Search

BackgroundRecent studies have reported the effects of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components on atrial fibrillation (AF), but the results remain controversial. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between MetS and AF risk.MethodsStudies were searched from the Cochrane library, PubMed, and Embase databases through May 2020. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and its corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted and then pooled by using a random effects model.ResultsA total of 6 observational cohort studies were finally included. In the pooled analysis, MetS was associated with an increased risk of AF (HR 1.57; 95% CI 1.40–1.77;P P P P P P = 0.82) was not.ConclusionsOur present meta-analysis suggested that MetS, as well as its components including abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting glucose and low HDL cholesterol were associated with an increase in the risk of AF.

As a highly productive narrow-band emission red phosphor, K2SiF6:Mn4+ has towardly application market in pc-WLEDs (Phosphor-converted white light-emitting diodes) and LCD (Liquid crystal display). However, the poor moisture resistance property is recognized impediment for generalizing its wider commercialization. Herein, we adopt a simply green and convenient strategy based on Fe2+, which is committed to decreasing the reaction between luminescence center and water. The K2SiF6:Mn4+ as expected exhibits highly efficient red emission upon excitation.

Additioanl file 1. The criteria of metabolic syndrome used in the included studies and the search strategies of this meta-analysis.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactor disease, which is primarily characterized by retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell loss. Since the retina is the most metabolically active tissue, RPE cells are exposed to consistent oxidative environment. So, oxidation-induced RPE cell death has long been considered a contributor to the onset of AMD. Here, we applied a retinal degeneration (RD) rat model induced by blue light-emitting diode (LED) and a cell model constructed by H2O2 stimulus to mimic the prooxidant environment of the retina. We detected that the expression of miR-27a was upregulated and the expression of FOXO1 was downregulated in both models. So, we furtherly investigated the role of miR-27a-FOXO1 axis in RPE in protesting against oxidants. Lentivirus-mediated RNA was injected intravitreally into rats to modulate the miR-27a-FOXO1 axis. Retinal function and histopathological changes were evaluated by electroretinography (ERG) analysis and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, respectively. Massive photoreceptor and RPE cell death were examined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). The damage to the retina was aggravated in the FOXO1 gene-knockdown and miR-27a-overexpression groups after exposure to LED but was alleviated in the FOXO1 gene-overexpression or miR-27a-knockdown groups. Dual luciferase assay was used to detect the binding site of miR-27a and FOXO1. Upregulated miR-27a inhibited the expression of FOXO1 by directly binding to the FOXO1 mRNA 3 ′ UTR and decreased the autophagy activity of ARPE-19 cells, resulting in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decrease of cell viability. The results suggest that miR-27a is a negative regulator of FOXO1. Also, our data emphasize the prominent role of miR-27a/FOXO1 axis in modulating ROS accumulation and cell death in RPE cell model under oxidative stress and influencing the retinal function in the LED-induced RD rat model.

Purpose. To determine the effectiveness and safety of trabeculectomy along with amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for glaucoma. Methods. This systematic review was performed using RevMan 5.3. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library and included studies published until September 2019. The treatment group included patients with AMT and trabeculectomy (group A), and the control group had only trabeculectomy (group B). We only included randomized controlled trials. The outcomes were intraocular pressure (IOP), complete success rate, number of antiglaucoma medications, and complications. Results. Five studies, including 174 eyes (87 eyes in the AMT group and 87 eyes in the control group), were eligible in this review. The parameters had no significant difference in heterogeneity between the AMT and control groups preoperatively. In the AMT group, the mean IOP was significantly lower at 3 and 12 months after operation (P P = 0.02, respectively), while the number of complete successes in the AMT group was significantly higher at 6 and 12 months (P = 0.02 and P = 0.003, respectively) compared with the control group. Complications, including a flat anterior chamber and hyphema, appeared to be decreased in the AMT group compared to the control group (P = 0.02 and P = 0.02, respectively). No differences were observed in the number of antiglaucoma medications, hypotony, encapsulated bleb, or choroidal detachment. Conclusion. Compared with only trabeculectomy, it is more efficient and safer to add AMT to trabeculectomy during glaucoma filtering surgery.

An oxyfluoride red phosphor Cs

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible visual loss among elderly persons, of which wet AMD is characterized by choroidal neovascularization (CNV). We herein developed nanoparticles with good biosafety for effective treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). S-PEG-ICG-RGD-RBZ NPs were synthesized and characterized by ZP, DLS, UV-Vis, TEM and Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining analyses. In our study, the S-PEG-ICG-RGD-RBZ NPs exhibited good biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. There was no cellular toxicity, dead cells, apoptosis or genotoxicity in the studied concentration range in vitro; meanwhile, intravenous injection of the designed NPs did not cause histological damage or apoptosis in the organs in vivo, including the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidneys and brain. The designed NPs inhibited VEGF-induced proliferation, cell migration, tube formation and expression of CD31 and VEGF in vitro. Meanwhile, in vivo studies also indicated the inhibition of CNV development by NPs. What's more, the CNV area was imaged after intravenous injection of NPs modified with indocyanine green. The NPs were mainly targeted to CNV areas and did not remain in the other organs. In summary, S-PEG modified with RGD was designed as a powerful carrier to deliver anti-VEGF agents to CNV areas. The smart NPs, which have good cellular compatibility, hold great potential for drug delivery in CNV treatment.

