Pinellia ternata is a medicinal herb of Araceae, and its tubers are used as medicines. It is a common Chinese herbal medicine in China and has a large market demand. When exposing to strong light intensity and high temperature during the growth process, P. ternata withers in a phenomenon known as "sprout tumble", which largely limits tuber production. Shade can effectively delay sprout tumble formation and increase its yield, however the relevant regulation mechanism is unclear. DNA methylation, as a self-modifying response to environmental changes, is often involved in the regulation of plant growth and development. In this study, P. ternata grown under natural light and 90% shading were selected as the control group and the experimental group for genomic DNA methylation analysis by using methylate sensitive amplification polymorphism(MSAP). The results showed that a total of 617 loci were detected with 20 pairs of primers, of which 311 were in the natural light group and 306 in the shading group. The methylation sites in the light and shading groups accounted for 58.2% and 71.57%, respectively, and the methylation ratios in the methylation sites were 27.65% and 29.41%, respectively, indicating that shading significantly induced the genome DNA methylation of P. ternata. Compared to the natural light group, shading promoted 32.51% of the genes methylation, while inducing 16.25% gene demethylation. This study reveals the DNA methylation variation of P. ternata under shading conditions, which lays a preliminary theoretical foundation for further analysis of the mechanism of shading regulation of P. ternata growth from epigenetic level.
China ; DNA Methylation ; Darkness ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Pinellia/radiation effects* ; Plants, Medicinal/radiation effects* ; Sunlight

OBJECTIVES: Bilateral vestibulopathy is characterized with unsteadiness and oscillopsia when walking or standing, worsening in darkness and/or on uneven ground. To establish the effect of customized vestibular rehabilitation in bilateral vestibulopathy, we analyzed the questionnaires and functional status before and after treatment. METHODS: Among 53 patients with customized vestibular rehabilitation from January 1st to November 30th in 2018, 6 patients (3 males; median age, 71 years; range, 54–75 years) who regularly exercised with good compliance were retrospectively enrolled. They were educated and trained the customized vestibular rehabilitation once a month or two by a supervisor during 40 minutes, and then exercised at home for 30 minutes over 5 days in a week. Dizziness handicap inventory (DHI), Korean vestibular disorders activities of daily living scale (vADL), Beck's depression index (BDI), test for dynamic visual acuity (DVA), and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) were performed before and after the customized vestibular rehabilitation. RESULTS: The patients exercised for median 5.5 months (range, 2–10 months) with the customized methods of vestibular rehabilitation, which included gaze and posture stabilization and gait control exercises. DHI score and TUG was improved after rehabilitation (DHI before vs. after rehabilitation=33 vs. 16, p=0.027, TUG before vs. after rehabilitation=12 vs. 10, p=0.026). BDI, DVA, and vADL scores did not differ between before and after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Customized vestibular rehabilitation can improve dizziness and balance state in bilateral vestibulopathy. The steady exercises adapted individual peculiarities is the most important for vestibular rehabilitation.
Activities of Daily Living ; Compliance ; Darkness ; Depression ; Dizziness ; Exercise ; Gait ; Humans ; Male ; Pilot Projects ; Posture ; Rehabilitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity ; Walking

Dark circles refer to visible darkness of the infra-orbital areas. Dark circles are a cosmetic concern for many individuals, although not a medical concern. Moreover, clear definitions and possible causes of dark circles have not been elucidated. This study reviews the possible causes and treatment options for dark circles based on a review of the medical literature and the authors' clinical experience. Potential factors that contribute to dark circles include excessive pigmentation, shadowing due to tear troughs and infra-orbital fat herniation, shadowing due to infraorbital laxity and wrinkles, and thin, translucent skin overlying the orbicularis oculi muscle. Given the different possible causes for dark circles, therapeutic modalities must be individualized for each patient. Because various factors cause dark circles, it is useful to identify the underlying causes in order to select the appropriate treatment.
Darkness ; Humans ; Pigmentation ; Shadowing (Histology) ; Skin ; Tears

