Inhibiting the SARM1-NAD+ axis reduces oxidative stress-induced damage to retinal and nerve cells.

Retinal neurodegenerative diseases are a category of refractory blinding eye conditions closely associated with oxidative stress induced by mitochondrial dysfunction in retinal cells. SARM1, a core driver molecule leading to axonal degeneration, possesses NAD+ enzyme (NADase) activity. However, the role of the SARM1-NAD+ axis in oxidative stress-induced retinal cell death remains unclear. Here, we employed the SARM1 NADase inhibitor DSRM-3716 and established a glucose oxidase (GOx)-induced oxidative stress cell model. We found that compared to the GOx group, the DSRM-3716 pre-treated group reduced the hydrolysis of NAD+, inhibited the elevation of oxidative stress markers induced by GOx, decreased mitochondrial dysfunction, lowered the phosphorylation level of JNK, and attenuated the occurrence of pyroptosis in retinal and nerve cells, thereby providing protection for neurite growth. Further utilization of the JNK activator Anisomycin activated JNK, revealed that the JNK/c-Jun pathway down-regulated NMNAT2 expression. Consequently, it reduced cellular NAD+ synthesis, exacerbated mitochondrial dysfunction and cell pyroptosis, and reversed the protective effect of DSRM-3716 on cells. In summary, the inhibition of SARM1 NADase activity substantially mitigates oxidative damage to retinal cells and mitochondrial damage. Additionally, JNK simultaneously serves as both an upstream and downstream regulator in the SARM1-NAD+ axis, regulating retinal cell pyroptosis and neurite injury. Thus, this study provides new insights into the pathological processes of retinal cell oxidative stress and identifies potential therapeutic targets for retinal neurodegenerative diseases.

Short-Wavelength Infrared Imaging of Infected and Affected Dentin.

Stains produced by bacteria or those found in blood and food byproducts accumulate in highly porous caries lesions. They can interfere with accurate diagnosis and the selective removal of carious tissue during cavity preparations. Short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) imaging studies have shown that stain molecules do not absorb light beyond 1200 nm. The objective of this study was to image affected and infected dentin atSWIR wavelengths. Sections of 3 mm thickness were cut from the extracted teeth with deep dentinal lesions. The sound (normal), affected (stained), and infected (demineralized) dentin on each section were examined with reflected light at wavelengths from 400 to 1700 nm, red and green fluorescence, and with optical coherence tomography (OCT). Microcomputed tomography (microCT) was used to measure the mineral density at each location investigated. Significant (p < 0.05) differences were observed in the reflected light intensity at 400-850 nm and for fluorescence between the sound, affected, and infected dentin. SWIR imaging did not show significant reductions in reflectivity for the affected and infected dentin. SWIR images may be valuable for monitoring the lateral spread of dentinal lesions on the occlusal surfaces of teeth.

Effect of microwave (MW)-subcritical extraction on oil recovery, oxidative stability, and lipid types from Katsuwonus pelamis livers.

Katsuwonus pelamis is a tuna species mostly sold for canned fillets, its livers were lack of utilization. This study thus investigated an oil production method combining microwave (MW) pretreatment and subcritical dimethyl ether (SDME) in aim to reach improved efficiency and oil quality. The heating characteristics from different MW powers (400, 600, and 800 W) were evaluated, and SEM showed MW having hydrolysis effect on matrix lipoprotein, the fortified recovery rate was also found. Under the MW-SDME condition with 600 W power, 1:5 solid-to-liquid ratio, and 100 min, the recovery reached 93.21% in maximal (SDME ∼50%). To further improve quality, MW powers was noticed affecting lipid types, fatty acid composition, and oxidative stability of produced oils. 1286 lipid types (mostly glyceride and phospholipid-type) were identified, while higher MW lowered the emulsifying phospholipids prompting phase separation. Several oxidation indexes consistently increased with the rising MW power, GC-MS suggested 400 W for higher DHA.

