Objective lt;brgt;To evaluated the effect of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) on age-related macular degeneration (AMD). lt;brgt; lt;brgt;Methods lt;brgt;Sixty-two cases (62 eyes) of exudative AMD were managed with TTT. Before treatment, 58 cases underwent fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA),42 cases underwent simultaneous indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), and 56 cases underwent optic coherence tomography (OCT).TTT was delivered using a 810 nm diode laser with variable spot sizes 0.5-3.0 mm and power range 60-40 mW,60 seconds duration. Sixty-two cases were followed up for 1-10 months with 4.8 months average. lt;brgt; lt;brgt;Results lt;brgt;The visual acuities of last visit were compared with those before the treatment. The visual acuity was unchanged in 43 cases (69.3%), improved in 15 cases (24.2%), and declined in 4 cases (6.5%). OCT was re-done in 51 cases and compared with OCT images before TTT treatment. The height of macular edema was unchanged in 29 cases (56.9%), decreased in 18 cases (35.3%), and increased in 4 cases (7.8%). The amelioration of visual acuity was compatible with that of macular configuration in the majority of cases (74.5%). Only in 13 cases (25.5%) the amelioration of visual acuity lagged behind that of macular configuration. The re-treatment was performed in 18 cases (29.1%), probably due to insufficiency of laser power. No side-effect was found. lt;brgt; lt;brgt;Conclusion lt;brgt;TTT makes most of the cases of exudative AMD retaining or improving their visual acuity. The employment is secured. Further exploration is needed in order to obtain the parameters of the laser treatment. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 180-183)
Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, non-coding RNA are reversible, heritable alterations which are induced by environmental stimuli. Major risk factors of diabetes and diabetic complications including hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products, can lead to abnormal epigenetic modifications in retinal vascular endothelial cells and retinal pigment epithelium cells. Epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of macular edema and neovascularization of diabetic retinopathy (DR), as well as diabetic metabolic memory. The heritable nature of epigenetic marks also playsakey role in familial diabetes mellitus. Further elucidation of epigenetic mechanisms in DR can open the way for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets to prevent DR progression.
Objective To explore the effects of Neurogenesin 1 (Ng1) gene on functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) and its mechanism. Methods Thirty-six rats (aging 4 months, weighing 230 g and being male or female), were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (n=18) and control group (n=18). After spinal cord contusive injury at T10 level was made in all these rats using modified Allen’s method, Ng1 recombinant plasmid and blank plasmid were transfectedinto the damaged areas of exprimental group and control group respectively by Alzet pumps. At 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and 4 weeks after SCI, Basso-Beattle-Bresnahan (BBB) Rating Scale was used to observe the recovery of motor function. At 1 week after injury, the expressions of Ng1 mRNA and protein in injured spinal cord were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot techniques. And at 2 and 4 weeks, double immunofluorescence and histopathologic examinations were performed to study the prol iferation of the adult endogenous neural stem cells and pathological change after SCI. Results At 1-4 weeks after SCI, the BBB scores in the exprimental group was significantly higher than that in control group (P lt; 0.05), and at 4 weeks the BBB score of the experimental group (16.80 ± 1.79) was significantly higher than that of the control group (9.60 ± 1.67), (P lt; 0.01). RTPCR and Western blot showed that the mRNA and protein expressions of Ng1 were observed in the exprimental group and no expression was seen in the control group. Histologic observation showed that the morphology of spinal cord and neurons in the exprimental group was better than that in the control group and was close to the normal tissue. The mean number of Nestin+/ BrdU+ newborn endogenous neural stem cells in the exprimental group was significantly more than that in control group (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Ng1 gene could promote the prol iferation of endogenous neural stem cells and protect the injured neurons, which enhances the repair of the motor function after SCI.