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to understand and explore the essences of Korean mothers' experiences of caring for visually impaired children. METHODS: Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews using open-ended questions. Five mothers of children with visual impairments participated in the interviews. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: Analysis with Colaizzi's method showed two categories which included 14 themes in 4 theme clusters. The first category was ‘surviving in the dark reality’ included 2 theme clusters, of ‘outcrying in the darkness’ and ‘enduring the darkness while caring for my child alone’. The second category was ‘living as the light of maternal affection’ including 2 theme clusters of ‘preparing the light to shine in the darkness’ and ‘going through the darkness with the lights of love’. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study provide deep understanding of mothers' experiences of caring for visually impaired children. Based on the results of the study, health professionals can develop effective family nursing interventions to improve the quality of life for these families including the visually impaired children and their mothers.
Child* ; Darkness ; Family Nursing ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Methods ; Mothers ; Quality of Life ; Vision Disorders

OBJECTIVES: We investigated clinical significance of head shaking nystagmus (HSN) and perverted HSN (pHSN) in patients with peripheral and central vestibular disorders. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of 822 consecutive subjects who were referred to a dizziness clinic. We performed neurologic examination including video-oculography in darkness for 60 seconds before, during and for 100 seconds after head-shaking. HSN was considered to develop when post-head-shaking nystagmus last at least 5 beats with latency from end of head-shaking of no more than 5 seconds, and a velocity at least 3°/sec. RESULTS: In control group (n=45), there were observed spontaneous nystagmus (SN) in 2.2%, HSN in 17.8%, pHSN in 6.7%. In patients with peripheral vestibular disorder group (n=397), there were observed SN in 14.1%, HSN in 40.6%, pHSN in 9.8%. In patients with central vestibular disorder group (n=217), there were observed SN in 17.5%, HSN in 24.0%, pHSN in 13.4%. In unspecified dizziness group (n=208), there were observed SN in 1.9%, HSN in 13.0%, pHSN in 1.9%. pHSN was frequently observed in central vestibular disorders such as stroke, vestibular migraine, cerebellar ataxia, and vertebro-basilar insufficiency. However, pHSN was also observed at higher rate than expected in peripheral vestibular disorders including benign paroxysmal positional vertigo especially involving vertical canals, Meniere disease and even in unilateral vestibulopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that perverted HSN in dizzy populations was frequently observed not only in cases of central vestibular disorders but also in peripheral disorders. Perverted HSN can develop by any conditions that cause difference in vestibular velocity storage in vertical component of vestibular-ocular reflex.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; Cerebellar Ataxia ; Darkness ; Dizziness ; Head ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Meniere Disease ; Migraine Disorders ; Neurologic Examination ; Reflex ; Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular ; Stroke ; Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency ; Vertigo ; Vestibular Function Tests

The epiphytic orchid, Dendrobium aphyllum and D. devonianum are used as traditional Chinese medicine, and became locally endangered in recent years because of over-collection. We test the effect of inoculations of endophytic fungi FDaI7 (Tulasnella sp.), FDd1 (Epulorhiza sp. ) and FCb4 (Epulorhiza sp.), which isolated from D. aphyllum, D. denonianum and Cymbidium mannii, respectively, on artificial substrate in these two Dendrobium species. In the symbiotic germination experiment, FDaI7 and FDd1 were effective for protocorm formation and seedling development of D. aphyllum and D. denonianum separately. After 60 days, 14.46% of the D. aphyllum seeds grown to protocorms and 12.07% developed to seedlings inoculated only with FDaI7, while contrasted with 0 when inoculated the other two isolates and non-inoculation treatment. However, in D. denonianum, seeds only grown to protocorms and developed to seedlings when inoculated with FDd1, the percentages were 44.36% and 42.91% distinguishingly. High specificity was shown in symbiotic germination on artificial substrate of Dendrobium. Protocorms could further develop to seedlings within or without light when inoculated the compatible fungi. However, light condition (12/12 h Light/Dark) produced the normal seedlings, while dark condition (0/24 h L/D) produced the abnormal seedlings. These may suggest that the development of young seedlings require light based on the effective symbiotic fungi. These findings will aid in seedling production of simulation-forestry ecology cultivation, conservation and reintroduction of Dendrobium.
Basidiomycota ; classification ; physiology ; Darkness ; Dendrobium ; classification ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Germination ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Light ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Seedlings ; growth & development ; microbiology ; radiation effects ; Seeds ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis

PURPOSE: Maxillofacial silicone elastomer is usually colored intrinsically with color pigments to match skin colors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the color stability of a maxillofacial silicone elastomer, colored with a thermochromic, color changing pigment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Disc-shaped maxillofacial silicone specimens were prepared and divided into 3 groups: a conventionally colored control group, one group additionally colored with 0.2 wt% thermochromic pigment , and one group with 0.6 wt% thermochromic pigment. Half of the surface of each specimen was covered with an aluminium foil. All of the specimens were exposed to UV radiation in 6 hour cycles over 46 days. In between the UV exposures, half of the specimens were stored in darkness, at room temperature, and the other half was stored in an incubator, at a humidity of 97% and a temperature of +37degrees C. Color measurements were made with a spectrophotometer and registered according to the CIELAB L*a*b* color model system. The changes in L*, a* and b* values during artificial aging were statistically analyzed by using paired samples t-test and repeated measures ANOVA. P-values <.05 were considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: The UV exposure resulted in visually noticeable and statistically significant color changes in the L*, a* and b* values in both of the test groups containing thermochromic pigment. Storage in the incubator lead to statistically significant color changes in the a* and b* values of the specimens containing thermochromic pigment, compared to those stored at room temperature. CONCLUSION: The specimens containing thermochromic pigment were very sensitive to UV radiation, and the thermochromic pigment is not suitable, as such, to be used in maxillofacial prostheses.
Aging ; Darkness ; Humidity ; Incubators ; Maxillofacial Prosthesis ; Silicone Elastomers ; Skin

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of callus induction and culture conditions on secondary metabolic diversity of the callus cell lines of traditional Chinese medicinal plant Glycyrrhiza sp. (Glycyrrhiza) by combined chemical analysis and HPLC fingerprint. These callus induction conditions included two Glycyrrhiza species, two types of explants, light and dark conditions, and two combinations of hormones. The evaluation was firstly based on the contents of total flavonoids in the callus by chemical analysis and one way ANOVA. The content of total flavonoids in callus was significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by Glycyrrhiza species, light condition, and the combination of hormones. The callus was further evaluated using diversity factor based on the comparison of HPLC fingerprints of these callus cell lines. Diversity factor varies significantly for calli induced under different conditions, with the highest being at 0.45 under light condition and combination of hormones. These results provide important knowledge for the selection of suitable callus cell lines for the production of pharmacologically important secondary metabolites or bioactive fractions by in vitro culture of Glycyrrhiza sp.
Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Line ; Darkness ; Flavonoids ; biosynthesis ; Glycyrrhiza ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plant Roots ; metabolism

This study was conducted to identify a suitable color of light for development of the fruit body in Hypsizygus marmoreus. To accomplish this, samples were irradiated with blue (475 nm), green (525 nm), yellow (590 nm), or red (660 nm) light emitting diodes (LEDs) to induce the formation of fruiting bodies after mycelia growth. The diameter and thickness of the pileus and length of stipes in samples subjected to blue LED treatment were similar to those of subjected to fluorescent light (control), and the lengths of the stipes were highest in response to treatment with the red LED and darkness. The commercial yields of plants subjected to blue and green LED treatment were similar to those of the control. In conclusion, cultivation of H. marmoreus coupled with exposure to blue LED is useful for inducing high quality fruit bodies as well as higher levels of ergosterol, DPPH radical scavenging activity, total polyphenol content and reducing power.
Agaricales ; Darkness ; Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Technique ; Ergosterol ; Fruit ; Light

The Ziehl-Neelson's AFB staining method was mainly used for the AFB observation of the mycobacteria. However, this method has several issues of false negative results, and hence a comparative experiment of the Ziehl-Neelson's AFB staining and the fluorescence staining method was done to remedy this problem. As the fluorescence staining method brightly highlights the AFB in a dark field, and also as it is observed with the lower power objective, it is a method that can better the observation and shorten the time of observation as well. The fluorescence staining method that was used in this experiment did a comparative analysis of the Auramine O-Rhodamine B and the Acridine Orange. The results showed that although the Auramine O-Rhodamine B allows easier observation of the AFB with a high fluorescence expression rate for the multibacillary leprosy sample, the darkness on the periphery makes it hard to observe anything else, while also making it hard to observe the cell changes and paucibacillary leprosy of the AFB. However, the Acridine Orange staining method highlights the cells in dark green and changes the color of the AFB from bright red to orange making it easier to observe bacilli. The results of the study show that the Acridine Orange method is superior to the Auramine O-Rhodamine B method in detecting acid fast bacilli in specimen.
Acridine Orange ; Benzophenoneidum ; Citrus sinensis ; Darkness ; Fluorescence ; Leprosy, Multibacillary ; Leprosy, Paucibacillary ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium leprae