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AIM: To figure out whether various atropine dosages may slow the progression of myopia in Chinese kids and teenagers and to determine the optimal atropine concentration for effectively slowing the progression of myopia. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, CNKI, CBM, VIP, and Wanfang database, encompassing literature on slowing progression of myopia with varying atropine concentrations from database inception to January 17, 2024. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed, and a network Meta-analysis was executed using Stata version 14.0 Software. Results were visually represented through graphs. RESULTS: Fourteen papers comprising 2475 cases were included; five different concentrations of atropine solution were used. The network Meta-analysis, along with the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA), showed that 1% atropine (100%)>0.05% atropine (74.9%) >0.025% atropine (51.6%)>0.02% atropine (47.9%)>0.01% atropine (25.6%)>control in refraction change and 1% atropine (98.7%)>0.05% atropine (70.4%)>0.02% atropine (61.4%)>0.025% atropine (42%)>0.01% atropine (27.4%)>control in axial length (AL) change. CONCLUSION: In Chinese children and teenagers, the five various concentrations of atropine can reduce the progression of myopia. Although the network Meta-analysis showed that 1% atropine is the best one for controlling refraction and AL change, there is a high incidence of adverse effects with the use of 1% atropine. Therefore, we suggest that 0.05% atropine is optimal for Chinese children to slow myopia progression.
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Background: With increasing gaps between the rich and poor, potential risk factors for class conflict have attracted increasing attention from researchers. Although cognitive factors are known to be significant predictors of class-conflict behavior, limited attention has been paid to competence stereotypes of the upper class. When considering economic inequality, people pay more attention to competence stereotypes of the upper class, which may have adverse effects. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between competence stereotypes held by the lower class about the upper class and class conflict, and to test the mediating role of intergroup envy in this relationship and the moderating role of upward social mobility belief. Methods: Data were collected from a convenience sample from a comprehensive university in China. Based on scores on subjective and objective class scales, 284 lower-class college students (103 males and 181 females) aged 18-24 were selected to participate (both their subjective and objective scores were lower than 3 points). Their endorsement of upper-class competence stereotypes, intergroup envy, upward social mobility beliefs, and class conflict were measured using a well-validated self-report questionnaire. Results: The main data were analyzed using correlation analysis, the SPSS macro PROCESS (Model 7), and simple slope analysis. The results show a significant positive correlation between competence stereotypes held by lower-class college students toward the higher class and class conflict, and this connection was mediated by intergroup envy. Moreover, the indirect effect of intergroup envy on this link was moderated by upward social mobility beliefs; this effect was stronger for college students with lower upward social mobility beliefs. Conclusion: This study broadens our understanding of how and when competence stereotypes among the lower class concerning the upper class are related to class conflict. Researchers and policymakers should pay special attention to competence stereotypes of the upper class, especially intergroup envy and class conflict among lower-class individuals with lower levels of upward social mobility beliefs.
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Glaucoma, a type of optic neuropathy, is characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells. It remains controversial whether c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) participates in the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma. This study sought to explore a possible mechanism of action of JNK signaling pathway in glaucoma-induced retinal optic nerve damage. We established a mouse model of chronic ocular hypertension by reducing the aqueous humor followed by photocoagulation using the laser ignition method. Results showed significant pathological changes in the ocular tissues after the injury. Apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells increased with increased intraocular pressure, as did JNK3 mRNA expression in the retina. These data indicated that the increased expression of JNK3 mRNA was strongly associated with the increase in intraocular pressure in the retina, and correlated positively with the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells.
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Abundant seed production is a key life history trait for plant to maintain the stability of the whole population in adverse environments such as heavy metal contaminated mine area. In the current studies, we hypothesize that mine (metallicolous) populations of metallophytes have formed specialized reproductive strategies to adapt themselves to the heavy metal contaminated habitats, and differ from normal (non-metallicolous) populations in reproductive allocation. To test this hypothesis, the differences in reproductive resources and reproductive allocation between the copper mine and non-copper mine populations of pseudo-metallophyte Kummerowia stipulacea were comparatively examined under controlled Cu exposure experiments. Compared to non-copper mine population, copper mine population shows an increased seed output and larger reproductive effort under Cu stress. The increase of reproductive allocation in metallicolous population depends on not only seed size but also seed number per plant. The plants of metallicolous population increase allocation to the reproductive organs at the expense of a curtailment of allocation to vegetative traits, resulting in plants with shorter height and fewer branch numbers. There is little evidence displaying effect of root nodule on the reproductive resources and allocation. In addition, plants in metallicolous population reduce the transfer of Cu from roots to aboveground parts. These data suggest that plants of metallicolous population tend to invest more resources to reproductive output and increase their reproductive allocation in the adaptive evolution to Cu-enriched mine soils.
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Copper/toxicity , Fabaceae/drug effects , Soil Pollutants/toxicity , Animals , Environment , Mining , Plant Roots/drug effects , Reproduction/drug effects , Seeds/drug effects , Soil/chemistryABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on patients with osteoarthritis, and to observe the effect of electroacupuncture on the level of IL-1beta and TNFalpha. METHODS: Forty-three subjects received electroacupuncture treatment at Liangqiu (ST 34), Xuehai (SP 10), Yinlingquan (SP 9), etc. The intensity of pain, the ability of the movement of legs, the level of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in patients were measured before and after treatment. RESULTS: According to VAS, the intensity of pain was (64.22 +/- 14.55) and (32.50 +/- 10.79) before and after treatment, respectively. The score of movement ability of affected legs was (7.38 +/- 2.01) and (9.05 +/- 1.89) before and after treatment, respectively. Thus, the intensity of pain and the ability of movement were significantly improved after treatment (P < 0.01). The level of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in patients were significantly decreased (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The short term therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on patients with osteoarthritis is better, it may result from that the electroacupuncture inhibit the activity of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha.