RESUMEN
Luminescent coupling (LC) is a key phenomenon in monolithic tandem solar cells. This study presents a nondestructive technique to quantitatively evaluate the LC effect, addressing a gap in the existing predictions made by optical modeling. The method involves measuring the ratio of photons emitted from the high bandgap top cell that escape through the rear, contributing additional current to the bottom cell, and to those escaping from the front side of top cell. The findings indicate that in the analyzed monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells, more than 85% of the emitted photons escaping from the perovskite top cell are used to generate additional current in the bottom cell. This process notably reduces the mismatch in the generated current between each subcell, particularly when the current is limited by the low bandgap subcell. The presented method is applicable to a variety of monolithic tandem structures, providing vital information for subcell characterization, providing vital information for predicting energy output and optimization for outdoor applications.
RESUMEN
Background: In recent years, Vietnam has suffered multiple epizootics of influenza in poultry. Methods: From 10 January 2019 to 26 April 2021, we employed a One Health influenza surveillance approach at live bird markets (LBMs) and swine farms in Northern Vietnam. When the COVID-19 pandemic permitted, each month, field teams collected oral secretion samples from poultry and pigs, animal facility bioaerosol and fecal samples, and animal worker nasal washes at 4 LBMs and 5 swine farms across 5 sites. Initially samples were screened with molecular assays followed by culture in embryonated eggs (poultry swabs) or Madin-Darby canine kidney cells (human or swine swabs). Results: Many of the 3493 samples collected had either molecular or culture evidence for influenza A virus, including 314 (37.5%) of the 837 poultry oropharyngeal swabs, 144 (25.1%) of the 574 bioaerosol samples, 438 (34.9%) of the 1257 poultry fecal swab samples, and 16 (1.9%) of the 828 human nasal washes. Culturing poultry samples yielded 454 influenza A isolates, 83 of which were H5, and 70 (84.3%) of these were highly pathogenic. Additionally, a positive human sample had a H9N2 avian-like PB1 gene. In contrast, the prevalence of influenza A in the swine farms was much lower with only 6 (0.4%) of the 1700 total swine farm samples studied, having molecular evidence for influenza A virus. Conclusions: This study suggests that Vietnam's LBMs continue to harbor high prevalences of avian influenza A viruses, including many highly pathogenic H5N6 strains, which will continue to threaten poultry and humans.
RESUMEN
Biological nanopores are ultrasensitive and highly attractive platforms for disease diagnostics, including the sequencing of viral and microbial genes and the detection of biomarkers and pathogens. To utilize biological nanopores as diagnostic sensors, they have been engineered through various methods resulting in the accurate and highly sensitive detection of biomarkers and disease-related biomolecules. Among diverse biological nanopores, the ß-barrel-containing nanopores have advantages in nanopore engineering because of their robust structure, making them well-suited for modifications. In this review, we highlight the engineering approaches for ß-barrel-containing nanopores used in single-molecule sensing for applications in early diagnosis and prognosis. In the highlighted studies, ß-barrel nanopores can be modified by genetic mutation to change the structure; alter charge distributions; or add enzymes, aptamers, and protein probes to enhance sensitivity and accuracy. Furthermore, this review discusses challenges and future perspectives for advancing nanopore-based diagnostic sensors.
Asunto(s)
Técnicas Biosensibles , Nanoporos , Humanos , Biomarcadores/análisisRESUMEN
Integrating multiple anthracene motifs into aromatic oligoamide sequences gives rise to photoactive foldamers that can sequester a molecular thread forming helix-on-axle assemblies. Photoirradiation is shown to distort the helical host and drive dissociation of the supramolecular assembly and thread liberation as signalled by a photonic output, while thermal reversion regenerates the assembly.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is used in clinical practice to risk-stratify liver transplant (LT) recipients; however, there are currently little data demonstrating the relationship between VCTE and clinical outcomes. METHODS: A total of 362 adult LT recipients with successful VCTE examination between 2015 and 2022 were included. Presence of advanced fibrosis was defined as liver stiffness measurement (LSM) ≥10.5 kPa and hepatic steatosis as controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) ≥270 dB/m. The outcomes of interest included all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and graft cirrhosis using cumulative incidence analysis that accounted for the competing risks of these outcomes. RESULTS: The LSM was elevated in 64 (18%) and CAP in 163 (45%) LT recipients. The baseline LSM values were similar in patients with elevated vs normal CAP values. After a median follow-up of 65 (interquartile range, 20-140) months from LT to baseline VCTE, 66 (18%) patients died, 12 (3%) developed graft cirrhosis, and 18 (5%) experienced an MI. Baseline high LSM was independently associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-3.50; P = .02) and new onset cirrhosis (HR, 6.74; 95% CI, 2.08-21.79; P < .01). A higher CAP value was significantly and independently associated with increased risk of experiencing a MI over study follow-up (HR, 4.14; 95% CI, 1.29-13.27; P = .017). CONCLUSIONS: The VCTE-based parameters are associated with clinical outcomes and offer the potential to be incorporated into clinical risk-stratification strategies to improve outcomes among LT recipients.
