A new genus and a new species of pygmy mole cricket from mid-Cretaceous amber in North Myanmar (Orthoptera: Caelifera: Tridactyloidea).

This paper describes a new genus with a new species from Burmese amber, namely: Latedactylus longapedi gen. et sp. nov. (Tridactylidae: Tridactylinae). L. longapedi gen. et sp. nov. is erected based on the cylindrical second segment of cercus longer and distinctly slender than the first; metatibia without swimming plates; metatarsus about three times as long as apical spurs of metatibia.

Two New Species of Ripipterygidae (Orthoptera, Tridactyloidea) from Mid-Cretaceous of Myanmar with a Key to the Genera of Tridactyloidea in Amber.

The abundance of insects in Burmese amber illustrates a highly diverse orthoptera community of the mid-Cretaceous, but the records of ripipterygids are relatively rare. Here, we reviewed the genus of Magnidactylus (Xu, Fang and Jarzembowski, 2020) and transfered it from Tridactylidae to Ripipterygidae. Based on four ambers specimens collected from northern Myanmar, two new species, Magnidactylusmirus sp. nov. and Magnidactylusgracilis sp. nov., wereerected. M.mirus sp. nov. can be characterized by its basal segment and apical segment of paraproctal lobes, which are equally thick and clavate. M.gracilis sp. nov. can be characterized by its apical segment of paraproctal lobes, which are distinctly swollen. Additionally, in order to facilitate the classification of amber specimens of Tridactyloidea, a key to the genera ofambers in this superfamily is provided.

The Oldest Representatives of Tree Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae; Oecanthinae) from Northern Myanmar.

The abundance of insects in Burmese amber illustrates a highly diverse insect community of the mid-Cretaceous, but the records of crickets are relatively rare. Here, we erect two new genera with two new species, Birmanioecanthus haplostichus gen. et sp. nov. and Apiculatus cretaceus gen. et sp. nov., based on two new specimens from northern Myanmar amber. These new species can be assigned to the subfamily Oecanthinae (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) by their prognathous head, slender body and metatibiae, and protibiae with large tympana. These new findings are the first and earliest fossil record of tree crickets and shed light on the evolution of Oecanithinae.

Relationship between circadian genes and memory impairment caused by sleep deprivation.

Background: Sleep deprivation (SD)-induced cognitive impairment is highly prevalent worldwide and has attracted widespread attention. The temporal and spatial oscillations of circadian genes are severely disturbed after SD, leading to a progressive loss of their physiological rhythms, which in turn affects memory function. However, there is a lack of research on the role of circadian genes and memory function after SD. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the relationship between circadian genes and memory function and provide potential therapeutic insights into the mechanism of SD-induced memory impairment. Methods: Gene expression profiles of GSE33302 and GSE9442 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were applied to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Subsequently, both datasets were subjected to Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to determine the overall gene changes in the hippocampus and brain after SD. A Gene Oncology (GO) analysis and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) analysis were employed to explore the genes related to circadian rhythm, with their relationship and importance determined through a correlation analysis and a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), respectively. The water maze experiments detected behavioral changes related to memory function in SD rats. The expression of circadian genes in several critical organs such as the brain, heart, liver, and lungs and their correlation with memory function was investigated using several microarrays. Finally, changes in the hippocampal immune environment after SD were analyzed using the CIBERSORT in R software. Results: The quality of the two datasets was very good. After SD, changes were seen primarily in genes related to memory impairment and immune function. Genes related to circadian rhythm were highly correlated with engagement in muscle structure development and circadian rhythm. Seven circadian genes showed their potential therapeutic value in SD. Water maze experiments confirmed that SD exacerbates memory impairment-related behaviors, including prolonged escape latencies and reduced numbers of rats crossing the platform. The expression of circadian genes was verified, while some genes were also significant in the heart, liver, and lungs. All seven circadian genes were also associated with memory markers in SD. The contents of four immune cells in the hippocampal immune environment changed after SD. Seven circadian genes were related to multiple immune cells. Conclusions: In the present study, we found that SD leads to memory impairment accompanied by changes in circadian rhythm-related genes. Seven circadian genes play crucial roles in memory impairment after SD. Naïve B cells and follicular helper T cells are closely related to SD. These findings provide new insights into the treatment of memory impairment caused by SD.

