CTRP 9 mitigates the apoptosis and unfolded protein response of OGD/R-induced retinal ganglion cells by regulating the AMPK pathway.

C1q/TNF-related protein-9 (CTRP9) has been reported to play roles in several types of retinal diseases. However, the role and the potential mechanism of CTRP9 in glaucoma are still incompletely understood. The expression of CTRP9 in OGD/R-induced retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot assay. Cell proliferation was identified by cell counting Kit-8 assay. Flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blot assay were performed to assess cell apoptosis. Unfolded protein response (UPR), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the AMPK pathway were evaluated by western blot assay. The data showed that the expression of CTRP9 was significantly downregulated in OGD/R-induced 661W cells. OGD/R treatment reduced cell viability, promoted cell apoptosis and activated the UPR and ER stress. The overexpression of CTRP9 reversed the effects of OGD/R on 661W cell viability, apoptosis, the UPR and ER stress, as well as the AMPK pathway. However, Compound C, an inhibitor of AMPK signaling, reversed the protection of CTRP9 overexpression against injury from OGD/R in 661W cells. In summary, the results revealed that CTRP9 abated the apoptosis and UPR of OGD/R-induced RGCs by regulating the AMPK pathway, which may provide a promising target for the treatment of glaucoma.

Crouzon syndrome complicated with binocular strabismus and extraocular muscle fibrosis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Crouzon syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by premature closure of coronal sutures, results in skull and facial deformities along with abnormal brain and ocular development. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we report a case of a 27-year-old ethnic han male patient who presented with complex binocular strabismus secondary to Crouzon syndrome. At the time of surgery, extraocular muscles were found to be fibrotic and results of the pathological examination revealed degeneration of muscle fibers, which were replaced by adipose tissue. The entire exome sequencing DNA testing indicated that the patient and his father possessed the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene c.G812T:p.G271V heterozygous mutation. Binocular strabismus corrective surgery was performed in this patient with a satisfactory outcome. CONCLUSIONS: This case demonstrates that Crouzon syndrome patients can show an FGFR2 gene c.G812T:p.G271V mutation and display clinical symptoms such as extraocular muscle fibrosis, exotropia, exophthalmos, and a pointed head deformity.

Preparation of Monodisperse Enrofloxacin Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Microspheres and Their Recognition Characteristics.

This study presents a new strategy for the detection of enrofloxacin (ENR) in food samples by the use of monodisperse ENR molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). Using enrofloxacin as template molecule, methacrylic acid as functional monomer, and ethylene diglycidyl ether as cross-linker, surface molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared on the surface of polymeric glycidyl methacrylate-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PGMA-EDMA) microspheres. The surface morphology and imprinting behavior of PGMA-EDMA@MIPs were investigated and optimized. Synthesized PGMA-EDMA@MIPs showed good physical and chemical stability and specific recognition toward fluoroquinolones. The introduction of PGMA-EDMA microspheres greatly increased the adsorption area of PGMA-EDMA@MIPs and increased the adsorption capacity of target molecules. The core shell structure increased the adsorption rate, and adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 6 min, much higher than that of MIPs synthesized by traditional methods. Enrofloxacin in milk samples was detected by molecular imprinting solid phase extraction (MISPE) combined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Implementing this method resulted in a recovery rate of 94.6~109.6% with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 3.2%. The limit of detection (LOD) of this method was identified as three times the signal-to-noise ratio (10 µg/L). In summary, this work proposed a sensitive, rapid, and convenient method for the determination of trace ENR in food samples.

Matrine inhibits hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis of cardiac microvascular endothelial cells in rats via the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) often results in cellular oxidative stress and the subsequent apoptosis of cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs). More recently, studies have highlighted the therapeutic effects of matrine on various cardiovascular diseases. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the underlying mechanism and effects of matrine on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced apoptosis of CMECs in rats. CMECs from Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were primarily treated with H/R, ld (low-dose, 0.5 mg/mL)-Ma + H/R, md (middle-dose, 1 mg/mL)-Ma + H/R, hd (high-dose, 2 mg/mL)-Ma + H/R, Ma + AG490 + H/R (2 mg/mL matrine and 50 µmol/L AG490, a JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway inhibitor), and AG490 + H/R in an attempt to identify the underlying regulatory mechanisms of matrine. MTT assay was applied to determine cell viability. Hoechst staining was performed to detect the morphology of apoptotic CMECs, while cell cycle and the rate of apoptosis rate were determined by flow cytometry means. The mRNA and protein expression of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and apoptosis related genes were determined through the use of RT-qPCR and western blot assay methods respectively. An in vitro angiogenesis assay was employed to evaluate the value of matrine in tube formation. CMECs treated with ld-Ma+H/R, md-Ma+H/R, hd-Ma+H/R and Ma + AG490+H/R exhibited higher cell viability, greater cell ratio at the S phase, higher expression levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3, increased tube formation ability, and a lower apoptosis rate, with a lower ratio of cells at the G1 phase and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Meanwhile, the rats treated with AG490+H/R exhibited opposite results. Taken together, the key findings of the present study suggest that matrine inhibits the H/R-induced apoptosis of CMECs in rats via the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, highlighting its therapeutic potential for H/R injury.

A Study on the Thermomechanical Reliability Risks of Through-Silicon-Vias in Sensor Applications.

Reliability risks for two different types of through-silicon-vias (TSVs) are discussed in this paper. The first is a partially-filled copper TSV, if which the copper layer covers the side walls and bottom. A polymer is used to fill the rest of the cavity. Stresses in risk sites are studied and ranked for this TSV structure by FEA modeling. Parametric studies for material properties (modulus and thermal expansion) of TSV polymer are performed. The second type is a high aspect ratio TSV filled by polycrystalline silicon (poly Si). Potential risks of the voids in the poly Si due to filling defects are studied. Fracture mechanics methods are utilized to evaluate the risk for two different assembly conditions: package assembled to printed circuit board (PCB) and package assembled to flexible substrate. The effect of board/substrate/die thickness and the size and location of the void are discussed.

Preparation of 17ß-estradiol-imprinted material by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization and its application.

A novel 17ß-estradiol molecularly imprinted polymer was grafted onto the surface of initiator-immobilized silica by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. The resulting molecularly imprinted polymer was characterized by elemental analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. The binding property of molecularly imprinted polymer for 17ß-estradiol was also studied with both static and dynamic methods. The results showed that the molecularly imprinted polymer possessed excellent recognition capacity for 17ß-estradiol (180.65 mg/g at 298 K), and also exhibited outstanding selectivity for 17ß-estradiol over the other competitive compounds (such as testosterone and progesterone). Then, the determination of trace 17ß-estradiol in beef samples was successfully developed by using molecularly imprinted polymer solid-phase extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography. The limit of detection was 0.25 ng/mL, and the amount of 17ß-estradiol in beef samples was detected at 2.83 ng/g. This work proposed a sensitive, rapid, reliable, and convenient approach for the determination of trace 17ß-estradiol in complicated beef samples.