RESUMEN
Perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells hold great promise for realizing high power conversion efficiency at low cost. However, achieving scalable fabrication of wide-bandgap perovskite (~1.68 eV) in air, without the protective environment of an inert atmosphere, remains challenging due to moisture-induced degradation of perovskite films. Herein, this study reveals that the extent of moisture interference is significantly influenced by the properties of solvent. We further demonstrate that n-Butanol (nBA), with its low polarity and moderate volatilization rate, not only mitigates the detrimental effects of moisture in air during scalable fabrication but also enhances the uniformity of perovskite films. This approach enables us to achieve an impressive efficiency of 29.4% (certified 28.7%) for double-sided textured perovskite/silicon tandem cells featuring large-size pyramids (2-3 µm) and 26.3% over an aperture area of 16 cm2. This advance provides a route for large-scale production of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells, marking a significant stride toward their commercial viability.
RESUMEN
Career choice is a highly complex process. The growth in the number, nature, and overlap between occupations creates a more multifaceted career landscape, especially for young people. This study expands the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) by developing a model that includes additional factors influencing career choices, such as self-efficacy, career exploration, and social support. A convenient sampling method was applied, with 340 Vietnamese students responding to the questionnaire on Google Forms between August and October 2022. The results supported the research hypotheses, with environmental exploration emerging as the most decisive factor influencing career choice. The most exciting finding of this article is the negative impact of social support on the relationship between environmental exploration and career choice. Finally, the results underscore the significance of implementing career guidance and providing career experiences for university students at educational institutions.
RESUMEN
Chiral, enantiopure Yb(III) complexes exhibit circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) in the near infrared (NIR) wavelength region. This CPL is quantified by the dissymmetry factor (glum). The excited state 2F5/2 consists of six mJ' states degenerated in three Stark levels, due to the crystal-field splitting (CFS), which are populated in accordance with the Boltzmann distribution. Consequently, room temperature CPL spectra are the sum of various - either positive or negative - contributions, that are practically impossible to quantify. To address this issue, an advanced setup enabling CPL measurements over a broad temperature range (300 to 4 K) has been developed. The interrelation of CFS, glum and temperature was explored using a pair of enantiopure Yb(III) complexes, highlighting the individual contribution of each crystal-field sublevel to the overall CPL spectrum, as anticipated by simulations performed in the framework of multireference wave-functions. Hence, the CPL spectra of chiral lanthanide complexes were found to be indeed strongly temperature-dependent, as is the glum dissymmetry factor, as a consequence of the variation in thermal sublevel population.
