Time-dependent expression of PEDF and VEGF in blood serum and retina of rats with oxygen-induced retinopathy.

The effects of the balance changes of pigment epithelium growth factor (PEDF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in whole-body and retinal tissue on rats with oxygen-induced retinopathy were investigated. Forty-eight neonatal SD rats at the age of 7 days were randomly divided into 4 groups. The neonatal rats in experimental groups were exposed to 75% to 80% oxygen for 5 days and then to normal air, and those in control groups were kept feeding in normal air. At the age of 17 and 22 days, all the neonatal rats received retina angiography with FITC-dextran and the pathological changes of retinal vessels and perfusion were observed. HE staining of the tissue section and the number counting of endothelial cells extending beyond the inner limiting membrane were performed to evaluate the endothelial proliferation. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expression of PEDF and VEGF in retinal tissue, and ELISA to detect their expression in serum. A hypoxic-ischemic proliferation of retina and more endothelial cells extending beyond the inner limiting membrane were found in the neonatal rats in both experimental groups of 17-day old and 22-day old as compared with those in control group with the difference being statistically significant (P<0.01). VEGF staining of the rats in the 17-day old experimental group was significantly stronger, with an increasing positive rate, than that of the rats in the 17-day old control group (P<0.01). PEDF staining of the rats of 22 days old was weaker than that of the rats of 17 days old in the experimental groups (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in serum VEGF concentration among all groups (P>0.05). The serum PEDF concentration in the rats of 17 days old in experimental group was decreased significantly as compared with that in the rats of 17 days old in control group (P<0.01), and in experimental groups, the serum PEDF concentration of the rats of 22 days old was increased as compared with that of the rats of 17 days old (P<0.01). In conclusion, the obviously decreased serum PEDF concentration and the abnormal enhanced expression of VEGF density in local retinal tissue broke down the balance of PEDF/VEGF in whole-body or local tissues, which might play an important role in retinal vascular proliferation.

[Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness cataract in country Anyue in Sichuan Province].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the prevalence of cataract and measure the outcomes after cataract surgery in patients aged ≥ 50 years and to evaluate the validity of Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB). METHODS: A total of 76 clusters of 50 patients aged ≥ 50 years were selected through probability proportionate to size sampling. The measurements of visual acuity (VA) were made with a tumbling-E chart and the diagnosis of the principal cause of visual impairment by an ophthalmologist. RESULTS: A total of 3288 patients were examined with a response rate of 86.5%. There were 271 males (38.7%) and 2017 females (61.3%). Among 832 cataract patients, 175 (5.3%) had blindness due to cataract. The prevalence of cataract was 9.2%, 25.2%, 47.6%, 70.1% in 50, 60, 70, 80 years old respectively. And 109 eyes underwent cataract surgery. Among 88 pseudophakic eyes (80.7%), 59 eyes achieved excellent outcomes (VA ≥ 0.3) after surgery (54.1%). CONCLUSION: The major cause of blindness in Anyue is due to cataract. Attention needs to be paid to improving outcomes after surgery. RAAB provides information about the magnitude and cause of avoidable blindness so that it may be used for planning and monitoring cataract.

[Bacterial profiles in conjunctival sac of dry eyes and normal eyes in middle- and old-aged Yi populations].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the bacterial profiles in conjunctival sac of dry eyes and normal eyes in Yi people aged 40 years or old. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with standardized training and protocol. A total of 140 dry eyes of 70 individuals from Yi people in Jiulong county underwent ophthalmological examinations. The secretions of the inferior palpebral conjunctival sac were embrocated and inoculated on blood plates for 48 hours. The bacteria were separated and identified. Another 132 normal eyes from 66 Yi individuals were examined as controls. RESULTS: Bacterial positive cultivations were found in 72.1% (101/140) of dry eyes and 67.4% (89/132) of normal eyes, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.397). No gender difference in the bacterial positive rates was found either. Gram-positive bacteria were the main bacteria in both dry eyes (95.2%, 98/103) and normal eyes (91.1%, 82/90), predominantly staphylococcus epidemids and corynebacterium. There were no statistical differences in the constituents of bacteria in Gram classification and numbers of bacteria between dry eyes and normal eyes (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The bacterial profile in conjunctival sac of dry eyes is similar to that of normal eyes in Yi people aged 40 years or over. Gram-positive bacteria are the main bacteria.

