Accuracy of 14 intraocular lens power calculation formulas in extremely long eyes.

PURPOSE: To compare the accuracy of 14 formulas in calculating intraocular lens (IOL) power in extremely long eyes with axial length (AL) over 30.0 mm. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 211 eyes (211 patients) with ALs > 30.0 mm were successfully treated with cataract surgery without complications. Ocular biometric parameters were obtained from IOLMaster 700. Fourteen formulas were evaluated using the optimized A constants: Barrett Universal II (BUII), Kane, Emmetropia Verifying Optical (EVO) 2.0, PEARL-DGS, T2, SRK/T, Holladay 1, Holladay 2, Haigis and Wang-Koch AL adjusted formulas (SRK/Tmodified-W/K, Holladay 1modified-W/K, Holladay 1NP-modified-W/K, Holladay 2modified-W/K, Holladay 2NP-modified-W/K). The mean prediction error (PE) and standard deviation (SD), mean absolute errors (MAE), median absolute errors (MedAE), and the percentage of prediction errors (PEs) within ± 0.25 D, ± 0.50 D, ± 1.00 D were analyzed. RESULTS: The Kane formula had the smallest MAE (0.43 D) and MedAE (0.34 D). The highest percentage of PE within ± 0.25 D was for EVO 2.0 (37.91%) and the Holladay 1NP-modified-W/K formulas (37.91%). The Kane formula had the highest percentage of PEs in the range of ± 0.50, ± 0.75, ± 1.00, and ± 2.00 D. There was no significant difference in PEs within ± 0.25, ± 0.50 ± 0.75 and ± 1.00 D between BUII, Kane, EVO 2.0 and Wang-Koch AL adjusted formulas (P > .05) by using Cochran's Q test. The Holladay 2modified-W/K formula has the lowest percentage of hyperopic outcomes (29.38%). CONCLUSIONS: The BUII, Kane, EVO 2.0 and Wang-Koch AL adjusted formulas have comparable accuracy for IOL power calculation in eyes with ALs > 30.0 mm.

Seasonal variation regulate the endogenous phosphorus release in sediments of Shijiuhu Lake via water-level fluctuation.

Freshwater lakes undergo substantial alterations of the phosphorus (P) cycle in the water-sediment ecosystem due to thermal change. The impact process of seasonal fluctuation on P cycling in sediments has been scarcely investigated. P forms in sediments from a freshwater lake in China were analyzed using sequential extraction technique. The vertical distribution of soluble reactive P (SRP), Fe2+, and S2- in the interstitial water was measured using diffusion gradient technique (DGT). Fick's Law and DIFS model were used to obtain the diffusion fluxes of SRP and the kinetic parameters in the water-sediment system. The results showed that total P (TP) concentrations in the solid sediments varied from 207.5, 266.6 and 130.3 mg/kg to 614.7, 1053.1, and 687.6 mg/kg in winter, spring, and summer, respectively. The concentrations of individual P forms in spring were higher than those in other seasons, with Fe-bound P (Fe-P) concentration being the highest across all seasons. Notably, significant variations of SRP concentrations were found in the interstitial water between sedimentary depths of approximately 2 cm and 6 cm, particularly in the summer. Furthermore, higher diffusion fluxes of SRP through the interface were found in summer. A stable anaerobic environment failed to develop in spring with high water level, preventing the desorption of solid Fe-P and diffusion of Fe2+ into the water due to the afflux and deposition of P-containing particulate into deeper sediment layers along with organic material. Under extreme high-temperature in summer, decreased rainfall and rising temperatures boosted the activity of aquatic organisms in the water, thereby reducing P fixation by sediments and leading to P release. This process increased the risk of P excess and potential eutrophication in the water. Generally, clarifying the resupplying processes of endogenous P in sediment systems experiencing seasonal variations is critical for eutrophication management of lakes.

Refractive outcomes of toric intra-ocular lens implantation in cases of high posterior corneal astigmatism.

