COMPARISON OF THREE INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE PEELING TECHNIQUES FOR MYOPIC TRACTION MACULOPATHY WITH HIGH RISK OF POSTOPERATIVE MACULAR HOLE DEVELOPMENT.

Purpose: To compare three different internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling techniques, including standard ILM peeling, fovea-sparing ILM peeling, and inverted ILM flap (ILMF), in the treatment of myopic traction maculopathy with high risk of postoperative macular hole development.

Method: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 101 eyes suffering from lamellar macular hole combined with myopic traction maculopathy in 98 consecutive patients who underwent vitrectomy with either standard ILM peeling, fovea-sparing ILM peeling, or ILMF from July 2017 to August 2020. All patients were followed up for at least 12 months after surgery.

METTL3-mediated m6A modification of HMGA2 mRNA promotes subretinal fibrosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Subretinal fibrosis is a major cause of the poor visual prognosis for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Myofibroblasts originated from retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contribute to the fibrosis formation. N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) modification has been implicated in the EMT process and multiple fibrotic diseases.

Growth of nonexudative macular neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration: an indicator of biological lesion activity.

Purpose: To investigate the growth of nonexudative macular neovascularization (MNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA).

Methods: Patients with treatment-naïve nonexudative AMD in one eye and exudative AMD in the fellow eye who underwent SS-OCTA imaging for at least 12 months were retrospectively reviewed. The MNV area measurement was quantified in eyes with treatment-naïve nonexudative MNV using ImageJ for analysing the correlation between MNV growth and the onset of exudation, as well as evaluating the consistency of the MNV growth rate during the subclinical and exudative stages.

Fat mass and obesity-associated protein alleviates Aβ induced retinal pigment epithelial cells degeneration via PKA/CREB signaling pathway.

Amyloid-β (Aβ) is thought to be a critical pathologic factor of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Aβ induces inflammatory responses in RPE cells and recent studies demonstrate the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulatory role in RPE cell inflammation. m6A is a reversible epigenetic posttranslational modification, but its relationship with Aβ-induced RPE degeneration is yet to be thoroughly investigated.

Progression of Polypoidal Lesions Associated with Exudative Recurrence in Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy.

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics of the branching vascular network (BVN) and polypoidal lesions in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) to determine near-term indicators that may predict exudative recurrence.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Participants: Patients with PCV receiving anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monotherapy or anti-VEGF plus photodynamic therapy were followed for at least 1 year using swept-source OCT angiography (SS-OCTA) imaging.

Long-term surgical outcomes and prognostic factors of foveal detachment in pathologic myopia: based on the ATN classification.

Background: To investigate the long-term surgical outcomes and prognostic factors of foveal detachment (FD) in pathological myopia.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included 59 patients with FD (61 eyes) who underwent pars plana vitrectomy at Shanghai General Hospital between June 2017 and July 2018 with follow-up for at least 24 months. Comprehensive ophthalmic examinations, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and swept-source optical coherence tomography, were assessed.

Association between Different Grades of Myopic Tractional Maculopathy and OCT-Based Macular Scleral Deformation.

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics of macular outward scleral height (MOSH) in different grades of myopic tractional maculopathy (MTM) and explore the risk factors for MTM. Methods: A total of 188 eyes (188 participants) with high myopia were divided into the no MTM (nMTM) group and the MTM group, which was further graded into foveoschisis, foveal detachment, full-thickness macular hole, and macular hole with retinal detachment. Swept-source optical coherence tomography was used to measure the MOSH.

Association of Microvasculature and Macular Sensitivity in Idiopathic Macular Epiretinal Membrane: Using OCT Angiography and Microperimetry.

To investigate the correlation between retinal capillary structure and macular function in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) by using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and microperimetry. This retrospective and observational study included 30 idiopathic ERM eyes of 30 consecutive patients. OCTA was performed to evaluate macular microvasculature including the superficial capillary plexus, deep capillary plexus, and foveal avascular zone.

