Analysis for Causes of Corneal Melt After the Boston Keratoprosthesis Type I: The Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital Experience.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term incidence, risk factors, and the management of corneal melt following Boston type I keratoprosthesis (B-KPro I) implantation. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational case series. Data were collected regarding demographics, preoperative characteristics, incidence, and outcomes of corneal melt in 102 patients who underwent B-KPro I in the Chinese PLA General Hospital between 2011 and 2018, with a follow-up period ranging from 4 to 11 years. RESULTS: Chemical burn was the most common indication for B-KPro I (n = 56; 53.8%), followed by ocular trauma (n = 26; 25.0%). During the follow-up period (107 ± 25.7 months), corneal melt occurred in 60 cases among 37 eyes (35.6%), with an incidence of 20.2% at 1 year after surgery. Fourteen cases presented with recurrent corneal melt. Patients with multiple corneal allograft failures had a higher risk of corneal melt. Thermal burns, compared with alkali burns, significantly elevated the odds ratio (OR) of corneal melt (OR, 5.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-24.86; P = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Corneal melt significantly reduced the retention time of KPro (P < 0.01), and its coexistence with other complications further shortened the retention time. A specific pattern of corneal melt occurrence was identified, with a peak incidence at 1 year postoperatively. Our findings suggest variations in the risk of corneal melt among different indications, with thermal burns carrying the highest OR. Moreover, each previous failed keratoplasty doubled the risk of corneal melt after B-KPro I.

Application progress of nanocellulose in food packaging: A review.

With the increasing environmental and ecological problems caused by petroleum-based packaging materials, the focus has gradually shifted to natural resources for the preparation of functional food packaging materials. In addition to biodegradable properties, nanocellulose (NC) mechanical properties, and rich surface chemistry are also fascinating and desired to be one of the most probable green packaging materials. In this review, we firstly introduce the recent progress of novel applications of NC in food packaging, including intelligent packaging, nano(bio)sensors, and nano-paper; secondly, we focus on the modification techniques of NC to summarize the properties (antimicrobial, mechanical, hydrophobic, antioxidant, and so on) that are required for food packaging, to expand the new synthetic methods and application areas. After presenting all the latest advances related to material design and sustainable applications, an overview summarizing the safety of NC is presented to promote a continuous and healthy movement of NC toward the field of truly sustainable packaging.

The complete plastome and phylogenetic analysis of Commelina benghalensis L.1753 (Commelinaceae).

Commelina benghalensis L. 1753, a member of the Commelinaceae family, holds significant medicinal and culinary value. This study represents the first documentation of the sequencing and assembly of the entire plastome of C. benghalensis. The genome spans a total length of 160,663 bp, exhibiting a conventional quadripartite architecture that comprises a large single-copy (LSC) region (87,750 bp), a small single-copy (SSC) region (18,417 bp), and two inverted repeats (IR) regions (both 27,248 bp). In its entirety, the C. benghalensis plastome encompasses 129 genes (with 108 being unique), incorporating 77 individual protein-coding genes, 37 unique tRNA genes, and four unique rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close resemblance between C. benghalensis and C. communis. The sequencing of this plastome stands to expedite the development of molecular markers and significantly contribute to genetic assays involving this distinctive plant.

Design, synthesis, anti-infective potency and mechanism study of novel Ru-based complexes containing substituted adamantane as antibacterial agents.

Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) are increasing difficult to treat because this pathogen is easily resistant to antibiotics. However, the development of novel antibacterial agents with high antimicrobial activity and low frequency of resistance remains a huge challenge. Here, building on the coupling strategy, an adamantane moiety was linked to the membrane-active Ru-based structure and then developed three novel metalloantibiotics: [Ru(bpy)2(L)](PF6)2 (Ru1) (bpy = 2,2-bipyridine, L = amantadine modified ligand), [Ru(dmb)2(L)](PF6)2 (Ru2) (dmb = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine) and [Ru(dpa)2(L)](PF6)2 (Ru3), (dpa = 2,2'-dipyridylamine). Notably, complex Ru1 was identified to be the best candidate agent, showing greater efficacy against S. aureus than most of clinical antibiotics and low resistance frequencies. Mechanism studies demonstrated that Ru1 could not only increase the permeability of bacterial cell membrane and then caused the leakage of bacterial contents, but also promoted the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in bacteria. Importantly, complex Ru1 inhibited the biofilm formation, exotoxin secretion and increased the potency of some clinical used antibiotics. In addition, Ru1 showed low toxic in vivo and excellent anti-infective efficacy in two animal infection model. Thus, Ru-based metalloantibiotic bearing adamantane moiety are promising antibacterial agents, providing a certain research basis for the future antibiotics research.

Deletion of Tgm2 suppresses BMP-mediated hepatocyte-to-cholangiocyte metaplasia in ductular reaction.

Transglutaminase 2 (Tgm2) plays an essential role in hepatic repair following prolonged toxic injury. During cholestatic liver injury, the intrahepatic cholangiocytes undergo dynamic tissue expansion and remodelling, referred to as ductular reaction (DR), which is crucial for liver regeneration. However, the molecular mechanisms governing the dynamics of active cells in DR are still largely unclear. Here, we generated Tgm2-knockout mice (Tgm2-/-) and Tgm2-CreERT2-Rosa26-mTmG flox/flox (Tgm2CreERT2-R26T/Gf/f) mice and performed a three-dimensional (3D) collagen gel culture of mouse hepatocytes to demonstrate how Tgm2 signalling is involved in DR to remodel intrahepatic cholangiocytes. Our results showed that the deletion of Tgm2 adversely affected the functionality and maturity of the proliferative cholangiocytes in DR, thus leading to more severe cholestasis during DDC-induced liver injury. Additionally, Tgm2 hepatocytes played a crucial role in the regulation of DR through metaplasia. We unveiled that Tgm2 regulated H3K4me3Q5ser via serotonin to promote BMP signalling activation to participate in DR. Besides, we revealed that the activation or inhibition of BMP signalling could promote or suppress the development and maturation of cholangiocytes in DDC-induced DR. Furthermore, our 3D collagen gel culture assay indicated that Tgm2 was vital for the development of cholangiocytes in vitro. Our results uncovered a considerable role of BMP signalling in controlling metaplasia of Tgm2 hepatocytes in DR and revealed the phenotypic plasticity of mature hepatocytes.

Machine Learning Prediction of Lymph Node Metastasis in Breast Cancer: Performance of a Multi-institutional MRI-based 4D Convolutional Neural Network.

Purpose To develop a custom deep convolutional neural network (CNN) for noninvasive prediction of breast cancer nodal metastasis. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included patients with newly diagnosed primary invasive breast cancer with known pathologic (pN) and clinical nodal (cN) status who underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) breast MRI at the authors' institution between July 2013 and July 2016. Clinicopathologic data (age, estrogen receptor and human epidermal growth factor 2 status, Ki-67 index, and tumor grade) and cN and pN status were collected. A four-dimensional (4D) CNN model integrating temporal information from dynamic image sets was developed. The convolutional layers learned prognostic image features, which were combined with clinicopathologic measures to predict cN0 versus cN+ and pN0 versus pN+ disease. Performance was assessed with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), with fivefold nested cross-validation. Results Data from 350 female patients (mean age, 51.7 years ± 11.9 [SD]) were analyzed. AUC, sensitivity, and specificity values of the 4D hybrid model were 0.87 (95% CI: 0.83, 0.91), 89% (95% CI: 79%, 93%), and 76% (95% CI: 68%, 88%) for differentiating pN0 versus pN+ and 0.79 (95% CI: 0.76, 0.82), 80% (95% CI: 77%, 84%), and 62% (95% CI: 58%, 67%), respectively, for differentiating cN0 versus cN+. Conclusion The proposed deep learning model using tumor DCE MR images demonstrated high sensitivity in identifying breast cancer lymph node metastasis and shows promise for potential use as a clinical decision support tool. Keywords: MR Imaging, Breast, Breast Cancer, Breast MRI, Machine Learning, Metastasis, Prognostic Prediction Supplemental material is available for this article. Published under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Gas explosion characteristics and spray control mechanism in underground square.

