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A base promoted oxidative [4+2] annulation of pyrrole‐2‐carbaldehyde derivatives with o‐hydroxyphenyl propargylamines for the synthesis of highly substituted indolizines has been developed. Using DBN as base, a broad range of 5,6,7‐trisubstituted indolizines have been prepared in good to excellent yields under mild conditions, and many useful functional groups can be tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate the impact of intravitreal injection of conbercept, a recombinant fusion protein with decoy receptors for the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family, on intraocular concentrations of angiogenic and inflammatory mediators in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), analyzed its potential impact on surgical outcomes. Methods: Forty eyes from 40 patients with PDR were included in this prospective study. Patients received intravitreal injection of conbercept followed by vitrectomy or phacovitrectomy in 1 week. Aqueous humor samples were collected before and 1 week after the conbercept injection. The concentrations of angiogenic and inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were measured by flow cytometry. Follow‐up clinical data were collected and analyzed. Results: Intravitreal conbercept injection significantly decreased aqueous concentrations of VEGF (325.5 (baseline) versus 22.3 pg/mL (postinjection), p < 0.0001), PlGF (39.5 versus 24.5 pg/mL, p < 0.0001), and PDGF‐A (54.1 versus 47.0 pg/mL, p = 0.0016), while no impact on bFGF levels. For inflammatory mediators, the concentration of TNF‐α (0.79 versus 0.45 pg/mL, p = 0.0004) and IL‐8 (180.6 versus 86 pg/mL, p < 0.0001) were decreased, while IL‐6 (184.1 versus 333.7 pg/mL, p = 0.0003) and IL‐10 (1.1 versus 1.5 pg/mL, p = 0.0032) were increased. No significant changes in IFN‐γ or MCP‐1 were detected. Three months after surgery, the mean best‐corrected visual acuity improved from a baseline of 1.8 ± 0.1 logMAR to 0.7 ± 0.1 logMAR (p < 0.0001), with 36 eyes (90%) achieving an improvement of visual function. Conclusions: Intravitreal conbercept injection presents dual effects of antiangiogenesis and anti‐inflammation and can be served as an adjuvant treatment to vitrectomy for PDR patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ma bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro) is a fast-growing woody grass that offers significant economic benefits, including materials for construction, furniture, biofuel, food, and handicrafts. It also provides ecological benefits like soil conservation, wildlife habitats, and carbon sequestration. However, its species distribution patterns are influenced by various factors, including climate (mainly temperature and precipitation), soil attributes, and landscape characteristics such as topography, land use, and vegetation. Understanding these impacts is essential for the sustainable management of D. latiflorus resources and fostering related economic activities. To address these challenges, we developed a comprehensive habitat suitability (CHS) model that integrates climate, soil, and landscape variables to simulate the distribution dynamics of D. latiflorus under different shared socio-economic pathway (SSP) scenarios. An ensemble model (EM) strategy was applied to each variable set to ensure robust predictions. The results show that the current potential distribution of D. latiflorus spans 28.95 × 104 km2, primarily located in South China and the Sichuan Basin. Its distribution is most influenced by the annual mean temperature (Bio1), the cation exchange capacity of soil clay particles in the 20–40 cm soil layer (CECc 20–40 cm), vegetation, and elevation. Under future climate scenarios, these habitats are projected to initially expand slightly and then contract, with a northward shift in latitude and migration to higher elevations. Additionally, the Sichuan Basin (Sichuan–Chongqing border) is identified as a climatically stable area suitable for germplasm development and conservation. To conclude, our findings shed light on how climate change impacts the geographic distribution of D. latiflorus, providing key theoretical foundations for its sustainable cultivation and conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and imaging features of a novel surgical technique without endotamponade in repairing complex macular hole (MH)., Methods: Retrospective review of consecutive cases with complex MH underwent pars plana vitrectomy with temporal internal limiting membrane flap, which was stabilized using perfluorocarbon liquid and viscoelastics. At the conclusion of surgery, perfluorocarbon liquid was removed, and no endotamponade agent would be used. Complex MH was defined as a basal linear diameter of ≥400 µm and/or associated with high myopia. Visual acuity, pattern of MH closure on optical coherence tomography, formation of epiretinal membrane, and operative complications were reported., Results: Twenty-four eyes were included, and the mean basal linear diameter was 988.3 µm. MH closure was achieved in 24 (100%), of which, 8 (33%) achieved type 1A closure. The mean postoperative logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity improved from 0.93 at baseline to 0.74, 0.51, 0.55, and 0.52 at 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and last follow-up, respectively. Foveal gliosis was observed in 3 eyes (12.5%), and 10 (41.7%) developed nasal epiretinal membrane. One eye developed vitreous hemorrhage, which resolved spontaneously., Conclusion: This novel surgical technique that requires no endotamponade is effective in achieving complex MH closure. A substantial proportion of patients developed epiretinal membrane, and its clinical significance requires further investigation., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Opthalmic Communications Society, Inc.)

