Xin Liu

Millions of fungal infections are reported every year, while the current antifungal drugs are so few that the clinical choices are limited. The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida glabrata (reclassified as Nakaseomyces glabratus ) caused more infections than any other Candida species except C. albicans . This research sought to explore the antifungal effects of isobavachalcone (IBC, a bioactive chalcone from Psoralea corylifolia ) on C. glabrata planktonic growth and biofilms. Our results showed that IBC has potent antifungal activity against C. glabrata (MIC: 4-5 μg/mL), including both the standard strain and clinical isolates. This compound could also inhibit C. glabrata biofilm formation and development. Its antifungal mechanism involves intracellular ROS overproduction and cell membrane impairments, which were revealed by confocal laser scanning microscope observation after fluorescent staining of ROS and plasma membrane. N -acetyl-cysteine rescue tests also confirmed that the ROS-inducing activity of IBC contributed to its antifungal and antibiofilm effects on C. glabrata . Micrographs obtained with electron microscope revealed as well the impairments to C. glabrata plasma membrane caused by IBC. In conclusion, our results obtained here indicated that IBC is a promising antifungal candidate for treating C. glabrata infections.

Purpose: To describe and evaluate a modified technique for safely enlarging a small continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) during cataract surgery, particularly when the margin of the small CCC lies beneath the main incision, where conventional capsule scissors are difficult or impossible to use. Methods: We describe a bimanual technique in which a manually bent 27-gauge needle is used to create a controlled capsular flap while the capsulorhexis forceps simultaneously stabilize the anterior capsule, facilitating safe and controlled enlargement of a small primary CCC. The technique can be performed at various surgical stages after sufficient viscoelastic has been injected to flatten the anterior capsule. This procedure was applied in eyes requiring CCC enlargement. Clinical outcomes, including capsulorhexis diameters before and after enlargement (measured using image analysis software) and the occurrence of using complications (eg radial tears, zonular damage), were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Between April and November 2025, a total of 1860 cataract surgeries were performed, of which 39 eyes (2.09%) required CCC enlargement. In 20 of these cases, the modified needle technique was employed, primarily for CCCs under the main incision. Enlargement was successful in all 20 cases, with the mean CCC diameter increasing from 4.34 ± 0.44 mm preoperatively to 5.07 ± 0.28 mm post-enlargement. No intraoperative complications such as radial capsular extension or zonular dialysis occurred. During follow-up, no late complications, such as capsular phimosis or intraocular lens decentration, were observed. Conclusion: The described 27‑gauge needle technique appears to be a feasible, safe, and accessible method for enlarging a small CCC in selected cases. It is particularly useful for managing small capsulorhexes situated under the main incision, where conventional instruments have limited access.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most prevalent complications of diabetes which could lead to vision impairment. Dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is an early pathogenic event, where various mechanisms may contribute to the disease progression. circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been reported to be important regulators in diabetic complications, acting as miRNA sponge, participating in the regulation of gene transcription or coding short peptides. Circular RNA microarray and RNA-seq were used to identify differentially expressed circRNAs in ARPE-19 cells in normal and high glucose treatments. The expression of cKIAA1462, miR-183-5p, and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. In vitro experiments, such as flow cytometry, Western blot, and Electron microscope (TEM) were conducted. The binding interaction was confirmed using dual-luciferase reporter and overexpression/inhibition experiments. cKIAA1462 was knocked down via intravitreal lentiviral injection in diabetic mice, followed by expression level detection, functional analysis and histological assessments. cKIAA1462 was significantly upregulated under high glucose conditions both in vitro and in vivo (in retinas of diabetic mice). It acted as a molecular sponge for miR-183-5p, increasing the expression of HMGB1. Elevated HMGB1 concurrently impaired autophagic flux (increased p62, decreased autophagosomes) and activated the NLRP3 inflammasome (upregulated NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1), promoting pyroptosis. Silencing cKIAA1462 in vivo restored autophagy, suppressed pyroptosis, improved retinal structure, and enhanced electroretinogram responses in diabetic mice. The cKIAA1462/miR-183-5p/HMGB1 axis plays a critical role in diabetic RPE injury by dual regulation of autophagy and pyroptosis. Targeting this pathway may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for early diabetic retinopathy.

Infections caused by Candida species, especially Candida albicans, threaten the public health and create economic burden. Shortage of antifungals and emergence of drug resistance call for new antifungal therapies while natural products were attractive sources for developing new drugs. In our study, fangchinoline, a bis‐benzylisoquinoline alkaloid from Chinese herb Stephania tetrandra S. Moore, exerted antifungal effects on planktonic growth of several Candida species including C. albicans, with MIC no more than 50 μg/mL. In addition, results from microscopic, MTT and XTT reduction assays showed that fangchinoline had inhibitory activities against the multiple virulence factors of C. albicans, such as adhesion, hyphal growth and biofilm formation. Furthermore, this compound could also suppress the metabolic activity of preformed C. albicans biofilms. PI staining, followed by confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) analysis showed that fangchinoline can elevate permeability of cell membrane. DCFH‐DA staining suggested its anti‐Candida mechanism also involved overproduction of intracellular ROS, which was further confirmed by N‐acetyl‐cysteine rescue tests. Moreover, fangchinoline showed synergy with three antifungal drugs (amphotericin B, fluconazole and caspofungin), further indicating its potential use in treating C. albicans infections. Therefore, these results indicated that fangchinoline could be a potential candidate for developing anti‐Candida therapies.

This study was performed to explore the antifungal and antibiofilm effects of polyphyllin I (PPI) on Candida albicans. Microdilution assay was performed to determine the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of PPI against Candida species. Adhesion assay, hyphal growth assay, biofilm formation, and development were used to test the impacts of PPI on C. albicans virulence factors. Propidium iodide staining was performed to test whether the permeability of cell membrane was influenced by PPI. PPI showed significant antifungal activities against several Candida species, with MIC below or equal to 6.25 μM. PPI also inhibited the adhesion to polystyrene surfaces, hyphal growth, and biofilm formation. PPI significantly increased the permeability of C. albicans cell membrane. In sum, PPI can suppress the planktonic growth and biofilm of C. albicans and its mechanism involves the increased permeability of cell membrane.

Idiopathic hypoparathyroidism is a rare endocrine disorder characterized by hypocalcemia secondary to inadequate parathyroid hormone secretion. Hypocalcemia-related cataract is most often observed in patients with postoperative hypoparathyroidism, whereas primary hypoparathyroidism-related cataract is rare and displays slow progression. Cataract usually occurs in people aged 18 to 50 years. Here, we describe a 17-year-old boy with bilateral cataract and a history of hypocalcemic tetany who was diagnosed with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. Phacoemulsification with implantation of a monofocal aspherical intraocular lens was performed in the right eye; 6 months later, it was performed in the left eye. Elevated phosphorus and diminished calcium were observed in blood and aqueous humor. A deep anterior chamber, relatively thin central corneal thickness, large white-to-white distance, and thin lens were also observed. During follow-up, neither eye displayed intraocular lens decentration; best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes. These findings suggest that ophthalmologists should be vigilant when hypocalcemic tetany and cataract are present, especially in adolescents and young adults.

Candida albicans infections are threatening public health but there are only several antifungal drugs available. This study was to assess the effects of dehydrocostus lactone (DL) on the Candida albicans growth and biofilms Microdilution assays revealed that DL inhibits a panel of standard Candida species, including C. albicans, as well as 9 C. albicans clinical isolates. The morphological transition of C. albicans in RPMI-1640 medium and the adhesion to polystyrene surfaces can also be decreased by DL treatment, as evidenced by microscopic, metabolic activity and colony forming unit (CFU) counting assays. The XTT assay and microscopy inspection demonstrated that DL can inhibit the biofilms of C. albicans. Confocal microscopy following propidium iodide (PI) staining and DCFH-DA staining after DL treatment revealed that DL can increase the membrane permeability and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. N-acetyl-cysteine could mitigate the inhibitory effects of DL on growth, morphological transition and biofilm formation, further confirming that ROS production induced by DL contributes to its antifungal and antibiofilm effects. This study showed that DL demonstrated antifungal and antibiofilm activity against C. albicans. The antifungal mechanisms may involve membrane damage and ROS overproduction. This study shows the potential of DL to fight Candida infections.