Impact of LDLR polymorphisms on lipid levels and atorvastatin's efficacy in a northern Chinese adult Han cohort with dyslipidemia.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia, a significant risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), is influenced by genetic variations, particularly those in the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of LDLR polymorphisms on baseline serum lipid levels and the therapeutic efficacy of atorvastatin in an adult Han population in northern China with dyslipidemia. METHODS: In this study, 255 Han Chinese adults receiving atorvastatin therapy were examined and followed up. The 3' untranslated region (UTR) of the LDLR gene was sequenced to identify polymorphisms. The associations between gene polymorphisms and serum lipid levels, as well as changes in lipid levels after intervention, were evaluated using the Wilcoxon rank sum test, with a P < 0.05 indicating statistical significance. Assessment of linkage disequilibrium patterns and haplotype structures was conducted utilizing Haploview. RESULTS: Eleven distinct polymorphisms at LDLR 3' UTR were identified. Seven polymorphisms (rs1433099, rs14158, rs2738466, rs5742911, rs17249057, rs55971831, and rs568219285) were correlated with the baseline serum lipid levels (P < 0.05). In particular, four polymorphisms (rs14158, rs2738466, rs5742911, and rs17249057) were in strong linkage disequilibrium (r2 = 1), and patients with the AGGC haplotype had higher TC and LDL-C levels at baseline. Three polymorphisms (rs1433099, rs2738467, and rs7254521) were correlated with the therapeutic efficacy of atorvastatin (P < 0.05). Furthermore, carriers of the rs2738467 T allele demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels post-atorvastatin treatment (P = 0.03), indicating a potentially crucial genetic influence on therapeutic outcomes. Two polymorphisms (rs751672818 and rs566918949) were neither correlated with the baseline serum lipid levels nor atorvastatin's efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: This research outlined the complex genetic architecture surrounding LDLR 3' UTR polymorphisms and their role in lipid metabolism and the response to atorvastatin treatment in adult Han Chinese patients with dyslipidemia, highlighting the importance of genetic profiling in enhancing tailored therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, this investigation advocates for the integration of genetic testing into the management of dyslipidemia, paving the way for customized therapeutic approaches that could significantly improve patient care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This multicenter study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Xiangya Hospital Central South University (ethics number K22144). It was a general ethic. In addition, this study was approved by The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University (ethics number 20220418).

The Role and Mechanism of Nicotinamide Riboside in Oxidative Damage and a Fibrosis Model of Trabecular Meshwork Cells.

Purpose: To investigate the potential effects and mechanism of nicotinamide riboside (NR) on the oxidative stress and fibrosis model of human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cell line cells. Methods: HTM cells were pretreated with NR, followed by the induction of oxidative injury and fibrosis by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and TGF-ß2, respectively. Cell viability was tested using Hoechst staining and MTT assays, cell proliferation was assessed by EdU assay, and cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and western blotting. DCFH-DA and DHE probes were used to measure the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and MitoTracker staining was used to measure the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Fibrotic responses, including cell migration and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, were detected via Transwell assays, qRT-PCR, and immunoblotting. Results: NR pretreatment improved the viability, proliferation, and MMP of H2O2-treated HTM cells. Compared to cells treated solely with H2O2, HTM cells treated with both NR and H2O2, exhibited a reduced rate of apoptosis and generation of ROS. Compared with H2O2 pretreatment, NR pretreatment upregulated expression of the JAK2/Stat3 pathway but inhibited mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway expression. Moreover, 10-ng/mL TGF-ß2 promoted cell proliferation and migration, which were inhibited by NR pretreatment. Both qRT-PCR and immunoblotting showed that NR inhibited the expression of fibronectin in a TGF-ß2-induced fibrosis model. Conclusions: NR has a protective effect on oxidative stress and fibrosis in HTM cells, which may be related to the JAK2/Stat3 pathway and MAPK pathway. Translational Relevance: Our research provides the ongoing data for potential therapy of NAD+ precursors in glaucoma.

