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Yuan-Kai Fu,1 Chi-chin Sun,2,3 Kuan-Jen Chen,1,3 Yu-Jr Lin,4 Chee-Jen Chang,4– 6 Shu-Chen Chang,4 Ming-Hui Sun1,3 1Department of Ophthalmology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan; 3College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 4Research Services Center for Health Information, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 5Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 6Clinical Informatics and Medical Statistics Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, TaiwanCorrespondence: Ming-Hui Sun, Department of Ophthalmology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 5, Fuxing Street, Guishan District, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan, Tel +886-3-3281200 ext 8666, Fax +886-3-3287798, Email minghui0215@gmail.comStudy Objectives: To evaluate the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and dry eye disease (DED) and analyze the impact of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) on DED.Methods: This is a retrospective population-based case-control study. Patients who underwent polysomnography in Taiwan from March 1, 2009, to March 1, 2020, were identified from the database of a sleep center. Patients who were diagnosed with keratoconjunctivitis sicca or tear film insufficiency were included. Patients without data from Schirmer’s test, lacking tear break-up time values, or with a history of refractive surgery, Sjögren’s syndrome, ocular injuries, or a disability in eyelid closure were excluded. All patients with DED enrolled had DED in both eyes. OSA severity between patients with and without DED was compared.Results: In total, 86 patients with DED and 86 age-matched patients without DED were enrolled. Significant differences in apnea-hypopnea index values (patients with DED: 29.1 ± 23.4, patients without DED: 17.9 ± 20.2, P < 0.001), OSA severity (P < 0.001), and lowest oxygen saturation (P = 0.040) between patients with and without DED were observed. A multivariate logistic regression model indicated that the use of CPAP was independently associated with DED after adjustments for OSA severity. Patients undergoing CPAP were at greater risk of developing DED than those not undergoing CPAP (Odds ratio: 3.93, 95% confidence interval: 1.47– 10.49, P = 0.006).Conclusion: OSA severity is associated with DED and might be attributed to the use of CPAP.Keywords: dry eye disease, obstructive sleep apnea, continuous positive airway pressure

Guo-lan Cao,1 Ke-jian Chen2 1Ophthalmic Clinic, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, People’s Republic of China; 2Internal Medicine Clinic, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ke-jian Chen, Internal Medicine Clinic, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 188, Shizi Street, Gusu District, Suzhou, 215006, People’s Republic of China, Email jiangde1817720@163.comObjective: This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of social platform-based continuity of care in improving cognitive and prognostic effects of young age diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy (DR).Methods: A total of 88 young age diabetic patients admitted to the outpatient clinic of First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (Endocrine and Ophthalmology Outpatient) from January 2021 to May 2022 were recruited and assigned via random number table method to receive either routine follow-up care (routine group) or social platform-based continuity of care (WeChat group), with 44 patients in each group. Treatment compliance, cognitive-behavioral ability, self-care ability (self-care responsibility, self-care skills, self-status, knowledge of diabetic retinopathy), quality of life (physical function, psychosocial, symptom and visual function, social activity), and prognosis of the patients were analyzed to investigate the effectiveness of WeChat social platform-based continuity of care. All patients were followed up for one year.Results: Patients receiving WeChat social platform-based continuity of care exhibited obviously higher treatment compliance and better cognitive-behavioral ability, self-care responsibility, self-care skills, self-state, and diabetic retinopathy knowledge follow-up than those with routine care (P< 0.05). Patients in the WeChat group had significantly better physical function, mental psychology, symptoms and visual function, and social activity levels than those in the routine group (P< 0.05). WeChat-based continuity of care resulted in a significantly lower incidence of visual acuity loss and diabetic retinopathy during follow-up than routine care (P< 0.05).Conclusion: WeChat social platform-based continuity of care effectively improves treatment compliance and diabetic retinopathy awareness, and enhances self-care ability of young patients with diabetes mellitus. The life quality of these patients is improved and the risk of poor prognosis has been reduced.Keywords: social platform-based continuity of care, young patients, diabetic retinopathy, cognitive and prognostic

Qian Ye, Ke-Jun Chen, Meng Jia, Sheng Fang Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Sheng FangDepartment of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail fangshengderm@163.comObjective: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and histopathological characteristics of seborrheic keratosis (SK) with secondary tumor and identify associated factors.Methods: This study was a monocentric retrospective case-control study describing the factors associated with the development of tumors in SK. A total of 1365 patients with SK were admitted to our department between 2018 and 2021. All of the histopathological specimens and medical records of these patients were reviewed. We compared the data of 36 patients with tumors arising in SK with those of the remaining 1329 patients with only SK, which were designated the control group.Results: The incidence of tumors arising in SK that were biopsied was 2.6%. The tumor types included squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and keratoacanthoma (KA). Compared with other patients with SK, elderly patients with immunosuppression, patients presenting surrounding erythema or ulceration, and those with SK in exposed areas had an increased possibility of developing a secondary tumor. Tumors arising within SK have the histopathological features of ulceration, cytologic atypia, mitosis, “malignant horn”, trabecular cell cords, solar elastosis and severe inflammatory infiltration in the dermis.Conclusion: SK can show malignant progression in a small fraction of SK cases that are biopsied. This study is the first report on the clinical and histopathological characteristics of tumors arising in SK and identifies relevant factors in an Asian population.Keywords: seborrheic keratosis, tumor, clinical, histopathological

Meng Jia, Feng-Zeng Li, Qian Ye, Ke-Jun Chen, Sheng Fang Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Sheng FangDepartment of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail fangshengderm@163.comBackground: Heat shock proteins (HSPs), a group of heat stress proteins, are characterized by highly conserved properties. Malignant transformation is a cellular stress, and the expression of HSPs may be affected during this process. Heat shock protein 105 (HSP105) is a protective protein that has long been observed in many cancer types, but little attention has been given to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). As such, the objectives of this study were to observe the expression of HSP105 on CSCC and evaluate its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics.Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 60 patients with CSCC. The patients’ clinical data, including sex, age, tumor location, tumor type, and degree of pathological differentiation, were collected. The expression of HSP105 was measured by Western blot and immunohistochemical staining.Results: HSP105 expression was decreased in CSCC (HSCORE=0.65 (0.30, 1.98)) compared with normal skin (HSCORE=2.20 (1.50, 2.80)) (P< 0.001). These results were consistent with the Western blot analysis. HSP105 immunostaining of Bowen disease (HSCORE=1.28 (1.08, 2.40)) revealed higher expression than in verrucous carcinoma (HSCORE=0.30 (0.23, 0.85)), keratoacanthoma (HSCORE=0.53 (0.29, 0.93)) and acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma (HSCORE=0.53 (0.41, 0.68) (P< 0.01)). Poorly differentiated CSCC showed significantly higher expression of HSP105.Conclusion: Our study reveals for the first time that the expression of HSP105 is decreased in CSCC. We suggest that the molecular mechanisms underlying the differential expression of HSP deserve a more rigorous future study, the results of which might explain its role in carcinogenesis and its potential as a target for selective tumor therapy.Keywords: heat shock protein 105, cutaneous, squamous cell carcinoma, expression

