Retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury induces intense lipid synthesis and remodeling.

The retina is a high-metabolism tissue composed of various cell types with complex functions that relies heavily on the blood supply to maintain homeostasis. Retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury is a critical pathogenic mechanism in glaucoma, and changes in lipid molecules may lead to retinal tissue damage. However, retinal lipid profile alterations caused by this mechanism remain unclear. Thus, this study employed a retinal ischemia-reperfusion model to analyze changes in the lipid profile between sham-operated and ischemia-reperfusion groups. We discovered that ischemia-reperfusion injury-induced alterations in 338 lipid molecules, which potentially caused lipid droplet formation and mitochondrial damage. Notably, we identified characteristic changes in various lipids, including cholesterol esters, cardiolipin, and ceramide, which may serve as potential biomarkers for assessing the severity of retinal injury and therapeutic interventions. The ischemia-reperfusion-specific features identified in this study provide a more comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this condition.

Prevalence and risk factors for depression and anxiety in patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors for depression and anxiety in patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO). Methods: We conducted a telephone-based survey of patients with NLDO who underwent dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) at the Department of Ophthalmology of Peking University Third Hospital in China between January 2016 and January 2021. Depression and anxiety were assessed with the PHQ-9 (range 0-25) and STAI (range 20-80) scales. PHQ-9 ≥ 5 and STAI ≥ 55 were considered clinically significant. Logistic regression and linear regression were performed to determine the factors related to depression and anxiety. Results: Of 565 patients approached, 344 (60.9%) completed the survey. A total of 13.1% of patients had mild-severe depression and 63.4% had severe anxiety. Univariate logistic regression revealed that hypertension, dry eye, and cataract were associated with mild to severe depression (P = 0.018, 0.045, 0.035, respectively). Dry eye was associated with severe anxiety (P = 0.007). Univariate linear regression revealed that male and income levels were significantly negatively correlated with PHQ-9 scores (P = 0.011, 0.010, respectively). Hypertension and dry eye were significantly positively correlated with PHQ-9 scores (P = 0.030, P < 0.001, respectively). Male, income levels, and educational levels were significantly negatively correlated with STAI scores (P = 0.022, P < 0.001, P = 0.005, respectively). Dry eye was significantly positively correlated with STAI scores (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders was relatively high among NLDO patients. Our results demonstrate the importance of depression and anxiety screening and psychosocial support for patients with NLDO, which can improve their quality of life and compliance with medical appointments.

Trends in operating room-based glaucoma procedures at a single eye center from 2016-2020.

AIM: To evaluate trends in glaucoma procedures at the Peking University Eye Center in 2016-2020. METHODS: A retrospective search of all glaucoma procedures performed at our institution were performed. Data were analyzed by calculating the absolute numbers and relative weightage of each procedure per year. RESULTS: The average age of glaucoma patients undergoing surgical procedures was 62.33±17.87y, and 55% were women. From 2016 to 2019, the number of surgical procedures performed in glaucoma patients showed an overall upward trend from 749 to 1460, although it decreased slightly in 2020 (n=1393), probably due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of trabeculectomies did not change significantly in 2016 (n=161) to 2018 (n=164) but decreased in 2019 (n=139) to 2020 (n=121), indicating a reduction in its relative weightage among glaucoma procedures (from 21.50% to 8.69%). The number of glaucoma drainage device implantations and minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries both increased (50 and 58 respectively in 2019), except in 2020. The number of transscleral cyclophotocoagulation procedures was relatively stable, increasing until 2017 (n=218) and then decreasing. Cataract surgeries with or without glaucoma procedures accounted for a large number of the total surgeries, increasing from 247 (32.97%) in 2016 to 967 (69.42%), among which cataract extraction combined with goniosynechialysis was the most frequent. CONCLUSION: The overall increase in the number of operating room-based surgical procedures is significant. Trabeculectomy is one of the most commonly performed procedures, despite the relative decline in its weightage. Other procedures, including use of glaucoma drainage devices and mini shunts and minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries, are gaining greater acceptance. Notably, lens-related surgery plays an important role in glaucoma management.

