Establishment of mouse model of neurotrophic keratopathy through TRPV1 neuronal ablation.

Neurotrophic keratopathy (NK) is a challenging disease with the reduced innervation to the cornea. To establish a genetic and stable mouse model of NK, we utilized the TRPV1-DTR mice with intraperitoneal injection of diphtheria toxin (DT) to selectively eliminate TRPV1 neurons. After DT administration, the mice exhibited robust ablation of TRPV1 neurons in the trigeminal ganglion, accompanied with reduced corneal sensation and nerve density, as well as the decreased calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P levels. According to disease progression of TRPV1 neuronal ablation, tear secretion was reduced from day 3, which followed by corneal epithelial punctate lesions from day 7. From day 11 to day 16, the mice exhibited persistent corneal epithelial defects and stromal edema. By day 21, corneal ulceration and stromal melting were observed with the abundant inflammatory cell infiltration, corneal neovascularization, and enhanced cell apoptosis. Moreover, subconjunctival injection of CGRP delayed the NK progression with the characteristics of reduced severe corneal epithelial lesions and corneal inflammation. In addition, the impairments of conjunctival goblet cells, lacrimal gland, and meibomian gland were identified by the diminished expression of MUC5AC, AQP5, and PPARγ, respectively. Therefore, these results suggest that the TRPV1-DTR mice may serve as a reliable animal model for the research of NK pathogenesis.

Late postoperative opacification of a new type hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lens.

Background: To report the clinical consequences and laboratory characteristics of late postoperative opacification of a hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lens (US-860UV IOL) as well as the prognosis of IOL replacement. Methods: Forty medical records (42 eyes) of patients with US-860UV IOL opacification reporting decreased or lost vision who underwent IOL explantation between 2017 and 2019 were reviewed. Explanted IOLs were analyzed by slit-lamp examination, confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) at the Shandong Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University, and Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China. Results: The mean age of the 40 patients was 74.83 â€‹± â€‹7.57 (63-92) years. The mean interval between cataract surgery and diagnosis of opacification was 32.38 â€‹± â€‹8.76 (17-48) months. Systemic diseases were found without statistical correlations, the most frequent being arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease, and diabetes mellitus. Visual acuity improved from 1.42 â€‹± â€‹1.03 to 0.31 â€‹± â€‹0.16 (logMAR) after IOL replacement. SEM, EDS and alizarin red staining showed uniformly distributed, diffuse, milk-white opacification, with calcium and phosphorus deposits on the optic and haptic surfaces that could be dissolved in 1% HCl. Conclusions: Calcium and phosphorus deposition was the main cause of hydrophilic acrylic US-860UV IOL opacification. IOL replacement can safely and effectively improve the visual acuity of patients.