Impact of cranberry juice on initial adhesion of the EPS producing bacterium <i>Burkholderia cepacia</i>

<div><p>The impact of cranberry juice was investigated with respect to the initial adhesion of three isogenic strains of the bacterium <i>Burkholderia cepacia</i> with different extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) producing capacities, viz. a wild-type cepacian EPS producer PC184 and its mutant strains PC184<i>rml</i> with reduced EPS production and PC184<i>bceK</i> with a deficiency in EPS production. Adhesion experiments conducted in a parallel-plate flow chamber demonstrated that, in the absence of cranberry juice, strain PC184 had a significantly higher adhesive capacity compared to the mutant strains. In the presence of cranberry juice, the adhesive capacity of the EPS-producing strain PC184 was largely reduced, while cranberry juice had little impact on the adhesion behavior of either mutant strain. Thermodynamic modeling supported the results from adhesion experiments. Surface force apparatus (SFA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies demonstrated a strong association between cranberry juice components and bacterial EPS. It was concluded that cranberry juice components could impact bacterial initial adhesion by adhering to the EPS and impairing the adhesive capacity of the cells, which provides an insight into the development of novel treatment strategies to block the biofilm formation associated with bacterial infection.</p> </div

Additional file 2 of DNMT3A mutation promotes leukemia development through NAM-NAD metabolic reprogramming

Additional file 2: Table S2. The mRNA expression level of NAMPT in AML obtained from the Oncomine database

Additional file 1 of DNMT3A mutation promotes leukemia development through NAM-NAD metabolic reprogramming

Additional file 1: Table S1. Primer sequences used in Q-RT-PCR

Clinical Outcomes of FP-7/8 Ahmed Glaucoma Valves in the Management of Refractory Glaucoma in the Mainland Chinese Population

<div><p>Background</p><p>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) and the risk factors associated with AGV implantation failure in a population of Chinese patients with refractory glaucoma.</p><p>Method</p><p>In total, 79 eyes with refractory glaucoma from 79 patients treated in our institution from November 2007 to November 2010 were enrolled in this retrospective study. The demographic data, preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressures (IOPs), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), number of anti-glaucoma medications used, completed and qualified surgery success rates and postoperative complications were recorded to evaluate the outcomes of AGV implantation. Factors that were associated with implant failure were determined using Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis and multiple linear regression analysis.</p><p>Principle Findings</p><p>The average follow-up time was 12.7±5.8 months (mean±SD). We observed a significant reduction in the mean IOP from 39.9±12.6 mm Hg before surgery to 19.3±9.6 mm Hg at the final follow-up. The complete success rate was 59.5%, and the qualified success rate was 83.5%. The number of previous surgeries was negatively correlated with qualified success rate (P<0.05, OR=0.736, 95% CI 0.547-0.99). Patients with previous trabeculectomy were more likely to use multiple anti-glaucoma drugs to control IOP (P<0.01). The primary complication was determined to be a flat anterior chamber (AC).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>AGV implantation was safe and effective for the management of refractory glaucoma. Patients with a greater number of previous surgeries were more likely to experience surgical failure, and patients with previous trabeculectomy were more likely to use multiple anti-glaucoma drugs to control postoperative IOP.</p></div

Preoperative and postoperative comparisons in FP-7 AGV patients.

<p>IOP = intraocular pressure, AGV = Ahmed glaucoma valve, SD = standard deviation, BCVA = best corrected vision acuity</p><p>Preoperative and postoperative comparisons in FP-7 AGV patients.</p

Demographic and preoperative data of patients treated with the FP-7/8 silicone AGVs.

<p>AGV = Ahmed glaucoma valve, SD = standard deviation, NLP = none light perception</p><p>Demographic and preoperative data of patients treated with the FP-7/8 silicone AGVs.</p

Above: Western blot analyses for caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3.

<p>After normalization to β-Actin, the levels of caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 in the glaucomatous retina increased significantly compared with the normal retinas (*<i>P</i> <0.05). Below: TUNEL staining of the normal and exp gl retinas. Few TUNEL-positive RGCs were observed in the normal retina, whereas a larger number were observed in the glaucomatous retina in the GCL (red arrow). Scale bar=20 μm. </p

Immunolocalization analysis of LC3B in the normal and exp gl retinas.

<p>The nucleus (blue) was immunolabeled with hematoxylin for immunoperoxidase labeling (A, B, D and E) and with DAPI for immunofluorescent analysis (C and F). LC3B immunoreactivity was observed as clusters of small, intensely stained granules, which were brown in A, B, D and E and green in C and F. A, C, D and F. Strong increases in LC3B expression were observed in the GCL (black arrows) and IPL (red arrows) in the glaucomatous retinas compared with the normal retinas. B, C, E and F. With higher magnification, a markedly increased number of positive granules are visible in the cytosol of the RGC in the GCL (black arrows) and in the dendrites of the RGC in the IPL (red arrows) in the glaucomatous retinas compared with the normal retinas. (A, D scale bar=50 μm; B, C, E and F scale bar=20 μm). .</p

The complete success rate of patients with various glaucoma diagnoses.

<p>ICE = iridocorneal endothelial, OAG = open angle glaucoma, POAG = primary open angle glaucoma, PACG = primary angle closure glaucoma</p><p>The complete success rate of patients with various glaucoma diagnoses.</p

Above: Western blot analysis of LAMP1.

<p>After normalization to GAPDH, LAMP1 levels in the glaucomatous retinas increased significantly compared with the normal retinas (*<i>P</i> <0.05). Below: The double immunolabeling for LC3B and LAMP1. The nucleus (blue) was immunolabeled with DAPI, and all retinal sections were stained with the same concentration of antibody against LC3B (green) and LAMP1 (red). In A-D, both LC3B and LAMP1-positive RGC with positive granules in the cytoplasm (red arrow) were occasionally observed in the normal retinas. E-H, frequent LC3B-positive RGC with increased LAMP1-positive granules in the cytoplasm (red arrows) were observed in the glaucomatous retinas, indicating that the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes increased in the neurons. Furthermore, LAMP1-positive RGC without LC3-positive granules was visible in the cytoplasm of the glaucomatous retinas (white arrows). Scale bar=20 μm.</p