Multimodal imaging features of butterfly-like pattern retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM: To explore the multimodal imaging features of butterfly-like retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy(BPD)patients.<p>METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the multimodal imaging of 18 BPD patients(36 eyes)from January 2016 to July 2019, including fundus color photography, infrared photography, autofluorescence, fundus fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, optical coherence tomography(OCT), and optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA). <p>RESULTS: A typical fundus color photography showed the appearance of a butterfly-like lesion caused by abnormal pigmentation. The appearance of the butterfly was not obvious after the lesion progressed, and the corresponding region shrinks; Infrared photography showed the yellow lesions clearly in the BPD patients, which are white highlight images; Autofluorescence showed patchy, spotted butterfly wing performance. When the lesion progressed, autofluorescence did not show typical butterfly changes, but it showed the damage of pigment epithelial cells; Fundus fluorescein angiography and choroidal angiography, in addition to showed butterfly lesions, can more accurately display vascular lesions, especially choroidal neovascularization(CNV); OCT showed lesions located between the retinal pigment epithelial(RPE)layer and the photoreceptors. As the lesion progressed, the pigment epithelium showed enlarged lesions correspondingly. Secondary CNV patients can be seen to break RPE; OCTA showed that the lesions were not obvious at the deep and superficial layers of the retina. But the choroidal blood flow signals were lost in some degrees in OCTA, and the blood flow images of CNV can be detected sensitively.<p>CONCLUTION: Multimode imaging technology can provide imaging features of progression in BPD patients, which helps clinicians to understand the disease more deeply.

Clinical and electroretinographic profile of 27 patients with Stargardt disease treated at a hospital in Brazil / Perfil clínico e eletrorretinográfico de 27 pacientes com doença de Stargardt atendidos em um hospital do Brasil

ABSTRACT Purpose: Stargardt disease is the most common type of juvenile-onset macular dystrophy. It is bilateral and symmetrical in appearance, affects the macula, and its main characteristic is the loss of central vision that starts in the first or second decade of life. The purpose of this study was to describe the profile of the patients evaluated at the Complexo Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná, as well as describe the electroretinographic findings with the full-field electroretinogram in these patients. Methods: An observational, retrospective study was performed by analysis of records and electroretinographic examinations of 27 patients with Stargardt disease and fundus flavimaculatus who were treated at the Complexo Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná's Department of Ocular Electrophysiology and Neuro-Ophthalmology between 1997 and 2014. The patients included in this study presented clinical features, fundus examination and/or electroretinographic findings compatible with Stargardt disease. Results: The visual acuity in the best eye varied from 0 to 1.6 logMAR (20/20 to 20/800) with an average of 0.89 ± 0.42 logMAR. The age at onset of symptoms varied from since birth to 36 years old (average 19.2 ± 9.2) with the majority of patients having symptom onset in the first or second decade of life. The mean time from the disease's first symptoms until the diagnosis was 7.3 years. In the fundus examination, every patient presented some kind of abnormality. In the electroretinogram analysis, the majority of patients had results that differed from those of sample controls, i.e., reduced amplitude and increased implicit time in the photopic and scotopic phases. Conclusions: The visual acuity and the age at symptoms onset in this study were compatible with the natural history of this dystrophy. The typical fundus appearance of Stargardt disease and altered electroretinogram were more frequent because of the delay until diagnosis. New prospective studies are necessary to evaluate these patients based on emergent technologies.

