Comprehensive Analysis of circRNA-Associated-ceRNA Networks in Human Corneal Endothelial Dysfunction.

Purpose: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of endogenous noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression through the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism. CircRNA-associated-ceRNA networks are closely related to oxidative stress-related diseases. Oxidative stress-induced dysfunction of the corneal endothelium (CE) is a major pathological feature in many corneal diseases.

Reconstruction of the ocular surface by autologous transplantation of rabbit adipose tissue-derived stem cells on amniotic membrane.

Background: Corneal disease is the second most common cause of blindness in China. Clinically, treatment options for corneal diseases with limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) are limited due to a shortage of organ donors and inevitable immune rejection. This study aims to determine the efficacy of reconstructing the ocular surface using autologous cultivated adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and to develop a new clinical treatment for patients with LSCD.

FTO regulates ocular angiogenesis via mA-YTHDF2-dependent mechanism.

Pathological ocular angiogenesis commonly results in visual impairment or even blindness. Unveiling the mechanisms of pathological angiogenesis is critical to identify the regulators and develop effective targeted therapies. Here, we used corneal neovascularization (CNV) model to investigate the mechanism of pathological ocular angiogenesis.

CHADS-Vasc score and CHADS-Vasc-HS score are poor predictors of in-stent restenosis among patients with coronary drug-eluting stents.

Objective: To evaluate the ability of two scoring systems (CHADS-VASc score and CHADS-VASc+hyperlipidaemia+smoking [CHADS-VASc-HS score]) to predict in-stent restenosis (ISR) among patients undergoing drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled patients who underwent coronary angiography to assess coronary artery disease severity secondary to a diagnosis of stable angina or acute coronary syndrome that subsequently underwent DES implantations. Demographic, clinical, angiographic and biochemical parameters were compared between those patients that experienced ISR and those that did not during the study follow-up period.

Ileal perforation caused by a fish bone shortly after drug-eluting stent implantation for acute myocardial infarction.

During the past century, the incidence of myocardial infarction has markedly increased worldwide. Percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation is often considered as the first-choice treatment, especially in emergency cases. Current guidelines recommend delayed elective noncardiac surgery for such vulnerable patients.

SIRT1-dependent AMPK pathway in the protection of estrogen against ischemic brain injury.

Aims: Stroke is a major cause of mortality and disability, especially for postmenopausal women. In view of the protective action of estrogen, hormone therapy remains the only effective way to limit this risk. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficiency and underlying mechanisms of estrogen neuroprotection.

Involvement of arterial baroreflex and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 subunit pathway in the protection of metformin against stroke in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. There is growing evidence that metformin (Met) has potent neuroprotective effects; however, its mechanisms remain unclear. We examined the role of the arterial baroreflex and cholinergic-α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) anti-inflammory pathway in the beneficial effects of Met against stroke.

Dronedarone and Amiodarone Induce Dyslipidemia and Thyroid Dysfunction in Rats.

Background/aims: Amiodarone, a thyroid hormone-like molecule, can induce dyslipidemia and thyroid dysfunction. However, the effects of dronedarone on lipid metabolism and of both dronedarone and amiodarone on thyroid function and lipid metabolism remain unknown.

Methods: Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (10 in each group): normal control (NC), amiodarone-treated (AMT), dronedarone-treated (DRT), rats treated with amiodarone combined with polyene phosphatidylcholine (AC), and rats treated with dronedarone combined with polyene phosphatidylcholine (DC).

[Purification and characterization of adult optic nerve head astrocytes].

Objective: To establish a method of purifying and characterizing adult astrocytes from optic nerve head (ONH).

Methods: Experimental study. The lamina cribrosa tissue from ONH of human eye was isolated under anatomic microscopy, and then 4 to 6 little explants were incubated in each culture plate containing culture medium DMEM/F12.

[Progress of research on corneal transient receptor potential channel superfamily].

Cornea senses thermal, mechanical and chemical stimuli via various nociceptors. In the early years, knowledge of the mechanism of corneal nociception was merely restricted to neurophysiology, which classifies nociceptors according to the clusters of nerve fibers which transmit identical stimulation signals. During the past decade, benefiting from the promptly developing molecular biology and technology, classification of the nociceptors has been modified into the level of cell sensors, among which, transient receptor potential (TRP) channel superfamily weighs the most.

[Morphological characteristics of cornea in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis by in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy].

Objective: To explore the morphological characteristics on cornea in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) by the application of in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM).

Methods: The experimental design was retrospective observation case series (case control study). Twenty-six patients, each diagnosed as bilateral VKC, were enrolled in the study, among which 13 were tarsal form, 5 were bulbar form and the rest were mixed form.

[The effects of hyperosmotic stress on rabbit ocular surface and mucin 5AC expression].

Objective: To investigate the effects of hyperosmotic stress on rabbit ocular surface and mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) expression.

Methods: Experimental study. Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups with equal number as hyperosmolar saline solution (HOSS, 500 mmol/L) group, normal saline (NS, 308 mmol/L) group and blank control group respectively.

[Cell sheet technology and its applications in corneal tissue engineering].

