Accuracy of Ten Intraocular Lens Formulas in Spherical Equivalent of Toric Intraocular Lens Power Calculation.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this work is to evaluate the accuracy of the Barrett Universal II (BU II), Emmetropia verifying optical (EVO) 2.0, Haigis, Hoffer Q, Hoffer QST (Savini/Taroni) (HQST), Holladay 1, Kane, Ladas Super, Sanders-Retzlaff-Kraff/theoretical (SRK/T), and T2 intraocular lens (IOL) power formulas for calculating spherical equivalent (SE) of toric IOL. METHODS: This study enrolled consecutive patients who underwent phacoemulsification and toric IOL implantation at the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in Hangzhou from 2015 to 2022. We compared the new-generation formulas with Gaussian optics-based standard formulas, and calculated the mean absolute error (MAE), median absolute error (MedAE), and percentage of eyes within ± 0.25 diopter (D), ± 0.50 D, ± 0.75 D and ± 1.00 D of the target refraction. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on the anterior chamber depth (ACD), keratometry (K), and toricity (T). RESULTS: A total of 207 eyes of 207 patients were included in this study. Overall, the Kane and EVO2.0 formulas demonstrated the lowest MedAEs. The EVO2.0 formula exhibited the highest percentage of eyes within ± 0.50 D, ± 0.75 D, ± 1.00 D. Moreover, the EVO2.0 formula showed the lowest MedAE for flat K subgroup, the highest percentage of eyes within ± 0.50 D, ± 1.00 D for shallow ACD subgroup, the highest percentage of eyes within ± 0.75 D for regular ACD, flat K, T2-T3, T4-T5 subgroups. The Kane and formula performed the lowest MedAE in the T4-T5 subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Application of the Kane and EVO2.0 formulas significantly improved the prediction of postoperative SE outcome for toric IOL compared to the other formulas.

Comparison of the effect of capsular bend on the rotational stability between 2 toric intraocular lenses.

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of capsular bend on the rotational stability between 2 toric intraocular lenses (IOLs). SETTING: Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. DESIGN: Prospective study. METHODS: Patients with preexisting astigmatism received AcrySof IQ (SN6AT) or TECNIS (ZCT/ZMT) toric IOL during cataract surgery. CASIA2 was used to record the toric IOL axial orientation and capsular bend index (CBI) at the 1-day, 1-week, 1-month, and 3-month interval postoperatively. The postoperative rotational stability and CBI of both models were compared. RESULTS: A total of 58 eyes from 58 patients were enrolled in this study. The total misalignment of the TECNIS (ZCT/ZMT) group (6.96 ± 5.10 degrees, 7.41 ± 5.19 degrees, 6.93 ± 5.29 degrees, and 6.86 ± 5. 27 degrees) was significantly higher than that of the AcrySof IQ (SN6AT) group (3.55 ± 2.21 degrees, 4.00 ± 2.74 degrees, 3.72 ± 2.72 degrees, and 3.52 ± 2.50 degrees) at all follow-up intervals ( P < .05). The mean rotation of the TECNIS (ZCT/ZMT) group (2.66 ± 2.18 degrees) was significantly greater than that of the AcrySof IQ (SN6AT) group (1.65 ± 1.47 degrees) from 1 day to 1 week postoperatively ( P < .05). The capsular bend formation in the TECNIS (ZCT/ZMT) group was delayed compared with the AcrySof IQ (SN6AT) group ( P < .05, at the 1-week, 1-month, and 3-month interval). The TECNIS (ZCT/ZMT) group showed fibrosis in the peripheral anterior capsule, leading to its stretching away from the IOL surface, while the AcrySof IQ (SN6AT) group exhibited gentle adherence of the anterior capsule to the IOL surface. CONCLUSIONS: The AcrySof IQ toric IOL (SN6AT) exhibited greater rotational stability than the TECNIS toric IOL (ZCT/ZMT), which may partially result from the delay in capsular bend formation of TECNIS at the 1-day to 1-week follow-up postoperatively.

