Zonular instability-associated morphologic features in eyes with primary angle closure disease using the swept-source anterior segment - optical coherence tomography system

BACKGROUND

This study aims to investigate the morphologic features of the crystalline lens in Primary Angle Closure Disease (PACD) patients with zonular instability during cataract surgery using the swept-source CASIA 2 Anterior Segment-Optical Coherence Tomography (AS-OCT) system.

METHODS

A total of 398 eyes (125 PACD eyes with zonular instability, 133 PACD eyes with zonular stability, and 140 cataract patient controls) of 398 patients who underwent cataract surgery combined or not glaucoma surgery between January 2021 and January 2023 were enrolled. The crystalline lens parameters were measured by CASIA2 AS-OCT. Then, logistic regression was performed to evaluate the risk factors associated with zonular instability.

RESULTS

The results revealed that PACD eyes had a more anterior lens equator position, a steeper anterior curvature of lens, shorter Axial Length (AL), shallower Anterior Chamber Distance (ACD), higher Lens Vault (LV) and thicker Lens Thickness (LT), when compared to eyes in the cataract control group. Furthermore, PACD eyes in the zonular instability group had steeper front R, front Rs and Front Rf, flatter back Rf, thicker lens anterior part thickness, higher lens anterior-to-posterior part thickness ratios, shallower ACD, and greater LV, when compared to PACD eyes with zonular stability. The logistic regression analysis, which was adjusted for age and gender, revealed that zonular instability was positively correlated with anterior part thickness, lens anterior-to-posterior part thickness ratio, and LV, but was negatively correlated with lens anterior radius and ACD.

CONCLUSION

Steeper anterior curvature, increased lens anterior part thickness, higher anterior-to-posterior part thickness ratio, shallower ACD, and greater LV are the anatomic features of PACD eyes associated with zonular instability.

The Effect of Salvianolic Acid A on Tumor-Associated Macrophage Polarization and Its Mechanisms in the Tumor Microenvironment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer, with a high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have been identified as significant contributors to the growth and metastasis of TNBC through the secretion of various growth factors and chemokines. Salvianolic acid A (SAA) has been shown to have anti-cancer activities. However, the potential activity of SAA on re-polarized TAMs remains unclear. As there is a correlation between the TAMs and TNBC, this study investigates the effect of SAA on TAMs in the TNBC microenvironment. For that purpose, M2 TAM polarization was induced by two kinds of TNBC-conditioned medium (TNBC-TCM) in the absence or presence of SAA. The gene and protein expression of TAM markers were analyzed by qPCR, FCM, IF, ELISA, and Western blot. The protein expression levels of ERK and p-ERK in M2-like TAMs were analyzed by Western blot. The migration and invasion properties of M2-like TAMs were analyzed by Transwell assays. Here, we demonstrated that SAA increased the expression levels of CD86, IL-1β, and iNOS in M2-like TAMs and, conversely, decreased the expression levels of Arg-1 and CD206. Moreover, SAA inhibited the migration and invasion properties of M2-like TAMs effectively and decreased the protein expression of TGF-β1 and p-ERK in a concentration-dependent manner, as well as TGF-β1 gene expression and secretion. Our current findings for the first time demonstrated that SAA inhibits macrophage polarization to M2-like TAMs by inhibiting the ERK pathway and promotes M2-like TAM re-polarization to the M1 TAMs, which may exert its anti-tumor effect by regulating M1/M2 TAM polarization. These findings highlight SAA as a potential regulator of M2 TAMs and the possibility of utilizing SAA to reprogram M2 TAMs offers promising insights for the clinical management of TNBC.

Comparison of total corneal power measurements obtained with different devices after myopic keratorefractive surgery

AIM

To analyze the differences, agreements, and correlation among total corneal power parameters generated by different instruments after myopic keratorefractive surgery.

METHODS

The prospective cross-sectional study included patients who underwent myopic keratorefractive surgery and received measurements of corneal power 3mo after surgery. Automated keratometer was used for the measurement of simulated keratometry (SimK), swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) based biometer for total keratometry (TK), anterior segment-OCT for real keratometry (RK), and Scheimpflug keratometer for the true net power (TNP), the total corneal refractive power (TCRP) and equivalent K-readings (EKR). The differences among these parameters were analyzed, and the agreements and correlation between SimK and other total corneal power parameters were investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 70 eyes of 70 patients after myopic keratorefractive surgery were included. The evaluated corneal power parameters were as follows: SimK 38.32±1.93 D, TK 37.54±2.12 D, RK 36.64±2.09 D, TNP 36.56±1.97 D, TCRP 36.70±2.01 D, and EKR 37.55±2.00 D. Pairwise comparison showed that there were significant differences (P<0.001) among all parameters except for between TK and EKR, RK and TNP, RK and TCRP (P=1.000, 1.000, 1.000, respectively). The limits of agreement between SimK and TK, RK, TNP, TCPR, and EKR were 1.08, 1.08, 1.43, 1.48, and 1.73 D, respectively. All parameters showed good correlation with SimK, and the correlation coefficients were 0.995, 0.994, 0.983, 0.982, and 0.975.

CONCLUSION

Among the corneal power parameters after myopic keratorefractive surgery, the value of SimK is the largest, followed by TK and EKR, with TCRP, RK, and TNP being the smallest. The differences among the parameters may be attributable to the different calculation principles. Correct understanding and evaluation of corneal power parameters can provide a theoretical basis for taking advantage of the total corneal power to improve the accuracy of intraocular lens calculation after keratorefractive surgery.

[Comparison of corneal power assessment methods after small incision lenticule extraction]

Objective: To compare the accuracy of different corneal curvature parameters in assessing the corneal refractive status and tracking corneal power changes after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study tracked and recorded total corneal curvature parameters measured by different instruments before and three months after SMILE for myopia. These parameters, including total keratometry (TK) from the IOLMaster 700, total corneal refractive power (TCRP) from the Pentacam AXL, real keratometry (RK) from the CASIA 2, and corrected parameters calculated using the Haigis, Shammas, and Maloney methods, were compared with data obtained using the clinical history method (CHM). Surgically induced changes in TK, TCRP, and RK were analyzed and compared with those in spherical equivalent on the corneal plane (ΔSEco). Results: The study included 40 eyes (40 participants). After SMILE, the difference was smallest between TK [(0.08±0.38) D] and CHM values (P>0.05). However, TCRP, RK, K_Haigis, K_Shammas, and K_Maloney were significantly different from CHM data (P<0.05). The width of the 95% limits of agreement of TK (1.49 D) was narrowest, followed by that of RK (1.57 D). Pearson analysis showed that each parameter had a good correlation with CHM data. The differences between the changes in TK, TCRP and RK caused by surgery and ΔSEco were (0.03±0.39) D, (0.17±0.43) D, and (-0.19±0.46) D, respectively. The width of the 95% limits of agreement of ΔTK (1.54 D) was narrowest, and the correlation coefficient of ΔTK (0.951) was highest. Conclusion: The parameter TK of the IOLMaster 700 can provide accurate and objective corneal power evaluation after SMILE.

