Spatial Metabolomics Reveals the Effects of Dietary Capsaicin Intervention on Interscapular Adipose Tissue Metabolome in Mice.

Capsaicin is a polyphenol with a well-known anti-obesity potential, which could activate brown adipose tissue and promote the browning of white adipose tissue. Indeed, conventional proteomics have been used to investigate the browning effects of capsaicin on adipose tissue. However, the existence of a layer of white adipose tissue above the interscapular brown adipose tissue poses a great challenge to obtain intact interscapular brown adipose tissue without including adjacent white adipose tissue.

Diagnostic ability of the combination of retinal microvasculature evaluation and static automated perimetry for early primary open-angle glaucoma.

Purpose: To investigate the diagnostic ability of retinal superficial vasculature evaluation by optic coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) combined with visual field (VF) testing for early primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Patients And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 84 participants were included, including 11 in the ocular hypertension (OHT) group, 11 in the preperimetric POAG (pre-POAG) group, 29 in the early POAG group and 33 in the control group. All participants underwent 6 × 6 mm scans of macula and optic nerved head by optic coherence tomography (OCT) and OCTA, along with white-on-white and blue-on-yellow VF testing by static automated perimetry.

Comparison of anti-allergic activities of different types of lotus seed resistant starch in OVA-induced mouse model.

Currently, evidence from observational studies suggests dietary fiber intake may be associated with decreased risk of food allergy. As a type of dietary fiber, resistant starch was also widely reported to possess anti-allergic properties. However, there is a relative paucity of studies assessing the influence of resistant starch types on their anti-allergic activity and its possible underlying mechanisms.

Inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome by MCC950 under hypoxia alleviates photoreceptor apoptosis via inducing autophagy in Müller glia.

NLRP3 inflammasome activation has emerged as a critical initiator of inflammatory response in ischemic retinopathy. Here, we identified the effect of a potent, selective NLRP3 inhibitor, MCC950, on autophagy and apoptosis under hypoxia. Neonatal mice were exposed to hyperoxia for 5 days to establish oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model.

Clinical Efficacy of Preoperative and Intraoperative Intravitreal Ranibizumab as Adjuvant Therapy of Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implantation Combined with Vitrectomy in the Management of Neovascular Glaucoma with Diabetic Vitreous Hemorrhage.

Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is a devastating ocular disease with poor prognosis. Intravitreal ranibizumab injection (IVR) has been used as adjuvant therapy of surgical interventions preoperatively or intraoperatively. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of combined IVR as adjuvant therapy in treating NVG with vitreous hemorrhage (VH) in PDR.

Molecular cloning of the hepcidin gene from crescent sweetlips (Plectorhinchus cinctus) and characterization of its encoded antimicrobial peptide.

Hepcidin has been identified as an important antimicrobial peptide exerting important innate immunomodulatory activities in many fish species. In the present study, reverse transcription PCR coupled with the rapid amplification of cDNA ends was used to obtain the full-length cDNA of the crescent sweetlips hepcidin gene, which is 829 bp in length and includes an 273 bp ORF encoding a peptide with 90 amino acid residues. Sequence alignment showed a typical RXKR motif and eight conserved cysteine residues in the deduced amino acid sequences.

RNA-seq Analysis Reveals Potential Synergic Effects of Acetate and Cold Exposure on Interscapular Brown Adipose Tissue in Mice.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) exhibits remarkable morphological and functional plasticity in response to environmental (e.g., cold exposure) and nutrient (e.

TLR4 Inhibition Protects against Retinal Ganglion Cell Damage in Rats with Chronic Ocular Hypertension.

Background: This study aims to investigate the protective effect of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) inhibitor Resatorvid (TAK-242) on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in a chronic ocular hypertension (COH) rat model, as well as to explore the potential involved mechanisms.

Methods: COH model was built up in rats with a single intracameral administration of cross-linking hydrogel. The expression levels of TLR4, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), microglial activation and pro-inflammatory cytokines were evaluated in COH retinas and COH retinas treated with TAK-242 using immunofluorescence staining and Western blot.

Prokaryotic Expression, Purification, and Antibacterial Activity of the Hepcidin Peptide of Crescent Sweetlips ().

The hepcidin peptide of crescent sweetlips () is a cysteine-rich, cationic antimicrobial peptide that plays a crucial role in the innate immune system's defense against invading microbes. The aim of this study was to identify the optimal parameters for prokaryotic expression and purification of this hepcidin peptide and characterize its antibacterial activity. The recombinant hepcidin peptides were expressed in strain Arctic Express (DE3), with culture and induction conditions optimized using response surface methodology (RSM).

Polyoxometalate K[PMoO] Inactivates O157:H7 by Inducing recA Expression and Apoptosis-like Bacterial Death.

Polyoxometalates have emerged as promising bactericidal agents. In the current study, the bactericidal activity of polyoxometalate K[PMoO] against () O157:H7 and its possible underlying mechanisms were explored. The obtained results demonstrated that K[PMoO] could effectively kill O157:H7 at millimolar levels.

Analysis of choroidal thickness in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus and its correlation with laboratory tests.

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the alterations of choroidal thickness (CT) in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). We also aimed to assess whether CT parameters correlated with systemic health status in JSLE patients.

Methods: JSLE patients and age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were recruited.

Oral Administration of Lotus-Seed Resistant Starch Protects against Food Allergy.

Food allergy is a serious food safety and public health issue. However, the medical interventions for allergy treatment are still suboptimal. Recently, the gut microbiome-immune axis has been considered as a promising target to reduce the symptoms of food allergy.

