Visual function alterations in cavernous hemangioma of the orbital apex after surgery

Dear Editor,I am Dr.Kang Xue,from the Department of Ophthalmology at the Eye,Ear,Nose and Throat Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai,China.I am writing to present three case reports of the removal of visual function alterations in cavernous hemangioma of the orbital apex after surgery.Cavernous hemangioma is a relatively common primary benign orbital tumor in adults.

Alterations of Monoamine Metabolites and Neurobehavioral Function in Lead-Exposed Workers

Neurobehavioral and neurochemical effects of occupational lead exposure were invstigated by WHO Ncurobehavioral Core Test Battery (NCTB) testing and a serics of monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites analyzing in workers from lead smeltery and storage-battery manufacturing factory and matched controls. Indicators of lead exposure, the blood lead (PbB) and zinc protophorphyrin (ZPP) levels were found significantly higher in the expeed group compared with that of the controls (70.55μg/dL vs 3.6μg/dL; and 294.92 μg/dL vs 38.32μg/dL, respectively). Furthermore, elevated urinary homovanillic acid (HVA) and impairment of certain neurobehavioral performances were also found in the lead exposed wokers; the latter included attention/response speed, manual dexterity, perceptual-motor speed, visual perception/memory, and motor speed/steadiness. Positive or negative correlations were observed between certain parameters. Thus, homovanillic acid (HVA) is peitively correlated With PbB and ZPP; dopamine (DA) negatively correlated with Benton visual retention (BVR); and HVA negatively correlated with digit symbol (DSy), BVR, and pursuit aiming (PA). It is suggested that the alterations of dopamine and its metabolites HVA in urine associated with impairment of neurobehavioral function might be served as biomarkers of lead-induced neurotoxicity.

Common Fixed Point Results for Quasi-contractions Involving Altering Distance Functions in Ordered Cone Metric Spaces

Some common fixed point results for mappings satisfying a quasi-contractive condition which involves altering distance functions are obtained in partially ordered complete cone metric spaces. A sufficient condition for the uniqueness of common fixed point is proved. Also, an example is given to support our results.

Alterations in renal function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and effects of continuous positive airway pressure

Objective To assess renal function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) during two nights when they were untreated and treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Methods Tubular function was estimated on the basis of the renal lithium clearance and its derived formulae, urinary osmolality, osmolal clearance and free water clearance; while glomerular function was evaluated by endogenous creatinine clearance. Twenty patients with OSAS and sixteen normal controls were studied. Results The untreated patients with OSAS had significantly lower fractional proximal tubular sodium reabsorption (59.1%±7.1%,P<0.001 vs controls), lower fractional distal tubular sodium reabsorption (93.8%±1.7%, P<0.05 vs controls) and urinary osmolality (573.0±107.9 mosm·kg 1 , P<0.05 vs controls). The absolute distal tubular reabsorption rate of sodium and osmolal clearance in the untreated patients were higher 47.0±26.0 mmol·L 1 and 25.0±4.1 ml·L 1 ; P< 0.01 and P<0.05 respectively vs controls). During CPAP treated nights all abnormal renal function indexes in the OSAS patients restored to normal control values (P>0.05). Conclusions The natriuresis and diuresis of OSAS patients were due to the decrease in proximal and distal tubular sodium reabsorption and in tubular concentration ability during their nocturnal sleep and were returned to normal by CPAP therapy.

The dioxygenase GIM_2 functions in seed germination by altering gibberellin production in Arabidopsis

The phytohormones gibberellic acid （GA） and abscisic acid （ABA） antagonistically control seed germina- tion. High levels of GA favor seed germination, whereas high levels of ABA hinder this process. The direct relationship between GA biosynthesis and seed germina- tion ability need further investigation. Here, we identified the ABA-insensitive gain-of-function mutant germination insensitive to ABA mutant 2 （gim2） by screening a population of XVE T-DNA-tagged mutant lines. Based on two loss-of-function gim2-ko mutant lines, the disruption of GIM2 function caused a delay in seed germination. By contrast, upregulation of GIM2 accelerated seed germina- tion, as observed in transgenic lines overexpressing GIM2 （OE）. We detected a reduction in endogenous bioactive GA levels and an increase in endogenous ABA levels in the gim2-ko mutants compared to wild type. Conversely, the OE lines had increased endogenous bioactive GA levels and decreased endogenous ABA levels. The expression levels of a set of GA- and]or ABA-related genes were altered in both the gim2-ko mutants and the OE lines. We confirmed that GIM2 has dioxygenase activity using an in vitro enzyme assay, observing that GIM2 can oxidize GA^2. Hence, our characterization of GIM2 demonstrates that it plays a role in seed germination by affecting the GA metabolic pathway in Arabidopsis.

Macrophage senescence in health and diseases

Macrophage senescence,manifested by the special form of durable cell cycle arrest and chronic low-grade inflammation like senescence-associated secretory phenotype,has long been consid-ered harmful.Persistent senescence of macrophages may lead to maladaptation,immune dysfunction,and finally the development of age-related diseases,infections,autoimmune diseases,and malignancies.However,it is a ubiquitous,multi-factorial,and dynamic complex phenomenon that also plays roles in remodeled processes,including wound repair and embryogenesis.In this review,we summarize some general molecular changes and several specific biomarkers during macrophage senescence,which may bring new sight to recognize senescent macrophages in different conditions.Also,we take an in-depth look at the functional changes in senescent macrophages,including metabolism,autophagy,polarization,phagocytosis,antigen presentation,and infiltration or recruitment.Furthermore,some degenerations and diseases associated with senescent macrophages as well as the mechanisms or relevant genetic regulations of senescent macrophages are integrated,not only emphasizing the possibility of regulating macrophage senescence to benefit age-associated diseases but also has an implication on the finding of potential tar-gets ordrugs clinically.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with the COVID-19 and its potential nervous system infection mechanism:the role of imaging in the study

The epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)has broken the normal spread mode of respiratory viruses,namely,mainly spread in winter,resulting in over 230 million confirmed cases of COVID-19.Many studies have shown that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2)can affect the nervous system by varying degrees.In this review,we look at the acute neuropsychiatric impacts of COVID-19 patients,including acute ischemic stroke,encephalitis,acute necrotizing encephalopathy,dysosmia,and epilepsy,as well as the long-term neuropsychiatric sequelae of COVID-19 survivors:mental disorder and neurodegenerative diseases.In particular,this review discusses long-term changes in brain structure and function associated with COVID-19 infection.We believe that the traditional imaging sequences are important in the acute phase,while the nontraditional imaging sequences are more meaningful for the detection of long-term neuropsychiatric sequelae.These long-term follow-up changes in structure and function may also help us understand the causes of neuropsychiatric symptoms in COVID-19 survivors.Finally,we review previous studies and discuss some potential mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the nervous system.Continuous focus on neuropsychiatric sequelae and a comprehensive understanding of the long-term impacts of the virus to the nervous system is significant for formulating effective sequelae prevention andmanagement strategies,andmay provide important clues for nervous system damage in future public health crises.