A novel tissue-engineered corneal epithelium based on ultra-thin amniotic membrane and mesenchymal stem cells.

Currently, in vitro cultured corneal epithelial transplantation is effective in treating limbal stem cell dysfunction (LSCD). Selecting carriers is crucial for constructing the corneal epithelium through tissue engineering. In this study, the traditional amniotic membrane (AM) was modified, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were inoculated into the ultra-thin amniotic membrane (UAM) stroma to construct a novel UAM-MSC tissue-engineered corneal epithelial carrier, that could effectively simulate the limbal stem cells (LSCs) microenvironment. The structure of different carriers cultured tissue-engineered corneal epithelium and the managed rabbit LSCD model corneas were observed through hematoxylin-eosin staining. Cell phenotypes were evaluated through fluorescence staining, Western blotting, and RT-qPCR. Additionally, cell junction genes and expression markers related to anti-neovascularization were evaluated using RT-qPCR. Corneal epithelium cell junctions were observed via an electron microscope. The tissue-engineered corneal epithelium culture medium was analyzed through mass spectrometry. Tissue-engineered corneal epithelial cells expanded by LSCs on UAM-MSCs had good transparency. Simultaneously, progenitor cell (K14, PNCA, p63) and corneal epithelial (PAX6) gene expression in tissue-engineered corneal epithelium constructed using UAM-MSCs was higher than that in corneal epithelial cells amplified by UAM and de-epithelialized amniotic membrane. Electron microscopy revealed that corneal epithelial cells grafted with UAM-MSCs were closely connected. In conclusion, the UAM-MSCs vector we constructed could better simulate the limbal microenvironment; the cultured tissue-engineered corneal epithelium had better transparency, anti-neovascularization properties, closer intercellular connections, and closer resemblance to the natural corneal epithelial tissue phenotype.

N, S-Coordinated Co Single Atomic Catalyst Boosting Adsorption and Conversion of Lithium Polysulfides for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Boosting reversible solid-liquid phase transformation from lithium polysulfides to Li2 S and suppressing the shuttling of lithium polysulfides from the cathode to the lithium anode are critical challenges in lithium-sulfur batteries. Here, sulfiphilic single atomic cobalt implanted in lithiophilic heteroatoms-dopped carbon (SACo@HC) matrix with a CoN3 S structure for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries is reported. Density functional theory calculation and in situ experiments demonstrate that the optimal CoN3 S structure in SACo@HC can effectively improve the adsorption and redox conversion efficiency of lithium polysulfides. Consequently, the S-SACo@HC composite with sulfur loading of 80 wt% delivers a high capacity of 1425.1 mAh g-1 at 0.05 C and outstanding rate performance with 745.9 mAh g-1 at 4 C. Furthermore, a capacity of 680.8 mAh g-1 at 0.5 C with a low electrolyte/sulfur ratio (6 µL mg-1 ) can be achieved even after 300 cycles. With the harsh conditions of lean electrolyte (E/S = 4 µL mg-1 ) and high sulfur loading (5.4 mg cm-2 ), a superior area capacity of 5.8 mAh cm-2 can be obtained. This work contributes to building a profound understanding of the adsorption and interface engineering of lithium polysulfides and provides ideas to tackle the long-standing polysulfide shuttle problem of lithium-sulfur batteries.

Sirtuin 1 Induces Choroidal Neovascularization and Triggers Age-Related Macular Degeneration by Promoting LCN2 through SOX9 Deacetylation.

Increasing studies have identified the function of sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) in ocular diseases. Hence, this study is aimed at exploring the potential role of SIRT1 in choroidal neovascularization- (CNV-) induced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) development and the associated mechanism. Expression of SIRT1/SOX9/LCN2 in the hypoxic cells was determined, and their interactions were predicted by bioinformatics websites and followed by the verification by luciferase assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Their in vitro effects on hypoxic cells concerning cell viability, apoptosis, migration, and angiogenesis were detected through gain- and loss-of-function assays. Besides, their in vivo effect was explored using the established CNV mouse models. Highly expressed LCN2, SOX9, and SIRT1 were observed in hypoxic cells. LCN2 was increased by SOX9 and SIRT1 deacetylated SOX9 to promote its nuclear translocation, which further inhibited the viability of human retinal pigment epithelial cells and promoted cell apoptosis and angiogenesis as well as CNV-induced AMD formation. The relieving role of LCN2 inhibition on CNV-induced AMD without toxicity for mice was also demonstrated by in vivo experiments. Overall, SIRT1 promoted the formation of CNV-induced AMD through SOX9 deacetylation-caused LCN2 upregulation, representing a promising target for CNV-induced AMD management.

