Maillard Reaction Inspired Microexplosion toward Fast Synthesis of Two-Dimensional Mesoporous Tin Oxides for Efficient Chemiresistive Gas Sensing.

Two-dimensional (2D) mesoporous transition metal oxides are highly desired in various applications, but their fast and low-cost synthesis remains a great challenge. Herein, a Maillard reaction inspired microexplosion approach is applied to rapidly synthesize ultrathin 2D mesoporous tin oxide (mSnO2). During the microexplosion between granular ammonia nitrate with melanoidin at high temperature, the organic species can be carbonized and expanded rapidly due to the instantaneous release of gases, thus producing ultrathin carbonaceous templates with rich functional groups to effectively anchor SnO2 nanoparticles on the surface. The subsequent removal of carbonaceous templates via calcination in air results in the formation of 2D mSnO2 due to the confinement effect of the templates. Pd nanoparticles are controllably deposited on the surface of 2D mSnO2 via in situ reduction, forming ultrathin 2D Pd/mSnO2 nanocomposites with thicknesses of 6-8 nm. Owing to the unique 2D mesoporous structure with rich oxygen defects and highly exposed metal-metal oxide interfaces, 2D Pd/mSnO2 exhibits excellent sensing performance toward acetone with high sensitivity, a short response time, and good selectivity under low working temperature (100 °C). This fast and convenient microexplosion synthesis strategy opens up the possibility of constructing 2D porous functional materials for various applications including high-performance gas sensors.

P3MOT-decorated metal-porphyrin-based zirconium-MOF for the efficient electrochemical detection of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde.

A novel hybrid composite integrating conductive poly-3-methoxythiophene and PCN-222(Fe) (porphyrin-metal-organic frameworks) was synthesized using an in situ polymerization strategy. Leveraging the large specific area of MOFs and the low electrical resistance of conductive polymers, the modified electrode proved to be a promising candidate for the electrochemical detection of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde. The electrocatalytic response was measured using differential pulse voltammetry techniques and cyclic voltammetry, where the linear concentration range of analyte detection was estimated to be 0-900 µM and the detection limit was 0.233 µM with high selectivity toward the analyte. The sensor demonstrated repeatability and stability, allowing the direct electroanalytical measurement of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde in real samples with reliable recovery. This methodology expands the application of porphyrin MOFs for the electroanalytical sensing of environmental contaminants.

Solvent-pair surfactants enabled assembly of clusters and copolymers towards programmed mesoporous metal oxides.

Organic-inorganic molecular assembly has led to numerous nano/mesostructured materials with fantastic properties, but it is dependent on and limited to the direct interaction between host organic structure-directing molecules and guest inorganic species. Here, we report a "solvent-pair surfactants" enabled assembly (SPEA) method to achieve a general synthesis of mesostructured materials requiring no direct host-guest interaction. Taking the synthesis of mesoporous metal oxides as an example, the dimethylformamide/water solvent pairs behave as surfactants and induce the formation of mesostructured polyoxometalates/copolymers nanocomposites, which can be converted into metal oxides. This SPEA method enables the synthesis of functional ordered mesoporous metal oxides with different pore sizes, structures, compositions and tailored pore-wall microenvironments that are difficult to access via conventional direct organic-inorganic assembly. Typically, nitrogen-doped mesoporous ε-WO3 with high specific surface area, uniform mesopores and stable framework is obtained and exhibits great application potentials such as gas sensing.

Potential contribution of the gut microbiota to the development of portal vein thrombosis in liver cirrhosis.

Background: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a serious complication of liver cirrhosis (LC) and is closely related to gut homeostasis. The study aimed to investigate the composition of gut microbiota and its putative role in PVT development in LC. Methods: 33 patients with LC admitted between January 2022 and December 2022 were enrolled in this study. Based on imaging findings, they were categorized into LC without PVT (n = 21) and LC with PVT (n = 12) groups. Fecal samples were collected from each participant and underwent 16S rDNA sequencing. Results: D-Dimer and platelet elevations were the main clinical features of LC with PVT. The alpha and beta diversity of the gut microbiota in LC with PVT group was found to be significantly higher compared to the control group. The structure of the gut microbiota was significantly different between the two groups. Based on LEfSe data, the genera Akkermansia, Eubacterium hallii group, Fusicatenibacter, and Anaerostipes were enriched in the LC with PVT, while Enterococcus, Weissella, Bacteroides, and Subdoligranulum were enriched in those of the LC subjects. Changes in microbiota structure result in significant differences in gut microbiota metabolism between the two groups. Altered levels of the microbiota genera were shown to be correlated with coagulation factor parameters. In animal experiments, the addition of Bacteroides reversed the CCl4-induced PVT. Conclusion: Liver cirrhosis with PVT led to a disorder in the gut microbiota, which was characterized by an increase in pathogenic bacteria and a decrease in beneficial bacteria. Furthermore, modulating the gut microbiota, especially Bacteroides, may be a promising therapeutic approach to reduce the progression of PVT in LC.