ObjectiveTo identify and observe disease-causing gene variants and clinical phenotypes in a Han Chinese family with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). MethodsA retrospective study. A patient with LCA10 and his parents who had presented at Department of Ophthalmology of Henan Provincial People's Hospital on May 2022 were selected as the study subject. Detailed medical and family histories were recorded, fundus photography and flash electroretinogram (F-ERG) were performed. Peripheral venous blood samples (3 ml) of the proband and his parents were collected to extract whole genomic DNA, then whole exome sequencing (WES) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing were carried out for the proband to determine the disease-causing gene and variants. All variants were annotated by bioinformatics analysis. According to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines, the pathogenicity of all detected variants were evaluated. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing, and in vitro minigene assay were performed to evaluate the impact of the missense variant with insufficient evidence on mRNA splicing. ResultsThe proband, male, 7-month-old, presented with an inability to follow light or objects, eye poking, photophobia, nystagmus, partial loss of retinal pigment epithelium around the fovea of the macula. At the age of 2 years old, F-ERG revealed severe reduction, elongation, or even no waveform of a-wave and b-wave in both eyes. No obvious abnormality was found in the clinical phenotype of his parents. The result of WES revealed that the proband carried two variants in exon 40 and exon 2 of CEP290, a frameshift variant c.5515_5518del (p.Glu1839Lysfs*11) (V1) and a novel missense variant c.74C>T (p.Ala25Val) (V2), respectively. The result of mitochondrial DNA sequencing was negative. Sanger sequencing confirmed that the heterozygous frameshift variant was inherited from his father and the heterozygous novel missense variant was inherited from his mother, which constituted compound heterozygous variants. In vitro minigene splicing assay confirmed that V2 created a new splicing donor at exon 2, leading to the in-frame deletion of 30bp fragment during transcription and loss of 10 amino acid residues in the protein. The two variants were pathogenic (V1) and likely pathogenic (V2) based on ACMG guidelines, respectively. ConclusionsThe c.5515_5518del and novel c.74C>T compound heterozygous variants of the CEP290 gene probably are the cause of LCA10 in this family, which lead to the production of a truncated protein and aberrant splicing of pre-mRNA, respectively. LCA is characterized by early onset, severe impairment of visual function, and a wide range of disease-causing variations.
PURPOSE:To investigate the spatial and temporal relation of fibronectin(Fn),basic fibroblast growth factor(b-FGF)and astrocytes with the retinal vascular developmemt of human fatuses. METHODS:The retinas of 86 human fetuses from 13th week to 40th week were studied by immunohistochemical methods and light microscopy. RESULTS:Fn immunoreativity was localized in spindle cells ,vascular endothelial cells and extracellular matrix ahead of the spindle cells,vascular endothelial cells,ganglion cells and cone cells were b-FGF immunopositive. The b-FGF immunoreactivity in ganglion cells and cone cells appeared earlier than the vascularization nearby.Astrocytes migrated to ora serrata in close association with the spindle cells.and sent numerous processes to ensheath the blood vessels formed in two processes of retinal vascuiarlzation. CONCLUSION:These results suggest that Fn ,b-FGF and astrocytes were involved in modulating both of two processes of retinal vascularizalion. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1996,12:180-182）
The Chinese human hepatocellular carcinoma cell SMMC7721 has been analysed by flow cytometry, Southern blotting and Western blotting. The results indicated that SMMC7721 cell is a hypoploid cell with a 0.81 DNA index, and that SMMC7721 cell has internal deletion in the 5'-end of its Rb gene and has no Rb gene product (Rb protein). The normal Rb cDNA has been inserted into a retrovirus vector DOL and introduced into SMMC7721 cells by electrporation transfection technique.About 75% of transfected SMMC7721 cells have been killed by Rb gene product. The remain 25% cells are alive as exogenous Rb gene has been mutationally inactivated. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1994,10:21-24）
Objective To investigate the tumor suppressor genes of phlegm DNA in smokers, and analyze the correlation between methylation level of tumor suppressor gene promoter and chronic mucus hypersecretion (CMH). Methods The study recruited the patients who were admitted in the respiratory department during 2013-2016 in this hospital, including 700 cases of urban smokers and 380 cases of rural smokers. Eleven genes commonly silenced by promoter methylation in lung cancer and associated with cancer risk were selected. Methylation specific PCR (MSP) was used in the sputum sample of 700 individuals in the urban smokers cohort. Replication was performed in 380 individuals from the rural smokers cohort. Results CMH was significantly associated with an overall increased number of methylated genes, with SULF2 methylation demonstrating the most consistent association. The association between SULF2 methylation and CMH was significantly increased in males but not in females both in the urban and rural groups (OR=2.73, 95%CI 1.53-4.93, P=0.001; OR=2.96, 95%CI 1.47-5.94, P=0.002, respectively). Furthermore, the association between methylation and CMH was more obvious among 139 male former smokers with persistent CMH compared with current smokers (SULF2, OR=3.64, 95%CI 1.57-8.35, P=0.002). Conclusion These findings demonstrate that especially male former smokers with persistent CMH have markedly increased promoter methylation of lung cancer risk genes and potentially could be at increased risk for lung cancer.