Morning Glory Syndrome Associated with Posterior Lenticonus

The clinical features of the morning glory syndrome (MSG) are demonstrated in a 12-year-old male patient with the posterior lenticonus in the left eye. This patient had retinal detachment in the left eye. A complete ocular examination was performed and the patient underwent a pars plana vitrectomy of the left eye. Slit-lamp examination revealed the posterior lenticonus with the posterior subcapsular opacities in the left eye. The fundus showed the symptoms of MGS. The discs were pink and deeply excavated, surrounded by a ring of chorioretinal pigmentary disturbance. The retina has remained reattached for six months after surgery. Although most cases of MGS present with retinal and vitrea abnormalities, it may also occur in association with the lens anomalies, including the posterior lenticonus and subcapsular cataract. This association may be helpful to explore the pathogenesis of MGS

The global well-posedness and Newtonian limit for the relativistic Boltzmann equation in a periodic box

In this paper, we study the Newtonian limit for relativistic Boltzmann equation in a periodic box $\mathbb{T}^3$. We first establish the global-in-time mild solutions of relativistic Boltzmann equation with uniform-in-$\mathfrak{c}$ estimates and time decay rate. Then we rigorously justify the global-in-time Newtonian limits from the relativistic Boltzmann solutions to the solution of Newtonian Boltzmann equation in $L^1_pL^{\infty}_x$. Moreover, if the initial data of Newtonian Boltzmann equation belong to $W^{1,\infty}(\mathbb{T}^3\times\mathbb{R}^3)$, based on a decomposition and $L^2-L^\infty$ argument, the global-in-time Newtonian limit is proved in $L^{\infty}_{x,p}$. The convergence rates of Newtonian limit are obtained both in $L^1_pL^{\infty}_x$ and $L^{\infty}_{x,p}$.Comment: 56 pages, All comments are welcom

Secondhand smoke exposure induces Raf/ERK/MAPK-mediated upregulation of cerebrovascular endothelin ETA receptors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cigarette smoking enhances the risk of stroke. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. The present study established an <it>in vivo </it>rat secondhand cigarette smoking (SHS) model and examined the hypothesis that SHS upregulates endothelin receptors with increased cerebrovascular contraction <it>via </it>the Raf/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathway.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Rats were exposed to SHS for up to 8 weeks. The cerebral artery vasoconstriction was recorded by a sensitive myograph. The mRNA and protein expressions for endothelin receptors in cerebral arteries were studied by real-time PCR and Western blot. Compared to fresh air exposed rats, cerebral arteries from SHS rats exhibited stronger contractile responses (<it>P </it>< 0.05) mediated by endothelin type A (ET_A) receptors. The expressions of mRNA and protein for ET_Areceptors in the cerebral arteries from SHS rats were higher (<it>P </it>< 0.05) than that in control. SHS did not affect endothelin type B (ET_B) receptor-mediated contractions, mRNA or protein levels. The results suggest that SHS upregulates ET_A, but not ET_Breceptors <it>in vivo</it>. After SHS exposure, the mRNA levels of Raf-1 and ERK1/2, the protein expression of phosphorylated (p)-Raf-1 and p-ERK1/2 were increased (<it>P </it>< 0.05). Raf-1 inhibitor, GW5074 suppressed the enhanced ET_Areceptor-mediated contraction, mRNA and protein levels induced by SHS. In addition, GW5074 inhibited the SHS-caused increased mRNA and phosphorylated protein levels of Raf-1 and ERK1/2, suggesting that SHS induces activation of the Raf/ERK/MAPK pathway.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>SHS upregulates cerebrovascular ET_Areceptors <it>via </it>the Raf/ERK/MAPK pathway, which provides novel understanding of mechanisms involved in SHS-associated stroke.</p

A high selective fluorescent sensor for Ni(II) ion in acetonitrile

In this paper, a high selective fluorescent sensor for nickel ion based on boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) has been studied. Upon addition of Ni(II) ion, the fluorescence of sensor (compound 1) would be quenched, and the selectivity towards Ni(II) ion over Ag(I), Cd(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Hg(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II)is good in acetonitrile, there is almost no interference from other heavy metal ions. The stoichiometry of complexation for compound 1 with Ni(II) ion is 1:1, and the quenching process could be reversed by triethanolamine