The spray system mechanism during a gas explosion in an underground square pipeline is complex. In this paper, the underground square of Fuxin City is selected as the research object. FLACS numerical simulation software is used to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of a gas explosion in an underground square pipeline with an unopened spray system using combustion and combustion rate models. Different spray pressures were compared and analyzed to determine the optimal spray control pressure, and the spray system mechanism was clarified. The results revealed that the gas explosion overpressure is divided into the overpressure gentle, overpressure rising, and overpressure decay stages, corresponding to a trend of rapid growth and slow decline. The influence of spray pressure on the gas explosion exhibits a promotion-inhibition-promotion trend, corresponding to 0-0.2 MPa, 0.2-0.6 MPa, and 0.6-1.6 Mpa, respectively. The peak overpressure and overpressure propagation rates are the lowest at 0.6 MPa, and the explosion suppression effect is the most pronounced. The spray system mechanism varies with the explosion overpressure stages. Generally, the time to peak value, that is, the peak time, the overall duration of the explosion, and the duration of the explosion stage decrease, whereas the peak explosion overpressure decreases.

Characterization of herpetrione amorphous nanoparticles stabilized by hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose and its absorption mechanism in vitro.

Herpetrione(HPE) is an effective compound that has been used in the treatment of liver diseases. To improve its dissolution and absorption, herpetrione nanosuspensions was prepared. Nanosuspensions were proved to achieve intact absorption in vivo. However, the transport mechanisms are not fully understood, especially lack of direct evidence of translocation of particulates. In this study, an environment-responsive dye, P4, was loaded into herpetrione amorphous nanoparticles (HPE-ANPs) to elucidate the absorption and transport mechanism of the nanoparticles. And the amount of HPE and nanoparticles in the samples were quantified using HPLC/LC-MS/MS and IVIS with the model of Caco-2 and Caco-2/HT29-MTX. Results demonstrated that HPE is mainly taken up by passive diffusion in the form of free drugs, while HPE-ANPs are internalized by an energy dependent active transport pathway or intracellular endocytosis. It is speculated that HPE-ANPs may change the original entry pathway of drug molecules. Furthermore, the presence of mucus layer and the use of HPMC E15 may contribute to drug absorption to some extent. Transcellular transport study indicates that HPE-ANPs has a poor absorption. In conclusion, the differences in the absorption behavior trends of HPE-ANPs are caused by the difference in particle properties and the form of existence of the drug.

Optical coherence tomography angiography for the differentiation of diabetic nephropathy from non-diabetic renal disease.

BACKGROUND: To provide a new non-invasive method for the differentiation of diabetic nephropathy (DN) from non-diabetic renal disease (NDRD) by assessing retinal microstructure using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). METHODS: OCTA parameters were recorded and their relationship with DN was analysed. A differential diagnosis regression model for DN was established, and the diagnostic efficiency was evaluated. RESULTS: Based on the pathological results of renal biopsy, 31 DN patients and 35 NDRD patients were included. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that DN was independently associated with the following parameters: 15.3 mm-1 ≤ vessel density (VD) full < 17.369 mm-1 (odds ratio [OR]=8.523; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.387-52.352; P = 0.021), VD full < 15.3 mm-1 (OR=8.202; 95% CI=1.110-60.623; P = 0.039), DM duration > 60 months (OR=7.588; 95% CI=1.569-36.692; P = 0.012), and estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR=24.484; 95% CI=4.308-139.142; P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.911, indicating a high diagnostic efficiency. CONCLUSIONS: VD full < 17.369 mm-1, DM duration > 60 months, and eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 may indicate the presence of DN. OCTA may be an effective non-invasive method for identifying DN and NDRD.

Comparative chloroplast genomes study of five officinal Ardisia Species: Unraveling interspecific diversity and evolutionary insights in Ardisia.

