Assessment of the impact of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol on retinal vessels using optical coherence tomography angiography.

BACKGROUND: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is acknowledged as an independent risk factor (IRF) for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Nevertheless, studies on the impact of LDL-C on microvasculature are still scarce. The retina, abundant in microvasculature, can now be examined for microvascular alterations through the novel, non-invasive, and quantitative optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) technique. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 243 patients from the geriatric department were recruited (between December 2022 and December 2023). Individuals were classified into four groups based on their LDL-C levels: Group 1 (≤ 1.8 mmol/L), Group 2 (> 1.8 mmol/L to ≤ 2.6 mmol/L), Group 3 (> 2.6 mmol/L to ≤ 3.4 mmol/L), and Group 4 (> 3.4 mmol/L). The OCTA results including retinal vessel density (VD), foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, macula thickness, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness were contrasted across these groups. T-tests, analysis of variance, Welch's tests, or rank-sum tests were employed for statistical comparisons. In cases where significant differences between groups were found, post-hoc multiple comparisons or rank-sum tests were performed for pairwise group comparisons. Spearman's correlation coefficient was employed to perform bivariate correlation analysis to evaluate the relationship between LDL-C levels and various OCTA measurements. Multivariable regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between LDL-C levels and various OCTA measurements. Linear regression analysis or mixed-effects linear models were applied. RESULTS: It was discovered that individuals with LDL-C levels exceeding 2.6 mmol/L (Groups 3 and 4) exhibited reduced VD in the retina, encompassing both the optic disc and macular regions, compared to those with LDL-C levels at or below 2.6 mmol/L (Groups 1 and 2). A negative correlation among LDL-C levels and retinal VD was identified, with r values spanning from - 0.228 to -0.385. Further regression analysis presented ß values between - 0.954 and - 2.378. Additionally, no notable disparities were detected among the groups regarding FAZ area, macular thickness, and RNFL thickness. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of this study suggest that elevated LDL-C levels constitute an IRF for decreased VD across the entire retina. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05644548, December 1, 2022.

3D Monolayer Silanation of Porous Structure Facilitating Multi-Phase Pollutants Removal.

Activated carbon (AC) is widely used to removing hazardous pollutants from air and water, owing to its exceptional adsorption properties. However, the high affinity of water molecules with the surface oxygen-containing functional groups can adversely affect the adsorption performance of AC. In this study, a facile and efficient method is presented for fabrication of hydrophobic AC through surface monolayer silanation. Compared to initial AC, the hydrophobic AC improves the water contact angle from 29.7° to 123.5° while maintaining high specific surface area and enhances the removal capacity of multi-phase pollutants (emulsified oil and toluene). Additionally, the hydrophobic AC exhibits excellent adsorption capability to harmful algal bloom species (Chlorella) (97.56%) and algal organic matter (AOM) (96.23%) owing to electrostatic interactions and surface hydrophobicity. The study demonstrates that this method of surface monolayer silanation can effectively weaken the effect of water molecules on AC adsorption capacity, which has significant potential for practical use in air and water purification, as well as in the control of harmful algal blooms.

Dehydration-rehydration mechanism of vegetables at the cell-wall and cell-membrane levels and future research challenges.

The quality of dehydrated vegetables is affected by the degree to which they are returned to their original state during rehydration (restorability). At present, whether this mechanism occurs at the cell-wall or cell-membrane level is unclear. This paper reviews the important factors affecting the mechanism of dehydration-rehydration, focusing on the analysis of the composition and structure of the cell wall and cell membrane, and summarizes the related detection and analytical techniques that can be used to explore the mechanisms of dehydration-rehydration at the cell-wall and cell-membrane levels. The integrity and permeability of the cell membrane affect water transport during the dehydration-rehydration process. The cell wall and cell membrane are supporting materials for tissue morphology. The arabinan side chains of the primary structure and fibers are important for water retention. Water transport may be classified as symplastic and apoplastic. Cell membrane disruption occurs with symbiotic transport but increases the drying rate. An in-depth analysis of the dehydration-rehydration mechanism of vegetables will help develop and improve their processing methods and inspire new applications.

