Assessment of pathogenicity and functional characterization of gene mutations in diabetic patients.

Background: Adaptor protein, phosphotyrosine interacting with PH domain and leucine zipper 1 (APPL1) plays a crucial role in regulating insulin signaling and glucose metabolism. Mutations in the gene have been associated with the development of maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 14 (MODY14). Currently, only two mutations [c.

Mechanism of piR-1245/PIWI-like protein-2 regulating Janus kinase-2/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3/vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway in retinal neovascularization.

Inhibiting retinal neovascularization is the optimal strategy for the treatment of retina-related diseases, but there is currently no effective treatment for retinal neovascularization. P-element-induced wimpy testis (PIWI)-interacting RNA (piRNA) is a type of small non-coding RNA implicated in a variety of diseases. In this study, we found that the expression of piR-1245 and the interacting protein PIWIL2 were remarkably increased in human retinal endothelial cells cultured in a hypoxic environment, and cell apoptosis, migration, tube formation and proliferation were remarkably enhanced in these cells.

Three-year results of small incision lenticule extraction and wavefront-guided femtosecond laser-assisted laser keratomileusis for correction of high myopia and myopic astigmatism.

Aim: To compare and calculate the 3-year refractive results, higher-order aberrations (HOAs), contrast sensitivity (CS) and dry eye parameters after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and wavefront-guided femtosecond laser-assisted laser keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) for correction of high myopia and myopic astigmatism.

Methods: In this prospective, non-randomized comparative study, 78 eyes with spherical equivalent (SE) of -8.11±1.

Efficacy, safety, predictability, aberrations and corneal biomechnical parameters after SMILE and FLEx: Meta-analysis.

Aim: To identify possible differences of efficacy, safety, predictability, higher-order aberrations and corneal biomechnical parameters after small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and femtosecond lenticule extraction (FLEx).

Methods: A systematic literature retrieval was conducted in Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library, up to October, 2015. The included studies were subject to a Meta-analysis.

Comparison of the femtosecond laser and mechanical microkeratome for flap cutting in LASIK.

Aim: To compare refractive results, higher-order aberrations (HOAs), contrast sensitivity and dry eye after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) performed with a femtosecond laser versus a mechanical microkeratome for myopia and astigmatism.

Methods: In this prospective, non-randomized study, 120 eyes with myopia received a LASIK surgery with the VisuMax femtosecond laser for flap cutting, and 120 eyes received a conventional LASIK surgery with a mechanical microkeratome. Flap thickness, visual acuity, manifest refraction, contrast sensitivity function (CSF) curves, HOAs and dry-eye were measured at 1wk; 1, 3, 6mo after surgery.

[Effects of TrkB-BDNF signal pathway on synthesis and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor in human neuroblastoma cells].

Objective: To study the effects of TrkB-BDNF signal pathway on the synthesis and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human neuroblastoma cells (NB).

Methods: TrkB protein expression in SY5Y cells before and after all-trans-retinoicacid (ATRA) treatment was detected by Western blot. P-TrkB protein expression in SY5Y cells before and after the treatment of ATRA along with BDNF was also detected by Western blot.

[Cytokine expression in murine cornea tissue during recurrent herpetic stromal keratitis].

Objective: To investigate the expression of cytokine in CD(4)(+) T helper type 1 (Th1) and T helper type 2 (Th2) cells in murine cornea during recurrent herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK) and its relationship with the HSK.

Methods: Seven weeks after corneal inoculation with HSV-1, the eyes of latently infected BALB/c mice were irradiated by UV-B and examined for the signs of inflammation and viral reactivation. The corneas of six mice with recurrent stromal disease and six controls were examined to detect the content of Th1 type cytokines (IFN-gamma and IL-12) and Th2 type cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) on days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21 and 28 after irradiation.

[Suppression effects of interleukin-10 on mouse herpetic stromal keratitis].

Objective: To investigate the role of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK).

Methods: Eighty BALB/c mice were divided into two groups and infected with HSV-1 Mckrae strain by corneal scarification. Murine rIL-10 (20 ng/ml) was inoculated intracorneally 6 h before and again on days 0, 2 and 4 after topical HSV-1 corneal infection.

[Inhibition by CTLA-4Ig on herpetic stromal keratitis in a murine model].

Objective: To investigate the inhibition by CTLA-4Ig on herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK).

Methods: BALB/c mice infected with HSV-1 Mckrae strain by corneal scarification were injected intraperitoneally with murine CTLA-4Ig given on days 0, +2, +4 after the infection. The effects of CTLA-4Ig on HSK were evaluated.