Liang-Jian Hong, Ai-Jun Chen, Feng-Zeng Li, Ke-Jun Chen, Sheng Fang Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Sheng FangDepartment of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail fangshengderm@163.comObjective: To explore the molecular mechanism of 17-AAG in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and the effects of the heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitor 17-AAG on the activation and proliferation of lymphocytes and the AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway in MRL/lpr mice were detected.Methods: MRL/lpr mice were randomly divided into the control group and the experimental group. The experimental group was injected intraperitoneally with 17-AAG, and T lymphocytes were separated by magnetic beads. Lymphocyte proliferation was detected by MTT and flow cytometry (FCM), and the expression of the HSP90 protein and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway-related proteins was detected by Western blotting. Renal histopathology and immune complex deposition were also observed in both groups.Results: Immune complex deposition and inflammation decreased in kidneys from MRL/lpr mice in the experimental group. HSP90 protein expression, T lymphocyte proliferation and phosphorylated AKT and GSK3β levels also decreased in the experimental group.Conclusion: 17-AAG can inhibit the activation and proliferation of T lymphocytes and downregulate the AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway, which may be relevant for the treatment of SLE.Keywords: 17-AAG, HSP90, AKT, lupus, activation

Pei-Lun Chung,1 Chien-Wei Huang,2 Min-Jing Lee,1,3 Yao-Hsu Yang,4,5 Ko-Jung Chen,4 Mong-Liang Lu,6 Jun-Cheng Weng,1,7 Vincent Chin-Hung Chen1,3 1Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi Branch, Chiayi, Taiwan; 2Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, and National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan; 3School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 4Health Information and Epidemiology Laboratory, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi Branch, Chiayi, Taiwan; 5Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi Branch, Chiayi, Taiwan; 6Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; 7Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, TaiwanCorrespondence: Vincent Chin-Hung ChenDepartment of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, TaiwanEmail cch1966@gmail.comPurpose: This study explored and compared the effects of depression and antidepressants on sexual dysfunction in men with diabetes mellitus (DM).Patients and Methods: Patients older than 18 years who had been newly diagnosed with DM (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM] code 250) between 1999 and 2010 were identified from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database and were followed up until 2013. Patients with preexisting depression or sexual dysfunction were excluded. A total of 636,210 patients with DM were enrolled. These patients were divided into two groups: DM with comorbid depression and a matched cohort without depression. The groups were followed up until the end of 2010 for the first diagnosis of sexual dysfunction (ICD-9-CM codes 302.70, 302.71, 302.72, 302.74, 302.75, 302.76, 302.79, 607.84, and V417). A Cox proportional hazard model and a Cox regression model with time-dependent covariates were applied.Results: Patients with DM and depression had a higher risk of sexual dysfunction than those with DM without depression (hazard ratio [HR] =  1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.33– 1.55). The risk of sexual dysfunction was lower in the subgroup who used antidepressants (per 28 cumulative defined daily doses [cDDDs]), HR = 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94– 0.97). A significantly lower incidence of sexual dysfunction was also associated with the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs, per 28 cDDD). The adjusted HR was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.93– 0.97). Subgroup analysis indicated that SSRI use was significantly associated with an amelioration of erectile dysfunction (per 28 cDDD), with an HR of 0.95 (95% CI, 0.92– 0.97).Conclusion: Male patients with DM and depression are at increased risk of sexual dysfunction. Antidepressant use had a small inverse association with the risk of sexual dysfunction in men with DM and depression. Antidepressants, in particular SSRIs, did not increase the risk of sexual dysfunction in this population.Keywords: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, SSRI, sexual functioning, diabetes mellitus, depression

Kitty Jieyi Chen, Sherry Shiqian Gao, Duangporn Duangthip, Edward Chin Man Lo, Chun Hung Chu Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong Abstract: Surveys have shown that the prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) among 5-year-old children decreased from 63% in 1993 to 55% in 2017. Caries experience was unevenly distributed; 81% of the caries lesions were found in 26% of the children. Risk factors, including oral hygiene practice behaviors, sugar consumption, parental oral health-related knowledge, and sociodemographic backgrounds, were significantly related to ECC. Oral health promotion aimed at managing the burden of ECC has been implemented. Water fluoridation was launched in 1961, and the fluoride concentration has been adjusted to 0.5 ppm since 1988. It is considered an important dental public health measure in Hong Kong. The Department of Health set up the Oral Health Education Unit in 1989 to deliver oral health education to further improve the oral health of preschool children. Other nongovernmental organizations also launched short-term oral health promotion programs for preschool children. However, no significant change in the prevalence of ECC has been observed in the recent two decades. There is a necessity to revisit dental public health policies and develop effective evidence-based strategies to encourage changes in oral health-related behaviors to forestall the impending epidemic of ECC in Hong Kong. Keywords: caries, oral health, children, Hong Kong

Kuan-Chin Jean Chen,1 Michelle Klingel,2 Shelley McLeod,3 Sean Mindra,4 Victor K Ng5 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, 2Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, 3Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Schwartz/Reisman Emergency Medicine Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, 4Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, 5Division of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, London, ON, Canada Background: Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are aggressive infections associated with significant morbidity, including amputation and organ failure, and high mortality. The rapid progression and significant risk of morbidity and mortality associated with NSTIs makes quick diagnosis and treatment critical. The objective of this study was to determine the presentation of patients diagnosed with NSTIs and their in-hospital outcomes. Methods: This was a retrospective review of adult (>17 years) patients with a discharge diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis at London Health Sciences Centre (annual census 125,000) over a 5-year period (April 2008–March 2013). Results: Sixty patients with confirmed NSTI were included in this study. Common comorbidities at presentation included immunocompromise (58.3%), diabetes mellitus (41.7%), vascular disease (45.0%), and obesity (24.6%). Initial presentations included swelling (91.7%), erythema (86.7%), bullae (28.3%), petechiae (8.3%), and bruising (45.0%). Fifty (83.3%) underwent surgery, with a median (interquartile range) time from initial emergency department presentation to surgery of 15.5 hours (7.8, 74.9). In-hospital mortality among those who had surgical intervention was 14.0%, compared to 60.0% for patients who did not have surgery (Δ46.0%; 95% CI: 14.8% to 70.2%). Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus, immune-compromise, vascular disease, and obesity are common comorbidities of NSTIs. Survival is higher among patients who receive surgical treatment. Patients presenting with this clinical picture warrant a high degree of suspicion. Keywords: clinical evaluation and treatment, skin diseases, infectious diseases of the skin

Chao-Chien Chang,1–3 Yueh-Chung Chen,4,5 Eng-Thiam Ong,1 Wei-Cheng Chen,1 Chia-Hsiu Chang,1 Kuan-Jen Chen,1 Cheng-Wen Chiang1 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; 2Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; 3Department of Pharmacology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; 4Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei City Hospital Ren-Ai branch, Taipai, Taiwan, ROC; 5Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been widely used to treat acute coronary syndrome but is only recommended as an additional treatment to medical therapy and risk modification in patients with refractory or progressing angina. The number of PCI in this patient population is still increasing. Post-PCI chest pain (PPCP) is one of the common problems of PCI. Its presentation and causes in patients with stable angina are poorly understood.Patients and methods: This study retrospectively collected clinical information of 167 patients who had stable angina and underwent elective PCI, including 70 patients with PPCP 24 hours after procedure and 97 patients without PPCP. The incidence and predictors of PPCP were analyzed.Results: The incidence of PPCP was 41.9% (70/167). Compared with non-PPCP patients, PPCP patients had more abnormal post-PCI electrocardiogram (ECG) changes (new Q-waves, ST-segment shifts, or T-waves inversion) and serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) elevation, more PCI vessels, and stent placement (all P

Supramolecular nanosubstrate-mediated delivery (SNSMD) leverages the power of molecular self-assembly and a nanostructured substrate platform for the low toxicity, highly efficient co-delivery of biological factors encapsulated in a nanovector. Human fibroblasts are successfully reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stems and transdifferentiated into induced neuronal-like cells.

