A Review of the Genus Pielomastax Chang (Orthoptera: Eumastacoidea) from China with Description of a New Species

The review of the genus Pielomastax is given. The genus consists of 14 species distributed in China. Pielomastax cladopygidium n. sp. is described from Shaanxi Province. An annotated list of species and key to species of Pielomastax is provided.

Correlation of optical components with ocular refraction among teen-agers in Taipei

From 2 senior-high and 2 vocational schools in Taipei, 3251 children with age 16-19 were randomly selected to study the relationship between ocular refraction and its main optical components, corneal curvature and axial length. While the corneal curvature was found to play only a minor role in the determination of ocular refraction, the measurements of axial length parallelled the degree of myopia (r = 0.74). A two-years' longitudinal study of additional 411 children from one junior-high school (age 13 through 15) further pointed to the importance of axial length in the production and progression of myopia.

Phospholipase C isozymes: structural and functional similarities

Phospholipase C (PLC) is shown to comprise at least nine isoforms. These isoforms can be separated into three structurally related classes. Within a class the isozymes have similar enzymological properties. In the case of the PLC gamma class, both isoforms may be regulated by tyrosine phosphorylation. For PLC gamma 1 we show that the tyrosine phosphorylation sites are contained within the SH2/SH3 region or 'modulatory domain'. The overexpression of PLC gamma 1 in Rat-2 cells results in increased phosphatidylinositol breakdown in response to PDGF treatment, demonstrating that PLC gamma 1 mediates this response. We note that thrombin activates PLC gamma 1 in addition to other PLC isoforms.

Mutations in the ATP2C1 gene in Chinese patients with Hailey-Hailey disease

Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD; MIM 16960) is a rare autosomal dominant hereditary disorder characterized by recurrent eruption of vesicles and bullae, predominantly involving the body folds. It is caused by heterozygous mutations in the ATP2C1 gene, encoding the human secretory pathway Ca2+/Mn2+-ATPase protein 1 (hSPCA1). When we studied Chinese patients with HHD, we found two different heterozygous mutations, Q506X and G353V, the former previously reported in a Hungarian patient, and the latter being a novel mutation. In a 38-year-old patient from a four-generation pedigree with a 3-year history of severe recurrent blisters, we identified a C-->T transition at nucleotide 1696, c(1696C-->T), in exon 17 of ATP2C1, resulting in a nonsenes mutation, Gln506X, which resulted in a premature termination codon. In the second patient, who represented a occurrence of sporadic Hailey-Hailey disease, a G-->T transversion of nucleotide, c(G1238T), in exon 13 of ATP2C1 was detected, which resulted in a Gly353-->Val amino acid substitution (G353V). Our molecular findings further demonstrate that the mutational events in the human ATP2C1 gene encoding the hSPCA1 pump play an important role in the pathogenesis of HHD.

Epidemiologic study of the prevalence and severity of myopia among schoolchildren in Taiwan in 2000

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A nationwide survey was performed in 2000 to determine the prevalence and severity of myopia among schoolchildren in Taiwan and to compare these findings with the results of the last survey performed in 1995.

METHODS

We first divided the whole island into regions according to developmental grade scores and then sampled with the probability proportional to the size of the population within each stratum. A total of 10,889 students were enrolled, including 5,664 boys and 5,225 girls, with ages ranging from 7 to 18 years. The refractive status and corneal radius of each student were measured with an autorefractometer under cycloplegia and checked with retinoscopy. Axial length was measured using biometric ultrasound.

RESULTS

The myopia rate increased from 20% at 7 years, to 61% at 12 years, and 81% at 15 years. A myopic rate of 84% was found for schoolchildren aged 16 years through 18 years. The mean refractive index reached myopic status at the age of 8, and increased to -4.12 D in girls and -3.15 D in boys at the age of 18 years. The prevalence of high myopia (> -6.0 D) at the age of 18 years was 24% in girls and 18% in boys. The increase in axial length corresponded with the progression of myopia. The anterior chamber depth was slightly deeper from 7 years to 13 years and then remained stable. The lens thickness decreased from 7 years to 11 years. After age 15, further thickening of the lens was correlated with both age and severity of myopia. However, the corneal curvature was not related to age or severity of myopia. Girls had a higher prevalence and more severe degree of myopia than boys. Children in urban areas had a higher prevalence and more severe degree of myopia than children in rural areas.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence and severity of myopia in schoolchildren in Taiwan in 2000 increased compared to 1995, with the most severe increases occurring in younger age groups. Thus, preventing schoolchildren developing myopia at a young age may slow down the increase in severity of myopia in Taiwan.

