Trends in blind and low vision registrations in Taipei City.

PURPOSE: To determine the overall reported incidence and causes of registrable blindness and low vision in Taipei, Taiwan, that have occurred in the previous 10 years. METHODS: Study data were obtained from disability identification registration forms completed between January 1995 and December 2004. Definitions of low vision and blindness were defined by WHO criteria: low vision included visual acuity worse than 6/18 (20/60) to a lower limit of 3/60 (20/400). Blindness was defined as visual acuity worse than 3/60 (20/400) in the better eye with best possible correction. RESULTS: There were 3151 registrations for visual impairment during the study period. A total of 239 registrations were excluded due to insufficient data. Of the remaining 2912 (1518 males and 1394 females), 640 males and 647 females were legally blind (44.20%). A total of 878 males and 747 females were partially sighted. The six leading causes of low vision and blindness, in decreasing frequency, were glaucoma, optic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, and myopic macular degeneration. CONCLUSIONS: The proportions of new registrations owing to glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and myopic macular degeneration have changed significantly since 2000; the proportion due to diabetic retinopathy has increased.

Additional cytotoxic neolignans from Persea obovatifolia.

Four additional neolignans, comprising obovatifol [(2S,3S)-2,3-dihydro-2- (3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-3-methyl-5-trans-propenyl benzofuran], obovaten [2-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-3- methyl-5-trans-propenyl benzofuran], perseal C [(2S,3R)-2,3-dihydro-2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-5- formyl-3-hydroxymethyl-7-methoxy benzofuran] and perseal D [2-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-5-formyl-7- methoxy-3-methyl benzofuran] were isolated in a continuing study of the leaves of Persea obovatifolia. Obovatifol had been reported previously in a mass spectrometric analysis without any other spectroscopic data. Obovaten and perseals C and D are new compounds, bearing a C-1' formyl side-chain, instead of a propenyl group. Their structures were elucidated from spectroscopic data; they showed significant cytotoxic activities against P-388, KB16, A549 and HT-29 cancer cell lines in vitro.

Anti-platelet aggregation constituents from Formosan Toddalia asiatica.

Examination on the wood of Formosan Toddalia asiatica led to the isolation of 30 compounds, including coumarins, alkaloids, a benzoquinone and an amine. Among the isolates, (+/-)-toddanin and (-)-isocoreximine are new compounds, while cyclohexylamine was isolated for the first time from nature. The structures of the compounds were elucidated from spectroscopic data and chemical evidence. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of seven compounds showing strong anti-platelet aggregation activity in vitro.

Anti-platelet aggregation constituents from Gynura elliptica.

A p-hydroxyacetophenone-like derivative, (+)-gynunone, and a chromane, together with six known compounds were isolated from the CHCl3 fraction of the roots of Gynura elliptica. Their structures were determined by means of spectral analyses. Among the isolates, 6-acetyl-2,2-dimethylchroman-4-one and vanillin showed anti-platelet aggregation activity induced by arachidonic acid in vitro.

Cytotoxic lignans from Formosan Hernandia nymphaeifolia.

A new dibenzylbutyrolactone lignan, (--)-6-hydroxyyatein, along with two new furanoid lignans, (--)-hernone [(2R,3S,4R)-(--)-3-hydroxymethyl -4-(3",4",5"-trimethoxybenzoyl)-2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) tetrahydrofuran] and (--)-nymphone [(2R,3S,4R)-(--)-3-hydroxymethyl-4-(3",4",5"-trimethoxybenzoyl)-2- (3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran], have been isolated and characterized from the trunk bark of Formosan Hernandia nymphaeifolia. The structures of these compounds were determined by means of spectral analyses. These three lignans exhibited cytotoxic activities against P-388, KB16, A549 and HT-29 cell lines.

Coumarins and antiplatelet aggregation constituents from Formosan Peucedanum japonicum.

