Changes in Ocular Surface Characteristics after Switching from Benzalkonium Chloride-Preserved Latanoprost to Preservative-Free Tafluprost or Benzalkonium Chloride-Preserved Tafluprost

Purpose. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of switching from Latanoprost ophthalmic solution containing a preservative to preservative-free Tafluprost ophthalmic solution or Tafluprost containing a preservative on ocular surfaces. Materials and Methods. Forty patients (40 eyes) with glaucoma (mean age: 62.0 ± 10.9 years) using Latanoprost with preservative for six months or longer were assigned either to a Tafluprost-containing-preservative group (20 eyes) or preservative-free-Tafluprost group (20 eyes). The intraocular pressure, corneal epithelial barrier function (fluorescein uptake concentration with fluorophotometer FL-500), superficial punctate keratopathy (AD classification), and tear film breakup time (TBUT) were assessed before switching and at 12 weeks after switching. Results. No significant differences in intraocular pressure were noted after switching in either group. Corneal epithelial barrier function was improved significantly after switching in both the Tafluprost-containing-preservative and the preservative-free-Tafluprost groups. There were no significant differences in AD scores after switching in the Tafluprost-containing-preservative group, but significant improvements were noted in the preservative-free-Tafluprost group. No significant differences in TBUT were noted in the Tafluprost-containing-preservative or preservative-free-Tafluprost groups after switching. Conclusion. After switching from preservative Latanoprost to Tafluprost containing-preservative or preservative-free Tafluprost, corneal epithelial barrier function was improved while the intraocular pressure reduction was retained

A comprehensive global marine nitrous oxide dataset from the Global Ocean Ship-Based Hydrographic Investigations Program

Poster.-- Ocean Science Meeting 2024, New Orleans, USA, 18-23 February 2024Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas and ozone depletion agent, with a significant natural source from the oceans. Existing marine N2O databases tend to focus on surface measurements and often lack standardized accompanying hydrographic and nutrient data. Here we present a comprehensive global marine N2O dataset derived from measurements collected during CLIVAR (Climate and Ocean: Variability, Predictability and Change) and GO-SHIP (Global Ocean Ship-Based Hydrographic Investigations Program). Our global dataset comprises over a decade’s worth of surface and interior N2O measurements, alongside high-quality hydrographic, nutrient, and age tracer data, encompassing all of the major ocean basins. We have amassed data from 23 international CLIVAR and GO-SHIP cruises conducted between 2005 and 2022, resulting in more than 30,000 measurements. Notably, the N2O concentration data exhibit a multimodal distribution, characterized by a pronounced right tail owing to the extreme N2O concentrations (up to 100 nM) found in oxygen-deficient zones. The dataset’s validity is established through inter-laboratory comparisons conducted at crossover stations. Additionally, we illustrate the dataset’s potential utility by estimating N2O yield during nitrification using paired nutrient and oxygen data, estimating N2O production rates during deep water circulation using age tracer data, and calculating air-sea N2O flux. Upon publication of the accompanying paper, this dataset will be accessible to the research community through the CLIVAR and Carbon Hydrographic Data Office (CCHDO). This GO-SHIP N2O dataset is intended to become a key resource for future research on the global marine N2O cycle and emissionsN

Akt1 in Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts Controls Bone Remodeling

Bone mass and turnover are maintained by the coordinated balance between bone formation by osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts, under regulation of many systemic and local factors. Phosphoinositide-dependent serine-threonine protein kinase Akt is one of the key players in the signaling of potent bone anabolic factors. This study initially showed that the disruption of Akt1, a major Akt in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, in mice led to low-turnover osteopenia through dysfunctions of both cells. Ex vivo cell culture analyses revealed that the osteoblast dysfunction was traced to the increased susceptibility to the mitochondria-dependent apoptosis and the decreased transcriptional activity of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), a master regulator of osteoblast differentiation. Notably, our findings revealed a novel role of Akt1/forkhead box class O (FoxO) 3a/Bim axis in the apoptosis of osteoblasts: Akt1 phosphorylates the transcription factor FoxO3a to prevent its nuclear localization, leading to impaired transactivation of its target gene Bim which was also shown to be a potent proapoptotic molecule in osteoblasts. The osteoclast dysfunction was attributed to the cell autonomous defects of differentiation and survival in osteoclasts and the decreased expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), a major determinant of osteoclastogenesis, in osteoblasts. Akt1 was established as a crucial regulator of osteoblasts and osteoclasts by promoting their differentiation and survival to maintain bone mass and turnover. The molecular network found in this study will provide a basis for rational therapeutic targets for bone disorders

Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study of the basal apparatus of solitary cilia in the human oviduct epithelium

