Improvement in signs and symptoms of severe dry eye disease after dual therapy with high-potency steroids and 0.05% cyclosporine.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of combining 0.05% cyclosporine A (CsA) with high-potency steroids for treating severe dry eye disease (DED). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective comparative case series included 93 patients treated with 0.05% CsA for severe DED. Among them, we included data from 54 eyes of 27 patients who received high-potency steroids in the study group and from 132 eyes of 66 patients who did not receive high-potency steroids in the control group. Data on demographic characteristics, comorbidities, medications and intraocular pressure (IOP) were recorded. The primary outcomes were changes in symptom and sign scores. The ocular surface disease index was used as the symptom score, whereas tear break-up time, Schirmer I test without anaesthesia, ocular surface staining scores and presence of meibomian gland dysfunction were considered as sign scores. Repeated one-way ANOVA and generalized linear mixed models were used to evaluate differences. RESULTS: In the control group, symptom scores decreased from 1 to 2 months and from 2 to 3 months after treatment (p = .002 and .049). In the high-potency steroid group, symptom scores improved during these intervals (p = .003 and .005). The sign score in the control group remained unchanged (all p > .05), while the high-potency steroid group exhibited progressive improvement in sign scores (all p < .05). The high-potency steroid group had more favourable symptom (p = .035) and sign (p < .001) scores than did the control group. However, multiple systemic diseases were associated with poor symptom (p = .025) and sign (p = .014) scores. The risks for glaucoma and cataract formation were similar between the two groups (all p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Dual therapy combining high-potency steroids and 0.05% CsA significantly improved the signs and symptoms of severe DED compared with 0.05% CsA monotherapy, without severe complications.

High-potency steroid plus CsA is more effective than CsA monotherapy in alleviating the signs and symptoms of DED.Dual therapy has acceptable safety particularly in terms of IOP and cataract risk.Dual therapy is a viable option for patients with severe DED without contraindications.

Rate control or rhythm control in patients with atrial fibrillation and acute coronary syndrome or percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Restoring and maintaining sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been studied in clinical trials to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. Limited data exist on the effectiveness of rate or rhythm control therapy in these patients. Methods: Consecutive patients with AF and ACS or referred for PCI were prospectively recruited in Fuwai Hospital during 2017-2020. The primary endpoints were all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), including cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, non-central nervous system embolism and ischemia-driven revascularization. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regressions were performed to evaluate the association between rhythm/rate control and subsequent outcomes. For the primary endpoints, we used the Benjamini-Hochberg correction for multiple comparisons. Results: A total of 1499 patients with AF and ACS or undergoing PCI were included, with a median follow-up of 34.7 months. Compared to non-rate control, rate control strategy reduced the risk of subsequent MACCEs (adjusted HR, 0.320; 95 % CI 0.220-0.466; p <0.001; *p <0.002) and all-cause death (adjusted HR, 0.148; 95 % CI 0.093-0.236; p <0.001; *p <0.002). Similar trends were observed across all predefined subgroups (p <0.001). In the final multivariate model, rhythm control was not associated with a lower subsequent MACCEs but significantly improved all-cause mortality compared to non-rhythm control (adjusted HR, 0.546; 95 % CI 0.313-0.951; p =0.033; *p =0.044). Conclusions: In this real-world study, rate control strategy was associated with lower risk of MACCEs and all-cause death in AF and ACS or undergoing PCI. Besides, management with rhythm control strategy may improve all-cause mortality.

Computationally designed mRNA-launched protein nanoparticle vaccines.