RESUMO Objetivo: A doença de Stargardt é a forma mais comum de distrofia macular de início juvenil. É bilateral e simétrica em aparência, afeta a mácula e sua característica principal é a diminuição da visão central que geralmente inicia-se na primeira ou segunda década de vida. O objetivo do estudo é descrever o perfil clínico dos pacientes avaliados no Complexo Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná, bem como descrever os achados eletrorretinográficos destes pacientes com o eletrorretinograma de campo total. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo observacional retrospectivo, baseado na análise de prontuários e eletrorretinograma de 27 pacientes com Doença de Stargardt e Fundus Flavimaculatus, atendidos em consulta oftalmológica no ambulatório de Eletrofisiologia Ocular e Neuro-Oftalmologia do Complexo Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná, entre 1997 e 2014. Os pacientes incluídos no estudo apresentavam quadro clínico, fundoscopia e/ou achados eletrorretinográficos compatíveis com a doença. Resultados: A acuidade visual no melhor olho variou de 0 a 1,6 logMAR (20/20 a 20/800), com média de 0,89 ± 0,42 logMAR. A idade de aparecimento dos sintomas variou desde o nascimento a 36 anos (19,2 ± 9,2), sendo a maioria nas 1ª e 2ª década de vida. Em relação ao tempo entre o início dos sintomas e o diagnóstico, a média foi de 7,3 anos. Na fundoscopia, todos os pacientes apresentaram alguma alteração. Na análise do eletrorretinograma, a maioria dos pacientes demonstrou resultados que diferem da amostra de pacientes controles, ou seja, amplitudes reduzidas e tempos de culminação aumentados nas fases fotópicas e escotópicas. Conclusões: A acuidade visual e idade de início de aparecimento dos sintomas encontrados neste estudo são compatíveis com a evolução desta distrofia. Achados fundoscópicos típicos da doença de Stargardt e eletrorretinograma alterados foram mais frequentes em decorrência do atraso no diagnóstico. Novos estudos prospectivos são necessários para avaliar estes pacientes, fundamentando-se em novas tecnologias.

Position of Experts Regarding Follow-Up of Patients with Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis-2 Disease in Latin America

Abstract Given the lack of standardized guidance for follow-up of patients with neuronal ceroid lipofucsinosis-2 disease in Latin-American countries and the heterogeneity of the region, an expert panel was created with the participation of 11 pediatric neurologists from Colombia, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. The aim of the expert panel was to describe a framework for standardized follow-up in patients with neuronal ceroid lipofucsinosis-2 disease, on or off therapy, that could benefit patients and treating physicians alike. Experts made recommendations in the following areas: seizures, abnormal movements and ataxia, sleep disorders and pain, cognitive function, visual function, hearing and speech, cardiac function, quality of life, and motor function. Recommendations include the most appropriate tools for use in the Latin-American context and health care systems, and provide feasible follow-up guidance, applicable in public and private healthcare facilities. They take into consideration the availability of clinical assessment resources, tools (scales, questionnaires, paraclinical tests) and access to these tools in Latin-American countries, as well as other regional and local needs defined by the participating experts.

Lipofuscin and age-related macular degeneration / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#Age-related macular degeneration(ARMD)is a major cause resulting in visual loss of middle-aged and older people. The exact cause of this disease is unknown yet, and the curative effect is poor. The lipofuscin accumulation in retinal pigment epithelium with age is the marker of eye aging, which produces effect on the function of normal retinal pigment epithelial cells through photochemical action and others. It is associated with the occurrence and development of ARMD to some extent. Lipofuscin and its relation with ARMD are comprehensively introduced in this paper.

Research advances in therapy of dry age-related macular degeneration / 眼科新进展

Age-related macular degeneration(AMD) is the major cause of irreversible damage to vision in over 60 years old.Its incidence is increasing with age.Dry AMD is one of the most common types,causing the loss of vision is very slow.At the late stage,the geographic atrophy will be found,in which central vision is severely lost.It is widely believed that chronic inflammantion injury,oxidative stress injury,lipofuscin,drusen and choroid ischemia are the major pathogenesis.Now,the treatment is major aiming to the pathogenesis.But some new therapies such as crocetin,curcumin,ciliary neurotrophic factor,nanoceria,human monoclonal antibody,photoreceptor and stem cell transplantation have some efficiency to dry AMD.This article reviews the research advances in therapy of dry AMD.

Fundus autofluorescence applications in retinal imaging.

Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) is a relatively new imaging technique that can be used to study retinal diseases. It provides information on retinal metabolism and health. Several different pathologies can be detected. Peculiar AF alterations can help the clinician to monitor disease progression and to better understand its pathogenesis. In the present article, we review FAF principles and clinical applications.

