Monday Morning Eye Opener, October 26, 2015

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week.

Monday Morning Eye Opener, November 2, 2015

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week.

Monday Morning Eye Opener, November 9, 2015

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week.

Monday Morning Eye Opener, November 16, 2015

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week.

Monday Morning Eye Opener, November 23, 2015

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week.

Identification of the minimal promoter region of the mouse NKX5-3, a transcription factor implicated in eye development.

Early ocular development is controlled by a complex network of transcription factors, cell cycle regulators, and diffusible signalling molecules. Together, these molecules regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis, and specify retinal fate. NKX5-3 is a homeobox transcription factor implicated in eye development. The analysis of the 5'-flanking region of the mouse Nkx5-3 gene revealed a predicted TATA-less promoter sequence between -416 and -166 of the translation start site. To functionally characterise Nkx5-3 promoter activity, serial deletions of the promoter sequence were introduced in pGL-3 basic vector and promoter activity of these 5'- and 3'-deleted constructions was tested in HeLa and CHO cells. Transactivation assays identified a region between -350 and -296 exhibiting promoter-like activity. Combined analysis by deletions and point mutations showed that this sequence, containing multiple Sp1 binding sites was necessary to promote transcriptional activity. Binding of Sp1 to this region was confirmed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation, using an antibody specific for Sp1. Altogether, these results demonstrated that the immediate upstream region of Nkx5-3 gene possessed a strong intrinsic promoter activity in vitro, suggesting a potential role in Nkx5-3 transcription in vivo.

Monday Morning Eye Opener, December 07, 2015

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week.

Monday Morning Eye Opener, December 14, 2015

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week.

Macular dystrophy associated with the mitochondrial DNA A3243G mutation: pericentral pigment deposits or atrophy? Report of two cases and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The A3243G point mutation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is associated with MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes) and MIDD syndromes (maternally inherited diabetes and deafness). Both MELAS and MIDD patients can present with visual symptoms due to a retinopathy, sometimes before the genetic diagnosis is made. CASE PRESENTATION: Patient 1: 46 year-old woman with diabetes mellitus and hearing loss was referred for an unspecified maculopathy detected during screening evaluation for diabetic retinopathy. Visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes. Fundus examination showed bilateral macular and peripapillary hyperpigmented/depigmented areas.Patient 2: 45 year-old woman was referred for recent vision loss in her left eye. History was remarkable for chronic fatigue, migraine and diffuse muscular pain. Visual acuity was 20/20 in her right eye and 20/30 in her left eye. Fundus exhibited several nummular perifoveal islands of retinal pigment epithelium atrophy and adjacent pale deposits in both eyes.Retinal anatomy was investigated with autofluorescence, retinal angiography and optical coherence tomography. Retinal function was assessed with automated static perimetry, full-field and multifocal electroretinography and electro-oculography. Genetic testing of mtDNA identified a point mutation at the locus 3243. CONCLUSION: Observation of RPE abnormalities in the context of suggestive systemic findings should prompt mtDNA testing.

Monday Morning Eye Opener, December 21, 2015

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week.

Monday Morning Eye Opener, January 4, 2016

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week.

Monday Morning Eye Opener, January 11, 2016

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week.

Monday Morning Eye Opener, January 25, 2016

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week.

Monday Morning Eye Opener, February 1, 2016

Weekly Newsletter from the Northwest District Office for libraries containing programs, activities, classes for the upcoming week.