Human retinal pigment epithelial cells are protected against hypoxia by BNIP3.

Background: Hypoxia has been implicated in the process of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) dysfunction. However, recent studies suggest that hypoxia contributes to survival rather than cell death through induction of Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19-kDa interacting protein 3 (BNIP3)-dependent autophagy. In contrast, persistent oxidative stress was found to result in autophagy dysregulation in RPE cells.

ROS production and mitochondrial dysfunction driven by PU.1-regulated NOX4-p22 activation in Aβ-induced retinal pigment epithelial cell injury.

Amyloid β (Aβ) deposition, an essential pathological process in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), causes retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration driven mostly by oxidative stress. However, despite intense investigations, the extent to which overoxidation contributes to Aβ-mediated RPE damage and its potential mechanism has not been fully elucidated. We performed tandem mass-tagged (TMT) mass spectrometry (MS) and bioinformatic analysis of the RPE-choroid complex in an Aβ-induced mouse model of retinal degeneration to obtain a comprehensive proteomic profile.

TRIM31 inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis of retinal pigment epithelial cells through ubiquitination of NLRP3.

NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) is associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells serve as the immune defense of macula, and their dysfunction causes clinically relevant changes in AMD. In the present study, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) activated the NLRP3 inflammasome in human RPE cell line ARPE-19.

Functional evaluation with microperimetry in large idiopathic macular holes treated by a free internal limiting membrane flap tamponade technique.

Background: Free internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap tamponade technique is an alternative choice for treating large idiopathic macular holes (IMHs). However, the functional recovery related to this surgical approach is not well-characterized. This study aimed to evaluate morphological and microperimetric outcomes 6 months after free ILM flap tamponade technique for large IMHs.

Autophagy activated via GRP78 to alleviate endoplasmic reticulum stress for cell survival in blue light-mediated damage of A2E-laden RPEs.

Background: Retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPEs) are critical for maintaining retinal homeostasis. Accumulation of age-related lipofuscin, N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine (A2E), makes RPEs vulnerable to blue light-mediated damage, which represents an initial cause of some retinal degenerative diseases. This study investigated the activation of autophagy and the signaling pathway involved in glucose-related protein 78 (GRP78) induced autophagy in blue light-mediated damage of A2E-laden RPEs.

Elevated p53 Activities Restrict Differentiation Potential of MicroRNA-Deficient Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) deficient for microRNAs (miRNAs), such as Dgcr8 or Dicer embryonic stem cells (ESCs), contain no mature miRNA and cannot differentiate into somatic cells. How miRNA deficiency causes differentiation defects remains poorly understood. Here, we report that miR-302 is sufficient to enable neural differentiation of differentiation-incompetent Dgcr8 ESCs.

MicroRNA Expression Patterns Involved in Amyloid Beta-Induced Retinal Degeneration.

Purpose: Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is characterized by the accumulation of drusen under Bruch's membrane, and amyloid beta (Aβ) is speculated to be one of the key pathologic factors. While the detrimental effects of Aβ on retinas have been widely explored, Aβ-induced epigenetic regulatory changes have yet to be fully investigated. We therefore aimed to identify the microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in an Aβ-induced mouse model of retinal degeneration.

Involvement of XBP1s in Blue Light-Induced A2E-Containing Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cell Death.

Purpose: Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell dysfunction is essential to the development of retinal degenerative disease. This study was designed to investigate how spliced X-box-binding protein 1 (XBP1s) regulates different modes of RPE cell death in vitro.

Methods: Human ARPE19 cells were incubated with 25 μM N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine (A2E) and irradiated with blue light.

Tumor enucleation specimens of small renal tumors more frequently have a positive surgical margin than partial nephrectomy specimens, but this is not associated with local tumor recurrence.

