Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Johannes Birtel, Tobias Bauer, Laurenz Pauleikhoff, Theodor Rueber, Martin Gliem, Peter Charbel Issa
Summary: Retinal disease and aging are closely related to lipofuscin, a complex of fluorescent metabolites. The use of red excitation light in fundus autofluorescence (R-AF) imaging overcomes the limitations of short-wavelength excitation light, providing high-quality images and uncovering previously undetected disease features. R-AF signal intensity correlates with lipofuscin abundance and is not affected by photopigment bleaching or macular pigment. R-AF imaging is a promising tool for routine clinical monitoring in retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt disease.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hye Jin Kim, Janet R. Sparrow
Summary: This article discusses the mechanism of action of vitamin A aldehyde bound to opsin protein in the visual cycle, as well as the process of conversion between retinaldehyde and retinol. Additionally, it introduces the pathway of formation of bisretinoid fluorophores from retinaldehyde and the potential harm they may cause.
JOURNAL OF LIPID RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Moosa Zaidi, Gorish Aggarwal, Nishal P. Shah, Orren Karniol-Tambour, Georges Goetz, Sasidhar S. Madugula, Alex R. Gogliettino, Eric G. Wu, Alexandra Kling, Nora Brackbill, Alexander Sher, Alan M. Litke, E. J. Chichilnisky
Summary: In this study, an inference approach was used to determine the light response properties of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) based on their intrinsic electrical features. Two RGC types were identified and their light response models were inferred successfully. The results showed that the inferred models accurately reproduced the measured light responses, indicating the potential of using intrinsic electrical features for sight restoration.
JOURNAL OF NEURAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Andy Moore, Herwart Helmstaedt
Summary: Framesites are polycrystalline diamonds that differ from monocrystalline diamond varieties in many aspects. They have rapid crystallization textures and short mantle residence time, suggesting formation around the same time as the host kimberlite. The high proportion of garnet inclusions in framesites were previously believed to be from a websteritic paragenesis, but the compositional overlap between websteritic and megacryst garnets makes it inconclusive.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bjarke Frost Nielsen, Kim Sneppen, Lone Simonsen
Summary: Superspreading plays a crucial role in the transmission dynamics of emerging infectious diseases. Recent studies have shown its profound impact on outbreak control and the need for further research on the mechanisms and modes of superspreading.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Alex R. Gogliettino, Sasidhar S. Madugula, Lauren E. Grosberg, Ramandeep S. Vilkhu, Jeff Brown, Huy Nguyen, Alexandra Kling, Pawel Hottowy, Wladyslaw Dabrowski, Alexander Sher, Alan M. Litke, E. J. Chichilnisky
Summary: Electrical stimulation of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) with electronic implants can provide artificial vision, but current devices lack precision. This study examines the neural code and effectiveness of focal epiretinal stimulation in the central macaque retina, and suggests the possibility of reproducing high-resolution visual signals with an epiretinal implant.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mohamed Elsamadony, Manabu Fujii, Takayuki Miura, Toru Watanabe
Summary: The study discusses concerns related to the presence of viruses in sewage, particularly focusing on the possible transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2. Further research is needed to prevent the spread of the virus, especially in developing countries, where the feces- and sewage-derived transmission routes may be of significance.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hye Jin Kim, Diego Montenegro, Jin Zhao, Janet R. Sparrow
Summary: The retina and retinal pigment epithelial cells are exposed to visible light, oxygen-rich, and accumulate photoreactive molecules. These molecules, known as bisretinoids, are generated as a byproduct of vitamin A aldehyde activity and can cause reactive oxygen species, leading to photo-oxidation and photolysis. Bisretinoids accumulate in RPE cells with age and are implicated in retinal disease.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Jae Ho Kim, Moon-Moo Kim
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between melanin production and lipofuscin formation, and found that TYR gene knockout cells exhibited decreased melanin production and increased lipofuscin formation.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hanhan Wu, Beijing Zhu, Daijin Li, Jing Xu, Jie Chang, Xiaoye Du, Jingang Cui, Ning Zhang, Teng Zhang, Yu Chen
Summary: This study demonstrates for the first time that Cuscuta chinensis Lam. (CCL) has protective effects on photoreceptors, alleviating the damage caused by photooxidative stress to retinal structure and function, and maintaining immune homeostasis. These findings provide novel evidence supporting the clinical application of CCL in the prevention and treatment of photoreceptor degenerative diseases.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Sriganesh Ramachandra Rao, Steven J. Fliesler
Summary: The tandem-tagged autophagy reporter mouse model is a useful tool for studying autophagy in the retina, but its application depends on various technical and biological factors, including microscope settings, transgene expression, choice of fluorophores, and the presence of lipofuscin autofluorescence.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Giulia Castellani, Gaelle Veyssiere, Michael Karcher, Julienne Stroeve, S. Neil Banas, A. Heather Bouman, S. Andrew Brierley, Stacey Connan, Finlo Cottier, Fabian Grosse, Laura Hobbs, Christian Katlein, Bonnie Light, David McKee, Andrew Orkney, Roland Proud, Vibe Schourup-Kristensen
Summary: The Arctic marine ecosystem is heavily influenced by the seasonality of light, which affects its ecological balance. Climate change is predicted to cause future changes in under-ice light, with potential implications for ecosystems.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sara S. Patterson, Briyana N. Bembry, Marcus A. Mazzaferri, Maureen Neitz, Fred Rieke, Robijanto Soetedjo, Jay Neitz
Summary: This study reveals that the primate retina has the ability to compute motion direction, which is earlier in the visual system than previously thought, through a connectomic reconstruction of the primate ON-starburst amacrine cell (SAC) circuit.
Article
Biology
Yifan Wang, Leo W. Beukeboom, Bregje Wertheim, Roelof A. Hut
Summary: A study on Nasonia vitripennis reveals that circadian photic entrainment in wasps may require pathways similar to those in mammals, including opsin-based photoreception, glutamatergic neurotransmission, and induction of cry2 and npas2 genes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paulo Newton Tonolli, Carlos M. Vera Palomino, Helena C. Junqueira, Mauricio S. Baptista
Summary: Visible light affects human skin in both positive and negative ways, depending on dose and wavelength. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction with endogenous photosensitizers and the subsequent biological responses are poorly understood, leading to its neglect in photoprotection strategies.
JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY
(2023)