Objective To investigate the role of autophagy involving the protein kinase B/sterol regulatory element binding protein 1(Akt/SREBP-1)signaling pathway in diabetic retinopathy(DR).Methods DR rat models were estab-lished via the intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin.Rats were randomized into control(normal rats)and DM-DR groups(DR rats).The expression of autophagy-related proteins(autophagy markers LC3-Ⅱ and LC3-Ⅰ,autophagy specific substrate p62,and autophagy-related protein Beclin1)in rat retinas was compared between the two groups.Rats were di-vided into control B(normal rats injected with 1 μL saline),DR(DR rats injected with 1 μL saline),DR+si-NC(DR rats injected with 1 μL of the negative control siRNA),and DR+si-SREBP-1 groups(DR rats injected with 1 μL of the SREBP-1 siRNA).All interventions were given 1 day before modeling and 8 weeks after modeling.Akt/SREBP-1 expression and retinal ganglion cell(RGC)survival were compared among groups.R28 rat retinal precursor cells were classified into con-trol C(normal glucose,24 h),HG(high glucose,24 h),HG+si-NC(si-NC transfection+high glucose,24 h),and HG+si-SREBP-1 groups(si-SREBP-1 transfection+high glucose,24 h).The expression of autophagy-related proteins and au-tophagosome-lysosome fusion were compared among groups.Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to examine the expression of Akt,SREBP-1 and autophagy-related proteins.Results The relative expression of Beclin1 and p62 pro-teins and the LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio in the DM-DR group were significantly higher than those in the control group 1 and 8 weeks after modeling(all P＜0.001).Compared with the control B group,the DR group exhibited elevated SREBP-1 and reduced Akt protein levels 1 and 8 weeks after modeling(all P＜0.01).RGC counts in the DR and DR+si-NC groups were significantly lower than those in the control B group(P＜0.001).The RGC count in the DR+si-SREBP-1 group was significantly higher than that in the DR+si-NC group(P＜0.001).Compared with those in the control C group,the Beclin1 and p62 protein levels and the LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio were increased in the HG and HG+si-NC groups(all P＜0.01).Compared with those in the HG+si-NC group,the Beclin1 and p62 protein levels and the LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio were reduced in the HG+si-SREBP-1 group(all P＜0.05).The HG and HG+si-NC groups showed significantly more LC3B/LAMP1 dual-positive puncta than the control C group(P＜0.001).The HG+si-SREBP-1 group showed significantly less LC3B/LAMP1 dual-positive puncta than the HG+si-NC group(P＜0.001).Conclusion SREBP-1 knockdown enhances autophagic flux in early DR to attenuate RGC loss.Thus,the Akt/SREBP-1 axis represents a promising therapeutic target for DR.

Objective To explore the possible mechanism underlying the role of forkhead box A1 circular RNA(circ-FAT1)regulating pericyte pyroptosis in diabetic retinopathy(DR).Methods The experiment was divided into two parts.Firstly,thirty male C57BL/6J mice(totaling 60 eyes)were randomly divided into normal,DR and circFAT1 overex-pression groups,with 10 mice in each group.Fasting plasma glucose(FPG)was detected by a glucometer.The serum lev-els of total cholesterol(TC)and triacylglycerol(TG)were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)kits.Hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining was used to examine the pathological structure of mouse retina.Reverse tran-scription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)was used to detect the mRNA expression of circFAT1 in retinal tissues.The relative protein expression levels of NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),Caspase-1 and porin D(GSDMD)in the retina of mice were detected by Western blot.Secondly,retinal perivascular cells were extracted from 5 C57BL/6J mice(totaling 10 eyes)and divided into control,high glucose and circFAT1 overexpression+high glucose groups.The protein expression levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1 and GSDMD in pericytes were detected by Western blot.ELISA kits were used to measure the content of interleukin-18(IL-18)and interleukin-1β(IL-1β)in pericytes.Results(1)Compared with those in the normal group,the levels of FPG,serum TC and TG were increased while the relative expression level of circFAT1 mRNAs in the retinal tissue was decreased in the DR group(all P＜0.05).Compared with the DR group,the circ-FAT1 overexpression group showed decreased levels of FPG,serum TC and TG(all P＜0.05),and increased relative ex-pression levels of circFAT1 mRNAs in the retinal tissue(P＜0.05).The relative expression levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1 and GSDMD proteins in the retinal tissue of the DR Group were higher than those in the normal group(all P＜0.05).The rela-tive expression levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1 and GSDMD proteins in the retinal tissue of the circFAT1 overexpression group were lower than those in the DR group(all P＜0.05).(2)Compared with those in the control group,the relative expres-sion levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1,and GSDMD proteins and the content of IL-18 and IL-1 β in the pericyte of the high glucose group were increased(all P＜0.05).The relative expression of NLRP3,Caspase-1 and GSDMD proteins and the content of IL-18 and IL-1 β in the pericyte of the circFAT1 overexpression+high glucose group were lower than those in the high glu-cose group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Overexpression of circFAT1 can improve DR by inhibiting pericyte pyroptosis.

