Search

Abstract In the paper, we first give an improvement of Minkowski integral inequality. As an application, we get new Brunn-Minkowski-type inequalities for dual mixed volumes. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 52A30, 52A40, 26D15

Abstract In the present paper we establish some new Opial-type inequalities involving higher-order partial derivatives. Our results in special cases yield some of the recent results on Opial's inequality and also provide new estimates on inequalities of this type. MR (2000) Subject Classification 26D15

Abstract In the present paper, we establish some new Rozanova's type integral inequalities involving higher-order partial derivatives. The results in special cases yield some of the interrelated results on Rozanova's inequality and provide new estimates on inequalities of this type. MS (2000) Subject Classifiication: 26D15.

We establish some multiple integral Hilbert-Pachpatte-type inequalities. As applications, we get some inverse forms of Pachpatte's inequalities which were established in 1998.

We establish a new Laypunov-type inequality for two nonlinear systems of partial differential equations and the discrete analogue is also established. As application, boundness of the two-dimensional Emden-Fowler-type equation is proved.

Some new inequalities similar to Hilbert's type inequality involving series of nonnegative terms are established.

Abstract Background CD8+ regulatory T cells (Treg) have been considered to be involved in a model of ocular-induced tolerance, known as anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID). The phenotype and characteristics of CD8+Treg in ACAID remain only poorly understood. Recent studies have reported that the CD94-Qa-1 system is implicated in the induction of ACAID CD8+Treg, but the functions and characteristics of CD8+CD94+T cells remain unclear. Results Both mRNA and protein of CD94 and NKG2A were markedly up-regulated on splenic CD8+T cells of ACAID mice compared with controls. Flow cytometric analysis showed that very few CD8+CD94+T cells express granzyme B, perforin and Foxp3. CD8+CD94+T cells, but not CD8+CD94-T cells, magnetically isolated from the spleens of ACAID mice, produced large amounts of TGF-beta1 and exhibited suppressive activity in vitro. Neutralization of TGF-beta1 caused reversal of suppression mediated by CD8+CD94+T cells. Conclusion CD8+CD94+T cells from ACAID mice exhibited suppressive activity in association with enhanced expression of TGF-beta1, suggesting that CD8+Treg are mainly distributed in CD94+T cell subpopulations.

We consider the mean square asymptotic stability of a generalized linear neutral stochastic differential equation with variable delays by using the fixed point theory. An asymptotic mean square stability theorem with a necessary and sufficient condition is proved, which improves and generalizes some results due to Burton, Zhang and Luo. Two examples are also given to illustrate our results.

We introduce an iterative scheme by the viscosity approximation method for finding a common element of the set of common solutions for generalized mixed equilibrium problems and the set of common fixed points of a sequence of nonexpansive mappings in Hilbert spaces. We show a strong convergence theorem under some suitable conditions.

Abstract The main purpose of the present paper is to establish some new Grüss integral inequalities in independent variables. Our results in special cases yield some of the recent results on Pachpatte's, Mitrinović's, and Ostrowski's inequalities, and provide new estimates on such types of inequalities.

We establish some new Opial-type inequalities involving functions of two and many independent variables. Our results in special cases yield some of the recent results on Opial's inequality and also provide new estimates on inequalities of this type.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. This study aims to derive a more precise estimation on pulse wave velocity (PWV) level in patients with SLE and related factors. A literature search was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library databases, studies published up to February 28, 2017, in English. Pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated by fixed-effect or random-effect model analysis. Heterogeneity test was performed by the Q statistic and quantified using I2 ; publication bias was evaluated using a funnel plot and Egger’s linear regression test. Of 156 studies found, 27 met eligibility criteria, and 14 studies were finally included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed that the SLE group had significantly higher PWV levels than the control group; SMD = 0.56 and 95% CI (0.30-0.82). Subgroup analyses showed that body mass index (BMI), sample size, and disease duration were associated with PWV in patients with SLE. Overall, our study suggests that patients with SLE have a higher PWV level, and it is associated with BMI, sample size, and disease duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We establish a new inequality of Hilbert type for a finite double number of nonnegative sequences of real numbers and some interrelated results, which are inverse and general forms of Pachpatte's and Handley's results. An integral version and some interrelated results are also obtained. These results provide some new estimates on such types of inequalities.