Diagnosis value of shortwave autofluorescence for cystoid macular edema / 中华实验眼科杂志

Background Cystoid macular edema (CME) is a manifestation secondary to multiple fundus diseases and often leads to the decline of visual acuity.Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a common diagnostic method for CME,but it can not reflect the metabolism information of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).Shortwave autofluorescence (SW-AF)may find the abnormality of macula,but its clinical value remains to be confirmed.Objective This study was to investigate the value of SW-AF in the diagnosis of CME.Methods One hundred and eighty-nine eyes of 140 patients who have the relative diseases to CME or received intraocular surgery were included from May 2010 to August 2011 in Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo city.SW-AF,infrared autofluorescence (IRAF),fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and OCT were performed in all the eyes under the informed consent of each patient.The sensitivity,specificity and other indicators in diagnostic test of SW-AF for CME were evaluated and compared with OCT.Results SW-AF had certain accuracy in diagnosis of CME with the sensitivity 78.29％,specificity 96.67％,Youden index 0.75,positive predictive value 98.06％,negative predictive value 67.44％.The area under curve (AUC) of SW-AF for the diagnosis of CME was 0.875 with the 95％ confidence interval (CI) 0.823-0.926 (P＜0.001).Compared with OCT,the differences of SW-AF and IR-AF in the diagnosis for CME was statistically significant(x2 =22.53,91.35,both at P＜0.001),and agreement coefficients of diagnosis result between SW-AF、IR-AF or FFA and OCT were 0.67,0.12 and 0.85.Conclusions SW-AF can be used as a new rapid,non-invasive,ancillary technique in diagnosis of CME with certain accuracy,and the diagnostic agreement of SW-AF with OCT is lower than FFA but is higher than IR-AF.

Effects of biodegradable detergents in the accumulation of lipofuscin (age pigment) in gill and liver of two neotropical fish species / Efectos de detergentes biodegradables en la acumulación de lipofuscina (pigmento de envejecimiento) en branquias e hígado de dos espécies de peces neotropicales

Currently there is a growing concern, in both population and governments, to identify the effects of substances commonly disposed of into rivers and lakes, on aquatic fauna and flora. Thus the objective of the present study was to verify effects of biodegradable detergents and water from an urban lake on gills and liver of two neotropical fish species of great economic importance, Astyanax altiparanae and Prochilodus lineatus. In order to do so, lipofuscin, also called the ageing pigment, was used as bioindicator. After one and five months of experiment both tissues accumulated this pigment. These data are discussed from physiological points of view, related with lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial damage.

Existe una preocupación creciente de la población y los gobiernos para identificar los efectos de substancias comúnmente arrojadas en ríos y lagos, sobre la fauna y flora acuática. El objetivo fue verificar los efectos de detergentes biodegradables y agua de un lago urbano sobre las branquias e hígado de dos especies de peces neo-tropicales de gran importancia económica, Astyanax altiparanae y Prochilodus lineatus. Analizamos los pigmentos de lipofuscina, también llamado pigmento de envejecimiento, el que fue utilizado como biomarcador. Después de uno y cinco meses de experimento, ambos tejidos acumulados con el pigmento fueron analizados. Los datos fueron discutidos desde el punto de vista fisiológico, relacionado con la peroxidación lipídica y daño mitocondrial.

Melanosis coli

Melanosis coli denotes brownish discoloration of the colonic mucosa found on endoscopy or histopathologic examination. The condition has no specific symptom on its own. It is a fairly frequent incidental finding of colonic biopsies and resection specimens. The pigmentation is caused by apoptotic cells which are ingested by macrophages and subsequently transported into the lamina propria, where lysosomes use them to produce lipofuscin pigment, not melanin as the name suggests. Melanosis coli develops in over 70% of persons who use anthraquinone laxatives (eg cascara sagrada, aloe, senna, rhubarb, and frangula), often within 4 months of use. Long-term use is generally believed to be necessary to cause melanosis coli. The condition is widely regarded as benign and reversible, and disappearance of the pigment generally occurs within a year of stopping laxatives. Although often due to prolonged use of anthraquinone, melanosis can probably result from other factors or exposure to other laxatives. It has been reported as a consequence of longstanding inflammatory bowel disease. Some investigators suggested that increase in apoptosis of colonic mucosa by anthraquinone laxatives increased the risk of colonic cancer. Recent data, including those from large-scale retrospective, prospective and experimental studies, did not show any increased cancer risk.

