Measurement of retinal thickness in macular region of high myopic eyes using spectral domain OCT

AIM: To investigate the changes of retinal thickness in macula of high myopic eyes using spectral domain optical coherence tomography(OCT). ·METHODS: Middle-aged and young myopic patients were divided into three groups according to their refractive error/axial length: low and medium myopia group(LMMG),high myopia group(HMG) and super high myopia group(SHMG). Cirrus HD-OCT was used to evaluate total average macular thickness,central subfield thickness,inner/outer macular thickness and macular volume. The differences among experimental groups were analyzed by one-factor analysis of variance. Associations between macular thickness and refractive error/axial length were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. ·RESULTS: There was no significant difference in age among the three groups(P =0.2789). The mean refraction error in the LMMG,HMG,and SHMG groups was-2.49 ± 1.38D,-8.53 ±1.95D and-13.88 ±1.76D,respectively(P < 0.001). The central subfield thickness of three groups was 244.56 ±12.19μm,254.33 ±11.61μm and 261.75 ± 11.83μm,respectively,and there were statistically significance between random two groups. The total average macular thickness,inner/outer macular thickness,and macular volume decreased with increased myopia/axial length. Average foveal thickness had negative correlations with refractive error(P <0.001),and positive correlations with axial length. The inferior and temporal inner macular thickness,all the quadrants of outer ring,total average macular thickness and macular volume featured positive correlations with refractive error,and negative correlations with axial length. Average foveal thickness,superior and temporal innermacular thicknesses,and temporal outer macular thickness was lower in females compared to males. ·CONCLUSION: With an increase in myopia degree/axial length,the average foveal thickness increased and the inner/outer macular thickness decreased. Females featured thicker average foveal thickness,and thinner macular thickness compared to males.

Role of autophagy in acute myeloid leukemia therapy

Despite its dual role in determining cell fate in a wide array of solid cancer cell lines, autophagy has been robustly shown to suppress or kill acute myeloid leukemia cells via degradation of the oncogenic fusion protein that drives leukemogenesis. However, autophagy also induces the demise of acute leukemia cells that do not express the known fusion protein, though the molecular mechanism remains elusive. Nevertheless, since it can induce cooperation with apoptosis and differentiation in response to autophagic signals, autophagy can be manipulated for a better therapy on acute myeloid leukemia.

Multifocal electroretinogram in non-pathological myopic subjects:correlation with optical coherence tomography

AIM: To investigate the changes of retinal function in non-pathological myopic subjects using multifocal electroretinography(mf ERG) and to correlate the data with the central macular thickness obtained using optical coherence tomography(OCT).·METHODS: One hundred and thirteen subjects(113eyes) with age range from 18 to 35 y were enrolled in the study. The subjects were divided into four groups according to spherical equivalent(SE) and axial length(AL): emmetropia group(EG, n =31; SE: +0.75 to-0.50 D;AL: 22 to 24 mm), low and medium myopia group(LMMG, n =26; SE: >-0.50 to-6.00 D; AL: >24 to 26 mm),high myopia group(HMG, n =34; SE: >-6.00 to-10.00 D;AL: >26 to 28 mm) and super high myopia group(SHMG,n =22; SE: >-10.00 D; AL: >28 mm). The P1 amplitude density, P1 amplitude, and P1 implicit time of the first-order kernel mf ERG responses were obtained and grouped into five rings. The central subfield macular thickness(CST) was obtained using macular cube 512×218scan of Cirrus HD-OCT.·RESULTS: With the increasing of eccentricity, the first positive peak(P1) amplitude density(P =0.0000, 0.0001,0.0021 in ring 1-3 respectively) and P1 amplitude(all P =0.0000 in ring 1-5) of each group decreased. With the increasing of myopia, P1 implicit time gradually extended(all P =0.0000 in ring 1-3). The average CST in four diagnostic groups was 241.56±12.72 μm, 244.56±12.19 μm,254.33 ±11.61 μm, 261.75 ±11.83 μm respectively. With the increasing of myopia, CST increased(P <0.001). There was negative relationship between CST and P1 amplitude, P1 amplitude density(r =-0.402, P <0.001; r =-0.261, P =0.003). There was positive relationship between CST and P1 implicit time(r =0.34, P <0.001).· CONCLUSION: With the increasing of myopia, P1 amplitude density and P1 amplitude of the first-order reaction gradually reduced. This showed potentialdecline in retinal function in myopia. To some extent it may reflect the functional disorder or depression of the visual cells. The exact mechanism needs further study.

Sinucrassins A-K, Casbane-type Diterpenoids from the South China Sea Soft Coral Sinularia crassa

A detailed chemical study on the Hainan soft coral Sinularia crass has resulted in the isolation and characterization of eleven cas-bane-type diterpenoids,named sinucrassins A-K(1-11),along with six known related ones(12-17).Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses and comparison with the reported data.The absolute configurations of new compounds were determi ned by the X-ray diffracti on analysis and computer-assisted structural elucidati on in eluding 13C NMR data calculati on and time-dependent density functional theory/electronic circular dichroism calculation.

Nitrogenous Sesquiterpenoids from the South China Sea Nudibranch Hexabranchus sanguineus and Its Possible Sponge-Prey Acanthella cavernosa: Chiral Separation, Stereochemistry and Chemical Ecology

A detailed chemical investigation of the South China Sea nudibranch Hexabranchus sanguineus,as well as its possible sponge-prey Acanthella cavernosa,led to the isolation of fifteen new nitrogenous sesquiterpenoids,namely ximaocavernosins A-0,including seven cadinanes(1-7),seven spiroaxanes(12-18)and one aromadendrane(19),together with thirteen known related compounds(8-11 and 20-28).

Clavirolide G,a new rare dolabellane-type diterpenoid from the Xisha soft coral Clavularia viridis

One new dolabellane-type diterpenoid.named clavirolide C(1),and one known related analogue(3).have been isolated from the soft coral Cavularia viridis collected off the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea.Its structure and absolute configuration were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis,electronic circular dichroism.and compared with literature model compounds.The cytotoxic activity of these two compounds was evaluated against a panel of human tumor cell lines.Compound 1 showed moderate cytotoxic activity against KB and HL-60 cells.

New Cembrane-Type Diterpenoids from the South China Sea Soft Coral Sinularia nanolobata

In the present study,nine new cembrane-type diterpenoids,namely ximaonanolobatins A—I(1—9),together with six related known analogs(10—15)and four known tetraprenylated alkaloids malonganenones D,E,H,and K(16—19)were isolated from the soft coral Sinularia nanolobata collected off the Ximao Island in the South China Sea.The structures of 1—9 were robustly established by a combination of detailed spectroscopic analyses,chemical reactions,quantum mechanical(QM)-NMR methods,biogenetic consideration,and the comparison with those literature data.The absolute configuration of 1 was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis,and the absolute configuration of 2 was determined by QM-NMR calculations and chemical transformation.In addition,the absolute configuration of 3 was determined using the modified Mosher's method.All these isolates were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities.The results showed that only compound 15 exhibited potential anti-inflammatory effect against LPS-induced TNF-αrelease in RAW264.7 macrophages with an IC50 value of 12.6μmol/L.