Bruch's membrane opening-minimum rim width and visual field loss in glaucoma:a broken stick analysis

AIM：To determine the Bruch＇s membrane opening-minimum rim width（BMO-MRW） tipping point where corresponding visual field（VF） damages become detectable.METHODS：A total of 85 normal subjects and 83 glaucoma patients（one eye per participant） were recruited for the study.All of the patients had VF examinations and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography to measure the BMO-MRW.Total deviation values for 52 VF points were allocated to the corresponding sector according to the Garway-Heath distribution map.To evaluate the relationship between VF loss and BMOMRW measurements,a ＂broken-stick＂ statistical model was used.The tipping point where the VF values started to sharply decrease as a function of BMO-MRW measurements was estimated and the slopes above and below this tipping point were compared.RESULTS：A 25.9% global BMO-MRW loss from normative value was required for the VF loss to be detectable.Sectorally,substantial BMO-MRW thinning in inferotemporal sector（33.1%） and relatively less BMO-MRW thinning in the superotemporal sector（8.9%） were necessary for the detection of the VF loss.Beyond the tipping point,the slopes were close to zero throughout all of the sectors and the VF loss was unrelated to the BMO-MRW loss.The VF loss was related to the BMO-MRW loss below the tipping point.The difference between the two slopes was statistically significant（P≤0.002）.CONCLUSION：Substantial BMO-MRW loss appears to be necessary for VF loss to be detectable in patients with open angle glaucoma with standard achromatic perimetry.

Atomically precise metal nanoclusters for(photo)electroreduction of CO_(2): Recent advances, challenges and opportunities

To alleviate the global warming by removing excess CO_(2) and converting them into value-added chemicals,(photo)electrochemical reduction has been recognized as a promising strategy.As the CO_(2) reduction reaction(CO_(2) RR) is involved with multiple electrons and multiple products,plus the complexity of the surface chemical environment of the catalyst,it is extremely challenging to establish the structure/function relationship.Atomically precise metal nanoclusters(NCs),with crystallographically resolved structure,molecule-like characters and strong quantum confinement effects,have been emerging as a new type of catalyst for CO_(2) RR,and more importantly,they can provide an ideal platform to unravel the comprehensive mechanistic insights and establish the structure/function relationship eventually.In this review,the recent advances regarding employing molecular metal NCs with well-defined structure including Au NCs,Au-based alloy NCs,Ag NCs,Cu NCs for CO_(2) RR and relevant mechanistic studies are discussed,and the opportunities and challenges are proposed at the end for paving the development of CO_(2) RR by using atomically precise metal NCs.

Influences of the Hydrophobicity of the Heme-binding Pocket on the Properties and Functions of Cytochrome b_5 Mutants

The mutation sites of the four mutants F35Y, P40V, V45E and V45Y of cytochrome b 5 are located at the edge of the heme binding pocket. The solvent accessible areas of the “pocket interior” of the four mutants and the wild type cytochrome b 5 have been calculated based on their crystal structures at high resolution. The change in the hydrophobicity of the heme binding pocket resulting from the mutation can be quantitatively described using the difference of the solvent accessible area of the “pocket interior” of each mutant from that of the wild type cytochrome b 5. The influences of the hydrophobicity of the heme binding pocket on the protein stability and redox potential are discussed.