An in-situ strategy to construct uracil-conjugated covalent organic frameworks with tunable fluorescence/recognition characteristics for sensitive and selective Mercury(II) detection

Previous researches of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have shown their potential as fluorescent probes, but the regulation of their optical properties and recognition characteristics still remains a challenge, and most of reports required complicated post-decoration to improve the sensing performance. In this context, we propose a novel in-situ strategy to construct uracil-conjugated COFs and modulate their fluorescence properties for sensitive and selective mercury(II) detection. By using 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(4-formylphenyl)pyrene (TFPPy) and 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)pyrene (TAPPy) as fundamental blocks and 5-aminouraci (5-AU) as the functional monomer, a series of COFs (Py-COFs and Py-U-COFs-1 to Py-U-COFs-5) with tunable fluorescence were solvothermally synthesized through an in-situ Schiff base reaction. The π-conjugated framework serves as a signal reporter, the evenly and densely distributed uracil acts as a mercury(II) receptor, and the regular pores (channels) make the rapid and sensitive detection of the mercury(II) possible. In this research, we manage to regulate the crystalline structure, the fluorescence properties, and the sensing performance of COFs by simply changing the molar ratio of precursors. We expect this research to open up a new strategy for effective and controllable construction of functionalized COFs for environmental analysis.

[Ultrasonographic features of retinal pigment epithelial adenoma]

Objective: To investigate the ultrasonographic features of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) adenoma. Methods: It was a retrospective case series study. The clinical clata of 15 patients (15 eyes) with pathologically confirmed RPE adenoma after local resection of intraocular tumor was collected at Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University from November 2013 to October 2019. The general conditions of the patients and the location, size, shape, internal echo features of the lesions in the ocular ultrasound sonogram were analyzed, and the blood flow in the lesions was checked by color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI). Results: Of all the patients included in the study, 7 were male and 8 were female. Their age ranged from 25 to 58 years, with a mean age of (45.7±10.2) years. The most common symptom was vision loss or blurred vision (11 cases). Other symptoms included dark shadows or obscuration in front of the eyes (3 cases) and no symptoms (1 case). A history of previous ocular trauma was present in one case, and the rest of the patients had no history of ocular trauma.The location of tumor growth is scattered. The ultrasonographic features were as follows: the average maximum basal diameter was (8.07±2.75) mm and the average height was (4.02±1.81) mm; the ultrasonographic features mostly demonstrated abruptly elevated dome-shaped echo (6 cases); the lesion edge was not smooth, the internal echo was medium or low, and there could be hollow features (2 cases), with no choroidal depression; and the blood flow signal could be seen in the CDFI lesion, which could lead to retinal detachment and vitreous opacification. Conclusion: The ultrasound imaging features of RPE adenomas mostly demonstrate abruptly elevated dome-shaped echo, unsmooth lesion edge, with no choroidal depression, which may provide valuable evidence for clinical diagnosis and differentiation.

[A family study of the compound heterozygous mutation of the UGT1A1 gene causing Crigler-Najjar syndrome type II]

Objective: To investigate the family gene features in Crigler-Najjar syndrome (CNS) type II. Methods: The UGT1A1 gene and related bilirubin metabolism genes were comprehensively analysed in a CNS-II family (3 CNS-II, 1 Gilbert syndrome, and 8 normal subjects). The genetics basis of CNS-II were investigated from the perspective of family analysis. Results: In three cases, compound heterozygous mutations at three sites of the UGT1A1 gene (c.-3279T > G, c.211G > A and c.1456T > G) caused CNS-II. Gilbert syndrome and CNS-II were not significantly associated with distribution or diversity loci. Conclusion: The compound heterozygous pathogenic mutations (c.-3279T > G, c.211G > A, and c.1456T > G) at three loci of the UGT1A1 gene may be the feature of the newly discovered CNS-II family genes based on the CNS-II family study.

Entanglement, Coherence, and Extractable Work in Quantum Batteries

We investigate the connection between quantum resources and extractable work in quantum batteries. We demonstrate that quantum coherence in the battery or the battery-charger entanglement is a necessary resource for generating nonzero extractable work during the charging process. At the end of the charging process, we also establish a tight link of coherence and entanglement with the final extractable work: coherence naturally promotes the coherent work while coherence and entanglement inhibit the incoherent work. We also show that obtaining maximally coherent work is faster than obtaining maximally incoherent work. Examples ranging from the central-spin battery and the Tavis-Cummings battery to the spin-chain battery are given to illustrate these results.

Comparison of overfeeding effects on gut physiology and microbiota in two goose breeds

To have a better understanding of how the “gut–liver axis” mediates the lipid deposition in the liver, a comparison of overfeeding influence on intestine physiology and microbiota between Gang Goose and Tianfu Meat Goose was performed in this study. After force-feeding, compared with Gang Goose, Tianfu Meat Goose had better fat storage capacity in liver (397.94 vs. 166.54 for foie gras weight (g), P < 0.05; 6.37 vs. 2.92% for the ratio of liver to body, P < 0.05; 60.01 vs. 46.64% for fat content, P < 0.05) and the less subcutaneous adipose tissue weight (1240.96 g vs. 1440.46 g, P < 0.05). After force-feeding, the digestion–absorption capacity of Tianfu Meat Goose was higher than that of Gang Goose (5.56 vs. 3.64 and 4.63 vs. 3.68 for the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in duodenum and ileum, respectively, P < 0.05; 1394.96 vs. 782.59 and 1314.76 vs. 766.17 for the invertase activity (U/mg-prot), in duodenum and ileum, respectively, P < 0.05; 6038.36 vs. 3088.29 and 4645.29 vs. 3927.61 for the activity of maltase (U/mg-prot), in duodenum and ileum, respectively, P < 0.05). Force-feeding decreased the gene expression of Escherichia coli in the ileum of Tianfu Meat Goose; force-feeding increased the number of gut microbiota Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus-Polymerase Chain Reaction band in Tianfu Meat Goose and decreased the number in Gang Goose. In conclusion, compared with Gang Goose, the lipid deposition in the liver and the intestine digestion–absorption capacity and stability were higher in Tianfu Meat Goose. Thereby, Tianfu Meat Goose is the better breed for foie gras production for prolonged force-feeding; Gang Goose possesses better fat storage capacity in subcutaneous adipose tissue. However, Gang Goose has lower gut stability responding to force-feeding, so Gang Goose is suited to force-feeding in a short time to gain the body weight and subcutaneous fat as an overfed duck for roast duck.

Biotransformation of insecticide flonicamid by Aminobacter sp. CGMCC 1.17253 via nitrile hydratase catalysed hydration pathway

AIMS

This study evaluates flonicamid biotransformation ability of Aminobacter sp. CGMCC 1.17253 and the enzyme catalytic mechanism involved.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Flonicamid transformed by resting cells of Aminobacter sp. CGMCC 1.17253 was carried out. Aminobacter sp. CGMCC 1.17253 converts flonicamid into N-(4-trifluoromethylnicotinoyl) glycinamide (TFNG-AM). Aminobacter sp. CGMCC 1.17253 transforms 31·1% of the flonicamid in a 200 mg l^-1 conversion solution in 96 h. Aminobacter sp. CGMCC 1.17253 was inoculated in soil, and 72·1% of flonicamid with a concentration of 0·21 μmol g^-1 was transformed in 9 days. The recombinant Escherichia coli expressing Aminobacter sp. CGMCC 1.17253 nitrile hydratase (NHase) and purified NHase were tested for the flonicamid transformation ability, both of them acquired the ability to transform flonicamid into TFNG-AM.

CONCLUSIONS

Aminobacter sp. CGMCC 1.17253 transforms flonicamid into TFNG-AM via hydration pathway mediated by cobalt-containing NHase.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This is the first report that bacteria of genus Aminobacter has flonicamid-transforming ability. This study enhances our understanding of flonicamid-degrading mechanism. Aminobacter sp. CGMCC 1.17253 has the potential for bioremediation of flonicamid pollution.

