Objective lt;brgt;To evaluated the effect of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) on age-related macular degeneration (AMD). lt;brgt; lt;brgt;Methods lt;brgt;Sixty-two cases (62 eyes) of exudative AMD were managed with TTT. Before treatment, 58 cases underwent fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA),42 cases underwent simultaneous indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), and 56 cases underwent optic coherence tomography (OCT).TTT was delivered using a 810 nm diode laser with variable spot sizes 0.5-3.0 mm and power range 60-40 mW,60 seconds duration. Sixty-two cases were followed up for 1-10 months with 4.8 months average. lt;brgt; lt;brgt;Results lt;brgt;The visual acuities of last visit were compared with those before the treatment. The visual acuity was unchanged in 43 cases (69.3%), improved in 15 cases (24.2%), and declined in 4 cases (6.5%). OCT was re-done in 51 cases and compared with OCT images before TTT treatment. The height of macular edema was unchanged in 29 cases (56.9%), decreased in 18 cases (35.3%), and increased in 4 cases (7.8%). The amelioration of visual acuity was compatible with that of macular configuration in the majority of cases (74.5%). Only in 13 cases (25.5%) the amelioration of visual acuity lagged behind that of macular configuration. The re-treatment was performed in 18 cases (29.1%), probably due to insufficiency of laser power. No side-effect was found. lt;brgt; lt;brgt;Conclusion lt;brgt;TTT makes most of the cases of exudative AMD retaining or improving their visual acuity. The employment is secured. Further exploration is needed in order to obtain the parameters of the laser treatment. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 180-183)
Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, non-coding RNA are reversible, heritable alterations which are induced by environmental stimuli. Major risk factors of diabetes and diabetic complications including hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products, can lead to abnormal epigenetic modifications in retinal vascular endothelial cells and retinal pigment epithelium cells. Epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of macular edema and neovascularization of diabetic retinopathy (DR), as well as diabetic metabolic memory. The heritable nature of epigenetic marks also playsakey role in familial diabetes mellitus. Further elucidation of epigenetic mechanisms in DR can open the way for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets to prevent DR progression.
ObjectiveTo identify and observe disease-causing gene variants and clinical phenotypes in a Han Chinese family with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). MethodsA retrospective study. A patient with LCA10 and his parents who had presented at Department of Ophthalmology of Henan Provincial People's Hospital on May 2022 were selected as the study subject. Detailed medical and family histories were recorded, fundus photography and flash electroretinogram (F-ERG) were performed. Peripheral venous blood samples (3 ml) of the proband and his parents were collected to extract whole genomic DNA, then whole exome sequencing (WES) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing were carried out for the proband to determine the disease-causing gene and variants. All variants were annotated by bioinformatics analysis. According to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines, the pathogenicity of all detected variants were evaluated. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing, and in vitro minigene assay were performed to evaluate the impact of the missense variant with insufficient evidence on mRNA splicing. ResultsThe proband, male, 7-month-old, presented with an inability to follow light or objects, eye poking, photophobia, nystagmus, partial loss of retinal pigment epithelium around the fovea of the macula. At the age of 2 years old, F-ERG revealed severe reduction, elongation, or even no waveform of a-wave and b-wave in both eyes. No obvious abnormality was found in the clinical phenotype of his parents. The result of WES revealed that the proband carried two variants in exon 40 and exon 2 of CEP290, a frameshift variant c.5515_5518del (p.Glu1839Lysfs*11) (V1) and a novel missense variant c.74C>T (p.Ala25Val) (V2), respectively. The result of mitochondrial DNA sequencing was negative. Sanger sequencing confirmed that the heterozygous frameshift variant was inherited from his father and the heterozygous novel missense variant was inherited from his mother, which constituted compound heterozygous variants. In vitro minigene splicing assay confirmed that V2 created a new splicing donor at exon 2, leading to the in-frame deletion of 30bp fragment during transcription and loss of 10 amino acid residues in the protein. The two variants were pathogenic (V1) and likely pathogenic (V2) based on ACMG guidelines, respectively. ConclusionsThe c.5515_5518del and novel c.74C>T compound heterozygous variants of the CEP290 gene probably are the cause of LCA10 in this family, which lead to the production of a truncated protein and aberrant splicing of pre-mRNA, respectively. LCA is characterized by early onset, severe impairment of visual function, and a wide range of disease-causing variations.
