Non-contact wide-field viewing system-assisted scleral buckling surgery for retinal detachment in silicone oilfilled eyes

AIM:To evaluate scleral buckling(SB)surgery using a noncontact wide-field viewing system and 23-gauge intraocular illumination for the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in silicone oil(SO)-filled eyes.METHODS:Totally 9 patients(9 eyes)with retinal detachment in SO-filled eyes were retrospectively analyzed.All patients underwent non-contact wide-field viewing system-assisted buckling surgery with 23-gauge intraocular illumination.SO was removed at an appropriate time based on recovery.The patients were followed up for at least 3mo after SO removal.Retinal reattachment,complications,visual acuity and intraocular pressure(IOP)before and after surgery were observed.RESULTS:Patients were followed up for a mean of 8.22mo(3-22mo)after SO removal.All patients had retinal reattachment.At the final follow-up,visual acuity showed improvement for 8 patients,and no change for 1 patient.The IOP was high in 3 patients before surgery,but it stabilized after treatment;it was not affected in the other patients.None of the patients had infections,hemorrhage,anterior ischemia,or any other complication.CONCLUSION:This new non-contact wide-field viewing system-assisted SB surgery with 23-gauge intraocular illumination is effective and safe for retinal detachment in SO-filled eyes.

Silicone oil as a corneal lubricant to reduce corneal edema and improve visualization during

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of silicone oil(SO)as a corneal lubricant to improve visualization during vitrectomy.METHODS:Patients who underwent vitreoretinal surgery were divided into two groups.Group 1 was operated on with initial SO(Oxane 5700)as a corneal lubricant.Group 2 was operated on with initial lactated ringer’s solution(LRS)and then replaced with SO as required.Fundus clarity was scored during the surgery.Fluorescein staining was performed to determine the damage to corneal epithelium.RESULTS:Totally 114 eyes of 114 patients were included.Single SO use maintained a clear cornea and provided excellent visualization of surgical image.In group 1,the fundus clarity was grade 3 in 41/45 eyes and grade 2 in 4/45 eyes.In group 2,corneal edema frequently occurred after initial LRS use.The fundus clarity was grade 3 in 19/69 eyes,2 in 37/69 eyes and 1 in 13/69 eyes(P<0.05).SO was applied in 29 eyes of initial LRS use with subsequent corneal edema,which eliminated the corneal edema in 26 eyes.Corneal fluorescein staining score in group 1 was 0 in 28 eyes,1 in 11 eyes and 2 in 6 eyes,and 40,20 and 9,respectively,in group 2(all P>0.05).CONCLUSION:The use of SO as a corneal lubricant is effective and safe for preserving and improving corneal clarity and providing clear surgical field during vitrectomy.

An all-silicone zoom lens in an optical imaging system

An all-silicone zoom lens is fabricated. A tunable metal ringer is fettered around the side edge of the lens. A nylon rope linking a motor is tied, encircling the notch in the metal ringer. While the motor is operating, the rope can shrink or release to change the focal length of the lens. A calculation method is developed to obtain the focal length and the zoom ratio. The testing is carried out in succession. The testing values are compared with the calculated ones, and they tally with each other well. Finally, the imaging performance of the all-silicone lens is demonstrated. The all-silicone lens has potential uses in cellphone cameras, notebook cameras, micro monitor lenses, etc.

Endophthalmitis in silicone oil-filled eye: A case report

BACKGROUND Endophthalmitis occurring in silicone oil-filled eyes is a very rare occurrence,with reported incidence rates ranging between 0.07%and 0.039%.Traditional methods of management of infectious endophthalmitis include the removal of silicone oil,washout of the vitreous cavity,administration of intravitreal antibiotics,and reinjection of silicone oil.CASE SUMMARY Herein,we report the case of a 39-year-old man with unilateral endophthalmitis after pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade.Intravitreal injections of full-dose antibiotics and anterior chamber washout were used to treat the patient.No signs of retinal toxicity were observed during the follow-up period.CONCLUSION Intravitreal full-dose antibiotic injections and anterior chamber washout are promising alternatives to traditional therapies for endophthalmitis in silicone oilfilled eyes.