Four new khellactone esters, (-)-trans-3'-acetyl-4'-senecioylkhellactone, (+-)-cis-3'-acetyl-4'-tigloylkhellactone, (+-)-cis-4-tigloylkhellactone, (+)-trans-4'-tigloylkhellactone, together with 14 known coumarins, isoimperatorin, psoralen, bergapten, xanthotoxol, cnidilin, (-)-selinidin, (-)-deltoin, (+)-pteryxin, (+)-peucedanocoumarin III, xanthotoxin, imperatorin, (+)-marmesin, (+)-oxypeucedanin hydrate, (+)-peucedanol and three chromones, eugenin, (-)-hamaudol, (+)-visamminol, have been isolated from the root of Formosan Peucedanum japonicum. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectral data. The identities of (+)-trans-3'-tigloyl-4'-acetylkhellactone, formerly reported as a new compound, and (+)-cis-3'-angeloyl-4'-acetyl-khellactone, with the known (+)-peucedanocoumarin III and (+)-pteryxin, respectively, are discussed. Among the isolates, seven compounds, eugenin, (-)-selinidin, (+)-pteryxin, imperatorin, bergapten, cnidilin and (+)-visamminol, show strong antiplatelet aggregation activity in vitro.

Coumarins and anti-platelet aggregation constituents from Zanthoxylum schinifolium.

Six new coumarins, schinicoumarin, acetoxyaurapten, epoxycollinin, schininallylol, schinilenol and schinindiol, along with seven known coumarins, aurapten, collinin, epoxyaurapten, hydrangetin, umbelliferone, acetoxycollinin and aesculetin dimethyl ether, three known alkaloids, norchelerythrine, dictamnine and skimmianine, and two triterpenoids, beta-amyrin and friedelin, were isolated and characterized from the chloroform-soluble part of the bark of Zanthoxylum schinifolium. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectral analyses. Separation accompanied by bioassay-guided fractionation resulted in the isolation of seven compounds with strong inhibitory activity on platelet aggregation in vitro. These are schinicoumarin, acetoxyaurapten, schininallylol, aurapten, collinin, (-)-acetoxycollinin and dictamnine.

The cornea in young myopic adults.

AIMS: To further understand the effect of refractive error on the corneal dimensions and function. METHODS: Corneal curvature, corneal thickness, and axial length measurements were performed, as well as specular microscopy and fluorophotometry, on patients with various refractive statuses. 216 subjects, mean age 22.2 (SD 4.2) years, were examined. Patients with previous contact lens wear history, external eye diseases, as well as previous ocular surgeries, were excluded. RESULTS: The corneas were flatter in eyes with longer axial length (r = -0.22, p = 0.003). Eyes with more myopic spherical equivalent had longer axial length (r = -0.90, p <0.001) as well as less corneal endothelial density (r = 0.20, p = 0.037). Corneal endothelial density decreased in eyes with longer axial length (r = 0.24, p = 0.019); however, it correlated neither with corneal thickness (r = -0.06, p = 0.59) nor with corneal curvature (r = -0.07, p = 0.52). The corneas had a mean corneal thickness of 533 (SD 29) microm and were thinner in more myopic eyes (r = 0.16, p = 0.021). The corneas tended to be thinner in eyes with longer axial length. However, the correlation did not reach statistical significance (r = -0.11, p = 0.14). Besides, there was no significant correlation between the corneal thickness and the corneal curvature (r = -0.13, p = 0.093) and the endothelial permeability (r = 0.042, p = 0.69). The corneas with higher endothelial density had larger corneal transfer coefficient (r = 0.26, p = 0.024) and higher permeability to fluorescein molecules (r = 0.28, p = 0.014). Nevertheless, the corneal endothelial permeability did not correlate significantly with either the axial length (r = -0.18, p = 0.11) or the degree of myopia (r = 0.12, p = 0.26). CONCLUSION: Changes in the anterior segments as the eyeball elongates in myopia progression included flatter corneal curvature, decreased corneal thickness, as well as decreased endothelial density. These factors should be considered in refractive surgery.

Dual origin of defect magnetism in graphene and its reversible switching by molecular doping.

Control of magnetism by applied voltage is desirable for spintronics applications. Finding a suitable material remains an elusive goal, with only a few candidates found so far. Graphene is one of them and attracts interest because of its weak spin-orbit interaction, the ability to control electronic properties by the electric field effect and the possibility to introduce paramagnetic centres such as vacancies and adatoms. Here we show that the magnetism of adatoms in graphene is itinerant and can be controlled by doping, so that magnetic moments are switched on and off. The much-discussed vacancy magnetism is found to have a dual origin, with two approximately equal contributions; one from itinerant magnetism and the other from dangling bonds. Our work suggests that graphene's spin transport can be controlled by the field effect, similar to its electronic and optical properties, and that spin diffusion can be significantly enhanced above a certain carrier density.