Oxidative Stress-Responsive Small Extracellular Vesicles and MicroRNAs in Age-related Macular Degeneration: Biomarkers and Therapeutic Tools.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the main cause of blurred vision, and oxidative stress is a leading risk factor for AMD pathology. Small extracellular vesicles (EVs) are 50-90 nm membrane microvesicles (MVs) released by several cell types in a controlled fashion and they transfer from cell to cell to mediate disease progression. EVs encapsulate and transfer microRNAs (miRNA) to recipient cells.

Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor alleviates neovascular retinopathy with regulated neurotrophic/proinflammatory cytokines through the modulation of DBI-TSPO signaling.

Diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI)-translocator protein (18kDa) (TSPO) signaling in the retina was reported to possess coordinated macroglia-microglia interactions. We investigated DBI-TSPO signaling and its correlation with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), neurotrophic or inflammatory cytokines in neovascular retinopathy, and under hypoxic conditions. The vitreous expression of DBI, VEGF, nerve growth factor (NGF), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) were examined in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) patients with or without anti-VEGF therapy and nondiabetic controls.

Evaluation of retinal and choroidal changes in patients with Alzheimer's type dementia using optical coherence tomography angiography.

Aim: To evaluate the changes in fundus parameters in patients with Alzheimer's type dementia (ATD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), to record flash electroretinograms (ERG) using the RETeval system and to explore changes in retinal function.

Methods: Twenty-nine patients with ATD and 26 age-matched normal subjects were enrolled. All subjects underwent OCTA scans to analyse the superficial retinal vessel parameters in the macular area, including the vessel length density, the vessel perfusion density and the area of foveal avascular zone (FAZ), as well as the choroidal thickness.

Iris metastasis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma misdiagnosed as primary angle-closure glaucoma: A case report and review of the literature.

Background: Lymphoma with intraocular metastasis is an uncommon and serious disease. We describe a case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with iris metastasis. Meanwhile, we refer to published case reports retrieved via a PubMed search to summarize this rare disease.

Quantitative evaluation of retinal and choroidal changes in Fabry disease using optical coherence tomography angiography.

To examine the retinal and choroidal changes in patients with Fabry disease (FD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). FD patients and age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were enrolled. A detailed ophthalmological examination was performed for all participants.

Evaluation of retinal and choroidal variations in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy using optical coherence tomography angiography.

Background: To investigate the difference in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, choroidal thickness (CT) and superficial retinal vessels between thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) patients and healthy controls. To identify the potential influencing factors for these parameters and evaluate their diagnostic abilities in TAO.

Methods: Twenty active TAO patients, 33 inactive TAO patients and 29 healthy participants were enrolled.

Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy as an Alternative or Adjunct to Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation in Treating Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.

Aim: To compare anti-vascular growth factor (anti-VEGF) pharmacotherapy with pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

Method: PubMed, Embase, Medline, the ClinicalTrials.gov and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were reviewed systemically.

Analysis of Plasma Hydrogen Sulfide, Homocysteine, and L-Cysteine in Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients.

To compare the plasma levels of hydrogen sulfide (HS), homocysteine (Hcy), and L-cysteine (Cys) among primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), normal tension glaucoma (NTG), ocular hypertension (OHT), and normal individuals. To explore associated factors and evaluate their diagnostic abilities in glaucoma. POAG, NTG, OHT, and normal subjects were recruited from Ruijin Hospital between December 2016 and December 2018.

Clinical efficacy of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation combined with 23-gauge vitrectomy for medically uncontrolled neovascular glaucoma with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Aim: To describe the clinical results of combined Ahmed valve implantation and 23-gauge vitrectomy for medically uncontrolled neovascular glaucoma (NVG) secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

Methods: The medical records of medically uncontrolled NVG patients with PDR who underwent Ahmed valve implantation and 23-gauge vitrectomy between March 2016 and December 2018 were reviewed. Enrolled patients had at least 6-month follow-up.

Intravitreal Conbercept Injection as an Adjuvant in Vitrectomy with Silicone Oil Infusion for Severe Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

To assess the clinical effects of preoperative, intraoperative, or preoperative combined with intraoperative intravitreal conbercept (IVC) injection in vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade for severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Ninety-eight eyes of 98 severe PDR patients undergoing vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade were randomly assigned to 3 groups: Group 1 (34 eyes) received IVC injections 3 to 5 days before surgery; Group 2 (35 eyes) received IVC injections at the end of surgery; and Group 3 (29 eyes) received IVC injections 3 to 5 days before and at the end of operation. Follow-up examinations were performed for 6 months.

Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 1/2 Pathway Is Insufficiently Involved in the Neuroprotective Effect by Hydrogen Sulfide Supplement in Experimental Glaucoma.

Purpose: Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative eye disease characterized by gradually impaired visual field and irreversible blindness due to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss. Our previous studies have confirmed that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) takes part in the glaucomatous process and contributes to RGC protection. The present study aimed to further investigate the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) pathway underlying the impact of H2S, to better understand the mechanism through which H2S exerts neuroprotection in glaucoma.

Associations between TLR4 Polymorphisms and Open Angle Glaucoma: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Previous studies exploring the association between toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) polymorphisms and open angle glaucoma (OAG) presented inconsistent results. We aimed to investigate the association between TLR4 polymorphisms and OAG.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, ISI Web of Knowledge, and the Cochrane Library up to 31 December 2018.

Intravitreal ranibizumab or conbercept for retinal arterial macroaneurysm: a case series.

Background: There is no consensus for the standard treatment of retinal arterial macroaneurysm (RAM). Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelium growth factor (anti-VEGF) is an alternative treatment option for RAM. The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab or intravitreal conbercept for retinal arterial macroaneurysm.