Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis and fine-mapping for Fusarium oxysporum disease resistance in Raphanus sativus using GRAS-Di technology.

Fusarium wilt is a significant disease in radish, but the genetic mechanisms controlling yellows resistance (YR) are not well understood. This study aimed to identify YR-QTLs and to fine-map one of them using F2:3 populations developed from resistant and susceptible radish parents. In this study, two high-density genetic maps each containing shared co-dominant markers and either female or male dominant markers that spanned 988.6 and 1127.5 cM with average marker densities of 1.40 and 1.53 cM, respectively, were generated using Genotyping by Random Amplicon Sequencing-Direct (GRAS-Di) technology. We identified two YR-QTLs on chromosome R2 and R7, and designated the latter as ForRs1 as the major QTL. Fine mapping narrowed down the ForRs1 locus to a 195 kb region. Among the 16 predicted genes in the delimited region, 4 genes including two receptor-like protein and -kinase genes (RLP/RLK) were identified as prime candidates for ForRs1 based on the nucleotide sequence comparisons between the parents and their predicted functions. This study is the first to use a GRAS-Di for genetic map construction of cruciferous crops and fine map the YR-QTL on the R7 chromosome of radish. These findings will provide groundbreaking insights into radish YR breeding and understanding the genetics of YR mechanism.

The effects of a steam warming eye mask on the ocular surface and mental health.

PURPOSE: The continuous use of warming eye masks improves tear function. In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, we aimed to analyze the effects of warming eye mask use on the ocular surface and mental health. METHODS: We enrolled 86 participants (age range: 23-89 years) from affiliated institutions who were divided into two groups: the warm group that used warming eye masks that generate moist heat at 40 °C for 10 min and the control group that used non-warming eye masks. The participants used the masks for 10 min once daily for 2 weeks. Before and after the intervention, in 79 participants (warm group 39, control group 40), we analyzed the tear break up time (TBUT) and corneal and conjunctival fluorescein staining results in the right eye and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (Anxiety: HADS-A, Depression: HADS-D), and Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) questionnaires. The parameters before and after the intervention were compared via paired-t tests. RESULTS: The following variables changed after the intervention: TBUT (warm group: 1.4 ± 2.1 s vs. control group: -0.01 ± 2.38 s), fluorescein staining score (-0.7 ± 1.1 vs.-0.2 ± 1.1), HADS-A (-0.8 ± 3.1 vs. -0.2 ± 2.2), and HADS-D (-1.0 ± 2.4 vs. -0.4 ± 1.9). Significant changes were observed in the TBUT (warm group), fluorescein staining score (warm group), and HADS-D (warm group). CONCLUSIONS: Using a warming eye mask improves not only the ocular surface conditions but also the subjective depression scores.

Endoscopy-guided vitreoretinal surgery.

Vitreoretinal surgery has recently undergone remarkable developments. The introduction of micro-incision vitrectomy surgery using 25- and 23-gauge techniques has led to minimally invasive, faster, safer, and more accurate surgeries. Similarly, intraocular illumination and observation systems have advanced from light pipes to chandelier illumination, slit illumination, wide-angle viewing systems, and intraocular endoscopes. Compared to observation via the cornea and optic media, vitreous surgery using an endoscope is extremely useful, as the endoscope is inserted directly into the eye, circumventing the difficulties of corneal clouding and small pupil diameters. Furthermore, there are no blind spots after surgery. We here discuss the advantages of intraocular endoscope use, the current state of endoscopy-guided vitreoretinal surgery, and its future prospects.

Adult intestinal intussusception caused by an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT), which usually affects young adults and children, is a solid neoplastic mesenchymal proliferation composed of myofibroblastic spindle cells admixed with inflammatory infiltrates. Numerous extrapulmonary sites of these tumors have been found, but intestinal IMT is rare, especially in elderly patient. Its diagnosis is recognized as difficult because the patients usually do not have a specific symptom. Here, we present the case of a 79-year-old man with an IMT that caused small intestinal intussusception, which was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography. We review the literature on IMT and specially focus on the diagnostic modalities for this disease.

Visante optical coherence tomography and tear function test evaluation of cholinergic treatment response in patients with sjögren syndrome.

PURPOSE: To evaluate tear meniscus changes in patients with Sjögren syndrome (SS) receiving oral pilocarpine with Visante optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Eight patients with primary SS were recruited in this prospective interventional case series study. Patients received pilocarpine tablets twice a day for 3 months. Visual analog scale assessment for dry eye and dry mouth symptoms was carried out. Patients underwent OCT and slit-lamp microscopy graticule scale tear meniscus height (TMH) measurements, strip meniscometry testing, tear film breakup time measurement, fluorescein and Rose Bengal staining, and the Schirmer 1 test. The data were analyzed 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after treatment. Mann-Whitney test was performed. RESULTS: Visual analog scale assessment showed a significant time-wise improvement (P < 0.05). OCT and graticule scale TMH measurements significantly improved after 1 week (P < 0.05), 1 month, and 3 months of treatment (P < 0.001). Strip meniscometry, mean tear film stability, and fluorescein and Rose Bengal scores remained improved 3 months after treatment (P < 0.001), whereas Schirmer 1 test values tended to improve without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Visante OCT was effective in monitoring tear meniscus changes during the course of treatment noninvasively and quickly. Oral pilocarpine seemed to be effective in improving TMH, and the signs and symptoms of dryness in patients with SS.

