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In order to realize tunable multichannel high sensitivity refractive index sensing, a square resonator connected with a Rectangular Groove (RG) is proposed to couple with the highly compact Metal-Dielectric-Metal (MDM) waveguide containing double metal baffles. The transmission spectrums of the proposed waveguide structure have been calculated by the finite element method, which exhibits four sharp, asymmetric transmittance peaks and the magnetic field patterns. Based on the coupling interference between the broadband reflection mode generated by the double baffles and the narrow resonance modes occurred in the composite cavity, the generation mechanism of quadruple Fano resonance is explained. Moreover, the structural parameters of the square cavity and the rectangular groove are changed to study the tunability of the wavelengths of the quadruple transmittance peaks. When the composite cavity is filled with different dielectric media, the calculated sensitivity corresponding to four transmittance peaks are 960, 1 120, 1 320 and 1 560 nm/RIU, respectively. It provides an effective theoretical reference for the design of multi-channel and high sensitivity refractive index sensor.

In order to realize tunable multichannel high sensitivity refractive index sensing, a square resonator connected with a Rectangular Groove (RG) is proposed to couple with the highly compact Metal-Dielectric-Metal (MDM) waveguide containing double metal baffles. The transmission spectrums of the proposed waveguide structure have been calculated by the finite element method, which exhibits four sharp, asymmetric transmittance peaks and the magnetic field patterns. Based on the coupling interference between the broadband reflection mode generated by the double baffles and the narrow resonance modes occurred in the composite cavity, the generation mechanism of quadruple Fano resonance is explained. Moreover, the structural parameters of the square cavity and the rectangular groove are changed to study the tunability of the wavelengths of the quadruple transmittance peaks. When the composite cavity is filled with different dielectric media, the calculated sensitivity corresponding to four transmittance peaks are 960, 1 120, 1 320 and 1 560 nm/RIU, respectively. It provides an effective theoretical reference for the design of multi-channel and high sensitivity refractive index sensor.

Volatile anesthetic preconditioning has been shown to be a potent way to provide myocardium protection against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury; however, this cardioprotection is lost in senescent animal models and elderly patients. NFkB-regulated genes have been linked to myocardial I/R injury and anesthetic preconditioning. Here, we investigated NFkB activation related to anesthetic preconditioning in aging rat myocardium. Isolated, Langendorff perfused rat hearts from Fischer 344 male rats, 24 months old, were randomly assigned to one of the three groups. The hearts of the control group were perfused with physiologic solution without any intervention. The hearts in the I/R group were subjected to 25 minutes ischemia and followed by 60 minutes reperfusion. The hearts in the treatment group were subjected to 10 minutes 2.5% sevoflurane, followed by 20 minutes washout and by 25 minutes ischemia and 60 minutes of reperfusion, respectively. Left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were measured. Western blot analysis was used to measure inhibitor of kB (IkB) and anti-apoptotic genes: A1, ILP, c-IAP-2, Bcl-2, caspase 8 and caspase 9. Ischemia and reperfusion significantly decreased LVDP and increased LVEDP in aged rat hearts. Anesthetic preconditioning with sevoflurane did not change the effects I/R on LVDP and LVEDP, despite the fact that after treatment with anesthetic preconditioning, the levels of IκB, A1, ILP, caspase 8 and caspase 9 were significantly different compared to those of the control hearts. In conclusion, anesthetic preconditioning with sevoflurane does not improve myocardial systolic and diastolic functions. Our results suggest that the activation of NFkB regulated genes is different in the senescent myocardium and could account for loss of cardioprotection with aging.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) act as important biological regulators in human cancers. The purpose of this study was to identify promising biomarkers for improved diagnosis and prognosis of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). We analyzed the lncRNA expression profile of PTC patients and identified five upregulated and three downregulated lncRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for PTC in our cohorts, which were confirmed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data. Several lncRNAs have been linked with lymph node (LN) metastasis in patients with PTC. A nomogram combining two lncRNAs, lnc-MPEG1-1:1 and lnc-ABCA12-5:2, with age, T stage, histological type, and predicted LN metastasis was developed. The area under the curve of the developed nomogram was 0.77 (0.73–0.81) in the TCGA training cohort and 0.88 (0.79–0.96) in our validation cohort. In particular, in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that overexpression of lnc-MPEG1-1:1 in PTC cell lines promoted the proliferation and migration of PTC. lnc-MPEG1-1:1 is overexpressed in the cytoplasm of PTC cells and functionally promotes cellular proliferation and migration and functions as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by competitively occupying the shared binding sequences of miR-766-5p. lnc-MPEG1-1:1 knockdown suppressed epithelial-mesenchymal transition by miR-766-5p in PTC cells. Collectively, these results revealed a lnc-MPEG1-1:1/miR-766-5p pathway for thyroid cancer progression and suggest that a nomogram effectively predicted the LN metastasis in PTC.

