miRNAs Influence m6A RNA Methylation through FTO and IGF2BP2 in Pressure Overload-Induced Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: N6-adenosine methylation (m6A) is a prevalent RNA modification associated with heart failure, alongside aberrant miRNA expression. Despite indications of miRNAs regulating m6A modification, their specific influence on m6A in heart failure remains unclear. METHODS: The initial analysis utilized transcriptome and methylation sequencing data from GSE131296 in mice to identify key m6A methylation enzymes in heart failure and construct an associated network. Integration of miRNA sequencing data from GSE231700 revealed miRNAs influencing m6A methylation enzymes, contributing to the formation of a comprehensive network. Furthermore, differential miRNA levels in human serum were assessed via qPCR, and the expression of m6A methyltransferases in the heart was confirmed using proteomic databases. RESULTS: In pressure overload-induced heart failure mice, 217 mRNAs showed differential expression, with FTO and IGF2BP2 identified as m6A methylation enzymes. Subsequent methylation sequencing revealed 884 highly-methylated and 178 lowly-methylated peaks, establishing a network linking Fto and Igf2bp2 with these peaks. Additionally, miRNA sequencing identified 156 differentially expressed miRNAs, including let-7b-5p and miR-23b-3p, predicted as m6Aregulating miRNAs, both elevated in heart failure patients. CONCLUSION: miR-23b-3p and let-7b-5p are identified as potential regulators of RNA methylation in heart failure, acting via FTO and IGF2BP2, offering new insights into the role of miRNA-mediated RNA methylation and its potential therapeutic avenues for heart failure.

The efficacy of bandage contact lens in relieving the aggravation of dry eye disease after complicated cataract or/and IOL surgery.

PURPOSE: In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the bandage contact lens (BCLs) in the treatment of dry eye disease (DED) after complicated cataract or/and intraocular lens (IOL) surgery. METHODS: In this retrospective, single-centered, observational study, we collected data from 69 patients who underwent complicated cataract or/and IOL surgery. Of these, 35 cases wore their own BCLs immediately after the operation, while the other 34 cases did not have their own BCLs and were instead covered with gauze. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, slit-lamp microscope examination, keratograph analysis, and Schirmer I test were measured at baseline, 1 week and 1 month postoperatively. RESULTS: In the BCL group, the score of the OSDI questionnaire was significantly decreased at 1 week and 1 month postoperatively compared with baseline levels (P = 0.000, collectively). Moreover, the fluorescein staining score of the BCL group was remarkably decreased 1-week and 1-month postoperatively compared with the non-BCL group (P = 0.000 and P = 0.000, respectively). Furthermore, the redness score of the BCL group was also better compared with the non-BCL group at 1 week and 1 month postoperatively (P = 0.014 and P = 0.004, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Complicated cataract or/and IOL surgery would intensify the DED. Early application of BCLs postoperatively improved patients' comfort and alleviated dry eye-related symptoms and signs. Furthermore, this mechanism might involve the acceleration of corneal epithelial healing, the alleviation of ocular stress response and the stabilization of the tear film. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration ClinicalTrials, NCT04120389. Registered 10 October 2019-retrospectively registered.

Axitinib targets cardiac fibrosis in pressure overload-induced heart failure through VEGFA-KDR pathway.

