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The coding region of Datong yak’s TLR2 gene was amplified and subjected to sequence characterization. The coding region of the Datong yak TLR2 gene comprised a single ORF of 2355 nucleotides that coded for 784 amino acids with translatable products. The coding region of the TLR2 gene of the Datong yak contained two nucleotide mutation sites, namely, G677A and G1587A. G677A exhibited a missense mutation. After comparing nucleotide and amino acid sequences among related species and constructing the phylogenetic relationships, Datong yak sequences were shown to be highly similar to those of Bos taurus. The Datong yak TLR2 protein simultaneously possessed leucine-rich repeats, a TIR domain and an aldehyde dehydrogenase active site. Results showed that the protein plays an important role in the body’s immune regulation mechanism.

Using the Global Digital Seismograph Network (GDSN) broadband P wave records and the adaptive hybrid global search algorithm, the rupture process of the 19 March, 1996 Artux, Xinjiang earthquake(MS6.9) is examined. Aftershock data and results of geological and seismic field investigation are applied to constrain the real fault plane. This event occurred in the western part of the Keping Fault zone and is a unilateral-rupture thrust event with a small strike slip component. The fault plane has a strike of 252° and a dip of 30°. The rupture duration was 15 s and the focal depth was 13 km. The inferred slip distribution contains two major slip sources. A sub-event with a slip amplitude of 0.3m and a risetime of 0.8 s is located at the hypocenter. The maximum slip amplitude of 1.0m is associated with a 3.5 s risetime subevent located to the east of the first major slip source. The distance between the two major slip sources is about 25 km, and corresponds with the 30 km difference between the instrumental and macroseismic epicenters.

To demonstrate the difference in proliferative ability and ultramicrostructure of basal limbal epithelial cells in different age group of normal subjects.It is a case-control study.40 specimens of limbus from 40 eyes provided by the eye bank of Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital of Fudan University in 2007 - 2008 were enrolled in this study. Only one eye was enrolled from the same donner. Specimens were divided into 4 groups according to the donners' age: A (0 - 19 years), B (20 - 39 years), C (40 - 59 years) and D (60 - 79 years). Immunohistochemistry of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was performed on 10 specimens of each group. The staining status of limbal epithelium was observed and the staining positive rate of the limbal basal epithelial cells was graded. And transmission electric microscopy was performed on specimens of each group. The morphologic feature of the ultramicrostructure of limbal basal epithelial cells were observed.50% of specimens in group A showed a strong PCNA staining of (++++), while a weak staining of (+) took a main part in all the other 3 groups (B 40%, C 60% and D 50%, respectively). Furthermore, positive nuclear staining of limbal superficial cells was observed in 3 specimens and positive cytoplasm staining was observed in 1 specimen, all in group A. Transmission electric microscopy showed that the stem cell-like cells in group A possessed 3 morphologic features: extremely small, stretching along the basal membrane, with densely packed heterochromatin. In contrast, the stem cell-like cells in the other 3 groups did not show great disparity in cell size with their neighbor epithelial cells, and they stretched vertically to the basal membrane, with dispersed euchromatin.Difference in proliferative ability and ultramicrostructure of basal limbal epithelial cells was found in different age group of normal subjects.

To demonstrate the variations in the niche of limbal stem cells and the limbal basal epithelial cells in vivo by confocal microscopy.One hundred and twenty eyes of 120 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study after a routine slit-lamp examination. They were divided into four groups according to the age: group A (0-), group B (20-), group C (40-) and group D (60 - 79). Confocal microscopic examination in vivo was performed and the images of the inferior limbus were recorded. The morphologic features of each group were analyzed and the average size of limbal basal epithelial cells of each group were measured.The morphologic features of limbus varied among groups. 96.7% (29/30) of group A showed clear Vogt Palisades, while 3.3% (1/30) showed no Vogt Palisades. 96.7% (29/30) of group B also showed clear Vogt Palisades, while 3.3% (1/30) showed no Vogt Palisades.70.0% (21/30) of group C showed clear Vogt Palisades, while 13.3% (4/30) showed atrophic Vogt Palisades and 16.7% (5/30) showed no Vogt Palisades at all. 33.3% (10/30) of group C showed clear Vogt Palisades, while 10.0% (3/30) showed atrophic Vogt Palisades and 56.7% (17/30) showed no Vogt Palisades at all. The average size of limbal basal epithelial cells in each group was (9.89 +/- 1.12), (10.65 +/- 1.45), (10.70 +/- 1.39) and (12.22 +/- 1.42) microm in sequence.There is variations in the microenvironment of niche in human limbus. Meanwhile, limbal basal epithelial cells showed different quantity and cell size, demonstrating varied proliferative potential.

