IRF7 overexpression alleviates CFA-induced inflammatory pain by inhibiting nuclear factor-κB activation and pro-inflammatory cytokines expression in rats.

Background: It is known that nerve signals arising from sites of inflammation lead to persistent changes in the spinal cord and contribute to the amplification and persistence of pain. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been completely elucidated. We identified differentially expressed genes in the lumbar (L4-L6) segment of the spinal cord from complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) rats compared to control animals via high throughput sequencing.

Enhanced TLR5-dependent migration and activation of antigen-loaded airway dendritic cells by flagellin.

TLR5 agonist flagellin is an effective mucosal adjuvant via intranasal administration. Previous studies demonstrated that the mucosal adjuvanticity of flagellin depends on TLR5 signaling of airway epithelial cells. Since dendritic cells play a central role in antigen sensitization and the initiation of primary immune responses, we wondered how dendritic cells were modulated by the intranasally administrated flagellin.

Inhibition of Spinal Interleukin-33 Attenuates Peripheral Inflammation and Hyperalgesia in Experimental Arthritis.

Accumulating evidence indicates that the continuous and intense nociceptive from inflamed tissue may increase the excitability of spinal dorsal horn neurons, which can signal back and modulate peripheral inflammation. Previous studies have demonstrated that spinal interleukin (IL)-33 contributes to the hyperexcitability of spinal dorsal horn neurons. This study was undertaken to investigate whether spinal IL-33 can also influence a peripheral inflammatory response in a rat model of arthritis.

Interleukin-33 modulates lipopolysaccharide-mediated inflammatory response in rat primary astrocytes.

Astrocytes have a crucial role in the modulation of the neuroinflammatory response. However, the underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully defined. Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is constitutively expressed in astrocytes, which has been found to orchestrate inflammatory responses in a large variety of immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases of the nervous system.

Clinical features of ocular toxocariasis: a comparison between ultra-wide-field and conventional camera imaging.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the lesion detection rates of ocular toxocariasis (OT) between ultra-wide-field scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (UWF-SLO) and conventional fundus photography (CFP), and to evaluate the potential diagnostic ability of UWF-SLO in OT.

Methods: A total of 56 patients with serological/immunological confirmed unilateral OT were enrolled. The presence of OT characteristic features included the posterior granuloma (postG), peripheral granuloma (periG), tractional retinal detachment (TRD), retinal folds (RF), and vitreous strands (VS) and was analyzed in 36 patients with UWF-SLO and 56 patients with CFP.

Identification of Novel Copy Number Variations of VCAN Gene in Three Chinese Families with Wagner Disease.

The VCAN/versican gene encodes an important component of the extracellular matrix, the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 2 (CSPG2/versican). Heterozygous variants targeting exon 8 of VCAN have been shown to cause Wagner disease, a rare autosomal dominant non-syndromic vitreoretinopathy that induces retinal detachment, cataracts and permanent visual loss. In this study, we report on six patients from three unrelated families with Wagner disease in whom we identified three novel copy number variations of VCAN.

Parental genetic knowledge and attitudes toward childhood genetic testing for inherited eye diseases.

Background: This study aimed to explore the parental genetic knowledge and attitudes toward childhood genetic testing of the inherited eye diseases (IEDs) in China.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey. All parents were assessed via self-administered questionnaires.

Developmental Changes in Retinal Microvasculature in Children: A Quantitative Analysis Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Purpose: To quantify the macular microvasculature in healthy children of various ages by using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Methods: A total of 333 normal children from 4 to 16 years old were included.

Analysis of Etiologic Factors in Pediatric Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment With Genetic Testing.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the etiology and clinical features of nontraumatic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in children.

Design: Consecutive, cross-sectional study.

Methods: In this study, 112 operative eyes of 102 patients ≤18 years of age with nontraumatic RRD were included.

ASSESSING THE ACTIVITY OF MYOPIC CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION: Comparison Between Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography and Dye Angiography.

Purpose: This study aims to suggest a novel strategy for assessing the activity of myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) based on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and to compare it with traditional fundus fluorescein angiography as the gold standard.

Methods: Macular OCTA images were obtained using RTVue XR Avanti with AngioVue. Morphologic features of mCNV lesions were analyzed.

Parents' perceptions of diagnostic genetic testing for children with inherited retinal disease in China.

Background: In this study, we aim to investigate the awareness of, attitudes toward, and experiences with diagnostic genetic testing among parents of children suspected of having inherited retinal disease (IRDs) in China.

Methods: Semistructured, face-to-face, and in-depth interviews were carried out with parents of children with suspected IRDs in this qualitative study. Inductive content analysis was used for data processing.

Next-Generation Sequencing in the Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy-Associated Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic mutation spectrum in Chinese patients with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy-associated rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (FEVR-RRD) and to analyze the preliminary genotype-phenotype association.

Methods: In this consecutive, cross-sectional study, 54 patients with FEVR-RRD were studied. Comprehensive ophthalmic examinations and targeted next-generation sequencing were performed in all patients.

Prevalence and Determinants Associated With Spectacle-Wear Compliance in Aphakic Infants.

Purpose: We assess the prevalence of spectacle wear and the factors associated with compliance among aphakic infants with congenital cataracts who underwent lens extraction in South China.

Methods: Infants aged 3 months to 3 years were enrolled from among participants in the Childhood Cataract Program of the Chinese Ministry of Health (CCPMOH). The prevalence and potential determinants of spectacle-wearing compliance were identified from interviews with the infants' caregivers.

IL-33/ST2 signaling contributes to radicular pain by modulating MAPK and NF-κB activation and inflammatory mediator expression in the spinal cord in rat models of noncompressive lumber disk herniation.

Background: Immune and inflammatory responses occurring in the spinal cord play a pivotal role in the progression of radicular pain caused by intervertebral disk herniation. Interleukin-33 (IL-33) orchestrates inflammatory responses in a wide range of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders of the nervous system. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate the expression of IL-33 and its receptor ST2 in the dorsal spinal cord and to elucidate whether the inhibition of spinal IL-33 expression significantly attenuates pain-related behaviors in rat models of noncompressive lumbar disc herniation.

Inhibition of periostin gene expression via RNA interference suppressed the proliferation, apoptosis and invasion in U2OS cells.

Background: Periostin originally designated osteoblast-specific factor 2 (OSF-2) is frequently found to be highly expressed in various types of human cancer cell lines in vitro and human cancer tissues in vivo. We proposed that periostin was a key factor during the process of proliferation and invasion in cancer cells. We investigated the effect of periostin on the function of human osteosarcoma cell line (U2OS), such as proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and the associated signal pathway.