Establishment of ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block in rats.

Background: A novel protocol for accurate stellate ganglion block under ultrasound guidance was designed in rats. This technique raises the success rate of stellate ganglion block and reduces the incidence of brachial plexus and vagus nerve block. Methods: Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley were randomly divided into an ultrasound-guided group (n = 28) and a blind technique group (n = 28). The rats in the blind technique group were injected with 1.5% lidocaine mixed with methylene blue after signs of brachial plexus stimulation were elicited. The lateral side of the cephalic brachial vein was located under the first rib, where lidocaine was injected into the rats in the ultrasound-guided group. The up-and-down sequential method of Dixon was used to determine the minimum effective volume for stellate ganglion block in rats. Furthermore, we calculated the required operative duration of the two methods and observed the difference in the lidocaine diffusion range between the two groups. Results: The minimum effective volume for stellate ganglion block in the ultrasound-guided group was 0.040 ml, and the 95% CI was 0.026-0.052 ml. In the blind technique group, the minimum effective volume was 0.639 ml, and the 95% CI was 0.490-0.733 ml. Within the 95% CI of the lowest effective volume, the incidence of brachial plexus block as a complication of stellate ganglion block under ultrasound guidance was 10.00%. Conclusion: Stellate ganglion block under ultrasound guidance is more accurate than blind detection, which the incidence of complications of stellate ganglion block under ultrasound guidance was significantly lower than under blind detection; the rate of methylene blue staining in the vagus nerve was significantly lower under ultrasound guidance.

Right stellate ganglion block improves learning and memory dysfunction and hippocampal injury in rats with sleep deprivation.

BACKGROUND: Sleep deprivation (SD) often leads to complex detrimental consequences, though the mechanisms underlying these dysfunctional effects remain largely unknown. We investigated whether the right stellate ganglion block in rats can improve the spatial learning and memory dysfunction induced by sleep deprivation by alleviating the damage of hippocampus in rats. METHODS: Sixty four male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: Control, SD (sleep deprivation), SGB (stellate ganglion block) and SGB + SD (stellate ganglion block+ sleep deprivation) (n = 16). The SGB and SD + SGB groups were subjected to right stellate ganglion block through posterior approach method once per day. SD and SD + SGB groups were treated with modified multi-platform water environment method for 96 h sleep deprivation in rats and their body weights were analyzed. Histopathological changes of hippocampal neurons in rats and the expression of Caspase-3 in hippocampus of rats was detected by western blotting. ELISA was used to detect the content of IL-6, IL-1 in hippocampus and serum melatonin levels. RESULTS: Compared with the group SD, the spatial learning and memory function of the group SD + SGB was improved, the weight loss was alleviated, the pathological damage of the hippocampus was reduced and the expression of IL-6, IL-1ß and Caspase-3 in the hippocampus was decreased. The content of rat serum melatonin was also increased. CONCLUSIONS: The right stellate ganglion block can improve the spatial learning and memory dysfunction of rats with sleep deprivation, and the underlying mechanism may be related to alleviating the apoptosis and inflammation of hippocampus of rats with sleep deprivation.