Cell sheet technology (CST) is based on the use of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide, PNIPAAm), which can be exhibit reversible hydration and dehydration of its polymer chains in response to temperature changes across the lower critical solution temperature(LCST)of 32°C. By reducing the incubation temperature to 20°C, all cultured cells are harvested as intact sheets along with their deposited extracellular matrix (ECM) due to the conversion of the grafted PIPAAm from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, as ECM remains present on the basal surface of the cell sheets, they can maintain cell viability and function as well as directly transplanted to tissue beds or even layered to create three-dimensional (3D) tissue-like structures without any scaffolds or sutures. The temperature-sensitive surfaces' preparation approaches, density, thickness, membrane additive ingredients and so on, all affect cell adhesion and proliferation.

[Clinical assessment of oral ganciclovir capsules on the treatment of herpes simplex keratitis].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical values of oral ganciclovir on the treatment of herpes simplex keratitis (HSK).

Methods: A randomized, controlled, single-blind and prospective study was carried out from May in 2008 to June in 2009 at Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital of Fudan University. 60 patients (60 eyes) with HSK, including stromal keratitis and corneal endotheliitis, were enrolled in the study and were randomly arranged into two groups in average.

[Advances in penetrating keratoplasty technique].

Rejection after corneal transplantation is currently the lead of the main reasons for corneal graft failure. Penetrating keratoplasty (PK) is still one of the gold standard surgeries for these patients. In recent years, improving the surgical techniques to reduce the incidence of corneal allograft rejection has been the way to more and more attention to the majority of ophthalmologists.

[The ocular surface of severe alkali burns patients on confocal microscopy].

Objective: To analyze the morphology on the ocular surface of severe alkali burns patients by in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy.

Methods: This research was a retrospective observation case series. From February to November 2008 in Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, 39 alkali burns patients who classified as III or IV according to Roper-Hall classification were enrolled in this study.

[Expression of regulatory T cells and related cytokines in mice allogenic corneal transplantation rejection].

Objective: To study the changes of CD4(+)CD25(+) and CD8(+)CD103(+) regulatory T cells and their relevant cytokines in corneal allograft transplantation in mice.

Methods: BABL/c (H-2(d)) mice received corneal allografts from C3H/He (H-2(k)) mice were served as the experimental group. BABL/c (H-2(d)) mice received corneal from BABL/c (H-2(d)) mice were used as the control group.

An in vivo confocal microscopy and impression cytology analysis of goblet cells in patients with chemical burns.

Purpose: To evaluate goblet cell density (GCD) on conjunctiva and cornea in patients with ocular chemical burns by in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and impression cytology (IC) and to explore the correlation between two methods.

Methods: Fifty-four patients (58 eyes) with chemical burn were enrolled in the study. LSCM was applied to identify the goblet cells on conjunctiva and cornea under in vivo conditions, and GCD was analyzed with the customized software.

[Proliferative ability and ultramicrostructure of basal limbal epithelial cells in different age group of normal subjects].

Objective: To demonstrate the difference in proliferative ability and ultramicrostructure of basal limbal epithelial cells in different age group of normal subjects.

Methods: 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.

[Normal human bulbar conjunctiva on confocal microscopy in vivo].

Objective: To analyze the morphology of human bulbar conjunctiva by in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy.

Methods: This research was a cross-sectional study. From February to July 2008, 50 eyes of 50 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study.

[The influence of glaucoma filtration surgery on anterior chamber associated immune deviation in mice].

Objective: To study glaucoma infiltration surgery induced the anterior chamber associated immune deviation (ACAID) by with or without anterior chamber (AC) implantation of foreign epithelium removed corneal graft in mice.

Methods: In this study, fifty Wistar mice were randomly divided into five groups (ten in each group) and additional five SD and one Wistar mouse were used as the providers of epithelium removed corneal grafts to induce ACAID as follows: Group A: corneal grafts from Wistar mouse were implanted into the AC 1 week after the infiltration surgery. Group B: the spleen cells were injected into the nape of neck 1 week after the glaucoma infiltration surgery.

[Variations of the microstructure in human limbus by confocal microscopy in vivo].

Objective: To demonstrate the variations in the niche of limbal stem cells and the limbal basal epithelial cells in vivo by confocal microscopy.

Methods: 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).

[Morphological changes of cornea in iridocorneal endothelial syndrome under the confocal microscopy].

Objective: To evaluate the morphological changes of cornea in iridocorneal endothelial syndrome (ICE) under the examination of in vivo confocal microscopy.

Methods: 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.

Pediatric penetrating keratoplasty in Shanghai: a retrospective multiple centre study from 2003 to 2007.

Background: With advances in pediatric keratoplasty over the last two decades, the success rate of surgery has increased remarkably. However, few epidemiological studies in this field have been performed in China. The present study investigated the indications and characteristics of pediatric penetrating keratoplasty in Shanghai.

[Roles of angiopoietins family and its receptor in the pathogenesis and regulation of corneal neovascularization].

Corneal neovascularization is one of the tough problems in the cornea diseases, but its pathogenesis is still unclear. Binding of angiopoietins family and its receptor Tie2 set up the signal transducing system of Ang/Tie2, which plays the important role in the angiogenesis and regulation. Recently, the study of the signal transducing system of Ang/Tie2 has archived some progression in the corneal neovascularization.