Reversible reflection color-control in smectic liquid crystal switched by photo-isomerization of azobenzene.

Through the looking glass: A reflection color transition is demonstrated in a smectic liquid crystal doped with a photochromic azobenzene and a chiral agent with high helical twisting power. The reflection color can be switched reversibly due to the isomerization of azobenzene upon UV/visible irradiation.

Dopamine, the kidney, and hypertension.

There is increasing evidence that the intrarenal dopaminergic system plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure, and defects in dopamine signaling appear to be involved in the development of hypertension. Recent experimental models have definitively demonstrated that abnormalities in intrarenal dopamine production or receptor signaling can predispose to salt-sensitive hypertension and a dysregulated renin-angiotensin system. In addition, studies in both experimental animal models and in humans with salt-sensitive hypertension implicate abnormalities in dopamine receptor regulation due to receptor desensitization resulting from increased G-protein receptor kinase 4 (GRK4) activity.

New isoform-specific monoclonal antibodies reveal different sub-cellular localisations for talin1 and talin2.

Talins are adaptor proteins that connect the integrin family of cell adhesion receptors to cytoskeletal actin. Vertebrates express two closely related talins encoded by separate genes, and while it is well established that talin1 plays a key role in cell adhesion and spreading, little is known about the role of talin2. To facilitate such studies, we report the characterisation of 4 new isoform-specific talin mouse monoclonal antibodies that work in Western blotting, immuno-precipitation, immuno-fluorescence and immuno-histochemistry.

A multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, clinical trial comparing the safety and efficacy of loteprednol etabonate 0.5%/tobramycin 0.3% with dexamethasone 0.1%/tobramycin 0.3% in the treatment of Chinese patients with blepharokeratoconjunctivitis.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of loteprednol etabonate 0.5%/tobramycin 0.3% (LE/T) and dexamethasone 0.

Interactive effects of ATOH7 and RFTN1 in association with adult-onset primary open-angle glaucoma.

Purpose: Genome-wide association studies have shown association of the atonal homolog 7 (ATOH7) and raftlin lipid raft linker 1 (RFTN1) genes with glaucoma-related optic disc parameters. ATOH7 and RFTN1 sequence variations were investigated in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and their relationships with vertical cup-to-disc ratio (VCDR) and central corneal thickness (CCT) were determined.

Methods: In 289 unrelated controls and 142 patients with adult-onset POAG, including 117 with high-tension glaucoma (HTG) and 25 with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), the single exon of ATOH7 was sequenced by direct sequencing.

Intrarenal dopamine modulates progressive angiotensin II-mediated renal injury.

It is well-recognized that excessive angiotensin II (ANG II) can mediate progressive renal injury. Previous studies by us and others have indicated that dopamine may modulate actions of ANG II in the kidney. The current studies investigated whether altering intrarenal dopamine levels affected ANG II-mediated renal fibrosis.

Role of blood pressure and the renin-angiotensin system in development of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in eNOS-/- db/db mice.

Randomized clinical trials have clearly shown that inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) will slow the rate of progression of diabetic nephropathy, but controversy remains about whether the observed beneficial effects result from more than control of blood pressure. Deletion of eNOS in a model of type II diabetes, db/db mice (eNOS(-/-) db/db), induces an accelerated nephropathy and provides an excellent model of human diabetic nephropathy. As is frequently seen in type II diabetes, blood pressure is moderately elevated in eNOS(-/-) db/db mice.

The effect of lentivirus-mediated expression of tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand and shRNA against Bcl-2 on the growth of lymphoma cells.

It has been well established that tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) effectively induces apoptosis in tumor cells. However, tumor resistance to TRAIL, especially of hematological tumor cells, has become a major problem in the potential use of TRAIL in clinical practice. Among many factors that contribute to TRAIL resistance, overexpression of Bcl-2 is commonly seen in many kinds of tumors, particularly in lymphoma.

Cyclooxygenase metabolites in the kidney.

In the mammalian kidney, prostaglandins (PGs) are important mediators of physiologic processes, including modulation of vascular tone and salt and water. PGs arise from enzymatic metabolism of free arachidonic acid (AA), which is cleaved from membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A2 activity. The cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme system is a major pathway for metabolism of AA in the kidney.

Comparison on photopic electroretinogram negative response between young and old Lewis rats.

Purpose: To investigate and compare the latency and amplitude of the electroretinogram (ERG) photopic negative response (PhNR) between young and old Lewis rats.

Methods: Thirteen Lewis rats were divided into two groups according to ages, young group (3-month old n=5) and old group (24 month old n=8). The ERGs of the left eyes were measured and the latency and amplitude of a-wave, b-wave and PhNRs were recorded and compared according to ages.

Randomized, controlled trial of an educational intervention to promote spectacle use in rural China: the see well to learn well study.

Objective: To test an educational intervention promoting the purchase of spectacles among Chinese children.

Design: Randomized, controlled trial.

Participants: Children in years 1 and 2 of all 20 junior and senior high schools (ages 12-17 years) in 3 rural townships in Guangdong, China.

Self correction of refractive error among young people in rural China: results of cross sectional investigation.

Objective: To compare outcomes between adjustable spectacles and conventional methods for refraction in young people.

Design: Cross sectional study.

Setting: Rural southern China.