[Effects of travoprost on actin cytoskeleton and ß-catenin in the human trabecular meshwork cells treated with Dexamethasone].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of travoprost on changes of actin cytoskeletal and ß-catenin protein in the cultured human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells treated with dexamethasone (DEX). METHODS: It was a control experiment study. The HTM cells were cultured in vitro and divided into control group, DEX (1 × 10(-6) mol/L) group, travoprost (1 × 10(-6) mol/L) group, and DEX (1 × 10(-6) mol/L) plus travoprost (1 × 10(-6) mol/L) group. F-actin in the HTM cells was detected by FITC-phalloidin and observed under a fluorescence microscope. The expression of ß-catenin was determined by immunofluorescence and western-blot. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS13.0 software. The difference of ß-catenin expression among groups was analyzed through variance analysis and, further by q test. RESULTS: The cultured HTM cells were identified by immunohistochemistry. A reorganization of actin cytoskeletal and a formation of cross linked actin networks (CLANs) were seen in the HTM cells treated with DEX, which were partially reversed by the treatment with DEX plus travoprost. An increase of the expression of ß-catenin was discovered in the HTM cells treated with DEX, which was also partially reversed by the treatment with DEX plus travoprost. The amount of ß-catenin protein in untreated control group, DEX group, DEX plus travoprost group and travoprost group were 0.84 ± 0.03, 1.65 ± 0.05, 1.21 ± 0.05, and 0.65 ± 0.04, respectively. Expression of ß-catenin was significantly (F = 143.07, P < 0.05) different when compared untreated control group with DEX group (q = 15.32, P < 0.05), untreated control group with DEX plus travoprost group (q = 11.40, P < 0.05), DEX group with DEX plus travoprost group (q = 9.38, P < 0.05), DEX group with travoprost group (q = 16.55, P < 0.05), and DEX plus travoprost group with travoprost group (q = 14.31, P < 0.05). No difference was found in untreated control group and travoprost group (q = 2.84, P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that reversion of the changes of actin organization and ß-catenin by travoparost in the HTM cells treated with DEX may partially elucidate the mechanism of action of increasing outflow by which travoprost reduces intraocular pressure.

[Bacterial profiles in conjunctival sac of middle-aged and elderly Qiang with dry eyes and normal eyes].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the bacteria profiles in conjunctival sac of Qiang aged 40 years and over between those with dry eyes and those with normal eyes. METHODS: This survey was undertaken with a standardized protocol in Beichuan county. Ophthalmological examinations were performed on 54 individuals with dry eyes (108 eyes) and 52 individuals with normal eyes (104 eyes). The secretion of the inferior palpebral conjunctival sac was embrocated and inoculated on blood plate for 48-72 hours. The bacteria was separated and identified. RESULTS: Positive cultural results were found in 57.4% (62/108) of dry eyes and 61.5% (64/104) of normal eyes. The difference was not statistically significant (P=0.540). No gender and occupational differences in positive cultural results were found (P>0.05). Both the dry eyes and normal eyes were dominated by Gram-positive bacteria, with corynebacterium, staphylococcus epidemids and sphingomonas paucimobilis as main bacteria. Samples taken from the dry eyes produced 73 strains bacteria, 52 (83.8%) with a single strain of bacteria and 10 (16.2%) with co-existed strains of bacteria. The samples taken from the normal eyes were more likely to have co-existed strains of bacteria (P=0.000). Of the 87 strains of bacteria, 64.0%, were single strain and 36.0% were coexisted strains. Fifteen species of bacteria were cultivated from the dry eyes, significantly less than the number of species (24) cultivated from the normal eyes (P=0.027). CONCLUSION: There is no difference in bacterial positive rate in the conjunctival sac between dry eyes and normal eyes of Qiang aged 40 years and over. Gram-positive bacteria is the dominant bacteria. Normal eyes are more likely to have multiple coexisted bacteria compared with dry eyes.

