AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasonic cycloplasty(UCP)combined with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)+ panretinal photocoagulation(PRP)in the treatment of advanced neovascular glaucoma(NVG).METHODS: Retrospective study. A total of 45 patients(45 eyes)with advanced NVG who received surgery in our hospital from August 2020 to September 2022 were collected and divided into UCP+ anti-VEGF +PRP group(16 patients, 16 eyes), transscleral cyclophotocoagulation(TCP)+anti-VEGF+PRP group(20 patients, 20 eyes), UCP alone group(9 patients, 9 eyes). The intraocular pressure, pain scores, postoperative medication, effective rate, total success rate and the incidence of complications of the patients in the three groups were compared before surgery and at 1 d, 1 wk, 1 and 3 mo after surgery.RESULTS: There was no significant difference in preoperative intraocular pressure, pain scores and preoperative medication of patients in the three groups(all P>0.05). While there were statistical significance in the intraocular pressure and pain scores at 1 d, 1 wk, 1 and 3 mo after surgery(all P<0.01). The intraocular pressure of the UCP alone group(31.78±10.23 mmHg)was found to be higher than that of both the UCP+ anti-VEGF +PRP group(19.44±8.23 mmHg)and the TCP+ anti-VEGF +PRP group(20.80±10.27 mmHg)at 1 mo postoperatively(all P<0.017). The pain score of the TCP+ anti-VEGF +PRP group at 1 d and 1 wk postoperatively was higher than both the UCP+ anti-VEGF +PRP group and the UCP alone group(all P<0.017). The effective rates of UCP+ anti-VEGF +PRP group, TCP+ anti-VEGF +PRP group and UCP alone group were 81%(13/16), 75%(15/20)and 67%(6/9), respectively,(P=0.675), and the success rates were 69%(11/16), 50%(10/20), and 0(0/9), respectively(P=0.003). There was no significant difference in complications of patients in the three groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION: UCP combined with anti-VEGF +PRP and TCP combined with anti-VEGF +PRP showed comparable efficacy in reducing intraocular pressure in advanced NVG. UCP combined with anti-VEGF+PRP was more effective in relieving pain and with no serious complications in advanced NVG. UCP alone can effectively control intraocular pressure and alleviate the pain of patients in the early postoperative period, but long-term control still requires anti-VEGF+PRP.

Objective To investigate ecological isolation between Oncomelania hupensis snail populations in hilly regions and marshland and lake regions in Yuanjiang valley, Changde City, Hunan Province, and to unravel its underlying mechanisms. Methods Taoyuan County, Shimen County, Linli County and Lixian County in Changde City were selected as snail sampling sites in hilly regions, and Lixian County, Jinshi City, West Lake Administration District, Hanshou County and Dingcheng District were selected as snail sampling sites in marshland and lake areas. Cytochrome C oxidase 1 (cox 1) gene was amplified in snail samples and sequenced. The genetic sequences of O. hupensis snails were aligned using the software MEGA 11, and the haplotypes of O. hupensis snails were determined using the software DNASP 5.10.01. The phylogenetic tree was generated using Bayesian inference with the software MrBayes 3.2, and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) was performed to analyze the source of genetic divergence and estimate the genetic divergence index (F_ST) among snail populations with the software Arlequin 3.5.2.2. The genetic barrier among 11 O. hupensis snail populations was estimated using the Monmonier algorithm of adegenet toolkit in R package. The settings with “land in winter and water in summer” in the Yuanjian River section were divided into two categories according to the upstream and downstream, and the areas with “land in winter and water in summer” in the upstream and downstream were transformed into raster data, and then loaded into the software Fragstats 4 for analysis of landscape indicators. The trends in changes of digital elevation were extracted from the Yuanjiang River section based on the digital elevation model, and made three-dimensional visualization using the R package. Results The mitochondrial cox 1 gene were amplified in 165 O. hupensis snais from 11 sampling sites and sequenced, and a total of 152 valid gene sequences were obtained, with 46 haplotypes or 9 populations determined. No haplotype was shared in snails between Taoyuan County and Dingcheng District and Hanshou County along the downstream of the Yuanjiang River. The total area of settings with “land in winter and water in summer” was 617.66 hm² in the upsteram of the Yuanjiang River, which consisted of 473 patches, with each patch measuring 1.31 hm², the largest area index of 0.735 2, the landscape division index of 0.999 9, and the landscape shape index of 45.293 7. The total area of settings with “land in winter and water in summer” was 9 956.92 hm² in the downstream of the Yuanjiang River, which consisted of 771 patches, with each patch measuring 12.91 hm², the largest area index of 97.839 9, the landscape division index of 0.042 7, and the landscape shape index of 7.249 6. The area of settings with “land in winter and water in summer” was much larger in the downstream than that in the upstream of the Yuanjiang River, and the stronger landscape connectivity and non-remarkable alteration of riverbed elevation provided suitable habitats for snail breeding. Conclusion The hydrological and environmental characteristics of the upstream of the Yuanjiang River restrain the breeding and spread of O. hupensis, resulting in ecological isolation between Oncomelania hupensis in Taoyuan County and those in the downstream of Yuanjiang River.