Lipofuscin-and melanin-related fundus auto-fluorescence in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy / 中华实验眼科杂志

Background Auto-fluorescence(AF)imaging is a new non-invasive fundus examining technology.It is now playing an increasingly important role in the diagnosis of retinal diseases.Using a confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope microscope(cSLO),two types of AF can be obtained:melanin-related near-infrared fundus auto-fluorescence(NIA)and lipofuscin-related fundus auto-fluorescence(FAF).Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome between NIA and FAF in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).Methods FAF,NIA imaging and fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA)were performed on 28 eyes of 23 subjects using a cLSO.AF images were evaluated and compared with angiographic findings.Written informed consent was obtained before the initiation of this study.Results In 17 eyes of 15 cases with acute CSC,the leakage points on the FFA image showed three kinds of AF patterns:(1)hyper-AF,including FAF hyper-AF in 2 eyes(11.76％)and NIA hyper-AF in 4 eyes(23.53％).(2)Non-AF,including FAF non-AF in 10 eyes(58.82％)and NIA non-AF in 13 eyes(76.47％).(3)Normal AF,including normal AF of FAF in 5 eyes(29.42％).The AF in the retinal serous detachment area showed two kinds of characteristics:(1)hypo-AF,including 12 eyes(70.59％)with FAF hypo-AF and 10 eyes(58.82％)with NIA hypo-AF.(2)hyper-AF,including 5 eyes(29.41％)with FAF hyper-AF and 7 eyes (41.18％)with NIA hyper-AF.In 11 eyes of 8 cases with chronic CSC,the leakage on the FFA also showed an absence of AF.However,AF-absent areas also partly appeared in the non-leakage area of FFA.In NIA,the non-AF areas were often more visible than that in FAF.Serous detachment areas in chronic CSC usually displayed multiple AF forms,including granular-like non-AF,hyper-AF and hypo-AF,and the abnormal AF areas were often greater than that of the corresponding abnormal fluorescent area in FFA.Conclusions AF can be used to detect the functional status and metabolic activity of RPE in CSC eyes.

Quantitative study of fundus autofluorescence distribution at the posterior pole in normal subjects / 中华眼底病杂志

Objective To observe the characteristics of fundus autofluorescence (AF) distribution at the posterior pole in normal subjects. Methods Seventy-nine normal subjects (156 eyes) were studied.Confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (cSLO) HRA2 was used to obtain the AF average image at the posterior pole. The distance was calibrated by Digimizer image analysis system. With umbo as the center,the macula was divided into foveola, foves, parafovea and perifovea areas which with the radius 175, 750,1250 and 2750 μm respectively. Each area was further divided into inferior, superior, temporal and nasal quadrants by two radial lines angle of 90°, except for foveola. The AF intensity in four quadrants of different macular regions and optic disc were measured. The AF intensity in vertical and horizontal direction of umbo was also measured. Then the effects of age, eyes, and gender on AF intensity in four quadrants of different macular regions were analyzed. Results There were statistically significant differences in AF intensity among optic disc and four quadrants of macular regions (F=528. 648, P＜0.05). AF distribution was V-type in vertical direction and M-type in horizontal direction. There were statistically significant differences between age groups in foveola, inferior parafovea, temporal parafovea, inferior perifovea,superior perifovea and temporal perifovea (P＜ 0. 01). There were no statistically significant differences between the two eyes (P＞0. 05). Between genders group, there were statistically significant differences in foveola, superior foves, inferior fovea, nasal fovea and temporal perifovea (P ＜ 0.05); no statistically significant differences in the other quadrants (P＞0. 05). Conclusions The distribution of AF intensity is inhomogeneous in macular regions and four quadrants of each region in normal subjects. AF intensity increases with aging. AF distribution is symmetrical in both eyes. There is probably no correlation between gender and AF intensity distribution.