[A novel GJA8 mutation in a Chinese family with autosomal dominant congenital cataract].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the mutations in the gap junction protein alpha3/alpha8 gene (GJA3 or GJA8) in the Chinese family with autosomal dominant congenital cataract (ADCC). METHODS: All subjects(5 family members and 100 unrelated control individuals)were undergone comprehensive ophthalmic examination, and genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood (5 mL). The exons and flanking introns of GJA3/GJA8 genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Purified PCR products were then sequenced directly for screening disease-causing mutations. RESULTS: Upon bidirectional sequence analysis, a G-->A transition at nucleotide 138 (c.138G>A)in exon 2 of GJA8 was found, resulting in synonymous mutation of glycine (GGG) to glycine (GGA). An additional G-->T transvertion at nucleotide 139 (c.139G>T) in exon 2 of GJA8, resulting in a missense mutation of asparagines (GAU) to tyrosine (UAU) at codon 47 (D47Y). These two alterations were not seen in all unaffected members and 100 unrelated control individuals. Bioinformatic analyses also showed that a highly conserved region was located at Asp47. Meanwhile no sequence variations for GJA3 were detected from the 3 affected members. CONCLUSION: A novel disease-causing mutation (D47Y) of GJA8 gene in a Chinese family with ADCC is reported.

Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation in Wyburn-Mason Syndrome.

The cases of Wyburn-Mason syndrome reported in recent years have been professional and significant. However, most of the reports focus on retinal lesions and few demonstrate the disorder of the brain; thus, to the best of the authors' knowledge, there is no effective method to cure the retinal lesions at this time. Racemose hemangioma in the ocular fundus is easy for an ophthalmologist to detect, and once this is identified, the ophthalmologist should closely monitor the patient's brain. In this report, the authors present a typical case of Wyburn-Mason syndrome to underline the importance of neuroradiological examinations for this disease.

Changed trends of major causes of visual impairment in Sichuan, China from 1987 to 2006.

AIM: To study the trends of major causes of visual impairment (VI) in adults in Sichuan, China and evaluate the effect of aging on the trends. METHODS: We used data from the National Sample Survey on Disabilities (NSSD) in Sichuan province conducted in 1987 and 2006. The age-adjusted prevalence of major causes of VI and the prevalence stratified by age in each cause were calculated and compared. The association between age and each cause of VI was also analyzed. RESULTS: Retinal disease increased and became the second leading cause of VI in 2006 while blinding trachoma decreased markedly. Cataract and non-trachomatous corneal diseases were among the leading causes of VI in both years. We found associations between age and causes of VI, with age showing the strongest association with cataract and relatively lower associations with other causes. CONCLUSION: In the last two decades, dramatic changes occurred in the major causes of VI with significantly increased retinal disease and decreased blinding trachoma. Aging of the population might be an important factor accounting for the changed trends of VI. Understanding the prevalence of VI, its major causes and trends over time can assist in prioritizing and developing effective interventional strategies and monitoring their impact.

Comparison on conjunctival sac bacterial flora of the seniors with dry eye in Ganzi autonomous prefecture.

