Design and synthesis of glycyrrhetinic acid glycosides against acute lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis.

HMGB1 mediated signalling pathway plays an important role in acute injury and fibrosis in lung tissues. Glycyrrhizic acid (GL) is a HMGB1 inhibitor, and its aglycone (glycyrrhetinic acid, GA) is the major pharmacophore and plays the main role during binding to HMGB1. To improve selectivity for these lung diseases, a series of novel glycyrrhetinic acid glycosides targeting mannose acceptors in the respiratory tract and lung tissues were synthesised, and their biological activities were evaluated in vitro and in vivo.

Synthesis of glycyrrhizin analogues as HMGB1 inhibitors and their activity against sepsis in acute kidney injury.

Glycyrrhizin (GL) is one of the antagonists of highly conserved nuclear protein (HMGB1). The researches have shown that the glycosyl of GL is an important pharmacophore for GL binding to HMGB1, and it is the determinant factor for mechanism of action. To get the HMGB1 inhibitors with higher activity and good pharmacokinetic properties, two classes of GL analogues containing C-N glycoside bond were synthesized, and their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress and anti-septic kidney injury were evaluated.

Design and synthesis of salidroside analogs and their bioactivity against septic myocardial injury.

Cardiac tissue suffers much from sepsis, and the incidence of myocardial injury is high in septic patients. The treatment of sepsis myocardial injury (SMI) has been the focus of clinical medicine. Salidroside shows myocardial cell protection, anti-oxidation and anti- inflammation effects, and it is thought as one of the potential compounds to treat sepsis myocardial injury.

Design and synthesis of bile acid derivatives and their activity against colon cancer.

Bile acids (BAs) containing both hydrophilic hydroxyl and carboxyl groups and hydrophobic methyl and steroid nuclei can promote the absorption of fat and other substances in the intestine, and they are synthesized by cholesterol in the liver and then returned to the liver through enteric liver circulation. Because there are many BA receptors on the cell membrane of colon tissues, BAs can improve the specific delivery and transport of medicines to colon tissues. Moreover, BAs have a certain anticancer and inflammation activity by themselves.

Tight adherent feature on optical coherence tomography predict postoperative visual outcome in epiretinal membrane eyes.

Background: To identify the predictive parameter among preoperative measurements that best predicts postoperative visual outcome in the epiretinal membrane (ERM).

Methods: Thirty-three consecutive patients with idiopathic unilateral ERM patients between 2015 and 2018 were enrolled. Nineteen healthy normal eyes were selected as an independent age-matched group.

Efficient learning for decomposing and optimizing random networks.

In this study, we consider the problem of node ranking in a random network. A Markov chain is defined for the network, and its transition probability matrix is unknown but can be learned by sampling random interactions among nodes. Our objective is to decompose the Markov chain into several ergodic classes and select the best node in each ergodic class.

Chronological records of sediment organic carbon at an entrance of Dongting Lake: Response to historical meteorological events.

Lake sediments are the products of soil erosion and are strongly influenced by climate variability, particularly extreme meteorological events. Sediment organic carbon (SOC) can reflect environmental changes that affect sediment transport. However, the response of SOC chronological records to major meteorological events is relatively unknown.

Comparison between intravitreal bevacizumab and posterior sub-tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide in macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion.

Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety between posterior sub-tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide (PSTA) and intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (Avastin) (IVIA) in the treatment of macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion.

Patients And Methods: A total of 45 eyes were retrospectively enrolled (23 eyes with intravitreal bevacizumab and 22 eyes with posterior sub-tenon triamcinolone acetonide). Main endpoints included logMAR of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), and intraocular pressure (IOP) before and after treatment at 6 months.

Real-life experience of ranibizumab for diabetic macular edema in Taiwan.

Purpose: To evaluate the visual and anatomical outcomes of intravitreal ranibizumab for diabetic macular edema (DME) in the healthcare system of Taiwan.

Methods: A total of 39 eyes from 39 patients were retrospectively enrolled in the study. All eyes that fulfilled the key criteria, including a baseline vision between 20 and 70 ETDRS letters and a minimum central macular thickness (CMT) of 300 µm, had at least 3 monthly loading injections of ranibizumab in a year.

Impact of metabolic control on macular thickness in diabetic macular oedema.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of metabolic control on macular thickness measured using optical coherence tomography in patients with diabetic retinopathy with or without macular oedema.

Methods: A total of 124 patients with diabetic retinopathy ( n = 70 without macular oedema and n = 54 with macular oedema) were enrolled. Optical coherence tomography parameters measured included central macular thickness and total macular volume.

Systemic Associations with Residual Subretinal Fluid after Ranibizumab in Diabetic Macular Edema.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of systemic diseases on the occurrence of subretinal fluid (SRF) in diabetic macular edema (DME) and prognostic factors for residual SRF following three consecutive monthly intravitreal ranibizumab.

Methods: Ninety-seven eyes from 68 patients with DME who completed 3 consecutive monthly injections of ranibizumab were enrolled. Systemic parameters mainly included chronic kidney disease (CKD), hypertension, HbA1c, and insulin dependence.

Biodegradable balloon-expandable self-locking polycaprolactone stents as buckling explants for the treatment of retinal detachment: an in vitro and in vivo study.

