Objective To identify potential biomarkers for proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)using proteomics and transcriptomics data.Methods In this study,the proteomics dataset(PXD046630)and two transcriptomics datasets(GSE60436 and GSE102485)were derived from the aqueous humor samples and fibrovascular membranes of PDR patients,respectively.Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified via R software,specifically the limma and edgeR pack-ages.The shared DEGs between PXD046630 and GSE60436 were analyzed via protein-protein interaction(PPI),Gene On-tology(GO)enrichment,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analyses.The key DEGs were validated in GSE102485 via receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.A quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)assay was used to confirm the mRNA of these candidate biomarkers in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells(HRMECs)cultured in high glucose and low oxygen conditions.Results A total of 59 shared DEGs and 26 hub genes were identified from the PXD046630 and GSE60436 datasets.KEGG analysis revealed that six pathways,inclu-ding extracellular matrix-receptor interaction,proteoglycans in cancer,and complement and coagulation cascades,were enriched in 12 key DEGs.Fibronectin 1(FN1),tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3(TIMP3),complement factor H(CFH),decorin(DCN),and lipoprotein receptor-related protein-2(LRP2)were identified as potential biomarkers on the basis of their AUC values being greater than 0.900(CI≥95％).The mRNA expression levels of FN1,CFH,and LRP2 were significantly increased in HRMECs cultured in high glucose and low oxygen conditions.Conclusion FN1,CFH,and LRP2 are potential biomarkers for PDR,and further studies are needed to explore their roles and therapeutic potential in PDR.

Objective To identify potential biomarkers for proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)using proteomics and transcriptomics data.Methods In this study,the proteomics dataset(PXD046630)and two transcriptomics datasets(GSE60436 and GSE102485)were derived from the aqueous humor samples and fibrovascular membranes of PDR patients,respectively.Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified via R software,specifically the limma and edgeR pack-ages.The shared DEGs between PXD046630 and GSE60436 were analyzed via protein-protein interaction(PPI),Gene On-tology(GO)enrichment,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analyses.The key DEGs were validated in GSE102485 via receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.A quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)assay was used to confirm the mRNA of these candidate biomarkers in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells(HRMECs)cultured in high glucose and low oxygen conditions.Results A total of 59 shared DEGs and 26 hub genes were identified from the PXD046630 and GSE60436 datasets.KEGG analysis revealed that six pathways,inclu-ding extracellular matrix-receptor interaction,proteoglycans in cancer,and complement and coagulation cascades,were enriched in 12 key DEGs.Fibronectin 1(FN1),tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3(TIMP3),complement factor H(CFH),decorin(DCN),and lipoprotein receptor-related protein-2(LRP2)were identified as potential biomarkers on the basis of their AUC values being greater than 0.900(CI≥95％).The mRNA expression levels of FN1,CFH,and LRP2 were significantly increased in HRMECs cultured in high glucose and low oxygen conditions.Conclusion FN1,CFH,and LRP2 are potential biomarkers for PDR,and further studies are needed to explore their roles and therapeutic potential in PDR.

Objective A non-targeted metabolomics analysis of vitreous fluid from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)is conducted to explore the"metabolic map"of PDR.This approach aims to deepen the understanding of the disease,identify potential biomarkers.Methods From 35 PDR patients and 30 fresh rhegmatogenous retinal de-tachment(RRD)patients,10 PDR patients with vitreoretinal abnormal adhesions were selected as the experimental group(PDR group),and 10 fresh RRD patients were chosen as the control group(RRD group).Using ultra-high-performance liq-uid chromatography-mass spectrometry non-targeted metabolomics technology,the metabolic profiles of vitreous fluid were analyzed to obtain metabolic spectra.One-dimensional and multidimensional statistical methods were used to analyze the differences in metabolites and metabolic pathways between the PDR and RRD groups.Results A total of 165 differential metabolites were identified in the vitreous humor samples of patients in the PDR and RRD groups,these differential metab-olites were significantly enriched in 21 metabolic pathways(P＜0.05),Among these pathways,those with at least 5 differ-ential metabolites include:methionine and cysteine metabolism;glycine,serine,and threonine metabolism;ascorbic acid and aldose metabolism;amino acid biosynthesis;and central carbon metabolism in cancer.Pyruvate,serine,D-2-phospho-glycerate,threonine,phosphoserine,and high serine are present in multiple metabolic pathways,the areas under the curve are 0.96,0.82,0.85,0.78,0.40,and 0.31,respectively.Conclusion There are 21 significantly different metabolic pathways between PDR and RRD patients.Pyruvate stands out in multiple pathways,potentially serving as a biomarker for PDR diagnosis.

