ABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate the effect of leptin on the angiogenesis of RF/6A cells (monkey retinal choroidal endothelial cells) in vitro and test the cellular signaling in the mechanism. METHODS: RF/6A cells were cultured in vitro and randomly divided into four groups: normal control, with leptin at 50, 100, 200 ng/mL for cell counting kit-8 (CCK8). RF/6A cell proliferation and migration were examined by Transwell assays, while RF/6A cell tube formation by Matrigel assay. JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3, and p-STAT3 protein expression was measured by Western blotting. Cells were then divided into the following treatment groups: control, 100 ng/mL leptin and AG-490 (100 ng/mL leptin+10 µmol/L AG-490) for examinations of RF/6A cellular behaviour again. Analysis of differences was carried out using one-way ANOVA and least significant difference (LSD). RESULTS: RF/6A cell proliferation, migration and cell tube formation were promoted significantly by leptin in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Western blotting showed that leptin up-regulated p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 expression levels. Treatment with the JAK/STAT pathway inhibitor, AG-490, decreased leptin-induced p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 expression, and inhibited cell proliferation, migration and cell tube formation induced by leptin (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Leptin can promote RF/6A cell angiogenesis in vitro via activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.
ABSTRACT
AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal injection of conbercept in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Retrospective review of 66 eyes of 63 patients with neovascular AMD. All patients received 0.5 mg intravitreal injections of conbercept monthly for 3 consecutive months, and then pro re nata treatment was performed. The changes of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) were observed before and after treatments. Minimum follow-up time was 12mo. SPSS 22.0 statistical software was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean BCVA and CMT of 66 eyes (63 patients) were 1.11±0.60, 533.20±219.95 µm at baseline, and were 0.68±0.38, 310.28±125.60 µm at 3mo. No subjects were lost during the first three months, the improvements were all significantly (P<0.05). During the whole follow-up time of 12mo, 15 subjects (18 eyes) were lost. The mean BCVA and CMT of the rest 48 eyes with the follow-up time at least 1y were 0.83±0.46 and 547.59±196.77 µm at baseline, after 3mo and 12mo of conbercept injections became 0.55±0.41, 318.24±141.29 µm and 0.55±0.51, 333.87±173.25 µm. The differences were significant (P<0.05). No serious complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injection of conbercept appears to significantly improve visual acuity and anatomical outcomes in patients with neovascular AMD, no serious adverse reactions and complications are observed.
ABSTRACT
Porous hollow nanostructures have attracted intensive interest owing to their unique structure and promising applications in various fields. A facile hydrothermal synthesis has been developed to prepare porous hollow nanostructures of silicate materials through a sacrificial-templating process. The key factors, such as the concentration of the free metal cation and the alkalinity of the solution, are discussed. Porous hollow nanostructures of magnesium silicate, nickel silicate, and iron silicate have been successfully prepared by using SiO(2) spheres as the template, as well as a silicon source. Several yolk-shell structures have also been fabricated by a similar process that uses silica-coated composite particles as a template. As-prepared mesoporous magnesium silicate hollow spheres showed an excellent ability to remove Pb(2+) ions in water treatment owing to their large specific surface and unique structures.
