PFKFB3: A Potential Key to Ocular Angiogenesis.

The current treatment for ocular pathological angiogenesis mainly focuses on anti-VEGF signals. This treatment has been confirmed as effective despite the unfavorable side effects and unsatisfactory efficiency. Recently, endothelial cell metabolism, especially glycolysis, has been attracting attention as a potential treatment by an increasing number of researchers.

[Spontaneous regression of the retinopathy of prematurity].

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) has become the leading cause of childhood blindness worldwide. It is the key point of ROP prevention and treatment to screen out and deal with severe ROP that require treatment. However, more than 70% ROP regressed spontaneously without treatment.

Comprehensive analysis of the relationship between competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks and tumor infiltrating-cells in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The innovation of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) represents a promising shift in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, response to ICB has varied largely due to the high tumor heterogeneity and complex tumor microenvironment (TME). The competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network also plays an important role in tumor occurrence and progression, but its relation with tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TICs) remains largely unexplored in HCC.

CXCL5/CXCL8 is a promising potential prognostic and tumor microenvironment-related cluster in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) are increasingly applied to treat patients with advanced HCC. However, the overall survival (OS) of HCC patients is still unsatisfactory, and there is no confirmed immune-related and prognostic gene to identify patients who could clinically benefit from this treatment. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is known to be closely related to immunotherapy and plays a pivotal role in the recurrence and progression of HCC.

LncRNA 1 Regulates miR-144-3p to Facilitate Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Lens Epithelial Cells via the ROS/NRF2/Notch1/Snail Pathway.

Diabetic cataract is a common complication of diabetes. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of lens epithelial cells (LECs) is a key event in the development of diabetic cataracts. Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (1) has been reported to be highly expressed in different tissues of diabetic patients.

Individualized transscleral cyclophotocoagulation as the initial surgical intervention for medically uncontrolled glaucoma after blunt trauma.

Aim: To investigate the safety and feasibility of individualized transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCPC) as the initial non-incisional surgical intervention for medically uncontrolled glaucoma after blunt trauma.

Methods: The therapy records were reviewed of medically uncontrolled traumatic glaucoma after blunt trauma treated with TSCPC in a single hospital between January 2014 and December 2018. Thirty-one patients (31 eyes) received individualized TSCPC after ultrasound biomicroscopy and gonioscopy examination to localize and quantify the injured quadrants of the anterior chamber angle.

A modified laser-induced choroidal neovascularization animal model with intravitreal oxidized low-density lipoprotein.

Aim: To investigate whether intravitreal injection of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) can promote laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) formation in mice and the mechanism involved, thereby to develop a better animal model.

Methods: C57BL6/J mice were randomized into three groups. Immediately after CNV induction with 532 nm laser photocoagulation, 1.

Preclinical safety evaluation of body protective compound-157, a potential drug for treating various wounds.

BPC157 displays protective activity in various organs and tissues. This report presents preclinical toxicity studies with BPC157 in mice, rats, rabbits and dogs. The single-dose toxicity study did not show any test-related effects that could be attributed to the test article.

M2 macrophages promote vasculogenesis during retinal neovascularization by regulating bone marrow-derived cells via SDF-1/VEGF.

Macrophages promote vasculogenesis during retinal neovascularization (RNV) by increasing the recruitment and differentiation of bone marrow-derived cells (BMCs). Different subtypes of macrophages (M1 and M2 macrophages) are associated with RNV. However, the mechanism underlying the regulation of BMCs by different macrophage subtypes during RNV remains unclear.

Effects and Mechanism of Action of PX-478 in Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy in Mice.

Importance: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an important risk factor for blindness in children due to neovascularization (NV). Hypoxia stimulates the formation of NV, as retinal hypoxia affects the stability and function of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcription factors. The purpose of this study is to study the mechanism of ROP and provide theoretical basis for clinical treatment of ROP.

Nav1.7 via Promotion of ERK in the Trigeminal Ganglion Plays an Important Role in the Induction of Pulpitis Inflammatory Pain.

The trigeminal ganglion (TG) refers to sensory neurons bodies that innervate the spinal cord and peripheral axons that innervate teeth. The tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium (NA) channels (Nav1.7) play important roles in the pathophysiology of pain.

Expression of platelet-derived growth factor-C in aqueous humor of patients with neovascular glaucoma and its correlation with vascular endothelial growth factor.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of platelet-derived growth factor-C in aqueous humor of patients with neovascular glaucoma and its correlation with vascular endothelial growth factor.

Methods: This study involved 62 eyes of 62 patients with advanced neovascular glaucoma requiring transscleral cyclophotocoagulation. Aqueous humor was collected through paracentesis.

Demographic profile and ocular characteristics of stage 5 retinopathy of prematurity at a referral center in Northwest China: implications for implementation.

Background: Severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) with extremely unfavorable prognosis among infants can do great damage to individuals and bring tremendous social-economic burden. The purpose of this study is to describe the demographic and ocular characteristics of infants who presented with stage 5 ROP in order to identify reasons why they have become blind, and to identify contributing factors in order to focus great attention on the current ROP program and to inspire more effort in ROP screening in middle income countries.

Methods: A retrospective review of consecutive infants with stage 5 ROP from December 2010 to December 2016 in Department of Ophthalmology, Xijing Hospital.

