Characterization of the metabolites of Eucommiae Cortex in rats provides a further insight into its estrogen-like effective substances.

Eucommiae Cortex is one of important traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) used in Asia for preventing and treating osteoporosis induced by estrogen deficiency. However, the low exposure of prototype components in Eucommiae Cortex in vivo is difficult to interpret its efficacy. Under the guidance of UPLC-Q/TOF-MS, 42 metabolites including 32 lignans and 10 phenolics, 21 of which were new compounds, were isolated from rat urine and feces after oral administration of aqueous extract of E. ulmoides Oliv. by various chromatographic techniques. Their structures were determined based on extensive physicochemical analyses and spectral data. Their absolute configurations were determined by experimental and calculated ECD spectra, along with the calculated NMR with DP4 evaluation. Additionally, all isolated metabolites were evaluated for their estrogen-like activities, and there are 15 metabolites having estrogen-like effects after assessing influences in MCF-7 cells. Further, Dual Luciferase Reporter Gene Assay was used to determine their activation with estrogen receptor, M10 and M11 mixtures, M14, M19, M33, M27, M31, M38-M41 could activate ERα, and M19 and M41 could activate ERß. These results not only clarify the pharmacological substances of Eucommiae Cortex, but also provide a basis for guiding its clinical application.

Active volatile components of the preferred hosts are potential attractants to Hyphantria cunea adults.

The extraordinary adaptability and dispersal abilities have allowed Hyphantria cunea to expand its range, posing a great threat to urban landscapes and natural ecosystems. Searching for safe, efficient, and low-cost control methods may provide new strategies for pest management in H. cunea spread areas. In this study, based on the attraction of insects by preferred hosts, it was found that the response rates of virgin H. cunea female adults to Salix matsudana, Juglans mandshurica and Ulmus pumila were 89.17%, 97.92% and 93.98%, respectively. It was further found that this significant preference was mainly related to the volatiles m-xylene, o-xylene, dodecane and tetradecane found in the three species. Even though all four compounds at 10 µL/mL and 100 µL/mL had significant attractive effects on the virgin H. cunea female adults, m-xylene and dodecane at 100 µL/mL elicited significant EAG responses and tending behaviors by stimulating the olfactory receptor neurons (ORN A) of females, with response rates of 83.13% and 84.17%, while also having significant attractive effects on virgin male adults with rates of 65.74% and 67.51%. Therefore, both m-xylene and dodecane which at concentrations of 100 µL/mL had strong attractions to adults, could be used as the first choice of attractants for both sexes of H. cunea. This has important practical significance in reducing the frequency of H. cunea generations, limiting their population, controlling their spread range, and improving the efficiency of pest management in epidemic areas.

Characterization of adaptive expression regulation of yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) leptin, receptor, and receptor overlapping transcript genes in response to fasting and re-feeding strategies.

Leptins and other related genes have been proven to play vital roles in food intake, weight control, and other life activities. While the function of leptins in yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) has not yet been explored, in the present study, we investigated the structure and preliminary function of four leptin-related genes in S. lalandi. In detail, the sequence of two leptin genes (lepa and lepb), one leptin receptor gene (lepr), and one leptin receptor overlapping transcript (leprot) gene were obtained by homology cloning and RACE methods, in which lepa and lepb have similar structure. Moreover, homologous sequence alignment and evolutionary analysis of all four genes were clustered with Seriola dumerili. The tissue distribution of these four genes in thirteen tissues of yellowtail kingfish was detected by RT-qPCR. Both lepa and leprot were highly expressed in the brain and ovary, while lepb was highly expressed in the pituitary, gill, muscle, and ovary; lepr was highly expressed in the gill, kidney, and ovary. Additionally, these four genes also played roles in embryo development and early growth and development of larvae and juveniles of yellowtail kingfish. Finally, the function of leptin and leptin-related genes was investigated during fasting and re-feeding adaption of yellowtail kingfish. The results showed that these four genes have different regulation functions in five tissues; for example, the mRNA levels of lepa, lepr, and leprot in the brain decreased during fasting and immediately increased after re-feeding, while the mRNA level of lepb did not show significant fluctuation during starvation but significantly lowered after re-feeding. However, lepa and lepb mRNA levels were significantly elevated during fasting and returned to control levels after re-feeding, and there were no significant changes in the expression of lepr and leprot in the liver during fasting and after re-feeding. Moreover, the body mass of fish in the experimental group was measured, and compensatory growth was found after the resumption of feeding. These results suggested that leptin and receptor genes play different functions in different tissues to regulate the physiological state of fish in food deficiency and gain processes.