Purpose: To evaluate the associations of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the high-temperature requirement protease A 1 ( HTRA1) gene with myopia., Methods: 25 SNPs in HTRA1 were selected, including 23 haplotype-tagging SNPs, SNP rs2142308 from a previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) of myopia and rs11200638, a SNP strongly associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). All SNPs were genotyped in a Hong Kong Chinese cohort of 533 myopia subjects (including 175 high myopia, 189 moderate myopia and 189 mild myopia) and 280 non-myopic controls. The association of individual SNPs were evaluated in overall myopia and different subgroups of myopia using logistic regression., Results: A tagging SNP, rs11200647, was significantly associated with myopia (p=2.17×10 -4 , OR=0.67). Nominal associations were detected for the AMD-associated SNP rs11200638 (p=0.0042, OR=1.37) and tagging SNPs rs12266322 (p=0.0048, OR=0.59) and rs17103569 (p=0.047, OR=1.34). The association of rs11200647 with myopia remained significant after adjusting for rs11200638, rs12266322 and rs17103569. In sub-group analysis, two tagging SNPs, rs11200647 (p=2.24×10 -4 , OR=0.58) and rs12266322 (p=8.31×10 -4 , OR=0.39), showed significant association with moderate myopia. In haplotype association analysis, haplotypes AT (p=1.00×10 -4 , OR=1.77) and haplotype GT (p=0.0019, OR=0.64), defined by rs11200647 and rs66884382, were significantly associated with myopia., Conclusions: This study provided new evidence to support HTRA1 as an associated gene for myopia, especially moderate myopia. The findings suggested that myopia and AMD may have shared genetic components., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Immunoglobulin G4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD) poses clinical challenges due to its heterogeneous ocular and systemic manifestations. We aim to report the systemic involvement and the clinical, serological and radiological associations of a cohort of Chinese patients., Methods: A territory-wide, biopsy-proven, Chinese cohort. A retrospective, masked chart review of medical records, orbital images, and histopathology reports., Results: A total of 122 (65 male) patients with a follow-up of 81 ± 49 (24 to 84) months were reviewed. Ninety (74%) patients presented bilaterally. Subacute upper eyelid swelling was the commonest presentation (82/122, 67%). During follow-up, 91/122 patients (75%) underwent extra-orbital imaging including computer tomography (692 films), ultrasonography (182 films), magnetic resonance imaging (76 films) and whole body FDG-PET scan (33 films). Eighty-six (95%) of these 91 patients had extra-orbital involvement radiologically (2.7 ± 1.6 regions, range: 0 to 9). Lymph node was the most prevalent ( N  = 60,66%), followed by salivary gland ( N  = 51,56%), lung ( N  = 49,54%), kidney ( N  = 22, 24%), hepatobiliary tree ( N  = 18, 20%) and pancreas ( N  = 17, 19%). Other organs include thyroid, aorta, meninges/brain and skin. Twenty-eight (23%) patients had allergic diseases (19 asthma, 16 allergic rhinitis, and 6 eczemas). Fifty-seven (48%) patients had paranasal sinusitis. Serum eosinophilia was associated with a higher number (3.24 versus 2.52, P  = 0.0304) of organ involvement. Patients with deep organ involvement was associated with a higher age of IgG4-ROD onset (70 ± 12 versus 56 ± 13, P  < 0.0001)., Conclusions: 95% of the patients who underwent systemic imaging in our cohort had systemic organ involvement. An early physicians' assessment and radiological imaging are recommended after the diagnosis of IgG4-ROD.

