Endolichenic Fungal Community Analysis by Pure Culture Isolation and Metabarcoding: A Case Study of .

Lichen is a symbiotic mutualism of mycobiont and photobiont that harbors diverse organisms including endolichenic fungi (ELF). Despite the taxonomic and ecological significance of ELF, no comparative investigation of an ELF community involving isolation of a pure culture and high-throughput sequencing has been conducted. Thus, we analyzed the ELF community in by culture and metabarcoding.

A Smartphone-Based Near-Vision Testing System: Design, Accuracy, and Reproducibility Compared With Standard Clinical Measures.

Background And Objective: Ophthalmologic telemedicine has emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study is to assess the accuracy and reproducibility of a smartphone-based home vision monitoring system (Sightbook) and to compare it with existing clinical standards.

Patients And Methods: Near Snellen visual acuity (VA) was measured with Sightbook and compared with conventional measurements for distance and near VA at an academic medical center ophthalmology clinic in 200 patients with a variety of different specified preexisting ocular conditions.

Linking a Gene Cluster to Atranorin, a Major Cortical Substance of Lichens, through Genetic Dereplication and Heterologous Expression.

The depside and depsidone series compounds of polyketide origin accumulate in the cortical or medullary layers of lichen thalli. Despite the taxonomic and ecological significance of lichen chemistry and its pharmaceutical potentials, there has been no single piece of genetic evidence linking biosynthetic genes to lichen substances. Thus, we systematically analyzed lichen polyketide synthases (PKSs) for categorization and identification of the biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) involved in depside/depsidone production.

Effect of Isolation Conditions on Diversity of Endolichenic Fungal Communities from a Foliose Lichen, .

Endolichenic fungi (ELF) are emerging novel bioresources because their diverse secondary metabolites have a wide range of biological activities. Metagenomic analysis of lichen thalli demonstrated that the conventional isolation method of ELF covers a very limited range of ELF, and the development of an advanced isolation method is needed. The influence of four variables were investigated in this study to determine the suitable conditions for the isolation of more diverse ELF from a radially growing foliose lichen, Four variables were tested: age of the thallus, severity of surface-sterilization of the thallus, size of a thallus fragment for the inoculation, and nutrient requirement.

Introduction to model for proarrhythmic risk assessment under the CiPA initiative.

In 2005, the International Council for Harmonization (ICH) established cardiotoxicity assessment guidelines to identify the risk of Torsade de Pointes (TdP). It is focused on the blockade of the human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) channel known to cause QT/QTc prolongation and the QT/QTc prolongation shown on the electrocardiogram. However, these biomarkers are not the direct risks of TdP with low specificity as the action potential is influenced by multiple channels along with the hERG channel.

Successful Mechanical Thrombectomy Using Solumbra Technique In a 35-year-old Man With Achondroplasia: a case report.

Background: Achondroplasia is one of the most common types of dwarfism and is inherited as an autosomal dominant disease. The patients with achondroplasia suffer from various complications such as craniofacial, central nervous system, spinal, respiratory and cardiac anomalies.

Case Description: We report a case of a 35-year-old man with achondroplasia who visited the emergency room with right hemiplegia and aphasia within 6 hours after onset.

The Role of digital subtraction angiography in the ventricular spot sign on the computed tomography angiography.

Objective: The spot sign on computed tomography angiography is little known about the relationship between the spot sign and the results of cerebral angiography We retrospectively analyzed the spot sign, digital subtraction angiography results, and other factors.

Material And Methods: From December 2009 to May 2014, DSA was performed in 52 ICH patients with non-specific location or abnormalities on CTA findings. 26 of those patients, whose initial CTA showed the spot sign, were analyzed.

Feasibility of Using Neck Extension to Overcome a Difficult Aortic Arch and Gain Access to the Carotid Artery.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate neck movement and various conditions of the aortic arch that may hinder access to the carotid artery during neurointerventional procedures.

