An Ergonomic Testing System for the First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Stiffness.

Osteoarthritis sufferers commonly have first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) problems in which articular surfaces are changed permanently due to fatigue. Therefore, medical devices for early diagnosis would increase the opportunity for prevention of disease progression. In previous studies on stiffness of the first MTPJ many details, although functionally of great importance, have not been fully considered including: design and size of the device, tribology consideration, and errors from device.

Electrospun Pectin-Polyhydroxybutyrate Nanofibers for Retinal Tissue Engineering.

Natural polysaccharide pectin has for the first time been grafted with polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) via ring-opening polymerization of β-butyrolactone. This copolymer, pectin-polyhydroxybutyrate (pec-PHB), was blended with PHB in various proportions and electrospun to produce nanofibers that exhibited uniform and bead-free nanostructures, suggesting the miscibility of PHB and pec-PHB. These nanofiber blends exhibited reduced fiber diameters from 499 to 336-426 nm and water contact angles from 123.

Gender variation in central serous chorioretinopathy.

Background: Comparison of presentation and outcomes of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) between male and female subjects in different ethnic populations.

Methods: Retrospective comparison between male and female subjects with CSC was completed. Demographic details, clinical presentations, imaging features and treatment outcomes were compared at baseline and at last follow-up.

Mechanically cartilage-mimicking poly(PCL-PTHF urethane)/collagen nanofibers induce chondrogenesis by blocking NF-kappa B signaling pathway.

Cartilage cannot self-repair and thus regeneration is a promising approach to its repair. Here we developed new electrospun nanofibers, made of poly (ε-caprolactone)/polytetrahydrofuran (PCL-PTHF urethane) and collagen I from calf skin (termed PC), to trigger the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and the cartilage regeneration in vivo. We found that the PC nanofibers had a modulus (4.

Unprecedented Acid-Promoted Polymerization and Gelation of Acrylamide: A Serendipitous Discovery.

Dilute acid polymerizes degassed, aqueous acrylamide with concomitant gelation, without the need for added free radical initiator or cross-linking agent. This reaction is accelerated by sonication or UV irradiation, but inhibited by adventitious oxygen or the addition of a free radical inhibitor, suggesting an acid-accelerated free radical process. The resulting hydrogels are thixotropic in nature and partially disrupted by the addition of chaotropic agents, indicating the importance of hydrogen bonding to the 3D network.

A novel model of persistent retinal neovascularization for the development of sustained anti-VEGF therapies.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies lead to a major breakthrough in treatment of neovascular retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy. Current management of these conditions require regular and frequent intravitreal injections to prevent disease recurrence once the effect of the injected drug wears off. This has led to a pressing clinical need of developing sustained release formulations or therapies with longer duration.

Engineering PCL/lignin nanofibers as an antioxidant scaffold for the growth of neuron and Schwann cell.

Antioxidant is critical for the successful of nerve tissue regeneration, and biomaterials with antioxidant activity might be favorable for peripheral nerve repair. Lignin, a biopolymer from wood with excellent antioxidant properties, is still "unexplored" as biomaterials. To design an antioxidative bioscaffold for nerve regeneration, here we synthesized lignin-polycaprolactone (PCL) copolymers via solvent free ring-opening polymerization (ROP).

A Recent Perspective on Noncovalently Formed Polymeric Hydrogels.

Chemically crosslinked covalent hydrogels form a permanent and often strong network, and have been extensively used so far in drug delivery and tissue engineering. However, it is more difficult to induce dynamic and highly tunable changes in these hydrogels. Noncovalently formed hydrogels show promise as inherently reversible systems with an ability to change in response to dynamic environments, and have garnered strong interest recently.

Long-term follow-up of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty after Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty.

Aims: To describe the long-term outcomes of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) performed after Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) in cases of infection and residual stromal opacity.

Methods: Ten eyes of nine consecutive patients undergoing DALK after DSAEK at a single tertiary referral center (SNEC) from 2011 to 2016 were analyzed for best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), refraction, spherical equivalent (SE) and cylinder, as well as graft diameters, survival, and complications.

Results: The mean pre-DSAEK BSCVA was 1.

