Activated Inositol Phosphate, Substrate for Synthesis of Prostaglandylinositol Cyclic Phosphate (Cyclic PIP)-The Key for the Effectiveness of Inositol-Feeding.

The natural cyclic AMP antagonist, prostaglandylinositol cyclic phosphate (cyclic PIP), is biosynthesized from prostaglandin E (PGE) and activated inositol phosphate (n-Ins-P), which is synthesized by a particulate rat-liver-enzyme from GTP and a precursor named inositol phosphate (pr-Ins-P), whose 5-ring phosphodiester structure is essential for n-Ins-P synthesis. Aortic myocytes, preincubated with [H] myo-inositol, synthesize after angiotensin II stimulation (30 s) [H] pr-Ins-P (65% yield), which is converted to [H] n-Ins-P and [H] cyclic PIP. Acid-treated (1 min) [H] pr-Ins-P co-elutes with inositol (1,4)-bisphosphate in high performance ion chromatography, indicating that pr-Ins-P is inositol (1:2-cyclic,4)-bisphosphate.

Laser Photobiomodulation of the Induratio Penis Plastica or La Peyronie's Syndrome.

Since 1980, laser therapy has been proposed with success in the treatment of the Induratio Penis Plastica (IPP), also called La Peyronie's Syndrome, but still few physicians use it. We would like to investigate the clinical effects of using more laser sequentially in each session, in the treatment of chronic IPP. We used high levels of energy, watts rather than milliwatts, reducing the duration of each application, and the number of the cycles in total.

Efficacy of intravenous amphotericin B-polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles against cryptococcal meningitis in mice.

Amphotericin B deoxycholate (AmB), a classic antifungal drug, remains the initial treatment of choice for deep fungal infections, but it is not appropriate for treatment of cryptococcal meningitis due to its inability to pass through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We examined the efficacy of amphotericin B-polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles (AmB-PBCA-NPs) modified with polysorbate 80 that had a mean particle diameter less than 100 nanometers (69.0 ± 28.

Response variability to high rates of electric stimulation in retinal ganglion cells.

To improve the quality of prosthetic vision, it is important to understand how retinal neurons respond to electric stimulation. Previous studies present conflicting reports as to the maximum rate at which retinal ganglion cells can "follow" pulse trains, i.e.

RGD-conjugated dendrimer-modified gold nanorods for in vivo tumor targeting and photothermal therapy.

Successful development of safe and effective nanoprobes for tumor targeting and selective therapy is a challenging task. Although gold nanorods(GNRs) have the potential to perform such a role, the toxicity of surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromides (CTAB) on their surfaces limits their applications. Here, polyamidoamine dendrimer was applied to replace CTAB molecules on the surface of gold nanorods.

The role of mast cells in non-ablative laser resurfacing with 1,320 nm neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of mast cells in mechanisms of collagen remodelling induced by non-ablative laser treatment. The dorsal skin of Kunming (KM) mice was exposed to 1,320 nm neodymium-yttrium-aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser weekly for four consecutive weeks. Biopsies were taken 1 h after irradiation and 1 day, 7 days, 14 days, 30 days and 60 days after the first treatment.

Dual channel dual focus optical coherence tomography for imaging accommodation of the eye.

A dual channel dual focus spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was developed for imaging the accommodation of the eye in real time. The system can provide simultaneous cross-sectional imaging of all the surfaces of the anterior segment of the eye including the cornea, anterior chamber, anterior and posterior surfaces of the crystalline lens. Thus, the modification of the curvatures of the anterior and posterior surfaces of the crystalline lens and the dimensions of the anterior segment of the eye with accommodation can be calculated.

Holographic topometry for a dense visualization of soft tissue for facial reconstruction.

Facial reconstruction can be used as a forensic technique to identify a person, when no other identification method is applicable. The facial soft tissue thickness applied to the skull is crucial when performing an accurate facial reconstruction. Historically, scientists developed several techniques to measure the soft tissue of the face.