Identification of hub genes and transcription factor-miRNA-mRNA pathways in mice and human renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND: Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a disease with high incidence rate in kidney related surgery. Micro RNA (miRNA) and transcription factors (TFs) are widely involved in the process of renal IRI through regulation of their target genes. However, the regulatory relationships and functional roles of TFs, miRNAs and mRNAs in the progression of renal IRI are insufficiently understood. The present study aimed to clarify the underlying mechanism of regulatory relationships in renal IRI. METHODS: Six gene expression profiles were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Differently expressed genes (DEGs) and differently expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were identified through RRA integrated analysis of mRNA datasets (GSE39548, GSE87025, GSE52004, GSE71647, and GSE131288) and miRNA datasets (GSE29495). miRDB and TransmiR v2.0 database were applied to predict target genes of miRNA and TFs, respectively. DEGs were applied for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, followed with construction of protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Then, the TF-miRNA-mRNA network was constructed. Correlation coefficient and ROC analysis were used to verify regulatory relationship between genes and their diagnostic value in GSE52004. Furthermore, in independent mouse RNA-seq datasets GSE98622, human RNA-seq GSE134386 and in vitro, the expression of hub genes and genes from the network were observed and correlation coefficient and ROC analysis were validated. RESULTS: A total of 21 DEMs and 187 DEGs were identified in renal IRI group compared to control group. The results of PPI analysis showed 15 hub genes. The TF-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed and several important pathways were identified and further verified, including Junb-miR-223-Ranbp3l, Cebpb-miR-223-Ranbp3l, Cebpb-miR-21-Ranbp3l and Cebpb-miR-181b-Bsnd. Four regulatory loops were identified, including Fosl2-miR-155, Fosl2-miR-146a, Cebpb-miR-155 and Mafk-miR-25. The hub genes and genes in the network showed good diagnostic value in mice and human. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found 15 hub genes and several TF-miRNA-mRNA pathways, which are helpful for understanding the molecular and regulatory mechanisms in renal IRI. Junb-miR-223-Ranbp3l, Cebpb-miR-223-Ranbp3l, Cebpb-miR-21-Ranbp3l and Cebpb-miR-181b-Bsnd were the most important pathways, while Spp1, Fos, Timp1, Tnc, Fosl2 and Junb were the most important hub genes. Fosl2-miR-155, Fosl2-miR-146a, Cebpb-miR-155 and Mafk-miR-25 might be the negative feedback loops in renal IRI.

Comparison of Patient-Reported Functional Recovery From Different Types of Ophthalmic Surgery.

PURPOSE: To characterize and compare patient-reported recovery of function after cataract or glaucoma surgery using a novel visual analog scale. DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study. METHODS: Daily for 2 weeks and weekly thereafter, patients recovering from trabeculectomy, tube shunt implantation, or cataract extraction (CE) completed a diary-style questionnaire including visual analog scales (VASs; scored 0-100) grading pain and global function. Clinical examination data and medical histories were collected. Generalized estimating equation models evaluated associations between VAS function scores and pain or visual acuity (VA) and compared scores between surgery types. RESULTS: Among 51 participants followed for 12 weeks, tube shunt placement reduced postoperative day 1 (POD1) function by 47 of 100 points vs CE (P = .006), while trabeculectomy did not reduce POD1 function vs CE (P = .33). After CE, trabeculectomy, and tube shunt placement, average VAS function scores increased 13.94 per week for 2 weeks (P < .001), 4.18 per week for 4 weeks (P = .02), and 7.76 per week for 7 weeks (P < .001), respectively. After those timepoints, there was no further significant change. Beyond 2 weeks, pain levels plateaued, and VA returned to baseline across surgery types; function was inversely related to pain or VA only for the first 2 or 4 weeks, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients recovering from cataract and glaucoma surgery report reduced function in the postoperative period. Tube shunt implantation causes greater morbidity than trabeculectomy, and both are associated with slower improvement than CE. Early postoperative function is associated with VA and pain, but neither fully explains reported impairment. A VAS for function may efficiently capture postoperative recovery.

