Optic Neuritis After COVID-19 Vaccination: A Case Series and a Review of Literature.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic broke out in March 2020, causing tremendous damage to public health and more than 6 million deaths. After authorization for the emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines, various adverse events have been reported, including optic neuritis. COVID-19 vaccination was implemented in Taiwan in March 2021. METHODS: We report patients who developed optic neuritis after COVID-19 vaccination at one university-affiliated tertiary hospital, between March 2021 and December 2022. We also provided a literature review of optic neuritis cases after COVID-19 vaccination. RESULTS: Five patients who developed optic neuritis after COVID-19 vaccination have been identified. Four brands of vaccine used were as follows: Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Medigen, and Oxford AstraZeneca. Optic neuritis developed after the first dose of vaccination in 4 patients, whereas in 1 patient, it developed after the second shot. In the 3 patients with poor initial visual acuity, intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy achieved substantial improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Optic neuritis is a rare but potentially vision-threatening adverse effect of COVID-19 vaccination. We suggest early diagnosis and treatment to maximize visual outcomes.

Combination of radiofrequency ablation and percutaneous ethanol injection versus radiofrequency ablation alone for hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Radiofrequency ablation and percutaneous ethanol injection are important treatment modalities for hepatocellular carcinoma patients; Whether a combination treatment yields, additional benefit still remains controversial. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was concluded. Randomized controlled trials published before January 1, 2022, from PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and CNKI were searched. Studies were excluded when patients received different ablative treatment or had serious liver dysfunction. The risk of bias assessment was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. RESULTS: Ten studies, encompassing 854 patients, with histologically proven HCC were finally analyzed. The results demonstrated that patients who received RFA-PEI had slightly improvements in 1-year overall survival (OS) [risk ratio (RR): 1.11; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03, 1.19, I2 = 10%], 2-year OS (RR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.40, I2 = 0%), 3-year OS (RR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.83, I2 = 38%), 1-year local recurrence-free (LRF) proportion (RR: 1.2; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.42, I2 = 61%), and complete tumor necrosis (CTN) (RR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.53, I2 = 45%). Nevertheless, common complications, such as fever, were found to be significant (RR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.80). CONCLUSION: Despite RFA-PEI appearing to be superior for HCC patients with a compensated liver in terms of OS, current evidence contained moderate to significant heterogeneity, and it was difficult to draw a definite conclusion regarding the therapeutic management in terms of LRF and CTN.

Reproductive responses of the male Brandts vole, Lasiopodomys brandtii (Rodentia: Cricetidae) to tannic acid

Tannins are polyphenols that are present in various plants, and potentially contain antioxidant properties that promote reproduction in animals. This study investigated how tannic acid (TA) affects the reproductive parameters of male Brandts voles, Lasiopodomys brandtii (Radde, 1861). Specifically, the anti-oxidative level of serum, autophagy in the testis, and reproductive physiology were assessed in males treated with TA from the pubertal stage. Compared to the control, low dose TA enhanced relative testis and epididymis weight and sperm concentration in the epididymis, and significantly increased the level of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). mRNA levels of autophagy related genes LC3 and Beclin1 decreased significantly with low dose TA compared to the control. However, compared to the control, high dose TA sharply reduced the levels of serum SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, serum testosterone (T), and mRNA level in steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) in the testis. Both sperm abnormality and mortality increased with high dose TA compared to the control and low dose TA. Collectively, this study demonstrated that TA treatment during puberty had a dose-dependent effect on the reproductive responses of male Brandts voles. TA might mediate autophagy in the testis, through both indirect and direct processes. TA mainly affected the reproductive function of male Brandts voles by regulating anti-oxidative levels. This study advances our understanding of the mechanisms by which tannins influence reproduction in herbivores.

