[Minimally invasive vitrectomy for the treatment of severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy].

Objective: To report the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive vitrectomy for the treatment of severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and the effect of preoperative retinal photocoagulation on prognosis. Methods: Case-series study and cohort study. This study included 48 severe PDR patients (53 eyes). There are 28 males and 20 females. The average age was 53.5 (range, 40.0 to 59.0) years old. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether preoperative retinal photocoagulation was performed. Under the guidance of the concept of minimally invasive vitrectomy, all patients received intravitreal injection of conbercept 3 days before standard pars plana vitrectomy with a 27G+ vitrectomy system. To relieve traction, the proliferative fibrovascular membrane was divided into islands as small as possible. It was not necessary to pursue a complete removal of the proliferative membrane. The 27G+ vitrector was flexibly applied as a multifunctional tool for membrane removal by reducing frequencies at which the device entered and left the eye. Intraocular retinal photocoagulation was performed in the main area. The primary outcome measures were best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and retinal reattachment rate, and the secondary outcome measures were intraoperative and postoperative complications. Statistical analysis was performed using t test, rank sum test and χ² test. Results: All patients tolerated intravitreal conbercept, with no serious intraoperative or postoperative adverse events. Postoperative BCVA values were improved significantly compared with preoperative values (χ²=125.11, P<0.01). The mean logMAR BCVA improved from 1.90 (1.30, 2.30) preoperatively to 1.00 (0.70, 1.90) at 1 week postoperatively, 0.8 (0.5, 1.3) at 1 month postoperatively, 0.7 (0.40, 1.20) at 3 months postoperatively, and 0.70 (0.40, 1.20) at 6 months postoperatively. The visual function increased progressively with time. Postoperatively, the primary and final reattachment rates were 92.5% (50/53) and 96.2% (51/53), respectively. Abnormal intraocular pressure lasted for more than one week occurred in 2 eyes; Vitreous hemorrhage recurred in 5 eyes; Retinal detachment occurred in 4 eyes (7.5%); No postoperative endophthalmitis, choroidal detachment or incision related retinal hole occurred. The intraoperative and postoperative parameters in the preoperative retinal photocoagulation group were better than the preoperative non-photocoagulation group, but the difference was not significant (P>0.05). Conclusions: Minimally invasive vitrectomy is fully qualified for the management of severe PDR, with maximized benefits. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57:440-446).

Value of sTNF-R1 and linc0597 as indicators for disease activity and diagnosis of lupus nephritis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether Soluble tumor necrosis factor-receptor 1 (sTNF-R1) and linc0597 can be used as indicators for disease activity and diagnosis of lupus nephritis (LN). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty LN patients treated in our hospital were enrolled as the LN group, while 60 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients without nephritis were included in the SLE group, and 50 healthy subjects who conducted physical examination during the same period as the control group. After admission, 5 mL of venous blood was taken from all the study subjects to measure sTNF-R1 level and linc0597 expression by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and RT-qPCR respectively. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum sTNF-R1 and linc0597 for LN, and Spearman correlation coefficient was adopted for the correlation between sTNF-R1, linc0597, and LN clinical disease Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Moreover, the logistic multiple regression analysis was applied to analyze the independent risk factors affecting the complication of LN in SLE patients. RESULTS: The LN group presented significantly higher serum sTNF-R1 and linc0597 levels than the control group and the SLE group. Besides, ROC curve analysis revealed that sTNF-R1 and linc0597 had good clinical diagnostic value in LN and SLE. Furthermore, Spearman correlation coefficient indicated that serum sTNF-R1 and linc0597 were positively correlated with disease activity index SLEDAI (r=0.551, p<0.001; R =0.604, p<0.001). Moreover, multivariate Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age (p=0.001), fever (p=0.004), arthralgia (p=0.034), serum uric acid (p=0.019), decreased complement C3 (p=0.023), ANA peripheral type (p=0.007), anti-ds-DNA antibody (p=0.003), ANCA (p=0.002), sTNF-R1 (p=0.001), and linc0597 (p<0.001) were all independent risk factors affecting the complication of LN in SLE patients. CONCLUSIONS: STNF-R1 and linc0597 can be used as the indicators for disease activity and diagnosis of LN.

