Multiscale prediction of functional self-assembled materials using machine learning: high-performance surfactant molecules.

Various physical properties of functional materials can be induced by controlling their chemical molecular structures. Therefore, molecular design is crucial in the fields of engineering and materials science. With its remarkable development in various fields, machine learning combined with molecular simulation has recently been found to be effective at predicting the electronic structure of materials (Nat.

Swept-source optical coherence tomographic findings in eyes with metastatic choroidal tumor.

Purpose: To report the swept-source optical coherence tomographic (OCT) findings in two eyes with choroidal metastases.

Observations: Two patients with choroidal metastasis were studied. The metastasis was from a breast cancer in Case 1 and from a lung cancer in Case 2.

Optical Coherence Tomographic Imaging of Posterior Episclera and Tenon's Capsule.

Purpose: To investigate structural features of the posterior episclera and Tenon's capsule in patients with high myopia.

Methods: This hospital-based observational study included highly myopic eyes (myopic refractive error > -8 diopters or axial length ≥26.5 mm) in which the posterior sclera in its full thickness could be visualized on swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) images in all 12 radial scans centered on the fovea.

Glaucomatous-Type Optic Discs in High Myopia.

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of glaucoma in patients with high myopia defined as myopic refractive error of >-8 diopters or axial length ≥26.5 mm.

Methods: The hospital-based observational study included 172 patients (336 eyes) with a mean age of 61.

Chorioretinal folds in eyes with myopic staphyloma.

Purpose: To determine the frequency and clinical characteristics of chorioretinal folds emanating from the edge of a staphyloma in highly myopic patients.

Design: Observational case series.

Methods: Eight hundred and eighty-three eyes of 463 patients with an axial length ≥26.

Serum inflammatory markers after rupture retinal laser injury in mice.

Background And Objective: To characterize the cellular, immunological, and inflammatory response to retinal photocoagulation of intense rupture laser lesions as a model of retinal degenerative diseases.

Materials And Methods: Seven C57BL/6 mice were irradiated using a 532-nm laser to induce 10 retinal burns per eye that ruptured Bruch's membrane. Blood was drawn from the saphenous vein before and 2 months after laser treatment.

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in a case with retinitis pigmentosa.

There have been no reports describing polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in eyes with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). A 63-year-old woman who had been diagnosed as having RP was referred to us because of sudden onset of blurred vision in her right eye. Funduscopic examination revealed retinal findings typical of RP in both eyes.

The role of TRB3 in mast cells sensitized with monomeric IgE.

Mast cells play a key role in immunoglobulin E (IgE)-associated allergic disorders; however, the cellular effects of sensitization remain poorly understood. Using gene microarrays and the multiplexing ELISA method, we examined the effects of sensitization on RBL-CCR1 cell transcription and chemokine/cytokine secretion. Sensitization most prominently increased transcription of Trb3, the gene for tribbles homolog 3 (TRB3), and also increased the release of most of the cytokines and chemokines tested.

The murine CCR3 receptor regulates both eosinophilia and hyperresponsiveness in IgE-mediated allergic conjunctivitis.

Background/aims: Allergic conjunctivitis is characterised by early-phase clinical symptoms and late-phase inflammation in the conjunctiva. The role of different chemokine receptors in allergic conjunctivitis, especially during the early-phase reaction, is still unclear. We investigated the importance of CC chemokine receptor (CCR) 3 in a murine model of IgE-mediated allergic conjunctivitis using CCR3-deficient (CCR3(-/-)) mice.

Identification of anti-retinal antibodies in patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in industrial counties. Recent findings indicate that the autoimmunity is involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. However, there is no autoantibody biomarker applied in a clinical setting for diagnosis and prognosis of AMD.

Identification of genes and proteins specifically regulated by costimulation of mast cell Fcε Receptor I and chemokine receptor 1.

Mast cell function is a critical component of allergic reactions. Mast cell responses mediated by the high-affinity immunoglobulin E receptor FcεRI can be enhanced by co-activation of additional receptors such as CC chemokine receptor 1 (CCR1). To examine the downstream effects of FcεRI-CCR1 costimulation, rat basophilic leukemia cells stably transfected with CCR1 (RBL-CCR1 cells) were sensitized and activated with antigen and/or the CCR1 ligand CC chemokine ligand (CCL) 3.

