Objective: To report a mathematical function that characterizes the double-pass line spread function (LSF) of the human eye. Determining analytical functions that represent the double-pass LSF is important because it ...Objective: To report a mathematical function that characterizes the double-pass line spread function (LSF) of the human eye. Determining analytical functions that represent the double-pass LSF is important because it allows modeling the optical performance of the eye. Methods: Optical section retinal images, generated in normal human eyes using a modified slit-lamp biomicroscope, were analyzed to derive the double-pass LSF by plotting the intensity distribution of laser light reflected/ scattered from the vitreoretinal interface. Three mathematical functions (Lorentzian, Gaussian, exponential) were fitted to the double-pass LSF and the root mean square error (RMSE) was calculated to provide a measure of the goodness of fit. Results: The Lorentzian function provided the best representation of the double-pass LSF of normal human eyes. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the Lorentzian fitted curve was positively correlated with age, indicating that the double-pass LSF broadens with age. Furthermore, the goodness of fit of the Lorentzian function was significantly better in younger subjects as compared with older subjects, suggesting that the fitted function to the double-pass LSF may vary according to age. Conclusion: The results demonstrate an age-related change in the double-pass LSF width and the goodness of fit of the Lorentzian function.展开更多
After nearly three decades of being virtually drug free, use of heroin and other illicit drugs has re-emerged in China as a major public health problem. One result is that drug abuse, particularly heroin injection, ha...After nearly three decades of being virtually drug free, use of heroin and other illicit drugs has re-emerged in China as a major public health problem. One result is that drug abuse, particularly heroin injection, has come to play a predomi- nant role in fueling China’s AIDS epidemic. The first outbreak of HIV among China’s IDUs was reported in the border area of Yunnan province between China and Myanmar where drug trafficking is heavy. Since then drug-related HIV has spread to all 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. This paper provides an overview to HIV/AIDS transmission through injection drug use in China. It begins with a brief history of the illicit drug trade in China, followed by a discussion of the emergence of drug related AIDS, and a profile of drug users and their sexual partners who have contracted the virus or who are vulnerable to infection. It ends by summarizing three national strategies being used by China to address both drug use and AIDS as major health threats.展开更多
Infertility is a severe public health problem worldwide that prevails up to 15% in reproductive-age couples,and male infertility accounts for half of total infertility.Studies on genetically modified animal models hav...Infertility is a severe public health problem worldwide that prevails up to 15% in reproductive-age couples,and male infertility accounts for half of total infertility.Studies on genetically modified animal models have identifed lots of genes involved in the pathogenesis of male infertility.The underlying causes,however,remain largely unclear.In this study,we provide evidence that EMCIO,one subunit of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)membrane protein complex (EMC),is required for male fertility.EMC10 is significantly decreased in spermatozoa from patients with asthenozoospermia and positively associated with human sperm motility. Male mice lacking Emc10 gene are completely sterile.Emc10-null spermatozoa exhibit multiple defects including abnormal morphology,decreased motility,impaired capacitation,and impotency of acrosome reaction,thereby which are incapable of fertilizing intact or ZP-free oocytes.However,intracytoplasmic sperm injection could rescue this defect caused by EMC10 deletion. Mechanistically,EMC10 deficiency leads to inactivation of Na/K-ATPase,in turn giving rise to an increased level of intraceltutar Na^+ in spermatozoa,which contributes to decreased sperm motility and abnormal morphology.Other mechanistic investigations demonstrate that the absence of EMC10 results in a reduction of HCO3^- entry and subsequent decreases of both cAMP-dependent protein kinase A substrate phosphorylation and protein tyrosine phosphorytation.These data demonstrate that EMC10 is indispensable to mate fertility via maintaining sperm ion balance of Na^+ and HCO3^-,and also suggest that EMC10 is a promising biomarker for male fertility and a potential pharmaceutical target to treat male infertility.展开更多