RESUMEN
This paper addresses the problem of mapping high-dimensional data to a low-dimensional space, in the presence of other known features. This problem is ubiquitous in science and engineering as there are often controllable/measurable features in most applications. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a broad class of methods, which is referred to as conditional multidimensional scaling (MDS). An algorithm for optimizing the objective function of conditional MDS is also developed. The convergence of this algorithm is proven under mild assumptions. Conditional MDS is illustrated with kinship terms, facial expressions, textile fabrics, car-brand perception, and cylinder machining examples. These examples demonstrate the advantages of conditional MDS over conventional dimension reduction in improving the estimation quality of the reduced-dimension space and simplifying visualization and knowledge discovery tasks. Computer codes for this work are available in the open-source cml R package.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Despite significant advances in understanding of skull base reconstruction principles, the role of tissue sealants in modifying postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak outcomes remains controversial. We evaluate postoperative CSF leak incidence associated with tissue sealant use in skull base defect repair during endoscopic skull base surgery (ESBS). DATA SOURCES: Web of Science, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. REVIEW METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis of risk differences (RD). A search strategy identified original studies reporting CSF leakage following ESBS with disaggregation by tissue sealant use and/or type. RESULTS: 27 non-randomized studies (n = 2,403) were included for qualitative and meta-analysis. Reconstruction with a tissue sealant did not significantly reduce postoperative CSF leak risk compared with reconstruction without sealant (RD[95% CI] = 0.02[-0.01, 0.05]). Sub-analyses of dural sealant (-0.02[-0.11, 0.07]) and fibrin glue (0.00[-0.07, 0.07]) compared with no sealant were similarly unremarkable. Postoperative CSF leakage was not significantly modulated in further sub-analyses of DuraSeal (0.02[-0.02, 0.05]), Adherus (-0.03[-0.08, 0.03]), or Bioglue (-0.06[-0.23, 0.12]) versus no dural sealant use, or Tisseel/Tissucol versus fibrin glue nonuse (0.00[-0.05, 0.05]). No significant association was seen comparing dural sealant use versus fibrin glue use on pairwise (0.01[-0.03, 0.05]) or network meta-analysis (-0.01[-0.05, 0.04]). Limitations in source literature prevented sub-analyses stratified by leak characteristics, defect size and location, and accompanying reconstruction materials. CONCLUSION: Tissue sealant use did not appear to impact postoperative CSF leak incidence when compared with nonuse. Higher quality studies are warranted to thoroughly elucidate the clinical value of adjunct sealant use in endoscopic skull base reconstruction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A Laryngoscope, 134:3425-3436, 2024.
Asunto(s)
Pérdida de Líquido Cefalorraquídeo , Procedimientos de Cirugía Plástica , Complicaciones Posoperatorias , Base del Cráneo , Adhesivos Tisulares , Humanos , Base del Cráneo/cirugía , Adhesivos Tisulares/uso terapéutico , Pérdida de Líquido Cefalorraquídeo/prevención & control , Pérdida de Líquido Cefalorraquídeo/etiología , Procedimientos de Cirugía Plástica/métodos , Complicaciones Posoperatorias/prevención & control , Complicaciones Posoperatorias/etiología , Complicaciones Posoperatorias/epidemiología , Adhesivo de Tejido de Fibrina/uso terapéutico , Endoscopía/métodos , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) based liver stiffness measurement (LSM) is an excellent 'rule-out' test for advanced hepatic fibrosis in liver transplant (LT) recipients, however, its ability to 'rule-in' the disease is suboptimal. The study aimed to improve diagnostic performance of LSM in LT recipients. METHODS: Adult LT recipients with a liver biopsy and VCTE were included (N = 150). Sequential covering analysis was performed to create rules to identify patients at low or high risk for advanced fibrosis (stage 3-4). RESULTS: Advanced hepatic fibrosis was excluded in patients with either LSM < 7.45 kPa (n = 72) or 7.45 ≤ LSM < 12.1 kPa and time from LT < 5.6 years (n = 25). Conversely, likelihood of advanced fibrosis was 95% if patients had LSM > 14.1 and controlled attenuation parameter > 279 dB/m (n = 21). Thus, 118 (79%) were correctly identified and 32 (21%) would have required a biopsy to establish the diagnosis. Compared to previously established LSM based cutoff values of 10.5 kPa (Youden index) and 13.3 kPa (maximized specificity), the false positive rates of sequential covering analysis was 1% compared to 16.5% with LSM ≥ 10.5 kPa and 8.3% with LSM ≥ 13.3 kPa. The true positive rates were comparable at 87% for sequential covering analysis, 93% for LSM ≥ 10.5 kPa and 83% for LSM ≥ 13.3 kPa. CONCLUSION: The proposed clinical sequential covering analysis allows for better risk stratification when evaluating for advanced fibrosis in LT recipients compared to LSM alone. Additional efforts are necessary to further reduce the number of patients with indeterminate results in whom a liver biopsy may be required.