Background: There are no specific clinical medications that target cardiac fibrosis in heart failure (HF). Recent studies have shown that tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) may benefit fibrosis in various organs. However, there is limited research on their application in cardiac fibrosis. Axitinib, an FDA-approved tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was used to evaluate its effects on cardiac fibrosis and function in pressure overload-induced heart failure. Methods: To build a pharmacological network, the pharmacological targets of axitinib were first retrieved from databases and coupled with key heart failure gene molecules for analysis and prediction. To validate the results outlined above, 8-week-old male C57BL/6 J mice were orally administrated of axitinib (30 mg/kg) daily for 8 weeks after Transverse Aortic Constriction (TAC) surgery. Mouse cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts were used as cell lines to test the function and mechanism of axitinib. Results: We found that the pharmacological targets of axitinib could form a pharmacological network with key genes involved in heart failure. The VEGFA-KDR pathway was found to be closely related to the differential gene expression of human heart-derived primary cardiomyocyte cell lines treated with axitinib, based on analysis of the publicly available dataset. The outcomes of animal experiments demonstrated that axitinib therapy greatly reduced cardiac fibrosis and improved TAC-induced cardiac dysfunction. Further research has shown that the expression of transforming growth factor-ß(TGF-ß) and other fibrosis genes was significantly reduced in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion: Our study provides evidence for the repurposing of axitinib to combat cardiac fibrosis, and offers new insights into the treatment of patients with HF.

Hypersensitive C-reactive protein as a potential indicator for predicting left ventricular hypertrophy in elderly community-dwelling patients with hypertension.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in elderly community-dwelling patients with hypertension. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving the recruitment of 365 elderly hypertensive residents ≥ 65 years of age from five communities. The participants were divided into two groups: an LVH group (n = 134) and a non-LVH group (n = 231), based on the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) determined by echocardiography. Spearman correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between hs-CRP and LVH. Univariate and Multivariate analysis was performed to detect variables associated with LVH. The diagnostic value of hs-CRP for LVH was expressed as the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: The incidence of LVH in elderly hypertension patients in the community was 36.7%. The hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in subjects with LVH compared to those without LVH (1.9 [0.8, 2.9] vs. 0.7 [0.4, 1.4], P = 0.002). Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between hs-CRP and LVMI (r = 0.246, P < 0.001), as well as with IVST (r = 0.225, P < 0.001) and LVPWT (r = 0.172, P = 0.001). Among elderly hypertensive residents in the community, the cut-off value of hs-CRP for diagnosing LVH was 1.25 mg/L (sensitivity: 57.5%; specificity: 78.4%), and the area under the ROC curve for hs-CRP to predict LVH was 0.710 (95%CI: 0.654-0.766; P < 0.001). In the final model, hs-CRP ≥ 1.25 mg/L (OR = 3.569; 95%CI, 2.153-5.916; P<0.001) emerged as an independent risk factor for LVH. This association remained significant even after adjusting for various confounding factors (adjusted OR = 3.964; 95%CI, 2.323-6.765; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This community-based cohort of elderly hypertensive individuals demonstrates a strong association between hs-CRP levels and the presence of LVH. The hs-CRP ≥ 1.25 mg/L may serve as an independent predictor for LVH in hypertensive subjects and exhibit good diagnostic efficacy for LVH.

Genetically Determined Rheumatoid Arthritis May Not Affect Heart Failure: Insights from Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: Evidence from observational epidemiological studies indicated that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increased the risk of heart failure (HF). However, there is a possibility that the correlation is not explained as a causative role for RA in the pathogenesis of HF. A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) framework was designed to explore the potential etiological role of RA in HF to identify the target to improve the burden of HF disease. Methods: To assess the causal association between RA and HF, we analyzed summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) for individuals of European descent. Genetic instruments for RA were identified at a genome-wide significance threshold (p < 5 × 10-8). Corresponding data were obtained from a GWAS meta-analysis (95,524 cases and 1,270,968 controls) to identify genetic variants underlying HF. MR estimates were pooled using the inverse variance weighted method. Complementary analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the results. Results: There was no evidence of a causal association between genetically predicted RA and HF [odds ratio (OR), 1.00; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.99-1.02; P = 0.60]. Various sensitivity analyses suggested no pleiotropy detected (all p > 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings did not support the causal role of RA in the etiology of HF. As such, therapeutics targeted at the control of RA may have a lower likelihood of effectively controlling the occurrence of HF.