Psoralen induces liver injury and affects hepatic bile acids metabolism in female and male C57BL/6J mice.

Psoralen is a major component of Fructus Psoraleae that could induce liver injury. In this study, C57BL/6J mice were administered with psoralen at doses of 80 mg/kg for 3, 7 and 14 days. Blood and liver samples were collected for serum biochemistry and histopathology examinations, respectively. Psoralen led to liver injury with significantly increased liver weight and liver coefficient and up regulated serum ALT, AST and TG but down regulated serum TC and TP. The expression of bile acid-associated transporters and enzymes was detected by western blot, and the results showed that psoralen significantly down-regulates the expressions of CYP7A1, CYP27A1, BSEP and OSTα protein while up-regulates the expressions of HMGCR and FASN, resulting in the obstacles of bile acid efflux in the liver. The contents of 24 kinds of bile acids in the liver were measured by LC-MS/MS, and the results showed that psoralen led to the accumulation of unconjugated bile acids in the liver, such as ALCA and CA, which were more severe in male mice than female mice. It was indicated that psoralen may disrupt the balance of bile acid metabolism by inhibiting the expression of the efflux transporter, which then leads to liver damage.

Stereoacuity and its determinants in 7-year-old children: the Lhasa Childhood Eye Study.

PURPOSE: To explore the distribution of stereoacuity and to examine its determinants in school-age children in Tibetan plateau, Southwest China. METHODS: This is the cross-sectional part of a school-based cohort study of 7-year-old children in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, Southwest China. Children in first year of primary school were invited to undergo a comprehensive examination, including height, weight, visual acuity, cycloplegic autorefraction (1% cyclopentolate), anterior segment, cover and uncover test, and stereoacuity (Titmus Stereo Test). RESULTS: A total of 1833 eligible subjects were included, with a mean age of 6.82 ± 0.46 years. Mean stereoacuity was 1.78 ± 0.21 in log units (median: 60 arcsec). Children with stereoacuity equal to 40 arcsec and stereoacuity worse than 100 arcsec accounted for 29.24% and 8.18% of the cohort, respectively. Tibetan ethnicity (OR = 1.98; 95%CI, 1.30-3.03), astigmatism (OR = 1.65; 95%CI, 1.26-2.17), strabismus (OR = 2.92; 95%CI, 1.38-6.18), and amblyopia (OR = 3.77; 95%CI, 1.14-12.49) were risk factors for normal stereoacuity (= 40 arcsec). Shorter height, younger age, strabismus, and worse BCVA (P < 0.05 for all) were both related to lower stereoacuity in Spearman correlation analysis and associated with lower stereoacuity in multivariate regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Stereoacuity maturation does not appear fully completed in 7-year-old children, while few children present stereoacuity worse than 100 arcsec (8.18%). Lower stereoacuity was associated with younger age, shorter height, strabismus, and lower best-corrected visual acuity.

Distribution, Progression, and Associated Factors of Refractive Status of Children in Lhasa, Tibet, after COVID-19 Quarantine.