Circular RNA circ_0074027 indicates a poor prognosis for NSCLC patients and modulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion via miR-185-3p mediated BRD4/MADD activation.

Circular RNAs play an imperative role in cancer development and metastasis by regulating oncogenic and tumor-suppressive pathways. However, the role and mechanism of circ_0074027 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not been elucidated. The expression levels of circ_0074027 were detected by qRT-PCR. The link between circ_0074027 expression and clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed by Fisher's exact test. The prognostic role of circ_0074027 was investigated by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis. Cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometric assays were utilized to evaluate NSCLC cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Wound scratch and Transwell tests were applied to detect cell migratory and invasive capacities. The interaction potential of circ_0074027 and miR-185-3p was analyzed by the circBank database, and verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The downstream gene of miR-185-3p was also investigated. Circ_0074027 was elevated in NSCLC specimens and cell lines. Overexpressed circ_0074027 was related to more advanced TNM stages, poorer differentiation grade, and worse overall survival. Upregulated circ_0074027 increased the proliferation of H1299 cells by inhibiting cell apoptosis. Cell migration and invasion were enhanced after circ_0074027 overexpression. Silenced circ_0074027 caused the opposite effects in the A549 cell line. For mechanism investigation, circ_0074027 directly sponges miR-185-3p to enhance bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) and MAPK-activating death domain-containing protein (MADD) expression levels at the posttranscriptional level. Furthermore, we found the oncogenic function of circ_0074027 is attributed to its modulation of BRD4 and MADD. Collectively, upregulated circ_0074027 in NSCLC accelerates cell progression via miR-185-3p/BRD4/MADD pathway as a competing endogenous RNA.

Ocular safety evaluation of blue light scleral cross-linking in vivo in rhesus macaques.

PURPOSE: To investigate the safety of blue light scleral cross-linking (SXL) by evaluating changes in biological parameters in the retina and choroid in the eyes of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). METHODS: Fifteen 3-year-old macaques (30 eyes) were randomly divided into three groups (n = 5). SXL was performed via riboflavin (0.5%) and blue light (460 nm) at the location of the equatorial sclera. Right eyes served as experimental eyes, and left eyes as control eyes. One quadrant of each right eye was irradiated in group A, two quadrants of each right eye and one quadrant of each left eye were irradiated in group B, and two quadrants of each right eye were irradiated in group C. Optical coherence tomography, optical coherence tomography angiography, and flash electroretinography (f-ERG) examinations were performed at baseline and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after SXL. Additionally, retinal tissue alterations were detected via transmission electron microscopy at 1 week postoperatively. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between experimental eyes and control eyes in retinal thickness, vessel density of retinal superficial capillary plexus, and choroid thickness in any of the groups at any of the time points investigated (p > 0.05). Significant reductions in f-ERG parameters were detected 1 week postoperatively in the experimental eyes of groups A and C (p < 0.05), but they gradually recovered, and there was no significant difference 1 month postoperatively (p > 0.05). Ultrastructural changes were evident in the retinal layers of SXL eyes. In group B, there were no significant differences between the right and left eyes at any of the follow-up time points investigated. CONCLUSIONS: Blue light SXL can cause transient retina damage. The f-ERG parameters reductions and retinal ultrastructural changes were found at early stage, even though there were not significant changes in retinal thickness, vessel density of retinal superficial capillary plexus, and choroid thickness after blue light SXL. The long-term intraocular safety of the blue light SXL technique should be investigated further.

Case Report: Focal Choroidal Excavation Underlying Combined Hamartoma of the Retina and Retinal Pigment Epithelium.

SIGNIFICANCE: There are few reports of focal choroidal excavation (FCE) in combined hamartoma of the retina and retinal pigment epithelium (CHRRPE). This report documents a case of this rare condition and suggests that there might be a relationship between FCE and CHRRPE. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe a case of FCE underlying CHRRPE. CASE REPORT: A 6-year-old Chinese boy presented with a 2-month history of decreased vision in his left eye. Fundus examination of the left eye showed an elevated fibrotic mass in the macular area with pigment disturbance. Optical coherence tomography revealed a cup-shaped FCE in the macula with thickening and disorganization of multiple retinal layers and overlying epiretinal proliferation in the left eye. A diagnosis of FCE within CHRRPE was made, and periodic review was recommended. CONCLUSIONS: There may be an association or a causal relationship between CHRRPE and FCE. It is plausible that FCE in the setting of CHRRPE is a developmental abnormality that occurs after birth because of a weakening of the retinal pigment epithelium and thinning of the choroid beneath the tumor. Continued monitoring for FCE progression and potential choroidal neovascularization is indicated.

EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF INTRAVITREAL CONBERCEPT INJECTIONS IN MACULAR EDEMA SECONDARY TO RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of intravitreal conbercept injections in patients with macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO). METHODS: A prospective, Phase II clinical trial was performed on 60 patients with macular edema secondary to RVO. Thirty patients had branch RVO (BRVO) and 30 had central RVO (CRVO). Each patient received intravitreal injections of conbercept monthly up to 3 months, followed by monthly evaluation and injection pro re nata to Month 9. RESULTS: The average change of best-corrected visual acuity from baseline to Month 9 was 17.83 ± 10.89 letters in BRVO and 14.23 ± 11.74 letters in CRVO. The change in best-corrected visual acuity was not statistically different between the groups (P = 0.216). The mean reduction of central retina thickness from baseline to Month 9 was 289.97 ± 165.42 µm and 420.47 ± 235.89 µm in BRVO and CRVO, respectively. The mean numbers of injections was 7.14 ± 1.90 in BRVO and 7.59 ± 1.39 in CRVO from baseline to Month 9 (P = 0.4705). There were 7 serious adverse events (SAEs) in 5 patients (8.33%, 2 BRVO and 3 CRVO). All the SAEs were nonocular and were not related to the drug or the injection procedure. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injections of conbercept demonstrated a generally favorable safety and tolerability profile as well as efficacy in the treatment of macular edema due to RVO.

Metagenomic insights into effects of carbon/nitrogen ratio on microbial community and antibiotic resistance in moving bed biofilm reactor.

This study investigated the effects of carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio on microbial community in moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) using metagenomic analysis, and the dynamic changes of relevant antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were also analyzed. The results showed that under low C/N ratio, MBBR exhibited average removal rates of 98.41 % for ammonia nitrogen and 75.79 % for total nitrogen. Metagenomic analysis showed low C/N ratio altered the structure of biofilm and water microbiota, resulting in the detachment of bacteria such as Actinobacteria from biofilm into water. Furthermore, sulfamethazine (SMZ)-resistant bacteria and related ARGs were released into water under low C/N ratio, which lead to the increase of SMZ resistance rate to 90%. Moreover, most dominant genera are potential hosts for both nitrogen cycle related genes and ARGs. Specifically, Nitrosomonas that carried gene sul2 might be released from biofilm into water. These findings implied the risks of antibiotic resistance dissemination in MBBR under low C/N ratio.

Hydrophobic core/hydrophilic shell structured mesoporous silica nanospheres: enhanced adsorption of organic compounds from water.

Inspired by the structure features of micelle, we attempt to synthesize a novel functionalized mesoporous silica nanosphere consisting of a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic shell. The obtained solid materials were structurally confirmed by N(2) sorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Their compositions were characterized by Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), solid state NMR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and elemental analysis. Its fundamental properties such as dispersibility in water or organic phase, wettability, and adsorption ability toward hydrophobic organics in water were investigated. It was revealed that these important properties could be facilely adjusted through varying structure and composition. In particular, these materials showed much better adsorption ability toward hydrophobic organic molecules in water than conventional monofunctionalized mesoporous materials, owing to possessing the hydrophobic/hydrophilic domain-segregated and hierarchically functionalized mesoporous structures. The intriguing properties would make mesoporous materials more accessible to many important applications, especially in aqueous systems.

