Fine-Dust-Induced Skin Inflammation: Low-Molecular-Weight Fucoidan Protects Keratinocytes and Underlying Fibroblasts in an Integrated Culture Model.

Prolonged exposure to fine dust (FD) increases the risk of skin inflammation. Stimulated epidermal cells release growth factors into their extracellular environment, which can induce inflammation in dermal cells. Algae are considered rich sources of bioactive materials. The present study emphasized the effect of low-molecular-weight fucoidan isolated from Sargassum confusum (LMF) against FD-induced inflammation in HaCaT keratinocytes and underneath fibroblasts (HDFs) in an integrated culture model. HDFs were treated with media from FD-stimulated HaCaT with LMF treatments (preconditioned media). The results suggested that FD increased the oxidative stress in HaCaT, thereby increasing the sub-G1 phase of the cell cycle up to 587%, as revealed via flow cytometric analysis. With preconditioned media, HDFs also displayed oxidative stress; however, the increase in the sub-G1 phase was insignificant compared with HaCaT. LMF dose-dependently regulated the NF-κB/MAPK signaling in HaCaT. Furthermore, significant downregulation in NF-κB/MAPK signaling, as well as inflammatory cytokines, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases, matrix metalloproteinases, and reduction in relative elastase and collagenase activities related to the extracellular matrix degeneration were observed in HDFs with a preconditioned media treatment. Therefore, we concluded that HDFs were protected from inflammation by preconditioned media. Continued research on tissue culture and in vivo studies may reveal the therapeutic potential of LMF.

Plasmonically Engineered Textile Polymer Solar Cells for High-Performance, Wearable Photovoltaics.

A practically applicable type of wearable polymer solar cells (PSCs) is presented with the enhanced performance by exploiting simply embodied, plasmonic nanostructures on a commercially available textile platform of optically opaque, geometrically uneven, and physically permeable woven fabrics that are commonly not compatible with organic photovoltaics. On a conformable fabric substrate preferentially processed with organic/inorganic multilayers for both planarization and encapsulation, the fabrication of top-illuminated, inverted type of PSCs with a transparent top electrode consisting of optimized dielectric/metal/dielectric multilayers is conducted, where a nanostructure of disorderly distributed elliptical hemispheres is implanted at an opaque bottom silver electrode by spin-coated silica nanoparticles in advance of depositing this electrode. The nanostructured bottom electrode promotes the light trapping effect at wavelengths of the surface plasmon resonance, as well as reduces the electrical Ohmic loss, thereby achieving a device with the power conversion efficiency of ∼8.71% at the given plasmonic device, where a net improvement of the efficiency is ∼1.46% compared to the planar device comprising otherwise same constituent layers. Systematic studies on optical properties and associated photovoltaic performance in experiments, together with analytic numerical modeling, allow quantitative understanding of the underlying physics, providing optimal rules for tailoring random nanostructures to the textile PSCs in the context of high-performance wearable photovoltaics.

Peripapillary Vessel Density Reversal after Trabeculectomy in Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the microvascular changes at the peripapillary area and optic disc in glaucomatous eyes after IOP lowering by trabeculectomy using OCT angiography. METHODS: 25 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) who underwent trabeculectomy by a single surgeon were evaluated. Using optical coherence tomography angiography, vessel density was evaluated within the whole image, peripapillary, nasal region, and temporal region. Peripapillary vessel density was measured preoperative, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively in POAG patients. Reversal of vessel density was calculated for all analyzed areas. RESULTS: The intraocular pressure (IOP) decreased from 30.92 ± 6.32 mmHg (range, 18-44) to 12.64 ± 3.35 mmHg (range, 8-22) at 3-month postoperatively. Compared with the preoperative baseline value, whole vessel density, peripapillary vessel density (PvD), and PvD in nasal region and temporal region were significantly increased at 3-month postoperatively. The magnitude of the vessel density reversal was significantly associated with higher preoperative IOP and greater IOP reduction. CONCLUSIONS: A significant increase in the peripapillary vessel density was demonstrated after trabeculectomy using OCT angiography. The reversal of peripapillary vessel density was associated with higher preoperative IOP and greater IOP reduction. Our postoperative results suggest that the ocular perfusion impairment by high intraocular pressure can be improved by IOP reduction, and the reversal of microvasculature may contribute to the rate of glaucoma progression.

