Redefining the human corneal immune compartment using dynamic intravital imaging.

The healthy human cornea is a uniquely transparent sensory tissue where immune responses are tightly controlled to preserve vision. The cornea contains immune cells that are widely presumed to be intraepithelial dendritic cells (DCs). Corneal immune cells have diverse cellular morphologies and morphological alterations are used as a marker of inflammation and injury. Based on our imaging of corneal T cells in mice, we hypothesized that many human corneal immune cells commonly defined as DCs are intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs). To investigate this, we developed functional in vivo confocal microscopy (Fun-IVCM) to investigate cell dynamics in the human corneal epithelium and stroma. We show that many immune cells resident in the healthy human cornea are T cells. These corneal IELs are characterized by rapid, persistent motility and interact with corneal DCs and sensory nerves. Imaging deeper into the corneal stroma, we show that crawling macrophages and rare motile T cells patrol the tissue. Furthermore, we identify altered immune cell behaviors in response to short-term contact lens wear (acute inflammatory stimulus), as well as in individuals with allergy (chronic inflammatory stimulus) that was modulated by therapeutic intervention. These findings redefine current understanding of immune cell subsets in the human cornea and reveal how resident corneal immune cells respond and adapt to chronic and acute stimuli.

Remote Epitaxy: Fundamentals, Challenges, and Opportunities.

Advanced heterogeneous integration technologies are pivotal for next-generation electronics. Single-crystalline materials are one of the key building blocks for heterogeneous integration, although it is challenging to produce and integrate these materials. Remote epitaxy is recently introduced as a solution for growing single-crystalline thin films that can be exfoliated from host wafers and then transferred onto foreign platforms. This technology has quickly gained attention, as it can be applied to a wide variety of materials and can realize new functionalities and novel application platforms. Nevertheless, remote epitaxy is a delicate process, and thus, successful execution of remote epitaxy is often challenging. Here, we elucidate the mechanisms of remote epitaxy, summarize recent breakthroughs, and discuss the challenges and solutions in the remote epitaxy of various material systems. We also provide a vision for the future of remote epitaxy for studying fundamental materials science, as well as for functional applications.

LncRNA MEG3 regulates ferroptosis of lens epithelial cells via PTBP1/GPX4 axis to participate in age-related cataract.

Age-related cataract (ARC) is regarded as the principal cause of vision impairment among the aged. The regulatory role of long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) in ARC remains unclear. The lncRNA maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) has been reported to promote ARC progression, and the underlying mechanism was further investigated in this study. Lens epithelium samples were collected to verify the expression of MEG3. Lens epithelial cells (LECs) were treated with H2O2 to mimic microenvironment of ARC in vitro. Cell viability, reactive oxygen species, and ferroptosis were evaluated during the in viro experiments. In the present work, lncRNA MEG3 was highly expressed in ARC group, compared with normal group. MEG3 was induced, cell viability and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) level were inhibited, and ferroptosis was promoted in H2O2 treated LECs. LncRNA MEG3 silence reversed the effects of H2O2 on viability and ferroptosis in LECs. Thereafter, lncRNA MEG3 was found to bind to PTBP1 for GPX4 degradation. Silencing of GPX4 reversed the regulation of lncRNA MEG3 inhibition in H2O2-treated LECs. To sum up, lncRNA MEG3 exhibited high expression in ARC. In H2O2-induced LECs, inhibition of lncRNA MEG3 accelerated cell viability and repressed ferroptosis by interaction with PTBP1 for GPX4 messenger RNA decay. Targeting lncRNA MEG3 may be a novel treatment of ARC.

Pre-diagnostic plasma inflammatory proteins and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in three population-based cohort studies from the United States and the United Kingdom.

