Dynamic changes in proresolving lipid mediators and their receptors following acute vascular injury in male rats.

Acute vascular injury provokes an inflammatory response, resulting in neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) and downstream pathologies. The resolution of inflammation is an active process in which specialized proresolving lipid mediators (SPM) and their receptors play a central role. We sought to examine the acute phase response of SPM and their receptors in both circulating blood and the arterial wall in a rat angioplasty model. We found that the ratio of proresolving to pro-inflammatory lipid mediators (LM) in plasma decreased sharply 1 day after vascular injury, then increased slightly by day 7, while that in arteries remained depressed. Granulocyte expression of SPM receptors ALX/FPR2 and DRV2/GPR18, and a leukotriene B4 receptor BLT1 increased postinjury, while ERV1/ChemR23 expression was reduced early and then recovered by day 7. Importantly, we show unique arterial expression patterns of SPM receptors in the acute setting, with generally low levels through day 7 that contrasted sharply with that of the pro-inflammatory CCR2 receptor. Overall, these data document acute, time-dependent changes of LM biosynthesis and SPM receptor expression in plasma, leukocytes, and artery walls following acute vascular injury. A biochemical imbalance between inflammation and resolution LM pathways appears persistent 7 days after angioplasty in this model. These findings may help guide therapeutic approaches to accelerate vascular healing and improve the outcomes of vascular interventions for patients with advanced atherosclerosis.

Bridging the gap in managing dry eye disease: a consensus report by the Taiwan society of cataract and refractive surgeons.

BACKGROUND: An impaired ocular surface presents substantial challenges in terms of planning for cataract surgery. As a multifactorial ocular disorder, dry eye disease (DED) is common in the general population and prevalent in patients scheduled for lens replacement surgery. Cataract surgery can exacerbate DED and worsen several ocular parameters. Timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment of DED are vital to ensuring positive ophthalmic surgical outcomes. This consensus report of the Taiwan Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (TSCRS) regarding the management of DED before, during, and after cataract surgery highlights the gaps between clinical guidelines and several aspects of DED, including diagnostic testing, diagnostic criteria, and clinical practice treatment. METHODS: An expert panel of five specialists in the field of ophthalmology was recruited to develop consensus statements regarding the management of DED in both the general population and in patients undergoing cataract surgery in Taiwan. Two separate meetings of the five specialists, who were endorsed by the TSCRS, were convened for this purpose. A survey questionnaire consisting of binary or multiple-choice questions was developed through a consensus-driven formulation process. A percentage value was calculated for each statement, and a minimum of 60% agreement (equivalent to three out of five members) was required to achieve consensus. The second discussion meeting involved the presentation of the finalized consensus statements and concluded the consensus development process. Lastly, the finalized consensus statements were approved by all the experts, and the formulated recommendations for DED in the general population and prospective cataract surgery patients were accordingly presented. RESULTS: The optimal algorithm for managing DED in the general population and in patients scheduled for cataract surgery was developed to address the unmet needs of this cohort in Taiwan. CONCLUSION: This report provides recommendations for managing dry eye disease. It is essential to screen and confirm DED through endorsed questionnaires and tests and then diagnose it. Treatment and management of DED should follow a stepwise approach. Screening and diagnosing DED is also recommended before cataract surgery. After cataract surgery, relatively aggressive treatment strategies are recommended to manage DED effectively.

Zaxinone Synthase overexpression modulates rice physiology and metabolism, enhancing nutrient uptake, growth and productivity.

The rice Zaxinone Synthase (ZAS) gene encodes a carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase (CCD) that forms the apocarotenoid growth regulator zaxinone in vitro. Here, we generated and characterized constitutive ZAS-overexpressing rice lines, to better understand ZAS role in determining zaxinone content and regulating growth and architecture. ZAS overexpression enhanced endogenous zaxinone level, promoted root growth and increased the number of productive tillers, leading to about 30% higher grain yield per plant. Hormone analysis revealed a decrease in strigolactone (SL) content, which we confirmed by rescuing the high-tillering phenotype through application of a SL analogue. Metabolomics analysis revealed that ZAS overexpressing plants accumulate higher amounts of monosaccharide sugars, in line with transcriptome analysis. Moreover, transgenic plants showed higher carbon (C) assimilation rate and elevated root phosphate, nitrate and sulphate level, enhancing the tolerance towards low phosphate (Pi). Our study confirms ZAS as an important determinant of rice growth and architecture and shows that ZAS regulates hormone homoeostasis and a combination of physiological processes to promote growth and grain yield, which makes this gene an excellent candidate for sustainable crop improvement.

Establishing an optimized ATAC-seq protocol for the maize.

