ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the pathological and functional changes of the retina and the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 after retinal laser injury in mice. MethodsA total of 116 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the normal group (58 mice) and the injured group (58 mice). Retinal laser injuries were induced by Argon ion laser. At 1, 3, 7 days after laser injury, electroretinogram (ERG) responses were recorded to detect the function of the retina. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe pathological changes. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to detect gene expression of MCP-1. Western blot was used to measure the protein expression of MCP-1. ResultsHE staining showed a progressive damage of the retinal structure. The results of ERG showed that the differences of dark-adaptive a wave (t=6.998, 9.594, 13.778) and b wave (t=12.089, 13.310, 21.989) amplitudes of 1, 3 and 7 day post-injury between normal group and injured group were statistically significant (P=0.000). At 1 day post-injury, the differences of light adaptive b wave amplitudes between the two groups were statistically significant (t=8.844, P=0.000). While the differences of light-adaptive a wave amplitudes were not (t=2.659,P=0.200). At 3, 7 days post-injury, the differences of a (t=3.076, 7.544) and b wave amplitudes (t=10.418, 8.485) between the two groups were statistically significant (P=0.000). In dark-adaptive ERG, the differences of a wave amplitudes between 1 day and 3 days (t=3.773), 1 day and 7 days (t=5.070) and b wave amplitudes between 1 day and 7 days (t=4.762) were statistically significant (P<0.01), while the differences of a wave amplitudes between the 3 days and 7 days (t=1.297) and b wave amplitudes between 1 day and 3 days (t=2.236), 3 day and 7 days (t=2.526) were not significant (P=0.660, 0.120, 0.060). In light-adaptive ERG, the differences of a wave amplitudes between 1 day and 7 days (t=2.992) and b wave amplitudes between 1 day and 3 days (t=3.570), 1day and 7 days (t=4.989) were statistically significant (P<0.05), while the differences of a wave amplitudes between 1 day and 3 days (t=0.516), the 3 days and 7 days (t=2.475) and b wave amplitudes between 3 days and 7 days (t=1.419) were not significant (P=1.000, 0.710, 0.070). Quantitative real-time PCR showed that the differences of MCP-1 gene expression at 1, 3 and 7 day post-injury between normal group and injured group were statistically significant (t=14.329, 16.861, 5.743; P<0.05). Western blot showed that the differences of MCP-1 protein expression at 1, 3 and 7 day post-injury between normal group and injured group were statistically significant (t=75.068, 54.145, 14.653; P<0.05). ConclusionIn the first 7 days after mice retinal laser injury, there are progressive pathological and functional damage of the retina, which might be correlated with MCP-1 expression.
ObjectiveTo measure and analyze the oxygen saturation and retinal blood vessel diameter in the eyes of patients with convalescence Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 28 eyes of 14 patients with convalescence VKH syndrome (VKH group) and 20 eyes of 10 healthy subjects (control group) were enrolled. The oxygen saturation and retinal blood vessel diameter were detected by spectrophotometric oximetry unit. Retinal images were collected using filters with wavelengths of 570 nm and 600 nm in the darkroom by the same technologist and then the fused image was obtained. The oxygen saturation of retinal vessels was marked in different colors. The measurement was repeated 2-3 times for each patient, then take an average. A top-quality image in each eye was selected to detect the oxygen saturation and diameter of retinal vessel which located in 1.5-3.0 disc diameter from the optic disc. Image analysis and data acquisition were completed by another technologist. ResultsRetinal venous oxygen saturation was (54.34±8.05)% in the VKH group and (60.07±7.91)% in the control group. The former was lower than the latter, the difference was significant (t=2.443, P=0.017). The mean diameter of retinal arteries was (102.8±18.1) μm in the VKH group and (112.9±19.8) μm in the control group. The former was smaller than the latter, the difference was significant (t=2.406, P=0.018). There was no significant difference of the mean diameter of retinal veins, oxygen saturation of retinal arteries and the arterial-venous difference between two groups (t=-0.330, 0.804, -0.631; P=0.743, 0.403, 0.536). ConclusionsRetinal venous oxygen saturation and the mean diameter of retinal arteries are significantly decreased in patients with VKH syndrome. There is no significant difference of diameter of retinal veins, oxygen saturation of retinal arteries and the arterial-venous difference between VKH syndrome patients and healthy subjects.
Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1) is a cytokine which belongs to the CC chemokine family. Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, photoreceptors and microglial cells in the retina can secrete MCP-1. Physiological level of MCP-1 is important for preserving morphology of RPE and glial cells, as well as retinal function and gross morphology. MCP-1 is likely released from Müller glia and the RPE cells when retina under stress, and attracts microglia/macrophages to the sites of retinal damage, activates the microglia to ingest cell debris. MCP-1 has been found upregulated in the intraocular fluid of retina in patients and animal models with retinal detachment, posterior uveitis and age-related macular degeneration. The expression of MCP-1 may be response to retinal inflammation. Therefore, it is tempting to speculate that pharmacological targeting of MCP-1 may be a safe and viable strategy in treatment of retinal disease.
Objective To evaluate the effect of 27G pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and 25G PPV on idiopathic epiretinal membrane (IMEM). Methods Thirty-eight eyes of 38 patients with IMEM were enrolled into this retrospective and comparative study. Eighteen eyes were treated with 27G PPV (group A), 20 eyes underwent 25G PPV (group B) voluntarily. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), slit-lamp microscope, indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus color photograph, ocular coherence tomography (OCT) and counting of corneal endothelial cells (CEC) were examined before the surgery. BCVA results were converted to the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups in terms of BCVA, IOP, foveal macular thickness (FMT), the counting of CEC and CEC hexagon rate before the surgery (t=1.627, 0.860, 0.293, 1.238, 0.697;P＞0.05). All operations were performed by the same doctor. Operation time for vitrectomy and peeling membrane was recorded. BCVA, IOP, OCT, FMT, counting of CEC and the improvement of metamorphopsia were observed on 1, 7 days and 1, 3 months after PPV. Results The mean operation time for vitrectomy in group A and B were (6.7±2.8), (10.5±3.3) min, respectively. The mean operation time for vitrectomy in group A was significantly longer than that in group B (t=3.084,P＜0.05). The mean operation time for peeling membrane in group A and B were (10.2±5.2), (11.0±5.9) min, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups in terms of the time for peeling membrane (t=1.970,P=0.187). On 1, 7 days and 1, 3 months after PPV, the difference of BCVA (t=1.463, 0.683, 0.961, 1.226;P=0.833, 0.509, 0.699, 0.744) and IOP (t=1.314, 1.262, 0.699, 1.116;P=0.763, 0.721, 0.534, 0.712) between two groups were not statistically significant. On 1 day after PPV, there were 2 eyes and 5 eyes with ＜9 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) IOP in group A and B. On 7 days and 1, 3 months after PPV, the difference of FMT between two groups were not statistically significant (t=1.257, 1.368, 1.437;P=0.735, 0.745, 0.869). On 3 months after PPV, the difference of CEC between two groups were statistically significant (t=2.276,P＜0.05); the difference of hexagon rate between two groups were not statistically significant (t=1.473,P=0.889). Conclusion The efficacy of 27G PPV for IMEM appears similar to 25G PPV. But 27G PPV has a shorter operating time for vitrectomy, a more stable IOP and a minimal damage to CEC.