[The value of ultrasonic elastography in the differential diagnosis of choroidal melanoma and choroidal hemangioma]

Objective: To explore the role of the scoring and strain ratio methods of ultrasonic elastography in the differential diagnosis of choroidal melanoma and choroidal hemangioma. Methods: A cross-sectional study. Twenty-five patients (25 eyes) with choroidal melanoma treated in the Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University from July to October 2016 were included in this study. There were 13 males and 12 females, with an average age of (48±12) years old. Twenty-five patients (25 eyes) with choroidal hemangioma treated in the same period were selected for differential diagnosis, including 12 males and 13 females, with an average age of (37±13) years. The lesions were examined by ultrasound elastography and scored, and the strain ratio of the tumor to the orbital tissue was measured. Two independent sample t test was used to compare the difference in the elasticity score and strain ratio between choroidal melanoma and choroidal hemangioma. The sensitivity, specificity and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were calculated to analyze the value of the two methods in the differential diagnosis of choroidal melanoma and choroidal hemangioma. Results: The elastography score of choroidal melanoma was (3.48±0.77) points, including 2 points in 3 cases, 3 points in 8 cases, 4 points in 13 cases, and 5 points in 1 case. The elastography score of hemangioma was (2.28±0.46) points, including 2 points in 18 cases and 3 points in 7 cases. The difference in the elasticity score between patients with the two kinds of tumors was statistically significant (t=6.694, P<0.01). The strain ratio was 42.97±15.83 and 12.21±9.24 in the patients with choroidal melanoma and choroidal hemangioma, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (t=8.392, P<0.01). Using 3 points as the diagnostic critical point of the elastography score, the sensitivity was 88.0%, the specificity was 72.0%, and the area under the ROC curve was 0.80 (95% cofidence interval: 0.663 to 0.900, P<0.01). Using 21.67 as the diagnostic critical point of the strain ratio, the sensitivity was 92.0%, the specificity was 92.0%, and the area under the ROC curve was 0.92 (95% cofidence interval: 0.808 to 0.978, P<0.01). Conclusions: Ultrasound elastography plays a role in the differential diagnosis of choroidal melanoma and choroidal hemangioma. The differential diagnostic value of the strain ratio method is higher than the scoring method. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2020, 56: 676-680).

Experimental investigation of joint measurement uncertainty relations for three incompatible observables at a single-spin level

In the light of the Busch, Lathi and Werner proposal, we explore, for the first time, the joint measurements and confirmation of uncertainty relations for three incompatible observables that reflect the original spirit proposed by Heisenberg in 1927. We first develop the error trade-off relations theoretically and then demonstrate the first experimental witness of joint measurements using a single ultracold ⁴⁰Ca⁺ ion trapped in a harmonic potential. In addition, we report, that in contrast to the case of two observables, scarifying accuracy of any one of the three observables the rest of two can be measured with ultimate accuracy.

Modified linear stability analysis for quantitative dynamics of a perturbed plane wave

We develop linear stability analysis (LSA) to quantitatively predict the dynamics of a perturbed plane wave in nonlinear systems. We take a nonintegrable fiber model with purely fourth-order dispersion as an example to demonstrate this method's effectiveness. For a Gaussian-type initial perturbation with cosine-type modulation on a plane wave, its propagation velocities, periodicity, and localization are predicted successfully, and the range of application is discussed. Importantly, the modulation-instability-induced growth of localized perturbation is proved different from the one of purely periodic perturbation and requires the modification of gain value for more accurate prediction. The method offers a needful supplement and improvement for LSA and paves a way to study the dynamics of a perturbed plane wave in more practical nonlinear systems.

Crystal structure of N-(methyl(oxo)(1-(6-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-3-yl)ethyl)-λ6-sulfanylidene)cyanamide, C10H10F3N3OS

[C10H10F3N3OS], monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 18.555(10) Å, b = 6.785(4) Å, c = 10.139(5) Å, β = 105.86°, V = 1227.9(11) Å3, Z = 4, R gt(F) = 0.0571, wR ref(F 2) = 0.1785, T = 296(2) K.

High-order rogue waves excited from multi-Gaussian perturbations on a continuous wave

Peregrine rogue wave excitation has applications in gaining high-intensity pulses, etc., and a high-order rogue wave exhibits higher intensity. An exact solution and collision between breathers are two existing ways to excite high-order ones. Here we numerically report a new, to the best of our knowledge, possible method, which is by multi-Gaussian perturbations on a continuous wave. The order and maximal intensity of rogue waves can be adjusted by the number of perturbations. The maximal intensity approaches 63.8 times that of the power of the initial background wave, and it retains a large value under the influence of fiber loss and noise. Our results provide guidance in gaining high-intensity pulses in experiment and understanding the universality of rogue wave generation.

Dynamics of perturbations at the critical points between modulation instability and stability regimes

We study numerically the evolutions of perturbations at critical points between modulational instability and stability regimes. It is demonstrated that W-shaped solitons and rogue waves can be both excited from weak resonant perturbations at the critical points. The rogue wave excitation at the critical points indicates that rogue wave comes from modulation instability with resonant perturbations, even when the baseband modulational instability is absent. The perturbation differences for generating W-shaped solitons and rogue waves are discussed in detail. These results can be used to generate W-shaped solitons and rogue waves controllably from weak perturbations.

[Comparison of biometry with the Pentacam AXL, IOLMaster 700 and IOLMaster 500 in cataract patients]

Objective: To compare biometry with new biometers of Pentacam AXL and IOLMaster 700 and the widely used biometer of IOLMaster 500 in cataract patients. Methods: Cross-sectional study. A total of 223 eyes of 147 cataract patients from Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University during 4-8 December 2017 were recruited. There were 67 males and 80 females with an age of (64±11) years.The axial length (AL), mean keratometry (Km), anterior chamber depth (ACD) and white-to-white corneal diameter (WTW) from each device were recorded. The difference and agreement between the measurements were evaluated by ANOVA, LSD test, intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis. Results: The success rate of AL measurement was 85.2% (190/223) with the Pentacam AXL, 96.9% (216/223) with the IOLMaster 700 and 90.6% (202/223) with the IOLMaster 500. There was no difference among devices in measuring the AL, Km and ACD (all P>0.05). Significant difference was found in WTW [(11.36±0.42) vs. (11.69±0.45) vs. (11.45±0.42) mm; F=34.696, P=0.000]. Intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.859-1.000, and Bland-Altman analysis showed good agreement among three devices. Conclusions: The new biometers of Pentacam AXL and IOLMaster 700 and the widely used IOLMaster 500 show no difference in measuring AL, Km and ACD. All three devices show good agreement in biometry of cataract patients. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2019, 55: 515-521).

[Comparative analysis on the significances of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in uveal melanoma diagnosis]

Objective: To compare the significance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) in the diagnosis of uveal melanoma. Methods: It was a retrospective case series study. Sixty-three cases (63 eyes) of uveal melanoma patients (confirmed by histopathology) who underwent CEUS and DCE-MRI examination at Beijing Tongren Hospital during January 2010 and May 2014 were collected, including 30 males and 33 females, with average age of 47 years (ranged from 27 to 69 years). The data and images of CEUS and DCE-MRI were analyzed and the findings were reviewed and compared to pathology results so as to evaluate the diagnosis coincidence rate of using CEUS, DCE-MRI and both (combined CEUS and DCE-MRI). Fisher's exact test method was used to explore the efficiency of diagnosing uveal melanoma with CEUS, DCE-MRI and the two combined. Results: Among the 63 cases of uveal melanoma, the coincidence rates of CEUS, DCE-MRI and combined diagnosis for uveal melanoma were 93.7% (59/63), 90.5% (57/63) and 100% (63/63) respectively. There was no significant difference between CEUS and DCE-MRI (P=0.663). Fifty-five cases showed fast wash in and fast wash out, and 8 cases showed fast wash in and slow wash out in time-intensity curve of CEUS. Fifty-four cases showed rapid increase and rapid decrease, and 7 cases showed rapid increase and slow decrease, and 2 cases showed sustain enhancement in signal intensity-time curve of DCE-MRI. Conclusions: CEUS is an effective method in diagnosis of uveal melanoma. CEUS and DCE-MRI are of similar value in the diagnosis of uveal melanoma, physicians may be able to acquire more diagnostic information when using the two methods in combination.(Chin J Ophthalmol, 2018, 54: 194-198).

