Changes of Beclin-1 and ULK1 in retina of mice model in oxygen-inducedretinopathy.

Purpose: To observe the expression differences and potential effects of autophagy-related Beclin1 (mammalian Atg6) and Uncoordinated-51 like kinase 1 (ULK1) in the oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model. Materials and methods: Thirty-three C57BL/6 mice in OIR model group were exposed to 75 â€‹± â€‹0.5% oxygen from postnatal day-of-life 7 (P7) to P12, and were then brought into normal room environment (relative hypoxia stage) and raised to P17. Thirty-three control mice were kept in a normal room environment. The expression of autophagy in the retina tissue was assessed by Western blot analysis. The thickness and ultrastructural of retina were observed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscope (TEM) on P17. Results: In the hyperoxia stage (P8-P11), the expression of Beclin1, ULK1 and Autophagy 5 (Atg5) in retina showed no significant difference between the OIR model group and the control group. In the relatively hypoxia stage (P14 to P17), however, the protein level of Beclin1, ULK1, and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) were upregulated in the retina of the OIR model group, whereas B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) was downregulated. The autophagosomes in the photoreceptors of retina in the OIR mice were observed. The inner-segment/out-segment (IS/OS) layer in OIR model group was thinner than that the control group on P17. Conclusions: The expression of Beclin-1 and ULK1 in retina has changed in the OIR model, and the change of Beclin-1 and ULK1 expression is related to the change of oxygen concentration.

The treatment of malignant glaucoma in nanophthalmos: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The management of eyes with nanophthalmos is a dilemma for ophthalmologists due to various complications, especial the eye with malignant glaucoma. We report a case of effective treatment for malignant glaucoma in nanophthalmos. CASE PRESENTATION: An 82-year-old man was performed phacoemulsification in the right eye with normal ocular pressure and nanophthalmos. The surgery was uneventful: an intraocular lens (IOL) was placed and centered in the capsular bag. 2 months later, the patient presented with malignant glaucoma, and the intraocular pressure fluctuated between 18.6 mmHg and 30.8 mmHg with antiglaucoma medications. The patient did not respond to surgical peripheral iridotomy and goniosynechialysis. Then a single treatment with laser peripheral lens posterior capsulotomy and vitreous anterior membranectomy was performed. The intraocular pressure normalized, and the anterior chamber deepened within 24 h. The patient's condition remained stable for 9 months with no further treatment, and his Snellen corrected distance visual acuity was 20/50. The left eye of this patient was treated by combined surgery including phacoemulsification, IOL implantation, anterior vitrectomy, surgical peripheral iridotomy (PI), and goniosynechialysis. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This case suggests that it is essential to choose a suitable treatment for nanophthalmos patients to deal with malignant glaucoma and to reduce the incidence of malignant glaucoma.

Combined Surgical Techniques for the Management of Malignant Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To characterize new combined surgical techniques for the management of malignant glaucoma. METHODS: In a retrospective, interventional case series, goniosynechialysis, peripheral iridectomy, zonulo-hyaloidectomy, and anterior vitrectomy, with or without peripheral capsulectomy, were performed on nine eyes. If the patient was phakic, we performed both phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. RESULTS: Resolution of malignant glaucoma was achieved in all cases with anterior chamber deepening. Topical antiglaucoma medications were used to control the intraocular pressure in one eye. No recurrence was observed after a median follow-up of 9 months. No complications occurred during surgery or the postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: The combined surgical methods can completely eliminate blockade and aqueous misdirection and represent a promising treatment for malignant glaucoma.

Novel surgical management of cyclodialysis cleft via anterior chamber perfusion: Case report.

RATIONALE: Cyclodialysis cleft is a relatively rare but severe condition with persistent ocular hypotony, which can cause morphologic changes and visual loss. Here we report a case of a traumatic cyclodialysis cleft that was successfully managed with direct cyclopexy via anterior chamber perfusion. During the operation, if there is aqueous humor flowing out of the deep scleral incision, the cleft is not closed, and surgery should continue until there is no aqueous outflow. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 66-year-old man was treated for severe blunt ocular trauma of the left eye and a resultant cyclodialysis cleft, lens subluxation, choroidal detachment and a cataract. His intraocular pressure was 6 mm Hg, he presented with a shallow anterior chamber, phacodonesis, iridodonesis, 360° ciliary body detachment, and a suspicious cyclodialysis cleft in the 5 to 8 o'clock position. DIAGNOSES:: ocular blunt trauma (left eye), cyclodialysis cleft (left eye), lens subluxation (left eye), choroidal detachment (left eye), cataract (both eyes). INTERVENTIONS: The cataract was extracted by phacoemulsification and a posterior chamber intraocular lens was implanted with 2 capsular tension rings, one in the lens bag and the other in the ciliary sulcus. Throughout the following month, intraocular pressure fluctuated between 4 and 6 mm Hg and the ciliary body failed to reattach. A cyclopexy via anterior chamber perfusion was thus deemed necessary and performed. OUTCOMES: After cyclopexy, intraocular pressure increased to 27 mm Hg and decreased to 16 mm Hg after brinzolamide eye drops treatment twice daily for 4 days. Subsequently intraocular pressure stabilized between 10 to 21mm Hg. Complete closure of the cyclodialysis cleft was confirmed with ultrasound biomicroscopy. LESSONS: Cyclopexy via anterior chamber perfusion for patients with cyclodialysis cleft is a simple, safe, and efficient technique that ensures a successful surgery.