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In the past 50 years, integration of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, known as the Chinese version of integrative medicine (IM), has achieved significant developments. In this article, the present situation and progress in IM development in China are summarized from the aspects of IM application, policy making, scientific research, education, academic exchanges, and its future development. With continuous support from the Chinese government and successful scientific achievements in the past 50 years, the authors believe that IM will be moving forwards to a full globalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The controlled synthesis of Ag/Au nanocomposite particles has remained a significant challenge in nanomaterial research. This study presents the synthesis, characterization, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) performance of silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanostar composites. The structural and plasmonic properties of these nanocomposites were optimized by varying the molar ratios of silver nanostars (AgNSs) and gold nanostars (AuNSs). By synthesizing composite nanostars with differing AgNS/AuNS ratios, we systematically compared their optical and spectroscopic behaviors. The results demonstrated that Ag/Au nanostar composites function as highly effective SERS substrates for the detection of rhodamine 6G (R6G), with solutions tested at concentrations from 10 -15 to 10 -6 M. Compared to individual AgNS or AuNS substrates, the Ag/Au nanocomposites exhibited significantly enhanced SERS signals, with superior consistency and sensitivity. Notably, the nanostar composite with a 75 : 25 Ag/Au ratio showed the highest SERS performance, achieving an enhancement factor of 8.9 × 10 6 and a detection limit of 10 -15 M for R6G. Additionally, this composite demonstrated excellent long-term stability, maintaining performance until ten weeks of storage. To our knowledge, this represents the highest sensitivity reported for R6G detection using label-free SERS. The study further provides a detailed analysis of the composition-dependent SERS activity, underscoring the potential of Ag/Au nanocomposites as advanced SERS substrates for applications in chemical and biological sensing, as well as environmental monitoring.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a high-burden medical condition, and current diagnostic criteria can only assess AKI after full manifestation. Stress marker growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) was reported to have a role in kidney injury of critical patients. Herein, we evaluated dynamic changes in GDF15 across diverse AKI scenarios and explored the underlying mechanisms of its induction. Serum parameters and renal lesions were analyzed in mouse models of unilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury (uni-IRI) and unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). The human proximal tubular (HK-2) cell line was stimulated with various conditions, and induction of GDF15 expression was determined. Serum GDF15 levels were rapidly induced within hours after injury in both animal models and declined thereafter. Renal GDF15 expression exhibited a temporary and early increased induction and was mainly located in aquaporin 1-positive proximal tubules in both unilateral AKI model tissues. In cell experiments, rapid GDF15 production was highly induced by t-BHP and CoCl 2 . Treatment with either an antioxidant or mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors abolished t-BHP- and CoCl 2 -mediated GDF15 expression. In addition, silencing nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 expression also reduced the basal and t-BHP- or CoCl 2 -mediated GDF15 expression level in HK-2 cells. Our data showed that elevated serum GDF15 levels could be detected early in unilateral AKI models without notable alterations in kidney function parameters. GDF15 expression was associated with oxidative stress- and hypoxia-mediated proximal tubular cell injury. These data document that elevated serum GDF15 can possibly serve as an early biomarker for proximal tubular cell injury in AKI., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The multiplier method is an arithmetic calculation that estimates the amount of growth remaining until skeletal maturity. When predicting lower limb length discrepancy, differences in foot height are added to femur and tibia discrepancies. Foot height multipliers have not been calculated using radiographic measurements, so it is unclear whether foot height develops at the same pace as the femur and tibia. This study used serial images to calculate foot height multipliers and compared them to published lower limb and foot length multipliers., Methods: The Bolton Brush radiograph collection was used to measure foot height on the lateral foot view. Multipliers were calculated for ages with at least 10 serial study visits. 212 patients (2195 radiographs) were included in the study (102 female, 110 male patients). Foot height multipliers were calculated for ages 0 to 17 years (females) and 0 to 18 years (males)., Results: Multipliers decreased with age, but qualitatively plateau at age 13 (females) and age 15 (males). Lower extremity multipliers have a more dramatic growth curve, indicating comparatively greater lower extremity growth after birth. However, when comparing the limb length discrepancy calculation using the lower extremity multiplier versus the foot height multiplier for the foot portion, the difference was negligible., Conclusions: This paper provides a database of foot height multipliers. Foot height seems to grow on a different trajectory than other lower limb components, confirming that one should consider separate multiplier values. The difference created by the foot height multiplier versus the lower extremity multiplier appears to be modest. Separate use of the foot height multiplier may only be necessary for young children with large foot height discrepancies, but further study to confirm the lack of impact of the foot height multiplier on limb length discrepancy calculations is needed. Our data were derived from normal children, so it is unknown if the presence of a talo-calcaneal coalition would affect foot height on the involved side., Level of Evidence: Level III-retrospective comparative study., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background Context: Percutaneous vertebroplasty for the treatment of osteoporotic burst fractures remains controversial. A previous study has shown that an osteoporotic burst fracture with asymptomatic spinal canal compromise is not a contraindication for percutaneous vertebroplasty., Purpose: To determine whether these outcomes persist over a long term, we continued to observe patients in their short-term study over a long-term period., Study Design: Prospective study., Patient Sample: Patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures were classified as Dennis type I and II and AO type A1-A4, and no neurological deficits were observed., Outcome Measures: Oswestry disability index and visual analog scale (VAS 1 ) for pain were outcome measures. Radiological outcomes were vertebral body height and kyphotic angle. Complications included cement leakage, adjacent fractures, and transition to instrumented fusion., Methods: Between June 2015 and December 2016, 96 patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures who met the inclusion criteria were prospectively enrolled. Preoperative, postoperative, and latest follow-up clinical outcomes were assessed using the Oswestry disability index and VAS. The radiological outcomes included vertebral body height, kyphotic angle, and adjacent fractures. Patients with intractable pain and neurological deficits during the follow-up were indicated for surgical treatment using decompression and instrumented fusion., Results: Fifty-one patients with osteoporotic compression fractures and 45 with osteoporotic burst fractures were included in this study. Mean follow-up duration was 74 months, and posterior vertebral body height, kyphotic wedge angle, and VAS score were not altered during the follow-up period. Three (5.9%) patients in an osteoporotic compression fracture group and three (6.7%) in a osteoporotic burst fracture group developed persistent pain, further collapse, and neurological deficits, and were indicated for surgical treatment. No significant differences were observed in the rates of adjacent fractures. Percentage of patients who required surgical treatment was not significantly different between the groups., Conclusions: Osteoporotic burst fractures with asymptomatic spinal canal compromise treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty are safe and effective for pain management during long-term follow-up., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

