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PURPOSE To assess foveal and parafoveal vasculature at the superficial capillary plexus, deep capillary plexus, and choriocapillaris of patients with X-linked retinoschisis by means of optical coherence tomography angiography. METHODS Six patients with X-linked retinoschisis (12 eyes) and seven healthy controls (14 eyes) were recruited and underwent complete ophthalmologic examination, including best-corrected visual acuity, dilated fundoscopy, and 3 × 3-mm optical coherence tomography angiography macular scans (DRI OCT Triton; Topcon Corp). After segmentation and quality review, optical coherence tomography angiography slabs were imported into ImageJ 1.50 (NIH; Bethesda) and digitally binarized. Quantification of vessel density was performed after foveal avascular zone area measurement and exclusion. Patients were additionally divided into "responders" and "nonresponders" to dorzolamide therapy. RESULTS Foveal avascular zone area resulted markedly enlarged at the deep capillary plexus (P < 0.001), particularly in nonresponders. Moreover, patients disclosed a significant deep capillary plexus rarefaction, when compared with controls (P: 0.04); however, a subanalysis revealed that this damage was limited to the fovea (P: 0.006). Finally, the enlargement of foveal avascular zone area positively correlated with a decline in best-corrected visual acuity (P: 0.01). CONCLUSION Prominent foveal vascular impairment is detectable in the deep capillary plexus of patients with X-linked retinoschisis. Our results correlate with functional outcomes, suggesting a possible vascular role in X-linked retinoschisis clinical manifestations.

The article discusses the fundamental and modern data on the structure and functions of human large and small lacrimal glands. The palpebral lobe of the human lacrimal gland consists of numerous fairly large lobules, which are almost of identical structure. Each lobule has several axial excretory intralobular ducts. Their branches along the whole length are surrounded by secretory epithelial components in the form of terminal sections and the corresponding finniest terminal lacrimal ducts that are grouped into the grape-bunch structural elements. Blood supply to the capillary network of the lacrimal gland and its alveoli is carried out by several arterioles that run through very large interstitial spaces rich in fatty tissue. Each arteriole supplies several adjacent lobules. The network of capillaries can be described as integral and is not divided into segments that would correspond to sublobular units. Blood capillaries are located in the spaces between several adjacent terminal portions. Thus, the fact of close syntopic similarity of the intralobular excretory ducts and postcapillary venules has been confirmed. The article poses the appropriateness of more detailed morphological studying of anatomical and topographic characteristics of the lacrimal glands. If has been found out the lack of information on the cellular composition of the wall of the excretory ducts of the lacrimal gland, both in humans and in laboratory rats, in order to compare their morphology and the quality of the secretion they produce. It would be interesting to compare the morphology of the human lacrimal glands and the garder gland in rats to identify general biological characteristics of the structure and functioning.

Purpose. To assess the state of the posterior segment of the eye, namely, the state of the pre-macular bursa and the density of the capillary network of the retina in the early postoperative period in patients with myopia and myopic astigmatism who was operated on LASIK and FemtoLASIK with different degrees of vacuum influence during the formation of the corneal flap. M aterial and methods. Totally the study included 45 individuals aged 18 to 40 years which were examined and operated for excimer laser correction of vision according to the LASIK and FemtoLASIK techniques. Additionally, all patients underwent the optical coherence tomography using the device Nidek RS-3000 Advance AngioScan (NIDEK, Japan) to determine the size of the pre-macular bursa before the surgery, 1 hour and 1 day after the excimer laser correction, as well as to estimate the density of the capillary network of the retina pre-operatively and 1 day post-operatively. Results. In patients after the excimer laser correction, there was a change in the size of the pre-macular bursa, both in the direction of increase and decrease. The density of the capillary network of the retina remained unchanged. Conclusion. Within the surgical intervention in the anterior segment of the eye, namely the influence of vacuum at the stage of formation of the corneal flap during the excimer laser correction, safe reversible changes occur in the posterior segment of the eye.