Purpose: To evaluate whether the toric intra-ocular lens (IOL) power calculation based on total corneal astigmatism (TCA) in eyes with high posterior corneal astigmatism (PCA) could result in a systematic over-correction or under-correction after operation. Methods: The present study included a mono-centric retrospective study design. The data were collected from 62 consecutive eyes during uncomplicated cataract surgery by a single surgeon with a measured PCA of 0.50 diopters (D) or higher. Toric IOL calculations were made using TCA measurements. The eyes were grouped as either "with-the-rule" (WTR) or "against-the-rule" (ATR) on the basis of the steep anterior corneal meridian. The post-operative refractive astigmatic prediction error was analyzed 1 month post-operatively using the vector analysis by the Alpins method and double-angle plots method. Results: The correction indexes were 1.14 ± 0.29 in the ATR eyes and 1.25 ± 0.18 for the WTR eyes, indicating a tendency toward over-correction. The mean over-correction was 0.22 ± 0.52D in the ATR group and 0.65 ± 0.60D in the WTR group. The magnitude of error (ME) values were significantly different from the ideal value of zero in both groups (ATR: P = 0.03; WTR: P = 0.00). No significant difference in mean absolute error (MAE) in predicted residual astigmatism was found between ATR and WTR groups (0.61 ± 0.42 D versus 0.64 ± 0.39 D; P = 0.54). The ATR group yielded better results, with 48% <0.50D prediction error in the main analysis. Conclusions: The results suggested that in cases of high PCA, the toric IOL calculation, which was performed using TCA, may cause a potential over-correction in the ATR and WTR eyes. For ATR eyes, over-correction led to slight disruption of post-operative visual quality because of the "with-the-rule" residual astigmatism after operation. Therefore, we suggested using TCA for toric IOL calculation in ATR eyes.

An evaluation of the accuracy of toric intraocular lens power calculation based on measured total corneal refractive power.

Purpose: To evaluate a method using measured values of total corneal refractive power (TCRP) for a manufacturer's online calculator by comparing it with the Barrett toric calculator (BTC) and Kane toric calculator (KTC) combined with simulated keratometry values (SimK). Methods: This was a retrospective case series. Patient records were reviewed to identify the patients who had biometry with the IOL Master 700 and Pentacam recorded before toric IOL implantation and refractive follow-up data after implantation. The predicted error in residual astigmatism was calculated by vector analysis according to the calculation methods and the measurements used. Results: A total of 70 eyes of 56 patients were included. The mean absolute astigmatism prediction errors were 0.6 ± 0.32, 0.59 ± 0.35, and 0.61 ± 0.35 D for the ATCTCRP, BTCSimK, and KTCSimK calculators, respectively (P = 0.934), and the centroid of the prediction errors were 0.3 D @ 178°, 0.11 D @ 102°, and 0.09 D @ 147°, respectively (P = 0.23). In the with-the-rule subgroup, the centroid of the prediction error was 0.34 D @ 176° for ATCTCRP and was the highest among the three calculation methods (P = 0.046). Conclusion: The ATCTCRP, BTCSimK, and KTCSimK calculators had similar performance with regards to their astigmatism prediction accuracy. The ATCTCRP calculator combined with 4.0-mm apex/ring readings of TCRP was slightly intended to result in against-the-rule residual astigmatism.

Potent intrinsic bactericidal activity of novel copper telluride nano-grape clusters with facile preparation.

Bactericidal nanomedicines often suffer from a complicated design and insufficient intrinsic inhibitory efficacy. Herein, novel anti-bacterial copper telluride (CuTe) nano-clusters are reported, featuring superior bactericidal efficiency, facile preparation, and unique mechanism. These nanoparticles, well dispersable in water, resembled grape clusters with rough surfaces. The CuTe nano-grape clusters exhibited ultra-high sterilization efficacy at ultra-low concentration, particularly for Gram-negative bacteria, and were more potent than conventional anti-microbial nanoparticles. Also, the grape clusters effectively inhibited the bacterial biofilm development. Further investigation revealed the synergized mechanisms of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and glutathione (GSH) depletion. Interestingly, electron microscopy revealed that the grape clusters served as bacterial hunters by tightly adhering to bacterial surfaces. The bacteria subsequently suffered from the leakage of various intracellular components including nucleic acid, proteins, and potassium. Most encouragingly, CuTe drastically reduced bacterial number in a mouse model with lethal intraperitoneal infection and increased the mouse survival rate to 90%. This finding could inspire the development of highly potent bactericidal inorganic formulations with simplified structure, multiple antibacterial mechanisms, and promising application potential.

Igf2bp2 knockdown improves CCl4-induced liver fibrosis and TGF-ß-activated mouse hepatic stellate cells by regulating Tgfbr1.