Interaction between visual impairment and subjective cognitive complaints on physical activity impairment in U.S. older adults: NHANES 2005-2008.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To investigate the independent relationships of visual impairment (VI) and Subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) with physical function impairment (PFI) and the interaction effect between VI and SCC on PFI in American older adults. METHODS: The data of this cross-sectional study was obtained from the 2005-2008 National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted in the United States. The VI criterion included both subjective self-reported eyesight conditions and objective visual acuity test results. The self-reported questionnaires were utilized to determine PFI and SCC. According to the survey design of NHANS, original data were weighted to produce nationally representative estimates. Both the unweighted original data and weighted estimates underwent analysis. Crude and adjusted logistic models were employed to assess the pairwise associations among VI, SCC, and PFI. To assess the interactive effect, measures such as the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion due to interaction (AP), and synergy index (S) were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 2,710 subjects (weighted n = 38,966,687) aged 60 years or older were included. Compared with subjects without subjective visual impairment (SVI), those with SVI had a significant positive association with PFI [weighted OR (95%CI): 3.11 (2.25, 4.31)]. After multi-variable adjusting, the relationship remained significant [weighted OR (95%CI): 1.90 (1.32, 2.72)]. Similarly, those with objective visual impairment (OVI) were positively associated with the risk of PFI in the crude model [weighted OR (95%CI): 2.35 (1.53, 3.61)] and adjusted model [weighted OR (95%CI): 1.84 (1.07, 3.17)]. Moreover, we found the association of SCC with an increased risk of FPI [crude weighted OR (95%CI): 5.02 (3.40, 7.40); adjusted weighted OR (95%CI): 3.29 (2.01, 5.38)]. Ultimately, the additive interaction showed there was a significant positive interaction term between SVI and SCC on PFI, while OVI and SCC did not. CONCLUSION: Both VI and SCC were significantly associated with PFI in elder adults. Besides, there was a significant synergistic interaction between SVI and SCC on PFI, which indicated the improvement of SVI and SCC may be beneficial for the prevention of PFI. For the elderly, especially those with multiple disabilities, comprehensive and targeted approaches are imperative to foster their overall well-being and health.

Mutation analysis of RHO in patients with non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa.

PURPOSE: To identify RHO mutations in patients with non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa (NS-RP). METHODS: A total of 143 probands (46 family history and 97 sporadic cases) with NS-RP were recruited from Southeast China. The coding exons and adjacent intronic regions of RHO were PCR-amplified and sequenced by Sanger sequencing. The candidate variant was evaluated by the guidelines of American College of Medical Genetics and further validated through co-segregation analysis within the family. RESULTS: Five heterozygous mutations in RHO were detected in 5 out of 143 probands, where the frequency of RHO mutations in our cohort was approximately 3.5% (5/143) and 10.8% (5/46) for probands and families with NS-RP, respectively. Three known disease-causing mutations including c.C1030T (p.Q344X), c.C173G (p.T58R), and c.G266A (p.G89D) were identified in three unrelated families. The other two previously unreported mutations c.557C>A (p.S186X) and c.944delA (p.N315TfsX43) were confirmed in Family RP-087 and Family RP-139, respectively. These mutations co-segregated with available affected individuals in each family were not observed in the unaffected family members or in the 112 unrelated controls. CONCLUSIONS: This report expands the mutational spectrum of RHO gene associated with NS-RP and demonstrates the frequency of RP RHO mutations in Southeast Chinese populations.

Synergistic Effects of PtRhNiFeCu High Entropy Alloy Nanocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution and Oxygen Reduction Reactions.

The unique properties of high entropy alloy (HEA) catalysts, particularly their severe lattice distortion and the synergistic effect of multiple components, endow them with exceptional multifunctional catalytic performance. Herein, it is revealed for the first time, that the ultrasmall PtRhNiFeCu HEA nanoparticles catalyst shows outstanding catalytic activity for both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The catalyst exhibits an impressively low overpotential of 13 mV at 10 mA cm-2 , a Tafel slope of 29.6 mV dec-1, and high mass activity of 7.6 A mgPt -1 at -50 mV in alkaline media, and long-term stability of at least 20 h. Moreover, the catalyst also demonstrates effective catalytic activity for acidic ORR with a commendable performance of 1.23 A mgPt -1 , much exceeding the commercial Pt/C catalyst. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations unveil that the efficient electrocatalytic performance for HER and ORR can be primarily attributed to the synergistic effect between components tailors and optimizes the electronic structure of PtRhNiFeCu/C HEA, which not only enhances the HER activity through increasing water capture capability, decreasing energetic barrier for water dissociation, and optimizing hydrogen absorption but also initiates non-platinum active sites with high ORR activity, achieving the improved ORR performance.

In-Induced Electronic Structure Modulations of Bi─O Active Sites for Selective Carbon Dioxide Electroreduction to Liquid Fuel in Strong Acid.