Asunto(s)
Algoritmos , Diagnóstico por Imagen de Elasticidad , Cirrosis Hepática , Trasplante de Hígado , Vibración , Humanos , Diagnóstico por Imagen de Elasticidad/métodos , Trasplante de Hígado/efectos adversos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Femenino , Masculino , Cirrosis Hepática/diagnóstico por imagen , Cirrosis Hepática/etiología , Cirrosis Hepática/patología , Adulto , Biopsia , Anciano , Hígado/patología , Hígado/diagnóstico por imagen , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
PURPOSE: This study evaluated the ability of QuickSee to detect children at risk for significant vision conditions (significant refractive error [RE], amblyopia and strabismus). METHODS: Non-cycloplegic refraction (using QuickSee without and with +2 dioptre (D) fogging lenses) and unaided binocular near visual acuity (VA) were measured in 4- to 12-year-old children. Eye examination findings (VA, cover testing and cycloplegic retinoscopy) were used to determine the presence of vision conditions. QuickSee performance was summarised by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity for various levels of RE. QuickSee referral criteria for each vision condition were chosen to maximise sensitivity at a specificity of approximately 85%-90%. Sensitivity and specificity to detect vision conditions were calculated using multiple criteria. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the benefit of adding near VA (6/12 or worse) for detecting hyperopia. A paired t-test compared QuickSee without and with fogging lenses. RESULTS: The mean age was 8.2 (±2.5) years (n = 174). RE ranged up to 9.25 D myopia, 8 D hyperopia, 5.25 D astigmatism and 3.5 D anisometropia. The testability of the QuickSee was 94.3%. AUC was ≥0.92 (excellent) for each level of RE. For the detection of any RE, sensitivity and specificity were 84.2% and 87.3%, respectively, using modified Orinda criteria and 94.5% and 78.2%, respectively, using the American Academy for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) guidelines. For the detection of any significant vision condition, the sensitivity and specificity of QuickSee were 81.1% and 87.9%, respectively, using modified Orinda criteria and 93% and 78.6%, respectively, using AAPOS criteria. There was no significant benefit of adding near VA to QuickSee for the detection of hyperopia ≥+2.00 (p = 0.34). There was no significant difference between QuickSee measurements of hyperopic refractive error with and without fogging lenses (difference = -0.09 D; p = 0.51). CONCLUSIONS: QuickSee had high discriminatory power for detecting children with hyperopia, myopia, astigmatism, anisometropia, any significant refractive error or any significant vision condition.
Asunto(s)
Anisometropía , Astigmatismo , Hiperopía , Miopía , Errores de Refracción , Estrabismo , Selección Visual , Niño , Humanos , Preescolar , Hiperopía/diagnóstico , Astigmatismo/diagnóstico , Errores de Refracción/diagnóstico , Estrabismo/diagnósticoRESUMEN
Persistent diarrhea is a severe gastroenteric disease with relatively high risk of pediatric mortality in developing countries. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of liquid-form Bacillus clausii spore probiotics (LiveSpo CLAUSY; 2 billion CFU/5 mL ampoule) at high dosages of 4-6 ampoules a day in supporting treatment of children with persistent diarrhea. Our findings showed that B. clausii spores significantly improved treatment outcomes, resulting in a 2-day shorter recovery period (p < 0.05) and a 1.5-1.6 folds greater efficacy in reducing diarrhea symptoms, such as high frequency of bowel movement of ≥ 3 stools a day, presence of fecal mucus, and diapered infant stool scale types 4-5B. LiveSpo CLAUSY supportive treatment achieved 3 days (p < 0.0001) faster recovery from diarrhea disease, with 1.6-fold improved treatment efficacy. At day 5 of treatment, a significant decrease in blood levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-23 by 3.24% (p = 0.0409), 29.76% (p = 0.0001), and 10.87% (p = 0.0036), respectively, was observed in the Clausy group. Simultaneously, there was a significant 37.97% decrease (p = 0.0326) in the excreted IgA in stool at day 5 in the Clausy group. Overall, the clinical study demonstrates the efficacy of B. clausii spores (LiveSpo CLAUSY) as an effective symptomatic treatment and immunomodulatory agent for persistent diarrhea in children.Trial registration: NCT05812820.
Asunto(s)
Bacillus clausii , Probióticos , Lactante , Humanos , Niño , Esporas Bacterianas , Diarrea/terapia , Citocinas , Probióticos/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
Scalable fabrication of all-perovskite tandem solar cells is challenging because the narrow-bandgap subcells made of mixed lead-tin (Pb-Sn) perovskite films suffer from nonuniform crystallization and inferior buried perovskite interfaces. We used a dopant from Good's list of biochemical buffers, aminoacetamide hydrochloride, to homogenize perovskite crystallization and used it to extend the processing window for blade-coating Pb-Sn perovskite films and to selectively passivate defects at the buried perovskite interface. The resulting all-perovskite tandem solar module exhibited a certified power conversion efficiency of 24.5% with an aperture area of 20.25 square centimeters.