Single cell transcriptome sequencing has become extremely useful for cell typing. However, such differential expression data has shed little light on regulatory relationships among genes. Here, by examining pairwise correlations between mRNA levels of any two genes under steady-state conditions, we uncovered correlated gene modules (CGMs), clusters of intercorrelated genes that carry out certain biological functions together. We report a novel single-cell RNA-seq method called MALBAC-DT with higher detectability and accuracy, allowing determination of the covariance matrix of the expressed mRNAs for a homogenous cell population. We observed a prevalence of positive correlations between pairs of genes, with higher correlations corresponding to higher likelihoods of protein-protein interactions. Some CGMs, such as the p53 module in a cancer cell line, are cell type specific, while others, such as the protein synthesis CGM, are shared by different cell types. CGMs distinguished direct targets of p53 and exposed different modes of regulation of these genes in different cell types. Our covariance analyses of steady-state fluctuations provides a powerful way to advance our functional understanding of gene-to-gene interactions.

Background. Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular tumor in adults and arises from the uvea. Marital status was a vital factor among physical conditions and social networks of cancer patients. Our study aimed to evaluate the impact of marital status on the outcomes among patients with UM. Methods. Patients with UM newly diagnosed from 2004 to 2015 were extracted, and the data were extracted from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. Overall survival (OS) was measured via the log-rank test, as well as cancer-specific survival (CSS) was also calculated via the same method. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to assess whether marital status was related to both OS and CSS. Furthermore, we performed subgroup analysis depending on different sexes and SEER stages. Results. In total, 4217 eligible patients were involved. Of these patients, 66.2% (n = 2793) were married, 14.6% (n = 615) were single, and 9.0% (n = 379) were divorced or separated, as well as widowed were 10.2% (n = 430). The 5-year OS of married, single, divorced or separated, and widowed patients was 74.0%, 72.8%, 68.6%, and 55.8%, respectively. The results indicating better OS and CSS occurred among married patients. Other factors such as sex, age at diagnosis, and SEER stage were also correlated with survival in UM patients. Furthermore, subgroup analyses were consistent with the results above. Conclusion. Marital status was proved to be an independent prognostic value for survival in UM patients. In addition, contrast to married patients, widowed individuals showed poor OS and CSS at different subgroup analyses.

For the first time, actinide endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) with non-isolated-pentagon-rule (non-IPR) carbon cages, U@C80, Th@C80, and U@C76, have been successfully synthesized and fully characterized by mass spectrometry, single crystal X-ray diffractometry, UV–vis–NIR and Raman spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Crystallographic analysis revealed that the U@C80 and Th@C80 share the same non-IPR cage of C1(28324)-C80, and U@C76 was assigned to non-IPR U@C1(17418)-C76. All of these cages are chiral and have never been reported before. Further structural analyses show that enantiomers of C1(17418)-C76 and C1(28324)-C80 share a significant continuous portion of the cage and are topologically connected by only two C2 insertions. DFT calculations show that the stabilization of these unique non-IPR fullerenes originates from a four-electron transfer, a significant degree of covalency, and the resulting strong host–guest interactions between the actinide ions and the fullerene cages. Moreover, because t...

Qingquan Wei,1,* Xiuwei Liang,2,* Ye Peng,3,* Donghui Yu,1 Ruiling Zhang,1 Huizi Jin,1 Jiaqi Fan,1 Wenting Cai,1 Chengda Ren,1 Jing Yu1,4 1Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital Affiliated with Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital Affiliated with Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Ophthalmology, Ninghai First Hospital, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Purpose: This study aimed to assess the effects of 17β-estradiol (βE2) on blue light-emitting diode (LED)-induced retinal degeneration (RD) in rats and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced retinal pigment epithelium cell injury in humans and elucidate the protective mechanism of βE2 underlying these processes.Methods: Female ovariectomized (OVX) rats were intravitreally injected with βE2 before blue LED exposure (3,000lux, 2hours). Retinal function and morphology were assayed via electroretinogram (ERG) and H&E, respectively. Cell viability was assayed using the Cell Counting Kit-8. Cell ROS were measured using dichlorofluorescein fluorescence. Apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL and Annexin V/propidium iodide staining. Gene expression and protein expression were quantified using quantitative real-time RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Autophagosomes were examined by electron microscopy.Results: Female OVX rats were exposed to blue LED, inducing RD. βE2 significantly prevented the reduction in the a- and b-wave ERG amplitudes and the disruption of retinal structure, the loss of photoreceptor cells, and the decrease in the thickness of the outer nuclear layer caused by blue LED exposure. βE2 also decreased cell apoptosis in the retina in blue LED-induced RD. Additionally, βE2 reduced ROS levels and apoptosis in H2O2-treated human retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells. Furthermore, βE2 increased the protein expression of p-Akt and Bcl-2 and decreased the protein expression of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax during blue LED-induced retinal damage and in H2O2-treated ARPE-19 cells. βE2 also increased the number of autophagosomes and upregulated the expression of LC3-II/LC3-I and Beclin 1 in these processes.Conclusion: βE2 protects against blue LED-induced RD and H2O2-induced oxidative stress by acting as an antioxidant, and its protective mechanism might occur by reducing apoptosis and enhancing autophagy; βE2 may be a novel and effective therapy for age-related macular degeneration. Keywords: 17β-estradiol, hydrogen peroxide, retinal blue light-emitting diode degeneration, oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy

Bacterial keratitis (BK) is one of the most commonly leading causes of visual impairment and blindness worldwide, and suffers the risk of drug-resistant infections due to the abuse of antibiotics. Herein, we report a cationic diphenyl luminogen with aggregation-induced emission called IQ-Cm containing isoquinolinium and coumarin units for theranostic study of BK. IQ-Cm has no obvious cytotoxicity to mammalian cells below a certain concentration, and could preferentially bind to bacteria over mammalian cells. IQ-Cm can be used as a sensitive self-reporting probe to rapidly discriminate live and dead bacteria by the visual emission colors. The intrinsic dark toxicity to bacteria and generation of reactive oxygen species under light irradiation endow IQ-Cm with excellent antibacterial activity in vitro and in BK rabbit models infected with S. aureus . The present study provides a sensitive and efficient theranostic strategy for rapid discrimination of various bacterial states and the combined treatment of BK based on the intrinsic dark antibacterial activity and photodynamic therapy effect.

Mn4+-activated (oxy)fluoride-based red phosphors have received extensive attention. In this work, a phase transformation from K2NbF7 to K3HF2NbOF5 was successfully achieved by stoichiometric control during coprecipitation process, resulting in a novel red phosphor K3HF2NbOF5:Mn4+ with narrow-band emission. A systematic study was carried out on its crystal structure and luminescent properties. By introducing O ions into the local coordinated structure, the emission intensity of K3HF2NbOF5:Mn4+ phosphors is 2.15 times as high as that of K2NbF7:Mn4+ with a photoluminescence internal quantum yield (IQE) of 73.28% and absorption efficiency (AE) of 49.68%, which could be attributed to the layered structure of the oxyfluoride host. High quenching concentration of 8.39 mol% and short decay lifetime of 4.19 ms are realized. Based on K3HF2NbOF5:Mn4+ and commercial YAG:Ce3+, a white light-emitting diode (WLED) for solid state lighting was fabricated, which has low CCT of 3802 K, high Ra of 86.3 and high luminous efficiency (LE) of 126.23 lm/W. Moreover, by employing commercial β-sialon:Eu2+ and K3HF2NbOF5:8.39%Mn4+, another WLED with high LE of 95.78 lm/W and wide color gamut of 108.6% National Television Standard Committee (NTSC) standard for backlight lighting was packaged, indicating a great potential of K3HF2NbOF5:Mn4+ as a red component in the application of backlight lighting.

Copper-based MOF (Cu-PABA) was selected to immobilize laccase (Lac) at optimum pH because of its favorable acid resistance. Cu-PABA@Lac biocomposites were synthesized in situ by the one-step method under moderate conditions (water environment and normal temperature and pressure). Cu-PABA@Lac had great potential to maintain stability due to the protection of the Cu-PABA shell and reasonable conformational changes. In addition, Cu-PABA@Lac could be used repeatedly by centrifugation, as confirmed in the degradation experiment of bisphenol A (BPA). Because of the synergistic effect of copper ions between laccase and Cu-PABA, the Km value decreased (from 0.0024 to 0.0014 mM); therefore, the affinity between laccase and guaiacol was enhanced. In conclusion, the system provides a choice for immobilized acid-resistant enzymes and a solution for environmental BPA degradation.

Successful isolation and unambiguous crystallographic assignment of a series of higher carbide cluster metallofullerenes present new insights into the molecular structures and cluster-cage interactions of endohedral metallofullerenes. These new species are identified as La2C2@C2(41)-C90, La2C2@D3(85)-C92, La2C2@C1(132)-C94, La2C2@C2(157)-C96, and La2C2@C1(175)-C98. This is the first report for these new cage structures except for D3(85)-C92. Our experimental and theoretical results demonstrate that La2C92–106 are more inclined to exist stably in the carbide form La2C2@C90–104 rather than as the dimetallofullerenes La2@C92–106, which are rationalized by considering a synergistic effect of inserting a C2 unit into the cage, which ensures strong metal–cage interactions by partially neutralizing the charges from the metal ions and by fulfilling the coordination requirement of the La3+ ions as much as possible.

Charge transfer is a general phenomenon observed for all endohedral mono-metallofullerenes. Since the detection of the first endohedral metallofullerene (EMF), La@C82, in 1991, it has always been observed that the oxidation state of a given encapsulated metal is always the same, regardless of the cage size. No crystallographic data exist for any early actinide endohedrals and little is known about the oxidation states for the few compounds that have been reported. Here we report the X-ray structures of three uranium metallofullerenes, U@D3h-C74, U@C2(5)-C82 and U@C2v(9)-C82, and provide theoretical evidence for cage isomer dependent charge transfer states for U. Results from DFT calculations show that U@D3h-C74 and U@C2(5)-C82 have tetravalent electronic configurations corresponding to U4+@D3h-C744- and U4+@C2(5)-C824-. Surprisingly, the isomeric U@C2v(9)-C82 has a trivalent electronic configuration corresponding to U3+@C2v(9)-C823-. These are the first X-ray crystallographic structures of uranium EMFs and this is first observation of metal oxidation state dependence on carbon cage isomerism for mono-EMFs.