The formation of carbonate in neutral/alkaline solutions leads to carbonate crossover, severely reducing carbon dioxide (CO2 ) single pass conversion efficiency (SPCE). Thus, CO2 electrolysis is a prospective route to achieve high CO2 utilization under acidic environment. Bimetallic Bi-based catalysts obtained utilizing metal doping strategies exhibit enhanced CO2 -to-formic acid (HCOOH) selectivity in alkaline/neutral media. However, achieving high HCOOH selectivity remains challenging in acidic media. To this end, Indium (In) doped Bi2O2CO3 via hydrothermal method is prepared for in-situ electroreduction to In-Bi/BiOx nanosheets for acidic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). In doping strategy regulates the electronic structure of Bi, promoting the fast derivatization of Bi2O2CO3 into Bi-O active sites to enhance CO2RR catalytic activity. The optimized Bi2 O2 CO3 -derived catalyst achieves the maximum HCOOH faradaic efficiency (FE) of 96% at 200 mA cm-2 . The SPCE for HCOOH production in acid is up to 36.6%, 2.2-fold higher than the best reported catalysts in alkaline environment. Furthermore, in situ Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrate that In-induced electronic structure modulation promotes a rapid structural evolution from nanobulks to Bi/BiOx nanosheets with more active species under acidic CO2 RR, which is a major factor in performance improvement.

Novel Variants of HPS6 Cause Suspected Ocular Albinism: A Report of 2 Cases and the Profile of HPS6 Variants.

INTRODUCTION: Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare autosomal-recessive disease characterized by ocular albinism (OA) or oculocutaneous albinism (OCA), platelet dysfunction, and other symptoms. This study aimed to analyze the molecular defect in two Chinese families with suspected OA, as well as to investigate the profile of HPS6 variants and their genotype-phenotype correlations. METHODS: Seven members from two families were recruited and underwent clinical ophthalmologic examinations. The genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on the proband of family JX. The single coding exon of HPS6 was directly Sanger sequenced based on PCR amplification in all available family members. An additional 46 probands from families or sporadic cases with the pathogenic variants of HPS6 reported in the literature were reviewed. RESULTS: We identified two different compound heterozygous truncating variants of HPS6 in probands with suspected OA from two independent families. The proband of family JX had c.1674dup and c.503-504del variants, and the other proband from family CZ had a nonsense variant of c.1114C>T and a frameshift variant of c.1556del. Among them, c.1674dup and c.1556del variants in HPS6 have not been reported previously. Therefore, our patients were diagnosed as HPS6 disease by molecular diagnostics. In the retrospective cohort of HPS6 patients, we delineated the profile of HPS6 variants and revealed a significant overlap between CpG islands and the variants of HPS6, suggesting a potential link between DNA methylation and HPS6 variants. We also observed a spatial aggregation of the variants in 3D structure of HPS6 protein, implying the possible functional significance of these structural regions. In addition, we did not find any significant genotype-phenotype correlation of HPS6, and neither did we observe a correlation between the truncation length of the HPS6 protein and the phenotype of HPS6 disease. CONCLUSION: Our research expands the spectrum of HPS6 variants, providing a comprehensive delineation of their profile and systematically investigating genotype-phenotype correlations in HPS6. These findings could offer potentially valuable clues for investigating the molecular mechanism underlying HPS6 pathogenesis, as well as aiding the clinical diagnosis of HPS6 patients and improving disease prognosis.

A Deep Learning Model for Detecting Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Using Ophthalmologic Ultrasound Images.

INTRODUCTION: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is one of the most common fundus diseases. Many rural areas of China have few ophthalmologists, and ophthalmologic ultrasound examination is of great significance for remote diagnosis of RRD. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and evaluate a deep learning (DL) model, to be used for automated RRD diagnosis based on ophthalmologic ultrasound images, in order to support timely diagnosis of RRD in rural and remote areas. METHODS: A total of 6,000 ophthalmologic ultrasound images from 1,645 participants were used to train and verify the DL model. A total of 5,000 images were used for training and validating DL models, and an independent testing set of 1,000 images was used to test the performance of eight DL models trained using four different DL model architectures (fully connected neural network, LeNet5, AlexNet, and VGG16) and two preprocessing techniques (original, original image augmented). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyze their performance. Heatmaps were generated to visualize the process of the best DL model in the identification of RRD. Finally, five ophthalmologists were invited to diagnose RRD independently on the same test set of 1,000 images for performance comparison with the best DL model. RESULTS: The best DL model for identifying RRD achieved an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.998 with a sensitivity and specificity of 99.2% and 99.8%, respectively. The best preprocessing method in each model architecture was the application of original image augmentation (average AUC = 0.982). The best model architecture in each preprocessing method was VGG16 (average AUC = 0.998). CONCLUSION: The best DL model determined in this study has higher accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity than the ophthalmologists' diagnosis in identifying RRD based on ophthalmologic ultrasound images. This model may provide support for timely diagnosis in locations without access to ophthalmologic care.

