Metabolic signatures of tear extracellular vesicles caused by herpes simplex keratitis.

Purpose: Herpes simplex keratitis (HSK), caused by type 1 herpes simplex virus (HSV) reactivation, is a severe infectious disease that leads to vision loss. HSV can trigger metabolic reprogramming in the host cell and change the extracellular vesicles (EV) cargos; however, little is known about the EV metabolic signatures during ocular HSV infection. Here, we aimed to depict the EV-associated metabolic landscape in HSK patients' tears.

Highly Selective Purification of Plasma Extracellular Vesicles Using Titanium Dioxide Microparticles for Depicting the Metabolic Signatures of Diabetic Retinopathy.

Extracellular vesicle (EV) cargos with regular fluctuations hold the potential for providing chemical predictors toward clinical diagnosis and prognosis. A plasma sample is one of the most important sources of circulating EVs, yet the technical barrier and cost consumption in plasma-EV isolation still limit its application in disease diagnosis and biomarker discovery. Here, we introduced an easy-to-use strategy that allows selectively purifying small EVs (sEVs) from human plasma and detecting their metabolic alternations.

Protection of Human Lens Epithelial Cells from Oxidative Stress Damage and Cell Apoptosis by KGF-2 through the Akt/Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway.

Oxidative stress exerts a significant influence on the pathogenesis of various cataracts by inducing degradation and aggregation of lens proteins and apoptosis of lens epithelial cells. Keratinocyte growth factor-2 (KGF-2) exerts a favorable cytoprotective effect against oxidative stress and . In this work, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of KGF-2 against hydrogen peroxide- (HO-) induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) and rat lenses.

KGF-2 Regulates STAP-2-Mediated Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 Signaling and Reduces Skin Scar Formation.

Hypertrophic scar is a common complication of burns, skin trauma, and postoperative trauma, which involves excessive proliferation of fibroblasts and accumulation of a large amount of disorganized collagen fibers and extracellular matrix. KGF-2 plays important roles in the regulation of cellular homeostasis and wound healing. In this study, we investigated the effect and underlying mechanism of KGF-2 on scar formation after wound healing both in vitro and in vivo.

Toxicity Evaluation of Long-Term Topical Application of Recombinant Human Keratinocyte Growth Factor-2 Eye Drops on .

Recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor-2 (rhKGF-2), an effective agent for the regeneration of epithelial tissue, was found to have great potential for use in treatments of corneal diseases that involve corneal epithelial defects. Furthermore, the safety of long-term and high-dose external use of KGF-2 eye drops in rabbits has been well established previously. The aim of this study is to determine the safe dose range and target organs for toxicity of rhKGF-2 eye drops in ().

Vessel Density and Structural Measurements in Primary Angle-Closure Suspect Glaucoma Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Purpose: To measure the macular retinal vessel density (VD) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in primary angle-closure suspects (PACS) by Angio-OCT to be compared with normal subjects.

Methods: Primary angle-closure suspect patients and normal subjects were enrolled in this study. The demographic and clinical characteristics of all subjects, such as RNFL thickness, retinal vessel density, and ocular perfusion pressure, were compared.

Comparative Change in Anterior Corneal Asphericity After FS-LASIK and SMILE.

Purpose: To evaluate changes in anterior corneal asphericity (ΔQ) by calculating tangential radius () after femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) and small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).

Methods: Sirius corneal topography (Costruzione Strumenti Oftalmici) was used to evaluate 120 right eyes from patients with moderate and high myopia who had previously undergone FS-LASIK and SMILE. The preoperative and postoperative tangential radii obtained in reference to various semi-meridional regions and radii zones were compared.

Diurnal fluctuations of macular vessel density in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and healthy subjects.

Purpose: To investigate the diurnal fluctuations of macular vessel density (VD) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and healthy subjects using optical coherence tomography angiography.

