Protective Effects of Naringin in Cerebral Infarction and Its Molecular Mechanism.

BACKGROUND Cerebral infarction is a cardiovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality. At present, many studies have reported the treatment of cerebral infarction by traditional Chinese medicine. Naringin, a flavonoid, is a major traditional Chinese medicine. However, the effect and mechanism of naringin on cerebral infarction is unclear. MATERIAL AND METHODS In our study, we established a rat model of cerebral infarction through middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) to study the influence of naringin on cerebral infarction in vivo. After treatment with naringin, brain water content was detected to assess brain edema. Cerebral infarction volume and neurological deficits were also measured. Production of the inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6) was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Besides, the effect of naringin on cerebral infarction was investigated in vitro by establishing an oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model in neuronal cells. Cell apoptosis and cell viability was determined using flow cytometry and MTT assay. RESULTS We found that naringin pretreatment significantly decreased the brain water content, cerebral infarction volume, and neurological deficit scores of MCAO subjected rats. And naringin treatment reduced apoptosis of nerve cells in rat hippocampus and the secretion of inflammatory factor such as TNF-alpha and IL-6. Besides, we found that naringin increased cell viability and inhibited apoptosis in OGD induced neuronal cells. Finally, we found that naringin promoted the expression of p-AKT protein in a concentration-dependent manner and activated the PI3K/AKT pathway in OGD induced neurons. CONCLUSIONS Naringin played a protective role in cerebral infarction via suppressing neuronal apoptosis and inflammation.

Plasmodesmata-Related Structural and Functional Proteins: The Long Sought-After Secrets of a Cytoplasmic Channel in Plant Cell Walls.

Plant cells are separated by cellulose cell walls that impede direct cell-to-cell contact. In order to facilitate intercellular communication, plant cells develop unique cell-wall-spanning structures termed plasmodesmata (PD). PD are membranous channels that link the cytoplasm, plasma membranes, and endoplasmic reticulum of adjacent cells to provide cytoplasmic and membrane continuity for molecular trafficking. PD play important roles for the development and physiology of all plants. The structure and function of PD in the plant cell walls are highly dynamic and tightly regulated. Despite their importance, plasmodesmata are among the few plant cell organelles that remain poorly understood. The molecular properties of PD seem largely elusive or speculative. In this review, we firstly describe the general PD structure and its protein composition. We then discuss the recent progress in identification and characterization of PD-associated plant cell-wall proteins that regulate PD function, with particular emphasis on callose metabolizing and binding proteins, and protein kinases targeted to and around PD.

Induced marine fungus Chondrostereum sp. as a means of producing new sesquiterpenoids chondrosterins I and J by using glycerol as the carbon source.

Chondrostereum sp., a marine fungus isolated from a soft coral Sarcophyton tortuosum, can yield hirsutane framework sesquiterpenoids. However, the metabolites profiles vary dramatically with the composition change of the culture media. This fungus was cultured in a liquid medium containing glycerol as the carbon source, and two new metabolites, chondrosterins I and J (1 and 2), were obtained. Their structures were elucidated primarily based on MS, NMR and X-ray single-crystal diffraction data. By comparison with the known hirsutane sesquiterpenoids, chondrosterins I and J have unique structural features, including a methyl was migrated from C-2 to C-6, and the methyl at C-3 was carboxylated. Compound 2 exhibited potent cytotoxic activities against the cancer cell lines CNE-1 and CNE-2 with the IC50 values of 1.32 and 0.56 µM.

