[Advances in research on the role of immune cells in optic nerve injury]

Optic nerve injury can result in the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons, representing a significant cause of irreversible vision impairment. Immune response is a common step following injury, and it often exhibits contrasting effects in optic nerve pathologies. Immune cells play a crucial role in this process, and understanding the differentiation of various immune cells post-injury, mitigating their neurotoxicity, and directing them towards a beneficial outcome for the protection of RGCs and axons are vital for optic nerve preservation. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the research progress on immune cells such as macrophages, microglia, T cells, and others in the field of optic nerve injury. Additionally, discussions include the identification of cell phenotypes and the exploration of the novel concept of innate immunity possibly possessing memory.

Reactive molecular dynamics simulation on the pyrolysis characteristics of epoxy resin under the effect of partial discharge active products

Aromatic amine cured Bisphenol F epoxy resin is used as a pivotal solid insulation material in electrical equipment at low temperature and extreme environment. Partial discharge (PD) can lead to an increase in local temperature, which leads to pyrolysis, and the existence of PD active products will aggravate the pyrolysis process of insulating materials. In order to investigate the effect of PD active products on the pyrolysis characteristics of aromatic amine cured epoxy resin, the pyrolysis process of epoxy resin under partial discharge active products is simulated based on ReaxFF. The types and changing trend of small molecular products and the mechanism of PD active products acting on the pyrolysis process of epoxy resin are analyzed. The results show that the oxidation of hydroxyl and C-N bridge bonds by PD active products is the main reason for accelerating the pyrolysis of epoxy resin, which changes the main pyrolysis path of epoxy resin cross-linked structure. The thermal stability of cross-linked epoxy resin decreases under the action of active products, and the types and change trend of small molecular products generated in the pyrolysis process also changes greatly with the change of pyrolysis path.

Cardiac right-to-left shunt subtypes in Chinese patients with cryptogenic strokes: a multicenter case-control study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Data on the possible association between cardiac right-to-left shunt (RLS) and cryptogenic stroke are lacking in Asians. RLS and its subtypes in Chinese cryptogenic stroke patients were investigated.

METHODS

Patients (n = 153, mean age 42 ± 10 years, 81 male) with cryptogenic stroke from four medical centers in China and 135 healthy volunteers (mean age 34 ± 8 years, 54 male) were recruited. Contrast transcranial Doppler was used to assess the prevalence of RLS. A three-level RLS categorization was applied as follows: none, 0 microbubbles (MBs); small, 1-25 MBs; and large, >25 MBs. RLS was considered latent if it occurred only after the Valsalva maneuver or permanent when it occurred also during normal respiration.

RESULTS

Overall, RLS (P = 0.02), large RLS (P < 0.001) and permanent RLS (P = 0.02) were more frequently detected in patients with cryptogenic stroke than in healthy volunteers. The prevalences of small RLS and latent RLS in the two groups were similar (22% vs. 21% and 11% vs. 10%, respectively). The proportion of large RLSs amongst the subjects with RLS was much higher in the patient group than in healthy volunteers (45% vs. 18%, P < 0.001), whilst the proportion of permanent RLS was similar (72% vs. 64%, P = 0.11). Most large RLSs in the patient group (22/27, 81%) were permanent RLSs.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac RLS is associated with cryptogenic stroke in Chinese. However, the higher prevalence of overall RLS in the patient group was mainly due to the increased proportion of large RLSs. The results only support large RLSs as a pathological condition.

[Efficacy of argon and Nd:YAG laser combined in the treatment of primary chronic closed-angle glaucoma]

22 cases (29 eyes) of primary chronic closed-angle glaucoma were treated with Argon laser gonioplasty (ALG) and Nd:YAG laser iridectomy. Among 8 eyes in which the closed-angle was not opened by ALG, Nd:YAG laser gonioplasty was added, and 6 eyes became successful. For 9 eyes in which the IOP failed to drop inspite of the opened anterior chamber angle, Argon laser trabeculoplasty was added to bring remarkable curative effects to 7 eyes. During a follow-up of 5 to 14 months, 25 eyes (86%) obtained satisfactory results.