INTRODUCTION: Uncorrected refractive error is one of the major causes of visual impairment in children and adolescents worldwide. During the COVID-19 epidemic, home isolation is considered a boost to the progression of children's myopia. Under geographical conditions of high altitude and strong sunshine, the Tibetan plateau is the main residence of the Tibetan population, where little information is available about the refractive status and developmental trajectory. Therefore, this article aimed to evaluate the distribution, progression, and associated factors of the refractive status in second-grade children in Lhasa after COVID-19 quarantine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Students from 7 elementary schools completed comprehensive ocular examinations in the Lhasa Childhood Eye Study. Data regarding cycloplegic refraction and corneal biometry parameters, including axial length (AL), corneal power, anterior chamber depth (ACD), and other demographic factors, were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 1,819 students were included, with a mean age of 7.9 ± 0.5 years, of which 961 were boys (52.8%), and 95.1% were Tibetan. The prevalence of myopia, emmetropia, mild hyperopia, and hyperopia was 10.94%, 24.02%, 60.80%, and 4.24%, respectively. Besides, the average cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction (SER) was +1.07 ± 0.92 diopter (D) before the COVID-19 quarantine and +0.59 ± 1.08D after the quarantine (p < 0.05), with a growth rate of 7%. Moreover, the prevalence of hyperopia in girls was significantly higher than that of boys (p < 0.001). Nonetheless, the proportion of myopia and emmetropia was similar (p = 0.75). Meanwhile, children in suburban schools had a significantly lower proportion of myopia (p < 0.001). The average AL, ACD, lens power (LP), and AL-to-corneal radius (AL/CR) ratio were 22.79 ± 0.78 mm, 3.54 ± 0.21 mm, 25.12 ± 1.48D, and 2.93 ± 0.08, respectively. The results of AL, ACD, and AL/CR for girls were significantly lower than for boys, while the result of LP is the opposite (p < 0.001). Finally, multivariate regression analysis revealed that SER was negatively correlated with AL, LP, and AL/CR ratio, while positively correlated with CR and ACD (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study found that after the COVID-19 confinement, myopia progressed faster in Lhasa children but was still significantly lower than that of plain cities in China. Compared to short-term confinement, this acceleration was more likely related to the growth and general trend of myopia in children. Collectively, these findings help to explore the differences in ocular growth and development among children of different ethnic groups.

The changes of hepatic bile acid synthesis and transport and bile acids profiles in isopsoralen-induced liver injury C57BL/6J mice.

CONTEST: Isopsoralen, one of the main active and quality-control compounds in Psoralea corylifolia L. (Fabaceae), has antitumor and oestrogen-like effects. Previous studies demonstrated that isopsoralen induced hepatotoxicity and its long-term exposure led to cholestatic liver injury. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the effect of three- or seven-day exposure of low dose isopsoralen (80 mg/kg) on bile acid homeostasis in C57BL/6J mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control, three- and seven-day groups (n = 14 per group, half female and half male). Isopsoralen suspension was administrated intragastrically at 80 mg/kg once a day. Blood and liver samples were collected to measure biochemical indices and transport of BAs. The histopathology of the liver was also observed. HPLC-MS/MS was also used to measure the BAs profiles and transport activity. RESULTS: In the study, isopsoralen increased the levels of serum AST, ALT in three- and seven-day groups, and caused vacuolar degeneration and swelling in the liver. Canalicular efflux transporters BSEP, OSTα, MRP2, MRP3, and basolateral uptake transporters NTCP, OATP4 were inhibited after seven-day-administration. Moreover, amino acid binding enzymes (BAAT and BACS) were also inhibited after seven-day-administration. The composition of BAs changed greatly and the concentration of some unconjugated-BAs which have stronger hydrophobicity, such as CA, CDCA, was significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: Isopsoralen (80 mg/kg) caused hepatotoxicity after short-term exposure by inhibiting the expression of efflux transporters, amino acid binding enzymes, and disrupting BAs spectrum.