[Improvement and effect analysis of a new neuroendoscopic trans-nasal-sphenoidal pituitary tumor resection approach]

Objective: To modify the individual neuroendoscopic surgical approach of pituitary tumors with specific imaging features, and to analyze the clinical outcomes. Methods: The clinical data of 116 patients with pituitary tumors who underwent surgical treatment at the pituitary tumor diagnosis and treatment center of Ruijin Hospital from April 2014 to December 2017 were collected, then the resection effects and complication rates of pituitary tumors from three different kinds of transsphenoidal approaches (e.g. classical single nostril approach, bilateral approach, "one-and-a-half" approach) were compared. Results: Pituitary tumor resection with "one-and-a-half" trans-nasal-sphenoidal approach achieved the same surgical effects with the bilateral approach, which was difficult to resect with the single-nostril classical approach. And it had significant advantages in the average length of postoperative hospitalization ( "one-and-a-half" : 6.9 days, bilateral: 12.5 days, P<0.01), the average postoperation VAS of olfactory retention ( "one-and-a-half" : 8.6, bilateral: 7.0, P<0.01) and preventing posterior nasal septum perforation (the occurrence rate of "one-and-a-half" : 0%, bilateral: 27%). Conclusion: The "one and a half" approach increases the ability to control and completely resect the lesion beyond the medial edge of the internal carotid artery on the same side of the nostril involving endoscope. It is a good supplement and improvement to the bilateral approach.

[Study on airway inflammation in patients with occupational pulmonary thesaurosis induced by iron]

Objective: To study the airway inflammation feature difference in the patients with occupational pulmonary thesaurosis induced by iron. Methods: Induced sputum samples were obtained from 20 healthy men, 20 patients with stable asthma, 25 patients with occupational pulmonary thesaurosis induced by iron. Differential cell counts in induced sputum were examined. The levels of supernatant IL-8 were measured by ELISA. Results: The pulmonary function result was normal in the patients with pulmonary thesaurosis., their FVC (4.1±1.2) L was similar to FVC (4.3±0.9) L in mal group; but their FEV(1.0) (2.9±0.9) L、FEV(1)/FVC (71.9%±5.4%) were lower than normal group's FEV(1.0) (3.2±0.7 L) 、FEV(1.0)/FVC (79.2%±9.9%) , and were hirher than asthma group's FEV(1) (2.5±0.8) L and FEV(1.0)/FVC (68.7%±6.1%) . In induced sputum, macrophages percentage in patients with pulmonary thesaurosis (54.3%±9.7%) was higher than asthma group and normal group (48.4±6.4, 51.9±7.3, P<0.05) , neutrophils percentage in patients with pulmonary thesaurosis group (43.9%±7.6%) was higher than asthma group and normal group (41.3%±7.1%, 39.8%±6.9%, P<0.05) , eosinophils percentage in patients with pulmonary thesaurosis group (0.3%±0.1%) was lower than asthma group (2.8±0.3, P<0.05) , lymphocytes percentage in patients with pulmonary thesaurosis group (2.0%±0.4%) was lower than asthma group (4.7±0.6, P<0.05) ; the sputum levels of IL-8 in patients with pulmonary thesaurosis group (914.7±24.3) pg/ml was higher than asthma group and normal group (747.9%±16.8 pg/ml, (405.4±13.7) pg/ml, P<0.05) . Conclusion: Macrophages and IL-8 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of airway inflammation after long-term inhalation of iron and its compounds, the airway function in patients of occupational pulmonary thesaurosis was found damaged.

[Effect of down-regulation of sex determining region Y-box 9 on epithelial mesenchymal transition and cloning of oral squamous carcinoma cells]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of sex determining region Y-box 9 (SOX9) on epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cloning of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

METHODS

siRNA control, SOX9 siRNA were transfected into BcaCD885 cells in OSCC. Simultaneously, cells that did not undergo transfection were used as the control. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were used to select SOX9 siRNA1 with enhanced interference effect. A cell cloning assay was used to determine the cell's clone formation ability. E-cadherin and Vimentin expressions were detected by immunofluorescence. The expressions of E-cadherin, matrix metalloprotease 2 (MMP-2), Vimentin and matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP-9) were detected by Western blot. Cell invasion and migration were detected in the Transwell compartment.

RESULTS

The levels of SOX9 mRNA and protein in SOX9 siRNA cells were significantly lower than those of the control (P<0.05). An increase in the number of SOX9 siRNA1 cell clonesled to the considerable decrease of the number of cell invasion and migration. In addition, levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins in cells decreased significantly compared with the control (P<0.05). The level of Vimentin expression in SOX9 siRNA1 cells decreased, and expression level of E-cadherin was elevated. Cell EMT was inhibited compared with the control, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Down-regulation of SOX9 inhibited EMT, clonogenic formation, cell invasion and OSCC migration.

Excitation conditions of several fundamental nonlinear waves on continuous-wave background

We study the excitation conditions of antidark solitons and nonrational W-shaped solitons in a nonlinear fiber with both third-order and fourth-order effects. We show that the relative phase can be used to distinguish antidark solitons and nonrational W-shaped solitons. The excitation conditions of these well-known fundamental nonlinear waves (on a continuous-wave background) can be clarified clearly by the relative phase and three previously reported parameters (background frequency, perturbation frequency, and perturbation energy). Moreover, the numerical simulations from the nonideal initial states also support these theoretical results. These results provide an important complement for the studies on relationship between modulation instability and nonlinear wave excitations, and are helpful for controllable nonlinear excitations in experiments.

Two-copy Quantum Teleportation

We investigate two-copy scenario of quantum teleportation based on Bell measurements. The detailed protocol is presented and the general expression of the corresponding optimal teleportation fidelity is derived, which is given by the two-copy fully entangled fraction that is invariant under local unitary transformations. We prove that under a specific case of the protocol, which is significant for improving the optimal fidelity, the set of states with their two-copy fully entangled fractions bounded by a threshold value that required for useful two-copy teleportation is convex and compact. Hence the witness operators exist to separate states that are useful for two-copy teleportation from the rest ones. Moreover, we show that the optimal fidelity of two-copy teleportation surpasses that of the original one copy teleportation.

