Cortical tissue-specific accumulation of the root-specific ns-LTP transcripts in the bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) seedlings

The characterization of a cDNA clone encoding non-specific lipid transfer protein (PvLTP, formerly named PVR3) in the roots of bean seedlings has been previously reported. In this study, we examined the temporal and spatial accumulation of PvLTP mRNA and the effect of the auxin naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) on the accumulation of PvLTP mRNA during root development. In situ hybridization showed that accumulation of PvLTP mRNA is highly tissue-specific. Accumulation was detected in the cortical tissue, but not in other tissues of root, including the quiescent center and root cap. Within the cortical tissue, accumulation of PvLTP mRNA was developmentally regulated; accumulation of PvLTP mRNA was high in the cortical tissue of the proximal and ground meristem and declined as cortical tissue developed further. Since the appropriate distribution of auxin is an important factor responsible for the maintenance of root meristem organization. We examined effect of auxin on the accumulation of PvLTP mRNA in relation to the development of cortical tissue. In bean seedlings grown on medium supplemented with 5 M NAA, morphological alternations, including radial root expansion and abnormal tissue organization in the root apical meristem, were observed. Only faint accumulation signals of PvLTP mRNA were observed in the cortical tissue of proximal meristem region, indicating that cortical tissue development was repressed by exogenous NAA. However, our results suggest that the change in accumulation of PvLTP mRNA is not direct regulatory effect but reflective effect of altered development of cortical tissue that was induced by exogenous NAA. The temporal and spatial accumulation of PvLTP mRNA indicates that PvLTP is a useful marker for the development of cortical tissue in the root tip in bean seedlings.     

Interocular Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Difference in Normal Adults

PurposeTo determine the interocular retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness difference of normal subjects.MethodsBoth eyes of 230 normal adults received peripapillary RNFL thickness measurements using OCT. The effect of ocular cyclotorsion on the RNFL thickness profile was mathematically corrected. The fractional and absolute interocular RNFL thickness differences at 256 points of peripapillary area were calculated. We divided the subjects into 3 groups according to the locations of superior and inferior peak thickness, respectively, and compared the interocular RNFL thickness differences between the subgroups.ResultsThe fractional interocular RNFL thickness difference exhibited smaller regional variations than the absolute interocular difference. The means of fractional interocular differences were 0.100 ± 0.077 in the temporal half area and 0.146 ± 0.105 in the nasal half area, and the tolerance limits for the 95th and 99th distributions were about 0.246 and 0.344 in the temporal half area and 0.293 and 0.408 in the nasal half area, respectively. The fractional interocular differences of subgroups classified by the locations of superior and inferior peak RNFL thickness showed difference at smaller areas than the absolute interocular differences (19 and 8 points versus 49 and 23 points, respectively).ConclusionGlaucoma can be strongly suspected, if interocular fractional RNFL thickness difference is over 25% at 5 consecutive points or over 35% at 3 consecutive points in the temporal half area. The fractional interocular comparison is a better diagnostic approach because the fractional interocular RNFL thickness difference is less influenced by the locations of peak RNFL thickness.     

Clinical Effect of Antioxidant Glasses Containing Extracts of Medicinal Plants in Patients with Dry Eye Disease: A Multi-Center,Prospective, Randomized,Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled Trial

Purpose

To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of wearable antioxidant glasses containing extracts of medicinal plants in patients with mild dry eye disease (DED).

Methods

Fifty patients with mild DED were randomly assigned to wear either extracts of antioxidant medicinal plants containing (N = 25) or placebo glasses (N = 25). Patients wore the glasses for 15 min three times daily. The ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score, tear film break up time (BUT), and Schirmer’s test were evaluated and compared within the group and between the groups at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after treatment.

Results

OSDI score and tear film BUT were significantly improved in the treatment group at 4 and 8 weeks after wearing glasses (all P < 0.001). Compared to the placebo group, the OSDI scores were significantly lower in the treatment group at 8 weeks (P = 0.007). The results of the Schirmer’s test showed significant improvement in the treatment group at 4 weeks (P = 0.035), however there were no significant differences between the other groups or within the groups. No adverse events were reported during the study.

