Vision loss in diabetic retinopathy (DR) is ascribed primarily to retinal vascular abnormalities—including hyperpermeability, hypoperfusion, and neoangiogenesis—that eventually lead to anatomical and functional alterations in retinal neurons and glial cells. Recent advances in retinal imaging systems using optical coherence tomography technologies and pharmacological treatments using anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs and corticosteroids have revolutionized the clinical management of DR. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of DR are not fully determined, largely because hyperglycemic animal models only reproduce limited aspects of subclinical and early DR. Conversely, non-diabetic mouse models that represent the hallmark vascular disorders in DR, such as pericyte deficiency and retinal ischemia, have provided clues toward an understanding of the sequential events that are responsible for vision-impairing conditions. In this review, we summarize the clinical manifestations and treatment modalities of DR, discuss current and emerging concepts with regard to the pathophysiology of DR, and introduce perspectives on the development of new drugs, emphasizing the breakdown of the blood-retina barrier and retinal neovascularization.

The structure and electrical properties of chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-Ta2O5 thin films on Pt, Ru and poly-Si electrode were studied. With 750°C annealing after Ta2O5 deposition, a 12-nm-thick Ta2O5 on Pt and Ru shows a SiO2 equivalent thickness (t eq) of 0.9 nm. We found that Ta2O5 on Pt and Ru shows (110) and (001) orientation, respectively. There is no interaction between Ta2O5 and these electrodes with 750°C annealing. t eq on Pt and Ru decreases with annealing temperature increase. On the other hand, Ta2O5 on poly-Si is randomly oriented and its t eq does not change with annealing temperature increase. The relative dielectric constant of Ta2O5 on Pt and Ru, which is highly oriented with 750°C annealing, is estimated over 50. It is clear that the Ta2O5 electrical properties are strongly related with its crystallinity.

Lepidium meyenii, known as maca, is a popular nutraceutical food which is grown over 4,000 m above sea level in the Peruvian central highlands. Maca contains alkaloids, but there are no studies on their biological effects. The butanol fraction obtained from methanol extract of maca hypocotyls contains alkaloids. The effects of butanol/aqueous fractions partitioned from methanol extract of yellow and black maca were examined. Total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity by 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl were used to evaluate maca fractions in vitro. Daily sperm production and sperm count in epididymis and vas deferens in mice were determined as biological effect of maca extracts in vivo. Yellow maca (21.7%±0.69) had better antioxidant capacity than black maca (18.2% ± 0.12; p < .01). Antioxidant activity was better in the methanolic fraction than in the aqueous fraction of yellow or black maca. TPC is higher in the aqueous fraction than in the methanolic extract of yellow or black maca. Black maca administration resulted in higher concentration of sperm count in epididymis and vas deferens compared to yellow maca. A higher biological effect was observed in methanolic extract and in aqueous extract than in the butanol fraction of maca. In conclusion, better biological effect was observed in the methanolic extract of maca than in its partitioned fractions.

Objective To study if the number of trophectoderm (TE) biopsied cells has an impact on implantation rates. Design A retrospective cohort study in a single-center study. Setting In vitro fertilization center. Patients Patients who underwent PGT-A from January 2013 to March 2016. In total, 482 vitrified/warmed single embryo transfers were included. Interventions None. Main outcome measures Clinical pregnancies rate, implantation rate. Results Overall, clinical pregnancies per embryo transfer were higher when a regular TE were biopsied compared to larger size biopsy cells (66% (175/267) vs 53% (115/215) (p < 0.005) respectively). Pregnancy rates were also analyzed according to embryo morphology at the moment of embryo biopsy, when a good-quality embryo was transferred the clinical outcome was 75% (81/108) in group 1 and 61% (60/99) in group 2 (p < 0.05). Data was also stratified by age in patients ≤ 35 years and > 35 years. The clinical pregnancy was 67% (51/76) in women ≤ 35 years and 65% (124/191) in women > 35 years when a regular size biopsy was performed. These results significantly reduced when a larger size biopsy was performed 54% (49/91) and 53% (66/124), respectively (p < 0.05). Further investigation indicated that miscarriage rate was similar between these groups (4% (7/182) in group 1 and 5% (6/121) in group 2). Conclusions These findings underscore that when a large amount of TE cells are biopsied, it may negatively affect implantation rates, but once implanted, the embryos have the same chance to miscarry or reach term.

Etch induced sidewall damage evaluation in porous low-k methyl silsesquioxane films J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 25, 986 (2007); 10.1116/1.2717192 In situ real-time monitoring of profile evolution during plasma etching of mesoporous low-dielectric-constant SiO 2 A highly selective and low-damage damascene process for porous methyl-silsesquioxane ͑porous MSQ, k-2.2͒ films has been realized using a neutral beam system we have developed. Use of a SF 6 or CF 4 neutral beam enables etching of porous MSQ with higher selectivity to the photoresist than what can be obtained in a conventional plasma. This is considered to be because the neutral beam eliminates exposure to ultraviolet ͑UV͒ light which enhances the resist etching. Anisotropic, low-dimension-shift damascene etching of porous MSQ is achieved through the neutral beam system. In addition, an O 2 neutral beam reduces damage to the sidewall of porous MSQ during the resist ashing process. Also, a modified layer generated on porous MSQ during ashing using a H 2 or H 2 /N 2 beam could prevent damage by UV light, which allows more effective resist ashing in a dual damascene structure of porous MSQ. Accordingly, this neutral beam system is a promising candidate for use in porous MSQ damascene processes.