[Comparison of swept source anterior segment optical coherence tomography and ultrasound biomicroscopy in measurement of anterior chamber depth and anterior chamber angle data in age-related cataract patients]

Objective: To explore the difference and agreement in the measurement of anterior chamber depth (ACD) and anterior chamber angle data in age-related cataract patients between swept source anterior segment optical coherence tomography (SS-AS-OCT) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). Methods: A prospective study. Forty-five eyes from 45 age-related cataract patients were selected at Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University from November to December 2016. There were 23 males and 22 females aged (51±19) years. SS-AS-OCT and UBM were used to measure the ACD, angle opening distance (AOD 500) and trabecular-iris angle (TIA 500). The paired samples t-test and Pearson linear correlation were used for statistical analysis, and the Bland-Altman analysis was used to evaluate the measurement consistency of the two tools. Results: The ACD measured by SS-AS-OCT and UBM was (2.750±0.544) mm and (2.775±0.531) mm, respectively, the difference was statistically significant (t=2.109, P=0.040), and the measurement results were positively correlated (r=0.989, P<0.001). In the nasal, temporal, upper and lower positions, the AOD 500 and TIA 500 values measured by SS-AS-OCT and UBM had a significant difference [AOD 500: (0.451±0.201) mm vs.(0.421±0.194) mm, (0.499±0.229) mm vs. (0.465±0.207) mm, (0.390±0.215) mm vs. (0.355±0.208) mm, (0.441±0.226) mm vs. (0.423±0.215) mm, t=4.262, 4.350, 5.355, 4.415; TIA 500: 39.587°±14.698°vs. 36.944°±13.790°, 42.149°±14.138°vs. 40.289°±13.041°, 36.482°±15.887°vs. 35.600°±15.215°, 38.504°±14.805°vs. 36.818°±14.931°, t=5.131, 4.658, 4.174, 5.731; all P<0.001] and a significant linear correlation (AOD 500: r=0.971, 0.975, 0.979, 0.973; TIA 500: r=0.972, 0.957, 0.956, 0.970; all P<0.001). The Bland-Altman method showed that the two modalities had comparable results for the ACD, AOD 500 and TIA 500 (2.22%-6.67% of the measured value outside the 95% consistency boundaries). Conclusion: SS-OCT and UBM show a good agreement in the measurement of ACD and anterior chamber angle data in age-related cataract patients, though there is difference between them in measurement results. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2018, 54: 678-682).

Growth rate of modulation instability driven by superregular breathers

We report an exact link between Zakharov-Gelash super-regular (SR) breathers (formed by a pair of quasi-Akhmediev breathers) with interesting different nonlinear propagation characteristics and modulation instability (MI). This shows that the absolute difference of group velocities of SR breathers coincides exactly with the linear MI growth rate. This link holds for a series of nonlinear Schrödinger equations with infinite-order terms. For the particular case of SR breathers with opposite group velocities, the growth rate of SR breathers is consistent with that of each quasi-Akhmediev breather along the propagation direction. Numerical simulations reveal the robustness of different SR breathers generated from various non-ideal single and multiple initial excitations. Our results provide insight into the MI nature described by SR breathers and could be helpful for controllable SR breather excitations in related nonlinear systems.

Single-Atom Demonstration of the Quantum Landauer Principle

One of the outstanding challenges to information processing is the eloquent suppression of energy consumption in the execution of logic operations. The Landauer principle sets an energy constraint in deletion of a classical bit of information. Although some attempts have been made to experimentally approach the fundamental limit restricted by this principle, exploring the Landauer principle in a purely quantum mechanical fashion is still an open question. Employing a trapped ultracold ion, we experimentally demonstrate a quantum version of the Landauer principle, i.e., an equality associated with the energy cost of information erasure in conjunction with the entropy change of the associated quantized environment. Our experimental investigation substantiates an intimate link between information thermodynamics and quantum candidate systems for information processing.

Experimental Verification of a Jarzynski-Related Information-Theoretic Equality by a Single Trapped Ion

Most nonequilibrium processes in thermodynamics are quantified only by inequalities; however, the Jarzynski relation presents a remarkably simple and general equality relating nonequilibrium quantities with the equilibrium free energy, and this equality holds in both the classical and quantum regimes. We report a single-spin test and confirmation of the Jarzynski relation in the quantum regime using a single ultracold ^{40}Ca^{+} ion trapped in a harmonic potential, based on a general information-theoretic equality for a temporal evolution of the system sandwiched between two projective measurements. By considering both initially pure and mixed states, respectively, we verify, in an exact and fundamental fashion, the nonequilibrium quantum thermodynamics relevant to the mutual information and Jarzynski equality.

Several localized waves induced by linear interference between a nonlinear plane wave and bright solitons

We investigate linear interference effects between a nonlinear plane wave and bright solitons, which are admitted by a pair-transition coupled two-component Bose-Einstein condensate. We demonstrate that the interference effects can induce several localized waves possessing distinctive wave structures, mainly including anti-dark solitons, W-shaped solitons, multi-peak solitons, Kuznetsov-Ma like breathers, and multi-peak breathers. Specifically, the explicit conditions for them are clarified by a phase diagram based on the linear interference properties. Furthermore, the interactions between these localized waves are discussed. The detailed analysis indicates that the soliton-soliton interaction induced phase shift brings the collision between these localized waves which can be inelastic for solitons involving collision and can be elastic for breathers. These characters come from the fact that the profile of solitons depends on the relative phase between bright solitons and a plane wave, and the profile of breathers does not depend on the relative phase. These results would motivate more discussions on linear interference between other nonlinear waves. Specifically, the solitons or breathers obtained here are not related to modulational instability. The underlying reasons are discussed in detail. In addition, possibilities to observe these localized waves are discussed in a two species Bose-Einstein condensate.

[Ultrasonic diagnosis of retinal detachment in eyes with silicone oil tamponade]

Objective: To examine the features and values of ultrasonic diagnosis for retinal detachment in eyes with silicone oil tamponade (SOT). Methods: A prospective study. A total of 257 eyes (257 patients) were filled with silicone oil between December 1, 2015 and August 1, 2016 in the Department of Ophthalmology at a hospital in Beijing. All of the patients underwent a color Doppler ultrasound examination in the supine and sitting positions a week prior to surgery. The pre-surgery conditions were compared with the subsequent observations during the surgery to analyze the features and values of ultrasonic diagnosis for retinal detachment in eyes with SOT. Results: Ultrasound manifestations of eyes with SOT included pseudo extension of the ocular axis and an arc-shaped echo between the eye wall and silicone oil. Diagnostic accuracy was 85.6% in the supine position and 93.8% in the sitting position. Conclusion: Ultrasound diagnosis for retinal detachment in eyes with SOT manifests itself in certain patterns. Compared with the traditional ultrasound examination in the supine position, the sitting position examination can be used to further increase the diagnostic accuracy in the ultrasound diagnosis for retinal detachment in eyes with SOT, providing reliable evidence for clinical and differential diagnosis. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53: 842-846).

Coherence transformations in single qubit systems

We investigate the single qubit transformations under several typical coherence-free operations, such as, incoherent operation (IO), strictly incoherent operation (SIO), physically incoherent operation (PIO), and coherence-preserving operation (CPO). Quantitative connection has been built between IO and SIO in single qubit systems. Moreover, these coherence-free operations have a clear hierarchical relationship in single qubit systems: CPO ⊂ PIO ⊂ SIO=IO. A new and explicit proof for the necessary and sufficient condition of single qubit transformation via IO or SIO has been provided, which indicates that SIO with only two Kraus operators are enough to realize this transformation. The transformation regions of single qubits via CPO and PIO are also given. Our method provides a geometric illustration to analyze single qubit coherence transformations by introducing the Bloch sphere depiction of the transformation regions, and tells us how to construct the corresponding coherence-free operations.

[Treatment of intercondylar fracture of the humerus through internal and external elbow approach or elbow posterior olecranon osteotomy approach]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy, advantages and disadvantages of internal and external elbow joint approach and olecranon osteotomy approach for the treatment of intercondylar fracture of humerus.

METHODS

From October 2012 to May 2016, 18 cases of intercondylar fracture of humerus were treated by operation including 12 males and 6 females with a mean age of 33.5 years old (ranged from 4 to 56 years old); 8 cases were operated by internal and external elbow joint approach, 10 cases were operated by olecranon osteotomy approach. According to AO classification, 3 cases were type C1, 8 cases were type C2, 7 cases were type C3. All patients were excluded from neurologic and vascular injuries.

