemotherapy for Locoregionally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Propensity Matched Study.

Purpose: It deserves investigation whether induction chemotherapy (IC) followed by intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is inferior to the current standard of IMRT plus concurrent chemotherapy (CC) in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods: Patients who received IC (94 patients) or CC (302 patients) plus IMRT at our center between March 2003 and November 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Propensity-score matching method was used to match patients in both arms at equal ratio.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment, control of type 2 diabetes mellitus and risk factors in Chinese rural population: the RuralDiab study.

The study aimed to investigate prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and to explore potential risk factors in rural areas of China. A total of 16413 individuals aged 18-74 years in rural districts were recruited from the Rural Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (RuralDiab) study for the epidemiological research. Meanwhile, a meta-analysis including 7 published studies was conducted to validate the result of the cross-sectional study.