Progressive liver fibrosis is a dynamic process characterized by the net accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM), which could eventually develop into cirrhosis, leading to malignant transformation. In this study, insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2 (Igf2bp2) was found to be up-regulated in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-ß)-activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Igf2bp2 knockdown in the CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis mice model significantly improved CCl4-induced liver damage by decreasing necrosis and fibrotic septa, reducing hydroxyproline levels, and down-regulating fibrotic markers levels. In TGF-ß-activated HSCs, Igf2bp2 knockdown partially attenuated TGF-ß-induced cellular effects by suppressing HSCs viability and DNA synthesis and reducing the ECM-associated factors such as α-SMA, COLLAGEN I, and COLLAGEN III. Integrative network and signaling analysis revealed that the Igf2bp2 could bind to Tgfbr1. Transforming growth factor-beta receptor 1 (Tgfbr1) was found to be significantly up-regulated in the fibrotic liver and activated HSCs, and positively correlated with Igf2bp2. Tgfbr1 knockdown partially eliminated TGF-ß-induced fibrotic changes and Igf2bp2 overexpression effects on TGF-ß-activated HSCs in vitro. Moreover, Igf2bp2 overexpression promoted the phosphorylation of SMAD2/SMAD3, AKT, and PI3K, whereas Tgfbr1 knockdown exhibited the opposite effect; Tgfbr1 knockdown also partially attenuated the effects of Igf2bp2 overexpression on the phosphorylation of SMAD2/SMAD3, AKT, and PI3K. In closing, Igf2bp2 and Tgfbr1 are up-regulated in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis and TGF-ß-activated mHSCs. Igf2bp2 knockdown improved CCl4-induced liver fibrosis and TGF-ß-activated HSCs by targeting Tgfbr1, possibly through the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Tracing the sources of phosphorus in lake at watershed scale using phosphate oxygen isotope (δ18OP).

Phosphorus (P) is normally considered as the limited nutrient for shallow freshwater lakes and can potentially trigger eutrophication on account of high concentrations. Due to the various transportation and transformation processes, P source apportionment and management in lake ecosystems have become more and more difficult. Combining with sequential extraction of P fractions and mineralogical analysis, the isotopic compositions of oxygen in phosphate (δ18OP) of resin-extractable P from the different samples including soil, estuary sediments, pond sediments, and lake sediments in the Shijiuhu Lake catchment, China, were investigated. The results showed that δ18OP values ranged from +15.23 to +21.92‰ in agricultural soil, +16.53 to +24.10‰ in estuary sediments, +18.90 to +20.90‰ in pond sediments, and +17.42 to +19.70‰ in lake sediments. Isotopic signatures indicated that chemical fertilizers with heavier δ18OP values (+20.70 to +26.50‰) were the predominant contributors of P in the soil. The river transportation together with Fe/Al-P desorption on anaerobic condition simultaneously stimulated the enrichment of P in the lake sediments, even though the biotic activity regulated the isotope values moving toward the equilibrium. Eroded soil was the important source of P in lake and pond sediments via drainage and runoff, and conserved the source isotope signal in the samples. Stronger biotic activity in the aquatic environments dragged δ18OP values toward the equilibrium. However, conspicuous off-equilibrium isotope signature suggested the terrestrial sources in the aquatic ecosystems. The calculation of two end-member linear mixing models suggested that soils also predominantly controlled the P occurrence in the lake sediments with contribution higher than 80%, indicating that decreasing inputs from the agricultural activities is important in P reduction on catchment scale. Generally, δ18OP from different sources can provide indirect and important evidences for the identification and management of P sources in the lake catchment.

Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) potentially facilitates the accumulation of phosphorus in lake water from sediment.