Effects of diesel exhaust particles on primary cultured healthy human conjunctival epithelium.

BACKGROUND: Air pollution from road traffic is a serious public health problem. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated adverse health effects associated with environmental pollution. Diesel exhaust is a major contributor to ambient particulate matter air pollution. We studied the effects of exposure to diesel exhaust particles on allergic conjunctivitis using cultured conjunctival epithelial cells obtained from healthy people. OBJECTIVE: To identify the factors involved in the human conjunctival epithelial response to diesel exhaust in vitro. METHODS: Healthy individuals underwent conjunctival biopsy, and the samples were incubated on conjunctival epithelial sheets. We investigated the effects of exposure to diesel exhaust using GeneChip arrays. The adhesion molecules and cytokines showing increased expression on GeneChip arrays were verified by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The GeneChip array showed increased expression of adhesion molecules, cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors after exposure to diesel exhaust. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay confirmed that the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and interleukin 6, in particular, were significantly upregulated. CONCLUSION: Our experimental data confirm that exposure to diesel exhaust particles increases inflammatory factor expression in human conjunctiva and thereby contributes to allergic conjunctival responses.

Collaborative non-self recognition system in S-RNase-based self-incompatibility.

Self-incompatibility in flowering plants prevents inbreeding and promotes outcrossing to generate genetic diversity. In Solanaceae, a multiallelic gene, S-locus F-box (SLF), was previously shown to encode the pollen determinant in self-incompatibility. It was postulated that an SLF allelic product specifically detoxifies its non-self S-ribonucleases (S-RNases), allelic products of the pistil determinant, inside pollen tubes via the ubiquitin-26S-proteasome system, thereby allowing compatible pollinations. However, it remained puzzling how SLF, with much lower allelic sequence diversity than S-RNase, might have the capacity to recognize a large repertoire of non-self S-RNases. We used in vivo functional assays and protein interaction assays to show that in Petunia, at least three types of divergent SLF proteins function as the pollen determinant, each recognizing a subset of non-self S-RNases. Our findings reveal a collaborative non-self recognition system in plants.

Endoscopy-guided vitreoretinal surgery following penetrating corneal injury: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Severe ocular trauma requires emergency surgery, and a fresh corneal graft may not always be available. We describe a case of perforating eye injury with corneal opacity, suspected endophthalmitis, and an intraocular foreign body. The patient was successfully treated with a two-step procedure comprising endoscopy-guided vitrectomy followed by corneal transplantation. This surgical technique offers a good option to vitrectomy with simultaneous keratoplasty in emergency cases where no graft is immediately available and there is the possibility of infection due to the presence of a foreign body. CASE PRESENTATION: A 55-year-old Japanese woman was referred to our hospital with a perforating corneal and lens injury sustained with a muddy ferrous rod. Primary corneal sutures and lensectomy were performed immediately. Vitreoretinal surgery was required due to suspected endophthalmitis, vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, dialysis and necrosis of the peripheral retina. Instead of conventional vitrectomy, endoscopy-guided vitreous surgery was performed with the Solid Fiber Catheter AS-611 (FiberTech, Tokyo, Japan) due to the presence of corneal opacity and the unavailability of a donor cornea. The retina was successfully attached with the aid of a silicon oil tamponade. Following removal of the silicon oil at 3 months after surgery, penetrating keratoplasty and intraocular lens implantation with ciliary sulcus suture fixation were performed. At 6 months after penetrating keratoplasty, the graft remained clear and visual acuity was 20/40. CONCLUSION: Primary endoscopic surgery for vitreoretinal complications in eyes with perforating injury performed prior to penetrating keratoplasty appears to be advantageous in terms of avoiding damage to the corneal endothelium.

Preparation of cationic immunovesicles containing cationic Peptide lipid for specific drug delivery to target cells.

The cationic vesicle composed of Span80 and cationic peptide lipid (CPL) was prepared. The cytotoxicity of the Span80-CPL cationic vesicle was very low compared with Span80 vesicle. Antibody was able to be immobilized on vesicle surface by mediation of protein A. The antigen targeting ability of the antibody-immobilized vesicle (immunovesicle) derived from antibody was evaluated. Our results suggested that the Span80-CPL immunovesicles specifically associate with target cells by the antibody mediation, and the substance capsulated in immunovesicle was transferred into the target cells. This means that the Span80-CPL immunovesicle is expected to achieve a high local concentration of an encapsulated drug at the target.

[Two cases of retinal detachment following laser in Situ keratomileusis repaired by scleral buckling surgery].

BACKGROUND: As laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) becomes the treatment of choice in the field of refractive surgery, postoperative rhegmatogenous retinal detachment has also begun to occur. However, since it has not been reported yet here in Japan, we report two cases of retinal detachment following LASIK with suggestions based on our experience. CASES: A 34-year-old male(Case 1) and a 26-year-old male(Case 2) suffered from retinal detachment one month and eight months after LASIK, respectively. Contributing retinal breaks were a horseshoe tear in Case 1 and atrophic holes in the lattice degeneration in Case 2. Each patient underwent partial scleral buckling with no intraoperative complication, resulting in successful retinal reattachment. Postoperatively, myopic changes developed and persisted one month in Case 1 and several months in Case 2. CONCLUSIONS: Great attention should be paid to the possibility of postoperative myopia after a repair of retinal detachment following LASIK. Thus, we stress the necessity of close cooperation between LASIK surgeons and vitreoretinal surgeons to settle the matter.