Initial experience of visualized biliary cannulation during ERCP.

BACKGROUND : Selective biliary cannulation is the most challenging step in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) because only indirect radiographic images can be obtained. Therefore, we developed a novel endoscopic retrograde direct cholangioscopy (ERDC) technology to facilitate visible biliary cannulation. METHODS : In this case series, we used ERDC to treat 21 patients with common bile duct stones who were enrolled consecutively between July 2022 and December 2022. The procedure details and complications were recorded, and all patients were followed up for 3 months after the procedure. The learning curve effect was analyzed by comparing the early and later cases. RESULTS : Biliary cannulation was successful in all patients, and the stones were removed completely. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) time for cholangioscopy-guided biliary cannulation was 240.0 (10.0-430.0) seconds, and the median (IQR) number of cannulation procedures was 2 (1-5). Despite there being one episode of post-ERCP pancreatitis, one of cholangitis, and three patients developing asymptomatic hyperamylasemia, all of the patients recovered after symptomatic treatment, being discharged and with no serious adverse events occurring during the 3-month follow-up period. Compared with the early cases, the number of intubations and the use of guidewire guidance decreased in later cases. CONCLUSION : Our research confirms that ERDC is a feasible technology for biliary cannulation under direct vision.

Metal-organic framework-derived trimetallic oxides with dual sensing functions for ethanol.

Metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived metal oxide semiconductors have recently received extensive attention in gas sensing applications due to their high porosity and three-dimensional architecture. Still, challenges remain for MOF-derived materials, including low-cost and facile synthetic methods, rational nanostructure design, and superior gas-sensing performances. Herein, a series of Fe-MIL-88B-derived trimetallic FeCoNi oxides (FCN-MOS) with a mesoporous structure were synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal reaction followed by calcination. The FCN-MOS system consists of three main phases: α-Fe2O3 (n-type), CoFe2O4, and NiFe2O4 (p-type), and the nanostructure and pore size can be controlled by altering the content of α-Fe2O3, CoFe2O4, and NiFe2O4. The sensors based on FCN-MOS exhibit a high response of 71.9, a good selectivity towards 100 ppm ethanol at 250 °C, and long-term stability up to 60 days. Additionally, the FCN-MOS-based sensors show a p-n transition gas sensing behavior with the alteration of the Fe/Co/Ni ratio.

Exosomal proteomics identifies RAB13 as a potential regulator of metastasis for HCC.

BACKGROUND: Exosomal proteins from cancer cells are becoming new biomarkers for cancer monitoring and efficacy evaluation. However, their biological function and molecular mechanism underlying tumor metastasis are largely unknown. METHODS: Bioinformatic methods such as bulk gene expression analysis, single-cell RNA sequencing data analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis were employed to identify metastasis-associated proteins. The in vitro and in vivo experiments were used to investigate the function of RAB13 in HCC metastasis. RESULTS: We identified RAB13 as one of the critical regulators of metastasis in HCC-derived exosomes for the first time. In vitro, the invasiveness of HCC cell lines could be attenuated by RAB13 silence. In vivo, tumor size and proportion of high-grade lung metastatic nodule could be reduced in the mice with orthotopic transplantation of tumors and intravenously injected with exosomes derived from MHCC97H cell with RAB13 silence (si-RAB13-Exo), as compared with those without RAB13 silence (si-NC-Exo). Moreover, in si-RAB13-Exo group, circulating tumor cell counts were decreased at the third, fourth, and fifth weeks after orthotopic transplantation of tumors, and MMP2 (matrix metalloproteinase 2)/TIMP2 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2) ratio was also significantly decreased. In addition, RAB13 expression was also associated with VEGF levels, microvessel density, and tube formation of vascular endothelial cells by both in vitro and in vivo models, indicating that RAB13 was associated with angiogenesis in HCC. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated exosomal RAB13 as a potential regulator of metastasis for HCC by in silico, in vitro, and in vivo methods, which greatly improve our understanding of the functional impact of exosomal proteins on HCC metastasis.

