Characterization of Individuals with High-Frequency Artificial Tear Supplement Use.

: We aimed to investigate dry eye parameters as potential predisposing factors and estimate the prevalence of high-frequency topical eye drop usage. : A total of 5594 dry eye patients treated between November 2015 and June 2022 were included. High users ( = 180) were those who applied at least one artificial tear drop per hour, whereas those who used artificial tears fewer than four times daily were classified as low users ( = 5414).

A rare case of an endobronchial mass due to Neurospora intermedia.

The ascomycete filamentous fungus Neurospora intermedia is commonly used in the food industry and considered nonpathogenic to humans. This study characterizes four N. intermedia isolates recovered from three patients.

Diploid and tetraploid genomes of Acorus and the evolution of monocots.

Monocots are a major taxon within flowering plants, have unique morphological traits, and show an extraordinary diversity in lifestyle. To improve our understanding of monocot origin and evolution, we generate chromosome-level reference genomes of the diploid Acorus gramineus and the tetraploid Ac. calamus, the only two accepted species from the family Acoraceae, which form a sister lineage to all other monocots.

Species distribution and antifungal susceptibility of clinical Aspergillus isolates: A multicentre study in Taiwan, 2016-2020.

Background: Epidemiological knowledge is important to guide antifungal therapy.

Objective: This multicentre study aimed to investigate the species distribution and antifungal susceptibility of Aspergillus isolates in Taiwan.

Method: Four hundred and ninety-two clinical Aspergillus isolates, collected during 2016-2020, were identified by calmodulin sequencing and tested for antifungal susceptibility using CLSI M38-A3.

OrchidBase 5.0: updates of the orchid genome knowledgebase.

Containing the largest number of species, the orchid family provides not only materials for studying plant evolution and environmental adaptation, but economically and culturally important ornamental plants for human society. Previously, we collected genome and transcriptome information of Dendrobium catenatum, Phalaenopsis equestris, and Apostasia shenzhenica which belong to two different subfamilies of Orchidaceae, and developed user-friendly tools to explore the orchid genetic sequences in the OrchidBase 4.0.

Association between Dry Eye Parameters Depends on Tear Components.

How tear components contribute to dry-eye symptoms/signs remains less well-defined. This observational cross-sectional study enrolled 4817 (F/M = 3590/1227) patients. Subjective symptoms were evaluated with the SPEED and OSDI questionnaires.

Dermatochalasis Aggravates Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Related Dry Eyes.

This study aimed to investigate the relationships between subjective symptoms, objective signs, and dermatochalasis severity in dry-eye patients and the effects of lid hygiene on dry-eye parameters. We retrospectively enrolled 2328 patients who underwent dry-eye examinations and classified them into four groups by dermatochalasis severity. The SPEED and OSDI questionnaires were used to evaluate subjective symptoms.

Genomes of leafy and leafless Platanthera orchids illuminate the evolution of mycoheterotrophy.

To improve our understanding of the origin and evolution of mycoheterotrophic plants, we here present the chromosome-scale genome assemblies of two sibling orchid species: partially mycoheterotrophic Platanthera zijinensis and holomycoheterotrophic Platanthera guangdongensis. Comparative analysis shows that mycoheterotrophy is associated with increased substitution rates and gene loss, and the deletion of most photoreceptor genes and auxin transporter genes might be linked to the unique phenotypes of fully mycoheterotrophic orchids. Conversely, trehalase genes that catalyse the conversion of trehalose into glucose have expanded in most sequenced orchids, in line with the fact that the germination of orchid non-endosperm seeds needs carbohydrates from fungi during the protocorm stage.

Age affects intraocular lens attributes preference in cataract surgery.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of age on intraocular lens (IOL) attributes preference.

Materials And Methods: We enrolled 4213 eyes that underwent smooth phacoemulsification and IOL implantation between January 2005 and June 2018. Patients were subdivided into six groups according to their ages, i.

OrchidBase 4.0: a database for orchid genomics and molecular biology.

Background: The Orchid family is the largest families of the monocotyledons and an economically important ornamental plant worldwide. Given the pivotal role of this plant to humans, botanical researchers and breeding communities should have access to valuable genomic and transcriptomic information of this plant. Previously, we established OrchidBase, which contains expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from different tissues and developmental stages of Phalaenopsis as well as biotic and abiotic stress-treated Phalaenopsis.

Fibroblast-enriched endoplasmic reticulum protein TXNDC5 promotes pulmonary fibrosis by augmenting TGFβ signaling through TGFBR1 stabilization.

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a major public health problem with limited therapeutic options. There is a clear need to identify novel mediators of PF to develop effective therapeutics. Here we show that an ER protein disulfide isomerase, thioredoxin domain containing 5 (TXNDC5), is highly upregulated in the lung tissues from both patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and a mouse model of bleomycin (BLM)-induced PF.