In Vivo Genetic Strategies for the Specific Lineage Tracing of Stem Cells.

Background: Characterization of the fate changes of stem cells is essential to understand the roles of certain stem cells both during development and in diseases, such as cancer. In the past two decades, more and more importance has been paid to the studies of in vivo lineage tracing, because they could authentically reveal the differentiation, migration and even proliferation of stem cells. However, specific genetic tools have only been developed until recently.

MicroRNA-188-5p regulates contribution of bone marrow-derived cells to choroidal neovascularization development by targeting MMP-2/13.

Our previous investigations have shown that bone marrow-derived cells (BMCs), including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), contribute to the development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) as sources of cells and angiogenic factors. Two main steps for circulating BMCs to integrate into CNV lesions are extracellular matrix remodeling and consequential cell migration. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) were found to be involved in CNV development; however, little is known about whether miRNAs regulate the contribution of BMCs to CNV.

Microglial density determines the appearance of pathological neovascular tufts in oxygen-induced retinopathy.

The oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) animal model established in C57 mice and SD rats has been widely used in retinal neovascular disease studies, while Balb/c mice have not been used because Balb/c OIR mice lack neovascular tufts. One study found a substantial difference in the density of retinal microglia between C57 and Balb/c mice; however, no direct evidence could clarify whether the density of retinal microglia in Balb/c mice led to this difference. In our study, intraperitoneal injection of minocycline was used to inhibit the activation of microglia and intravitreal injection of clodronate liposomes was used to decrease the density of microglia in Balb/c OIR model mice.

Animal Models of Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy and Their Use in Pharmaceutical Investigations.

Animal models are indispensable for pharmaceutical investigations. However, investigators often have difficulty choosing the appropriate modal for their research. To provide a comprehensive and convenient source of information about animal models of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), the current review sorted and analyzed representative animal models for pharmacotherapy of PVR since 1976.

SNAI1, an endothelial-mesenchymal transition transcription factor, promotes the early phase of ocular neovascularization.

Ocular neovascularization is a comprehensive process involved in retinal vascular development and several blinding diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and retinopathy of prematurity, with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) regarded as the master regulator. However, the qualified effect of anti-VEGF therapy reveals that the underlying mechanisms are still not clearly identified. To initialize angiogenesis, endothelial cells undergo a phenotype switching to generate highly migratory and invasive cells.

Advanced glycation end products promote VEGF expression and thus choroidal neovascularization via Cyr61-PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) causes severe vision loss among old patients, especially those with diabetes. Previously, Cyr61 has been found to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of both AMD and diabetes. In the present study, we found that increased CNV severity together with higher expression of Cyr61 and VEGF in diabetes mice compared with control mice.

Telmisartan improves vascular remodeling through ameliorating prooxidant and profibrotic mechanisms in hypertension via the involvement of transforming growth factor-β1.

Vascular remodeling is a common complication and pathological basis of hypertension. Transforming growth factor‑β1 (TGF‑β1)/small mothers against decapentaplegic 3 (Smad3) is considered a potential therapeutic target for vascular remodeling in hypertension. The present study aimed to demonstrate the antifibrotic effects of telmisartan and examined the potential mechanisms associated with its prevention of vascular remodeling.

The role of Toll-like receptors in retinal ischemic diseases.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are commonly referred to a series of evolutionary conserved receptors which recognize and respond to various microbes and endogenous ligands. Growing evidence has demonstrated that the expression of TLRs in the retina is regulated during retinal ischemic diseases, including ischemia-reperfusion injury, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy (DR) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). TLRs can be expressed in multiple cells in the retina, such as glial cells, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), as well as photoreceptor cells and endothelium cells.

Infrared autofluorescence, short-wave autofluorescence and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography of optic disk melanocytomas.

Aim: To investigate the findings of infrared fundus autofluorescence (IR-AF) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in eyes with optic disc melanocytoma (ODM).

Methods: IR-AF findings and those of other ophthalmologic imaging examinations, including short-wave autofluorescence (SW-AF), fluorescein angiography (FA), fundus color photography, and SD-OCT of 8 eyes of 8 consecutive cases with ODM were assessed.

Results: The ODMs in all cases (100%) presented similar IR-AF, SW-AF, and FA findings.

In vivo bioluminescence imaging of hyperglycemia exacerbating stem cells on choroidal neovascularization in mice.

Aim: To investigate the influence of hyperglycemia on the severity of choroidal neovascularization (CNV), especially the involvement of bone marrow-derived cells (BMCs) and underlying mechanisms.

Methods: BMCs from firefly luciferase (Fluc)/green fluorescent protein (GFP) double transgenic mice were transplanted into C57BL/6J wide-type mice. The recipient mice were injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin (STZ) daily for 5 consecutive days to induce diabetes mellitus (DM), followed by CNV laser photocoagulation.

MicroRNA-195a-3p inhibits angiogenesis by targeting Mmp2 in murine mesenchymal stem cells.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) modulate complex physiological and pathological processes, including the regulation of angiogenesis. Our previous study reported that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are recruited into choroidal neovascularization lesions. miRNA-195 is highly expressed in MSCs, but its function remains unknown.