[Clinical observation of 85 patients with Behçet's uveitis treated with immunosuppressive agents combined with steroids].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect and safety of immunosuppressive treatment (IMT) combined with steroids in patients with Behçet's uveitis. METHODS: Case-series study. Eighty-five patients (167 eyes) were enrolled in this study from June 2010 to June 2011 at the Beijing Tongren Hospital. The patients were examined before the initiation of IMT and were followed up once every 3 months after the therapy. The corrected visual acuity, inflammation score, ocular complications and side effects of IMT and steroid use were recorded. The rate of positive outcomes was reported in person years (PY) or eye years (EY). The intervals between the episodes of ocular inflammation were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The difference of the proportion of stable cases before and after treatment was analyzed by Log-rank test. RESULTS: There were 67 males and 18 females. The mean age of diagnosis with Behçet's disease was (30.4 ± 9.5) years. The total follow-up period was 255.5 EY and 129.67 PY. The percentages of eyes with inflammation that had been stable for at least 3 months (91.6%, 153/167) or more than 1 year (22.3%, 37/167) after treatment were significantly higher than those before treatment [34.7% (58/167) and 1.0% (2/167), respectively] (χ(2) = 137.80, P < 0.01). The incident rate of a decrease in visual acuity was 0.11 per EY, and the incident rate of an increased in visual acuity was 0.22 per EY. The incident rates of cataracts, an intraocular pressure greater than 30 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) or a severe vitreous haze were 0.39 per EY, 0.07 per EY and 0.79 per EY, respectively. The incident rates of obesity, osteoporosis and hypertension caused by steroid use were 0.4 per PY, 0.22 per PY and 0.13 per PY, respectively. The common side effects of IMT were reversible leukopenia (0.26 per PY by chlorambucil and 0.46 per PY by methotrexate), hepatotoxicity (0.21 per PY by cyclophosphamide, 0.13 per PY by azathioprine), hematuria (0.21 per PY by cyclophosphamide) and gum hyperplasia caused by cyclosporine (0.15 per PY). CONCLUSIONS: Although the use of IMT combined with steroids is effective for the control of intraocular inflammation in patients with Behçet's uveitis, the occurrence of complications is still high, and the vision prognosis is poor. We should pay attention to the side effects of the long-term use of steroids, such as hypertension, obesity and osteoporosis. The initiation of IMT is recommended over the long-term administration of large doses of steroids. The side effects of IMT should be monitored.

Assessment of geothermal resource potential in Changbaishan utilizing high-precision gravity-based man-machine interactive inversion technology.

As one of the clean energy sources, geothermal resources have no negative impact in changing the climate. However, the accurate assessment and precise identification of the potential geothermal resource is still complex and dynamic. In this paper, ~2,000 large-scale high-precision gravity survey points are conducted in the north of the Tianchi caldera, Changbaishan. Advanced data processing technologies can provide straightforward information on deep geothermal resources (Hot source, caprock, geothermal reservoir and geothermal migration pathway). Upwards continuation and the technologies decode two dome shaped low and gentle anomalies (-48 × 10-5 m/s2-65 m/s2) and a positive gravity gradient anomaly (0.4 × 10-7 m/s2-1.6 × 10-5 m/s2) in large-scale high-precision gravity planar. According to two point five dimensional man-machine interactive inversion technology and the research on petrophysical parameters, the density of the shied-forming basalts in the two orthogonal gravity sections is 2.58 g/cm3. The relatively intermediate to high density (2.60-2.75 g/cm3) represents geothermal reservoir, and low density (low to 2.58 g/cm3) is the geothermal migration pathway. In addition, large-scale high-precision gravity planar with a solution of about 1/50,000 indicate that the north of the Tianchi caldera exits the sedimentary basin and uplift mountain geothermal system.

