Characteristics of new corneal biomechanical parameters in different degrees of myopia / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To study the characteristics of new corneal biomechanical parameters in different degrees of myopia and analyze the correlation of the new parameter stress-strain index(SSI).METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 366 adult patients(718 eyes)with different degrees of myopia who received treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University from October 2021 to November 2021, aged 18-50 years, and the spherical equivalent(SE)was -0.50～-16.75D. The axial length(AL)of the eye was measured by IOL master, and the new corneal biomechanical parameters, central corneal thickness(CCT)and intraocular pressure(IOP)were measured by corneal visualization Scheimpflug technology(Corvis ST). The subjects were categorized into low myopia, moderate myopia and high myopia groups according to SE. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and Pearson correlation.RESULTS: The ratio of the thinnest corneal thickness to horizontal thickness change rate(ARTh)and SSI were statistically significant(P<0.001), while the remaining parameters were not statistically significant(P>0.05). SSI was positively correlated with age(r=0.102, P=0.006), SE(r=0.361, P<0.001), IOP(r=0.175, P<0.001), CCT(r=0.098, P=0.009), SPA1(r=0.182, P<0.001), negatively correlated with AL(r=-0.331, P<0.001), IR(r=-0.545, P<0.001)and had no correlation with other corneal biomechanical parameters(P>0.05).CONCLUSION: With the increase of myopia degree and the elongation of the axial length, the SSI value becomes smaller and the corneal hardness decreases. SSI may be a helpful corneal biomechanical indicator for future research on myopia.

Icaritin enhances the efficacy of cetuximab against triple-negative breast cancer cells.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a greater risk of recurrence and metastasis along with a worse prognosis compared with other subtypes of breast cancer. Studies have revealed that mitogenic estrogen signaling is involved in the malignant proliferation of TNBC cells through a novel variant of the estrogen receptor, estrogen receptor α-36 (ER-α36). The results of the present study demonstrated that knockdown of ER-α36 expression in TNBC cells using short hairpin RNA inhibited rapid estrogen signaling bypass activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Moreover, the ER-α36 modulator icaritin inhibited the proliferation of TNBC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Here, it was revealed that the combination of icaritin and cetuximab, a therapeutic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) neutralizing antibody, induced apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation synergistically in TNBC cells. The results of the present study improved the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of TNBC progression and supported the therapeutic potential of combined treatment targeting the ER-α36 and EGFR.

Stromal PD-1+ tumor-associated macrophages predict poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma.

Immunotherapies targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) axis have been emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy to treat lung cancer. PD-1 is preferentially expressed by activated T lymphocytes; but whether/how its expression by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in lung adenocarcinoma remains elusive. Herein, we investigate the frequency of PD-1 expression on TAMs in mouse allografts by flow cytometry analysis and evaluate the spatial distribution and clinicopathological significance of PD-1+ TAMs in 213 cases of human lung adenocarcinoma specimens by immunohistochemical staining. We find the expression of PD-1 by both mouse and human TAMs. Mouse PD-1+ TAMs possess unique transcriptional profile as compared to PD-1- TAMs. Furthermore, PD-1 is preferentially expressed by CD163+ TAMs in the tumor stroma than those in the tumor islets of lung adenocarcinoma. Stromal PD-1+ TAM infiltration is an independent predictor of reduced survival as determined by univariate (P < .001) and multivariate (P = .023) analysis. Moreover, patients with high stromal PD-1+ TAMs but low tumor cell PD-L1 expression have the shortest survival (P = .0001). Our study demonstrates that PD-1+ TAMs have unique gene expression characteristics and PD-1+ TAMs in the tumor stroma is a potential prognostic factor in lung adenocarcinoma, suggesting that a better understanding of PD-1+ TAMs will be beneficial for immunotherapy of lung adenocarcinoma patients.

Serum sPD-1 and sPD-L1 as Biomarkers for Evaluating the Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is widely administered in the primary treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, serum biomarkers for evaluating or monitoring the curative efficacy of NAC have not been established. Accumulating data have shown that soluble programmed death 1 (sPD-1) and its ligand (sPD-L1) might be potential biomarkers for evaluating the curative efficacy of chemotherapy and patient prognosis in several cancers but not yet in breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Blood specimens were obtained from 66 TNBC patients who received NAC and 59 healthy women. The serum concentrations of sPD-1 and sPD-L1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Compared to healthy women, the serum concentration of sPD-1 was significantly elevated in TNBC patients before NAC (549.3 ± 58.76 pg/mL vs. 379.2 ± 17.30 pg/mL, P = .007), but there was only an increase tendency for sPD-L1 (227.7 ± 23.99 pg/mL vs. 195.0 ± 8.49 pg/mL, P = .22). The serum levels of sPD-1 and sPD-L1 before NAC in TNBC patients increased with tumor stage (P = .038 and .030, respectively). Patients who experienced complete or partial remission after NAC had significantly decreased serum levels of sPD-1 and sPD-L1 compared to patients with a poor response to NAC (P = .019 and .021, respectively). CONCLUSION: Serum levels of sPD-1 and sPD-L1 could be used as noninvasive biomarkers for evaluating the malignancy of TNBC before NAC and for predicting the NAC response in TNBC patients.