• cRGD conjugated PEG-PLGA nanoparticle (cRNM) showed superior corneal binding capacity. • cRNM enhanced the transcorneal penetration of bilirubin (BR). • cRNM@BR eyedrops alleviated the development of UVB-induced cataract in mice. • cRNM@BR prevented cellular senescence via inhibiting oxidative stress and cGAS/STING pathway. Age related cataract (ARC) is characterized by protein conformational disorder with aging stands out as an independent risk factor. Therefore, mitigation of oxidative stress and DNA damage within the lens emerges as a potential therapeutic strategy. While topical administration remains the most common treatment modality for ocular disorder, drug bioavailability is hindered by the cornea epithelium barrier. In this study, we developed a novel cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp (cRGD)-conjugated nanoparticle encapsulating bilirubin (cRNM@BR), an endogenous antioxidant, to combat against cellular senescence and lens opacity associated with ARC. Immunofluorescence staining assay confirmed that cRGD modification significantly prolonged nanoparticle retention on the ocular surface by targeting integrin expressed on corneal epithelium. Moreover, through LC-MS/MS analysis, we demonstrated the enhanced transcorneal penetration efficacy of cRGD-modified nanodrugs both in vivo and in vitro. Our mechanistic investigations revealed that cRNM entered human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) by clathrin and micropinocytosis-mediated pathways, with the ER/Golgi pathway facilitating its exocytosis. In a mouse model of ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced cataract, topical application of cRNM@BR effectively alleviated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and DNA damage in lens epithelial cells (LECs), thereby preventing cellular senescence and lens opacity. Transcriptomics analysis of LECs in UVB-exposed group and cRNM@BR pretreated group indicated significant enrichment of the cGAS/STING pathway. Further experiments determined that cRNM@BR prevented cellular senescence and lens opacity by ameliorating the cGAS/STING pathway. In conclusion, our findings underscore the therapeutic potential of cRNM@BR in ARC management and highlight the efficacy of cRGD-conjugated nanoplatform for intraocular delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore if COVID-19 infection and its subsequent immunosuppressant adjustment as well as previous vaccination status are associated with higher risks of uveitis flare in patients with Behcet’s disease.This retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted in January 2023 among patients with Behcet’s uveitis, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, with an anticipated sample size of 250. The primary objective was to examine the association between COVID-19 infection and the occurrence of uveitis flare. The potential impact of other exposures, including the patient’s vaccination status and treatment adjustments to the risk of uveitis flare and the course of COVID-19 infection were also analyzed.207 patients with COVID-19 infection and 47 patients without COVID-19 infection were included. A total of 127 uveitis flares occurred in the observational period (14.29 events per 100 person-month). COVID-19 infection was found to be significantly associated with a higher rate of uveitis flare (adjusted rate ratio = 4.8, 95% CI 3.7 to 6.3, P < 0.001). However, neither systemic immunosuppressive adjustment nor COVID-19 vaccination status showed a significant association with uveitis flare or the course of COVID-19 infection.This study provides evidence of an association between COVID-19 infection and an increased risk of uveitis flare in patients with Behcet’s disease. However, there was no significant evidence to support that baseline immunosuppressive therapy regimens, treatment adjustment after COVID-19 infection, or vaccination status were associated with higher risks of uveitis flare or prolonged COVID-19 course.Methods: To explore if COVID-19 infection and its subsequent immunosuppressant adjustment as well as previous vaccination status are associated with higher risks of uveitis flare in patients with Behcet’s disease.This retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted in January 2023 among patients with Behcet’s uveitis, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, with an anticipated sample size of 250. The primary objective was to examine the association between COVID-19 infection and the occurrence of uveitis flare. The potential impact of other exposures, including the patient’s vaccination status and treatment adjustments to the risk of uveitis flare and the course of COVID-19 infection were also analyzed.207 patients with COVID-19 infection and 47 patients without COVID-19 infection were included. A total of 127 uveitis flares occurred in the observational period (14.29 events per 100 person-month). COVID-19 infection was found to be significantly associated with a higher rate of uveitis flare (adjusted rate ratio = 4.8, 95% CI 3.7 to 6.3, P < 0.001). However, neither systemic immunosuppressive adjustment nor COVID-19 vaccination status showed a significant association with uveitis flare or the course of COVID-19 infection.This study provides evidence of an association between COVID-19 infection and an increased risk of uveitis flare in patients with Behcet’s disease. However, there was no significant evidence to support that baseline immunosuppressive therapy regimens, treatment adjustment after COVID-19 infection, or vaccination status were associated with higher risks of uveitis flare or prolonged COVID-19 course.Results: To explore if COVID-19 infection and its subsequent immunosuppressant adjustment as well as previous vaccination status are associated with higher risks of uveitis flare in patients with Behcet’s disease.This retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted in January 2023 among patients with Behcet’s uveitis, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, with an anticipated sample size of 250. The primary objective was to examine the association between COVID-19 infection and the occurrence of uveitis flare. The potential impact of other exposures, including the patient’s vaccination status and treatment adjustments to the risk of uveitis flare and the course of COVID-19 infection were also analyzed.207 patients with COVID-19 infection and 47 patients without COVID-19 infection were included. A total of 127 uveitis flares occurred in the observational period (14.29 events per 100 person-month). COVID-19 infection was found to be significantly associated with a higher rate of uveitis flare (adjusted rate ratio = 4.8, 95% CI 3.7 to 6.3, P < 0.001). However, neither systemic immunosuppressive adjustment nor COVID-19 vaccination status showed a significant association with uveitis flare or the course of COVID-19 infection.This study provides evidence of an association between COVID-19 infection and an increased risk of uveitis flare in patients with Behcet’s disease. However, there was no significant evidence to support that baseline immunosuppressive therapy regimens, treatment adjustment after COVID-19 infection, or vaccination status were associated with higher risks of uveitis flare or prolonged COVID-19 course.Conclusions: To explore if COVID-19 infection and its subsequent immunosuppressant adjustment as well as previous vaccination status are associated with higher risks of uveitis flare in patients with Behcet’s disease.This retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted in January 2023 among patients with Behcet’s uveitis, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, with an anticipated sample size of 250. The primary objective was to examine the association between COVID-19 infection and the occurrence of uveitis flare. The potential impact of other exposures, including the patient’s vaccination status and treatment adjustments to the risk of uveitis flare and the course of COVID-19 infection were also analyzed.207 patients with COVID-19 infection and 47 patients without COVID-19 infection were included. A total of 127 uveitis flares occurred in the observational period (14.29 events per 100 person-month). COVID-19 infection was found to be significantly associated with a higher rate of uveitis flare (adjusted rate ratio = 4.8, 95% CI 3.7 to 6.3, P < 0.001). However, neither systemic immunosuppressive adjustment nor COVID-19 vaccination status showed a significant association with uveitis flare or the course of COVID-19 infection.This study provides evidence of an association between COVID-19 infection and an increased risk of uveitis flare in patients with Behcet’s disease. However, there was no significant evidence to support that baseline immunosuppressive therapy regimens, treatment adjustment after COVID-19 infection, or vaccination status were associated with higher risks of uveitis flare or prolonged COVID-19 course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new Erythrina alkaloids and five known E. alkaloids were isolated from a 95% ethanol extract of the stems of Erythrina corallodendron L. Their chemical structures were elucidated by UV, IR, HRESIMS, NMR and X-ray. Furthermore, the analgesic activities of E. alkaloids 1, 2 and 6 were evaluated by using an acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice, and their writhing inhibition rates were 67.9%, 64.6% and 70.3% at doses of 20 mg/kg, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author team attended a group which visited University of Nebraska Medical Center and experienced their medical education system in 2016, sponsored by China Scholarship Council. Some education reformations and trials were carried out in the authors’ affiliations after the program finished. In this work, an analysis of the differences in medical education of the USA and of China was made, combining the published perspectives and our own experiences. The critical comments raised in this work may contribute to the remodeling of our medical education system and teaching mode.