Methods: We reviewed 230 patients who underwent internal carotid artery angiography between February 2016 and October 2016. Use of a Davis catheter (DC) was first attempted and if not possible, movement (right, left, flexion, and extension) of the patient's head was tried before catheter exchange.

Giant complex odontoma in the posterior mandible: A case report and literature review.

Odontomas are considered a type of odontogenic hamartoma, and are generally reported not to exceed 3 cm in diameter. Some authors have referred to odontomas with a diameter exceeding 3 cm as giant odontomas. As hamartomas, giant odontomas generally show no signs or symptoms, but if they perforate the mucosa to become exposed in the oral cavity, oral and maxillofacial infections can result.

OUTCOME OF INTRAVITREAL AFLIBERCEPT FOR REFRACTORY PIGMENT EPITHELIAL DETACHMENT WITH OR WITHOUT SUBRETINAL FLUID AND SECONDARY TO AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.

Purpose: To investigate the outcomes of intravitreal aflibercept in refractory pigment epithelial detachment (PED) with or without subretinal fluid (SRF) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Methods: A prospective, nonrandomized, interventional case series involved 40 patients with persistent vascularized PED previously treated with at least 3 injections of intravitreal bevacizumab or ranibizumab. Intravitreal aflibercept was administered as 3 initial loading doses every 4 weeks, followed by pro re nata retreatment every 8 weeks over 48 weeks.

Analysis of the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Alzheimer Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Purpose: To compare the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) as well as the macula volume and thickness in the eyes of age-matched healthy controls with no cognitive disabilities with those of elderly people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer disease (AD). We used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to determine the effectiveness of the above quantities for early diagnosis of MCI or AD.

Methods: Ninety eyes were considered in this study, split between 30 normal eyes, 30 eyes from patients with MCI, and 30eyes from patients with AD.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Lumbar Tapping Utilization for Suspected Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Under-Drainage Malfunctions.

Objective: The diagnosis of shunt malfunction can be challenging since neuroimaging results are not always correlated with clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a simple, minimally invasive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lumbar tapping test that predicts shunt under-drainage in hydrocephalus patients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological features of 48 patients who underwent routine CSF lumbar tapping after ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) operation using a programmable shunting device.

Bypass surgery versus medical treatment for symptomatic moyamoya disease in adults.

OBJECTIVE In this study the authors evaluated whether extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery can prevent stroke occurrence and decrease mortality in adult patients with symptomatic moyamoya disease (MMD). METHODS The medical records of 249 consecutive adult patients with symptomatic MMD that was confirmed by digital subtraction angiography between 2002 and 2011 at 8 institutions were retrospectively reviewed. The study outcomes of stroke recurrence as a primary event and death during the 6-year follow-up and perioperative complications within 30 days as secondary events were compared between the bypass and medical treatment groups.

Direct Bypass Versus Indirect Bypass in Adult Moyamoya Angiopathy with Symptoms or Hemodynamic Instability: A Meta-analysis of Comparative Studies.

Background: It remains controversial which bypass methods are optimal for treating adult moyamoya angiopathy patients. This study aimed to analyze the literature about whether different bypass methods affect differently outcome results of adult moyamoya patients with symptoms or hemodynamic instability.

Methods: A systematic search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central databases was performed for articles published between 1990 and 2015.

Morphologic changes in the retina after selective retina therapy.

Purpose: To investigate structural changes in the retina by histologic evaluation and in vivo spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) following selective retina therapy (SRT) controlled by optical feedback techniques (OFT).

Methods: SRT was applied to 12 eyes of Dutch Belted rabbits. Retinal changes were assessed based on fundus photography, fluorescein angiography (FAG), SD-OCT, light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at each of the following time points: 1 h, and 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days after SRT.

The Influence of Flush Methods on Transfemoral Catheter Cerebral Angiography: Continuous Flush versus Intermittent Flush.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of different flush methods on transfemoral cerebral angiography (TFCA).

Materials And Methods: This single-blind randomized controlled trial included 50 patients who had undergone TFCA. Balanced block randomization was used to allocate participants into intermittent-flush (n = 25) and continuous-flush (n = 25) groups.