RESUMEN
Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a commonly used technique for treating lumbar degenerative diseases. In this study, we developed a fully computer-supported pipeline to predict both the cage height and the degree of lumbar lordosis subtraction from the pelvic incidence (PI-LL) after TLIF surgery, utilizing preoperative X-ray images. The automated pipeline comprised two primary stages. First, the pretrained BiLuNet deep learning model was employed to extract essential features from X-ray images. Subsequently, five machine learning algorithms were trained using a five-fold cross-validation technique on a dataset of 311 patients to identify the optimal models to predict interbody cage height and postoperative PI-LL. LASSO regression and support vector regression demonstrated superior performance in predicting interbody cage height and postoperative PI-LL, respectively. For cage height prediction, the root mean square error (RMSE) was calculated as 1.01, and the model achieved the highest accuracy at a height of 12 mm, with exact prediction achieved in 54.43% (43/79) of cases. In most of the remaining cases, the prediction error of the model was within 1 mm. Additionally, the model demonstrated satisfactory performance in predicting PI-LL, with an RMSE of 5.19 and an accuracy of 0.81 for PI-LL stratification. In conclusion, our results indicate that machine learning models can reliably predict interbody cage height and postoperative PI-LL.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Loss of skeletal muscle can be accompanied by an increase in adipose tissue leading to sarcopenic obesity. There are limited data on how liver transplantation (LT) might impact adipose tissue compartments, particularly among patients with metabolically active disease, such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and subsequent metabolic sequela. METHODS: Skeletal muscle, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were measured using cross-sectional imaging performed in 190 patients pre-LT, 6 mo post-LT and 12 mo post-LT. Changes in adipose tissue and their impact on metabolic diseases were determined in patients transplanted for NASH versus non-NASH. RESULTS: Skeletal muscle, VAT, and SAT were similar in patients with NASH and non-NASH pre-LT despite a higher burden of metabolic diseases in patients with NASH. Following LT, no significant differences between skeletal muscle and SAT were observed in the entire cohort and among patients with NASH (versus non-NASH). LT recipients with the highest muscle mass pre-LT were at the greatest risk for muscle loss post-LT. A time-dependent increase in VAT was noted post-LT, which was more robust among patients with a history of NASH cirrhosis. In adjusted multivariate analysis, NASH versus non-NASH was a strong predictor of post-LT increase in VAT (ß-coefficient 3.00, P = 0.04). Pre-LT VAT was an independent predictor of post-LT serum triglycerides (ß-coefficient 5.49 ± 2.78, P = 0.05) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ß-coefficient 1.80 ± 0.75, P = 0.02). A trend between pre-LT VAT and diabetes was noted but did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: VAT but not SAT increases rapidly after LT, especially among patients transplanted for NASH cirrhosis and predicts future metabolic burden.
Asunto(s)
Diabetes Mellitus , Trasplante de Hígado , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico , Humanos , Trasplante de Hígado/efectos adversos , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico/complicaciones , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico/diagnóstico , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico/cirugía , Diabetes Mellitus/patología , Tejido Adiposo , Cirrosis Hepática/diagnóstico , Cirrosis Hepática/cirugía , Cirrosis Hepática/complicaciones , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Grasa Intraabdominal/diagnóstico por imagen , Grasa Intraabdominal/metabolismoRESUMEN
Metabolic flexibility is the ability to match biofuel availability to utilization and is inversely associated with increased metabolic burden among liver transplant (LT) recipients. The present study evaluated the impact of metabolic flexibility on weight gain following LT. LT recipients were enrolled prospectively (n = 47) and followed for 6 months. Metabolic flexibility was measured using whole-room calorimetry and is expressed as a respiratory quotient (RQ). Peak RQ represents maximal carbohydrate metabolism and occurs in the post-prandial state, while trough RQ represents maximal fatty acid metabolism occurring in the fasted state. The clinical, metabolic, and laboratory characteristics of the study cohort of lost weight (n = 14) and gained weight (n = 33) were similar at baseline. Patients who lost weight were more likely to reach maximal RQ (maximal carbohydrate oxidation) early and rapidly transitioned to trough RQ (maximal fatty acid oxidation). In contrast, patients who gained weight had delayed time to peak RQ and trough RQ. In multivariate modeling, time to peak RQ (ß-coefficient 0.509, p = 0.01), time from peak RQ to trough RQ (ß-coefficient 0.634, p = 0.006), and interaction between time to peak RQ to trough RQ and fasting RQ (ß-coefficient 0.447, p = 0.02) directly correlated with the severity of weight gain. No statistically significant relationship between peak RQ, trough RQ, and weight change was demonstrated. Inefficient transition between biofuels (carbohydrates and fatty acids) is associated with weight gain in LT recipients that is independent of clinical metabolic risk. These data offer novel insight into the physiology of obesity after LT with the potential to develop new diagnostics and therapeutics.
