Efficacy of 0.01% Atropine Eye Drops in Controlling Myopia Progression and Axial Elongation in Children: A Meta-analysis Based on Randomized Controlled Trials.

To clarify the preventive effects of 0.01% atropine eye drops against myopia progression and axial elongation in children, a meta-analysis was carried out based on data obtained from PubMed and Web of Science as of August 1, 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that enrolled myopic children who had received atropine for at least one year were included in this study, Key search terms included myopia, children, and 0.01% or low-dose atropine. Heterogeneity was quantified by I2 statistics, and meta-analyses were performed using the fixed-effect model. Five RCTs involving 809 unique children were analyzed. One trial was excluded because of a poor Jadad score and markedly rapid myopia progression in controls. The mean effect sizes for 12 months in myopia progression and axial elongation synthesized from the remaining 4 RCTs were 0.20 (95% CI: 0.13 to 0.27) D and -0.08 (-0.11 to -0.04) mm, respectively (p<0.0001). The corresponding inhibition ratios were 28% and 19%. I2 statistics were 6% or less. Sensitivity analysis and funnel plots demonstrated the robustness of the estimation. The 0.01% atropine-induced inhibition ratio for myopia progression in Asian children was roughly half of that originally reported and did not reach the minimum requirement for clinical treatment.

Radiological features of renal pelvic hemangioma: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Renal pelvic hemangioma (RPH) is often misdiagnosed as renal pelvis cancer (RPC) due to its similarity in presentation, and there are few reports on the imaging findings of RPH. This study is aimed at improving the understanding of imaging findings specific for RPH by a retrospective analysis of the imaging findings of RPH. METHODS: RPH cases confirmed by pathology and with high-quality images were collected in the analysis. Nine cases of RPH were enrolled, of which 6 cases underwent ultrasound (US); 7 cases underwent computed tomography (CT), including 6 cases with an enhanced scan; and 2 cases underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including 1 case with an enhanced scan. All images of cases were analyzed and sorted independently by two senior attending radiologist blinded to the pathological results, according to the imaging indicators, such as the density and intensity on CT and MRI respectively. When the opinions between radiologists were inconsistent, images were re-evaluated together until a consensus was reached. RESULTS: Nine cases of RPH were collected from 5 males and 4 females, aged 16-70 years old, with a median age of 41 years. Five cases were located in the left kidney and 4 cases were located in the right kidney. The clinical symptoms mostly presented with hematuria. Nine cases demonstrated solitary masses, with 4 cases with blurred margins and 5 cases with well-defined margins. The size of the mass was about 1.5-8.0 cm, and the median size was 2.5 cm. The US showed mostly hypoechoic masses and color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) showed minimal to no blood flow signal. Unenhanced CT scans showed mostly hypodensity and mostly mild continuous enhancement on an enhanced scan. The intensity of lesions was commonly heterogeneous on MRI due to hemorrhage and necrosis. One case showed mild continuous enhancement on an enhanced MRI scan. CONCLUSIONS: The imaging findings of RPH commonly present as a focal lesion with blurred or well-defined margins, mild and continuous enhancement, and no cachexia of the clinical symptoms. RPH should be differentiated from malignant tumors of the renal pelvis for treatment.

Endogenous Bacterial Endophthalmitis Caused by Iliopsoas Abscess.

A 79-year-old woman presented to our hospital with a 10-day history of gradually worsening binocular vision and severe backache. Further investigations revealed poor bilateral best-corrected visual acuities (BCVA), bilateral vitreous opacities, gray-white lesions scattered throughout the retina, and a left iliopsoas abscess on CT that later grew out methicillin-sensitive S. aureus. The abscess was drained and intravenous antibiotics were initiated, but the left eye additionally required intravitreal vancomycin. BCVA for both eyes normalized within 1 year. Intramuscular abscess should be considered as a possible primary lesion in cases of endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis.

One-pot, ligand-free, room-temperature synthesis of Au/Pd/ZnO nanoclusters with ultra-low noble metal loading and synergistically improved photocatalytic performances.

Au/Pd/ZnO nanoclusters with ultra-low noble metal loadings were prepared by a one-step and ligand-free method at room temperature. HRTEM, ICP-MS, XPS, and elemental mapping analysis confirmed that the obtained Au/Pd/ZnO nanoclusters were composed of ZnO nanoclusters decorated with well-dispersed AuPd nanoparticles. Au/Pd/ZnO nanoclusters exhibited higher photocatalytic activity compared with those of pristine ZnO, Au/ZnO and Pd/ZnO. Moreover, the high catalytic activity of Au/Pd/ZnO nanoclusters could be maintained even after 5 cycles of photocatalytic reaction. A mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic performance was also suggested, which was in light of the synergistic effects of the SPR effect from Au and the improved photogenerated charge carrier separation from Pd.