Ardisia S.W. (Primulaceae), naturally distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, has edible and medicinal values and is prevalent in clinical and daily use in China. More genetic information for distinct species delineation is needed to support the development and utilization of the genus Ardisia. We sequenced, annotated, and compared the chloroplast genomes of five Ardisia species: A. brunnescens, A. pusilla, A. squamulosa, A. crenata, and A. brevicaulis in this study. We found a typical quadripartite structure in all five chloroplast genomes, with lengths ranging from 155,045 to 156,943 bp. Except for A. pusilla, which lacked the ycf15 gene, the other four Ardisia species contained 114 unique genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNAs, and four rRNAs. In addition, the rps19 pseudogene gene was present only in A. brunnescens. Five highly variable DNA barcodes were identified for five Ardisia species, including trnT-GGU-psbD, trnT-UGU-trnL-UAA, rps4-trnT-UGU, rpl32-trnL-UAG, and rpoB-trnC-GAA. The RNA editiing sites of protein-coding genes in the five Ardisia plastome were characterized and compared, and 274 (A. crenata)-288 (A. brevicaulis) were found. The results of the phylogenetic analysis were consistent with the morphological classification. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis showed that ycf15 genes were highly divergent in Primulaceae. Reconstructions of ancestral character states indicated that leaf margin morphology is critical for classifying the genus Ardisia, with a rodent-like character being the most primitive. These results provide valuable information on the taxonomy and evolution of Ardisia plants.

Highly sensitive and specific detection of Ni2+ using a novel fluorometric probe in the DMSO-H2O system.

The rapid detection of Ni ions has important research and application value. This paper presents a novel specific turn-off fluorescence probe PCTMP-FS for detecting Ni2+ ions. The carbazole-based compound PCTMP is first synthesized via a two-step reaction. PCTMP-FS comprises PCTMP dispersed into a DMSO-H2O (fw = 30% v/v) mixed solvent. The probe demonstrates prominent selectivity and anti-interference abilities for detecting Ni2+ with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.233 µM. The probe exhibits good applicability over a wide range of acidities. The detecting mechanism of the probe is due to the complex formed by PCTMP and Ni2+ (2:1), which destroys intramolecular charge transfer in the compound. The probe has good repeatability and demonstrates excellent stability and sensitivity for the detection of Ni2+ in real water samples.

Cellulose Nanofiber-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Efficient Air Filtration in Harsh Environments.

Advanced portable healthcare devices with high efficiencies, small pressure drops, and high-temperature resistance are urgently desired in harsh environments with high temperatures, high humidities, and high levels of atmospheric pollution. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), which serve as energy converters in a revolutionary self-powered sensor device, present a sustainable solution for meeting these requirements. In this work, we developed a porous negative triboelectric material by synthesizing ZIF-8 on the surface of a cellulose/graphene oxide aerogel, grafting it with trimethoxy(1H,1H,2H,2H-heptadecafluorodecyl)silane, and adding a negative corona treatment, and it was combined with a positive triboelectric material to create a cellulose nanofiber-based TENG self-powered filter. The devices achieved a balance between a small pressure drop (53 Pa) and high filtration efficiency (98.97%, 99.65%, and 99.93% for PM0.3, PM0.5, and PM1, respectively), demonstrating robust filtration properties at high temperatures and high humidities. Our work provides a new approach for developing self-powered wearable healthcare devices with excellent air filtration properties.

The relationship between diabetic retinopathy and diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes.