An uncontrolled activity of neutrophil serine proteases (NSPs) contributes to inflammatory diseases. Cathepsin C (CatC) is known to activate NSPs during neutrophilic differentiation and represents a promising pharmacological target in NSP-mediated diseases. In humans, Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome (PLS) patients have mutations in theirCTSC gene, resulting in the complete absence of CatC activity. Despite this, low residual NSP activities are detected in PLS neutrophils (<10% vs healthy individuals), suggesting the involvement of CatC-independent proteolytic pathway(s) in the activation of proNSPs. This prompted us to characterize CatC-independent NSP activation pathways by blocking proCatC maturation. In this study, we show that inhibition of intracellular CatS almost completely blocked CatC maturation in human promyeloid HL-60 cells. Despite this, NSP activation was not significantly reduced, confirming the presence of a CatC-independent activation pathway involving a CatC-like protease that we termed NSPs-AAP-1. Similarly, when human CD34 + progenitor cells were treated with CatS inhibitors during neutrophilic differentiation in vitro, CatC activity was nearly abrogated but ∼30% NSP activities remained, further supporting the existence of NSPs-AAP-1. Our data indicate that NSPs-AAP-1 is a cysteine protease that is inhibited by reversible nitrile compounds designed for CatC inhibition. We further established a proof of concept for the indirect, although incomplete, inhibition of NSPs by pharmacological targeting of CatC maturation using CatS inhibitors. This emphasizes the potential of CatS as a therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases. Thus, preventing proNSP maturation using a CatS inhibitor, alone or in combination with a CatC/NSPs-AAP-1 inhibitor, represents a promising approach to efficiently control the extent of tissue injury in neutrophil-mediated inflammatory diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Brice Korkmaz has been paid for the time spent as a committee member for advisory boards (Brensocatib Advisory Board (BRAB), INSMED, USA), other forms of consulting (Boehringer Ingelheim (Germany), Neuprozyme Therapeutics Aps (Denmark), Santhera Pharmaceuticals (Switzerland), Chiesi (Italy), Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG) (USA), Slingshot Insights expert network (USA)), symposium organisation (INSMED, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi) and travel support, lectures or presentations, outside the submitted work. Other authors declare no competing financial interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The electroreduction of CO 2 offers a sustainable route to generate synthetic fuels. Cu-based catalysts have been developed to produce value-added C 2+ alcohols; however, the limited understanding of complex C-C coupling and reaction pathway hinders the development of efficient CO 2 -to-C 2+ alcohols catalysts. Herein, a Cu-free, highly mesoporous NiO catalyst, derived from the microphase separation of a block copolymer, is reported, which achieves selective CO 2 reduction toward ethanol with a Faradaic efficiency of 75.2% at -0.6 V versus RHE. The dense mesopores create a favorable local reaction environment with CO 2 -rich and H 2 O-deficient interfaces, suppressing hydrogen evolution and maximizing catalytic activity of NiO for CO 2 reduction. Importantly, the C 1 -feeding experiments, in situ spectroscopy, and theoretical calculations consistently show that the direct coupling of *CO 2 and *COOH is responsible for C-C bond formation on NiO, and subsequent reduction of *CO 2 -COOH to ethanol is energetically facile through the *COCOH and *OC 2 H 5 pathway. The unconventional C-C coupling mechanism on NiO, in contrast to the *CO dimerization on Cu, is triggered by strong CO 2 adsorption on the polarized Ni 2+ -O 2- sites. The work not only demonstrates a highly selective Cu-free Ni-based alternative for CO 2 -to-C 2+ alcohols transformation but also provides a new perspective on C-C coupling toward C 2+ synthesis., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Purpose: Determine whether intravitreal injection of bevacizumab exerts long-term effects on neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) when reaching the age of 8 years., Methods: In total, 277 children were enrolled. Patients were stratified into full-term, preterm without ROP, ROP without treatment, or ROP with treatment groups, based on gestational age and ROP status. Children under the gestational age of 37 weeks were considered premature. Patients' cognitive outcomes were evaluated using a full-scale intelligence quotient (full score and percentile) generated by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition every 1 year to 2 years., Results: At the mean age of 7.8 years, ROP without and with treatment groups demonstrated lower full-scale intelligence quotient scores and percentiles, compared with full-term and premature groups (both P < 0.05). Full-scale intelligence quotient scores and percentiles did not significantly differ between patients who received different treatments for ROP (full score P = 0.19; percentile P = 0.37). After adjusting for gestational age, logMAR best-corrected visual acuity was negatively associated with full-scale intelligence quotient scores ( P = 0.0008) and percentiles ( P = 0.0002)., Conclusion: At the mean age of 8 years, patients with ROP undergoing injection of bevacizumab did not exhibit worse cognitive outcomes than those who underwent laser photocoagulation or both treatments. Gestational age and best-corrected visual acuity correlated with cognitive development in children.

Purpose: In individuals aged >50 years, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. Intravitreal injections of antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents (bevacizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept) show good efficacy and similar incidences of systemic adverse events (SAEs). However, comparative studies between agents are limited. Our study aimed to compare the real-world SAE risks of bevacizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept users., Methods: This retrospective cohort study identified new bevacizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept users in a multi-institutional database in Taiwan between 2014 and 2019. Inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTW) with propensity scores was conducted to achieve homogeneity among groups. The Fine and Gray model was utilized to estimate the subdistribution hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval., Results: This study included 701 bevacizumab, 463 ranibizumab, and 984 aflibercept users. After IPTW, all covariates were well-balanced. All three anti-VEGF agents had a low and comparable number per 100 person-years of major adverse cardiac events, heart failure, thromboembolic events, major bleeding, all-cause admission, and all-cause death (all P > 0.05). No significant differences in long-term change of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and alanine transaminase (all P for interaction > 0.05) were observed among groups., Conclusion: Bevacizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept had a good systemic safety profile in this study. All groups showed a low and similar SAE risk and no differences in their long-term change of laboratory data. Therefore, these anti-VEGF agents could be prescribed safely to patients with AMD., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Indian Journal of Ophthalmology.)