Effect of a Schlemm's Canal Microstent on Early Postoperative Intraocular Pressure after Cataract Surgery: An Analysis of the HORIZON Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: To compare early postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients who underwent cataract surgery alone with those who underwent cataract surgery combined with implantation of a Hydrus Microstent (HMS) (Ivantis, Irvine, CA). DESIGN: Subanalysis of data from the randomized controlled HORIZON trial, a multicenter trial including 26 US and 12 international sites. PARTICIPANTS: Participants with mild/moderate primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and visually significant cataract with mean modified diurnal IOP between 22 and 34 mmHg after washout of IOP-lowering medications. METHODS: A total of 556 subjects were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to undergo cataract surgery with placement of the HMS versus cataract surgery alone (no microstent [NMS]). All eyes were washed out of IOP-lowering medications before surgery and remained unmedicated until surgery. No IOP-lowering prophylaxis was used postoperatively. Comprehensive eye examination including measurement of intraocular pressure was conducted on postoperative day (POD) 1, week 1, and month 1. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative IOP >40 mmHg was analyzed as the primary outcome. Incidence of IOP increase >10 mmHg above baseline, unmedicated IOP, and mean IOP were analyzed as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 369 eyes were randomized to the HMS group, and 187 eyes were randomized to cataract surgery alone. The HMS and NMS groups did not differ with respect to baseline demographic or ocular characteristics. On POD1, the incidence of IOP spike >40 mmHg was significantly higher at 14.4% in the NMS group compared with 1.4% in the HMS group (P < 0.001). The incidence of IOP increase ≥10 mmHg relative to baseline on POD1 was also significantly higher in the NMS group than in the HMS group (22.5% vs. 3.0%, P < 0.001). IOP in the NMS group was significantly higher than in the HMS group (27.6 vs. 17.0 mmHg, P < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, higher baseline IOP predicted higher odds of POD1 IOP spike >40 mmHg, whereas the presence of HMS was associated with a lower likelihood of postoperative IOP spike. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of an HMS at the time of cataract surgery lowered the risk of markedly elevated IOP in the early postoperative period in patients with glaucoma.

Artificial intelligence in glaucoma.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The use of computers has become increasingly relevant to medical decision-making, and artificial intelligence methods have recently demonstrated significant advances in medicine. We therefore provide an overview of current artificial intelligence methods and their applications, to help the practicing ophthalmologist understand their potential impact on glaucoma care. RECENT FINDINGS: Techniques used in artificial intelligence can successfully analyze and categorize data from visual fields, optic nerve structure [e.g., optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fundus photography], ocular biomechanical properties, and a combination thereof to identify disease severity, determine disease progression, and/or recommend referral for specialized care. Algorithms have become increasingly complex in recent years, utilizing both supervised and unsupervised methods of artificial intelligence. Impressive performance of these algorithms on previously unseen data has been reported, often outperforming standard global indices and expert observers. However, there remains no clearly defined gold standard for determining the presence and severity of glaucoma, which undermines the training of these algorithms. To improve upon existing methodologies, future work must employ more robust definitions of disease, optimize data inputs for artificial intelligence analysis, and improve methods of extracting knowledge from learned results. SUMMARY: Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionize the screening, diagnosis, and classification of glaucoma, both through the automated processing of large data sets, and by earlier detection of new disease patterns. In addition, artificial intelligence holds promise for fundamentally changing research aimed at understanding the development, progression, and treatment of glaucoma, by identifying novel risk factors and by evaluating the importance of existing ones.

Risk of Glaucoma Surgery After Corneal Transplant Surgery in Medicare Patients.