Effects and mechanisms of nutritional interventions on extradigestive complications in obese patients.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of multiple extradigestive complications. Thus, understanding the global epidemiology of obesity and its relationship with extradigestive complications, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is important. However, nutritional intervention can positively manage issues associated with obesity. Hence, the identification of the current high prevalence of extradigestive complications among patients with obesity and the potential role of nutritional interventions is also essential. AIM: To determine the relationship between obesity and extradigestive complications and emphasize the importance of nutritional interventions in the management of patients with obesity. METHODS: Overall, 110 patients with obesity admitted to our hospital from February 2020 to November 2022 and 100 healthy individuals were included in the present study. Information of the study population, including demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, body mass index, indicators of extradigestive complications, dietary intake, and biomarkers was collected. The study design, participant selection, interventions, and development of the nutritional intervention program were described. The collected data were analyzed to assess the effect of nutritional interventions on extradigestive complications. RESULTS: As a part of nutritional intervention, the dietary structure was modified to decrease the saturated fatty acid and cholesterol intake and increase the dietary fiber and polyunsaturated fatty acid intake to improve the blood lipid levels and cardiovascular health. Mechanistic studies showed that these nutritional interventions positively affected mechanisms that regulate lipid metabolism, improved inflammatory markers in the blood, and improved vascular functions. CONCLUSION: The study discusses the consistency of the present results with previous findings to assess the clinical significance of the present findings. The study provides direction for future research on improving nutritional intervention strategies.

Morphological changes in the meibomian gland in children with tic disorders.

Background: Since blinking accelerates meibomian gland (MG) expression, abnormal blinking in children with tic disorders may be associated with the morphological changes of the MGs. Our study aimed to quantitively evaluate the morphology of the MG in these children. Methods: In this prospective case-control study, we examined 68 eyes of 68 children with tic disorders, 47 eyes of 47 children with dry eye, and 45 eyes of 45 healthy children at the Hangzhou Branch of the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from October 2020 to March 2021. We used an Oculus Keratograph 5M (K5M) to capture the MG images, noninvasive breakup time (NIBUT), and tear meniscus height (TMH). An automated method was used to analyze MG length, width, area, gland diameter deformation index (DI), and gland signal index (SI). Parameters across the three groups were assessed using Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Mann-Whitney test with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Results: The eyes in the tic disorders group exhibited lower MG length and area values compared with those of the other groups (all P values <0.001) and lower MG width values compared with those of children in the dry eye group (P=0.009). The tic disorder and dry eye groups both had a larger percentage of eyes with a U-shaped MG duct when compared with the control group (P<0.001 and P=0.017). The dry eye group had the lowest TMH and NIBUT values (both P values <0.001). The NIBUT values in the tic disorder group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.001). No significant correlations were detected between clinical tests and MG morphology in any of the groups. Conclusions: Blinking disorders have a significant impact on MG morphology. In children with tic disorders, more attention should be devoted to monitoring the MG over time.

Treatment of visual axis opacification and secondary membranes with Nd:YAG laser after pediatric cataract surgery under intranasal sedation.

Purpose: To describe neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser treatment of visual axis opacification and secondary membranes in pediatric patients with cataracts under intranasal dexmedetomidine sedation. Methods: Twenty eyes of 17 patients with secondary membrane formation after cataract extraction were enrolled in this study. Intranasal dexmedetomidine sedation (3 ug/kg) was administered, and Nd:YAG laser (Ellex Super Q, Adelaide, Australia) procedures were performed with children in the sitting position with their chin supported on a laser delivery slit lamp. Preoperative and postoperative visual acuities were documented, and medical records were reviewed. Results: The age of the patients ranged from 5 to 83 months (31.82 ± 27.73). Nineteen (95.0%) eyes had congenital cataracts and one (5.0%) had a traumatic cataract. Nd:YAG laser treatment of VAO with ten (50.0%) eyes, pupillary membranes with three (15.0%) eyes, pupillary cortical proliferation with six (30.0%) eyes, and anterior capsule contraction with one (5.0%) eye. Five (25.0%) eyes demonstrated visual acuity improvement, whereas six (30.0%) eyes remained unchanged after laser treatment. The recurrence rate was 30.0% and four eyes underwent a second Nd:YAG membranectomy. No side effects or tolerances due to sedative drugs were observed. Conclusion: Nd:YAG laser membranectomy under intranasal dexmedetomidine sedation was safely performed in children as young as 5 months old in a sitting position. This approach facilitates patient convenience, doctor proficiency, and cost reductions. Patients with recurrence can be treated by repeating the procedure.

