Identification, characterization, and agglutinating activity of a novel C-type lectin domain family 3 member B (CLEC3B) discovered in golden pompano, Trachinotus ovatus.

The lectins are a large family of carbohydrate-binding proteins that play important roles in the innate immune response of various organisms. Although C-type lectin domain family 3 member B (CLEC3B), an important member of C-type lectin, has been well documented in humans and several other higher vertebrates, little is currently known about this molecule in economically important marine fish species. In this study, through transcriptomic and BLAST screening, a novel CLEC3B gene was identified in the golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus). The T. ovatus CLEC3B (ToCLEC3B) was subsequently characterized by bioinformatic analysis and compared with those reported in other species. In addition, the expression patterns of ToCLEC3B in different tissues under normal condition and at different times post pathogen challenge were assessed. Furthermore, the agglutinating activity of ToCLEC3B with and without Ca2+ against different bacteria and blood cells of donor species were verified using the recombinant T. ovatus CLEC3B (rToCLEC3B). Our results demonstrated that ToCLEC3B is a Ca2+-dependent galactose-binding lectin with a single copy of carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD). Similar to CLEC3B reported in other species, the CRD domain of ToCLEC3B consists of two α-helices, six ß-sheets, and four loops, forming two Ca2+- and a galactose-binding sites. According to the phylogenetic analysis, the ToCLEC3B was highly similar (similarity at 95.00%) to that of its relative, the greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili). The expression of ToCLEC3B was detected in all tissues examined under normal condition and was significantly up-regulated by injection of pathogenic microbes. In addition, the rToCLEC3B exhibited strong agglutinating activity against different bacteria and blood cells of donor species in the presence of Ca2+. Our results indicate that ToCLEC3B is a constitutive and inducible acute-phase immune factor in the host's innate immune response of T. ovatus.

Condensing optical system design using a light guide-cylindrical hybrid lens.

We present a novel lens model, to the best of our knowledge, that redistributes the light flux from an LED and generates the required shape of illumination. A cylindrical lens is widely applied as a condensing optical element in non-imaging optical systems. In this work, a light guide is introduced into the design of a cylindrical lens. Different from the universal cylindrical lens, this one is divided into a light guide surface and a cylindrical surface. The light guide surface leads rays from an LED to a cylindrical surface, making it possible to decrease substantially the width of the lens in comparison with a universal cylindrical lens. That is, the lens model acts as a light guide to lead light rays in the transversal direction and acts as a cylindrical lens in the longitudinal direction. This lens is much easier and more economical to design and manufacture in comparison with conventional cylindrical surface lenses or freeform surface lenses used to produce elongated irradiance distribution. The simulation run by the optical software LightTools shows that the lens designed in the new method, to the best of our knowledge, has a much smaller size than the conventional cylindrical lens, and the uniformity of illumination and efficiency of energy are also quite good. Results show that the efficiency of an elongated lighting area reaches 83.3%.

A study on sublabial transsphenoidal treatment of pituitary tumor under microscope with aid of endoscope.

BACKGROUND: A pituitary tumor is a tumor with a high incidence among brain tumors. Microscopic traditional STT approach with aid of endoscope has a high therapeutic effect and few complications. METHODS: The authors reviewed 146 patients who underwent STT resection of sellar masses between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2013. From this group, 40 patients who underwent microscopic STT surgery with aid of endoscope were included in the study. In this series, there were many nonfunctional and Growth Hormone(GH) secreting adenoma. In the study group, tumor size ranged from 60 to 79 mm in 3 cases. Pathophysiological studies, tumor sizes, clinical outcomes, extent of resection, visual function and complication were estimated. RESULTS: In our study, gross-total resection(GTR) was achieved in 33 patients (82.5%), subtotal in 3 (7.5%), and partial in 4 (10%). Visual acuity were improved in 82.1%, while 17.9% were unchanged. Visual fields were improved in 81.2%. No deaths occurred in this cohort of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Pituitary adenoma surgery under microscope with aid of endoscope is an effective treatment method, which results in high (> 90%) rates of resection. It is not associated with high rates of major complications and is safe when performed by experienced surgeons.

Compound K, a final intestinal metabolite of ginsenosides, enhances insulin secretion in MIN6 pancreatic ß-cells by upregulation of GLUT2.

Compound K (CK) is a final intestinal metabolite of protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides from Panax ginseng and shows various bioactivities. Although it has also been found to have the property of anti-diabetes, the long-term effect of CK on insulin secretion in ß-cells is still unclear. In this study, CK was prepared from ginsenoside Rd by snailase hydrolysis and its effect on the insulin secretion activity in MIN6 pancreatic ß-cell lines in vitro was assessed. The expression of glucose transporter isoform-2 (GLUT2) and the cellular ATP content were also examined by western blot and HPLC analysis, respectively. The results showed that CK significantly enhanced insulin secretion, increased cellular ATP content, and upregulated the expression of GLUT2. These findings indicate that CK exerts prominent stimulatory effects on insulin secretion in the MIN6 cells partly via upregulating the expression of GLUT2.