Silicone oil migrating into the conjunctival space and orbit after surgery for an eye-penetrating injury:A case report

BACKGROUND We report a case of eye-penetrating injury in which a massive silicone oil migration into the patient’s subconjunctival space and orbit occurred after vitrectomy.CASE SUMMARY A 30-year-old male patient sought medical attention at Ganzhou People’s Hospital after experiencing pain and vision loss in his left eye due to a nail wound on December 9,2023.Diagnosis of penetrating injury caused by magnetic foreign body retention in the left eye and hospitalization for treatment.On December 9,2023,pars plana vitrectomy was performed on the left eye for intraocular foreign body removal,abnormal crystal extraction,retinal photocoagulation.Owing to the discovery of retinal detachment at the posterior pole during surgery,silicone oil was injected to fill the vitreous body,following which upper conjunctival bubble-like swelling was observed.Postoperative orbital computed tomography(CT)review indicated migration of silicone oil to the subconjunctival space and orbit through a self-permeable outlet.On December 18,2023,the patient sought treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University,China.The patient presented with a pronounced foreign body sensation following left eye surgery.On December 20,2023,the foreign body was removed from the left eye frame and an intraocular examination was conducted.The posterior scleral tear had closed,leading to termination of the surgical procedure following supplementary laser treatment around the tear.The patient reported a significant reduction in ocular surface symptoms just one day after surgery.Furthermore,a notable decrease in the migration of silicone oil was observed in orbital CT scans.CONCLUSION The timing of silicone oil injection for an eye-penetrating injury should be carefully evaluated to avoid the possibility of silicone oil migration.

Generation of macroscopic entanglement in ensemble systems based on silicon vacancy centers

Entanglement in macroscopic systems,as a fundamental quantum resource,has been utilized to propel the advancement of quantum technology and probe the boundary between the quantum and classical realms.This study focuses on a unique hybrid quantum system comprising of an ensemble of silicon vacancy(SiV)centers coupled to phononic waveguides in diamond via strain interactions.By employing two sets of time-dependent,non-overlapping driving fields,we investigate the generation process and dynamic properties of macroscopic quantum entanglement,providing fresh insights into the behavior of such hybrid quantum systems.Furthermore,it paves the way for new possibilities in utilizing quantum entanglement as an information carrier in quantum information processing and quantum communication.

Silicon Mitigates Aluminum Toxicity of Tartary Buckwheat by Regulating Antioxidant Systems

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a considerable factor limiting crop yield and biomass in acidic soil. Tartary buckwheatgrowing in acidic soil may suffer from Al poisoning. Here, we investigated the influence of Al stress on the growthof tartary buckwheat seedling roots, and the alleviation of Al stress by silicon (Si), as has been demonstrated inmany crops. Under Al stress, root growth (total root length, primary root length, root tips, root surface area, androot volume) was significantly inhibited, and Al and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulated in the root tips. At thesame time, catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase activities, polyphenols, flavonoids, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) free-radical scavenging abilitywere significantly decreased. After the application of Si, root growth, Al accumulation, and oxidative damage wereimproved. Compared to Al-treated seedlings, the contents of ·O2− and MDA decreased by 29.39% and 25.22%,respectively. This was associated with Si-induced increases in peroxidase and CAT enzyme activity, flavonoidcompounds, and free-radical scavenging (DPPH and ABTS). The application of Si therefore has positive effectson Al toxicity in tartary buckwheat roots by reducing Al accumulation in the roots and maintaining oxidationhomeostasis.

