Objective To investigate whether endogenous retinal stem cells can be activated in the retina of Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats during the onset and development of retinitis pigmentosa. Methods The RCS-p+ rats with inherited retinal dystrophy were divided into 3 groups: the initial stage group (15-day RCS rats), the mid-stage group (30-day RCS rats) and the advanced stage group (90-day RCS rats) according to the severity of degeneration (n=4 in each group). RCS-rdy+p+ rats without retinal degeneration served as controls, and divide into three groups (15-day control, 30-day control, 90-day control) matched with RCS-p+ rats. A transcription factor (Chx10) expressed by embryonic retinal progenitors was detected using immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Results All of the retinal layers in the three control groups and in the 15-day RCS rats did not express Chx10, while the positive expression was observed in the photoreceptor layers of the 30-day and 90-day RCS rats. Chx10 protein could be detected by Western blotting in all RCS groups, but expressed higher in 30-day RCS rats than in 15-day and 90-day RCS rats (P

Objective To compare the locations and levels of collagen type Ⅲ, laminin, and fibronectin in Mooren's ulcer and normal human corneas. Methods An indirect immunofluorescent technique and immunohistochemical staining were used to determine the distribution of collagen type Ⅲ, laminin, and fibronectin. The positive results were quantitatively analyzed with an image-processing system. Results Collagen type Ⅲ was not detected in the normal cornea. However, the staining could be seen in the corneal stroma close to Mooren's ulcer focus. Laminin was expressed faintly in the basement membrane of the normal cornea and the positive expression increased in the basement membrane and Bowman's membrane of Mooren's ulcer. In the normal cornea basement membrane, fibronectin was located continuously. In Mooren's ulcer basement membrane, however, fibronectin could not be found in all sections in which one expressed in epithelium and the others in stoma close to the ulcer focus. Conclusion Epithelial basement membrane may play a potential role in the pathogenesis of Mooren's ulcer.

Objective To evaluate the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin(rhEPO)on pressure induced retinal ischemic injury in rats.Methods The fluorogold(FG)tracing technique was used to observe the survival rate of the retinal ganglion cells(RGCs).Retinal ischemia was induced by increasing the intraocular pressure to 102 mmHg for 60 min in 20 Long Evans rats,then 5 ml rhEPO was injected into the right vitreous chamber immediately and normal saline into the left vitreous chamber as vehicle controls.Another 5 rats without any treatment served as normal controls.All animals were sacrificed at 1,4,7 or 14 d after reperfusion and RGCs were counted to assess the effect of rhEPO.Results The RGCs in eyes treated with intravitreal rhEPO were significantly higher than those in vehicle controls(P

Objective To compare the differences of the electrophysiological and morphological properties of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in Long Evans and Wistar rats. Methods Whole cell patch clamp recordings were made from RGCs in the acute retinal slices of Long Evans and Wistar rats aged postnatal 0-31 d. RGCs were stained with Lucifer Yellow diffused into cells during whole-cell recordings for the purpose of morphological study. The sections of rat retinas by HE staining were examined by light microscopy. Results The differences of electrophysiological properties in Long Evans and Wistar rats were not significant. There were pigment granules in retinal pigment epithelial cells of Long Evans but not in those of Wistar rats. Conclusion Long Evans rats can be the good animal model for visual and neural science research in place of Wistar rats.

Objective To study the location of embryonic optic cup stem cells during tailbud stage. Methods The embryonic optic cup at embryonic day 11～15 (E11～15) in rats was sectioned horizontally at 15 ?m thick. The distributive characteristics of embryonic optic cup progenitor cells were revealed by immunohistochemistry. Results ①The distribution of optic cup progenitors was mainly aggregated on the optic cup at E12.5. CHX10-positive cells were organized as stratified epithelium arrangement on optic cup inner layer. Clusters of CHX10-positive cells were observed at the edge of optic cup; ② Pigment appeared in the outer layer of optic cup at E13.5, and differentiation into ganglion cells was initiated. Conclusion The distribution of optic cup stem cells is mainly aggregated on the optic cup at E12.5 in which the differentiation into ganglion cells is not initiated.

Background Normal ultrastructure is the anatomical basis of retinal pigment epithelial(RPE) cells to perform normal physiological function.At present the precipitation method is often used to detect the ultrastructure of RPE cells with transmission electron microscopy(TEM).Objective The aim of this study was to explore a simple and feasible approach to examine the ultrastructure of human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial (hESC-RPE) cells.Methods hESCs were induced and differentiated into RPE cells by the spontaneous differentiation method,and the expressions of microphthalmia associated transcription factor MITF and paired-box gene 6 (PAX6),specific protein of RPE cells,in the cells were detected by immunofluorescence assay.hESC-RPE cells were inoculated into Transwell filter,and the ultrastructure of the cell sheet was examined under the TEM.Then the ultrastructure of the cell sheet specimens was compared with those of hESC-RPE cells from cell precipitation and RPE cell specimens of 90-day-old Long Evans rats.Results MITF and PAX6 were positively expressed in hESC-RPE cells.The normal ultrastructure were visible in the RPE cells of rats under the TEM,including apical microvilli,polarized melanin granules,cellular nucleus,basement membrane and intercellular junctions,and the ultrastructure of hESC-RPE cell sheet on Transwell was similar to the RPE cells in rats.However,only scatter melanin granules,nonpolar nucleus and scanty microvilli were observed under the TEM in the hESC-RPE cells by cell precipitation method.Conclusions Without digestion process,hESC-RPE cell sheet on Transwell can retain the normal ultrastructure of hESC-RPE cells under the TEM,with a more simple and reliable advantage.