A clinically feasible circulating tumor cell sorting system for monitoring the progression of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hematogenous metastasis is essential for the progression of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and can occur even after patients receive multidisciplinary therapies, including immunotherapy and hepatectomy; circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are one of the dominant components of the metastatic cascade. However, the CTC capture efficiency for HCC is low due to the low sensitivity of the detection method. In this study, epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)/vimentin/Glypican-3 (GPC3) antibody-modified lipid magnetic spheres (LMS) were used to capture tumor cells with epithelial phenotype, mesenchymal phenotype and GPC3 phenotype, respectively, in order to capture more CTCs with a more comprehensive phenotype for monitoring tumor metastasis. RESULTS: The novel CTC detection system of Ep-LMS/Vi-LMS/GPC3-LMS was characterized by low toxicity, strong specificity (96.94%), high sensitivity (98.12%) and high capture efficiency (98.64%) in vitro. A sudden increase in CTC counts accompanied by the occurrence of lung metastasis was found in vivo, which was further validated by a clinical study. During follow-up, the rapid increase in CTCs predicted tumor progression in HCC patients. Additionally, genetic testing results showed common genetic alterations in primary tumors, CTCs and metastatic tissues. The proportion of patients predicted to benefit from immunotherapy with the CTC detection method was higher than that for the tissue detection method (76.47% vs. 41.18%, P = 0.037), guiding the application of clinical individualized therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The Ep-LMS/Vi-LMS/GPC3-LMS sequential CTC capture system is convenient and feasible for the clinical prediction of HCC progression. CTCs captured by this system could be used as a suitable alternative to HCC tissue detection in guiding immunotherapy, supporting the clinical application of CTC liquid biopsy.

One-Step Exfoliation Method for Plasmonic Activation of Large-Area 2D Crystals.

Advanced exfoliation techniques are crucial for exploring the intrinsic properties and applications of 2D materials. Though the recently discovered Au-enhanced exfoliation technique provides an effective strategy for the preparation of large-scale 2D crystals, the high cost of gold hinders this method from being widely adopted in industrial applications. In addition, direct Au contact could significantly quench photoluminescence (PL) emission in 2D semiconductors. It is therefore crucial to find alternative metals that can replace gold to achieve efficient exfoliation of 2D materials. Here, the authors present a one-step Ag-assisted method that can efficiently exfoliate many large-area 2D monolayers, where the yield ratio is comparable to Au-enhanced exfoliation method. Differing from Au film, however, the surface roughness of as-prepared Ag films on SiO2 /Si substrate is much higher, which facilitates the generation of surface plasmons resulting from the nanostructures formed on the rough Ag surface. More interestingly, the strong coupling between 2D semiconductor crystals (e.g., MoS2 , MoSe2 ) and Ag film leads to a unique PL enhancement that has not been observed in other mechanical exfoliation techniques, which can be mainly attributed to enhanced light-matter interaction as a result of extended propagation of surface plasmonic polariton (SPP). This work provides a lower-cost and universal Ag-assisted exfoliation method, while at the same time offering enhanced SPP-matter interactions.

Sustainable, biocompatible, and mass-producible superwetting water caltrop shell biochars for emulsion separations.

The separation of oily wastewater, specifically emulsions, is a crucial global issue. Possible strategies for the efficient separation of emulsified oil/water mixtures through sustainable and environmentally friendly materials have recently drawn considerable attention. In our study, we prepared superwetting water caltrop shell biochar (WCSB) via a top-lit-updraft carbonization procedure. The as-prepared WCSB was characterized by superhydrophilicity, underwater superoleophobicity, underoil superhydrophilicity, and underoil water adsorption ability. Because of its superwetting properties, WCSB was used for the separation of both surfactant-stabilized oil-in-water emulsions (SOIWEs) and surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions (SWIOEs) with very high fluxes (up to 74,700 and 241,000 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 for SOIWE and SWIOE, respectively). The separation performances were excellent, with oil contents in all SOIWE filtrates lower than 10 ppm and oil purities in all SWIOE filtrates higher than 99.99 wt%. Moreover, WCSB was applied to separate dye-spiked emulsions. Due to their high emulsion separation ability, sustainability, good biocompatibility, and ease of mass production, the as-prepared WCSBs have notable potential for utilitarian applications.