PURPOSE: Glaucoma is a well-documented complication of corneal transplants, contributing significantly to ultimate visual loss. Reported incidence of glaucoma following corneal transplants is highly variable, and definitions of posttransplant glaucoma are inconsistent. Here we use glaucoma surgery as a more rigid and specific endpoint to compare rates following different corneal transplant surgeries. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: A 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries from 2010-2013 was obtained and patients were identified with Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for penetrating keratoplasty (PK), endothelial keratoplasty (EK), anterior lamellar keratoplasty (ALK), and keratoprosthesis (KPro). Rates of glaucoma surgery within the same year following the abovementioned corneal transplants were analyzed. Subgroup analyses included patients who carried preexisting glaucoma diagnoses prior to corneal transplant surgery. RESULTS: There were 3098 patients who underwent corneal transplants during the study period, including 1919 EK, 1012 PK, 46 ALK, 32 KPro, and 89 both PK and EK. Rates of glaucoma surgery ranged from 6.1% to 9.4% in the corneal transplant groups, without statistically significant differences among groups. However, 10.0% of patients with preexisting glaucoma required glaucoma surgery following any transplant surgery, compared with 5.3% of patients without preexisting glaucoma. This included 12.4% of PK patients with preexisting glaucoma compared with 2.8% of PK patients without preexisting glaucoma (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Despite literature suggesting that more angle-altering cornea surgeries confer higher risk, we found no statistically significant differences among various transplant groups. Patients with preexisting glaucoma, however, had higher risk of glaucoma surgery within the same year following corneal transplant surgery, which was especially pronounced in the PK group. These patients require special care when considering long-term effects of corneal transplants.

Enucleation versus evisceration in ocular trauma: a retrospective review and study of current literature.

PURPOSE: To compare variables and outcomes from ocular trauma leading to either enucleation or evisceration to better inform surgical decision making. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: We reviewed 441 patients between 2001 and 2012 presenting with ocular trauma to a Level 1 trauma center in Queens, New York; of these, there were 16 enucleations and 6 eviscerations. Retrospective chart review noted age, gender, mechanism of injury, initial and final visual acuity, time to surgery, length of follow-up, pain, degree of motility, and complications. A review of literature in the context of our study was performed. RESULTS: 20 patients were male and 2 patients were female; average age was 44 (SD: 20.0, range 18-91). 9/16 patients were enucleated to prevent sympathetic ophthalmia, whereas only 1/5 patient was eviscerated for this indication (p = 0.1619). No cases of sympathetic ophthalmia were reported over an average follow-up of 316 days. Average length of follow-up varied significantly between the two groups, with an average of 370.4 days (SD: 566.9, range 0-1870) for enucleated eyes and 172.7 days (SD: 146.3, range 0-422) for eviscerated eyes (p = 0.42). Medpor implants were preferred in eviscerations (5/6 eviscerations), whereas hydroxyapatite implants were preferred in enucleations (10/16 enucleations, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical decision-making in ocular trauma is largely based on surgeon preference and experience, with minimal evidence in the literature to support either enucleation or evisceration. We recommend evisceration over enucleation in cases of reliable patient follow-up due to the low incidence of sympathetic ophthalmia.

A novel evolutionarily conserved element is a general transcriptional repressor of p21WAF¹/CIP¹.

The effective induction of p21(WAF1/CIP1/Cdkn1a) (p21) expression in p53-negative cancer cells is an important avenue in cancer management. We investigated the ability of various common chemotherapeutic drugs to induce p21 expression in p53-negative cancer cells and showed that the induction of p21 expression by oxaliplatin is caused by the derepression of a previously unrecognized negative regulatory element with a Sp1/Sp3 palindrome sequence core at -216 to -236 of the p21 proximal promoter. Electrophoretic mobility shift and antibody super-shift assays confirmed the specific binding of Sp1/Sp3, and showed that the oxaliplatin-mediated derepression of p21 transcription was associated with an increased Sp1/Sp3 phosphorylation and binding affinity to the oxaliplatin-responsive element. A search of the ENCODE database for vertebrate-conserved genomic elements identified the Sp1/Sp3 palindrome element as the only vertebrate-conserved element within the 500-bp proximal p21 promoter region, indicating its fundamental importance. In in vivo competition assays, transfected synthetic Sp1/Sp3 palindrome elements derepressed the cotransfected or endogenous p21 promoter in a dosage-dependent manner. This derepression was not seen in oxaliplatin-treated cells, suggesting that the exogenous Sp1/Sp3 palindrome and oxaliplatin had the same downstream signaling target. Taken together, our results revealed, for the first time, this evolutionarily conserved Sp1/Sp3 palindrome element in the proximal p21 promoter that serves as a regulatory repressor to maintain p21 basal level expression.