Objective A non-targeted metabolomics analysis of vitreous fluid from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)is conducted to explore the"metabolic map"of PDR.This approach aims to deepen the understanding of the disease,identify potential biomarkers.Methods From 35 PDR patients and 30 fresh rhegmatogenous retinal de-tachment(RRD)patients,10 PDR patients with vitreoretinal abnormal adhesions were selected as the experimental group(PDR group),and 10 fresh RRD patients were chosen as the control group(RRD group).Using ultra-high-performance liq-uid chromatography-mass spectrometry non-targeted metabolomics technology,the metabolic profiles of vitreous fluid were analyzed to obtain metabolic spectra.One-dimensional and multidimensional statistical methods were used to analyze the differences in metabolites and metabolic pathways between the PDR and RRD groups.Results A total of 165 differential metabolites were identified in the vitreous humor samples of patients in the PDR and RRD groups,these differential metab-olites were significantly enriched in 21 metabolic pathways(P＜0.05),Among these pathways,those with at least 5 differ-ential metabolites include:methionine and cysteine metabolism;glycine,serine,and threonine metabolism;ascorbic acid and aldose metabolism;amino acid biosynthesis;and central carbon metabolism in cancer.Pyruvate,serine,D-2-phospho-glycerate,threonine,phosphoserine,and high serine are present in multiple metabolic pathways,the areas under the curve are 0.96,0.82,0.85,0.78,0.40,and 0.31,respectively.Conclusion There are 21 significantly different metabolic pathways between PDR and RRD patients.Pyruvate stands out in multiple pathways,potentially serving as a biomarker for PDR diagnosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a rare autosomal recessive disease with only one pathogenic gene cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). To identify the potential pathogenic mutations in a Chinese patient with CF, we conducted Sanger sequencing on the genomic DNA of the patient and his parents and detected all 27 coding exons of CFTR and their flanking intronic regions. The patient is a compound heterozygote of c.2909G > A, p.Gly970Asp in exon 18 and c.1210-3C > G in cis with a poly-T of 5T (T5) sequence, 3 bp upstream in intron 9. The splicing effect of c.1210-3C > G was verified via minigene assay in vitro, indicating that wild-type plasmid containing c.1210-3C together with T7 sequence produced a normal transcript and partial exon 10-skipping-transcript, whereas mutant plasmid containing c.1210-3G in cis with T5 sequence caused almost all mRNA to skip exon 10. Overall, c.1210-3C > G, the newly identified pathogenic mutation in our patient, in combination with T5 sequence in cis, affects the CFTR gene splicing and produces nearly no normal transcript in vitro. Moreover, this patient carries a p.Gly970Asp mutation, thus confirming the high-frequency of this mutation in Chinese patients with CF.
China ; Cystic Fibrosis/genetics* ; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator/genetics* ; Humans ; Mutation ; Poly T ; RNA, Messenger/genetics*

Objective:To investigate the inhibitory effect and underlying mechanism of gamma-secretase inhibitor blocking Notch1 signaling on retinal neovascularization caused by oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) in mice.Methods:To establish the OIR model, 7-day-old pups of C57BL/6J mice were exposed to 75% oxygen together with their mother until postnatal day (P)12.On P12, the mice were transferred to room air.All the mice were randomly divided into three groups, OIR group as control group, OIR+ DAPT group and OIR+ DMSO group receiving 1 μl intravitreal injection of gamma-secretase inhibitor (DAPT, 10 mmol/L) and 1∶20 DMSO dilution respectively.The right eye was taken as experimental eye.The mice were euthanized on P17 and the eyes were harvested to obtain retinas for further investigation.The total proteins were extracted from the retinas.The relative expression levels of Notch1 signal pathway and its downstream Hes1, the markers of M1 phenotype inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and M2 phenotype arginase-1 (Arg-1) microglia were measured by western blot.Retinal flat mounts were made and the retinal vessels were stained with isolectin B4 (IB4) to investigate the relative retinal neovascularization areas which was calculated as the ratio of neovascularization area/retinal area.The mumber of the neovascular endothelium cells beyond the inner limiting membrane was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining.The use and care of animals complied with ARVO statement.This study protocol was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (No.KY-Z-2021-2015-01).Results:The relative protein expression levels of Notch1 and Hes1 in OIR+ DAPT group, OIR group, and OIR+ DMSO group were 0.68±0.06 and 0.70±0.08, 1.00±0.00 and 1.00±0.00, 1.03±0.08 and 1.02±0.07, respectively, with statistically significant differences among them ( F=70.62, 53.65; both at P<0.01). Compared with the OIR group and OIR+ DMSO group, the expressions of Notch1 and Hes1 were significantly reduced in OIR+ DAPT group (all at P<0.01). The relative protein expression levels of iNOS and Arg-1 in OIR+ DAPT group, OIR group, and OIR+ DMSO group were 0.74±0.07 and 1.49±0.12, 1.00±0.00 and 1.00±0.00, 1.04±0.10 and 0.94±0.07, respectively, showing statistically significant differences ( F=31.63, 89.32; both at P<0.01). Compared with OIR group and OIR+ DMSO group, the expression of iNOS in OIR+ DAPT group was significantly reduced, and the expression of Arg-1 was significantly increased (all at P<0.01). The relative neovascularization area and the number of neovascular endothelium cells beyond the inner limiting membrane in OIR+ DAPT group, OIR group, and OIR+ DMSO group were (8.82±2.71)% and 38.17±3.29, (22.32±5.34)% and 60.83±5.11, (20.27±3.36)% and 58.67±4.75, respectively, showing statistically significant differences ( F=33.72, 39.44; both at P<0.01). The relative neovascularization area and the number of neovascular endothelium cells in OIR+ DAPT group were significantly reduced in comparison with OIR group and OIR+ DMSO group (all at P<0.01). Conclusions:Intravitreal injection of DAPT can inhibit the retinal neovascularization in OIR mice through blocking Notch1 signaling activation and promoting retinal microglia polarization from M1 to M2 phenotype.

