Giant retinal pigment epithelium tears with membranous nephropathy: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Kidney and eye diseases may be closely linked. Tears of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) have been reported to be related to kidney diseases, such as IgA nephropathy and light-chain deposition disease. However, pigment epithelium tears associated with membranous nephropathy have not been reported or systematically analysed. CASE PRESENTATION: A 68-year-old man presented with decreased right eye visual acuity. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed cystic macular edema, localized serous detachment of the retina and loss of the outer retinal structure in the right eye and retinal pigment epithelium detachment (PED) combined with serous detachment of the retina in the left eye. Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) revealed giant RPE tears in the right eye and exudative age-related macular degeneration in the left eye. The patient also suffered from severe membranous nephropathy-autoimmune glomerulonephritis. Renal biopsy immunofluorescence revealed a roughly granular pattern, with immunoglobulin G (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, complement C3(Components 3), λ light chain and κ light chain subepithelial staining. CONCLUSIONS: It is hypothesized that severe membranous nephropathy caused immune complex deposition on the surface of Bruch membrane, resulting in weakened adhesion between the RPE and Bruch membrane and impaired RPE pump function, combined with age-related macular degeneration, leading to giant RPE tears in the right eye. Close attention should be given to the ocular condition of patients with membranous nephropathy to facilitate timely treatment and avoid serious consequences.

3D printing sequentially strengthening high-strength natural polymer hydrogel bilayer scaffold for cornea regeneration.

3D printing of high-strength natural polymer biodegradable hydrogel scaffolds simultaneously resembling the biomechanics of corneal tissue and facilitating tissue regeneration remains a huge challenge due to the inherent brittleness of natural polymer hydrogels and the demanding requirements of printing. Herein, concentrated aqueous solutions of gelatin and carbohydrazide-modified alginate (Gel/Alg-CDH) are blended to form a natural polymer hydrogel ink, where the hydrazides in Alg-CDH are found to form strong hydrogen bonds with the gelatin. The hydrogen-bonding-strengthened Gel/Alg-CDH hydrogel demonstrates an appropriate thickened viscosity and shear thinning for extrusion printing. The strong hydrogen bonds contribute to remarkably increased mechanical properties of Gel/Alg-CDH hydrogel with a maximum elongation of over 400%. In addition, sequentially Ca2+-physical crosslinking and then moderately chemical crosslinking significantly enhance the mechanical properties of Gel/Alg-CDH hydrogels that ultimately exhibit an intriguing J-shaped stress-strain curve (tensile strength of 1.068 MPa and the toughness of 677.6 kJ/m2). The dually crosslinked Gel-Alg-CDH-Ca2+-EDC hydrogels demonstrate a high transparency, physiological swelling stability and rapid enzymatic degradability, as well as suturability. The growth factor and drug-loaded biomimetic bilayer hydrogel scaffold are customized via a multi-nozzle printing system. This bioactive bilayer hydrogel scaffold considerably promotes regeneration of corneal epithelium and stroma and inhibits cornea scarring in rabbit cornea keratoplasty.

3D printed fibroblast-loaded hydrogel for scleral remodeling to prevent the progression of myopia.

Pathologic myopia has seriously jeopardized the visual health of adolescents in the past decades. The progression of high myopia is associated with a decrease in collagen aggregation and thinning of the sclera, which ultimately leads to longer eye axis length and image formation in front of the retina. Herein, we report a fibroblast-loaded hydrogel as a posterior scleral reinforcement (PSR) surgery implant for the prevention of myopia progression. The fibroblast-loaded gelatin methacrylate (GelMA)-poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel was prepared through bioprinting with digital light processing (DLP). The introduction of the PEGDA component endowed the GelMA-PEGDA hydrogel with a high compression modulus for PRS surgery. The encapsulated fibroblasts could consistently maintain a high survival rate during 7 days of in vitro incubation, and could normally secrete collagen type I. Eventually, both the hydrogel and fibroblast-loaded hydrogel demonstrated an effective shortening of the myopic eye axis length in a guinea pig model of visual deprivation over three weeks after implantation, and the sclera thickness of myopic guinea pigs became significantly thicker after 4 weeks, verifying the success of sclera remodeling and showing that myopic progression was effectively controlled. In particular, the fibroblast-loaded hydrogel demonstrated the best therapeutic effect through the synergistic effect of cell therapy and PSR surgery.