To measure the serum level of IL-33 in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) and Behçet's uveitis (BU) in the Chinese Han population and investigate its associations with disease activity and clinical parameters. Serum was collected from 41 VKH patients (16 active and 25 inactive patients), 60 BU patients (24 active and 36 inactive patients), and 36 healthy controls. The serum level of IL-33 was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Demographic features, clinical manifestations, and intraocular inflammation activity scores (anterior chamber cells score, anterior chamber flare score, and vitreal haze score) were recorded. The serum level of IL-33 significantly increased in all VKH patients, active VKH patients, and inactive VKH patients, as compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.002, respectively), and was higher in the active VKH than in the inactive VKH patients (p = 0.049). The serum level of IL-33 positively correlated with the anterior chamber cells score, vitreal haze score, and the annualized number of relapses in VKH patients (Rho = 0.359, p = 0.021; Rho = 0.344, p = 0.028; Rho = 0.537, p < 0.001, respectively). Serum IL-33 level was significantly associated with the annualized number of relapses in patients with BU (Rho = 0.361, p = 0.005). Serum IL-33 level is significantly increased in VKH patients in the Chinese Han population. IL-33 level is in positive correlation with the activity and relapses of VKH. Increased IL-33 might contribute to the pathogenesis of VKH and serve as a potential biomarker for VKH disease. • Serum IL-33 significantly increases in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, but not in Behçet's uveitis in a Chinese Han population • Serum IL-33 is positively correlated with the disease activity and relapses of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease • Serum IL-33 is positively associated with the annualized relapses number of Behçet's uveitis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Changes of choroidal circulation throughout the disease course of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease and the clinical significance remain unclear. Choriocapillary vascular density (CC VD) measured by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) were compared in different disease stages of VKH and its correlation with other parameters was analyzed, aiming to explore their clinical relevance. Methods: This is a retrospective case series. One hundred and fourteen VKH patients and 47 normal controls (NCs) were included. Patients were grouped into the acute uveitic, convalescent, and chronic recurrent stages (only anterior recurrent cases included), and OCTA images were obtained from VKH patients in these stages. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), CC VD, and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) were recorded and compared. Results: CC VD in acute (58.26% ± 0.84%), convalescent (64.85% ± 0.33%), and chronic recurrent (62.78% ± 0.70%) stage of VKH patients were all significantly lower than that in NCs (66.37% ± 0.41%) (p < 0.001, p = 0.017, and p < 0.001, respectively). CC VD increased by 6.59% ± 0.91% with resolution of acute inflammation (p < 0.001) and decreased by 2.07% ± 0.74% during anterior uveitis relapse (p = 0.009). Patients with a positive history of anterior recurrence had lower CC VD (− 2.43% ± 0.75%, p = 0.003) in the convalescent stage than those without. CC VD was negatively correlated with logMAR BCVA in VKH (r = − 0.261, p < 0.001). Conclusion: CC VD was decreased in every stage of VKH. CC VD has the potential to reflect the status of uveitis and might be promising in monitoring the disease activity. OCTA is a convenient and straightforward tool to evaluate choroidal vascularity, and CC VD provides supplemental quantitative information of the choriocapillaris. Further studies are needed to explore the values of OCTA quantitative parameters in monitoring VKH progression, predicting visual prognosis, and guiding clinical decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Space debris division of PMO is devoted to play an important role in the research of orbital mechanics and the development of space debris observation techniques in China. To support the work, this division builds and operates a large optical network across China. The observational network include two major subsets, large field survey telescopes and precise tracking telescopes. The main objective of the network is to maintain cataloged orbital debris and detect uncatalogued debris. CHES at YaoAn site is the most recent facility, for higher orbits survey. New operational software and data pipeline that aims at detecting unresolved objects has being developed. This paper presents the details of this facility and related activities.