Autofluorescence manifestation in related lesions of peripheral retinopathy / 中华眼底病杂志

Objective To observe the autofluorescence (AF) manifestation in related lesions of periphery retinopathy. Methods Sixty eyes of 42 patients with periphery retinopathy underwent the examination of Optomap fundus photograph (200°) and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA). The HRA Ⅱ melanin-related near-infrared fundus autofluorescence (NIA, excitation 795 nm) and lipofuscin-related fundus autofluorescence (FAF, excitation 488 nm) were measured for all the patients. The AF was recorded with nine images per second, and then a final AF image with 55° view and 822 × 768 pixel was generated by the HRA. AF images can be valuable or valueless if there was or was not visible blood vessels and related retinal tissues on the image. AF from lesion regions can be normal or abnormal fluorescence comparing to the normal vascular and retinal tissue AF. The abnormal fluorescence was divided into no AF, weak AF and strong AF relative to the background grayscale. The grading consistency of abnormal fluorescence based on FAF and NIA examination was comparatively analyzed. Results Valuable AF images were captured in 53/60 eyes (88. 33%)and valueless AF images were captured in 7/60 eyes (11.67%). Among 53 eyes with valuable AF image, NIA showed normal fluorescence in 28 eyes (52. 83%), abnormal fluorescence with sheet-like, dot-shaped or stripped in 25 eyes (47.17%); FAF showed normal fluorescence in two eyes (3.77 % ), abnormal fluorescence with sheet-like, scattered along vessels or pigments in 51 eyes (96.23 % ).Twenty-five eyes with abnormal fluorescence were observed both in two examinations, including same grades in 18 eye (72.00%) and different grades in seven eyes (28.00%). Conclusion The AF manifestation with different levels exists in related lesions of periphery retinopathy.

Neuroprotective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of dried fruits of Trapa bispinosa Roxb on lipofuscinogenesis and fluorescence product in brain of D-galactose induced ageing accelerated mice.

Effect of hydroalcoholic extract T. bispinosa (TB) was studied on fluorescence product and biochemical parameter like lipid peroxidation, catalase activity and glutathione peroxidase activity in the brain of female albino mice. Ageing was accelerated by the treatment of 0.5 ml 5% D-galactose for 15 days. This resulted in increased fluorescence product, increase lipid peroxidation and decrease antioxidant enzyme like glutathione peroxides and catalase in cerebral cortex. After co-treatment with hydroalcoholic extract of TB (500 mg/kg, po) there was decrease in fluorescence product in cerebral cortex. Moreover, TB inhibited increase lipid peroxidation and restores glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity in cerebral cortex as compare to ageing accelerated control group. To conclude TB found to be effective antioxidative agent which could to some extent reverse D-galactose induced ageing changes resulted due to oxidative damage.

Effect of cadmium chloride on liver, spleen and kidney melano macrophage centres in Tilapia mossambica.

To study the toxic effect of a heavy metal on the occurrence of melano macrophage centres (MMC) of liver, spleen and kidney. Tilapia mossambica were exposed to median lethal concentration of cadmium chloride for 120 hours. Routine histological method was adopted to prepare the tissue sections and to identify the pigments viz: hemosiderin and melanin. The average number and size of melano macrophage centres (MMC) were significantly increased compared with the control. It is evident in the present study that in the MMC of all three tissues examined lipofuscin is absent.

Brown Bowel Syndrome that Developed after Total Gastrectomy: A Case Report

The brown bowel syndrome (BBS) is an uncommon disorder, which is characterized by brown pigmentation of the intestine due to the accumulation of lipofuscin in the smooth muscle cells. Vitamin E deficiency has generally been considered as the cause of this malady. BBS has been reported in a wide variety of malabsorptive diseases involving the pancreas, liver and gastrointestinal tract. We report here on a case of brown bowel syndrome that occurred in a 73-year-old man who had undergone total gastrectomy 11 years ago for gastric adenocarcinoma. He has complained about intestinal obstructive symptoms for several years, and these symptoms were recently aggravated. He showed a low serum concentration of total protein, albumin and cholesterol, and he had been treated for megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B12 and folate deficiency several months ago. The resected small bowel showed lipofuscin deposition in the muscle layer of the intestine and large vessels. The electron microscopic examination revealed multiple electron dense lipofuscin deposits with irregular shapes and sizes in the cytoplasm.