Context: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic nephropathy (DN), are major microvascular complications of diabetes. DR is an important predictor of DN, but the relationship between the severity of DR and the pathological severity of diabetic glomerulopathy remains unclear. Objective: To investigate the relationship between severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and histological changes and clinical indicators of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Patients with T2DM (n=272) who underwent a renal biopsy were eligible. Severity of DR was classified as non-diabetic retinopathy, non-proliferative retinopathy, and proliferative retinopathy (PDR). Relationship between DN and DR and the diagnostic efficacy of DR for DN were explored. Results: DN had a higher prevalence of DR (86.4%) and DR was more severe. The sensitivity and specificity of DR in DN were 86.4% and 78.8%, while PDR was 26.4% and 98.5%, respectively. In DN patients, the severity of glomerular lesions (p=0.001) and prevalence of KW nodules (p<0.001) significantly increased with increasing severity of DR. The presence of KW nodules, lower hemoglobin levels, and younger age were independent risk factors associated with more severe DR in patients with DN. Conclusion: DR was a good predictor of DN. In DN patients, the severity of DR was associated with glomerular injury, and presence of KW nodules, lower hemoglobin levels and younger age were independent risk factors associated with more severe DR. Trial registration: ClinicalTrails.gov, NCT03865914.

Pulse irradiation synthesis of metal chalcogenides on flexible substrates for enhanced photothermoelectric performance.

High synthesis temperatures and specific growth substrates are typically required to obtain crystalline or oriented inorganic functional thin films, posing a significant challenge for their utilization in large-scale, low-cost (opto-)electronic applications on conventional flexible substrates. Here, we explore a pulse irradiation synthesis (PIS) to prepare thermoelectric metal chalcogenide (e.g., Bi2Se3, SnSe2, and Bi2Te3) films on multiple polymeric substrates. The self-propagating combustion process enables PIS to achieve a synthesis temperature as low as 150 °C, with an ultrafast reaction completed within one second. Beyond the photothermoelectric (PTE) property, the thermal coupling between polymeric substrates and bismuth selenide films is also examined to enhance the PTE performance, resulting in a responsivity of 71.9 V/W and a response time of less than 50 ms at 1550 nm, surpassing most of its counterparts. This PIS platform offers a promising route for realizing flexible PTE or thermoelectric devices in an energy-, time-, and cost-efficient manner.

Nanoscale Metal Particle Modified Single-Atom Catalyst: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application.

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted considerable attention in heterogeneous catalysis because of their well-defined active sites, maximum atomic utilization efficiency, and unique unsaturated coordinated structures. However, their effectiveness is limited to reactions requiring active sites containing multiple metal atoms. Furthermore, the loading amounts of single-atom sites must be restricted to prevent aggregation, which can adversely affect the catalytic performance despite the high activity of the individual atoms. The introduction of nanoscale metal particles (NMPs) into SACs (NMP-SACs) has proven to be an efficient approach for improving their catalytic performance. A comprehensive review is urgently needed to systematically introduce the synthesis, characterization, and application of NMP-SACs and the mechanisms behind their superior catalytic performance. This review first presents and classifies the different mechanisms through which NMPs enhance the performance of SACs. It then summarizes the currently reported synthetic strategies and state-of-the-art characterization techniques of NMP-SACs. Moreover, their application in electro/thermo/photocatalysis, and the reasons for their superior performance are discussed. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of NMP-SACs for the future design of advanced catalysts are addressed.

Excess PrPC inhibits muscle cell differentiation via miRNA-enhanced liquid-liquid phase separation implicated in myopathy.

The cellular prion protein (PrPC) is required for skeletal muscle function. Here, we report that a higher level of PrPC accumulates in the cytoplasm of the skeletal muscle of six myopathy patients compared to controls. PrPC inhibits skeletal muscle cell autophagy, and blocks myoblast differentiation. PrPC selectively binds to a subset of miRNAs during myoblast differentiation, and the colocalization of PrPC and miR-214-3p was observed in the skeletal muscle of six myopathy patients with excessive PrPC. We demonstrate that PrPC is overexpressed in skeletal muscle cells under pathological conditions, inhibits muscle cell differentiation by physically interacting with a subset of miRNAs, and selectively recruits these miRNAs into its phase-separated condensate in living myoblasts, which in turn enhances liquid-liquid phase separation of PrPC, promotes pathological aggregation of PrP, and results in the inhibition of autophagy-related protein 5-dependent autophagy and muscle bundle formation in myopathy patients characterized by incomplete muscle regeneration.

