Clinical and Epidemiologic Research Does Cigarette Smoking Alter the Risk of Pterygium? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE. To determine the association of cigarette smoking with pterygium. METHODS. Potentially eligible studies published from the year 1946 to December 28, 2013 were identified from MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases, and reference lists. All studies that evaluated smoking as an independent factor for pterygium were identified. Study-specific odds ratios (ORs) were combined using the random-effects model when P < 0.1 in the test for heterogeneity, or otherwise the fixed-effects model was used. Metaregression, sensitivity analysis, and evaluation of potential biases were undertaken. The ORs with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of smoking as an associated factor for pterygium were analyzed. RESULTS. We included 24 articles incorporating 95,279 participants from 20 cross-sectional studies, 2 hospital-based case-control studies, and 2 population-based cohort studies. The combined OR of cigarette smoking (current or ever smoked) for risk of pterygium was 0.82 (95% CI, 0.69-0.97; P ¼ 0.025). The results remained consistent among current smokers (OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.61-0.76; P ¼ 4.57 3 10 À12 ), but not in ex-smokers (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.87-1.27; P ¼ 0.59). The impact of ultraviolet light (UV) exposure (P ¼ 0.082) and sex (P ¼ 0.553) on the effect of smoking was insignificant in meta-regression. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the protective effect and nonrelevance of these two study-level variables. Begg's funnel plots and Egger's test showed minimal publication bias. CONCLUSIONS. The results of this meta-analysis show that cigarette smoking was associated with a reduced risk of pterygium, especially in current smokers. This effect may be independent of UV exposure and sex. Investigations are needed to unveil its molecular basis serving therapeutic purposes. Keywords: smoking, cigarette smoking, pterygium, pterygia, risk factor, protective factor P terygium is an inflammatory fibrovascular mass that extends from the interpalpebral conjunctiva over the adjacent peripheral cornea. 1 Its corneal ingrowth can lead to ocular irritation and visual impairment by induction of astigmatism, blockade of visual axis, or loss of corneal transparency. 3-24 Cigarette smoking, a modifiable factor and an important public health problem, has been studied as a risk factor for pterygium. METHODS Eligibility Criteria We included studies that fulfilled the following criteria: (1) a cross-sectional, prospective cohort, or case-control study; (2) diagnosis of pterygium was based on slit-lamp examination by ophthalmologists; (3) smoking status was recorded and tested as an independent factor; (4) adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated with multiple logistic regression; or the occurrence of pterygium in subjects with and without current/past smoking history were reported or can be resolved. Animal studies, case reports, reviews, abstracts, conference proceedings, editorials, non-English articles, and studies that did not analyze smoking as a factor were excluded

A simple way to fine tune the redox potentials of cobalt ions encapsulated in nitrogen doped graphene molecular catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction

Co2+ ions encapsulated in nitrogen doped graphene were applied as an oxygen evolution catalyst. Their redox potentials were tuned using different counter anions as liable ligands, and the redox potential related catalytic rates were explored. It was proposed that the electron density of Co2+ ions was a general descriptor for activity

Poly[[[aqua(2,2′-bipyridine-κ2 N,N′)zinc(II)]-μ-2-nitroterephthalato-κ2 O 1:O 4] monohydrate]

In the title compound, {[Zn(C8H3NO6)(C10H8N2)(H2O)]·H2O}n, the ZnII ion is square-pyramidally coordinated, and bridged by 2-nitro-terephthalate ligands, forming a chain running along [10]. Intra­molecular hydrogen bonds are formed between the coordinated water mol­ecules and the nitro O atoms. Adjacent chains are linked by hydrogen bonds between the coordinated water mol­ecules and the O atoms of the monodentate carboxyl groups