AIM: To investigate the clinical features, causative organisms and effects of timely vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade without intraocular lens (IOL) removal in the treatment of acute-onset endophthalmitis after cataract surgery (APCE). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features and microbiological factors in 10 eyes of 10 patients with APCE at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from January 2010 to December 2018. Data on the clinical features, causative organisms, visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP) and complications were collected. The mean follow-up period was 25.5mo. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 71.4y. The mean time between cataract surgery and the onset of endophthalmitis was 2.0d. Preoperative visual acuity ranged from no light perception to hand motion. After vitrectomy, the visual acuity increased in nine eyes (90%), and was unchanged in one eye (10%). A significant difference was observed between the mean preoperative (36.3±7.1 mm Hg) and postoperative IOP (14.9±4.3 mm Hg, P

AIM: To compare the efficacy of intravitreal conbercept or ranibizumab for myopic choroidal neovascularization(CNV).METHODS: A retrospective cohort study. This study included 46 patients(46 eyes)with myopic CNV who were treated with conbercept(conbercept group, 20 cases, 20 eyes)or ranibizumab(ranibizumab group, 26 cases, 26 eyes)from March 2015 to August 2019. Central macular thickness(CMT), the number of injections and complications measured by best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and optical coherence tomography(OCT)were compared between the two groups before treatment and 1, 3, 6mo after treatment.RESULTS: Before treatment, the BCVA(LogMAR)of conbercept and ranibizumab groups were 0.81±0.51, 0.83±0.66(P=0.900). After treatment, the BCVA(LogMAR)in the conbercept group at 1, 3 and 6mo were 0.59±0.33, 0.49±0.34, 0.44±0.32, in the ranibizumab group were 0.53±0.54, 0.47±0.47, 0.40±0.43. The BCVA was significantly improved in both groups after treatment(all P0.05). Systemic adverse reactions and serious ocular complications were not found during the treatment period.CONCLUSION: Intravitreal conbercept or ranibizumab provide similar efficacy to improve the BCVA and reduce the CMT in the patients with myopic CNV. Both conbercept and ranibizumab could be a choice of treatment for myopic CNV.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil(MMF)on the prevention of relapse and visual prognosis of patients in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders(NMOSD)with AQP4 antibody positive optic neuritis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 11 patients with initial diagnosis of NMOSD and AQP4 antibody positive optic neuritis from January 2017 to December 2019. Among the 11 patients, 3 were male and 8 were female. The unique core clinical manifestation of NMOSD was optic neuritis. The onset age was 36.3±6.0(27-47)years old. Duration of the disease was 3.4±1.4(2.2-6.8)a. MMF was added in the relieving period of NMOSD for 1a or over 1a. Annualized relapsing rate(ARR), best corrected vision activity(BCVA)and adverse reactions of MMF were recorded.RESULTS: The median time of MMF treatment was 18(12, 36)mo. The ARR was 0.66/a at baseline and 0.16/a after the treatment. There were 91% of the patients had decreased ARR and 82% of them had no clinical relapse. The patients had significant improvement on ARR after MMF treatment(P0.05). Of the 11 patients, 3 patients had side effects(27%), including 1 patient with elevated liver transaminase(9%), and 2 patients with mild gastrointestinal reaction(18%)during follow-up period. None of them discontinued MMF due to adverse events.CONCLUSION: MMF treatment for AQP4 antibody positive NMOSD can reduce the ARR of optic neuritis to a certain extent and protect the visual function of patients.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are chronic conditions that result in progressive damage to the nervous system, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Age is a major risk factor for NDs. Telomere shortening is a biological marker of cellular aging, and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) has been shown to slow down this process by maintaining telomere length. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) makes the brain a unique immune organ, and while the number of T cells present in the central nervous system is limited, they play an important role in NDs. Research suggests that NDs can be influenced by modulating peripheral T cell immune responses, and that TERT may play a significant role in T cell senescence and NDs. This review focuses on the current state of research on TERT in NDs and explores the potential connections between TERT, T cells, and NDs. Further studies on aging and telomeres may provide valuable insights for developing therapeutic strategies for age-related diseases.