The N-terminal signal sequence and the last 98 amino acids are not essential for the secretion of Bacillus sp. TS-23 alpha-amylase in Escherichia coli

A truncated Bacillus sp. TS-23 alpha-amylase gene lacking 96 and 294 bp at its 5' and 3' end respectively was prepared by polymerase chain reaction and cloned into Escherichia coli expression vector, pQE-30, under the control of T5 promoter. SDS-PAGE and activity staining analyses showed that the His6-tagged amylase had a molecular mass of approximately 54 kDa. Isopropyl-beta-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) induction of E. coli M15 cells bearing the recombinant plasmid resulted in the extracellular production of active amylase. Western blot analysis also revealed that the truncated amylase was present in the periplasmic space and culture medium.

The cornea in young myopic adults

AIMS

To further understand the effect of refractive error on the corneal dimensions and function.

METHODS

Corneal curvature, corneal thickness, and axial length measurements were performed, as well as specular microscopy and fluorophotometry, on patients with various refractive statuses. 216 subjects, mean age 22.2 (SD 4.2) years, were examined. Patients with previous contact lens wear history, external eye diseases, as well as previous ocular surgeries, were excluded.

RESULTS

The corneas were flatter in eyes with longer axial length (r = -0.22, p = 0.003). Eyes with more myopic spherical equivalent had longer axial length (r = -0.90, p <0.001) as well as less corneal endothelial density (r = 0.20, p = 0.037). Corneal endothelial density decreased in eyes with longer axial length (r = 0.24, p = 0.019); however, it correlated neither with corneal thickness (r = -0.06, p = 0.59) nor with corneal curvature (r = -0.07, p = 0.52). The corneas had a mean corneal thickness of 533 (SD 29) microm and were thinner in more myopic eyes (r = 0.16, p = 0.021). The corneas tended to be thinner in eyes with longer axial length. However, the correlation did not reach statistical significance (r = -0.11, p = 0.14). Besides, there was no significant correlation between the corneal thickness and the corneal curvature (r = -0.13, p = 0.093) and the endothelial permeability (r = 0.042, p = 0.69). The corneas with higher endothelial density had larger corneal transfer coefficient (r = 0.26, p = 0.024) and higher permeability to fluorescein molecules (r = 0.28, p = 0.014). Nevertheless, the corneal endothelial permeability did not correlate significantly with either the axial length (r = -0.18, p = 0.11) or the degree of myopia (r = 0.12, p = 0.26).

CONCLUSION

Changes in the anterior segments as the eyeball elongates in myopia progression included flatter corneal curvature, decreased corneal thickness, as well as decreased endothelial density. These factors should be considered in refractive surgery.

Enhanced proliferation and increased IFN-gamma production in T cells by signal transduced through TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL, also called Apo2L), a novel member of TNF superfamily, induces apoptosis in transformed cell lines of diverse origin. TRAIL is expressed in most of the cells, and the expression is up-regulated in activated T cells. Four receptors for TRAIL have been identified, and there is complex interplay between TRAIL and TRAIL receptors in vivo. The actual biological function of TRAIL/TRAIL receptor is still not clear. Growing evidence has demonstrated that members of TNF superfamily transduce signals after engagement with their receptors. Cross-linking of TRAIL by plate-bound rTRAIL receptor, death receptor 4-Fc fusion protein enhanced T cell proliferation and increased IFN-gamma production in conjunction with immobilized suboptimal anti-CD3 stimulation in mouse splenocytes. The increase of T cell proliferation by death receptor 4-Fc was dose dependent, and this effect could be blocked by soluble rTRAIL proteins, indicating the occurrence of reverse signaling through TRAIL on T cell. The enhanced secretion of IFN-gamma mediated via TRAIL could be blocked by SB203580, a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-specific inhibitor. Thus, in addition to its role in inducing apoptosis by binding to the death receptors, TRAIL itself can enhance T cell proliferation after TCR engagement and signal the augmentation of IFN-gamma secretion via a p38-dependent pathway. This provides another example of reverse signaling by a member of TNF superfamily. In conclusion, our data suggest that TRAIL can itself transduce a reverse signal, and this may shed light on the biological function of TRAIL.