Objective:To investigate the effect of myopia on retinal vascular geometry in young subjects.Methods:A retrospective cross-sectional study. From June 2018 to December 2018, 235 participants (235 eyes) who took part in routine physical examination in Huadong Sanatorium were included. There were 94 males and 141 females; age was (34.89±6.15) years old; equivalent spherical refraction (SE) was (-3.78±3.25) D. 59 (25.11%, 59/235) were divided into high myopia group (SE≤-6.0 D), along with 131 (55.74%, 131/235) low to moderate myopia group (-0.5 D> SE>-6.0 D), and 45 (19.15%, 45/235) emmetropia group (0.5 D≥SE≥-0.5 D). Retinal vascular geometric measurements, including central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE), central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE), fractal dimension arteriole (FDa), fractal dimension venule (FDv), curvature tortuosity arteriole (CTORTa), curvature tortuosity venule, branch angle arteriole (BAa), branch angle venule, branch coefficient arteriole and branching coefficient venule, were extracted by using a validated computer program. One-way analysis of variance and analysis of covariance were performed to compare the measurements across the high myopia, low to moderate myopia, and emmetropia groups. Linear regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between SE and retinal vascular geometric parameters.Results:The differences in CRAE ( F=65.11), CRVE ( F=61.52), FDa (F=14.26), FDv ( F=8.31), CTORTa ( F=5.07) and BAa (F=6.51) among eys of high myopia group, low to moderate myopia group and emmetropia group remained significant ( P<0.05) after adjusting for age, glycosylated hemoglobin, mean arterial pressure, body mass index, and intraocular pressure. CRAE and CRVE were linearly correlated with the SE ( P<0.05). FDa, FDv, cTORTa and BAa decreased with the decrease of SE in high myopia ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Myopia is associated with the change of the retinal vascular geometric characteristics. With the deepening of myopia, the change of retinal vascular geometric characteristics gradually worsens.

As an important part of tumor microenvironment, neutrophils are poorly understood due to their spatiotemporal heterogeneity in tumorigenesis. Here we defined, at single-cell resolution, CD44-CXCR2- neutrophils as tumor-specific neutrophils (tsNeus) in both mouse and human gastric cancer (GC). We uncovered a Hippo regulon in neutrophils with unique YAP signature genes (e.g., ICAM1, CD14, EGR1) distinct from those identified in epithelial and/or cancer cells. Importantly, knockout of YAP/TAZ in neutrophils impaired their differentiation into CD54+ tsNeus and reduced their antitumor activity, leading to accelerated GC progression. Moreover, the relative amounts of CD54+ tsNeus were found to be negatively associated with GC progression and positively associated with patient survival. Interestingly, GC patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy had increased numbers of CD54+ tsNeus. Furthermore, pharmacologically enhancing YAP activity selectively activated neutrophils to suppress refractory GC, with no significant inflammation-related side effects. Thus, our work characterized tumor-specific neutrophils in GC and revealed an essential role of YAP/TAZ-CD54 axis in tsNeus, opening a new possibility to develop neutrophil-based antitumor therapeutics.
Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Neutrophils/pathology* ; Signal Transduction/genetics* ; YAP-Signaling Proteins ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Hyaluronan Receptors/genetics*