Objective To investigate the role of autophagy involving the protein kinase B/sterol regulatory element binding protein 1(Akt/SREBP-1)signaling pathway in diabetic retinopathy(DR).Methods DR rat models were estab-lished via the intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin.Rats were randomized into control(normal rats)and DM-DR groups(DR rats).The expression of autophagy-related proteins(autophagy markers LC3-Ⅱ and LC3-Ⅰ,autophagy specific substrate p62,and autophagy-related protein Beclin1)in rat retinas was compared between the two groups.Rats were di-vided into control B(normal rats injected with 1 μL saline),DR(DR rats injected with 1 μL saline),DR+si-NC(DR rats injected with 1 μL of the negative control siRNA),and DR+si-SREBP-1 groups(DR rats injected with 1 μL of the SREBP-1 siRNA).All interventions were given 1 day before modeling and 8 weeks after modeling.Akt/SREBP-1 expression and retinal ganglion cell(RGC)survival were compared among groups.R28 rat retinal precursor cells were classified into con-trol C(normal glucose,24 h),HG(high glucose,24 h),HG+si-NC(si-NC transfection+high glucose,24 h),and HG+si-SREBP-1 groups(si-SREBP-1 transfection+high glucose,24 h).The expression of autophagy-related proteins and au-tophagosome-lysosome fusion were compared among groups.Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to examine the expression of Akt,SREBP-1 and autophagy-related proteins.Results The relative expression of Beclin1 and p62 pro-teins and the LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio in the DM-DR group were significantly higher than those in the control group 1 and 8 weeks after modeling(all P＜0.001).Compared with the control B group,the DR group exhibited elevated SREBP-1 and reduced Akt protein levels 1 and 8 weeks after modeling(all P＜0.01).RGC counts in the DR and DR+si-NC groups were significantly lower than those in the control B group(P＜0.001).The RGC count in the DR+si-SREBP-1 group was significantly higher than that in the DR+si-NC group(P＜0.001).Compared with those in the control C group,the Beclin1 and p62 protein levels and the LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio were increased in the HG and HG+si-NC groups(all P＜0.01).Compared with those in the HG+si-NC group,the Beclin1 and p62 protein levels and the LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio were reduced in the HG+si-SREBP-1 group(all P＜0.05).The HG and HG+si-NC groups showed significantly more LC3B/LAMP1 dual-positive puncta than the control C group(P＜0.001).The HG+si-SREBP-1 group showed significantly less LC3B/LAMP1 dual-positive puncta than the HG+si-NC group(P＜0.001).Conclusion SREBP-1 knockdown enhances autophagic flux in early DR to attenuate RGC loss.Thus,the Akt/SREBP-1 axis represents a promising therapeutic target for DR.

Objective To explore the possible mechanism underlying the role of forkhead box A1 circular RNA(circ-FAT1)regulating pericyte pyroptosis in diabetic retinopathy(DR).Methods The experiment was divided into two parts.Firstly,thirty male C57BL/6J mice(totaling 60 eyes)were randomly divided into normal,DR and circFAT1 overex-pression groups,with 10 mice in each group.Fasting plasma glucose(FPG)was detected by a glucometer.The serum lev-els of total cholesterol(TC)and triacylglycerol(TG)were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)kits.Hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining was used to examine the pathological structure of mouse retina.Reverse tran-scription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)was used to detect the mRNA expression of circFAT1 in retinal tissues.The relative protein expression levels of NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),Caspase-1 and porin D(GSDMD)in the retina of mice were detected by Western blot.Secondly,retinal perivascular cells were extracted from 5 C57BL/6J mice(totaling 10 eyes)and divided into control,high glucose and circFAT1 overexpression+high glucose groups.The protein expression levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1 and GSDMD in pericytes were detected by Western blot.ELISA kits were used to measure the content of interleukin-18(IL-18)and interleukin-1β(IL-1β)in pericytes.Results(1)Compared with those in the normal group,the levels of FPG,serum TC and TG were increased while the relative expression level of circFAT1 mRNAs in the retinal tissue was decreased in the DR group(all P＜0.05).Compared with the DR group,the circ-FAT1 overexpression group showed decreased levels of FPG,serum TC and TG(all P＜0.05),and increased relative ex-pression levels of circFAT1 mRNAs in the retinal tissue(P＜0.05).The relative expression levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1 and GSDMD proteins in the retinal tissue of the DR Group were higher than those in the normal group(all P＜0.05).The rela-tive expression levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1 and GSDMD proteins in the retinal tissue of the circFAT1 overexpression group were lower than those in the DR group(all P＜0.05).(2)Compared with those in the control group,the relative expres-sion levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1,and GSDMD proteins and the content of IL-18 and IL-1 β in the pericyte of the high glucose group were increased(all P＜0.05).The relative expression of NLRP3,Caspase-1 and GSDMD proteins and the content of IL-18 and IL-1 β in the pericyte of the circFAT1 overexpression+high glucose group were lower than those in the high glu-cose group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Overexpression of circFAT1 can improve DR by inhibiting pericyte pyroptosis.