Preliminary investigations of a potential optics system for wideband X-ray telescopes

We present preliminary investigations of a potential optics system for wideband X-ray telescopes.The optical design adopts the conical approximation of the Wolter-I configuration and a combination of multilayer coatings and silicon pore optics.The total number of mirror modules is 79,distributed in 8 rows with the radii at the intersection plane between 250 mm and 500 mm.The optimization of the total effective area using the figure of merits method suggests that the focal length is 30 m and the mirror coating is a combination of the W/Si and Pt/C multilayers.This fulfills the on-axis effective area requirements of 2000 cm^(2) at 10 keV and 300 cm^(2) at 60 keV and provides a broad energy response between 3 keV and 78.4 keV.With the current geometry and coating compositions,we implement a mass modeling of the telescope in Geant4 to predict mirror performances via the ray-tracing algorithm,including the angular resolution and effective area.With the presumed metrological data as input,this can provide precision and finishing requirements for the manufacture of optics.This work demonstrates the feasibility of combining multilayer coatings and silicon pore optics for potential use in wideband X-ray telescopes and advances the development and progress of such missions.

The Various Complications Associated with Use of Silicone Oil in Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment (RRD) Surgery via Three-Port Vitrectomy (3PV): A Retrospective Study at the Ophthalmology Center of Abass Ndao Hospital

Introduction: RRD (Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment) is a separation between the neuroepithelium and the pigment epithelium due to the passage of fluid through a retinal dehiscence. It constitutes a major ophthalmologic emergency. Its management is primarily surgical, either through external or internal approaches, with tamponade using gas or silicone oil. The purpose of this study was to report the various complications associated with the use of silicone oil in vitreoretinal surgery. Patients et methods: We conducted a retrospective, descriptive, and analytical study from October 1, 2020, to October 31, 2023, which included all patients who underwent surgery for RRD using three-port vitrectomy (3PV) with tamponade using 1000 centistoke silicone oil (Group 1) and 5000 centistoke silicone oil (Group 2). All patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination and were operated on by the same surgeon. Data analysis was performed using Excel software. Results: Overall, 31 patient files representing 33 eyes were collected, with a mean age of 48.83 years and a sex ratio of 4.16. Group 1 consisted of 16 eyes (48.48%), and Group 2 consisted of 17 eyes (51.51%). The different complications observed were cataracts in all phakic subjects, accounting for 57.57%;ocular hypertonia in 69.69% (27.27% in Group 1;42.42% in Group 2);anterior chamber silicone oil migration in 24.24% (9.09% in Group 1;15.15% in Group 2);recurrence of retinal detachment in 21.21% (6.06% in Group 1;15.15% in Group 2);and silicone oil emulsification in 24.24% (15.15% in Group 1;9.09% in Group 2). Additionally, there was one case of corneal degeneration in Group 1. Conclusion: Silicone oil is an effective tamponade agent used in the treatment of retinal detachments. Close patient follow-up is necessary due to the complications associated with its use, which can occur either early or late after surgery.

Research Progress of Carbon-Silicone Composite Materials

Silicone is a kind of polymer material with high cross-linked structure,which is com-posed by Si-O-Si main chain.Due to the special molecular chain structure,silicone mate-rials are characterized by oxidation resistance,aging resistance,high and low temperature resistance and chemical corrosion resistance.Moreover,silicone materials have process-able properties,simple forming process,good mechanical property,non-toxic and pollution-free.Therefore,silicone has been widely concerned by researchers at home and abroad.In this paper,the main research progress and application directions of carbon-silicone composite at home and abroad in recent years are reviewed.

乳腺假体并发症的Silicone序列MRI特征

目的分析乳腺假体植入术后并发症的MRI表现,探讨其诊断价值。方法回顾性分析本院2013年6月至2015年6月收治的9例乳腺假体MRI特征。结果 1假体退行性样改变:Silicone-Sup序列上表现为片状不规则混杂信号或气泡样无信号结节。2假体包膜挛缩、假体变形移位:表现为假体边缘呈波浪状,囊壁增厚。3假体破裂(分囊内破裂和包膜破裂):囊内破裂Silicone-only序列表现囊内曲线状、弧线状低信号;包膜破裂表现为假体包膜连续性中断、假体周围间隙内存在结节状或片状假体信号。结论 MRI是诊断乳腺假体并发症的首选方法,视野全面,无需压迫,诊断准确率高。

