TfOH-Catalyzed Cascade Reaction: Metal-Free Access to 3,3-Disubstituted Phthalides from o-Alkynylbenzoic Acids.

A facile new method for the synthesis of 3,3-disubstituted phthalides is reported. A successive reaction process begins with the TfOH-catalyzed cyclization of o-alkynylbenzoic acids followed by an ortho-regioselective electrophilic alkylation of various electron-rich aromatic compounds or alkenes, which has been successfully developed. The corresponding regioselective products of 3-substituted phthalide were obtained in good to high yields.

Novel role for integrin ß4 in asthmatic children infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Objectives: The regulatory role of integrin ß4 (ITGB4) in asthmatic children infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) was analyzed, and its potential molecular mechanisms and function were studied.Methods: We collected epidemiological data from 70,455 asthmatic children. The immunofluorescence assay was used to test 9 index IgMs against respiratory tract pathogens for 736 serum samples. Then, 98 children with severe asthma were treated via fiberoptic bronchoscope examination. During the surgery, the patients' lavage fluid was collected. Additionally, differences in transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß) expression between the MP-infected and noninfected groups were examined. Experiments were performed using white blood cell counting methods and flow cytometry for 98 asthmatic children.Results: We tested 736 specimens, and the percentages of MP, RSV, and ADV infections were 50.27%, 11.68%, and 10.05%, respectively. The percentage of eosinophils was increased significantly in the AS-I-MP group, and their TGF-ß expression levels were increased, which was related to tissue fibrosis. Furthermore, MP infection exacerbated the decreasing trend of ITGB4 expression in patients' blood compared with the noninfected group.Conclusions: There might be a chain reaction from MP infection to an increase in ITGB4, a decrease in TGF-ß, a large accumulation of eosinophils and the development of asthma in children.

The major influence of anterior and equatorial zonular fibres on the far-to-near accommodation revealed by a 3D pre-stressed model of the anterior eye.

PURPOSE: To explore the synergistic function of the ligaments in eye, the zonular fibres, that mediate change in eye lens shape to allow for focussing over different distances. METHODS: A set of 3D Finite Element models of the anterior eye together with a custom developed pre-stress modelling approach was proposed to simulate vision for distant objects (the unaccommodated state) to vision for near objects (accommodation). One of the five zonular groups was cut off in sequence creating five models with different zonular arrangements, the contribution of each zonular group was analysed by comparing results of each specific zonular-cut model with those from the all-zonules model in terms of lens shape and zonular tensions. RESULTS: In the all-zonular model, the anterior and equatorial zonules carry the highest tensions. In the anterior zonular-cut model, the equatorial zonular tension increases while the posterior zonular tension decreases, resulting in an increase in the change in Central Optical Power (COP). In the equatorial zonular-cut model, both the anterior and posterior zonular tensions increase, causing a decreasing change in COP. The change in COP decreases only slightly in the other models. For vitreous zonular-cut models, little change was seen in either the zonular tension or the change in COP. CONCLUSIONS: The anterior and the equatorial zonular fibres have the major influence on the change in lens optical power, with the anterior zonules having a negative effect and the equatorial zonules contributing a positive effect. The contribution to variations in optical power by the equatorial zonules is much larger than by the posterior zonules.

Influence of design parameters and capsulorhexis on intraocular lens stabilities: A 3D finite element analysis.

BACKGROUND: Current treatment of cataract widely used in clinics is by removal of the opacified content from the lens capsule which is followed by insertion of an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). The IOL needs to remain stabilized in the capsular bag for the eye to achieve desired optical quality. The present study aims to investigate how different design parameters of the IOL can influence the axial and rotational stabilities of IOLs using Finite Element Analysis. METHODS: Eight designs of IOL with variations in types of optics surface, types of haptics and haptic angulation were constructed using parameters obtained from an online IOL databank (IOLs.eu). Each IOL was subjected to compressional simulations both by two clamps and by a collapsed natural lens capsule with an anterior rhexis. Comparisons were made between the two scenarios on axial displacement, rotation, and distribution of stresses. RESULTS: The clamps compression method set out by ISO does not always produce the same outcome as the in-the-bag analysis. The open-loop IOLs show better axial stability while the closed-loop IOLs show better rotational stability when compressed by two clamps. Simulations of IOL in the capsular bag only demonstrate better rotational stability for closed-loop designs. CONCLUSIONS: The rotational stability of an IOL is largely dependent on its haptic design whilst the axial stability is affected by the appearance of the rhexis to the anterior capsule which has a major influence on designs with a haptic angulation.