Efficacy of Toric Intraocular Lens Implantation in Patients Older Than 80 Years with Cataracts and Corneal Astigmatism.

INTRODUCTION: This study analyzed the visual outcome following cataract surgery with toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) in patients older than 80 years with corneal astigmatism. METHODS: A total of 159 patients (159 eyes) older than 80 years with corneal astigmatism (≥ 0.75 D) were included. Fifty-three eyes received Acrysof IQ® toric IOLs (SN6AT2-5), while the others received non-toric IOLs: 51 eyes received Acrysof IQ® IOLs (SN60WF) and 55 eyes received A1-UV IOLs. The uncorrected distance visual acuity, corrected distance visual acuity, and refraction (spherical equivalent, refractive cylinder) were assessed at 3 months postoperatively. The prediction error of refractive outcome and percentages of eyes within ± 0.50 D and ± 1.00 D in the toric IOL group obtained using five toric IOL formulas (Barrett predicted posterior corneal astigmatism (PCA), Barrett measured PCA, Kane, EVO 2.0 and Næser-Savini) were compared. RESULTS: At 3 months postoperatively, the average uncorrected distance visual acuity was better in the toric IOL group than the non-toric IOL group (p < 0.001). The mean residual refractive cylinder was lower in the toric IOL group than the non-toric IOL group (p < 0.001). The Næser-Savini formula achieved the lowest mean absolute error (0.39 D) and had the highest percentages of eyes within an absolute error of 0.50 D and 1.00 D (72% and 98%) compared to the other formulas. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate the efficacy of toric IOL implantation in patients older than 80 years with corneal astigmatism and provide strong evidence for cataract surgeons to encourage such patients to choose toric IOLs.

Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery versus Conventional Phacoemulsification Surgery: Clinical Outcomes with EDOF IOLs.

In this study, we evaluate and compare the outcomes of conventional phacoemulsification cataract surgery (CPS) and femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) with the implantation of an extended depth of field (EDOF) intraocular lens (IOL). A prospective, consecutive cohort study was conducted. Patients were given the option to choose FLACS or CPS and were implanted with an EDOF IOL. Refractive data, visual acuity data, ocular aberration measured with a wavefront aberrometer, and optical quality measured with an optical quality analysis system II were collected at one month postoperatively. A total of 92 eyes of 64 patients were enrolled in this study; 35 eyes of 26 patients were treated with FLACS, whereas 57 eyes of 38 patients were treated with CPS. Uncorrected visual acuity at far, intermediate, and near distance and best-spectacle-corrected visual acuity were not statistically significantly different between the groups (all p > 0.05), nor were the mean cylinder and mean spherical equivalent refraction (both p > 0.05). The FLACS group had a lower ocular trefoil than the CPS group (p = 0.033), and there was no significant difference between the two groups considering other aberration parameters, whether ocular or internal (all p > 0.05). Optical-quality-related parameters showed also no significant difference between the two groups (all p > 0.05). In conclusion, there was no significant difference between FLACS and CPS with implantation of EDOF IOLs in postoperative ocular parameters, refractive outcomes, ocular aberration, optical quality, and aberration parameters, except a lower ocular trefoil in the FLACS group. In terms of these indicators, FLACS does not provide an additional clinical benefit for patients over CPS.

Accuracy of new-generation intraocular lens calculation formulas in eyes with variations in predicted refraction.