Integrative Analysis Identifies Cell-Type-Specific Genes Within Tumor Microenvironment as Prognostic Indicators in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, but effective early detection and prognostication methods are lacking. Methods: The Cox regression model was built to stratify the HCC patients. The single-cell RNA sequencing data analysis and gene set enrichment analysis were employed to investigate the biological function of identified markers. PLCB1 gain- or loss-of-function experiments were performed, and obtained HCC samples were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry assay to validate the biological function of identified markers. Results: In this study, we developed a model using optimized markers for HCC recurrence prediction. Specifically, we screened out 8 genes through a series of data analyses, and built a multivariable Cox model based on their expression. The risk stratifications using the Eight-Gene Cox (EGC) model were closely associated with the recurrence-free survivals (RFS) in both training and three validation cohorts. We further demonstrated that this risk stratification could serve as an independent predictor in predicting HCC recurrence, and that the EGC model could outperform other models. Moreover, we also investigated the cell-type-specific expression patterns of the eight recurrence-related genes in tumor microenvironment using single-cell RNA sequencing data, and interpreted their functional roles from correlation and gene set enrichment analyses, in vitro and in vivo experiments. Particularly, PLCB1 and SLC22A7 were predominantly expressed in malignant cells, and they were predicted to promote angiogenesis and to help maintain normal metabolism in liver, respectively. In contrast, both FASLG and IL2RB were specifically expressed in T cells, and were highly correlated with T cell marker genes, suggesting that these two genes might assist in maintaining normal function of T cell-mediated immune response in tumor tissues. Conclusion: In conclusion, the EGC model and eight identified marker genes could not only facilitate the accurate prediction of HCC recurrence, but also improve our understanding of the mechanisms behind HCC recurrence.

A New Three-Dimensional Classification of Proximal Tibiofibular Fractures: A Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVES: To propose an updated definition of proximal tibia and fibula fracture (PTFF) and establish a three-dimensional (3D) structure-based classification of PTFF. METHODS: In total, 1358 adult patients (837 males and 521 females; 43.61 ± 15.13 years， 1364 affected knees) who were diagnosed with PTFF at the departments of orthopaedic surgery of four hospitals from January 2010 to December 2019 were enrolled. The new classification of PTFF, termed Wu classification, included three parts: classification of columns in the horizontal plane, regions in the frontal plane, and segments in the sagittal plane. All PTFFs were classified according to Schatzker, Luo, and Wu classification systems. Additionally, the incidence and characteristics of PTFFs were analyzed. RESULTS: The major internal structural fractures of PTFF were tibial plateau fracture (TPF) only (725, 53.15%), TPF and proximal fibular fracture (274, 20.09%), and isolated avulsion fracture of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) (189, 13.86%). Approximately a quarter of PTFF cases could not be classified using Schatzker or Luo classifications, but all PTFF cases could be classified using Wu classification. The most frequent PTFFs included all four columns in region IV, segment 2 (235, 17.23%); the posterolateral and posteromedial columns in region II, segment 2 (191, 14.00%); and the lateral and posterolateral columns in region IV, segment 2 (136, 9.97%). Isolated avulsion fracture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) was categorized as three injury types, most of which involved the lateral and medial columns in region II, segment 1 (40/63, 64%). More than 97% of cases of isolated fractures of the PCL involved the posterolateral and posteromedial columns in region II, segment 2. The most frequent combined avulsion fracture of the ACL and PCL included all four columns in region II, segment 2 (18/24, 75%). All of the isolated avulsion fractures of the ACL were located in segment 1, and all those of the PCL in segment 2. The most common type of isolated proximal fibular fracture involved the posterolateral column in region III, segment 2 (23/26, 88%). The most frequent combined TPF and proximal fibular fracture involved all four columns in region IV, segment 2 (107/274, 39.05%). CONCLUSIONS: All cases of PTFF could be classified by the new 3D Wu classification which should be beneficial for clinical diagnosis, guidance of treatment, statistical analysis, academic communication, and prognosis, and the most frequent PTFF involved all four columns in region IV, segment 2.

