CircRNA and Stroke: New Insight of Potential Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets.

Stroke, the second-largest cause of death and the leading cause of disability globally, presents significant challenges in terms of prognosis and treatment. Identifying reliable prognosis biomarkers and treatment targets is crucial to address these challenges. Circular RNA (circRNA) has emerged as a promising research biomarkers and therapeutic targets because of its tissue specificity and conservation. However, the potential role of circRNA in stroke prognosis and treatment remains largely unexplored. This review briefly elucidate the mechanism underlying circRNA's involvement in stroke pathophysiology. Additionally, this review summarizes the impact of circRNA on different forms of strokes, including ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. And, this article discusses the positive effects of circRNA on promoting cerebrovascular repair and regeneration, maintaining the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and reducing neuronal injury and immune inflammatory response. In conclusion, the significance of circRNA as a potential prognostic biomarker and a viable therapeutic target was underscored.

A Study on the Effectiveness of 650-nm Red-Light Feeding Instruments in the Control of Myopia.

INTRODUCTION: This study analyzed the effectiveness of 650-nm red-light feeding instruments in the control of myopia. METHODS: In this study, 164 school-aged participants diagnosed with myopia in the city of Shenzhen were enrolled in a red-light feeding instrument study. Of these, 41 were enrolled in the mild-to-moderate myopia group that received red-light feeding (RLMM group), 65 were enrolled in the mild-to-moderate myopia group that received single-vision spectacle treatment (SVSMM group), and 58 were included in the severe myopia group that received red-light feeding (RLS group). RESULTS: After the baseline values of the three groups were matched, the right eye data were used for statistical analysis. The average return visit time of each group was 60.42 days, and changes in the observation indexes before treatment and after follow-up treatment were compared. As the primary outcome, the axial length changes in the right eye of the SVSMM group (0.08 ± 0.40 mm), the RLMM group (-0.03 ± 0.11 mm), and the RLS group (-0.07 ± 0.11 mm) were compared and showed a statistical result of p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: The study results verified that red light had a noticeable effect on the control of myopia and that low-level red-light therapy played a vital role in the treatment of severe myopia.

The Influence of Parents' Background and Their Perception on the Progression of Myopia in Children.

Purpose: To study the influence of parents' educational backgrounds and understanding on the progress of myopia in their offspring. Methods: Spherical equivalent refraction (SE) of the children (aged 6-14) in China was assessed with cycloplegic autorefraction in a two-year longitudinal study. The parents' background information and myopia-related cognition were collected by questionnaires. Results: The offspring of parents with lower education and more myopic SE had higher myopic progression (mean = -1.42 ± 1.06) than the children of other groups (P < 0.05). The parents' understanding of the proper outdoor activity time, sleep duration, reading distance, and indoor illumination for children was not significantly correlated with the progression of myopia in their offspring. The parent's preference for eye care visit frequency had a significant correlation with the myopia development of their children (r = 0.076, P=0.001∗). The mean SE progression was -0.84 ± 1.37 and -0.58 ± 1.29 in the children whose parents considered that extracurricular classes would negatively affect myopia development progression and the children whose parents believed it would not, respectively (P=0.026∗). Conclusions: Most parents misunderstand the influence of insufficient outdoor sports time and extracurricular classes, which require extra near-vision work. Besides, for parents with low educational background and more myopic SE, their offspring had higher myopia progression and may be the key group for myopia control. Finally, parents may obtain life advice and knowledge related to preventing myopia after their children become myopic. It may be of positive significance if this process could take place before myopia onset.

The optimal atropine concentration for myopia control in Chinese children: a systematic review and network Meta-analysis.

AIM: To figure out whether various atropine dosages may slow the progression of myopia in Chinese kids and teenagers and to determine the optimal atropine concentration for effectively slowing the progression of myopia. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, CNKI, CBM, VIP, and Wanfang database, encompassing literature on slowing progression of myopia with varying atropine concentrations from database inception to January 17, 2024. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed, and a network Meta-analysis was executed using Stata version 14.0 Software. Results were visually represented through graphs. RESULTS: Fourteen papers comprising 2475 cases were included; five different concentrations of atropine solution were used. The network Meta-analysis, along with the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA), showed that 1% atropine (100%)>0.05% atropine (74.9%) >0.025% atropine (51.6%)>0.02% atropine (47.9%)>0.01% atropine (25.6%)>control in refraction change and 1% atropine (98.7%)>0.05% atropine (70.4%)>0.02% atropine (61.4%)>0.025% atropine (42%)>0.01% atropine (27.4%)>control in axial length (AL) change. CONCLUSION: In Chinese children and teenagers, the five various concentrations of atropine can reduce the progression of myopia. Although the network Meta-analysis showed that 1% atropine is the best one for controlling refraction and AL change, there is a high incidence of adverse effects with the use of 1% atropine. Therefore, we suggest that 0.05% atropine is optimal for Chinese children to slow myopia progression.