PURPOSE: To investigate the characteristics of eyes with large variations in predicted refraction using four traditional intraocular lens (IOL) formulas and evaluate the accuracy of new-generation intraocular lens power calculation formulas. METHODS: Eyes that had variation in predicted refraction (≥ 0.75 D) using four traditional formulas (SRK/T, Holladay 1, Hoffer Q, and Haigis formulas) were included. Axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), average keratometry (AK), and the ratio of axial length to corneal radius (AL/CR) were measured. New-generation formulas (Barrett Universal II, Emmetropia Verifying Optical 2.0, Kane, and Pearl-DGS formulas) and traditional formulas were compared. The median absolute error (MedAE) was the main parameter to evaluate the accuracy of formulas. RESULTS: A total of 79 participants (79 eyes) who had variation in predicted refraction of (≥ 0.75 D) using four traditional formulas out of 510 eyes (510 patients) underwent uncomplicated cataract surgeries. The Barrett Universal II (0.29 D), EVO 2.0 (0.31 D), Kane (0.30 D), and Pearl-DGS (0.33 D) formulas produced significantly lower median absolute errors (MedAEs) than the Hoffer Q (0.61 D) and Holladay 1 (0.59 D) formulas (P < 0.01). The Wang-Koch (WK) adjustment significantly improved the accuracy of the Holladay 1 formula in long eyes (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal AL, ACD, and AK are more likely to lead to prediction errors using traditional formulas. New-generation formulas and traditional formulas with WK adjustment showed satisfactory prediction accuracy.

Effect of capsular bend on the rotational stability of toric intraocular lens.

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of capsular bend and axial length on the rotational stability of toric IOL. METHODS: The prospective study included patients with preexisting astigmatism that were implanted with Acrysof IQ Toric IOL. According to the pre­operative axial length, all patients were divided into 2 groups: high myopia (AL ≥ 26 mm) group, and emmetropia or low to moderate myopia group (AL <26 mm). High-speed Swept-source Optical Coherence Tomography (SS-OCT) radial scanning was performed after pupil dilation to obtain the toric IOL axial orientation and capsular bending index (CBI) at 1-day, 1-week, 1-month and 3-month intervals postoperatively. The correlation between the rotation of toric intraocular lens and the axial length or CBI was subsequently analyzed. RESULTS: 68 eyes of 57 patients were included in the research. The rotation of toric IOL within the high myopia group was greater than the control group (P = 0.001, 1month postoperative). Capsular contact with the IOL was delayed in highly myopic eyes, although the results were not statistically significant (P = 0.094, 1-month postoperatively). There was a positive correlation between the degree of rotation and axial length at the interval found between 1-week and 1-month after the operation (r = 0.333, P = 0.005). There was a significant negative correlation between the IOL rotational speed and CBI (P < 0.001). The regression equation was Y = -0.441*X + 1.712 (R2 = 0.323, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: There was a significant negative correlation between the IOL rotation speed and the CBI, while the influence of the axial length and capsular bending mainly occurred between one week and one month after the operation.

New insights into the mechanism of freeze-induced damage based on ice crystal morphology and exudate proteomics.

To get insight into freeze-induced damage in meat, researchers evaluated the formation of ice crystals in the initial freezing stage and the protein profile and bioinformatics information in thawed exudates. Two treatments were used with high freezing temperatures of -12 °C and low freezing temperatures of -80 °C. Lower-temperature (-80 °C) freezing benefits small, evenly distributed intracellular ice crystals and causes less damage to muscle fibers. 82 proteins were identified as differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) based on the data-independent acquisition (DIA) techniques. Most of these proteins were binding proteins, oxidoreductases, transferases, and protease inhibitors that were involved in oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), amino acid metabolism, and other pathways. Seven proteins were screened as potential markers of exudates. Besides the mechanical damage caused by ice crystal formation, we postulated that ATP decomposition causes muscle contraction during freezing and thawing. Furthermore, the effect of CAST on calpain activity reduces proteolytic capacity, which is also one of the reasons for decreased muscle quality. These results could add to what is already known about how frozen meat deteriorates, which could help control the quality of frozen meat and develop new technologies.

DNA methyltransferase activity in the basolateral amygdala is critical for reconsolidation of a heroin reward memory.