The advent of next-generation sequencing in crop improvement offers unprecedented insights into the chromatin landscape closely linked to gene activity governing key traits in plant development and adaptation. Particularly in maize, its dynamic chromatin structure is found to collaborate with massive transcriptional variations across tissues and developmental stages, implying intricate regulatory mechanisms, which highlights the importance of integrating chromatin information into breeding strategies for precise gene controls. The depiction of maize chromatin architecture using Assay for Transposase Accessible Chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) provides great opportunities to investigate cis-regulatory elements, which is crucial for crop improvement. In this context, we developed an easy-to-implement ATAC-seq protocol for maize with fewer nuclei and simple equipment. We demonstrate a streamlined ATAC-seq protocol with four key steps for maize in which nuclei purification can be achieved without cell sorting and using only a standard bench-top centrifuge. Our protocol, coupled with the bioinformatic analysis, including validation by read length periodicity, key metrics, and correlation with transcript abundance, provides a precise and efficient assessment of the maize chromatin landscape. Beyond its application to maize, our testing design holds the potential to be applied to other crops or other tissues, especially for those with limited size and amount, establishing a robust foundation for chromatin structure studies in diverse crop species.

Exome sequencing and genome-wide association analyses unveils the genetic predisposition in hydroxychloroquine retinopathy.

OBJECTIVES: To unveil the candidate susceptibility genes in chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine (CQ/HCQ) retinopathy using whole exome sequencing (WES) and genome-wide association study (GWAS). METHODS: Patients with a diagnosis of CQ/HCQ retinopathy based on the comprehensive demographic and ocular examination were included. The peripheral blood was extracted for WES and GWAS analyses. The Chinese Han Southern database from 1000 genomes was used as control group to compare the affected percentage. Multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, HCQ dose, duration and renal disease were used to analyze the correlation between genetic variants and visual outcome. A poor vision outcome was defined as visual acuity <6/12. An abnormal anatomical outcome was defined as disruption of ellipsoid zone in the fovea. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients with an average age of 60.9 ± 13.4 years, treatment duration of 12.1 ± 6.2 years, daily dose of 8.5 ± 4.1 mg/kg, and the cumulative dose of 1637.5 ± 772.5 g, were genotyped. Several candidate genes associated with CQ/HCQ retinopathy were found, including RP1L1, RPGR and RPE65, with a difference of affected percentage over 50% in mutation between the case and control groups. New foci in CCDC66: rs56616026 (OR = 63.43, p = 1.63 × 10-8) and rs56616023 (OR = 104.7, p = 5.02 × 10-10) were identified significantly associated with HCQ retinopathy. Multivariate analysis revealed increased genetic variants were significantly associated with poor functional (OR = 1.600, p = 0.004) and structural outcome (OR = 1.318, p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Several candidate susceptibility genes including RP1L1, RPGR, RPE65 and CCDC66 were identified to be associated with CQ/HCQ retinopathy. In addition to disease susceptibility, patients with increased genetic variants are more vulnerable to poor visual outcomes.

Risk factors for the development of oral precancerous lesions in a cohort of 293 oral lichen planus patients with or without chronic periodontitis in southern Taiwan.

Background/purpose: Oral lichen planus (OLP) may contribute to the risk of chronic periodontitis, and no reports have shown whether OLP patients with periodontitis have a greater risk of oral precancerous lesions, Candida infection or other clinicopathological diseases. This study aimed to assess the risk factors for the development of oral precancerous lesions in a cohort of 293 OLP patients with or without chronic periodontitis in southern Taiwan. Materials and methods: The current study recruited 293 OLP patients without preexisting periodontitis at a tertiary institution from 1995 to 2018. The patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of periodontitis. The study compared various clinical and pathological characteristics between the two groups, and also estimated the odds ratio (OR) and the 10-year cumulative risk of chronic periodontitis in OLP patients using logistic regression models and Kaplan‒Meier analysis methods, respectively. Results: After adjusting for age and gender, the significant contributors to oral precancerous lesions in OLP patients (P < 0.05) were periodontal disease (OR = 2.24) and the male gender (OR = 7.52). Betel nut consumption (OR = 2.61), smoking (OR = 2.46), and candidiasis infection (OR = 3.02) also showed significant associations. Older OLP patients had a lower lesion risk, while a longer OLP duration heightened the periodontal disease likelihood. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that coexisting periodontal disease increases the likelihood of developing precancerous lesions in patients with OLP. Periodontal management with oral hygiene care and quitting betel nut consumption and smoking can reduce the risk.

Pseudopterygia in Fuchs Superficial Marginal Keratitis: Clinical Course and Surgical Outcome.