Hyaloid vascular system (HVS) is a transient capillary network nourishing developing eye. Better study of the HVS regression correlated with eye development is essential for in-depth understanding of the nature of vision system. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of longitudinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) monitoring of the HVS in C57BL/6J mice. OCT enables morphological monitoring of the HVS regression, and OCTA allows physiological assessment of the HVS involution correlated with eye development. Functional OCTA reveals early physiological dysfunction before morphological regression of the hyaloid vasculature in developing mouse eye. We anticipate that noninvasive, simultaneous OCT/OCTA observation of morphological regression and physiological degradation in normal and diseased animal models will be valuable to unravel the complex mechanisms of the HVS regression correlated with normal eye development and abnormal persistent hyaloid conditions.Impact statementHyaloid vascular system (HVS) is known to have an essential role in the eye development. However, established knowledge of the HVS largely relies on end-point studies with biochemically fixed tissues, lacking a full description of the natural dynamics of the HVS correlated with eye development. An imaging methodology for noninvasive, longitudinal, and high-resolution monitoring of the HVS is important not only for better understanding of the nature of the vision system and is also valuable for better study of abnormal eye conditions. Here, we report the feasibility of in vivo optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) imaging of the HVS regression in developing mouse eye. OCT enables morphological imaging of the HVS structure, and OCTA allows functional assessment of the HVS physiology correlated with eye development.

Currently the interest in biopolymers in bioengineering and medicine is increasing progressively. The materials used in tissue engineering are expected to have some special features and supply engineer and microengineer constructions with characteristics that living tissues have, as follows: the ability of self-repair; the ability of changing anatomy and properties in response to environmental factors. The purpose of the study: to estimate experimentally the development patterns of the vasculature in the early stages of porous fiber matrix implantation. The research was carried out on 20 lab animals (rabbits), which were divided into two groups. The first group: surgical intervention was performed to 10 animals, which included the creation of the pocket in the subcutaneous adipose tissue and suturing. The second group: the implantation of the biopolymer matrix into the area between the shoulder blades was performed to 10 animals. The month after the matrix with the underlying tissues was removed. It was divided into 25 parts for histological examination. 9 segments were chosen for analysis: the one from centrally located area, four segments from precentral and four ones from peripheral zones. The histological slides were examined lightoptically with the help of the microscope Leica DME with different magnifications. The morphometric features were analyzed using the system for taking microscopic pictures of histological samples (microscope Leica DME and digital camera Nikon P5100) and by using the program ImageTool 2.0 for Windows. The research were conducted at the Department of Pathomorphology and Legal Medicine of Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University. Statistical analysis was performed with the aid of PC programs Microsoft Exel and Statistica 5.5 (Multiple Regression) using the methods of variation statistic and correlation. By using a freezing microtome the slides 30-50 nm were made, then were dehydrated in alcohols of different concentrations, soaked in methyl salicylate and fixed in polystyrene. Afterwards, the slides were examined with the microscope MPS-6. The results display the absence of acute or chronic inflammatory infiltration as well as no transplantation rejection. The fiber matrix made by us, creates a peculiar bridge for germination and development of capillary network due to its hygroscopicity and sponginess.

The Lamina Cribrosa is a part of the optic nerve head acting as a scaffold for collecting the retinal ganglion cell axons. It can be modeled as a poroelastic material where the saturated porosity stands for the capillary network running inside the collagen beams. Our aim is to study the interaction between tissue porosity, deformation and hemodynamics. To this end we first focus on the derivation of a poroelastic model in a rather general case, using as a prototype a model of species diffusion in an elastic material. Then we outline the clinical significance of the mechanical behavior of the Lamina Cribrosa and show, through numerical simulations, how an increased intraocular pressure results in a deformation affecting porosity and blood perfusion. We emphasize how the model behavior relies on the free energy expression.

The universal strategy for designing commodity rubbers to obtain high mechanical performances mainly relies on two aspects: either a developed crosslink network or an effective filler-reinforcing system. However, recycling of rubbers cannot bypass them. In this paper, strengthened and recyclable shape memory carboxylated styrene-butadiene rubber (XSBR)/carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) films are prepared by concentrating a mixture of XSBR latex and CMCS solution. During this process, the CMCS was regenerated due to water evaporation and synchronously entangled with XSBR chains, which constructed a mutually physical crosslink network via hydrogen bonding. With the increasing content of CMCS, regenerated CMCS changed its morphology from typical nanoparticles to nano-fibrils. When the CMCS content exceeded 10 wt%, a rigid CMCS nano-capillary network was formed in the films, constructing a special “reinforced concrete structure”. This rigid CMCS nano-capillary network significantly improves the mechanical properties of the XSBR/CMCS films. At the same time, due to the capillary network running through the whole film, the XSBR could be recycled by soaking films in water without any retained CMCS. Furthermore, our XSBR/CMCS films exhibited impressive shape memory behavior in a coincidental temperature range which is quite suitable for designing a smart medical device for the human body, e.g. a band-aid for bone fracture.

