Application of the full-width-at-half-maximum image segmentation method to analyse retinal vascular changes in patients with internal carotid artery stenosis.

Background: To investigate the correlation between retinal vascular changes and ICA stenosis by measuring retinal vessels using full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) and intelligent image recognition. Methods: This research selected patients who were admitted to the Vascular Surgery Department of Quzhou People's Hospital from January 2018 to December 2020 and were preparing for Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS). Participants were divided into two groups: without ICA stenosis (Group 0) and with ICA stenosis (Group 1). A total of 109 cases were included in the study, with 50 cases in Group 1 and 59 cases in Group 0. Vascular images of superior temporal zone B of the retina were obtained by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). The edges of retinal vessels were identified by FWHM. Each vessel of all subjects was measured three times with the FWHM, and the average value was taken to obtain the retinal arteriolar lumen diameter (RALD), retinal arteriolar outer diameter (RAOD), retinal venular lumen diameter (RVLD), and retinal venular outer diameter (RVOD),Arterial Wall Thickness (AWT),Venular Wall Thickness (VWT)=(RVOD-RVLD)/2,Arteriovenous Ratio (AVR) = RAOD/RVOD. Results: We found that compared to Group 0, Group 1 had smaller RALD (P < 0.001) and RAOD (P < 0.001), and wider RVOD (P < 0.001), with thicker VWT (P < 0.001). When compared with the contralateral eye in Group 1, the ipsilateral eye exhibited even smaller RALD,RAOD and AVR (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001). After CAS, the RALD,RAOD and AVR in Group 1 increased (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001),while the RVLD and RVOD decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). Our research reveals a significant correlation between retinal vascular changes and internal ICA stenosis. Conclusion: Utilizing SD-OCT in conjunction with the FWHM,we achieved a non-invasive, intelligent, stable, and precise acquisition of data pertaining to retinal vessels. These findings underscore a significant correlation between alterations in retinal vascular structure and the presence of ICA stenosis, as demonstrated by our research.

Analysis of retinal arteriolar and venular parameters in primary open angle glaucoma.

AIM: To measure the retinal vessels of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) with a full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) algorithm to better explore their structural changes in the pathogenesis of POAG. METHODS: In this retrospective case-control study, the right eyes of 32 patients with POAG and 30 healthy individuals were routinely selected. Images of the supratemporal and infratemporal retinal vessels in the B zones were obtained by SD-OCT, and the edges of the vessels were identified by the FWHM method. The internal and external diameters, wall thickness (WT), wall cross-sectional area (WCSA) and wall-to-lumen ratio (WLR) of the blood vessels were studied. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy control group, the POAG group showed a significantly reduced retinal arteriolar outer diameter (RAOD), retinal arteriolar lumen diameter (RALD) and WSCA in the supratemporal (124.22±12.42 vs 138.32±10.73 µm, 96.09±11.09 vs 108.53±9.89 µm, and 4762.02±913.51 vs 5785.75±1148.28 µm2, respectively, all P<0.05) and infratemporal regions (125.01±15.55 vs 141.57±10.77 µm, 96.27±13.29 vs 110.83±10.99 µm, and 4925.56±1302.88 vs 6087.78±1061.55 µm2, all P<0.05). The arteriolar WT and WLR were not significantly different between the POAG and control groups, nor were the retinal venular outer diameter (RVOD), retinal venular lumen diameter (RVLD) or venular WT in the supratemporal or infratemporal region. There was a positive correlation between the arteriolar parameters and visual function. CONCLUSION: In POAG, narrowing of the supratemporal and infratemporal arterioles and a significant reduction in the WSCA is observed, while the arteriolar WT and WLR do not change. Among the venular parameters, the external diameter, internal diameter, WT, WLR, and WSCA of the venules are not affected.

Enzymatic acylation of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside in raspberry anthocyanins for intelligent packaging: Improvement of stability, lipophilicity and functional properties.

Anthocyanins (ACNs) as one category of water-soluble flavonoid pigments are increasingly employed in pH sensing indicator applications for monitoring food freshness. Nevertheless, considering that anthocyanins are sensitive to environmental factors, their practical applications in food industries are still rather limited. In order to improve the stability of anthocyanins and capitalize upon their application in pH-color responsive intelligent packaging, this study aims to graft octanoic aid onto raspberry anthocyanins catalyzed by immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B (Novozymes 435). Structural analyses based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) revealed that octanoic acid was regioselective grafted onto the 6-OH position of its glucoside. The acylation efficiency of C3G by octanoic acid up to 47.1%. The octanoic acid moiety was found to improve lipophilicity, antioxidant activity and stability of C3G. In addition, acylated derivative also maintained the pH-color response characteristics of nature ACNs and exhibited excellent NH3 response properties. These results indicated that acylated anthocyanins exhibit potential application as intelligent packaging indicator for monitoring food freshness.