Two-photon imaging using adaptive phase compensated ultrashort laser pulses.

An adaptive pulse shaper controlled by multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scanning (MIIPS) was used, together with a prism-pair, to measure and cancel high-order phase distortions introduced by a high-numerical-aperture objective and other dispersive elements of a two-photon laser-scanning microscope. The delivery of broad-bandwidth (approximately 100 nm), sub-12-fs pulses was confirmed by interferometric autocorrelation measurements at the focal plane. A comparison of two-photon imaging with transform-limited and second-order-dispersion compensated laser pulses of the same energy showed a 6-to-11-fold improvement in the two-photon excitation fluorescence signal when applied to cells and tissue, and up to a 19-fold improvement in the second harmonic generation signal from a rat tendon specimen.

Response properties of electrically evoked potential elicited by multi-channel penetrative optic nerve stimulation in rabbits.

Visual prosthesis is a potential way to restore partial vision for the patients with degenerative retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Optic nerve stimulation with penetrating microelectrode array has been suggested as a possible method for visual prosthesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and basic response properties of cortical responses elicited by optic nerve stimulation with penetrating electrodes in rabbits.

Measurement and comparison of the optical performance of an ophthalmic lens based on a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor in real viewing conditions.

The spatially resolved wavefront aberrations of four types of ophthalmic lens are measured with a custom-built apparatus based on a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor and specially designed positioning stage. The wavefront aberrations of the progressive addition lenses (PALs) are compared. The results show that the distribution depends much on the design philosophy, although the average values of root mean square in the entire measurement areas have no significant difference.

Intraorbital optic nerve stimulation with penetrating electrodes: in vivo electrophysiology study in rabbits.

Purpose: To investigate the response properties of the electrically evoked potentials (EEPs) elicited by intraorbital optic nerve stimulation with penetrating electrodes using different stimulus parameters.

Methods: Visually evoked potentials (VEPs) were recorded as a control and for comparative purposes. Teflon-coated tungsten wire electrodes (100 microm core-diameter, 300 microm exposed tip) were inserted intraorbitally into the optic nerve.

[Study and design of the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser control system based on S3C2410].

This paper presents a design of the control system for the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, which is based on S3C2410, and the emphasis is laid on its hardware & software's design. The LCD interface with the function of a touch screen is implemented by the Qt/Embedded graphical interface application programs.

Evoked membrane potential change in rat optic nerve fiber: computer simulation.

Objective: The optic nerve is a key component regarding research on visual prosthesis. Previous pharmacological and electrical studies has pinned down the main features of the mechanisms underlying the nerve impulse in the rat optic nerve, and this work proposed a mathematical model to simulate these phenomena.

Methods: The main active nodal channels: fast Na+, persistent Na+, slow K+ and a fast repolarizing K+ (A-current) were added on a double layer representation of the axon.

Corneal wavefront-guided ablation with the Schwind ESIRIS laser for myopia.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of corneal wavefront-guided LASIK for the treatment of myopia and myopic astigmatism.

Methods: This study included 56 myopic virgin eyes of 28 patients with a mean spherical equivalent refraction of -4.40 +/- 1.

Corneal higher-order aberrations after customized aspheric ablation and conventional ablation for myopic correction.

Purpose: To investigate and compare the corneal wavefront aberrations and corneal asphericity after customized aspheric and conventional myopic ablation.

Methods: Fifty-eight myopic patients from two laser centers were enrolled in this study. The patients were treated with laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) randomly with customized aspheric algorithm (32 patients, group A) and conventional algorithm (26 patients, group B).

[Application of femtosecond laser in corneal refractive surgery].

The function of photo-decomposing of femtosecond laser makes it useful in creating precise "cuts" at arbitrary locations within the corneal of almost any conceivable geometry. The applications of femtosecond laser include intrastromal photorefractive keratectomy, creating the pre-cut channels for intra-corneal ring segment, creating lamellar flaps for laser in situ keratomileusis, performing femtosecond lamellar keratoplasty, which represent an entirely new approach for the correction of refractive errors.