Solution structure of the tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 death domain

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 death domain (TNFR-1 DD) is the intracellular functional domain responsible for the receptor signaling activities. The solution structure of the R347K mutant of TNFR-1 DD was solved by NMR spectroscopy. A total of 20 structures were calculated by means of hybrid distance geometry-simulated annealing using a total of 1167 distance constraints and 117 torsion angle constraints. The atomic rms distribution about the mean coordinate positions for the 20 structures for residues composing the secondary structure region is 0.40 A for the backbone atoms and 1.09 A for all atoms. The structure consists of six antiparallel alpha-helices arranged in a similar fashion to the other members of the death domain superfamily. The secondary structure and three-dimensional structure of R347K TNFR1-DD are very similar to the secondary structure and deduced topology of the R347A TNFR1-DD mutant. Mutagenesis studies identified critical residues located in alpha2 and part of alpha3 and alpha4 that are crucial for self-interaction and interaction with TRADD. Structural superposition with previously solved proteins in the death domain superfamily reveals that the major differences between the structures reside in alpha2, alpha3, and alpha4. Interestingly, these regions correspond to the binding sites of TNFR1-DD, providing a structural basis for the specificity of death domain interactions and its subsequent signaling event.

An intervention trial on efficacy of atropine and multi-focal glasses in controlling myopic progression

PURPOSE

This randomized clinical trial assessed the treatment effects of atropine and/or multi-focal lenses in decreasing the progression rate of myopia in children.

METHODS

Two hundred and twenty-seven schoolchildren with myopia, aged from 6 to 13 years, who were stratified based on gender, age and the initial amount of myopia were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: 0.5% atropine with multi-focal glasses, multi-focal glasses, and single vision spectacles. Each subject was followed for at least eighteen months. These results report on the 188 patients available for the follow-up.

RESULTS

The mean progression of myopia in atropine with multi-focal glasses group (0.41 D) was significantly less than the multi-focal (1.19 D) and single vision group (1.40 D) (p < 0.0001). But no significant difference was noted between the last two groups (p = 0.44). The progression of myopia was significantly correlated with the increases of axial length (r = 0.65, p = 0.0001), but not with the changes of corneal power (r=-0.09), anterior chamber depth (r = -0.023), lens thickness (r = -0.08), or intra-ocular pressure (r = -0.008).

CONCLUSION

The 0.5% atropine with multi-focal lenses can slow down the progression rate of myopia. However, multi-focal lenses alone showed no difference in effect compared to control.

Identification of essential cysteine residues in 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase from Corynebacterium glutamicum

To ascertain the functional role of cysteine residue in 3-deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase from Corynebacterium glutamicum, site-directed mutagenesis was performed to change each of the three residues to serine. Plasmids were constructed for high-level overproduction and one-step purification of histidine-tagged DAHP synthase. Analysis of the purified wild-type and mutant enzymes by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed an apparent protein band with a molecular mass of approximately 45 kDa. Cys145Ser mutant retained about 16% of the enzyme activity, while DAHP synthase activity was abolished in Cys67Ser mutant. Kinetic analysis of Cys145Ser mutant with PEP as a substrate revealed a marked increase in Km with significant change in kcat, resulting in a 13.6-fold decrease in kcat/KmPEP. Cys334 was found to be nonessential for catalytic activity, although it is highly conserved in DAHP synthases. From these studies, Cys67 appears important for synthase activity, while Cys145 plays a crucial role in the catalytic efficiency through affecting the mode of substrate binding.

Effects of contact lenses on corneal endothelium - a morphological and functional study

PURPOSE

To study the corneal endothelial morphological changes and endothelial barrier function in contact lens wearers.

METHODS

Specular microscopy and anterior segment fluorophotometry were performed on 116 controls (group 1) and 76 daily wear soft contact lens wearers. Group 2 patients (n = 34) had been wearing contact lenses for less than 5 years and group 3 (n = 42) for more than 5 years. The relationship of corneal thickness, endothelial cell density, hexagonal cell percentage, coefficient of variation in cell area, corneal autofluorescence and corneal endothelial permeability to the contact lens wear duration was studied.