Background: To describe the ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) findings of extremely rare ciliary body lymphoma. Methods: This was a retrospective noncomparative case series study. Five patients (8 affected eyes) diagnosed with ciliary body lymphoma at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2008 to 2019 were included. The UBM findings, including the location, height, and acoustic features, were documented to assess the tumour characteristics. Results: UBM in all 8 (100%) affected eyes revealed 360° ring-like, solid infiltration of the ciliary body with low and homogeneous internal reflectivity. The continuity of the tumours could be most vividly demonstrated by transverse sections. Conclusions: Ciliary body lymphoma tends to grow in a characteristic circumferential 360° pattern, and the name "ring lymphoma of the ciliary body" is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effects of carbonization on the preparation of activated carbon, petroleum coke-based activated carbon was prepared via a one-step method involving carbonization and activation as well as a two-step method involving carbonization followed by activation. In addition, the effects of carbonization temperature (550–750 °C) and activation heating rate (10 °C/min and 20 °C/min) on the surface morphology and pore structure of the activated carbon were investigated, and the adsorption performance of the activated carbon for iodine was analyzed. The results showed that precarbonization did not increase, but rather decreased, the number of surface oxygen-containing functional groups. In addition, increasing the heating rate to 20 °C/min effectively increased the number of oxygen-containing functional groups and delayed the merging of pores. Carbonization of activated carbon did not result in an increase in its specific surface area; rather, its specific surface area was reduced by up to 55.5 %. However, at a heating rate of 20 °C/min, the activated carbon prepared by carbonization exhibited a better microporous structure. Based on the iodine adsorption values, it was found that the adsorption performance of iodine was determined by the micropore diameter of the activated carbon but not the specific surface area. • A high heating rate can delay pore merging during the two-step method. • Better adsorption properties are generated by the one-step method with a high heating rate. • The heating rate but not the carbonization temperature can enhance the functional groups. • Carbonization does not positively affect the specific surface area but is beneficial to the microporous at 20℃/min. • The pore diameter, but not the specific surface area, plays a decisive role in adsorbing iodine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies concerning the circulating interleukin-17 (IL-17) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were contradictory. To further precisely investigate circulating IL-17 in SLE and evaluate its influential factors by meta-analysis. EMBASE, PubMed and Cochrane Library were comprehensively searched to obtain studies on circulating IL-17 in SLE patients by November 22, 2018. The results were illustrated by pooled standard mean difference (SMD) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) using random-effects model as there was significant heterogeneity, which was estimated using Cochran Q and I2 statistics. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were also conducted. Overall, 1872 articles were reviewed and 20 studies involving 1067 subjects with SLE and 721 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in the final analysis according to inclusion criteria. Compared with HCs, circulating IL-17 levels in SLE patients were elevated (SMD: 1.183, 95% CI: 0.763–1.603; P <.001). Moreover, in comparison to HCs, European and Asian SLE patients, age <30 years, disease duration ≥5 years, NOS scores <7 and using ELISA showed increased circulating IL-17 status, whereas no significant change was observed in other subgroups. There was no significant publication bias. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the results of our meta-analysis were robust. SLE patients have higher circulating IL-17 levels, which is influenced by ethnic, age and disease duration, literature quality and measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To investigate the temporal trends in mortality and disease burden of injuries in Anhui province from 2008 to 2017, so as to provide reference for injury control and prevention. Methods. Data of mortality were collected from 9 national surveillance points in Anhui province during 2008-2017 in the Information System for Death Cause Register and Management. The surveillance data were analyzed by using crude mortality, standardized mortality rate (SMR), potential year of life lost (PYLL), PYLL rate (PYLLR), and average of year life lost (AYLL). Results. There were a total of 44855 people died from injury, accounted for 9.44% of the all-cause mortality, ranked as the fifth leading cause of deaths in the whole population, and denoted the first leading cause of deaths in the 0-44 year's group. The leading causes of injury deaths were road traffic accidents, suicide, accidental falls, drowning, and poisoning. Road traffic accidents was the primary cause of injury deaths among the male population, while suicide was the dominate cause of injury deaths among the female population. Drowning, traffic accidents, and suicide accounted for the most injury deaths among the population aged 0-14 years, 15-64 years, and above 60 years, respectively. The road traffic accidents accounted for the largest proportion of injury PYLL and PYLLR, and drowning caused the highest AYLL among injury deaths. Conclusion. In Anhui province, road traffic accidents, suicide, accidental falls, drowning, and poisoning were the top five causes of injury deaths that harm the health of local residents; corresponding injury prevention strategies should be formulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study was to investigate the association of melatonin (MTN) pathway gene's single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods: We recruited 495 SLE patients and 493 healthy controls, 11 tag SNPs in MTN receptor 1a (MTNR1a), MTNR1b, and arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) genes were genotyped and analyzed. Serum MTN concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits.Results: Two SNPs of AANAT gene (rs8150 and rs3760138) associated with the risk of SLE; CC carriers of rs8150 had a lower risk as compared to GG (OR = 0.537, 95% CI: 0.361, 0.799), whereas GG carrier in rs3760138 had an increased risk (OR = 1.823, 95% CI: 1.154, 2.880) compared to TT. However, we did not find any genetic association between the other nine SNPs with SLE risk. Case-only analysis showed associations of rs2165667 and rs1562444 with arthritis, rs10830962 with malar rash, rs3760138 with immunological abnormality, and rs8150 with hematological abnormality. Furthermore, a significant difference between plasma MTN levels with different genotypes of rs1562444 was observed. Haplotype analyses revealed that haplotype of CCTAT, CTAGT, and GGG was significantly associated with the increased risk in SLE susceptibility, but TCTAT and CTG appeared to be a protective haplotype.Conclusions: The present study supported the genetic association of MTN pathway genes with SLE susceptibility and specific clinical manifestations, suggesting the potential role of MTN pathway genes in the pathogenesis and development of SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The indicators for measuring vitamin D are various, and 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is considered as the optimal indicator of total vitamin D levels. In this study, we aim to deeply explore the 25(OH)D status in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, and evaluate its relation to SLE risk and disease severity. Methods: Literature about 25(OH)D status and its associations with SLE were searched in Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases. Standardized mean difference (SMD), odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were illustrated by forest plots, and correlation coefficients (r) were combined by generic inverse variance method. Heterogeneity and publication bias were quantified by I‐squared (I2) test, funnel plot and Egger's test, respectively. Sensitivity analyses were further examined by leave‐one‐out method. Results: Nineteen articles were included into our meta‐analysis. The overall results showed that compared with the healthy controls, the circulating 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower in SLE patients (pooled SMD = −1.63, 95% CI: −2.51 to −0.76). Subgroup analysis revealed that compared with the healthy controls, SLE patients of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) ≥ 10, Arab and European ethnicity, all 4 seasons, no vitamin D supplement, had significantly lower circulating 25(OH)D levels; no significant differences were observed in SLE patients of SLEDAI < 10, mixed ethnicity, spring, summer, vitamin D supplement, respectively; no matter the changes of age, disease duration, and the therapy of corticosteroid or immunosuppressive or neither, circulating 25(OH)D levels were significantly reduced in SLE patients. The deficiency, insufficiency and sufficiency of vitamin D could significantly elevate, slightly decrease (not significantly), significantly decrease SLE risk, respectively (pooled OR = 4.37, 95% CI: 1.49 to 12.84; pooled OR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.22 to 1.26; pooled OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.15 to 0.63). Circulating 25(OH)D levels were inversely associated with SLEDAI (pooled correlation coefficient = −0.50, 95% CI: −0.8278 to −0.1689). Conclusions: Compared with healthy controls, 25(OH)D levels are significantly lower in SLE patients, which is influenced by disease activity, ethnicity, seasons and vitamin D supplement; no matter the change of age, diseases duration and therapy of corticosteroid or immunosuppressive or neither, 25(OH)D levels are significantly decreased in SLE patients; the deficiency, insufficiency and sufficiency of vitamin D could significantly elevate, slightly decrease, and significantly decrease SLE risk, respectively; and 25(OH)D levels inversely correlate with SLEDAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To assess the in vivo dynamic blood flow features of posterior optic nerve head (ONH) in rat model of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (rNAION). Methods rNAION was established with Rose Bengal and argon green laser in Sprague-Dawley rats. Fundus photography and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) were performed to assess the dynamic changes of optic disc in morphology in 90 days and in blood perfusion in 3 hours after the induction of disease. Histological examinations were performed to evaluate the success of modeling. The dynamic blood flow kinetics of posterior ONH in rNAION were measured by Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) on the day 3, 7, 14, 21, and 40 after the disease induction. One-way ANOVA, Student's t -test and Bonferroni adjustment were used for multiple comparisons of kinetic measurements of blood flow. Results Optic disc edema and subsequent resolution associated with the development of optic disc pallor were observed in rNAION. FFA showed that the optic disc was hypofluorescence in the early phase and hyperfluorescence in the late phase. Histological studies suggested edema and loosened tissues of ONH, loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), optic nerve substance and gliosis. Compared to the naive rats, the blood flow kinetics of posterior ONH in rNAION significant reduced at each time point after modeling (F =175.06, P <0.0001). The reductions were specifically remarkable in 14 days after the disease induction (All P <0.01). Conclusions Continuous blood perfusion reduction was found in rNAION, with significant alteration in 14 days after disease induction. Our results provided important information for understanding the hemodynamic changes in rNAION. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endothelium is the critical barrier that controls transendothelial communications. Blood vessels in cancer tissue are poorly developed and highly permeable. However, it is poorly understood how circulating cancer cells released through these "leaky" vessels break the intact vasculature of remote organs to metastasize. We investigated the roles of cancer cell-derived extracellular vesicles (CEVs) in regulating cancer metastasis by analyzing samples from gastric cancer patients, performing in vitro experiments, and studying mouse models. We made several novel observations. First, the rate of metastasis was closely associated with plasma levels of CEVs in patients with gastric cancer. Second, cultured endothelial cells endocytosed CEVs, resulting in cytoskeletal rearrangement, low expression of the junction proteins cadherin and CD31, and forming large intercellular gaps to allow the transendothelial migration of cancer cells. The dynamin inhibitor Dynasore prevented these CEV-induced changes of endothelial cells by blocking CEVs endocytosis. Third, CEVs disrupted the endothelial barrier of cancer-bearing mice to promote cancer metastasis. Finally, lactadherin promoted the clearance of circulating CEVs to reduce metastasis. These results demonstrate the essential role of CEVs in promoting the metastasis of gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two silver(I)-voriconazole (Vor) coordination complexes, namely [Ag(Vor) 2 n (ClO 4) n (1) and [Ag 2 (Vor) 4 n (NO 3) 2n (2), were synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray single-crystal and powder diffraction, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared spectra. Both complexes featured an equimolar stoichiometry between Ag(I) ion and Vor within 2-D layer-like arrays, in which voriconazole exhibited unique and different coordination modes (mono-/tri-dentate modes in 1 and mono-/bi-/tri-dentate modes in 2). The perchlorate and nitrate anions were embedded in the two-dimensional plane. The results of antifungal studies demonstrated that both complexes possessed higher activity against voriconazole-resistant fungi than voriconazole alone, which might be caused by inhibiting the efflux pump activity of resistant fungi. Additionally, both silver(I) complexes showed no significant cytotoxicity on HaCaT cells in the MIC 90 range for 24 h. These studies suggested that silver(I)-voriconazole coordination complexes were promising candidates as antifungal agents to resistant fungi. Image 1 • Two novel silver(I)-voriconazole complexes were synthesized and structurally characterized. • 2-D layer-like arrays for these complexes were found. • These complexes show the potent against pathogenic fungus (Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp.). • No significant cytotoxicity on HaCaT cells in the MIC 90 range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin-35 (IL-35) exerts crucial roles in the pathogenesis and development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), in this study we aim to explore the associations between IL-35 gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility, clinical features and plasma IL-35 levels of SLE patients, respectively. 490 SLE patients and 489 healthy controls were recruited in our study. The correlations between the polymorphisms of seven SNPs of IL-35 encoding gene and the susceptibility, main clinical manifestations of SLE were evaluated, respectively. Plasma IL-35 levels were assessed in 76 SLE patients, and the associations between plasma IL-35 levels and the polymorphisms of genotyped SNPs were explored. There were significant associations between the polymorphisms of rs4740 and the occurrence of renal disorder, hematological disorder in SLE patients, respectively (p = 0.001; p = 0.001). In addition, there were no significant associations observed between the genotype frequencies of genotyped SNPs and the risk of SLE, plasma IL-35 levels, respectively. The polymorphism of rs4740 of IL-35 encoding gene is associated with the occurrence of renal disorder and hematological disorder of SLE patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recently, many potential prognostic biomarkers for gastric cancer (GC) have been identified, but the prognosis of advanced GC patients remains poor. Chloride channels are promising cancer biomarkers, and their family member chloride channel-3 (CLC-3) is involved in multiple biological behaviors. However, whether CLC-3 is a prognostic biomarker for GC patients is rarely reported. The molecular mechanisms by which CLC-3 is regulated in GC are unclear. Methods: The expression of CLC-3 and XRCC5 in human specimens was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. The primary biological functions and pathways related to CLC-3 were enriched by RNA sequencing. A 5′-biotin-labeled DNA probe with a promoter region between − 248 and + 226 was synthesized to pull down CLC-3 promoter-binding proteins. Functional studies were detected by MTS, clone formation, wound scratch, transwell, and xenograft mice model. Mechanistic studies were investigated by streptavidin-agarose-mediated DNA pull-down, mass spectrometry, ChIP, dual-luciferase reporter assay system, Co-IP, and immunofluorescence. Results: The results showed that CLC-3 was overexpressed in human GC tissues and that overexpression of CLC-3 was a poor prognostic biomarker for GC patients (P = 0.012). Furthermore, higher expression of CLC-3 was correlated with deeper tumor invasion (P = 0.006) and increased lymph node metastasis (P = 0.016), and knockdown of CLC-3 inhibited cell proliferation and migration in vitro. In addition, X-ray repair cross-complementing 5 (XRCC5) was identified as a CLC-3 promoter-binding protein, and both CLC-3 (HR 1.671; 95% CI 1.012–2.758; P = 0.045) and XRCC5 (HR 1.795; 95% CI 1.076–2.994; P = 0.025) were prognostic factors of overall survival in GC patients. The in vitro and in vivo results showed that the expression and function of CLC-3 were inhibited after XRCC5 knockdown, and the inhibition effects were rescued by CLC-3 overexpression. Meanwhile, the expression and function of CLC-3 were promoted after XRCC5 overexpression, and the promotion effects were reversed by the CLC-3 knockdown. The mechanistic study revealed that knockdown of XRCC5 suppressed the binding of XRCC5 to the CLC-3 promoter and subsequent promoter activity, thus regulating CLC-3 expression at the transcriptional level by interacting with PARP1. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that overexpression of CLC-3 is regulated by XRCC5 and is a poor prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer. Double targeting CLC-3 and XRCC5 may provide the promising therapeutic potential for GC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited evidence regarding the effects of long-term exposure to PM 2.5 constituents on the risk of arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and the interaction between PM 2.5 and green space remains unclear. This study examined the relationship between long-term exposure to PM 2.5 constituents and the risk of arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, with the exposure period extending from recruitment until self-reported outcomes, death, loss to follow-up, or end of follow-up. Additionally, the study assessed whether there was an interactive effect between PM 2.5 and green space on these risks. We gathered cohort data on 18,649 individuals aged ≥45 years. We applied generalized linear mixed-effects models to estimate the effects of PM 2.5 constituents, NDVI, and their interaction on arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The quantile g-computation and weighted quantile sum regression model were applied to estimate the combined effect of PM 2.5 constituents. Our results showed that exposure to single and mixed PM 2.5 constituents adversely affected arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and was mainly attributed to the black carbon component. We observed "U" or "J" shaped exposure-response curves for the effects of PM 2.5 , OM, NO 3 - and NH 4 + exposure on the development of arthritis/rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, the odds ratio of arthritis for per interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM 2.5 was 1.209 (95% CI:1.198, 1.221), per 0.1-unit decrease in NDVI was 1.091 (95% CI:1.033, 1.151), and the interaction term was 1.005 (95% CI:1.002, 1.007). These findings flesh out the existing evidence for PM 2.5 constituents, NDVI and arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, but the underlying mechanisms still require further exploration., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this study., (© 2024 The Author(s). GeoHealth published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Geophysical Union.)