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are crucial nutrients for eutrophication in the lacustrine ecosystem and attract the attention worldwide. However, the interaction between them need further clarification. This study aimed to assess the influence of dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia (DNRA) on the cycle of P in lacustrine sediment. Different fractions of N and P in the pore water were measured using high-resolution in-situ measurement techniques, HR-Peeper and DGT, coupling with sequential extraction for solid sediment from a shallow freshwater lake. The results showed that elevated nitrate (NO3-) reduction via DNRA rather than denitrification was verified at deeper sediment layer, suggesting the generation of inorganic ammonia (NH4+) as electron donor under anaerobic episodes. High abundance of DNRA bacteria (nrfA gene) obtained using high-throughput sequencing analysis were detected at upper layer and responsible for the accumulation of NH4+ in the sediment coupling with chemolithoautotrophic metabolism. Additionally, significant desorption of ionic ferrous iron (Fe2+) and dissolved reactive phosphate (DRP) from solid phase and the enrichment in the solution was simultaneously detected. Higher concentration of solid Fe bound P (Fe-P) at deeper layer indicated the potential re-oxidation of Fe2+ as electron donor during DNRA process and sorption of DRP toward the Fe-containing minerals. However, obvious evidence of desorption proved by DGT indicated that higher NH4+ concentrations favored the reduction of Fe(III) oxy(hydr)oxides and the desorption of DRP into the pore water and diffusion toward the overlying water. Finally, noteworthy S2- release from solid sediment was speculated to stimulate the DNRA and facilitated the accumulation of NH4+ in the solution, which further induced the enrichment of DRP in water from the solid phase. Overall, DNRA potentially facilitates the accumulation of P in lake water, and the synchronous control of N and P is important for the eutrophication management and restoration of lake eutrophication.

The optoelectronic properties improvement of double perovskites Cs2SnI6 by anionic doping (F-).

Tin-based perovskite material is the best choice to replace heavy metal element lead during the last several years. Cs2SnI6 with Sn4+ is a fascinating optoelectronic material, which is a more air-stable composite cesium tin halide peroxide variant from CsSnI3. However, the optoelectronic performance between N and P type of Cs2SnI6 varies considerably. Herein, we synthesized uniform Cs2SnI6 by modified two-step method, which thermal evaporated CsI firstly, and followed annealing in the SnI4 and I2 vapor at 150 °C resulted in uniform Cs2SnI6 films. SnF4 is used as a dopant source to improve the optoelectronic properties of Cs2SnI6 films. Results indicate that good crystallinity was obtained for all films and the doped films underwent a crystalline plane meritocracy transition. The doped films had a flat, non-porous morphology with large grains. The high transmittance of the doped films in the infrared region led to the avoidance of self-generated thermal decomposition. With the help of F-, the films became more conductive and had higher carrier mobility. DFT calculations showed that doping with F reduced the surface energy of (004), resulted in a preferred orientation transition in the crystal of Cs2SnI6. Fluorine doped double layer perovskite materials would have a broader application prospect.

Interfacial Chemical Effects of Amorphous Zinc Oxide/Graphene.

Research on the preparation and performance of graphene composite materials has become a hotspot due to the excellent electrical and mechanical properties of graphene. Among such composite materials, zinc oxide/graphene (ZnO/graphene) composite films are an active research topic. Therefore, in this study, we used the vacuum thermal evaporation technique at different evaporation voltages to fabricate an amorphous ZnO/graphene composite film on a flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The amorphous ZnO/graphene composite film inherited the great transparency of the graphene within the visible spectrum. Moreover, its electrical properties were better than those of pure ZnO but less than those of graphene, which is not consistent with the original theoretical research (wherein the performance of the composite films was better than that of ZnO film and slightly lower than that of graphene). For example, the bulk free charge carrier concentrations of the composite films (0.13, 1.36, and 0.47 × 1018 cm-3 corresponding to composite films with thicknesses of 40, 75, and 160 nm) were remarkably lower than that of the bare graphene (964 × 1018 cm-3) and better than that of the ZnO (0.10 × 1018 cm-3). The underlying mechanism for the abnormal electrical performance was further demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) detection and first-principles calculations. The analysis found that chemical bonds were formed between the oxide (O) of amorphous ZnO and the carbon (C) of graphene and that the transfer of the π electrons was restricted by C=O and C-O-C bonds. Given the above, this study further clarifies the mechanism affecting the photoelectric properties of amorphous composite films.

Water-level fluctuations regulate the availability and diffusion kinetics process of phosphorus at lake water-sediment interface.