AIM: To compare the bacterial flora in palpebral conjunctiva of xerophthalmia seniors of Tibetan, Yi and Han, and analyze the differences and similarities of the bacteria. METHODS: The test subjects were selected from 2 Tibetan, 2 Yi and 3 Han populated places, respectively. Total 222 seniors (444 eyes) with dry eye were examined. Secretion was collected from the palpebral conjunctiva of the subjects and then inoculated onto a blood agar plate. After 48h of incubation, the bacteria were examined for the differences and similarities between different ethnics. RESULTS: There was no significant difference (P>0.05) of Gram stain characterization, dominant bacteria and number of the bacterial species present in oxrophthalmia patients among Tibetan, Yi and Han nationalities. The bacteria presented in all groups include staphylococcus epidermidis, corynebacterium, micrococcus luteu, intracellular bacteria sphingomonas, pseudomonas aeruginosa. The bacteria detected from the two of three ethnic groups were staphylococcus aureus, staphylococcus haemolyticus, escherichia coli, kytococcus sedentarius, streptococcus angina, micrococcus lylae, and staphylococcus heads. The incidence rate of bacteria-associated dry eye in Tibetan population was significantly lower than that of Han and Yi population. CONCLUSION: There is no significant difference in the bacteria flora of palpebral conjunctiva observed among dry eye elder populations of Tibetan, Yi and Han people. All of staphylococcus epidermidis, corynebacterium, micrococcus luteu, intracellular bacteria sphingomonas, pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococcus aureus, staphylococcus haemolyticus, escherichia coli, kytococcus sedentarius, streptococcus angina, micrococcus lylae and staphylococcus heads are common bacteria flora of the three nationalities inhibiting in this area.

Comparative study of bacterial status from conjunctival sac of the elder Qiang minority and Han people with dry eye in Sichuan, China.

AIM: To compare the status of bacteria in the conjunctival sac from the elder Qiang minority and Han people with dry eyes in Sichuan, China. METHODS: Total of 54 elder Qiang people with dry eyes (108 eyes) were examined by cluster sampling. In the similar habitation region of Han people, 80 (160 dry eyes) Han people were analyzed as the control group. The bacteria was separated from the inferior palpebral conjunctiva, then inoculated on blood plate for 48 hours and identified. RESULTS: Totally 24 strains of bacteria were cultured in either Qiang minority or Han c populations with 3 strains of them existed in both ethnic groups. The commonest bacteria in conjunctival sac in two ethnic groups were non-pathogenic bacterium. The composition of Corynebacterium in Han people (54.1%) was significantly higher than that in Qiang minority (27.4%) (χ(2)=11.6721, P=0.0006). The percentage of Sphingomonas Paucimobilis in Qiang people was higher than that in Han people (χ(2)=18.6442, P=0.0000). However, there was no significant difference between Qiang minority and Han people either in bacterial positive rate in conjunctival sac, or the composition of bacteria species and strains, or the composition of staphylococcus epidemids between two ethnic populations. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference of bacterial positive rate in conjunctival sac from the elder of Qiang minority and Han people with dry eye, but the species of bacteria were different.

Prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness in Sichuan province of China.

AIM: To describe the prevalence and causes of low vision and blindness in a population within Sichuan province in southwestern China. METHODS: A stratified, multi-phased and cluster probability sampling design was employed to enumerate 125641 participants from 40351 households within 38 counties/cities. Participants underwent a comprehensive eye examination, including standardized visual acuity (VA) tests using logarithm of the minimum angle resolution charts. Prevalence was age- and gender-standardized to the 2000 China Census. RESULTS: Population-weighted prevalence of blindness was 0.77% (95%CI: 0.72-0.82, n=966) and low vision was 1.22% (95%CI: 1.14-1.27, n=1513). Overall, the prevalence of visual disability was 1.40% in the urban population, and 2.22% in the rural population (P<0.01). Cataract was the leading cause of visual disability (55.7%, n=1381), and was of similar frequency in both urban and rural populations. Retinal disease was the second leading cause(9.7%, n=236), but was more common in urban than in rural participants (34.3% vs 2.7%, P<0.01). Corneal disease accounted for 6.5% (n=161) of cases of visual disability, and was more common in the rural population (7.2% vs 3.9%, P=0.006). CONCLUSION: We estimate that 1.72 million people suffer from visual disability within Sichuan province, of which 525000 are blind, the focus of blindness prevention should be in rural area.