The basal apparatus of the solitary cilium is composed of the basal body, an associated centriole and the basal body-associated structures. To see the connection between the basal body and the centriole, we studied the basal apparatus of solitary cilia in human oviductal secretory cells by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. A single centriole was present in the vicinity of the basal body of a solitary cilium. The basal body and the single centriole were interconnected by one or two bundles of thin filaments with a few periodic striations. We have called these bundles the striated connector. The periodicity of striations in the striated connector measured 55 ± 6 nm, about 15 nm shorter than that of striated rootlets. The striated connector was immunolabelled with R67 antibody specific to striated rootlets, indicating that they are composed of common molecule(s). Although the true function of the connector is unknown as yet, it could play an important role for stabilising the basal body in the apical cytoplasm

The Effect of Rebamipide on Ocular Surface Disorders Induced by Latanoprost and Timolol in Glaucoma Patients

Purpose. To examine the efficacy of ophthalmic rebamipide suspensions on ocular surface disorders induced by antiglaucoma eye drops. Patients and Methods. Forty eyes of 40 patients receiving latanoprost (0.005%) and timolol (0.5%) were included in this randomized prospective study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups (n = 20): the rebamipide-treated group and control group. Changes in intraocular pressure, tear film break-up time (TBUT), and corneal epithelial barrier function were evaluated at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after rebamipide administration. Furthermore, superficial punctate keratopathy severity was evaluated by scoring the lesion area and density. Results. There was no significant difference in intraocular pressure before and after rebamipide treatment. However, corneal epithelial barrier function improved significantly 4 and 8 weeks after rebamipide treatment. TBUT was partially, but significantly, increased (P = 0.02) 8 weeks after rebamipide treatment, whereas no significant change was observed at 4 weeks. Additionally, a significant decrease in area and density of keratopathy was observed 8 weeks after rebamipide treatment but not at 4 weeks. The control group showed no significant difference compared to baseline. Conclusions. Our data suggests that rebamipide treatment may reduce the occurrence of drug-induced ocular surface disorder

Juvenile Dysplasia Epiphysealis Hemimelica with Multiple Ankle Free Body

Dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica (DEH), also known as Trevor’s disease, is a rare overgrowth of cartilage that commonly arises in the epiphyseal bone of children. We report a rare case of DEH originating from a talus accompanied by multiple intra-articular free bodies in a 7-year-old patient with ankle instability. After the primary surgery for free body removal and microfracture technique for the cartilage defects in the ankle joint, the free body recurred. Secondary surgery of arthroscopic free body removal with lateral ankle ligament repair succeeded in treating the patient, without further recurrence of the free body

Response of N2O production rate to ocean acidification in the western North Pacific

Ocean acidification, induced by the increase in anthropogenic CO2 emissions, has a profound impact on marine organisms and biogeochemical processes1. The response of marine microbial activities to ocean acidification might play a crucial role in the future evolution of air–sea fluxes of biogenic gases such as nitrous oxide (N2O), a strong GHG and the dominant stratospheric ozone-depleting substance2. Here, we examine the response of N2O production from nitrification to acidification in a series of incubation experiments conducted in subtropical and subarctic western North Pacific. The experiments show that when pH was reduced, the N2O production rate during nitrification measured at subarctic stations increased significantly while nitrification rates remained stable or decreased. Contrary to previous findings, these results suggest that the effect of ocean acidification on N2O production during nitrification and nitrification rates are probably uncoupled. Collectively, these results suggest that if seawater pH continues to decline at the same rate, ocean acidification could increase marine N2O production during nitrification in the subarctic North Pacific by 185 to 491% by the end of the century

Generation of Col2a1-EGFP iPS cells for monitoring chondrogenic differentiation.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are a promising cell source for cartilage regenerative medicine; however, the methods for chondrocyte induction from iPSC are currently developing and not yet sufficient for clinical application. Here, we report the establishment of a fluorescent indicator system for monitoring chondrogenic differentiation from iPSC to simplify screening for effective factors that induce chondrocytes from iPSC. We generated iPSC from embryonic fibroblasts of Col2a1-EGFP transgenic mice by retroviral transduction of Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc. Among the 30 clones of Col2a1-EGFP iPSC we established, two clones showed high expression levels of embryonic stem cell (ESC) marker genes, similar to control ESC. A teratoma formation assay showed that the two clones were pluripotent and differentiated into cell types from all three germ layers. The fluorescent signal was observed during chondrogenic differentiation of the two clones concomitant with the increase in chondrocyte marker expression. In conclusion, Col2a1-EGFP iPSC are useful for monitoring chondrogenic differentiation and will contribute to research in cartilage regenerative medicine

Response of N2O production rate to ocean acidification in the western North Pacific

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