Sun-like light source design considering non-visual performance to improve working efficiency

With the discovery of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, we have a better understanding of the non-visual effects of lighting. In this study, the optimum spectral power distribution in sunlight of different color temperatures is calculated by MATLAB software. At the same time, the ratio of the non-visual effect and visual effect (K _e,α ) at different color temperatures is calculated according to the sunlight spectrum to evaluate the non-visual and visual effects of white LEDs at the corresponding color temperature. Then based on the characteristics of monochromatic LED spectra, the joint-density-of-states model is used as a mathematical model, and the optimal solution is calculated for its database. According to the calculated combination scheme, Light Tools software is used to optimize and simulate the expected light source parameters. The final color temperature is 7525 K, the color coordinate is (0.2959, 0.3255), and the color rendering index reaches 92. The high efficiency light source has not only the function of lighting, but also the effect of improving work efficiency with lower blue light hazard efficiency of radiation than normal LEDs.

[A Meta-analysis on the relations between short-term exposure to PM(2.5) and both mortality and related emergency visits in China]

Objective: To carry out a quantitative estimate that related to the effects of short-term exposure to PM(2.5) on all-cause mortality and emergency visits in China by using the systematic review and Meta-analysis. Methods: We selected all the studies published before March 2018 from China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, PubMed and EMBASE and data on relative risk (RR), excess risk (ER) and their 95%CIs: appeared in these papers were extracted. According to the differences in the size or direction (heterogeneity) of the results, we computed summary estimates of the effect values using a random-effect or fixed effect model. We also conducted the subgroup analysis and Meta-analysis to have assessed the selected studies for the evidence of study bias. Results: A total of 33 original studies, indexed in databases, were identified. Among those studies, 39 sets of data on mortality and 4 sets of data on emergency were valid to show that within the daily concentration range from 47.7 to 176.7 μg/m(3), for 10 μg/m(3) increases in PM(2.5) concentrations, it would increase the daily numbers of deaths by 0.49% (95%CI: 0.39%-0.59%) and 0.30% (95%CI: 0.10%-0.51%) for all-cause deaths and all-cause emergency-room visits, respectively. For subgroup analysis, the combined effect of PM(2.5) in causing short-term all-cause deaths in the northern areas (ER=0.42%, 95%CI: 0.30%-0.54%) seemed lower than that in the southern areas (ER=0.63%, 95%CI: 0.44%-0.82%). The combined effect of PM(2.5) concentration below 75 μg/m(3) (ER=0.50%, 95%CI: 0.37%-0.62%) was higher than that of PM(2.5) concentration ≥75 μg/m(3) (ER=0.39%, 95%CI: 0.26%-0.52%). Conclusion: Within the concentration range from 47.7 to 176.7 μg/m(3), short-term exposure to current level of PM(2.5) might increase both the all-cause daily mortality and daily emergency visits in China.

Heme oxygenase activity in the internal anal sphincter: effects of nonadrenergic, noncholinergic nerve stimulation

BACKGROUND & AIMS

To date, the exact role of carbon monoxide (CO) in the nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) relaxation is not known. This is partly related to the lack of an appropriate method to measure heme oxygenase (HO) activity in the gastrointestinal tissues.

METHODS

HO activity of the opossum internal anal sphincter (IAS) smooth muscle was determined using a newly developed assay system that used radiolabeled hemin as a substrate. Enzyme activity of the IAS tissues was measured in the basal state, after electric field stimulation (EFS), ganglionic stimulant dimethyl diphenyl piperazinium iodide (DMPP), and neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). The presence and localization of HO was examined by Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry.

RESULTS

NANC nerve stimulation of the IAS smooth muscle by EFS (0.25-5 Hz), DMPP, and VIP caused a significant increase in the HO activity of the IAS. The increase in HO activity by EFS was inhibited by the HO inhibitor Tin protoporphyrin (1 x 10(-4) mol/L). Both HO-1 and HO-2 were present in the IAS tissue extracts, and both enzymes were localized in the neurons of the myenteric plexus. The method for HO activity determination used in the present study was found to be reliable and reproducible.

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggest that the HO pathway may have a role in neurally mediated relaxation of the IAS. The exact site of involvement and the source of HO activity, however, remains to be determined.

Heme oxygenase-2 distribution in anorectum: colocalization with neuronal nitric oxide synthase

Recent investigations have suggested carbon monoxide (CO) as a putative messenger molecule. Although several studies have implicated the heme oxygenase (HO) pathway, responsible for the endogenous production of CO, in the neuromodulatory control of the internal anal sphincter (IAS), its exact role is not known. Nitric oxide, produced by neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) of myenteric neurons, is an important inhibitory neural messenger molecule mediating nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) relaxation of the IAS. The present studies were undertaken to investigate in detail the presence and coexistence of heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) with nNOS in the opossum anorectum. In perfusion-fixed, frozen-sectioned tissue, HO-2 immunoreactive (IR) and nNOS IR nerves were identified using immunocytochemistry. Ganglia containing HO-2 IR neuronal cell bodies were present in the myenteric and submucosal plexuses throughout the entire anorectum. Colocalization of HO-2 IR and nNOS IR was nearly 100% in the IAS and decreased proximally from the anal verge. In the rectum, colocalization of HO-2 IR and nNOS IR was approximately 70%. Additional confocal microscopy studies using c-Kit staining demonstrated the localization of HO-2 IR and nNOS IR in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) of the anorectum. From the high rate of colocalization of HO-2 IR and nNOS IR in the IAS as well as the localization of HO-2 IR and nNOS IR in ICC in conjunction with earlier studies of the HO pathway, we speculate an interaction between HO and NOS pathways in the NANC inhibitory neurotransmission of the IAS and rectum.