Reappraising the role of chronic inflammatory burden in heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome associated with poor quality of life, substantial utilization of health care resources, and premature mortality. It is now considered to be the most urgent unmet medical need in the field of cardiovascular disease. Accumulated evidence suggested that comorbidity-driven inflammation has emerged as a critical component of HF pathogenesis. Although anti-inflammatory therapies have increased in popularity, very few effective treatments are still available. A comprehensive understanding of the interplay between chronic inflammation and its impact on HF will facilitate the identification of future therapeutic targets. METHODS: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study was conducted to assess the association between genetic liability for chronic inflammation and HF. By analyzing functional annotations and enrichment data, we were able to identify common pathophysiological mechanisms. RESULTS: The present study did not provide evidence for chronic inflammation as the cause of HF and the reliability of the results was enhanced by the other three Mendelian randomization analysis methods. Functional annotations of genes and pathway enrichment analyses have indicated that chronic inflammation and HF share a common pathophysiology. CONCLUSIONS: The associations between chronic inflammation and cardiovascular disease from observational studies may be explained by shared risk factors and comorbidities rather than direct effects.

Prediction of postoperative visual acuity in patients with age-related cataracts using macular optical coherence tomography-based deep learning method.

Background: To predict postoperative visual acuity (VA) in patients with age-related cataracts using macular optical coherence tomography-based deep learning method. Methods: A total of 2,051 eyes from 2,051 patients with age-related cataracts were included. Preoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) images and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were collected. Five novel models (I, II, III, IV, and V) were proposed to predict postoperative BCVA. The dataset was randomly divided into a training (n = 1,231), validation (n = 410), and test set (n = 410). The performance of the models in predicting exact postoperative BCVA was evaluated using mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE). The performance of the models in predicting whether postoperative BCVA was improved by at least two lines in the visual chart (0.2LogMAR) was evaluated using precision, sensitivity, accuracy, F1 and area under curve (AUC). Results: Model V containing preoperative OCT images with horizontal and vertical B-scans, macular morphological feature indices, and preoperative BCVA had a better performance in predicting postoperative VA, with the lowest MAE (0.1250 and 0.1194LogMAR) and RMSE (0.2284 and 0.2362LogMAR), and the highest precision (90.7% and 91.7%), sensitivity (93.4% and 93.8%), accuracy (88% and 89%), F1 (92% and 92.7%) and AUCs (0.856 and 0.854) in the validation and test datasets, respectively. Conclusion: The model had a good performance in predicting postoperative VA, when the input information contained preoperative OCT scans, macular morphological feature indices, and preoperative BCVA. The preoperative BCVA and macular OCT indices were of great significance in predicting postoperative VA in patients with age-related cataracts.

Durability of Viscoelastic Fibre Prestressing in a Polymeric Composite.

Viscoelastic fibre prestressing (VFP) is a promising technique to counterbalance the potential thermal residual stress within a polymeric composite, offering superior mechanical benefits for structural engineering applications. It has been demonstrated that the time required for a desirable creep strain can be significantly reduced by implementing higher creep stress, while its long-term stability is still unknown. Here, we developed the prestress equivalence principle and investigated the durability of viscoelastic fibre prestressing within a composite in order to further enrich the prestress mechanisms. The effectiveness of the prestress equivalence principle was refined through Charpy impact testing of prestressed samples with various pre-strain levels. The durability was investigated by subjecting samples to both natural aging (up to 0.5 years) and accelerated aging (by using the time-temperature superposition principle). It is found that the prestress equivalence principle offers flexibility for viscoelastically prestressed polymeric matrix composite (VPPMC) technology; the impact benefits offered by VFP are still active after being accelerated aged to an equivalent of 20,000 years at 20 °C, inferring long-term reliability of VFP-generated fibre recovery within a polymeric composite. These findings demonstrated that both materials and energy consumption could be conserved for advanced composites. Therefore, they promote further steps of VPPMC technology toward potential industrial applications, especially for impact protection.