Previous studies suggest a role for inflammation in hepatocarcinogenesis. However, no study has comprehensively evaluated associations between circulating inflammatory proteins and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among the general population. We conducted a nested case-control study in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS) with 56 pairs of incident HCC cases and controls. External validation was performed in the UK Biobank (34 HCC cases and 48,471 non-HCC controls). Inflammatory protein levels were measured in pre-diagnostic plasma using the Olink® Inflammation Panel. We used conditional logistic regression to calculate multivariable odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between a 1-standard deviation (SD) increase in biomarker levels and HCC risk, considering a statistically significant threshold of false discovery rate (FDR)-adjusted p < .05. In the NHS/HPFS, among 70 analyzed proteins with call rates >80%, 15 proteins had significant associations with HCC risk (pFDR < .05). Two proteins (stem cell factor, OR per SD = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.16-0.58; tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 12, OR per SD = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.31-0.85) were inversely associated whereas 13 proteins were positively associated with risk of HCC; positive ORs per SD ranged from 1.73 for interleukin (IL)-10 to 2.35 for C-C motif chemokine-19. A total of 11 proteins were further replicated in the UK Biobank. Seven of the eight selected positively associated proteins also showed positive associations with HCC risk by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, with ORs ranging from 1.56 for IL-10 to 2.72 for hepatocyte growth factor. More studies are warranted to further investigate the roles of these observed inflammatory proteins in HCC etiology, early detection, risk stratification, and disease treatment.

Mendelian pathway analysis of laboratory traits reveals distinct roles for ciliary subcompartments in common disease pathogenesis.

Rare monogenic disorders of the primary cilium, termed ciliopathies, are characterized by extreme presentations of otherwise common diseases, such as diabetes, hepatic fibrosis, and kidney failure. However, despite a recent revolution in our understanding of the cilium's role in rare disease pathogenesis, the organelle's contribution to common disease remains largely unknown. Hypothesizing that common genetic variants within Mendelian ciliopathy genes might contribute to common complex diseases pathogenesis, we performed association studies of 16,874 common genetic variants across 122 ciliary genes with 12 quantitative laboratory traits characteristic of ciliopathy syndromes in 452,593 individuals in the UK Biobank. We incorporated tissue-specific gene expression analysis, expression quantitative trait loci, and Mendelian disease phenotype information into our analysis and replicated our findings in meta-analysis. 101 statistically significant associations were identified across 42 of the 122 examined ciliary genes (including eight novel replicating associations). These ciliary genes were widely expressed in tissues relevant to the phenotypes being studied, and eQTL analysis revealed strong evidence for correlation between ciliary gene expression levels and laboratory traits. Perhaps most interestingly, our analysis identified different ciliary subcompartments as being specifically associated with distinct sets of phenotypes. Taken together, our data demonstrate the utility of a Mendelian pathway-based approach to genomic association studies, challenge the widely held belief that the cilium is an organelle important mainly in development and in rare syndromic disease pathogenesis, and provide a framework for the continued integration of common and rare disease genetics to provide insight into the pathophysiology of human diseases of immense public health burden.

Binder-Free LiMn2 O4 Nanosheets on Carbon Cloth for Selective Lithium Extraction from Brine via Capacitive Deionization.

In this study, a three-step strategy including electrochemical cathode deposition, self-oxidation, and hydrothermal reaction is applied to prepare the LiMn2 O4 nanosheets on carbon cloth (LMOns@CC) as a binder-free cathode in a hybrid capacitive deionization (CDI) cell for selectively extracting lithium from salt-lake brine. The binder-free LMOns@CC electrodes are constructed from dozens of 2D LiMn2 O4 nanosheets on carbon cloth substrates, resulting in a uniform 2D array of highly ordered nanosheets with hierarchical nanostructure. The charge/discharge process of the LMOns@CC electrode demonstrates that visible redox peaks and high pseudocapacitive contribution rates endow the LMOns@CC cathode with a maximum Li+ ion electrosorption capacity of 4.71 mmol g-1 at 1.2 V. Moreover, the LMOns@CC electrode performs outstanding cycling stability with a high-capacity retention rate of 97.4% and a manganese mass dissolution rate of 0.35% over ten absorption-desorption cycles. The density functional theory (DFT) theoretical calculations verify that the Li+ selectivity of the LMOns@CC electrode is attributed to the greater adsorption energy of Li+ ions than other ions. Finally, the selective extraction performance of Li+ ions in natural Tibet salt lake brine reveals that the LMOns@CC has selectivity ( α Mg 2 + Li + $\alpha _{{\mathrm{Mg}}^{2 + }}^{{\mathrm{Li}}^ + }$ = 7.48) and excellent cycling stability (100 cycles), which would make it a candidate electrode for lithium extraction from salt lakes.