Improvement of urban eye skin in Chinese female by supramolecular retinol plus acmella oleracea extract-containing product.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the anti-wrinkle effects of retinol have been widely reported, but there are few reports on the infraorbital dark circles reducing effects. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficiency and tolerance of one novel formulation containing supramolecular retinol plus acmella oleracea extract in Chinese urban eye skin. METHODS: Thirty-three women with dark circles and visible fine wrinkles around the eyes, aged 20-45 years, were enrolled and instructed to use the formula for 6 weeks. Instrumental measures and subject assessment were obtained at baseline and at 3-week intervals. RESULTS: After 6 weeks, Mexameter MX18 results demonstrated a statistically significant 13.8% decrease in MI (melanin index) value, and Colorimeter CL400 results demonstrated a statistically significant 0.5% increase in L* (lightness) value, which proved the efficacy of reducing dark circles. Primos-Lite data showed that the wrinkles parameters of Ra, the wrinkle area %, and number of the wrinkles under the eyes and crow's feet revealed significant reduction to varying degrees. Cutometer results showed that R2 value increased significantly by 13.0%, indicating the benefits of firmer skin. In addition, subject assessment revealed that at the end of 6 weeks, the eye skin was noticeably improved. CONCLUSIONS: By clinical evaluation and subject assessment, the novel formulation containing supramolecular retinol plus acmella oleracea extract can effectively diminish the collective signs of stressed urban eye skin for Chinese female in terms of dark circles, fine wrinkles, and sagging skin with good tolerance.

Intrauterine exposure to 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl alters spermatogenesis and testicular DNA methylation levels in F1 male mice.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic biphenyl compounds with high toxicity. There are a total of 209 homologs, among which 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB118) is one of the dioxin-like PCBs. PCB118 can accumulate in pregnant mice, leading to fetus directly exposure during development. The stage of migration of mouse primordial germ cells ranges from 8.5 to 13.5 days of pregnancy, which is the stage undergoing a genome-wide DNA demethylation process. In this study, the mice were exposed to 20 µg/kg/day and 100 µg/kg/day PCB118 from 8.5 to 13.5 days of pregnancy. During the embryo stage at 18.5 days (E18.5 days), the expression level of DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) was reduced in the testes, and the DNA methylation level in mouse testes were also decreased. We found that the seminiferous tubules showed vacuolization and that the sperm deformity rate increased in the treated groups compared with the control group in 7-week-old mice. Because exposure to PCB118 during pregnancy causes damage to the reproductive system of male offspring mice, attention should be devoted to the toxicity transmission of persistent environmental pollutants such as PCBs.

Preparation and characterization of soybean protein isolate/pectin-based phytosterol nanodispersions and their stability in simulated digestion.

In this study, stigmasterol was nanoencapsulated in soy protein isolate -pectin-based nanodispersions. Based on the particle size and zeta-potential, the optimal pectin/SPI ratio of stigmasterol nanodispersion was determined to be 1:10. At this ratio, nanodispersions was manufactured with an average particle size of 477 ± 33 nm, an encapsulation efficiency of 89.37%, and a loading amount of 17.87%. The physical properties and morphology of the nanodispersion were investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry analysis revealed that stigmasterol was loaded in nanodispersions successfully. The pectin, which was used to stable nanodispersion, could restrict the release of stigmasterol in the simulated gastric fluid. This experiment indicated that the presence of pectin can improve the stability of the nanodispersion and can be used to achieve controlled release of bioactive compounds.

Effects of intrauterine exposure to 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl on the reproductive system and sperm epigenetic imprinting of male offspring.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of persistent organic environmental pollutants with a total of 209 homologs. The homolog 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB118) is one of the most important dioxin-like PCBs and is highly toxic. PCB118 can accumulate in human tissues, serum and breast milk, which leads to direct exposure of the fetus during development. In the present study, pregnant mice were exposed to 0, 20 and 100 µg/kg/day of PCB118 during the stage of fetal primordial germ cell migration. Compared with the control group, we found morphological alterations of the seminiferous tubules and a higher sperm deformity rate in the male offspring in the treatment groups. Furthermore, the methylation patterns in the treatment groups of the imprinted genes H19 and Gtl2 in the sperm were altered in the male offspring. We also characterized the disturbance of the expression levels of DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1), Dnmt3a, Dnmt3b, Dnmt3l, and Uhrf1. The results indicated that intrauterine exposure to low doses of PCB118 could significantly damage the reproductive health of the male offspring. Therefore, attention should be paid to the adverse effects of PCB118 exposure during pregnancy on the reproductive system of male offspring.

