Long-term results of clear lens extraction combined with piggyback intraocular lens implantation to correct high hyperopia

<b>AIM:</b> To assess the refractive outcome of clear lensectomy combined with piggyback intraocular lens implantation in highly hyperopic patients.<b>METHODS:</b> This case review included 19 eyes of 10 patients with high hyperopia and axial length less than 21mm. Intraocular lens power was calculated for emmetropia using the Holladay II formula in 17 eyes, and SRK/T formula in 2 eyes following clear lens extraction and piggyback intraocular lens implantation. Patients were examined periodically over 24 months for visual acuity and spherical equivalent (SE).<b>RESULTS:</b> The mean postoperative SE at 24 months was 0.20±1.39D (range, -3.00 to 2.50D), better than preoperative 9.81±2.62D (range, +6.00 to +14.50D) (<i>P</i><0.001). Five eyes had SE within ±0.5D of emmetropia and 11 eyes within ±1.00D at postoperative 24 months. The mean postoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) at 24 months was 0.60±0.36, significantly improved compared to preoperative 1.39±0.33 (<i>P</i><0.001). The mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 24 months was 0.49±0.35, not statistically different compared to preoperative 0.38±0.30 (<i>P</i>=0.34). Twelve eyes maintained and 1 gained 1 or more Snellen line of BCVA, 4 eyes lost 1 line, and 2 eyes lost 2 lines at 24 postoperative months. Twelve eyes best-corrected near visual acuity (BCNVA) achieved J1 at postoperative 24 months compared to preoperative 7 eyes and the other 7 eyes better than J3.<b>CONCLUSION:</b> Clear lens extraction combined piggyback intraocular lens implantation appears to be an effective procedure to correct high hyperopia but mild overcorrection and intralenticular opacification may require secondary procedure

Dimethyl 2,2-bis­(2-cyano­ethyl)malonate

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C11H14N2O4, contains one half-mol­ecule; a twofold rotation axis passes through the central C atom. Inter­molecular C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into a one-dimensional supra­molecular structure

Endoglin Is Essential for the Maintenance of Self-Renewal and Chemoresistance in Renal Cancer Stem Cells.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a deadly malignancy due to its tendency to metastasize and resistance to chemotherapy. Stem-like tumor cells often confer these aggressive behaviors. We discovered an endoglin (CD105)-expressing subpopulation in human RCC xenografts and patient samples with a greater capability to form spheres in vitro and tumors in mice at low dilutions than parental cells. Knockdown of CD105 by short hairpin RNA and CRISPR/cas9 reduced stemness markers and sphere-formation ability while accelerating senescence in vitro. Importantly, downregulation of CD105 significantly decreased the tumorigenicity and gemcitabine resistance. This loss of stem-like properties can be rescued by CDA, MYC, or NANOG, and CDA might act as a demethylase maintaining MYC and NANOG. In this study, we showed that Endoglin (CD105) expression not only demarcates a cancer stem cell subpopulation but also confers self-renewal ability and contributes to chemoresistance in RCC

4,4-Diacetyl­hepta­nedinitrile

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C11H14N2O2, contains one half-mol­ecule as the central C atom of the mol­ecule lies on a twofold rotation axis. In the crystal structure, weak inter­molecular C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into zigzag chains along c

Development and application of the Chinese version of the adult strabismus quality of life questionnaire (AS-20): a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Patients with strabismus experience visual dysfunction, self-image disorders, low self-esteem, and social and emotional barriers, which adversely influence their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Currently no strabismus-specific questionnaire is available in China to identify patients’ quality of life and to evaluate the effectiveness of strabismus treatment. The aims of the present study were to validate the Chinese-language version of the Adult Strabismus Quality of Life Questionnaire (AS-20) and to evaluate the impacts of strabismus on the quality of life among Chinese strabismus patients. Methods Two hundred and fifty-five Chinese adults with strabismus, one hundred visually normal adults and one hundred patients with other eye diseases completed the Chinese version of AS-20. Psychometric properties of the Chinese AS-20 were examined by Cronbach’s α coefficient, test-retest and split-half reliability, and construct and criterion-related validity. Independent-samples t test and one-way ANOVA analyses were conducted to explore the impact of demographic factors and clinical characteristics on HRQoL in Chinese strabismic adults. Results The final AS-20 in Chinese (AS-C) included 18 items and two subscales: psychosocial (12 items) and function (6 items). The Cronbach’s α was 0.908 for overall scale, with 0.913 and 0.808 for \u27psychosocial’ and \u27function’ subscales respectively, indicating high internal consistency reliability. The mean of the overall AS-C score among strabismus patients was 62.80 ± 18.94, significantly lower than that in visually normal adults (t = -18.693, P \u3c 0.001), and in patients with other eye diseases (t = -5.512, P \u3c 0.001). Conclusions The AS-C is a culturally appropriate tool to evaluate the HRQoL in Chinese strabismus adults. The psychosocial health well-being and overall quality of life in strabismic patients should receive greater emphasis