Conclusions

Antioxidant glasses containing extracts of medicinal plants were effective in improving in DED both subjectively and objectively. Wearing antioxidants glasses might be a safe and adjunctive therapeutic option for DED.

Trial Registration

ISRCTN registry 71217488     

Fluorescence Recovery after Merging a Droplet to Measure the Two-dimensional Diffusion of a Phospholipid Monolayer

We introduce a new method to measure the lateral diffusivity of a surfactant monolayer at the fluid-fluid interface, called fluorescence recovery after merging (FRAM). FRAM adopts the same principles as the fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) technique, especially for measuring fluorescence recovery after bleaching a specific area, but FRAM uses a drop coalescence instead of photobleaching dye molecules to induce a chemical potential gradient of dye molecules. Our technique has several advantages over FRAP: it only requires a fluorescence microscope rather than a confocal microscope equipped with high power lasers; it is essentially free from the selection of fluorescence dyes; and it has far more freedom to define the measured diffusion area. Furthermore, FRAM potentially provides a route for studying the mixing or inter-diffusion of two different surfactants, when the monolayers at a surface of droplet and at a flat air/water interface are prepared with different species, independently.     

Trichoderma songyi sp. nov., a new species associated with the pine mushroom (Tricholoma matsutake)

A new species, Trichoderma songyi, was found to be associated with the pine mushroom (Tricholoma matsutake) in Korea. This species was isolated from three different substrates: Tricholoma matsutake basidiomata, as well as roots of Pinus densiflora and soil in the fairy ring. Based on its molecular and phenotypic characteristics, we demonstrate that Trichoderma songyi is unique and distinguishable from closely related species. We performed phylogenetic analyses based on two molecular markers, the genes for both translation elongation factor 1-alpha and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II. Phylogenetic analyses showed that Trichoderma songyi is closely related to Trichoderma koningii aggregate and Trichoderma caerulescens. Morphologically, Trichoderma songyi can be distinguished from these closely related taxa by its growth rates, colony morphology on PDA in darkness, and coconut-like odour. Due to the economic importance of the pine mushroom, the relationship between Trichoderma songyi and Tricholoma matsutake should be studied further.     

Fenofibrate but not fenofibric acid inhibits 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 in C2C12 myotubes

Microtubules (MTs) play an important role in cell division, and their functions are regulated by a set of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). Tubulin polymerization promoting protein family member 3 (TPPP3), also known as p20, is a new member of the tubulin polymerization promoting protein (TPPP) family. Previous studies have demonstrated that TPPP3 specifically binds to MTs and positively regulates MTs assembly, which leads to significant ultrastructural alterations of the MTs network. However, the physiological function of TPPP3 is still largely unknown. In the present study, we showed that knockdown of endogenous TPPP3 by RNA interference (RNAi) suppressed cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest in HeLa cells. Furthermore, we showed that the depletion of TPPP3 caused mitotic abnormalities, such as the formation of multipolar spindles and chromosome segregation errors, which lead to apoptosis in HeLa cells. Our study suggested that TPPP3 played a crucial role in cell mitosis by regulating centrosomes amplification and/or spindles translocation processes.     

Novel pyrimidines as acid pump antagonists (APAs)

A series of pyrimidine derivatives as acid pump antagonists (APAs) was synthesized and the inhibitory activities against H⁺/K⁺ ATPase isolated from hog gastric mucosa were determined. After elaborating on substituents at C2 and C4 position of the pyrimidine scaffold, we have observed that the compound 7h is a potent APA with H⁺/K⁺ ATPase, IC₅₀ = 52 nM.     

Novel 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridines as acid pump antagonists (APAs)

A series of 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridines as acid pump antagonists (APAs) was synthesized and the inhibitory activities against H⁺/K⁺ ATPase isolated from hog gastric mucosa were determined. After elaborating on substituents at N1, C5, and C7 position of 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine scaffold, we have observed that compounds 14f and 14g are potent APAs with H⁺/K⁺ ATPase IC₅₀ = 28 and 29 nM, respectively.