Repeatability and Reproducibility of Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Measurements of Retinal Thickness in Rats.

Purpose: To evaluate the in vivo repeatability and reproducibility of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) measurements of total retinal thickness (TRT) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in rats.

Methods: Retinal thickness was measured using an RNFL circular scan with AutoRescan and TruTracking modes in 20 eyes of Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka rats. Three RNFL circular scan images were acquired with a brief rest between measurements to evaluate intra-session repeatability.

Tentorial Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Treated Using Transarterial Onyx Embolization.

Tentorial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) is a rare vascular disease, which has high risk of intracranial hemorrhage. We present two cases of tentorial DAVF which were successfully treated with single trial of transarterial embolization using Onyx. We briefly reviewed the types of the tentorial DAVF and strategies of treatment.

The Risk Factors for Hydrocephalus and Subdural Hygroma after Decompressive Craniectomy in Head Injured Patients.

Objective: The present study aims to investigate 1) the risk factors for hydrocephalus and subdural hygroma (SDG) occurring after decompressive craniectomy (DC), and 2) the association between the type of SDG and hydrocephalus.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological features of 92 patients who underwent DC procedures after severe head injuries. The risk factors for developing post-traumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) and SDG were analyzed.

Assessment of the optimal site of femoral artery puncture and angiographic anatomical study of the common femoral artery.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate demographic and clinical factors affecting the common femoral artery diameter and length, and anatomical relationship between the femoral head and the common femoral artery during angiography.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 109 femoral angiograms. We collected the clinical data of the patients and estimated the common femoral artery diameter and length.

Renal subcapsular hematoma after percutaneous transfemoral angiography.

Vascular complications after percutaneous angiography include hematoma, pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula, thromboembolism, arterial laceration and infection. Hematomas may occur in the groin, thigh, retroperitoneal, intraperitoneal, or abdominal wall. A 54-year-old female underwent percutaneous transfemoral angiography for the evaluation of cerebral aneurysm.

Retinal Neurodegeneration in Type II Diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty Rats.

Purpose: We evaluated whether diabetes causes longitudinal thinning of retinal layers as a sign of retinal neurodegeneration in a type II diabetic animal model, the Otuska Long-Evans Tokushima fatty rats (OLETF), using spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and investigated the corresponding histology.

Methods: Retinal thickness in OLETF and Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka rats (LETO) was measured at 1300 μm from the center of the optic nerve head (ONH) at 12, 20, 28, and 36 weeks using SD-OCT. Total retinal thickness (TRT) was measured automatically by built-in software.

Dysregulated Expression Profiles of MicroRNAs of Experimentally Induced Cerebral Aneurysms in Rats.

Objective: Cerebral aneurysm (CA) is an important acquired cerebrovascular disease that can cause catastrophic results. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs, playing essential roles in modulating basic physiologic and pathological processes. Currently, evidences have been established about biologic relationship between miRNAs and abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Rat peripheral nerve regeneration using nerve guidance channel by porcine small intestinal submucosa.

Objective: In order to develop a novel nerve guidance channel using porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) for nerve regeneration, we investigated the possibility of SIS, a tissue consisting of acellular collagen material without cellular immunogenicity, and containing many kinds of growth factors, as a natural material with a new bioactive functionality.

Methods: Left sciatic nerves were cut 5 mm in length, in 14 Sprague-Dawley rats. Grafts between the cut nerve ends were performed with a silicone tube (Silicon group, n=7) and rolled porcine SIS (SIS group, n=7).

Imported intraocular gnathostomiasis with subretinal tracks confirmed by western blot assay.

We report a case of intraocular gnathostomiasis diagnosed by western blot assay in a patient with subretinal tracks. A 15-year-old male patient complained of blurred vision in the right eye, lasting for 2 weeks. Eight months earlier, he had traveled to Vietnam for 1 week and ate raw wild boar meat and lobster.