Pterygial body epithelium domination of pterygial proliferation with TCF4 as a potential key factor

AIM： To characterize the proliferative capacity of pterygial epithelium in different regions（head, neck and body） of pterygium and explore the function of transcription factor 4（TCF4） in pterygium proliferation.METHODS： Thirty pterygium tissues and 10 normal conjunctival tissues were obtained from Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center（ZOC） and Guangdong Eye Bank, respectively. Proliferative capacity of head, neck and body in pterygial epithelium was measured using clonal analysis, fold growth analysis and expression profile of proliferative markers revealed by immunofluorescent staining and real-time PCR. The expression of TCF4 was highlighted by double immunofluorescent staining with other proliferation related markers such as proliferating cell nuclear antigen（PCNA） and ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2（ABCG2）.RESULTS： The proliferative potential of pterygial epithelium was higher than that of normal conjunctival epithelium. High expression levels of proliferative markers（P63α, PCNA and ABCG2） in pterygial body epithelium were observed in immunofluorescent staining and real-time PCR（P〈0.05）. Also, epithelial cells isolated from pterygial body demonstrated higher proliferative capacity in clonal analysis and fold growth analysis, than those isolated from the head and neck regions. The TCF4 expression in pterygial epithelium was similar to other proliferative markers（P63α, PCNA and ABCG2）, as higher in pterygial body than head and neck. Moreover, TCF4 showed coexpression with other proliferation-related markers（PCNA and ABCG2） in the double immunofluorescent staining experiment.CONCLUSION： The proliferative capacity in pterygial body epithelium is prominent than the head and neck regions, and upregulated TCF4 may be associated with enhanced proliferation in the pterygium.

Analysis of retinal vasculature changes in indirect traumatic optic neuropathy using optic coherence tomography angiography

AIM:To assess the retinal vasculature alterations in indirect traumatic optic neuropathy(ITON)patients following craniofacial trauma by optic coherence tomography angiography(OCTA).METHODS:Patients diagnosed of monocular ITON were recruited from August 2016 to May 2020.OCTA was performed using the Angio Vue OCT-A system for two cube scans centered at the optic nerve head and fovea.OCTA data included thicknesses of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)and macular ganglion cell complex(GCC),as well as proportion of capillary perfusion and data were analyzed for correlation with post-injury timepoints:within 7,8-30,31-90,and 91-365d.RESULTS:A total of 73 ITON patients were studied.Significant thinning of RNFL and GCC layers and attenuation of microvascular perfusion were observed in ITON eyes as compared to contralateral unaffected eyes(for most of the analyzed sectors and quadrants,P<0.05).Without respect to surgical intervention and vision recovery,the decrease in retinal layer thicknesses and microvascular perfusion was time-dependent,and most significant within three months(P<0.001).CONCLUSION:ITON presents with time-dependent thinning of retinal layers and attenuation of microvasculature,indicating possible degeneration of retinal ganglion cells due to reduced retinal blood supply.

Study on Brewing Characteristics of High α-acid and High β-acid Hops

[Objectives] Columbus and Tsingtao Flower were selected to brew Ale beer, thereby studying the brewing characteristics of high α-acid and high β-acid content hops. [Methods] The content of diacetyl and bitterness in beer were determined by a spectrophotometer at 335 and 275 nm, respectively. With pH=8.2 as the end point of potentiometric titration, the total acid content in beer was calculated by acid-base titration method, and sensory evaluation for beer was conducted. [Results] The results show that α-acid is an important factor affecting the production and reduction rate of diacetyl in beer. The production and reduction rate of diacetyl in high α-acid hops were lower than those in high β-acid hops; iso-α-acid was the main source of bitterness in beer, and high α-acid hops had more significant bitter value than high β-acid hops; and malt acid compounds and fermentation production were the main source of total acid in beer, and high α-acid and high β-acid hops had a little effect on total acid in beer. In sensory evaluation, high α-acid hops were more effective than high β-acid hops in terms of zest of the mouthfeel, foaming retention and alcohol fragrance, while in clarity, high α-acid hops were lower than high β-acid hops. [Conclusions] Therefore, we can draw a conclusion that the brewing characteristics of high α-acid hops are better than those of high β-acid hops.

Characterization of particle size distribution of mainstream cigarette smoke generated by smoking machine with an electrical low pressure impactor

Cigarette smoking is a particle-related exposure. Studying the characteristics of the particle size distribution of cigarette smoke can aid in providing knowledge of smoke aerosol attributes. We used an electrical low pressure impactor （ELPI） to measure the particle size distribution of mainstream cigarette smoke generated by a smoking machine and provided a continuum of particle sizes of cigarette smoke from a whole cigarette. The results showed that the aerodynamic diameters （D, geometric mean of a channel） of particles ranged from 0.021 to 1.956 ~m, and the number concentrations were on the order of 105-109 cm-3 for different sizes of particles. The particle number of the size category below 0.1 p,m approximated that of the category 0.1-2.0 Ixm, and the particles in the size category of 0.1-2.0 μm contributed extremely heavily to total particulate mass. In addition, the results with small samples indicated that the tar yields normalized per milligram of nicotine showed an approximately linear increase with increasing concentration of total particles.

Comparative study on brain pharmacokinetics of Buyang Huanwu Decoction in normal and cerebral ischemia rats using brain microdialysis combined with LC-MS/MS

Objective To conduct a comparative study on the brain pharmacokinetics of seven ingredients(i.e.senkyunolide A,ferulic acid,formononetin,calycosin,ononin,calycosin-O-β-D-glucopyranoside,and paeoniflorin),which were the compounds of Buyang Huanwu Decoction(BHD),in normal and cerebral ischemia rats administrated intragastrically with BHD.Methods The samples of normal and permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion(pMCAO)rats were collected by using brain microdialysis technique.The concentrations of seven ingredients were determined by the HPLC-MS/MS method.After the BHD were administrated intragastrically to the rats for seven consecutive days,brain microdialysis probes were inserted into the hippocampus of rats,and then the brain microdialysates were collected at 20 min time intervals for 5 h.The separation of the seven ingredients and internal standard(IS)was carried out on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18(2.1 mm×100 mm,1.7μm)chromatographic column,using a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile(containing 0.1%formic acid)and water(containing 0.1%formic acid)for gradient elution within 13 min.The ionization was conducted using an ESI source in positive ion mode.Multiple reaction monitoring mode was used for quantification of ingredients in BHD.Results Linearity,accuracy,precision,matrix effect and stability of LC-MS/MS method were all satisfactory,successfully applied to compare the pharmacokinetics of the analytes between normal and model rats after intragastric administration of BHD.Compared with the normal group,the model group after the administration of the BHD showed that T1/2 of formononetin and ononin were longer,and except for calycosin-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(P<0.01),there was no significant difference between the normal group and the model group.The C_(max) of senkyunolide A and calycosin of model group were increased,while the T_(max) of senkyunolide A was decreased,and except for the T_(max) of PF,the differences between the two groups were statistically significant(P<0.01).Conclusion The LC-MS/MS method combined with microdialysis was successfully applied to the comparative study of brain pharmacokinetics of seven ingredients in BHD.After intragastric administration of BHD,there were differences in the pharmacokinetics of seven ingredients in the brain hippocampus between normal rats and model rats,probably related to the characteristics of the ingredients and the effects of cerebral ischemia on the absorption and distribution of the ingredients.