Chemical and bioactive constituents from Zanthoxylum simulans.

Two new benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids, 6-methyldihydrochelerythrine [1] and 6-methylnorchelerythrine [2], together with 23 known compounds, were isolated from the root bark of Zanthoxylum simulans. Structures were elucidated by spectral analysis. Among them, the pyranoquinoline alkaloids, zanthosimuline [3], and huajiaosimuline [4], exhibited cytotoxic activity. In addition, compound 4 showed significant antiplatelet aggregation activity and induced terminal differentiation with cultured HL-60 cells.

Screening of isoquinoline alkaloids and their derivatives for antibacterial and antifungal activities.

A screening test of antimicrobial activities for some of the isoquinoline alkaloids and their first and second Hofmann elimination products was conducted in this study. Results showed that (+)-actinodaphnine (1), (+)-N-Me-actinodaphnine (2), (+)-anonaine (17), (-)-xylopine (19) and (-)-N-Me-xylopine MeI (20), had the strongest inhibitory activities against three G(+) bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus sp. and Staphylococcus aureus) MIC greater than or equal to 50 micrograms/ml). Whereas anhydroushinsunine (34), anhydroushinsunine MeI (35), ushinsunine isomethine (38), dicentrine methine (23), roemerine methine (26), dicentrine bismethine (29) and O-Me-armepavine methine (48) also had antibacterial effects against these same three G(+) bacteria (MIC = 50-300 micrograms/ml). However, only (+)-actinodaphnine (1) and roemerine methine (26) showed weak effects against two G(-) bacteria (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia) (MIC = 300 micrograms/ml). (+)-Actinodaphnine(1), (+)-N-Me-actinodaphnine (2), (+)-anonaine (17), anhydroushinsunine (34), anhydroushinsunine MeI (35), ushinsunine isomethine (38), O-Me-armepavine methine (48) and O,O-di-Et-N-Me-coclaurine methine (49) had potent antifungal activities against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and other Candida species (MIC = 62.5-1000 micrograms/ml).

New dimeric aporphine alkaloids and cytotoxic constituents of Hernandia nymphaeifolia.

Three minor new dimeric aporphine alkaloids, oviisocorydine (1), ovihernangerine (2), and oxohernandaline (3), along with four known alkaloids, (+)-hernandaline, (+)-thallcarpine, (+)-N-methylovigerine, and N-methylcorydaldine, and five known lignans, (+)-epimagnolin, (+)-epiaschantin, (+)-epiyangambin, (-)-deoxypodophyllotoxin, and (-)-yatein, have been additionally isolated from the trunk bark of Hernandia nymphaeifolia. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Among forty-four isolates obtained till now, nine compounds, hernandonine (4), hernanymphine (5), demethylsonodione (6), (+)-ovigerine (7), (+)-N-methylovigerine (8), N-formyldehydroovigerine (9), 4-methoxyoxohernandaline (10), (-)-deoxypodophyllotoxin (11), and (-)-yatein (12) showed significant cytotoxic activities (ED50 values < 1 microgram/ml) against P-388, KB16, A549, and HT-29 cell lines.

Cytotoxic neolignans from the stem wood of Machilus obovatifolia.

Four new cytotoxic neolignans, machilusol A (1), machilusol C (3), machilusol D (4), machilusol E (5) as well as two new inactive neolignans, machilusol B (2) and machilusol F (6), were isolated from the stem wood of Machilus obovatifolia. All structures were identified by means of spectroscopic analysis.

Cytotoxic neolignans and butanolides from Machilus obovatifolia.

