Relation between axial length and ocular parameters

AIM: To investigatethe relation between axial length(AL), age and ocular parameters.<p>METHODS: A total of 360 subjects(360 eyes)with emmetropia or myopia were recruited. Refraction, center corneal thickness(CCT), AL, intraocular pressure(IOP)were measured by automatic-refractor, Pachymeter, A-mode ultrasound and non-contact tonometer, respectively. Corneal curvature(CC), anterior chamber depth(ACD)and white-to-white distance(WWD)were measured by Orbscan II. Three dimensional frequency domain coherent optical tomography(3D-OCT)was used to examine the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness(RNFLT). The Pearson correlation coefficient(<i>r</i>)and multiple regression analysis were performed to evaluate the relationship between AL, age and ocular parameters.<p>RESULTS: The average AL was 24.15±1.26mm. With elongation of the AL, spherical equivalent(SE)(<i>r</i>=-0.742,<i>P</i><0.01), CC(<i>r</i>=-0.395, <i>P</i><0.01)and RNFLT(<i>r</i>=-0.374, <i>P</i><0.01)all decreased, while the mean ACD(<i>r</i>=0.411, <i>P</i><0.01)increased. On the contrary, there was not statistical significan with CCT(<i>r</i>=0.099, <i>P</i>=0.060)and WWD(<i>r</i>=0.061, <i>P</i>=0.252). There was also a significant correlation between AL and age(<i>P</i>=0.001), SE(<i>P</i><0.001), ACD(<i>P</i><0.001), CC(<i>P</i><0.001)in Multiple linear regression analysis.<p>CONCLUSION: In longer eyes, there is a tendency toward myopia, a flatter cornea, a deeper ACD and a thinner RNFLT. Age is an influencing factor for the AL as well

Influence of bushenhuoxue on primary visual cortex' BDNF damage in rat model of chronic elevated intraocular pressure

AIM: To observe the effect of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)of bushenhuoxue on primary visual cortex(PVC)brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)in rat model of chronic elevated intraocular pressure(EIOP), and explore the mechanism of it initially. METHODS: The rat model of chronic EIOP was established by unilaterally cauterizing 3 episcleral veins, then 30 rats were divided into 3 groups randomly: control group, model group, and treatment group. After given drugs or normal saline for 8 weeks, the rats were put to death. The effect of intraocular pressure(IOP), expression of BDNF and ultrastructure of neuron cell in the PVC was observed. RESULTS: Unilaterally cauterizing episcleral veins increased IOP of the rat model obviously, there was significant difference compared with pre-operation(P<0.01). Semi-quantitative pathological analysis on PVC showed that BDNF of total area in the model group was(82438±2597.39)S/μm2,mean optical density was(1155.9±123.14), integrated optical density was(12915±673.28), compared with the control group {total area was(132370±7588.47)S/μm2, mean optical density was(5365±379.65), integrated optical density was(35102±2648.5)}, there were statistical differences(all P<0.05),there was statistical difference in BDNF of total area between model group and treatment group{(108980±9126.77)S/μm2, P<0.05}, significant difference in mean optical density between the model group and treatment group(3220.4±413.67, P<0.05), statistical difference in integrated optical density between the model group and treatment group(23821±3431.68, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: TCM of bushenhuoxue can repair the PVC damage in the rat model of chronic EIOP by enhancing expression of BDNF, improving ultrastructure of neuron cell

Dynamics of diversity, distribution patterns and interspecific associations of understory herbs in the city-suburb-exurb context of Wuhan city, China

The dynamics of herb diversity, distribution patterns and interspecific associations of dominant herbs in natural forests at three growing stages in a city-suburb-exurb context in Wuhan City were studied using a fixed plot. The results show that the composition, diversity indices, mean and total richness gradually increased with the city-suburb-exurb gradient. Codominant species across temporal dynamics in Qinglong Mountain were stable, however, there were remarkable changes in the city-suburb context. Qinglong Mountain (exurb context) had the densest codominant herbs, Woodwardia japonica, Spider brake and Parathelypteris glanduligera, throughout the growing season. However, Shizi Mountain (suburb context) and Hongshan Mountain (urban context) had low-density and monodominant herbs at three stages. The overall strength of associations among herbs increased with the city-suburb-exurb context, and pairs of positive associations and significant associations (r>0.5 or r<-0.5) were more frequent on Qinglong Mountain. Therefore, the exurb-suburb-city landscape context in response to urbanization had a notable effect on the features of the understory herb layer

catena-Poly[[[aqua­[3-(3-hy­droxy­phen­yl)prop-2-enoato]samarium(III)]-bis­[μ2-3-(3-hy­droxy­phen­yl)prop-2-enoato]] monohydrate]