Aim: To improve the retention of fluorescein sodium (FS) as a kind of clinical contrast agent for fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA). Materials & methods: Polyethyleneimine (PEI) was designed to synthesize PEI–NHAc–FS nanoparticles (NPs), and the formed NPs were characterized by both physicochemical properties and their effects on FFA. Results: Compared with free FS, PEI–NHAc–FS NPs showed similar optical performance, and could obviously reduce cellular adsorption and uptake both in vitro and in vivo, which could promote the metabolism of NPs in ocular blood vessels. Conclusion: PEI–NHAc–FS NPs represent a smart nanosize fluorescence contrast agent, which hold promising potential for clinical FFA diagnosis, therapy and research work.

A novel actinide endohedral fullerene with an unexpected chiral cage, Th@C

Crop residues can retain soil moisture and increase soil organic matter. Crop residue cover is also a hot issue in agricultural remote sensing. Crop residue cover can be estimated linearly with cellulose absorption index (CAI), while moisture of crop residues and soil would reduce the accuracy of crop residue cover estimation. Crop residue and soil were used as materials to carry out the laboratory experiment to reveal the impact of moisture on crop residue cover estimation and eliminate said impact. This paper discovered a sensitive band, R2005, which can invert water content of materials to eliminate moisture effect and improve estimation accuracy of crop residue cover. In terms of inverting water content, compared with two ratio water indices proposed in 2016 (R1.6/R1.5, R1.6/R2.0), using R2005 can increase R2 from 0.828 to 0.935 and decline root-mean-square error (RMSE) from 0.12 to 0.07. At the point of results validation, R2 is 0.958 and RMSE is 0.06, indicating R2005 has a high accuracy. Another advantage of R2005 is that it is more suitable to promote to actual production because of simple and efficient band calculation.

As an important part of the farmland ecosystem, crop residues provide a barrier against water erosion, and improve soil quality. Timely and accurate estimation of crop residue coverage (CRC) on a regional scale is essential for understanding the condition of ecosystems and the interactions with the surrounding environment. Satellite remote sensing is an effective way of regional CRC estimation. Both optical remote sensing and microwave remote sensing are common means of CRC estimation. However, CRC estimation based on optical imagery has the shortcomings of signal saturation in high coverage areas and susceptibility to weather conditions, while CRC estimation using microwave imagery is easily influenced by soil moisture and crop types. Synergistic use of optical and microwave remote sensing information may have the potential to improve estimation accuracy. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to: (i) Analyze the correlation between field measured CRC and satellite derived variables based on Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2, (ii) investigate the relationship of CRC with new indices (OCRI-RPs) which combine optical crop residues indices (OCRIs) and radar parameters (RPs), and (iii) to estimate CRC in Yucheng County based on OCRI-RPs by optimal subset regression. The correlations between field measured CRC and satellite derived variables were evaluated by coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE). The results showed that the normalized difference tillage index (NDTI) and radar indices 2 (RI2) had relatively higher correlations with field measured CRC in OCRIs and RPs (R2 = 0.570, RMSE = 6.560% and R2 = 0.430, RMSE = 7.052%, respectively). Combining OCRIs with RPs by multiplying each OCRI with each RP could significantly improve the ability of indices to estimate CRC, as NDTI × RI2 had the highest R2 value of 0.738 and lowest RMSE value of 5.140%. The optimal model for CRC estimation by optimal subset regression was constructed by NDI71 × σ V V 0 and NDTI × σ V H 0 , with a R2 value of 0.770 and a RMSE value of 4.846%, which had a great improvement when compared with the best results in OCRIs and RPs. The results demonstrated that the combination of optical remote sensing information and microwave remote sensing information could improve the accuracy of CRC estimation.

Wenting Cai,1,* Donghui Yu,1,* Jiaqi Fan,2 Xiuwei Liang,3 Huizi Jin,1 Chang Liu,2 Meijiang Zhu,1 Tianyi Shen,1 Ruiling Zhang,1 Weinan Hu,4 Qingquan Wei,1 Jing Yu1,5 1Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital Affiliated with Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Ophthalmology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Ophthalmology, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Ophthalmology, Ninghai First Hospital, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect and mechanism of quercetin on TGF-β1-induced retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix secretion. Materials and methods: Cell counting kit-8, transwell, wound-healing assays, and ELISA were used to assess viability, migration, and collagen I secretion, respectively. Western blot analysis and qPCR were employed to detect mRNA and protein expression levels, respectively. Results: Quercetin suppressed TGF-β1-induced cell proliferation, migration, and collagen I secretion. The results also showed that mRNA and protein expression of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers such as alpha-smooth muscle actin and N-cadherin was downregulated by quercetin in TGF-β1-treated RPE cells; conversely, quercetin upregulated the expression of E-cadherin and tight junction protein 1 (ZO-1). In addition, quercetin could inhibit mRNA and protein expression of matrix metalloproteinases. Quercetin may reverse the progression of EMT via the Smad2/3 pathway. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the protective effects of quercetin on RPE cell EMT, revealing a potential therapeutic agent for proliferative vitreoretinopathy treatment. Keywords: proliferative vitreoretinopathy, quercetin, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, transforming growth factor-β1