基金supported by the National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD (Nos. EY14275 and EY1792)Department of Veteran Affairs, and the Research to Prevent Blindness, UIC Eye Center, New York, NY, USA
文摘Objective: To report a mathematical function that characterizes the double-pass line spread function (LSF) of the human eye. Determining analytical functions that represent the double-pass LSF is important because it allows modeling the optical performance of the eye. Methods: Optical section retinal images, generated in normal human eyes using a modified slit-lamp biomicroscope, were analyzed to derive the double-pass LSF by plotting the intensity distribution of laser light reflected/ scattered from the vitreoretinal interface. Three mathematical functions (Lorentzian, Gaussian, exponential) were fitted to the double-pass LSF and the root mean square error (RMSE) was calculated to provide a measure of the goodness of fit. Results: The Lorentzian function provided the best representation of the double-pass LSF of normal human eyes. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the Lorentzian fitted curve was positively correlated with age, indicating that the double-pass LSF broadens with age. Furthermore, the goodness of fit of the Lorentzian function was significantly better in younger subjects as compared with older subjects, suggesting that the fitted function to the double-pass LSF may vary according to age. Conclusion: The results demonstrate an age-related change in the double-pass LSF width and the goodness of fit of the Lorentzian function.
文摘After nearly three decades of being virtually drug free, use of heroin and other illicit drugs has re-emerged in China as a major public health problem. One result is that drug abuse, particularly heroin injection, has come to play a predomi- nant role in fueling China’s AIDS epidemic. The first outbreak of HIV among China’s IDUs was reported in the border area of Yunnan province between China and Myanmar where drug trafficking is heavy. Since then drug-related HIV has spread to all 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. This paper provides an overview to HIV/AIDS transmission through injection drug use in China. It begins with a brief history of the illicit drug trade in China, followed by a discussion of the emergence of drug related AIDS, and a profile of drug users and their sexual partners who have contracted the virus or who are vulnerable to infection. It ends by summarizing three national strategies being used by China to address both drug use and AIDS as major health threats.
基金the National Basic Research Program (2014CB943103 to Y.Z.,2015CB943003 to Q.D.)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31471104 and 31671203 to Y.Z.,81370753 to Q.D.,81070647 and 81370936 to X.W.)+1 种基金This work was also sponsored by grants from Shanghai Pujiang Program (16PJ1401700 to X.W.)Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (16140901200 to X.W.).
文摘Infertility is a severe public health problem worldwide that prevails up to 15% in reproductive-age couples,and male infertility accounts for half of total infertility.Studies on genetically modified animal models have identifed lots of genes involved in the pathogenesis of male infertility.The underlying causes,however,remain largely unclear.In this study,we provide evidence that EMCIO,one subunit of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)membrane protein complex (EMC),is required for male fertility.EMC10 is significantly decreased in spermatozoa from patients with asthenozoospermia and positively associated with human sperm motility. Male mice lacking Emc10 gene are completely sterile.Emc10-null spermatozoa exhibit multiple defects including abnormal morphology,decreased motility,impaired capacitation,and impotency of acrosome reaction,thereby which are incapable of fertilizing intact or ZP-free oocytes.However,intracytoplasmic sperm injection could rescue this defect caused by EMC10 deletion. Mechanistically,EMC10 deficiency leads to inactivation of Na/K-ATPase,in turn giving rise to an increased level of intraceltutar Na^+ in spermatozoa,which contributes to decreased sperm motility and abnormal morphology.Other mechanistic investigations demonstrate that the absence of EMC10 results in a reduction of HCO3^- entry and subsequent decreases of both cAMP-dependent protein kinase A substrate phosphorylation and protein tyrosine phosphorytation.These data demonstrate that EMC10 is indispensable to mate fertility via maintaining sperm ion balance of Na^+ and HCO3^-,and also suggest that EMC10 is a promising biomarker for male fertility and a potential pharmaceutical target to treat male infertility.