Both protein nanoparticle and mRNA vaccines were clinically de-risked during the COVID-19 pandemic1-6. These vaccine modalities have complementary strengths: antigen display on protein nanoparticles can enhance the magnitude, quality, and durability of antibody responses7-10, while mRNA vaccines can be rapidly manufactured11 and elicit antigen-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells12,13. Here we leverage a computationally designed icosahedral protein nanoparticle that was redesigned for optimal secretion from eukaryotic cells14 to develop an mRNA-launched nanoparticle vaccine for SARS-CoV-2. The nanoparticle, which displays 60 copies of a stabilized variant of the Wuhan-Hu-1 Spike receptor binding domain (RBD)15, formed monodisperse, antigenically intact assemblies upon secretion from transfected cells. An mRNA vaccine encoding the secreted RBD nanoparticle elicited 5- to 28-fold higher levels of neutralizing antibodies than an mRNA vaccine encoding membrane-anchored Spike, induced higher levels of CD8 T cells than the same immunogen when delivered as an adjuvanted protein nanoparticle, and protected mice from vaccine-matched and -mismatched SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Our data establish that delivering protein nanoparticle immunogens via mRNA vaccines can combine the benefits of each modality and, more broadly, highlight the utility of computational protein design in genetic immunization strategies.

Association of Sleep Patterns and Respiratory Disturbance Index with Physiological Parameters in Pediatric Patients with Self-Perceived Short Stature.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationships of sleep patterns and respiratory disturbance index (RDI) with key physiological parameters (height, body mass index (BMI), bone age (BA), and IGF-1 levels) in children aged 6 to 16 years with self-perceived short stature. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, conducted from October 2019 to November 2021, 238 children aged 6 to 16 years with self-perceived short stature were enrolled. The primary outcomes of sleep patterns and the RDI were non-invasively collected at home using the LARGAN Health AI-Tech Sleep Apnea and Sleep Quality Examination System, which operates based on polygraphy. Additionally, various physiological parameters, including height, BMI, bone age, and IGF-1 levels, were measured to assess their associations with sleep patterns and RDI. RESULTS: Significant age-related reductions were observed in both the total and deep sleep durations. Children aged 6-9 years averaged 8.5 ± 1.0 h of total sleep, which decreased to 8.1 ± 1.1 h in ages 10-11 and further to 7.5 ± 0.9 h in ages 12-16 (p < 0.0001). Deep sleep followed a similar pattern, decreasing from 4.4 ± 1.1 h in the youngest group to 3.3 ± 1.0 h in the oldest (p < 0.0001). Notably, girls experienced significantly longer deep sleep than boys, averaging 4.0 ± 1.2 h compared to 3.6 ± 1.2 h (p = 0.0153). In a multivariable regression analysis, age (beta = 4.89, p < 0.0001) and RDI (beta = -0.54, p = 0.0022) were significantly associated with body height. Age and deep sleep duration (beta = -0.02, p = 0.0371) were significantly associated with BMI. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate significant age-related decreases in the total and deep sleep duration among children with self-perceived short stature, along with a notable association between RDI and body height and an association between deep sleep duration and BMI. These findings suggest that sleep disturbances in pediatric endocrine patients are intricately linked with physiological growth parameters. The identified correlations underline the importance of monitoring sleep patterns in this demographic to better understand the impact of endocrine disorders on developmental health. Further research is needed to explore interventions that could alleviate these sleep disturbances, thereby potentially improving outcomes for the affected children.

Ultralow-Energy-Consumption Photosynaptic Transistor Utilizing Conjugated Polymers/Perovskite Quantum Dots Nanocomposites With Ligand Density Optimization.

The photosynaptic transistor stands as a promising contender for overcoming the von Neumann bottleneck in the realm of photo-communication. In this context, photonic synaptic transistors is developed through a straightforward solution process, employing an organic semiconducting polymer with pendant-naphthalene-containing side chains (PDPPNA) in combination with ligand-density-engineered CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dots (PQDs). This fabrication approach allows the devices to emulate fundamental synaptic behaviors, encompassing excitatory postsynaptic current, paired-pulse facilitation, the transition from short-to-long-term memory, and the concept of "learning experience." Notably, the phototransistor, incorporating the blend of the PDPPNA and CsPbBr3 PQDs washed with ethyl acetate, achieved an exceptional memory ratio of 104. Simultaneously, the same device exhibited an impressive paired-pulse facilitation ratio of 223% at a moderate operating voltage of -4 V and an extraordinarily low energy consumption of 0.215 aJ at an ultralow operating voltage of -0.1 mV. Consequently, these low-voltage synaptic devices, constructed with a pendant side-chain engineering of organic semiconductors and a ligand density engineering of PQDs through a simple fabrication process, exhibit substantial potential for replicating the visual memory capabilities of the human brain.

