Vitreous function and intervention of it with vitrectomy and other modalities.

The vitreous body, the largest intraocular component, plays a key role in eye development, refraction, cell barrier function, oxygen metabolism and the pathogenesis of assorted diseases. Age, refraction and systemic diseases can cause vitreous metabolic abnormalities. With the continuous development of vitrectomy techniques and equipment, vitreous injections and vitrectomies have increased over the recent decades.

Vitreous function and intervention of it with vitrectomy and other modalities.

The vitreous body, the largest intraocular component, plays a key role in eye development, refraction, cell barrier function, oxygen metabolism and the pathogenesis of assorted diseases. Age, refraction and systemic diseases can cause vitreous metabolic abnormalities. With the continuous development of vitrectomy techniques and equipment, vitreous injections and vitrectomies have increased over the recent decades.

Intravitreal anti-VEGF agents, oral glucocorticoids, and laser photocoagulation combination therapy for macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion: preliminary report.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents, oral glucocorticoid, and laser photocoagulation therapy for macular edema (ME) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO).

Methods: This study included 16 eyes of 16 patients with RVO-associated ME. Patients were initially treated with oral prednisone and an intravitreal anti-VEGF agent.

RISK OF SILICONE OIL AS VITREOUS TAMPONADE IN PARS PLANA VITRECTOMY: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: The authors examined the differences between silicone oil and other vitreous tamponades or placebo in performing pars plana vitrectomy.

Methods: This review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Seven databases and the reference lists of the retrieved randomized controlled trial articles were searched to identify eligible studies.

Study of retinal vessel oxygen saturation in ischemic and non-ischemic branch retinal vein occlusion.

Aim: To explore how oxygen saturation in retinal blood vessels is altered in ischemic and non-ischemic branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

Methods: Fifty BRVO eyes were divided into ischemic (n=26) and non-ischemic (n=24) groups, based on fundus fluorescein angiography. Healthy individuals (n=52 and n=48, respectively) were also recruited as controls for the two groups.

Micellar delivery of dasatinib for the inhibition of pathologic cellular processes of the retinal pigment epithelium.

The objective of this study was to fabricate dasatinib-loaded nanoparticles and evaluate their efficacy in inhibiting cellular processes of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) related to proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), for which there are no approved pharmacological approaches. We successfully encapsulated dasatinib, a poorly soluble multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor which has great potential for the treatment of PVR, into nanoparticles prepared from micellation of PEG-b-PCL. The size of the nanomicelles was approximately 55nm with a narrow distribution.

Vitreous substitutes: challenges and directions.

The natural vitreous body has a fine structure and complex functions. The imitation of the natural vitreous body by vitreous substitutes is a challenging work for both researchers and ophthalmologists. Gases, silicone oil, heavy silicone oil and hydrogels, particularly the former two vitreous substitutes are clinically widely used with certain complications.

Stanniocalcin-1 promotes tumor angiogenesis through up-regulation of VEGF in gastric cancer cells.

Background: Stanniocalcin-1(STC-1) is up-regulated in several cancers including gastric cancer. Evidences suggest that STC-1 is associated with carcinogenesis and angiogenic process. However, it is unclear on the exact role for STC-1 in inducing angiogenesis and tumorigeneisis.

[A preliminary study on gene mutation and its function in a large family (GZ.1 pedigree) with open-angle glaucoma].

Objective: To determine the causative mutation of myocilin gene and to investigate its pathogenic function in a large Chinese pedigree (GZ.1) with familial open-angle glaucoma.

Methods: Genome-wide scanning was performed and the Lod scores were calculated.

[The effect of protein kinase C alpha on expression of developmental genes during differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into neuron-like cells in vitro].

Objective: To study the effect of protein kinase C alpha on the expression of developmental genes pax-6, slit-2 and netrin-1 during differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into neuron-like cells in vitro, in an attempt to elucidate their roles in signaling.

Methods: ES-BALB/c cells were induced to form embryoid bodies in the ES conditioned medium for 4 days, and were plated separately on coated glass coverslip into 6-well culture dishes for immunohistochemical study and into 100 mm dishes for RT-PCR assay. These cultures were collected after 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days in the presence of 5 x 10(-7) mol/L retinoic acid (RA).

The inhibition of CA2+ influx induced by hypericin in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells analyzed by confocal imaging.

Purpose: Hypericin, a specific inhibitor of protein kinase C, has been reported to have potential as a therapeutic drug for proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) in vitro and in vivo. In the present studies, we analyzed the dynamic changes in Ca2+ influx and free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) of cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells after stimulation with hypericin in an attempt to elucidate its mechanism as a therapeutic drug for PVR.

Methods: RPE cells were plated in a special plastic dish and then stimulated with 100 nM phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and/or 6 hypericin concentrations (0.