Author Correction: The Apostasia genome and the evolution of orchids.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

A chalcone derivative, 1m-6, exhibits atheroprotective effects by increasing cholesterol efflux and reducing inflammation-induced endothelial dysfunction.

Background And Purpose: Atherosclerosis, resulting from lipid dysregulation and vascular inflammation, causes atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), which contributes to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Chalcone and its derivatives possess beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antitumour activity with unknown cardioprotective effects. We aimed to develop an effective chalcone derivative with antiatherogenic potential.

Expression regulation of MALATE SYNTHASE involved in glyoxylate cycle during protocorm development in Phalaenopsis aphrodite (Orchidaceae).

Orchid (Orchidaceae) is one of the largest families in angiosperms and presents exceptional diversity in lifestyle. Their unique reproductive characteristics of orchid are attracted by scientist for centuries. One of the synapomorphies of orchid plants is that their seeds do not contain endosperm.

Carvedilol Ameliorates Experimental Atherosclerosis by Regulating Cholesterol Efflux and Exosome Functions.

Carvedilol (Cav), a nonselective β-blocker with α1 adrenoceptor blocking effect, has been used as a standard therapy for coronary artery disease. This study investigated the effects of Cav on exosome expression and function, ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) expression, and cholesterol efflux that are relevant to the process of atherosclerosis. Human monocytic (THP-1) cell line and human hepatic (Huh-7) cells were treated with Cav, and cholesterol efflux was measured.

Deficiency of nuclear receptor interaction protein leads to cardiomyopathy by disrupting sarcomere structure and mitochondrial respiration.

Background: Cardiomyopathy is a common and lethal complication in patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD), one of the most prevalent forms of muscular dystrophy. The pathogenesis underlying LGMD-related cardiomyopathy remains unclear. NRIP (gene name DCAF6), a Ca-dependent calmodulin binding protein, was reduced in dystrophic muscles from LGMD patients.

Interferon-stimulated gene 15 modulates cell migration by interacting with Rac1 and contributes to lymph node metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.

In an effort to understand the underlying mechanisms of lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), through in vivo selection, LN1-1 cells were previously established from OEC-M1 cells and showed enhanced lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis capabilities. In the current study, we use a stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based proteomic platform to compare LN1-1 to OEC-M1 cells. Interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) was found highly expressed in LN1-1 cells.

Zika Virus Infects Intermediate Progenitor Cells and Post-mitotic Committed Neurons in Human Fetal Brain Tissues.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is associated with microcephaly in fetuses, but the pathogenesis of ZIKV-related microcephaly is not well understood. Here we show that ZIKV infects the subventricular zone in human fetal brain tissues and that the tissue tropism broadens with the progression of gestation. Our research demonstrates also that intermediate progenitor cells (IPCs) are the main target cells for ZIKV.

The Apostasia genome and the evolution of orchids.

Constituting approximately 10% of flowering plant species, orchids (Orchidaceae) display unique flower morphologies, possess an extraordinary diversity in lifestyle, and have successfully colonized almost every habitat on Earth. Here we report the draft genome sequence of Apostasia shenzhenica, a representative of one of two genera that form a sister lineage to the rest of the Orchidaceae, providing a reference for inferring the genome content and structure of the most recent common ancestor of all extant orchids and improving our understanding of their origins and evolution. In addition, we present transcriptome data for representatives of Vanilloideae, Cypripedioideae and Orchidoideae, and novel third-generation genome data for two species of Epidendroideae, covering all five orchid subfamilies.

Δ20 IFITM2 differentially restricts X4 and R5 HIV-1.

CCR5 (R5)-tropic, but not CXCR4 (X4)-tropic, HIV-1 is associated with primary HIV-1 infection and transmission. Recent studies have shown that IFN-induced transmembrane (IFITM) proteins, including IFITM1, IFITM2, and IFITM3, restrict a broad range of viruses. Here, we demonstrate that an IFITM2 isoform (Δ20 IFITM2) lacking 20 amino acids at the N terminus differentially restricts X4 and R5 HIV-1.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate Reduces Scavenger Receptor A Expression and Foam Cell Formation in Human Macrophages.

Foam cells are formed when macrophages imbibe low-density lipoprotein (LDL) through scavenger receptors. Here we examined how epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) influences foam cell formation. We found that EGCG dose-dependently reduced oxidized LDL (oxLDL) uptake in THP-1 (10 μM, 20.

The Dendrobium catenatum Lindl. genome sequence provides insights into polysaccharide synthase, floral development and adaptive evolution.

Orchids make up about 10% of all seed plant species, have great economical value, and are of specific scientific interest because of their renowned flowers and ecological adaptations. Here, we report the first draft genome sequence of a lithophytic orchid, Dendrobium catenatum. We predict 28,910 protein-coding genes, and find evidence of a whole genome duplication shared with Phalaenopsis.