Adipose tissue expansion involves angiogenesis to remodel its capillary network. The enzymemethionine aminopeptidase 2(MetAP2) promotes angiogenesis.MetAP2 inhibitors suppress angiogenesis and have potential anti-obesity effect. However, impairment in adipose tissue expansion is also linked with impaired glycemic control.This study investigated the effect of BL6, a MetAP2 inhibitor, on adipogenesis and glucose disposal.To test effect on angiogenesis, Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells(HUVECs) were treated with BL6 for 24h to determine tube formation. Further, to test effect on adipogenesis and glucose disposal,3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes were treated with BL6(0 µM, 20µM, 50 µM or 100µM) during differentiation. Differentiated cells were stained with Oil Red O for determining lipid accumulation, and glucose uptake assay. Protein levels and RNA expression for key genes involved in the adipogenic cascade were determined.BL6 treatment of HUVECs dose dependently blocked angiogenesis. During differentiation of pre-adipocytes, 50μM and 100µM BL6 significantly reduced lipid accumulation. Treatment with 100µM BL6 significantly decreased expression of adipogenic genes. Interestingly, BL6 treatment dose dependently increased glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 cells.MetAP2 inhibitor blocks angiogenesis, attenuates adipogenesis, yet increases cellular glucose uptake. Collectively this proof of concept study supports a possible role for MetAP2 inhibitor BL6, as a putative anti-obesity therapeutic agent.

Accurate monitoring of microvasculature functioning enables early detection of diseases related to skin microcirculation disorders. The efficient capillaroscopy approach is to visualize and assess blood microcirculation exactly in the inflamed areas. In this paper, we propose an exoscope concept for non-invasive imaging of capillary network in skin arbitrary area. The main design aspects are briefly discussed. The described concept has been approved experimentally by in vivo mapping and analysis of microvessels in human skin.

Cortical microinfarcts are linked to pathologies like cerebral amyloid angiopathy and dementia. Despite their relevance for disease progression, microinfarcts often remain undetected and the smallest scale of blood flow disturbance has not yet been identified. We employed blood flow simulations in realistic microvascular networks from the mouse cortex to quantify the impact of single capillary occlusions. Our simulations reveal that the severity of a microstroke is strongly affected by the local vascular topology and the baseline flow rate in the occluded capillary. The largest changes in perfusion are observed in capillaries with two in- and two outflows. This specific topological configuration only occurs with a frequency of 8%. The majority of capillaries has one in- and one outflow and is likely designed to efficiently supply oxygen and nutrients. Taken together, microstrokes bear potential to induce a cascade of local disturbances in the surrounding tissue, which might accumulate and impair energy supply locally., eLife, 10, ISSN:2050-084X

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE To analyze the influence of a cilioretinal artery (CRA) on macular and peripapillary vessel density in healthy eyes as measured using optical coherence tomography angiography. METHODS A total of 83 eyes of 83 patients were included in this study. Optical coherence tomography angiography was performed using the RTVue XR Avanti with AngioVue (Optovue Inc). The macula was imaged with a 3 × 3-mm scan, whereas for the optic nerve head a 4.5 × 4.5-mm scan was taken. Optical coherence tomography angiography images of the optic nerve head were screened for the presence of a CRA. RESULTS In 31 eyes, a CRA was detected (37.3%). The vessel density in eyes with a CRA was significantly lower within the optic nerve head (P = 0.005) but higher in the peripapillary capillary network (P < 0.001) and (whole en face) macular superficial capillary plexus (P = 0.025), when compared with eyes with no CRA. CONCLUSION Our findings reveal that in eyes with a CRA, the vessel density in the peripapillary and macular superficial capillary plexus is increased, whereas the optic nerve head perfusion (as indicated by vessel density in the inside disk region) is decreased. This has to be considered when analyzing quantitative optical coherence tomography angiography parameters in scientific and clinical applications.

