Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Reveals Distinct Retinal Structural and Microvascular Abnormalities in Cerebrovascular Disease.

Cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) is one of the leading global causes of death and severe disability. To date, retinal microangiopathy has become a reflection of cerebral microangiopathy, mirroring the vascular pathological modifications in vivo. To evaluate the retinal structure and microvasculature in patients with CeVD, we conducted a cross-sectional study in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center and Department of Neurology of Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). CeVD patients (n = 121; 238 eyes) and healthy controls (n = 44; 57 eyes) were included in the analysis. The CeVD group showed significant thinning of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness in the temporal and nasal quadrants, and thinning of the macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) in the inferior quadrant, while macular microvasculature reduction was prominent in all nine quadrants. There were significant correlations between OCTA parameters, visual acuity, and transcranial doppler parameters in the CeVD group. The specific structural parameters combining microvasculature indices showed the best diagnostic accuracies (AUC = 0.918) to discriminate CeVD group from healthy controls. To conclude, we proved that OCTA reveals specific patterns of retinal structural changes and extensive macular microvascular changes in CeVD. Additionally, these retinal abnormalities could prove useful disease biomarkers in the management of individuals at high risk of debilitating complications from a cerebrovascular event

Comparison of macular structural and vascular changes in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and primary open angle glaucoma: a cross-sectional study.

AIMS: To compare macular structure and vasculature between neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) using optical coherence tomography angiography. METHODS: NMOSD patients (n=124) with/without a history of optic neuritis (ON) (NMO+ON: 113 eyes; NMO-ON: 95 eyes), glaucomatous patients (n=102) with early/advanced glaucoma (G-E: 74 eyes; G-A: 50 eyes) and healthy controls (n=62; 90 eyes) were imaged. The main outcome measures were macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness, vessel density (VD) and perfusion density (PD) in the superficial capillary plexus, and diagnostic capabilities of the parameters as calculated by area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: Significant losses in GC-IPL, VD and PD were detected in both patients with NMOSD and POAG. With matched losses in the peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer, NMOSD group showed significant thinning of GC-IPL in the nasal-superior quadrant, whereas in POAG group, significant thinning was observed in the inferior and temporal-inferior quadrants. GC-IPL thinning was more prominent in the superior, nasal-superior and nasal-inferior quadrants in NMO+ON eyes. In G-A eyes, significant GC-IPL thinning was seen in the temporal-inferior quadrant. The specific structural parameters combining VD and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) indices showed the best diagnostic accuracies. The FAZ area in eyes with NMOSD was significantly smaller than the eyes of healthy controls and POAG. CONCLUSION: NMOSD and POAG have specific patterns of macular structural and vascular changes associated with pathophysiology. Our results indicate that FAZ could be a sensitive biomarker of macular changes in NMOSD

Data for iTRAQ-based quantification of the effect of HuganQingzhi on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats

The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled âIsobarictags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) -based proteomics for the investigation of the effect of HuganQingzhi on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in ratsâ (Yao et al., 2017) [1]. This article describes the effect of HuganQingzhi on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats at the level of the proteome (HFD: control, HH: control, HH: HFD, respectively). The field dataset is available to criticize or extended analyzes in public

Characterization on multiphase microstructures of carbon steels using multi-frequency electromagnetic measurements

Phase composition is dominant in determining mechanical properties of carbon steels therefore is one of important microstructural elements that needs to be characterized and monitored in the steel production process. However, the characterization method usually used in steel production is off-line with destructive inspection. Microstructure characterization using electromagnetic signals can be applied in real time with in-line measurement that can meet requirements of steel continuous productions. The key is to establish the accurate electromagnetic responses to steel microstructure variations. This paper studied responses of electromagnetic signals on carbon steels with different phase compositions using a U-shaped and a cylindrical electromagnetic sensor. Relationships between steel microstructures and electromagnetic signals were established using the multi frequency electromagnetic system for steel samples with low to high carbon grades. Influences of phases, phase fractions, grain size and grain shapes on the relative permeability values were investigated. Results show that the low frequency inductance of electromagnetic signals can be used to distinguish the phase composition and the phase fraction of carbon steels. Effects of sensor lift-off distance and sample edge effects are also studied as requirements of industrial application

Mimosa inspired bilayer hydrogel actuator functioning in multi-environments

Hydrogel-based actuators have attracted significant attention and shown promising applications in many fields. However, most hydrogel actuators can only act in aqueous media, which dramatically limits their applications. Hence, the realization of hydrogel actuators that function under non-aqueous conditions still remains a significant challenge. Inspired by the water self-circulation mechanism that contributes to the motion of Mimosa leaves, we herein present a general strategy towards designing hydrogel actuators that can generate motions in water, oil and even in open-air environments. A hydrogel with a reverse thermal responsive bilayer composite structure was prepared, composed of a hydrogel layer derived from a polymer featuring a lower critical solution temperature (LCST layer) and a hydrogel layer derived from a polymer featuring an upper critical solution temperature (UCST layer). Upon heating, water molecules were transferred from the LCST layer to the UCST layer within the bilayer hydrogel, while under cooling the reverse process took place, allowing for an actuation even in non-aqueous environments. This water self-circulation within the bilayer hydrogel enabled a bending of the hydrogel and hence offers a smart strategy yet with a new idea for actuators working inmulti-environments. Such hydrogel actuators may provide new insights for the design and fabrication of intelligent soft materials for bio-inspired applications

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Reveals Distinct Retinal Structural and Microvascular Abnormalities in Cerebrovascular Disease.

Cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) is one of the leading global causes of death and severe disability. To date, retinal microangiopathy has become a reflection of cerebral microangiopathy, mirroring the vascular pathological modifications in vivo. To evaluate the retinal structure and microvasculature in patients with CeVD, we conducted a cross-sectional study in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center and Department of Neurology of Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). CeVD patients (n = 121; 238 eyes) and healthy controls (n = 44; 57 eyes) were included in the analysis. The CeVD group showed significant thinning of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness in the temporal and nasal quadrants, and thinning of the macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) in the inferior quadrant, while macular microvasculature reduction was prominent in all nine quadrants. There were significant correlations between OCTA parameters, visual acuity, and transcranial doppler parameters in the CeVD group. The specific structural parameters combining microvasculature indices showed the best diagnostic accuracies (AUC = 0.918) to discriminate CeVD group from healthy controls. To conclude, we proved that OCTA reveals specific patterns of retinal structural changes and extensive macular microvascular changes in CeVD. Additionally, these retinal abnormalities could prove useful disease biomarkers in the management of individuals at high risk of debilitating complications from a cerebrovascular event