Background: The incidence of operative treatment of distal radius fractures (DRFs) has increased recently, but the optimal timing for surgical fixation remains unclear. We hypothesized that: (1) an increase in time to fixation of intra-articular DRFs would increase the likelihood of postoperative complications; and (2) increased time from injury to fixation would lead to longer surgical time and worse range of motion (ROM) outcomes., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 299 fractures in 284 adult patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of a closed, intra-articular DRF at our institution over a 10.5-year period. Demographic information, time to surgery (TTS) from injury, surgical time, tourniquet time, complications, and final postoperative ROM were collected for logistic regression modeling to predict the risk of postoperative complication., Results: Twenty-seven (9.0%) patients experienced postoperative complications. The median TTS (Q1-Q3) for all patients was 7.0 (4.0-12.0) days. Patients who experienced an early postoperative complication had significantly longer median TTS (10.0 days) than those who did not (7.0 days). Patients with longer TTS were more likely to experience a complication (odds ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.19; P = .006). Tourniquet time and final wrist ROM were not related to TTS. A logistic regression analysis found that early complication rate doubles at 7.0 days after injury (from 3.5% to 6.9%)., Conclusions: Patients with operative intra-articular distal radius fractures should ideally be fixed within 7 to 10 days of injury to minimize the risk of early postoperative complications. The tourniquet time and final ROM were not associated with time to surgery., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: M.J.R. has received royalties or licenses from Acumed and Field Orthopaedics; consulting fees from Acumed, Bioventus, DJO, and Field Orthopaedics; and payment or honoraria from Acumed, Bioventus, DJO, Field Orthopaedics, and Medartis. D.S.R. has received royalties or licenses from Acumed, consulting fees from Acumed and Field Orthopaedics, and payment or honoraria from Acumed and Field Orthopaedics. T.S.P. has received grant support from Acumed. A.J.G., K.J.C., A.V.P., and C.L.G. have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Objective: To investigate the associations between time interval from myomectomy to pregnancy (TIMP) and subsequent pregnancy and obstetric complications, and to explore whether these associations vary according to maternal age at birth., Methods: A retrospective population-based cohort study was conducted from 2008 to 2017. Data were extracted from the National Health Insurance Research Database and the Taiwan Maternal and Child Health Database, comprising 2024 379 births from 1 391 856 pregnancies. Eligible cases were identified using diagnostic and procedure codes; 4006 first singleton births in 4006 women after their first laparotomic myomectomy were identified. We estimated the risks of pregnancy and obstetric outcomes according to TIMP (<6, 6-11, and ≥12 months). Subgroup analysis was performed by further dividing according to maternal age at birth (18-34 vs ≥35 years old)., Results: We observed higher risks of gestational hypertensive disorders (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22-3.18, P = 0.005) and neonatal death (aOR 4.59, 95% CI 1.49-14.18, P = 0.008) for TIMP of <6 months versus TIMP of 6-11 months. Likewise, a TIMP ≥12 months was associated with increased risks of gestational hypertensive disorders (aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.14-2.58, P = 0.010), and neonatal death (aOR 3.27, 95% CI 1.16-9.24, P = 0.025) versus a TIMP of 6-11 months. In subgroup analysis, women over 35 years old still had higher risks of gestational hypertensive disorders when TIMP was <6 months (aOR 2.26, 95% CI 1.17-4.37, P = 0.015) or ≥12 months (aOR 2.04, 95% CI 1.17-3.54, P = 0.012), and a higher risk of neonatal death when TIMP was <6 months (aOR 4.05, 95% CI 1.06-15.53, P = 0.041); whereas women aged 18-34 years old did not., Conclusions: This study suggests that a TIMP between 6 and 11 months is associated with lower risks of gestational hypertensive disorders and neonatal death compared with a TIMP <6 months or ≥12 months, especially for women over 35 years old., (© 2024 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.)