Approaches to nephron-sparing surgeries (NSS) of renal lesions include partial nephrectomy (PN) and tumor enucleation (TE). Our objective was to examine the pathology of the pseudocapsule and status of the surgical margin in small renal masses treated by NSS and to correlate these findings with the surgical and oncological outcomes. All consecutive renal TE and PN specimens obtained during the period between January 2012 and December 2014, of which clinical follow-up was available, were included in this study.

Critical histologic appraisal of the pseudocapsule of small renal tumors.

Small renal tumors are usually enwrapped in a pseudocapsule with well-confined borders, a feature that facilitates the performance of nephron-sparing surgeries (NSS). Our study was designed to evaluate the histologic features of the pseudocapsule of small renal tumors. One hundred seventy-eight renal tumors (≤4 cm), which were surgically removed by total nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, or enucleation procedures during 2002-2013, were re-examined microscopically.

Inhibition of TRB3 Protects Photoreceptors against Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Apoptosis after Experimental Retinal Detachment.

Purpose: To investigate the expression of tribbles homologue 3 (TRB3) and its regulation on endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-induced photoreceptor apoptosis after retinal detachment (RD) using a rat model.

Methods: RD animal model was created in Wistar rats by subretinal injection of 1% sodium hyaluronate. At various time points after RD, expression of TRB3 was detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting.

Expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers GRP78 and CHOP induced by oxidative stress in blue light-mediated damage of A2E-containing retinal pigment epithelium cells.

Aims: Age-related lipofuscin N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine (A2E) accumulated in human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells confers susceptibility to blue light-mediated damage, which represents one pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration. This study investigated the expression of 2 best-characterized endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers, glucose-related protein 78 (GRP78) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), as well as their regulation by oxidative stress after blue light-mediated damage of A2E-containing RPE cells.

Methods: ARPE-19 cells were incubated with A2E (10, 25, 50 μM) for 2 h and exposed to blue light for 20 min.

Deficient histone acetylation and excessive deacetylase activity as epigenomic marks of prostate cancer cells.

Aberrant epigenomic alterations include incorrect histone modifications involving altered expression of chromatin-modifying proteins. They contribute to gene silencing and carcinogenesis. The nature of the epigenomic alterations occurring with prostate cancer remains to be fully identified.

Modulating testosterone stimulated prostate growth by phenethyl isothiocyanate via Sp1 and androgen receptor down-regulation.

Background: The effects of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), present naturally in cruciferous vegetables, on androgen-influenced growth of the prostate such as benign hyperplasia, was investigated.

Methods: Rats dosed with cyproterone acetate and testosterone, were fed at the same time with either PEITC or vehicle control. The growth of the prostates was compared to untreated rats.

Epigenetic mechanism of growth inhibition induced by phenylhexyl isothiocyanate in prostate cancer cells.

Background: Isothiocyanates, the constituents of cruciferous vegetables, may be able to prevent prostate cancer. The hypothesis that they could remodel chromatins and activate cell cycle inhibitors, such as p21 for growth inhibition, was tested.

Materials And Methods: Prostate cancer LNCaP cells were exposed to phenylhexyl isothiocyanate (PHI).

Phenylhexyl isothiocyanate inhibits histone deacetylases and remodels chromatins to induce growth arrest in human leukemia cells.

Natural isothiocyanates, present in cruciferous vegetables and synthetic phenylhexyl isothiocyanate (PHI) are chemopreventive agents which act by blocking the initiation of carcinogen-induced tumors in rodents. We have demonstrated that isothiocyanates are also growth regulators, inhibiting cell cycle cdk activity and up-regulating inhibitor p21WAF1 (p21) in cancer cells. The up-stream mechanism to modulate cell cycle progression remained to be elucidated.

Loss of topoisomerase I function affects the RpoS-dependent and GAD systems of acid resistance in Escherichia coli.

Acid resistance (AR) in Escherichia coli is important for its survival in the human gastrointestinal tract and involves three systems. The first AR system is dependent on the sigma factor RpoS. The second system (the GAD system) requires the glutamate decarboxylase isoforms encoded by the gadA and gadB genes.