To assess the level of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the aqueous humor (AH) of patients suffering from uveitis, with or without coexisting glaucoma, and compare them with patients diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and those with age-related cataract (ARC). By using Luminex xMAP® multiplex assays analyses, we assessed levels of 11 cytokines and chemokines, and compared them across groups, including uveitis-secondary glaucoma (USG) (n = 16), uveitis without glaucoma (UwoG), (n = 16), POAG (n = 16), and ARC (n = 16) to explore the correlation between these cytokines and the presence of uveitis, as well as intraocular pressure (IOP). Pro-inflammatory factors MCP-1, MIP-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and transforming growth factors TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 were significantly elevated in the AH of USG eyes. In the case of enhanced anti-inflammatory in the perioperative period, the pro-inflammatory factors remained notably elevated in the USG group compared to the UwoG group (P < 0.01). The levels of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 in the AH of the USG group and POAG group had the same trend, which markedly surpassed those of the ARC group (P < 0.01). Significantly increased levels of MCP-1, MIP-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TGF-β1, and TGF-β2 were found in the AH of USG patients, implying a potential role for these mediators in the progression of glaucomatous manifestations within patients with uveitis. Besides the analysis revealed no discernible statistical disparity in cytokine concentrations within the AH of USG eyes whether the preoperative baseline IOP was greater than 30 mmHg or not, indicating that the safety of antiglaucoma surgery in USG patients even with baseline high IOP., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The study aimed to investigate the pattern and trend of Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders in people aged 5-19 years from 1990 to 2021. The data was sourced from the Global Burden of Disease study 2021. The Age-standardized DALYs rates (ASDR), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), and age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and their corresponding average annual percent change (AAPC) for MSK disorders were evaluated by sex, region, and sociodemographic index (SDI) quintiles. Globally, the ASPR of MSK disorders among children and adolescents increased per 100,000 population from 3048.66 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2336.68-3887.02) in 1990 to 3105.46 (95% CI: 2421.09-3904.95) in 2021 (AAPC 0.06 [95% CI: 0.05-0.07]). In 2021, individuals aged 15-19 experienced the highest burden compared to those aged 5-9 and 10-14. In 2021, high SDI countries had the highest ASIR, ASPR, ASDR of MSK disorders. The AAPC of ASPR in high SDI countries showed a stark contrast to that in low SDI countries for the same period (AAPC 0.48 vs. AAPC -0.03). From 1990 to 2021, in low SDI and low-middle SDI countries, the increase in DALYs was primarily due to population growth. However, in middle SDI, high-middle, and high SDI countries, the increases were mainly due to epidemiological changes. Globally, patients aged 10-14 experienced better care compared to those in the 5-9 and 15-19 age groups. Specific preventive health measures are needed for females and adolescents aged 15-19 in high SDI countries., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: To develop diagnostic recommendations for diffuse large B-cell vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) in Chinese patients., Methods: Retrospective observational case series. Seventy-three eyes of 40 VRL patients and 8 control patients were analyzed. Eighteen patients from Beijing Tongren Hospital and 46 patients from literature were involved as validations., Results: Diagnostic methods included (1) typical clinical manifestations; (2) vitreous cytology; (3) immunohistochemical examination of vitreous or choroid/retina; (4) aqueous humor or vitreous cytokine; (5) vitreous cell gene rearrangement; (6) vitreous flow cytometry. If patients meet (1)+(2)+(3), or if they meet (1), and two of (4), (5), (6) are positive, they can be diagnosed as VRL. The sensitivity and specificity values for accurate diagnosis were 0.975 and 1.00. One hundred percent eyes from Beijing Tongren Hospital and 92.7% eyes from literature can be diagnosed., Conclusion: We developed diagnostic recommendations for diffuse large B-cell VRL through vitreous cytology combined with multiple auxiliary examinations.