[Effects of single mode's high-order aberrations on visual acuity corrected using adaptive optics technique].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of single mode's high-order aberration on visual acuity in real time dynamically corrected using adaptive optics technique. METHODS: Control study. In a dark room, twelve young healthy volunteers were administrated with 5 g/L phenylephrine to fully dilate the right eye's pupil to a diameter over 6 mm. The subjects' myopia and astigmatism were fully corrected using optical lenses. Coma, trefoil, spherical aberration and other forth-order aberrations except for spherical aberration were corrected using adaptive optics, and 100% contrast visual acuity was simultaneously measured. RESULTS: All single mode's high-order aberrations were fully corrected, whereas other aberrations remained unchanged. Mean visual acuity of subjects was improved by 0.021 LogMAR, 0.017 LogMAR, 0.022 LogMAR and 0.025 LogMAR after correction of coma, trefoil, spherical aberration and other forth-order aberrations except for spherical aberration, respectively. Ratio of change in visual acuity was (-0.40 ± 1.22) LogMAR/µm, (-0.20 ± 0.61) LogMAR/µm, (-0.80 ± 1.44) LogMAR/µm and (-0.30 ± 0.57) LogMAR/µm, respectively. There was a linear correlation between visual acuity after correction of single mode's different high-order aberrations and RMS of residual aberrations (R(2) = 0.13, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Among high-order aberrations in normal human eye, spherical aberration generates a most impact on visual acuity, followed by coma, other forth-order aberrations except for spherical aberration and trefoil. A linear correlation was found between change in visual acuity and RMS of residual aberrations.

Enhancement of the beam quality of non-uniform output slab laser amplifier with a 39-actuator rectangular piezoelectric deformable mirror.

We present a slab laser amplifier beam cleanup experimental system based on a 39-actuator rectangular piezoelectric deformable mirror. Rather than use a wave-front sensor to measure distortions in the wave-front and then apply a conjugation wave-front for compensating them, the system uses a Stochastic Parallel Gradient Descent algorithm to maximize the power contained within a far-field designated bucket. Experimental results demonstrate that at the output power of 335W, more than 30% energy concentrates in the 1x diffraction-limited area while the beam quality is enhanced greatly.

Restoration of turbulence-degraded extended object using the stochastic parallel gradient descent algorithm: numerical simulation.

An adaptive optics (AO) system with Stochastic Parallel Gradient Descent (SPGD) algorithm and a 61-element deformable mirror is simulated to restore the image of a turbulence-degraded extended object. SPGD is used to search the optimum voltages for the actuators of the deformable mirror. We try to find a convenient image performance metric, which is needed by SPGD, merely from a gray level distorted image and without any additional optics elements. Simulation results show the gray level variance function acts more promising than other metrics, such as metrics based on the gray level gradient of each pixel. The restoration capability of the AO system is investigated with different images and different turbulence strength wave-front aberrations using SPGD with the above resultant image quality criterion. Numerical simulation results verify the performance metric is effective and the AO system can restore those images degraded by different turbulence strengths successfully.

Decoupling algorithm of a double-layer bimorph deformable mirror: analysis and experimental test.

With the increasing requirements on spatial resolution and actuator pitch, multilayer bimorph deformable mirrors are coming into wider application in adaptive optics. This paper discusses the coupling of actuators of multilayer bimorph deformable mirrors. A decoupling algorithm based on controlling gradients directly is presented. And a closed-loop adaptive optics system, which consists of a double-layer bimorph deformable mirror and a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor, is set up to validate this decoupling algorithm. Experimental results show that the intensity distribution at the image plane of the distorted wavefront is effectively improved when the modified closed-loop control is on. Besides, the experimental results fit well with the conclusion of numerical simulation.

Effects of monochromatic aberration on visual acuity using adaptive optics.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect on visual acuity of correcting specific Zernike aberrations. METHODS: Visual acuity was tested for 12 young subjects using a Freiburg Acuity Test procedure under conditions with wavefront aberrations corrected by an adaptive optics system. The adaptive optics system consists of a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor, a deformable mirror, relevant optical channels and closed loop control system. Five aberration correction paradigms were used to correct different Zernike terms. RESULTS: With the second order aberration fully corrected, a significant improvement in visual acuity was observed (0.056 logMAR, t = 2.79, p = 0.018). Further correction of third order Zernike aberrations resulted in an additional improvement of 0.041 logMAR (t = 2.63, p = 0.023). But an additional correction of spherical aberration did not produce a significant increase in visual acuity (t = 1.10, NS). Full correction of aberrations achieved the best visual acuity with an improvement of 0.022 logMAR (t = 2.46, p = 0.032). The visual acuity was found to increase with the root mean square values of the residual aberrations with a linear relationship (r = 0.63, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Correction of monochromatic wavefront aberrations improves visual acuity for normal eyes and the improvement of visual acuity is proportional to the change of root mean square of wavefront aberrations.

