Growing evidence suggests that fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) likely increases the risks of dementia, yet little is known about the relative contributions of different constituents. Here, we conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study (2000 to 2017) by integrating the Medicare Chronic Conditions Warehouse database and two independently sourced datasets of high-resolution PM 2.5 major chemical composition, including black carbon (BC), organic matter (OM), nitrate (NO 3 − ), sulfate (SO 4 2− ), ammonium (NH 4 + ), and soil dust (DUST). To investigate the impact of long-term exposure to PM 2.5 constituents on incident all-cause dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), hazard ratios for dementia and AD were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models, and penalized splines were used to evaluate potential nonlinear concentration–response (C-R) relationships. Results using two exposure datasets consistently indicated higher rates of incident dementia and AD for an increased exposure to PM 2.5 and its major constituents. An interquartile range increase in PM 2.5 mass was associated with a 6 to 7% increase in dementia incidence and a 9% increase in AD incidence. For different PM 2.5 constituents, associations remained significant for BC, OM, SO 4 2− , and NH 4 + for both end points (even after adjustments of other constituents), among which BC and SO 4 2− showed the strongest associations. All constituents had largely linear C-R relationships in the low exposure range, but most tailed off at higher exposure concentrations. Our findings suggest that long-term exposure to PM 2.5 is significantly associated with higher rates of incident dementia and AD and that SO 4 2− , BC, and OM related to traffic and fossil fuel combustion might drive the observed associations.

Purpose/Aim Subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD) are the main structural lesion of reticular macular disease (RMD), a phenotype of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We aim to demonstrate spatiotemporal relationships between SDD and choroidal thickness alterations in RMD+ and RMD− eyes. Materials and Methods 33 eyes (26 subjects) with early AMD/no SDD (RMD−) and 18 eyes (16 subjects) with early AMD/SDD (RMD+) underwent enhanced depth imaging spectral domain optical coherence tomography for choroidal thickness (CTh) measurements at 11 points per scan, in 5 horizontal B scans, creating a grid of 55 points/eye. The 55 points were treated as a cluster, controlling within-subject correlation. Marginal generalized estimating equation modeling was used to estimate the association between CTh and RMD status. All eyes were divided by their median age (≤82 and >82 years) for stratified analyses. Results CTh was not significantly reduced in RMD+ eyes compared to RMD-eyes (mean difference [MD] −16.84 μm, P=0.24). Among younger subjects, mean CTh was significantly reduced in RMD+ vs. RMD− eyes (MD −53.72 μm, P=0.01). Conversely, among older subjects, there was no significant difference in CTh between RMD+ and RMD−. Conclusions In RMD, the association of SDD and choroidal thickness alterations varies with age but not by macular region. Among younger subjects (<82 years old), CTh was significantly thinner in RMD+ vs. RMD− eyes.

There is increasing evidence linking long-term fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) exposure to negative health effects. However, the relative influence of each component of PM 2.5 on health risk is poorly understood. In a cohort study in the contiguous United States between 2000 and 2017, we examined the effect of long-term exposure to PM 2.5 main components and allcause mortality in older adults who had to be at least 65 years old and enrolled in Medicare. We estimated the yearly mean concentrations of six key PM 2.5 compounds, including black carbon (BC), organic matter (OM), soil dust (DUST), nitrate (NO 3 − ), sulfate (SO 4 2−), and ammonium (NH 4 + ), using two independently sourced well-validated prediction models. We applied Cox proportional hazard models to evaluate the hazard ratios for mortality and penalized splines for assessing potential nonlinear concentration−response associations. Results suggested that increased exposure to PM 2.5 mass and its six main constituents were significantly linked to elevated all-cause mortality. All components showed linear concentration−response relationships in the low exposure concentration ranges. Our research indicates that long-term exposure to PM 2.5 mass and its essential compounds are strongly connected to increased mortality risk. Reductions of fossil fuel burning may yield significant air quality and public health benefit.

Spindle cell tumor is very rare. Herein, we report a case of retroperitoneal spindle cell tumor in a 52-year-old female. The patient first presented with a complaint of persistent pain in the right upper abdomen. In the follow-up, a CT scan was performed and showed a retroperitoneal soft tissue density mass measuring 11 cm in diameter. Then, a subsequent operation was performed, and we completely removed the tumor and partially invaded lesions. The tumor was histologically diagnosed as a spindle cell tumor. Therefore, it is imperative for us to enhance the understanding of this seldom found tumor. Surgery remains the best option for treatment.

Purpose: Compare the thickness of the retinal ellipsoidal zone in patients with Reticular Macular Disease (RMD) to a control population.Methods: This case-control study was conducted on patients diagnosed with RMD at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from April 2018 to November 2018. We identified 25 cases who were diagnosed with RMD and 20 normal control eyes. Divide the posterior pole into five regions (superior, inferior, nasal, temporal, and subfoveal zones), and manually measure the five regions posterior ellipsoidal zone thickness, all the images were obtained by SD-OCT. Generalized estimating equation models were used to control for potential confounders and within-subject variation.Results: The mean ellipsoidal zone thickness in RMD patients five regions were all significantly lower than in the control group (all P<0.01). The mean ellipsoidal zone thickness value in men with RMD has a more significant change than females. Furthermore, the mean ellipsoidal zone thickness of reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) eyes with drusen were not significantly different from the pure RPD eyes (P=0.34). Conclusions: Our findings reveal that the mechanism of RMD occurs may be related to damage to the mitochondria of photoreceptor cells, which may be one of the mechanisms that RMD occurs. When the impairment degree of mitochondria reach to a certain level, may lead to further vision loss in RMD patients. Therefore, to protect the retinal ellipsoidal zone and its mitochdrial early is important to prevent further impairment of visual function and vision loss.