Antibacterial activities of R-(+)-Limonene emulsion stabilized by Ulva fasciata polysaccharide for fruit preservation.

It was previously found that R-(+)-Limonene emulsion could be stabilized by Ulva fasciata polysaccharide. In the present study, emulsions of R-(+)-Limonene were developed for coating of strawberries to improve the shelf life and microbiological safety. Edible coatings with at least 0.15% w/w of R-(+)-Limonene improved the microbial stability of the strawberries, resulted effective in the decontamination of external pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. Changes in weight loss, total soluble solid (TSS), pH, total phenolic, ascorbic acid, textural properties and surface color of strawberries during storage were evaluated. R-(+)-Limonene emulsions were effective for decreasing water loss of all the fruit samples tested. The decrease in TSS values was higher in the control strawberries. Initial decreases followed by increases of pH during storage of strawberries. The amount of total phenols detected in control fruit sharply increased during the first 6 days then remained steady, whereas the total soluble phenols content of treated strawberries gradually increased during storage. Strawberries coated with emulsion had higher L* and a* values as compared to control fruits. The R-(+)-Limonene coatings have demonstrated the potential to inhibit foodborne pathogen contamination of strawberries, and prolong their shelf life.

Astaxanthin Induces the Nrf2/HO-1 Antioxidant Pathway in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells by Generating Trace Amounts of ROS.

Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant that possesses potent protective effects against various human diseases and physiological disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying its antioxidant functions in cells are not fully understood. In the present study, the effects of astaxanthin on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant enzyme activity, as well as mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathways in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), were examined. It was shown that astaxanthin (0.1, 1, and 10 µM) induced ROS production by 9.35%, 14.8%, and 18.06% compared to control, respectively, in HUVECs. In addition, astaxanthin increased the mRNA levels of phase II enzymes HO-1 and also promoted GSH-Px enzyme activity. Furthermore, we observed ERK phosphorylation, nuclear translocation of Nrf-2, and activation of antioxidant response element-driven luciferase activity upon astaxanthin treatment. Knockdown of Nrf-2 by small interfering RNA inhibited HO-1 mRNA expression by 60%, indicating that the Nrf-2/ARE signaling pathway is activated by astaxanthin. Our results suggest that astaxanthin activates the Nrf-2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway by generating small amounts of ROS.

Activated proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 regulates meiotic spindle assembly in the mouse oocyte.

Proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2), a member of the protein tyrosine kinase family, plays an important role in various cellular processes. PYK2 can be phosphorylated on tyrosine 402 by diverse stimuli at the cell surface, and recent studies have shown that this activated form of PYK2 is enriched in oocytes and required for fertilization. However, the subcellular localization and functions of activated PYK2 in oocytes remain elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that the localization of p-PYK2 undergoes dynamic changes during in vitro maturation of mouse oocytes. The signal of p-PYK2 is initially dispersed in the cytoplasm, but begins to decorate organized microtubules after the germinal vesicle breakdown and localizes to spindle poles at metaphase. Our data further show that p-PYK2 colocalizes with γ-tubulin from the germinal vesicle stage through the end of meiosis in mouse oocytes. Nocodazole treatment and washout experiments confirm that p-PYK2 associates with the oocyte spindle and spindle poles. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of PYK2 activity dramatically alters the morphology of the bipolar spindle and prevents oocyte maturation. Together, these data suggest that activated PYK2 may function as a component of the microtubule organizing center to regulate spindle assembly during the meiotic process of mouse oocytes.

Quantification of ß-eudesmol in rat plasma using LC-MS/MS and its application to a pharmacokinetic study.