Background Individuals with diabetes have a high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the association between type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and the risk of CVD has not been well addressed. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between T1DM and CVD. Methods We searched the PubMed and EMBASE for studies that examined the association between T1DM and CVD until October 2020. We calculated the pooled risk ratios (RRs) with confidence intervals (CIs) from individual studies based on a random-effects model. Results We included 10 observational studies involving 166,027 patients with T1DM, and individuals were matched controls from the general population. Among T1DM patients, the RR of CVD was 5.09 (95% CI, 3.72–6.96), of coronary heart disease (CHD) was 9.38 (95% CI, 5.56–15.82), and of myocardial infarction was 6.37 (95% CI, 3.81–10.66). The RR of heart failure was 4.29 (95% CI, 3.54–5.19), of atrial fibrillation was 1.36 (95% CI, 1.17–1.59), and of stroke was 4.08 (95% CI, 3.42–4.86). Moreover, there was an increased RR among females for CHD, CVD, myocardial infarction, and stroke associated with T1DM. Conclusions This study suggests that T1DM is associated with an increased risk of several types of CVD. However, the possible mechanisms for the increased risk of CVD remain unclear.

Tubular higher fullerenes are prototypes of finite-length end-capped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) whose structures can be accurately characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction crystallography. We present here the isolation and crystallographic characterization of two unprecedented higher fullerenes stabilized by the encapsulation of a La2C2 cluster, namely, La2C2@Cs(574)-C102, which has a perfect tubular cage corresponding to a short (10, 0) zigzag carbon nanotube, and La2C2@C2(816)-C104 which has a defective cage with a pyracylene motif inserting into the cage waist. Both cages provide sufficient spaces for the large La2C2 cluster to adopt a stretched and nearly planar configuration, departing from the common butterfly-like configuration which has been frequently observed in midsized carbide metallofullerenes (e.g., Sc2C2@C80-84), to achieve strong metal-cage interactions. More meaningfully, our crystallographic results demonstrate that the defective cage of C2(816)-C104 is a starting point to form the other three tubular cages known so far, i.e., D5(450)-C100, Cs(574)-C102, and D3d(822)-C104, presenting evidence for the top-down formation mechanism of fullerenes. The fact that only the large La2C2 cluster has been found in giant fullerene cages (C>100) and the small clusters M2C2 (M = Sc, Y, Er, etc.) are present in midsized fullerenes (C80-C86) indicates that geometrical matching between the cluster and the cage, which ensures strong metal-cage interactions, is an important factor controlling the stability of the resultant metallofullerenes, in addition to charge transfer.

Monometallic uranium endohedral fullerene compounds with formula U@C2n where 2n = 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84 86, 88 and 90 have been prepared in an arc-discharge reactor using U3O8 as the starting material. Many of these have been purified using HPLC techniques and have been fully characterized using many techniques, including MALDI MS, UV-Vis, electrochemistry, etc, but more importantly, with single crystal X-Ray diffractometry. Interestingly, the majority of these compounds obey the isolated pentagon rule (IPR) so all five-membered rings are adjacent to five six-membered rings, but there are some exceptions, namely U@C76 and U@C80, which possess non-IPR carbon cage structures. The reason for these exceptions is due to strong interactions of U with the cage via the metal 5f orbitals. More interestingly we have observed never-reported U-based clusters with formula U2X (X = C, N, O, and S) encapsulated inside C2n with 2n = 72, 78 and 80. More recently we have isolated UGd@C72 and UGd@C78 and also fully characterized these. The most recent structural and properties on some of these compounds will be presented and discussed.

For the first time, actinide endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) with non-isolated-pentagon-rule (non-IPR) carbon cages, U@C

Crop residues, which remained in the farmland after crop harvesting, have positive impacts on the carbon sequestration and the prevention of soil erosion. Remote sensing methods can efficiently assess crop residue cover and related tillage intensity in a region. Up to now, many tillage indices have been proposed to estimate crop residue cover. Although the tillage indices based on the hyper-spectral image (e.g., Cellulose Absorption Index (CAI) and Lignin-Cellulose Absorption (LCA) index) have a better result in crop residue cover assessment, it's short of free remote sensing data having the corresponding band width to them, after the Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) and the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) were out of effect successively. Landsat OLI and Sentinel-2 can provide enough free data, but the band width is too broad for CAI and LCA. Thus, it's of great importance to seek the best indices based on the broad-spectral image to estimate the crop residue cover. The objective of this research is to compare the effect of common tillage indices based on the broad-spectral, and then chose the most suitable indices to estimate the winter wheat crop residue cover in Yucheng county of China. The indices involved Normalized Difference Index 5 (NDI5), Normalized Difference Index 7 (NDI7), Simple Tillage Index (STI), Normalized Difference Tillage Index (NDTI), Normalized Differential Senescent Vegetation Index (NDSVI), Crop Residue Cover Index 1 (CRC1)and Normalized Difference Residue Index (NDRI). Thirty fields were measured with the area of each was 10000m2. Nine sub-flelds(1m×1m) were placed uniformly in one field and the mean spectra and crop residue cover of them were used to stand for the field's. Reflectance spectral was measured in the field using the Analytical Spectral Devices (ASD), it covered the 350-2400nm wavelength region. Digital photos were taken in the field and analyzed indoors to obtain the area ratio of crop residue. Simple linear regression was applied on the tillage indices counted from the field reflectance data and the crop residue cover. The coefficient of determination (R2) between NDTI and crop residue cover was highest with 0.480 while the STI had an approximate R2 of 0.478. The R2 of NDI5, NDI7, NDSVI, CRC1, NDRI with the crop residue were 0.382,0.460,0.294,0.123 and 0.420, which reveals NDTI was the most suitable indices in this field. In the study area, the winter wheat crop residue cover mainly concentrated on 80%-95%, which proved conservation tillage practices have been generalized in this study and the behavior of burning straw have become less for the ban of the policy and the improvement of farmers' environment awareness.