Avaliação da autofluorescência do fundo de olho nas distrofias de retina com o aparelho Heidelberg Retina Angiograph2 / Evaluation of fundus autofluorescence in hereditary retinal diseases using Heidelberg Retina Angiograph2

OBJETIVOS: Definir características do exame de autofluorescência, verificando sua utilidade no diagnóstico e acompanhamento de distrofias retinianas. MÉTODOS: Participaram do estudo, 28 pacientes, adultos, divididos igualmente em quatro grupos com diagnósticos de doença de Stargardt, distrofia de Cones, retinose pigmentar e voluntários saudáveis para estabelecimento do padrão de normalidade. Em média foram obtidas nove imagens com o filtro para angiofluoresceinografia para a formação da imagem autofluorescente no Heidelberg Retina Angiograph2. As imagens de cada grupo de pacientes foram analisadas para verificar características comuns. RESULTADOS: As imagens fundoscópicas autofluorescentes dos voluntários do grupo controle mostraram área foveal hipoautofluorescente em relação à retina do pólo posterior. As imagens dos portadores de doença de Stargardt, em geral, apresentaram lesão hipoautofluorescente, correspondendo à área macular. As principais alterações da autofluorescência em pacientes com distrofia de cones foram hipoautofluorescência macular com halo hiperautofluorescente. Nos portadores de retinose pigmentar, foram encontrados pigmentos periféricos causando hipoautofluorescência. Na região macular, hipoautofluorescência ou apenas desorganização do pigmento. CONCLUSÃO: O estudo mostrou a existência de padrões de autofluorescência de fundo nas distrofias de retina que permitem o diagnóstico e melhor interpretação da fisiopatogenia destas doenças.

PURPOSE: To define characteristics of the fundus autofluorescence examination, verifying usefulness in the diagnosis and care of hereditary retinal diseases. METHODS: 28 patients, adults, divided equally into four groups with diagnoses of Stargardt macular dystrophy, cone dystrophy, retinitis pigmentosa and healthy volunteers for the establishment of the normality pattern. An average of nine images with the filter for fluorescein angiography was obtained for the formation of the image autofluorescence using Heidelberg Retina Angiograph2. The images of each group of patients were analyzed to verify common characteristics. RESULTS: The fundus autofluorescence of healthy volunteers showed the foveal area darker than the surrounding retina. The images of Stargardt macular dystrophy, in general, presented an oval central lesion, with reduced autofluorescence. The main alterations of the autofluorescence in patients with cone dystrophy were reduced foveal autofluorescence with a parafoveal ring of increased autofluorescence. In general, the images of retinitis pigmentosa showed outlying pigments with reduced autofluorescence, and of the foveal area, in some cases disorganization or reduced autofluorescence. CONCLUSION: The study showed the existence of patterns of fundus autofluorescence in the hereditary retinal diseases that allow the diagnosis and better interpretation of the pathogenesis of these diseases.

Effects of Pine Needle Butanol Fraction on Acetylcholine (ACh) and Its Related Enzymes in Brain of Rats

This study was designed to investigate the effects of buthanol (BuOH) fraction of pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb et Zucc) needle on cholesterol and lipofuscin (LF) accumulations, acetylcholine (ACh) and its related enzyme activities such as choline acetyltransferase (CAhT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and monoamone oxidase-B (MAO-B) activity, which destroyed the catecholamine-related neurotransmitters in brain membranes of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Male SD rats were fed basic diets (control group) or experimental diets (BuOH-25, BuOH-50 and BuOH-100) for 45 days. Cholesterol accumulations in mitochondria and microsomes were significantly inhibited (about 14 - 17% and 23 - 34%, respectvely) in BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups, whereas LF levels were significantly inhibited (about 10 - 14%) in BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups compared with control group. ACh levels and ChAT activities were significantly increased (about 11 - 17% and 11 - 23%, respectively) in membranes of BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups compared with control group. AChE activities were significantly increased (about 14 - 17%) in membranes of BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups. There was no significant difference in MAO-B activities between control and experimental diet groups. The results suggest that butanol fraction of pine needle may play an effective role in an antiaging effect and improving a learning and memory impairments.

