Research progress of iron metabolism in retinal diseases.

Background: Retinal diseases can lead to severe visual impairment and even blindness, but current treatments are limited. For precise targeted therapy, the pathophysiological mechanisms of the diseases still need to be further explored. Iron serves an essential role in many biological activities and helps maintain the function and morphology of the retina.

Torin 1 alleviates impairment of TFEB-mediated lysosomal biogenesis and autophagy in (p.G623_H626del)-linked Thiel-Behnke corneal dystrophy.

Thiel-Behnke corneal dystrophy (TBCD) is an epithelial-stromal dystrophy caused by mutations in the (transforming growth factor beta induced) gene, though the underlying mechanisms and pathogenesis of TBCD are still obscure. The study identifies a novel mutation in the gene (p.Gly623_His626del) in a TBCD pedigree.

Kojic acid enhances the proliferation of human corneal epithelial cells via p38 and p21 signaling pathways.

Purpose: Treatment of corneal injury depends on the self-proliferation ability of human corneal epithelial cells (HCEp). Our previous study revealed kojic acid had the anti-senescence function on human corneal endothelial cells. In this study, we researched the enhancive proliferation effect of kojic acid in HCEp.

The novel mutation P36R in LRP5L contributes to congenital membranous cataract via inhibition of laminin γ1 and c-MAF.

Purpose: The present study investigated a pathogenic mutation and its mechanism on membranous cataract in a congenital membranous cataract family.

Methods: An autosomal dominant four-generation Chinese congenital membranous cataract family was recruited and whole-exome sequencing was performed to screen for sequence variants. Candidate variants were validated using polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing.

Anti-human serum albumin autoantibody may be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune bullous skin diseases.

Although effective immunological diagnostic systems for autoimmune bullous skin diseases (AIBD) have been established, there are still unidentified cutaneous autoantigens. The purpose of this study is to investigative whether anti-human serum albumin (HSA) autoantibodies exist in AIBD sera and their potential pathogenesis. By immunoprecipitation-immunoblotting, immunofluorescence assay, anti-HSA autoantibodies could be detected in AIBD sera; by ELISAs, positive rates of AIBD sera for IgG and IgA anti-HSA autoantibodies were 29% and 34%, respectively.

Retinal vascular abnormalities and their associations with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases: a Study in rural southwestern Harbin, China.

Background: Limited data is available on retinal vessel morphology in the north China. The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of retinal vascular abnormalities (RVAs) and investigate their associations with the self-reported diagnosis of cardiovascular and cerebrovascsular diseases (CCVds) in a rural adult population of northeast China.

Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted, using the cluster random sampling method.

Three kinds of corneal host cells contribute differently to corneal neovascularization.

Background: Corneal neovascularization (angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis) compromises corneal transparency and transplant survival, however, the molecular mechanisms of corneal host epithelial and stromal cells in neovascularization have not yet been fully elucidated. Furthermore, the contribution and mechanism of corneal host endothelial cells involved in neovascularization are largely unexplored.

Methods: Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, immunoblotting, and ELISA were used to screen and identify potential neovascularization-related factors in human full-thickness vascularized corneal tissues.

Laminin α4 overexpression in the anterior lens capsule may contribute to the senescence of human lens epithelial cells in age-related cataract.

Senescence is a leading cause of age-related cataract (ARC). The current study indicated that the senescence-associated protein, p53, total laminin (LM), LMα4, and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) in the cataractous anterior lens capsules (ALCs) increase with the grades of ARC. In cataractous ALCs, patient age, total LM, LMα4, TGF-β1, were all positively correlated with p53.

Kojic acid inhibits senescence of human corneal endothelial cells via NF-κB and p21 signaling pathways.

Fuchs endothelial dystrophy (FED) and late cornea allograft failure of cornea transplantation are associated with human corneal endothelial cells (HCEC) senescence. Kojic acid has various functions, however, its anti-senescence effect has never been identified. In this study, we investigated the anti-senescence effect of kojic acid on HCEC.

Caspase-10, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and total laminin are correlated with the tumor malignancy of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a common malignant kidney tumor, the pathogenesis of which remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether caspase-10, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and total laminin (LM) were involved into the pathogenesis of ccRCC. The levels of caspase-10, MMP-9 and total LM were analyzed by ELISA in tumor tissues and adjacent non-malignant tissues of 27 patients with ccRCC.

Laminins in an in vitro anterior lens capsule model established using HLE B-3 cells.

Cataracts are the most common eye disease to cause blindness in patients. The abnormal deposition of laminins (LMs) in the lens capsule and the disruption of capsular epithelium contribute to cataract development, although the mechanism by which this occurs is currently unclear. The present study aimed to reproduce HLE B‑3 basement membranes (BMs) using HLE B‑3 cells and to analyze the similarities of LM expression between HLE B‑3 BMs and human anterior lens capsule (ALC).

QishenYiqi Dripping Pill Improves Heart Failure by Up-Regulation of β2-Adrenergic Receptor Expression.

Background: QishenYiqi Dripping Pill (QYDP) is a Chinese herbal medicine that originally was used for the treatment of coronary artery disease. Recently, QYDP was used as a complementary treatment for heart failure (HF) in China.

Methods: An HF rat model was used to clarify the possible therapeutic effects of QYDP on HF.

Blockade of MMP-2 and MMP-9 inhibits corneal lymphangiogenesis.

Purpose: To investigate the roles of a selective MMP-2 and -9 inhibitor (SB-3CT) in corneal inflammatory lymphangiogenesis.