Sequential extraction and in-situ diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) techniques were used to determine phosphorus (P) fractions and high-resolution 2D fluxes of labile PDGT, Fe2+DGT, and S2-DGT in sediment systems. The diffusion fluxes were subsequently calculated for different scenarios. Dynamic diffusion parameters between solid sediment and solution were also fitted using the DIFS (DGT-induced fluxes in sediments) model. The results suggested that Fe-bound P (Fe-P) was the dominant pool which contributed to the resupply potential of P in the water-sediment continuum. Significant upward decreases of labile PDGT, Fe2+DGT, and S2-DGT fluxes were detected in pristine and incubated microcosms. This dominance indicated the more obvious immobilization of labile P via oxidation of both Fe2+ and S2- in oxidic conditions. Additionally, these labile analytes in the microcosms obviously decreased after a 30-day incubation period, indicating that water-level fluctuations can significantly regulate adsorption-desorption processes of the P bound to Fe-containing minerals within a short time. Higher concentrations of labile PDGT, Fe2+DGT, and S2-DGT were measured at the shallow lake region where more drastic water-level variation occurred. This demonstrates that frequent adsorption-desorption of phosphate from the sediment particles to the aqueous solution can result in looser binding on the solid sediment surface and easier desorption in aerobic conditions via the regulation of water levels. Higher R values fitted with DIFS model suggested that more significant desorption and replenishment effect of labile P to the aqueous solution would occur in lake regions with more dramatic water-level variations. Finally, a significant positive correlation between S2-DGT and Fe2+DGT in the sediment indicated that the S2- oxidization under the conditions of low water-level can trigger the reduction of Fe(III) and subsequent release of active P. In general, speaking, frequent water-level fluctuations in the lake over time facilitated the formation and retention of the Fe(II) phase in the sediment, and desorption of Fe coupled P into the aqueous solution when the water level was high.

LSD1-mediated demethylation of OCT4 safeguards pluripotent stem cells by maintaining the transcription of PORE-motif-containing genes.

Reversible lysine methylation is essential for regulating histones and emerges to critically regulate non-histone proteins as well. Here we show that the master transcription factor OCT4 in pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) was methylated at multiple lysine residues. LSD1 that is highly expressed in PSCs can directly interact with and demethylate OCT4 at lysine 222 (K222) in the flexible linker region. Reduced LSD1 activity led to the methylation of OCT4-K222 that diminished the differentiation potential of PSCs while facilitating proteasome-independent degradation of OCT4 proteins. Furthermore, site-specifically replacing K222 with phenylalanine to mimic the constitutively methylated lysine promoted the 'locked-in' mode engagement of the OCT4 PORE-homodimers that tightly bind to and block the transcription of multiple PORE-motif-containing target genes regulating cell fate determination and cell junction organization, and thereby reducing the pluripotency of PSCs. Thus, LSD1-mediated demethylation of OCT4 plays a crucial role in restricting the 'locked-in' mode binding of OCT4 PORE-homodimers to the PORE-motif-containing genes and thereby maintaining their transcription to safeguard the pluripotency of PSCs.

SARS-CoV-2 clearance in COVID-19 patients with Novaferon treatment: A randomized, open-label, parallel-group trial.

BACKGROUND: The antiviral effects of Novaferon, a potent antiviral protein drug, on COVID-19 was evaluated in the laboratory, and in a randomized, open-label, parallel-group trial. METHODS: In the laboratory, Novaferon's inhibition of viral replication in cells infected with SARS-CoV-2, and prevention of SARS-CoV-2 entry into healthy cells was determined. Antiviral effects of Novaferon in COVID-19 patients with treatment of Novaferon, Novaferon plus Lopinavir/Ritonavir, or Lopinavir/Ritonavir were evaluated. The primary endpoint was the SARS-CoV-2 clearance rates on day six of treatment, and the secondary endpoint was the time to SARS-CoV-2 clearance. RESULTS: Novaferon inhibited viral replication (EC50=1.02ng/ml), and prevented viral infection (EC50=0.10ng/ml). Results from the 89 enrolled COVID-19 patients showed that both Novaferon and Novaferon plus Lopinavir/Ritonavir groups had significantly higher viral clearance rates on day six than Lopinavir/Ritonavir group (50.0% vs. 24.1%, p=0.0400, and 60.0% vs. 24.1%, p=0.0053). The median time to viral clearance was six days, six days, and nine days for three groups, respectively, a 3-day reduction in both the Novaferon and Novaferon plus Lopinavir/Ritonavir groups compared with the Lopinavir/Ritonavir group. CONCLUSIONS: Novaferon exhibited anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects in vitro and in COVID-19 patients. These data justify further evaluation of Novaferon. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Number ChiCTR2000029496 at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn/).

Cellular context- and protein level-dependent interaction of pluripotency factor OCT4A with multiple octamer motifs of the same target gene.

