Posterior scleral reinforcement surgery effectively slows the rate of high myopic progression in children.

Purpose: To investigate the rate of axial length elongation and high myopia progression in operated eyes before and after posterior scleral reinforcement (PSR) surgery.

Methods: This was a retrospective study. Children with pathological myopia treated with PSR at Beijing Tongren Hospital between May 2013 and May 2020 were recruited into the PSR surgery group.

Refractive Lens Exchange Surgery in Early-Onset High Myopia Patients With Partial Cataract.

Purpose: By reporting clinical characteristics and retinal image quality before and after refractive lens replacement surgery in early-onset high myopia (eoHM) patients presenting with partial cataract, we emphasized the need for an objective way to grade the severity of partial cataracts.

Methods: This retrospective, consecutive case series included six Chinese patients (nine eyes). Analysis of previous medical records, visual acuity, optometry, retinal image quality, and axial length (AXL) before surgery and after surgery was performed.

Analysis of related factors of optical quality in healthy Chinese adults: a community-based population study.

Background: In recent years, visual quality has been extensively investigated in various conditions. In this community-based population study, we analyzed the effects of aging, refraction, and Lens Opacification Classification System III (LOCSIII) score on retinal imaging quality in healthy Chinese adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on sub-group subjects from The Handan Eye Study between October 2012 and January 2013.

Urinary bladder organ hypertrophy is partially regulated by Akt1-mediated protein synthesis pathway.

Aims: The present study aims to investigate the role of Akt in the regulation of urinary bladder organ hypertrophy caused by partial bladder outlet obstruction (pBOO).

Main Methods: Male rats were surgically induced for pBOO. Real-time PCR and western blot were used to examine the levels of mRNA and protein.

Regulation of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V1 protein synthesis by the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway in colonic hypersensitivity.

The transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1), also known as the capsaicin receptor or vanilloid receptor 1 (VR1), is expressed in nociceptive neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and participates in the transmission of pain. The present study investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms by which TRPV1 was regulated by nerve growth factor (NGF) signaling pathways in colonic hypersensitivity in response to colitis. We found that during colitis TRPV1 protein levels were significantly increased in specifically labeled colonic afferent neurons in both L1 and S1 DRGs.

Colitis-induced bladder afferent neuronal activation is regulated by BDNF through PLCγ pathway.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) often experience increased sensory responsiveness in the urinary bladder reflecting neurogenic bladder overactivity. Here we demonstrate that colitis-induced up-regulation of the phospholipase C gamma (PLCγ) pathway downstream of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in bladder afferent neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) plays essential roles in activating these neurons thereby leading to bladder hyperactivity. Upon induction of colitis with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) in rats, we found that the phosphorylation (activation) level of cAMP responsive element-binding (p-CREB) protein, a molecular switch of neuronal plasticity, was increased in specifically labeled bladder afferent neurons in the thoracolumbar and lumbosacral DRGs.

EXPRESS: Phospholipase C gamma mediates endogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor - regulated calcitonin gene-related peptide expression in colitis - induced visceral pain.

Background: Visceral hypersensitivity is a complex pathophysiological paradigm with unclear mechanisms. Primary afferent neuronal plasticity marked by alterations in neuroactive compounds such as calcitonin gene-related peptide is suggested to underlie the heightened sensory responses. Signal transduction that leads to calcitonin gene-related peptide expression thereby sensory neuroplasticity during colitis remains to be elucidated.

Reproducibility of optical quality parameters measured at objective and subjective best focuses in a double-pass system.

Aim: To evaluate intra-session repeatability and reproducibility of optical quality parameters measured at objective and subjective best focuses in a double-pass system.

Methods: Thirty Chinese healthy adults (19 to 40 years old) meeting our inclusion criterion were enrolled in the study. After a basic eye examination, two methods of optical quality measurement, based on subjective and objective best focuses were performed using the Optical Quality Analysis System (OQAS) with an artificial pupil diameter of 4.

Endogenous BDNF augments NMDA receptor phosphorylation in the spinal cord via PLCγ, PKC, and PI3K/Akt pathways during colitis.