Intravital Imaging of the Human Cornea Reveals the Differential Effects of Season on Innate and Adaptive Immune Cell Morphodynamics.

PURPOSE: Defining how the in vivo immune status of peripheral tissues is shaped by the external environment has remained a technical challenge. We recently developed Functional in vivo confocal microscopy (Fun-IVCM) for dynamic, longitudinal imaging of corneal immune cells in living humans. This study investigated the effect of seasonal-driven environmental factors on the morphodynamic features of human corneal immune cell subsets. DESIGN: Longitudinal, observational clinical study. PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen healthy participants (aged 18-40 years) attended 2 visits in distinct seasons in Melbourne, Australia (Visit 1, November-December 2021 [spring-summer]; Visit 2, April-June 2022 [autumn-winter]). METHODS: Environmental data were collected over each period. Participants underwent ocular surface examinations and corneal Fun-IVCM (Heidelberg Engineering). Corneal scans were acquired at 5.5 ± 1.5-minute intervals for up to 5 time points. Time-lapse Fun-IVCM videos were created to analyze corneal immune cells, comprising epithelial T cells and dendritic cells (DCs), and stromal macrophages. Tear cytokines were analyzed using a multiplex bead-based immunoassay. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Difference in the density, morphology, and dynamic parameters of corneal immune cell subsets over the study periods. RESULTS: Visit 1 was characterized by higher temperature, lower humidity, and higher air particulate and pollen levels compared with Visit 2. Clinical ocular surface parameters and the density of immune cell subsets were similar across visits. At Visit 1 , corneal epithelial DCs were larger, with a lower dendrite probing speed (0.38 ± 0.21 vs. 0.68 ± 0.33 µm/min; P < 0.001) relative to Visit 2; stromal macrophages were more circular and had less dynamic activity (Visit 1, 7.2 ± 1.9 vs. Visit 2, 10.3 ± 3.7 dancing index; P < 0.001). Corneal T cell morphodynamics were unchanged across periods. Basal tear levels of interleukin 2 and CXCL10 were relatively lower during spring-summer. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies that the in vivo morphodynamics of innate corneal immune cells (DCs, macrophages) are modified by environmental factors, but such effects are not evident for adaptive immune cells (T cells). The cornea is a potential in vivo window to investigate season-dependent environmental influences on the human immune system. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Effects of right ventricular remodeling in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension on the outcomes of balloon pulmonary angioplasty: a 2D-speckle tracking echocardiography study.

BACKGROUND: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) improves the prognosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Right ventricle (RV) is an important predictor of prognosis in CTEPH patients. 2D-speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) can evaluate RV function. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of BPA in CTEPH patients and to assess the value of 2D-STE in predicting outcomes of BPA. METHODS: A total of 76 patients with CTEPH underwent 354 BPA sessions from January 2017 to October 2022. Responders were defined as those with mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) ≤ 30 mmHg or those showing ≥ 30% decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) after the last BPA session, compared to baseline. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of BPA efficacy. RESULTS: BPA resulted in a significant decrease in mPAP (from 50.8 ± 10.4 mmHg to 35.5 ± 11.9 mmHg, p < 0.001), PVR (from 888.7 ± 363.5 dyn·s·cm-5 to 545.5 ± 383.8 dyn·s·cm-5, p < 0.001), and eccentricity index (from 1.3 to 1.1, p < 0.001), and a significant increase in RV free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWLS: from 15.7% to 21.0%, p < 0.001). Significant improvement was also observed in the 6-min walking distance (from 385.5 m to 454.5 m, p < 0.001). After adjusting for confounders, multivariate analysis showed that RVFWLS was the only independent predictor of BPA efficacy. The optimal RVFWLS cutoff value for predicting BPA responders was 12%. CONCLUSIONS: BPA was found to reduce pulmonary artery pressure, reverse RV remodeling, and improve exercise capacity. RVFWLS obtained by 2D-STE was an independent predictor of BPA outcomes. Our study may provide a meaningful reference for interventional therapy of CTEPH.