EVA与Silicone密封剂封装对选择性发射极太阳电池效率的影响研究

：在构建选择性发射极太阳电池组件光学模型的基础上，引入分贝概念，并在此基础上给出太阳电池组件的外量子效率和内量子效率定义式，使研究太阳电池组件中各部分封装材料对其光电转换效率的影响更加方便。根据密封剂EVA和Silicone的光透射率测量数据，计算两种密封剂在280～1200nm波段内的吸收损耗。使用光谱响应测试仪分别测量密封剂EVA和Silicone封装的单片电池片在封装前后的量子效率，计算两种密封剂在短波段300～500nto处为选择性发射极电池组件带来的短路电流密度衰减。经比较得出，选择性发射极太阳电池组件使用密封剂Silicone封装可提高其短波响应，提高量子效率。

Macular Perfusion Changes and Ganglion Cell Complex Loss in Patients with Silicone Oil-related Visual Loss

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate macular perfusion changes and ganglion cell complex(GCC)loss in patients with unexplained visual loss following vitrectomy and silicone oil(SO)tamponade,and to evaluate the correlation between retinal blood flow and GCC loss using optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)and optical coherence tomography(OCT).Methods This retrospective study included seven eyes(seven patients)with unexpected visual loss after vitrectomy and SO tamponade.OCTA was used to evaluate the alterations in retinal vessel density(VD)in the superficial capillary plexus(SCP),deep capillary plexus(DCP),and radial peripapillary capillary plexus(RPCP).OCT was used to measure the thickness of GCC and retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL).Medical records of patients were reviewed.Results Quantitative analysis of OCTA images revealed a significant reduction in SCP VD in the affected eyes compared with the controls(all sections P<0.05).No difference was found in GCC thickness,but FLV(focal loss volume)and GLV(global loss volume)were significantly higher in the affected eyes(both P<0.001).SCP VD was inversely correlated with FLV and GLV.Conclusions Silicone oil-related severe visual loss was associated with superficial retinal microvasculature damage and ganglion cell apoptosis.

Vitrectomy, lensectomy and silicone oil tamponade in the management of retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment

AIM: To report the results of combined vitrectomy, lensectomy and silicone oil (SO) tamponade in treating primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) associated with choroidal detachment (CD). · METHODS: A retrospective, consecutive and case series study of 21 subjects with concurrent RRD associated with CD was conducted. All subjects underwent a standard three -port 20G pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with lensectomy and silicone oil tamponade. Mean follow -up time was 8 months (rang from 4 to 19 months). The primary and final anatomic success rate, visual acuity and final intraocular pressure (IOP) were recorded and analyzed. ·RESULTS: Of 21 subjects, 8 were women and 13 were men. Age at presentation ranged from 22 to 75 years (mean 57.4 years). The presenting vision ranged from light perception to 0.15. The initial IOP ranged from 3mmHg to 12mmHg (mean 6.2mmHg). All eyes were phakic except one pseudophakic. No intraocular lens was implanted during the primary surgical intervention. Fifteen of 21 (71.4%) eyes had retina reattached after one operation. Six eyes had recurrent inferior retinal detachment due to proliferation. Five of them were successfully reattached after one or more additional operations. Mean IOP at final follow -up was 15.2mmHg (range from 8mmHg to 20mmHg). One case declined for further operation. The final reattachment rate was 95.2%. Visual acuity improved in 19 (90.5%) eyes, was unchanged in 1 (4.8%) eye and decreased in 1 (4.8%) eye.·CONCLUSION: Combination of vitrectomy, lensectomy and silicone tamponade is an effective method in treating RRD associated with CD, reducing the incidence of postoperative hypotony.