Dexmedetomidine Provides Protection Against Hippocampal Neuron Apoptosis and Cognitive Impairment in Mice with Alzheimer's Disease by Mediating the miR-129/YAP1/JAG1 Axis.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease that leads to progressive cognitive, memory, and learning dysfunction that affects the aging population. Dexmedetomidine (Dex) might be beneficial for postoperative cognitive function in elderly patients. However, the exact mechanism underlying the protective role of Dex against cognitive impairment requires further elucidation. The present study aims to determine whether miR-129 is involved in the protective effect of Dex against Aß1-42-induced hippocampal neuron apoptosis and cognitive impairment in mice. In our study, Y-shaped maze and water maze tests were conducted to evaluate the cognitive function of AD mice, while neuronal apoptosis was measured by Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase-Mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) staining. The findings showed that Dex administration resulted in the enhancement of miR-129 expression with declined hippocampal neuron apoptosis and attenuated cognitive impairment in Aß1-42-injected mice. miR-129 targeted YAP1 and disrupted its interaction with JAG1, leading to a decline in hippocampal neuron apoptosis and attenuated cognitive impairment in Aß1-42-injected mice. In conclusion, the miR-129/YAP1/JAG1 axis could potentially be the mechanism by which Dex protects AD mice from cognitive impairment.

microRNA-222-Mediated VHL Downregulation Facilitates Retinoblastoma Chemoresistance by Increasing HIF1α Expression.

Purpose: Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common primary intraocular tumor in children. Chemoresistance is the major obstacle for treatment of these tumors. This study aims to determine whether or not downregulating microRNA-222 (miR-222) could serve as a potential therapeutic target for preventing chemoresistance in RB treatment. Methods: Differentially expressed miR-222 in RB samples and its downstream target genes were predicted using bioinformatics methods. The expression of miR-222 was altered by mimic or inhibitor to examine its role in RB cell in response to the chemotherapeutic agent vincristine (VCR). Further bioinformatic analysis predicted involvement of the stability of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) protein in regulation of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor, followed by characterization of the effect of VHL on the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of HIF1α. Next, VHL or HIF1α was overexpressed to determine their effects on RB cell activities after VCR treatment. In vivo assays were performed on nude mice to further verify the in vitro results. Results: miR-222 is highly expressed in RB tissues and cells and was found to facilitate resistance of RB cells to VCR. Of note, miR-222 specifically bound to and negatively regulated VHL. VHL could inhibit the stability of HIF1α and promote the degradation of ubiquitin-proteasome, thus reducing HIF1α expression to attenuate VCR resistance in RB cells. Moreover, inhibition of miR-222 in combination with VCR suppressed tumor formation in nude mice. Conclusions: miR-222 promotes the expression of HIF1α by targeting VHL, thus accelerating the resistance of RB cells to the chemotherapeutic agent VCR.

Profile distribution of soil moisture response to precipitation on the Pisha sandstone hillslopes of China.

The Pisha sandstone area in China is located on the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River, which is a region with some of the most severe soil erosion in both the Loess Plateau and in the world. Soil moisture is an important link between rainfall, surface water, and groundwater, and it plays a critical role in vegetative growth, ecosystem health, and the restoration of degraded vegetation. This study investigated the dynamic characteristics of soil moisture and its influencing factors in the hillslopes of the Pisha sandstone area using mathematical statistics and hydrochemical analysis methods. The results resolved that precipitation is the major direct source of soil moisture. Soil moisture fluctuated with precipitation, but the response time of these fluctuations was directly related to the antecedent soil moisture. Thus, while precipitation events increase the soil moisture content of the Pisha sandstone, they will not change the vertical distribution of moisture in the soil profile. The positive effect of precipitation on soil moisture was obvious in the soil layers above 50 cm, but deep soil moisture was less responsive to precipitation.

A rare case of pulmonary malignant granular cell tumor detected with 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging.

Malignant granular cell tumor is rarely involved in the lungs. We present a rare case with 18F-FDG PET/CT images showing a hypermetabolic lesion in the lower lobe of the left lung with posterior mediastinum invasion. Histopathologic study proved it as malignant granular cell tumor.