Reproductive responses of the male Brandts vole, Lasiopodomys brandtii (Rodentia: Cricetidae) to tannic acid

Tannins are polyphenols that are present in various plants, and potentially contain antioxidant properties that promote reproduction in animals. This study investigated how tannic acid (TA) affects the reproductive parameters of male Brandts voles, Lasiopodomys brandtii (Radde, 1861). Specifically, the anti-oxidative level of serum, autophagy in the testis, and reproductive physiology were assessed in males treated with TA from the pubertal stage. Compared to the control, low dose TA enhanced relative testis and epididymis weight and sperm concentration in the epididymis, and significantly increased the level of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). mRNA levels of autophagy related genes LC3 and Beclin1 decreased significantly with low dose TA compared to the control. However, compared to the control, high dose TA sharply reduced the levels of serum SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, serum testosterone (T), and mRNA level in steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) in the testis. Both sperm abnormality and mortality increased with high dose TA compared to the control and low dose TA. Collectively, this study demonstrated that TA treatment during puberty had a dose-dependent effect on the reproductive responses of male Brandts voles. TA might mediate autophagy in the testis, through both indirect and direct processes. TA mainly affected the reproductive function of male Brandts voles by regulating anti-oxidative levels. This study advances our understanding of the mechanisms by which tannins influence reproduction in herbivores.(AU)

Laparoscopic splenectomy: a new approach.

OBJECTIVES: To introduce a new laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) approach. METHODS: Sixteen patients underwent LS with general anaesthesia and carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum. The details of the surgery are as follows: 1. The omentum was incised along the greater curvature and retracted as much as possible to expose the pancreatic body and tail. 2. The right arteriovenous root in the gastric omentum was ligated to sufficiently expose the pancreatic body and tail. 3. The pancreatic capsula was opened along the inferior margin of the pancreatic tail, elevated and separated until the superior margin of the pancreas was grasped. The entire splenic pedicle was retracted using a string. The branching blood vessels in the splenic hilus were ligated using clamps and separated. The splenogastric and splenophrenic ligaments were transected proximally using an ultrasonic knife, and the thick short gastric blood vessels were clamped. This procedure allows complete exposure of the area above the pancreatic tail where the splenic hilus is located. The splenoportal vasculature was suspended using a 7-0 silk suture to easily manipulate this tissue. The splenic portal vessels were dissected using an ultrasonic knife, and the portal vessels were isolated individually using vascular clamps and transected. The splenogastric and lienorenal ligaments were also transected. The spleen was then placed into a bag, and the surgical port was slightly enlarged. Finally, the spleen was sectioned for removal. RESULTS: Fifteen surgeries were successfully performed from March 2015 to January 2016. One patient underwent laparotomy. No patients developed postoperative intra-abdominal haemorrhage or infection. One patient developed subcutaneous emphysema, and one developed a wound infection. No deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Active exposure of the area dorsal to the pancreatic tail is a safe and simple splenectomy method.

Laparoscopic splenectomy: a new approach

OBJECTIVES: To introduce a new laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) approach. METHODS: Sixteen patients underwent LS with general anaesthesia and carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum. The details of the surgery are as follows: 1. The omentum was incised along the greater curvature and retracted as much as possible to expose the pancreatic body and tail. 2. The right arteriovenous root in the gastric omentum was ligated to sufficiently expose the pancreatic body and tail. 3. The pancreatic capsula was opened along the inferior margin of the pancreatic tail, elevated and separated until the superior margin of the pancreas was grasped. The entire splenic pedicle was retracted using a string. The branching blood vessels in the splenic hilus were ligated using clamps and separated. The splenogastric and splenophrenic ligaments were transected proximally using an ultrasonic knife, and the thick short gastric blood vessels were clamped. This procedure allows complete exposure of the area above the pancreatic tail where the splenic hilus is located. The splenoportal vasculature was suspended using a 7-0 silk suture to easily manipulate this tissue. The splenic portal vessels were dissected using an ultrasonic knife, and the portal vessels were isolated individually using vascular clamps and transected. The splenogastric and lienorenal ligaments were also transected. The spleen was then placed into a bag, and the surgical port was slightly enlarged. Finally, the spleen was sectioned for removal. RESULTS: Fifteen surgeries were successfully performed from March 2015 to January 2016. One patient underwent laparotomy. No patients developed postoperative intra-abdominal haemorrhage or infection. One patient developed subcutaneous emphysema, and one developed a wound infection. No deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Active exposure of the area dorsal to the pancreatic tail is a safe and simple splenectomy method.