Objective: To evaluate the associations between biological aging, metabolic heterogeneity of obesity, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)., Methods: This prospective cohort study analyzed 268,184 individuals from the UK Biobank. Biological age was estimated using phenotypic age (PhenoAge), Klemera-Doubal methods (KDM-BA), and telomere length. We calculated KDM-BA acceleration and PhenoAge acceleration after subtracting the effect of chronological age by regression residual. The metabolic heterogeneity of obesity can be evaluated by four BMI metabolic phenotypes, namely metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW), metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity (MUOO), and metabolically healthy overweight/obesity (MHOO). Cox models were employed to estimate the associations between biological aging, metabolic heterogeneity of obesity, and RA risk., Results: A total of 2842 patients experienced RA during a mean follow-up time of 12.21 years. A standard deviation (SD) increase in KDM-BA acceleration and PhenoAge acceleration was associated with an increased risk of RA by 13% (hazard ratio = 1.13; 95% CI, 1.09-1.17) and 39% (HR = 1.39; 95% CI, 1.34-1.44), respectively. A SD increase in telomere length was associated with a reduced risk of RA by 5% (HR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91-0.98). Compared to the MHNW group, the MUOO group was associated with a 51% increase in the risk of incident RA. In the joint effect analysis, compared to the MHNW + KDM-BA younger subgroup, the HR (95% CI) for RA was 1.68 (1.48, 1.90) in the MUOO + KDM-BA older subgroup., Conclusion: Accelerated biological aging may heighten the susceptibility to RA, particularly in individuals with obesity or metabolic dysfunction. Key Points •Accelerated biological aging increases the risk of developing RA. •Overweight/obese people with a healthy metabolism have a higher risk of RA than those with normal weight and healthy metabolism. •The BMI metabolic phenotype has a strong modifying effect on the association between KDM-BA/PhenoAge and RA risk., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval: All individuals involved provided written approval, and the North West-Haydock Research Ethics Committee approved the study (16/NW/0274). Disclosures: None., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR).)