Diagnostic Performance of Multispectral SWIR Transillumination and Reflectance Imaging for Caries Detection.

The aim of this clinical study was to compare the diagnostic performance of dual short wavelength infrared (SWIR) occlusal transillumination and reflectance multispectral imaging with conventional visual assessment and radiography for caries detection on premolars scheduled for extraction for orthodontics reasons. Polarized light microscopy (PLM) and micro-computed tomography (microCT) performed after tooth extraction were used as gold standards. The custom-fabricated imaging probe was 3D-printed and the imaging system employed a SWIR camera and fiber-optic light sources emitting light at 1300 nm for occlusal transillumination and 1600 nm for reflectance measurements. Teeth (n = 135) on 40 test subjects were imaged in vivo using the SWIR imaging prototype in the study and teeth were extracted after imaging. Our study demonstrates for the first time that near-simultaneous real-time transillumination and reflectance video can be successfully acquired for caries detection. Both SWIR imaging modalities had markedly higher sensitivity for lesions on proximal and occlusal surfaces compared to conventional methods (visual and radiographic). Reflectance imaging at 1600 nm had higher sensitivity and specificity than transillumination at 1300 nm. The combined SWIR methods yielded higher specificity but the combined sensitivity was lower than for each individual method.

Clinical observation of phacoemulsification under the low perfusion pattern and low negative pressure in patients with low corneal endothelial cell density.

BACKGROUND: To observe the safety and effect of phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in patients with low corneal endothelial cell density (CD) under the low perfusion pattern with low negative pressure. METHODS: In this retrospective case series study, a total of 16 patients (17 eyes) were studied. They had all been diagnosed with low corneal endothelial (CD) and cataracts in the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from December 2019 to October 2021. They underwent phacoemulsification combined with IOL implantation under the low perfusion pattern with low negative pressure. The variations of corneal endothelial( CD), coefficient of variation (CV) of the cell area, central corneal thickness (CCT), visual acuity, and intraocular pressure before and after the operation were observed and assessed. Then a paired t-test, repeated measures analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation analysis were adopted for data analysis. RESULTS: The mean intraocular pressure of the 17 eyes was 16.88 ± 6.47 mmHg before the operation and 14.41 ± 3.10 mmHg after the operation, showing a statistically significant difference of t = 2.222, and p = 0.041. Before the operation, the mean visual acuity was 0.16 ± 0.09, and after the operation, it was 0.45 ± 0.16, displaying a statistically significant difference of t = -9.917, p < 0.001. Before and after the operation, four of the 17 eyes had no detectable CD. The mean CD of the other 13 eyes at one month after the operation (644.308 ± 106.24 cells/mm2) was lower than that before the operation (709.62 ± 119.19 cells/mm2), and the differences were statistically significant (F = 20.044, p < 0.001). However, no statistically significant differences were found in the mean CV before the operation (31.23 ± 4.21), and at one month after the operation (32.62 ± 3.80; F = 2.130, p = 0.157). Moreover, the mean CCT of 14 eyes at one month after the operation (562.72 ± 27.82 µm) was larger than that before the operation (534.79 ± 24.69 µm). CONCLUSIONS: The low perfusion pattern with low negative pressure is safe and effective for corneal endothelial dysfunction patients complicated with cataracts.