Safety and efficacy of etomidate and propofol anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing gastroscopy: A double-blind randomized clinical study

The aim of the present study is to compare the safety, efficacy and cost effectiveness of anesthetic regimens by compound, using etomidate and propofol in elderly patients undergoing gastroscopy. A total of 200 volunteers (65–79 years of age) scheduled for gastroscopy under anesthesia were randomly divided into the following groups: P, propofol (1.5–2.0 mg/kg); E, etomidate (0.15-0.2 mg/kg); P+E, propofol (0.75–1 mg/kg) followed by etomidate (0.075-0.1 mg/kg); and E+P, etomidate (0.075-0.01 mg/kg) followed by propofol (0.75–1 mg/kg). Vital signs and bispectral index were monitored at different time points. Complications, induction and examination time, anesthesia duration, and recovery and discharge time were recorded. At the end of the procedure, the satisfaction of patients, endoscopists and the anesthetist were evaluated. The recovery (6.1±1.2 h) and discharge times (24.8±2.8 h) in group E were significantly longer compared with groups P, P+E and E+P (P<0.05). The occurrence of injection pain in group P+E was significantly higher compared with the other three groups (P<0.05). In addition, the incidence of myoclonus and post-operative nausea and vomiting were significantly higher in group P+E compared with the other three groups (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference among the four groups with regards to the patients' immediate, post-procedure satisfaction (P>0.05). Furthermore, there was no difference in the satisfaction of anesthesia, as evaluated by the anesthetist and endoscopist, among the four groups (P>0.05). The present study demonstrates that anesthesia for gastroscopy in elderly patients can be safely and effectively accomplished using a drug regimen that combines propofol with etomidate. The combined use of propofol and etomidate has unique characteristics which improve hemodynamic stability, cause minimal respiratory depression and less side effects, provide rapid return to full activity and result in high levels of satisfaction

Skeletal muscles and gut microbiota-derived metabolites: novel modulators of adipocyte thermogenesis

Obesity occurs when overall energy intake surpasses energy expenditure. White adipose tissue is an energy storage site, whereas brown and beige adipose tissues catabolize stored energy to generate heat, which protects against obesity and obesity-associated metabolic disorders. Metabolites are substrates in metabolic reactions that act as signaling molecules, mediating communication between metabolic sites (i.e., adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and gut microbiota). Although the effects of metabolites from peripheral organs on adipose tissue have been extensively studied, their role in regulating adipocyte thermogenesis requires further investigation. Skeletal muscles and intestinal microorganisms are important metabolic sites in the body, and their metabolites play an important role in obesity. In this review, we consolidated the latest research on skeletal muscles and gut microbiota-derived metabolites that potentially promote adipocyte thermogenesis. Skeletal muscles can release lactate, kynurenic acid, inosine, and β-aminoisobutyric acid, whereas the gut secretes bile acids, butyrate, succinate, cinnabarinic acid, urolithin A, and asparagine. These metabolites function as signaling molecules by interacting with membrane receptors or controlling intracellular enzyme activity. The mechanisms underlying the reciprocal exchange of metabolites between the adipose tissue and other metabolic organs will be a focal point in future studies on obesity. Furthermore, understanding how metabolites regulate adipocyte thermogenesis will provide a basis for establishing new therapeutic targets for obesity

Long-lived (>100 m.y.) postcollisional exhumation and cooling in the Paleoproterozoic Trans–North China orogen: evidence from phase equilibria modeling and monazite petrochronology of granulite-facies metapelites in the Fuping Complex

Long-lived collisional orogens that formed over tens to hundreds of millions of years are common in the geologic record. The Trans–North China orogen marks the collision between the Eastern and Western blocks of the North China craton, and it preserves metamorphic rocks with ages between 1.98 Ga and 1.80 Ga. These units allow detailed assessment of the time scale and duration of crustal thickening, exhumation, and cooling associated with a major Proterozoic orogeny. In this study, we present integrated petrography, mineral chemistry, phase equilibria modeling, and texturally controlled in situ mass spectrometry of monazite U-Th-Pb and trace-element analyses performed on a suite of orthopyroxene-bearing pelitic granulites and garnet-biotite gneisses from the Fuping Complex within the Trans–North China orogen. These rocks record clockwise pressure-temperature (P-T) paths involving granulite-facies peak conditions of 9.9–11.0 kbar and 850–880 °C for pelitic granulites, and 10.9–11.6 kbar and 860–880 °C for garnet-biotite gneisses, followed by postpeak decompression to ~8–9 kbar and later cooling, with final solidification of melt at 100 m.y.) postcollisional exhumation and cooling involving decompression from 10–12 kbar to ~9 kbar during 1.90–1.86 Ga, followed by retrograde cooling from 1.86 to 1.76 Ga under prolonged residence in the middle to lower crust. Initial collision and peak metamorphism occurred before 1.90 Ga, ultimately leading to the final cratonization of the North China craton and its incorporation into the Columbia supercontinent