Canalicular laceration repair using a novel bicanalicular silicone stent versus traditional bicanalicular stent with nasal fixation.

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical effects of two types of lacrimal stents in the repair of canalicular lacerations. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with canalicular lacerations between January 2017 and December 2022. The canalicular reconstruction was performed using either the Runshi-RS bicanalicular silicone stent or the traditional bicanalicular silicone stent with nasal fixation, under a surgical microscope. The stent was placed for 3 months, and patients were followed up for more than 3 months after extubation. The anatomical and functional success rates were compared between the two groups. Anatomical success was assessed through diagnostic probing and irrigation of lacrimal passage, while functional success was determined by the patient's subjective symptoms of epiphora. RESULTS: The study included 315 patients (315 eyes) undergoing canalicular laceration repair. The Runshi-RS stent was utilized in 147 patients (46.7%), while the traditional stent with nasal fixation was employed in 168 patients (53.3%). The anatomical success rates (99.3% vs 98.8%, P = 0.642) and functional success rates (87.2% vs 88.1%, P = 0.926) were similar between the RS group and the traditional stent group. Postoperative complications were fewer (4.1% vs 10.1%, P = 0.04) and the operation time was shorter (67.1 ± 35.3 min vs 86.1 ± 43.4 min, P < 0.001) in the RS group. CONCLUSION: The Runshi-RS tube demonstrates favorable surgical outcomes for the repair of canalicular lacerations. Compared to the traditional stent with nasal fixation, the RS stent allows for shorter operation times and fewer postoperative complications in the repair of canalicular lacerations.

Tristate Photonic Crystal Film with Structural, Fluorescent, and Up-Conversion Luminescent Color for Multilevel Anticounterfeiting.

Counterfeit items are growing worldwide, affecting the global economy and human health. Anticounterfeiting tags based on a physical microstructure or chemical materials have enjoyed long-term commercial success due to their visualization and inexpensive production. However, conventional anticounterfeiting tags can be readily imitated. Herein, we have overcome this limitation by assembling colloidal nanospheres and two luminescent micromaterials into a composited photonic crystal (PhC) and achieved massive scale-up fabrication of multilevel anticounterfeiting PhC films in just several minutes of thermal rolling. The fabricated PhC film exhibits three optical states, including angle-dependent structural color (reflectivity = 66%) under white light, emits green light under 980 nm light, and emits red light under ultraviolet light. Multilevel anticounterfeiting colorful images were obtained by further use of masking templates, which integrate colors from both physically colored microstructures and chemical luminescent materials. Besides, the thermal-rolling process also shows excellent feasibility for assembling microunits with different sizes into high-quality functional PhC films.

Photonic Crystal Sensor Evaluating the Effectiveness of Medical Products under Different Storage Conditions.

The effectiveness of time- and temperature-sensitive medical products (TTSMPs) (vaccines, medicines, and biological agents) is generally evaluated by sporadically checking the storage conditions recorded in electronic thermometers. However, electronic thermometers do not achieve all-time and all-regional record, resulting in the wrong evaluation of a single TTSMP and seriously endangering public health. Herein, we report a photonic crystal sensor for evaluating the effectiveness of a single TTSMP processing storage environment. The photonic crystal sensor assembled by colloidal microspheres (WO3-x nanospheres were added into the microsphere gap) generates a fascinating composite color of angle-dependent structural color (maximum reflectivity = 45%) and durative color (WO3-x coloration). Effectiveness evaluation principle reveals that the pattern on the sensor, which was printed by the composite color, fades sensitively to time and temperature, thus having different visible periods (0-21 days affected by temperature). The visible periods of the patterns can be used to evaluate a single TTSMP's effectiveness stored under different temperatures. Furthermore, the photonic crystal sensor shows outstanding flexibility and slight adhesion, offering a promising application toward the effectiveness evaluation of TTSMPs throughout storage, transportation, and sales processes.