Corrigendum: Risk of primary Sjogren's Syndrome following human papillomavirus infections: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.967040.].

Long-term safety and efficacy of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in individuals with obesity and without type 2 diabetes: A global retrospective cohort study.

AIM: We aimed to investigate the long-term impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) on thyroid function, cardiovascular health, renal outcomes and adverse events in individuals with obesity and without type 2 diabetes (T2D). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this observational cohort study, we used propensity score matching to construct comparable cohorts of individuals with obesity and without T2D who were new to GLP-1 RA treatment and those who did not receive glucose-lowering medications. In total, 3,729,925 individuals with obesity were selected from the TriNetX Global Network, with an index event between 1 January 2016 and 31 March 2024. The primary outcomes were safety, cardiovascular, thyroid and clinical biochemical profile outcomes occurring within 5 years following the index event. RESULTS: After propensity score matching, the study included 12,123 individuals in each group. GLP-1 RA treatment was associated with a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 0.23; 95% confidence interval 0.15-0.34) and several cardiovascular complications, including ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, hypertension, stroke and atrial fibrillation (all p < 0.05). GLP-1 RAs were also associated with a lower risk of acute kidney injury and allergic reactions. These protective effects were consistent across various subgroups and regions. CONCLUSIONS: In this large observational study, GLP-1 RAs showed long-term protective effects on cardiovascular health, renal outcomes and adverse events in individuals with obesity and without T2D. Our findings suggest that GLP-1 RAs may offer a comprehensive approach to managing obesity and its related comorbidities, potentially improving overall health and survival in this population.

Single-Image-Based Deep Learning for Precise Atomic Defect Identification.

Defect engineering is widely used to impart the desired functionalities on materials. Despite the widespread application of atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), traditional methods for defect analysis are highly sensitive to random noise and human bias. While deep learning (DL) presents a viable alternative, it requires extensive amounts of training data with labeled ground truth. Herein, employing cycle generative adversarial networks (CycleGAN) and U-Nets, we propose a method based on a single experimental STEM image to tackle high annotation costs and image noise for defect detection. Not only atomic defects but also oxygen dopants in monolayer MoS2 are visualized. The method can be readily extended to other two-dimensional systems, as the training is based on unit-cell-level images. Therefore, our results outline novel ways to train the model with minimal data sets, offering great opportunities to fully exploit the power of DL in the materials science community.

Effectiveness of an Acupuncture Steam-Warming Eye Mask on Dry Eye Disease in Visual Display Terminal Users: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of an acupuncture steam-warming eye mask (ASEM) on dry eye disease (DED) in visual display terminal (VDT) users. This prospective randomized clinical trial included VDT users with DED-related features who were randomly assigned to the ASEM group (ASEM for 2 weeks, 20 participants) or the steam-warming eye mask (SEM) group (SEM for 2 weeks, 20 participants). The tear film break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test, tear meniscus height, ocular surface staining scores, eyelid and meibomian gland exam, subjective symptoms, and quality of life (QoL) scores before and after treatment were collected. A generalized linear mixed model was applied to compare the improvement of symptoms and signs between the two groups. After the 2-week treatment, all the subjective symptoms and questionnaire scores in the ASEM group improved significantly (all p < 0.05), whereas the feelings of relaxation, comfortable, and refreshment did not change in the SEM group (both p > 0.05). The TBUT, tear meniscus height, and meibum quality in the lower eyelid were significantly better in the ASEM group than the SEM group (all p < 0.05), whereas no significant changes were observed in the Schirmer test and ocular surface staining scores. Compared with the SEM group, the ASEM group experienced a stronger feeling of refreshment (p = 0.013), lower sensation of ocular discharge (p = 0.031), higher TBUT (p = 0.045), better meibomian gland expressibility of both eyelids (both p < 0.05), and better meibum quality of both eyelids (both p < 0.05), even after adjustments for age and sex. In conclusion, comparing with SEM, ASEM can improve some subjective DED symptoms, tear film stability, and meibum status in VDT users.