Using EDDS and NTA for enhanced phytoextraction of Cd by water spinach.

A greenhouse experiment was used to test the applicability of [S,S]-Ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) at rates of 2.5 mmol kg(-1) and 5.0 mmol kg(-1), respectively, to increase the uptake of Cd by water spinach (Ipomoea aquatic Forsk) in soils with 2.5-30 mg Cd kg(-1). The addition of EDDS and NTA significantly increased water soluble Cd in soils. However, the Cd concentration in the root and shoot was higher in the NTA treatment than in the EDDS treatment. No instance of Cd hyperaccumulation was observed; however, the 5.0 mmol kg(-1) NTA treatment for soil with 30 mg Cd kg(-1) caused the Cd concentration to increase to 86 mg kg(-1), which is close to the critical concentration (100 mg kg(-1)) of a hyperaccumulator. The total Cd uptake in the treatments of EDDS and NTA for soils with 2.5, 5.0, and 10 mg Cd kg(-1) was acceptable, and was higher than the control. The level of 5.0 mmol kg(-1) EDDS was excessively high for enhanced phytoextraction in soils with 20 and 30 mg Cd kg(-1). Water spinach for Cd phytoextraction is a viable alternative to using herbaceous hyperaccumulators.

[A novel retrograde intubation procedure for treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a novel intubation procedure for the treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction. METHODS: Nasolacrimal duct obstruction patients with chronic dacryocystitis were selected for undergoing the procedure of intubation in outpatient clinic. This procedure was performed under local anesthesia. Retrograde intubation was inserted into the nasolacrimal duct and guided with probing. The location of drainage tube, cleanliness, epiphora, secretion from lacrimal sac and other signs were observed 2-4 weeks after intubation. Patients were grouped according to postoperative follow-up time. Group A consisted 521 cases (613 eyes) who underwent operations from May 1997 to December 2001 in Shenzhen Ophthalmic Hospital and observed for 3-5 years to evaluate long-term results. Group B consisted 381 cases (411 eyes) who underwent operations from October 2003 to October 2005 in Shenzhen Ophthalmic Hospital and 5 cases (6 eyes) who underwent operations at the same time period in Beijing Shunyi District Hospital (a total of 386 cases, 417 eyes) and observed for 0.5-1.5 years as the recent treatment group. The cure rates of these two groups were compared using the chi-square test. RESULTS: The lacrimal system was able to be irrigated one week after the operation. Epiphora symptoms were eliminated 2-3 weeks postoperatively. Lacrimal sac secretions disappeared within 1-3 weeks in most cases, few patients still had mucous secretions after 3 weeks and needed the second intubation operation. The cure rate of second intubation was 92.3% (23/26). The cure rates of Group A and Group B were 84.5% and 88.2%, respectively. There was no significant difference in cure rate between these two groups. Surgery and anesthesia could lead to a short period of diplopia and discomfort without any other complications. CONCLUSIONS: The novel lacrimal retrograde tube and the operation procedure are safe, simple and without obvious trauma. The prognosis of the intubation operation is good and this method could be used as a treatment for nasolacrimal duct obstruction and chronic dacryocystitis.

Effect of Bilberry Extract on Development of Form-Deprivation Myopia in the Guinea Pig.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of bilberry extract, Difrarel, on form-deprivation myopia in guinea pigs. METHOD: Thirty healthy pigmented guinea pigs, at the age of 3 weeks, were randomly assigned to 3 groups: 2 groups receiving daily orally administered Difrarel (300 mg/kg) either from the outset for 4 or 2 weeks after form deprivation and a control group. Form deprivation was induced with translucent eye patches on the right eye and lasted for 4 weeks. Another 12 guinea pigs without the form deprivation were assigned into 2 groups for oral administration of Difrarel and saline for 4 weeks. The refractive errors and axial length were measured in both eyes, and the posterior sclera was removed and assayed to evaluate the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) and collagen I by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. RESULTS: Oral administration of Difrarel for 4 weeks was found to inhibit the axial elongation and decrease the myopic shift of refractive errors in the form-deprived eye. Upregulation of MMP2 and degradation of collagen I in the sclera of form-deprived eye were observed, and these were prevented by orally administered Difrarel. Moreover, oral administration of Difrarel had no effects on axial length, refractive errors, and the expression of MMP2 in the normal eye. CONCLUSION: This work demonstrates that orally administered Difrarel has an effect against form-deprivation myopia and raises the possibility that bilberry extracts or specific components might represent a useful treatment for preventing the progression of myopia in clinical practice.