Animal models as windows into the pathogenesis of myopia: Illuminating new directions for vision health.

The incidence of myopia, particularly high myopia, is increasing annually. Myopia has gradually become one of the leading causes of global blindness and is a considerable public-health concern. However, the pathogenesis of myopia remains unclear, and exploring the mechanism underlying myopia has become an urgent scientific priority. Creating animal models of myopia is important for studying the pathogenesis of refractive errors. This approach allows researchers to study and analyze the pathogenesis of myopia from aspects such as changes in refractive development, pathological changes in eye tissue, and molecular pathways related to myopia. This review summarizes the examples of animal models, methods of inducing myopia experimentally, and molecular signaling pathways involved in developing myopia-induced animal models. This review provides solid literature for researchers in the field of myopia prevention and control. It offers guidance in selecting appropriate animal models and research methods to fit their research objectives. By providing new insights and a theoretical basis for studying mechanisms of myopia, we detail how elucidated molecular pathways can be exploited to translate into safe and effective measures for myopia prevention and control.

Differences between long- and short-wavelength light-induced retinal damage and the role of PARP-1 in retinal injury induced by blue light.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy uses light of different wavelengths to treat various retinal degeneration diseases, but the potential damage to the retina caused by long-term light irradiation is still unclear. This study were designed to detect the difference between long- and short-wavelength light (650-nm red light and 450-nm blue light, 2.55 mW/cm2, reference intensity in PBM)-induced injury. In addition, a comparative study was conducted to investigate the differences in retinal light damage induced by different irradiation protocols (short periods of repeated irradiation and a long period of constant irradiation). Furthermore, the protective role of PARP-1 inhibition on the molecular mechanism of blue light-induced injury was confirmed by a gene knockdown technique or a specific inhibitor through in vitro and in vivo experiments. The results showed that the susceptibility to retinal damage caused by irradiation with long- and short-wavelength light is different. Shorter wavelength lights, such as blue light, induce more severe retinal damage, while the retina exhibits better resistance to longer wavelength lights, such as red light. In addition, repeated irradiation for short periods induces less retinal damage than constant exposure over a long period. PARP-1 plays a critical role in the molecular mechanism of blue light-induced damage in photoreceptors and retina, and inhibiting PARP-1 can significantly protect the retina against blue light damage. This study lays an experimental foundation for assessing the safety of phototherapy products and for developing target drugs to protect the retina from light damage.

Mechanism of Cone Degeneration in Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of genetic disorders resulting in inherited blindness due to the degeneration of rod and cone photoreceptors. The various mechanisms underlying rod degeneration primarily rely on genetic mutations, leading to night blindness initially. Cones gradually degenerate after rods are almost eliminated, resulting in varying degrees of visual disability and blindness. The mechanism of cone degeneration remains unclear. An understanding of the mechanisms underlying cone degeneration in RP, a highly heterogeneous disease, is essential to develop novel treatments of RP. Herein, we review recent advancements in the five hypotheses of cone degeneration, including oxidative stress, trophic factors, metabolic stress, light damage, and inflammation activation. We also discuss the connection among these theories to provide a better understanding of secondary cone degeneration in RP. Five current mechanisms of cone degenerations in RP Interactions among different pathways are involved in RP.

Oxidative Stress-Involved Mitophagy of Retinal Pigment Epithelium and Retinal Degenerative Diseases.

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a highly specialized and polarized epithelial cell layer that plays an important role in sustaining the structural and functional integrity of photoreceptors. However, the death of RPE is a common pathological feature in various retinal diseases, especially in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Mitophagy, as a programmed self-degradation of dysfunctional mitochondria, is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis and cell survival under stress. RPE contains a high density of mitochondria necessary for it to meet energy demands, so severe stimuli can cause mitochondrial dysfunction and the excess generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can further trigger oxidative stress-involved mitophagy. In this review, we summarize the classical pathways of oxidative stress-involved mitophagy in RPE and investigate its role in the progression of retinal diseases, aiming to provide a new therapeutic strategy for treating retinal degenerative diseases. The role of mitophagy in AMD and DR. In AMD, excessive ROS production promotes mitophagy in the RPE by activating the Nrf2/p62 pathway, while in DR, ROS may suppress mitophagy by the FOXO3-PINK1/parkin signaling pathway or the TXNIP-mitochondria-lysosome-mediated mitophagy.