Appraising the Effects of Metabolic Traits on the Risk of Glaucoma: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Metabolic traits are associated with the risk of developing glaucoma in observational studies. To assess whether theses associations reflect causality, we conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) study. Our study included up to 20,906 glaucoma cases and 438,188 controls. Genetic instruments associated with the concerned 11 exposures at the genome-wide significance level were selected from corresponding genome-wide association studies. Summary-level data for glaucoma were obtained from the UK Biobank, the GERA study, and the FinnGen consortium. Univariable and multivariable MR analyses were conducted separately in two populations. Our results showed that higher genetic liability to type 2 diabetes (T2D) was causally and independently associated with an increased risk of glaucoma (odds ratio [OR], 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.16; p = 4.4 × 10-6). The association for T2D persisted after multivariable adjustment. In addition, higher genetically predicted systolic blood pressure (SBP), fasting glucose (FG), and HbA1c, were also suggestively associated with glaucoma risk. The OR was 1.08 (95% CI, 1.01-1.16; p = 0.035) for SBP, 1.24 (95% CI, 1.05-1.47; p = 0.011) for FG, and 1.28 (95% CI, 1.01-1.61; p = 0.039) for HbA1c. No evidence was observed to support the causal effects of body mass index and blood lipids for glaucoma. This study suggests a causal role for diabetes, as well as possible roles for higher SBP, FG, and HbA1c in the development of glaucoma. Further validation is needed to assess the potential of these risk factors as pharmacological targets for glaucoma prevention.

Effect of two different preoperative calculation schemes on visual outcomes of patients after toric intraocular lens implantation.

PURPOSE: To compare the postoperative visual outcomes of two different preoperative corneal incision schemes in TECNIS toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. METHODS: In this randomized controlled study, patients with preoperative corneal astigmatism greater than 1.0 diopter (D) were included. These patients were grouped according to the different preoperative schemes: steep-axis group and minimum-residual refractive astigmatism group. The outcome measurements were the residual refractive astigmatism, visual acuity, changes of corneal astigmatism, and high-order aberration at 1 month postoperatively. RESULTS: This study consisted of 90 eyes (45 eyes steep-axis group, 45 eyes minimum-residual refractive astigmatism group). 1 month after surgery, the refractive astigmatism was statistically lower in the minimum-residual refractive astigmatism group compared with the steep-axis group (0.58 ± 0.40D vs 0.38 ± 0.37D, P = 0.021). The minimum-residual refractive astigmatism group had a smaller difference vector (0.56 ± 0.38D vs 0.36 ± 0.35D; P = 0.047) and a smaller prediction error (0.60 ± 0.44D vs 0.37 ± 0.35D; P = 0.004). In the steep-axis group, corneal astigmatism significantly decreased compared with preoperative value (1.65 ± 0.57D vs 1.17 ± 0.64D; P < 0.001). In the minimum-residual refractive astigmatism group, the changes of corneal astigmatism before and after surgery were not significant. Moreover, total aberration and second astigmatism in ocular aberration were lower in the minimum-residual refractive astigmatism group compared with the steep-axis group (1.86 ± 1.09 vs 1.37 ± 0.95; P = 0.035 and 0.47 ± 0.28 vs 0.31 ± 0.19; P = 0.015, respectively). CONCLUSION: Minimum-residual refractive astigmatism incision had better astigmatism correction and more accurate prediction. The corneal astigmatism was stable 1 month after surgery. It might lead to better visual quality in the early postoperative stage. Trial registration number for prospectively registered trials: clinicaltrials.gov NCT04006912, 07/02/2019.

Efficacy of scleral-fixated 3-looped haptics intraocular lens implantation for surgical management of microspherophakia.

AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of scleral-fixated 3-looped haptics intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for surgical management of microspherophakia. METHODS: A retrospective case series include 10 microspherophakic patients (15 eyes) who underwent lens removal plus a modified surgical treatment of scleral-fixated 3-looped haptics IOL implantation. The primary outcomes involved visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP). Secondary outcomes were spherical equivalent (SE), anterior chamber depth (ACD), corneal endothelial cell density and postoperative complications. RESULTS: After a postoperative follow-up of 17.60±15.44mo, improved visual outcomes can be observed. The uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCVA) logMAR improved from 1.54±0.59 preoperatively to 0.51±0.35 postoperatively (P=0.001), and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) logMAR improved from 0.97±0.91 preoperatively to 0.24±0.23 postoperatively (P=0.003). Moreover, the SE decreased from -9.58±7.47D preoperatively to -0.65±2.21 D postoperatively (P<0.001). In terms of safety profile, the average IOP decreased from 21.10±12.94 mm Hg preoperatively to 14.03±3.57 mm Hg postoperatively (P=0.044), and the previously elevated IOP of three eyes decreased to the normal range. The ACD increased from 2.25±1.45 mm preoperatively to 3.35±0.39 mm postoperatively (P=0.017). The density of corneal endothelial cells did not change significantly after surgery (P=0.140). The posterior chamber IOLs were well centered and no severe complications were found. CONCLUSION: Lens removal plus the modified surgical treatment of scleral-fixated 3-looped haptics IOL implantation can help in improvement of visual acuity, which can be regarded as a relative safe method for the surgical management of microspherophakia.

Photoelectrochemical Sensors with Near-Infrared-Responsive Reduced Graphene Oxide and MoS2 for Quantification of Escherichia Coli O157:H7.

The photoelectric response is crucial for photocatalysis, having applications in solar cells and photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensors. In this study, we demonstrate improvements in the near-infrared (NIR)-light-driven PEC response via synergism between reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and MoS2. Intriguingly, rGO modulates the morphology of MoS2, facilitating carrier generation and migration, improving the PEC performance of the resultant rGO-MoS2 sheets (GMS), and yielding an approximately 8-fold increase in the photocurrent compared to that of the pure MoS2. Based on these findings, a NIR-responsive PEC immunosensing platform for the "turn-on" analysis of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on 980 nm light irradiation is reported. Specifically, the device is a three-dimensional magnetic screen-printed paper-based electrode assembled on a home-made PEC cell, and it enables integrated separation and detection. Using a sandwich-type immunocomplex bridged by E. coli O157:H7 and a GMS PEC probe, the immunosensing platform detected E. coli O157:H7 between 5.0 and 5.0 × 106 CFU mL-1, having an extremely low detection limit of 2.0 CFU mL-1. Further, the assay enables the direct analysis of E. coli O157:H7 in milk without the need for pretreatment. Our findings suggest directions for the development of NIR-responsive paper-based PEC materials for portable biomolecule sensing.

Polyvinyl alcohol/starch-based film incorporated with grape skin anthocyanins and metal-organic framework crystals for colorimetric monitoring of pork freshness.

An intelligent film for the visual monitoring of pork freshness was developed using degradable polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/starch (PS) to immobilize the chromogenic agent of anthocyanins and the volatile amine collector of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The indicative property of grape skin anthocyanins (GSAs) was verified using the UV-vis spectra, corresponding to multi-color changing in a pH range of 2-12. Interestingly, the introduction of MIL-101 crystals in the PS/GSAs film significantly increased the specific surface area (approximately 10 times) of the film, the superior volatile amine enrichment capability of MIL-101 enabling the film to detect freshness with a high degree of sensitivity. Moreover, the as-prepared film exhibited good antibacterial properties attributed to MIL-101, which help maintain the freshness of the pork. Owing to these advantages, the PS-GSAs/MIL-101 film was tested to real-timely monitor pork freshness in package, the results were further confirmed basis the total volatile basic nitrogen values.

Tacrolimus Loaded Cationic Liposomes for Dry Eye Treatment.