Van der Waals Electrides.

ConspectusElectrides make up a fascinating group of materials with unique physical and chemical properties. In these materials, excess electrons do not behave like normal electrons in metals or form any chemical bonds with atoms. Instead, they "float" freely in the gaps within the material's structure, acting like negatively charged particles called anions (see the graph). Recently, there has been a surge of interest in van der Waals (vdW) electrides or electrenes in two dimensions. A typical example is layered lanthanum bromide (LaBr2), which can be taken as [La3+(Br1-)2]+•(e-). Each excess free electron is trapped within a hexagonal pore, forming dense dots of electron density. These anionic electrons are loosely bound, giving vdW electrides some unique properties such as ferromagnetism, superconductivity, topological features, and Dirac plasmons. The high density of the free electron makes electrides very promising for applications in thermionic emission, organic light-emitting diodes, and high-performance catalysts.In this Account, we first discuss the discovery of numerous vdW electrides through high-throughput computational screening of over 67,000 known inorganic crystals in Materials Project. A dozen of them have been newly discovered and have not been reported before. Importantly, they possess completely different structural prototypes and properties of anionic electrons compared to widely studied electrides such as Ca2N. Finding these new vdW electrides expands the variety of electrides that can be made in the experiment and opens up new possibilities for studying their unique properties and applications.Then, based on the screened vdW electrides, we delve into their various emerging properties. For example, we developed a new magnetic mechanism specific to atomic-orbital-free ferromagnetism in electrides. We uncover the dual localized and extended nature of the anionic electrons in such electrides and demonstrate the formation of the local moment by the localized feature and the ferromagnetic interaction by the direct overlapping of their extended states. We further show the effective tuning of the magnetic properties of vdW electrides by engineering their structural, electronic, and compositional properties. Besides, we show that the complex interaction between the multiple quantum orderings in vdW electrides leads to many interesting properties including valley polarization, charge density waves, a topological property, a superconducting property, and a thermoelectrical property.Moreover, we discuss strategies to leverage the unique intrinsic properties of vdW electrides for practical applications. We show that these properties make vdW electrides potential candidates for advanced applications such as spin-orbit torque memory devices, valleytronic devices, K-ion batteries, and thermoelectricity. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and future perspectives for research using these emerging materials.

The association of depression and sleep disorders in patients with type 1 diabetes in Taiwan.

The association between depression and sleep disorders in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in Taiwan is underexplored. We used a nationwide population-based dataset to evaluate the association of T1DM with these conditions in Taiwan from 2001 to 2019. Patients with T1DM were identified as cases, and 2 control groups were used for comparison: patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and nondiabetic patients. Age, sex, date of diagnosis, and multiple comorbidities were included and matched using propensity score matching between cases and controls. The primary outcome of this study was to identify new occurrences of the first diagnosis of depression or sleep disorders. After matching, this study included 27,029 T1DM cases, 54,058 T2DM controls, and 108,116 nondiabetic controls. Patients with T1DM exhibited a 1.55-fold higher risk of developing depression (hazard ratio [HR] 1.55, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.48-1.61) and a 1.41-fold higher risk of experiencing sleep disorders (HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.37-1.46) compared to nondiabetic controls. Similarly, patients with T2DM displayed elevated risks of both depression (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.34-1.43) and sleep disorders (HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.37-1.44) relative to non-diabetic controls. When comparing the T1DM and T2DM groups, T1DM patients demonstrated a slightly higher risk of depression (HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.07-1.16) but no significant difference in the risk of sleep disorders compared to T2DM patients. These results were consistent regardless of different ages or sexes. This study demonstrates a significant association between diabetes mellitus and the risk of depression and sleep disorders in a large cohort of Taiwanese patients.