A sensitive and specific LC-MS/MS assay for determination of ß-eudesmol in rat plasma was developed and validated. After liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl ether, the analyte and IS were separated on a Capcell Pak C18 column (50 × 2.0 mm, 5 µm) by isocratic elution with acetonitrile-water-formic acid (77.5:22.5:0.1, v/v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. An ESI source was applied and operated in positive ion mode; a selected reaction monitoring scan was used for quantification by monitoring the precursor-product ion transitions of m/z 245.1 → 163.1 for ß-eudesmol and m/z 273.4 → 81.2 for IS. Good linearity was observed in the concentration range of 3-900 ng/mL for ß-eudesmol in rat plasma. Intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy were both within ±14.3%. This method was applied for pharmacokinetic studies after intravenous bolus of 2.0 mg/kg or intragastric administration of 50 mg/kg ß-eudesmol in rats.

GRIM-19, a gene associated with retinoid-interferon-induced mortality, affects endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation.

GRIM-19 is associated with apoptosis, abnormal proliferation, immune tolerance and malignant transformation, and it also plays an important role in early embryonic development. Although the homologous deletion of GRIM-19 causes embryonic lethality in mice, the precise role of GRIM-19 in embryo implantation has not been elucidated. Here we show that GRIM-19 plays an important role in endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation. Day 1 to Day 6 pregnant mouse uteri were collected. Immunohistochemistry studies revealed the presence of GRIM-19 on the luminal epithelium and glandular epithelium throughout the implantation period in pregnant mice. The protein and mRNA levels of GRIM-19 were markedly decreased on Day 4 of pregnancy in pregnant mice, but there was no change in GRIM-19 levels in a group of pseudopregnant mice. Overexpression of GRIM-19 decreased the adhesion rate of RL95-2-BeWo co-cultured spheroids and increased apoptosis. Furthermore, STAT3 and IL-11 mRNA and protein levels were reduced by overexpressing GRIM-19, but protein and mRNA levels of TNF-α were increased. These findings indicate the involvement of GRIM-19 in the embryo implantation process by regulating adhesion, apoptosis and immune tolerance.

Toxic effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor 1254) on human sperm motility.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are common environmental contaminants that represent a considerable risk to reproductive toxicity in exposed human populations. Although some experimental studies have suggested an association between the levels of PCBs and semen quality, the direct effects of PCBs on human sperm parameters remain largely unexplored. To this aim, a short-term in vitro incubation experiment that better imitated the putative exposure of sperm to Aroclor 1254 (a commercial PCB mixture) in male reproduction tissue was conducted. Human sperm were incubated with various concentrations (0, 1, 5, or 25 mg l-1) of Aroclor 1254 for different amounts of time (3 and 6 h) in vitro. Sperm motility parameters were analyzed with computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). The proportion of sperm with high mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected to explore the probable cause of sperm impairment. Human sperm exposed to continuous Aroclor 1254 exhibited: (i) reduced sperm motility and kinematic parameters, (ii) a proportion of sperm with high ΔΨm that decreased in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05), and (iii) increased levels of ROS compared with controls (P < 0.05). In conclusion, Aroclor 1254 can decrease sperm motility, which may culminate in increased ROS and general mitochondrial dysfunction, thus affecting the fertilization potential of sperm. Our findings suggest a broader understanding of the effect of Aroclor 1254 on human sperm.

LC-MS/MS determination of 1-O-acetylbritannilactone in rat plasma and its application to a preclinical pharmacokinetic study.

A novel, rapid and sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the determination of 1-O-Acetylbritannilactone (ABL), a sesquiterpene lactone abundant in Inula britannica, was developed and validated using heteroclitin D as internal standard. Separation was achieved on a reversed phase Hypersil Gold C18 column (50 × 4.6 mm, i.d., 3.0 µm) using isocratic elution with methanol-5 mM ammonium acetate buffer aqueous solution (80:20, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. Calibration curve was linear (r > 0.99) in a concentration range of 1.60-800 ng/mL with the lower limit of quantification of 1.60 ng/mL. Intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision were validated by relative error (RE) and relative standard deviation (RSD) values, respectively, which were both less than ±15%. The validated method has been successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of ABL in rats. The elimination half-lives were 0.412 ± 0.068, 0.415 ± 0.092 and 0.453 ± 0.071 h after a single intravenous administration of 0.14, 0.42, and 1.26 mg/kg ABL, respectively. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to the last quantifiable time point and from time zero to infinity and the plasma concentrations at 2 min were linearly related to the doses tested.

Effect of Acrylamide on Oocyte Nuclear Maturation and Cumulus Cells Apoptosis in Mouse In Vitro.

