Electroacupuncture alleviates ciliary muscle cell apoptosis in lens-induced myopic guinea pigs through inhibiting the mitochondrial signaling pathway.

Aim: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic signaling pathway in the ciliary muscle of guinea pigs with negative lens-induced myopia (LIM).

Methods: Guinea pigs were randomly divided into normal control (NC) group, LIM group, LIM+SHAM acupoint (LIM+SHAM) group, and LIM+EA group. Animals in the NC group received no intervention, while those in other three groups were covered with -6.

Inhibitory Effect of Jinkui Shenqi Pills on Glucocorticoid-Enhanced Axial Length Elongation in Experimentally Myopic Guinea Pigs.

Objective: To explore the underlying mechanism of inhibition by Jinkui Shenqi Pills (JKSQP) on glucocorticoid-enhanced axial length elongation in experimental lens-induced myopia (LIM) guinea pigs.

Methods: Sixty 2-week old male guinea pigs were randomly divided into 4 groups with 15 guinea pigs in each group, according to the random numbers generated by SPSS software: control, LIM, saline and JKSQP groups. The control group includes animals with no treatment, while the guinea pigs in the other 3 groups received lens-induced myopization on the right eyes throughout the experiment (for 8 weeks).

Intravitreal injection of fibrillin 2 (Fbn2) recombinant protein for therapy of retinopathy in a retina-specific Fbn2 knock-down mouse model.

Mutations in the extracellular matrix gene Fibrillin-2 (FBN2) are related to genetic macular degenerative disorders including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and early-onset macular degeneration (EOMD). It was reported that the retinal protein expression of FBN2 was reduced in patients with AMD and EOMD. The effect of exogenously supplied fbn2 recombinant protein on fbn2-deficiency-related retinopathy was not known.

Near work, screen time, outdoor time and myopia in schoolchildren in the Sunflower Myopia AEEC Consortium.

Purpose: To examine the association between near work, screen time including TV and outdoor time with myopia in children from the Sunflower Myopia Asian Eye Epidemiology Consortium (AEEC).

Methods: We analysed AEEC cross-sectional data (12 241 children) on risk factors (near work, screen time including TV and outdoor time) and myopia of six population-based studies (China, Hong Kong and Singapore). Cycloplegic refraction and axial length (AL) measurements were included.

Synaptosomal Actin Dynamics in the Developmental Visual Cortex Regulate Behavioral Visual Acuity in Rats.

Purpose: Synaptosomal actin dynamics are essential for synaptic structural stability. Whether actin dynamics are involved in structural and functional synaptic plasticity within the primary visual cortex (V1) or behavioral visual acuity in rats has still not been thoroughly investigated.

Methods: Synaptosome preparation and western blot analysis were used to analyze synaptosomal actin dynamics.

Short-term effects of intravitreal Conbercept injection combined with laser photocoagulation on macular edema secondary to ischemic retinal vein occlusion.

Aim: To observe changes in the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), and central choroidal thickness (CCT) of patients with macular edema (ME) secondary to ischemic retinal vein occlusion (iRVO) following intravitreal Conbercept injection.

Methods: This retrospective study included 33 eyes from 33 patients who received intravitreal injections of Conbercept for ME secondary to iRVO. Treatments were performed on a 3+ (3+PRN) basis.

[Application of fiber photometry in neuroscience research].

In recent years, fiber photometry has been widely used in the field of neuroscience as an important technique for recording the activity of neurons in the specific nuclei of freely moving animal. This review summarized the application of single-channel, multi-channel, and multi-color fiber photometry techniques in the neuroscience research of cognition, behavior, psychology and neurological diseases. In addition, it briefly introduced the applications of fiber photometry combined with functional magnetic resonance imaging technology, and fiber photometry combined with probe technology in the neuroscience research.

Cytotoxic effect of specific T cells from mice with experimental autoimmune uveitis on murine photoreceptor cells.

Aim: To investigate the cytotoxic effect of specific T cells from mice with experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) as well as their secreted interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-17A on murine photoreceptor (661W) cells.

Methods: An EAU model was established in female mice by injection of interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP) emulsion supplemented with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and (TB). On day 12 after induction of EAU, specific T cells from spleen and lymph node tissues were isolated and cultured for 4d and the levels of IFN-γ and IL-17A in the supernatants were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).

Preparation and Characterization of Semi-Alicyclic Polyimide Resins and the Derived Alignment Layers for Liquid Crystal Display Technology.

Uniform alignment of rigid-rod liquid crystal (LC) molecules under applied voltage is critical for achievement of high-quality display for thin-film transistor-driven liquid crystal display devices (TFT-LCDs). The polymeric components that can induce the alignment of randomly aligned LC molecules are called alignment layers (ALs). In the current work, a series of organo-soluble polyimide (SPI) ALs were designed and prepared from an alicyclic dianhydride, hydrogenated 3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (HBPDA), and various aromatic diamines, including 4,4'-methylenedianiline (MDA) for SPI-1, 4,4'-aminodianiline (NDA) for SPI-2, 3,3',5,5'-tetramethyl-4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (TMMDA) for SPI-3, and 3,3'-diethyl-5,5'-dimethyl-4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (DMDEDA) for SPI-4.