Bietti crystalline dystrophy (BCD) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder characterized by crystals in retinal pigment epithelium. The purpose of this study was to identify the genetic defect in Chinese families with BCD and analyze their clinical features. The clinical examination and genetic studies were performed in three BCD families at Tongji University Hospital. Eye examination included fundus fluorescein angiography, slit lamp, fundus photograph, optical coheres tomography and visual acuity examination has been carried out. Blood samples were collected from three pro-bands and their family members. Genomic DNA extracted from whole blood used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify genetic defect. Fundus examination revealed that the presence of tiny yellowish-sparkling crystals at the posterior pole of the fundus and atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium in some patients. The PCR results also showed that three different mutations in the three families including Family C with compound heterozygous mutations of deletion c.802-8_810del17bpinsGT and insertion c.1062dupA, Family B with compound heterozygous mutations of a splicing mutation c.1091-2A>G and deletion mutation c.802-8_810del17bpinsGC and Family A with homozygous deletion mutation c.802-8_810del17bpinsGC. In this study, the PCR result also identified CYP4V2 as the disease causative gene in three Chinese families with BCD. Overall, these findings broaden the spectrum of CYP4V2 mutations that cause BCD and characterize phenotypic features of the disease in Chinese families.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of bradykinin (BK) on an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) model in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells through exposure to transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). The aim was to improve the effect of BK on proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) progression, and to find a novel method of clinical prevention and treatment for PVR. The morphology of ARPE-19 cells was observed using an inverted phase-contrast microscope. A Cell Counting Kit-8 was used to assess the effects of TGF-β1 on the proliferation of ARPE-19 cells. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression levels of the epithelial marker E-cadherin, mesenchymal markers α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and vimentin, and phosphorylated (p) mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (Smad)3 and Smad7 of the TGF/Smad signaling pathway. Wound healing tests and Transwell assays were performed to detect cell migration ability. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis was performed to detect the expression levels of pSmad3 and Smad7 in the TGF/Smad signaling pathway. The results revealed that the addition of 10 ng/ml TGF-β1 resulted in the expression of factors associated with EMT in ARPE-19 cells. BK decreased the expression levels of the mesenchymal markers α-SMA and vimentin, and increased the expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin. BK decreased cell migration in TGF-β1-induced EMT. These effects were reversed by HOE-140, a specific BK 2 receptor antagonist. BK significantly downregulated the expression of pSmad3 and upregulated the expression of Smad7 in TGF-β1-treated ARPE-19 cells, and the protective alterations produced by BK were inhibited by HOE-140. In conclusion, 10 ng/ml TGF-β1 resulted in EMT in ARPE-19 cells and BK served a negative role in TGF-β1-induced EMT. BK had effects in TGF-β1-induced EMT by upregulating the expression of Smad7 and downregulating the expression of pSmad3 in TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, indicating that BK may be a novel and effective therapy for PVR.

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy and safety of the combination of bevacizumab and photodynamic therapy (PDT) with bevacizumab monotherapy for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Patients with active choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to AMD were included in the present study. The treatment group included patients treated with a combination of bevacizumab and PDT and patients treated with bevacizumab monotherapy. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in the analysis. The PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan v.5.3 software, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT) and the average number of bevacizumab retreatments were assessed. A total of 5 RCTs were included in the analysis. There were no significant differences observed in the mean BCVA change between the combination treatment group and the bevacizumab monotherapy group [standard mean difference 0.20; 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.53, 0.93, P=0.59]. There were also no significant differences in the CRT increases between the two groups [weighted mean difference (WMD) −22.16, 95% CI −52.01 to 7.69, P=0.15]. No significant differences were observed in the proportions of patients gaining >15 letters between the two groups [risk ratio (RR) 0.86, 95% CI 0.64, 1.15, P=0.30]. However, the average number of the ranibizumab retreatments was significantly lower in the combination treatment group compared with the bevacizumab monotherapy group (WMD, −2.70, 95% CI −3.93 to −1.46; P15 letters, or the incidences of ocular adverse events and systemic adverse events. However, combination treatment may significantly reduce the average number of bevacizumab retreatments compared with monotherapy.