From the chloroform-soluble portion of the stem wood of Machilus obovatifolia, one new neolignan, perseal F (1), four known neolignans, perseal G (2), licarin A, licarin B, acuminatin, two butanolides, linderanolide E and isolinderanolide E, two steroids, beta-sitosterol, beta-sitosterol-beta-D-glucoside, and syringaldehyde were isolated. Perseal F (1) and G (2) are neolignans that have a C-1' formyl side chain instead of a propenyl group. Compound 2 was isolated in a mixture with acuminatin. The structure of 2 was identified by comparison with the product formed by the Lemieux-von Rudloff oxidation of licarin B. Two minor oxidative by-products, 2a and 2b, were also obtained. Linderanolide E showed cytotoxicities against P-388, KB16, A549 and HT-29, 1 against P-388, KB16 and HT-29, and isolinderanolide E against P-388, cancer cell lines, respectively. All structures were identified by means of spectroscopic analyses.

New cytotoxic butanolides from Litsea acutivena.

Six new compounds, including one nor-neolignan, dehydroxymethylailanthoidol (1), and five butanolides, litseakolide D (2), litseakolide E (3), litseakolide F (4), litseakolide G (5), and isolincomolide D (6), were isolated from the leaves of Litsea acutivena. Their structures were elucidated from spectral analyses. The butanolides (2-6) showed significant cytotoxic activity against P-388, A549, and HT-29 cell lines in vitro.

Cytotoxic butanolides from the stem bark of Formosan Lindera communis.

Two new butanolides, lincomolide A (1), lincomolide B (2), along with seven known compounds, isolinderanolide E, sepesteonol, beta-sitosterol, beta-sitosterol-beta-glucoside, tetradecane, nonanoic acid and decanol, were isolated from the chloroform-soluble portion of the stem bark of Lindera communis. Compound 1 showed cytotoxicity against P-388, KB16 and A549, and 2 exhibited cytotoxicity against P-388 cancer cell lines. Moreover, 1 showed marginal activity against HT-29, and 2 against KB16, A549 and HT-29 cancer cell lines. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectral analyses.

New aporphine alkaloids and cytotoxic constituents of Hernandia nymphaeifolia.

Two new aporphine alkaloids, (+)-N-hydroxyhernangerine (1) and N-formyldehydroovigerine (2) as minor bases, along with four known aporphines, (+)-magnoflorine, (+)-hernovine, (+)-N-methylhernovine, and (+)-laurotetanine, two known isoquinolones, thalifoline and northalifoline, and one benzylisoquinoline, (+)-reticuline, have been additionally isolated from the trunk bark of Hernandia nymphaeifolia. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic evidence. Six of the isolated compounds show significant cytotoxic activities (ED50 values < 1 microgram/ml) against P-388, KB16, A549, or HT-29 cell lines.

New p-quinonoid aporphine alkaloids and antiplatelet aggregation constituents of Hernandia sonora.

Three minor new p-quinonoid aporphine alkaloids, sonodione (1), demethylsonodione (2), and norsonodione (3), have been additionally isolated from the stem bark of Hernandia sonora. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectral analysis. Among the isolates obtained till now, five compounds, ovigerine (4), hernangerine (5), N-methylhernangerine (6), (+)-malekulatine (7), and isovanillin (8) showed moderate antiplatelet aggregation activity in vitro.

Indolopyridoquinazoline alkaloids with antiplatelet aggregation activity from Zanthoxylum integrifoliolum.

Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of three indolopyridoquinazoline alkaloids, 1-hydroxyrutaecarpine, rutaecarpine, and 1-methoxyrutaecarpine as the active principles of antiplatelet aggregation in vitro, from the chloroform-soluble part of the fruit of Zanthoxylum integrifoliolum (Rutaceae). 1-Hydroxyrutaecarpine exhibited antiplatelet activity induced by AA and showed an IC50 value of ca. 1-2 micrograms/ml.

Quinoline alkaloids and other constituents of Melicope semecarpifolia with antiplatelet aggregation activity.

Three new quinoline alkaloids, 2-acetylevolitrine (1), 2-acetylpteleine (2), and semecarpifoline (3), along with 26 known compounds were isolated from the root bark of Melicope semecarpifolia. The structures of 1-3 were elucidated by means of spectral analysis. In addition, (2S)-(--)-7,8-dimethoxyplatydesmine (4), cis-(+)-7,8-dimethoxymyrtopsine (5), and (3R)-(--)-8,9-dimethoxygeibalansine (6) were isolated as new natural products. Several of these isolates were determined as exhibiting significant antiplatelet aggregation activities in vitro.