In vivo confocal microscopy qualitative investigation of the relationships between lattice corneal dystrophy deposition and corneal nerves.

Background: To investigate the corneal neurotropic phenomenon in patients with lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD) with in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy (IVCM).

Methods: IVCM was performed on a total of 15 patients (28 eyes) with LCD annually at a follow-up. A collection of the data was acquired to be analyzed.

Ghrelin protects retinal ganglion cells against rotenone via inhibiting apoptosis, restoring mitochondrial function, and activating AKT-mTOR signaling.

Ghrelin, a 28-amino acid peptide hormone, has protective effects on neuronal cells. The present study aimed to examine the neuroprotective effects of ghrelin on the rat retinal ganglion cells in the rotenone-induced in vitro model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Cell viability and cell apoptosis were determined by MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively.

MiR-200c suppresses the migration of retinoblastoma cells by reversing epithelial mesenchymal transition.

Aim: To analyze the relationship between clinical features and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in retinoblastoma (RB), further to investigate whether miR-200c regulates the EMT and migration of RB cells.

Methods: Expression of EMT-related markers and tumor-related factors were detected by immuno-histochemistry analysis in RB tissue from 29 cases. Correlations between their expression and clinical characteristics were analyzed.

Correlation of choroidal thickness and ametropiain young adolescence.

Choroid has been proposed to participate in the regulation of light refraction by changing its thickness. The present study aims to analyze the characteristics of choroidal thickness (CT), and its correlation with refractive error, axial length and age in young ametropia. A total of 51 subjects (102 eyes), aged from 5 to 18 years old (mean age 10.

The association between nuclear receptors and ocular diseases.

Nuclear hormone receptors (NRs) are one of the most abundant transcription factors in the human cells. They regulate expression of genes via interactions with corresponding ligands, co-activators, and co-repressors. These molecular pathways play important roles in the development, cell differentiation, and physiologic and metabolic processes.

MiR-20b targets AKT3 and modulates vascular endothelial growth factor-mediated changes in diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of new-onset blindness. The roles of microRNAs in diabetic retinopathy are largely unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of miR-20b in DR.