Comprehensive Analysis of Enhancer RNAs Identifies LINC00689 and ELFN1-AS1 as Novel Prognostic Biomarkers in Uveal Melanoma.

Enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) have emerged as key players in the pathology of several tumors, including uveal melanoma. Here, we aimed to explore the prognostic values of eRNAs in uveal melanoma (UVM) patients. The expressing data and survival data of UVM patients were downloaded from TCGA and GSE22138 datasets. The Kaplan-Meier methods with the log-rank test were applied to screen survival-related eRNAs in UVM. GEPIA was applied to analyze the associations between expressions of eRNA and disease-free survival. KEGG assays were applied to explore the potential signaling pathways of the key eRNA. The prognostic values of eRNAs were further explored by multivariate assays by the R package survival. The eRNAs were validated in pan-cancer. In this study, we identified 89 survival-related eRNAs in UVM based on TCGA datasets. Based on GSE22138 datasets, we found 27 survival-related eRNAs in UVM. Only two eRNAs (LINC00689 and ELFN1-AS1) were overlapped in both two datasets. The results of multivariate analysis revealed that both LINC00689 and ELFN1-AS1 were independent prognostic factors in UVM patients. The pan-cancer validation results further confirmed the prognostic values of LINC00689 and ELFN1-AS1 in eight tumors. Overall, we identified two novel UVM-related eRNAs, LINC00689 and ELFN1-AS1 which may serve as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers of UVM patients for clinical decision-making.

Adhesion-Shielding based synthesis of interfacially active magnetic Janus nanoparticles.

HYPOTHESIS: A unique adhesion-shielding (AS)-based method could be used to manufacture magnetic Janus nanoparticles (IM-JNPs) of promising interfacial activities, asymmetric surface wettability, and great performance on deoiling from oily wastewater under the external magnetic field. EXPERIMENTS: The IM-JNPs were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The interfacial properties of IM-JNPs were investigated by the measurements of interfacial pressure-area isotherms (π-A), oil-water interfacial tension, and the related crumpling ratio. The Langmuir-Blodgett (L-B) technique was used to determine the asymmetric surface wettability of the IM-JNPs. The performance and recyclability of IM-JNPs for treating oily wastewater were also investigated. FINDINGS: Using the proposed AS-based method, 17.9 g IM-JNPs were synthesized at a time and exhibited excellent interfacial properties, as indicated by decreasing oil-water interfacial tension from 38 to 27 mN/m. The crumpling behavior of the oil droplet further demonstrated the irreversible deposition of IM-JNPs at the oil droplet surfaces. The L-B technique and water contact angle measurement confirmed the asymmetric surface wettability of the IM-JNPs. The IM-JNPs were applied to successful removal of > 90% emulsified oil droplets from the household-produced oily wastewater under the external magnetic field while realizing facile recyclability and regeneration.

Accommodation changes after visian implantable collamer lens with central hole for high myopia: A STROBE-compliant article.

To characterize the accommodative changes in high-myopic patients after the implantation of the Visian implantable collamer lens with a central hole (ICL V4c).This prospective study enrolled 30 patients (60 eyes) with uneventful surgery of ICL V4c implantation. Parameters including amplitude of accommodation (AA), monocular and binocular facility of accommodation (FA), positive relative accommodation (PRA), negative relative accommodation (NRA), near point convergence (NPC), accommodative response, and accommodation convergence/accommodation (AC/A) ratio were assessed before surgery, at 1 and 3 months postoperatively.Mean preoperative SE was -10.86 ±â€Š3.87 diopter (D) (range, -6.5D to -22D), which improved to 0.27 ±â€Š0.51D at 1 month and 0.09 ±â€Š0.47D at 3 months after surgery (P <.001). Significant improvements in AA, NRA, PRA, NPC, monocular, and binocular FA were seen at 1 month and 3 months postoperatively compared to the values before surgery (P <.05), but the difference between 1 month and 3 months were not obvious (P >.05) except for binocular FA (P = .002). However, no significant changes were seen in either AC/A ratio or accommodative response at any postoperative follow-ups in contrast to those before surgery (P >.05). Similar changes in accommodative function were found in patients with less myopia (> -10.00D) and those with more myopia (≤10.00D) (P >.05).The accommodative function of eyes after the implantation of ICL V4c is enhanced and stabilizes at 1 month, except for the AC/A ratio and accommodative response. The clearer vision and increased amount of accommodation for near target account for the majority of the improvement.