Body armour-New materials, new systems

This is a very timely review of body armour materials and systems since new test standards are currently being written, or reviewed, and new, innovative products released. Of greatest importance, however, is the recent evolution, and maturity, of the Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene fibres enabling a completely new style of system to evolve e a stackable system of Hard Armour Plates. The science of body armour materials is quickly reviewed with emphasis upon current understanding of relevant energy-absorbing mechanisms in fibres, fabrics, polymeric laminates and ceramics. The trend in ongoing developments in ballistic fibres is then reviewed, analysed and future projections offered. Weaknesses in some of the ceramic grades are highlighted as is the value of using cladding materials to improve the robustness, and multi-strike performance, of Hard Armour Plates. Finally, with the drive for lighter, and therefore smaller, soft armour systems for military personnel the challenges for armour designers are reported, and the importance of the relative size of the Hard Armour Plate to the Soft Armour Insert is strongly emphasised.

Silicone-covered biodegradable magnesium stent for treating benign esophageal stricture in a rabbit model

BACKGROUND Stent insertion can effective alleviate the symptoms of benign esophageal strictures(BES).Magnesium alloy stents are a good candidate because of biological safety,but show a poor corrosion resistance and a quick loss of mechanical support in vivo.AIM To test the therapeutic and adverse effects of a silicone-covered magnesium alloy biodegradable esophageal stent.METHODS Fifteen rabbits underwent silicone-covered biodegradable magnesium stent insertion into the benign esophageal stricture under fluoroscopic guidance(stent group).The wall reconstruction and tissue reaction of stenotic esophagus in the stent group were compared with those of six esophageal stricture models(control group).Esophagography was performed at 1,2,and 3 weeks.Four,six,and five rabbits in the stent group and two rabbits in the control groups were euthanized,respectively,at each time point for histological examination.RESULTS All stent insertions were well tolerated.The esophageal diameters at immediately,1,2 and 3 wk were 9.8±0.3 mm,9.7±0.7 mm,9.4±0.8 mm,and 9.2±0.5 mm,respectively(vs 4.9±0.3 mm before stent insertion;P<0.05).Magnesium stents migrated in eight rabbits[one at 1 wk(1/15),three at 2 wk(3/11),and four at 3 wk(4/5)].Esophageal wall remodeling(thinner epithelial and smooth muscle layers)was found significantly thinner in the stent group than in the control group(P<0.05).Esophageal injury and collagen deposition following stent insertion were similar and did not differ compared to rabbits with esophageal stricture and normal rabbits(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Esophageal silicone-covered biodegradable magnesium stent insertion is feasible for BES without causing severe injury or tissue reaction.Our study suggests that insertion of silicone-covered magnesium esophageal stent is a promising approach for treating BES.

Effects of estradiol-17β and bisphenol A administered chronically to mice throughout pregnancy and lactation on the male pups＇ reproductive system

Aim： To assess the effect of estradiol-17β （E2） and bisphenol A （BPA） administered chronically by implanting a silicone tube throughout pregnancy and lactation on male pups＇ reproductive system in ICR mice. Methods： Female mice were implanted with a tube filled with 10 ng, 500 ng, 1 μg, or 10 μg of E2, or 100 μg or 5 mg of BPA, before mating. The tube was kept in the mice throughout pregnancy and lactation, until the pups had weaned at 4 weeks of age. During the period, E2 was released from the tube at 120 pg or 6, 12 or 120 ng/day, and BPA at 1.2 or 60 μg/day. Results： Most of the mice given 1 μg and 10 lag of E2 did not maintain their pregnancy. However, the other groups showed high rates of birth, more than 70%. At age of 4 weeks, the male pups were killed. Body weight and reproductive organ weights （testes, epididymides and accessory reproductive glands） in the treated groups did not differ from the control values, whereas the percentage of seminiferous tubules in the testis with mature spermatids was significantly lower in the groups given 10 ng and 500 ng of E2 and 5 mg of BPA than that in the control. Conclusion： Chronic exposure to E2 and BPA might disrupt spermatogenesis in male pups. （Asian JAndrol 2008 Mar; 10： 271-276）

