[Long term results of central hole type posterior chamber intraocular lens in the correction of moderate to high myopia]

Objective: To evaluate the long-term safety,effectiveness,predictability and stability of ICL V4c implantation for moderate to high myopia. Methods: In this retrospective case series study, 95 eyes from 50 patients with moderate to severe myopia who were treated in 2015 underwent central hole type posterior chamber intraocular lens (ICL V4c) implantation at Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University. The patients were followed up for a period of five years, during which we assessed various parameters including uncorrected visual acuity (UDVA), corrected visual acuity (CDVA), refractive error, axial length, intraocular pressure, endothelial cell density (ECD), vault, and complications. We used the paired t-test and repeated measures one-way ANOVA in SPSS statistical software to analyze the data. Results: The mean spherical equivalent refraction (SE) decreased significantly from (-12.16±3.04) D preoperatively to (-0.19±0.55) D at one month and (-1.14±0.84) D at five years postoperatively. The safety indices (postoperative CDVA/preoperative CDVA) were 1.24±0.27 and 1.13±0.27, respectively, and the efficacy indices (postoperative UDVA/preoperative CDVA) were 1.14±0.25 and 0.87±0.26 at one month and five years postoperatively. At one month after surgery, 80.00% of the eyes were within ±0.50 D of the expected correction, and 96.84% were within ±1.00 D. There was no significant difference in IOP between preoperative and postoperative measurements. The rate of ECD was 3.87%, and the vault decreased by 106.32 μm at five years postoperatively. Conclusion: ICL V4c implantation is safe and effective with good predictability and stability for long term.

Correlation between the Polymorphism of Coagulation-Related Genes and Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the correlation between the polymorphism of 4 coagulation-related genes, rs1799963 （coagulation factor V gene Leiden）, rs6025 （prothrombin gene G20210A）, rs1042579 （thrombomodulin protein gene c.1418C>T） and rs1801131 （methylenetetrahydroflate reductase gene） and lower extremity deep venous thrombosis （LEDVT）. Methods The 4 genotypes mentioned above of 150 LEDVT patients and 153 healthy controls were detected by the kompetitive allele specific polymerase chain reaction （KASP）, then related blood biochemical indicators were collected, binary Logistic regression was established to screen the independent risk factors of LEDVT, and the correlation between polymorphism of 4 coagulation-related genes and LEDVT and its indicators under different genetic modes after adjusting confounding factors were analyzed. Results Five variables, D-dimer, fibrinogen degradation product, homocysteine, sex and age might be the risk factors of LEDVT. These variables were put into 4 genetic inheritance models, and adjusted in binary Logistic regression. The results suggested that the mutations of rs1042579 were correlated with LEDVT under dominant inheritance mode. Conclusion The gene polymorphism of rs1799963, rs6025 and rs1801131 has no significant correlation with the formation of LEDVT. The gene polymorphism of rs1042579 plays a role under dominant inheritance mode, and might be an independent risk factor for formation of LEDVT.

ID1-induced p16/IL6 axis activation contributes to the resistant of hepatocellular carcinoma cells to sorafenib

Sorafenib is the only approved drug for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its efficacy is limited by the emergence of primary and/or acquired resistance. Senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP)-mediated chemo-resistance, which depends on the secreted bioactive molecules, has attracted increasing attention but never revealed in HCC. In this study, we investigated the effect of SASP-related p16/IL6 axis on sorafenib resistance in HCC. Initially, we noticed that HCC cells with a high level of p16/IL6 axis exhibited a low sensitivity to sorafenib. Further in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that such a primary resistance resulted from ID1-mediated activation of p16/IL6 axis. Overexpression of ID1 or IL6 blocking in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells could increase the cytotoxicity of sorafenib. Moreover, SASP-related p16/IL6 axis contributed to the formation of acquired resistance in cells received long-term exposure to sorafenib. In acquired sorafenib-resistant cells, ID1 low expression, p16/IL6 axis up-regulation, and AKT phosphorylation activation were observed. A reduced cytotoxicity of sorafenib was detected when sorafenib-sensitive cells incubated with conditioned media from the resistant cells, accompanied by the stimulation of AKT phosphorylation. The reversal of sorafenib resistance could be achieved through ID1 overexpression, IL6 blocking, and AKT pathway inhibition. Our study reveals that SASP-related p16/IL6 axis activation is responsible for sorafenib resistance, which will be a novel strategy to prevent the drug resistance.