Canalicular laceration repair with a novel bicanalicular silicone tube.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of canalicular laceration repair using a novel bicanalicular silicone tube. METHODS: Retrospective and consecutive patients who underwent canalicular laceration repair using novel Runshi-RS bicanalicular silicone stents from January 2020 to February 2021 were included. The stent was placed for 3 months, and patients were followed up for more than 3 months after extubation. Demographics, causes of eyelid injuries, placement time and position of stent, and surgical outcomes at follow-up were recorded. Anatomical success was evaluated by diagnostic probing and irrigation of lacrimal passage, while functional success was evaluated by the patient's subjective symptoms of epiphora. RESULTS: This study included 43 patients with canalicular laceration. The median age was 43 years (3-75 years). The average duration of stent implantation was 12.9 weeks, and the follow-up time was 8.8 months. No complications were observed in any patients during operation and follow-up. After extubation, irrigation of the lacrimal passage in 43 eyes showed no obstruction, and the anatomical success rate was 100%. Overall, 39 patients (90.7%) had no subjective symptoms of epiphora. All patients got good cosmetic results. Furthermore, subgroup classification showed deep laceration group (distance from laceration to punctum>5 mm) accounted for 51.2%, and the functional success rate of the deep laceration group was lower than that of the shallow laceration group. CONCLUSION: Runshi-RS bicanalicular silicone stent achieved good anatomical (100%) as well as functional (90.7%) success and good cosmetic results (100%) in patients with canalicular laceration repair.

Reversible Photochromic Photonic Crystal Device with Dual Structural Colors.

Photonic crystal (PhC) light emitter (PC-LE) devices attract extensive attention in anticounterfeiting for their manipulated light emission and iridescent structural color, but their large-scale three-dimensional fabrication is still limited by poor mechanical strength and microstructural defects. Herein, colloidal nanospheres incorporated with photoluminescent dye were assembled to three-dimensional PC-LE devices through a large-scale compressing-induced strategy, which realized dual iridescent and reversible photochromic colors. Periodically distributed refractive indices between molten molecular chains and cross-linked nanospheres generated the iridescent structural color. Subsequently, the device surface reflected another different structural color after partially removing the surface molecular chains by etching. The light emission intensity of the dye was sufficient to obtain the reversible photochromic colors. Simultaneously, the manipulation toward light emission of the photonic band gap achieved the shape of the photoluminescent intenstiy spectra that varied in accordance with the reflective peak. Furthermore, by use of screen-printing tools and transparent masking glue, the etching process became an inkless color printing process, generating a colorful bar code (2 cm × 2 cm) on the device surface. The code was reversibly displayed and encrypted through control of the reflection and emission of light. Significantly, the PC-LE devices opened up a new route for advanced display, color printing, and anticounterfeiting stickers.

Fast-Response Bioinspired Near-Infrared Light-Driven Soft Robot Based on Two-Stage Deformation.

Herein, we report a remotely controlled soft robot employing a photoresponsive nanocomposite synthesized from liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), high elastic form-stable phase change polymer (HEPCP), and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Possessing a two-stage deformation upon exposure to near-infrared (NIR) light, the LCE/HEPCP/MWCNT (LHM) nanocomposite allows the soft robot to exhibit an obvious, fast, and reversible shape change with low detection limitations. In addition to the deformation and bending of the LCE molecular chains itself, the HEPCP in the composite material can also be triggered by a reversible solid-liquid transition due to the temperature rise caused by MWCNTs, which further promotes the change of the LCE. In particular, the proposed photodriven LHM soft robot can bend up to 180° in 2 s upon NIR stimulation (320 mW, distance of 5 cm) and generate recoverable, dramatic, and sensitive deformation to execute various tasks including walking, twisting, and bending. With the capacity of imitating biological behaviors through remote control, the disruptive innovation developed here offers a promising path toward miniaturized untethered robotic systems.

Speaking-Induced Charge-Laden Face Masks with Durable Protectiveness and Wearing Breathability.

Face masks, which serve as personal protection equipment, have become ubiquitous for combating the ongoing COVID-19. However, conventional electrostatic-based mask filters are disposable and short-term effective with high breathing resistance, causing respiratory ailments and massive consumption (129 billion monthly), intensifying global environmental pollution. In an effort to address these challenges, the introduction of a piezoelectric polymer was adopted to realize the charge-laden melt-blown via the melt-blowing method. The charge-laden melt-blown could be applied to manufacture face masks and to generate charges triggered by mechanical and acoustic energy originated from daily speaking. Through an efficient and scalable industrial melt-blown process, our charge-laden mask is capable of overcoming the inevitable electrostatic attenuation, even in a high-humidity atmosphere by long-wearing (prolonging from 4 to 72 h) and three-cycle common decontamination methods. Combined with outstanding protective properties (PM2.5 filtration efficiency >99.9%), breathability (differential pressure <17 Pa/cm2), and mechanical strength, the resultant charge-laden mask could enable the decreased replacement of masks, thereby lowering to 94.4% of output masks worldwide (∼122 billion monthly) without substituting the existing structure or assembling process.