Aims: To investigate the associations of genetic variants previously linked to axial length (AL) and spherical equivalent refraction (SE) in adults with refractive error and related endophenotypes in children, at baseline and 3-year follow-up., Methods: 15 candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), selected from previous Genome-Wide Association Studies and meta-analyses, were genotyped in 2819 Chinese children, who had undergone baseline and 3-year follow-up cycloplegic refraction, ocular biometry and ocular health examinations. Linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the associations of the SNPs with baseline measurements and longitudinal changes in SE, spherical power (SPH), AL, corneal radius of curvature (CR) and AL/CR ratio., Results: SNPs ZMAT4 rs7829127, ZMAT4 rs16890057, TOX rs7837791, GRIA4 rs11601239 and RDH5 rs3138142 were associated with SE (β=0.233, p=4.21×10 -4 ; β=0.221, p=7.87×10 -4 ; β=0.106, p=0.0076; β=0.084, p=0.041; β=0.14, p=0.013, respectively) and SPH (β=0.24, p=2.3×10 -4 ; β=0.232, p=3.8×10 -4 ; β=0.088, p=0.025; β=0.086, p=0.034; β=0.14, p=0.012, respectively). Among them, ZMAT4 rs7829127 and rs16890057, were also associated with AL (β=-0.128, p=5.6×10 -4 ; β=-0.128, p=5.21×10 -4 ) and AL/CR ratio (β=-0.014, p=0.0028; β=-0.014, p=0.0034), whereas TOX rs7837791 was associated with AL (β=-0.062, p=0.0058) and GRIA4 11 601 239 with AL/CR ratio (β=-0.0058, p=0.049). Additionally, CD55 rs1652333 and RDH5 rs3138142 were associated with 3-year longitudinal changes in AL (β=0.062, p=0.018; β=-0.079, p=0.029) and CR (β=0.014, p=0.027; β=-0.018, p=0.035)., Conclusion: Among SNPs previously associated with AL and SE in adults, variants in ZMAT4 , TOX and GRIA4 were associated with AL, SE, SPH, and/or AL/CR ratio, while variants in RDH5 and CD55 showed associations with AL and CR changes in children., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Purpose: To systematically review and meta-analyze all reported heritability studies of refractive astigmatism (RA), corneal astigmatism (CA) and corneal curvature (CC), and evaluate the existing genetic associations of RA, CA and CC., Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023447370)., Methods: Studies that reported the heritability and genetic associations of RA, CA and/or CC were identified from PubMed, Web of Science and EMBASE (from inception to October 1, 2023). Newcastle-Ottawa Scale criteria was used to assess the risk of bias. Meta-analyses of heritability were conducted using random-effects model for mean difference. All current genetic associations were catalogued according to level of statistical significance., Results: Pooled heritabilities were moderate for RA (h 2 = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.27-0.65), CA (h 2 = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.38-0.58) and CC (h 2 = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.53-0.76). Subgroup analyses revealed significant differences between analysis methods (CA: P < .01; CC: P = .03) and populations (CA: P < .01; CC: P < .01) in both CA and CC, and between age groups in CA (P < .01). Totally 50 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 10 genes have been reported with overlapping associations with RA, CA, and/or CC, with BMP3, FMNL2, HERC2, PROX1-AS1, and ZC3H11B associated with RA and CA, FBN1, NHSL1, and PDGFRA with CA and CC, TRAF3IP1 with RA and CC, and CASC15 with RA, CA, and CC., Conclusions: This study confirms moderate heritabilities of RA, CA and CC. Through evaluating overlapping SNPs or genes between these three phenotypes, we prioritized 50 SNPs in 10 genes as candidate variants for further validation. These findings highlight the complex genetic architecture of astigmatism and indicate shared and distinct genetic markers for different astigmatism-related corneal parameters. Future studies in different populations and functional studies evaluating the roles of the involved genes in astigmatism are warranted., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)