Boosting Oxygen and Peroxide Reduction Reactions on PdCu Intermetallic Cubes

Palladium‐based nanocatalysts have the potential to replace platinum‐based catalysts for fuel‐cell reactions in alkaline electrolytes, especially PdCu intermetallic nanoparticles with high electrochemical activity and stability. However, unlike the synthetic methods for obtaining the nanoparticles, the effect of PdCu shape on the performance is relatively less well studied. Here, we demonstrate the facet dependence of PdCu intermetallics on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and peroxide reduction, and reveal that the {100} dominant PdCu cubes have a much higher ORR mass activity and specific activity than spheres at 0.9 V vs. RHE, which is four and five times that of commercial Pd/C and Pt/C catalysts, respectively, and show only a 31.7 % decay after 30 000 cycles in the stability test. Moreover, cubic PdCu nanoparticles show higher peroxide electroreduction activity than Pd cubes and PdCu spheres. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation reveals that the huge difference originates from the reduction in oxygen adsorption energy and energy barrier of peroxide decomposition on the ordered {100} PdCu surface. Given the relationship between the shape and electrochemical performance, this study will contribute to further research on electrocatalytic improvements of catalysts in alkaline environments.Shape the future: PdCu intermetallic cubes and spheres are synthesized to investigate the facet dependence on the oxygen reduction reaction and peroxide reduction. The cubes show large improvements in mass activity towards both reactions, compared with the spheres. DFT calculation uncovers that the dominant {100} faces of the cubes offer more appropriate oxygen adsorption and are thermodynamically favorable for peroxide reduction compared to the surface of spheres.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155903/1/celc202000381.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155903/2/celc202000381_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155903/3/celc202000381-sup-0001-misc_information.pd

Enhanced antitumor immunity by targeting dendritic cells with tumor cell lysate-loaded chitosan nanoparticles vaccine

Whole tumor cell lysates (TCL) have been implemented as tumor antigens for cancer vaccine development, although clinical outcomes of TCL-based antitumor immunotherapy remain unsatisfactory. In order to improve the efficacy of TCL-based vaccines, biomaterials have been employed to enhance antigen delivery and presentation. Here, we have developed chitosan nanoparticles (CTS NPs) with surface mannose (Man) moieties for specific dendritic cells (DCs) targeting (Man-CTS NPs). The Man-CTS NPs were then loaded with TCL generated from B16 melanoma cells (Man-CTS-TCL NPs) for in vitro and in vivo assessment. Potency of the Man-CTS-TCL NPs as cancer vaccine was also assessed in vivo by immunization of mice with Man-CTS-TCL NPs followed by re-challenge with B16 melanoma cell inoculation. We have shown here that Man-CTS-TCL NPs promote bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) maturation and antigen presentation in vitro. In vivo evaluation further demonstrated that the Man-CTS-TCL NPs were readily taken up by endogenous DCs within the draining lymph node (DLN) following subcutaneous administration accompanied by increasing in serum IFN-γ and IL-4 levels. Tumor growth was also significantly delayed in mice primed with Man-CTS-TCL NPs vaccine, attributable at least in part to cytotoxic T lymphocytes response. Moreover, Man-CTS-TCL NPs vaccine also exhibited therapeutic effects in mice with melanoma. Thus, we report here the Man-CTS-TCL NPs as effective anti-tumor vaccine for cancer immunotherapy

Inhaled Budesonide and Oral Dexamethasone Prevent Acute Mountain Sickness

AbstractBackgroundThis double-blind, randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate inhaled budesonide and oral dexamethasone compared with placebo for their prophylactic efficacy against acute mountain sickness after acute high-altitude exposure.MethodsThere were 138 healthy young male lowland residents recruited and randomly assigned to receive inhaled budesonide (200 μg, twice a day [bid]), oral dexamethasone (4 mg, bid), or placebo (46 in each group). They traveled to 3900 m altitude from 400 m by car. Medication started 1 day before high-altitude exposure and continued until the third day of exposure. Primary outcome measure was the incidence of acute mountain sickness after exposure.ResultsOne hundred twenty-four subjects completed the study (42, 39, and 43 in the budesonide, dexamethasone, and placebo groups, respectively). Demographic characteristics were comparable among the 3 groups. After high-altitude exposure, significantly fewer participants in the budesonide (23.81%) and dexamethasone (30.77%) groups developed acute mountain sickness compared with participants receiving placebo (60.46%) (P = .0006 and P = .0071, respectively). Both the budesonide and dexamethasone groups had lower heart rate and higher pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) than the placebo group at altitude. Only the budesonide group demonstrated less deterioration in forced vital capacity and sleep quality than the placebo group. Four subjects in the dexamethasone group reported adverse reactions.ConclusionsBoth inhaled budesonide (200 μg, bid) and oral dexamethasone (4 mg, bid) were effective for the prevention of acute mountain sickness, especially its severe form, compared with placebo. Budesonide caused fewer adverse reactions than dexamethasone