Effects of zinc-deficiency on antioxidation system and repair of DNA damage and of hepatic cells in aging mice / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To observe the effects of zinc-deficiency(ZD)on antioxidation system and repair of DNA damage and of hepatic cells by establishing an aging mice model induced with D-galactose. Methods Seventy 3-month-old male mice were divided randomly into 5 groups: normal young group, aging model group, aging+ZD group, aging+pair-fed group, aging+ZS group. The aging model were established with D-galactose (100mg/kg bw) by nap subcutaneous injection, while the young control group were injected with normal saline in the same way which lasted 30 days. Aging+ZD group and aging+ZS group were fed with ZD food(zinc 1.61?g/kg), others with normal food(zinc 50?g/kg). ZS food (zinc 100?g/kg)were given to aging+ZS group for the last 2 weeks in the course. On the 30 th day, all mice were killed by removing eyeballs and samples were collected immediately for later indexes detection. Results Compared with the aging control group, zinc contents and SOD activity of serum and liver decreased significantly, while MDA in the serum and liver and lipofuscin of liver increased much more in ZD mice. Comet assay also showed that the DNA damage of hepatic cells were more serious in aging ZD mice than in the control mice. The ratio of tail length/comet cell length in group ZD also increased significantly. However, moderate zinc supplement significantly improved all those indexes. Conclusions Zinc can affect the speed and degree of aging significantly. Zinc deficiency accelerates the aging progress; while moderate zinc supplement seems to be beneficial for retarding aging progress.

Preliminary identification and quantification of the age-pigment lipofuscin in the brain of Farfantepenaeus paulensis (Crustacea: Decapoda)

A preliminary study was done on the age-pigment lipofuscin content in the brains of captive Farfantepenaeus paulensis juveniles (5 months old) and wild adults (estimated age of 12-15 months). Random samples of 6 individuals were obtained from each group (juvenile and adult) for histological analysis. Serial sections (6 mum) of the brains were mounted without staining and observed in an epifluorescent microscope. The fluorescent images of the five most central sections of the olfactory lobe cell mass (OLCM) of each individual were digitized for image analysis. The lipofuscin granule mean diameter was similar in both groups (p > 0.05), however the lipofuscin area fraction (percentage of the OLCM occupied by pigment granules) was significantly higher (p 0.05) in the adult shrimp. The detection of lipofuscin granules in 5 month old F. paulensis indicates that lipofuscin deposition probably takes place even earlier in the juvenile phase. Our results suggested that the amount of granules in the F. paulensis OLCM is related to age, but further studies are necessary to evaluate the relationship between lipofuscin content and the age of captive F. paulensis.

Foi realizada análise preliminar do conteúdo de lipofuscina em cérebros de juvenis de Farfantepenaeus paulensis oriundos de cativeiro (5 meses de idade) e de adultos selvagens (idade estimada de 12-15 meses). Foram coletadas amostras aleatórias de 6 indivíduos de cada grupo (juvenis e adultos) para análises histológicas. Cortes frontais (6 mim) dos cérebros foram montados em lâminas, sem serem corados, e observados em microscópio de epifluorescência. As imagens fluorescentes dos 5 cortes mais centrais da massa de células do lóbulo olfatório (MCLO) de cada indivíduo foram digitalizadas para posterior análise de imagens. O diâmetro médio dos grânulos de lipofuscina foram similares entre os dois grupos (p > 0,05), entretanto, a porcentagem da área de MCLO ocupada por grânulos foi significativamente maior (p 0,05) nos camarões adultos. A detecção de grânulos de lipofuscina em F. paulensis com 5 meses de idade indica a possibilidade de o início de deposição ocorrer anteriormente em juvenis. Os resultados sugerem que a quantidade de grânulos na MCLO de F. paulensis está relacionada à idade, contudo, futuros estudos são necessários para avaliar a relação entre a quantidade de lipofuscina e a idade de F. paulensis mantidos em cativeiro.