Experimental and clinical research on treatment of vascular malformations with retained copper needles.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a simple, safe, and effective surgical approach to treat vascular malformations (VM). METHODS: Tissues of vein, heart, liver, and kidney were obtained and pathologically observed from 30 rabbits whose central veins of the ears were retained with copper needles, and the concentration of Cu in serum was measured. In the clinical research, 3 methods were employed to treat 89 patients with VM: (1) retaining copper needles alone; (2) ligaturing lesions and retaining copper needles; (3) retaining copper needles charged with direct current (DC). RESULTS: After the treatment of retaining copper needles, thrombus, fibrosis, and necrosis of the malformed vein walls gradually increased. The effective rate was 95.5%. CONCLUSION: Treatment with copper needles retained in malformed blood vessels leads to denaturalization, fibrosis, and disappearance of the blood vessel structure, and thus it is an effective way to treat VM.

The double-anchoring theory of lightness perception: a comment on Bressan (2006).

Recently, a double-anchoring theory (DAT) of lightness perception was proposed (P. Bressan, 2006), which offers explanations for all the data explained by the original anchoring theory (A. Gilchrist et al., 1999), as well as a number of additional lightness phenomena. Consequently, DAT can account for an unprecedented range of empirical results, potentially explaining everything from the basic simultaneous contrast display to subtle variations of the Gelb effect. In this comment, the authors raised 4 concerns that demonstrate serious theoretical and empirical difficulties for DAT.

[Changes in serum Cu2+ and indexes for liver pathology and biochemistry before and after copper needle retained in central vein of rabbit ears].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the changes in the serum Cu2+ and the indexes for the liver pathology and biochemistry before and after the copper needle retained in the central veins of the rabbit ears. METHODS: Forty-nine New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups: Group A (copper needles retained for 1 d), Group B (3 d), Group C (5 d), Group D (7 d), and Group E (the control group, without any copper needles retained). In each experimental group, there were 10 rabbits, and in the control group there were 9 rabbits. The rabbits in each group were arranged to have their venous blood drawn for determination of the Cu2+ concentration, and for observation on the changes in the liver biochemical indexes for 5 times before and after the copper needles were retained in the central veins of the rabbit ears. At the same time, a piece of the liver tissue in each rabbit was taken for examination of the pathological changes. All the liver samples were given the basic pathological examination; if the liver sample had some extraordinary pathological features, the specific pathological examination would be given, even using the transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: After the copper needles were retained in the central veins of the rabbit ears, the Cu2+ concentration increased with the passing time. The concentrations in the groups were 1. 40+/-0.49 microg/ml in Group A, 1.45+/-0.53 microg/ml in Group B, 2.01+/-0.40 microg/ml in Group C, 2.38+/-0.83 microg/ml in Group D, and 1.34+/-0.45 microg/ml in Group E, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between Group D and Group E (P<0.05). There were no significant changes in the ALT and AST levels when compared with those before the copper needles were retained (P>0.05); however, there was a considerably positive correlation on 1st day (r=0.686, P<0.05), 5th day (r=0.712, P<0.05), and 7th day (r=0.768, P<0.01) when compared with those after the copper needles were retained. The histological examination showed that aseptic inflammation subsided with the time in part of the liver. The Masson staining and the Ag staining showed that there were no obvious changes in the hepatic lobules, with no fibrosis of the liver tissues found under light microscope. CONCLUSION: There are no obvious toxic and side effects on the rabbit liver after the copper needles are retained in its central veins.