Use of Mobile Apps for Visual Acuity Assessment: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Vision impairments (VIs) and blindness are major global public health issues. A visual acuity (VA) test is one of the most crucial standard psychophysical tests of visual function and has been widely used in a broad range of health care domains, especially in many clinical settings. In recent years, there has been increasing research on mobile app-based VA assessment designed to allow people to test their VA at any time and any location. OBJECTIVE: The goal of the review was to assess the accuracy and reliability of using mobile VA measurement apps. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for relevant articles on mobile apps for VA assessment published between January 1, 2008, and July 1, 2020. Two researchers independently inspected and selected relevant studies. Eventually, we included 22 studies that assessed tablet or smartphone apps for VA measurement. We then analyzed sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in the 6 papers we found through a meta-analysis. RESULTS: Most of the 22 selected studies can be considered of high quality based on the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2. In a meta-analysis of 6 studies involving 24,284 participants, we categorized the studies based on the age groups of the study participants (ie, aged 3-5 years, aged 6-22 years, and aged 55 years and older), examiner (ie, professional and nonprofessional examiners), and the type of mobile devices (ie, smartphone, iPad). In the group aged 3 to 5 years, the pooled sensitivity for VA app tests versus clinical VA tests was 0.87 (95% CI 0.79-0.93; P=.39), and the pooled specificity was 0.78 (95% CI 0.70-0.85; P=.37). In the group aged 6 to 22 years, the pooled sensitivity for VA app tests versus clinical VA tests was 0.86 (95% CI 0.84-0.87; P<.001), and the pooled specificity for VA app tests versus clinical VA tests was 0.91 (95% CI 0.90-0.91; P=.27). In the group aged 55 years and older, the pooled sensitivity for VA app tests versus clinical VA tests was 0.85 (95% CI 0.55-0.98), and the pooled specificity for VA app tests versus clinical VA tests was 0.98 (95% CI 0.95-0.99). We found that the nonprofessional examiner group (AUC 0.93) had higher accuracy than the professional examiner group (AUC 0.87). In the iPad-based group, the pooled sensitivity for VA app tests versus clinical VA tests was 0.86, and the pooled specificity was 0.79. In the smartphone-based group, the pooled sensitivity for VA app tests versus clinical VA tests was 0.86 (P<.001), and the pooled specificity for VA app tests versus clinical VA tests was 0.91 (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we conducted a comprehensive review of the research on existing mobile apps for VA tests to investigate their diagnostic value and limitations. Evidence gained from this study suggests that mobile app-based VA tests can be useful for on-demand VI detection.

Intravitreal brimonidine inhibits form-deprivation myopia in guinea pigs.

BACKGROUND: The use of ocular hypotensive drugs has been reported to attenuate myopia progression. This study explores whether brimonidine can slow myopia progression in the guinea pig form-deprivation (FD) model. METHODS: Three-week-old pigmented male guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) underwent monocular FD and were treated with 3 different methods of brimonidine administration (eye drops, subconjunctival or intravitreal injections). Four different concentrations of brimonidine were tested for intravitreal injection (2 µg/µL, 4 µg/µL, 20 µg/µL, 40 µg/µL). All treatments continued for a period of 21 days. Tonometry, retinoscopy, and A-scan ultrasonography were used to monitor intraocular pressure (IOP), refractive error and axial length (AL), respectively. On day 21, guinea pigs were sacrificed for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to screen for associated transcriptomic changes. RESULTS: The myopia model was successfully established in FD animals (control eye vs. FD eye, respectively: refraction at day 20, 0.97 ± 0.18 D vs. - 0.13 ± 0.38 D, F = 6.921, P = 0.02; AL difference between day 0 and day 21, 0.29 ± 0.04 mm vs. 0.45 ± 0.03 mm, F = 11.655, P = 0.004). Among the 3 different brimonidine administration methods, intravitreal injection was the most effective in slowing myopia progression, and 4 µg/µL was the most effective among the four different concentrations of brimonidine intravitreal injection tested. The AL and the refraction of the brimonidine intravitreal injection group was significantly shorter or more hyperopic than those of other 2 groups. Four µg/µL produced the smallest difference in AL and spherical equivalent difference values. FD treatment significantly increased the IOP. IOP was significantly lower at 1 day after intravitreal injections which was the lowest in FD eye of intravitreal injection of brimonidine. At day 21, gene expression analyses using RNA-seq showed upregulation of Col1a1 and Mmp2 expression levels by intravitreal brimonidine. CONCLUSIONS: Among the 3 different administration methods, intravitreal injection of brimonidine was the most effective in slowing myopia progression in the FD guinea pig model. Intravitreal brimonidine at 4 µg/µL significantly reduced the development of FD myopia in guinea pigs. Expression levels of the Col1a1 and Mmp2 genes were significantly increased in the retinal tissues of the FD-Inj-Br group.

