The effect of cataract surgery on salivary melatonin and sleep quality in aging people

Blue light plays an important role in circadian photoentrainment by stimulating the melanopsin-expressing photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. Age-related cataract causes progressive loss of blue light transmission, which may lead to changes in circadian rhythm and sleep quality. In theory, increased light transmission by cataract surgery may improve circadian misalignment and sleep quality, while the effect of cataract surgery on circadian rhythm is not well understood. In this study, we assessed 30 binocular age-related nuclear cataract patients (aged 72.5 ± 7.2, 16 female) who were eligible for cataract surgery. All the patients underwent phacoemulsification cataract extraction and neutral ultraviolet-only blocking intraocular lens (IOLs) implantation. Visual functions including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), color perception and dark adaptation were assessed. Salivary samples were collected at 1-hour interval from 19:00 to 23:00 48 hours before and after surgery. Salivary melatonin concentration was measured and dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) was calculated subsequently. Sleep quality and daytime alertness were assessed before and a month after surgery using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). All the operated eyes demonstrated significant improvements in BCVA, color perception and dark adaptation after cataract surgery. Salivary melatonin concentration at 23:00 was significantly increased after surgery (P < 0.001). However, the average DLMO did not change significantly after surgery. In addition, PSQI and ESS scores were significantly decreased a month after surgery (P = 0.027, P < 0.001, respectively). In conclusion, cataract surgery promotes blue-light transmission; consequently, it may lead to the increase in nighttime melatonin concentration and improvement in sleep quality as well as daytime alertness.     

Recommended gas transport properties of argon at low density using ab initio potential

The most important transport properties of argon have been calculated using classical kinetic theory expressions in conjunction with high-quality ab initio potential energy values computed by Patkowski and Szalewicz. Dilute gas transport properties have been calculated for the viscosity, thermal conductivity, self-diffusion coefficient and thermal diffusion factor from 83 to 10,000 K. Comparisons between experimental transport property data and values presently calculated indicate that the present theoretical predictions may be employed as recommended values for this set of transport properties over a wide temperature range.     

Persistence and proliferation of a Chinese Metarhizium anisopliae s.s. isolate in the peanut plant root zone

We evaluated the persistence and proliferation of a Chinese Metarhizium anisopliae s.s. isolate (M202-1) at different distances from peanut roots during peanut development. The results showed that the duration, distance from root and depth resulted in significant effects and interactions on the survival of the fungus. The fungal population showed a rapid early decline, followed by a gradual stabilisation or a slight re-establishment. The rhizospheric population declined by 50% within 21 d, faster than other population away from the root. The decline reached the lowest level between days 60 and 90, with levels of 10.8–24.7% of the initial inoculum. In comparison, the rhizospheric population re-established earliest and increased to 52.9% of the initial on day 150. The 3–5-cm shallow layer was more suitable than the 13–15-cm layer for fungal persistence. When Metarhizium was applied outside the 11.5-cm radius around the root, it would diffuse inward in 30 d, causing a significant increase at the rhizosphere on day 90. In accordance with the sampling date corresponding to the root development stage, the results suggest that the rhizosphere of peanut middle–later development was conducive to Metarhizium proliferation, promoting Metarhizium application for pest control in the soil.     

Characterization and Ectopic Expression of a Populus Hydroxyacid Hyd roxyci n nam oylt ra nsferase

Cutinized and suberized cell walls in plants constitute physiologically important environment interfaces. They act as barriers limiting the loss of water and nutrients and protecting against radiation and invasion of pathogens. The roles of cutin- and suberin polyesters are often attributed to their dominant aliphatic components, but the contri- bution of aromatic composition to their physiological function remains unclear. By functionally screening a subset of Populus trichocarpa BAHD/HXXXD acyltransferases, we identified a hydroxycinnamoyltransferase that shows specific transacylation activity on ~0-hydroxyacids using both feruloyl- and p-coumaroyl- CoA as the acyl donors. We named this enzyme P. trichocarpa hydroxyacid/fatty alcohol hydroxycinnamoyltransferase 1 （PtFHT1）. The ectopic expression of the PtFHT1 gene in Arabidopsis increased the incorporation of ferulate in root and seed suberins and in leaf cutin, but not that of p-coumarate, while the aliphatic load in both suberin and cutin polyesters essentially remained unaffected. The overaccumulation of ferulate in lipophilic polyester significantly increased the tolerance of transgenic plants to salt stress treatment; under sub-lethal conditions of salt stress, the ratios of their seed germination and seedling establishment were 50% higher than those of wild-type plants. Our study suggests that, although aromatics are the minor component of polyesters, they play important role in the sealing function of lipidic polymers in planta.     

乙烯在绿豆下胚轴不定根形成中的作用

选择易产生不定根的绿豆下胚轴做试验材料,研究乙烯在不定根形成中的作用。试验指出,乙烯利和乙烯气体在低浓度下(1—5mgL~(-1))促进或不抑制不定根的形成,随着浓度增加,抑制作用加强。IBA促进不定根形成的作用十分显著。IBA和乙烯相结合的试验说明,两者的作用似乎是独立的。可以设想,存在一个适于生根的低内源乙烯的界限,超过这个界限,抑制不定根形成。     

大鼠眼球和泪腺中睫状神经营养因子及其受体的组织定位

目的观察睫状神经营养因子(CNTF)及其受体CNTFRα在大鼠眼球、泪腺上的分布情况.方法取雄性SD大鼠两侧眼球和泪腺,作石蜡切片,用免疫组织化学ABC法染色检测眼球、泪腺中CNTF和CNTFRα的免疫阳性反应.结果 CNTF和CNTFRα的免疫阳性反应产物在眼球和泪腺的组织定位基本相同,包括角膜上皮细胞、固有层神经纤维、角膜细胞、内皮细胞,虹膜上皮细胞,睫状体上皮细胞,晶状体上皮,视网膜色素上皮细胞、苗勒细胞、节细胞层细胞,球结膜上皮细胞,泪腺腺细胞及导管上皮.结论 CNTF及其受体选择性地分布于眼球和泪腺的一些细胞中,且多数细胞与房水和泪液的产生和接触有关.