Anterior Lamina Cribrosa Insertion in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients and Healthy Subjects

PurposeTo determine using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) whether there are differences in the location of the anterior lamina cribrosa insertion (ALI) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients and healthy subjects.MethodsFifty three eyes from 53 patients with POAG, and 53 eyes from 53 age-matched healthy subjects were included prospectively in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. Twelve radial line B-scans centered on the optic disc in every half-clock-hour meridian were acquired using SS-OCT. The ALI position was assessed by measuring two parameters: (1) ALI distance (ALID)—the distance from the anterior scleral canal opening (ASCO) to the ALI; and (2) marginal anterior lamina cribrosa surface depth (mALCSD)—the perpendicular distance from the ASCO plane to the anterior lamina cribrosa surface. These parameters were compared between the two groups for each meridian.ResultsBoth ALID (256±54 vs. 209±37 µm, mean ± SD, p<0.001) and mALCSD (232±63 vs. 187±40 µm, p<0.001) were significantly greater in the POAG group than in the normal group. The largest difference was observed at the 6.5 o′clock and 11.5 o′clock meridians for both ALID and mALCSD. Multiple regression analysis revealed a negative correlation between age and both ALID and mALCSD in the control group, and a negative correlation between mean deviation of the visual field test and both ALID and mALCSD in the POAG group.ConclusionsThe ALI was displaced posteriorly in eyes with POAG compared to those of healthy controls. This finding suggests that the posteriorly located lamina cribrosa insertion is an important component of glaucomatous optic nerve excavation.     

Taxonomic Study of Korean Stenopelmatoidea (Orthoptera: Ensifera)

ABSTRACT Eight species of the Stenopelmatoidea (Orthoptera: Ensifera) including two newly recorded Nippancistroger testaceus (Matsumura et Shiraki) and Anoplophilus acuticercus Karny are recognized in Korean fauna. Paratachycines (Hemitachycines) uenoi (Yamasaki) is proposed for junior synonym of Paratachycines (Hemitachycines) baldyrevi (Uvarov). The keys to species, characteristic figures and diagnoses for the newly recorded species are presented.     

Taxonomic Study of Tribe Copiphorini in Korea (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae)

ABSTRACT Five species of the tribe Copiphorini (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Conocephalinae) including a newly recorded species Xestaphrys javanicus Redtenbacher are recognized in Korean fauna. The key to species, characteristic figures, and diagnosis for the newly recorded species are presented.     

Staphylococcus aureus PerR Is a Hypersensitive Hydrogen Peroxide Sensor using Iron-mediated Histidine Oxidation

In many Gram-positive bacteria PerR is a major peroxide sensor whose repressor activity is dependent on a bound metal cofactor. The prototype for PerR sensors, the Bacillus subtilis PerR_BS protein, represses target genes when bound to either Mn²⁺ or Fe²⁺ as corepressor, but only the Fe²⁺-bound form responds to H₂O₂. The orthologous protein in the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, PerR_SA, plays important roles in H₂O₂ resistance and virulence. However, PerR_SA is reported to only respond to Mn²⁺ as corepressor, which suggests that it might rely on a distinct, iron-independent mechanism for H₂O₂ sensing. Here we demonstrate that PerR_SA uses either Fe²⁺ or Mn²⁺ as corepressor, and that, like PerR_BS, the Fe²⁺-bound form of PerR_SA senses physiological levels of H₂O₂ by iron-mediated histidine oxidation. Moreover, we show that PerR_SA is poised to sense very low levels of endogenous H₂O₂, which normally cannot be sensed by B. subtilis PerR_BS. This hypersensitivity of PerR_SA accounts for the apparent lack of Fe²⁺-dependent repressor activity and consequent Mn²⁺-specific repressor activity under aerobic conditions. We also provide evidence that the activity of PerR_SA is directly correlated with virulence, whereas it is inversely correlated with H₂O₂ resistance, suggesting that PerR_SA may be an attractive target for the control of S. aureus pathogenesis.     

Structural and functional characterization of arabidopsis GSK3-like kinase AtSK12

Plant GSK3-like kinases are key regulators that modulate a broad range of physiological processes such as cell growth, stomatal and flower development, responses for abiotic and biotic stress, and carbohydrate metabolism. Arabidopsis Shaggy/GSK3-like kinases (AtSK) consist of ten members that are classified into four subfamilies (I～IV). Only one of these Arabidopsis GSK3s, BIN2 (also named AtSK21), has been characterized by biochemical and genetic studies. BIN2 acts as a negative regulator in brassinosteroid (BR) signaling that controls cell growth and differentiation. Recent studies suggest that at least seven AtSKs are involved in BR signaling. However, specificities for the substrates and the functional differences of each member of the family remain to be determined. Here we report structural characteristics and distinct function of AtSK12 compared with BIN2. AtSK12 has a longer N-terminal extension, which is absent in BIN2. Transgenic plants overexpressing the AtSK12 mutant carrying deletion of Nterminal region display more severe dwarf phenotypes than those of the wild-type AtSK12. Microscopic analysis reveals that N-terminal-deleted AtSK12 accumulates in the nucleus. This implies that structural difference in the Nterminal region of AtSK members contributes to their subcellular localization. In contrast to BIN2, overexpression of AtSK12 does not cause a stomatal cluster. Furthermore, we show that YODA MAPKKK, which controls stomatal development, interacts with BIN2 but not with AtSK12. Our results suggest that AtSK12 mediates BR-regulated cell growth but not stomatal development while BIN2 regulates both processes. Our study provides evidence that different GSK3 members can have overlapping but non-identical functions.     

Relationship of Spontaneous Retinal Vein Pulsation with Ocular Circulatory Cycle

Purpose

To determine the timing of spontaneous venous pulsation (SVP) relative to the ocular circulatory cycle by using the movie tool of confocal scanning laser ophthalmoloscope.

Methods

A video recording of the fundus was obtained using a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (Spectralis HRA, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) at 8 frames/s in 47 eyes (15 glaucoma patients and 32 glaucoma suspects) with visible pulsation of both the central retinal artery (CRA) and vein (CRV). The timing of the maximum and minimum diameters of the CRA (CRA_max and CRA_min, respectively) and CRV (CRV_max and CRV_min, respectively) was identified during four pulse cycles. The interval between CRV_min and CRA_min, and between CRV_max and CRA_max was expressed as the number of frames and as a percentage of the ocular circulatory cycle.

Results

The ocular circulatory cycle (from one CRA_max to the next) lasted 7.7±1.0 frames (958.8±127.2 ms, mean±SD), with a mean pulse rate of 62.6 beats/min. The diameter of the CRA was increased for 2.4±0.5 frames (301.9±58.8 ms) and decreased for 5.3±0.9 frames (656.9±113.5 ms). CRV_max occurred 1.0±0.2 frames after CRA_max (equivalent to 13.0% of the ocular circulatory cycle), while CRV_min occurred 1.1±0.4 frames after CRA_min (equivalent to 14.6% of the ocular circulatory cycle).

Conclusions

During SVP, the diameter of the CRV began to decrease at early diastole, and the reduction persisted until early systole. This finding supports that CRV collapse occurs during ocular diastole.     

A Taxonomic Study of Korean Tetrigidae (Orthoptera: Caelifera: Tetrigoidea)

A Taxonomic study of Korean Tetrigidae (Orthoptera: Caelifera: Tetrigoidea) is revised. Twelve species are recognized including two species (Tetrix silvicultrix Ichikawa and T. minor Ichikawa) recorded for the first time in Korea. Keys and photographs of habitus for species are provided.