Multiple Omics Integration Reveals Key Circular RNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: HCC is one of the most common malignancies with an increasing incidence worldwide, especially in Asian countries. However, even though targeted cancer therapy drugs such as sorafenib and regorafenib are available, the overall outcome of HCC remains unsatisfactory. Thus, it is urgent to investigate the molecular mechanisms of HCC progression, so as to provide accurate diagnostic criteria and therapeutic targets. METHODS: RNA-seq data was used to identify and quantify circular RNAs (circRNAs). DESeq2 was used to identify the differentially expressed circRNAs. miRNA binding sites within circRNAs were identified by miRanda. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was conducted to predict the biological function of circRNAs. RESULTS: The differential expression analysis identified 107 upregulated and 95 downregulated circRNAs in HCC tissues. We observed that a differentially expressed circRNA (DE-circRNA), hsa_circ_0141900 was highly negatively correlated with its parental gene RAB1A (PCC < -0.6), which was also closely associated with mTOR signaling pathway. Moreover, we also constructed competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network to identify key circRNAs involved in HCC. Notably, hsa_circ_0002130 and hsa_circ_0008774 were highly correlated with the genes involved in gluconeogenesis and HNF3A pathway via the target genes, GOT2 and AR, suggesting that the two circRNAs might regulate these pathways, respectively. Survival analysis revealed that GOT2 was associated with favorable prognosis. Furthermore, high expression of hsa_circ_0002130 was found to inhibit tumor cell growth and promotes GOT2 expression. CONCLUSION: In summary, the circRNAs highlighted by the integrative analysis greatly improved our understanding of the underlying mechanism of circRNAs in HCC.

An Acoustic Meta-Skin Insulator.

Acoustic metamaterials with artificial microstructures are attractive to realize intriguing functions, including efficient waveguiding, which requires large impedance mismatches to realize total side reflection with negligible transmission and absorption. While large impedance mismatch can be readily realized in an air environment, acoustic waveguiding in an underwater environment remains elusive due to insufficient impedance mismatch of state-of-the-art metamaterials. Here, a superhydrophobic acoustic metasurface of microstructured poly(vinylidene fluoride) membrane, referred to as a "meta-skin" insulator, which is able to confine acoustic waves in an all-angle and wide spectrum range due to tremendous impedance mismatch at stable air/water interfaces, viz., the Cassie-Baxter state is demonstrated. By utilizing the meta-skin insulator with broadband and high throughput, orbital-angular-momentum multiplexing at a high spectral efficiency and binary coding along large-angle bending channels for bit-error-free acoustic data transmission in an underwater environment are demonstrated. Very different from optical and/or electrical cable communications, acoustic waves can be simply and effectively coupled into remote meta-skin acoustic fibers from free space, which is technologically significant for long-haul and anti-interference communication. This work can enlighten many fluidic applications based on efficient waveguiding, such as in vivo ultrasound medical treatment and imaging.

Exosomal circRNA-100338 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis via enhancing invasiveness and angiogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Exosomes play crucial roles in regulating the crosstalk between normal and cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment, and in regulating cancer proliferation, migration and invasion through their cargo molecules. METHODS: We analyzed the pro-invasiveness of exosomal circRNA-100,338 in HCC using the transwell invasion assay. The co-culture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and exosomes derived from HCC cell lines were used to evaluate the impact of HCC derived exosomes on HUVEC. Nude mice models were used to validate the findings in vitro. Clinically, quantitative RT-PCR was used to quantify the expression of serum exosomal circRNA-100,338 in HCC patients at both pre-surgery within one week and post-surgery within three weeks. RESULTS: We aim to investigate the pro-invasive role of exosomal circRNA-100,338 in HCC metastasis. We for the first time demonstrated that circRNA-100,338 was highly expressed in both highly metastatic HCC cells and their secreted exosomes. The transwell invasion assay showed that the overexpression or knockdown of exosomal circRNA-100,338 significantly enhanced or reduced the invasive abilities of HCC cells. Subsequently, in vitro and in vivo assays showed that exosomal circRNA-100,338 affected the cell proliferation, angiogenesis, permeability, and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation ability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and tumor metastasis. Furthermore, we also observed that the persistent high expression of exosomal circRNA-100,338 in serum of HCC patients who underwent curative hepatectomy may be a risk indicator of pulmonary metastasis and poor survival. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated that metastatic ability of HCC cells could be enhanced by transferring exosomal circRNA-100,338 to recipient HUVECs, which could affect proangiogenic activity by regulating angiogenesis.