Improved Electrical Output Performance of Cellulose-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators Enabled by Negative Triboelectric Materials.

Cellulose-based triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have attracted widespread attention due to the low cost and environmentally friendly characteristics of cellulose. However, achieving high electrical energy output from these generators still presents significant challenges. Here, cellulose is dissolved-regenerated to form a composite aerogel with high specific surface area, in which cellulose-based composites with excellent negative triboelectric properties are developed by coupling the rich 3D network structure of the regenerated cellulose aerogel, modified barium titanate, and poly(vinylidene fluoride). The TENGs assembled from the composite materials exhibit an output voltage of 1040 V and a current of 1.165 mA at an external force of 8 N and a frequency of 4 Hz, outperforming all cellulose-based negative triboelectric materials. In addition, the nanogenerators have a stable electrical energy output capacity, with no significant property degradation in 100 000 contact-separation tests. The excellent electrical output property of the composite materials enables them to harvest energy from human movement and waterdrops, demonstrating their great application prospects in wearable devices, energy harvesting devices, self-powered sensors, and other fields.

In Situ TEM Characterization and Modulation for Phase Engineering of Nanomaterials.

Solid-state phase transformation is an intriguing phenomenon in crystalline or noncrystalline solids due to the distinct physical and chemical properties that can be obtained and modified by phase engineering. Compared to bulk solids, nanomaterials exhibit enhanced capability for phase engineering due to their small sizes and high surface-to-volume ratios, facilitating various emerging applications. To establish a comprehensive atomistic understanding of phase engineering, in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques have emerged as powerful tools, providing unprecedented atomic-resolution imaging, multiple characterization and stimulation mechanisms, and real-time integrations with various external fields. In this Review, we present a comprehensive overview of recent advances in in situ TEM studies to characterize and modulate nanomaterials for phase transformations under different stimuli, including mechanical, thermal, electrical, environmental, optical, and magnetic factors. We briefly introduce crystalline structures and polymorphism and then summarize phase stability and phase transformation models. The advanced experimental setups of in situ techniques are outlined and the advantages of in situ TEM phase engineering are highlighted, as demonstrated via several representative examples. Besides, the distinctive properties that can be obtained from in situ phase engineering are presented. Finally, current challenges and future research opportunities, along with their potential applications, are suggested.

Integrated analysis of murine cornea identifies JAK/STAT signaling pathway upregulated specifically in female Vitamin A Deficient mice.

The Keratoconus (KC) is a corneal ectatic disease with unclear etiology. There are increasing studies that reported its association with a variety of inflammatory mechanisms. Vitamin A(VA) is an important nutrient related to inflammation regulation, and its deficiency may cause abnormalities of the ocular surface. However, the proportion of Vitamin A deficiency(VAD) was found surprisingly high among KC patients in our clinic practice. The aim of this study is to explore the effects of VAD on the transcriptome of corneas with the help of the VAD murine model and transcriptomics techniques. Blood samples of KC patients and non-KC controls (NC) were collected and the serum VA concentrations were measured and analyzed. A total of 52 NC and 39 KC were enrolled and the comparison of serum VA showed that the proportion of VAD in KC patients was 48.7% versus 1.9% in NC group. The further analysis of gender differences showed the proportion of VAD in female KC was 88.9% versus 36.7% in KC male patients. To explore the influence of VAD on cornea, the VAD mice fed with VAD diets were used. The RNA sequencing was employed to compare the corneal transcriptomic characteristics between the VAD female mice, NC female mice, VAD male mice and NC male mice. The transcriptome analysis revealed that the upregulated differential genes were mainly enriched in the immune response related pathways in VAD female mice versus NC female mice, especially the genes of JAK-STAT signaling pathway. The downstream molecules of JAK-STAT pathway were also significant after corneal mechanical scratching in female VAD mice. While, the differential genes between VAD male mice and NC male mice were estrogen signaling pathway instead of JAK-STAT pathway. This study indicates that VAD affects the transcriptomics of murine cornea with gender differences, which specifically affects the inflammatory status of the female murine cornea.