The improvement of photocatalytic activity of monolayer g-C3N4 via surface charge transfer doping.

Graphite-like carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has attracted much attention due to its peculiar photocatalytic performance as a visible-light-responsive photocatalyst. However, its insufficient sunlight absorption is not conducive to the photocatalytic activity of the g-C3N4. Herein, by using first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we demonstrated a simple yet efficient way to achieve improvement of photocatalytic activity of monolayer g-C3N4 via surface charge transfer doping (SCTD) using the electron-drawing tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) and electron-donating tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) as surface dopants. Our calculations revealed that the electronic properties of monolayer g-C3N4 can be affected by surface modification with TCNQ and TTF. These dopants are capable of drawing/donating electrons from/to monolayer g-C3N4, leading to the accumulation of holes/electrons injected into the monolayer g-C3N4. Correspondingly, the Fermi levels of monolayer g-C3N4 were shifted towards the valence/conduction band regions after surface modifications with TCNQ and TTF, along with the increase/decrease of work functions. Moreover, the optical property calculations demonstrated that the TCNQ and TTF modifications could significantly broaden the optical absorption of monolayer g-C3N4 in the visible-light regions, yielding an improvement in the photocatalytic activity of monolayer g-C3N4. Our results unveil that SCTD is an effective way to tune the electronic and optical properties of monolayer g-C3N4, thus improving its photocatalytic activity and broadening its applications in splitting water and degrading environmental pollutants under sunlight irradiation.

Enhanced visible light absorption performance of SnS2 and SnSe2 via surface charge transfer doping.

The layered two-dimensional (2D) SnS2 and SnSe2 have received intensive attention due to their sizable band gaps and potential properties. However, it has been shown that the visible light absorption of SnS2 and SnSe2 are restricted as photocatalysts and light-harvesting material absorbers for water splitting and high-performance optoelectronic devices. Herein, to enhance the visible light absorption performance of SnS2 and SnSe2, we performed a systematic investigation on tuning the electronic and optical properties of monolayers SnS2 and SnSe2 via surface charge transfer doping (SCTD) with the adsorption of molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) and potassium (K) as surface dopants based on density functional theory. Our calculations reveal that MoO3 molecules and K atoms can draw/donate electrons from/to SnS2 and SnSe2 as acceptors and donors, respectively. The adsorption of MoO3 molecules introduces a new flat impurity state in the gap of the monolayers SnS2/SnSe2, and the Fermi level moves correspondingly to the top of valence band, resulting in a p-type doping of the monolayer SnS2/SnSe2. With the adsorption of K atoms, the electrons can transfer from K atoms to the monolayer of SnS2 and SnSe2, making K an effective electron-donating dopant. Meanwhile, the bandgaps of monolayers SnS2 and SnSe2 decrease after the MoO3 and K doping, which leads to the appearance of appreciable new absorption peaks at around ∼650/480 and ∼600/680 nm, respectively, and yielding an enhanced visible light absorption of SnS2 and SnSe2. Our results unveil that SCTD is an effective way to improve the photocatalytic and light-harvesting performance of SnS2 and SnSe2, broadening their applications in splitting water and degrading environmental pollutants under sunlight irradiation.

The role of miR-146a in modulating TRAF6-induced inflammation during lupus nephritis.