Spatial positional relationship between macular superficial vessel density and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness in primary angle closure glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the spatial relationship between macular superficial vessel density (SVD) and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness in primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), and to investigate diagnostic abilities of macular SVD and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) parameters. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study on 38 PACG patients (38 eyes) and 25 healthy subjects (25 eyes). Macular region was imaged using a 1050-nm-wavelength swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography (OCTA) system (DRI OCT Triton, TOPCON). Vessel density of the macular region was quantified by ImageJ software. The peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thicknesses and macular GCIPL thickness were obtained by swept-source OCT. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the spatial positional relationship between macular SVD and macular GCIPL thickness. At the same time, the correlation between macular SVD and pRNFL thickness was evaluated. Areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves (AUCs) of OCT, OCTA and FAZ measurement metrics were calculated to assess the diagnostic ability for glaucoma. RESULTS: Macular GCIPL thickness had a moderate correlation with the macular SVD in the inferonasal sector (r = 0.426, P = 0.008). In addition, there was a strong correlation between inferonasal sector of macular vessel density and 5,6,7,8 clock-hour regions of the pRNFL thicknesses (all r > 0.5). Inferoinferior sector of macular SVD and 6,7 clock-hour regions of pRNFL thicknesses also had strong correlation (all r > 0.5). The AUCs of macular SVD ranged between 0.61 (superonasal sector) and 0.76 (inferoinferior sector). The FAZ circularity index showed the highest diagnostic power (AUC = 0.94;95% CI, 0.85-0.99), followed by superotemporal sector of macular GCIPL thicknesses (0.93;95% CI,0.83-0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Sector of macular SVD not only had a spatial positional correlation with corresponding macular GCIPL thickness, but also with clock-hour regional pRNFL thicknesses in PACG eyes. FAZ circulation index might be a useful diagnostic parameter.

Pretarsal orbicularis oculi muscle tightening with skin flap excision in the treatment of lower eyelid involutional entropion.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate a modified technique for involutional entropion correction in a retrospective cohort study. METHODS: The patients with involutional entropion eyelid were corrected by tightening the pretarsal orbicularis oculi muscle and excising the excess skin of the lower eyelid. The patients received correction surgery from April 2013 to March 2019 were followed up for more than 6 months postoperatively. The outcome measures included the complications and the recurrence rates. RESULTS: Total 152 patients (169 eyes) were included. The mean follow-up period was 29.6 months (range: 6-36 months). Postoperative ectropion (over-correction) was observed in 1 patient with 1 eyelid (0.59%); yet, no further surgery was needed for this patient. Recurrence of entropion was found in 1 patient (0.59%). The patient with recurrent entropion received repeated surgery with the same method and achieved a good eyelid position. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that tightening the pretarsal orbicularis oculi muscle and excising the excess skin of the lower eyelid could be an effective surgical method to correct lower eyelid involutional entropion. This method is technically easy with a low recurrence rate and not associated with significant complications in Asians.

Current evidences on XPC polymorphisms and breast cancer susceptibility: a meta-analysis.

Published data on the association between three polymorphisms (Lys939Gln, Ala499Val, and PAT±) of Xeroderma Pigmentosum group C (XPC) and breast cancer risk are inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta-analysis was performed. Crude ORs with 95% CIs were used to assess the strength of association between them. A total of 11 studies including 5,090 cases and 5,214 controls were involved in this meta-analysis. For XPC Lys939Gln polymorphism, no obvious associations were found for all genetic models when all studies were pooled into the meta-analysis (Lys/Gln vs. Lys/Lys: OR = 1.00, 95% CI 0.92-1.10; Gln/Gln vs. Lys/Lys: OR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.84-1.09; dominant model: OR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.91-1.08; and recessive model: OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.86-1.09). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity or study design, still no obvious associations were found. For XPC Ala499Val polymorphism, also no obvious associations were found for all genetic models when all studies were pooled into the meta-analysis (Val/Ala vs. Ala/Ala: OR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.79-1.05; Val/Val vs. Ala/Ala: OR = 1.07, 95% CI 0.80-1.44; dominant model: OR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.81-1.06; and recessive model: OR = 1.11, 95% CI 0.84-1.48). For XPC PAT± polymorphism, obvious associations were found for recessive model when all studies were pooled into the meta-analysis (OR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.05-1.89). In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests that the XPC PAT± polymorphism allele may be a low-penetrant risk factor for developing breast cancer.