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) poses a significant public health burden due to its high prevalence and poor prognosis. Platinum resistance is one of the major challenges in OSCC treatment. Yes-associated protein (YAP) has been identified as a pivotal player in OSCC tumorigenesis and progression. Circular RNA (circRNA) has been implicated in chemoresistance in various cancers by regulation the function of microRNA. Nevertheless, the specific mechanisms linking circRNA to YAP expression in OSCC remain poorly understood. In this study, we detected the YAP and circRNA hsa&#95;circ&#95;0002722 (circ&#95;0002722) expression by western blot (WB) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). We found that YAP and circ&#95;0002722 were up-regulated in platinum resistance in OSCC tissues. Furthermore, transfection of circ&#95;0002722 siRNA into platinum-resistant cells revealed that circ&#95;0002722 acted as a regulator of miR-1305, which influenced YAP expression and thereby affected platinum sensitivity. In vivo experiments corroborated the synergistic effects of cisplatin and verteporfin (a YAP inhibitor) in combating platinum resistance. Targeting YAP emerges as a promising therapeutic strategy for addressing platinum resistance in OSCC, with circ&#95;0002722 serving as a potential therapy target and valuable diagnostic marker. These findings shed light on the underlying mechanisms of platinum resistance, paving the way for the development of effective treatment approaches., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated disorder characterized by immune regulation disorders and abnormal keratinocyte proliferation. Deucravacitinib (Deu), a selective oral Tyrosine Kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, shows promise in treating psoriasis but may cause systemic side effects and fail to address persistent localized thickened lesions. Herein, a self-locking microneedle (MN) patch with a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) inner ring loaded with Deu is developed, designed to penetrate the transdermal barriers and dissolve rapidly, downregulating the IL-23/IL-17 pathway and serve as the first line of defense against the spread of skin-originated inflammation. Additionally, Calcipotriol (Cal), a vitamin D derivative, is incorporated into a methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HAMA) backing layer and outer ring that mimics occlusive administration, maintaining localized skin surface retention for prolonged anti-proliferative therapy. The Deu@Cal MN demonstrates satisfactory adhesiveness due to swelling-mediated mechanical interlocking via the outer ring, ensuring targeted drug release at lesion site. Besides its effectiveness in alleviating both skin inflammation and proliferation, it inhibits the differentiation of Th17 cells in the spleen, suggesting potential to reduce systemic inflammation. These findings offer a new therapeutic approach for treating psoriasis and other autoimmune and inflammatory conditions., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Active faults along railways in the mountainous regions of western China pose significant challenges to bridge safety. To ensure the safe operation of long-span railway bridges under complex geological conditions, this study investigates the synthesis of artificial ground motions for bridges crossing strike-slip faults and analyzes their nonlinear seismic response. First, we develop a theoretical method for simulating high- and low-frequency seismic motions using a finite fault and an equivalent velocity pulse model. Next, using a specific long-span railway cable-stayed bridge as a case study, we construct a nonlinear finite element model with OpenSees software. Finally, we assess the seismic response of key bridge components considering various crossing angles, seismic amplitudes, fault rupture directivity, and fling-step effects. The results show that the crossing angle significantly influences the seismic response, with longitudinal and transverse responses exhibiting opposite patterns. Additionally, the scaling factor of seismic motion significantly affects bridge response. For bridges crossing strike-slip faults, the longitudinal response exhibits a sudden increase in displacement due to instantaneous velocity pulses, while the transverse response shows notable residual displacement influenced by the fling-step effect. However, the critical section curvatures of bridge towers and piers remain within the elastic range across all crossing angles, indicating that controlling large displacement deformations is crucial for the seismic design of bridges crossing strike-slip faults., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Chronotropic incompetence (CI) severely limits exercise tolerance due to impaired heart rate responses. This study investigated whether pacemaker with closed-loop stimulation (DDD-CLS) pacing, which provides rate acceleration in response to exertion, could enhance lung function and cardiopulmonary capacity compared pacemaker without CLS pacing in patients with CI., Methods: This randomized crossover trial included 32 patients with CI who were compared to each CLS and DDD pacing over 2 months. Spirometry was used to assess the forced vital capacity (FVC). Cycling-based cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) measured peak oxygen uptake (peak VO 2 )., Results: DDD-CLS pacing yielded significantly higher FVC (2.2 ± 0.8 L) versus DDD pacing (2.0 ± 0.7 L), p = 0.036, a 3.2% improvement. Moreover, those in the DDD-CLS mode showed a significantly higher FEV1 of 1.8 ± 0.6 L compared to the DDD mode of 1.7 ± 0.5 L (p = 0.03). Compared with DDD pacing, DDD-CLS pacing also achieved superior peak VO 2 (14.9 ± 4.0 vs 12.2 ± 3.7 mlO 2 /kg/min, p < 0.001) and peak heart rate (106.9 ± 9.7 vs 98.3 ± 19.8 bpm, p = 0.013). DDD-CLS and DDD pacing modes showed significant correlations between FVC and peak VO 2 and between peak VO 2 and peak heart rate during CPET., Conclusions: Compared with DDD mode, DDD-CLS pacing provided physiological chronotropic support to improve cardiopulmonary function during exertion, which enhanced lung capacity in patients with CI., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None declared., (Copyright © 2024 Formosan Medical Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To characterize patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis and identify risk factors for retinal detachment (RD) and mortality in this Taiwanese patient population., Methods: This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with CMV retinitis between 2007 and 2019. The diagnosis was confirmed through aqueous polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Relevant data were collected from the Chang Gung Research Database. Univariate Cox regression was performed to identify the associations of RD and mortality risks with various patient characteristics, including demographic features, comorbidities, laboratory results, and medication use patterns., Results: In total, 32 patients with CMV retinitis were included. Among these patients, 78.1% had an immunocompromised status, including 56.3% with high-dose systemic steroid use, 21.9% with HIV infection, 12.5% with hematologic malignancy, and 9.4% with renal transplantation. Approximately 21.9% of patients had RD 2.4 ± 2.1 months after CMV retinitis diagnosis, and 34.4% died within 6.2 [4.2, 38.2] months after diagnosis. Patients with RD had a statistically significant, but likely not clinically significant, later initiation of anti-CMV medications compared to their non-RD counterparts (8 [5, 23] days vs. 2 [1, 11] days, p = 0.039). Mortality was significantly associated with older age (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.10), hematologic malignancy (HR: 5.92; 95% CI: 1.44-24.37), and positivity for CMV on blood PCR (HR: 4.93; 95% CI: 1.49-16.35)., Conclusion: Our study suggests that older age, hematologic malignancy, and positivity for CMV on blood PCR are risk factors for mortality in patients with CMV retinitis., Key Messages: What is known Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is the predominant sight-threatening opportunistic ocular infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). What is new In the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy for AIDS, the majority of CMV retinitis patients are those receiving immunomodulatory therapy for underlying diseases. Older age, hematologic malignancy, and positive blood polymerase chain reaction for CMV are potential risk factors for mortality in patients with CMV retinitis., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background/aims: The aims of this study is to evaluate the anatomic, visual outcomes and associated prognostic factors in patients with advanced retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) following vitrectomy., Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients with ROP who underwent vitrectomy from 2005 to 2016 was conducted. All the patients had a follow-up period of at least 5 years. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to explore the factors related to unfavourable outcomes., Results: In total, 81 eyes of 51 patients were included. The mean age at last follow-up was 10.2 years. The anatomic success rate was 96.3% (26/27) for stage 4A, 90.9% (20/22) for stage 4B and 31.3% (10/32) for stage 5 ROP (p<0.01). The mean logMAR best corrected visual acuity of the stage-4A eyes was the highest, followed by those of stage-4B and stage-5 eyes (0.8, 1.5 and 2.6 for stages 4A, 4B and 5, respectively; p<0.01). High myopia (≤ -5.0 D) was noted in 70.8% and 71.4% of stage-4A and stage-4B eyes, respectively. Cataract was the most common complication (25.9%), followed by corneal opacity (17.3%), strabismus (16.1%), and phthisis (16.1%). Stage of the disease was a poor prognostic factor in all vitrectomised eyes (p<0.01). Vitrectomy combined lensectomy was a significant predictor for poor anatomic outcomes for stage-4 eyes (p=0.03). Presence of plus disease was also a possible factor affecting the surgical outcomes., Conclusion: The long-term surgical outcomes of the eyes with stage 4A and 4B ROP were favourable. Management of stage 5 ROP remained challenging., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

The current surgical adjunctive for vitreoretinal surgeries fails to provide an adequate 3D structure for cellular regeneration. A one-pot synthesis of gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) followed by modification with 4-carboxyphenylboronic acid (4-CPBA) was performed to fabricate 4-CPBA-modified GelMA (4CPBA@GelMA), a gelatin-based hydrogel. 4CPBA@GelMA was photo-cross-linked by 405 nm violet light and examined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and rheometry. In vitro biocompatibility was examined by Müller cell proliferation assays exposed to 4CPBA@GelMA and violet light. In vivo retinal biocompatibility was evaluated by electroretinography of rat eyes that were exposed to intravitreally injected and photo-cross-linked 4CPBA@GelMA at days 3, 7, 14, and 28 post-injection. Following electroretinography, histology and immunohistochemistry were performed on the retinas. The NMR results indicated amidation of GelMA by 4-CPBA, and FTIR confirmed the presence of the CPBA ring in 4CPBA@GelMA samples. SEM revealed that 4CPBA@GelMA had significantly larger pores than GelMA (56.9 ± 9.5 vs 35.1 ± 2.8 μm; P < 0.001). Rheological findings showed that, unlike GelMA and gelatin, 4CPBA@GelMA has Newtonian fluid properties at room temperature. Exposure to 4CPBA@GelMA did not significantly affect Müller cell viability in a proliferation assay; moreover, electroretinography findings indicated normal waveforms and implicit times, and histology and immunohistochemistry examinations revealed no significant changes. In this study, we established the high retinal compatibility of 4CPBA@GelMA. The low viscosity of 4CPBA@GelMA is ideal for injection via small-gauge needles, and the larger pore size and three-dimensional network both potentiate cellular migration and growth. These features made 4CPBA@GelMA a candidate for vitreoretinal surgical adjunctive that might promote retinal regeneration., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Hypertensive renal damage (HRD) is a major cause of end-stage renal disease. Among the causes of end-stage renal disease, HRD accounts for nearly 34% of the total number of cases. Antihypertensive treatment is primarily drug-based, but therapeutic efficacy is less effective and can have serious side effects. Chinese medicine (CM) has significant advantages in the treatment of HRD. CM is rich in various active ingredients and has the property of targeting multiple targets and channels. Therefore, the regulatory network of CM on disease is complex. A large number of CM have been employed to treat HRD, either as single applications or as part of compound formulations. The key possible mechanisms of CM for HRD include regulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, antioxidation, anti-inflammation, rescue of endothelial function, regulation of vasoactive substance secretion and obesity-related factors, etc. This review summarized and discussed the recent advance in the basic research mechanisms of CM interventions for HRD and pointed out the challenges and future prospects., (© 2024. The Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