OBJECTIVE: Lupus nephritis (LN) is a major complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A previous study showed decreased expression level of microRNA (miR)-146a in LN patients, indicating its possible role in LN pathogenesis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 98 LN patients were recruited, for the collection of renal tissue samples during biopsy or surgery. Another cohort of 15 patients who had renal tumor resection was recruited as the control group, for the further comparison of expression levels of miR-146a, TRAF6 and p-p65 in tissues. Human glomerular mesangial cells were treated with miR-146a mimics, si-TRAF6 or both, followed by the evaluation of p65, p-p65, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α. Transwell assay was performed to detect the effect of mesangial cells on chemotaxis of macrophage. RESULTS: MiR-146a expression was significantly depressed in renal tissues of LN patients, while TRAF6 expression, macrophage infiltration and p-p65 expression were all elevated as the activity of LN was induced. The up-regulation of miR-146a and/or down-regulation of TRAF6 can significantly inhibit NF-κB transcriptional activity of glomerular mesangial cells, while the gene expressions of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were suppressed. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of miR-146a in renal tissues of LN patients was significantly depressed, while the transcriptional activity of TRAF6 and NF-κB was enhanced. MiR-146 thus inhibited NF-κB transcriptional activity and inflammatory factor synthesis, and alleviated chemotactic effect towards macrophage via the inhibition of TRAF6 activity.

Left cervicothoracic sympathetic ganglionectomy with thoracoscope for the treatment of idiopathic long QT syndrome.

A 17-year-old girl had idiopathic long QT syndrome and suffered from recurrent syncopal spells, which were triggered by vigorous physical or emotional stress. She received left cervicothoracic sympathetic ganglionectomy with thoracoscope through an intercostal approach which worked satisfactorily.

Volatilization behavior of Cd and Zn based on continuous emission measurement of flue gas from laboratory-scale coal combustion.

The accumulation of toxic metals generated by coal-fired power stations presents a serious threat to the environment. The volatilization behavior of two representative metals (Cd and Zn), and the influence of temperature were investigated during coal combustion. An inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometric (ICP-AES) method was developed to continuously measure the heavy metal concentrations quantitatively in flue gas under combustion conditions in order to track the metal release process. This continuous heavy metal analysis system was implemented by coupling it to two types of high temperature reactors: a bubbling fluidized bed reactor and a fixed bed reactor with diameter of 0.1 m and 0.08 m respectively. For the two metals considered in this study (Cd and Zn), the experimental setup was successfully used to continuously monitor the metal vaporization process during coal combustion independent of reactor design, and at different temperatures. Cd is more easily vaporized than Zn during coal combustion. Temperature significantly influences the metal vaporization process. In general, the higher the temperature, the higher the metal vaporization, although the vaporization is not proportional to temperature. In addition to the experimental study, a thermodynamic calculation was carried out to simulate the heavy metal speciation during coal combustion process. The theoretical volatilization tendency is consistent with the experiment. The thermodynamic calculation identified the formation of binary oxides retarding heavy metal vaporization.

Quantum diffusion of H on Pt(111): step effects.

Using a linear optical diffraction technique, we have systematically investigated the defect effects on quantum surface diffusion of hydrogen on Pt(111) surfaces. The quantum tunneling effect was clearly observed for hydrogen diffusion at low temperatures as manifested by a leveling off of the diffusion coefficient on flat surfaces. The strong influence of surface defects on the quantum diffusion is in good agreement with the creation of an inhomogeneous surface with adsorption sites of different binding energies.

A seroepidemiologic study of hepatitis B virus infection among barbers in Huangshi City, Hubei, China.

Between March and August 1986 in Huangshi City, serum samples were collected from 316 apparently healthy barbers as a study group, as well as from 361 healthy employees of department stores as a control group. They were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assays. Barbers showed a prevalence higher than that in controls for HBsAg (16.8 vs. 9.2%, P less than 0.01), anti-HBs (67.1 vs. 45.9%, P less than 0.001), and anti-HBc (39.2 vs. 21.2%, P less than 0.001). The prevalence of at least one marker of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was significantly higher in barbers than in controls (86.1 vs. 61.7%, P less than 0.001). Although the socioeconomic status and education level did not correlate with the frequency of HBV markers, the prevalence of HBsAg increased in parallel with the duration of practice. Because of their high risk for HBV infection, barbers need to be screened for markers of HBV infection on a routine basis, and are prime candidates for immunoprophylaxis with hepatitis B vaccine.