Objective To explore the effects of Neurogenesin 1 (Ng1) gene on functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) and its mechanism. Methods Thirty-six rats (aging 4 months, weighing 230 g and being male or female), were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (n=18) and control group (n=18). After spinal cord contusive injury at T10 level was made in all these rats using modified Allen’s method, Ng1 recombinant plasmid and blank plasmid were transfectedinto the damaged areas of exprimental group and control group respectively by Alzet pumps. At 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and 4 weeks after SCI, Basso-Beattle-Bresnahan (BBB) Rating Scale was used to observe the recovery of motor function. At 1 week after injury, the expressions of Ng1 mRNA and protein in injured spinal cord were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot techniques. And at 2 and 4 weeks, double immunofluorescence and histopathologic examinations were performed to study the prol iferation of the adult endogenous neural stem cells and pathological change after SCI. Results At 1-4 weeks after SCI, the BBB scores in the exprimental group was significantly higher than that in control group (P lt; 0.05), and at 4 weeks the BBB score of the experimental group (16.80 ± 1.79) was significantly higher than that of the control group (9.60 ± 1.67), (P lt; 0.01). RTPCR and Western blot showed that the mRNA and protein expressions of Ng1 were observed in the exprimental group and no expression was seen in the control group. Histologic observation showed that the morphology of spinal cord and neurons in the exprimental group was better than that in the control group and was close to the normal tissue. The mean number of Nestin+/ BrdU+ newborn endogenous neural stem cells in the exprimental group was significantly more than that in control group (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Ng1 gene could promote the prol iferation of endogenous neural stem cells and protect the injured neurons, which enhances the repair of the motor function after SCI.
PURPOSE:To investigate the spatial and temporal relation of fibronectin(Fn),basic fibroblast growth factor(b-FGF)and astrocytes with the retinal vascular developmemt of human fatuses. METHODS:The retinas of 86 human fetuses from 13th week to 40th week were studied by immunohistochemical methods and light microscopy. RESULTS:Fn immunoreativity was localized in spindle cells ,vascular endothelial cells and extracellular matrix ahead of the spindle cells,vascular endothelial cells,ganglion cells and cone cells were b-FGF immunopositive. The b-FGF immunoreactivity in ganglion cells and cone cells appeared earlier than the vascularization nearby.Astrocytes migrated to ora serrata in close association with the spindle cells.and sent numerous processes to ensheath the blood vessels formed in two processes of retinal vascuiarlzation. CONCLUSION:These results suggest that Fn ,b-FGF and astrocytes were involved in modulating both of two processes of retinal vascularizalion. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1996,12:180-182)
The therapeutic effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) was determined by a number of factors. Comprehensive thorough analysis of clinical features, imaging results and treatment response can predict the potential efficacy and possible vision recovery for the patient, and also can optimize the treatment regime to make a personalized therapy plan. Precise medicine with data from genomics, proteomics and metabolomics study will provide more objective and accurate biology basis for individual precise treatment. The future research should focus on comprehensive assessment of factors affecting the efficacy of anti-VEGF therapy, to achieve individualized precise diagnosis and treatment, to improve the therapeutic outcome of nAMD.
【 Abstract 】 Objective To probe into the role of inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3) and bax gene expression in apoptosis of HepG2 cells induced by genistein (Gen). Methods HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations including 20, 40, 60 and 80 μ mol/L Gen as HepG2 cells cultured with 0 μmol/L Gen for 72 h was control; HepG2 cells were treated with 60 μmol/L Gen for 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h as HepG2 cells treated with 60 μmol/L Gen for 0 h was control. IP3 content, bax mRNA expression and apoptosis rate were assayed by IP3- [ 3H ] Birtrak assay, RT-PCR and flow cytometry, respectively. ResultsHepG2 cells incubated with each concentration of Gen for 72 h , IP3 content was lower than that of control 〔 (17.7 ± 1.3), (11.2 ± 0.9), (4.9 ± 0.5), (4.8 ± 0.3) pmol/106 cells vs (29.4 ± 0.5) pmol/106 cells 〕 , P < 0.01 ; bax mRNA expression (RI which was the gray degree multiply area of bax/the gray degree multiply area of β -actin) was higher than that of control (0.26 ± 0.02, 0.33 ± 0.05, 0.35 ± 0.06, 0.38 ± 0.05 vs 0.09 ± 0.01), P < 0.01 ; The apoptosis rate was higher than that of control 〔 (10.1 ± 0.9)%, (18.7 ± 1.6)%, (28.7 ± 2.5)%, (27.9 ± 2.0)% vs (2.6 ± 0.1)% 〕 , P < 0.01. HepG2 cells were incubated with 60 μ mol/L Gen for 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h , IP3 content was lower than that of control 〔 (22.6 ± 0.9), (12.0 ± 1.4), (7.5 ± 0.8), (5.6 ± 0.5), (4.3 ± 0.6) pmol/106 cells vs (29.2 ± 0.6) pmol/106 cells 〕 , P < 0.01 ; bax mRNA expression was higher than that of control incubated with 60 μ mol/L Gen for above 12 h (0.25 ± 0.06, 0.29 ± 0.02, 0.30 ± 0.02, 0.35 ± 0.04 vs 0.09 ± 0.01), P < 0.01 ; The apoptosis rate in groups incubated with 60 μ mol/L Gen for 24, 48 and 72 h was significantly higher than that in control 〔 (7.4 ± 0.5)%, (20.5 ± 2.0)%, (30.7 ± 1.6)% vs (2.6 ± 0.1)% 〕 , P < 0.01. ConclusionGen induces apoptosis of HepG2 cells by reducing IP3 production and increasing bax gene expression.