Visual outcome of 25 Gauge vitrectomy for acute post operative infectious endophthalmitis.

BACKGROUND: The correlation between the change in foveal thickness measured using optical coherence tomography (OCT) following surgery for infectious endophthalmitis and preoperative and postoperative visual acuity is uncertain, and there are few pertinent studies on this topic. OBJECTIVE: We explored the variations in macular thickness using OCT after emergency vitrectomy for post-cataract infectious endophthalmitis and the relationship between macular thickness with changes in visual function. METHODS: We included 10 cases of post-cataract infectious endophthalmitis. Each patient underwent 25-G vitrectomy. RESULTS: The infection in all 10 patients was under control and visual function improved. Postoperative vitreous humor culture was positive in 8 patients, including 7 cases of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus epidermidis and 1 case of Lactobacillus acidophilus. The average age of these 10 patients was 71.60 ± 8.71 years (P< 0.05, two-tailed). There was no significant correlation between time 2 (the time of onset after cataract surgery) and visual prognosis. The average time 1 (the time of the vitrification surgery caused by the onset of the disease) was 1.45 ± 0.76 days (P< 0.05, two-tailed). The postoperative 3dVA ranged from 0.20 to 3.00, with an average visual acuity of 1.87 ± 1.12, which was superior to the preoperative value (P< 0.01, two-tailed). The correlation between the post3dVA and post 1mVA was significant. The post 1mVA ranged from 0.05 to 2.20, with an average visual acuity of 0.94 ± 0.74 (P< 0.05, two-tailed). The correlation between post 1mVA and post3mVA was significant. Also, paired t-tests comparing preoperative and postoperative visual acuity revealed a significant correlation (P< 0.05, two-tailed). The post3mVA was 0-1.00 with an average visual acuity of 0.44 ± 0.41. The postoperative foveal thickness ranged from 176.00 to 514.00 µm, with an average thickness of 281.10 ± 113.12 µm. CONCLUSION: Emergency 25-G minimally invasive vitrectomy can improve visual acuity and decrease the reoperation rate for patients who have acquired post-cataract infectious endophthalmitis. There were significant correlations between age, disease onset to operation time, preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, and postoperative macular thickness.

Vitreous management in Yamane's technique for crystalline lens dislocation: anterior vitrectomy or PPV?

OBJECTIVE: To study the postoperative visual outcomes and surgical complications of anterior/pars plana vitrectomy and concurrent Yamane's IOL fixation for crystalline lens dislocation. METHODS: Fifty-three patients (56 eyes) with crystalline lens subluxation/dislocation were enrolled in this retrospective interventional study. Patients received anterior/pars plana vitrectomy and concurrent Yamane's IOL fixation. Main outcome measures were postoperative BCVA and surgical complications. Proportion of spontaneous PVD and preoperative undetected retinal holes/degeneration (PURH/D) were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-four eyes were treated with anterior vitrectomy (Group AnV) and 32 eyes with pars plana vitrectomy (Group PPV). Overall incidence of PURH/D was 10.7% (6/56). Spontaneous PVD occurred in 68.8% (24/32) in Group PPV. During six months follow-up, one case of postoperative RRD and one case of choroidal detachment occurred in Group AnV. There was no significant difference between anterior vitrectomy and PPV in the final BCVA and postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Anterior or pars plana vitrectomy, which are both applicable in YAMANE technique for crystalline lens dislocation, exhibit similar surgical outcomes. Patient's age, PVD status and PURH helps to determine the route of vitrectomy. Pediatric patients might be potential candidates for transcorneal vitreolensectomy. For adult, PURH managed with total vitrectomy and intraoperative lase retinopexy might be beneficial to decrease the incidence of postoperative RRD.

Application of IPSC and Müller glia derivatives in retinal degenerative diseases.

