[The effect of ethylene glycol on the morphology of Cu2O nanoparticles synthesized in w/o microemulsion by gamma-irradiation].

Cuprous oxide nanocubes were successfully prepared in w/o microemulsions by gamma-irradiation in the presence of ethylene glycol (EG). Absorption spectrum, XRD, TEM, HRTEM and SEM were used to characterize the as-prepared nanoparticles. The characteristic peak of Cu2O of absorption spectra of the irradiated microemulsions red-shifts apparently with the EG increasing, showing that the as-prepared Cu2O particle size becomes larger. TEM images verify this point and indicate that Cu2O nanoparticles become uniform with the increase of EG. The results indicated that EG played an important role in the structures of cuprous oxide nanoprticles. Firstly, EG increased the viscosity of water-pools of microemulsions which affected the reactivity of hydrated electrons and finally influenced the reduction of Cu2+ and the precipitation of Cu2O. Secondly, EG reduced the rigidity of the interface of microemulsions and enhanced the mass exchange among water pools which impacted the nucleation and precipitation of Cu2O. Thirdly, EG adsorbed certain crystal faces of Cu2O and influenced the final morphology of Cu2O.

[Therapeutic efficacy of combined treatment with surgical decompression and drug for traumatic optic neuropathy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of combined treatment with surgical decompression and drug for traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) and analyze the influential factors. METHODS: A retrospective study on 69 patients (70 eyes) with TON treated with optic canal decompression through transnasal endoscopic approach and drug was conducted. The visual acuity was divided into 5 grades: no light perception (NLP), light perception (LP), hand move, count finger, > 0.02, marked as I-V respectively. Of 40 eyes with grade I, 18 eyes received emergency operation for severe optic canal fracture confirmed by CT; 22 eyes received corticosteroid therapy firstly and then operation. Of 30 eyes above grade I, 16 eyes with optic canal fracture confirmed by CT received emergency operation; 14 eyes received corticosteroid therapy firstly and 3 days later received operation. Postoperative follow-up lasted 3-12 months to observe the recovery of visual acuity. RESULTS: The therapeutic efficacy of patients with the visual acuity of LP and above LP was better than that of NLP (90.0% to 27.5%), the difference had statistical significance (chi(2) = 26.98, P < 0.001). In operated group, the therapeutic efficacy in patients whose visual acuity was improved from NLP after glucocorticoid therapy (80.0%) was better than that of the patients with no improvement (5.9%), the difference had statistical significance (chi(2) = 12.09, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The imaging findings of optic canal fracture can not be used as determinants for operation. The patients with NLP whose visual acuity had no improvement after corticosteroid therapy are poor candidates for surgical decompression. The visual acuity before treatment is the main factor affecting the therapeutic efficacy.