Characterization, culture medium optimization and antioxidant activity of an endophytic vitexin-producing fungus Dichotomopilus funicola Y3 from pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]

AIMS

The aim of this study was to characterize a fungal endophyte Y3 from pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan [L.] Millsp), as a novel producer of vitexin, and its culture medium optimization and antioxidant activity.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The endophyte from the leaves of pigeon pea was identified as Dichotomopilus funicola by the morphological and molecular characteristics. The most important medium variables affecting vitexin production in liquid culture of D. funicola Y3 were screened by Plackett-Burman design, and three culture medium constituents (i.e. l-phenylalanine, salicylic acid and CuSO₄ ·5H₂ O) were identified to play significant roles in vitexin production. The most significant factors were further optimized using by central composite design with response surface methodology. The DPPH radical-scavenging assay indicated that fungal vitexin exhibited notable antioxidant activity with an EC₅₀ value of 164 μg l^-1 .

CONCLUSIONS

First, a novel endophyte vitexin-producing Dichotomopilus funicola Y3 was isolated from pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan[L.] Millsp.). The maximum vitexin yield was obtained as 78·86 mg l^-1 under the optimum culture medium constituents: 0·06 g l^-1  l-phenylalanine, 0·21 g l^-1 salicylic acid, and 0·19 g l^-1 CuSO₄ ·5H₂ O in medium, which is 4·59-fold higher than that in the unoptimized medium. Also, fungal vitexin clearly demonstrated its antioxidant potential.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

These findings provide an alternative source for large-scale production of vitexin by endophytic fungal fermentation and have a promising prospect in food and pharmaceutical industry.

Methylation differences and expression profiles of the caprine DIO3 gene

DIO3 gene encoding type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase is an imprinted gene, located in the DLK1-DIO3 (delta-like 1 homolog-type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase) imprinted domain, and is potentially involved in degrading excessive amounts of thyroid hormone to protect embryogenesis. However, the underlying regulatory mechanism of the imprinted DIO3 gene expression during fetal and neonatal development in goats has not been elucidated. In this study, we explored the DNA methylation patterns of the caprine DIO3 intragenic CpG island and quantified gene expression level in six tissues from Chinese Nanjiang Yellow 3-day old kids. The expression of the DIO3 gene was determined using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (qRT-PCRs), while the identification of methylation patterns was determined using bisulfite-sequencing PCRs. Modest, and non-significant (P > 0.05), methylation patterns were noted for the DIO3 CpG island methylation in the brain, heart, liver, kidney, lung, and longissimus dorsi tissues (ranging from 26.48 to 34.92%). The expression level of the DIO3 mRNA was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the liver tissue than in the other five tissues. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that there was no significant relationship between methylation and gene expression (P > 0.05), which indicated that the expression of the caprine DIO3 gene was likely modified by other regulatory elements. This study identified DNA methylation and expression patterns of the DIO3 gene in goats and provided insights into further regulatory mechanisms of expression and imprinting in the DLK1-DIO3 domain.

Strong correlation between early stage atherosclerosis and electromechanical coupling of aorta

Atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of cardiovascular diseases that are responsible for many deaths in the world, and the early diagnosis of atherosclerosis is highly desirable. The existing imaging methods, however, are not capable of detecting the early stage of atherosclerosis development due to their limited spatial resolution. Using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM), we show that the piezoelectric response of an aortic wall increases as atherosclerosis advances, while the stiffness of the aorta shows a less evident correlation with atherosclerosis. Furthermore, we show that there is strong correlation between the coercive electric field necessary to switch the polarity of the artery and the development of atherosclerosis. Thus by measuring the electromechanical coupling of the aortic wall, it is possible to probe atherosclerosis at the early stage of its development, not only improving the spatial resolution by orders of magnitude, but also providing comprehensive quantitative information on the biomechanical properties of the artery.

Molecular cloning, characterization, and bioactivity analysis of interleukin 18 in giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Interleukin 18 (IL-18), as a member of IL-1 superfamily, is an important pleiotropic cytokine that modulates Th1 immune responses. In this report, we cloned and identified a homolog of IL-18 in giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) (designated as AmIL-18) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. The open readin g frame of AmIL-18 cDNA is 579 bp encoding a deduced protein of 192 amino acids. AmIL-18 gDNA fragments contained 5 exons and 4 introns. The amino acid sequence of AmIL-18 shared 23.9 to 87.0% identity with other species. To evaluate the effects of AmIL-18 on the immune response, we expressed the recombinant AmIL-18 in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The fusion protein PET-AmIL-18 was purified by nickel affinity column chromatography and verified by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis. The biological function of purified PET-AmIL-18 was determined on mouse splenocytes by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. INF-γ and other cytokines were increased when stimulated by PET-AmIL-18, particularly when combined with recombinant human interleukin 12, while a Th2-type cytokine, interleukin-4, was strikingly suppressed. These results will provide information for the potential use of recombinant proteins to manipulate the immune response in giant pandas and facilitate the study to protect this treasured species.