Systematic analysis of gene expression profiles reveals prognostic stratification and underlying mechanisms for muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is originated in the muscle wall of the bladder, and is the ninth most common malignancy worldwide. However, there are no reliable, accurate and robust gene signatures for MIBC prognosis prediction, which is of the importance in assisting oncologists to make a more accurate evaluation in clinical practice. METHODS: This study used univariable and multivariable Cox regression models to select gene signatures and build risk prediction model, respectively. The t-test and fold change methods were used to perform the differential expression analysis. The hypergeometric test was used to test the enrichment of the differentially expressed genes in GO terms or KEGG pathways. RESULTS: In the present study, we identified three prognostic genes, KLK6, TNS1, and TRIM56, as the best subset of genes for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) risk prediction. The validation of this stratification method on two datasets demonstrated that the stratified patients exhibited significant difference in overall survival, and our stratification was superior to three other stratifications. Consistently, the high-risk group exhibited worse prognosis than low-risk group in samples with and without lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and radiation treatment. Moreover, the upregulated genes in high-risk MIBC were significantly enriched in several cancer-related pathways. Notably, PDGFRB, a receptor for platelet-derived growth factor of PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and TUBA1A were identified as two targets of multiple drugs. In addition, the angiogenesis-related genes, as well as two marker genes of M2 macrophage, CD163 and MRC1, were highly upregulated in high-risk MIBC. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this study investigated the underlying molecular mechanism and potential therapeutic targets associated with worse prognosis of high-risk MIBC, which could improve our understanding of progression of MIBC and provide new therapeutic strategies for the MIBC patients.

Phacoemulsification in eyes with corneal opacities after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty.

To evaluate the maneuverability and efficacy of phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in eyes with corneal opacities after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), twelve eyes of 12 patients with mild to moderate corneal opacities after DALK and coexisting cataracts were analyzed retrospectively. Phacoemulsification and IOL implantation assisted with anterior capsule staining, as well as non-invasive optical fiber illumination, were performed on all eyes. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were noted. Mean corrected distance visual acuity (logMAR) improved from 1.24±0.17 to 0.73±0.22. Post-phaco intraocular pressure was maintained between 13 to 20 mm Hg in all cases throughout the follow-up period. Mean endothelial cell density decreased from 2258.42±205.94 to 1906.25±174.23 cells/mm2. Phacoemulsification and IOL implantation are safe and valid in eyes with mild to moderate corneal opacities after DALK and coexisting cataracts when assisted with anterior capsule staining and non-invasive optical fiber illumination.

CircRNA-100338 Is Associated With mTOR Signaling Pathway and Poor Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite advances in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC, incidence, and mortality continue to rise. For accurate diagnosis and treatment of HCC, there is an urgent need to precisely understand the molecular mechanisms underlying HCC tumorigenesis and progression. Accumulating evidence showed that circRNAs, which are normally produced by scrambling of exons at the splicing process, are recognized as a novel class of endogenous noncoding RNA, which have microRNA sponging properties. In this study, we aim to investigate the circRNA-100338 mediated downstream pathway, and evaluate its association with clinicopathological parameters. Integrated analysis of circRNA-100338, miR-141-3p, and target genes revealed that RHEB, a key regulator in mTOR signaling pathway, was the target of miR-141-3p in hepatitis B-related HCC. CircRNA-100338 regulates the activity of mTOR signaling pathway in vitro. IHC analysis revealed that mTOR signaling pathway was more active in HCC tissues with elevated circRNA-100338 expression. These results indicated that circRNA-100338 could regulate mTOR signaling pathway through circRNA-100338/miR-141-3p/RHEB axis. Finally, correlation analysis of RHEB and EIF5 expression with clinicopathological parameters of HCC patients revealed that the circRNA-100338, RHEB, and EIF5 were indicators of poor prognosis in hepatitis B-related HCC. In conclusion, elevated circRNA-100338 activates mTOR signaling pathway in HCC via circRNA-100338/miR-141-3p/RHEB axis and associates with poor prognosis of hepatitis B-related HCC patients.