Implantable sustained-release drug delivery systems: a revolution for ocular therapeutics.

PURPOSE: Due to the inimitable anatomical structure of the eyeball and various physiological barriers, conventional ocular local administration is often complicated by apparent shortcomings, such as limited bioavailability and short drug retention. Thus, developing methods for sustainable, safe and efficient drug delivery to ocular target sites has long been an urgent need. This study briefly summarizes the barriers to ocular drug administration and various ocular drug delivery routes and highlights recent progress in ocular implantable sustained-release drug delivery systems (DDSs) to provide literature evidence for developing novel ocular implants for sustained drug delivery. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search of studies on ocular implantable sustained-release DDSs in PubMed and Web of Science using the following keywords: ocular, implantable and drug delivery system. More than 400 papers were extracted. Publications focused on sustained and controlled drug release were primarily considered. Experimental articles involving DDSs that cannot be implanted into the eye through surgeries and cannot be inserted into ocular tissues in solid form were excluded. Approximately 143 publications were reviewed to summarize the most current information on the subject. RESULTS: In recent years, numerous ocular sustained-release DDSs using lipids, nanoparticles and hydrogels as carriers have emerged. With unique properties and systematic design, ocular implantable sustained-release DDSs are able to continuously maintain drug release, effectively sustain the therapeutic concentration in target tissues, and substantially enhance the therapeutic efficacy. Nevertheless, few ocular implantable sustained-release DDSs have been available in clinical use. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular implantable sustained-release DDSs have become a new focus in the field of ocular drug development through unique designs and improvements in the materials of drug carriers, administration methods and dosage forms. With more ocular implantable sustained-release DDSs being commercialized, ocular therapeutics may be revolutionized.

Description of Lujinxingia vulgaris sp. nov., isolated from coastal sediment via prey-traps.

Two Gram-stain negative, facultative anaerobic, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive bacilli, designated as strains TMQ4T and TMQ2, were isolated from Xiaoshi Island, China, using prey-traps. Growth was observed within the ranges 25-45 °C (optimally at 37 °C), pH 6.5-9.0 (optimally at pH 7.5-8.0) and 1-8% NaCl (optimally at 3-4%, w/v). The draft genome sequences of strains TMQ4T and TMQ2 contained 184 contigs of 5,609,735 bp with a G+C content of 64.4% and 148 contigs of 5,589,985 bp with a G+C content of 65.0%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that both strains belonged to the genus Lujinxingia with the similarity of 98.9%. The phylogenetic and phylogenomic topologies and analyses demonstrated that both strains clustered together and differentiated from the closest neighbour, Lujinxingia sediminis SEH01T. Genomic analyses showed that two strains lost the biosynthesis pathway of several chemical compounds. Iso-C15:0 was contained in the predominant cellular fatty acids in both strains. The major polar lipids of both strains consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and unidentified lipids; and the respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-7 for both strains. Both strains predated other bacteria, including Owenweeksia hongkongensis JCM 12287T and Paraliobacillus ryukyuensis DSM 15140T, and were lured with one prey Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 19606T in prey-trap. Combining genomic analyses, two strains had the predatory indices of 2, similar to representative typical bacterial predators. The physiological, biochemical, and phylogenetic properties suggest that the two strains represent a novel species within the genus Lujinxingia. The name Lujinxingia vulgaris sp. nov. is proposed, with strain TMQ4T (= KCTC 62851T = MCCC 1H00392T) as type strain and strain TMQ2 (= KCTC 72,079 = MCCC 1H00381) as reference strain.

Marinobacter orientalis sp. nov., a thiosulfate-oxidizing bacterium isolated from a marine solar saltern.