Cardioprotective effect of ultrasound-targeted destruction of Sirt3-loaded cationic microbubbles in a large animal model of pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy occurs in response to numerous increased afterload stimuli and precedes irreversible heart failure (HF). Therefore, therapies that ameliorate pathological cardiac hypertrophy are urgently required. Sirtuin 3 (Sirt3) is a main member of histone deacetylase class III and is a crucial anti-oxidative stress agent. Therapeutically enhancing the Sirt3 transfection efficiency in the heart would broaden the potential clinical application of Sirt3. Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) is a prospective, noninvasive, repeatable, and targeted gene delivery technique. In the present study, we explored the potential and safety of UTMD as a delivery tool for Sirt3 in hypertrophic heart tissues using adult male Bama miniature pigs. Pigs were subjected to ear vein delivery of human Sirt3 together with UTMD of cationic microbubbles (CMBs). Fluorescence imaging, western blotting, and quantitative real-time PCR revealed that the targeted destruction of ultrasonic CMBs in cardiac tissues greatly boosted Sirt3 delivery. Overexpression of Sirt3 ameliorated oxidative stress and partially improved the diastolic function and prevented the apoptosis and profibrotic response. Lastly, our data revealed that Sirt3 may regulate the potential transcription of catalase and MnSOD through Foxo3a. Combining the advantages of ultrasound CMBs with preclinical hypertrophy large animal models for gene delivery, we established a classical hypertrophy model as well as a strategy for the targeted delivery of genes to hypertrophic heart tissues. Since oxidative stress, fibrosis and apoptosis are indispensable in the evolution of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure, our findings suggest that Sirt3 is a promising therapeutic option for these diseases. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is a central prepathology of heart failure and is seen to eventually precede it. Feasible targets that may prevent or reverse disease progression are scarce and urgently needed. In this study, we developed surface-filled lipid octafluoropropane gas core cationic microbubbles that could target the release of human Sirt3 reactivating the endogenous Sirt3 in hypertrophic hearts and protect against oxidative stress in a pig model of cardiac hypertrophy induced by aortic banding. Sirt3-CMBs may enhance cardiac diastolic function and ameliorate fibrosis and apoptosis. Our work provides a classical cationic lipid-based, UTMD-mediated Sirt3 delivery system for the treatment of Sirt3 in patients with established cardiac hypertrophy, as well as a promising therapeutic target to combat pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

Waterborne superamphiphobic coatings with network structure for enhancing mechanical durability.

Superamphiphobic coatings may significantly change the wettability of a substrate, and so are attractive for applications in aero/marine engineering, biotechnology, and heat transfer. However, the coatings are caught in a double bind when their durability is considered, as they are vulnerable to mechanical abrasion. Meanwhile, the wide use of organic solvents for preparing the coatings generates environmental pollution. Here, we present a waterborne superamphiphobic coating through one-step spraying that repels a wide range of liquids. By tailoring the repellence of the nano-silica to waterborne resin, a network structure is constructed to protect the embedded nano-silica from damage. Thus, the coatings are durable against 725 cycles of friction tester abrasion under a load of 250 g, showing a significant improvement in the mechanical durability by 3-25 times. Moreover, our coating also shows excellent comprehensive durability, including resistance to oil-flow erosion, falling sand impact, chemical attack, thermal treatment, etc. This strategy can be introduced to various waterborne resins, demonstrating its universality, and may offer a new insight to design sustainable superamphiphobic coatings for long-term practical applications.

Prognostic Factor Study of Macular Edema Recurrence in Retinal Vein Occlusion after Conbercept Treatment: A Post Hoc Analysis of the FALCON Study.

Objective: The study was aimed at exploring the potential predictive factors associated with the recurrence of macular edema (ME) secondary to vein occlusion (RVO) after intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) loading treatment in the FALCON study. Methods: This is a post hoc analysis of 30 patients with central RVO and 30 patients with branch RVO. All patients received a monthly administration of intravitreal conbercept during the 3-month loading phase and pro re nata (PRN) treatment during the 6-month follow-up period. Based on the recurrence of ME at the first follow-up visit, patients were classified into the recurrence group or nonrecurrence group. The primary endpoint was to explore the risk factors for recurrence among baseline characteristics, fluorescein angiography (FA) patterns, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Results: In general, 38 patients (64.4%) experienced ME recurrence at the first follow-up visit (3 months), regardless of disease type (p = 0.32). Significant improvements in VA were noted in both the nonrecurrence and recurrence groups (p < 0.001), however, without significant between-group differences (p = 0.1). A significant reduction in CRT in both groups (p < 0.001) was identified, and patients without recurrence showed a greater reduction in CRT compared with those with recurrence (p < 0.001). In addition, logistic regression analyses indicated the corrections of ME recurrence with baseline macular volume and the disruption of the outer limiting membrane at the fovea. Conclusion: This study suggested that OCT parameters, including baseline macular volume and outer limiting membrane disruption, and reduction in CRT after loading therapy were more predictive of ME recurrence than FA patterns or visual changes following conbercept loading therapy.