Chemical and structural transformations of lignin in sesame seed hull during roasting.

To investigate the mechanism of lignin degradation during sesame roasting, structural transformations of milled wood lignin (MWL) from sesame seed hull samples roasted at 190-250 °C for 30 min were investigated. The findings revealed that, with increasing temperature, the degradation extent of carbohydrates from lignin carbohydrate complex in the fractions deepened, which reduced total sugar content (from 8.59 % to 0.45 %). Compared to that of the original sesame seed hull lignin (LSSH), the molecular weight of MWL fractions showed a tendency to decline (Mw 4377-2235 Da) with the rise of roasting temperature (210-250 °C). During roasting, lignins in the sesame seed hull underwent degradation and condensation. Due to demethoxylation, the H-type lignin proportion increased from 2.7 % to 26.1 %. Compared to G- and C-type lignin, S-type lignin was more stable. The ß-O-4 linkages decreased from 5.8 to 1.2/100 Ar due to CO bond breaking, and ß-ß linkages from 26.3 to 9.6/100 Ar decreased due to condensation of CC. As the roasting temperature increased, more chemical bonds between lignin structural units were broken, resulting in the generation of more phenolic hydroxyl groups (1.80-2.53 mmol/g). This study helps to elucidate the contribution of lignin degradation during roasting to the oxidative stability of sesame oil.

Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Lymph node metastasis (LNM) significantly impacts the treatment and prognosis of early gastric cancer (EGC). Consequently, the precise prediction of LNM risk in EGC patients is essential to guide the selection of appropriate surgical approaches in clinical settings. AIM: To develop a novel nomogram risk model for predicting LNM in EGC patients, utilizing preoperative clinicopathological data. METHODS: Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the correlation between clinicopathological factors and LNM in EGC patients. Additionally, univariate Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to assess the influence of clinical factors on EGC prognosis. A predictive model in the form of a nomogram was developed, and its discrimination ability and calibration were also assessed. RESULTS: The incidence of LNM in the study cohort was 19.6%. Multivariate logistic regression identified tumor size, location, degree of differentiation, and pathological type as independent risk factors for LNM in EGC patients. Both tumor pathological type and LNM independently affected the prognosis of EGC. The model's performance was reflected by an area under the curve of 0.750 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.701-0.789] for the training group and 0.763 (95%CI: 0.687-0.838) for the validation group. CONCLUSION: A clinical prediction model was constructed (using tumor size, low differentiation, location in the middle-lower region, and signet ring cell carcinoma), with its score being a significant prognosis indicator.

The Efficiency, Predictability, and Safety of First-Generation (Visumax 500) and Second-Generation (Visumax 800) Keratorefractive Lenticule Extraction Surgeries: Real-World Experiences.

We aimed to evaluate the postoperative visual and refractive outcomes between the first- and second-generation keratorefractive lenticule extraction (KLEx) surgeries. A retrospective cohort study was conducted and patients who had received first- and second-generation KLEx surgeries were enrolled. A total of 80 and 80 eyes were categorized into the first and second KLEx groups after exclusion, respectively. The primary outcomes were the postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), spherical equivalent (SE), and safety indexes. An independent t-test and generalized estimate equation were implemented to compare the primary outcomes between the two groups. After the KLEx surgery, the UDVA showed no significant difference between the two groups throughout the study period (all p > 0.05), and the postoperative SE and safety index were also statistically identical between the two groups during the follow-up interval (all p > 0.05). There was a similar trend of visual recovery between the two groups (aOR: 0.967; 95% CI: 0.892-1.143; p = 0.844), while the amplitude of the SE change was significantly lower in the second KLEx group (aOR: 0.760; 95% CI: 0.615-0.837; p = 0.005). Nine and two unintended initial dissection of the posterior plane (UIDPP) occurred intraoperatively in the first and second KLEx groups, respectively, and the second group showed a lower risk of UIDPP (p = 0.032). In conclusion, the efficiency, predictability, and safety are similar between first- and second-generation KLEx surgeries.

