Relationship between exposure to fine particulate matter and cardiovascular risk factors and the modifying effect of socioeconomic status: a cross-sectional study in Beijing, China.

Accumulating research suggested that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) is related to cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, evidence regarding the relationship between PM and CVD risk factors remains inconsistent. We hypothesized that this association may be partially modified by socioeconomic status (SES).

Superatomic Layer of Cubic MoS Clusters Connected by Cl Cross-Linking.

Superatomic clusters - assemblies of atoms with various sizes, shapes, and compositions - can form hierarchical architectures that exhibit emergent electronic properties not found in their individual units. In particular, cubic MX clusters of chalcogenides (M = transition metal; X = chalcogen) are recognized as versatile building blocks for 3D structures with tunable morphologies and electronic properties. However, tetrahedral MX clusters rarely assemble into 2D architectures, which could offer a distinct class of functional materials from their 3D analogues.

The causal relationship between obesity, obstructive sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation: a study based on mediated Mendelian randomization.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia that is associated with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA). Obesity and OSA may increase the risk of AF by affecting cardiovascular health.

Methods: The study used the Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, combined with two-sample and multivariable analyses, to assess the relationships between obesity, OSA, and AF.

Transthyretin-Regulated Diabetic Retinopathy Through the VEGFA/PI3K/AKT Pathway.

Purpose: Transthyretin (TTR) plays a regulatory role in a variety of diabetes-related diseases. The objective of this work was to probe whether TTR affects diabetic retinopathy (DR) through the VEGFA/PI3K/AKT pathway.

Methods: High glucose (HG, 25 mM) was used to treat human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (hRMECs) and C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally injected with STZ (50 mg/kg) to construct a DR model.

Production of Double-Stranded RNA in Planta by a Potato Mop-Top Virus (PMTV)-Based Vector for Inducing Gene Silencing.

RNA silencing (also known as gene silencing) is an evolutionary conserved mechanism that is involved in regulating gene expression, suppressing mobile elements, and defensing virus infection. RNA silencing is triggered by double-stranded RNA via Dicer or Dicer-like riboendonucleases. DsRNAs are also the replication intermediates of all RNA viruses; as a result, plant RNA viruses are ideal candidates to induce RNA silencing.

Nanoscrolls of Janus Monolayer Transition Metal Dichalcogenides.

Tubular structures of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have attracted attention in recent years due to their emergent physical properties, such as the giant bulk photovoltaic effect and chirality-dependent superconductivity. To understand and control these properties, it is highly desirable to develop a sophisticated method to fabricate TMDC tubular structures with smaller diameters and a more uniform crystalline orientation. For this purpose, the rolling up of TMDC monolayers into nanoscrolls is an attractive approach to fabricating such a tubular structure.

Synthesis and optical properties of WS nanotubes with relatively small diameters.

Tungsten disulfide (WS) nanotubes exhibit various unique properties depending on their structures, such as their diameter and wall number. The development of techniques to prepare WS nanotubes with the desired structure is crucial for understanding their basic properties. Notably, the synthesis and characterization of multi-walled WS nanotubes with small diameters are challenging.

Aqueous humor cytokine levels are associated with the severity of visual field defects in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Background: To evaluate the aqueous humor (AH) levels of cytokines in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients and cataract patients.

Methods: Thirty-eight POAG patients and 26 cataract patients were recruited. Peripheral blood (PB) was collected from each subject.

Multilayer In-Plane Heterostructures Based on Transition Metal Dichalcogenides for Advanced Electronics.

In-plane heterostructures of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have attracted much attention for high-performance electronic and optoelectronic devices. To date, mainly monolayer-based in-plane heterostructures have been prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and their optical and electrical properties have been investigated. However, the low dielectric properties of monolayers prevent the generation of high concentrations of thermally excited carriers from doped impurities.

Characteristics of Lung Function and Prevalence of Airflow Obstruction Among Individuals Aged 18-74 Years - Beijing, China, 2017-2018.

What Is Already Known About This Topic?: Airflow obstruction is the hallmark of many chronic respiratory diseases and may indicate the potential for the development of other progressive diseases. There are currently no representative studies of lung function in Beijing. An up-to-date estimation of the characteristics of lung function and airflow obstruction is thus needed.

Association between coronary artery calcium and thoracic spine bone mineral density: Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Background And Aims: Previously, osteoporosis and coronary artery disease were considered unrelated. However, beyond age, these two conditions appear to share common etiologies that are not yet fully understood. We examined the relationship between thoracic spine bone mineral density (BMD) and severity of coronary artery calcium (CAC) score.

Ureteral- artificial iliac artery fistula: A case report.

Background: Ureteral-iliac artery fistula is a rare disease resulting from the pathological connection between the ureter and iliac artery, with artificial iliac artery-ureteral fistula being rarer. Iliac artery ureteral fistula is challenging to diagnose, and the misdiagnosis and mortality rates are high.

Case Summary: A case of artificial iliac artery ureteral fistula was reported in this paper.

Peripheral iridectomy for glaucoma is more effective than compound trabeculectomy and significantly reduces Hcy and hs-CRP levels.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of peripheral iridectomy and compound trabeculectomy for glaucoma and the changes in homocysteine (Hcy) and hypersensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels before and after treatment.