Mechanism underlying Müller cell pyroptosis and its role in the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the mechanism underlying Müller Cell Pyroptosis (MCP) and its role in the development of Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy (PVR). METHOD: The expression of pyroptosis-related factors, namely, cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase (caspase-1), interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-18, and Gasdermin D (GSDMD), was detected by quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting at the mRNA and protein levels, respectively, in retinal tissues. Müller and spontaneously Arising Retinal Pigment Epithelia (ARPE)-19 primary cells with GSDMD overexpression or knockdown were cultivated. Western blotting was used to detect the levels of the following pyroptosis-related factors in retinal tissues: caspase-1, IL-1ß, IL-18, and GSDMD. Through Cell Adhesion (CA) experiments, the changes in ARPE-19 CA in each group were observed. The migration and invasion of ARPE-19 cells were measured using the Transwell assay. The proliferation of ARPE-19 cells was measured with a Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) assay. Finally, the expression of the cytokines IL-1ß and IL-18 in the ARPE-19 cell culture medium was detected using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Compared with the surrounding normal tissues, the expression of caspase-1, IL-1ß, IL-18, and GSDMD at the protein and mRNA levels in the retinal proliferative membrane samples of the patients decreased significantly (p < 0.05). MCP significantly enhanced ARPE-19 CA, migration and invasion, proliferation, and cytokine expression (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MCP can promote the development of PVR lesions.

Time-resolved SWIR imaging for the assessment of the activity of occlusal caries lesions.

The aim of this study was to develop a clinical SWIR reflectance handpiece to assess the activity of lesions on the occlusal surfaces. The time-resolved reflectivity of 10 active and 10 arrested occlusal caries lesions on extracted teeth was monitored at 1470 nm using a benchtop system and a modified clinical prototype during forced air drying. The presence of a highly mineralized surface layer measured with microcomputed tomography (microCT) was used to indicate lesion activity. Multiple kinetic parameters were extracted from the acquired SWIR time versus intensity dehydration curves and used to assess lesion activity. Three parameters: delay, %Ifin , and rate calculated from the SWIR dehydration curves were significantly different (p < 0.05) between active and arrested lesions. The modified clinical probe was able to completely dehydrate all the active lesion areas in the occlusal pits and fissures in less than 30 s.

Boosting Hydrogen Peroxide Electrosynthesis via Modulating the Interfacial Hydrogen-Bond Environment.

Designing highly efficient and stable electrode-electrolyte interface for hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) electrosynthesis remains challenging. Inhibiting the competitive side reaction, 4 e- oxygen reduction to H2 O, is essential for highly selective H2 O2 electrosynthesis. Instead of hindering excessive hydrogenation of H2 O2 via catalyst modification, we discover that adding a hydrogen-bond acceptor, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), to the KOH electrolyte enables simultaneous improvement of the selectivity and activity of H2 O2 electrosynthesis. Spectral characterization and molecular simulation confirm that the formation of hydrogen bonds between DMSO and water molecules at the electrode-electrolyte interface can reduce the activity of water dissociation into active H* species. The suitable H* supply environment hinders excessive hydrogenation of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), thus improving the selectivity of 2 e- ORR and achieving over 90 % selectivity of H2 O2 . This work highlights the importance of regulating the interfacial hydrogen-bond environment by organic molecules as a means of boosting electrochemical performance in aqueous electrosynthesis and beyond.

Monitoring lesion activity on primary teeth with CP-OCT and SWIR reflectance imaging.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to use cross polarization optical coherence tomography (CP-OCT) and short wavelength infrared imaging (SWIR) reflectance imaging to monitor changes in the structure and activity of early occlusal caries on primary teeth over a period of 6 months during intervention with fluoride. METHODS: Participants (n = 29) aged 6-10 each with two suspected active occlusal lesions on primary teeth completed the study. Fluoride varnish was applied to tooth surfaces every 3-months and participants were instructed to brush twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste. Images were acquired using CP-OCT every 3 months for 6 months. SWIR reflectance images were acquired during forced air-drying of the lesions for 30 s at 0 and 6-months. RESULTS: Most of the 42 lesions appeared initially active at baseline. Only 6 lesions appeared arrested at baseline based on the presence of a highly mineralized transparent surface layer (TSL) in CP-OCT images. At 6 months, 14 of the lesions appeared arrested including the 6 initially arrested lesions and the TSL thickness increased significantly (p < 0.0001). The mean lesion depth (Ld) and the integrated reflectivity over the lesion depth (ΔR) increased significantly (p < 0.05) after 6 months for the 42 lesions analyzed. SWIR reflectance images showed that there was a significantly higher (p < 0.05) delay before changes in intensity were measured for active lesions versus arrested lesions during lesion drying. CONCLUSION: CP-OCT was able to monitor changes in lesion structure and activity including the formation of a highly mineralized TSL indicative of lesion arrest during nonsurgical intervention. Time-resolved SWIR reflectance imaging also shows that there are differences in the dehydration kinetics between active and arrested lesions. This study demonstrates two independent imaging methods that can be used to monitor changes in lesion activity over time.