Background: Spinal central sensitization is an important process in the generation and maintenance of visceral hypersensitivity. The release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) from the primary afferent neurons to the spinal cord contributes to spinal neuronal plasticity and increases neuronal activity and synaptic efficacy. The N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor possesses ion channel properties, and its activity is modulated by phosphorylation of its subunits including the NMDA receptor 1 (NR1).

Inhibition of NMDAR reduces bladder hypertrophy and improves bladder function in cyclophosphamide induced cystitis.

Purpose: We examined the role of NMDAR in the regulation of bladder hypertrophy and function in a rat model of cyclophosphamide induced cystitis.

Materials And Methods: Cystitis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (150 mg/kg body weight). NMDAR phosphorylation (activity) and signal transduction pathways were examined by direct measurement and by specific inhibitors in vivo.

Suppression of the PI3K pathway in vivo reduces cystitis-induced bladder hypertrophy and restores bladder capacity examined by magnetic resonance imaging.

This study utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to monitor the real-time status of the urinary bladder in normal and diseased states following cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced cystitis, and also examined the role of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway in the regulation of urinary bladder hypertrophy in vivo. Our results showed that under MRI visualization the urinary bladder wall was significantly thickened at 8 h and 48 h post CYP injection. The intravesical volume of the urinary bladder was also markedly reduced.

Neurotrophin signaling and visceral hypersensitivity.

Neurotrophin family are traditionally recognized for their nerve growth promoting function and are recently identified as crucial factors in regulating neuronal activity in the central and peripheral nervous systems. The family members including nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) are reported to have distinct roles in the development and maintenance of sensory phenotypes in normal states and in the modulation of sensory activity in disease. This paper highlights receptor tyrosine kinase (Trk) -mediated signal transduction by which neurotrophins regulate neuronal activity in the visceral sensory reflex pathways with emphasis on the distinct roles of NGF and BDNF signaling in physiologic and pathophysiological processes.

The urinary bladder of spontaneously hypertensive rat demonstrates bladder hypertrophy, inflammation, and fibrosis but not hyperplasia.

Aims: The present study aims to systemically characterize the factors that are associated with urinary bladder organ enlargement in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Main Methods: We compared the SHR to age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) control rats in the levels of bladder pro-inflammatory factors, collagen expression (type I), and detrusor smooth muscle growth.

Key Findings: Our results showed that enhanced inflammatory responses and fibrosis were key factors that were closely associated with bladder wall thickening in SHR.

In vivo regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in dorsal root ganglia is mediated by nerve growth factor-triggered Akt activation during cystitis.

The role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in sensory hypersensitivity has been suggested; however the molecular mechanisms and signal transduction that regulate BDNF expression in primary afferent neurons during visceral inflammation are not clear. Here we used a rat model of cystitis and found that the mRNA and protein levels of BDNF were increased in the L6 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in response to bladder inflammation. BDNF up-regulation in the L6 DRG was triggered by endogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) because neutralization of NGF with a specific NGF antibody reduced BDNF levels during cystitis.

Effect of refractive correction on ocular optical quality measurement using double-pass system.

Background: Optical Quality Analysis System II (OQAS, Visiometrics, Terrassa, Spain) that uses double-pass (DP) technique is the only commercially available device that allows objective measurement of ocular retinal image quality. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of spectacle lenses on the ocular optical quality parameters and the validity of the optometer within OQAS.

Methods: Seventy eyes of healthy volunteers were enrolled.

Endogenous PI3K/Akt and NMDAR act independently in the regulation of CREB activity in lumbosacral spinal cord in cystitis.

The integral interaction of signaling components in the regulation of visceral inflammation-induced central sensitization in the spinal cord has not been well studied. Here we report that phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent Akt activation and N-methyl-d-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR) in lumbosacral spinal cord independently regulate the activation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in vivo in a rat visceral pain model of cystitis induced by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CYP). We demonstrate that suppression of endogenous PI3K/Akt activity with a potent PI3K inhibitor LY294002 reverses CYP-induced phosphorylation of CREB, however, it has no effect on CYP-induced phosphorylation of NR1 at Ser(897) and Ser(896); conversely, inhibition of NMDAR in vivo with MK801 fails to block CYP-induced Akt activation but significantly attenuates CYP-induced CREB phosphorylation in lumbosacral spinal cord.