Advances on heat shock protein 27 and heat shock protein 70 in retinopathy and optical neuropathy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Heat shock protein(HSP) is a family of high expressed proteins under the different stimulus.This family is highly conserved in structure and can protect cells in function.In recent years,there are some researches illustrate that HSP 27 and HSP 70 have protective effect on retinal cells and optical nerve cells,while the HSP-27 Ab and HSP-70 Ab can promote the apoptosis of these cells.In the cell culture and animal experiment,we have observed that it is beneficial to protect retinal cells and optical cells through blocking the express of HSP-27 Ab and HSP-70 Ab.This article reviews the relationship between HSP 27 and HSP 70 with retinal diseases and optical nerve diseases.

Research progress of lL - 6 and diabetic retinopathy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

?ln recent years, the number of patients with diabetes increase rapidly. Diabetic retinopathy ( DR ) , one of the complications of diabetes, is also the important aspect of current and future prevention of blindness in our country. Now, more and more scholar have noticed the important role of immune inflammation in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. ln this article, we reviewed the role of interleukin-6 ( lL-6 ) in diabetic retinopathy.

Research progress on the roles of aldose reductase in diabetic retinopathy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Aldose reductase ( AR ) belonging to nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate ( NADPH ) -dependent aldehyde-keto reductase superfamily, is the key rate-limiting enzyme in the polyol pathway which plays an important role in the body’s high-sugar metabolism. AR is widely present in the kidneys, blood vessels, lens, retina, heart, skeletal muscle and other tissues and organs, converts glucose to sorbitol which easy permeability of cell membranes, cause cell swelling, degeneration, necrosis, and have a close relationship with the development of chronic complications of diabetes mellitus. Diabetic retinopathy ( DR ) is a multifactorial disease, the exact cause is currently unknown, but polyol pathway has been demonstrated to play an important role in the pathogenesis of DR. Clinical risk factors such as blood sugar control, blood pressure and other treatments for DR only play a part effect of remission or invalid, if we can find out DR genes associated with the disease, this will contribute to a better understanding of the pathological mechanisms and contribute to the development of new treatments and drugs. The current research progress of AR, AR gene polymorphism, Aldose reductase inhibitors to DR was reviewed in this article.

Acute reversible lens opacity affects retinal HRA+OCT imaging in mice / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To assess the affect of ketamine and xylazine (ketamine/xylazine) to the transient lens opacity in mice.METHODS: Kimba mice (n=10) and wild-type mice (wt, n=8) were sedated with intraperitoneal injection of ketamine (60mg/kg for mice) and xylazine (10mg/kg) at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks old respectively. Pupils were dilated with tropicamide 25g/L alone to allow imaging lens status and retina using Spectralis HRA+OCT. RESULTS: All Kimba mice and wt presented extreme proptosis, suppression of the eye-blink reflex, corneal surface drying and lens opacities which occurred as early as 21±6 minutes after giving anesthesia and the lens opacities lasted up to 150±24 minutes.CONCLUSION: Ketamine/xylazine can cause transient lens opacity that may be related with the drugs side-effect.

Spontaneous rodent models of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Diabetes is a complex and heterogeneous disorder presently affecting more than 100 million people worldwide and causing serious socio-economic problems. Spontaneous rodent models of diabetes mellitus have proved invaluable in understanding the pathogenesis, complications, and genetic or environmental influences that increase the risks of diabetes. We have reviewed here in the development and characterization of spontaneous rodent models that displayed most features commonly associated with diabetic retinopathy.

VEGF expression and cell apoptosis in NOD mouse retina / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM:To investigate retinal vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)level and retinal cells apoptosis in the early stage of diabetic NOD mouse retina.METHODS:Animals were divided into the control group(non-diabetes mice)(2,4,6,8,12 weeks group,n=30)and diabetes group(2,4,6,8,12 weeks group,n=30).EUSA(Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay)was performed to detect VEGF level in both serum and retina.Transmission electron microscope method was used to examine retinal cell apoptosis.RESULTS:Compared with the control group,VEGF levels in serum and retina were increased significantly in the NOD group(12 weeks:4.9±0.4μg/g versus 0.19±0.1μg/g in serum sample,P ＜ 0.01;165.0±9.0μg/g versus 18.0±4.0μg/g in retinal sample,P＜0.01).There exists a positive correlation between serum VEGF and retinal VEGF levels in the early diabetic NOD mice(γ=0.9902,P=0.001).The number of the cells apoptosis in the ganglion significantly in the NOD group(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION:The high VEGF expression may be contributed to increase retinal cells apoptosis.Many factors associated with retinal VEGF expression might involve in the early diabetes stage.

Effect of intravitreal bevacizumab injection before vitrectomy on proliferative diabetic retinopathy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To evaluate the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection 1 week before pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) patients. METHODS: A retrospective research was done on 46 PDR patients who were divided into PPV group (n=28) and IVB group (n=18, PPV with preoperative IVB). Bevacizumab was injected 1 week before PPV. Main outcome measures were visual acuity, incidence of iatrogenic retinal breaks, intraoperative and postoperative bleeding. RESULTS: At 1 month after surgery, visual acuity in PPV (82.1%) and IVB group (88.9%) improved significantly (P<0.01) and the difference between the two groups was not significant. Iatrogenic retinal breaks were reported in 18 cases (64.3%) in PPV group and 4 cases (22.2%) in IVB group (P<0.05). Intraoperative bleeding was encountered in all cases in PPV group and 7 cases (39%) in IVB group (P<0.01). Postoperative bleeding was reported in 9 cases (32.1%) in PPV group and none in IVB group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: IVB injection before PPV is helpful in reducing iatrogenic retinal breaks, intraoperative and postoperative bleeding in PDR patients.