Acrylamide (ACR) is a chemical compound with severe neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity. Recent studies showed that ACR impairs the function of reproductive organs, e.g., epididymis and testes. In vitro maturation of mouse oocyte is a sensitive assay to identify potential chemical hazard to female fertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adverse effects of ACR on the nuclear maturation and cumulus cells apoptosis of mouse oocytes in vitro. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were incubated in a maturation medium containing 0, 5, 10 and 20 µM of ACR. Chromosome alignment and spindle morphology of oocytes was determined by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Our results showed that oocytes exposed to different doses of ACR in vitro were associated with a significant decrease of oocyte maturation, significant increase of chromosome misalignment rate, occurrence of abnormal spindle configurations, and the inhibition of oocyte parthenogenetic activation. Furthermore, apoptosis of cumulus cells was determined by TUNEL and CASPASE-3 assay. Results showed that apoptosis in cumulus cells was enhanced and the expression of CASPASE-3 was increased after cumulus-oocyte complexes were exposed to ACR. Therefore, ACR may affect the nuclear maturation of oocytes via the apoptosis of cumulus cells in vitro.

Publication trends in studies examining radix notoginseng as a treatment for ischemic brain injury.

Acute ischemic stroke has become a major disease burden with high mortality and morbidity rates. There is a lack of evidence-based medicine confirming the efficacy of common treatments. Panax notoginseng saponins, the main active ingredient of radix notoginseng, have a neuroprotective role in ischemic brain injury, and have been popularized as a maintenance treatment for acute cerebral infarction and its sequelae. We conducted literature searches on the Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Collaboration, CNKI, Wanfang and the China Scientific & Technological Achievements Database and analyzed the experimental and clinical outcomes of studies investigating the use of radix notoginseng in the treatment of ischemic brain injury to improve the understanding of relevant research trends and existing problems. We found that over the past 10 years, China has maintained its interest in Panax notoginseng research, while such studies are scarce on the Web of Science. However, Chinese researchers often focus on the neuroprotective role of radix notoginseng in ischemic brain injury, but there are no large-scale clinical data to confirm its efficacy and safety. There remains a need for more rigorous large-sample randomized controlled clinical trials with long-term follow-up, to determine whether radix notoginseng lowers stroke recurrence and improves patient's quality of life.

Effects of Aroclor 1254 on in vivo oocyte maturation in the mouse.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are stable, lipophilic compounds that accumulate in the environment and in the food chain. Though some studies provided evidence that PCBs had adverse effects on reproductive function, most of these results were from in vitro models. Therefore we investigated the effect of Aroclor 1254 (a commercial PCBs mixture) treatments on in vivo maturation and developmental potential of mouse oocytes. In the present study, female ICR mice were treated with different doses (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg) of Aroclor 1254 (a commercial PCB mixture) once every 72 hours by intraperitoneal injection for 9 days. After three treatments of Aroclor 1254, the mice were superovulated to collect oocytes one day after the last exposure. The effects of Aroclor 1254 on oocyte maturation, fertilization, and preimplantation embryonic development were investigated. Immunofluorescence-stained oocytes were observed under a confocal microscope to assess the effects of Aroclor 1254 on spindle morphology. Parthenogenic activation and the incidence of cumulus apoptosis in cumulus-oocyte complexes were observed as well. Oocytes exposed to different doses of Aroclor 1254 in vivo were associated with a significant decrease in outgrowth potential, abnormal spindle configurations, and the inhibition of parthenogenetic activation of ovulated oocytes. Furthermore, the incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells was increased after exposed to Aroclor 1254. These results may provide reference for the treatment of reproductive diseases such as infertility or miscarriage caused by environmental contaminants.

Notch1 expression is upregulated in glioma and is associated with tumor progression.

Notch signaling plays a complex role in human malignancies. It can affect cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis either positively or negatively, depending on cell type. In the present study we measured the expression of Notch1 in clinical glioma specimens and investigated a possible association between Notch1 expression and World Health Organization grade. Ninety-eight gliomas plus adjacent normal tissue and 26 specimens of normal control tissue were collected, and expression of Notch1 mRNA and protein were assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. We found that Notch1 mRNA and protein were expressed at higher levels in gliomas than in the adjacent tissue or in control brain tissue (p<0.05). Moreover, expression of Notch1 was closely associated with glioma progression, since expression levels increased from grade I to grade IV disease (p<0.05). Notch1 expression was also significantly associated with Karnofsky performance scale (KPS) score: Notch1 expression was significantly higher in patients with a lower KPS score (p<0.05). These findings confirm that Notch1 expression is upregulated in glioma and suggest it is related to tumor progression. If Notch1 plays an important oncogenic role in glioma progression, it may be a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target.