Pinhole does not increase screening accuracy of detecting decreased best corrected visual acuity in schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: Decreased best corrected visual acuity among children should be treated early in life, and vision screening in schoolchildren is an efficient and feasible selection for developing countries. Thus, the screening accuracy of different visual acuity tests is the key point for making vision screening strategies. The present study aims to explore the screening accuracy of uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and pin-hole corrected visual acuity (PCVA) using different vision chart in the detection of decreased best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) among schoolchildren. METHODS: Grade one primary schoolchildren in urban Lhasa with data of UCVA using tumbling E chart (UCVAE), PCVA using tumbling E chart (PCVAE), UCVA using Lea Symbols chart (UCVAL), PCVA using Lea Symbols chart (PCVAL) and BCVA using Lea Symbols chart were reviewed. Decreased BCVA was defined as BCVA≤20/32(≥0.2 logMAR). Difference, reliability, and diagnostic parameters in the detection of decreased BCVA of different visual acuity results were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 1672 children aged 6.58 ± 0.44 years fulfilling the criteria. The prevalence of decreased BCVA was 6.8%. Although no significant differences were found between UCVAE vs UCVAL (p = .84, paired t-test) as well as PCVAE vs PCVAL (p = .24), the ICC between them was low (0.68 and 0.57, respectively). The average difference between BCVA and UCVAE, UCVAL, PCVAE, PCVAL was logMAR -0.08 (- 0.37, 0.21), - 0.08 (- 0.29, 0.17), - 0.05 (- 0.30, 0.19), - 0.06 (- 0.23, 0.12) using Bland-Altman method. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of UCVAE, PCVAE, UCVAL, PCVAL for the detection of decreased BCVA was 0.78 (0.73, 0.84), 0.76 (0.71, 0.82), 0.95 (0.94, 0.96), 0.93 (0.91, 0.95), respectively. CONCLUSION: Pinhole does not increase the screening accuracy of detecting decreased BCVA in grade one primary schoolchildren. Visual acuity test using Lea Symbols is more efficient than Tumbling E in the screening of that age. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Data were maily from the Lhasa Childhood Eye Study which has finished the clinical registration on ( ChiCTR1900026693 ).

Prevalence and pattern of refractive error and visual impairment among schoolchildren: the Lhasa childhood eye study.

BACKGROUND: Early and effective ocular screening may help to eliminate treatable eye disorders. The Lhasa Childhood Eye Study (LCES) revealed the particular prevalence of refractive error and visual impairment in grade one schoolchildren (starting age of 6 years old) in Lhasa. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional part of school-based cohort study. One thousand nine hundred forty-three children were enrolled (median age, 6.78 years, range, 5.89 to 10.32). Each child underwent general and ocular examinations, including logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity, cycloplegic autorefraction, and slit-lamp biomicroscopy evaluation. Multivariate and correlation analyses were performed to evaluate the association between refractive error with gender and ethnics. RESULTS: The prevalence of visual impairment (logMAR visual acuity ≥0.3 in the better-seeing eye) of uncorrected, presenting and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 12.2, 11.7 and 2.7%, respectively. Refractive error presented in 177 (78.0%) out of 227 children with bilateral visual impairment. Myopia (spherical equivalent refractor [SER] ≤ - 0.50 diopter [D] in either eye) was present in 4.7% children when measured after cycloplegic autorefraction. Hyperopia (SER ≥ + 2.00 D) affected 12.1% children. Hyperopia was significantly associated with female gender (P<0.001). Astigmatism (cylinder value ≤ - 0.75 D) was present in 44.8% children. In multivariate regression and correlation analysis, SER had no significant difference between ethnic groups. CONCLUSION: The Lhasa Childhood Eye Study is the first school-based cohort study to reveal the prevalence and pattern of refractive error and visual impairment in Lhasa. Effective strategies such as corrective spectacles should be considered to alleviate treatable visual impairment.

Prevalence of Amblyopia and Associated Risk Factors in Tibetan Grade One Children.