Human Decidual Mesenchymal Stem Cells Obtained From Early Pregnancy Improve Cardiac Revascularization Postinfarction by Activating Ornithine Metabolism.

BACKGROUND: Compared with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), decidual mesenchymal stem cells (DMSCs) are easy to obtain and exhibit excellent angiogenic effects, but their role in cell transplantation after myocardial infarction (MI) remains unclear. METHODS: BMSCs and DMSCs were harvested from healthy donors. The effects of both cell types on angiogenesis were observed in vitro. Metabonomics analysis was performed to compare different metabolites and screen critical metabolic pathways. A murine model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was established, which was randomized into five groups (control, BMSC, DMSC, DMSC + ODCshRNA and BMSC + ODC consisting of 50 animals, equally divided into each group). The therapeutic effect of DMSCs on MI in rats was assessed based on neovascularization and cardiac remodeling. RESULTS: DMSCs exhibited a better angiogenic effect on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) than BMSCs in vitro. In addition, ornithine metabolism, which is associated with vascularization, was significantly increased in DMSCs. The transplantation of DMSCs in the rat MI model significantly enhanced angiogenesis of the infarct border area and improved cardiac remodeling and dysfunction postinfarction compared with BMSCs. Furthermore, inhibition of ornithine metabolism by silencing ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in DMSCs partly abolished the benefits of DMSC transplantation. CONCLUSION: Compared with BMSCs, DMSCs exhibited better efficacy in improving revascularization and heart remodeling post-MI via the activation of ODC-associated ornithine metabolism.

Nanoscale zero-valent iron loaded vermiform expanded graphite for the removal of Cr (VI) from aqueous solution.

Cr (VI) is indispensable in industrial manufacturing, and its extensive use leads to severe heavy-metal pollution in the water environment around people, posing a great danger to physical health and living environment of multitudinous organisms. Expanded graphite (EG) is considered as a typical material for adsorption, while nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) can be applied to degrade and sedimentate various organic or inorganic pollutants. In this study, a simultaneous collaboration of EG and nZVI is carried out, with the investigation on the influence of different test conditions for adsorption performances. These findings demonstrate that nZVI@EG manifests favourable adsorptive performance on the removal of hexavalent chromium efficiently. nZVI, acting as an electron donor, is supposed to reduce Cr (VI) to Cr (III), turning itself into iron oxide or hydroxide. The whole process is an exothermic reaction, accompanying chemical reduction and physical adsorption. And Cr (III) is fastened on the appearance by deposition of chromium hydroxide or ferrochromium complex precipitation, which greatly reduces the total chromium content in the aqueous solution. Herein, as a new composite adsorbent, nZVI@EG shows promising prospects of practical applications in water contamination and environmental remediation.

The electrochemical performance of reduced graphene oxide prepared from different types of natural graphites.

Graphene, as a new type of carbon material in the forefront of research, has been applied widely in the area of supercapacitors with the advantages of a large positive specific surface, high conductivity, stable chemical properties and good supercapacitor performance. In this study, an investigation on the electrochemical performance of reduced graphene oxides (rGOs) prepared from various natural graphites was conducted. X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and electrochemical performance analysis were performed to characterize the as-prepared GOs and rGOs. The results demonstrated that a reduction modification of GO was necessary to optimize its electrochemical performance. The rGO has a great electrochemical performance with a good repair ability, better oxygen-containing functional group removal effect, lower structural defects, larger average size of the in-plane sp2 region and great specific capacitance.

Peripheral arterial filling time and peripheral retina fluorescence features in ultra-widefield angiography.