Selective Lattice Doping Enables a Low-Cost, High-Capacity and Long-Lasting Potassium Layered Oxide Cathode for Potassium and Sodium Storage.

Layered transition metal oxides are highly promising host materials for K ions, owing to their high theoretical capacities and appropriate operational potentials. To address the intrinsic issues of KxMnO2 cathodes and optimize their electrochemical properties, a novel P3-type oxide doped with carefully chosen cost-effective, electrochemically active and multi-functional elements is proposed, namely K0.57Cu0.1Fe0.1Mn0.8O2. Compared to the pristine K0.56MnO2, its reversible specific is increased from 104 to 135 mAh g-1. In addition, the Cu and Fe co-doping triples the capacity under high current densities, and contributes to long-term stability over 500 cycles with a capacity retention of 68 %. Such endeavor holds the potential to make potassium-ion batteries particularly competitive for application in sustainable, low-cost, and large-scale energy storage devices. In addition, the cathode is also extended for sodium storage. Facilitated by the interlayer K ions that protect the layered structure from collapsing and expand the diffusion pathway for sodium ions, the cathode shows a high reversible capacity of 144 mAh g-1, fast kinetics and a long lifespan over 1000 cycles. The findings offer a novel pathway for the development of high-performance and cost-effective sodium-ion batteries.

Metabolomics and Risk of Dementia: A Systematic Review of Prospective Studies.

BACKGROUND: The projected increase in the prevalence of dementia has sparked interest in understanding the pathophysiology and underlying causal factors in its development and progression. Identifying novel biomarkers in the preclinical or prodromal phase of dementia may be important for predicting early disease risk. Applying metabolomic techniques to prediagnostic samples in prospective studies provides the opportunity to identify potential disease biomarkers. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review was to summarize the evidence on the associations between metabolite markers and risk of dementia and related dementia subtypes in human studies with a prospective design. DESIGN: We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases from inception through December 8, 2023. Thirteen studies (mean/median follow-up years: 2.1-21.0 y) were included in the review. RESULTS: Several metabolites detected in biological samples, including amino acids, fatty acids, acylcarnitines, lipid and lipoprotein variations, hormones, and other related metabolites, were associated with risk of developing dementia. Our systematic review summarized the adjusted associations between metabolites and dementia risk; however, our findings should be interpreted with caution because of the heterogeneity across the included studies and potential sources of bias. Further studies are warranted with well-designed prospective cohort studies that have defined study populations, longer follow-up durations, the inclusion of additional diverse biological samples, standardization of techniques in metabolomics and ascertainment methods for diagnosing dementia, and inclusion of other related dementia subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to the limited systematic reviews on metabolomics and dementia by summarizing the prospective associations between metabolites in prediagnostic biological samples with dementia risk. Our review discovered additional metabolite markers associated with the onset of developing dementia and may help aid in the understanding of dementia etiology. The protocol is registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/; registration ID: CRD42022357521).

Disparate Radiation-Induced Microstructural Injuries in Whole-Brain White Matter of Patients With Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Longitudinal Study Using Multishell Diffusion MRI.

BACKGROUND: Evidence for prevention strategies of radiotherapy (RT)-related injury in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) was lacking. Understanding the dynamic alterations in the cerebral white matter (WM) microstructure after RT may be helpful. PURPOSE: To investigate the dynamic alterations in the whole brain WM microstructure in patients with NPC in the 12 months after RT using multishell diffusion MRI (MS-dMRI). STUDY TYPE: Single-center longitudinal study. POPULATION: A total of 28 treatment-naïve patients with pathologically confirmed NPC (age: 39.68 ± 8.93 years, 11 female) and 20 healthy controls (age: 40.65 ± 9.76 years, 7 female). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCES: A 3 T, MS-dMRI using a single-shot echo planar imaging sequence. ASSESSMENT: MS-dMRI was acquired at baseline for the NPC patients and healthy controls, at 0-3 (acute, AC), 6 (early delayed, ED) and 12 months (late delayed, LD) after RT for the NPC patients. The mean and maximum radiation doses to the temporal lobe were acquired. The quality of images was reviewed. MS-dMRI was analyzed using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). The presentations of injury were defined by the findings of TBSS. STATISTICAL TESTS: Chi-square, t tests, repeated ANOVA, and Spearman-rank correlation analysis were used. P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: TBSS showed two WM injuries (injuries 1 and 2). Injury 1 emerged in the ED phase in the bilateral temporal poles and persisted throughout the ED and LD phases. Injury 2 developed from the AC to ED phase in the bilateral hemisphere and partially recovered in the LD phase. In the ED and LD phases, the multiple diffusion metrics were well correlated (r > 0.5 or <-0.5) with the RT dose, especially in the WM tracts in the temporal lobes. DATA CONCLUSION: Disparate WM injuries were observed in NPC patients after RT. The injuries may be primarily or secondarily induced by radiation. Injury 1 may be irreversible, while injury 2 seems to partially recover. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 2. TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 4.

