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@#AIM:To investigate the correlation among corneal densitometry, corneal topographic parameters, and corneal biomechanical properties in keratoconus.METHODS: Retrospective case study. A total of 70 eyes of 48 keratoconus patients were enrolled in this study. Corneal topography were measured using Pentacam, inclding the flat keratometry of anterior cornea(K1), the steep keratometry of anterior cornea(K2), the mean keratometry of anterior cornea(Km), the maximum keratometry of anterior cornea(Kmax), anterior corneal elevation(ACE), posterior corneal elevation(PCE), thinnest corneal thickness(TCT), and the distance from cone to apex(DCA). Corneal optical density of different corneal layers and zones were measured with the Scheimpflug-based Pentacam corneal densitometry module. Corneal biomechanical properties were measured using CorVis ST, inclding time of the first applanation(AT1), length of the first applanation(AL1), velocity of the first applanation(V1), time of the second applanation(AT2), length of the second applanation(AL2), velocity of the second applanation(V2), the highest concavity time(HCT), the highest concavity deformation amplitude(HCDA), the highest concavity radius(HCR), the highest concavity peak distance(HCPD), stiffness parameter applanation 1(SPA1), Ambrósio's relational thickness horizontal(ARTh).RESULTS: Correlation between corneal densitometry and topographic parameters: The corneal densitometry values of the anterior ≤2mm layer correlated with the K1, K2, Km and Kmax values positively(<i>r</i>=0.291, 0.315, 0.315, 0.387; <i>P</i>=0.015, 0.008, 0.008, 0.001). The corneal densitometry values of the anterior ≤2mm, anterior >2 and ≤6mm, total ≤2mm, total >2 and ≤6mm, and posterior >2 and ≤6mm layers correlated with the anterior corneal elevation positively(<i>r</i>=0.465, 0.302, 0.317, 0.291, 0.335; <i>P</i><0.01, <i>P</i>=0.011, 0.008, 0.014, 0.005), and also with the posterior corneal elevation(<i>r</i>=0.565, 0.369, 0.348, 0.306, 0.284; <i>P</i><0.01, <i>P</i>=0.002, 0.003, 0.010, 0.017). Correlation between corneal densitometry and biomechanical properties: the corneal densitometry values of all ≤2mm, central >2 and≤6mm, posterior >2 and ≤6mm, and total >2 and ≤6mm layers all correlated with AL1 negatively(<i>r</i>= -0.284, -0.290, -0.245, -0.326, -0.282, -0.395, -0.310; <i>P</i>=0.017, 0.015, 0.041, 0.006, 0.018, 0.001, 0.009). The corneal densitometry values of central ≤2mm, central >2 and ≤6mm, and posterior >2 and ≤6mm layers all correlated with AL2 negatively(<i>r</i>= -0.246, -0.256, -0.256; <i>P</i> =0.041, 0.032, 0.032). The corneal densitometry values of anterior ≤2mm layer correlated with HCR negatively(<i>r</i>= -0.308, <i>P</i>=0.010). The corneal densitometry values of central ≤2mm, posterior ≤2mm, and certral >2 and ≤6mm layers all correlated with HCT negatively(<i>r</i>= -0.292, -0.340, -0.262; <i>P</i>=0.014, 0.004, 0.028). The corneal densitometry values of anterior ≤2mm, total ≤2mm, and posterior >2 and ≤6mm layers all correlated with ARTh negatively(<i>r</i>= -0.430, -0.293, -0.319; <i>P</i><0.01, <i>P</i> = 0.014, 0.007).CONCLUSION: The corneal densitometry values correlated with the severity of keratoconus and the biomechanical properties, and may became a potential diagnostic index of keratoconus.