Eye drops are ophthalmic formulations routinely used to treat dry eye. However, the low ocular bioavailability is an obvious drawback of eye drops owing to short ocular retention time and weak permeability of the cornea. Herein, to improve the ocular bioavailability of eye drops, a cationic liposome eye drop was constructed and used to treat dry eye. Tacrolimus liposomes exhibit a diameter of around 300 nm and a surface charge of +30 mV. Cationic liposomes could interact with the anionic ocular surface, extending the ocular retention time and improving tacrolimus amount into the cornea. The cationic liposomes notably prolonged the ocular retention time of eye drops, leading to an increased tacrolimus concentration in the ocular surface. The tacrolimus liposomes were also demonstrated to reduce reactive oxygen species and dry eye-related inflammation factors. The use of drug-loaded cationic liposomes is a good formulation in the treatment of ocular disease; the improved ocular retention time and biocompatibility give tremendous scope for application in the treatment of ocular disease, with further work in the area recommended.

Inhibition of Neovascularization and Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Corneal Alkali Burns Using Cationic Liposomal Tacrolimus.

Eye drops account for more than 90% of commercialized ophthalmic drugs. However, eye drops have certain shortcomings, such as short precorneal retention time and weak corneal penetration. The requirement of frequent instillation of eye drops also causes poor patient compliance, which may lead to further aggravation of the disease. We aimed to develop a cationic liposome formulation to increase the bioavailability of the therapeutic agent and solve the aforementioned problems. In the present study, we prepared cationic liposomal tacrolimus (FK506) with a surface potential of approximately +30 mV, which could bind to the negatively charged mucin layer of the ocular surface. Our results showed that the content of FK506 in the cornea was increased by 93.77, 120.30, 14.24, and 20.36 times at 5, 30, 60, and 90 min, respectively, in the FK506 liposome group (0.2 mg/ml) compared with the free drug group (0.2 mg/ml). Moreover, FITC-labeled FK506 liposomes significantly prolonged the ocular surface retention time to 50 min after a single dose. In addition, the results of the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, live and dead cell assay, sodium fluorescein staining, and hematoxylin and eosin staining all indicated that FK506 liposomes had good biological compatibility in both human corneal epithelial cells and mouse eyeballs. Compared with the free drug at the same concentration, FK506 liposomes effectively inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor-induced green fluorescent protein-transduced human umbilical vein endothelial cell migration and tube formation in vitro. In a mouse corneal neovascularization model induced by alkali burns, FK506 liposomes (0.2 mg/ml) enhanced corneal epithelial recovery, inhibited corneal neovascularization, and reduced corneal inflammation, and its therapeutic effect was better than those of the commercial FK506 eye drops (1 mg/ml) and the free drug (0.2 mg/ml). Collectively, these results indicate that cationic FK506 liposomes could increase the efficacy of FK506 in the corneal neovascularization model. Therefore, cationic FK506 liposomes can be considered as a promising ocular drug delivery system.

Intellective and stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems in eyes.

Stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems have attracted widespread attention in recent years since they can control drug release in a spatiotemporal manner and can achieve tunable drug release according to patient's physiological or pathological condition. In this review, we briefly introduce the drug delivery barriers and drug delivery systems in the anterior and posterior segment of eyes, and collect the recent advances in stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems in eyes for controlled drug release in response to exogenous stimuli (ultrasound, magnetic stimulus, electrical stimulus, and light) or endogenous stimuli (enzyme, active oxygen species, temperature, ions, and pH). In addition, the design and mechanisms of the stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems have been summarized in this review, and the advantages and limitations are also briefly discussed.