Biomarker development is a key clinical research need in sickle cell disease (SCD). Hemorheological parameters are excellent candidates as abnormal red blood cell (RBC) rheology plays a critical role in SCD pathophysiology. Here we describe a microfluidic device capable of evaluating RBC deformability and adhesiveness concurrently, by measuring their effect on perfusion of an artificial microvascular network (AMVN) that combines microchannels small enough to require RBC deformation, and laminin (LN) coating on channel walls to model intravascular adhesion. Each AMVN device consists of three identical capillary networks, which can be coated with LN (adhesive) or left uncoated (non-adhesive) independently. The perfusion rate for sickle RBCs in the LN-coated networks (0.18 ± 0.02 nL/s) was significantly slower than in non-adhesive networks (0.20 ± 0.02 nL/s), and both were significantly slower than the perfusion rate for normal RBCs in the LN-coated networks (0.22 ± 0.01 nL/s). Importantly, there was no overlap between the ranges of perfusion rates obtained for sickle and normal RBC samples in the LN-coated networks. Interestingly, treatment with poloxamer 188 decreased the perfusion rate for sickle RBCs in LN-coated networks in a dose-dependent manner, contrary to previous studies with conventional assays, but in agreement with the latest clinical trial which showed no clinical benefit. Overall, these findings suggest the potential utility of the adhesive AMVN device for evaluating the effect of novel curative and palliative therapies on the hemorheological status of SCD patients during clinical trials and in post-market clinical practice.

Background Retinal capillary is vulnerable to diabetes, whether gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) eyes without clinical retinopathy have capillary abnormalities has not been well studied. To observe the microvasculature changes in eyes of GDM women compared with normoglycemic pregnant women and non-pregnant women by optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A). Methods GDM women, age-matched normoglycemic pregnant women and non-pregnant women were included in this study. All subjects were examined by OCT-A, vascular density and macular foveal parameters were measured automatically. Results Thirty eight non-pregnant women (NC group), thirty pregnant women without GDM (PC group), and thirty one GDM women (GDM group) were included in this study. There was a significant reduction of vascular density in superficial capillary layer, but an increase in deep capillary layer in PC and GDM groups (P Conclusions The changes of vascular density implied the redistribution of capillary network from superficial to deep layer under pregnancy and GDM states. Although the transient hyperglycemia aggravates the changes of capillary “dropout”, GDM group revealed the improvement of central macular thickness thinning and foveal avascular zone enlargement during pregnancy.

In this issue of Blood, Feinauer et al focus on central nervous system (CNS) metastases generated by embolization of tumor cells into the cortical capillary network in a mouse model, and early thrombotic events that might facilitate metastasis.

Brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) are rare congenital lesions in which blood flow is shunted from feeding arteries to draining veins through a pathological nidus, rather than through the normal capillary network of the brain. Brain AVM is often embedded within the parenchyma of the central nervous system. The etiology of bAVMs is incompletely understood, but the current thought is that they represent nests of abnormal regression in the fetal vasculature [1–3]. Brain AVMs vary in size, location, and angioarchitecture. They are frequently supplied by multiple arterial pedicles causing abnormally high flow and pressure within the nidus and draining veins (Fig. 14.1). The abnormal hemodynamic forces within the bAVM and surrounding vasculature can result in intracranial hemorrhage.

Fundus fluorescein angiography is useful to evaluate the advancement and effect of treatment of ROP. The findings to focus on are: position and extent of pathologic vascular proliferation, activity of fibrovascular proliferation, angioplany of the retina, absence of capillary network of the retina, extent of photocoagulation, and stabilizing of the vascular activity after treatments.

The area of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) from en face images of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is one of the most common measurement based on this technology. However, its use in clinic is limited by the high variation of the FAZ area across normal subjects, while the calculation of the volumetric measurement of the FAZ is limited by the high noise that characterizes OCTA scans. We designed an algorithm that exploits the higher signal-to-noise ratio of en face images to efficiently identify the capillary network of the inner retina in 3-dimensions (3D), under the assumption that the capillaries in separate plexuses do not overlap. The network is then processed with morphological operations to identify the 3D FAZ within the bounding segmentations of the inner retina. The FAZ volume and area in different plexuses were calculated for a dataset of 430 eyes. Then, the measurements were analyzed using linear mixed effect models to identify differences between three groups of eyes: healthy, diabetic without diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic with DR. Results showed significant differences in the FAZ volume between the different groups but not in the area measurements. These results suggest that volumetric FAZ could be a better diagnostic detector than the planar FAZ. The efficient methodology that we introduced could allow the fast calculation of the FAZ volume in clinics, as well as providing the 3D segmentation of the capillary network of the inner retina., 6 pages, 3 figures, submitted to IEEE I2MTC 2021 conference