The Characteristics of Lamina Cribrosa Defects in Myopic Eyes With and Without Open-Angle Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: We investigated the lamina cribrosa (LC) structural characteristics of myopic eyes with and without open-angle glaucoma (OAG) using enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (EDI SD-OCT). METHODS: Defects in the LC in myopic eyes with and without OAG and normal eyes without myopia were evaluated using EDI SD-OCT. Among the two types of LC defects, disinsertion type and hole type, the associations among disinsertion type LC defects, myopia-related parameters of axial length (AL), maximal γ-zone peripapillary atrophy (PPA) length, disc tilt angle, and the presence of glaucoma were evaluated. In addition, disinsertion type LC defects were divided into two subtypes, complete detachment type and triangular wedge type, and the numbers of the subtypes in myopic eyes with and without OAG were investigated. RESULTS: Defects in the LC were found more in myopic eyes with than without OAG (65.7% vs. 27.8%, P < 0.001). Of LC defects, disinsertion-type LC defects were found at the location of the γ-zone PPA (R = 0.71, P < 0.001), while the location of hole-type LC defects did not correlate with the location of the γ-zone PPA (R = 0.07, P = 0.73). Of disinsertion-type LC defects, complete detachment-type defects predominated in myopic eyes with OAG, while triangular wedge-type defects were the most common in myopic eyes without OAG (P < 0.001; P < 0.001, respectively). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, disinsertion-type LC defects in myopic eyes were associated with AL, maximal PPA length, and disc tilt angle, as well as the presence of glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: Given the strong correlation of disinsertion type LC defects with glaucoma and parameters related to myopia, such defects should be considered as biomarkers of glaucoma in myopic eyes.

Long-term outcomes of argon laser photocoagulation in small size cyclodialysis cleft.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of Argon laser photocoagulation compared to surgical direct cyclopexy in small-size cyclodialysis cleft patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective study. Small-size cyclodialysis cleft patients who underwent Argon laser photocoagulation and surgical direct cyclopexy were reviewed. The mean follow-up period were 82.4 (range, 61 - 145) months and 99.9 (range, 62 - 184) months in both groups. The comparison of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), postoperative peak IOP and time to normalization of IOP before and after the treatment. RESULTS: The causes of all included 15 cyclodialysis cleft cases were blunt trauma. seven patients underwent Argon laser photocoagulation and eight patients underwent surgical direct cyclopexy. The mean age of included patients was not significantly different (p = 0.38). Preoperatively, the mean logMAR BCVA (standard deviation, SD) was 0.7 (0.2) and 1.1 (0.9) and mean IOP was 4.4 (2.4) mmHg and 3.0 (1.5) mmHg in Argon laser group and surgical direct cyclopexy group (p = 0.24 and p = 0.18, respectively). The extension of cyclodialysis and duration of cyclodialysis cleft were not significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.08 and p = 0.24, respectively). The mean follow-up period were 82.4 (range, 61 - 145) months and 99.9 (range, 62 - 184) months in both groups (p = 0.41). Postoperatively, the mean logMAR BCVA was 0.0 (0.1) and 0.2 (0.3) and mean IOP was 14.5 (3.1) mmHg and 16.8 (2.5) mmHg (p = 0.15 and p = 0.16, respectively). Postoperative peak IOP and time to normalization of IOP were not different between the two groups (p = 0.75 and p = 0.91, respectively). DISCUSSION: It is necessary to use invasive treatment such as cryotherapy or surgical direct cyclopexy in cyclodialysis cleft with hypotonic maculopathy. In the present study, Argon laser photocoagulation showed good prognosis in a small-size cyclodialysis cleft below 1.5 clock-hours. Considering possible complications and cost of surgical direct cyclopexy, Argon laser can be more beneficial than surgical direct cyclopexy in small-size cyclodialysis cleft below 1.5 clock-hours. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical ourcome of Argon laser photocoagulation seems to be as good as surgical direct cyclopexy in small-size cyclodialysis cleft below 1.5 clock-hours.

Effect of gold nanorods in an MgO protective layer of AC plasma display panels.

We propose a modified MgO protective layer for alternating current plasma display panels. The modified MgO protective layer of the panel tested here has a structure that incorporates silica-coated Au nanorods (NRs), leading to localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in the near-infrared (IR) region. The silica-coated Au NRs were synthesized by a simple chemical method and inserted into an MgO protective layer using an air-spray method. The operating voltage of the proposed structure was decreased by 10 V. The luminance and luminous efficacy of the test panel part with the silica-coated Au NRs both increased by about 15%. According to the measured results of the IR response time, the sustain discharge time lag was reduced. In addition, by inserting the silica-coated Au NRs into the MgO protective layer, a decrease of the IR emission proceeding from the plasma discharge was acquired. Finally, we investigated the LSPR effect of the silica-coated Au NRs in a simulation with a finite-difference time domain method.