Renal type I inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor is reduced in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and mice

The mechanisms underlying glomerular hypertrophy and hyperfiltration in diabetes remain unclear. We have previously demonstrated that the cytokine transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is increased in early diabetic kidney disease and TGF-beta1 inhibits the expression of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-gated calcium channel, the type I IP3 receptor (IP3R), in mesangial cells. To test the hypothesis that reduced type I IP3R may be important in diabetic kidney disease, we evaluated type I IP3R expression in the kidney of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and mice. Two-week-old diabetic rats have decreased renal type I IP3R protein and mRNA levels. Immunostaining of normal rat kidney demonstrated presence of type I IP3R in glomerular and vascular smooth muscle cells, whereas diabetic rats had reduced staining in both compartments. Reduction of type I IP3R also occurred in parallel with renal hypertrophy, increased creatinine clearance, and increased renal TGF-beta1 expression in the diabetic rats. Two-week-old diabetic mice also had reduced renal type I IP3R protein and mRNA expression in association with renal hypertrophy and increased TGF-beta1 mRNA expression. These findings demonstrate that there is reduced type I IP3R in glomerular and vascular smooth muscle cells in the diabetic kidney, which may contribute to the altered renal vasoregulation and renal hypertrophy of diabetes.

Study on binding of REEs with water-soluble polysaccharides in fern

The binding of rare earth elements (REEs) with water-soluble polysaccharides of nondeproteinization and deproteinization in the leaves of the fern Dicranopteris dichotoma was studied by molecular activation analysis (MAA). Two cold-water-soluble polysaccharides (extracted by 75% ethanol and 90% ethanol, respectively) and one hot-water-soluble polysaccharide (extracted by 90% ethanol) were separated using biochemical separation techniques. The eight rare earth elements (La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, and Lu) in these polysaccharides were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Our new results showed that the REEs were bound firmly with the water-soluble polysaccharides in the plant, regardless of whether nondeproteinization or deproteinization was used. The molecular-weight (MW) measurement demonstrated that REEs were mainly bound with low-MW (10,000-20,000) polysaccharides.

Leptin receptors in the adrenal medulla of the rat

Leptin is the protein product of the recently cloned obesity gene. Leptin receptor mRNA is found in a number of central and peripheral locations. The hypothalamus is a presumed site of action. However, little is known about the specific locations of the receptor in peripheral organs. Epinephrine has potent anorectic effects and can cause weight loss by a variety of mechanisms. Excretion of epinephrine is reduced in the ob/ob mouse, which lacks leptin, suggesting an effect by leptin on the adrenal medulla. In the current study, the presence of the leptin receptor was identified on epinephrine-secreting cells in the adrenal medulla. Immunohistochemical studies found dense leptin receptor-like immunoreactivity in the adrenal medulla with no labeling in the adrenal cortex. Double immunofluorescent labeling confirmed that the leptin receptor was present on cells that were phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase-like immunoreactive and therefore were epinephrine-secreting cells. Leptin receptor mRNA in the adrenal medulla was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, with the majority of the mRNA coding for the short isoform (Ob-Ra) of the receptor. Finally, autoradiography was performed using 125I-labeled leptin; specific binding was found in the adrenal medulla, with no specific binding in the adrenal cortex. These results suggest that leptin may have a direct effect on epinephrine-secreting cells in the adrenal medulla. Epinephrine may play a role in mediating the effects of leptin to reduce body weight.

Autoradiographic localization of leptin binding in the choroid plexus of ob/ob and db/db mice

The obese gene product, leptin, is synthesized in adipose tissue and is a circulating factor regulating body weight. To identify the location of leptin receptors in the brain we have performed an autoradiographic study of the binding of [(125)I]leptin to frozen sections of mouse brain. Dense specific binding of [(125)I]leptin was found only in the choroid plexus which is located in the dorsal part of the third ventricle and lateral ventricles. Specific binding of [(125)I]leptin was found the ob/ob and db/db mice. These findings further our understanding of the sites and mechanism of action of leptin on brain centers regulating body weight.

Structure assignment by retention index in gas-liquid radiochromatography of substituted cyclohexenes

Substituents and functional groups cause increase in retention indexes of six-membered ring compounds on apolar and polar columns. These retention index increments (delta I) are characteristic and structure-dependent showing a structure-retention index relationship. The delta I values obtained for methyl and halogen atom substitution, cyclohexenes, and cyclohexanes are useful for predictive purpose in tritium labeling studies for tentative structure assignment of radioactive intermediates not amenable to analysis by conventional techniques.