The capillary network of the kidney glomerulus filters small molecules from the blood. The glomerular 3D structure should help to understand its function, but it is poorly characterized. We therefore devised a new approach in which an automated tape collecting microtome(ATUM) was used to collect 0.5 micron thick serial sections from fixed mouse kidneys. The sections were imaged by scanning electron microscopy at ∼50 nm / pixel resolution. With this approach, 12 glomeruli were reconstructed at an x-y-z resolution ∼10x higher than that of paraffin sections. We found a no-cross zone between afferent and efferent branches on the vascular pole side; connections here could allow blood to exit without being adequately filtered. Network analysis indicates that the glomerular network does not form by repetitive longitudinal splitting of capillaries. It also suggests that capillaries vary their diameter to make flow more efficient. The shortest path (minimum number of branches to travel from afferent to efferent arterioles) is relatively independent of glomerular size and is present primarily on the vascular pole size. This suggests that the shortest path is established on the vascular pole side, after which new branches and longer paths form on the urinary pole side. Thus the 3D structure of the glomerular capillary network provides useful information with which to understand glomerular function. Other tissue structures in the body may benefit from this new three dimensional approach.

We reconstructed serial sections of a representative adult human spleen to clarify the unknown arrangement of the splenic microvasculature, such as terminal arterioles, sheathed capillaries, the red pulp capillary network and venules. The resulting 3D model was evaluated in virtual reality (VR). Capillary sheaths often occurred after the second or third branching of a terminal arteriole and covered its capillary side or end branches. The sheaths started directly after the final smooth muscle cells of the arteriole and consisted of cuboidal CD271++ stromal sheath cells surrounded and infiltrated by B lymphocytes and macrophages. Some sheaths covered up to four sequential capillary bifurcations thus forming bizarre elongated structures. Each sheath had a unique form. Apart from symmetric dichotomous branchings inside the sheath, sheathed capillaries also gave off side branches, which crossed the sheath and freely ended at its surface. These side branches are likely to distribute materials from the incoming blood to sheath-associated B lymphocytes and macrophages and thus represent the first location for recognition of blood-borne antigens in the spleen. A few non-sheathed bypasses from terminal arterioles to the red pulp capillary network also exist. Red pulp venules are primarily supplied by sinuses, but they also exhibit a few connections to the capillary network. Thus, the human splenic red pulp harbors a primarily open microcirculation with a very minor closed part.

Systemic arterial hypertension is a highly prevalent chronic disease associated with hypertensive cardiomyopathy. One important feature of this condition is remodelling of intramural small coronary arteries and arterioles. Here, we investigated the implications of this remodelling in the downstream vascular organization, in particular at the capillary level. We used Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR) exhibiting many features of the human hypertensive cardiomyopathy. We generated 3D high-resolution mesoscopic reconstructions of the entire network of SHR hearts combining gel-based fluorescent labelling of coronaries with a CLARITY-based tissue clearing protocol. We performed morphometric quantification of the capillary network over time to assess capillary diameter, linear density, and angular dispersion. In SHRs, we found significant remodelling of the capillary network density and dispersion. SHR capillary density is increased in both ventricles and at all ages, including before the onset of systemic hypertension. This result suggests that remodelling occurs independently from the onset of systemic hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy. On the contrary, capillary angular dispersion increases with time in SHR. Consistently, our multi-modal imaging underlined a strong correlation between vascular dispersion and cellular disarray. Together our data show that 3D high-resolution reconstruction of the capillary network can unveil anatomic signatures in both physiological and pathological cardiac conditions, thus offering a reliable method for integrated quantitative analyses.

Recent applications of decellularized tissue have included the use of hydrogels for injectable materials and three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting bioink for tissue regeneration. Microvascular formation is required for the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to support cell growth and regeneration in tissues and organs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the formation of capillary networks in decellularized extracellular matrix (d-ECM) hydrogels. The d-ECM hydrogels were obtained from the small intestine submucosa (SIS) and the urinary bladder matrix (UBM) after decellularizing with sodium deoxycholate (SDC) and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP). The SDC d-ECM hydrogel gradually gelated, while the HHP d-ECM hydrogel immediately gelated. All d-ECM hydrogels had low matrix stiffness compared to that of the collagen hydrogel, according to a compression test. D-ECM hydrogels with various elastic moduli were obtained, irrespective of the decellularization method or tissue source. Microvascular-derived endothelial cells were seeded on d-ECM hydrogels. Few cells attached to the SDC d-ECM hydrogel with no network formation, while on the HHP d-ECM hydrogel, a capillary network structure formed between elongated cells. Long, branched networks formed on d-ECM hydrogels with lower matrix stiffness. This suggests that the capillary network structure that forms on d-ECM hydrogels is closely related to the matrix stiffness of the hydrogel.