Mitral valve disease is one of the most popular heart valve diseases. Precise positioning and displaying of the valve characteristics is necessary for the minimally invasive mitral valve repairing procedures. This paper presents a multi-resolution elastic registration method to compute the deformation functions constructed from cubic B-splines in three dimensional ultrasound images, in which the objective functional to be optimized was generated by maximum likelihood method based on the probabilistic distribution of the ultrasound speckle noise. The algorithm was then applied to register the mitral valve voxels. Numerical results proved the effectiveness of the algorithm.
Algorithms ; Heart Valve Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Likelihood Functions ; Mitral Valve ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Patient Positioning ; Probability ; Ultrasonography

Objective:To synthesize 177Lu-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-617 with domestic 177Lu (made in China), and explore its optimal labeling condition, biodistribution, stability, and safety. Methods:177Lu-PSMA-617 was prepared with domestic 177Lu by a manual method. The optimal labeling condition, radiochemical purity, stability ( in vivo and in vitro), lipid-water partition coefficient, and plasma protein binding rate were determined. The uptake rate of 177Lu-PSMA-617 was evaluated by using 22RV1 cells. Biodistribution and SPECT/CT imaging were performed on normal mice with imported 177Lu-PSMA-617 as control group. The blood routine test was performed to evaluate the safety. Results:The best labeling result of domestic 177Lu-PSMA-617 can be obtained under the following conditions: pH=4.5, 100 ℃ for 30 min. And the radiochemical purity was ≥99%. The product was stable in vivo and in vitro, with the radiochemical purity >95% in 72 h. The plasma protein binding rate was (35.3±5.3)%, the lipid-water partition coefficient was -2.27±0.06, and the specific uptake rate of domestic 177Lu-PSMA-617 by 22RV1 cells reached the highest in 1 h ((7.58±0.84)%), which was slightly lower than the imported 177Lu-PSMA-617 ((7.86±0.96)%), but there was no significant difference between them ( t=-0.439, P>0.05). The distribution and SPECT/CT imaging of normal mice showed that domestic and imported 177Lu-PSMA-617 in blood were cleared quite fast, and both of them were excreted mainly through the kidneys. No obvious adverse reactions were found in the toxicity test of domestic and imported 177Lu-PSMA-617. There was no obvious abnormality in blood routine and liver and kidney metabolism. Conclusion:The domestic 177Lu-PSMA-617 has many advantages, such as qualified quality control, good biological properties and safety, which support its potential application value in diagnosis of prostatic neoplasms.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic skin inflammation, and its etiology and pathogenesis have not been fully elucidated to date. In the previous study, rhIL23R-CHR/Fc fusion protein had been found to significantly relieve the symptoms of psoriasis mice and the pharmacological mechanism had been initially elucidated.In this study, we established a psoriasis cell model (Act-HaCaT) using TNF-α-activated human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCat).In our current study, the lncRNA that plays a key role in the regulation of Act-HaCaT function by the rhIL23R-CHR/Fc fusion protein was screened by transcriptome sequencing combined with qRT-PCR.The results showed that rhIL23R-CHR/Fc fusion protein significantly inhibited cell proliferation and inflammatory factor production in Act-HaCaT.lncRNA ENST00000522718 was obtained by screening, and knockdown of ENST00000522718 was found to significantly inhibit cell proliferation and inflammatory factor production.Our findings suggest that ENST00000522718 plays an important role in the pathological mechanism of psoriasis.

Background:At present,the detection rate of esophageal leiomyoma is increasing year by year,among which giant esophageal leiomyoma(GEL)can be caused by secondary compression,malignant and even death.The safety and effectiveness of submucosal tunnel endoscopic resection(STER)in the treatment of GEL need to be further verified.Aims:To assess the safety and efficacy of STER in the treatment of GEL.Methods:Fifteen patients who underwent endoscopic ultrasound and STER surgery from June 2020 to June 2023 at General Hospital of Xinjiang Military Region,and postoperative pathological biopsy confirmed GEL to assess the efficacy,complications,tumor recurrence and follow-up.Results:In 15 patients with GEL,8 were male and 7 female;GEL was completely resected and the margin was clean;the maximum tumor diameter was 8.5 cm;mean operation time of 52 minutes;fewer adverse events and no delayed bleeding;all underwent conservative treatment;mean hospital stay of 6 days;and no discomfort and recurrence in the postoperative follow-up.Conclusions:STER is safe and effective in the treatment of GEL.