ABSTRACT
Branching morphogenesis of the fetal mouse submandibular gland (SMG) is regulated by signaling through the ErbB and FGF families of tyrosine kinase receptors, whose members activate the ERK-1/2 pathway. The four Sprouty (Spry) proteins are inhibitory modulators of ERK-1/2. There is little information on their expression during pre- and postnatal development of the SMG. Qualitative RT-PCR detected mRNAs for <i>Spry1, 2</i>, and <i>4</i> from embryonic day 13 (E13) through postnatal day 7 (P7), but only trace amounts of <i>Spry1</i> and <i>2</i> in adult SMGs. More sensitive quantitative RT-PCR revealed that transcripts for all four <i>Spry</i> isoforms are expressed, and each shows individual patterns of variation across fetal and early postnatal stages, and that there are very low levels of <i>Spry1</i> and <i>2</i>, but no <i>Spry3</i> and <i>4</i>, in adult glands. EGF, FGF7 and FGF10 upregulate expression of mRNA for <i>Spry1</i>, but only FGF7 upregulates <i>Spry2</i> mRNA. EGF strongly induces an activating phosphorylation of all four <i>Spry</i> isoforms, but both FGFs do so only minimally. Quantitative RT-PCR of samples collected by laser capture microdissection showed that transcripts for <i>Spry1</i> are confined to the epithelium of E13 SMG rudiments. The isoform-specific temporal variation in the patterns of expression of <i>Spry1, 2, 3</i> and <i>4</i> suggests a potentially important role for these negative modulators of growth-factor driven ras/ERK-1/2 signaling at stages when the SMG is most actively undergoing branching morphogenesis.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: We examined the safety and efficacy of cataract surgery and postoperative management in our hospital and at the homes of the patients who live on medically underserved remote.<br>Patients and methods: A total of 27 patients (54 eyes), who were followed in our hospital or at their homes were enrolled in this study. Cataract surgery was performed on them between January 2009 and January 2010 and we could follow up six months postoperatively. We divided these patients into two groups:group I (GI) consisted of 13 patients who could come to our hospital regularly during both preoperative and postoperative periods, and group II (GII) consisted of 14 patients who could not come to our hospital regularly during either preoperative or postoperative periods. Cataract surgeries were performed on all the patients in GI and GII in our hospital. The patients in GI were hospitalized for three days and those in GII were for seven days. After cataract surgery, the patients in GI had their eyes checked regularly in our hospital and those in GII were in their homes where the doctor visited. Postoperative ophthalmic clinical tests were conducted to examine visual acuity, intraocular pressure and fundus.<br>Results: GI comprised three males and 10 females. Their age averaged 79.3. GII comprised four males and 10 females. Their age averaged 82.6. Preoperative ophthalmic examinations found that preoperative average visual acuity (LogMAR and decimal visual acuity in parentheses) and spherical equivalent in GI and GII were 0.69 (0.41), 0.80 (0.33) and -0.43 dioptors, -0.42 dioptors respectively, showing no significant differences between the two groups. Postoperative ophthalmic examinations found that, best corrected visual acuity (LogMAR) was significantly increased to 0.36 (0.66) and 0.44 (0.53) in GI and GII respectively, showing no significant differences either.<br>Conclusions: We concluded that we could get safe and efficient cataract surgery and postoperative management combined with prolonged hospitalization and house calls on the patients who live in the isolated islands.