We demonstrate that a finite-length (10,0) carbon nanotube (CNT) with two fullerene caps, namely D5(450)-C100, is an ideal prototype to study the mechanical responses of small CNTs upon endohedral metal doping. Encapsulation of a large La2C2 cluster inside D5(450)-C100 induces a 5% axial compression of the cage, as compared with the structure of La2@D5(450)-C100. Detailed crystallographic analyses reveal quantitively the flexibility of the [10]cyclacene-sidewall segment and the rigidity of the pentagon-dominating caps for the first time. The internal C2-unit acts as a molecular spring that attracts the surrounding cage carbon atoms through strong interactions with the two moving lanthanum ions. This is the first crystallographic observation of the axial compression of CNTs caused by the internal stress, which enhances our knowledge about the structural deformation of novel carbon allotropes at the atomic level.

We have made a systematic investigation of the regioselective reaction between triethylamine and C60 under thermal conditions, presenting X-ray crystallographic results of the pentane-fused adduct for the first time. In addition to finding the reaction conditions which gave the highest yield and the best regioselectivity, we captured with GC–MS the acetaldehyde and diethylamine intermediates that were involved in the reaction, thus clarifying the reaction mechanism.

The chemical properties of carbide-cluster metallofullerenes (CCMFs) remain largely unexplored, although several new members of CCMFs have been discovered recently. Herein, we report the reaction between Sc2 C2 @C3v (8)-C82 , which is viewed as a prototypical CCMF because of its high abundance, and 3-triphenylmethyl-5-oxazolidinone (1) to afford the corresponding pyrrolidino derivative Sc2 C2 @C3v (8)-C82 (CH2 )2 NTrt (2; Trt=triphenylmethyl). Single-crystal X-ray crystallography studies of 2 revealed that the reaction takes place at a [6,6]-bond junction, which is directly over the encapsulated C2 unit and is far from either of the two scandium atoms. On the basis of theoretical calculations and by considering previously reports, we have found that a hexagonal carbon ring on the cage of Sc2 C2 @C3v (8)-C82 is highly reactive toward different reagents due to the overlap of high p-orbital axis vector (POAV) angles and large LUMO coefficients. We propose that this highly concentrated area of reactivity is generated by the encapsulation of the Sc2 C2 cluster because this region is absent from the empty fullerene C3v (8)-C82 . Moreover, the absorption and electrochemical results confirm that derivative 2 is more stable than pristine Sc2 C2 @C3v (8)-C82 , thus illuminating its potential applications.

Aim To assess the corneal sensitivity and the incidences of dry eye after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK). Methods The Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3. We searched on PubMed from inception to March 2016. Summary weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to analyze the datum. Random-effects or fixed-effects models were chosen up to between-study heterogeneity. The main outcomes were composed of the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores, tear film break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer Test and corneal sensitivity. Results Eight eligible studies including 772 eyes (386 in SMILE group and 386 in FS-LASIK group) were identified. The parameters have no significiant difference heterogeneity between SMILE and FS-LASIK group preoperatively. There were significant differences between the two groups in OSDI scores at one and three months postoperatively, in TBUT at one and three months postoperatively, in corneal sensitivity at one week, about one month and three months postoperatively. However, there was no significant difference observed in Schirmer Test at the follow-up periods. Conclusion Compare to FS-LASIK, dry eye and the corneal sensitivity recover better in the SMILE group, in first three months after the surgery.

Qingyu Liu,1,* Junling Liu,1,* Chengda Ren,1 Wenting Cai,1 Qingquan Wei,2 Yi Song,3 Jing Yu1 1Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 2Department of Ophthalmology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 3Department ofOphthalmology, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People’sRepublic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether acupuncture is effective at treatingdry eye disease among postmenopausal women and to identify the possible mechanisms. Methods: Twenty-eight postmenopausal women with dry eye disease were randomly divided into two groups: an acupuncture plus artificial tears (AC + AT) group and an artificial tears (AT) only group. After baseline examination of clinical parameters and tear sample collection, each patient received the designated modality of topical therapy for 2 months. Posttreatment documentation of clinical parameters was recorded, and tear samples were collected. Tear samples from the AC + AT group were subjected to two-dimensional nano-liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (2D nano-LC-MS/MS). Western blot analysis was also performed on tear samples from both groups. Results: After treatment, the Ocular Surface Disease Index scores, symptom assessment scores, scores of sign assessment, and tear break-up time were significantly improved in both groups (P=0.000). Symptom assessment scores were significantly improved in the AC + AT group (P=0.000) compared with the AT group. 2D nano-LC-MS/MS identified 2,411 proteins, among which 142 were downregulated and 169 were upregulated. After combined AC + AT treatment, the abundance of secreted proteins was increased, whereas that of cytoplasmic proteins decreased (Pearson’s χ2 test, P=0.000, P=0.000, respectively). Proteins involved in immunity and regulation were also more abundant (Pearson’s χ2 test, P=0.040, P=0.016, respectively), while components and proliferation-related proteins were downregulated (Pearson’s χ2 test, P=0.003, P=0.011, respectively). Conclusion: AC + AT treatment increased protein synthesis and secretion, and improved clinical symptoms. These results indicate that acupuncture may be a complimentary therapy for treating postmenopausal dry eye disease. Keywords: acupuncture, menopausal dry eye, proteomics