A facultatively anaerobic bacterium, strain W62T, was isolated from the marine solar saltern in Weihai, China. Cells of the novel strain were Gram-stain negative, non-flagellated, non-gliding, rod-shaped and around 0.3-0.5 × 2.5-3.9 µm in size. Optimum growth occurred at 33-37 °C, with 3-5% (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7.0-7.5. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain W62T had close relationship with Marinobacter vulgaris F01T (98.6%), Marinobacter confluentis KCTC 42705T (98.4%) and Marinobacter halotolerans NBRC 110910T (97.7%). Genome sequencing revealed a genome size of 4,050,555 bp, a G+C content of 57.3% and a complete sox system related to thiosulfate oxidization. Strain W62T had ubiquinone-9 as the sole respiratory quinone and possessed Summed Features 3 (C16:1 ω7c/C16:1 ω6c), C16:0 and C18:1 ω9c as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain W62T were identified as aminophospholipid, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. According to the results of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic characterization, phylogenetic properties and genome analysis, strain W62T should represent a novel specie of the genus Marinobacter, for which the name Marinobacter orientalis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is W62T (= MCCC 1H00317T = KCTC 62593T).

mTOR may interact with PARP-1 to regulate visible light-induced parthanatos in photoreceptors.

BACKGROUND: Excessive light exposure is a detrimental environmental factor that plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of retinal degeneration. However, the mechanism of light-induced death of retina/photoreceptor cells remains unclear. The mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) have become the primary targets for treating many neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms underlying light-induced photoreceptor cell death and whether the neuroprotective effects of mTOR and PARP-1 inhibition against death are mediated through apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). METHODS: Propidium iodide (PI)/Hoechst staining, lentiviral-mediated short hairpin RNA (shRNA), Western blot analysis, cellular fraction separation, plasmid transient transfection, laser confocal microscopy, a mice model, electroretinography (ERG), and hematoxylin-eosin (H & E) staining were employed to explore the mechanisms by which rapamycin/3-Aminobenzamide (3AB) exert neuroprotective effects of mTOR/PARP-1 inhibition in light-injured retinas. RESULTS: A parthanatos-like death mechanism was evaluated in light-injured 661 W cells that are an immortalized photoreceptor-like cell line that exhibit cellular and biochemical feature characteristics of cone photoreceptor cells. The death process featured over-activation of PARP-1 and AIF nuclear translocation. Either PARP-1 or AIF knockdown played a significantly protective role for light-damaged photoreceptors. More importantly, crosstalk was observed between mTOR and PARP-1 signaling and mTOR could have regulated parthanatos via the intermediate factor sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). The parthanatos-like injury was also verified in vivo, wherein either PARP-1 or mTOR inhibition provided significant neuroprotection against light-induced injury, which is evinced by both structural and functional retinal analysis. Overall, these results elucidate the mTOR-regulated parthanatos death mechanism in light-injured photoreceptors/retinas and may facilitate the development of novel neuroprotective therapies for retinal degeneration diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that inhibition of the mTOR/PARP-1 axis exerts protective effects on photoreceptors against visible-light-induced parthanatos. These protective effects are conducted by regulating the downstream factors of AIF, while mTOR possibly interacts with PARP-1 via SIRT1 to regulate parthanatos. Video Abstract Schematic diagram of mTOR interacting with PARP-1 to regulate visible light-induced parthanatos. Increased ROS caused by light exposure penetrates the nuclear membrane and causes nuclear DNA strand breaks. PARP-1 detects DNA breaks and synthesizes PAR polymers to initiate the DNA repair system that consumes a large amount of cellular NAD+. Over-production of PAR polymers prompts the release of AIF from the mitochondria and translocation to the nucleus, which leads to parthanatos. Activated mTOR may interact with PARP-1 via SIRT1 to regulate visible light-induced parthanatos.

Dokdonia sinensis sp. nov., a flavobacterium isolated from surface seawater.

A taxonomic study was carried out on strain SH27T, which was isolated from seawater collected around Xiaoshi Island, PR China. Cells of strain SH27T were Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped, orange-pigmented and grew at 15-37 °C (optimum, 28 °C), at pH 6.0-8.0 (pH 7.0) and in 1.0-7.0 % (w/v) NaCl (2.0-3.0 %). The isolate was positive for catalase, but negative for nitrate reduction, oxidase, indole production and urease. Carotenoid pigment was produced. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene placed strain SH27T in the genus Dokdonia with the closest relative being Dokdonia donghaensis KCTC 12391T, exhibiting 96.7 % 16S rRNA gene pairwise similarity. The results of genomic comparisons, including average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization, showed 72.9 and 19.2 % identity to D. donghaensis KCTC 12391T, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified lipids. Menaquinone-6 was the only respiratory quinone. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 32.9 mol%. On the basis of the phenotypic and phylogenetic data, strain SH27T represents a novel species of the genus Dokdonia, for which the name Dokdonia sinensis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain SH27T (MCCC 1H00358T=CCTCC AB 2018323T=KCTC 62962T).