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Objective:To explore the difference in antibacterial mechanism between <italic>Coptis chinensis</italic> and<italic> </italic>its<italic> </italic>flower stalk based on secondary metabolites and network pharmacology. Method:Based on the ultraperformance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry（UPLC-MS/MS） detection platform，the secondary metabolites database of <italic>C. chinensis</italic> and its flower stalk（MWDB） was built. The common database of metabolites information and the multivariate statistical analysis were used to study the differences of secondary metabolites between <italic>C. chinensis</italic> and its flower stalk and screen out 18 metabolites of<italic> </italic>the<italic> </italic>flower stalk and 11 metabolites of <italic>C. chinensis</italic> with a high content. BATMAN-TCM database was used to obtain the targets of component action，and their corresponding genes were inquired in the UniProt database. GeneCards was retrieved for antimicrobial genes，and the intersection genes of components and antimicrobials were obtained on Venny platform. Through DAVID gene ontology（GO） enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes（KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis，the mechanism of its action was predicted，and the results were visualized through histogram and advanced bubble diagram drawn by GraphPad Prism software and OmicShare database. The protein-protein interaction（PPI） network was constructed by STRING， database and the component-target-pathway network was constructed by Cytoscape 3.7.2 software. The antibacterial differences were compared based on the results of network pharmacology analysis. Result:Through network pharmacology，the antibacterial active components of <italic>C. chinensis</italic> were 5 fewer than that of the flower stalk，55 more antibacterial targets than that of the flower stalk； quercetin and berberine were predicted to be the common components of the antagonistic action of <italic>C. chinensis </italic>and the flower stalk. Key genes involved in antimicrobial action were p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase 14（MAPK14），catalase（CAT）； malaria and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway were different key pathways involved in antimicrobial activity. Conclusion:<italic>C. chinensis </italic>and the flower stalk mainly exert the antibacterial effect in a multi-target and multi-pathway manner，which can offer new ideas and clues for the study of antibacterial mechanism of<italic> C. chinensis</italic> and the flower stalk，and provide a new development direction for the comprehensive development and rational application of the flower stalk resources.
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·AIM: To evaluate the safety and postoperative complications of femtosecond laser - assisted small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). ·METHODS: Retrospective case series. A total of 1127 patients (2 236 eyes) who were treated with SMILE for myopia or myopia astigmatism between June 2016 and May 2017 were enrolled in this study. Eyes that developed postoperative complications were noted and identified. The incidence, risk factors, management and prognosis were analyzed. The follow-up was 6mo. ·RESULTS: The rate of postoperative complications was 8. 05%, included diffuse lamellar keratitis (3. 31%), delayed visual acuity (2. 59%), minor interface residue (0. 63%), and ghost images ( 1. 52%). These complications had an impact on best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 3mo in only 1 eye with decentered ablation and was re-treated with topography-guided laser- assisted subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK). Good visual outcomes were achieved in all eyes finally. · CONCLUSION: Although few eyes suffered postoperative complications, SMILE is an acceptable safe surgery. Careful surgical skill, appropriate surgical parameter, and rational postoperative medication can decrease the risk of complication.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mechanism via which the epidermal growth factor (EGF) affects the migration of human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In vitro cultured hAMSCs were divided into control (untreated), EGF group, inhibitor AG1478 + EGF group, inhibitor LY294002 + EGF group, and inhibitor U0126 + EGF group. The migration ability of hAMSCs in each group was measured using Transwell chamber. The expressions of phosphorylated EGFR (P-EGFR), phosphorylated AKT (P-AKT), and phosphorylated ERK1/2 (P-ERK1/2) as well as the expressions of metalloproteinase (MMP) -2 and MMP-9 were detected using Western blot analysis. The differentially expressed genes in the culture solutions in EGF groups and control group were analyzed with RNA-Seq technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Cells in EGF group had significantly stronger migration ability than in control group (P = 0.0361), inhibitor AG1478 + EGF group (P = 0.0113), inhibitor LY294002 + EGF group (P = 0.0169), and inhibitor U0126 + EGF group (P = 0.0293). EGF increased the phosphorylation levels of EGFR, AKT and ERK, and increased the expression of MMP-2. However, the increased expressions of P-AKT and P-ERK could be suppressed by AG1478 and LY294002. As shown by GO functional enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis, EGF increased the transcription of genes, which were mainly involved in transcriptional regulation, protein modification, and apoptosis inhibition. Genes that were involved in the MARK pathway included DUSP5, IL1B, DUSP6, NGF, and HSPA2.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EGF-induced migration of hAMSCs may be mediated by the signaling pathways of PI3K and ERK, which needs MMP-2 expression and the co-expression of genes involved in transcriptional regulation, protein modification, and apoptosis inhibition.</p>