When it comes to meniscal repair, optimizing the local biological environment at the repair site by performing trephination to create bleeding from the extracapsular capillary network, by rasping to abrade the local synovial tissue, or by creating bleeding from the intercondylar notch is recommended. The addition of platelet-rich plasma probably also helps, especially absent the bleeding when meniscal repair is performed concomitantly with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. However, pending future research, there is not enough data to recommend platelet-rich plasma augmentation for meniscal repair in all cases.

The study of microfluidic blood flow in bifurcations is important for understanding the blood behavior in capillary network, where the important gas exchange happens. This computational investigation looks at rare cells suspended in 3D red blood cell flow in symmetric and asymmetric bifurcations. We observe how the presence of a large rare cell, which flows through the wider daughter branch, impacts the red blood cell distribution in both branches. The model also allows us to quantitatively examine the fluid forces acting on the red blood cells and compare them in situations when a rare cell is and is not present.

The capillary beds make up a dense network. Capillary diameter is typically the same or even smaller than the size of unstressed erythrocytes. In addition to its role in determining vascular resistance to flow (approximatively 15% of the total resistance), the capillary network is the region of the vascular system that specializes in the transport of substances between the blood and tissues. The distance of diffusion of O2 in tissues implies that the intercapillary distance cannot be greater than 100 μm in any living tissue.

Crowdsourcing can be a powerful weapon against cyberattacks in 5G networks. In this paper we analyse this idea in detail, starting with the use cases in crowdsourcing focused on security, and highlighting those areas of a 5G ecosystem where crowdsourcing could be used to mitigate local and remote attacks, as well as to discourage criminal activities and cybercriminal behaviour. We pay particular attention to the capillary network, where an infinite number of IoT objects coexist. The analysis considers the different participants in a 5G IoT ecosystem.

OBJECTIVES Recent studies have suggested the necessity of therapeutic intervention for patients with ulcerative colitis at high risk of clinical relapse with a Mayo endoscopic score (MES) of 1. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to demonstrate the impact of intramucosal capillary network changes and crypt architecture abnormalities to stratify the risk of relapse in patients with an MES of 1. METHODS All included patients had an MES of ≤1 and confirmed sustained clinical remission between October 2016 and April 2019. We classified patients with an MES of 1 as "intramucosal capillary/crypt (ICC)-active" or "ICC-inactive" using endocytoscopic evaluation. We followed patients until October 2019 or until relapse; the main outcome measure was the difference in clinical relapse-free rates between ICC-active and ICC-inactive patients with an MES of 1. RESULTS We included 224 patients and analyzed data for 218 (82 ICC-active and 54 ICC-active with an MES of 1 and 82 with an MES of 0). During follow-up, among the patients with an MES of 1, 30.5% (95% confidence interval 20.8-41.6; 25/82) of the patients relapsed in the ICC-active group and 5.6% (95% confidence interval 1.2-15.4; 3/54) of the patients relapsed in the ICC-inactive group. The ICC-inactive group had a significantly higher clinical relapse-free rate compared with the ICC-active group (P

In 2015 the Biomimicry Institute released a call ’Biomimicry Global Challenge Design 2015′. The Biomimicry Institute is partnering with the Ray C. Anderson Foundation and food and conservation experts to solicit nature inspired solutions for food systems improvement. We decided to create a feasible concept applicable for next decades with the use of modern technology and biomimicry. In our device, we used a biomimetic approach to design artificial surfaces that are capable of directed liquid transport, based on the principles found in the Texas horned lizard. For this purpose, we analyzed the morphology of the capillary network of Phrynosoma cornutum and characterized the material properties of the animal’s surface. The final result was a balcony cultivator – sustainable device which is divided into three functional parts that mutually support each other. The first is a bottom part for composting, the second part is used for plant cultivation and the third part serves the irrigation. Balcony cultivator project is still at the conceptual stage, but within the Biomimicry Global Design Challenge Accelerator programme, the research team has already solved prototyping, testing, and developing business plans for product launch. We created unique design, which besides artistic value, carries sophisticated thinking and sustainable function.

Purpose: To provide normative data of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and thickness. Methods: In this cross-sectional study both eyes of each normal subject were scanned with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) for foveal superficial and deep avascular zone (FAZ) and central foveal thickness (CFT) and parafoveal thickness (PFT). Results: Out of a total of 224 eyes of 112 volunteers with a mean age of 37.03 (12â67) years, the mean superficial FAZ area was 0.27Â mm2, and deep FAZ area was 0.35Â mm2 (PÂ