Structure and polymorphism of 16 novel Y-STRs in Chinese Han population

Y-chromosome short tandem repeats (Y-STRs) are useful tools for identifying paternity origin and male-female mixed samples because of their male-specificity, haploid inheritance and relatively simplicity. We focused on novel Y-STRs deposited in the human Genome database from DYS708 to DYS726. We typed 16 male-specific Y-STRs from males of a Chinese Han population residing in Shanxi Province (north China), including DYS708-719, DYS721-723, and DYS726, but failed in typing DYS720, DYS724 and DYS725. The 16 Y-STRs, with mean gene diversity (GD) of 0.79, included three trinucleotide Y-STRs (711, 718, 719), nine tetranucleotide STRs (708, 709, 710, 712, 713, 715, 722, 723, 726) and four pentanucleotide repeat STRs (714, 716, 717, 721). DYS712, consisting of eight alleles, was the most informative STR in our population, with a GD of 0.843. The STRs were classified as simple STRs and complex STRs, according to their structures based on sequencing. Genetic indexes, including allele frequencies, haplotype distribution and male-specificity were determined. The Y-STRs, especially those male-specific, tetra- and penta-nucleotide, with only one copy on Y-chromosome, and relative simple structures, such as DYS709, DYS714, DYS715, DYS716, DYS718, DYS719, and DYS726, were suggested for the future forensic DNA analysis, while DYS724 and DYS725 were not recommended for their multi-copy distribution. The population data provided putative Y-STRs for future genetic and forensic applications.

Genetic variability and individual assignment of Chinese indigenous sheep populations (Ovis aries) using microsatellites

The purpose of this study was to assess the genetic characteristics of six breeds of Chinese local sheep using 19 microsatellite loci and to effectively validate statistical methods for individual assignment based on informative microsatellites. All the six breeds deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium expectations, while the majority of markers complied. The polymorphism information content (PIC) of overall loci for the six populations ranged from 0.283 (SRCRSP5) to 0.852 (OarVH72). Tibetan sheep were the most diverse population with the highest mean allelic richness (6.895), while Ujmuqin (UQ) harboured the lowest allelic richness (6.000). The F-statistics for the six populations were F(IS)  = -0.172, F(IT)  = -0.082 and F(ST)  = 0.077, respectively. Furthermore, the pair-wise F(IS) revealed a moderate genetic differentiation among populations (P < 0.01), indicating that all breeds can be considered genetically independent entities. The lowest genetic differentiation was between Tengchong (TC) and UQ (F(ST)  = 0.041), and the highest one was between TC and Fat-tailed Han (F(ST)  = 0.111). In comparing the three statistical models, we note that the seven microsatellite loci (MAF65, OarJMP58, SRCRSP9, MCM140, OarAE129, BM8125 and SRCRSP5) commonly used for individual assignment will ensure a powerful detection of individual origin, with accuracy up to 91.87%, when the likelihood-based method is used. Overall, these findings shed light onto the genetic characteristics of Chinese indigenous sheep and offer a set of microsatellite loci that is simple, economic and highly informative for individual assignment of Chinese sheep.

Three regulatory regions of the Aedes aegypti glutamine synthetase gene differentially regulate expression: identification of a crucial regulator in the first exon

Aedes aegyptiglutamine synthetase (GS) is expressed constitutively at various developmental stages and its relative mRNA abundance increases in the midgut following blood feeding in support of the biosynthesis of chitin, a component of the peritrophic matrix. To understand the regulation of GS expression better, GS-luciferase reporter fusion genes were constructed and analysed in transiently transfected C6/36 cells. These studies have identified three GS regions: GS-A, -B and -C (C1, C2) that are required for efficient transcription. The crucial regulatory DNA sequence is located within 140 nucleotides of the GS-C region in the first exon. GS-B region between -209 and +4 contains a negative modulator that represses transcription of the GS-C promoter, but the 5'-GS-A region, between -476 and -282, can negate the transcription inhibition of GS-B and promote GS transcription of the GS-C promoter. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that nuclear proteins for GS-A, GS-B and GS-C1 are present in the C6/36 cells, and therefore that GS-A, GS-B and GS-C1 indeed possess regulatory function. By contrast, nuclear proteins isolated from both cultured cells and midgut tissues bound to GS-C2, suggesting that GS-C2 plays an important role in GS transcription and that GS-C2 is regulated by several different and redundant transcription factors to achieve constitutive expression in a wide variety of tissues.