INTRODUCTION: Amblyopia is an important public health problem and standard screening is quite necessary for early diagnosis and treatment especially for the remote areas. As the place of the largest Tibetan population, the Tibetan Plateau has special geographical characteristics such as high altitude, time zone, and ethnic composition, where very little information is available about the prevalence of amblyopia and other ocular diseases. The article aims to determine the prevalence of amblyopia and associated factors in grade 1 Tibetan children, living in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted. All the participants were scheduled for comprehensive eye examinations including visual acuity testing, ocular deviation and movement evaluation, cycloplegic refraction and examinations of the external eye, anterior segment, media, and fundus. Amblyopia was assessed in the children according to the standard definition. RESULTS: A total of 1,856 students participated in the examinations (97.58% response rate). 1,852 students completed all the related examinations, and 34 of them were diagnosed as amblyopia with the prevalence of 1.84% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-2.45%). Unilateral amblyopia was diagnosed in 23 students (1.24%, 95% CI: 0.74-1.75%), including 16 anisometropic, 4 strabismic, 1 visual deprivational, and 2 mixed. Other 11 students were diagnosed as bilateral amblyopia (0.59%, 95% CI: 0.24-0.94%), including 9 ametropic, 1 deprivational, and 1 with nystagmus. The mean cylinder refraction and absolute value of the spherical equivalent refraction of amblyopic eyes was respectively -2.15 ± 1.52 D and 2.70 ± 2.33 D. Amblyopia was significantly associated with hyperopia (≥+2.00 D, odds ratio [OR] 8.22, 95% CI 3.42-19.72), astigmatism (≤-2.00 D, OR 6.76, 95% CI 2.56-17.85), and anisometropia (≥+0.50 to <+1.00 D, OR 3.95, 95% CI 1.44-10.79; ≥+1.00 D, OR 21.90, 95% CI 8.24-58.18). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of amblyopia in grade 1 students of Lhasa is relatively higher than that of many other ethnic populations in China previously reported. Refractive errors including anisometropia, hyperopia, and astigmatism are the major risk factors of amblyopia.

Prevalence and associated risk factors for childhood strabismus in Lhasa, Tibet, China: a cross-sectional, school-based study.

BACKGROUND: To estimate the prevalence of strabismus and associated risk factors among grade one school children in Lhasa, Tibet, China. METHODS: The Lhasa Childhood Eye Study (LCES) was a cross-sectional, school-based childhood study conducted in Grade one students from primary schools in Lhasa, Tibet, China. Comprehensive ophthalmic examinations and basic systemic examinations were evaluated. A questionnaire survey containing information about children, as well as parents' information, was sent to the corresponding parents of eligible children. The prevalence of strabismus and its 95% confidence interval was estimated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the associated risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 1942 eligible grade one students were enrolled, of which 1856 participants completed all examinations. The average age was 6.83 ± 0.46 years, 53% of participants were boys and 1762 were the Tibetan Minority. Over all, the prevalence of strabismus was 68/1856 (3.7%) (95%CI: 2.81,4.52), with no difference between the ages, genders, ethnicities and body mass index, while tilting one's head when writing may be a risk factor for strabismus (P = 0.004). Strabismus students had mean best corrected visual acuity of 0.16 ± 0.28(LogMAR), over 50% patients with esotropia were hyperopic, and participants who had stereopsis impairments showed a significant difference between esotropia and exotropia (P = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of strabismus in LCES was 3.7%, which is higher than previous reports from Chinese childhood epidemiology studies. Strabismus is a common contributing factor to amblyopia. Tilting one's head when writing may be a risk factor. Esotropia is more likely to affect stereopsis and be associated with the refractive state of hyperopia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study has finished the clinical registration on Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. ( http://www.chictr.org.cn , ChiCTR1900026693 ).

Correction to: Lhasa childhood eye study: the rationale, methodology, and baseline data of a 5 year follow-up of school-based cohort study in the Tibetan plateau region of Southwest China.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Lhasa childhood eye study: the rationale, methodology, and baseline data of a 5 year follow-up of school-based cohort study in the Tibetan plateau region of Southwest China.