[Initial research of customized aberration correction with adaptive optics technique].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of different wavefront-guided aberration ablation patterns on visual function using adaptive optics technique and explore the effective and feasible pattern of customized refractive surgery. METHODS: Control study. Under dark condition, six volunteers'right eyes were fully dilated with 5 g/L phenyl ephedrine. The myopia and astigmatism were first fully corrected with optical lens, and then 100% contrast visual acuity of different wavefront correction patterns was detected using adaptive optics system in through a 6.0 mm pupil optical path. RESULTS: All of the eight different aberration correction strategies obtained excellent correction effect. On the basis of this correction, visual acuity test was performed. The results showed that all aberration correction strategies improved the visual acuity compared with static correction. Correction of high order aberrations and full correction of aberrations could obtain better visual acuity than that of only correction of low order aberrations. Correction of aberrations from second to third order and fourth order spherical aberration second only to full correction of aberration. CONCLUSION: As for low myopia patients, eliminating ocular high order aberrations could improve visual acuity. Correction of aberration from second to third order and fourth spherical aberration might be an effective and feasible pattern of customized refractive surgery.

Macular Ganglion Cell-Inner Plexiform Layer, Ganglion Cell Complex, and Outer Retinal Layer Thicknesses in a Large Cohort of Chinese Children.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the normative values, distribution patterns, and correlated factors of macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), ganglion cell complex (GCC), and outer retinal layer (ORL) thicknesses in Chinese children. Methods: A sample of 3000 healthy children with different refractive status aged 6 to 19 years was consecutively examined. Demographics were recorded, and a comprehensive ophthalmic examination including refractive error and axial length (AL) was taken from all participants. The GCIPL, GCC, and ORL thicknesses were measured using swept source-optical coherence tomography (OCT), and multiple linear regression was used to determine which factors were associated with the thickness of each layer. Results: The average thickness was 77.00 ± 4.78 µm (95% confidence interval [CI]: 69.56-84.56 µm) in the GCIPL, 107.68 ± 5.95 µm (95% CI: 98.45-117.21 µm) in the GCC, and 178.57 ± 9.02 µm (95% CI: 164.33-192.56 µm) in the ORL. Multiple regression analysis indicated that GCIPL thickness was associated with sex (ß = 0.168, P < 0.001), age (ß = 0.126, P < 0.001), axial length (ß = -0.181, P < 0.001), and refractive error (ß = 0.233, P < 0.001). Age (ß = 0.154, P < 0.001), sex (ß = 0.102, P < 0.001), and refractive error (ß = 0.149, P < 0.001) were associated independently with GCC thickness after adjusting for the other factors. Furthermore, age (ß = 0.100, P < 0.001), sex (ß = 0.163, P < 0.001), AL (ß = -0.283, P < 0.001), and refractive error (ß = 0.207, P < 0.001) were the independent factors associated with ORL thickness. Conclusions: The present study established a normative pediatric database for macular layer thicknesses in healthy Chinese children, advancing the ability of OCT in diseases diagnosis and monitoring among children.

Drug resistance and epidemiology characteristics of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients in 17 provinces of China.

As China is one of high MDR-TB burden countries, it is important to determine the drug resistant pattern and clinical characteristics of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). We conducted a comprehensive and nationwide study on MDR-TB in 17 provinces for the period from June 2009 to June 2015, and a total of 1154 cases of MDR-TB were finally investigated. The study sought to assess the clinical features and contrast drug susceptibility profiles of MDR-TB patients in China. Cavitary disease, young age, and long duration of TB disease among MDR-TB patients were important predictors. A high resistance proportion of first-line drugs was observed in Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin. Resistant proportions of second-line anti-TB drugs in western region for amikacin, aminosalicylic acid, and levofloxacin were higher than eastern and central regions. High levels of drug resistance were seen in earlier cases (before 2011) and outpatients. We found high levels of resistance to 1st- and 2nd-line drugs in all settings, with considerable variabilities in terms of different Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) programme, level of economic development(eastern, central and western regions) and patient source (inpatients and outpatients). Timely drug susceptibility testing (DST) and effective management are necessary to ensure an early detection of MDR-TB and its proper treatment.