Sexual health in transgender and gender diverse people.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Sexual health and sexual function are critical to the wellbeing of cisgender, transgender, and gender diverse populations. To date, there has been only limited patient-focused evaluation of sexual function in transgender and gender diverse patients at several stages in their gender-affirming medical care. There remains a need to better understand the impact of gender affirming medical and surgical therapy on sexual health, and to develop evidence-based treatments to address sexual dysfunction when present. RECENT FINDINGS: The impact of gender-affirming hormone therapy on sexual health is complex and evolves over time on treatment. Despite high incidences of complications, major genital gender-affirming surgeries such as vulvovaginoplasty and penile implant placement after phalloplasty yield high patient satisfaction. While treatments to preserve or restore erections and to improve vaginal lubrication have been trialed based upon literature in cisgender populations, there remains minimal evidence to guide medical treatment of sexual dysfunction ranging from erectile dysfunction to dyspareunia. SUMMARY: There is a continued need for ongoing efforts to develop patient-reported outcome measures and rigorous investigation of sexual health preservation and restoration treatments in transgender and gender diverse populations.

Blue light protection factor: a method to assess the protective efficacy of cosmetics against blue light-induced skin damage in the Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that visible light (VL), especially blue light (BL), could cause significant skin damage. With the emergence of VL protection products, a harmonization of light protection methods has been proposed, but it has not been widely applied in the Chinese population. OBJECTIVE: Based on this framework, we propose an accurate and simplified method to evaluate the efficacy of BL photoprotection for the Chinese population. METHODS: All subjects (n = 30) were irradiated daily using a blue LED light for four consecutive days. Each irradiation dose was 3/4 MPPD (minimum persistent pigmentation darkening). The skin pigmentation parameters, including L*, M, and ITA°, were recorded. We proposed the blue light protection factor (BPF) metric based on the skin pigmentation parameters to evaluate the anti-blue light efficacies of different products. RESULTS: We found that the level of pigmentation rose progressively and linearly as blue light exposure increased. We proposed a metric, BPF, to reflect the anti-blue light efficacy of products based on the linear changes in skin pigment characteristics following daily BL exposure. Moreover, we discovered that the BPF metric could clearly distinguish the anti-blue light efficacies between two products and the control group, suggesting that BPF is an efficient and simple-to-use metric for anti-blue light evaluation. CONCLUSION: Our study proposed an accurate and simplified method with an easy-to-use metric, BPF, to accurately characterize the anti-blue light efficacies of cosmetic products, providing support for further development of anti-blue light cosmetics.

Efficacy and safety of paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) in the treatment of COVID-19: An updated meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

Our study is aimed to access the efficacy and safety outcomes for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients treated with Paxlovid. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, databases were used to retrieve articles from 1 January 2020 to 1 January 2023. Article screening, quality evaluation and data extraction were completed and cross-checked. The meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA) were conducted using RevMan, StataMP, and TSA software. A total of 42 original articles were included. Overall meta-analysis results showed that for death, hospitalisation, death or hospitalisation, emergency department (ED) visit, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and extra oxygen requirement outcomes, every odds ratio (OR) was <1 and p < 0.05. For rebound outcome, the OR was >1 and p > 0.05. For adverse events (AEs) outcome, the OR was >1 and p < 0.05. In conclusion, Paxlovid effectively reduced the risks of death, hospitalisation, death or hospitalisation, ED visit, ICU admission, and extra oxygen requirement. There was no significant statistical difference considering rebound, but people should pay attention to possible AEs. However, for rebound and AEs outcomes, observations in certain subgroups suggested conclusions contrary to the overall meta-analysis. Trial sequential analysis indicated these two outcomes have a risk of false negative or false positive conclusions, so additional original studies are needed for further validation.