Responses of the Ocular Anterior Segment and Refraction to 0.5% Tropicamide in Chinese School-Aged Children of Myopia, Emmetropia, and Hyperopia.

Purpose. To investigate the changes of anterior segment after cycloplegia and estimate the association of such changes with the changes of refraction in Chinese school-aged children of myopia, emmetropia, and hyperopia. Methods. 309 children were recruited and eligible subjects were assigned to three groups: hyperopia, emmetropia, or myopia. Cycloplegia was achieved with five cycles of 0.5% tropicamide. The Pentacam system was used to measure the parameters of interest before and after cycloplegia. Results. In the myopic group, the lenses were thinner and the lens position was significantly more posterior than that of the emmetropic and hyperopic groups in the cycloplegic status. The correlations between refraction and lens thickness (age adjusted; r = 0.26, P < 0.01), and lens position (age adjusted; r = -0.31, P < 0.01) were found. After cycloplegia, ACD and ACV significantly increased, while ACA significantly decreased. Changes in refraction, ACD, ACV, and ACA were significantly different among the three groups (P < 0.05, all). Changes of refraction were correlated with changes of ACD (r = 0.41, P < 0.01). Conclusions. Myopia presented thinner lenses and smaller changes of anterior segment and refraction after cycloplegia when compared to emmetropia and hyperopia. Changes of anterior chamber depth were correlated with refraction changes. This may contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between anterior segment and myopia.

Therapeutic efficacy of fibroblast growth factor 10 in a rabbit model of dry eye.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10) in the promotion of healing, survival and expression of mucin in corneal epithelial cells in a rabbit dry eye model. A total of 12 healthy female New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into three groups. The lacrimal glands were injected with saline either alone (normal control group) or with concanavalin A (Con A), with either topical phosphate­buffered saline (PBS; PBS control group) or 25 µg/ml FGF10 (FGF10 treatment group). Lacrimal gland inflammation, tear function, corneal epithelial cell integrity, cell apoptosis and mucin expression were subsequently assessed. Lacrimal gland tissue biopsies were performed in conjunction with histology and electron microscopy observations. Tear meniscus height (TMH) and tear meniscus area (TMA) were measured using Fourier domain­optical coherence tomography. Tear membrane break­up time (TBUT) was also assessed and corneal fluorescein staining was performed. The percentages of apoptotic corneal and conjunctival (Cj) epithelial cells (ECs) were counted using a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase­mediated dUTP nick end labeling method. The mRNA expression levels of Muc1 were determined using reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses. The TMH and TMA values of the PBS and treatment groups were found to be significantly reduced, compared with those of the normal control group 3 days after Con A injection. However, the TMH and TMA of the FGF10 treatment group were higher, compared with those of the PBS group 3 and 7 days after treatment, respectively. Furthermore, the FGF10 treatment group exhibited prolonged TBUT, reduced corneal fluorescein staining and repaired epithelial cell ultrastructure7 days after treatment. The percentages of apoptotic corneal­ and Cj­ECs in the FGF10 treatment group were significantly reduced, compared with those in the PBS group. FGF10 significantly induced the mRNA expression of Muc1 in the corneal epithelial cells, compared with the normal control group, and induced higher mRNA expression levels of Muc1 in the Cj­ECs, compared with the PBS control group. In the present study, the rabbit dry eye model was successfully established 3 days after lacrimal gland Con A injection. FGF10 eye drops increased TMH and TMA, promoted corneal epithelial healing, reduced apoptosis of the corneal- and Cj-ECs and led to increased expression of Muc1.

Wnt signaling in form deprivation myopia of the mice retina.

BACKGROUND: The canonical Wnt signaling pathway plays important roles in cellular proliferation and differentiation, axonal outgrowth, cellular maintenance in retinas. Here we test the hypothesis that elements of the Wnt signaling pathway are involved in the regulation of eye growth and prevention of myopia, in the mouse form-deprivation myopia model. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: (1) One hundred twenty-five C57BL/6 mice were randomly distributed into form-deprivation myopia and control groups. Form-deprivation myopia (FDM) was induced by suturing the right eyelid, while the control group received no treatment. After 1, 2, and 4 weeks of treatment, eyes were assessed in vivo by cycloplegic retinoscopic refraction and axial length measurement by photography or A-scan ultrasonography. Levels of retinal Wnt2b, Fzd5 and ß-catenin mRNA and protein were evaluated using RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. (2) Another 96 mice were divided into three groups: control, drugs-only, and drugs+FDM (by diffuser). Experimentally treated eyes in the last two groups received intravitreal injections of vehicle or the proteins, DKK-1 (Wnt-pathway antagonist) or Norrin (Wnt-pathway agonist), once every three days, for 4 injections total. Axial length and retinoscopic refraction were measured on the 14th day of form deprivation. Following form-deprivation for 1, 2, and 4 weeks, FDM eyes had a relatively myopic refractive error, compared with contralateral eyes. There were no significant differences in refractive error between right and left eye in control group. The amounts of Wnt2b, Fzd5 and ß-catenin mRNA and protein were significantly greater in form-deprived myopia eyes than in control eyes.DKK-1 (antagonist) reduced the myopic shift in refractive error and increase in axial elongation, whereas Norrin had the opposite effect in FDM eyes. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our studies provide the first evidence that the Wnt2b signaling pathway may play a role in the development and progression of form-deprivation myopia, in a mammalian model.