Successful isolation and unambiguous crystallographic assignment of a series of higher carbide cluster metallofullerenes present new insights into the molecular structures and cluster-cage interactions of endohedral metallofullerenes. These new species are identified as La

The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of CM082 on the development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in a laser-induced CNV rat model and to determine the drug concentration in the ocular tissues. After the laser-induced CNV model was established in rats, CM082 was orally administered. The effects of CM082 on the CNV lesions were assessed using fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), CNV histology, and retinal pigment epithelium- (RPE-) choroid-sclera eyecup analysis. The concentrations of CM082 in the plasma and eye tissues were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results of FFA, histology, and RPE-choroid-sclera eyecup analysis demonstrated that the CM082-treated (10 mg/kg/d or 30 mg/kg/d) rats exhibited significantly less neovascularization than did the control group. The total concentration of CM082 in the eyes (172.86 ± 57.11 ng/g) was similar to that in the plasma (196.87 ± 73.13 ng/ml). Within the eye, the concentrations of CM082 and its metabolites were highest in the retina-sclera. The orally administered CM082 thus effectively passed through the blood-retina barrier (BRB) to reach the retina in the Brown Norway rats. Therefore, at both 10 mg/kg/d and 30 mg/kg/d, CM082 was able to reduce CNV lesions in the laser-induced CNV rat model.

Charge transfer is a general phenomenon observed for all endohedral mono-metallofullerenes. Since the detection of the first endohedral metallofullerene (EMF), La@C82, in 1991, it has always been observed that the oxidation state of a given encapsulated metal is always the same, regardless of the cage size. No crystallographic data exist for any early actinide endohedrals and little is known about the oxidation states for the few compounds that have been reported. Here we report the X-ray structures of three uranium metallofullerenes, U@D3h-C74, U@C2(5)-C82 and U@C2v(9)-C82, and provide theoretical evidence for cage isomer dependent charge transfer states for U. Results from DFT calculations show that U@D3h-C74 and U@C2(5)-C82 have tetravalent electronic configurations corresponding to U4+@D3h-C744− and U4+@C2(5)-C824−. Surprisingly, the isomeric U@C2v(9)-C82 has a trivalent electronic configuration corresponding to U3+@C2v(9)-C823−. These are the first X-ray crystallographic structures of uranium EMFs and this is first observation of metal oxidation state dependence on carbon cage isomerism for mono-EMFs.

Embedding endohdedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) into electron donor-acceptor systems is still a challenging task owing to their limited quantities and their still largely unexplored chemical properties. In this study, we have performed a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of a corrole-based precursor with Sc3 N@C80 to regioselectively form a [5,6]-adduct (1). The successful attachment of the corrole moiety was confirmed by mass spectrometry. In the electronic ground state, absorption spectra suggest sizeable electronic communications between the electron acceptor and the electron donor. Moreover, the addition pattern occurring at a [5,6]-bond junction is firmly proven by NMR spectroscopy and electrochemical investigations performed with 1. In the electronically excited state, which is probed in photophysical assays with 1, a fast electron-transfer yields the radical ion pair state consisting of the one-electron-reduced Sc3 N@C80 and of the one-electron-oxidized corrole upon its exclusive photoexcitation. As such, our results shed new light on the practical work utilizing EMFs as building blocks in photovoltaics.

Formation of a very stable, unprecedented pyrazole-ring fused derivative of endohedral metallofullerenes was achieved by the first 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of Sc3N@C80 with diphenylnitrilimine in a highly regioselective manner.

Endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) encapsulating divalent metal ions have rarely been studied because of their low production yields. We report here for the first time the chemical understanding of two typical divalent EMFs, i.e. Yb@D3h-C74 and Yb@C2(13)-C84 with a disilirane reagent (1), which has shown great success in probing the chemical reactivity of EMFs encapsulating a variety of metallic cores. It was surprising to find that Yb@D3h(1)-C74 reacted with 1 neither thermally nor photochemically under normal conditions, showing an unusually low reactivity. However, monoadduct formation was achieved by laser-irradiation of their mixtures during the mass spectroscopic measurement. Accordingly, the thermal and photochemical reactions of Yb@C2(13)-C84 with 1 were conducted under harsher conditions and monoadduct formation was confirmed by both chromatographic and mass spectroscopic studies. The relatively low reactivity of these divalent EMFs compared with that of the corresponding trivalent analogues is ...

For the first time, actinide endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) with non-IPR carbon cages, U@C80, Th@C80 and U@C76, were successfully synthesized and fully characterized by mass spectrometry, single crystal X-ray diffractometry, UV-vis-NIR, Raman and cyclic voltammetry. Crystallographic analysis revealed that the U@C80 and Th@C80 shared the same non-IPR cage of C 1(28324)-C80, and U@C76 was assigned to non-IPR U@C 1(17418)-C76. All of these cages are chiral and have never been reported before. DFT calculations show that the stabilization of these unique non-IPR fullerenes originates from a four electron transfer, a significant degree of covalency and the resulting strong host-guest interactions between the actinide ions and the fullerene cages. We now have a complete family of U@C2n compounds, and this family will be presented and discussed in detail.