Nearwork-induced transient myopia and parental refractive error.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between parental refractive error and the nearwork-induced transient myopia (NITM) characteristics of their children.

Methods: Three hundred sixty children (173 boys and 187 girls) aged 6 to 17 years were tested. Initial NITM and its decay time (DT) were assessed objectively (WAM-5500, Grand-Seiko) immediately after binocularly viewing and performing a sustained near task (5 diopters [D]) for 5 minutes, incorporating a cognitive demand with full distance refractive correction in place.

Baseline characteristics of nearwork-induced transient myopia.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to describe the baseline refractive and nearwork-induced transient myopia (NITM) characteristics of the Beijing Myopia Progression Study, a 3-year cohort study, that has three overall specific aims: to investigate the natural history of NITM in schoolchildren living in the inner city of Beijing aged between 7 and 17 years; to investigate the possible relation between NITM and permanent myopia; and to determine the possible associations with NITM (eg, parental history).

Methods: Three hundred eighty-six students (187 males and 199 females) were enrolled. The mean ages were 8.

[Advances in near work-induced transient myopia].

The possible mechanism of myopia remains controversial while gene and environment are two generally acknowledged factors underlie the development of human myopia. Near work which is a primary, environmentally based factor in the development and progression of permanent myopia (PM) may take effect via near work-induced transient myopia (NITM). In this review, the definition, measuring procedure and relative evaluation parameters of NITM as well as its characteristics, methods for reducing NITM and its possible mechanisms reported in the literature will be summarized.

[Comparison between binocular, open-field auto ref/keratometer and conventional autorefractor].

Objective: To compare the refractive results between open-field auto ref/keratometer and conventional autorefractor, and to investigate the effect of cycloplegic to this difference.

Methods: Three hundred and four primary and secondary school students were consecutively enrolled in Beijing Tongren Hospital. Non-cycloplegic and cycloplegic objective refractions were performed for each subject by conventional autorefractor (Accuref-K9001, Shin Nippon, Japan) and binocular, open-field auto ref/keratometer (Grand Seiko Co.

Up-regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor is regulated by extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 5 and by nerve growth factor retrograde signaling in colonic afferent neurons in colitis.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an essential role in sensory neuronal activation in response to visceral inflammation. Here we report that BDNF up-regulation in the primary afferent neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in a rat model of colitis is mediated by the activation of endogenous extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 5 and by nerve growth factor (NGF) retrograde signaling. At 7 days of colitis, the expression level of BDNF is increased in conventional neuronal tracing dye Fast Blue labeled primary afferent neurons that project to the distal colon.

Activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 5 is essential for cystitis- and nerve growth factor-induced calcitonin gene-related peptide expression in sensory neurons.

Background: Cystitis causes considerable neuronal plasticity in the primary afferent pathways. The molecular mechanism and signal transduction underlying cross talk between the inflamed urinary bladder and sensory sensitization has not been investigated.

Results: In a rat cystitis model induced by cyclophosphamide (CYP) for 48 h, the mRNA and protein levels of the excitatory neurotransmitter calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) are increased in the L6 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in response to bladder inflammation.

Regulation of IGF-1 but not TGF-β1 by NGF in the smooth muscle of the inflamed urinary bladder.

Intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CYP) causes hemorrhagic cystitis with excess growth of muscular layer leading to bladder hypertrophy; this could be attributable to changes in the expression profiles of growth factors in the inflamed urinary bladder. The growth factors characterized in the current study include nerve growth factor (NGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. We found that following CYP injection for 8 h and 48 h, the mRNA levels of all three factors were increased in the inflamed bladder when compared to control.

Reproducibility of nearwork-induced transient myopia measurements using the WAM-5500 autorefractor in its dynamic mode.

Purpose: To evaluate the reproducibility of nearwork-induced transient myopia (NITM) measurements obtained objectively using an open-field autorefractor (WAM-5500) in its dynamic mode.

Methods: NITM was assessed in 22, visually-normal, teen-aged and young-adult subjects using an infrared autorefractor (WAM-5500) in the dynamic mode. Measurements were obtained from the right eye in two test sessions separated by either 30 minutes or 2 days.