Long non-coding RNA SNHG11 regulates the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway through rho/ROCK in trabecular meshwork cells.

Trabecular meshwork (TM) cell dysfunction is the leading cause of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 11 (SNHG11) is associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis, but its biological functions and role in glaucoma pathogenesis remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the role of SNHG11 in TM cells using immortalized human TM and glaucomatous human TM (GTM3 ) cells and an acute ocular hypertension mouse model. SNHG11 expression was depleted using siRNA targeting SNHG11. Transwell assays, quantitative real-time PCR analysis (qRT-PCR), western blotting, and CCK-8 assay were used to evaluate cell migration, apoptosis, autophagy, and proliferation. Wnt/ß-catenin pathway activity was inferred from qRT-PCR, western blotting, immunofluorescence, and luciferase reporter and TOPFlash reporter assays. The expression of Rho kinases (ROCKs) was detected using qRT-PCR and western blotting. SNHG11 was downregulated in GTM3 cells and mice with acute ocular hypertension. In TM cells, SNHG11 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and migration, activated autophagy, and apoptosis, repressing the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, and activated Rho/ROCK. Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway activity increased in TM cells treated with ROCK inhibitor. SNHG11 regulated Wnt/ß-catenin signaling through Rho/ROCK by increasing GSK-3ß expression and ß-catenin phosphorylation at Ser33/37/Thr41 while decreasing ß-catenin phosphorylation at Ser675. We demonstrate that the lncRNA SNHG11 regulates Wnt/ß-catenin signaling through Rho/ROCK via ß-catenin phosphorylation at Ser675 or GSK-3ß-mediated phosphorylation at Ser33/37/Thr41, affecting cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and autophagy. Through its effects on Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, SNHG11 is implicated in glaucoma pathogenesis and is a potential therapeutic target.

Modified inferior oblique anterior transposition for dissociated vertical deviation combined with superior oblique palsy: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Inferior oblique anterior transposition (IOAT) has emerged as an effective surgery in the management of dissociated vertical deviation (DVD) combined with superior oblique palsy (SOP). Traditional IOAT usually provides satisfactory primary position alignment and simultaneously restricts the superior floating phenomenon. However, it also increases the risk of the anti-elevation syndrome and narrowing of the palpebral fissure in straight-ahead gaze, especially after the unilateral operation. CASE SUMMARY: We report the outcomes of the modified unilateral IOAT in two patients with unilateral DVD combined with SOP. The anterior-nasal fibers of the inferior oblique muscle were attached at 9 mm posterior to the corneal limbus along the temporal board of the inferior rectus muscle, the other fibers were attached a further 5 mm temporal to the anterior-nasal fibers. Postoperatively, both hypertropia and floating were improved, and no obvious complications occurred. CONCLUSION: In these cases, the modified unilateral IOAT was an effective and safe surgical method for treating DVD with SOP.

Yokoyama procedure for a woman with heavy eye syndrome who underwent multiple recession-resection operations: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Heavy eye syndrome (HES) is an acquired strabismus typically seen in eyes with high myopia. We report a classic case in which a patient was misdiagnosed with esotropia and underwent disinsertion of the medial rectus muscle and lateral rectus muscle resection procedures. CASE SUMMARY: A 71-year-old woman presented with both eyes fixed in adduction and infraduction for 33 years. She had undergone three complicated strabismus surgeries to amputate the left medial rectus (MR) muscle with lateral rectus muscle recession, but no improvement in the esotropia appeared after each operation. She was diagnosed with HES and underwent a bilateral Yokoyama procedure and recession of the right MR muscle under general anesthesia. After surgery, her eyes were binocularly aligned for 6 mo. This case suggests that pertinacious esotropia combined with high myopia must be considered in HES. Orbital imaging and ultrasonography can demonstrate anatomical abnormality and muscle paths to confirm a definite diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The Yokoyama procedure was effective in correcting HES.

Efficacy and Safety of Antivascular Endothelial Growth Factor (Anti-VEGF) in Treating Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

This study is aimed at assessing the efficacy and safety of antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) inhibitors in treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD). PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library were searched. Weighted mean difference (WMD) and relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were applied to assess outcomes. Eighteen randomized controlled trials involved 8,847 neovascular AMD patients were selected for the meta-analysis. Pegaptanib (WMD: 6.70; P < 0.001) and ranibizumab (WMD: 17.80; P < 0.001) were associated with greater BCVA changes than control after 1 year. Bevacizumab was linked with less changes in central macular thickness after 1 year compared to control (WMD: -38.50; P < 0.001), but more changes compared to ranibizumab (WMD: 10.69; P = 0.024). The incidence of gain of 15 or more letter visual acuity after 1 year was increased when compared with bevacizumab versus control (RR: 7.80; P = 0.001), pegaptanib versus control (RR: 2.83; P = 0.015), and ranibizumab versus control (RR: 3.92; P = 0.003). Moreover, ranibizumab was associated with more BCVA changes and an increased incidence of gain of 15 or more letter visual acuity after 2 years compared with control (RR: 5.77; P < 0.001). This study found that most anti-VEGF inhibitors provided better efficacy than non-anti-VEGF intervention, and the treatment effectiveness among various anti-VEGF agents was equally effective.