Methods: The expression of MMP-2 and -9 in the cornea after suture inplacement, treated with SB-3CT or negative control, was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Inflammatory corneal neovascularization (NV) was induced by corneal suture placement.

Neuropilin-2 contributes to LPS-induced corneal inflammatory lymphangiogenesis.

Neuropilin-2 (NP2), a high-affinity kinase-deficient co-receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C, is involved in embryonic vessel development, tumor growth, tumor lymphangiogenesis and metastasis. However, the pathological role of NP2 in other disorders, particularly under inflammatory lymphangiogenic conditions, remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of NP2 in inflammation-induced lymphangiogenesis in vivo using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced corneal neovascularization mouse model and in vitro using a macrophage-mouse lymphatic endothelial cell (mLEC) co-culture system.

Use of a silk fibroin-chitosan scaffold to construct a tissue-engineered corneal stroma.

Purpose: To construct a scaffold using silk fibroin (SF) and chitosan (CS) that could replace the corneal stroma with the biological characteristics of the scaffold materials still intact.

Methods: To develop an organotypic corneal stroma, SF and CS were chosen to synthesise the tissue-engineered bioscaffold. We cultured primary rabbit corneal epithelial cells and corneal stromal cells in vitro.

Chitosan-functionalized silk fibroin 3D scaffold for keratocyte culture.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the potential suitability of an artificial membrane composed of silk fibroin (SF) functionalized by different ratios of chitosan (CS) as a substrate for the stroma of the cornea. Keratocytes were cultured on translucent membranes made of SF and CS with different ratios. The biophysical properties of the silk fibroin and chitosan (SF/CS) membrane were examined.

[Gene mapping and mutation detection in a family with congenital anterior polar cataract].

Objective: To map the gene mutation responsible for autosomal dominant inherited congenital anterior polar cataract in a Chinese family.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from the members in this congenital cataract family. DNA was extracted from the blood samples.

Propofol increases the Ca2+ sensitivity of BKCa in the cerebral arterial smooth muscle cells of mice.

Aim: Propofol has the side effect of hypotension especially in the elderly and patients with hypertension. Previous studies suggest propofol-caused hypotension results from activation of large conductance Ca(2+)-sensitive K channels (BKCa). In this study, the effects of propofol on the Ca(2+) sensitivity of BKCa were investigated in mice cerebral arterial smooth muscle cells.

Congenital anterior polar cataract associated with a missense mutation in the human alpha crystallin gene CRYAA.

Purpose: To identify the potential pathogenic mutation over four generations of a Chinese family with congenital anterior polar cataracts (APC).

Methods: We investigated four generations of a Chinese family who are afflicted with anterior polar cataracts. The family resides in a relatively isolated region of Northern China.

Neutralization of mouse interleukin-17 bioactivity inhibits corneal allograft rejection.

Purpose: To investigate the inhibitory effects of anti-mouse interleukin-17 (IL-17) monoclonal antibody (mAb) in high-responder corneal allograft rejection.

Methods: C57BL/6 or BALB/c mice corneal grafts were grafted onto BALB/c hosts. The neutralizing mouse IL-17 antibody and isotype control were injected intraperitoneally immediately after transplantation for experimental treatment.

Testosterone modulation of cardiac β-adrenergic signals in a rat model of heart failure.

In this study, we examined the effects of castration and testosterone replacement on β-adrenoceptor and G protein expression in rats subjected to doxorubicin-induced heart failure. Five groups were included in this report: control, sham-castration with heart failure, castration with heart failure, castration+testosterone replacement with heart failure and castration+testosterone replacement and flutamide with heart failure. At 4 weeks post-treatment, echocardiography, hemodynamics and histopathology were assessed.

Blocking neuropilin-2 enhances corneal allograft survival by selectively inhibiting lymphangiogenesis on vascularized beds.

Purpose: To investigate the potential inhibitory effects of RNA interference-mediated knockdown of neuropilin-2 (NP2) on inflammation-induced corneal hemangiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, and whether selective inhibition of lymphangiogenesis on vascularized recipient beds before transplantation improves the graft survival.

Methods: Mouse lymphatic endothelial cells were transfected with the plasmid expressing artificial microRNA (amiRNA) against mouse NP2, and the down-regulation of VEGF-C-induced NP2 expression by NP2 amiRNA was evaluated by real-time PCR and western blot assays. Next, NP2 amiRNA or negative control amiRNA was injected intrastromally into BALB/c mouse model of suture-induced corneal neovascularization three days after surgery.

Oxygen-induced changes in mitochondrial DNA and DNA repair enzymes in aging rat lens.

The treatment of patients with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO), vitrectomy and loss of vitreous gel during aging is associated with a high risk of subsequent development of nuclear cataract. Many studies proved that oxidation is the key reason of nuclear cataract. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are formed in mitochondria as a by-product of normal metabolism and as a consequence of exposure to environmental compounds.

[Changes of hemodynamics during establishment of animal model of acute myocardial infarction induced by ligation of left coronary artery in goat].

Objective: To study the changes in hemodynamics in experimental acute myocardial infarction induced by ligation of the left coronary artery in goat.

Methods: Animal model of acute myocardial infarction was reproduced in 20 goats by ligation of the left coronary artery through xyphoid process. ST segment of electrocardiogram (ECG), mean artery blood pressure (MAP), central venous pressure (CVP), and heart rate (HR) were observed before, immediately, 30 minutes, 1 hour and 2 hours after ligation of the left coronary artery.