AIMS: To compare how OCT4A proteins interact with and regulate multiple OCT4A-octamer motifs (OMs) in different regions of the FOS gene expressed in somatic cancer cells versus pluripotent stem cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two FOS reporter gene systems harboring predicted OMs or their mutational counterparts were introduced into HeLa and NCCIT cells with varying OCT4A protein levels. The transcription of dsGFP reflecting FOS expression was quantitated by RT-qPCR, the OCT4A-OMs binding and the correlation between OCT4A and FOS transcription was determined by ChIP-PCR and RNA-Seq, respectively. KEY FINDINGS: In NCCIT cells, abundant OCT4A proteins bound to and inhibited OM1 and OM2 at the promoter of the FOS gene. RA-induced OCT4A down-regulation transiently increased FOS transcription. In contrast, in HeLa cells that contain much lower levels of endogenous OCT4A proteins, OCT4A primarily bound to and activate OM1 thereby promoting FOS transcription. OCT4A KO significantly reduced FOS expression. Ectopically introduced OCT4A, at its leaked or induced expression level, promoted FOS transcription by binding to OM2/OM3 or OM1/OM3, respectively. Thus, the interaction of OCT4A proteins with different OMs is cellular context- and protein level-dependent, and such complicated OCT4A binding mode can only be reflected by a dsGFP-based reporter harboring the full-length FOS gene but not by that merely having the FOS promoter. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings unravel an additional layer of regulatory mechanisms that account for the cellular context- and dose-related versatile functions of OCT4A protein, and further underscore the importance of precise modulation of OCT4A in the regenerative medicine and anticancer therapies.

Multiple novel hepatocellular carcinoma signature genes are commonly controlled by the master pluripotency factor OCT4.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common solid tumor with a poor prognosis. HCC is often due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. As yet, efficacious HCC treatment regimens for late-stage HCC patients are lacking. Therefore, the identification of more specific and sensitive biomarkers for its early diagnosis and treatment remains an urgent need. METHODS: Total RNAs from paired HBV-derived HCC tumors and adjacent peritumor tissues (APTs) were subjected to RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between HCC tumors and APTs were selected and verified. RESULTS: We identified 166 DEGs and found that eight top-ranked and verified DEGs (TK1, CTTN, CEP72, TRIP13, FTH1, FLAD1, CHRM2, AMBP) all contained putative OCT4 binding motifs in their promoter regions. TK1, TRIP13 and OCT4 were found to exhibit concurrent higher expression levels in HCC tumors than in APTs. The mRNA levels of TK1, TRIP13 and OCT4 in a cohort of 384 HCC samples from the TCGA database were all found to be negatively correlated with patient overall survival, relapse-free survival and progression-free survival, underscoring the HCC biomarker status of TK1 and TRIP13 on one hand, and implicating their association with OCT4 on the other hand. Furthermore, OCT4 proteins were found to bind to the promoters of both genes in vitro and in vivo. Knocking out OCT4 in HCC-derived cell lines reduced the expression of TK1 and TRIP13 and significantly decreased their tumorigenicity. CONCLUSIONS: Using RNA-seq, we identified several novel HCC signature genes that may serve as biomarkers for its diagnosis and prognosis. Their common transcriptional regulation by OCT4 suggests key roles in the development of HCC, and indicates that OCT4 may serve as a potential therapeutic target.

Performance of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery in Chinese patients with cataract: a prospective, multicenter, registry study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the completion rate, visual performance, and adverse outcomes of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) in Chinese patients. METHODS: This is a prospective, single-arm, multicenter registry study of 19 cataract surgery clinics in China. Chinese patients with cataract who underwent FLACS using the Alcon LenSx® laser system in single eye (n = 1140) or both eyes (n = 201) were enrolled and data were collected between March 2015 and August 2016. Clinical characteristics were recorded before surgery, and on postoperative days 1, 7, and 30. For surgery on both eyes, the second eye was included in the analysis only if it was operated within 30 days after the first eye surgery. The primary outcome was the completion rate of circular anterior capsulotomy. Secondary outcomes for lens fragmentation, corneal incision, and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation included best corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA) and completion rates. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded. RESULTS: The completion rates of circular anterior capsulotomy, lens fragmentation, corneal incision, and IOL implantation were 98.6% (95% CI: 97.8-99.1%), 99.5% (95% CI: 99.1-99.8%), 97.6% (95% CI: 96.7-98.3%), and 100% (95% CI: 99.8-100%), respectively. BCDVA preoperatively and at postoperative day 30 were 1.134 ± 0.831 logMAR and 0.158 ± 0.291 logMAR, respectively. The proportion of eyes with BCDVA of 20/20 or better was 1.6% at baseline and 41.3% at postoperative day 30. AE incidence was 0.32%, with posterior capsule rupture present in 0.19% of eyes. CONCLUSION: FLACS using the LenSx® laser system can achieve satisfactory results in a real-world setting.

