The Effect of Steroid Intervention before Vitrectomy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Associated with Choroidal Detachment: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

This meta-analysis discusses the effectiveness of steroid intervention before vitrectomy in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials and observational studies published until August 2023. We included studies involving: patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy; an experimental group that was not administered steroids and a control group that was administered steroids; and assessment of visual acuity, retinal reattachment rate, and complications. The heterogeneity, publication bias, and sensitivity analysis were performed to ensure the statistical power and reliability of the analysis. Two randomized controlled trials and four case-control studies involving 490 eyes were included in the meta-analysis. There were no significant differences in the primary and final retinal reattachment rates after surgery between the steroid and non-steroid groups (primary retinal reattachment rate: odds ratio = 1.01, 95% confidence interval = 0.63–1.63, p = .41; final retinal reattachment rate: odds ratio = 0.82, 95% confidence interval = 0.43–1.59, p = .33). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative visual acuity improvement between the two groups (odds ratio = 1.19, confidence interval = 0.63–2.25, p = .69). In addition, subgroup analyses of different types of steroids showed that systemic and local administration of steroids had similar results for retinal reattachment rate and visual acuity improvement. Patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment who did not receive preoperative steroids achieved the same effect as patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment who did receive preoperative steroids in terms of retinal reattachment rate and visual acuity. It is recommended that patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment undergo surgery as promptly as possible.</p

Comparison between current CFD and μPIV results with previous ones.

<p>Comparison between current CFD and μPIV results with previous ones.</p

Geometric, Magnetic, and Adsorption Properties of Cross-Linking Carbon Nanotubes: A Computational Study

Cross-linking carbon nanotubes (CLCNTs) composed of three axially confined single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) of the (10,0) type are investigated by plane-wave density functional theory (DFT). Three CLCNT models, differing from each other by the structure of the contact regions of the three SWCNT constituents, are explored in terms of their geometric, electronic, and magnetic properties. Various magnetic phases, as obtained by combining finite SWCNTs in ferromagnetic (FM) or antiferromagnetic (AFM) coordination, are distinguished. The characteristics of these phases are shown to depend on the contact region geometry which plays an essential role in defining the order of their stabilities. For a selected CLCNT, adsorption of hydrogen atoms is discussed. The magnetic features of the CLCNTs turn out to hold the key for understanding the site dependence of the hydrogen atom adsorption energies

2-Methyl 2-butanol suppresses human retinoblastoma cells through cell cycle arrest and autophagy

<div><p>2-Methyl-2-butanol (MBT) is a chemical compound from the group of alcohols more specifically pentanols, which has shown an excellent anti-cancer activity in our previous study. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-cancer effect of MBT on human retinoblastoma cells. The results showed that the use of MBT leads to HXO-RB44 cell death but is cytotoxic to normal cells at higher concentrations. It showed a dose- as well as a time-dependent inhibition of HXO-RB44 cells. P27 is a cell cycle inhibitory protein, which plays an important role in cell cycle regulation whereas cyclin-B1 is a regulatory protein involved in mitosis. MBT increased the cell cycle arrest in a dose-dependent manner by augmenting p27 and reducing cyclin B1 expression. Moreover, it also accelerated apoptosis, increased light chain-3 (LC-3) conversion in a dose-dependent manner, and helped to debulk cancerous cells. LC3 is a soluble protein, which helps to engulf cytoplasmic components, including cytosolic proteins and organelles during autophagy from autophagosomes. In order to verify the effect of MBT, bafilomycin A1, an autophagy inhibitor, was used to block the MTB-induced apoptosis and necrosis. Additionally, a specific Akt agonist, SC-79, reversed the MBT-induced cell cycle arrest and autophagy. Thus, from the present study, it was concluded that MBT induced cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and autophagy through the PI3K/Akt pathway in HXO-RB44 cells.</p></div

Velocity profile above an adherent PMN (open circle ○), above a TC (open triangle Δ) and the upstream (solid diamond ⧫).

<p>Velocity profile above an adherent PMN (open circle ○), above a TC (open triangle Δ) and the upstream (solid diamond ⧫).</p

Comparison of μPIV measurements and CFD calculations.

<p>The X-velocity profile was plotted with respect to the distance away from the cell surface on the top. Open circle (○) and solid triangle (▴) represent μPIV data and CFD calculations under a condition of high shear (365 µl min⁻¹), respectively.</p

A procedure chart of the data acquisition and analysis for side-view μPIV experiments.

<p>A procedure chart of the data acquisition and analysis for side-view μPIV experiments.</p

Upstream velocity profile (solid circle •) and velocity profile above a cell (open circle ○) were overlapped.

<p>Upstream velocity profile (solid circle •) and velocity profile above a cell (open circle ○) were overlapped.</p

Shear rates above a TC and a PMN under a condition of low shear (73 µl min⁻¹).

<p>A) Quadratic curve fitting for velocity profiles above an adherent PMN in 2-cell height region; B) Quadratic curve fitting for velocity profiles above an adherent TC in 2-cell height region.</p

Drag forces calculated on deformed TCs under low shear (73 µl/min; solid square ▪) and high shear high shear (365 µl min⁻¹; open circle ○).

<p>Drag forces calculated on deformed TCs under low shear (73 µl/min; solid square ▪) and high shear high shear (365 µl min⁻¹; open circle ○).</p