Distribution of scleral thickness and associated factors in 810 Chinese children and adolescents: a swept-source optical coherence tomography study.

PURPOSE: To explore the subfoveal thickness of sclera (SST), choroid (SCT) and retina (SRT) as well as their relationship in healthy Chinese children with varying levels of refractive error. METHODS: A total of 810 healthy Chinese schoolchildren and adolescents underwent a series of comprehensive ocular examinations, as well as swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) after induced cycloplegia. The thicknesses of the sclera, choroid and retina below the central fovea were measured manually, and each measurement was compared across different refractive statuses. Independent factors associated with the thickness of each layer were analysed. RESULTS: The mean SST, SCT and SRT were 524 ± 57 µm, 195 ± 49 µm and 224 ± 19 µm, respectively. The SSTs and SCTs of myopes were significantly thinner than those of emmetropes and hyperopes (all p < 0.001). Although the choroid seemed to be thicker in hyperopes (225 ± 46 µm) than in emmetropes (211 ± 45 µm), no statistically significant difference was observed between emmetropes and hyperopes in the sclera and choroid. Thinner SSTs and SCTs were associated with greater levels of myopia, whereas the SRT was similar in children with different myopic levels. SST (p < 0.001) and SCT (p = 0.003) as well as age (p < 0.001), sex (p < 0.001) and axial length (p < 0.001) were independently associated with spherical equivalent refraction (SER). Older age (p = 0.013), myopic-shifted SER (p < 0.001), thicker SCT (p < 0.001) and thinner SRT (p = 0.012) were independently associated with a thinner SST. CONCLUSION: The subfoveal sclera and choroid were thinner in myopes than in emmetropes and hyperopes, while the retina remains constant. Age, refractive error and choroidal and retinal thicknesses are related to subfoveal scleral thickness.

Modified Gaussian influence function of deformable mirror actuators.

A new deformable mirror influence function based on a Gaussian function is introduced to analyze the fitting capability of a deformable mirror. The modified expressions for both azimuthal and radial directions are presented based on the analysis of the residual error between a measured influence function and a Gaussian influence function. With a simplex search method, we further compare the fitting capability of our proposed influence function to fit the data produced by a Zygo interferometer with that of a Gaussian influence function. The result indicates that the modified Gaussian influence function provides much better performance in data fitting.

Small-phase retrieval with a single far-field image.

A method to retrieve small phase aberration from a single far-field image is proposed. It is found that in small phase condition, the odd and even parts of phase aberration can be obtained with a simple linear calculation method. The difference between a single measured image with aberration and the calibrated image with inherent aberration are used in the calculation process. It is proved that the most part of the inherent phase aberration of the imaging system must be of even type, such as defocus, astigmatism, etc., to keep the method working. Results of numerical simulations on atmosphere disturbed phase aberrations show that the proposed small phase retrieval method works well when the RMS phase error is less than 1 rad. It is also shown that the method is valid in noise condition when SNR>100.

Efficacy of Jia Wei Yang He formula as an adjunctive therapy for asthma: study protocol for a randomized, double blinded, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Over the past two or three decades, the prevalence of asthma has significantly increased worldwide; therefore, effective treatment without side effects is of utmost importance. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays a vital role in reducing symptoms and improving the quality of life in persistent-asthma patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the Jia Wei Yang He (JWYH) formula in the treatment of asthma and to explore the relationship between the airway microbiome and TCM treatment in asthma patients. METHODS/DESIGN: This multicenter, parallel-arm, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial will assess the efficacy of JWYH in asthma patients with usual care. Persistent-asthma patients without life-threatening disease will be enrolled on a random basis and are equally assigned to a high- or a low-dose JWYH plus usual care group, or a placebo plus usual care group. Patients are followed up for 4 months. Accordingly, 240 patients will yield sufficient statistical power to determine a difference between groups. Based on modified intent-to-treat (mITT) analyses, the three groups will be compared at 4 weeks after the beginning of treatment. The primary efficacy measurement is the mean change in the Asthma Control Test (ACT) score from baseline to 4 weeks post treatment. Secondary outcomes include forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and asthma exacerbations. This trial also includes analyses of the associations between airway microbiome and asthma treatment. DISCUSSION: In this study, a randomized clinical trial design is described. The results are based on several outcomes that estimate the efficacy of the JWYH formula and prospective links between the airway microbiome and asthma treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03299322 . Registered on 3 October 2017.