RESULTS

All patients were followed up from 12 to 26 months with an average of 15 months. The incision healed well and no heterotopic ossification was found. According to the modified Cassebaum elbow function score, the result was excellence in 14 cases, good in 3 cases, fair in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the fracture type, the appropriate surgical approach and fixation were selected in order to get anatomic reduction. Rigid fixation, and early functional exercise is important condition for successful operation and satisfactory functional recovery in intercondylar fracture of the humerus.

Superregular breathers in a complex modified Korteweg-de Vries system

We study superregular (SR) breathers (i.e., the quasi-Akhmediev breather collision with a certain phase shift) in a complex modified Korteweg-de Vries equation. We demonstrate that such SR waves can exhibit intriguing nonlinear structures, including the half-transition and full-suppression modes, which have no analogues in the standard nonlinear Schrödinger equation. In contrast to the standard SR breather formed by pairs of quasi-Akhmediev breathers, the half-transition mode describes a mix of quasi-Akhmediev and quasi-periodic waves, whereas the full-suppression mode shows a non-amplifying nonlinear dynamics of localized small perturbations associated with the vanishing growth rate of modulation instability. Interestingly, we show analytically and numerically that these different SR modes can be evolved from an identical localized small perturbation. In particular, our results demonstrate an excellent compatibility relation between SR modes and the linear stability analysis.

Soliton excitations on a continuous-wave background in the modulational instability regime with fourth-order effects

We study the correspondence between modulational instability and types of fundamental nonlinear excitation in a nonlinear fiber with both third-order and fourth-order effects. Some soliton excitations are obtained in the modulational instability regime which have not been found in nonlinear fibers with second-order effects and third-order effects. Explicit analysis suggests that the existence of solitons is related to the modulation stability circle in the modulation instability regime, and they just exist in the modulational instability regime outside of the modulational stability circle. It should be emphasized that the solitons exist only with two special profiles on a continuous-wave background at a certain frequency. The evolution stability of the solitons is tested numerically by adding some noise to initial states, which indicates that they are robust against perturbations even in the modulation instability regime. Further analysis indicates that solitons in the modulational instability regime are caused by fourth-order effects.

[End tidal PCO(2) for evaluation of severity of disease in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension]

Objective: To explore the difference in end tidal PCO(2) (P(ET)CO(2)) between idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), and to analyze the correlation between P(ET)CO(2) and the indexes of disease severity in IPAH and CTEPH patients. Methods: Data were retrieved from 68 IPAH patients and 52 CTEPH patients who all had received right-heart catheterization, pulmonary function test and cardiopulmonary exercise testing at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from October 2011 to October 2014. In addition, other clinical parameters were also collected. Results: The IPAH group had a significantly higher mPAP, PVR [(60±16) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), (13±6) Wood U ] than the CTEPH group [(46±12) mmHg, (9±4) Wood U, t=4.90, 4.83, all P<0.01]. Meanwhile, the IPAH group had a lower percentage of predicted peakVO(2), oxygen pulse [(45±15)%, (60±22)%] compared with the CTEPH group [(53±16)%, (68±21)%, t=-2.42, -1.96, all P<0.05]. The value of P(ET)CO(2) at rest, AT, peak in the IPAH patients [(27±5), (28±7), (25±7) mmHg] were higher than those in the CTEPH patients [(24±4) mmHg, (23±6) mmHg, (21±6) mmHg, t=3.22-4.54, all P<0.01]. There was a significantly difference in P(ET)CO(2) at AT and peak between WHO-FC Ⅰ-Ⅱ and Ⅲ-Ⅳ subgroups in IPAH (t=2.55, 2.60, all P<0.05) and CTEPH (t=2.39, P<0.05), except for P(ET)CO(2) at peak in the CTEPH patients (t=1.71, P>0.05). A moderately inverse correlation was found between P(ET)CO(2) at AT and NT-proBNP in the IPAH group (r=-0.58, P<0.01), meanwhile P(ET)CO(2) at AT in the CTEPH group was weakly correlated with NT-proBNP (r=-0.34, P<0.05). Conclusions: Compared with the CTEPH patients, the IPAH patients had significantly decreased exercise capacity and increased P(ET)CO(2). P(ET)CO(2) could reflect the disease severity in both IPAH and CTEPH patients, being superior in IPAH than in CTEPH. Furthermore, P(ET)CO(2) at AT might be better than P(ET)CO(2) at peak in reflecting the ventilatory efficiency.

Symmetric and asymmetric optical multipeak solitons on a continuous wave background in the femtosecond regime

We study symmetric and asymmetric optical multipeak solitons on a continuous wave background in the femtosecond regime of a single-mode fiber. Key characteristics of such multipeak solitons, such as the formation mechanism, propagation stability, and shape-changing collisions, are revealed in detail. Our results show that this multipeak (symmetric or asymmetric) mode could be regarded as a single pulse formed by a nonlinear superposition of a periodic wave and a single-peak (W-shaped or antidark) soliton. In particular, a phase diagram for different types of nonlinear excitations on a continuous wave background, including the unusual multipeak soliton, the W-shaped soliton, the antidark soliton, the periodic wave, and the known breather rogue wave, is established based on the explicit link between exact solution and modulation instability analysis. Numerical simulations are performed to confirm the propagation stability of the multipeak solitons with symmetric and asymmetric structures. Further, we unveil a remarkable shape-changing feature of asymmetric multipeak solitons. It is interesting that these shape-changing interactions occur not only in the intraspecific collision (soliton mutual collision) but also in the interspecific interaction (soliton-breather interaction). Our results demonstrate that each multipeak soliton exhibits the coexistence of shape change and conservation of the localized energy of a light pulse against the continuous wave background.

Programmed cell death in periodontitis: recent advances and future perspectives

Periodontitis is a highly prevalent infectious disease, characterized by destruction of the periodontium, and is the main cause of tooth loss. Periodontitis is initiated by periodontal pathogens, while other risk factors including smoking, stress, and systemic diseases aggravate its progression. Periodontitis affects many people worldwide, but the molecular mechanisms by which pathogens and risk factors destroy the periodontium are unclear. Programmed cell death (PCD), different from necrosis, is an active cell death mediated by a cascade of gene expression events and can be mainly classified into apoptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, and pyroptosis. Although PCD is involved in many inflammatory diseases, its correlation with periodontitis is unclear. After reviewing the relevant published articles, we found that apoptosis has indeed been reported to play a role in periodontitis. However, the role of autophagy in periodontitis needs further verification. Additionally, implication of necroptosis or pyroptosis in periodontitis remains unknown. Therefore, we recommend future studies, which will unravel the pivotal role of PCD in periodontitis, allowing us to prevent, diagnose, and treat the disease, as well as predict its outcomes.