RESULTS

The average corneal thickness of contact lens wearers did not differ significantly from controls (0.533 +/- 0.031, 0.538 +/- 0.044, 0.532 +/- 0.031 mm for groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively; p = 0.89). However, there was a significant tendency toward corneal thinning with a longer history of contact lens wear (r = -0.31, p = 0.002 in groups 2 and 3). The percentage of hexagonal cells decreased with both increasing hours of contact lens wear per day (r = -0.36, p < 0.001) and the duration of contact lens wear in years (r = -0.33, p < 0.001), but there was no significant change in endothelial cell density in contact lens wearers. The coefficient of variation in cell size correlated more closely with increased hours of contact lens wear per day (r = 0.35, p = 0.002) than with the duration of contact lens wear in years (r = 0.12; p = 0.31). In the functional study, corneal autofluorescence increased in contact lens wearers (5.13 +/- 0.71 ng/ml in group 1, 6.45 +/- 2.03 ng/ml in group 2 and 7.21 +/- 1.51 ng/ml in group 3, respectively, p < 0.001) and the mean endothelial permeability decreased in contact lens wearers (3.89 +/- 0.95 x10(-4)/cm in group 1, 2.71 +/- 0.73 x 10(-4)/cm in group 2 and 2.95 +/- 0.91 x 10(-4)/cm in group 3, respectively, p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Daily wear soft contact lenses caused morphological changes in the corneal endothelium. With an increasing span of contact lens wear, there was a significantly increased variation in cell size, a decreased hexagonal cell percentage, an evident intercellular dark area and rosette formation. The corneal autofluorescence increased and the overall endothelial permeability decreased as a consequence of contact lens wear. Contact lens wear also caused corneal thinning, and the cornea became thinner with increasing duration of contact lens wear.

Effects of dopamine antagonists in human eye accommodation

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dopamine antagonists in accommodation of the human eye. The dopamine antagonist drugs used in this experiment include 0.5% metoclopramide and 0.25% droperidol. Eighteen healthy subjects were enrolled; they were randomly assigned, in double-masked fashion, to receive topical administration of a single drop of either 0.5% metoclopramide or 0.25% droperidol in one eye, with the fellow eye receiving isotonic saline as control. The accommodative abilities of both eyes were measured before instillation, and also at 3 and 6 hr after instillation of drugs, respectively. We studied the latency of reaction, the rate of accommodation, the average accommodative power, the rate of recovering and the total recovering time as the five parameters for evaluating the accommodative ability of each eye. The results showed that there were significant changes in two parameters: the rate of accommodation and rate of recovering, whereas there were no significant changes in the other three parameters: latency of accommodation, average power of accommodation and total recovering time. In conclusion, the dopamine antagonists may have some effects on the rate of accommodation but not the degree of accommodation. Further studies with higher concentrations of these dopamine antagonists on dose-response relationships are needed before exact drug efficacy can be drawn.

Exposure assessment of indoor allergens, endotoxin, and airborne fungi for homes in southern Taiwan

This study was undertaken to examine the seasonal variations of domestic Der p 1, Der p 2, and endotoxin on mattress and airborne fungal concentrations in homes of asthmatic and nonasthmatic children in southern Taiwan, where temperature and relative humidity are usually high throughout the year. A group of asthmatic children (10-12 years old) were selected randomly based on a citywide questionnaire survey. The nonasthmatic children were chosen to be in the comparison group by matching in age, gender, and proximity of residence. Environmental sampling of domestic microbes was conducted once a month for a year. Twelve calendar months were grouped into spring, summer, fall, and winter according to weather data (mainly average temperature and humidity) from the Central Weather Bureau. Dust samples from a child's mattress and airborne samples from a child's bedroom were collected and analyzed for allergens of Der p 1 and Der p 2, endotoxin, and fungi respectively. Results show that about 65% of children's mattresses in our region have Der p 1 levels greater than 2 microg/g. It is also apparent that most airborne fungal concentrations found in homes of either asthmatic or nonasthmatic children are higher than the recommended levels of concern. The predominant genera are Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, and yeast. In addition, seasonal effects seem to be a critical factor for the concentrations and distributions of domestic endotoxin in these study homes. The implication of long-term exposure to these high levels of environmental microbes and how their effects vary with seasons remain to be further characterized.

