ABSTRACT
·AIM: To investigate the early effects of 3g/L sodium hyaluronate eye drops combined with soft contact lenses on corneal epithelial healing and local comfort.·METHODS: Totally 90 patients ( 90 eyes ) with primary monocular pterygium were randomly divided into three groups after pterygium excision surgeries ( n = 30, for each) . Each group received pterygium excision combined with limbal stem cell autograft transplantation. The research group wore soft corneal contact lens for 7d after the surgery, and the next day all of them were given 3g/L sodium hyaluronate and levofloxacin eye drops four times a day, tobrmycin and dexamethasone ophthalmic ointment once every night. The Group B did not wear the corneal contact lens, they were given levofloxacin eye drops four times a day and tobrmycin and dexamethasone ophthalmic ointment once every night. About the Group C, the 3g/L sodium hyaluronate eye drops was added on the basis of conventional medication of Group B. The time of corneal epithelial healing after surgery and the ocular pain score in different times were observed and contrasted.· RESULTS: Mean pain score of Group A were significantly lower than Group B and C at 6h, the first day and the third day after operation(P<0. 001), but there was no significant difference between the three groups at the fifth day and the seventh day (P>0. 05). The first day after the surgery, there were no eyes of corneal epithelium completely healed, but the complete healing rate of Group A were significantly higher than the other two group at the second day and the third day. (P<0. 05).·CONCLUSION: Early use of 3g/L hyaluronate sodium eye drops combined with soft corneal contact lenses after pterygium excision surgeries will not only accelerate corneal epithelial wound healing, but also relieve local pain, improve ocular comfort significantly.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are bone marrow stem cells which play an important role in tissue repair. The treatment with MSCs will be likely to aggravate the degree of fibrosis. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is involved in developmental and physiological processes, such as fibrosis. Dickkopfs (DKKs) are considered as an antagonist to block Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by binding the receptor of receptor-related protein (LRP5/6). DKK1 was chosen in attempt to inhibit fibrosis of MSCs by lowering activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Stable MSCs were randomly divided into four groups: MSCs control, MSCs + transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), MSCs + DKK1, and MSCs + TGF-β + DKK1. Flow cytometry was used to identify MSCs. Cell viability was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide test. Immunofluorescence was used to detect protein expression in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. Western blotting analysis was employed to test expression of fibroblast surface markers and, finally, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was employed to test mRNA expression of fibroblast surface markers and Wnt/β-catenin signaling proteins.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Cultivated MSCs were found to conform to the characteristics of standard MSCs: expression of cluster of differentiation (CD) 73, 90, and 105, not expression of 34, 45, and 79. We found that DKK1 could maintain the normal cell morphology of MSCs. Western blotting analysis showed that fibroblast surface markers were expressed in high quantities in the group MSCs + TGF-β. However, the expression was lower in the MSCs + TGF-β + DKK1. Immunofluorescence showed high expression of all Wnt/β-catnin molecules in the MSCs + TGF-β group but expressed in lower quantities in MSCs + TGF-β + DKK1 group. Finally, mRNA expression of fibroblast markers vimentin, α-smooth muscle actin and Wnt/β-catenin signaling proteins β-catenin, T-cell factor, and glycogen synthase kinase-3β was significantly increased in MSCs + TGF-β group compared to control (P < 0.05). Expression of the same fibroblast markers and Wnt/β-catenin was decreased to regular quantities in the MSCs + TGF-β + DKK1 group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>DKK1, Wnt/β-catenin inhibitors, blocks the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to inhibit the process of MSCs fibrosis. It might provide some new ways for clinical treatment of certain diseases.</p>