Expression and Role of CXCL13 and MiR-186-5p in the Trigeminal Ganglion of a Rat Model of Trigeminal Neuralgia.

AIM: This study sought to reveal the roles of CXCL13 and miR-186-5p in a rat model (adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, 7-8 weeks old, 180-200 g) of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) established via chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve (ION-CCI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The results of behavioural tests and the expression levels of miR-186-5p and CXCL13 in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) were compared between the sham and ION-CCI groups, as well as the consequences of the miR-186-5p mimic and inhibitor. RESULTS: Compared with the sham-operated rats, ION-CCI rats displayed mechanical hypersensitivity in the von Frey hair test. Western blotting revealed the upregulation of CXCL13 and downregulation of miR-186-5p in the TG of ION-CCI rats relative to their expression in sham rats. Furthermore, an miR-186-5p mimic decreased CXCL13 protein levels and increased the mechanical withdrawal thresholds of ION-CCI rats. CXCL13 protein levels also increased after the injection of an miR-186-5p inhibitor. Finally, miR-186-5p was found to be expressed in the TG and was downregulated in ION-CCI rats compared to sham rats. CONCLUSION: miR-186-5p may negatively regulate CXCL13 to influence the occurrence and development of TN. Collectively, our findings shed new light on novel therapies for the treatment of TN.

Freeform surface for light shaping by iterative design via Fourier domain.

We extend our previous work [Yang et al., Opt. Express29, 3621 (2021)10.1364/OE.415649] and propose an iterative algorithm to design a freeform surface for far-field light shaping. The algorithm alternately performs a wavefront phase design step and a freeform surface construction step. The smooth wavefront phase is designed by the mapping-type Fourier pair synthesis method, and the freeform surface is constructed by using the obtained wavefront phase. The algorithm provides a solid approach that ensures the introduction of the required wavefront phase manipulation for light shaping. Moreover, the related physical effects such as the Fresnel effect and polarization effect are included in the algorithm. We demonstrate the flexibility of the algorithm by examples.

Antiderivative of gradient data by spline model integration.

Numerous optical techniques describe the local slope of the functions at their discrete positions but do not report the actual functions. However, many applications require the description of the functions, which must be retrieved from the gradients by an integration process. This study shows a spline model function-based integration technique that can construct original functions from irregularly measured gradient data over general shape domains with high accuracy and speed.

Light-shaping design by a fourier pair synthesis: the homeomorphic case.

From a physical-optics point of view, the far-field light-shaping problem mainly requires a Fourier pair synthesis. The Iterative Fourier Transform Algorithm (IFTA) is one of the algorithms capable of realizing this synthesis, however, it may lead to stagnation problems when the fields of the Fourier pair exhibit a homeomorphic behavior. To overcome this problem, we use a mapping-type relation for the Fourier pair synthesis. This approach results in a smooth phase response function in a single step, without requiring an iterative procedure. The algorithm is demonstrated with examples and the results are investigated via physical-optics modeling techniques.

Light shaping by freeform surface from a physical-optics point of view.

Modeling techniques for light-shaping systems with freeform surface are presented from a physical-optics point of view. We apply the modeling techniques to different light-shaping systems with freeform surfaces designed by "ray mapping method". The simulation results show that the design is not always valid. Diffraction effects occur, especially in paraxial situations. We discuss the accuracy of the design via physical-optics simulation, and find an explanation in the geometric-optics assumption of the design algorithm being sufficient only if the optical system results in homeomorphic behavior for the electric field between the input and target.

Expression of pannexin-1 in the trigeminal ganglion after chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve in a rat model.

Pannexin-1 (Panx 1) is a large-pore membrane channel that is expressed widely in the nervous system and is involved in the physiological and pathological processes of some neurological diseases. Here, we investigate the expression of Panx 1 in a rat model of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). After chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the infraorbital nerve (ION), rats showed mechanical hypersensitivity responses to mechanical stimuli by von Frey hairs in contrast to sham rats. In comparison with sham rats, quantitative RT-PCR and western blot showed that Panx 1 expression was upregulated in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) of ION-CCI rats. Immunohistochemical staining indicated an endoneurial abundance of Panx 1 in neurons of TN after CCI, which was higher than that in sham rats. Our finding indicates that ION-CCI leads to a regulation of Panx 1 in the TG, which might contribute toward the development of TN.

Effect of polarization purity of cylindrical vector beam on tightly focused spot.

The tightly focused spots of cylindrical vectors (CVs) are dependent on polarization composition. We experimentally demonstrate the effect of polarization purity (PP) of the CV beam on the tightly focused spot quantitatively, which should be strictly controlled for the effective applications of the CV beam. The focal spots measured by a knife-edge scanning method showed that the azimuthally polarized (AP) component increases the transverse field and the size of the focal spots, while the radially polarized component results in a nonzero intensity distribution at the center of the focus even in a high PP AP beam.

Minimized spot of annular radially polarized focusing beam.

We have experimentally demonstrated the measurement of a tighter focal spot generated by a radially polarized narrow-width annular beam with the double-knife-edge method. The reconstructed spot profiles indicate that sharper focus cannot be achieved by shrinking the annular aperture further. The smallest focal spot (0.0711λ(2)) is obtained in experiment with an annular factor of 0.91. An apodization function has been introduced with the consideration of the diffraction effect, which achieves good agreement with the experimental data. Our result shows that the diffraction effect should be considered with small topography structures of the incident beam.