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibil ity and effectiveness of using scar spl it thickness skin grafts combined with acellular allogeneic dermis in the treatment of large deep Ⅱ degree burn scar. MethodsBetween January 2013 and December 2013, 20 cases of large deep Ⅱ degree burn scar undergoing plastic operation were enrolled. There were 14 males and 6 females, aged 4 to 60 years (mean, 40 years). Burn reasons included hydrothermal burns in 10 cases, flame burns in 9 cases, and lime burns in 1 case. The burn area accounted for 70% to 96% total body surface area (TBSA) with an average of 79% TBSA. The time from wound healing to scar repair was 3 months to 2 years (mean, 7 months). Based on self-control, 0.7 mm scar spl it thickness skin graft was used to repair the wound at the right side of joints after scar resection (control group, n=35), 0.5 mm scar spl it thickness skin graft combined with acellular allogeneic dermis at the left side of joints (trial group, n=30). Difference was not statistically significant in the scar sites between 2 groups (Z=-1.152, P=0.249). After grafting, negative pressure drainage was given for 10 days; plaster was used for immobilization till wound heal ing; and all patients underwent regular rehabil itation exercises. ResultsNo significant difference was found in wound heal ing, infection, and healing time between 2 groups (P>0.05). All patients were followed up for 6 months. According to the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), the score was 5.23±1.41 in trial group and was 10.17±2.26 in control group, showing significant difference (t=8.925, P=0.000). Referring to Activities of Daily Living (ADL) grading standards to assess joint function, the results were excellent in 8 cases, good in 20 cases, fair in 1 case, and poor in 1 case in trial group; the results were excellent in 3 cases, good in 5 cases, fair in 22 cases, and poor in 5 cases in control group; and difference was statistically significant (Z=-4.894, P=0.000). ConclusionA combination of scar spl it thickness skin graft and acellular allogeneic dermis in the treatment of large deep Ⅱ degree burn scar is feasible and can become one of solution to the problem of skin source tension.
Objective To analyze the expression of H2A histone family, member X (H2AFX) gene in lung adenocarcinoma and its influence on prognosis. Methods We analyzed the expression level of H2AFX gene in the tumor tissues (497 cases) and normal adjacent tissues (54 cases) of lung adenocarcinoma patients via The Cancer Genome Atlas. The patients were divided into high expression group and low expression group according to the expression level of H2AFX gene in lung adenocarcinoma samples. The relationship between H2AFX and clinicopathological features of patients was analyzed through logistic regression. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test were used to study the correlation between H2AFX expression and the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma patients. Univariate and multiple Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the prognostic significance of H2AFX expression in lung adenocarcinoma patients. The research also covered H2AFX-related pathways of genes in the development of lung adenocarcinoma with gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Results The H2AFX expression was higher in lung adenocarcinoma tissues than that in normal adjacent tissues (P<0.001). Besides, it was significantly correlated with age (P<0.001), T staging (P=0.007), and N staging (P=0.010), but had little to do with M staging or gender (P>0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test showed that the survival rate of patients with high H2AFX expression was vastly lower than that of patients with low H2AFX expression (P<0.001). Multiple Cox regression analysis demonstrated that H2AFX could be an independent prognostic factor for lung adenocarcinoma [hazard ratio=1.41, 95% confidence interval (1.11, 1.78), P=0.004]. The results of GSEA displayed that H2AFX was involved in cell cycle, homologous recombination, DNA replication, base excision and repair, spliceosome, mismatch repair, p53 signaling pathway, nucleotide excision and repair, RNA degradation, RNA polymerase, and other pathways. Conclusions The expression of H2AFX gene is high in lung adenocarcinoma, and closely connected to the prognosis, occurrence, and evolution of lung adenocarcinoma. This gene can be one of the new molecular markers and therapeutic targets for lung adenocarcinoma.
Objective To explore the effect of age and gene therapyon the differentiation of marrow mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） of the rats. Methods MSCs from the young (1-month-old), adult (9-month-old), and the aged(24monthold) rats were expanded in culture and infected with adenovirus mediated human bone morphogenetic protein 2 gene (Ad-BMP-2). The expression of BMP-2 and osteoblastic markers such as alkaline phosphatase(ALP), collagen Ⅰ(Col Ⅰ), bone sialoprotein(BSP) and osteopontin(OPN) were assayed during the process of differentiation. Their abilities to induce ectopic bone formation in nude mice were also tested. Results There was no significant difference in the expression of BMP-2 among the 3 groups. ALP activity assay and semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) demonstrated that there were no significant differences in the expression of osteoblastic markers ALP, Col-Ⅰ, OPN and BSP amongthe 3 groups. Histomorphometric analysis indicated that there were no significant differences in the volume of the newly formed ectopic bones in nude mice amongthe 3 groups. Conclusion MSCs obtained from the aged ratscan restore their osteogenic activity following human BMP-2 gene transduction, therefore provides an alternative to treating the aged bone disease.