No abstract

Horseflies are economically important blood-feeding arthropods and also a nuisance for humans and vectors for filariasis. They rely heavily on the pharmacological properties of their saliva to get a blood meal and suppress immune reactions of hosts. Little information is available on antihemostatic substances in horsefly salivary glands; especially no horsefly immune suppressants have been reported. By proteomics or peptidomics and coupling transcriptome analysis with pharmacological testing, several families of proteins or peptides, which act mainly on the hemostatic system or immune system of the host, were identified and characterized from 30,000 pairs salivary glands of the horsefly Tabanus yao (Diptera, Tabanidae). They are: (i) a novel family of inhibitors of platelet aggregation including two members, which possibly inhibit platelet aggregation by a novel mechanism and act on platelet membrane, (ii) a novel family of immunosuppressant peptides including 12 members, which can inhibit interferon-␥ production and increase interleukin-10 secretion, (iii) a serine protease inhibitor with 56 amino acid residues containing anticoagulant activity, (iv) a serine protease with anticoagulant activity, (v) a protease with fibrinogenolytic activity, (vi) three families of antimicrobial peptides including six members, (vii) a hyaluronidase, (viii) a vasodilator peptide, which is an isoform of vasotab identified from Hybomitra bimaculata, and interestingly (ix) two metallothioneins, which are the first metallothioneins reported from invertebrate salivary glands. The current work will facilitate the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the ectoparasite-host relationship and help in identifying novel vaccine targets and novel leading pharmacological compounds. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 7:582-590, 2008.

Species-level DNA phylogenies frequently suffer from two shortcomings--gene trees usually are constructed from a single locus, and often species are represented by only one individual. To evaluate the effect of these two shortcomings, we tested phylogenetic hypotheses within the wigeons and allies, a clade of Anas ducks (Anatidae) composed of five species. We sequenced two nuclear introns from the Z-chromosome-linked chromo-helicase binding protein gene (CHD1Zb and CHD1Za) and the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region for multiple individuals sampled from widespread geographic locations. We compared these phylogenies to previously published phylogenies constructed from morphology and protein coding regions of mtDNA. Relative to other nuclear introns, CHD showed remarkable phylogenetic utility. Of the 26 CHD1Zb alleles identified, only one was shared between two species, and the combined CHD datasets revealed that four of the five species were consistent with monophyly. Several species shared mtDNA haplotypes, which probably was a result of interspecific hybridization. Overall, the nuclear CHD tree and the mtDNA tree were more congruent with coding regions of mtDNA than they were with morphology.

BackgroundFor patients who experience dry eye after phacoemulsification, vision and quality of life can significantly deteriorate. In this study, the efficacy and safety of carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC) 1% ophthalmic solution combined with conventional therapy in treating dry eye signs and symptoms after phacoemulsification were evaluated.MethodsIn this prospective, multicenter, open-label, controlled study, 180 patients with age-related cataract were randomized to treatment with conventional therapy plus CMC 1% (n = 90) or to conventional therapy only (control group, n = 90) after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. Tear breakup time (TBUT), the Schirmer test with anesthesia, and fluorescein and lissamine green staining were performed. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire and a patient subjective symptom evaluation were administered preoperatively (baseline) and postoperatively at 7 and 30 days.ResultsTBUT was significantly longer in the treatment group compared with the control group at day 7 (8.5 ± 5.5 versus 6.6 ± 3.8 s; P = 0.0475) and day 30 (9.0 ± 5.9 versus 6.7 ± 4.8 s; P = 0.0258) after surgery. Compared with baseline, TBUT significantly increased in patients in the treatment group (P < 0.001 at both day 7 and day 30) with a presurgical diagnosis of dry eye, but significantly decreased in patients in the control group (P < 0.02 at both day 7 and day 30) with no prior diagnosis of dry eye. Fluorescein and lissamine staining, OSDI questionnaire and subjective symptom scores all improved from baseline, with no significant differences between the two groups. No significant differences in tolerability and safety were observed between the group receiving CMC and conventional therapy, and those receiving conventional therapy only.ConclusionTreatment with CMC 1% can provide significant improvement in tear film stability after phacoemulsification for age-related cataract.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02028754 (Date of registration: Jan. 6, 2014).

The incidence of acute postoperative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery in tertiary care hospitals of China was 0.033%. Intraoperative communication with vitreous was a major risk factor for developing endophthalmitis. Prophylactic use of a high-concentration vancomycin and tobramycin may play a positive role in the prevention of postoperative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery.

The high prevalence of cataract and high rate of VI from ARC in the adult Chinese population remains a severe public health problem. Cataract surgery remains insufficient in mainland China and poor visual outcomes were frequent. Surgical complications and PCO were important avoidable causes that attributed to poor visual outcomes after cataract surgeries.

Cataract is the most common eye disease that causes blindness in patients. Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation is considered an important factor leading to cataract by inducing apoptosis in human lens epithelial cells (HLECs), but the mechanism is currently unclear. In this study, we investigated HLECs under different intensities of UVB irradiation and different exposure time. The annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide staining results showed that UVB irradiation could efficiently lead to HLECs apoptosis in time- and dose-dependent manner. The expression of pro-apoptotic Bax gene was promoted by UVB irradiation, while anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 gene expression was inhibited at both transcript and protein levels. Notably, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 displayed a high and positive correlation to the proportion of apoptotic HLECs. Mitochondrial dysfunction was also observed with rapid loss of potential (∆Ψ m), as well as changes of the levels of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, total antioxidative capabilities, and superoxide dismutase. In caspase pathway, the level of caspase-3 protein increased after UVB irradiation. All these discovered changes may play important roles in UVB-induced HLECs apoptosis, and would be helpful in understanding the mechanism of UVB-induced cataract and providing potential prevention and treatment strategies.

BackgroundTo report clinical features and risk factors of post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis (PE) due to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.MethodsA retrospective case review from December 10, 2010 to April 7, 2011 was performed at the Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University. Data were collected for surgical details, disease characteristics, antibiotic sensitivity of the pathogen, and treatment response. Visual outcomes were examined with a minimum follow-up of 12 months.ResultsFourteen cases of S. maltophilia endophthalmitis were identified. The onset of infection occurred from 1–56 days postoperatively (median, 13.5 days). Obvious cellular reactions were found in all patients in the anterior chamber, along with the absence of pupil synechia. Retinal periphlebitis was an early sign of PE. S. maltophilia was positive in eight patients (57.1%). The fluids from aspiration tubes revealed the same bacteria, which were resistant to multiple drugs (e.g., amino glycosides, most of the β-lactams, aztreonam, imipenem, and ciprofloxacin), except levofloxacin. Compared with the culture-negative group, the infection was more rapid, more severe, and more difficult to control in the culture-positive group. Among 14 patients, 11 patients (78.6%) underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with intravitreal injection. Three patients had PPV twice, and three patients had intraocular lens and capsular bag removal. A final visual acuity of ≥20/100 was achieved by 13/14 patients (92.9%). Complications included retinal detachment in three cases (21.4%) and recurrence of infection in two cases (14.8%). Statistical analysis showed that age over 90 years and posterior capsule rupture were risk factors of infection (P = 0.034 and P = 0.034, respectively). The phacoemulsifier allowed potential contamination between the aspiration and irrigation tubes.ConclusionsS. maltophilia should be considered a pathogenic organism of PE. The infection often occurs in older patients with posterior capsule rupture. Intravitreal or systemic administration of effective antibiotics and earlier initial PPV may contribute to better clinical outcomes. Tubes with connections between aspiration and irrigation should be avoided during surgery.