Implications of MicroRNAs in the Vascular Homeostasis and Remodeling

Vascular remodeling or arterial remodeling is a process of adaptive alteration of vascular wall architecture and leads to the endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction and synthetic or contractile phenotypic change of VSMCs, and the infiltration of monocytes and Macrophages that promotes vascular diseases including atherosclerosis. Recent findings have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in regulating gene expression at posttranscriptional level and disease pathogenesis. A change of miRNA expression profiles plays key roles in the gene expressions and the regulation of cellular functions. In this chapter, we summarize the vascular remodeling-related miRNAs and their functions in vascular biology

Angle-tolerant linear variable color filter based on a tapered etalon

We propose and fabricate a linear variable color filter (LVCF) that possesses an enhanced angular tolerance in conjunction with a wide linear filtering range (LFR) by taking advantage of an Ag-TiO2-Ag configuration. The TiO2 cavity is tapered in thickness along the device so that the resonance wavelength can be continuously tuned according to the position. In addition, the metal-dielectric-metal structure is overlaid with a pre-designed graded anti-reflection coating in SiO2 to complete the etalon, thereby maximizing the transmission efficiency across the entire device. The tapered dielectric layers in the proposed filter were fabricated via glancing angle deposition without the help of any mask or moving parts. The center wavelength was scanned from 410 nm to 566 nm, resulting in an LFR of 156 nm, and the overall spectra exhibited an approximate peak transmission of 40% and spectral bandwidth of 68 nm. The angular tolerance was as large as 45°, incurring a fractional wavelength shift below 4.2%. The resonance wavelength was verified to be linearly dependent on the position, providing a linearity beyond 99%. The proposed LVCF will thus be actively utilized in a portable micro-spectrometer and spectral scanning device.National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MSIP) (No. 2016R1A2B2010170); ARC Future Fellowship FT110100853

Results of Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy under Local Anesthesia with Minimal Sedation

Purpose. We evaluated the tolerability and efficacy of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (Endo-DCR) in patients treated in the leaning position and under local anesthesia with minimal sedation (LAS). Study Design. Questionnaire to determine subjective success of Endo-DCR. Methods. From May 2013 to August 2014, a total of 95 eyes with epiphora presented to the Myoung Eye Plastic Surgery Clinic in Seoul, Korea, and were treated with Endo-DCR under LAS. Three nerve blocks were administered to achieve local anesthesia. Postoperatively, the wound site was packed with Nasopore to control bleeding and promote wound healing. Outcome measures included a patient questionnaire completed on postoperative day 7 to evaluate intraoperative and postoperative pain based on the VAS (0 to 10). Results. Mean intraoperative and postoperative pain scores were 1.03 and 1.64, respectively, for 95 eyes. Of the 95 eyes treated, the patients in 82 eyes (86.31%) reported that they would prefer LAS over GA for a repeat Endo-DCR. The subjective and objective surgical success rates were 90.14% and 95.77%, respectively. Conclusions. Endo-DCR carried out under LAS with the patient in the leaning position is more useful, efficient, and feasible than Endo-DCR performed under GA with the patient in the supine position

Perampanel Affects Up-Stream Regulatory Signaling Pathways of GluA1 Phosphorylation in Normal and Epileptic Rats

To elucidate the pharmacological properties of perampanel [2-(2-oxo-1-phenyl-5-pyridin-2-yl-1,2-dihydropyridin-3-yl)benzonitrile, a novel non-competitive antagonist of AMPA receptor], we investigated its effects on the up-stream regulatory pathways of GluA1 phosphorylation including protein kinase C (PKC), Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CAMKII), protein kinase A (PKA), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), protein phosphatase (PP) 1, PP2A, and PP2B in normal and pilocarpine-induced epileptic rat model using Western blot analysis. In normal animals, perampanel affected GluA1 expression/phosphorylation, PKC, CAMKII, PKA, ERK1/2, JNK, and PPs activities. In epileptic rats, perampanel effectively inhibited spontaneous seizure activities. Perampanel enhanced phospho (p)-GluA1-S831 and -S845 ratios (phosphoprotein/total protein), while it reduced GluA1 expression. Perampanel also increased pCAMKII and pPKA ratios, which phosphorylate GluA1-S831 and -S845 site, respectively. Perampanel elevated pJNK and pPP2B ratios, which phosphorylates and dephosphorylates both GluA1-S831 and -S845 sits. Perampanel also increased pERK1/2 ratio in epileptic animals, while U0126 (an ERK1/2 inhibitor) did not affect pGluA1 ratios. Perampanel did not influence PKC, PP1, and PP2A expression levels and their phosphorylation ratios. In addition, perampanel did not have a detrimental impact on cognitive abilities of epileptic and normal rats in Morris water maze test. These findings suggest that perampanel may regulate AMPA receptor functionality via not only blockade of AMPA receptor but also the regulations of multiple molecules (CAMKII, PKA, JNK, and pPP2B)-mediated GluA1 phosphorylations without negative effects on cognition, although the effects of perampanel on PKC, PP1, and PP2A activities were different between normal and epileptic rats