BACKGROUND: Tibetan Plateau is a highland area with special geographical location, time zone, and ethnic composition. We herein report the rationale, methodology and baseline data of the school-based childhood cohort study named Lhasa Childhood Eye Study (LCES), with the primary objective to pursue a comprehensive understanding on the longitudinal trends of refractive error as well as other ocular diseases and to address the differences between Tibetan Plateau and other parts of the world. METHODS: Grade one students from primary schools in Lhasa were cluster randomly selected. They were examined and would be conducted with follow-up annually for 5 years. The examination procedures for LCES consisted of standardized ocular, systematic examinations, and questionnaires, identical to the Anyang Childhood Eye Study (ACES) conducted in central China. RESULTS: One thousand nine hundred two Grade one students eligible for the LCES, 1856 (97.58%) participated in the study, with a mean age of 6.83 ± 0.46 years (range 5.89-10.32 years), and the proportions of male to be 53.02%. 1762 (94.93%) of the 1856 participants in the baseline exam were Tibetans. 1837 (98.98%) of the students examined had cycloplegic autorefraction performed. The numbers of hyperopia, emmetropia, myopia, and high myopia were 127 (6.91%), 1639 (89.22%), 71 (3.86%) and 3 (0.16%) respectively. Compared with ACES, students from LCES baseline had a younger age (p < 0.001), lower cycloplegic spherical equivalent (p < 0.001), similar myopia prevalence (p = 0.886), lower hyperopia prevalence (p < 0.001), and a higher emmetropia prevalence (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: LCES was a school-based cohort study in Tibetan Plateau with a high baseline response rate. A higher emmetropic trend was found in LCES compared with ACES. Continuous documentation of this cohort might potentially provide useful reference information for the areas of China which was previously not well studied. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study has finished the clinical registration on Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. (ChiCTR1900026693).

[Resveratrol attenuates neuroinflammation and alleviates emotional dysfunction in mice with sepsis-associated encephalopathy through promoting chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA)].

Objective To elucidate the role of chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) in alleviating emotional dysfunction in mice with sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE). Methods The SAE mouse model was established by cecal ligation and perforation (CLP). The severity of sepsis was assessed using the sepsis severity score (MSS). Emotional function in SAE mice was assessed by the open-field test and elevated plus-maze. The expression levels of cognitive heat shock cognate protein 70 (HSC70), lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2A (LAMP2A) and high mobility group box 1 protein B1 (HMGB1) were detected using Western blotting. Co-localization of LAMP2A in the hippocampal neurons was observed by immunofluorescence. The release of inflammatory factors interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) was measured using ELISA. Following 12 hours post-CLP, mice were orally administered resveratrol at a dose of 30 mg/kg once daily until day 14. Results The mortality rate of CLP mice was 45.83% 24 days post CLP, and all surviving mice exhibited emotional disturbances. 24 hours after CLP, a significant decrease in HSC70 and LAMP2A expression in hippocampal neurons was observed, indicating impaired CMA activity. Meanwhile, HMGB1 and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) levels increased. After resveratrol treatment, an increase of HSC70 and LAMP2A expression, and a decrease of HMGB1 expression and inflammatory cytokine release were observed, suggesting enhanced CMA activity and reduced neuroinflammation. Behavioral tests showed that emotional dysfunction was improved in SAE mice after resveratrol treatment. Conclusion CMA activity of hippocampal neurons in SAE mice is significantly reduced, leading to emotional dysfunction. Resveratrol can alleviate neuroinflammation and emotional dysfunction in SAE mice by promoting CMA and inhibiting the expression of HMGB1 and the release of inflammatory factors.

Assessment of macular choroidal and retinal thickness: a cohort study in Tibetan healthy children.

This research investigates the distribution, progressive changes, and contributing factors of macular choroidal and retinal thickness in Tibetan children utilizing swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). The Lhasa childhood study recruited 1632 students from seven primary schools in Lhasa. These participants underwent OCT and ophthalmological evaluations, encompassing retinal and choroidal thickness measurements, refractive error, axial length (AL), and systemic examinations. The median age of the scholars was 8.57 ± 0.50 years with a median spherical equivalent (SE) of 0.19 ± 1.28D. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that thinner macular choroid thickness was correlated with lower value of SE, worse best-corrected visual acuity, higher mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and boys, while retinal thickness was associated with better image quality and lower value of SE. The choroid and retina were significantly thinner in myopic children. SE was positively related to the thickness of all choroidal and full retinal subregions. In comparison to baseline data from 20 months prior, most regions of the full retina had significantly thinned. Choroidal thickness of Tibetan children is thinner than that of same-age children from other regions. Thinning of retina, the outer-sector GCC and GCIPL may be specified as a follow-up and prognostic indicator for myopia.

Effects of different restoration stages on soil microbial community composition and diversity in Naolihe Wetland, China.

