Analysis of factors affecting prognosis of the visual acuity and baseline risk factors for subretinal fibrosis in neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients.

Background: To evaluate factors affecting visual acuity prognosis in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) following anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy via intravitreal injection and to identify baseline risk factors for subretinal fibrosis (SF).

Methods: A retrospective study of 64 nAMD eyes treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment over 12 months of follow-up was conducted. Demographic and optical coherence tomography characteristics at baseline were recorded to explore the relevant factors affecting visual acuity outcome.

The association of inflammatory biomarkers with clinical outcomes in diabetic retinopathy participants: data from NHANES 2009-2018.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the association of neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and system inflammation response index (SIRI) with the all-cause mortality and diabetes-cardiovascular mortality in participants with diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: A total of 572 participants with DR from NHANES were included, and divided into survival group (n = 440) and all-cause death group (n = 132). NLR = neutrophil count/lymphocyte count, MLR = monocyte count/lymphocyte count, SIRI = (neutrophil count × monocyte count)/lymphocyte count.

NECA alleviates inflammatory responses in diabetic retinopathy through dendritic cell toll-like receptor signaling pathway.

Introduction: This study examined the impact of 5'-(N- ethylcarboxamido)adenosine (NECA) in the peripheral blood of healthy individuals, those with diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy (DR), and C57BL/6 mice, both and .

Methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and flow cytometry (FCM) were used to evaluate the effects of NECA on dendritic cells (DCs) and mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) and the effects of NECA-treated DCs on Treg and Th17 cells. The effect of NECA on the Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathway in DCs was evaluated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blotting (WB).

Unveiling the metabolic and coagulation disruptions in SARS-CoV-2-associated acute macular neuroretinopathy: A case-control study.

SARS-CoV-2 infection has been associated with the increased incidence of acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN), an infrequent ocular disorder. However, the precise mechanisms underpinning AMN in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection (AMN-SARS-CoV-2) remain elusive. In this case-control study, 14 patients diagnosed with AMN-SARS-CoV-2 between 2022/12 and 2023/3 were enrolled and compared with 14 SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals without AMN, who served as controls (SARS-CoV-2-no AMN).

Colchicine delivered by a novel nanoparticle platform alleviates atherosclerosis by targeted inhibition of NF-κB/NLRP3 pathways in inflammatory endothelial cells.

Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by arterial plaque formation, is one of the most prominent causes of cardiovascular diseases. However, the current treatments often do not adequately compromise the chronic inflammation-mediated plaque accumulation and the disease progression. Therefore, a new and effective strategy that blocks atherosclerosis-associated inflammation is urgently needed to further reduce the risk.

Inhibition of DRP1-dependent mitochondrial fission by Mdivi-1 alleviates atherosclerosis through the modulation of M1 polarization.

Background: Inflammation and immune dysfunction with classically activated macrophages(M1) infiltration are important mechanisms in the progression of atherosclerosis (AS). Dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1)-dependent mitochondrial fission is a novel target for alleviating inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of DRP1 inhibitor Mdivi-1 on AS.

Analyze of factors and prognosis of eyes lost to follow-up in retinal vein occlusive disease patients receiving anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy.

Background: Patients with macular edema (ME) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) who received at least one intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy (VEGF) and lost to follow-up (LTFU) for more than six months were analyzed to investigate the factors contributing to the LTFU and the prognosis.

Method: This was a retrospective, single-center study to analyze the causes and prognosis of LTFU over six months in RVO-ME patients treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF injections at our institution from January 2019 to August 2022 and to collect patients' baseline characteristics along with the number of injections before LTFU, primary disease, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before LTFU and after return visit, central macular thickness (CMT), months before LTFU and after LTFU, reasons for LTFU, and complications, to analyze the factors affecting visual outcome at a return visit.

Results: This study included 125 patients with LTFU; 103 remained LTFU after six months, and 22 returned after LTFU.

Liposome-trimethyl chitosan nanoparticles codeliver insulin and siVEGF to treat corneal alkali burns by inhibiting ferroptosis.

Alkali burns are potentially blinding corneal injuries. Due to the lack of available effective therapies, the prognosis is poor. Thus, effective treatment methods for corneal alkali burns are urgently needed.

Metabolite Changes in the Aqueous Humor of Patients With Retinal Vein Occlusion Macular Edema: A Metabolomics Analysis.

Macular edema (ME) is the main cause of visual impairment in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). The degree of ME affects the prognosis of RVO patients, while it lacks objective laboratory biomarkers. We aimed to compare aqueous humor samples from 28 patients with retinal vein occlusion macular edema (RVO-ME) to 27 age- and sex-matched controls by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, so as to identify the key biomarkers and to increase the understanding of the mechanism of RVO-ME at the molecular level.

Gut Microbiota Composition and Fecal Metabolic Profiling in Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy.

Recent evidence suggests there is a link between metabolic diseases and gut microbiota. To investigate the gut microbiota composition and fecal metabolic phenotype in diabetic retinopathy (DR) patients. DNA was extracted from 50 fecal samples (21 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus-associated retinopathy (DR), 14 with type 2 diabetes mellitus but without retinopathy (DM) and 15 sex- and age-matched healthy controls) and then sequenced by high-throughput 16S rDNA analysis.