Response function calculation and sensitivity comparison analysis of various bimorph deformable mirrors.

Analysis of the response function for various possible bimorph-type deformable mirrors is presented by numerical calculation. Using this response function, sensitivity comparison of a five-layer bimorph with two-and three-layer structures is carried out. It is shown that the displacement of a bimorph deformable mirror surface reduces when the number of layers increases, and the displacement is closely related to the distance of the control layer from the median plane. The farther electrode contributes the larger deformation on the surface. Furthermore, for a fixed position of the control layer, the displacement is directly proportional to the loading voltage and inversely proportional to the square of the thickness of the PZT layer, and it increases about 1.4 times when the area of the electrode doubles.

Intracavity transverse modes controlled by a genetic algorithm based on Zernike mode coefficients.

A new adaptive optics (AO) system for controlling the mode profile of a diode-laser-pumped Nd:YAG solid laser has been set up in our laboratory. A 19-element piezoelectric deformable mirror (DM), which is used as the rear mirror of the solid-state laser, is controlled by a genetic algorithm (GA). To improve the system convergence rate, the GA optimizes the first 10 orders of Zernike mode coefficients rather than optimize 19 voltages on the DM. The transform matrix between the 19 voltages and the first 10 orders of Zernike mode coefficients is deduced. Comparative numerical results show that the convergence speed and the correction performance of the AO system based on optimizing Zernike mode coefficients is far better than that of optimizing voltages. Moreover, experimental results showed that this AO system could change TEM(10), TEM(11), and TEM(20) transverse modes into a TEM(00) mode successfully.

Effects of spherical aberration on visual acuity at different contrasts.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of spherical aberration on visual acuity by correcting and inducing spherical aberration using an adaptive optics vision simulator. SETTING: Laboratory of Vision Science, Capital Medical University, Beijing, and Institute of Optics and Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China. METHODS: An adaptive optics vision simulator comprising a wavefront sensor and a 37-segmented deformable mirror was used to correct and induce aberrations of the eye. The effective ocular wavefront aberration was manipulated with the deformable mirror, as the resulting visual performance was simultaneously measured. Subjective visual acuity measurements were performed with a 6.0 mm pupil. Visual acuity at different contrasts was measured when spherical aberration was fully corrected and the other natural aberrations in the eye were present and when spherical aberration values were induced with the other aberrations corrected. RESULTS: The natural root-mean-square (RMS) value of spherical aberration in the 8 subjects examined was between -0.11 microm and 0.14 microm. There was no significant improvement in visual acuity with spherical aberration corrected and the subjects' natural aberrations present. When all aberrations were corrected, a decrease in visual acuity occurred when spherical aberration RMS was induced at 0.2 microm and 0.3 microm. CONCLUSIONS: When fluctuation of other natural aberrations in the eye were present, there was a slight effect on visual acuity when the spherical aberration RMS was approximately 0.1 microm. Therefore, an RMS value of 0.1 microm could be an acceptable amount of spherical aberration when correcting spherical aberrations.

Field-of-view shifted Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor for daytime adaptive optics system.

For the daytime adaptive optics system, a field-of-view shifted Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (FSWFS), which is used to measure the aberrant wavefront under daytime conditions, is proposed. Because the field angle of the object signal in adaptive optics systems is much less than that of the sky background, the effective object signal is separated from the strong sky background. Experimental results indicate that FSWFS with a single focal-plane array can precisely and stably measure the aberrant wavefront information with a strong sky background under daytime conditions.

Double-deformable-mirror adaptive optics system for phase compensation.

Two kinds of algorithm for an adaptive optics (AO) system that uses two deformable mirrors (DMs), one with large stroke and the other with high spatial frequency, to correct different aberrations are described. The algorithms are based on modal method and direction-gradient method, respectively. Numerical simulations for the algorithms have been made. The simulation results indicate that the two DMs in the AO system can correct different aberrations with different characteristics, and the closed-loop performance of a double-DM AO system will be almost the same as that of an AO system that uses a single DM with an ideal stroke.