Current diabetic retinopathy (DR) treatment involves blood glucose regulation combined with laser photocoagulation or intravitreal injection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies. However, due to the complex pathogenesis and cross-interference of multiple biochemical pathways, these interventions cannot block disease progression. Recognizing the critical role of the retinal microenvironment (RME) in DR, it is hypothesized that reshaping the RME by simultaneously inhibiting primary and secondary blood-retinal barrier (BRB) injury can attenuate DR. For this, a glucose-responsive hydrogel named Cu-PEI/siMyD88@GEMA-Con A (CSGC) is developed that effectively delivers Cu-PEI/siMyD88 nanoparticles (NPs) to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The Cu-PEI NPs act as antioxidant enzymes, scavenging ROS and inhibiting RPE pyroptosis, ultimately blocking primary BRB injury by reducing microglial activation and Th1 differentiation. Simultaneously, MyD88 expression silence in combination with the Cu-PEI NPs decreases IL-18 production, synergistically reduces VEGF levels, and enhances tight junction proteins expression, thus blocking secondary BRB injury. In summary, via remodeling the RME, the CSGC hydrogel has the potential to disrupt the detrimental cycle of cross-interference between primary and secondary BRB injury, providing a promising therapeutic strategy for DR., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Objective: To investigate the age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) and temporal trends for hip, knee, hand, and other osteoarthritis (OA) at a global, continental, and national level., Design: The estimates and 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) for case number and ASPR of OA were derived from the Global Burden of Diseases Study (GBD) 2019. The joinpoint regression analysis was utilized to examine the temporal trends from 1990 to 2019., Results: In 2019, the global ASPR of hip, knee, hand, and other OA was 400.95 (95% UI: 312.77-499.41), 4375.95 (95% UI: 3793.04-5004.9), 1726.38 (95% UI: 1319.91-2254.85), and 745.62 (95% UI: 570.16-939.8). As for the ASPR of hip OA, hand OA, and other OA, Europe and America had higher rates than Asia and Africa, and Asia was second only to America in knee OA ASPRs. The period 1990-2019, the ASPR at global level dropped significantly for hand OA (AAPC = -0.4%, 95% CI: -0.47 to -0.34) and increased significantly for hip OA (AAPC = 0.43%, 95% CI: 0.39-0.46), knee OA (AAPC = 0.17%, 95% CI: 0.09-0.24) and other OA (AAPC = 0.16%, 95% CI: 0.15-0.17). Different continents, countries, and periods demonstrated significant changes., Conclusions: Globally, America has the highest OA burden and Asia has a higher knee OA burden. Appropriate prevention and control measures to reduce modifiable risk factors are needed to reduce the burden of OA., (© 2024 Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Purpose: Behçet's disease-associated uveitis (BDU) is a severe, recurrent inflammatory condition affecting the eye and is part of a systemic vasculitis with unknown etiology, making biomarker discovery essential for disease management. In this study, we intend to investigate potential urinary biomarkers to monitor the disease activity of BDU., Methods: Firstly, label-free data-dependent acquisition (DDA) and tandem mass tag (TMT)-labeled quantitative proteomics methods were used to profile the proteomes of urine from active and quiescent BDU patients, respectively. For further exploration, the remaining fifty urine samples were analyzed by a data-independent acquisition (DIA) quantitative proteomics method., Results: Twenty-nine and 21 differential proteins were identified in the same urine from BDU patients by label-free DDA and TMT-labeled analyses, respectively. Seventy-nine differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were significantly changed in other active BDU urine samples compared to those in quiescent BDU urine samples by IDA analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analyses revealed that the DEPs were associated with multiple functions, including the immune and neutrophil activation responses. Finally, seven proteins were identified as candidate biomarkers for BDU monitoring and recurrence prediction, namely, CD38, KCRB, DPP4, FUCA2, MTPN, S100A8 and S100A9., Conclusions: Our results showed that urine can be a good source of biomarkers for BDU. These dysregulated proteins provide potential urinary biomarkers for BDU activity monitoring and provide valuable clues for the analysis of the pathogenic mechanisms of BDU., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Air pollution is speculated to increase the risk of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Nevertheless, the results remain inconsistent and inconclusive. This study aimed to explore the association between ambient air pollution (AAP) and COVID-19 risks using a meta-analysis with meta-regression modelling., Methods: The inclusion criteria were: original studies quantifying the association using effect sizes and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs); time-series, cohort, ecological or case-crossover peer-reviewed studies in English. Exclusion criteria encompassed non-original studies, animal studies, and data with common errors. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Google Scholar electronic databases were systemically searched for eligible literature, up to 31, March 2023. The risk of bias (ROB) was assessed following the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality parameters. A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled risk ratios (RRs) and their 95 % CIs., Results: A total of 58 studies, between 2020 and 2023, met the inclusion criteria. The global representation was skewed, with major contributions from the USA (24.1 %) and China (22.4 %). The distribution included studies on short-term (43.1 %) and long-term (56.9 %) air pollution exposure. Ecological studies constituted 51.7 %, time-series-27.6 %, cohorts-17.2 %, and case crossover-3.4 %. ROB assessment showed low (86.2 %) and moderate (13.8 %) risk. The COVID-19 incidences increased with a 10 μg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 [RR = 4.9045; 95 % CI (4.1548-5.7895)], PM 10 [RR = 2.9427: (2.2290-3.8850)], NO 2 [RR = 3.2750: (3.1420-3.4136)], SO 2 [RR = 3.3400: (2.7931-3.9940)], CO [RR = 2.6244: (2.5208-2.7322)] and O 3 [RR = 2.4008: (2.1859-2.6368)] concentrations. A 10 μg/m 3 increase in concentrations of PM 2.5 [RR = 3.0418: (2.7344-3.3838)], PM 10 [RR = 2.6202: (2.1602-3.1781)], NO 2 [RR = 3.2226: (2.1411-4.8504)], CO [RR = 1.8021 (0.8045-4.0370)] and O 3 [RR = 2.3270 (1.5906-3.4045)] was significantly associated with COVID-19 mortality. Stratified analysis showed that study design, exposure period, and country influenced exposure-response associations. Meta-regression model indicated significant predictors for air pollution-COVID-19 incidence associations., Conclusion: The study, while robust, lacks causality demonstration and focuses only on the USA and China, limiting its generalizability. Regardless, the study provides a strong evidence base for air pollution-COVID-19-risks associations, offering valuable insights for intervention measures for COVID-19., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Purpose: To develop a more tailored immunomodulatory treatment (IMT) strategy based on a novel 2-arm risk stratification system in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) patients., Design: A retrospective clinical cohort study., Methods: Seventy-nine VKH patients in the acute stage were stratified into low- (n = 58) and high-risk (n = 21) groups based on their exposure to risk factors. They were treated with oral glucocorticoids (GCs) plus as-needed (PRN) or first-line IMT. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), sunset glow fundus (SGF) occurrence, relapse rate, and systemic adverse events were evaluated during follow-up., Results: Compared with the low-risk group, the high-risk group showed poorer BCVA at baseline (estimated difference 0.51, 95% CI 0.30-0.78; P < .001) and 6-month follow-up (estimated difference 0.08, 95% CI 0.00-0.08; P = .006), higher incidence of SGF at 12 months (52% vs 28%; RR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.4; P = .040), and higher relapse rate at 6 months (24% vs 5%; RR 4.6, 95% CI 1.2-17.5; P = .028) and 12 months (52% vs 12%; RR 4.4, 95% CI 1.9-9.7; P < .001). In the low-risk cohort, no significant difference between the 2 IMT strategies was observed in primary outcomes. In the high-risk cohort, patients with the immediate IMT showed better BCVA (estimated difference -0.20, 95% CI -0.3 to -0.08; P = .007), lower incidence of SGF (27% vs 80%; RR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.9; P = .030), and lower relapse rate (27% vs 80%; RR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.9; P = .030) compared with the PRN regimen. Moreover, the immediate IMT regimen had a higher frequency of systemic adverse events than the PRN regimen (47% vs 7%; RR 7.1, 95% CI 2.5-20.4; P < .001)., Conclusions: High-risk stratification at baseline was associated with poor prognosis. The immediate IMT regimen was only beneficial for high-risk VKH patients regarding visual outcome, SGF, and relapse rate. This study suggests a potential need for a customized IMT strategy for VKH patients., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Phase-change droplets (PCDs) are intelligent responsive micro and nanomaterials developed based on micro/nano bubbles. Subject to external energy inputs such as temperature and ultrasound, the core substance, perfluorocarbon (PFC), undergoes a phase transition from liquid to gas. This transformation precipitates alterations in the PCDs' structure, size, ultrasound imaging capabilities, drug delivery efficiency, and other pertinent characteristics. This gives them the ability to exhibit "intelligent responses". This study utilized lipids as the membrane shell material and perfluorohexane (PFH) as the core to prepare lipid phase-change droplets. Superparamagnetic nanoparticles (PEG-functionalized Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles) and the anti-tumor drug curcumin (Cur) were loaded into the membrane shell, forming magnetic drug-loaded phase-change droplets (Fe-Cur-NDs). These nanoscale phase-change droplets exhibited excellent magnetic resonance/ultrasound imaging capabilities and thermal/ultrasound-mediated drug release. The Fe-Cur-NDs showed excellent anti-tumor efficacy for the MCF-7 cells under low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) guidance in vitro . Therefore, Fe-Cur-NDs represent a promising smart responsive theranostic integrated micro/nano drug delivery system., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Chen, Zhao, Liu, Wang, Ma, Zhang, Xu, Hu and Duan.)