Methods: Altogether 104 patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma who were admitted from February 2020 to January 2022 were enrolled in this study for a retrospective analysis. Among them, 49 cases treated by peripheral iridectomy were considered as the research group, and 55 treated by compound trabeculectomy were seen as the control group.

Clinical Application of Foldable Capsular Vitreous Bodies in the Treatment of Severe Ocular Trauma and Silicone Oil Dependent Eyes.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the application of a foldable capsular vitreous body (FCVB) in the treatment of severe ocular trauma and silicone oil (SO) dependent eyes.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical application of FCVB in the treatment of severe ocular trauma and SO dependent eyes. The results of best-corrected visual acuity and intraocular pressure (IOP) evaluation, B-scan ultrasonography or color Doppler ultrasonography, ultrasound biomicroscopy, and anterior segment photography were recorded during follow-up.

Protective Effect of Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccines against Progression of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Delta Variant Infections to Pneumonia in Beijing, China, in 2022.

This real-world study explores the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) inactivated vaccines on the prevention of asymptomatic or mild Delta or Omicron variant infections progressing to pneumonia. Association between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia cases and vaccination was measured with a multivariable logistic regression, stratified by genotype and age groups. We recruited 265 cases (111 (41.

Twist Angle-Dependent Molecular Intercalation and Sheet Resistance in Bilayer Graphene.

Bilayer graphene (BLG) has a two-dimensional (2D) interlayer nanospace that can be used to intercalate molecules and ions, resulting in a significant change of its electronic and magnetic properties. Intercalation of BLG with different materials, such as FeCl, MoCl, Li ions, and Ca ions, has been demonstrated. However, little is known about how the twist angle of the BLG host affects intercalation.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Risk Factors Among Chinese Adults: Results from a Population-Based Study - Beijing, China, 2017-2018.

What Is Already Known About This Topic?: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is one of the most easily available health indicative markers for cardiovascular diseases, and it has become a major public health problem worldwide due to increasing urbanization and aging populations. The prevalence of MetS increased dramatically in China, however, there are no records of MetS defined by the 2017 Chinese Diabetes Society for Beijing by far.

What Is Added By This Report?: In this study, the data of 24,412 participants aged 18-74 years from a large population-based study in Beijing was collected.

Influences of Rapamycin on Retinal Ganglion Cells in Rats with Acute High Intraocular Pressure Through Regulating COX-2.

The study aimed to explore the influences of rapamycin on the retinal ganglion cells in rats with acute high intraocular pressure through regulating cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). 36 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the normal group (n=12), model group (n=12) and rapamycin group (n=12). The rats in the normal group were normally fed, those in the model group were prepared the model of acute high intraocular pressure and injected with normal saline, and those in the rapamycin group were given rapamycin.

TYRP1 Protects Against the Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress of Retinal Ganglion Cells by Binding to PMEL.

Objectives: This research aimed to dissect the function of TYRP1 and PMEL in glaucomatous animal and cell models.

Methods: A chronic ocular hypertension (COH) rat model was induced in the right eyes of rats through the electrocoagulation of superficial iris veins. In addition, an oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-retinal ganglion cell (RGC) model was constructed through OGD.

Screening for retinopathy of prematurity in North China.

Purpose: To analyze the incidence and severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in north China, and to evaluate the effectiveness of different ROP screening criteria.

Patients And Methods: The screening data of premature infants were collected from 2016 to 2021. The severity of ROP was graded according to the International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity (2005).

Embryonic stem cells-derived exosomes enhance retrodifferentiation of retinal Müller cells by delivering BDNF protein to activate Wnt pathway.

Objective: The present study was intended to investigate the role of embryonic stem cell-derived exosomes (ESC-Exos) in Müller cell retrodifferentiation and their specific mechanism.

Methods: Following co-incubation of the extracted ESC-Exos and Müller cells, their effects on the retrodifferentiation and proliferation of Müller cells were measured by EdU staining, immunofluorescence, and western blot. ESCs transfected with small interfering RNA of BDNF were co-incubated with Müller cells to determine Müller cell proliferation and retrodifferentiation.

Magnon-Coupled Intralayer Moiré Trion in Monolayer Semiconductor-Antiferromagnet Heterostructures.

Moiré fringe patterns created by stacking different 2D layered materials as artificial van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures have become a novel platform to study and engineer optically generated excitonic properties. The moiré patterns contribute to the formation of spatially ordered excitonic states (excitons and trions), which can be used in the quantum simulation of many-body systems and ensembles of coherent quantum light emitters. The intriguing moiré excitonic properties are affected by and controlled via the interaction with magnetic elements.

Versatile Post-Doping toward Two-Dimensional Semiconductors.

We have developed a simple and straightforward way to realize controlled postdoping toward 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). The key idea is to use low-kinetic-energy dopant beams and a high-flux chalcogen beam simultaneously, leading to substitutional doping with controlled dopant densities. Atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy has revealed that dopant atoms injected toward TMDs are incorporated substitutionally into the hexagonal framework of TMDs.

Modified Yamane technique with a 26-gauge needle: single corneal incision and simplified haptic insertion.

A modified Yamane technique with a 26-gauge needle for aphakia correction is described. Single corneal or corneoscleral incision is set at 12 o'clock. The 26-gauge needles are used to make 2 angled incisions parallel to the limbus to fix the haptics of a 3-piece intraocular lens.