The persistence of drug memory contributes to relapse to drug seeking. The association between repeated drug exposure and drug-related cues leads to cravings triggered by drug-paired cues. The erasure of drug memories has been considered a promising way to inhibit cravings and prevent relapse. The re-exposure to drug-related cues destabilizes well-consolidated drug memories, during which a de novo protein synthesis-dependent process termed "reconsolidation" occurs to restabilize the reactivated drug memory. Disrupting reconsolidation of drug memories leads to the attenuation of drug-seeking behavior in both animal models and people with addictions. Additionally, epigenetic mechanisms regulated by DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) are involved in the reconsolidation of fear and cocaine reward memory. In the present study, we investigated the role of DNMT in the reconsolidation of heroin reward memory. In the heroin self-administration model in rats, we tested the effects of DNMT inhibition during the reconsolidation process on cue-induced reinstatement, heroin-priming-induced reinstatement, and spontaneous recovery of heroin-seeking behavior. We found that the bilateral infusion of 5-azacytidine (5-AZA) inhibiting DNMT into the basolateral amygdala (BLA) immediately after heroin reward memory retrieval, but not delayed 6 h after retrieval or without retrieval, decreased subsequent cue-induced and heroin-priming-induced reinstatement of heroin-seeking behavior. These findings demonstrate that inhibiting the activity of DNMT in BLA during the reconsolidation of heroin reward memory attenuates heroin-seeking behavior, which may provide a potential strategy for the therapeutic of heroin addiction.

KIAA0101 and IL2RA Were Identified as Core Genes in Hormone-Resistant Nephropathy.

Objectives: To analyze the tissue heterogeneity of hormone-sensitive and drug-resistant nephrotic syndrome genes using a bioinformatics approach and to analyze gene-related functional pathways. Methods: The limma package of R software was used to screen differential genes from the nephropathy datasets GSE145969 and GSE189734. The differential genes were analyzed for functional and pathway enrichment in terms of biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions. The Metascape tool was used to construct protein networks for the differential genes, and the results were imported into Cytoscape software for visualization. The genes were identified as key modules and genes using the MCODE plug-in. Gene set enrichment analysis was performed for the HALLMARK analysis of the two microarray key genes to obtain the relevant pathways. Results: GSE145969 screened 351 differential genes, 168 upregulated genes, and 183 downregulated genes. The differential genes were enriched in biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions, such as myocardial contraction, intracellular nonmembrane organelles, and structural molecular activities. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network contained 140 nodes, with the highest-scoring module containing seven genes, and the MCODE plug-in calculated the downseed. The key gene was KIAA0101, whose HALLMARK pathway was significantly enriched in the mTORC1 signaling pathway. A total of 263 differential genes were screened by GSE189734, and they were enriched in biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components, such as immune system processes, signaling receptor binding, and the cytoplasmic matrix. The PPI network contained 253 nodes, with the highest-scoring module containing 37 genes. The seed gene obtained through the MCODE plug-in calculation was IL2RA, whose HALLMARK pathway was significantly enriched in the KRAS signaling pathway. Conclusion: By analyzing the gene sets of different tissues in nephropathy, two key genes, namely KIAA0101 and IL2RA, were obtained. Their gene function enrichment is related to cell growth, development, and reproduction. Therefore, IL2RA and KIAA0101 can be used as diagnostic markers for hormone-resistant nephropathy.

Proteomic changes involved in water holding capacity of frozen bovine longissimus dorsi muscles based on DIA strategy.

As freeze/thaw procedure leads to inevitable drip loss, elucidation of mechanism on dynamic changes in water holding capacity (WHC) of muscle is urgently needed. In this study, the proteomic profile by DIA-based strategy, muscle microstructure, water mobility, and WHC indices of bovine longissimus dorsi muscles were investigated under different freezing conditions as well as the correlations among them. Results indicated that slow freezing (SF) sample exhibited significantly higher water mobility, thaw loss, total loss, and shear force value than the samples subjected to fast freezing (FF) and non-frozen control (CON). According to the protein profile, we have identified 272 differential abundance proteins (DAPs), in which more significant proteome changes were found in SF/CON samples as compared with FF/CON. Among the 132 DAPs in FF/SF comparison, correlation analysis revealed that MYL3, DES, SYNE2, EXR, RPL35A, RPS6, and Hsp40 were closely correlated with T23 , thaw loss, and total loss. Accordingly, we considered those seven proteins as potential biomarkers related to WHC of frozen muscle. Our study should give a further understanding on mechanisms behind the various WHC of muscle when subjected to different freezing conditions. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Freezing plays a key role in the preservation method for meat and meat products. However, the drip loss during freezing and subsequent thawing procedure causes considerable economic and nutritional losses. To minimize the losses, elucidation of mechanism on the mechanism of thaw loss formation is urgently needed. DIA-based proteomics is a novel, robust method that provides further understanding on the mechanisms behind the dynamic changes in water holding capacity of muscle. The screened protein biomarkers in frozen muscle would play key roles in the development of WHC, especially for the thaw loss formation. Through this perspective, we can explain the origin of thaw loss and the variation under different freezing conditions, which should provide the meat industries with theoretical basis for reducing losses.