Differential regulation of ribosomal protein gene expression in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes before and after the blood meal

In fat body of the mosquito, Aedes aegypti, a cycle of ribosome accumulation and degradation accompanies synthesis of the yolk protein precursor, vitellogenin. Here we compare the transcription and translation of ribosomal proteins rpS6, rpL8 and rpL34, relative to rRNA and vitellogenin genes in Aedes aegypti fat body after eclosion, and in response to a blood meal. Analysis using Northern blots and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) showed that the rpS6, rpL8 and rpL34 genes are coordinately regulated with respect to one another, and that ribosomal protein gene expression in this system was predominantly regulated by transcription during the 3-4 days between adult eclosion and blood feeding. After a blood meal, ribosomal protein mRNA levels remained similar to those in unfed females during the first 18 h, then declined to minimum levels by 48 h after the blood meal. These data indicate that transcription of ribosomal protein genes is low in vitellogenic mosquitoes, relative to previtellogenic females. Experiments with the dissected fat body, however, showed that levels of acetic acid-soluble proteins increased by approximately threefold between 12 and 24 h after the blood meal. Taken together, these observations suggest that the active translation of ribosomal proteins from stable mRNA accompanies ribosome biosynthesis after the blood meal. Thus, in the fat body of adult female mosquitoes, the expression of ribosomal protein genes is regulated at the level of transcription before the blood meal, while translational control is the predominant regulatory mechanism after the blood meal.

The ribosomal protein L34 gene from the mosquito, Aedes albopictus: exon-intron organization, copy number, and potential regulatory elements

We describe the structural analysis of genomic DNA encoding ribosomal protein (rp) L34 from the mosquito, Aedes albopictus. Comparison of genomic DNA sequences encompassing approximately 8 kb with the rpL34 cDNA sequence showed that the gene contains three exons and two introns, encoding a primary transcript with a deduced size of 6196 nucleotides from the transcription start site to the polyadenylation site. Exon 1, which is not translated, measures only 45 bp, and is separated from Exon 2 by a 359 bp intron. Exon 2 measures 78 bp, and contains the AUG translation initiation codon 14 nucleotides downstream of its 5'-end. Downstream of Exon 2 is a 5270 bp intron, followed by the remainder of the coding sequence in Exon 3, which measures 444 bp including the polyadenylation signal. We used a novel PCR-based procedure to obtain 1.7 kb of DNA upstream of the rpL34 gene. Like the previously described Ae. albopictus rpL8 gene and various mammalian rp genes, the DNA immediately upstream of the rpL34 gene lacks the TATA box, and the rpL34 transcription initiation site is embedded in a characteristic polypyrimidine tract. The 5'-flanking DNA contained a number of cis-acting elements that potentially interact with transcription factors characterized by basic domains, zinc-coordinating DNA binding domains, helix-turn-helix motifs, and beta scaffold factors with minor groove contacts. Particularly striking was the conservation of an AP-4 binding site within 100 nucleotides upstream of the transcription initiation site in both Aal-rpL34 and Aal-rpL8 genes. Comparison of Southern hybridization signals using probes from the 5' and 3'-ends of the 5.3 kb second intron and the cDNA suggested that the Ae. albopictus rpL34 gene most likely occurs as a single expressed copy per haploid genome with restriction enzyme polymorphisms in the upstream flanking DNA and the likely presence of one or more pseudogenes.

Mosquito ribosomal protein rpL31 resembles rat rpL34: cDNA and deduced amino acid sequence

An Aedes albopictus ribosomal protein rpL31 cDNA was sequenced, and found to encode a protein with homology to rat rpL34. The 544 bp mosquito cDNA contained an ATG start site, three in-frame termination codons, and an AATAAA polyadenylation signal. Mosquito rpL31 had a mass of 15,137 Da, a pI of 12.39 and contained 14.5% Arg and 14.5% Lys. PCR analyses with genomic DNA suggested the presence of a large intron near the 5'-end of the gene.