Background: The omnipresence of human phthalate (PAE) exposure is linked to various adverse health issues, including breast cancer. However, the effects of low-dose PAE exposure on breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) and the underlying mechanism remain unexplored. Methods: BCSCs from breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) were enriched using a tumorsphere formation assay. Gene and protein expression was detected by measurement of quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence assays. Transient transfection assays were used to evaluate the involvement of Gli1, a signaling pathway molecule and ΔNp63α, an oncogene in influencing the PAE-induced characteristics of BCSCs. Results: PAE (butylbenzyl phthalate, BBP; di-butyl phthalate, DBP; di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, DEHP) exposure of 10−9 M significantly promoted the tumorsphere formation ability in BCSCs. Breast cancer spheroids with a 10−9 M PAE exposure had higher levels of BCSC marker mRNA and protein expression, activated sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway, and increased mRNA and protein levels of an oncogene, ΔNp63α. Furthermore, suppression of the SHH pathway attenuated the effects of PAEs on BCSCs. And the overexpression of ΔNp63α enhanced PAE-induced characteristics of BCSCs, while low expression of ΔNp63α inhibited the promotion effects of PAEs on BCSCs and the SHH pathway. Conclusion: Low-dose PAE exposure promoted the stem cell properties of BCSCs in a ΔNp63α- and SHH-dependent manner. The influence of low-dose exposure of PAEs and its relevance for the lowest observed effect concentrations requires further investigation, and the precise underlying mechanism needs to be further explored.

IntroductionMetabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease related to metabolic syndrome. However, ecological shifts in the saliva microbiome in patients with MAFLD remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the changes to the salivary microbial community in patients with MAFLD and explore the potential function of microbiota.MethodsSalivary microbiomes from ten MAFLD patients and ten healthy participants were analyzed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. Body composition, plasma enzymes, hormones, and blood lipid profiles were assessed with physical examinations and laboratory tests.ResultsThe salivary microbiome of MAFLD patients was characterized by increased α-diversity and distinct β-diversity clustering compared with control subjects. Linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis showed a total of 44 taxa significantly differed between the two groups. Genera Neisseria, Filifactor, and Capnocytophaga were identified as differentially enriched genera for comparison of the two groups. Co-occurrence networks suggested that the salivary microbiota from MAFLD patients exhibited more intricate and robust interrelationships. The diagnostic model based on the salivary microbiome achieved a good diagnostic power with an area under the curve of 0.82(95% CI: 0.61–1). Redundancy analysis and spearman correlation analysis revealed that clinical variables related to insulin resistance and obesity were strongly associated with the microbial community. Metagenomic predictions based on Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States revealed that pathways related to metabolism were more prevalent in the two groups.ConclusionsPatients with MAFLD manifested ecological shifts in the salivary microbiome, and the saliva microbiome-based diagnostic model provides a promising approach for auxiliary MAFLD diagnosis.

The tumor and tissue microbiota of human beings have recently been investigated. Gut permeability is known as a possible resource for the positive detection of tissue bacteria. Herein, we report that microbiota were detected in high abundance in the hepatocytes of healthy rats and that they were shared with the gut microbiota to an extent. We assessed male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats for the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene. After the rats were sacrificed by blood drainage from the portal vein, we extracted total deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from their ileal and colonic contents and liver tissues. The V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced using an Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. Sequences were assigned taxonomically by the SILVA database. We also detected bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) in situ using immunofluorescence (IF) and western blotting and the 16S rRNA gene using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). In the livers of six rats, we detected 54,867.50±6450.03 effective tags of the 16S rRNA gene and clustered them into 1003 kinds of operational taxonomic units (OTUs; 805.67±70.14, 729–893). Rats showed conservation of bacterial richness, abundance, and evenness. LPS and the 16S rRNA gene were detected in the nuclei of hepatocytes. The main function composition of the genomes of annotated bacteria was correlated with metabolism (79.92±0.24%). Gram negativity was about 1.6 times higher than gram positivity. The liver microbiome was shared with both the small and large intestines but showed significantly higher richness and evenness than the gut microbiome, and the β-diversity results showed that the liver microbiome exhibited significantly higher similarity than the small and large intestines (P