Serine 187 is a crucial residue for allosteric regulation of Corynebacterium glutamicum 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase

Corynebacterium glutamicum 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase is sensitive to feedback inhibition by tyrosine. One feedback-insensitive mutant was obtained by in vitro chemical mutagenesis and the mutation was identified as a C-->G mutation at nucleotide 560 causing a Ser(187) to Cys(187) substitution. Replacing Ser(187) with cysteine, tyrosine or phenylalanine by site-directed mutagenesis not only reduced the enzymatic activity but also relieved its feedback inhibition by tyrosine, while Ser(187)Ala exhibited a comparable activity to that of wild-type enzyme and sensitized to allosteric regulation. The His(6)-tagged enzymes were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity by immobilized nickel-ion affinity chromatography. Kinetic analysis showed that tyrosine is a competitive inhibitor of phosphoenol pyruvate, one of the precursors for DAHP biosynthesis.

Mutational analysis and NMR studies of the death domain of the tumor necrosis factor receptor-1

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 (TNFR-1) death domain (DD) is the intracellular functional domain responsible for the receptor signaling activities. To understand the transduction mechanism of TNFR-1 signaling we performed structural and functional analysis of the TNFR-DD. The secondary structure of the TNFR-DD shows that it consists of six anti-parallel alpha-helices. The determination of the topological fold and an extensive mutagenesis analysis revealed that there are two opposite faces that are involved in self-association and interaction with the TRADD death domain. Interestingly, the same critical residues in TNFR-DD are involved in both interactions. There is a good correlation between the binding activities of the mutant proteins and their cytotoxic activities. These results provide important insight into the molecular interactions mediating TNFR-DD self-association and subsequent recruitment of TRADD in the signaling activity of TNFR-1.

Evaluation of optic disc changes in severe myopia

PURPOSE

To evaluate the changes in the optic nerve head in highly myopic subjects by means of confocal laser scanning opthalmoscope.

METHODS

Using laser scanning and a three-dimensional image analysis system, we studied 114 young (21.4 +/- 1.4 years), highly myopic subjects with refractive errors greater than -8.0 D and a control group of 29 subjects (18.9 +/- 1.2 years) with myopia of -3.0 D or less. Measurements included cycloplegic refraction, corneal curvature, biometric axial length, and morphometric values of the optic disc obtained with a laser scanning disc analyzer.

RESULTS

The optic disc area in highly myopic eyes was similar to that in mildly myopic eyes. However, regression analysis revealed that the optic disc area increased with axial length in subjects with severe myopia. The cup/disc ratio, the disc depth, the neuroretinal rim area, and the tilting of the disc were not significantly different between the severe and mild myopia groups.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings may be useful in further investigations of myopic progression and of the mechanisms responsible for the development of myopic complications.

Solution structure of N-TRADD and characterization of the interaction of N-TRADD and C-TRAF2, a key step in the TNFR1 signaling pathway

TRADD is a multifunctional signaling adaptor protein that is recruited to TNFR1 upon ligand binding. The C-terminal of TRADD comprises the "death domain" that is responsible for association of TNFR1 and other death domain-containing proteins such as FADD and RIP. The N-terminal domain (N-TRADD) promotes the recruitment of TRAF2 to TNFR1 by binding to the C-terminal of TRAF2, leading to the activation of JNK/AP1 and NF-kappa B. The solution structure of N-TRADD was determined, revealing a novel protein fold. A combination of NMR, BIAcore, and mutagenesis experiments was used to help identify the site of interaction of N-TRADD with C-TRAF2, providing a framework for future attempts to selectively inhibit the TNF signaling pathways.

LRDD, a novel leucine rich repeat and death domain containing protein

Death domains (DD) and leucine rich repeats (LRR) are two different types of protein interaction motifs. Death domains are found predominantly in proteins involved in signaling and are involved in homo- and heteromultimerization. Leucine rich repeats are found in proteins with diverse cellular functions, like cell adhesion and cellular signaling, and mediate reversible protein-protein interactions. In this paper we report the cloning of a new human gene called LRDD (leucine repeat death domain containing protein). LRDD encodes a protein of 83 kDa with six LRRs at the N-terminus and a DD at the C-terminus. LRDD appears to be processed into two fragments of about 33 and 55 kDa, containing LRRs and DD respectively. Interestingly, LRDD is shown to interact with two other death domain containing proteins, FADD and MADD, presumably through death domain interactions. LRDD may represent a new type of adapter protein that could be involved in signaling or other cellular functions.