Effects of Palygorskite Inclusion on the Growth Performance, Meat Quality, Antioxidant Ability, and Mineral Element Content of Broilers

The present study was conducted to investigate different levels of palygorskite supplementation on the growth performance, meat quality, muscular oxidative status, and mineral element accumulation of broilers. One hundred ninety-two 1-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were allocated to four dietary treatments with six replicates of eight chicks per replicate. Birds in the four treatments were given a basal diet supplemented with 0, 5, 10 and 20 g/kg palygorskite for 42 days, respectively. Compared with the control group, neither 5 g/kg nor 10 g/kg palygorskite inclusion affected growth performance of broilers during the 42-day study (P > 0.05). However, the highest level of palygorskite supplementation at 20 g/kg increased feed/gain ratio (F/G) of broilers (P < 0.001). Yellowness (P < 0.001) and redness (P = 0.003) of breast muscle and yellowness of leg muscle (P = 0.001) were decreased by palygorskite supplementation at the levels of 10 g/kg and especially 20 g/kg. In addition, redness of leg muscle was also reduced by the inclusion of 20 g/kg palygorskite (P = 0.009). In contrast, malonaldehyde (MDA) accumulation in the breast muscle was significantly increased by 20 g/kg palygorskite supplementation (P < 0.001). Supplementation of palygorskite at either 10 or 20 g/kg significantly decreased lead (Pb) accumulation in the breast (P = 0.001) or thigh (P = 0.045) and copper (Cu) accumulation in the breast (P = 0.022). In conclusion, growth performance, meat color, and antioxidant capacity of meat would reduce with the increasing level of palygorskite supplementation, whereas a higher level of palygorskite (10 or 20 g/kg) can alter mineral element accumulations in muscles as evidenced by reduced muscular Cu and Pb contents.

Promoter methylation and histone modifications affect the expression of the exogenous DsRed gene in transgenic goats

Transgene silencing, which is common in transgenic plants and animals, limits the generation and application of genetically modified organisms, and is associated with the exogenous gene copy number, the methylation status of its promoters, and histone modification abnormalities. Here, we analyzed the expression of the exogenous gene DsRed and the methylation status of its cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter in six healthy transgenic cashmere goats and transgenic nuclear donor cells. The CMV promoter exhibited high methylation levels (74.4-88.2%) in four of the goats, a moderate methylation level (58.7%) in one, and a low methylation level (21.2%) in one, while the methylation level of the transgenic nuclear donor cells was comparatively low (14.3%). DsRed expression was negatively correlated with promoter methylation status. Transgenic cashmere goats carried one to three copies of the CMV promoter fragment and one to six copies of the DsRed fragment, but copy number showed no obvious correlation with DsRed expression. After treatment with the methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine, DsRed expression in transgenic goat cells significantly increased and CMV promoter methylation significantly decreased; this indicated an inverse correlation between promoter methylation status and DsRed expression. After treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A, DsRed expression increased, indicating that an abnormal histone modification in transgenic goats is also involved in exogenous gene silencing. These findings indicate the potential of trichostatin A and 5-azacytidine to rescue the biological activity of silenced exogenous transgenes in adult-derived transgenic cells under culture conditions.

Defective eyelid leading edge cell migration in C57BL/6-corneal opacity mice with an "eye open at birth" phenotype

Development of the eyelid requires coordination of the cellular processes involved in proliferation, cell size alteration, migration, and cell death. C57BL/6J-corneal opacity (B6-Co) mice are mutant mice generated by the administration of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (100 mg/kg). They exhibit the eyelids open at birth phenotype, abnormal round cell shape from tightened F-actin bundles in leading edge keratinocytes at E16.5, and gradual corneal opacity with neovessels. The tip of the leading edge in B6-Co mice did not move forward, and demonstrated a sharp peak shape without obvious directionality. Analysis of the biological characteristics of B6-Co mice demonstrated that abnormal migration of keratinocytes could affect eyelid development, but proliferation and apoptosis in B6-Co mice had no effect. Mutant gene mapping and sequence analysis demonstrated that in B6-Co mice, adenosine was inserted into the untranslated regions, between 3030 and 3031, in the mRNA 3'-terminal of Fgf10. In addition, guanine 7112 was substituted by adenine in the Mtap1B mRNA, and an A2333T mutation was identified in Mtap1B. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that expression of the Hbegf gene was significantly down-regulated in the eyelids of B6- Co mice at E16.5, compared to B6 mice. However, the expression of Rock1, Map3k1, and Jnk1 genes did not show any significant changes. Abnormal keratinocyte migration and down-regulated expression of the Hbegf gene might be associated with impaired eyelid development in B6-Co mice.

[Carpal canal ultrasound examination in patients with mild hand-arm vibration disease]

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of ultrasound examination of carpal canal structure in patients with mild hand-arm vibration disease. Methods: A total of 29 patients (58 wrists) with mild hand-arm vibration disease who were treated in Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases from May to December, 2015 were enrolled as observation group, and 20 healthy volunteers (40 wrists) were enrolled as the control group. Color Doppler ultrasound was used to observe the morphology and echo of the median nerve in the carpal canal and 9 muscle tendons and transverse carpal ligament. The thickness of transverse carpal ligament and diameter of the median nerve at the level of the hamulus of hamate bone were measured, as well as the cross-sectional area of the median nerve at the level of pisiform bone. Results: In the 29 patients with hand-arm vibration disease patients in the observation group, 8 experienced entrapment of the median nerve in the carpal canal, among whom 5 had entrapment in both wrists; there were 13 wrists (23%) with nerve entrapment and 45 wrists (77%) without nerve entrapment. Compared with the control group, the patients with hand-arm vibration disease and nerve entrapment in the observation group showed significant thickening of the transverse carpal ligament at the level of the hamulus of hamate bone and a significant increase in the cross-sectional area of the median nerve at the level of pisiform bone (P<0.05) , while there were no significant differences in the thickness of transverse carpal ligament at the level of the hamulus of hamate bone and the cross-sectional area of the median nerve at the level of pisiform bone (t=-9.397 and -4.385, both P>0.05) . Conclusion: Ultrasound examination can clearly show the radiological changes of carpal canal contents in patients with mild hand-arm vibration disease and has a certain diagnostic value in nerve damage in patients with hand-arm vibration disease.

Effects of threonine supplementation on the growth performance, immunity, oxidative status, intestinal integrity, and barrier function of broilers at the early age

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of L-threonine (L-Thr) supplementation on the growth performance, immunity, antioxidant status, and intestinal health of broilers at the early age. One hundred and forty-four 1-day-old male broiler chicks (Arbor Acres Plus) were allocated into 3 treatments with 6 replicates of 8 birds each, and fed a basal diet (analyzed Thr content, 7.87 g/kg) supplemented with 0 (control diet), 1 and 3 g/kg L-Thr for 21 d, respectively. Treatments did not alter growth performance of broilers. Compared with control, 1 g/kg Thr supplementation increased relative weight of spleen (P = 0.013). A higher level of Thr (3 g/kg) increased relative weight of thymus (P = 0.003). The supplementation of 3 g/kg Thr reduced Escherichia coli (P = 0.040) and Salmonella colonies (P = 0.015), whereas increased Lactobacillus colonies (P < 0.001) in the cecal contents. Thr supplementation increased intestinal villus height (P < 0.05), and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (P < 0.001), and the values for these parameters were intermediate with 1 g/kg Thr. Goblet cell density was increased by Thr supplementation (P < 0.001). The jejunal immunoglobulin G content was increased by the inclusion of Thr (P = 0.002). Broilers fed diet supplemented with 1 g/kg Thr exhibited increased concentrations of jejunal immunoglobulin M (P = 0.037) and secretory immunoglobulin A (P = 0.018). Likewise, 3 g/kg Thr inclusion increased ileal secretory immunoglobulin A content (P = 0.023). The jejunal malondialdehyde accumulation was reduced by Thr inclusion (P = 0.012). A higher level of Thr inclusion also reduced malondialdehyde content in the serum (P = 0.029). The high level of Thr inclusion (3 g/kg) upregulated mucin-2 mRNA expression (P = 0.034), whereas downregulated the mRNA abundances of interferon-γ (P = 0.036) and interleukin-1β (P = 0.031) in the ileum. In conclusion, L-Thr supplementation can improve immunity, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health of broilers at an early age.