Genomic variation in 3,010 diverse accessions of Asian cultivated rice.

Here we analyse genetic variation, population structure and diversity among 3,010 diverse Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) genomes from the 3,000 Rice Genomes Project. Our results are consistent with the five major groups previously recognized, but also suggest several unreported subpopulations that correlate with geographic location. We identified 29 million single nucleotide polymorphisms, 2.4 million small indels and over 90,000 structural variations that contribute to within- and between-population variation. Using pan-genome analyses, we identified more than 10,000 novel full-length protein-coding genes and a high number of presence-absence variations. The complex patterns of introgression observed in domestication genes are consistent with multiple independent rice domestication events. The public availability of data from the 3,000 Rice Genomes Project provides a resource for rice genomics research and breeding.

Construction of oral squamous cell carcinoma organoids in vitro 3D-culture for drug screening.

OBJECTIVE: Patient-derived organoids are potent pre-chemotherapy models. Due to limited research on diverse types of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and construction efficiency, our goal was to optimize OSCC organoid models from various sites and assess drug responsiveness. METHODS: We screened and optimized culture media, employing three-dimensional techniques to construct human-derived oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) organoid models in vitro. Morphological validation, immunofluorescence analysis, tissue origin verification, and Short Tandem Repeat (STR) sequencing confirmed the consistency between organoids and source tissues. These organoid models were then subjected to varying concentrations of anticancer drugs, with subsequent assessment of cell viability to calculate IC50 values. RESULTS: Twenty-nine surgical specimens yielded an 86.2% success rate in culturing 25 organoids in vitro. Morphological consistency confirmed nuclear atypia and positive expression of K5, P40, and E-cadherin, indicating squamous epithelial origin. Cultured complex organoids included α-SMA+ tumour-associated fibroblasts and tumour stem cells expressing CD44 and Ki67. STR sequencing affirmed genomic homogeneity between cultured organoids and source tissues. Drug sensitivity testing revealed diverse responses among organoids, highlighting their value for assessing drug sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: An efficient OSCC organoid culture system for personalized in vitro drug sensitivity screening was established, laying the foundation for precise treatment development.

Comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of a new multi-component anti-aging topical eye cream.

BACKGROUND: The delicate periorbital region is susceptible to skin dehydration, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity. Thus, targeted and effective anti-aging interventions are necessary for the periorbital area. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new anti-aging eye cream formulated with the active complex (Yeast/rice fermentation filtrate, N-acetylneuraminic acid, palmityl tripeptide-1, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7). METHODS: The cell viability and expressions of key extracellular matrix (ECM) components of the active complex were evaluated using a human skin fibroblast model. In the 12-week clinical trial, skin hydration, elasticity, facial photographs, and collagen density following eye cream application were assessed using Corneometer, Cutometer, VISIA, and ultrasound device, respectively. Dermatologists and participants evaluated clinical efficacy and safety at baseline, and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks. RESULTS: PCR and immunofluorescent analyses revealed that the active complex significantly stimulated fibroblast proliferation (p < 0.05) and markedly promote the synthesis of collagen and elastin. Clinical findings exhibited a substantial enhancement in skin hydration (28.12%), elasticity (18.81%), and collagen production (54.99%) following 12 weeks of eye cream application. Dermatological evaluations and participants' assessments reported a significant improvement in skin moisture, roughness, elasticity, as well as fine lines and wrinkles by week 8. CONCLUSION: The new anti-aging eye cream, enriched with the active complex, demonstrates comprehensive rejuvenating effects, effectively addressing aging concerns in the periorbital area, coupled with a high safety profile.

Evaluating MedDRA-to-ICD terminology mappings.

