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Objective: To evaluate the characteristics and prognoses of idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane (iERM) using a classification based on the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area. Method: IERMs were classified into four stages based on the FAZ area. Baseline FAZ-related parameters, pre-and postoperative central macular thickness (CMT), and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were observed and compared between different stages. The correlations of structural parameters with pre-and postoperative logMAR BCVA were analyzed. Results: 162 iERM eyes were enrolled, including 105 eyes followed up for 12 months after surgery. The preoperative BCVA was better at the early stage. Postoperative BCVA at Stages 2 and 3 were better compared to Stage 4. The early stage was associated with thinner CMT pre-and postoperatively. However, there was no significant difference in CMT between postoperative Stages 1 and 2 or Stages 3 and 4. Preoperative logMAR BCVA was negatively correlated with FAZ area, perimeter, and FD-300 and was positively correlated with CMT and acircularity index (AI). CMT correlated positively with BCVA for each stage, except Stage 4; FAZ area, perimeter, and FD-300 had a negative correlation at Stage 1. Baseline BCVA and CMT positively correlated with BCVA at the last follow-up, while FAZ area and FD-300 were negatively correlated. Baseline BCVA had a positive correlation for each stage, except Stage 1; FD-300 had a negative correlation at Stages 2 and 3; CMT had a positive correlation at Stage 3. Conclusion: A classification based on the FAZ area was established innovatively. This classification can reflect the progression of iERM and is helpful to the postoperative prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial–temporal characteristics of changes in lengths and onsets of the four seasons in China during 1961–2020 are investigated using daily temperature observations from weather stations. The relationship between changes in season lengths and climate change is also explored based on annual temperature variation, the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). The results show that lengths of spring and autumn are shorter in the plateau region but longer in the southwest compared with other regions. In the past 60 years, the onset was generally advanced for spring and summer, whereas it was delayed for autumn and winter. Lengths of summer (winter) showed an overall increase (decrease) as 10.78 days (11.74 days) from the 1960s to the 2010s, which is positively (negatively) correlated with the temperature variation. Comparatively, changes in lengths of spring and autumn are much smaller and weakly correlated with the temperature variation. However, lengths of spring and autumn significantly increased in the plateau region and parts of the southwest and decreased in the south, which is positively and negatively correlated with the temperature trend, respectively. Changes in season lengths in China are also related to the AMO and modulated by the PDO phases. At the ~55‐year scale, summer lengths and winter lengths are simultaneously affected by the AMO and the PDO. The impact of the AMO on changes in lengths of spring and autumn is mainly due to its effect on the nonlinear trend associated with long‐term climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial–temporal characteristics of changes in lengths and onsets of the four seasons in China during 1961–2020 are investigated using daily temperature observations from weather stations. The relationship between changes in season lengths and climate change is also explored based on annual temperature variation, the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). The results show that lengths of spring and autumn are shorter in the plateau region but longer in the southwest compared with other regions. In the past 60 years, the onset was generally advanced for spring and summer, whereas it was delayed for autumn and winter. Lengths of summer (winter) showed an overall increase (decrease) as 10.78 days (11.74 days) from the 1960s to the 2010s, which is positively (negatively) correlated with the temperature variation. Comparatively, changes in lengths of spring and autumn are much smaller and weakly correlated with the temperature variation. However, lengths of spring and autumn significantly increased in the plateau region and parts of the southwest and decreased in the south, which is positively and negatively correlated with the temperature trend, respectively. Changes in season lengths in China are also related to the AMO and modulated by the PDO phases. At the ~55‐year scale, summer lengths and winter lengths are simultaneously affected by the AMO and the PDO. The impact of the AMO on changes in lengths of spring and autumn is mainly due to its effect on the nonlinear trend associated with long‐term climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Cardiovascular benefits of empagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been reported; however, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Objective: We hypothesized that the cardiovascular benefits of empagliflozin are associated with altered gut microbiota and plasma metabolites, and that empagliflozin may be used as an initial treatment for patients with T2DM at risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Methods: This randomized, open-label, 3-month, 2-arm clinical trial included 76 treatment-naïve patients with T2DM and risk factors for CVD who were treated with either empagliflozin (10 mg/d, n = 40) or metformin (1700 mg/d, n = 36). We investigated changes in clinical parameters related to glucose metabolism and CVD risk factors, gut microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and plasma metabolites using LC-MS. Results: We found significant and similar reduction in HbA1c levels and alleviation of glucose metabolism in both groups. However, only empagliflozin improved CVD risk factors. Empagliflozin significantly reshaped the gut microbiota after 1 month of treatment; this alteration was maintained until the end of the trial. Empagliflozin increased the levels of plasma metabolites such as sphingomyelin, but reduced glycochenodeoxycholate, cis-aconitate, and uric acid levels. Concurrently, empagliflozin elevated levels of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria such as species from Roseburia, Eubacterium, and Faecalibacterium, and reduced those of several harmful bacteria including Escherichia-Shigella, Bilophila, and Hungatella. Conclusion: Empagliflozin may be a superior initial therapy for patients with T2DM at risk of CVDs; its cardiovascular benefits may be associated with shifts in gut microbiota and plasma metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To quantitatively assess the retinal capillary vessel density (VD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area in acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) patients compared to healthy subjects using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and determine their correlation with visual acuity (VA). Methods: This was a cross-sectional, case-control study. All subjects were divided into three groups: acute CSC, chronic CSC, and healthy controls. The best-corrected VA test, optical coherence tomography, and OCTA were performed on the same day. In this study, we recorded and compared the main data of FAZ and VD in 3 × 3 mm OCTA images among three groups, also calculated the correlation between OCTA variables and VA in CSC patients. Results: A total of 148 subjects (148 eyes) were included in this study, with 50 eyes in acute CSC, 48 eyes in chronic CSC, and 50 eyes in control groups. The mean age was 50.11 ± 8.14 years. Chronic CSC had the significantly lowest VD both on the superficial and deep retina and the largest FAZ (0.39 ± 0.13 mm²) compared to acute CSC and controls (all p < 0.05). There was no statistical difference between acute CSC and controls on VD or FAZ (both p > 0.05). In chronic CSC, both the decreased VD on deep retina and expanded FAZ were correlated with a worse VA (both p < 0.05). Conclusions: OCTA could serve as a reliable tool to evaluate different courses of CSC quantitively. In 3 × 3 mm OCTA images, both decreased VD and expanded FAZ were observed in chronic CSC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma is a lethal disease featuring a high proliferation of tumor cells, excessive angiogenesis, and heavy drug resistance. The overall survival of glioblastoma patients has been dismal, even with an intensive standard of care. Recent advances in immune checkpoint blockades are changing the treatment of cancers. However, the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockades in glioblastoma is still unclear. Here we investigated the roles of CD103+ cells in regulating the effect of immune checkpoint blockades in glioblastoma mouse models. Our findings indicated that the murine glioblastoma model was not sensitive to immune checkpoint blockades. Flt3L, a growth factor for CD103+ cells, could significantly increase the number of CD103+ dendritic cells in the murine glioblastoma model and, thus, sensitize murine glioblastoma to immune checkpoint blockades. Downstream analysis indicated that the Flt3L and immune checkpoint blockade combination increased the number of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ cells, decreased immune checkpoint expression, and therefore enhanced the antitumor immune response in the murine glioblastoma model. These findings suggested that Flt3L could enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockades in glioblastoma via expanding CD103+ dendritic cells and downstream antitumor immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma is a lethal disease featuring a high proliferation of tumor cells, excessive angiogenesis, and heavy drug resistance. The overall survival of glioblastoma patients has been dismal, even with an intensive standard of care. Recent advances in immune checkpoint blockades are changing the treatment of cancers. However, the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockades in glioblastoma is still unclear. Here we investigated the roles of CD103+ cells in regulating the effect of immune checkpoint blockades in glioblastoma mouse models. Our findings indicated that the murine glioblastoma model was not sensitive to immune checkpoint blockades. Flt3L, a growth factor for CD103+ cells, could significantly increase the number of CD103+ dendritic cells in the murine glioblastoma model and, thus, sensitize murine glioblastoma to immune checkpoint blockades. Downstream analysis indicated that the Flt3L and immune checkpoint blockade combination increased the number of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ cells, decreased immune checkpoint expression, and therefore enhanced the antitumor immune response in the murine glioblastoma model. These findings suggested that Flt3L could enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockades in glioblastoma via expanding CD103+ dendritic cells and downstream antitumor immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]