Neuroprotective role of epigallocatechin-3-gallate in acute glaucoma via the nuclear factor-κB signalling pathway.

Glaucoma is a disease involving impaired visual function accompanied by degeneration and necrosis of the optic nerve. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) exerts a neuroprotective effect against the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells. However, whether EGCG can relieve glaucoma and the possible mechanisms remain unclear. In order to determine the function of EGCG in glaucoma, an acute glaucoma rat model was established. Optic neuropathology was examined by haematoxylin-eosin staining and immunofluorescence staining for class III-ß tubulin. The levels of inflammation-associated cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-13 and IFN-γ were measured by flow cytometry. T cell proliferation was assessed by the carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester method. Finally, the functional role of EGCG in glaucoma was explored. The levels of the inflammation-associated proteins p-IκBα and p-p65 were measured by western blot analysis. The results showed that optic nerve injury occurred, and elevated levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-13 and IFN-γ were observed in the rat model of acute glaucoma. In addition, an increased T lymphocyte proliferation rate and imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokines were present in the models. Importantly, treatment with EGCG significantly alleviated optic nerve injury. At the molecular level, EGCG decreased the levels of inflammation-associated cytokines, decreased the proliferation rate of T lymphocyte cells, and repaired the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokines. Moreover, EGCG inhibited the increase in the phosphorylation of IκBα and p65 caused by modelling and thus suppressed the activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signalling pathway. The findings of the present study indicate that EGCG could attenuate the symptoms of glaucoma and inhibit inflammatory responses by suppressing the NF-κB signalling pathway in a rat glaucoma model.

Early Decline of Neuron-Specific Enolase during Neuroblastoma Chemotherapy is a Predictive Factor of Clinical Outcome.

High risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB) remains one of the most difficult-to-treat pediatric cancers. However, although current risk-stratification is based on multiple pretreatment criteria, HR-NB remains a significant heterogeneity. We examined 60 patients with HR-NB for a median follow-up time of 28 months. We examined the serum neuronspecific enolase (NSE) levels of each chemo cycle, using the survival receiver operating characteristic (survivalROC) method to assess the prognostic power of NSE levels at variant chemo points. We demonstrated that serum NSE was associated with systemic tumor burden. NSE after the third chemo cycle (C3) (C3NSE) was significantly higher in patients who eventually showed cancer relapse or progression. C3NSE had independent prognostic significance for event-free survival (EFS) but not for overall survival (OS) in multivariate cox analysis. SurvivalROC prompted that the C3NSE is a prognostic marker of HR-NB, which had good discrimination for 2- and 3-year EFS with AUC 0.734 and 0.729, respectively. However, its prognositc value for 2- and 3- year OS declined progressively. C3 is the optimal point to predict EFS. Patients whose C3 serum NSE remain at higher level need to undergo more intensive treatment as early as possible to resist recurrence.

[A retrospective study on the progression of myopia in school-age children].

OBJECTIVE: To study the progression of myopia in school-age children over the past 12 years and factors influencing myopia progression. METHODS: A total of 4569 cases of 5 to 12-year-old children who had refractive examinations in the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University between January 2000 and December 2011 were enrolled in this study. The children had no family history of congenital high myopia or other eye diseases. Myopia progression was evaluated when the children were re-examined. The refractive state of each child was measured with cyclopiegic retinoscopy. RESULTS: The mean spherical equivalent (SE) myopia was-2.0±1.7 D between January 2000 and December 2011. There was no statistical difference in yearly myopia progression between different years. The average age of the myopic children decreased from 10.1 in 2000 to 8.9 years old in 2011 (P<0.05). Mean myopia progression was -0.6±0.7 D per year from 2000 to 2011. Myopia progression reduced gradually in 5 to 8-year-olds (P<0.05), however, it accelerated between ages 9 and 11 years. Myopia progression in 10- and 11-year-olds was significantly greater than in 7- and 8-year-olds (P<0.01). The multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that age and baseline myopic refraction were positively related to myopia progression. CONCLUSIONS: There was no obvious change in the yearly myopia progression of the children over the past 12 years. The mean age of myopia occurrence became younger with time. More preventive measures are needed to ward off high myopia in children with moderate myopia, especially those aged over 10 years.

[Corneal combined amniotic membrane transplantation for early severe alkali chemical injury of the eye].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of lamella corneal transplantation combined amniotic membrane transplantation for the early severe alkali burns of eyes. METHODS: Twenty-three eyes with an over second-degree acute corneal alkali injury in 2 weeks were treated by lamella corneal transplantation combined amniotic membrane transplantation. After the operation the patients were treated with an intense and prolonged regimen of topical steroids and topical and systemic vitamin C. All patients were followed up for 6-12 months. RESULTS: Seven eyes were cornea transparent, 10 semi-transparent, and 6 opaque in the 23 eyes, respectively. The visual acuity of 3 eyes was better than 0.3, that of 5 eyes was between 0.25 to 0.1, and that of the other 15 eyes was below 0.1. No eye was enucleated due to the corneoscleral melting. CONCLUSION: Lamella corneal transplantation combined amniotic membrane transplantation may clear away the necrotic tissues and cells of corneal or conjunctiva, prevent and reduce the complication, and improve the prognosis of the patients.