Objective To investigate the role of growth arrest-specific 6(Gas6)/Mer tyrosine kinase(MerTK)signaling pathway in ferroptosis in diabetes retinopathy(DR).Methods Human retinal pigment epithelial cells(ARPE-19)were divided into control group,HG group,HG+sh-Gas6 group,and HG+Gas6 group.Cells were exposed to 25 mmol/L D-glucose for simulating an in vitro hyperglycemic(HG)environment.The control group was exposed to a 20 mmol/L mannitol+5.5 mmol/L glucose environment.Rats were randomly divided into normal control group,DR group,and DR+Gas6 group,with 20 rats in each group.A DR model was established by intra-peritoneal injection of STZ solution.Cell proliferation was evaluated using the cell count kit 8(CCK-8)assay.Lip-id reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels were measured by flow cytometry,and levels of malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD),and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)were measured by biochemical assays to eval-uate iron death.The expression of Gas6 and MerTK proteins was analyzed by Western blot.Results Compared with HG group,the cell viability,SOD,GSH-Px levels in HG+Gas6 group increased significantly(P＜0.05),while the levels of lipid-ROS and MDA decreased significantly(P＜0.05).In HG+sh-Gas6 group,the cell via-bility,SOD and GSH-Px levels decreased significantly(P＜0.05),while the levels of lipid-ROS and MDA in-creased significantly(P＜0.05).In addition,the expression of GPX4 protein in HG+Gas6 group was significant-ly higher than that in HG group(P＜0.05),and the expression of GPX4 protein in HG+sh-Gas6 group was sig-nificantly lower than that in HG group(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the average thickness of reti-nal nerve fiber layer in DR group significantly decreased(P＜0.05),while that in DR+Gas6 group increased sig-nificantly(P＜0.05).In addition,the levels of MDA and iron in retinal pigment epithelium(RPE)tissues of DR+Gas6 group decreased significantly(P＜0.05),while the levels of GSH and the expressions of Gas6,MerTK and GPX4 proteins increased significantly(P＜0.05).Conclusion HG treatment accelerates the clearance of GPX4 by inhibiting the Gas6/MerTK signaling pathway,inducing ferroptosis and cell growth inhibition in ARPE-19 cells.In addition,up-regulating the expression of Gas6/MerTK signal in DR rat retina can alleviate ferroptosis and oxidative stress in RPE tissue,and help to restore the average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.

Objective The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility and efficacy of single port video-assisted thora coscopic surgery(S-VATS) lobectomy for lung cancer.Methods Clinical data of consecutive 140 cases of lung cancer patients underwent S-VATS lobectomy with systematic lymph nodes dissection by the same group of surgeons between January 2013 and January 2016 was retrospectively analyzed,wbich was compared with 60 cases of multi-port VATS(M-VATS,M group) lobectomy in this period.The patients of S-VATS were divided into four groups according to the sequence of surgery(group A,B,C and D,35 cases in each group).The operation time,blood loss,number of dissected lymph nodes and nodal stations,the rate of S-VATS conversion to M-VATS or thoracotomy,postoperative complications,postoperative chest drainage as well as hospital stay were compared respectively between the five groups.Results There were no significant difference between the groups in terms of age,gender,BMI,comorbidity and T staging(PP ＞ 0.05).No one was converted to thoracotomy,and all of the sur gical specimens were negative (R0).Besides,the operation time of group A[(200.3 ± 46.3) min] was noticeably longer than that in group B [(170.9 ± 27.7) min],group C [(154.6 ± 25.0) min],group D [(142.6 ± 32.8) min] and group M [(137.3 ± 27.7) min] (P ＜ 0.05).Besides,the operation time of group B was longer than group D and M (P ＜ 0.05) while the operation time of group C was longer than group M(P =0.026),and there was no significant difference between group D and M (P =0.996).In addition,the blood loss in group A [(304.3 ± 119.0) ml] was significantly more than that of group B [(282.9 ±89.1)ml],group C[(232.9 ±82.2)ml],group D[(202.8 ±72.7)m1] and group M[(200.0 ±70.7)ml] (P ＜ 0.05) whilst the blood loss of group B was markedly more than that of group D and M (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant difference was indicated between group C,D and M(P ＞ 0.05).Moreover,there were 6 cases of blood vessel injury and 7 cases conversion to multi-port VATS in group A,which was evidently more than the other groups(P ＜ 0.05).Furthermore,the pain score of group A was remarkably higher than the other groups (P ＜ 0.05).However,the number of dissected lymph nodes,postoperative complications and chest drainage and hospital stay were similar among all the groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion S-VATS lobectomy for treatment of lung cancer is feasible and effective with learning curve of nearly 70 cases,but it does not demonstrate any advantage compared with M-VATS.