To evaluate the morphological changes of cornea in iridocorneal endothelial syndrome (ICE) under the examination of in vivo confocal microscopy.The experimental design was retrospective observation case series. Twenty-three eyes of 23 consecutive patients, each diagnosed as ICE, had their both eyes examined with the in vivo confocal microscopy (NIDEK, confoscan 3.0). The images were recorded and analyzed by software NAVIS. Measurements were performed on endothelium density, average endothelial area, the percentage of hexagonal cells and the percentage of endothelium with nuclei, and the ANOVA was done to assess the differences.In vivo confocal microscopy highlighted two main patterns of endothelial changes: "kite-like" and "epithelial-like" abnormal endothelium, characterised by marked hyperreflective nuclei and loss of regularity in cellular size and shape. With the progression of disease, the endothelium density and the percentage of hexagonal endothelial cells decreased, which were (1687.1 +/- 122.6), (1210.6 +/- 168.7), (947.3 +/- 145.2), (856.8 +/- 73.4) cells/mm2 and (51.5 +/- 6.3)%, (39.8 +/- 9.2)%, (32.7 +/- 8.1)%, (24.1 +/- 5.6)% respectively in detail. In contrast, the average endothelial area the percentage of endothelium with nuclei increased, which were (678.3 +/- 56.3), (928.7 +/- 96.2), (1188.5 +/- 72.6), (1337.5 +/- 60.8) microm2 and (12.6 +/- 1.4)%, (56.8 +/- 3.7)%, (78.7 +/- 5.6)%, (84.3 +/- 2.8)%. The differences all had statistical significance (F = 7.158, 7.736, 6.876, 14.452 respectively, P = 0.000). The morphology of keratocyte and endothelium were normal, compared with the contralateral healthy eyes. However, the stromal nerves became thicker and more tortuous with the disease advancement.The application of confocal microscopy indicates that the ICE is characterised by epithelial-like endothelial cells with hyperreflective nuclei. The technique has great potential in diagnosing ICE, especially in evaluating the disease progression.

As a concentrated location for adult somatic stem cells, the niche plays a crucial role on maintaining the high proliferative ability and the inducing the particular differentiation of the stem cells by providing the special microenvironment containing definite extracellular matrix and niche cells. Nowadays limbal stem cells (LSCs) are the acknowledged adult somatic stem cells of corneal epithelium. Rapid progress has been accomplished in the theory and clinical practice on LSCs. However, the understanding on its niche has obviously fallen behind. This review summarized and analyzed the status quo of the study on niche of LSCs, mainly through the following aspects: the precise location of the niche was described as limbal epithelial crypts; the blood-derived and stroma-derived cytokine could regulate the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of LSCs by triggering particular intracellular information pathway; the survival and function of LSCs could be influenced by damaged niche microenvironment, while the differentiation of LSCs could be veered by another type of niche; in ex vivo LSCs expansion, reconstruction of the niche is needed and could be achieved by 3T3 cells or using amniotic membrane as the carrier.

To explore the impact of lens and vitreous resection on the induction of the anterior chamber associated immune deviation (ACAID) in the mice, and its relationship with the time duration postoperatively.The current study was an experimental research. Fifty-one Wistar mice were chosen to involve this study. After the surgeries, 50 Wistar mice were randomly divided into 5 groups. Other 5 SD mice and 1 Wistar mouse were used as the providers of epithelium removed corneal grafts to induce ACAID. Group A: corneal grafts from wistar mouse were implanted into the anterior chamber 1 week after the lens and vitreous resection. Group B: the spleen cells were injected into the nape of neck 1 week after the lens and vitreous resection. The corneal grafts from SD mice were implanted into the anterior chamber 1 week, 4 week and 8 week after the lens and vitreous resection in group C, D and E respectively. To induce the delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH), spleen cells were injected into the right ear pinna 1 week after the neck injection in group B, 2 weeks after the corneal grafts anterior chamber implantation in other groups. At the same time point as the DTH inducement, aqueous humor was collected to measure the concentration of transforming growth factor (TGF) -beta2 and interleukin (IL)-10; heart blood was collected to detect the concentration of IL-4 and IL-10. And the spleens were removed to evaluate the expression of the GATA-3 mRNA by RT-PCR. The eyeballs were enucleated to evaluate the histopathologic changes.(1) The evaluation of DTH. The DTH were found in group B, C, D and E. (2) The analysis of the TGF-beta2 and IL-10 concentrations in aqueous humor and the IL-4, IL-10 concentrations in serum. The concentrations of IL-4 in serum were (4.073 +/- 0.198) ng/L in group A, (5.806 +/- 0.635) ng/L in group B, (5.535 +/- 0.278) ng/L in group C, (4.102 +/- 0.344) ng/L in group D and (5.313 +/- 0.317) ng/L in group E. The concentrations of IL-10 in serum in group A to group E were (7.854 +/- 2.349) ng/L, (25.633 +/- 6.307) ng/L, (40.103 +/- 16.010) ng/L, (14.321 +/- 2.983) ng/L and (28.620 +/- 5.251) ng/L. The IL-10 concentrations in the aqueous humor were (8.857 +/- 0.401) ng/L, (22.882 +/- 3.315) ng/L, (21.548 +/- 0.477) ng/L, (7.742 +/- 0.952) ng/L and (12.119 +/- 0.477) ng/L, respectively. The concentrations of TGF-beta in the aqueous humor were (5.800 +/- 2.899) ng/L in group A, (60.010 +/- 0.000) ng/L in group B, (57.055 +/- 4.179) ng/L in group C, (28.490 +/- 4.144) ng/L in group D and (36.370 +/- 3.169) ng/L in group E. Significant differences were found in concentrations of TGF-beta2 and IL-10 in aqueous humor and the concentrations of IL-4 and IL-10 in serum in group C, D and E. The concentrations of TGF-beta2, IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly lower in group D than those in group C and E. The trend that the concentrations of TGF-beta2, IL-4 and IL-10 increased after one week postoperatively, then decreased, and finally increased again was observed. (3) The expression of GATA-3 mRNA in spleen. The expression values of GATA-3 mRNA were 662.5 +/- 114.4 in group A, 730.7 +/- 53.8 in group B, 881.9 +/- 10.7 in group C, 1288.3 +/- 258.0 in group D and 1129.7 +/- 95.7 in group E. An obvious up-regulation of the GATA-3 mRNA was noted in group D and E.The eye after the lens and vitreous resection lost the ability to induce ACAID in the research duration of this study. But with the gradually decrease of the intraocular inflammation, the ability to induce ACAID might recover with the time.