The association of lumican polymorphisms and high myopia in a Southern Chinese population.

Aim: To investigate the correlation between lumican (LUM) gene and high myopia in a Southern Chinese population.

Methods: The study comprised of 95 high myopia patients with a spherical equivalent ≤-6.5 diopters (D).

The association of LOXL1 polymorphisms with exfoliation syndrome/glaucoma: Meta-analysis.

Aim: To investigate the association of lysyl oxidase-like 1 (LOXL1) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with exfoliation syndrome (XFS)/exfoliation glaucoma (XFG).

Methods: Published manuscripts from PubMed and EMBASE were identified until May 2014. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for LOXL1 (rs1048661, rs2165241 and rs3825942) polymorphisms and the risk of XFS/XFG were estimated using random- or fixed- effect model.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides protected human retinal pigment epithelial cells against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis.

Aim: To investigate the protective effect and its mechanism of lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Methods: ARPE-19 cells, a human retinal pigment epithelial cell lines, were exposed to different concentrations of H2O2 for 24h, then cell viability was measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay to get the properly concentration of H2O2 which can induce half apoptosis of APRE-19. With different concentrations of LBP pretreatment, the ARPE-19 cells were then exposed to appropriate concentration of H2O2, cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometric analysis.

Comparison of conventional and directional freezing for the cryopreservation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Aim: To compare conventional slow equilibrium cooling and directional freezing (DF) by gauze package for cryopreservation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Methods: HUVECs were randomly assigned to conventional freezing (CF) and DF by gauze package group. The two groups of HUVECs were incubated with a freezing liquid consisting of 10% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), 60% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 30% Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) and then put into cryopreserved tubes.

Differentiation of human amniotic epithelial cells into corneal epithelial-like cells in vitro.

Aim: To explore the feasibility that human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) have the potential to differentiate into corneal epithelial-like cells under the microenvironment replicated by spontaneously immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (S-ihCECs).

Methods: hAECs were isolated by enzyme digestion, and flow cytometry was used to analysis the expression of CD29/90/166/73/34 and HLA-DR. Recovered and cultured S-ihCECs, immunocytochemistry was used to detect the expression of CK3/12.

Comparison of trabeculectomy and trabeculectomy with amniotic membrane transplantation in the same patient with bilateral glaucoma.

Aim: To observe effects of trabeculectomy with amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) in controlling postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with medically uncontrolled glaucoma.

Methods: This study included adult patients with requiring bilateral glaucoma surgery. Each patient underwent trabeculectomy (Non-AMT group) in one eye and with AMT (AMT group) in the other eye according to randomized principle.

New mucosal flap modification for endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy in Asians.

Aim: To describe a simple modification of fashioning the mucosal flap for endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EES-DCR) in Asians and investigate its efficacy.

Methods: A total of 120 patients with unilateral primary chronic dacryocystitis (PCD) were randomized into two groups: the new shaped nasal mucosal flap group (group A) and the removed nasal mucosal flap group (group B). All patients underwent standard EES-DCR.