To introduce a novel surgical technique using the human amniotic membrane (hAM) patch technique to address refractory macular holes (MHs). After vitrectomy, the hAM patch was positioned on top of the MH with the chorion side facing downward. Viscoat (Alcon Laboratories) was applied on top of the hAM patch for better fixation. Fluid-air exchange was then performed and 20% SF6 or 10% C3F8 tamponade was administered after the surgery. Five patients with refractory MHs larger than 400 µm underwent the hAM patch technique. After a minimum 2-year follow-up, results showed 100% closure of MHs, 80% improvement in visual acuity, and a notable enhancement in best-corrected logMAR visual acuity from 0.98 to 0.72 ( P = 0.039). Dislocation of hAM patch occurred among 3 out of 5 patients (60%). The hAM patch technique appears to be a promising approach for addressing refractory MHs. [ Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2024;55:613-616.] .

Background: Behcet's disease (BD) is an inflammatory disorder known for various symptoms, including oral and genital ulcers and ocular inflammation. Panuveitis, a severe eye condition, is rare as the first sign of BD., Case Summary: We present an unusual case of a 30-year-old man who developed panuveitis after receiving the mRNA-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine (Moderna). Laboratory tests ruled out infections, but he had a positive HLA-B51 result and a history of genital ulcer and oral ulcers, leading to a BD diagnosis. Treatment with corticosteroids improved his condition. Interestingly, he had another episode of panuveitis after the second mRNA vaccine dose, which also responded to corticosteroids., Conclusion: This case highlights the rare onset of BD following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, suggesting a potential link between these vaccines and BD's eye symptoms, emphasizing the importance of quick treatment in similar cases., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest for this paper., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: To explore the role of gut microbiota in preterm infants at high risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)., Methods: Preterm infants with gestational age (GA) < 32 weeks and/or birth weight (BW) < 1500 g born between 2020 and 2021 were prospectively enrolled. Their faecal samples were collected and analysed at different postnatal ages of life using 16S rRNA gene sequencing on the Miseq platform. The main outcome measures were the microbial diversity, taxonomy, relative abundance, bacterial predicted functional analysis, and their associations with different ROP groups. Subgroup analyses were performed by matching their GA and BW across different ROP groups., Results: A total of 268 stool samples were collected from 110 preterm infants, including 13 with type 1 ROP, 44 with type 2 or mild ROP, and 53 without ROP. Type 1 ROP showed no significant difference in microbial diversity up to 8 postnatal weeks (p = 0.057), while type 2 and no ROP groups displayed increased diversity (p = 0.0015 and p = 0.049, respectively). Bifidobacterium genera was notably less abundant in type 1 ROP group at first postnatal week (p = 0.022) and remained low in subsequent weeks. Predicted functional analysis revealed enriched pathways in membrane transport, carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and replication and repair., Conclusions: Reduced gut microbial diversity may be associated with ROP development in high-risk preterm infants. Further research is needed to comprehend how early-life Bifidobacterium reduction affects metabolism and how targeting microbiome may help for ROP prevention and management., (© 2024 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists.)