Analysis from the perspective of cilia: the protective effect of PARP inhibitors on visual function during light-induced damage.

PURPOSE: To analyze the protective effect of PARP inhibitors on light-damaged retina and explore its possible mechanism from the perspective of ciliopathy. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed to investigate the protection of PARP inhibition on light-damaged cilia. PubMed database was retrieved to find the relevant studies and 119 literatures were involved in the review. RESULTS: In retina, the outer segment of photoreceptor is regarded as a special type of primary cilium, so various retinal diseases actually belong to a type of ciliopathy. The retina is the only central nervous tissue exposed to light, but poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), as a nuclear enzyme repairing DNA breaks, is overactivated during the light-induced DNA damage, and is involved in the cell death cascade. Studies show that both ATR and phosphorylated Akt colocalize with cilium and play an important role in regulating ciliary function. PARP may function at ATR or PI3K/Akt signal to exert protective effect on cilia. CONCLUSION: PARP inhibitors may protect the cilia/OS of photoreceptor during light-induced damage, which the possible mechanism may be involved in the activation of ATR and PI3K/Akt signal.

Copper-Catalyzed Trifunctionalization of Alkynes: Rapid Formation of Oxindoles Bearing Geminal Diboronates.

A copper-catalyzed trifunctionalization of alkynes that provides rapid access to oxindoles bearing a geminal diboronate side chain, highlighted by the simultaneous formation of one C-C bond and two C-B bonds, is reported. This new reaction features simple reaction conditions (ligand-free catalysis), a general substrate scope, and excellent chemoselectivity. Mechanistic study revealed a reaction sequence constituted by, in the order, borylation, intramolecular cross-coupling, hydroboration, which has been rarely documented.

A Water-Stable Luminescent ZnII Metal-Organic Framework as Chemosensor for High-Efficiency Detection of CrVI -Anions (Cr2 O72- and CrO42- ) in Aqueous Solution.

A new luminescent ZnII -MOF with 1D triangular channels along the b axis, namely NUM-5, has been successfully assembled and well characterized, which features good stability, especially in aqueous solution. Interestingly, this compound exhibits a fast, sensitive and selective luminescence quenching response towards CrVI (Cr2 O72- /CrO42- ) in aqueous solution. The detection limits towards Cr2 O72- and CrO42- ions are estimated to be 0.7 and 0.3 ppm, respectively, which are among the lowest detection limits reported for the MOF-based fluorescent probes that can simultaneously detect Cr2 O72- and CrO42- in aqueous environment. The possible detection mechanism has been discussed in detail. Moreover, it can be easily regenerated after detection experiments, indicative of excellent recyclability. All these results suggest NUM-5 to be a highly selective and recyclable luminescent sensing material for the quantitative detection of CrVI anions in aqueous solution.

Identification, Characteristics and Mechanism of 1-Deoxy-N-acetylglucosamine from Deep-Sea Virgibacillus dokdonensis MCCC 1A00493.

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, which causes rice bacterial blight, is one of the most destructive pathogenic bacteria. Biological control against plant pathogens has recently received increasing interest. 1-Deoxy-N-acetylglucosamine (1-DGlcNAc) was extracted from the supernatant of Virgibacillus dokdonensis MCCC 1A00493 fermentation through antibacterial bioassay-guided isolation. Its structure was elucidated by LC/MS, NMR, chemical synthesis and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. 1-DGlcNAc specifically suppressed X. oryzae pv. oryzae PXO99A (MIC was 23.90 µg/mL), but not other common pathogens including Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris str.8004 and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola RS105. However, its diastereomer (2-acetamido-1,5-anhydro-2-deoxy-d-mannitol) also has no activity to X. oryzae pv. oryzae. This result suggested that activity of 1-DGlcNAc was related to the difference in the spatial conformation of the 2-acetamido moiety, which might be attributed to their different interactions with a receptor. Eighty-four unique proteins were found in X. oryzae pv. oryzae PXO99A compared with the genome of strains8004 and RS105 by blastp. There may be unique interactions between 1-DGlcNAc and one or more of these unique proteins in X. oryzae pv. oryzae. Quantitative real-time PCR and the pharmMapper server indicated that proteins involved in cell division could be the targets in PXO99A. This research suggested that specificity of active substance was based on the active group and spatial conformation selection, and these unique proteins could help to reveal the specific mechanism of action of 1-DGlcNAc against PXO99A.