BACKGROUND: In this era of big data, data harmonization is an important step to ensure reproducible, scalable, and collaborative research. Thus, terminology mapping is a necessary step to harmonize heterogeneous data. Take the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) for example, the mapping between them is essential for drug safety and pharmacovigilance research. Our main objective is to provide a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the mapping status between MedDRA and ICD. We focus on evaluating the current mapping status between MedDRA and ICD through the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) and Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model (OMOP CDM). We summarized the current mapping statistics and evaluated the quality of the current MedDRA-ICD mapping; for unmapped terms, we used our self-developed algorithm to rank the best possible mapping candidates for additional mapping coverage. RESULTS: The identified MedDRA-ICD mapped pairs cover 27.23% of the overall MedDRA preferred terms (PT). The systematic quality analysis demonstrated that, among the mapped pairs provided by UMLS, only 51.44% are considered an exact match. For the 2400 sampled unmapped terms, 56 of the 2400 MedDRA Preferred Terms (PT) could have exact match terms from ICD. CONCLUSION: Some of the mapped pairs between MedDRA and ICD are not exact matches due to differences in granularity and focus. For 72% of the unmapped PT terms, the identified exact match pairs illustrate the possibility of identifying additional mapped pairs. Referring to its own mapping standard, some of the unmapped terms should qualify for the expansion of MedDRA to ICD mapping in UMLS.

A Comprehensive Evaluation Algorithm of Multi-Point Relay Based on Link-State Awareness for UANETs.

The Multi-Point Relay (MPR) is one of the core technologies for Optimizing Link State Routing (OLSR) protocols, offering significant advantages in reducing network overhead, enhancing throughput, maintaining network scalability, and adaptability. However, due to the restriction that only MPR nodes can forward control messages in the network, the current evaluation criteria for selecting MPR nodes are relatively limited, making it challenging to flexibly choose MPR nodes based on current link states in dynamic networks. Therefore, the selection of MPR nodes is crucial in dynamic networks. To address issues such as unstable links, poor transmission accuracy, and lack of real-time performance caused by mobility in dynamic networks, we propose a comprehensive evaluation algorithm of MPR based on link-state awareness. This algorithm defines five state evaluation parameters from the perspectives of node mobility and load. Subsequently, we use the entropy weight method to determine weight coefficients and employing the method of Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) for comprehensive evaluation to select MPR nodes. Finally, the Comprehensive Evaluation based on Link-state awareness of OLSR (CEL-OLSR) protocol is proposed, and simulated experiments are conducted using NS-3. The results indicate that, compared to PM-OLSR, ML-OLSR, LD-OLSR, and OLSR, CEL-OLSR significantly improves network performance in terms of packet delivery rate, average end-to-end delay, network throughput, and control overhead.

Systemic immune-inflammation index is associated with ulcerative plaque in patients with acute ischemic stroke: A single center exploratory study.

PURPOSE: This study explored the correlation between inflammatory markers and ulcerative plaques based on carotid doppler ultrasound (CDU) in individuals with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). METHODS: A total of 202 cases diagnosed with AIS associated with atherosclerotic plaque (AP) in the carotid artery were enrolled in this research. Collecting clinical baseline data, laboratory data (such as the complete blood count) and imaging data (CDU and Brain magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]). Then the correlation between Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII, SII = P N/L, where P, N, and L were the peripheral blood platelet, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, respectively), the shape and position of AP, the degree of carotid artery stenosis, and the presence of ulcerative plaques. Cutoff values were determined accordingly. RESULTS: SII and high sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) were independent risk factors for the presence of vulnerable carotid plaques. SII, type A plaque, plaque above carotid bifurcation, and severe carotid stenosis were independent risk factors for the presence of ulcerative plaque. The AUC value, the sensitivity, specificity, the best cutoff value of SII in predicting the presence of ulcerative plaque was 0.895, 93.3%, 89.2%, and 537.4 (109 /L), respectively. CONCLUSION: SII at admission was found to be independently associated with the presence of AIS with vulnerable plaque, especially ulcerative plaques. Moreover, plaque ulceration was more likely to form when the area of higher plaque thickness was located in the upstream arterial wall of maximum plaque thickness (WTmax), plaque was above the carotid bifurcation and severe carotid stenosis.