Methods: A total of 22 POAG eyes and 15 healthy eyes were included in this study. Macular VD, intraocular pressure, and blood pressure were repeatedly measured from 8 AM to 8 PM at a 2-h interval on a single day.

Seroreactive Profiling of Filoviruses in Chinese Bats Reveals Extensive Infection of Diverse Viruses.

Southern China is a hot spot of emerging infectious diseases, in which diverse species of bats dwell, a large group of flying mammals considered natural reservoirs for zoonotic viruses. Recently, divergent filoviruses (FiVs) have been identified in bats within this region, which pose a potential risk to public health, but the true infection situation in bats remains largely unclear. Here, 689 archived bat serum samples were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting, and neutralization assay to investigate the seroprevalence and cross-reactivity of four divergent FiVs and two other viruses (rabies virus and Tuhoko pararubulavirus 1) of different families within the order Results showed no cross-antigenicity between FiVs and other mononegaviruses but different cross-reactivity among the FiVs themselves.

Comparative Analysis of KGF-2 and bFGF in Prevention of Excessive Wound Healing and Scar Formation in a Corneal Alkali Burn Model.

Purpose: Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is an effective drug for corneal injury. However, the explicit role of bFGF in corneal scar formation still remains unclear. Keratinocyte growth factor-2 (KGF-2) is associated with the treatment of wound healing.

Evaluation of choroidal thickness in amblyopia using optical coherence tomography.

Objective: To investigate the choroidal thickness in children with amblyopia through spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

Methods: A total of 31 children with unilateral amblyopia and 31 right eyes of controls with normal vision were enrolled in the study. The choroidal thickness was measured directly below the fovea and at 12 other locations: 1, 2 and 3 mm superior, temporal, inferior, and nasal to the fovea.

Toxicology study of long-term administration of rhKGF-2 eye drops on rabbit corneas.

Keratinocyte growth factor -2 promotes corneal repair. Its mechanism of action involves regulating regeneration and migration of corneal cells, as well as activating corneal limbal stem cells. However, KGF-2 being a carcinogenic growth factor and its potential adverse effect in over dosage long-term treatment had not yet been reported.

Posterior pole asymmetry analysis and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness measurements in primary angle-closure suspect patients.

Purpose: To measure peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and posterior pole retinal thickness in primary angle-closure suspects (PACS) by Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and to be compared with normal subjects.

Methods: Thirty five primary angle-closure suspect patients and thirty normal subjects were enrolled in this study. Peripapillary RNFL and posterior pole retinal thickness by posterior pole asymmetry analysis (PPAA) in SD-OCT were measured.

Seroprevalence, cross antigenicity and circulation sphere of bat-borne hantaviruses revealed by serological and antigenic analyses.

Bats are newly identified reservoirs of hantaviruses (HVs) among which very divergent HVs have been discovered in recent years. However, their significance for public health remains unclear since their seroprevalence as well as antigenic relationship with human-infecting HVs have not been investigated. In the present study archived tissues of 1,419 bats of 22 species from 6 families collected in 5 south and southwest provinces in China were screened by pan-HV RT-PCR following viral metagenomic analysis.

Evaluation of peripapillary choroidal distribution in children by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography.

Background: To evaluate the peripapillary choroidal thickness (PPCT) in Chinese children aged 6 to 12 years old and to analyze correlative factors.

Methods: PPCT was measured with enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) in 154 children (76 myopes and 78 emmetropia) aged 6 to 12 years, with spherical equivalent refractive errors between + 0.50 and - 5.

Axial Length and Ocular Development of Premature Infants without ROP.

Purpose: To investigate the ocular parameters of premature infants without ROP at gestational age (GA) more than 28 weeks and their relationship with growth parameters.

Methods: 76 preterm infants without ROP and 65 term infants were involved to undergo portable slit lamp, RetCam3, ultrasonic A-scan biometry, and cycloplegic streak examination at their 40 weeks' postconceptional ages (PCA). Ocular parameters of infants' right eye and growth parameters were used for analysis.