Clinical effects of 3-D printing-assisted personalized reconstructive surgery for blowout orbital fractures.

PURPOSE: One of the key challenges during orbital fracture reconstructive surgery, due to the complex anatomy of the orbit, is shaping and trimming the precise contour of the implants. The objectives of this study were to describe and evaluate the use of a three-dimensional (3-D) printing technique for personalized reconstructive surgery for repairing orbital fractures. METHODS: A total of 29 cases which had 3-D technique-assisted surgical reconstruction, and 27 cases which had traditional surgery, were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative and postoperative CT images were measured using MIMICS software, and the contour of the fracture zone and the Medpor-titanium implant were analyzed and compared. The surgical duration was also compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in the maximum width, depth and area between fracture zone and implant between the two groups, with the absolute value in the 3-D group markedly lower as compared to the control group. In addition, the difference in the medial-inferior wall angle between the surgical eye and healthy eye was also statistically significant between the groups. The average surgical duration in the 3-D group was substantially shorter than in the control group. Additionally, the postoperative clinical evaluation in the 3-D group was superior to that of the control group. CONCLUSION: The 3-D printing technique is of great value for predicting the precise fracture zone before, and during, personalized surgery, and can help surgeons achieve accurate anatomical reconstruction for repairs of blowout orbital fractures. Moreover, the simulated bone template produced by 3-D printing models allows for "true-to-original" orbital reconstruction, which can shorten the surgical duration and improve the accuracy and safety of the operation.

Diterpenoids from Wedelia prostrata and Their Derivatives and Cytotoxic Activities.

One new ent-kaurane diterpenoid, 11ß,16α-dihydroxy-ent-kauran-19-oic acid (1), together with eight known analogues 2 - 9 were isolated from the aerial parts of Wedelia prostrata. One of the acidic diterpenoids, kaurenoic acid (3), was converted to seven derivatives, 10 - 16. All compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity in vitro against human leukemia (K562), liver (HepG-2), and stomach (SGC-7901) cancer cell lines. Only four kaurenoic acid derivatives, 13 - 16, with 15-keto and substitutions at C(19) position, exhibited notable cytotoxic activities on these tumor cell lines with IC50 value ranging from 0.05 to 3.71 µm. Compounds 10 - 12, with oxime on C(15) showed moderate inhibitory effects and compounds 1 - 9 showed no cytotoxicities on them. Structure-activity relationships were also discussed based on the experimental data obtained. The known derivative, 15-oxokaurenoic acid 4-piperdin-1-ylbutyl ester (17), induced typical apoptotic cell death in colon SW480 cells upon evaluation of the apoptosis-inducing activity by flow-cytometric analysis.

Neuroprotective Strategy in Retinal Degeneration: Suppressing ER Stress-Induced Cell Death via Inhibition of the mTOR Signal.

The retina is a specialized sensory organ, which is essential for light detection and visual formation in the human eye. Inherited retinal degenerations are a heterogeneous group of eye diseases that can eventually cause permanent vision loss. UPR (unfolded protein response) and ER (endoplasmic reticulum) stress plays an important role in the pathological mechanism of retinal degenerative diseases. mTOR (the mammalian target of rapamycin) kinase, as a signaling hub, controls many cellular processes, covering protein synthesis, RNA translation, ER stress, and apoptosis. Here, the hypothesis that inhibition of mTOR signaling suppresses ER stress-induced cell death in retinal degenerative disorders is discussed. This review surveys knowledge of the influence of mTOR signaling on ER stress arising from misfolded proteins and genetic mutations in retinal degenerative diseases and highlights potential neuroprotective strategies for treatment and therapeutic implications.

Croceicoccus pelagius sp. nov. and Croceicoccus mobilis sp. nov., isolated from marine environments.