AIM: To evaluate the peripheral arterial filling time (PAFT) and venous filling time (VFT) in eyes without known diseases that may influence filling process using ultra-widefield (UWF) fluorescein angiography (FA), and to review the peripheral retina fluorescence features. METHODS: A total of 30 eyes of 30 patients were retrospectively reviewed in this observational study. UWF-FA was performed using Optos 200Tx. PAFT and VFT was recorded. The interval between the arterial or venous filling completion and the previous photo was documented. The appearance of the far peripheral retina was described as either granular background fluorescence or mottled fluorescent band or vascular leakage. Terminal vascular patterns was described as loop pattern or branching pattern. Microvascular abnormalities such as arteriovenous shunting, vessels crossing the horizontal raphe, right angle vessels, terminal networks, capillary nonperfusion, drusen or microaneurysms were evaluated. RESULTS: The normal limits of PAFT was 3.397-8.984s and 4.399-11.753s for VFT. The appearance of the far peripheral retina, defined as granular background (63%), mottled fluorescence (20%), or vascular leakage (17%), was symmetrical between both eyes. Capillary nonperfusion (23%) and microaneurysms (40%) were more frequently found in eyes with loop pattern than in eyes with branching pattern. Other peripheral signs such as right-angle vessels (73%), and terminal networks (80%) were commonly seen on UWF-FA in the normal peripheral retina. CONCLUSION: The main courses of retinal artery and vein filling time are overlapping with each other on UWF-FA. Notably, the arterial filling process is completed in the arteriovenous phase rather than the traditionally named arterial phase. There are various manifestations in the peripheral retina of normal eyes.

Therapeutic potential of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth infusion into patients with type 2 diabetes depends on basal lipid levels and islet function.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold great potential in treating patients with diabetes, but the therapeutic effects are not always achieved. Particularly, the clinical factors regulating MSC therapy in this setting are largely unknown. In this study, 24 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treated with insulin were selected to receive three intravenous infusions of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) over the course of 6 weeks and were followed up for 12 months. We observed a significant reduction of glycosylated serum albumin level (P < .05) and glycosylated hemoglobin level (P < .05) after SHED transplantation. The total effective rate was 86.36% and 68.18%, respectively, at the end of treatment and follow-up periods. Three patients ceased insulin injections after SHED transplantation. A steamed bread meal test showed that the serum levels of postprandial C-peptide at 2 hours were significantly higher than those at the baseline (P < .05). Further analysis showed that patients with a high level of blood cholesterol and a low baseline level of C-peptide had poor response to SHED transplantation. Some patients experienced a transient fever (11.11%), fatigue (4.17%), or rash (1.39%) after SHED transplantation, which were easily resolved. In summary, SHED infusion is a safe and effective therapy to improve glucose metabolism and islet function in patients with T2DM. Blood lipid levels and baseline islet function may serve as key factors contributing to the therapeutic outcome of MSC transplantation in patients with T2DM.

Recyclable Superhydrophobic, Antimoisture-Activated Carbon Pellets for Air and Water Purification.

Activated carbon (AC) is a low-cost, highly porous material with large internal surface areas. It is highly efficient in absorbing moisture and a variety of chemical pollutants. Therefore, it has been widely used in air and water purification. However, the strong affinity to moisture often dominates, thus limiting AC's adsorption capacity of other pollutants in a humid environment and reducing its overall lifetime. In the study, superhydrophobic and anti-moisture AC (SA-AC) pellets are fabricated through one-step modification of commercially available AC with a solution consisting of superhydrophobic silica nanoparticles. The SA-AC pellets exhibit excellent water repellency with a static water contact angle reaching 160.3°. More importantly, they are moisture-resistant and air-permeable. Therefore, they preferably adsorb organic gases at humid conditions. The absorbed organic vapor can be released when they are transferred back to the dry atmosphere, for example, releasing approximately 35% of absorbed ethanol. The recoverability significantly reduces energy requirement compared to calcination or conventional extraction. Great adsorption capacity of organic dyes such as methylene blue, removal of oil-in-water microemulsions, and recyclability of SA-AC pellets are demonstrated. The morphology of the microporous structures of the SA-AC pellets is characterized against processing conditions, surface functional groups, and hierarchical structures tailored by the deposition of low-surface energy silica nanoparticles. The resulting micro-/sub-micropores on the pellet surface promote droplet condensation, thus displaying greater damp-proof performance than those treated by traditional modification. The study here presents a promising alternative for the efficient purification on large-scale air/water treatment.