The Preoperative Factors for the Undercorrection of Myopia in an Extend Depth-of-Focus Intraocular Lens: A Case-Control Study.

We aim to investigate the potential risk factors for undercorrection in those who have received extend depth-of-focus (EDOF) intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. A retrospective case-control study was conducted in which patients who had received one type of EDOF IOL implantation were included. The patients were divided into the residual group and non-residual group according to the final postoperative sphere power. The preoperative data include the refractive, topographic, endothelial, and biometric parameters obtained. A generalized linear model was generated to yield the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of each parameter of the residual myopia. One month postoperatively, the UDVA was better in the non-residual group than in the residual group (p = 0.010), and the final SE was significantly higher in the residual group than in the non-residual group (p < 0.001). In the multivariable analysis, the high preoperative cycloplegia sphere power, higher TCRP, higher corneal cylinder power, and longer AXL significantly correlated to the presence of postoperative residual myopia (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, the higher preoperative cycloplegia sphere power, higher TCRP, higher corneal cylinder power, longer AXL, larger ACD, and larger WTW were significantly associated with postoperative residual myopia in the high-myopia population (all p < 0.001), while the higher preoperative cycloplegia sphere power, higher TCRP, and longer AXL were related to postoperative residual myopia in the low-myopia population (all p < 0.05). In conclusion, high preoperative myopia and corneal refractive power correlate to high risk of residual myopia after EDOF IOL implantation, especially in the high-myopia population.

A simple and effective machine learning model for predicting the stability of intracranial aneurysms using CT angiography.

Background: It is vital to accurately and promptly distinguish unstable from stable intracranial aneurysms (IAs) to facilitate treatment optimization and avoid unnecessary treatment. The aim of this study is to develop a simple and effective predictive model for the clinical evaluation of the stability of IAs. Methods: In total, 1,053 patients with 1,239 IAs were randomly divided the dataset into training (70%) and internal validation (30%) datasets. One hundred and ninety seven patients with 229 IAs from another hospital were evaluated as an external validation dataset. The prediction models were developed using machine learning based on clinical information, manual parameters, and radiomic features. In addition, a simple model for predicting the stability of IAs was developed, and a nomogram was drawn for clinical use. Results: Fourteen machine learning models exhibited excellent classification performance. Logistic regression Model E (clinical information, manual parameters, and radiomic shape features) had the highest AUC of 0.963 (95% CI 0.943-0.980). Compared to manual parameters, radiomic features did not significantly improve the identification of unstable IAs. In the external validation dataset, the simplified model demonstrated excellent performance (AUC = 0.950) using only five manual parameters. Conclusion: Machine learning models have excellent potential in the classification of unstable IAs. The manual parameters from CTA images are sufficient for developing a simple and effective model for identifying unstable IAs.

The Degrees of Coronary Heart Disease and the Degrees of New-Onset Blepharitis: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between the severity of coronary heart disease (CHD) and the subsequent severity of blepharitis. This retrospective population-based cohort study was conducted using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan. The participants with a CHD diagnosis were divided into mild CHD and severe CHD groups at a 1:2 ratio, according to whether percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed. The main outcomes were the development of blepharitis and severe blepharitis with the application of antibiotics. Cox proportional hazard regression was performed to obtain the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for blepharitis, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) between the groups. There were 22,161 and 15,369 blepharitis events plus 9597 and 4500 severe blepharitis episodes in the mild and severe CHD groups, respectively. The severe CHD group showed a significantly higher incidence of blepharitis development (aHR, 1.275; 95% CI: 1.051-1.912, p = 0.0285), whereas the incidence of severe blepharitis was not significantly different between the groups (aHR, 0.981; 95% CI: 0.945-1.020, p = 0.3453). The cumulative probability of blepharitis was significantly higher in the severe CHD group than in the mild CHD group (p < 0.001). In the subgroup analyses, the correlation between severe CHD and blepharitis was more significant in patients older than 70 years compared to the younger group (p = 0.0115). In conclusion, severe CHD is associated with a higher incidence of blepharitis than mild CHD, and this correlation is more prominent in individuals older than 70 years.