Strain Ery9T, isolated from surface seawater of the Atlantic Ocean, and strain Ery22T, isolated from deep-sea sediment of the Indian Ocean, were subjected to a taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach. Cells of the two strains were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and rod-shaped. They produced yellow pigments and lacked bacteriochlorophyll a. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain Ery9T was closely related to Croceicoccus naphthovorans PQ-2T (with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 97.7 %), and strain Ery22T was closely related to Croceicoccusmarinus E4A9T (98.3 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain Ery9T and strain Ery22T was 96.6 %. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that strains Ery9T and Ery22T fell within the cluster of the genus Croceicoccus and represented two independent lineages. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values and the genome-to-genome distances between strains Ery9T and Ery22T and the type strains of species of the genus Croceicoccus with validly published names were 73.7-78.4 % and 20.1-22.3 %, respectively. The major respiratory quinone of the two isolates was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The DNA G+C contents of strains Ery9T and Ery22T were 62.8 and 62.5 mol%, respectively. Differential phylogenetic distinctiveness and chemotaxonomic differences, together with phenotypic properties, revealed that strains Ery9T and Ery22T could be differentiated from their closely related species. Therefore, it is concluded that strains Ery9T and Ery22T represent two novel species of the genus Croceicoccus, for which the names Croceicoccus pelagius sp. nov. (type strain Ery9T=CGMCC 1.15358T=DSM 101479T) and Croceicoccus mobilis sp. nov. (type strain Ery22T=CGMCC 1.15360T=DSM 101481T), are proposed.

[Reduced zinc concentration in expressed prostatic secretion relates to the pain symptoms of types â ¢ and â £ prostatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the zinc levels in the expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) of the patients with different types of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis, and explore the reference value of zinc concentration in EPS in the diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis. METHODS: We collected EPS samples from 35 healthy men and 173 patients with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis, including 65 cases of type ⅢA, 69 cases of type ⅢB, and 39 cases of type Ⅳ, according to the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI). We compared the zinc levels in the EPS samples among different groups and analyzed the correlations of zinc concentration with the NIH-CPSI scores, WBC count, pH value, and age of the subjects. RESULTS: The participants were aged 17－65 (32.5±8.5) years. The zinc concentrations in the EPS were significantly lower in the ⅢA (ï¼»162.2±10.8ï¼½ µg/ml) and ⅢB (ï¼»171.2±12.0ï¼½ µg/ml) than in the Ⅳ (ï¼»234.6±17.9ï¼½ µg/ml) (P<0.05 ) and the control group (ï¼»259.5±14.6ï¼½ µg/ml) (P<0.05 ). The zinc level was correlated negatively with the NIH-CPSI pain score (r=－0.248, P<0.01), quality of life score (r=－0.232, P<0.01), severity score (r=－0.270, P<0.01), total NIH-CPSI score (r=－0.281, P<0.01), and the pH value in EPS (r=－0.208, P<0.01), but showed no correlation with the WBC count and age of the subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced zinc concentration in the EPS of the patients with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis may be associated with the pain symptoms of the disease, which suggests the potential reference value of measuring the zinc concentration in EPS in the diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis.

Suppressing autophagy protects photoreceptor cells from light-induced injury.

Autophagy, a conserved cellular self-degradation process, not only serves to protect cells at critical times during development and nutrient stress, but also contributes to cell death. Photoreceptor cells are unique neurons which when directly exposed to the light, transduces light stimuli into visual signal. However, intense light exposure can be cytotoxic to the retina. So far, the precise mechanism underlying retina light injury remains unknown, and the effective therapy is still unavailable. Here, we found that visible light exposure activated the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathway and led to remarkable autophagy in photoreceptor cells (661W cells). Directly blocking autophagy with 3MA or LY294002 markedly attenuated light-induced death in 661W cells. Among the activated downstream factors of MAPK pathway, ERK, not JNK or p-38, played a critical role in light-induced death mechanism. Inhibiting the activation of ERK with its specific inhibitor PD98059 significantly suppressed light-induced autophagy and protected 661W cells from light injury. These results indicate that autophagy is an essential event in light-induced photoreceptor death and that directly blocking autophagy or suppressing autophagy by inhibiting the ERK pathway could effectively attenuates light-induced damage. These observations may have a potential application in the treatment of retinal light injury.