The Significance of the Ocular Adverse Effect Induced by Systemic Taxane Application.

In recent years, in-depth research on anti-tumor therapy has brought the emergence of new active chemotherapeutic agents and combination regimens. However, as one of them, taxane drugs are widely used in clinical practice, but it should be noted that many side reactions caused by their application bring some difficulties to routine management. Among the side reactions related to taxane anti-tumor therapy, ocular adverse reactions are occasionally reported and are not life-threatening but may seriously affect patients' life quality. Thus, the continuation, reduction and cessation of taxane chemotherapy still need to be further evaluated by ophthalmologists and oncologists once the side effects show up. To prevent ocular side reactions, close attention should be paid to complications during medication. To facilitate the oncology department and ophthalmologists to comprehensively understand the ophthalmic adverse reactions of taxane drugs and their possible mechanisms and improve drug use efficiency, we collected relevant literature and reviewed and provided some suggestions for the monitoring and managing of ophthalmic toxicity.

[Effect of premature birth on retinal vascular development in the neonatal rat].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of premature birth on the development of rat retinal vasculature. METHODS: Experimental study. Sixty pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: bacterial lipopolysaccharide-induced preterm group (LPS group), RU-486 induced preterm group (RP group), cesarean section induced preterm group (CP group), and the normal delivery rats as the control group. The weight of rats from each group was recorded until postnatal day 21. On postnatal day 4, 7, 10 and 14 (P4, P7, P10 and P14), the retina of right eye was dissected and whole-mounted. Each premature group was divided into two subgroups based on the number of rats in each litter, the small subgroup (6-8 rats per litter, group 1) and the large subgroup (14-18 rats per litter, group 2). The development of retinal vascularization process was observed on P4, P7 and P10 (n = 6).Independent t test, one-way ANOVA and LSD-t test were used to analyzed the results. RESULTS: The weight of premature rats in LPS, CP and RP groups was significantly lower than that in the normal group within postnatal 21 days (LSD-t test: all P < 0.05). On the P4 and P7 in LPS group, the proportions of retinal superficial vascularized area of newborn rats [(0.47 ± 0.02) % ,(0.63 ± 0.04)%] were less than that in the normal group [(0.57 ± 0.04) % , (0.74 ± 0.05)%] (t4 d = 6.427, P 4 d = 0.000;t7 d = 5.111, P 7 d = 0.000). On the P4 and P7 in RP group, this proportions [(0.49 ± 0.04) %,(0.65 ± 0.04)%] were less than that in the normal group [(0.57 ± 0.04) %, (0.74 ± 0.05)%] (t4 d = 4.469, P 4 d = 0.000;t7 d = 2.491, P 7 d = 0.022). On P4, P7 and P10 in CP group, this proportions [(0.49 ± 0.05) %, (0.61 ± 0.05) %, (0.94 ± 0.03)%] were also less than that in the normal group[ (0.57 ± 0.04) %, (0.74 ± 0.05) %, (0.97 ± 0.02)%] (t4 d = 4.044, P 4 d = 0.001;t7 d = 6.011, P 7 d = 0.000; t 10 d = 2.331, P 10 d = 0.030). Retinal superficial vascularization completed on P14 in all groups. On the P4 and P7 in LPS group, the proportion of retinal vascularized area of group 2 [(0.44 ± 0.02)%, (0.60 ± 0.03)%] were less than that of group 1 [(0.53 ± 0.04)%, (0.74 ± 0.03)%] (t4 d = 3.852, P 4 d = 0.008; t7 d = 5.630, P 7 d = 0.001). On the P4 and P7 in CP group, this proportion in group 2 [(0.43 ± 0.02)%, (0.64 ± 0.03)%] were less than that of group 1 [ (0.54 ± 0.03)%, (0.76 ± 0.02)%] (t4 d = 4.695, P 4 d = 0.003; t7 d = 6.025, P 7 d = 0.001). On P4 in RP group, the proportions of group 2 [ (0.44 ± 0.01)%] was less than that of group 1 [ (0.54 ± 0.04)%] (t4 d = 5.000, P 4 d = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The premature rats have lower weight and much slower rate of early retinal vascularization, as compared with the normal rats. Furthermore, in the premature rats, the proportion of retinal vascularization in larger litters is less than that in smaller litters. These results indicate that premature birth and larger litter size have effects on the development of rat retinal vasculature.

Preliminary study of retinal pathological features in preterm birth pups exposed to an animal model of oxygen-induced retinopathy in mice.

BACKGROUND: The main risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are low gestational age and low birth weight, which are mainly caused by preterm birth. Currently, the animal model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) in mice is the most widely used model in ROP-associated studies. However, the experimental mice are normal-term pups, and may not mimic the pathogenic status of human ROP patients. In this study, we investigated the retinal pathological features in preterm birth pups exposed to an animal model of oxygen-induced retinopathy in mice. METHODS: Preterm-birth mice were obtained from pregnant C57BL/6J mice that were induced by an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The preterm and control mice were treated with high oxygen (75%) from postnatal day 7 (P7) to P12. The mice were perfused with high-molecular-weight FITC-dextran on P12, P15 and P17, and the retinas were whole-mounted and imaged. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA was also detected. Cross-sections of the retina were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) to identify preretinal neovascular tufts. For general observation, whole retinal images were also obtained using a microscope. RESULTS: Leakage of the retinal blood vessels was aggravated in the preterm mice, particularly on P12 and P15. The non-perfused areas of the retina (pixel value, 183,673 ± 28,148 vs 132,110 ± 23,732, P = 0.009) and the number of preretinal endothelial cell nuclei were smaller (30.17 ± 8.33 vs 22.17 ± 6.74, P < 0.0001) on P17. The VEGF mRNA levels in the retinas were higher on P12 and P15 but lower on P17, compared with the control mice. Retinal hemorrhage was observed in the preterm mouse group (five out of six examined eyes). CONCLUSIONS: Preterm-birth mice that were subject to OIR exhibited several pathological features, such as retinal hemorrhage, severe retinal leakage and moderate retinal neovascularization, which were similar to the clinical manifestations in ROP patients.

[Incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in mainland of China over the last 20 years].

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the important causes of childhood blindness in China with an increasing trend of affected infants. It gives great burden on both the individuals and the society. With the publishing of guidelines on oxygenation policies by Ministry of Health, the screening of ROP has been gradually performed nation-wide. But the prevalence data of ROP is still confusing. We reviewed literature over the last 20 years about causes of childhood blindness in blind school students and ROP screening. This study could provide preliminary evidence about prevalence of ROP in mainland of China and could be benefit for further prevention and the control of ROP.

[Recent advances in tuberculous uveitis].

With an increasing number of new cases of tuberculosis every year, the incidence of tuberculous uveitis presents a rising trend. The disease is associated with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. The common clinical presentations appear to be anterior uveitis, choroidal tubercles, multifocal choroiditis, rarely serpiginous-like choroiditis, subretinal abscesses or suspected ocular tumors. Macular edema can be the only ocular manifestation of tuberculosis. With absence of proper diagnostic standard, it usually leads to missed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and delayed diagnosis of tuberculous uveitis which can result in severe consequences such as vision loss, blind, and even eye enucleation. New technology such as PCR and Interferon-Gamma release assays can be helpful for the diagnosis of tuberculous uveitis. The early diagnosis and standard treatment of tuberculous uveitis are in urgent need.