Differences in ocular biometry between urban and rural children matched by refractive error: the Shandong Children Eye Study.

Purpose: To determine the differences in mean ocular dimensions between urban and rural children and identify possible influencing factors.

Methods: This work uses previously published data from the Shandong Children Eye Study, which was based on a random cluster sampling applied to a cross-sectional school-based study design in the rural Guanxian County and Weihai city. All children underwent auto-refractometry and biometry under cycloplegia.

[Fibrillin-2 gene mutations associated with hereditary connective tissue diseases].

Fibrillin-2 (FBN2) is an important component of microfibers which are involved in the formation of elastic fibers in connective tissue throughout the human body. Hereditary connective tissue diseases may result from genetic mutations of FBN2 causing heterogeneity of fibrin. Genetic mutations of FBN2 are associated with a variety of hereditary connective tissue diseases including Congenital Contractural Arachnodactyl (CCA), Macular Degeneration (MD), and myopathy.

Metabolic profile analysis of free amino acids in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis rat plasma.

Aim: To determine the differences of amino acid (AA) levels in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU).

Methods: AA analysis of the plasma samples in EAU rats induced by interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein emulsion were performed with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and phenylisothiocyanate (PITC) pre-column derivation methods were performed. Using partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), the potential biomarkers were identified in EAU rat plasma, and the metabolic pathways related to EAU were further analyzed.

[Effects of Restraint Manipulation on Learning-memory Ability, Visional Acuity and Body Mass of Rats].

Objective: Restraint manipulation is necessary for observing the effect of acupuncture or moxibustion stimulation on various variables in the experimental study. Thus, the present study was designed to examine the impact of restraint manipulation on rats' learning-memory ability, visional acuity, and body mass, so as to have a reasonable assessment on the influence of restraint stress.

Methods: Normal Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a restraint group (=15) and a control group (=15).

Different patterns of changes between actin dynamics and synaptic density in the rat's primary visual cortex during a special period of visual development.

In our previous study, we found that the normalized levels of the synaptosomal filament actin (F-actin) to monomeric global actin (G-actin) ratio in the primary visual cortex (V1) of rats was significantly lower on postnatal day (P) 45 compared with P30, however, the synaptic density in the monocular area of primary visual cortex (V1M) maintained a stable high level from P30 to P45. The mechanisms underlying the different patterned of change in synaptic density and actin rearrangements from P30 to P45 are unclear. During visual development, there is a synaptic pruning process in the binocular segment of primates' visual cortex (V1B) and we suppose the pruning activity may contribute to the decreased synaptosomal F-actin to G-actin ratio.

GABA and GABA receptors alterations in the primary visual cortex of concave lens-induced myopic model.

Until recently most researches on myopia mechanisms have mainly been focused on the eye ball and few investigations were explored on the upper visual pathway, such as the visual cortex. The roles of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the retinal and in the upper visual pathway are inter-correlated. As the retinal glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), GABA, and the mRNA levels of GABA receptors increased during the concave lens induced myopia formation, however, whether GABA alterations also occurred in the visual cortex during the concave lens induction is still unknown.

Parapapillary Diffuse Choroidal Atrophy in Children Is Associated With Extreme Thinning of Parapapillary Choroid.

Purpose: To analyze morphologic features of segmental parapapillary diffuse choroidal atrophy (PDCA) in children.

Methods: The study group included children (age ≤15 years) with high myopia who attended the Tokyo High Myopia Clinic. Control groups comprised participants of the population-based Gobi Desert Children Eye Study (GobiDCES).

Modified Scleral Tunnel to Prevent Tube Exposure in Patients With Refractory Glaucoma.

Purpose: To present and evaluate modified scleral tunnel in prevention of tube exposure following Ahmed valve implantation in refractory glaucoma.

Methods: In the Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a retrospective study was conducted in 36 eyes of 34 patients who were diagnosed with refractory glaucoma and underwent Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation. In the surgery, the modified scleral tunnel was done to prevent tube exposure.

Corneal diameter and associated parameters in Chinese children: the Shandong Children Eye Study.

Background: To assess the corneal diameter and its associations in children.

Design: Cross-sectional school-based study.

Participants: Six thousand twenty-six children aged 4-18 years were included in the Shandong Children Eye Study.

Stereoacuity and Related Factors: The Shandong Children Eye Study.

Objective: To assess stereoacuity in a population-based sample of children and to examine ocular and systemic parameters related to stereoacuity.

Methods: Using a random cluster sampling method, four- to 18-year-old children from kindergartens, elementary schools, junior high schools and senior high schools from a rural area and an urban area in the East Chinese province of Shandong were included in the school-based cross-sectional study. All participants underwent a comprehensive eye examination including assessment of cycloplegic refraction and measurement of stereoacuity using the Titmus Stereo test.