Anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of N-acetylcysteine in diabetic rat corneal epithelium

AIM:To characterize the anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects of N-acetylcysteine(NAC)in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rat corneal epithelium and human corneal epithelial cells(HCECs)exposed to a high-glucose environment.METHODS:HCECs were incubated in 0,5,50 mmol/L glucose medium,or 50 mmol/L glucose medium with NAC for 24h.Diabetes was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg STZ and some of these rats were topically administered NAC to corneas with 3 mice per group.We characterized receptor for advanced glycation end-products(RAGE)expression using immunofluorescence,and interleukin(IL)-1βand cleaved caspase-3(CCAP-3)expression using immunohistochemistry.Circulating tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-αconcentration was measured by ELISA and cleaved poly-ADP ribose polymerase(PARP)concentration was quantified by Western blotting.Apoptotic cells were detected using TUNEL assay and annexin V and propidium iodide staining.RESULTS:Diabetic rats had higher expression of RAGE(2.46±0.13 fold),IL-1β,and CCAP-3 in apoptotic cells of their corneas than control rats.The expression of RAGE(1.83±0.11 fold),IL-1β,and CCAP-3,and the number of apoptotic cells,were reduced by topical NAC treatment.HCECs incubated in 50 mmol/L glucose medium showed high concentrations of TNF-α(310±2.00 pg/mL)and cleaved PARP(7.43±0.56 fold),and more extensive apoptosis than cells in 50 mmol/L glucose medium.However,the addition of NAC reduced the concentrations of TNF-α(153.67±2.31 pg/mL)and cleaved PARP(5.55±0.31 fold)and the number of apoptotic cells.CONCLUSION:NAC inhibits inflammation and apoptosis in the corneas of diabetic rats and HCECs maintained in a high-glucose environment.

Preloaded and non-preloaded intraocular lens delivery system and characteristics: human and porcine eyes trial

AIM： To compare characteristics of preloaded and nonpreloaded intraocular lens（IOL） delivery systems during IOL delivery procedures. METHODS： Total 101 human eyes were included in this prospective observational case series. Delivery characteristics of 5 types of IOLs including i Sert250 NC60（NC60）, En Vista MX60（MX60）, Acry Sof IQ SN60 WF（SN60 WF）, TECNIS ZCB00（ZCB00）, and TECNIS PCB00（PCB00） were investigated. NC60 and PCB00 were injected via preloaded delivery systems and other IOLs were injected via nonpreloaded systems. In the human trial, time taken from IOL loading to completion of implantation was measured in all eyes undergoing conventional cataract surgery. Using 4 excised porcine eyes, dynamics of ophthalmic viscosurgical device（OVD） between an IOL injector and a porcine eye was analyzed using fluorescein sodiumstained OVD. RESULTS： The average time for IOL implantation was 22.0 s for NC60, 43.2 s for MX60, 32.3 s for SN60 WF, 41.4 s for ZCB00, and 14.6 s for PCB00 respectively. The number of cases with IOL manipulation with a second instrument was 6 for MX60, 2 for ZCB00, 0 for SN60 WF, NC60, and PCB00. Amount of OVD pushed into a porcine eye was smaller with a preloaded system than with non-preloaded systems. CONCLUSION： IOL delivery with preloaded systems is faster and more predictable. Moreover, a preloaded delivery system shows relatively less OVD pushed into a porcine eye than non-preloaded systems.