Self-Reconstruction of Sulfate-Terminated Copper Oxide Nanorods for Efficient and Stable 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Electrooxidation.

The electrochemical 5-hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation reaction (HMFOR) has been regarded as a viable alternative to sustainable biomass valorization. However, the transformation of the catalysts under harsh electrooxidation conditions remains controversial. Herein, we confirm the self-construction of cuprous sulfide nanosheets (Cu2S NSs) into sulfate-terminated copper oxide nanorods (CuO-SO42- NRs) during the first-cycle of the HMFOR, which achieves a near-quantitative synthesis of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) with a >99.9% yield and faradaic efficiency without deactivation in 15 successive cycles. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopies confirm that the surface SO42- effectively reduces the onset potential for HMFOR, while in situ Raman spectroscopies identify a reversible transformation from CuII-O to CuIII-OOH in HMFOR. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations reveal that the surface SO42- weakens the Cu-OH bonds in CuOOH to promote the rate-determining step of its coupling with the C atom in HMF-H* resulting from HMF hydrogenation, which synergistically enhances the catalytic activity of CuO-SO42- NRs toward HMF-to-FDCA conversion.

Change in axial length after vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to explore the changes in the axial length and related factors after vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). METHODS: This study retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent vitrectomy with silicone oil (SO) tamponade for RRD and subsequent silicone oil removal at our clinic. Using a Zeiss IOLMaster 700, axial length was measured before vitrectomy for RRD and SO removal. The change in axial length (ΔAL) was calculated, and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the potential correlation between ΔAL and clinical factors, such as preoperative hypotony, extreme myopia, age, macular involvement, choroidal detachment, operation duration, and operation history. RESULTS: In total, 213 eyes from 213 patients were included. The mean axial length changed significantly pre- and post-vitrectomy (25.98 ± 2.87 mm and 26.25 ± 3.07 mm, respectively, P < 0.001); the mean ΔAL was 0.37 ± 0.62 mm. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative hypotony and extreme myopia were significantly correlated with the ΔAL (P = 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively). A higher proportion of hypotonic eyes had ΔAL ≥ 0.3 mm (33/76 in hypotony eyes and 32/137 in others; P = 0.003). A higher proportion of extremely myopic eyes also had a ΔAL ≥ 0.3 mm (23/46 in extremely myopic eyes and 42/167 in others; P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: For patients with RRD and cataracts, as axial length changed significantly after vitrectomy in those with hypotony or extreme myopia, secondary lOL implantation should be considered.

Measurement of Iris Thickness at Different Regions in Healthy Chinese Adults.

PURPOSE: To study the variation of iris thicknesses in different regions and explore the possible correlations with age and gender. METHODS: Healthy Chinese adults were recruited; the anterior segment of their eyes was imaged by swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). The horizontal scan of the right eye was selected, and the thicknesses of both the nasal and temporal irises were measured at 199 evenly spaced points. RESULTS: A total of 233 subjects with an average age of 36.79 ± 10.04 years (range 19 to 62) were included in the final analysis. The mean iris thicknesses of the temporal and nasal sides were 364.79 ± 47.58 µm and 372.44 ± 43.75 µm, respectively. The mean nasal iris thickness was positively correlated with age (ß = 0.9 µm/year; P = 0.002), but the temporal one was not (ß = 0.077 µm/year; P = 0.806). At 139 points of the nasal iris and 146 points of the temporal iris, the iris thickness was significantly correlated with age (P < 0.05). The thicknesses of the peripheral and pupillary parts were positively correlated with age, while the middle part was negatively correlated with age. No significant difference was observed in the mean iris thickness between genders (temporal: t = 1.597, P = 0.112; nasal: t = 1.870, P = 0.063), but females had a thicker iris than males at 50 points in the temporal side and 49 points in the nasal side (P < 0.05); no point in males was observed to have thicker iris compared to females. CONCLUSION: Using SS-OCT and the novel method, thicknesses of the iris at different regions were measured. The thicknesses of the peripheral and pupillary irises increase with age, while the thicknesses of the middle part decrease.

Laparoscopic Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Single Team Preliminary Experience.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to describe the authors' experience and the perioperative outcome for laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Perioperative clinical data of 57 consecutive pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) procedures performed from January 2014 to May 2016 in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The median of operative time was 315 minutes (range, 220 to 575 min) and the median of intraoperative estimated blood loss was 200 mL (range, 100 to 550 mL). Conversion to open PD was required in 3 patients (5.3%) as a result of difficult dissection. Hand-assisted LPD was used in 2 patients (3.5%). Mean length of hospital stay was 14.8 days (8 to 29 d). Cumulative surgery-related morbidity was 28.1%, included bleeding (n=4), pancreatic fistula (n=3), biliary fistula (n=1), delayed gastric emptying (n=1), intra-abdominal infection (n=3), pulmonary infection (n=3), and ileus (n=1). Postoperative severe complications (Clavien≥III) were detected in 4 patients (7.0%) including 1 intra-abdominal infection, 2 postoperative bleeding event, and 1 afferent delayed gastric emptying. Three patients required reoperation. There was no 30-day or in-hospital mortality. Pathologic diagnoses were pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (n=5), ampullary adenocarcinoma (n=10), duodenal adenocarcinoma (n=24), distal common bile duct cancer (n=13), atypical hyperplasia of bile duct (n=2), and chronic pancreatitis (n=3). No patient had margin positive resection; the number of harvested lymph nodes were (16.7±4.2), the number of positive lymph nodes were (1.3±1.1). CONCLUSIONS: LPD, although complicated and difficult, serve as a safe and effective method for experienced surgeons.