Retinal degenerative diseases cause blindness characterized by a progressive decline in the number and function of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), photoreceptor cells, and ganglion cells. Such diseases include retinitis pigmentosa (RP), glaucomatous optic neuropathy, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic optic neuropathy. Recent studies have demonstrated that Müller glial cells (MGCs), an endogenous alternative source of retinal neurons, are important glial cells involved in retinal development, damage, and regeneration, making it an excellent target for retinal nerve regeneration. Although hardly differentiate into neuron cells, transplanted MGCs have been shown to induce partial recovery of visual function in experimental retinal degenerative models. This improvement is possibly attributed to the release of neuroprotective factors that derived from the MGCs. With the development of the therapeutic usage of pluripotent stem cell, application of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) or embryonic stem cells (ESCs) originated derivation of MGCs have been widely used in retinal degenerative disease model such as glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa model. This chapter summarized the relevant research and mechanisms and provided a broader application and research prospects for effective treatments in retinal degenerative diseases.

Lactobacillus acidophilus Endophthalmitis Postcataract Operation: A Case Report with a Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Lactobacillus acidophilus is usually considered nonpathogenic and widely distributed in the human gastrointestinal and vaginal tract. In rare cases, lactobacilli may cause eye infections. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a 71-year-old man who experienced unexpected ocular pain and decreased visual acuity for one day after cataract surgery. He presented with obvious conjunctival and circumciliary congestion, corneal haze, anterior chamber cells, anterior chamber empyema, posterior corneal deposits, and pupil light reflection disappearance. This patient underwent the standard three-port 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy and received the intravitreal perfusion of vancomycin at 1 mg/0.1 mL. The culture of the vitreous fluid produced Lactobacillus acidophilus. CONCLUSION: Acute Lactobacillus acidophilus endophthalmitis can occur after cataract surgery, which should be taken into consideration.

Aqueous humor cytokine levels are associated with the severity of visual field defects in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the aqueous humor (AH) levels of cytokines in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients and cataract patients. METHODS: Thirty-eight POAG patients and 26 cataract patients were recruited. Peripheral blood (PB) was collected from each subject. The POAG group was divided into 2 subgroups according to the severity of visual field defects. The cutoff point of the mean deviation (MD) of the visual field was -12 dB. AH was obtained at the time of anterior chamber puncture during cataract or glaucoma surgery by using a 27-gauge needle attached to a microsyringe. AH and PB levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-ß2) and IL-4 were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Postoperative intraocular pressures (IOPs) of POAG patients were recorded during the follow-up period. RESULTS: TNF-α and TGF-ß2 showed significantly higher AH levels in the POAG group than in the cataract group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively). For the POAG group, preoperative IOPs were significantly positively correlated with AH levels of TNF-α (r2 = 0.129, P = 0.027) and TGF-ß2 (r2 = 0.273, P = 0.001). AH levels of TGF-ß2 were significantly different among cataract patients, POAG patients with MD> -12 dB and POAG patients with MD≤ -12 dB (P = 0.001). AH levels of TNF-α were significantly positively associated with IOP reduction after trabeculectomy (P = 0.025). AH and PB levels of cytokines were not related to the long-term success of trabeculectomy. CONCLUSION: The levels of TNF-α and TGF-ß2 showed different profiles in POAG patients and cataract patients. AH levels of TGF-ß2 were correlated with the severity of glaucomatous neuropathy in POAG patients. The findings suggest possible roles for cytokines in the pathogenesis and development of POAG.

Self-rescue technique and Yamane's technique in situ: Management of intraoperative haptic slippage.

Haptic slippage is a frequently encountered and technically demanding complication in Yamane's surgery. The slipped haptic could be regained when bimanual operations are workable. Management of haptic slippage is difficult when the right hand is occupied by the puncture needle, which could be solved easily with the self-rescue technique, which uses the needle tip as an intraocular instrument for better exposure and easier engagement of the slipped haptic. With the aid of bimanual operations and self-rescue technique, Yamane's technique in situ is applicable when the haptic of dislocated intraocular lens suits for flange-making.

3D printed biomimetic epithelium/stroma bilayer hydrogel implant for corneal regeneration.