The Investigation of Protein Profile and Meat Quality in Bovine Longissimus thoracic Frozen under Different Temperatures by Data-Independent Acquisition (DIA) Strategy.

The influence of freezing on the protein profile and quality traits in bovine Longissimus thoracic (LT) muscle was investigated by the data-independent acquisition (DIA) technique. Compared to fresh meat, a total of 262 proteins were identified as differential abundance proteins (DAPs) in four frozen groups (−12 °C, −18 °C, −38 °C, and −80 °C). According to the bioinformatics analysis, most of the DAPs in the significant Go terms and the KEGG pathway were structure proteins and enzymes. Proteome changes in the frozen bovine muscle at −12 °C and −18 °C were more significant than those at −38 °C and −80 °C. The result was consistent with the deterioration trend of the meat quality. The correlation analysis revealed that 17 proteins were correlated closely with the color, shear force, thawing loss, and cooking loss of the frozen meat, which could be used as putative biomarkers for frozen meat quality. MYO18A and ME3 are newly discovered proteins that are associated with frozen beef quality. In addition, CTTN and SERPINB6 were identified in frozen groups, which exhibited a significant inverse correlation with thawing loss (p < 0.01). These findings reveal the quality changes induced by freezing at the protein molecular level and provide new insights into the control of quality deterioration.

On the emerging of thawing drip: Role of myofibrillar protein renaturation.

This study aimed to facilitate the understanding on the origin of thawing drip under different freezing rate. Eventually we observed significantly greater thaw loss produced by slow freezing (8.58%) as compared to fast freezing (6.41%) after 24 h of thawing. Back to the freezing, ice crystallization induced decline in pH and the cold denaturation of myofibrillar protein. However, independent of freezing rate, we noticed protein renaturation with pH restoring during thawing, evidenced by the decreasing surface hydrophobicity, increasing solubility and thermal stability, and gradually stabilized secondary structure. Meanwhile, the water-holding of myofibrils increased with thawing process along with the rising water mobility. Under fast freezing, the results indicated less extensive protein cold denaturation and lower water mobility during thawing. Besides, we proposed that the microenvironment of lower ionic strength in fast freezing should benefit the protein renaturation and water re-absorption, ultimately contributed to lower thaw loss.

The rise of thawing drip: Freezing rate effects on ice crystallization and myowater dynamics changes.

To better reveal the formation of thawing drip, this study investigated the ice crystallization and myowater dynamics changes in frozen bovine Longissimus dorsi muscle. In ultra-fast freezing a narrow distribution of ice crystals size was observed together with higher solubility, lower surface hydrophobicity and stable second structure of myofibrillar protein. Accordingly, ultra-fast freezing samples exhibited significantly lower thaw loss (4.35 %) than slow freezing (8.22 %) after 48 h of freezing. Upon thawing, 2D T1-T2 relaxation spectra indicated a myowater redistribution, in which slow freezing led to major migration of water from immobile water to free water. Besides, T1 and T2 relaxation times showed an increasing trend with freezing process. The proton density images displayed major free water seep from myofibrils to the surface of muscle. Consequently, the water from the "reservoir" (free water) flowed into the "channel" (the widened spaces between muscle fibres), and formed into the thawing drip.

Meibomian Gland Morphology Changes After Cataract Surgery: A Contra-Lateral Eye Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the morphology changes of meibomian glands (MGs) after cataract surgery. Setting: Hangzhou Branch of the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China. Methods: In this contra-lateral eye study, 40 patients received unilateral cataract surgery for age-related cataract. All the patients underwent the evaluation of non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT) and lower tear meniscus height (TMH) before the surgery and 6 months post-operatively. The MGs were evaluated via ImageJ and Meibomian Gland Bio-image Analyzer. MG dropout, length, width, area, gland diameter deformation index (DI), and gland signal index (SI) were recorded. Results: MG length, width, area, DI, and SI were significantly decreased after cataract surgery in the study group (operated eyes, P < 0.001, P = 0.003, P < 0.001, P = 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively) and showed no significant changes in the control group (non-operated eyes) (all P > 0.05). MG loss increased more in the study group (P = 0.030), and the changes in TMH and NIBUT were not significantly different between the two eyes (both P > 0.05). Conclusion: Cataract surgery aggravated meibomian gland morphology, such as MG loss, MG length, width, area, and SI, and produced no change in NIBUT and TMH at 6 months post-operatively.