Structure and exfoliation mechanism of two-dimensional boron nanosheets.

Exfoliation of two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets from three-dimensional (3D) non-layered, non-van der Waals crystals represents an emerging strategy for materials engineering that could significantly increase the library of 2D materials. Yet, the exfoliation mechanism in which nanosheets are derived from crystals that are not intrinsically layered remains unclear. Here, we show that planar defects in the starting 3D boron material promote the exfoliation of 2D boron sheets-by combining liquid-phase exfoliation, aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations. We demonstrate that 2D boron nanosheets consist of a planar arrangement of icosahedral sub-units cleaved along the {001} planes of ß-rhombohedral boron. Correspondingly, intrinsic stacking faults in 3D boron form parallel layers of faulted planes in the same orientation as the exfoliated nanosheets, reducing the {001} cleavage energy. Planar defects represent a potential engineerable pathway for exfoliating 2D sheets from 3D boron and, more broadly, the other covalently bonded materials.

Associations of fish oil with cardiovascular disease events: results from the Taiwan longitudinal study in aging.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of fish oil in preventing cardiovascular events is still debating. Some studies indicate a correlation between the use of fish oil supplements and reduced mortality or decreased incidence of stroke. However, other studies show no significant association between fish oil intake and stroke prevention, indicating an ongoing debate. This study aimed at exploring which subjects may benefit more from fish oil supplementation. METHODS: This study utilized the data obtained through face-to-face interview from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study in Aging (TLSA). A total of 3,652 participants were included from the 2003 baseline data, after excluding patients with pre-existing ischemic heart disease or stroke. Participants were divided into two groups based on whether taking fish oil supplement or not. Participants were followed until 2015, estimating and comparing the all-cause mortality and cumulative incidence rate of stroke between both groups. RESULTS: The results of the 12-year longitudinal study showed that the cumulative incidence rate of stroke in the fish oil supplementation group was 5.7%, compared to 7.7% in the non-supplemented group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the crude hazard ratio for stroke was significantly lower in the fish oil supplementation group (HR = 0.686;95% CI 0.476-0.987). However, after adjusting potential confounders, the adjusted risk of stroke was lower only for the diabetic patients supplemented with fish oil (aHR = 0.123; 95% CI 0.016-0.930) compared to non-diabetic patients (aHR = 0.917; 95% CI 0.616-1.364). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that there is an association between fish oil supplementation and a lower cumulative incidence rate of subsequent stroke among diabetic patients.

Electroacupuncture activates the peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor pathway to improve the phenotype of cerebral palsy.

AIM: This study explores the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) in treating cerebral palsy (CP) in Sprague-Dawley (SD) pups, specifically CP animal models, and its molecular mechanisms. METHODS: Gait analysis and Y-maze were used to detect the improvement of motor ability and cognitive function of CP rats after EA treatment. Transcription sequencing was used to determine the key pathway for EA to improve the symptoms of CP. PPAR agonists were used to verify the causal relationship between the pathway and the improvement of CP phenotype. RESULTS: The motor ability and cognitive function of CP pups were improved after EA treatment. The results of transcriptome sequencing suggest that the improvement of CP phenotype may be caused by the activation of PPAR pathway. PPAR pathway is widely activated in the epithelium of CP pups treated with EA, which is verified by qPCR. Rosiglitazone (Ros), a PPAR agonist, can improve CP phenotype while activating PPAR pathway, which proves the causal relationship between PPAR pathway activation and CP phenotype improvement. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated behavioral improvements and enhanced cognitive functions in CP models after EA treatment by activating PPAR pathway, suggesting new perspectives for CP rehabilitation, and providing theoretical support for acupuncture treatment of CP.