To evaluate the impact of CO2 fractional laser combined with recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) gel on skin barrier in acne scar patients. In a retrospective analysis, we examined 105 acne scar patients admitted between July 2018 and August 2021. Of these, 51 received only CO2 fractional laser (control group), while 54 underwent a combination of CO2 fractional laser and rhEGF gel (observation group). We assessed treatment efficacy, symptom relief, skin barrier parameters, pre- and posttreatment inflammatory factors, adverse reactions, posttreatment quality of life, and patient satisfaction. The observation group exhibited a higher overall response rate, significantly shorter wound healing, scab formation, and scab detachment times. Additionally, this group showed increased stratum corneum water content, decreased pH, and transdermal water loss (TEWL), and reduced hypersensitive C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 expression posttreatment. Quality of life scores were higher, with fewer adverse reactions and greater treatment satisfaction. Combining CO2 fractional laser with rhEGF gel markedly improves acne scar treatment efficacy, enhances skin barrier function, reduces inflammation, and elevates quality of life. Its safety profile supports its broader clinical adoption., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Short-term exposure to air pollution may trigger symptoms of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) through stimulating lung tissue, damaging tracheobronchial mucosa, the key anti-mycobacterium T cell immune function, and production and release of inflammatory cytokines., Objective: To investigate the association between acute exacerbations of DR-TB and short-term residential exposure to air pollutants (PM 10 , PM 2.5 , SO 2 , NO 2 , CO and O 3 ) based on a large prospective cohort in Anhui Province, China., Method: Patients were derived from a prospective cohort study of DR-TB in Anhui Province. All DR-TB patients underwent drug-susceptibility testing and prefecture-level reference laboratories confirmed their microbiologies. The case-crossover design was performed to evaluate the association between the risk of acute exacerbations of DR-TB and short-term residential exposure to air pollution., Results: Short-term NO 2 exposure was significantly related to an elevated risk of first-time outpatient visit due to acute exacerbations of DR-TB(relative risk:1.159, 95% confidence interval:1.011 ~ 1.329). Stratification analyses revealed that the relationship between the risk of acute exacerbations and NO 2 exposure was stronger in the elderly (age ≥ 65) DR-TB patients, and in individuals with a history of TB treatment., Conclusions: NO 2 Exposure was significantly associated with an elevated risk of acute exacerbation of DR-TB in Anhui Province, China., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The effects of heavy metal exposure on immunological function have sparked widespread concern, but unequivocal evidence on the association between mixed metal exposure and novel systemic inflammatory indexes remains scarce., Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the associations of heavy metals with two novel systemic inflammation indexes and the mediated effects of serum albumin., Methods: Nineteen metals were detected among 4082 U.S. adults based on the NHANES. A linear regression, restricted cubic splines (RCS) regression, weighted quantile sum (WQS), Quantile-based Gcomputation (qgcomp), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were conducted to evaluate the associations of single metal and mixed metals with systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) levels, respectively. A series of subgroup analyses were used to identify potentially vulnerable populations. Furthermore, we conducted mediation analyses to investigate the mediated effects of serum albumin on the associations of metals with SII and SIRI., Results: In the single-exposure model, exposure to various metals such as urinary Co, As, and serum Zn, Cu was associated with SII and SIRI (P FDR <0.05). Simultaneously, the above metals were linear positively correlated with SII and SIRI. Mixed-exposure analyses consistently showed that overall mixed urinary metal levels were positively pertinent for SII and SIRI levels, and the metal Co played a significant role in the urinary metal mixtures. Subgroup analyses showed that exposure to urinary Cd in men and elderly people increased SII and SIRI levels. The results of mediation analyses suggested the association of urinary metal mixture with SII and SIRI was mediated by albumin, and the proportion of mediation was 14.45% and 9.49%, respectively., Conclusions: Our findings suggested that metal exposure is strongly associated with the levels of system inflammation indexes and that serum albumin is, in part, a mediator of this association., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study aimed to examine rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk associated with hormonal and reproductive factors in women from the large cohort of the UK Biobank., Methods: Data on hormonal and reproductive factors in women were collected from a prospective cohort of 223 526 UK Biobank participants. The potential relationship between reproductive factors and RA risk was assessed using restricted cubic spline. Hazard ratios (HR) were estimated using Cox proportional hazard regressions., Results: During a median follow-up of 12.39 years, 3313 women with RA were identified. Age at menarche >14 years was associated with a greater RA risk (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.26) compared with menarche at 13. The multiple adjusted HR for RA in women with menopause at <45 years was 1.46. Reproductive years <33 increased the risk of RA (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.59). Compared with those with 2 children, women with ≥4 children were associated with a higher risk of RA (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.34). Women who had a hysterectomy (HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.56) or oophorectomy (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.35) had a higher risk of RA than those without a hysterectomy or oophorectomy. Both hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.35 to 1.57) and HRT duration (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.03) were associated with a higher risk of RA., Conclusions: Some hormonal and reproductive factors were associated with a higher risk of RA. Hormonal and reproductive factors should be considered in risk assessment and formulating management plans in female patients with RA., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNA molecules that bind to mRNAs to regulate gene expression. Since changes in miRNA expression levels have been found in a variety of autoimmune illnesses, miRNAs are important in autoimmune diseases. MiRNAs serve not only as pathogenic factors and biomarkers for autoimmune diseases but also as important targets for disease therapeutics. Although miRNA-based treatments are still in the research stage, in-depth investigations into the biological functions of miRNAs have significantly enhanced our understanding of their mechanisms in autoimmune diseases. The purpose of this review is to summarize the biological functions of miRNAs, their roles in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, therapeutic strategies, and challenges., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)