Recent Advances in the Development of Antimicrobial Nanoparticles for Combating Resistant Pathogens.

The rapid growth of harmful pathogens and their multidrug-resistance poses a severe challenge for health professionals and for the development of new healthcare products. Various strategies are exploited for the development of effective antimicrobial agents, and nanoparticles are a particularly promising class of materials in this respect. This review summarizes recent advances in antimicrobial metallic, polymeric, and lipid-based nanoparticles such as liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, and nanostructured lipid carriers.

Evaluation of subconjunctival liposomal steroids for the treatment of experimental uveitis.

Non-infectious anterior uveitis (AU) is a potentially sight threatening inflammatory condition. The current gold standard for treatment is topical steroids, but low ocular bioavailability and compliance issues with the intensive dosing regimen limit the efficacy of this treatment. Liposomes as a drug delivery system may help to overcome these problems.

The effect of molecular shape on oligomerization of hydrophobic drugs: Molecular simulations of ciprofloxacin and nutlin.

Molecular aggregation plays a significant role in modulating the solubility, permeability, and bioactivity of drugs. The propensity to aggregate depends on hydrophobicity and on molecular shape. Molecular dynamics simulations coupled with enhanced sampling methods are used to explore the early stages of oligomerization of two drug molecules which have a strong aggregation propensity, but with contrasting molecule shapes: the antibiotic ciprofloxacin and the anticancer drug Nutlin-3A.

Tailoring Polyelectrolyte Architecture To Promote Cell Growth and Inhibit Bacterial Adhesion.

An important challenge facing the application of implanted biomaterials for tissue engineering is the need to facilitate desirable tissue interactions with the implant while simultaneously inhibiting bacterial colonization, which can lead to implant-associated infection. In this study, we explore the relevance of the physical parameters of polyelectrolyte multilayers, such as surface charge, wettability, and stiffness, in tissue cell/surface and bacteria/surface interactions, and investigate the tuning of the multilayer architecture to differentially control such interactions. Polyions with different side-chain chemical structures were paired with polyethylenimine to assemble multilayers with parallel control over surface charge and wettability under controlled conditions.

Poly(carbonate urethane)-Based Thermogels with Enhanced Drug Release Efficacy for Chemotherapeutic Applications.

In this study, we report the synthesis and characterisation of a thermogelling poly(carbonate urethane) system comprising poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) and poly(polytetrahydrofuran carbonate) (PTHF carbonate). The incorporation of PTHF carbonate allowed for the control of the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and decreased critical gelation concentration (CGC) of the thermogels significantly. In addition, the as-prepared thermogels displayed low toxicity against HepG2, L02 and HEK293T cells.

Dominant Albumin-Surface Interactions under Independent Control of Surface Charge and Wettability.

Understanding protein adsorption behaviors on solid surfaces constitutes an important step toward development of efficacious and biocompatible medical devices. Both surface charge and wettability have been shown to influence protein adsorption attributes, including kinetics, quantities, deformation, and reversibility. However, determining the dominant interaction in these surface-induced phenomena is challenging because of the complexity of inter-related mechanisms at the liquid/solid interface.

Optical coherence tomography angiography: a review of current and future clinical applications.

Optical coherence tomography angiography is a non-invasive imaging technique that now allows for simultaneous in vivo imaging of the morphology as well as the vasculature in the eye. In this review, we provide an update on the existing clinical applications of optical coherence tomography angiography technology from the anterior to posterior segment of the eye. We also discuss the limitations of optical coherence tomography angiography technology, as well as the caveats to the interpretation of images.

Mapping standard ophthalmic outcome sets to metrics currently reported in eight eye hospitals.

Background: To determine alignment of proposed international standard outcomes sets for ophthalmic conditions to metrics currently reported by eye hospitals.

Methods: Mixed methods comparative benchmark study, including eight eye hospitals in Australia, India, Singapore, Sweden, U.K.

Systematic review of randomized controlled trials in the treatment of dry eye disease in Sjogren syndrome.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease characterized by dry eye and dry mouth. We systematically reviewed all the randomized controlled clinical trials published in the last 15 years that included ocular outcomes. We found 22 trials involving 9 topical, 10 oral, 2 intravenous and 1 subcutaneous modalities of treatment.