The title SmIII compound, {[Sm(C9H7O3)3(H2O)]·H2O}n, was obtained under hydrothermal conditions. Its structure is isotypic with the analogous Eu complex. The latter was reported incorrectly in space group P1 by Yan et al. [J. Mol. Struct. (2008), 891, 298–304]. This was corrected by Marsh [Acta Cryst. B65, 782–783] to P-1. The SmIII ion is nine-coordinated by O atoms from one coordinating water molecule and the remaining ones from the 3-(3-hy­droxy­phen­yl)prop-2-enoatate anions (one bidentate, two bidentate and bridging, two monodentate bridging), leading to a distorted tricapped trigonal–prismatic coordination polyhedron surrounded by solvent water mol­ecules. In the crystal, extensive intermolecular O—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter­actions and π–π inter­actions [centroid–centroid separation = 3.9393 (1) Å] lead to the formation of a three-dimensional supra­molecular network

Molecular mechanism of fluoroquinolones resistance in Mycoplasma hominis clinical isolates

To evaluate the molecular mechanism of fluoroquinolones resistance in Mycoplasma hominis (MH) clinical strains isolated from urogenital specimens. 15 MH clinical isolates with different phenotypes of resistance to fluoroquinolones antibiotics were screened for mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) of DNA gyrase (gyrA and gyrB) and topoisomerase IV (parC and parE) in comparison with the reference strain PG21, which is susceptible to fluoroquinolones antibiotics. 15 MH isolates with three kinds of quinolone resistance phenotypes were obtained. Thirteen out of these quinolone-resistant isolates were found to carry nucleotide substitutions in either gyrA or parC. There were no alterations in gyrB and no mutations were found in the isolates with a phenotype of resistance to Ofloxacin (OFX), intermediate resistant to Levofloxacin (LVX) and Sparfloxacin (SFX), and those susceptible to all three tested antibiotics. The molecular mechanism of fluoroquinolone resistance in clinical isolates of MH was reported in this study. The single amino acid mutation in ParC of MH may relate to the resistance to OFX and LVX and the high-level resistance to fluoroquinolones for MH is likely associated with mutations in both DNA gyrase and the ParC subunit of topoisomerase IV

Synthesis and Sensing Properties of ZnO/ZnS Nanocages

Large-scale uniform ZnO dumbbells and ZnO/ZnS hollow nanocages were successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route combined with subsequent etching treatment. The nanocages were formed through preferential dissolution of the twinned (0001) plane of ZnO dumbbells. Due to their special morphology, the hollow nanocages show better sensing properties to ethanol than ZnO dumbbells. The gain in sensitivity is attributed to both the interface between ZnO and ZnS heterostructure and their hollow architecture that promotes analyte diffusion and increases the available active surface area

Increased Acetylated SNAP25 in the Hippocampus Correlated with Age-Related Deficits in the SAMP8 Mice

Acetylation is an important post-translational modification, which modulates function and localization of cytoplasmic proteins. Synaptosomal-associated protein-25 (SNAP-25) is a presynaptic neurotransmission-regulating protein that can be acetylated. Whether the acetylation level of SNAP25 is affected by aging is unknown. We explored the relative levels of SNAP25 and acetylated SNAP25 in the SAMP8 mice with different ages, and their correlation with spatial cognitive performance in radial six-arm water maze. The SAMP8 mice exhibited decline of spatial learning and memory abilities with aging. The higher hippocampal levels of SNAP25 were found in the 6- and 10-month SAMP8 mice compared to the 2-month mice. The hippocampal level of acetylated SNAP25 in the 10-month mice was higher than those in the 2- and 6-month mice. Positive correlations were found between the age-related increase of SNAP25 and the impairment of spatial learning and memory, and between acetylated SNAP25 level and memory deficits. The results suggested that elevated acetylated SNAP25 during aging might be involved in the age-related memory impairment