Estimating net primary production of natural grassland and its spatio-temporal distribution in China.

The net primary production (NPP) of grassland largely determines terrestrial carbon (C) sinks, and thus plays an important role in the global C cycle. Comprehensive and sequential classification system of grasslands (CSCS) is a unique vegetation classification system (mainly for grassland) that is dependent on quantitative measurement indices [>0°C annual cumulative temperature (Σθ) and moisture index (K-value)]. Based on the relationship of the quantitative classification of CSCS and grassland NPP, a modified model of Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach (CASA) was used to predict the grassland NPP and its temporal and spatial distribution in China from 2004 to 2008. The scatter plot of the estimated NPP and the observed NPP showed that the estimated data can be accepted with correlation coefficient of 0.896 (P<0.05). The average annual NPP of grassland from 2004 to 2008 in China ranged from 443.23 to 554.40 g Cm(-2)yr.(-)(1). The NPP also showed spatial-temporal variations. There existed an increasing trend of NPP from the northwest to southeast due to the zonal distribution of vegetation. From the trend of monthly variations, it can be drawn that the NPP accumulation primarily occurred between April and October. The average NPP over seven months from April to October was 482.19 g Cm(-2), or about 88.78% of the annual total. The spatial-temporal trend suggests the importance of water and thermal regimes in determining the grassland NPP (i.e. water and thermal are key limited factors for the grassland production), which is also confirmed by a cluster analysis. The mean annual NPP and the total annual NPP differed significantly among grassland classes corresponding with different Σθ and K-value. The results demonstrate that the grassland NPP and the classes/super-classes in CSCS achieve the optimum coupling.

[Association between -590C/T polymorphisms of interleukin-4 gene and chronic periodontitis: a meta-analysis].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between -590C/T polymorphisms of interleukin-4 gene and chronic periodontitis using meta-analysis. METHODS: The selected studies were pooled from eight major electronic databases for case-control study. To gain a more precise estimation of the relationship, a stratified meta-analysis with two subgroups was performed according to the races. Heterogeneity, publication bias and sensitivity analysis were also explored. RESULTS: Totally 8 studies were recruited. Total sample sizes for chronic periodontitis and control groups were 628 and 717, respectively. Meta-analysis showed that both -590C/T polymorphisms and allele frequency were not significantly associated with chronic periodontitis. In subgroup analysis, a significant association of increased chronic periodontitis risk and T allele was found. The results also indicated a significant correlation between -590C/T polymorphisms of IL-4 and Caucasian who suffered from chronic periodontitis(C vs.T: OR=0.71,95% CI=0.56-0.89;CC vs.CT:OR=0.60,95% CI=0.38-0.94;recessive genetic model CC vs.CT+TT:OR=0.61,95% CI=0.42-0.88), further analysis of the results showed the CC genotype was about 39% less likely to have chronic periodontitis than the CT and TT genotype in Caucasian individuals.However, these significant associations was not found in Asian group. CONCLUSIONS: The meta-analysis suggests there may be an important effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of IL-4 gene on the pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis in Caucasian. This warrants further investigation in larger studies and multi-race epidemiological to evaluate the results.

[Regrowth of different plant populations in mixed pasture].

The number of tillers and leaf regrowth of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and that of branches and stolon growth of white clover (Trifolium repens) in mixed ryegrass/white clover pastures under different cutting frequency were monitored from 1998 to 2000, and the herbage yields and the proportion of each component in total yields were also determined. The results showed that cutting could stimulate perennial ryegrass leaf regrowth and white clover branching, maintain proper proportions of perennial ryegrass and white clover in the mixed pasture, and create the environments for the coexistence of the two species. Therefore, the total annual dry matter yields of the pasture was increased. However, cutting frequency had no significant effects on herbage yields and vegetative composition (P > 0.05). More leaf regrowth of perennial ryegrass was found in the plots cut in June than in August, whereas white clover exhibited an inverse trend. The herbage yield of perennial ryegrass depended on its leaf regrowth, while the dry matter accumulation of white clover relied on its stolon branching numbers. During the period of three year experiment, the proportion of perennial ryegrass and white clover in total herbage yields obtained from the plots under cutting was 50% and 15%, respectively, approximately 10% or 5% lower than its initial value, while CK was 39% and 6%, respectively.