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive and common brain tumor. The blood-brain barrier prevents several treatments from reaching the tumor. This study proposes a Chemo-Immunotherapy synergy treatment chemically crosslinked hydrogel system that is injected into the tumor to treat GBM. The strategy uses doxorubicin and BMS-1 with a thermo-responsive and chemically crosslinked hydrogel for extended drug release into the affected area. The hydrogels are produced by mixing with Chitosan (Chi), modified Pluronic F-127 (PF-127) with aldehyde end group and doxorubicin and then chemically crosslinking the aldehyde and amine bonds to increase the drug retention time. PF-127-CHO/Chi, which gels at body temperatures and chemically crosslinks between PF-127-CHO and Chitosan, increases the time that the drug remains in the affected area and prevents the hydrogel from swelling and compressing surrounding tissue. The drug is released from the chemically crosslinked hydrogels, prevents tumor progression and increases survival for subjects with GBM tumors. The Synergy Chemo-Immunotherapy also allows more efficient treatment of GBM than chemotherapy. The PF-127-CHO/Chi DOX and BMS-1 group have a tumor that is 43 times smaller than the untreated group. These results show that the proposed chemically crosslinking hydrogel is an efficient intratumoral delivery platform for the treatment of tumors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objective: The association between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and laryngeal disorders remains debatable, although it has been the focus of extensive clinical and laboratory research. We conducted this study to obtain evidence on the association., Study Design: Population-based cohort study., Setting: Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD)., Methods: Using data from Taiwan's NHIRD (January 2000 to December 2018), we performed a population-based analysis to estimate the risk of laryngeal disorders in patients with GERD and those without GERD., Results: The GERD and non-GERD cohorts comprised 176,319 and 705,276 patients, respectively. The cohorts were matched at a ratio of 1:4 based on sex, age, urbanization level, and income level. The risk of laryngeal disorders was higher in the GERD cohort than in the non-GERD cohort (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.64; 95% confidence interval: 1.61-1.67)., Conclusion: This study is the first to use population data for identifying the association between GERD and laryngeal disorders for real-world findings. Our population-based analysis indicates that patients with GERD have an elevated risk of laryngeal disorders., (© 2024 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Adsorptive ethylene separation from the C 2 H 2 /C 2 H 4 /C 2 H 6 /CO 2 four-component gas mixture provides a low-energy input solution for industrial ethylene purification, yet it is still a great challenge. Herein, we report a facile scaled-up synthesis of a stable ultramicroporous coordination network of Zn-CO 3 -datz (Hdatz = 3,5-diamine-1,2,4-triazole), which enables selective adsorption of C 2 H 2 , C 2 H 4 and CO 2 over C 2 H 4 , thanks to its specific pore environment supported by GCMC simulation of gas adsorption sites. Dynamic breakthrough experiments exhibited efficient one-step production of polymer-grade (≥99.95%) C 2 H 4 from the quaternary C 2 H 4 /C 2 H 2 /C 2 H 6 /CO 2 (1/1/1/1) mixture, with excellent C 2 H 4 productivity of 0.12 mol kg -1 at 298 K. Moreover, it can be easily synthesized in kilogram scale with an affordable and low-cost ligand, rendering its further potential industrial applications.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of Qingda Granule (QDG) in ameliorating hypertension-induced cardiac damage and investigate the underlying mechanisms involved., Methods: Twenty spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were used to develope a hypertension-induced cardiac damage model. Another 10 Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as normotension group. Rats were administrated intragastrically QDG [0.9 g/(kg•d)] or an equivalent volume of pure water for 8 weeks. Blood pressure, histopathological changes, cardiac function, levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory response markers were measured. Furthermore, to gain insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the protective effects of QDG against hypertension-induced cardiac injury, a network pharmacology study was conducted. Predicted results were validated by Western blot, radioimmunoassay immunohistochemistry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively., Results: The administration of QDG resulted in a significant decrease in blood pressure levels in SHRs (P<0.01). Histological examinations, including hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson trichrome staining revealed that QDG effectively attenuated hypertension-induced cardiac damage. Furthermore, echocardiography demonstrated that QDG improved hypertension-associated cardiac dysfunction. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and colorimetric method indicated that QDG significantly reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory response levels in both myocardial tissue and serum (P<0.01)., Conclusions: Both network pharmacology and experimental investigations confirmed that QDG exerted its beneficial effects in decreasing hypertension-induced cardiac damage by regulating the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)/angiotensin II (Ang II)/Ang II receptor type 1 axis and ACE/Ang II/Ang II receptor type 2 axis., (© 2024. The Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Aqueous zinc-based batteries (AZBs) are promising energy storage solutions with remarkable safety, abundant Zn reserve, cost-effectiveness, and relatively high energy density. However, AZBs still face challenges such as anode dendrite formation that reduces cycling stability and limited cathode capacity. Recently, low-dimensional metal-organic frameworks (LD MOFs) and their derivatives have emerged as promising candidates for improving the electrochemical performance of AZBs owing to their unique morphologies, high structure tunability, high surface areas, and high porosity. However, clear guidelines for developing LD MOF-based materials for high-performance AZBs are scarce. In this review, the recent progress of LD MOF-based materials for AZBs is critically examined. The typical synthesis methods and structural design strategies for improving the electrochemical performance of LD MOF-based materials for AZBs are first introduced. The recent noteworthy research achievements are systematically discussed and categorized based on their applications in different AZB components, including cathodes, anodes, separators, and electrolytes. Finally, the limitations are addressed and the future perspectives are outlined for LD MOFs and their derivatives in AZB applications. This review provides clear guidance for designing high-performance LD MOF-based materials for advanced AZBs., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Purpose: This study aims to explore genetic variants that potentially lead to outer retinal tubulation (ORT), estimate the prevalence of ORT in these candidate genes, and investigate the clinical etiology of ORT in patients with inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), with respect to each gene., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional review was conducted on 565 patients with molecular diagnoses of IRD, confirming the presence of ORT as noted in each patient's respective spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) imaging. Using SD-OCT imaging, the presence of ORT was analyzed in relation to specific genetic variants and phenotypic characteristics. Outcomes included the observed ORT frequencies across 2 gene-specific cohorts: non-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-specific genes, and RPE-specific genes; and to investigate the analogous characteristics caused by variants in these genes., Results: Among the 565 patients included in this study, 104 exhibited ORT on SD-OCT. We observed ORT frequencies among the following genes from our patient cohort: 100% (23/23) for CHM, 100% (2/2) for PNPLA6, 100% (4/4) for RCBTB1, 100% for mtDNA [100% (4/4) for MT-TL1 and 100% (1/1) for mtDNA deletion], 100% (1/1) for OAT, 95.2% (20/21) for CYP4V2, 72.7% (8/11) for CHM female carriers, 66.7% (2/3) for C1QTNF5, 57.1% (8/14) for PROM1, 53.8% (7/13) for PRPH2, 42.9% (3/7) for CERKL, 28.6% (2/7) for CDHR1, 20% (1/5) for RPE65, 4% (18/445) for ABCA4. In contrast, ORT was not observed in any patients with photoreceptor-specific gene variants, such as RHO (n = 13), USH2A (n = 118), EYS (n = 70), PDE6B (n = 10), PDE6A (n = 4), and others., Conclusions: These results illustrate a compelling association between the presence of ORT and IRDs caused by variants in RPE-specific genes, as well as non-RPE-specific genes. In contrast, IRDs caused by photoreceptor-specific genes are typically not associated with ORT occurrence. Further analysis revealed that ORT tends to manifest in IRDs with milder intraretinal pigment migration (IPM), a finding that is typically associated with RPE-specific genes. These findings regarding ORT, genetic factors, atrophic patterns in the fundus, and IPM provide valuable insight into the complex etiology of IRDs. Future prospective studies are needed to further explore the association and underlying mechanisms of ORT in these contexts., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate stereopsis in term-born, preterm, and preterm children with and without retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and its treatment., Methods: The cross-sectional study included 322 children between 3 and 11 years of age born term or preterm, with or without ROP, and with or without treatment for ROP. The ROP treatments were laser therapy, intravitreal injection (IVI) of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, or their combination. Stereoacuity was measured using the Titmus Stereo Test, and the results among various age groups were analyzed., Results: Stereopsis was found to improve with increasing age at testing (P < 0.001) across the entire study population. The term group exhibited significantly better stereoacuity than the preterm group (P < 0.001). At 3-5 years and 6-8 years, the preterm children without ROP exhibited significantly better stereoacuity than did those with ROP (P < 0.001 and P = 0.02, respectively); however, at 9-11 years, both groups exhibited similar stereoacuity (P = 0.34). The stereoacuity in the children with untreated ROP was similar to that of the children with treated ROP in all age groups (P > 0.05). No significant differences in stereopsis were identified between children with ROP treated with laser versus with IVI (P > 0.05). From multivariate analysis, younger age at testing (P = 0.001) and younger gestational age (P < 0.001) were associated with poorer stereopsis., Conclusions: Stereopsis development gradually improved with age in all groups. The children born preterm exhibited poorer stereoacuity than those born term. Children with ROP treated with laser photocoagulation versus IVI may exhibit similar levels of stereoacuity. Younger age at testing and gestational age were independent risk factors for poorer stereoacuity., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Pentoxifylline is administrated to improve the hemodynamics of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Despite the improvement of capillary blood flow velocity in retina after pentoxifylline use, no evidence has been provided to prove the protective effect for diabetic retinopathy (DR). Therefore, this study aimed to assess the risk of DR in pentoxifylline users with CKD and diabetes mellitus (DM)., Material and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, Chang Gung Research Database, which includes the data of patients with CKD and DM from 2003 to 2019, was used. Each calendar year was divided into 4 data units with 3 months each for every patient and every year during the follow-up. The ocular outcomes were new-onset DR, DR-related complications, and vitreoretinal interventions., Results: Total 56,439 patients without preexisting DR and 5,039 patients with preexisting DR were included in this study. Exposure to pentoxifylline was associated with elevated risk of new-onset DR (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.24, 95% confidence interval = 1.13-1.36) in patients without preexisting DR. Additionally, exposure to pentoxifylline was associated with elevated risk of DR-related complications and vitreoretinal interventions in patients with or without preexisting DR., Conclusions: Exposure to pentoxifylline is associated with elevated risk of DR, regardless of whether patients have preexisting DR., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None, (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)