Evaluation of myopia on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measured by Spectralis optical coherence tomography.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness of myopic subjects using Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to determine variations with age and sex. A total of 271 Chinese participants with a spherical equivalent <+0.50 diopters were enrolled in the research.

Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty versus descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) compared with descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Methods: Databases including PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched to find studies that compared DSAEK and DMEK outcomes. Efficacy parameters were the postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and spherical equivalent (SE).

Comprehensive Evaluation of Anterior Corneal Change in Asphericity Calculated by the Tangential Radius of Curvature after LASIK.

To evaluate the change in the anterior corneal asphericity (Δ) comprehensively calculated using the tangential radius ( ) after LASIK. Forty-two right eyes were evaluated using the Orbscan II corneal topographer. The pre- and postoperative -values of the flat principal semimeridians calculated by the sagittal radius were compared to those by the tangential radius.

TGFBI Gene Mutation Analysis in Chinese Families with Corneal Dystrophies.

Aims: To identify transforming growth factor beta-induced (TGFBI) gene mutations in four Chinese families affected by corneal dystrophies.

Methods: In this study, three families (21 patients and 18 normal relatives), respectively, with Reis-Bücklers corneal dystrophy (RBCD), classic lattice corneal dystrophy (LCDI), and variant LCD (LCDI/IIIA) were assessed. All subjects underwent a complete ophthalmological evaluation, including biomicroscopic inspection and dilated fundus examination.

Hydrogen sensing characteristics from carbon nanotube field emissions.

An innovative hydrogen sensing concept is demonstrated based on the field emission from multi-walled carbon nanotubes, where the low emission currents rise in proportion to hydrogen partial pressures above 10(-9) Torr. Experimental and first principles studies reveal that the sensing mechanism is attributed to the effective work function reduction from dissociative hydrogen chemisorption. The embedded Ni catalyst would assist both the hydrogen dissociation and work function reduction.

Initial Subsurface Incorporation of Oxygen into Ru(0001): A Density Functional Theory Study.

The adsorption and diffusion of oxygen on Ru(0001) surfaces as a function of coverage are systematically investigated by using density functional theory. A high incorporation barrier of low-coverage adsorbed oxygen into the subsurface is discovered. Calculations show that the adsorption of additional on-surface oxygen can lower the penetration barrier dramatically.

Pharmacokinetics of topically applied recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor-2 in alkali-burned and intact rabbit eye.

Keratinocyte growth factor-2 (KGF-2), an effective agent in the development of epithelial tissue and regeneration during corneal wound healing, is a potential therapeutic option to treat the corneal diseases with corneal epithelial defects. However the tissue distribution and pharmacokinetics of KGF-2 have not been explored yet in eye upon topical application. Using (125)I-labeled recombinant human KGF-2 ((125)I-rhKGF-2), tissue distribution of rhKGF-2 in alkali-burned and control rabbit eyes was studied.

[Analyses of TGFBI gene mutation spectrum in four Chinese families with corneal dystrophy].

Objective: To identify the genetic mutation of TGFBI gene in four Chinese families with corneal dystrophy. The pedigrees were Reis-Bücklers corneal dystrophy (RBCD), Avellino corneal dystrophy (ACD), lattice corneal dystrophy type I(LCDI) and lattice corneal dystrophy type I/IIIA (LCDI/IIIA) (n = 1 each).

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from leukocytes from 22 patients, 22 phenotypic normal family members and 100 normal controls from February 2010 to October 2012.

[Evaluation of Orbscan II plus non-history double-K method in intraocular lens power calculation for patients after refractive surgery].

Objective: To explore the accuracy of intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation with non-history method using the keratometric value derived from one zone of Orbscan II topography after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

Methods: For this retrospective study, 20 eyes from 20 patients undergoing myopic LASIK were included from August 2008 to November 2011. Posterior corneal curvature in peripheral 7 to 10 mm fitting zone of postoperative cornea was measured with Orbscan II topography.