Rapid and sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the determination of auraptene in rat plasma and its application in a pharmacokinetic and bioavailability study in rats

A simple, sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the determination of auraptene, a constituent isolated from Fructus aurantii with potential to combat Alzheimer's disease, in rat plasma. Rat plasma samples were pretreated by protein precipitation with methanol. The analytes were separated by a Waters Sun Fire C18 column (50 mm x 2 mm, 5 μm) and eluted with 1:1000 methanol and formic acid/water (v/v) mobile phase with a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. Multiple reaction monitoring was used to monitor the transition of the deprotonated auraptene molecule with an m/z of 299.3 [M+H](+), to the product ion with an m/z of 162.9 [M+H](+). Progesterone, with an m/z of 315.2→ 96.9 was used as an internal standard. The limits of detection and of quantification of auraptene in the rat plasma were 1 and 5 ng/mL, respectively. The method was linear in the concentration range of 20- 2000 ng/mL with coefficient correlation of 0.9956. After auraptene (100 mg/kg, p.o.) administration, the maximum plasma concentration and the time taken to reach maximum concentration were 1719.5 ± 384.3 g/mL and 108.0 ± 25.3 min, respectively. The elimination half-life was 108.0 ± 25.3 for auraptene (100 mg/kg, p.o.) and 3.0 ± 0 min for auraptene (2 mg/kg, i.v.). The oral bioavailability was about 8.5%.

Coats' disease and retrobulbar haemodynamics

PURPOSE

To study the retrobulbar haemodynamics in patients with Coats' disease.

METHODS

The clinical study included 43 patients with Coats' disease. Using colour Doppler imaging, we measured the blood flow velocity in the ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA) and posterior ciliary arteries (PCA), and recorded the peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), time averaged maximum velocity (TAMX), pulsatility index (PI) and resistance indexes (RI). The unaffected contralateral eyes served as control group. The disease was graded into four stages.

RESULTS

Compared to the contralateral eyes, the Coats' disease affected eyes showed for the CRA a significant decrease in PSV (7.08 ± 1.38 cm/s versus 8.64 ± 1.45 cm/s; p < 0.001), EDV (2.03 ± 0.41 cm/s versus 2.52 ± 0.62 cm/s; p < 0.001) and TAMX (3.67 ± 0.96 cm/s versus 4.40 ± 1.22 cm/s; p = 0.003) and for the PCA a significant decrease in PSV (9.15 ± 1.87 cm/s versus 10.14 ± 1.61 cm/s; p = 0.01). Subgroup analysis revealed that the decrease in haemodynamic parameters existed mainly in patients with stage 3A2 and stage 3B of Coats' disease.

CONCLUSIONS

As measured by colour Doppler imaging, the retrobulbar blood vessels showed decreased haemodynamic parameters in patients with Coats' disease on the affected side as compared to the contralateral unaffected side, in particular in advanced stages of the disease. Future studies may address the causes and effects of these haemodynamic changes.

Collective rehabilitation training conductive to improve psychotherapy of college students with anxiety disorder

OBJECTIVE

Study the auxiliary therapeutic effect of psychological counseling treatment after collective rehabilitation training of the patients with anxiety disorder.

METHODS

38 college students with anxiety disorder are randomly divided into an experiment group and a control group, each of which consists of 19 students. The experiment group only receives psychological counseling treatment; the control group, based on psychological counseling treatment, receives the collective rehabilitation training, that is, the joint therapy.

RESULTS

before the treatment, the inter-group difference of the general data about the patients in 2 groups shows no statistically significance, P > 0.05, which is comparable; after 8 weeks' treatment, HAMA and SAS scores of the patients in 2 groups are significantly improved compared with those before treatment, P < 0.05; meanwhile, the improvement effect of the experiment group is better than that of the control group P < 0.05. After 3 months' follow-up, it is found that the recurrence rate of the experiment group is obviously lower than that of the control group P < 0.05.

CONCLUSION

the joint treatment, consisting of psychological counseling and collective rehabilitation training, exercises synergetic effect on the college students who are anxiety disorder patients and its curative effect is obviously superior to the single psychological counseling and its recurrence rate is low.

Exploring the quantum critical behaviour in a driven Tavis-Cummings circuit

Quantum phase transitions play an important role in many-body systems and have been a research focus in conventional condensed-matter physics over the past few decades. Artificial atoms, such as superconducting qubits that can be individually manipulated, provide a new paradigm of realising and exploring quantum phase transitions by engineering an on-chip quantum simulator. Here we demonstrate experimentally the quantum critical behaviour in a highly controllable superconducting circuit, consisting of four qubits coupled to a common resonator mode. By off-resonantly driving the system to renormalize the critical spin-field coupling strength, we have observed a four-qubit nonequilibrium quantum phase transition in a dynamical manner; that is, we sweep the critical coupling strength over time and monitor the four-qubit scaled moments for a signature of a structural change of the system's eigenstates. Our observation of the nonequilibrium quantum phase transition, which is in good agreement with the driven Tavis–Cummings theory under decoherence, offers new experimental approaches towards exploring quantum phase transition-related science, such as scaling behaviours, parity breaking and long-range quantum correlations.

Quantum phase transitions are a discontinuous change in a property of the ground state or the structure of the excited states as a system parameter traverses a critical point. Here, the authors recreate analogous effects with laboratory-achievable light-matter coupling in an on-chip superconducting circuit

Energy levels of the Ce activator relative to the YAP(Ce) scintillator host

The electronic structure of the cerium-activated yttrium aluminum perovskite [YAP(Ce)] scintillator has been studied by core level x-ray spectroscopy and first-principles calculations. X-ray absorption and emission spectra at the oxygen K-edge of YAP(Ce) and CeO2 have been measured and compared with the calculated partial density of states. With the known band gap of CeO2, the measured oxygen K-edge absorption and emission spectra are used to construct a fixed relation between the valence and conduction bands of YAP and CeO2. This allows us to determine the fundamental band gap of YAP to be 8.1 ± 0.3 eV. A comparison between the cerium M4,5-edges x-ray absorption spectra of the YAP(Ce) and Ce model compounds (CeO2, CeF3, and Ce foils) then shows that the Ce activator is in the desired Ce(3+), with a small fraction of Ce(4+) due to oxidization at the surface. Finally, we determine that the ground state 4f(1) energy level of the Ce(3+) activator lies 1.8 ± 0.5 eV above the top of the valence band of the host YAP.

State transition induced by higher-order effects and background frequency

The state transition between the Peregrine rogue wave and W-shaped traveling wave induced by higher-order effects and background frequency is studied. We find that this intriguing transition, described by an exact explicit rational solution, is consistent with the modulation instability (MI) analysis that involves a MI region and a stability region in a low perturbation frequency region. In particular, the link between the MI growth rate and the transition characteristic analytically demonstrates that the localization characteristic of transition is positively associated with the reciprocal of the zero-frequency growth rate. Furthermore, we investigate the case for nonlinear interplay of multilocalized waves. It is interesting that the interaction of second-order waves in the stability region features a line structure rather than an elastic interaction between two W-shaped traveling waves.

Nonlinear coupling between a nitrogen-vacancy-center ensemble and a superconducting qubit

By exchange of virtual microwave photon induced by a transmission line resonator, the nonlinear interaction between a nitrogen-vacancy-center ensemble (NVE) and a superconducting charge qubit is achieved in circuit quantum electrodynamics, where the nonlinear coupling results from the second order of the coupling between the magnetic field of the transmission line resonator and the charge qubit. In our case, the nonlinear coupling can be much enhanced by a factor of the total spin number in the NVE. As an application, we present a potentially practical scheme to realize the squeezing of the NVE using the nonlinear coupling, which is within reach of the currently available technology.