Objective:To observe the expression of genes related to hereditary retinal diseases (IRD) in human microglia (hMG).Methods:A experimental study. Efficient differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) into hMG. Identification of octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), sex-determining transcription factor 2 (SOX2), