The Influence of Induced Drought Stress on Germination of Cenchrus ciliaris L.and Cenchrus setigerus Vahl.:Implications for Rangeland Restoration in the Arid Desert Environment of Kuwait

Drought impacts in arid desert ecosystems can result in decreased ecosystem productivity and biodiversity.Imple­mentation of restoration projects in arid desert environments is largely dependent on water availability and soil mois­ture condition.This study investigated the influence of induced drought stress by using polyethylene glycol(PEG-6000)solution on germination viz.Cenchrus ciliaris and Cenchrus setigerus as the important rangeland species.The water stress potential treatments were 0(control),-0.5 MPa,-1.0 MPa,-1.5 MPa,and-2.0 MPa.The extent of seed germi­nation was severely affected by decreased water stress potential.As drought increased,the percentage of germination decreased in both Cenchrus’species.The water deficit at-0.5 MPa showed a significant(P<0.001)reduction in the final germination percentage in the case of C.setigerus and C.ciliaris by 65%and 42.5%,respectively.At-1.0 MPa to-1.5 MPa,changes in intermediate germination were observed in C.ciliaris(from 35%to 17.5%,respectively)and C.setigerus(from 22.5%to 11.25%respectively).Higher levels of water stress(-2.0 MPa)prevented the survival of both species.Understanding the germination strategies of native desert plant species associated with drought stress and identifying favorable conditions during the germination process can be useful for restoration practices and rangeland management actions to improve desert ecosystems and maintain biodiversity.

Iron Deficiency Tolerance at Leaf Level in <i>Medicago ciliaris</i>Plants

Iron deficiency is an important environmental factor restricting plant productivity. Selecting tolerant genotypes is one of the possible ways to solve this problem. Many studies reported the effects of Fe deficiency on photosynthesis and anti-oxidative defense system. Yet, there is little information available on the use of these attributes as selective criteria. In the present study, we aim to determine some physiological and biochemical traits conferring Fe deficiency tolerance at leaf level in two lines of Medicago ciliaris. Our results showed that Fe deprivation had a lowering effect on photosynthesis (chlorophyll, photosynthetic electron transport activity and chlorophyll fluorescence) in both lines studied. However, the sensitive line TN8.7 was more affected. Hydrogen peroxide concentration was negatively correlated with the activities of antioxidant enzymes and with the concentration of some non-enzymatic antioxidant. The tolerant line TN11.11 was characterized by a more efficient antioxidant defense system in comparison with the sensitive line TN8.7. The main conclusion of this study is that photosynthesis and antioxidant defense system could be used as physiological and biochemical indicators of Fe deficiency tolerance in Medicago ciliaris plants.

Expression and Clinical Significance of Various Cytokines in Otitis Media

The expression and clinical significance of relevant cytokines in otitis media (OM) are discussed, and the alterations to the pathological state of the otitis media mucosa are further understood through the study of cytokine transduction pathways. More and more studies have shown that relevant cell proliferation and inflammation progression pathways play a role in the development of otitis media, such as the Jun amino-terminal protein kinase (JNK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, the NF-κB signaling pathway, and the PI3K/AKT/PTEN pathway, which are involved in the proliferation of the middle ear mucosa during otitis media, which affects the mucosal cilia, motor function, Eustachian tube function, and the mucosal ciliary function. These studies provide new ideas for the treatment of otitis media and further explore the feasibility of immunotherapy in the future treatment of otitis media. In this paper, we present a review of the latest research progress on the expression of various cytokines in otitis media.

Ocular manifestations of central insulin resistance

Central insulin resistance, the diminished cellular sensitivity to insulin in the brain, has been implicated in diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders. However, whether and how central insulin resistance plays a role in the eye remains unclear. Here, we performed intracerebroventricular injection of S961, a potent and specific blocker of insulin receptor in adult Wistar rats to test if central insulin resistance leads to pathological changes in ocular structures. 80 mg of S961 was stereotaxically injected into the lateral ventricle of the experimental group twice at 7 days apart, whereas buffer solution was injected to the sham control group. Blood samples, intraocular pressure, trabecular meshwork morphology, ciliary body markers, retinal and optic nerve integrity, and whole genome expression patterns were then evaluated. While neither blood glucose nor serum insulin level was significantly altered in the experimental or control group, we found that injection of S961 but not buffer solution significantly increased intraocular pressure at 14 and 24 days after first injection, along with reduced porosity and aquaporin 4 expression in the trabecular meshwork, and increased tumor necrosis factor α and aquaporin 4 expression in the ciliary body. In the retina, cell density and insulin receptor expression decreased in the retinal ganglion cell layer upon S961 injection. Fundus photography revealed peripapillary atrophy with vascular dysregulation in the experimental group. These retinal changes were accompanied by upregulation of pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic genes, downregulation of anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and neurotrophic genes, as well as dysregulation of genes involved in insulin signaling. Optic nerve histology indicated microglial activation and changes in the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein, tumor necrosis factor α, and aquaporin 4. Molecular pathway architecture of the retina revealed the three most significant pathways involved being inflammation/cell stress, insulin signaling, and extracellular matrix regulation relevant to neurodegeneration. There was also a multimodal crosstalk between insulin signaling derangement and inflammation-related genes. Taken together, our results indicate that blocking insulin receptor signaling in the central nervous system can lead to trabecular meshwork and ciliary body dysfunction, intraocular pressure elevation, as well as inflammation, glial activation, and apoptosis in the retina and optic nerve. Given that central insulin resistance my lead to neurodegenerative phenotype in the visual system, targeting insulin signaling may hold promise for vision disorders involving the retina and optic nerve.

Electroacupuncture alleviates ciliary muscle cell apoptosis in lens-induced myopic guinea pigs through inhibiting the mitochondrial signaling pathway

AIM:To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)on the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic signaling pathway in the ciliary muscle of guinea pigs with negative lensinduced myopia(LIM).METHODS:Guinea pigs were randomly divided into normal control(NC)group,LIM group,LIM+SHAM acupoint(LIM+SHAM)group,and LIM+EA group.Animals in the NC group received no intervention,while those in other three groups were covered with-6.0 diopter(D)lenses on right eyes.Meanwhile,animals in the LIM+EA group received EA at Hegu(LI4)combined with Taiyang(EX-HN5)acupoints,while those in the LIM+SHAM group were treated at sham points.After treatments for 1,2,and 4wk,morphological changes in ciliary muscles were observed with hematoxylin and eosin(H&E)staining and nick end labeling(TUNEL),and the expression of the mitochondrial apoptotic signaling pathway-related molecules in ciliary muscles was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)and Western blot.Additionally,the adenosine triphosphate(ATP)contents were also determined in ciliary muscles.RESULTS:Axial length increased significantly in the LIM and LIM+SHAM groups and decreased in the LIM+EA group.The ciliary muscle fibers were broken and destroyed in both LIM and LIM+SHAM groups,whereas those in the LIM+EA group improved significantly.TUNEL assay showed the number of apoptotic cells increased in the LIM and LIM+SHAM groups,whereas reduced in the LIM+EA group.ATP contents showed a significant decrease in the LIM and LIM+SHAM groups,whereas increased after EA treatment.Compared with the NC group,the dynamin-related protein 1(DRP1),Caspase3,and apoptotic protease activator 1(APAF1)levels were significantly increased in the LIM group and decreased in the LIM+EA group.CONCLUSION:The results provide evidence of EA inhibiting the development of myopia by regulating the mitochondrial apoptotic signaling pathway.

Analysis of clinical and pathological features of ciliary body medulloepithelioma

AIM:To analyze and summarize the clinical and pathological features of ciliary body medulloepithelioma.METHODS:The clinical and pathological data of 11 patients(11 eyes) who were diagnosed with ciliary body medulloepithelioma at Beijing Tongren Hospital,Capital Medical University,from 2007 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.RESULTS:The initial symptoms of 11 patients included vision loss(6 eyes),atrophia bulbi(1 eye),proptosis(2 eyes),and leukocoria(2 eyes).Most patients suffered with corneal opacity,anterior chamber flare and hyphema.Iris neovascularization and synechia,complicated cataract,and secondar y glaucoma occurred in several cases.Three patients even had lens subluxation and retinal detachment.B-scan ultrasonography showed vitreous opacity and a medium-high uneven echo mass in the eyeball.Ultrasound biomicroscopy examination showed a spherical or hemispherical ciliary body mass with uneven internal echoes and irregular cystic spaces.All of the 11 patients were diagnosed with malignant ciliary body medulloepithelioma by pathological evidence.In this study,6 patients had enucleation(2 patients had systemic chemotherapy after surgery),and the other 5 patients had local tumor resection(1 patient had plaque radiotherapy after surgery).CONCLUSION:Ciliary body medulloepithelioma is a rare intraocular tumor and may be easily confused with retinoblastoma.Analyzing the clinical and pathological features of ciliary body medulloepithelioma is useful to further understand ciliary body medulloepithelioma,and can make an accurate diagnosis and better treatment.

Haemoglobin Measurement from Eye Anterior Ciliary Arteries through Borescope Camera

Nowadays,smartphones are used as self-health monitoring devices for humans.Self-health monitoring devices help clinicians with big data for accurate diagnosis and guidance for treatment through repetitive measurement.Repetitive measurement of haemoglobin requires for pregnant women,pediatric,pulmonary hypertension and obstetric patients.Noninvasive haemoglobin measurement through conjunctiva leads to inaccurate measurement.The inaccuracy is due to a decrease in the density of goblet cells and acinar units in Meibomian glands in the human eye as age increases.Furthermore,conjunctivitis is a disease in the eye due to inflammation or infection at the conjunctiva.Conjunctivitis is in the form of lines in the eyelid and covers the white part of the eyeball.Moreover,small blood vessels in eye regions of conjunctiva inflammations are not visible to the human eye or standard camera.This paper proposes smartphone-based hae-moglobin(SBH)measurement through a borescope camera from anterior ciliary arteries of the eye for the above problem.The proposed SBH method acquires images from the anterior ciliary arteries region of the eye through a smartphone attached with a high megapixel borescope camera.The anterior ciliary arteries are projected through transverse dyadic wavelet transform(TDyWT)and applied with delta segmentation to obtain blood cells from the ciliary arteries of the eye.Furthermore,the Gaussian regression algorithm measures haemoglobin(Hb)with more accuracy based on the person,eye arteries,red pixel statistical parameters obtained from the left and right eye,age,and weight.Furthermore,the experimen-tal result of the proposed SBH method has an accuracy of 96%in haemoglobin measurement.

Construction of Zebrafish Mutants of CNTF Gene Using CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing Technology

Background: The prevalence of Parkinson’s disease (PD), a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder, is projected to increase twofold by 2030. Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is the most commonly observed gene in both familial and sporadic PD cases. Notably, there is a substantial augmentation in motor activity during both larval and adult stages of zebrafish lacking the lrrk2 gene. Nevertheless, the precise genetic abnormalities accountable for eliciting these phenotypes in zebrafish are yet to be elucidated. Methods: Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted on zebrafish larvae at 6 days post fertilization (dpf) belonging to both the wild-type and lrk2(-/-) groups. Guide RNA was designed and subsequently employed in the PCR process. Electrophoresis was performed to facilitate identification. Results: The expression of CNTF mRNA was significantly diminished in lrrk2(-/-), in comparison to the wildtype zebrafish larvae. This finding implies that CNTF may have crucial implications in the regulated functioning of lrrk2, which is widely acknowledged as the predominant genetic factor contributing to hereditary PD. The primers for CNTF DNA were meticulously designed, and the electrophoresis results of the PCR product were subsequently presented. The wild type zebrafish embryos were meticulously prepared for micro-injection, and the resulting efficiency identification displayed the presence of the mutant PCR product, which exhibited the presence of several debris. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates the successful generation of CNTF mutant zebrafish using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technique. Further investigations are necessary to deepen our understanding of the exogenous CNTF gene’s functionality.

Food Preference of Pecky Rice Bugs Is Influenced by Experience

This study investigated whether prior experience influences the plant food preference of Trigonotylus caelestialium and Stenotus rubrovittatus which cause pecky rice grain, by using rice plants and 2 poaceous weeds. In a choice experiment between Digitaria ciliaris and the rice plants, both T. caelestialium and S. rubrovittatus adults that were reared on D. ciliaris plants showed significant initial preference for D. ciliaris over rice. In a choice experiment between Echinochloa crus-galli var. aristata and rice plants, T. caelestialium adults reared on E. crus-galli var. aristata strongly preferred E. crus-galli var. aristata over rice throughout the experiment. However, at and after 24 h, T. caelestialium adults reared on rice showed no food preference, although T. caelestialium initially preferred E. crus-galli var. aristata. In contrast, S. rubrovittatus adults reared on rice showed no preference between E. crus-galli var. aristata and rice. However, S. rubrovittatus reared on E. crus-galli var. aristata initially preferred E. crus-galli var. aristata to rice, with this preference waning with time. The same results were obtained for both sexes. Although the effect of experience differed with food source and the species of mirid bug, prior experience initially had a noticeable effect, which disappeared with time (1 d).

Safety and efficacy of ultrasound ciliary plasty as a primary intervention in glaucoma patients

AIM: To evaluate the safety and the efficacy of the ultrasound ciliary plasty(UCP) on the intraocular pressure(IOP) control in glaucomatous eyes without previous glaucoma surgery.METHODS: A retrospective study included patients with primary and secondary glaucoma who underwent UCP in Dar Al Shifa Hospital, Kuwait between January 2017 to June 2018. High-intensity focused ultrasound procedures were performed under peribulbar anesthesia using the 2^(nd) generation probe with 8 s duration of each of the 6 shots. Complete ophthalmologic examinations were scheduled pre-treatment, and at 1 d, 1 wk, 1, 3, 6 and 12 mo posttreatment. Primary outcomes were the IOP reduction and success rates at 12 mo, while the secondary outcomes were the occurrence of vision threatening complications and visual acuity.RESULTS: The records of 62 eyes of 62 patients were analyzed with mean age of 63.8 y(67.7% males). There was statistically significant reduction in the mean IOP from 35.2±8.3 mm Hg before treatment to 20.6±8.7 mm Hg at 12^(th) month(P<0.0005) with a mean percentage IOP reduction of 42.3% with significant reduction in the mean number of antiglaucomatous drugs from 3.2±0.4 before treatment to 2.1±1.02 at 12 mo(P<0.0005). Qualified success was achieved in 77.4% of eyes at 12 mo. No major intra-or posttreatment complications were reported.CONCLUSION: Second-generation UCP prove to be effective in reducing IOP in naive glaucoma patients with lower success rates in cases of neovascular and uveitic glaucomas.

Intraocular inflammation after Ultrasound Cyclo Plasty for the treatment of glaucoma

This is a prospective interventional clinical study evaluating intraocular inflammation developed after Ultrasound Cyclo Plasty(UCP) for the treatment of glaucoma. Eighteen eyes of 18 patients were treated with UCP second-generation probes(Eye OP1). After treatment, the mean intraocular pressure(IOP) significantly decreased from 26.8±7.2 to 18.8±6.1 mm Hg at day 1 and to 14.7±3.4 mm Hg at month 6(all P<0.001). Mean laser flare-cell photometry value steeply increased after surgery from 12.1±7.5 to 64.1±53.9 ph/ms(P=0.001) at day 1, and then progressively decreased to respectively 60.6±49.7 at day 7, 43.5±38.5 at day 14 and 28.2±18.3 at month 1(all P<0.05), returning at levels similar to baseline ones at month 3 and month 6(respectively 16.7±6.2 and 12.8±10.2, both P>0.05). A significant negative correlation was found between postoperative increase of aqueous flare values and anterior chamber depth(R=-0.568, P=0.014). This timeframe may be considered reasonable for repeating UCP treatment, when required.

Korean red ginseng promotes hippocampal neurogenesis in mice

Neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus plays a major role in cognitive ability of animals including learning and memory.Korean red ginseng (KRG) has long been known as a medicinal herb with the potential to improve learning and memory;however,the mechanisms are still elusive.Therefore,we evaluated whether KRG can promote cognitive function and enhance neurogenesis in the hippocampus.Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice received 50 mg/kg of 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) intraperitoneally and 100 mg/kg of KRG or vehicle orally once a day for 14 days.Pole,Rotarod and Morris water maze tests were performed and the brains were collected after the last behavioral test.Changes in the numbers of BrdU- and BrdU/ doublecortin (DCX;a marker for neuronal precursor cells and immature neurons)-positive cells in the dentate gyrus and the gene expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (a marker for cell differentiation),cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor and ciliary neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus were then investigated.KRG-treated mice came down the pole significantly faster and stood on the rotarod longer than vehicle-treated mice.The Morris water maze test showed that KRG administration enhanced the learning and memory abilities significantly.KRG also significantly increased BrdU- and BrdU/DCX-positive cells in the dentate gyrus as well as the proliferating cell nuclear antigen,cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor and ciliary neurotrophic factor mRNA expression levels in the hippocampus compared to vehicle.Administration of KRG promotes learning and memory abilities,possibly by enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis.This study was approved by the Pusan National University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (approval No.PNU-2016-1071) on January 19,2016.

Osteopontin is a biomarker for early autoimmune uveoretinitis

Osteopontin(OPN)is an extracellular matrix protein with a diverse range of functions,including roles in cell adhesion,migration,and immunomodulation,which are associated with the modulation of neuroinflammation in the central nervous system.The present study was performed to evaluate the involvement of OPN in the eyes of an experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis(EAU)model.The EAU model was developed by immunization of Lewis rats with interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein.The results showed the OPN level was remarkably upregulated in the eye of EAU rats on day 9 post-immunization.The level of CD44,a ligand of OPN,was increased in the ciliary body of EAU rats.Furthermore,OPN was also detected in the ciliary body and activated microglia/macrophages in the EAU retina.The results suggest that OPN was significantly upregulated in the eyes of EAU rats,and that it may be useful as an early biomarker of ocular autoimmune diseases.All animal experiments were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Jeju National University(approval No.2020-0012)on March 11,2020.

Protective effects of ciliary neurotrophic factor on the retinal ganglion cells by injure of hydrogen peroxide

AIM: To explore the effect of ciliary neurotrophic factor(CNTF) on retinal ganglion cell(RGC)-5 induced by hydrogen peroxide(H_2O_2). METHODS: After cell adherence, RGC-5 culture medium was changed to contain different concentrations of H_2O_2 from50 to 150 μmol/L at four time points(0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 h) to select the concentration and time point for H_2O_2 induced model. Two different ways of interventions for injured RGC-5 cells respectively were CNTF as an addition in the culture medium or recombinant lentiviral plasmid carrying CNTF gene transfecting bone mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs) for co-culture with RGC-5. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, H_2O_2 led to RGC-5 death closely associated with concentrations and action time of H_2O_2 and we chose 125 μmol/L and 2 h to establish the H_2O_2-induced model. While CNTF inhibited the loss of RGC-5 cells obviously with a dose-dependent survival rate. Nevertheless two administration routes had different survival rate yet higher rate in recombinant lentiviral plasmid group but there were no statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: Both the two administration routes of CNTF have effects on RGC-5 cells induced by H_2O_2. If their own advantages were combined, there may be a better administration route.

cytokine 的角色像受体的因素 1 在肝的星形的房间和纤维变性

AIM:To elucidate the role of cytokine receptor-like factor 1(CRLF1) in hepatic stellate cells and liver fibrosis.METHODS:Rat hepatic stellate cells(HSCs) were isolated by Nykodenz gradient centrifugation and activated by culturing in vitro.Differentially expressed genes in quiescent and culture activated HSCs were identified using microarrays.Injections of carbon tetrachloride(CCl 4) for 4 wk were employed to induce liver fibrosis.The degree of fibrosis was assessed by Sirius red staining.Adenovirus expressing CRLF1 was injected through tail vein into mice to achieve overexpression of CRLF1 in the liver.The same adenovirus was used to overexpress CRLF1 in quiescent HSCs cultured in vitro.Expression of CRLF1,CLCF1 and ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor(CNTFR) in hepatic stellate cells and fibrotic livers was analyzed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting.Expression of profibrotic cytokines and collagens was analyzed by the same method.RESULTS:CRLF1 is a secreted cytokine with unknown function.Human mutations suggested a role in development of autonomous nervous system and a role of CRLF1 in immune response was implied by its similarity to interleukin(IL)-6.Here we show that expression of CRLF1 was undetectable in quiescent HSCs and was highly upregulated in activated HSCs.Likewise,expression of CRLF1 was very low in normal livers,but was highly upregulated in fibrotic livers,where its expression correlated with the degree of fibrosis.A cofactor of CLRF1,cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor 1(CLCF1),and the receptor which binds CRLF1/CLCF1 dimer,the CNTFR,were expressed to similar levels in quiescent and activated HSCs and in normal and fibrotic livers,indicating a constitutive expression.Overexpression of CLRF1 alone in the normal liver did not stimulate expression of profibrotic cytokines,suggesting that the factor itself is not pro-inflammatory.Ectopic expression in quiescent HSCs,however,retarded their activation into myofibroblasts and specifically decreased expression of type Ⅲ collagen.Inhibition of type Ⅲ collagen expression by CRLF1 was also seen in the whole liver.Our results suggest that CLRF1 is the only component of the CRLF1/CLCF1/CNTFR signaling system that is inducible by a profibrotic stimulus and that activation of this system by CLRF1 may regulate expression of type Ⅲ collagen in fibrosis.CONCLUSION:By regulating activation of HSCs and expression of type Ⅲ collagen,CRLF1 may have an ability to change the composition of extracellular matrix in fibrosis.

Clinical spectrum of primary ciliary dyskinesia in childhood

Although the triad of bronchiectasis, sinusitis and situs inversus was first described by Kartagener in 1933, the clinical spectrum of primary ciliary dyskinesia is still under investigation. Heterotaxy defects as well as upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms are the main manifestations in childhood. It is now recognized that situs inversus is encountered in only half of patients. The first lower respiratory symptoms may be present from infancy as neonatal respiratory distress. The most common lower airway manifestations are chronic wet cough, recurrent pneumonia and therapy resistant wheezing. Patients are at risk of developing bronchiectasis which may even be the presenting finding due to delayed diagnosis. Upper respiratory tract infections such as nasal congestion, nasal drainage and recurrent sinusitis as well as otologic manifestations such as otitis media or otorrhea with conductive hearing loss are also often encountered. It seems that the type of ciliary ultrastructure defects and the involved mutated genes are associated to some extent to the clinical profile. The disease, even in nowadays, is not recognized at an early age and the primary care clinician should have knowledge of its clinical spectrum in order to select appropriately the children who need further investigation for the diagnosis of this disorder.

Relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis and lower airway diseases: An extensive review

Significant links between allergic rhinitis and asthma have been reported, and the united airway disease hypothesis is supported by numerous findings in epidemiologic, physiologic, pathologic, and immunologic studies. The impact of allergic rhinitis on asthma has been established. On the other hand, the relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis and lung diseases has been under investigation. Chronic rhinosinusitis is a common disease, and the high prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis in some kinds of lung diseases has been reported. Recent studies suggest that the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis has beneficial effects in the management of asthma. Here, we present an overview of the current research on the relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis and lower airway diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, diffuse panbronchiolitis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, idiopathic bronchiectasis, and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

Ultrasound biomicroscopic imaging demonstrate thinner ciliary body thickness in eyes with angle closure

·AIM:To compare the ciliary body thickness between eyes with primary angle closure(PAC)and primary angle-closure glaucoma(PACG)with the normal eyes,and to investigate the association between ciliary body thickness and ciliary processes situation.·METHODS:In this cross-sectional study,57 patients with PAC/PACG were matched to 57 normal subjects after propensity score matching(PSM)adjusting for age and gender.All subjects underwent conventional ocular examinations and ultrasound biomicroscopy(UBM)examination,among which the patients with PAC/PACG performed the examinations one month after laser peripheral iridotomy(LPI).Quantitative parameters were measured,which included ciliary body thickness at the position of 1 mm posterior to the scleral spur(CBT1),trabecular-ciliary process distance(TCPD)and trabecularciliary process angle(TCA).·RESULTS:Eyes with PAC/PACG presented significantly thinner CBT1,shorter TCPD and smaller TCA(P<0.001)than the normal eyes,both in comparison of the means of four quadrants and in comparisons of each quadrant.After removing images with peripheral anterior synechia(PAS),the same results were also found in comparisons between the two groups.Significant correlations were found between TCPD(R~2=0.537,P<0.001)and TCA(R~2=0.517,P<0.001)with CBT1.·CONCLUSION:Eyes with PAC/PACG have thinner ciliary body thickness and more anteriorly situated ciliary processes.Thinner ciliary body thickness is associated with anterior situation of the ciliary processes.

Immunolocalization of advanced glycation end products in human diabetic eyes: an immunohistochemical study

Background: Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) play a critical role in the pathology of diabetic complications. The aim of this study is to examine the immunolocalization of advanced glycation end products (AGE) and receptor for AGE (RAGE) in human diabetic and non-diabetic donor eyes using immunohistochemistry. Materials and Methods: Eight globes were obtained from human postmortem donors: six diabetic donors and two non-diabetic. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections were subjected to immunohistochemistry with anti-AGE, and RAGE antibodies. Results: In eyes from diabetic donors, the blood vessels of the iris and choroid had relatively thickened walls. The ciliary body showed decreased capillaries with hyalinization in the stroma. Neovascularization or proliferative changes were not observed in the tissues. Immunoreactivity for AGE was highly detected in the stroma and blood vessels of the iris, ciliary body, choriocapillaris, choroidal large vessels, and central retinal artery/vein. Immunoreactivity was also detected in the retina, corneal endothelium, and lens. RAGE immunoreactivity was weakly detected in choroidal vessels and Bruch’s membrane. In eyes from non-diabetic donors, AGE was weakly detected in the iris, ciliary body stroma, and choriocapillaris, but RAGE was hardly detected. Conclusion: AGE is highly accumulated in vascularized intraocular tissues of diabetic eyes, suggesting that AGE accumulation may play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic vasculopathy. This study indicates that inhibition of AGE formation may be an important therapeutic strategy for suppressing the progression of diabetic ocular complications.

Extracting intraocular foreign body at or near the ciliary body with scleral indentation in direct visualization

Dear Editor,I'm Dr.Qing-Huai Liu from Department of Ophthalmology,the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University,Nanjing,China.I write to present four cases diagnosed with the intraocular foreign body(IOFB)at or near the ciliary