Efficacy of bandage contact lens for the management of dry eye disease after cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of bandage contact lens (BCL) for the management of dry eye disease (DED) after cataract surgery. METHODS: A total of 120 patients (140 eyes) with age-related cataract and DED were enrolled in this study. Patients underwent standard micro-incision phacoemulsification surgeries and were divided into control or BCL groups. Slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination, Ocular Surface Disease Index, keratograph analysis and Schirmer I test were executed, and the levels of tear inflammatory molecules were detected. RESULTS: In the control group, the NIAvg-BUT and Schirmer I test scores were significantly decreased at 1 week post-operation compared with baseline levels (P = 0.035 and P = 0.009, respectively). In the BCL group, the NIF-BUT and Schemer I test scores were significantly improved at 1 month after operation compared with the control group (P = 0.012 and P < 0.001, respectively). Levels of IL-6, IL-8 and ICAM-1 were significantly increased in the control group at 1 month after the operation (P = 0.005, P = 0.038 and P = 0.022, respectively), while there was no difference in the BCL group. The increase in the IL-6 level in the control group was significantly higher compared with that in the BCL group (P = 0.047). In DED patients, there were significant correlations between ocular surface parameters and inflammatory molecules. CONCLUSIONS: Cataract surgery could lead to the development or worsening of DED. The application of BCLs after cataract surgery could stabilize the ocular surface and tear film, improve the corneal healing and reduce the inflammation. Collectively, our findings suggested that proper use of BCLs after cataract surgery played an effective role in the management of DED. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials, NCT04100031. Registered 18 September 2019-retrospectively registered.

Outcome, influence factor and development of CLS measurement in continuous IOP monitoring: A narrative review.

A large fluctuation in intraocular pressure (IOP) and a high peak IOP remain the risk factors for progressive visual field loss in patients with glaucoma, which is a leading cause of irreversible blindness. However, IOP measurements during working time cannot provide sufficient information on IOP to guide clinicians in setting IOP target values. Contact lenses are extensively used in ophthalmology to correct the refractive error, and recently, they are serving as platforms for detection and drug delivery. Contact lens sensor (CLS) is a feasible and promising approach to continuously monitor IOP, with superior tolerance, non-invasiveness, and without sleep disturbance. The present work reviewed the associations between progressive course and Triggerfish® CLS outputs as well as the relationship between treatments and Triggerfish® CLS outputs. Moreover, it further summarized state-of-the-art CLS devices of the past decade.

Alterations in the transmural gradient of ventricular repolarization with different pacing sites in normal and heart failure canines.

Alterations of the transmural gradient of repolarization may contribute to the increase of transmural dispersion of repolarization and ventricular arrhythmias. The transmural gradient of repolarization may play an important role in sudden death associated with left ventricular epicardial pacing. To investigate the changes of transmural gradient dispersion of ventricular repolarization with different pacing sites in heart failure (HF) canines, 8 mongrel dogs were randomized into healthy group and HF group (n = 4). We mapped the monophasic action potential duration (MAPD) in the subendocardial, subepicardial and mid-myocardial layers of the left ventricle (LV) in canines of healthy and HF groups during right atrium (RA) pacing, right ventricular apical endocardial (RVEndo) pacing, left ventricular lateral epicardial (LVEpi) pacing and biventricular (Biv) pacing respectively. The results showed that in the healthy group, the MAPDs were significantly different among the three layers during RA pacing (all P < 0.05). The MAPD was longer in the mid-myocardial layer compared with those in the subepicardial and subendocardial layers during RVEndo, LVEpi or Biv pacing (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in MAPD between the subendocardial and subepicardial layers during RVEndo, LVEpi or Biv pacing (P > 0.05). In the HF group, the MAPDs in all three layers were prolonged compared with those in the same locations in the healthy group (all P < 0.05). However, there were no differences in MAPD among the three layers during RA, RVEndo, LVEpi or Biv pacing (all P > 0.05). By MAP recording with our new mapping electrode, we found a transmural MAPD gradient among the three layers of the LV during RA pacing and the gradient between the subendocardial and subepicardial layers vanished during RVEndo, LVEpi or Biv pacing in healthy dogs. In contrast, there was no transmural MAPD gradient during RA, RVEndo, LVEpi or Biv pacing in HF dogs. These results are helpful to understand the mechanism of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with HF.