Selenocarrageenan-inspired hybrid graphene hydrogel as recyclable adsorbent for efficient scavenging of dyes and Hg2+ in water environment.

It remains a real challenge to treat the industrial wastewater containing hardly-decomposed dyes and heavy metal ions. Herein, an environment-friendly hybrid hydrogel is prepared by a simple mixing of selenocarrageenan (SeCA) and graphene oxide (GO) under heating and stirring for 5 min without any other reagent. Such a selenocarrageenan hybrid graphene hydrogel (SeCA-GH) without volume shrinkage exhibits excellent adsorption capacity and selective binding to dyes and Hg2+. The maximum adsorption capacity of methylene blue and Hg2+ on SeCA-GH is 168 mg g-1 and 331 mg·g-1 at 25 °C, respectively. Furthermore, the adsorption characteristics of SeCA-GH are investigated in detail, including saturated adsorption capacity, adsorption isotherm, and kinetic adsorption process. Notably, SeCA-GH can be easily regenerated and reused for multiple cycles without release of SeCA and GO. SeCA-GH as recyclable adsorbent offers a promising candidate for sustainable, affordable, and efficient removal of dyes and Hg2+ in water environment.

Nonthermal Optical Emission Spectrometry: Direct Atomization and Excitation of Cadmium for Highly Sensitive Determination.

The low atomization and excitation capability of nonthermal microplasma, e.g., dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), has greatly hampered its potential applications for the determination of metals in solution. In the present work, an inspiring development is reported for direct atomization and excitation of cadmium in aqueous solution by DBD and facilitates highly sensitive determination. A DBD microplasma is generated on the nozzle of a pneumatic micronebulizer to focus the DBD energy on a confined space and atomize/excite metals in the spray. Meanwhile, an appropriate sample matrix and nebulization in helium further improves the atomization and excitation capability of DBD. With cadmium as a model, its emission is recorded by a CCD spectrometer at 228.8 nm. By using an 80 µL sample solution nebulized at 3 µL s(-1), a linear range of 5-1000 µg L(-1) along with a detection limit of 1.5 µg L(-1) is achieved, which is comparable to those obtained by commercial bulky inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-based instrumentations.

[Diagnosis and surgical treatment for pancreatic vasoactive intestine polypeptide tumor].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the diagnosis and surgical treatment for pancreatic vasoactive intestine polypeptide tumor (VIPoma). METHODS: Clinical data of 7 patients with VIPoma from Xiangya Hospital, Central South University between January 1990 and July 2011 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The different operation modes were selected according to the location of VIPomas, and the postoperative symptoms of all 7 patients were gradually relieved and cured. The follow up showed that life spans of the above-mentioned patients were 3-6 years. CONCLUSION: The incidence of pancreatic VIPoma is low but it is easy to misdiagnose. The excision for the tumor is the most effective therapy. Combining with somatostatin, intervention and other effective strategies, the life quality of patients can be improved and long-term survival may be achieved.

[Surgical treatment for displaced clavicle fracture combined with coracoid process: 9 cases report].

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical effects of internal fixation in treating displaced clavicle fracture combined with coracoid process. METHODS: From January 2005 to July 2012, 9 patients with displaced clavicle fracture combined with coracoid process were treated by internal fixation. Among them, there were 6 males and 3 females with an average age of 40.1 (ranged from 20 to 57) years old. According to Eyres classification: 3 cases were type II B, 1 case was type II A, 3 cases were type III B, and 2 cases were type V A. All patients had history of injury, and diagnosed as coracoid fracture X-ray and CT before operation. Herscovici criteria was used to evaluate function of shoulders joint after operation. RESULTS: Seven of 9 patients were followed up from 6 to 18 (averaged 11) months. The incisions were healed at stage I, coracoid process obtained bony healing, and reduction of acromioclavicular joint well. According to Herscovici criteria, 6 patients got excellent results and 1 in good. CONCLUSION: Internal fixation for the treatment of displaced clavicle fracture combined with coracoid process could restore physiological anatomical position of coracoid process, and benefit for recovery of limb function.