The purpose of this report was to develop biodegradable balloon-expandable self-locking poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) stents for the treatment of retinal detachment. To create the biodegradable stents, polycaprolactone components were first fabricated by a laboratory-scale microinjection molding machine. The components were then assembled into mesh-like stents of 6 and 8 mm in diameter.

Transcleral posterior chamber paracentesis for angle closure glaucoma secondary to posterior chamber gas entrapment after intravitreal c3f8 injection in a phakic eye.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe a new technique for treating a case of angle closure glaucoma secondary to posterior chamber (PC) gas entrapment after intravitreal C3F8 injection.

Methods: Retrospective case report.

Results: A 26-year-old woman received intravitreal injection of 0.

The application of tissue engineering in reversing mitomycin C-induced ischemic conjunctiva.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the angiogenic potential of collagen-glycosaminoglycan (CG) matrices in mitomycin C-induced ischemic conjunctival defect, in New Zealand white rabbits. After creating a conjunctival defect at the center of ischemic conjunctiva, a CG matrix was implanted into subconjunctival space to evaluate the conjunctival reepithelialization and angiogenesis during the wound healing process. In the grafted group, the vessel count of the healed conjunctiva was substantially elevated by two fold within the initial 4 weeks and the increased vascular content originated mostly from the fornix site.

Steady antibiotic release from biodegradable beads in the pleural cavity: an in vitro and in vivo study.

Background: Inadequate localized drug concentrations and systemic adverse effects are among the concerns when regional infections are treated with systemic antibiotics. We designed and fabricated a poly(D,L)-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA)-based biodegradable drug delivery system and evaluated the release of antibiotics both in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: PLGA copolymer and penicillin G sodium were mixed, compressed, and sintered to fabricate biodegradable antibiotic beads.

Isomeric trimethylene and ethylene pendant-armed cross-bridged tetraazamacrocycles and in vitro/in vivo comparisions of their copper(II) complexes.

Ethylene cross-bridged tetraamine macrocycles are useful chelators in coordination, catalytic, medicinal, and radiopharmaceutical chemistry. Springborg and co-workers developed trimethylene cross-bridged analogues, although their pendant-armed derivatives received little attention. We report here the synthesis of a bis-carboxymethyl pendant-armed cyclen with a trimethylene cross-bridge (C3B-DO2A) and its isomeric ethylene-cross-bridged homocyclen ligand (CB-TR2A) as well as their copper(II) complexes.

Central retinal vein occlusion as the initial manifestation of LHON / MELAS overlap syndrome with mitochondrial DNA G13513A mutation--case report and literature review.

Background: The aim of this paper is to describe the clinical features and molecular findings of a unique case of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON)/mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) overlap syndrome presenting as nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

Methods: An 11-year-old Chinese girl presented with sudden onset of bilateral blurred vision. The clinical history, imaging studies, and molecular analysis results were reviewed.

Experimental absorbable stent permits airway remodeling.

Objective: Despite metallic and silicone stents being effective in treating various airway lesions, many concerns still remain. A bioresorbable stent that scaffolds the airway lumen and dissolves after the remodeling process is completed has advantages over metallic and silicone stents. We designed and fabricated a new mesh-type bioresorbable stent with a backbone of polycaprolactone (PCL), and evaluated its safety and biocompatibility in a rabbit trachea model.

Solvent-free biodegradable scleral plugs providing sustained release of vancomycin, amikacin, and dexamethasone--an in vivo study.

Delivering effective drugs at sufficiently high concentrations to the area of infection is a standard treatment for infectious disease, such as endophthalmitis. This is currently done by empirical trans pars plana intravitreal injection of both antibiotics directed against gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms and steroids. However, injections by needles repeatedly may increase the risks of intraocular infection and hemorrhage, as well as retinal detachment.

Sustained release of ganciclovir and foscarnet from biodegradable scleral plugs for the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis.

The purpose of this report was to develop solvent-free biodegradable scleral plugs for simultaneous ganciclovir and foscarnet delivery for cytomegalovirus retinitis treatment. To fabricate a biodegradable plug, polylactide-polyglycolide copolymers were pre-mixed with the drugs. The mixture was then compression molded and sintered to form a compact scleral plug.

In vitro elution of vancomycin/amikacin/steroid from solvent-free biodegradable scleral plugs.

The purpose of this report was to develop solvent-free biodegradable scleral plugs for vancomycin, amikacin and dexamethasone delivery for endophthalmitis treatment. To fabricate a biodegradable plug, polylactide-polyglycolide copolymers were pre-mixed with the drugs. The mixture was then compression molded and sintered to form a scleral plug of 1.

Synthesis, characterization and in vivo studies of Cu(II)-64-labeled cross-bridged tetraazamacrocycle-amide complexes as models of peptide conjugate imaging agents.

Copper-64, a positron emitter suitable for positron emission tomography (PET), demonstrates improved in vivo clearance when chelated by the cross-bridged tetraazamacrocycle CB-TE2A compared to TETA. Good in vivo clearance was also observed for 64Cu-CB-TE2A conjugated to a peptide, which converts one coordinating carboxylate pendant arm to an amide. To better understand the in vivo stability of peptide- conjugated CB-TE2A, cross-bridged monoamides were synthesized.