Corneal regeneration has always been a challenge due to its sophisticated structure and undesirable keratocyte-fibroblast transformation. Herein, we propose 3D printing of a biomimetic epithelium/stroma bilayer implant for corneal regeneration. Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) and long-chain poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) are blended to form a two-component ink, which can be printed to different mechanically robust programmed PEGDA-GelMA objects by Digital Light Processing (DLP) printing technology, due to the toughening effect of crystalline crosslinks from long-chain PEGDA on GelMA hydrogel after photo-initiated copolymerization. The printed PEGDA-GelMA hydrogels support cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, meanwhile demonstrating a high light transmittance, and an appropriate swelling degree, nutrient permeation and degradation rate. A bi-layer dome-shaped corneal scaffold consisting of rabbit corneal epithelial cells (rCECs)-laden epithelia layer and rabbit adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rASCs)-laden orthogonally aligned fibrous stroma layer can be printed out with a high fidelity and robustly surgical handling ability. This bi-layer cells-laden corneal scaffold is applied in a rabbit keratoplasty model. The post-operative outcome reveals efficient sealing of corneal defects, re-epithelialization and stromal regeneration. The concerted effects of microstructure of 3D printed corneal scaffold and precisely located cells in epithelia and stroma layer provide an optimal topographical and biological microenvironment for corneal regeneration.

Loratadine-associated cystoid macular edema: A case report.

Purpose: To report the first known case of bilateral cystoid macular edema in a patient undergoing long-term loratadine treatment. Observations: A 49-year-old Chinese woman who had been undergoing treatment with loratadine for the past 6 years presented with decreased visual acuity and bilateral cystoid macular edema (CME). Upon cessation of loratadine, macular edema partially resolved, and visual acuity markedly improved. Fundus autofluorescence (FAF), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and fluorescence fundus angiography (FFA) were used to document the severity of CME and its subsequent resolution after cessation of loratadine therapy. Conclusions and Importance: Long-term use of loratadine might cause CME that partially resolves with discontinuation of the drug. The pathophysiology of drug-induced CME without leakage remains unclear. Dysfunction of histamine receptor1-expressed retinal neurons and the associated signal transduction, toxicity to Müller cells or RPE cells with subsequent intracellular fluid accumulation, and subclinical damage to the blood-retina barrier leading to leakage of extracellular fluid, have been proposed.

Modified Yamane technique with a 26-gauge needle: single corneal incision and simplified haptic insertion.

A modified Yamane technique with a 26-gauge needle for aphakia correction is described. Single corneal or corneoscleral incision is set at 12 o'clock. The 26-gauge needles are used to make 2 angled incisions parallel to the limbus to fix the haptics of a 3-piece intraocular lens. The modifications provide an easier and safer way of haptic insertion into the needle tip and decreases the possibility of bending or breaking the haptic.

Characteristics of fixation patterns and their relationship with visual function of patients with idiopathic macular holes after vitrectomy.

To analyze the relationships between the fixation location and the visual function of idiopathic macular hole (IMH) patients with macular integrity assessment (MAIA) examination preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. This was a retrospective case analysis. Forty-three eyes of 43 patients diagnosed with IMH were included in this study. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) assessments, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and MAIA examinations were performed before surgery and 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after surgery. The relationships between MAIA parameters and visual acuity were assessed by correlation analysis. Grouping by fixation location with the foveola (2°) as the centre, the locations could be divided into five groups, including foveolar, temporal, nasal, inferior and superior fixation. The mean macular sensitivity (MMS) of the macular area was correlated with the BCVA in the IMH patients before and 3 months after surgery (before surgery P = 0.00, after surgery P = 0.00). The MMS could be used as a good indicator for evaluating visual function in IMH patients. There was a significant difference in fixation location before and after the operation (P = 0.01). The preoperative fixation location of IMH patients was mainly in the superior area, while postoperatively moved to the foveola and nasal areas. Paying attention to the changes of fixation locations in IMH patients may provide new clues for further improving postoperative visual function.

Risk factors for glial cell proliferation after idiopathic macular hole repair with internal limiting membrane flap.

BACKGROUND: To study the influencing factors for different healing patterns of patients with idiopathic macular holes (IMH) after vitrectomy surgery performed with the internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap technique. METHODS: This study was a retrospective, consecutive, observational case series study. We recruited 52 IMH patients who underwent vitrectomy with the ILM flap technique. The participants were divided into 2 groups: group A (25 patients), without significant glial cell proliferation in the macular area on postoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT); and group B (27 patients), with significant glial cell proliferation. The postoperative visual acuity (VA), external limiting membrane (ELM) and ellipsoid zone (EZ) recovery characteristics were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in minimum linear diameter (MLD) of the macular hole and postoperative VA (p = 0.02, 2.81 E-4 respectively) between the two groups. Compared with patients in group A, patients in group B had poorer VA and EZ recovery in the first 12 months after surgery, and a longer ELM recovery period. The OCT results showed that patients in group B had more extensive ILM filling in the macular area after surgery than patients in group A. CONCLUSION: The presence of aberrant glial cell proliferation was related to a larger MLD of the IMH, and the filling approach for the ILM during the operation was related to the postoperative healing pattern and vision acuity.