Analysis of the causative factors related to earlier emulsification of silicone oil

The aim of this study is to report and analyze the factors related with earlier occurrence of silicone oil(SO) emulsification in patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy and SO injection in our hospital. We retrospectively reviewed consecutive case series undergone both SO injection and removal in our hospital, and 182 ones were eligible. Possible related independent factors included: macula status(on/off), concomitant phacoemulsification with the surgery of SO tamponading, concomitant status of proliferative vitreoretinopathy, combined surgery of retinotomy, time to have emulsification(<6 mo/≥6 mo after primary SO injection), route of SO injection(anterior/posterior), lens status(aphakic/pseudophakic/phakic), anesthesia(local/general), brands and type of SO, with/without episcleral cryotherapy, with/without hypertension, with/without diabetes, with/without intraoperative use of triamcinolone acetonide. The study revealed that brand and type of SO was the significant factor related with earlier emulsification of SO. Further study was warranted to find out the underlying causes.

A comparison between monocanalicular and pushed monocanalicular silicone intubation in the treatment of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction

AIM: To compare the success rate of monocanalicular versus pushed monocanalicular silicone intubation(PMCI)of the nasolacrimal duct for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction(CNLDO).METHODS: In a prospective randomized clinical trial 53 eyes of 49 patients with CNLDO underwent either monocanalicular silicone intubation(MCI)(n =28 eyes) or PMCI(n =25 eyes). All procedures were performed by 1oculoplastic surgeon. Treatment success was defined as the complete resolution of epiphora at 3mo after tube removal.RESULTS: The surgical outcome was assessed in 20 eyes with MCI and 20 eyes with PMCI. The mean age of treatment was 26.25 ±10.08mo(range, 13-49mo) for MCI and 26.85±12.25mo(range, 16-68mo) for PMCI. Treatment success was achieved in 18 of 20 eyes(90.0%) in the MCI group compared with 10 of 20 eyes(50%) in the PMCI group(P =0.01). In the PMCI group, the tube loss(30%)was greater than the MCI group(5%), however the differences between the 2 groups proved to be not significant(P =0.91).CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that MCI has higher success rate in CNLDO treatment compared with PMCI in this small series of patients.

Cloud Point Extraction of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Aqueous Solution with Silicone Surfactants

Cloud point extraction （CPE） processes with two silicone surfactants, Dow Coming DC-190 and DC-193, were studied as preconcentration and treatment for the water polluted by three trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs）： anthracene, phenanthrene and pyrene. For all cases, the volumes of surfactant-rich phase obtained by two silicone surfactants were very small, i.e. a lower water content in the surfactant-rich phase was obtained. For example, less than 3% of the initial solution was obtained in a 1% （by mass） surfactant solution, which was much smaller than that of TX-114 in the same surfactant concentration. And TX-114 is known as a high compact surfactant-rich phase among most nonionic surfactants, thus the comparison showed that an excellent enrichment was ensured in the analysis application by the CPE process with the silicone surfactants, and the lower water content obtained in the surfactant-rich phase is also important in the large scale water treatment. The influences of additives and phase separation methodology on the recovery of PAHs were discussed. Comparing with DC-193, DC-190 has a lower cloud point and a higher recovery （near 100%） of all the three PAHs in same surfactant concentration, which was required for application as a preconcentration process prior to HPLC system. However the DC-190 solution is hard to be phase separated only by heating, whereas DC-193 has a relative higher phase separating speed by heating, but a high cloud point （around 360K） limits its application. Due to the phase separation by heating is the only method of CPE suitable to the large scale water treatment, the mixtures of two silicone surfacrants solutions were investigated in this study. A solution containing 1% of mixed DC-190 and DC-193 （in the ratio of 90 ： 10） removed anthracene, phenanthrene and pyrene near 100% with a relative low cloud point and quick phase separating speed.