Effects of Thermal Treatment on Porous Cerium Titanate Photocatalyst for Ofloxacin Degradation.

Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) template was used in a sol-gel route to synthesize porous cerium titanate. The fractions of CeTi2O6, CeO2, anatase TiO2 and rutile TiO2 phases in the materials vary with calcination temperature ranging from 600 to 1000 °C. FT-Far IR spectra prove the far infrared absorption of Ce-O and Ti-O bonds in the materials. The band gap energies of the crystallized materials are around 3.0 eV and are not noticeably affected by calcination temperature. The BET surface area constantly shrinks from 65.4 m²/g at 600 °C to 2.1 m²/g at 1000 °C. Meanwhile, the total pore volume decreases from 0.2057 cm³/g at 600 °C to 0.0024 cm³/g at 1000 °C. The adsorption capacity of the materials drastically decreases with increasing calcination temperature, which is in close relationship to the change of BET surface area. The porous cerium titanate sample obtained at 800 °C has the maximum photocatalytic activity on both ofloxacin degradation and hydroxyl radical productivity. When calcination temperature increases from 600 °C to 800 °C, photocatalytic degradation efficiency is enhanced from 31.2% to 56.7%.

Fluorine ion induced phase evolution of tin-based perovskite thin films: structure and properties.

To study the effect of fluorine ions on the phase transformation of a tin-based perovskite, CsSnI3-x (F) x films were deposited by using thermal vacuum evaporation from a mixed powder of SnI2, SnF2 and CsI, followed by rapid vacuum annealing. The color evolution, structure, and properties of CsSnI3-x F x films aged in air were observed and analyzed. The results showed that the colors of the films changed from black to yellow, and finally presented as black again over time; the unstable B-γ-CsSnI3-x F x phase transformed into the Y-CsSnI3-x F x phase, which is then recombined into the Cs2SnI6-x F x phase with the generation of SnO2 in air. Fluorine dopant inhibited the oxidation process. The postponement of the phase transformation is due to the stronger bonds between F and Sn than that between I and Sn. The color changing process of the CsSnI3-x F x films slowed that the hole concentrations increased and the resistivities decreased with the increase of the F dopant ratio. With the addition of SnF2, light harvesting within the visible light region was significantly enhanced. Comparison of the optical and electrical properties of the fresh annealed CsSnI3-x F x films showed that the band gaps of the aged films widened, the hole concentrations kept the same order, the hole mobilities reduced and therefore, the resistivities increased. The double layer Cs2SnI6-x F x phase also showed 'p' type semi-conductor properties, which might be due to the incomplete transition of Sn2+ to Sn4+, i.e. Sn2+ provides holes as the acceptor.

A Comparison of the Cystotome-Assisted Prechop and Phaco-Chop Phacoemulsification Nucleotomy Techniques.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to compare the intra-operative parameters and post-operative outcomes of cataract surgery performed using the cystotome-assisted prechop (CAP) and phaco-chop techniques. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifty-two eyes with age-related cataract in the CAP group, and 63 eyes in the phaco-chop group were enrolled for analysis in this study, and the surgical outcomes were reported 1 day and/or 1 week, and 1 month post-operatively. RESULTS The CAP technique was associated with statistically significantly lower cumulative dissipated energy compared with the phaco-chop technique (P<0.001). The mean endothelial cell loss in the CAP group was statistically significantly lower than that of the phaco-chop group 1 week (5.6±5.9% versus 8.8±8.7%, P=0.020) and 1 month post-operatively (6.3±6.8% versus 9.8±9.9%, P=0.026). The change in the central corneal thickness between the 2 groups was significantly different at 1 day post-operatively (3.3±3.1% versus 4.9±4.6%, P=0.036). The change in the 8.0 mm central corneal volume between the 2 groups was significantly different at 1 day and 1 week post-operatively (6.5±6.1% versus 10.9±7.9%, P=0.001; 3.2±4.7% versus 5.4±5.7%, P=0.029, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The CAP technique showed lower ultrasound energy consumption and less endothelial damage and corneal edema than the phaco-chop technique. It might therefore prove a cost-effective prechop method for cataract surgery.