Influence of stress on the transmission characteristics of multilayer thin films.

The relationship between multilayer film strains and film thickness changes was analyzed based on the stress formula and the small flexibility principle of elasticity. A theoretical model of the relationship between changes in substrate curvature and film thickness was established, and the formula of every layer thickness with uneven changes of multilayer films was obtained for the spectra of the before-thinning and after-thinning filter. Both the simulated result for a narrow bandpass filter and experimental results showed that nonuniformities in the film thickness caused by substrate curvature changes are one of the main reasons for spectrum degradation in narrow bandpass filters.

Effects of the 1,320-nm Nd:YAG laser on transepidermal water loss, histological changes, and collagen remodeling in skin.

The goal of the study is to investigate the effects of the 1,320-nm Nd:YAG laser on skin barrier function and dermal remodeling. Forty-eight female mice were irradiated with the 1,320-nm laser four times at an interval of 1 week (350 micros, 10 mm, single pass 10% overlap). Three doses were used: 18, 22, and 26 J/cm2.

Comparison of biophysical properties of skin measured by using non-invasive techniques in the KM mice following 595 nm pulsed dye, 1064 nm Q-Switched Nd:YAG and 1320 nm Nd:YAG laser non-ablative rejuvenation.

Backgrounds/aims: The aim of the study was to compare the changes of the biophysical properties and to objectify the effects of 595 nm pulsed dye, 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG and 1320 nm Nd:YAG lasers non-ablative rejuvenation by non-invasive techniques.

Methods: KM mice were used for the study. The 595 nm pulsed dye, 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG and 1320 nm Nd:YAG laser treatments were evaluated with biophysical parameter measurements including skin elasticity, skin color, skin trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin hydration.

Comparison of histologic, biochemical, and mechanical properties of murine skin treated with the 1064-nm and 1320-nm Nd:YAG lasers.

The goal of this study was to compare the effects of the Q-switched 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser and the 1320-nm Nd:YAG laser non-ablative treatments on mouse skin in vivo. Skin elasticity measurements were carried out with a Reviscometer, and skin samples were taken for histological study, hydroxyproline content assay and estimation of collagen type I and III. By the second month after non-ablative treatments, the 1064-nm laser treatment resulted in an average of 25% greater improvement of skin elasticity, 6% more increase of dermal thickness, and 11% higher synthesis of hydroxyproline than the 1320-nm laser.

Biophysical, histological and biochemical changes after non-ablative treatments with the 595 and 1320 nm lasers: a comparative study.

Background/purpose: The objective was to compare the efficiencies of the 595 nm pulsed dye and the 1320 nm Nd : YAG laser non-ablative rejuvenation.

Methods: KM mice were irradiated with the 595 nm pulsed dye and the 1320 nm Nd : YAG lasers. Histological changes were evaluated immediately, 1, 7, 21, 30 and 60 days after the two laser treatments.

Kinetic analysis of drug-receptor interactions of long-acting beta2 sympathomimetics in isolated receptor membranes: evidence against prolonged effects of salmeterol and formoterol on receptor-coupled adenylyl cyclase.

The long-acting beta2 sympathomimetics salmeterol and formoterol have been presumed to exert their prolonged action either by binding to an accessory binding site ("exo-site") near the beta2 adrenoceptor or by their high affinity for beta2 adrenoceptors and correspondingly slow dissociation. Whereas most studies with salmeterol had been done in intact tissues, which have slow diffusion and compartmentation of drugs in lipophilic phases, that restrict drug access to the receptor biophase, we used purified receptor membranes from rat lung and disaggregated calf tracheal myocytes as model systems. Binding experiments were designed to measure the slow dissociation of agonists by means of delayed association of (-)-[125I]iodopindolol.