ObjectiveTo investigate the predicting effect of PIK3CA mutations for the efficacy and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients received surgical resection. MethodsPCR and DNA sequencing were used to detect the PIK3CA mutation status of 79 HCC tissues, its impact on the short and long term effects of the patients were analyzed. ResultsIn this group of patients, mutation rate of PIK3CA gene exon 9 was 39.24% (31/79), PIK3CA mutation rate correlated with lymph node status and tumor differentiation (P < 0.05). The therapeutic effect of patients with PIK3CA mutation was significantly poor than that of the non-mutated group (P < 0.05). The three-year cumulative survival of patients with PIK3CA mutation (33.33%) was significantly lower than non-mutated group's (60.00%) by Kaplan-Meier (P < 0.05). ConclusionPIK3CA gene mutation in exon 9 could impact the efficiency of surgical resection in patients with HCC and could predict a poor survival prognosis.
Microparticles are small vesicles that are released by budding of the plasma membrane during cellular activation and apoptotic cell breakdown. A spectrum of cell types can release microparticles including endothelial cells, platelets, macrophages, lymphocytes and tumor cells. Biological effects of microparticles mainly include procoagulant activity, inhibition of inflammation and cancer progression. The present study shows that vitreous microparticles isolated from proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) stimulated endothelial cell proliferation and increased new vessel formation, promoting the pathological neovascularization in PDR patients. Oxidative stress induces the formation of retina pigment epithelium-derived microparticles carrying membrane complement regulatory proteins, which is associated with drusen formation and age related macular degeneration. Microparticles from lymphocyte (LMP) play an important role in anti-angiogenesis by altering the gene expression pattern of angiogenesis-related factors in macrophages. Besides, LMP are important proapoptotic regulators for retinoblastoma cells through reduction of spleen tyrosine kinase expression and upregulation of the p53-p21 pathway which ultimately activates caspase-3. However, how to apply the microparticles in the prevention and treatment of retinal diseases is a major challenge, because the study of the microparticles in the fundus diseases is still limited. Further studies conducted would certainly enhance the application of microparticles in the fundus diseases.
ObjectiveTo objectively quantitative assess the visual quality in patients with myopic foveoschisis (MF) using a double-pass optical quality analysis system (OQASⅡ). MethodsSixty-two subjects participated in this cross-sectional, observational study, who were divided into three groups based on the pathologic conditions including myopic foveoschisis group (MFG), myopic control group (MCG) and normal control group (NCG). Measurements with OQASⅡwere performed for the modulation transfer function cut off frequency (MTF cut-off), the Strehl ratio (SR) and the objective scatter index (OSI). Visual data were analyzed using ANOVA and Pearson's correlation accompanied by logMAR BCVA and axial length (AL). ResultsThe mean values for MTF cut-off, SR and OSI of MFG, MCG and NCG were 18.18±4.81, 0.13±0.03, 3.50±0.44; 22.87±2.66, 0.14±0.02, 2.42±0.29; 33.68±4.70, 0.23±0.02, 1.68±0.20 respectively, and statistical difference were proved except SR between MFG and MCG, or BCVA between MCG and NCG (P < 0.05). LogMAR BCVA and AL have negative correlations to MTF cut-off (r=-0.928, -0.658; P < 0.05) and SR (r=-0.577, -0.893; P < 0.05) with high coefficients in MFG. Log MAR BCVA has negative correlations to MTF cut-off and SR (r=-0.659, -0.806; P < 0.05) in MCG. Log MAR BCVA has negative correlations to MTF cut-off and SR (r=-0.606, -0.602; P < 0.05) and positively correlated to OSI (r=0.561, P < 0.05) in NCG. ConclusionsThe mean value of BCVA, MTF cut-off, SR, OSI of myopic foveoschisis patients were lower than those myopic patients without foveoschisis and normal people. there exists a significant negative correlation between Log MAR BCVA, AL to MTF cut-off and SR. Compared with myopic and normal subjects, myopic foveoschisis have lower BCVA, MTF cut-off, SR but higher OSI.