Asunto(s)
Metabolismo Energético , Trasplante de Hígado , Humanos , Trasplante de Hígado/efectos adversos , Aumento de Peso , Obesidad , Ácidos GrasosRESUMEN
Implementation of proton-exchange membrane water electrolyzers for large-scale sustainable hydrogen production requires the replacement of scarce noble-metal anode electrocatalysts with low-cost alternatives. However, such earth-abundant materials often exhibit inadequate stability and/or catalytic activity at low pH, especially at high rates of the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Here, the authors explore the influence of a dielectric nanoscale-thin oxide layer, namely Al2 O3 , SiO2 , TiO2 , SnO2 , and HfO2 , prepared by atomic layer deposition, on the stability and catalytic activity of low-cost and active but insufficiently stable Co3 O4 anodes. It is demonstrated that the ALD layers improve both the stability and activity of Co3 O4 following the order of HfO2 > SnO2 > TiO2 > Al2 O3 , SiO2 . An optimal HfO2 layer thickness of 12 nm enhances the Co3 O4 anode durability by more than threefold, achieving over 42 h of continuous electrolysis at 10 mA cm-2 in 1 m H2 SO4 electrolyte. Density functional theory is used to investigate the superior performance of HfO2 , revealing a major role of the HfO2 |Co3 O4 interlayer forces in the stabilization mechanism. These insights offer a potential strategy to engineer earth-abundant materials for low-pH OER catalysts with improved performance from earth-abundant materials for efficient hydrogen production.
RESUMEN
Keratoconus is a disorder characterized by progressive corneal thinning and steepening that may result in significant visual impairment secondary to high astigmatism, corneal scarring, or even corneal perforation. Early detection and screening of keratoconus are essential for effective management and treatment. Several screening methods, such as corneal topography and tomography, corneal biomechanics, and genetic testing, are being developed to detect keratoconus at an early stage. Once detected, prevention of progression is the mainstay of keratoconus management. Corneal collagen cross-linking is a minimally invasive treatment option that can slow or halt the progression of keratoconus. Additionally, recent studies have investigated the potential use of copper sulfate eye drops (IVMED-80) and extracellular vesicles to prevent the progression of keratoconus as non-invasive treatment options. For visual rehabilitation, currently available treatments include scleral lenses, intracorneal ring segments, corneal allogenic intrastromal ring segments, and deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty. The safety and efficacy of these emerging treatment options for keratoconus are currently being investigated.
RESUMEN
Ganoderma multipileum, a wood decay mushroom, was initially discovered and classified in Taiwan through the analysis of its morphology and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA. In this study, we identified a mushroom associated with the dieback of Delonix regia (Boj. ex Hook.) Raf., a woody ornamental street tree in Vietnam, as Ganoderma multipileum. This classification was based on phylogenetic analysis of ITS, RPB2, and TEF1 sequences, as well as morphology assessment and scanning electron microscope observation of basidiospores. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the specimens collected in Vietnam formed a monophyletic group of Ganoderma multipileum with a high bootstrap value and posterior probability (100%/1.00). Furthermore, the morphological features consistent with laccate Ganoderma, including a thin pileipellis composed of enlarged and bulbous hyphae, and the basidiomes exhibited two different phenotypes. Notably, scanning electron microscopy of the basidiospores revealed ovoid spores with numerous echinules, providing the first documented evidence of this characteristic for Ganoderma multipileum. This research represents the first recorded instance of Ganoderma multipileum in Vietnam associated with the dieback of Delonix regia.