PURPOSE: Surgery for pseudopterygia in Fuchs superficial marginal keratitis (FSMK) bears the risk of corneal perforation, as described in a few case reports. The aim of this case series was to understand the clinical course and surgical outcomes of pseudopterygia in FSMK. METHODS: A retrospective case series included patients meeting FSMK criteria with pseudopterygia in at least 1 eye. The severity grading of pseudopterygia and peripheral infiltration events at follow-up were analyzed. Pseudopterygia involving corneal central 3 mm diameter (grade III) received surgery. Peripheral corneal infiltrate events within 1 week after surgery were recorded. RESULTS: Thirty-three eyes of 19 patients (8 men, 11 women; age 40-85 years; mean, 65 years) were included, with an average 48.1-month follow-up (range 0-188.8 months). At presentation, 7 eyes (21%) had grade III pseudopterygia. One patient showed corneal perforation 3 days after "pterygium" surgery elsewhere. The contralateral eye met the diagnosis of FSMK. During follow-up, 16 eyes (49%) exhibited peripheral corneal infiltrates, and 7 eyes (21%) showed progression of pseudopterygia to higher grades before or without any surgery. Ten eyes with grade III pseudopterygia underwent surgery. The best-corrected visual acuity in Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution improved from 0.34 ± 0.18 (range 0.05-0.52) to 0.13 ± 0.11 (range 0.05-0.4) (P = 0.0023). Six eyes (60%) developed peripheral corneal infiltrates within 1 week after surgery, which responded well to topical corticosteroids. CONCLUSIONS: Pseudopterygia in FSMK may progress to threaten visual acuity. Surgical excision can be safe and can effectively improve vision on the condition that the patients are closely followed in the early postoperative period to notice the corneal infiltrates.

Guard Cell-Inspired Ion Channels: Harnessing the Photomechanical Effect via Supramolecular Assembly of Cross-Linked Azobenzene/Polymers.

Stimuli-responsive ion nanochannels have attracted considerable attention in various fields because of their remote controllability of ionic transportation. For photoresponsive ion nanochannels, however, achieving precise regulation of ion conductivity is still challenging, primarily due to the difficulty of programmable structural changes in confined environments. Moreover, the relationship between noncontact photo-stimulation in nanoscale and light-induced ion conductivity has not been well understood. In this work, a versatile design for fabricating guard cell-inspired photoswitchable ion channels is presented by infiltrating azobenzene-cross-linked polymer (AAZO-PDAC) into nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes. The azobenzene-cross-linked polymer is formed by azobenzene chromophore (AAZO)-cross-linked poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDAC) with electrostatic interactions. Under UV irradiation, the trans-AAZO isomerizes to the cis-AAZO, causing the volume compression of the polymer network, whereas, in darkness, the cis-AAZO reverts to the trans-AAZO, leading to the recovery of the structure. Consequently, the resultant nanopore sizes can be manipulated by the photomechanical effect of the AAZO-PDAC polymers. By adding ionic liquids, the ion conductivity of the light-driven ion nanochannels can be controlled with good repeatability and fast responses (within seconds) in multiple cycles. The ion channels have promising potential in the applications of biomimetic materials, sensors, and biomedical sciences.

Novel Manifestation of Corneal Dystrophy After Keratorefractive Surgery.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to report cases of bilateral corneal Bowman layer deposits in 4 patients with a history of keratorefractive surgery. To our knowledge, this condition has not previously been reported and should be distinguished from granular corneal dystrophy type 2 and other corneal dystrophies. METHODS: We reviewed all available medical records that were collected between January 2010 and December 2021 at a tertiary referral center and performed whole-exome sequencing to provide diagnostic information. RESULTS: Four patients exhibited similar bilateral corneal deposits that were observed more than 10 years after keratorefractive surgery. The patients' ages ranged from 36 to 53 years; 3 of the 4 patients were female. Three patients received laser in situ keratomileusis surgery, and 1 received radial keratotomy. All 4 patients denied having a family history of ocular diseases and reported an uneventful postoperative course. On examination, the best-corrected visual acuity ranged from 6/10 to 6/6 in all 4 patients. Slit-lamp examination revealed bilateral superficial corneal deposits involving the central cornea, and anterior segment optical coherence tomography revealed hyperreflective deposits located in the Bowman layer. Such unique manifestations suggested corneal dystrophy; thus, whole-exome sequencing was performed on all 4 patients. Only 1 patient exhibited a missense mutation in TGFBI . We further analyzed common de novo mutations to explore possible candidate genes associated with this presentation. CONCLUSIONS: We report a rare entity of presumed corneal dystrophy with deposits located in the Bowman layer in 4 patients who had received keratorefractive surgery. Clarifying the underlying pathophysiology and genetic predisposition of this disease may aid in diagnosing and preventing potential complications after keratorefractive surgery.