Hepatic carcinosarcoma: clinicopathologic features and a review of the literature.

Hepatic carcinosarcoma (HCS) is defined as a malignant tumor containing an intimate mixture of carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements. Here, we report the case of a 72-year-old man who developed HCS from an otherwise normal liver. The patient had no history of alcohol abuse or hepatitis B or C infection. An enhanced abdominal CT scan revealed a 9-cm heterogeneous tumor, with enhancement during the arterial phase and delayed wash-out in the latter phases. Also, a marked elevation in alpha-fetoprotein level (15,164 ng/mL; normal range, < 10 ng/mL) was noted. He underwent resection of liver segments V and VI under a pre-operative diagnosis of atypical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The diagnosis of HCS was made based on thorough pathologic examination with a panel of immunohistochemical staining. Following surgery, the patient made an uneventful recovery, and at present, 16 months post-surgery, he remains well with no evidence of tumor recurrence. In conclusion, pre-operative diagnosis of HCS is difficult and radical resection in the early stage is encouraged to improve the prognosis of these patients.

Mexicanolides from the seeds of a Krishna mangrove, Xylocarpus moluccensis.

Two new mexicanolides, named xylomexicanolides A and B, were isolated from the seeds of an Indian mangrove, Xylocarpus moluccensis, together with four known limonoids, khayasin, angolensic acid methyl ester, khayasin T, and 2'S-methylbutanoylproceranolide. The structures of these limonoids were established on the basis of spectroscopic data. The (13)C-NMR data of khayasin were reported for the first time. Khayasin was found to exhibit marked insecticidal activity against the fifth instar larvae of Brontispa longissima (GESTRO) at a concentration of 10 mg/l.

[Fishing grounds characteristics of Illex argentinus in southwest Atlantic].

Based on the catch amount data of Chinese squid jigger vessels from January to July 2006 and the sea current, sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a (chl-a) data derived from satellites, the characteristics of Illex argentinus fishing grounds, their productivity, and environment factors in southwest Atlantic were analyzed. There were two main I. argentinus fishing grounds in southwest Atlantic, one in its south part (60 degrees 30' W, 45 degrees 30' S) and the other in the north part (58 degrees 00' W, 42 degrees 00' S). From January to July, the main fishing grounds migrated from south to north. The productivity fluctuated notably in different months, being higher from January to April and the highest in March. After May, the productivity decreased gradually. The locations of the fishing grounds had close relationships with Falkland cold current. North fishing ground located at the main axis of the current, with a current speed of about 28-60 cm x s(-1); and south fishing ground located at the west of the current, with a small scale anticyclone and a current speed of about 5-32 cm x s(-1). The favorable SST in the fishing grounds was 7 degrees C-15 degrees C, with a favorite SST of 12 degrees C, and the favorable chl-a concentration was 0.4-1.5 mg x m(-3), with a favorite chl-a concentration of 0.9-1.2 mg x m(-3). A significant positive relationship was observed between I. argentinus productivity and chl-a concentration (P < 0.05).

Current status of biotechnology in China

There has been increasing interest over past decade in exploring the possibility of using new biotechinology to produce new products and to improve the old productive process. The researches and applications of genetic engineering, cell fusion, mutagenesis, cell and enzyme immobilization in enzyme, antibiotic, vitamine, steroid, amino acid, organic acid, solvent, food and brewage industries is reviewed.