Association between VEGF-A and VEGFR-2 polymorphisms and response to treatment of neovascular AMD with anti-VEGF agents: a meta-analysis.

Aims: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether gene polymorphisms of the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and its receptor (VEGFR-2) have a pharmacogenetics effect on the anti-VEGF treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Methods: We carried out a meta-analysis focusing on the relationship between VEGF-related gene polymorphisms and treatment response of nAMD.

Results: For the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within and , anti-VEGF treatment was much more effective in patients with nAMD having rs833061 (CC vs TT:OR=2.

Identification of susceptibility SNPs in IL10 and IL23R-IL12RB2 for Behçet's disease in Han Chinese.

Background: Although previous genome-wide association studies in various cohorts have identified several susceptibility loci underlying Behçet's disease (BD), this has not yet led to a breakthrough in the management of BD.

Objective: This study aimed to further investigate the association of 26 candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms with previous genome-wide association studies-identified nearly positive P values (5.0 × 10 < P < 1.

Uveitis in Chinese Patients with Psoriasis.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical features of 51 uveitis patients with psoriasis in China.

Methods: The psoriasis type, demographics, ocular findings, auxiliary examination findings, complications, and therapeutic effects were analyzed.

Results: A total of 37 male and 14 female uveitis patients with psoriasis were classified into four groups: psoriasis vulgaris (29 cases); psoriatic arthritis (15 cases); psoriatic erythroderma (6 cases); and pustular psoriasis (1 case).

Genetic polymorphisms of cell adhesion molecules in Behcet's disease in a Chinese Han population.

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are involved in various immune-mediated diseases. This study was conducted to investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CAMs with Behçet's disease (BD) in a Chinese Han population. A two-stage association study was carried out in 1149 BD patients and 2107 normal controls.

Association of ATG5 Gene Polymorphisms With Behçet's Disease and ATG10 Gene Polymorphisms With VKH Syndrome in a Chinese Han Population.

Purpose: This study was conducted to explore the association of autophagy-related genes (ATGs) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with Behçet's disease (BD) and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome in a Chinese Han population.

Methods: A two-stage association study was carried out in 940 BD, 1061 VKH, and 2007 healthy controls. Genotyping for genetic variants of 10 autophagy family genes (ATG5, ATG7, ATG10, ATG16L1, IRGM, LKKR2, ATG2A, DAP, ULK1, and TSC1) was performed using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) or TaqMan SNP assays.

Association of ERAP1 Gene Polymorphisms With Behçet's Disease in Han Chinese.

Purpose: Behçet's disease (BD) is a common uveitis entity in China. The endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1), has a significant influence on the stability and immunological properties of MHC-I loaded peptides. In the present study, we investigated the association of ERAP1 gene polymorphisms with BD in a Chinese Han population.

Association of Genetic Variations in TNFSF15 With Acute Anterior Uveitis in Chinese Han.

Purpose: T cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of uveitis. Recent studies have indicated that the TNFSF15 gene that encodes the TL1A protein can regulate the differentiation and activation of T cells. TNFSF15 gene polymorphisms have been found to be associated with several autoimmune disorders.

FAS Gene Copy Numbers are Associated with Susceptibility to Behçet Disease and VKH Syndrome in Han Chinese.

Previous studies have identified that disturbed apoptosis was involved in the pathogenesis of Behçet disease (BD) and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome. This study aims to investigate whether copy number variations of apoptosis-related genes, including FAS, CASPASE8, CASPASE3, and BCL2, are associated with BD and VKH syndrome in Han Chinese. A two-stage association study was performed in 1,014 BD patients, 1,051 VKH syndrome patients, and 2,076 healthy controls.

FoxO1 gene confers genetic predisposition to acute anterior uveitis with ankylosing spondylitis.

Purpose: Recent studies have shown that a decrease of regulatory T (Treg) cells may contribute to the activity of acute anterior uveitis (AAU) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). A number of immunogenetic factors including IL2RA, miR-27a, miR-182, and FoxO1 are associated with Treg cell function. In this study, we investigated the association between polymorphisms of these genes and AAU with or without AS in a Chinese Han population.

Effects of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation pump on mortality of acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated the effect of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation pump(IABP) on the mortality of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Objectives: To analyze the relevant RCT data on the effect of IABP on mortality and the occurrence of bleeding in AMI.

Data Sources: Published RCTs on the treatment of AMI by IABP were retrieved in searches of Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane and other related databases.

Experimental research of RB94 gene transfection into retinoblastoma cells using ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction.

The purpose of this study was to explore the transfection of the recombinant expression plasmid pEGFP-C1/RB94 into human retinoblastoma cells (HXO-Rb44) using ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD). pEGFP-C1/RB94 was transfected into HXO-Rb44 in vitro by UTMD, with liposome as the positive control. After 24 to 72 h, the expression of the reporter gene enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was observed using fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry.

Suppression of NHE1 by small interfering RNA inhibits HIF-1α-induced angiogenesis in vitro via modulation of calpain activity.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) orchestrates angiogenesis under hypoxic conditions mainly due to increased expression of such target genes as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Na+/H+exchanger-1 (NHE1), a potential HIF target gene product, plays a pivotal role in proliferation, survival, migration, adhesion and so on. However, it is unknown whether NHE1 is involved in HIF-1α-induced angiogenesis.