Table1_Case Report: Recanalization of Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion Due to Microthrombi Following the First Dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination.DOCX

Background: We report on a patient with a branch retinal artery occlusion (RAO) and its recanalization based on multimodal retinal and angiographic images after he was administered the first dose of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine.Case summary: A 64-year-old man complained of a right, painless, inferior field defect 3 days after the first dose of BNT162b2 vaccination. Fundus examination revealed decolorization of the right upper macula, including microthrombi in the superior proximal branch of the retinal artery. Optical coherence tomography angiography revealed upper macular hypoperfusion. Fluorescein angiography revealed prolonged arteriovenous transit to the macula. After paracentesis with antiplatelet medications, the artery was recanalized as the thrombi dissolved, and the right visual field was recovered. Re-occlusion did not occur during the 3 months after the second mRNA vaccination.Conclusion: Non-embolic thrombotic RAO may develop shortly after the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine. Ophthalmologists should consider RAO as a possible post-vaccination adverse event. The temporal association between mRNA vaccination and RAO onset with evidence of microthrombi might provide additional clues to elucidate the unpredictive arterial thrombosis following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination.</p

Image1_Case Report: Recanalization of Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion Due to Microthrombi Following the First Dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination.pdf

Background: We report on a patient with a branch retinal artery occlusion (RAO) and its recanalization based on multimodal retinal and angiographic images after he was administered the first dose of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine.Case summary: A 64-year-old man complained of a right, painless, inferior field defect 3 days after the first dose of BNT162b2 vaccination. Fundus examination revealed decolorization of the right upper macula, including microthrombi in the superior proximal branch of the retinal artery. Optical coherence tomography angiography revealed upper macular hypoperfusion. Fluorescein angiography revealed prolonged arteriovenous transit to the macula. After paracentesis with antiplatelet medications, the artery was recanalized as the thrombi dissolved, and the right visual field was recovered. Re-occlusion did not occur during the 3 months after the second mRNA vaccination.Conclusion: Non-embolic thrombotic RAO may develop shortly after the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine. Ophthalmologists should consider RAO as a possible post-vaccination adverse event. The temporal association between mRNA vaccination and RAO onset with evidence of microthrombi might provide additional clues to elucidate the unpredictive arterial thrombosis following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination.</p

Image2_Case Report: Recanalization of Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion Due to Microthrombi Following the First Dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination.pdf

Background: We report on a patient with a branch retinal artery occlusion (RAO) and its recanalization based on multimodal retinal and angiographic images after he was administered the first dose of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine.Case summary: A 64-year-old man complained of a right, painless, inferior field defect 3 days after the first dose of BNT162b2 vaccination. Fundus examination revealed decolorization of the right upper macula, including microthrombi in the superior proximal branch of the retinal artery. Optical coherence tomography angiography revealed upper macular hypoperfusion. Fluorescein angiography revealed prolonged arteriovenous transit to the macula. After paracentesis with antiplatelet medications, the artery was recanalized as the thrombi dissolved, and the right visual field was recovered. Re-occlusion did not occur during the 3 months after the second mRNA vaccination.Conclusion: Non-embolic thrombotic RAO may develop shortly after the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine. Ophthalmologists should consider RAO as a possible post-vaccination adverse event. The temporal association between mRNA vaccination and RAO onset with evidence of microthrombi might provide additional clues to elucidate the unpredictive arterial thrombosis following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination.</p

Cell membrane Permeability changes, mitochondrial membrane potential changes, and the effect of <i>Torreya nucifera</i> on ATP production in <i>A</i>. <i>lugdunensis</i>.

Unlike the positive control group (Triton X-100), which showed high fluorescence, the groups treated with 25 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL of T. nucifera showed significantly low fluorescence similar to that seen in the negative control group (A). In the control group, the mitochondrial membrane potential gradient was normal (B). Groups treated with 25 μg/mL (C) and 50 μg/mL (D) of T. nucifera showed the collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential gradient indicated by the green fluorescence in the cytoplasm. The scale bar represents 20 μm. ATP production showed that the luminescence amount was significantly reduced in the groups treated with 25 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL of T. nucifera compared to that in the control group (E).</p

Model diagram of the cellular biological mechanism of the amoebicidal effect of <i>Torreya nucifera</i>.

When A. lugdunensis were treated with T. nucifera, the morphological change of encystation was confirmed. The decrease in mitochondrial ATP level and collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential is the likely amoebicidal mechanism of T. nucifera.</p

Mitochondrial morphologic changes in <i>A</i>. <i>lugdunensis</i>.

After treatment with 50 μg/mL (B) of T. nucifera, structural damage and decreased wrinkling was observed compared with that in the control group (A). The scale bar represents 1 μm.</p

Morphological changes and cell viability in <i>A</i>. <i>lugdunensis</i> after 24 hours of treatment with <i>Torreya nucifera</i>.

Compared with the control group (A, D, G), groups treated with 25 μg/mL (B, E, H) and 50 μg/mL (C, F, I) of T. nucifera showed morphological changes in which encystation from trophozoites to cysts and shrunken and unviable cells were observed. Cell viability was significantly decreased in the T. nucifera treated group and was dose-dependent (J). The scale bar represents 50 μm..</p

Image-based cytometer analysis to determine cell death after 24 hours of treatment with <i>Torreya nucifera</i>.

The process of cell death was evaluated using the Tali™ Image-based Cytometer using the Tali™ apoptosis kit. In the groups treated with 25 μg/mL (B) and 50 μg/mL (C) of T. nucifera, the green and red fluorescence indicating apoptosis and necrosis, respectively were clearly observed unlike that in the control group (A). The scale bar represents 20 μm.</p

Dataset yielded from the experiment.

The dataset is the result from alamarBlue™ assay, ATP measurement by CellTiter-Glo® Luminescent Cell Viability Assay, and membrane permeability measurement by the SYTOX Green assay, which were conducted in this study. (XLSX)</p

Enhancing Li-Ion Battery Anodes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemical Performance of Crystalline C₆₀ Nanorods with Controlled Morphology and Phase Transition

Recently, C60 has emerged as a promising anode material for Li-ion batteries, attracting significant interest due to its excellent lithium storage capacity. The electrochemical performance of C60 as an anode is largely dependent on its internal crystal structure, which is significantly influenced by the synthesis method and corresponding conditions. However, there have been few reports on how the synthesis process affects the crystal structure and Li+ storage capacity of C60. This study used the liquid–liquid interface precipitation method and a low-temperature annealing process to fabricate one-dimensional C60 nanorods (NRs). We thoroughly investigated synthesis conditions, including the growth time, drying temperature, annealing time, and annealing atmosphere. The results demonstrate that these synthesis conditions directly impact the morphology, phase transition, and electrochemical efficiency of pure C60 NRs. Remarkably, the hexagonal close-packed structural C60 NRs-6012h, in a metastable form, exhibits a reversible Li+ storage capacity as an anode material in Li-ion batteries. Furthermore, the face-centered cubic C60 NRs-603001h electrode shows significantly enhanced rate performance and long-cycle stability. A discharge-specific capacity of 603 mAh g–1 was maintained after 2000 cycles at a current density of 2 A g–1. This study elucidates the effect of synthesis conditions on C60 crystals, offering an effective strategy for preparing high-performance C60 anode materials