Effect of Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Growth Factor Agents With or Without Macular Photocoagulation on Diabetic Macular Edema: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes is a common cause of new sight loss in populations world-wide, and diabetic macular edema (DME) is a major cause of visual deficits in the diabetic populations of developed countries. We have performed a meta-analysis to evaluate whether combined treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections and macular photocoagulation (MPC) is more efficacious than primary monotherapy with anti-VEGF injections in patients with DME. METHODS: We systematically searched the PubMed and Web of Science databases for studies providing sufficient information for a comparison of pre- and post-treatment of central macular thickness (CMT) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) between two groups of patients with DME given interventional therapies (monotherapy with an anti-VEGF agent vs. combination therapy with an anti-VEGF agent and MPC) before January 2019. A meta-analysis was performed to summarize the results of the studies included in the systematic review. RESULTS: The results of our meta-analysis indicated that post-treatment CMT was significantly lower at 3 months in DME patients receiving combination therapy with bevacizumab, a humanized anti-VEGF antibody, and MPC than in those receiving monotherapy with bevacizumab. The results also showed that post-treatment CMT was lower in DME patients given ranibizumab, an anti-VEGF agent, in combination with MPC at 6, 9 and 12 months than in those treated with ranibizumab alone. However, no significant differences were found in post-treatment BCVA at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months between DME patients receiving combination therapy with an anti-VEGF agent (bevacizumab or ranibizumab) and MPC and those receiving monotherapy with an anti-VEGF agent. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the results of our meta-analysis demonstrate a transiently synergistic effect of MPC on CMT when this treatment is combined with anti-VEGF agents, whereas no similar synergistic effect could be detected on the BCVA. A relatively longer follow-up was essential to be able to evaluate the long-term existence of this synergistic effect.

Prompt 27-gauge sutureless transconjunctival vitrectomy for bleb-associated endophthalmitis.

PURPOSE: To summarize the characters of 6 bleb-associated endophthalmitis (BAE) cases and to report the outcomes of prompt 27-gauge sutureless transconjunctival vitrectomy to treat these cases. METHODS: Retrospective, non-randomized, consecutive case series of patients diagnosed with bleb-associated endophthalmitis who underwent prompt 27-gauge vitrectomy. RESULTS: The interval to get bleb-associated endophthalmitis from previous surgery was variant from 2 weeks to 36 months. Most of the patients experienced eye pain. The visual acuity was affected quickly. All the patients presented with hypopyon, fibrinous reaction, and vitreous wick. The size of the hypopyon was from 2 to 4 mm. Two patients came with intraocular lenses. Prompt 27-gauge sutureless transconjunctival vitrectomy was performed on all patients with bleb-associated endophthalmitis. None of the patients experienced complications of sutureless vitrectomy such as hypotony or wound leak. The improvement of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was significant in four of six patients. The improvement of BCVA was statistically calculated by using logMAR VA (p < 0.01). The intraocular pressure (IOP) in all six patients reduced after the surgery. At 6 months' follow-up, four patients with diffuse blebs had normal IOPs while two patients with cystic or encapsulated blebs had uncontrolled IOPs (> 21 mmHg) and received pressure-lowering agents. CONCLUSIONS: BAE is associated with substantial visual morbidity. Prompt 27-gauge sutureless transconjunctival vitrectomy is an effective and safe way for treating bleb-associated endophthalmitis.