Understanding barriers to cataract surgery among older persons in rural China through focus groups.

Purpose: To utilize focus groups (FGs) to identify barriers to cataract surgery specific to older persons in rural Guangdong, China.

Methods: Three focus groups in separate locations were carried out for persons aged 60 years and above with best-corrected vision <= 6/18 due to cataract, either accepting or refusing surgery. Participants also ranked responses to questions about acceptance of surgery among the elderly.

MicroRNA-145 regulates human corneal epithelial differentiation.

Background: Epigenetic factors, such as microRNAs, are important regulators in the self-renewal and differentiation of stem cells and progenies. Here we investigated the microRNAs expressed in human limbal-peripheral corneal (LPC) epithelia containing corneal epithelial progenitor cells (CEPCs) and early transit amplifying cells, and their role in corneal epithelium.

Methodology/principal Findings: Human LPC epithelia was extracted for small RNAs or dissociated for CEPC culture.

Intrarenal dopamine deficiency leads to hypertension and decreased longevity in mice.

In addition to its role as an essential neurotransmitter, dopamine serves important physiologic functions in organs such as the kidney. Although the kidney synthesizes dopamine through the actions of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) in the proximal tubule, previous studies have not discriminated between the roles of extrarenal and intrarenal dopamine in the overall regulation of renal function. To address this issue, we generated mice with selective deletion of AADC in the kidney proximal tubules (referred to herein as ptAadc-/- mice), which led to selective decreases in kidney and urinary dopamine.

Combined treatment for child refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia with ciprofloxacin and glucocorticoid.

Objects: To evaluate the efficacy of combined treatment of ciprofloxacin and glucocorticoid for child refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) pneumonia.

Methods: Clinical and laboratory characteristics of six pediatric refractory M.

Evaluation of HSV-1 and adenovirus vector-mediated infection, replication and cytotoxicity in lymphoma cell lines.

Lymphoma is not a common focus for viral therapy as many researchers do not consider lymphoma as a suitable target for viral vectors. In the present study, the infection, replication and cytotoxicity of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and adenovirus vectors were screened and evaluated in different lymphoma cell lines. Three recombinant viruses, BAC-HSV-1-eGFP, Adv-eGFP and an NV1020-like oncolytic HSV-1 virus strain named BAC-HSV-1-eGFP-delIRs, inserted with green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter, were applied to evaluate the efficiency of viral infection and replication and cytotoxicity to lymphoma cells.

Determinants of postoperative corneal edema and impact on goldmann intraocular pressure.

Purpose: Recent studies report that increased corneal edema because of contact lens wear under closed lids is associated with elevated Goldmann intraocular pressure (GAT IOP). We sought to assess whether the impact of postoperative corneal edema on GAT IOP would be similar and to determine the differential effect of different amounts of edema.

Methods: The setting is a tertiary level cataract clinic in Shantou, China.

Helicobacter pylori infection promotes methylation of WWOX gene in human gastric cancer.

WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX), a tumor suppressor gene, was reported to be downregulated in gastric cancer and other tumors. However, the mechanism by which WWOX is inactivated remains unclear. In our study, methylation status of WWOX was determined by MSP and sequencing.

Adjunctive effect of acupuncture to refractive correction on anisometropic amblyopia: one-year results of a randomized crossover trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and adjunctive effect of acupuncture added to refractive correction for anisometropic amblyopia in younger children.

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled, crossover trial.

Participants: We included 83 children aged 3 to <7 years with untreated anisometropic amblyopia and baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/40 to 20/200 in the amblyopic eye.

Validating the accuracy of a model to predict the onset of myopia in children.

Purpose: To assess the sensitivity and specificity of models predicting myopia onset among ethnically Chinese children.

Methods: Visual acuity, height, weight, biometry (A-scan, keratometry), and refractive error were assessed at baseline and 3 years later using the same equipment and protocol in primary schools in Xiamen (China) and Singapore. A regression model predicting the onset of myopia < -0.

miR-137 is frequently down-regulated in gastric cancer and is a negative regulator of Cdc42.

Introduction: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small (19-25 nucleotides) noncoding RNAs that regulate the expressions of a wide variety of genes, including some involved in cancer development. Some recent studies show that DNA methylation contributes to down-regulation of microRNA-137 (miR-137) during tumorigenesis. Whether down-regulation of miR-137 also exists in gastric cancer is unknown.

Gensenoside Rg3 inhibits hypoxia-induced VEGF expression in human cancer cells.

Aims: The ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) inhibits xenograft growth and angiogenesis in tumors mainly via down-regulates VEGF expression. This study was designed to investigate the mechanisms by which Rg3 down-regulates VEGF expression.

Methods: MTT assay was performed to investigate the effect of Rg3 on the growth of human esophageal carcinoma cell line Eca-109 and 786-0 cells under normoxic and hypoxic conditions.

Corneal biomechanics, refractive error, and axial length in Chinese primary school children.

Purpose: Low corneal hysteresis is associated with longer axial length in Chinese secondary school children. The authors sought to explore this association in primary school children.

Methods: LogMAR presenting visual acuity, cycloplegic refractive error, ocular biometry, central corneal thickness (CCT), and corneal hysteresis (CH) was assessed for children in grades 1 to 3 at an academically competitive urban school in Shantou, China.