Soil microorganisms can be used as one of the important indicators of wetland ecosystem restoration. To study the effects of different restoration stages on soil microbial community composition and diversity in Naolihe Wetland, we employed a "time and space parallel" method. Four restoration stages, namely corn field (Corn), short-term restoration wetland (2 years, ST), long-term restoration wetland (8 years, LT) and natural wetland (>25 years, NW), were selected to represent the restoration time and geographical location in Naolihe Nature Wetland. We investigated the composition and diversity of soil microbial communities in different restoration wetland (from corn fields to natural wetlands) by using 16S rRNA and ITS rRNA gene sequencing. We also performed chemical experiments to measure soil enzyme activity and physicochemical properties at each sampling site. The results showed that soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities significantly differed with the extension of wetland restoration years (p < 0.05). Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria are the most dominant phyla in bacterial. The alpha diversity of soil bacteria was the highest in the corn field (Corn), and ST-LT-NW first decreased and then increased with the extension of wetland restoration years. There are two most dominant phyla (Ascomycota and Mucoromycota) in fungal. However, the alpha diversity of soil fungi was the lowest in the Corn and LT stage, and ST-LT-NW first decreased and then increased with the extension of wetland restoration years. The research findings indicated that the changes in soil physicochemical properties with the extension of wetland restoration years play a significant role in shaping the structure and diversity changes of soil microbial communities. Through the analyses of bacterial and fungal functions using the FUNGuild and FAPROTAX databases, the results showed that the abundance of aerobic bacteria in the soil increased more than that of anaerobic bacteria as the wetland restoration years prolonged, while the abundance of saprotrophic, symbiotic, and pathogenic fungi in the soil significantly decreased with the prolonged wetland restoration years. This study will help us better understand the process of restoration after farmland abandonment, providing valuable reference information for the implementation of a series of wetland ecological restoration projects in the future.

[Influence of 460-480 nm wavelength light at three different irradiance on retina tissue of SD rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the survival of SD rat retinal cells after irradiated with 460-480 nm wavelength blue light at three different irradiance. METHODS: Experimental study. Seventy-six SD rats six weeks old were divided into control group (4 animals) and experimental groups (18 different subgroups) with 4 animals for each group. Healthy SD rats were exposed to the 460-480 nm blue light for 3 or 12 hours on three different irradiance of 0.6, 1.5 and 10.0 W/m(2) respectively. After recovery in darkness for 4 hours, 24 hours or 3 days, retinal tissue was collected after the eyes were enucleated. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to evaluate the general anatomical changes of the rat retinal layers. TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling was performed to detect apoptotic cells and immunofluorescence staining was conducted to illustrate the expression and location of related proteins in Müller cells. The number of ganglion cells was analyzed by one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: No injury was observed in SD rat retina at the irradiance of 0.6 W/m(2). Retinal cells were damaged with irradiance at 10.0 W/m(2), which mainly affected photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelial cells, while Müller cells of retinal inner nuclear layer were also involved. Apoptosis began after 4 hours of exposure and peaked at 24 hours. Moderate damage of retina was observed at the irradiance of 1.5 W/m(2) after 12 hours rather than 3 hours exposure. The number of ganglion cells was significantly different among the different groups 3 days after exposure. When the exposure time was 3 hours, the number of retinal ganglion cells under different irradiance at 0.0, 0.6, 1.5 and 10.0 W/m(2) was respectively 41.42 ± 0.17, 40.58 ± 0.50, 40.92 ± 0.32 and 22.83 ± 0.79 (F = 1305.86, P = 0.000). When the exposure time was 12 hours, the number of retinal ganglion cells under different irradiance at 0.0, 0.6, 1.5 and 10.0 W/m(2) was respectively 41.42 ± 0.17, 40.83 ± 0.69, 41.08 ± 0.17 and 22.75 ± 0.83 (F = 1095.78, P = 0.000). The number of retinal ganglion cells showed significant decrease 3 days after exposure at the irradiance 10.0 W/m(2) (exposure time 3 h:t = 52.32, P = 0.000; exposure time 12 h:t = 47.58, P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The safe exposure time to SD rat retina layers is 12 hours for the blue light with wavelength 460-480 nm at the irradiance 0.6 W/m(2). And the safe exposure time descends to 3 hours at the irradiance 1.5 W/m(2).