Serum autoantibody biomarkers for age-related macular degeneration and possible regulators of neovascularization.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in industrial counties. Its pathogenesis is at least partially mediated by immunological factors, including a possible autoimmune response. To date, only a few antibodies have been identified in sera from patients with AMD.

Modeling gas permeation through membranes by kinetic Monte Carlo: applications to H2, O2, and N2 in hydrated Nafion®.

We present a simulation tool in order to predict gas permeation through heterogeneous, microphase separated structures. The method combines dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) with kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC). Morphologies obtained from DPD are mapped onto a high density grid on which gas diffusion takes place.

The role of histamine in ocular allergy.

Ocular allergy is a disorder affecting increasing numbers of individuals worldwide. Among the inflammatory mediators that contribute to ocular allergy, histamine is perhaps the best characterized. This monoamine is released by sensitized mast cells upon exposure to allergen and causes symptoms such as redness and tearing.

Autoimmunity in retinal degeneration: autoimmune retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.

Autoantibody production is associated with a variety of ocular disorders, including autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A breakdown of immunologic tolerance (ocular immune privilege), including the blood-retinal barrier, anti-immune and anti-inflammatory proteins, and anterior chamber-associated immune deviation may play important roles in these disorders. Although the exact triggers for ocular autoimmunity are unknown, autoimmune targeting of retinal tissue is clearly associated with and may contribute to the pathogenesis of both AIR and AMD.

Critical role of IgE-dependent mast cell activation in a murine model of allergic conjunctivitis.

Background: Allergic conjunctivitis is characterized by allergen-specific IgE in the serum and infiltration of eosinophils into the conjunctiva. The role of IgE and mast cells in allergic conjunctivitis is largely unknown, however.

Objectives: We investigated the importance of conjunctival mast cells in a murine model of IgE-mediated allergic conjunctivitis.

Pathogenesis of herpetic stromal keratitis in CCR5- and/or CXCR3-deficient mice.

Purpose: Herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK) is an immunopathological reaction to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) corneal infection. It has been reported that CD4+ cells play the most important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. In this study, we have focused on two chemokine receptors, CCR5 and CXCR3, which are expressed on CD4+ Th1 cells in mice HSK model.

Macular and retinal dysfunction of unknown origin in adults with normal fundi: evidence for an autoimmune pathophysiology.

Here we report the discovery of and phenotypic characterization of a retinal disorder of unknown origin in adults using clinical, electrophysiological and psychophysical techniques, and to seek the presence of circulating retinal autoantibodies in the sera of these patients. Sixteen patients were identified with progressive bilateral visual loss over a period of months. Ten of the patients were male, and the average age was 55.

Role of beta-chemokines in mast cell activation and type I hypersensitivity reactions in the conjunctiva: in vivo and in vitro studies.

Chemokines have a clearly defined role in mobilizing the recruitment of leukocytes to both healthy and inflamed tissues. This review details work from our and other laboratories, indicating that beta-chemokines may play important roles (i) in driving the terminal differentiation of mast cell precursors in mucosal tissues and (ii) in providing priming or costimulatory signals required for mast cell activation, leading to an antigen-driven inflammatory response. These data stem from in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro studies.

5'-end SAGE for the analysis of transcriptional start sites.

Identification of the mRNA start site is essential in establishing the full-length cDNA sequence of a gene and analyzing its promoter region, which regulates gene expression. Here we describe the development of a 5'-end serial analysis of gene expression (5' SAGE) that can be used to globally identify transcriptional start sites and the frequency of individual mRNAs. Of the 25,684 5' SAGE tags in the HEK293 human cell library, 19,893 matched to the human genome.

Lipopolysaccharide-inducible gene expression profile in human monocytes.

Monocytes/macrophages play a key role in host defense by phagocytosing invaded pathogens, presenting antigens to immune cells and producing numerous inflammatory mediators. Although the expression of many proteins and genes has been described to be up-regulated in activated human monocytes, a complete picture of the pathophysiological function of activated human monocytes has not yet been drawn. In this study the serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) procedure was applied to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human monocytes.

Lipopolysaccharide-inducible Gene Expression Profile in Human Monocytes.

Monocytes/macrophages play a key role in host defense by phagocytosing invaded pathogens, presenting antigens to immune cells and producing numerous inflammatory mediators. Although the expression of many proteins and genes has been described to be up-regulated in activated human monocytes, a complete picture of the pathophysiological function of activated human monocytes has not yet been drawn. In this study the serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) procedure was applied to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human monocytes.