Target identification of bioactive compounds is important for understanding their mechanisms of action and provides critical insights into their therapeutic utility. While it remains a challenge, unbiased chemoproteomics strategy using clickable photoaffinity probes is a useful and validated approach for target identification. One major limitation of this approach is the efficient synthesis of appropriately substituted clickable photoaffinity probes. Herein, we describe an efficient and consistent method to prepare such probes. We further employed this method to prepare a highly stereo-congested probe based on naturally occurring triterpenoid betulinic acid. With this photoaffinity probe, we identified tropomyosin as a novel target for betulinic acid that can account for the unique biological phenotype on cellular cytoskeleton induced by betulinic acid.

The intervention therapy targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has become a specific and effective method for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, some patients did not respond or responded poorly to anti-VEGF therapy, and its effects of eliminating edema and improving vision appear to be unstable in the same patient. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), an important upstream transcriptional regulator of VEGF, is an oxygen concentration-sensitive protein expressed in tissues under hypoxia. It can simultaneously target many downstream target genes except VEGF, such as placental growth factor and angiopoietin-like protein 4, to cause blood-retinal barrier damage and neovascularization, and thus participate in various pathological changes of DR to promote the occurrence and development of DR. Therefore, direct intervention of HIF-1α or targeting one or more downstream target genes regulated by HIF-1α to treat DR may have better efficacy. In the future, the development of effective and safe HIF inhibitors or anti-VEGF with HIF-1α other target gene inhibitors may have broader clinical application prospects.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common causes of visual impairment and blindness in diabetic patients.It is particularly important to set up simpler,safer,non-invasive and highly effective methods for diagnosis as well as monitoring DR.A variety of new fundus imaging techniques show great advantages in early diagnosis,treatment and monitoring of DR in recent years,The main characteristics of wide-field scanning laser imaging system is achieving a large range of retinal image in a single photograph and without mydriasis.It provides several options for color images,FFA and FAF,which satisfy to detect the retina,choroid and vascular structure.Multi spectral fundus imaging system is suitable for DR screening,because it is able to recognize the typical characteristics of DR,such as microaneurysms,hemorrhage and exudation,and is non-invasive and convenient.OCT angiography is a quantitative examination that provides foveal avascular zone area,macular blood flow density,which provides strong evidence for DR diagnosis.The improvement of these new techniques will help us to build up a personalized evaluation system of DR.

Objective To explore the changes of left ventricular torsion function in patients with latent obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy ( HCM ) ,and provide quantitative informations for clinical evaluation of cardiac function . Methods A total of 49 consecutive patients with HCM without left ventricular outflow tract obstruction at rest were enrolled . All subjects underwent exercise stress echocardiography . After exercise left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient ( LVO T‐PG ) ≥30 mm Hg was positive for exercise stress test ( latent obstruction) ,w hile LVO T‐PG＜ 30 mm Hg was negative for exercise stress test ( non‐obstruction) . An ultrasound system obtained two‐dimensional ultrasound images of resting and moving peaks . The global longitudinal strain ( GLS ) ,global circumferential strain ( GCS ) , global radial strain ( GRS) of the left ventricle 16 segments and left ventricular rotation ,twist were analysis using off‐line EchoPAC software . T he differences of the above parameters were compared between the two groups . Results T here were no significant differences in GLS ,GRS ,GCS and Rotation‐B between the two groups in resting and peak period of exercise ( all P ＞ 0 .05 ) ,GRS in both groups were significantly increased compared with that before exercise ( all P ＜ 0 .05 ) . Compared with the negative exercise stress group ,the left ventricular twist and Rotation‐A were significantly increased in resting and peak period of exercise in the positive exercise stress test group( all P ＜0 .05) . Compared with before exercise ,Rotation‐A and left ventricular twist were significantly decreased in the positive exercise stress test group ( all P ＜0 .05) ,while no significantly difference was found in the negative exercise stress group ( all P ＞ 0 .05 ) . Conclusions Left ventricular torsion function is significantly changed in rest and after exercise in latent obstructive HCM patients ,providing valuable quantitative information for clinical comprehensive evaluation of cardiac function .