Objective:To investigate the association between skin advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and carotid atherosclerosis (AS) in subjects with normal glucose regulation (NGR).Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. Data from the Health Management Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology between January 2019 to June 2019 were collected. A total of 902 NGR subjects aged 40-79 were enrolled and categorized into control group (530 cases), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) thickening group (150 cases), and carotid atherosclerosis plaque group (222 cases) based on the carotid ultrasound results. Data as follows were collected, gender, age, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting blood glucose (FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA 1c) and skin AGEs. Comparison via ANOVA analysis were carried out among the 3 groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the independent influencing factors of carotid atherosclerosis plaque. Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between AGEs and other parameters, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the efficiency of skin AGEs in predicting carotid atherosclerosis plaque in NGR subjects. Results:Among the control group, IMT thickening group and carotid atherosclerosis plaque group, gender, age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), TC, LDL-C, FPG, HbA 1c, AGEs were significantly different (all P<0.05). Compared with IMT thickening group, the age, SBP and AGEs of carotid atherosclerotic plaque group were higher [55 (50, 60) vs 53 (49, 56) year; 132 (122, 141) vs 126 (115, 142) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa); 74 (67, 81) vs 72 (67, 78) AU] (all P<0.001); compared with the control group, age, LDL-C, HbA 1c and AGEs of IMT thickening group were higher [53 (49, 56) vs 48 (45, 52) year; (2.8±0.7) vs (2.7±0.7) mmol/L; 5.4% (5.2, 5.6)% vs 5.4% (5.1, 5.6)%; 72 (67, 78) vs 70 (66, 76)] (all P<0.05). Age ( OR=1.179, 95% CI: 1.107-1.255), SBP ( OR=1.045, 95% CI: 1.013-1.077), LDL-C ( OR=2.028, 95% CI: 1.036-3.969), AGEs ( OR=1.049, 95% CI: 1.000-1.100) were independent influencing factors of carotid atherosclerotic plaque in population with normal glucose regulated (all P<0.05). AGEs was positively correlated with age, HbA 1c and carotid atherosclerosis plaque ( r=0.407, 0.092, 0.172) (all P<0.01). The area under the ROC curve of skin AGEs for identifying carotid atherosclerotic plaque in NGR population was 0.650 (95% CI 0.601-0.698), the best cutoff value was 70.5, the sensitivity was 65.8%, and the specificity was 56.9%. Conclusion:Skin AGEs level is closely associated with the occurrence of carotid atherosclerosis in NGR subjects.

Background: The systemic immune inflammation index (SII) is a reproducible biomarker of inflammatory process. Aims: To explore the predictive value of SII for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods: A total of 406 patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) from Jan. 2013 to Dec. 2020 at Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University were collected, and were divided into SAP group and non SAP group. ROC curve was drawn to evaluate the value of SII, NLR, PLR, CAR for predicting SAP. Results: Compared with non‑SAP group, SII, NLR, PLR, CAR were significantly increased in SAP group (P<0.05). When the best cut‑off value was 1 705.83, AUC of SII for predicting SAP was 0.754, the sensitivity was 75.47%, and the specificity was 69.12%. AUC of SII for predicting SAP was higher than that of PLR, CAR (Z=2.647, P=0.007; Z= 2.616, P=0.008), while no significant difference was found between SII and NLR (P>0.05). And no significant difference in AUC was found between PLR and CAR (P>0.05). Conclusions: SII is a good new hematological index that can be used to predict the severity of AP, its predictive ability is similar to NLR, better than PLR and CAR.

To date, there is no report on the genetic diversity of ticks in these regions. A total of 370 representative ticks from the south and east regions of Kazakhstan (SERK) and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) were selected for molecular comparison. A fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene, ranging from 631 bp to 889 bp, was used to analyze genetic diversity among these ticks. Phylogenetic analyses indicated 7 tick species including Hyalomma asiaticum, Hyalomma detritum, Hyalomma anatolicum, Dermacentor marginatus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus turanicus and Haemaphysalis erinacei from the SERK clustered together with conspecific ticks from the XUAR. The network diagram of haplotypes showed that i) Hy. asiaticum from Almaty and Kyzylorda Oblasts together with that from Yuli County of XUAR constituted haplogroup H-2, and the lineage from Chimkent City of South Kazakhstan was newly evolved; and ii) the R. turanicus ticks sampled in Israel, Almaty, South Kazakhstan, Usu City, Ulugqat and Baicheng Counties of XUAR were derivated from an old lineage in Alataw City of XUAR. These findings indicate that: i) Hy. asiaticum, R. turanicus and Ha. erinacei shared genetic similarities between the SERK and XUAR; and ii) Hy. marginatum and D. reticulatus show differences in their evolution.