Agreement between anterior segment parameters obtained by a new ultrasound biomicroscopy and a swept-source fourier-domain anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To evaluate the agreement between anew UBM and an SS-OCT. Methods: The scans of the right eye of each volunteer were obtained using the two devices. Data were fitted and recorded including: central corneal thickness (CCT), aqueous depth (AQD) (the distance from endothelium to lens), angle-to-angle distance (ATA), lens thickness (LT), diameter of the lens in the horizontal direction (LDiaangle: distance between the sharp angles on both sides of the lens, LDiaarc: distance between the vertex of the circular arcs on both sides of the lens), anterior and posterior corneal radius (Rf and Rb). Results: 25 eyes were included in this study. It could be seen that the differences in CCT, LDiaangle, Rf measured by the two instruments were not statistically significant. Bland-Altman analysis plots of CCT, LDiaangle and Rf showed mean differences of 0.2 µm, 0.01mm and 0.0mm for the 2 devices, respectively. Conclusion: The values of CCT, LDiaangle and Rf obtained via two instruments were not clinically interchangeable and the AQD, ATA, LT, and Rb have poor agreement affected by accommodation. We can estimate the real lens diameter by subtracting 0.61 ± 0.43mm when the lens diameter can only be simulated with SS-OCT.

Contribution of calpain to protein degradation, variation in myowater properties and the water-holding capacity of pork during postmortem ageing.

To investigate calpain's effect on protein degradation, myowater properties, and the water-holding capacity (WHC), porcine longissimus muscles were incubated with control buffer, PD150,606 (calpain-specific inhibitor) and MG-262 (multiple-protease inhibitor) and assigned to an ageing period of 1, 4 or 7 d. Over 7 d of storage, no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in desmin or integrin expression between the MG-262 and PD150,606 groups, which indicated that calpain played a major role in protein proteolysis. Compared to those in the control group, muscle samples subjected to PD150,606 and MG-262 exhibited higher water mobility and a poorer WHC. Additionally, there were no significant differences in myowater properties or the WHC between the two groups at 1 d postmortem (P > 0.05). Calpain regulated the distribution and mobility of myowater, which contributed to a higher WHC in the early postmortem period (before 4 d), but other proteases tended to take over at a later stage.

Serum metabolic changes in rats after intragastric administration of dextromethorphan.

Dextromethorphan is recognized as a substance of abuse around the world. An estimated 3.1 million people between the ages of 12 and 25 years (5.3%) misused over-the-counter cough and cold medications in 2006. In this study, we developed a serum metabolomic method by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to evaluate the effect of abuse of dextromethorphan on rats. The dextromethorphan-treated rats were given 12, 24 and 48 mg/kg (low, medium, high) of dextromethorphan by intragastric administration each day for 3 days. Partial least squares-discriminate analysis revealed that intragastric administration of dextromethorphan induced metabolic perturbations. Compared with the control (healthy) group, the levels of propanoic acid, urea, heptafluorobutanoic acid, 2-hexyldecanoic acid and butanedioic acid of the low group decreased; levels of propanoic acid and heptafluorobutanoic acid of the medium group decreased, while that of benzoic acid increased; and levels of 2-hexyldecanoic acid, glycerol and butanedioic acid of the high group increased. These biomarkers are involved in the citric acid cycle, urea cycle, glycerolipid metabolism and tricarboxylic acid cycle. The results indicate that the metabolomic method by GC-MS may be useful to elucidate abuse of dextromethorphan. According to the pathological changes in the liver at different dosages, dextromethorphan is not hepatotoxic after intragastric administration of 12, 24 and 48 mg/kg for 3 days.