Ni-CeO2 Heterostructure Promotes Hydrogen Evolution Reaction via Tuning of the O-H Bond Length of Adsorbed Water at the Electrolyte/Electrode Interface.

Understanding the properties and structure of reactant water molecules at the electrolyte solution/electrode interface is relevant to know the mechanisms of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, this approach has rarely been implemented due to the elusive local microenvironment in the vicinity of the catalyst. Taking the Ni-CeO2 heterostructure immobilized onto carbon paper (Ni-CeO2 /CP) as a model, the dynamic behavior of adsorbed intermediates during the reaction was measured by in situ surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection configuration (ATR-SEIRAS). Theoretical calculations are used in combination to comprehend the potential causes of increased HER activity. The results show that the O-H bond of adsorbed water at the electrolyte solution/electrode interface becomes longer for promoting the dissociation of water and accelerating the kinetically slow Volmer step. In addition, forming the Ni-CeO2 heterostructure interface optimizes the hydrogen adsorption Gibbs free energy, thus increasing HER activity. Therefore, the Ni-CeO2 /CP electrode exhibits remarkably low HER overpotentials of 37 and 119 mV at 10 and 100 mA cm-2 , which are close to commercial Pt/C (16 and 102.6 mV, respectively).

Effect of Charge on Carbon Support on the Catalytic Activity of Cu2O toward CO2 Reduction to C2 Products.

Electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction for C2 products has been studied on a series of supported Cu-based catalysts; however, the charge-promotion effects from the substrates for the selectivity of CO2 reduction are still unclear. Here we localize nanosized Cu2O on three carbon-based substrates that provide different charge-promotion effects: positively charged boron-doped graphene (BG), negatively charged nitrogen-doped graphene (NG), and weak negatively charged reduced graphene oxide (rGO). We demonstrate that the charge-promotion effects lead to an increase in faradaic efficiency (FE) for C2 products with an order of rGO/Cu < BG/Cu < pure Cu < NG/Cu and an FEC2/FEC1 ratio from 0.2 to 7.1. By performing in situ characterization, electrokinetic investigations, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we reveal that the negatively charged NG is favorable for stabilizing Cu+ species under CO2 reduction, which strengthens CO* adsorption to further boost C-C coupling for C2 products. As a result, we achieve a high C2+ FE of ∼68% at high current densities of 100-250 mA cm-2.

China Glaucoma Treatment Pattern Study I-Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma: protocol for a multicentre, retrospective, observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness globally, and the number of patients with PACG rises every year. Yet, there is a lack of knowledge about the clinical characteristics, therapeutic options and profile of patients with PACG in China. Hence, we design the China Glaucoma Treatment Pattern Study Ⅰ-Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma (Ch-GTPⅠ). The objective of this paper is to describe the design and methodology of Ch-GTP. The aim of this study is to characterise the profile and trend associated with initial PACG treatment for the last 10 years in China. METHODS: Ch-GTPⅠ is a national multicentre retrospective observational study that will randomly sample from 50 hospitals throughout China. Over 7000 patient records hospitalised for initial PACG treatment from 2011 to 2020 will be selected randomly. The data from electronic medical records will be uploaded to an encrypted online platform that will receive and collate data from all collaborating hospitals. Data abstraction and monitoring will be performed in a standardised manner by trained statisticians to ensure consistency. Systematic data cleaning will also be conducted by statisticians to ensure data integrity before final data storage. The outcomes will include four broad categories: (1) demographics, (2) clinical characteristics, (3) therapeutic strategies and procedures and (4) early outcomes at discharge. The demographic characteristics and early outcomes will be summarised using descriptive statistics. Comparative analyses of characteristics and treatment pattern changing trends for different regions and years will be used to test for significant differences (t-test or Mann-Whitney U test). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The collaborating hospitals obtained local approval based on a standard ethics application from internal ethics committees or acknowledged an existent ethics approval of the leading institution with approval from internal ethics committees. Due to the retrospective nature, written informed consent from patients was waived by the ethics committee. The results will be published in academic journals and presented at national and international academic conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2100054643.