Efficacy of optimal pulse technology in the treatment of demodex blepharitis and its effect on ocular surface function / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To investigate the efficacy of optimal pulse technology(OPT)in the treatment of demodex blepharitis and its influence on ocular surface function.METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted from February 2018 to October 2020. A total of 127 patients(254 eyes)with demodex blepharitis were assigned to the observation group and the control group according to the treatment method. The control group(63 patients, 126 eyes)were given conventional hot compress, eye cleansing and drug therapy. On this basis, the observation group(64 patients, 128 eyes)was treated with OPT. Both groups were given 6wk of continuous treatment. Demodex count, Marx's line scores, meibum character scores, ocular surface disease index(OSDI)scores, non-invasive tear break-up time(NIBUT), non-invasive tear meniscus height(NITMH)and lipid layer thickness(LLT)were compared between the two groups, and safety was evaluated.RESULTS: After 6wk of treatment, demodex count, Marx's line scores, meibum character scores and OSDI scores of the two groups decreased. NIBUT, NITMH and LLT increased. Meanwhile, demodex count, Marx's line scores, meibum character scores and OSDI scores of the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group. NIBUT, NITMH and LLT were longer/larger than those in the control group(P<0.001). No obvious abnormality of intraocular pressure or conjunctival/corneal injury was observed in either group.CONCLUSION:OPT is effective and safe in the treatment of demodex blepharitis.

GbWRKY1, a novel cotton (Gossypium barbadense) WRKY gene isolated from a bacteriophage full-length cDNA library, is induced by infection with Verticillium dahliae.

WRKY transcription factor proteins play important roles in diverse stress responses. In this study, we first cloned a novel WRKY from our constructed bacteriophage full-length cDNA library for cotton (Gossypium barbadense). The plants were stressed by exposure to a defoliating strain of Verticillium dahliae. The capacity of primary cDNA library was 1.28 × 106 PFU and the titer of the amplified cDNA library was >1010 PFU mL–1. The recombination rate of the library was 94% and average insert size was about 1.1 kb. This novel gene, named GbWRKY1 was 1971 bp long and encodes a protein of 489 amino acids. It contains two characteristic WRKY domains and two zinc finger motifs. The sub-cellular assay indicated that GbWRKY1–GFP fusion protein was localized in the nucleus. Furthermore, Northern blot analysis showed that expression pattern of GbWRKY1 was similar among tissue types (roots, stems and leaves), but differed between pathogen-infiltrated and Czapek medium-infiltrated (untreated control) plants. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that GbWRKY1 could also be induced by salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC). These findings clearly suggest that as a pathogen-inducible transcription factor GbWRKY1 plays an important role in plant defense responses.