Cataract Surgery in Microphthalmic Eyes

Microphthalmos is a congenital ocular abnormality that mainly manifests as a significant reduction in the size of the eye and is often associated with cataracts and other eye diseases. Due to its special anatomical features, cataract surgery in microphthalmos has a higher risk of intraoperative and postoperative complications and impaired visual prognosis and is associated with reduced intraocular lens (IOL) calculation accuracy. This chapter describes the characteristics of microphthalmic cataract surgery, the incidence of complications, classic and additional surgical procedures (e.g., phacoemulsification combined with prophylactic anterior lamellar sclerostomy, laser peripheral iridotomy, anterior segment vitrectomy, piggyback IOLs), and selection of IOL calculation formula

Ultrasensitive and uniform surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates for the methidathion detection

In this paper, we proposed a rapid method of detecting Methidathion pesticides by surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). In the method, Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) are synthesized by the modified Tollens technique and deposited on glass slides to become simple detection arrays for SERS detection. The AgNPs synthesis used in this research is environmentally friendly and does not produce harmful substances to the environment. Through measuring/investigating the SERS signals of Rhodamine 6G under different concentrations, the preparation process and process parameters of the detection substrate are determined. The Methidathion detection limit reaches 0.1 ppm based on the substrates. This work lays a foundation for preparation of large-scale SERS detection arrays in the future

Large-Scale Fabrication of Ultrasensitive and Uniform Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Substrates for the Trace Detection of Pesticides

Technology transfer from laboratory into practical application needs to meet the demands of economic viability and operational simplicity. This paper reports a simple and convenient strategy to fabricate large-scale and ultrasensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates. In this strategy, no toxic chemicals or sophisticated instruments are required to fabricate the SERS substrates. On one hand, Ag nanoparticles (NPs) with relatively uniform size were synthesized using the modified Tollens method, which employs an ultra-low concentration of Ag+ and excessive amounts of glucose as a reducing agent. On the other hand, when a drop of the colloidal Ag NPs dries on a horizontal solid surface, the droplet becomes ropy, turns into a layered structure under gravity, and hardens. During evaporation, capillary flow was burdened by viscidity resistance from the ropy glucose solution. Thus, the coffee-ring effect is eliminated, leading to a uniform deposition of Ag NPs. With this method, flat Ag NPs-based SERS active films were formed in array-well plates defined by hole-shaped polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) structures bonded on glass substrates, which were made for convenient detection. The strong SERS activity of these substrates allowed us to reach detection limits down to 10−14 M of Rhodamine 6 G and 10−10 M of thiram (pesticide)

Development of 1‑((1,4-trans)‑4-Aryloxycyclohexyl)-3-arylurea Activators of Heme-Regulated Inhibitor as Selective Activators of the Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2 Alpha (eIF2α) Phosphorylation Arm of the Integrated Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response

Heme-regulated inhibitor (HRI), an eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α) kinase, plays critical roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, adaptation to stress, and hemoglobin disorders. HRI phosphorylates eIF2α, which couples cellular signals, including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, to translation. We previously identified 1,3-diarylureas and 1-((1,4-trans)-4-aryloxycyclohexyl)-3-arylureas (cHAUs) as specific activators of HRI that trigger the eIF2α phosphorylation arm of ER stress response as molecular probes for studying HRI biology and its potential as a druggable target. To develop drug-like cHAUs needed for in vivo studies, we undertook bioassay-guided structure-activity relationship studies and tested them in the surrogate eIF2α phosphorylation and cell proliferation assays. We further evaluated some of these cHAUs in endogenous eIF2α phosphorylation and in the expression of the transcription factor C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and its mRNA, demonstrating significantly improved solubility and/or potencies. These cHAUs are excellent candidates for lead optimization for development of investigational new drugs that potently and specifically activate HRI