Characterizing the conformational landscape of MDM2-binding p53 peptides using Molecular Dynamics simulations.

The conformational landscapes of p53 peptide variants and phage derived peptide (12/1) variants, all known to bind to MDM2, are studied using hamiltonian replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations. Complementing earlier observations, the current study suggests that the p53 peptides largely follow the 'conformational selection' paradigm in their recognition of and complexation by MDM2 while the 12/1 peptides likely undergo some element of conformational selection but are mostly driven by 'binding induced folding'. This hypothesis is further supported by pulling simulations that pull the peptides away from their bound states with MDM2.

The Study of Neurocognitive Outcomes, Radiological and Retinal Effects of Aspirin in Sleep Apnoea- rationale and methodology of the SNORE-ASA study.

Purpose: Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is highly prevalent in older adults. Increasing evidence links SDB to the risk of dementia, mediated via a number of pathways, some of which may be attenuated by low-dose aspirin. This study will evaluate, in a healthy older cohort, the prospective relationship between SDB and cognitive function, changes in retinal and cerebral microvasculature, and determine whether low-dose aspirin ameliorates the effects of SDB on these outcomes over 3years.

Interventions for the management of CMV-associated anterior segment inflammation.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus that usually affects people with reduced immunity. In recent years, this virus has been thought to cause repeated inflammation in the eye, in otherwise healthy people. This form of inflammation can cause damage to the cornea (the outer layer of the eye) or to the optic nerve by causing secondary glaucoma, or to both, leading to visual loss.

Choroidal Remodeling in Age-related Macular Degeneration and Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy: A 12-month Prospective Study.

Choroid thinning occurs in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, it remains unclear whether the reduction is due to reduction in choroidal vessels or shrinkage of choroidal stroma, or both. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes of the choroidal vascular and stromal area in 118 patients with typical AMD (t-AMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) over a 12-month period.

Codelivery for Paclitaxel and Bcl-2 Conversion Gene by PHB-PDMAEMA Amphiphilic Cationic Copolymer for Effective Drug Resistant Cancer Therapy.

Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein's upregulated expression is a key reason for drug resistance leading to failure of chemotherapy. In this report, a series of biocompatible amphiphilic cationic poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB)-b-poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) copolymer, comprising hydrophobic PHB block and cationic PDMAEMA block, is designed to codeliver hydrophobic chemotherapeutic paclitaxel and Bcl-2 converting gene Nur77/ΔDBD with enhanced stability, due to the micelle formation by hydrophobic PHB segment. This copolymer shows less toxicity but similar gene transfection efficiency to polyethyenimine (25k).

CHOROIDAL VASCULAR HYPERPERMEABILITY AS A PREDICTOR OF TREATMENT RESPONSE FOR POLYPOIDAL CHOROIDAL VASCULOPATHY.

Purpose: To investigate the influence of choroidal vascular hyperpermeability (CVH) and choroidal thickness on treatment outcomes in eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) undergoing anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monotherapy or combination therapy of photodynamic therapy and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections.

Methods: The authors performed a prospective, observational cohort study involving 72 eyes of 72 patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (mean age 68.6 years, 51% men) treated with either monotherapy (n = 41) or combination therapy (n = 31).

Proteomic Analysis of Amyloid Corneal Aggregates from TGFBI-H626R Lattice Corneal Dystrophy Patient Implicates Serine-Protease HTRA1 in Mutation-Specific Pathogenesis of TGFBIp.

TGFBI-associated corneal dystrophies are inherited disorders caused by TGFBI gene variants that promote deposition of mutant protein (TGFBIp) as insoluble aggregates in the cornea. Depending on the type and position of amino acid substitution, the aggregates may be amyloid fibrillar, amorphous globular or both, but the molecular mechanisms that drive these different patterns of aggregation are not fully understood. In the current study, we report the protein composition of amyloid corneal aggregates from lattice corneal dystrophy patients of Asian origin with H626R and R124C mutation and compared it with healthy corneal tissues via LC-MS/MS.