Tremendous efforts have been devoted to the enhancement of drug solubility using nanotechnologies, but few of them are capable to produce drug particles with sizes less than a few nanometers. This challenge has been addressed here by using biocompatible versatile -cyclodextrin (-CD) metal-organic framework (CD-MOF) large molecular cages in which azilsartan (AZL) was successfully confined producing clusters in the nanometer range. This strategy allowed to improve the bioavailability of AZL in Sprague-Dawley rats by 9.7-fold after loading into CD-MOF. The apparent solubility of AZL/CD-MOF was enhanced by 340-fold when compared to the pure drug. Based on molecular modeling, a dual molecular mechanism of nanoclusterization and complexation of AZL inside the CD-MOF cages was proposed, which was confirmed by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and synchrotron radiation-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (SR-FTIR) techniques. In a typical cage-like unit of CD-MOF, three molecules of AZL were included by the -CD pairs, whilst other three AZL molecules formed a nanocluster inside the 1.7 nm sized cavity surrounded by six -CDs. This research demonstrates a dual molecular mechanism of complexation and nanoclusterization in CD-MOF leading to significant improvement in the bioavailability of insoluble drugs.

Objective To explore the effects of the interfacial debonding caused by water environment in the mouth and the interfacial defects between the crown and cement on stress distributions in all-ceramic crowns. Methods The three-dimensional solid model of lithium disilicate CAD/CAM crowns for the first mandibular molar was established. Seven debonding states between inferior surface of the crown and top surface of the cement (Stage 1-7) as well as two interfacial defects (Case I and II) were defined in finite element software ABAQUS. The bottom of nine models was completely constrained. For stress calculation, the 600 N vertical load was applied at occlusal surface via an analytical rigid hemisphere with the diameter of 5 mm. Results Under occlusal vertical load, the stress on interior of the crown and top surface of the cement was mainly distributed at the boundary of the debonding areas and margin of the defects. The first principle stress on interior of the crown did not exceed its ultimate tensile strength, but the maximum tensile stress of the cement exceeded its ultimate tensile strength, leading to cohesive failure in the cement. Conclusions The axial wall played a critical role in maintaining the principal tensile stress of the crown at a lower level. The defects at bonding interface between the crown and cement had a more significantly impact on load capacity of the crown than the increase in debonding areas. In order to improve load bearing capacities of all-ceramic crowns, attention should be paid to avoid defects in clinical prosthodontic practices.

Objective To evaluate the cardiac hemodynamics and function before and after balloon pulmonary angioplasty ( BPA ) treatment in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension ( CTEPH) using echocardiography ,and to discuss the clinical value of the treatment . Methods A total of 36 CT EPH patients with medium‐high risk stratification underwent BPA during the period of September 2016 to January 2019 in Beijing Chao‐Yang Hospital ,Capital M edical University were recruited . T he following conventional echocardiographic parameters including right ventricular basal diameter ( RVD ) ,left ventricular basal diameter ( LVD) ,right atrial diameter ( RAD) ,left atrial diameter ( LAD) ,main pulmonary artery diameter ( DM PA ) , left ventricular eccentricity index ( LVEI ) , left ventricular ejection fraction ( LVEF) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure ( PASP ) were recorded .Echocardiographic parameters of right ventricular ( RV ) function including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion ( T APSE ) , right ventricular fractional area change ( RVFAC ) ,tissue Doppler – derived tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity ( S′) ,RV index of myocardial performance ( RIM P ) and right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain ( GLS) were measured . T he patients were divided into 2 groups according to the threshold value of postoperative SPAP of 50 mmHg (group Ⅰ :SPAP ≤ 50 mmHg ,group Ⅱ :SPAP＞50 mmHg) . Changes between each parameter before and after BPA were analyzed . Results ① T he frequency of BPA treatment for CT EPH patients ranged from 1 to 6 times . After BPA treatment ,SPAP decreased significantly ,and the measurements of RV function including T APSE ,RVFAC ,RIM P and GLS improved significantly ( all P ＜0 .05) . ②Patients in group Ⅰ showed significantly better RV function including T APSE ,RVFAC and GLS compared with group Ⅱ before BPA ( P ＜0 .05) . ③Univariate logistic regression showed that parameters of preoperative RV function T APSE , RVFAC and GLS had certain effects on the curative effect of interventional surgery . Conclusions Echocardiography can evaluate the hemodynamics and RV function in CT EPH patients with BPA .After BPA ,pulmonary artery pressure decreases and RV function improves to some extent ,suggesting that the treatment of BPA has certain clinical application and popularization value .