ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Gammad-crystallin plays an important role in human cataract formation. Being highly stable, gammaD-crystallin proteins are composed of two domains. In this study we constructed and analyzed protein models of the mutant gammaD-crystallin gene, which caused a special fasciculiform congenital cataract affecting a large Chinese family.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>gammaD-crystallin protein structure was predicted by Swiss-Model software using bovine gammaD-crystallin as a template and Prospect software using human betab2-crystallin as a template. The models were observed with a Swiss-Pdb viewer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mutant gammaD-crystallin structure predicted by the Swiss-Model software showed that proline23 was an exposed surface residue and P23T change made a decreased hydrogen bond distance between threonine23 and asparagine49. The mutant gammaD-crystallin structure predicted by the Prospect software showed that the P23T change exerted a significant effect on the protein's tertiary structure and yielded hydrogen bonds with aspartic acid21, asparagine24, asparagine49 and serine74.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mutant gammaD-crystallin gene has a significant effect on the protein's tertiary structure, supporting that alteration of gamma-crystallin plays an important role in human cataract formation.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Cattle , Computer Simulation , Hydrogen Bonding , Models, Molecular , Mutation , Protein Structure, Tertiary , gamma-Crystallins , Chemistry , Genetics , PhysiologyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the outcome of phacoemulsification-intraocular lens (IOL) implantation combined with viscocanalostomy (P-C group), compared with that of phacoemulsification-IOL implantation combined with trabeculectomy (P-T group).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Combined phacoemulsification with corneal incision, foldable intraocular lens implantation and viscocanalostomy was performed in 21 eyes of 19 cataract patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. All patients were followed up for 3 - 6 months.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Intraocular pressure (IOP) was significantly lower in both P-C group and P-T group (P=0.000). There was no statistically significant difference between two groups. Visual outcome was similar in both groups. Complications of P-C group included Descemet's membrane puncture in 2 eyes, Schlemm's tube puncture in 2 eyes and IOP spikes in 3 eyes (at 24 hours postoperatively). The P-C group experienced significantly less inflammation than the P-T group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Phacoemulsification-IOL implantation combined with viscocanalostomy is a safe and effective surgery, with lower complicatin rate and easier ambulatory care.</p>