Paediatric vision screening in Urban Lhasa from the Tibetan Plateau of Southwest China.

PURPOSE: Few studies of vision screening in school-aged children were reported in Tibetan Plateau. We herein summarize the results of a mandatory vision screening conducted in young children in the Tibetan Plateau of Southwest China. METHODS: The Lhasa Childhood vision Screening (LCVS) performed uncorrected distant visual acuity (UCVA) test on primary school students in urban Lhasa from July to September 2019. Pin-hole corrected VA (PCVA) was obtained for individuals with the UCVA less than 20/25. Decreased VA was defined for UCVA based on the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines 2016 (UCVA < 20/32 for over 60 months). Visual impairment (VI), Mild VI, and moderate VI to blindness, defined as a PCVA less than 20/40, less than 20/40 to 20/63 and less than 20/63 in the better eye, respectively. RESULTS: Overall, 34,848 children aged 9.03 ± 1.87 years fulfilled the screening with a response rate of 98.5%. 18,412 (52.8%) of the participants were males, and 30,531(87.6%) were Tibetan. The prevalence of decreased VA, VI, Mild VI, and moderate VI to blindness was 35.6%, 4.4%, 3.5%, and 1.0%, respectively. The prevalence of decreased VA in grade 1-6 students was 28.8%, 20.8%, 26.9%, 40.7%, 50.8%, 59.5%, respectively. The prevalence of VI in grade 1 to 6 students was 1.5%, 1.4%, 2.4%, 5.6%, 7.7% and 9.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study documented a relatively low prevalence of decreased VA and VI in Tibetan primary school students than other urban populations in China. An increasing trend of poor vision with grades was found.

Tumor necrosis factor α-induced protein 3 mediates inflammation and neuronal autophagy in Parkinson's disease via the NFκB and mTOR pathways.

This study aimed to probe the function of tumor necrosis factor α-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3) in the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease (PD) with its association with autophagy and inflammatory response. TNFAIP3 was reduced in the SN of PD patients (the GSE54282 dataset) and mice and in the MPP+-treated SK-N-SH cells. TNFAIP3 inhibited inflammatory response and enhanced autophagy, thereby alleviating PD in mice. NFκB and mTOR pathways were activated in the SN of PD mice and MPP+-treated cells. TNFAIP3 blocked the two pathways by preventing the p65 nuclear translocation and stabilizing DEPTOR, an endogenous inhibitor of mTOR. NFκB activator LPS and mTOR activator MHY1485 reversed the effects of TNFAIP3 on mitigation of injury in PD mice and in SK-N-SH cells induced with MPP+. Altogether, TNFAIP3 played a neuroprotective role in MPTP-induced mice by restricting NFκB and mTOR pathways.

Transfer of Cd along the food chain: The susceptibility of Hyphantria cunea larvae to Beauveria bassiana under Cd stress.

Heavy metal can affect the bio-control efficiency of entomopathogenic fungi on pests, but this has not been studied in the food chain. Here, the food chain of soil-Fraxinus mandshurica-Hyphantria cunea was constructed to investigate the effect of cadmium (Cd) exposure on the susceptibility of H. cunea larvae to Beauveria bassiana (Bb) and to analyze the corresponding mechanism through larval innate immunity and energy metabolism. Cd through the food chain synergistically enhanced the susceptibility of H. cunea larvae to Bb. Cellular immunity-related parameters decreased when the Cd treatment group was compared with the control group and when the combined treatment group of Cd and Bb was compared with the Bb treatment group. Cd exposure induced hormesis on pathogen recognition and signal transduction genes of humoral immunity, but reduced the expression of effector genes. The expression of the 13 humoral immunity-related genes in the combined treatment group was lower than in the Bb treatment group. Cd exposure decreased the energy storage of H. cunea larvae before Bb infection and aggravated the disorder level of energy metabolism after Bb infection. Taken together, disturbance of innate immunity and energy metabolism improves the susceptibility of H. cunea larvae to Bb in the Cd-polluted food chain.