Minimally Invasive Repetitive UVA Irradiation along with Riboflavin Treatment Increased the Strength of Sclera Collagen Cross-Linking.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of minimally invasive repetitive UVA irradiation along with riboflavin treatment on sclera collagen cross-linking in rabbits. METHOD: Forty-eight healthy adult New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: pseudosurgery group (group I), single-irradiation group (group II), duplicate-irradiation group (group III), and triplicate-irradiation group (group IV), with 12 rabbits in each group. For the single-irradiation group, a specially made LED light source was inserted through a minimally invasive conjunctival incision to gain close contact with the sclera for irradiation, and for the repetitive irradiation groups, the above experimental procedure was repeated once or twice every other week. Biomechanical parameters of the sclera including ultimate stress (σ) and 8% Young's modulus (E) were compared among the groups. RESULTS: In comparison with control group I, the ultimate stress of group II, group III, and group IV increased by 80.1%, 107.9%, and 182.1%, respectively, and their 8% Young's modulus increased by 106.1%, 159.5%, and 208.5%, respectively, one day after surgery (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Repetitive minimally invasive UVA irradiation with riboflavin significantly increased biomechanical strength of the sclera in the irradiated area, and biomechanical strength increased with repeated times of irradiation.

[Retracted] Slit-miR-218-Robo axis regulates retinal neovascularization.

Following the publication of this article, it was brought to our attention that five of the Figures contained in this study were published entirely, or in part, in the following publication, on which several of us were co-authors: Han S, Kong YC, Sun B, Han QH, Chen Y and Wang YC: microRNA-218 inhibits oxygen-induced retinal neovascularization via reducing the expression of roundabout 1. Chin Med J (Engl) 129: 709-715, 2016. While we had intended that these papers offered different research perspectives, we were reminded of the fact that, in submitting the article to International Journal of Molecular Medicine, the work described therein was required to be "original research that has not been published previously, and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, in whole or in part". Therefore, owing to the redundancy in the data between these publications, the above paper is to be retracted. All the authors have agreed to the retraction. We sincerely apologize for our misunderstanding, and deeply regret any inconvenience this mistake has caused.[the original article was published in the International Journal of Molecular Medicine 37: 1139-1145, 2016; DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2016.2511].

The Effects of Scleral Collagen Cross-Linking Using Glyceraldehyde on the Progression of Form-Deprived Myopia in Guinea Pigs.

To investigate the effects of collagen cross-linking using glyceraldehyde on the biomechanical properties of the sclera and the axial elongation of form-deprived myopia in the guinea pig. Thirty-six guinea pigs were randomly assigned to four groups: FDM (form-deprived myopia); FDMG (form-deprived myopia treated with glyceraldehyde); FDMS (form-deprived myopia treated with 0.9% isotonic sodium chloride); and normal control (free of form-deprivation). FDM was achieved in the right eye using a latex facemask. The right eye in FDMG was treated with a posterior subtenon injection of 0.5 M glyceraldehyde; 0.9% isotonic sodium chloride was administered to the right eye in FDMS group using the same method. Axial length, refraction, and stress-strain of the sclera were measured at scheduled time points. The treated eyes were also examined histologically by light microscopy. It was found that glyceraldehyde treatment significantly increased the stiffness of the sclera in the FDM eyes and abnormalities have not been observed in the retina and optic nerve of the treated eyes. But the development of myopia was not affected.

microRNA-218 Inhibits Oxygen-induced Retinal Neovascularization via Reducing the Expression of Roundabout 1.

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms of pathological retinal neovascularization (RNV) remain unknown. Several microRNAs were reported to be involved in the process of RNV. Oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) is a useful model to investigate RNV. Our present work explored the expression and the role of microRNA-128 (miR-218) in oxygen-induced RNV. METHODS: OIR was used to establish RNV model. The expression level of miR-218 in the retina from OIR mice was assessed by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Fluorescein angiography was performed in retinae of OIR mice, and RNV was quantified by hematoxylin and eosin staining to evaluate the effect of pCDH-CMV-miR-218 intravitreal injection on RNV in OIR mice. Roundabout 1 (Robo1) expression was detected by Western blotting in mouse retinal vascular endothelial cells expressing a high or low level of miR-218 and retinal tissues from OIR mice. Cell migration was evaluated by scratch wound assay. RESULTS: In OIR mice, the expression level of miR-218 was significantly down-regulated (P = 0.006). Retinal Robo1 expression was significantly increased at both mRNA and protein levels (P = 0.001, 0.008; respectively). miR-218 intravitreal injection inhibited retinal angiogenesis in OIR mice, and the restoration of miR-218 in retina led to down-regulation of Robo1. CONCLUSIONS: Our experiments showed that restoration of miR-218 inhibited retinal angiogenesis via targeting Robo1. MiR-218 contributed to the inhibition of retinal angiogenesis and miR-218 might be a new therapeutic target for preventing RNV.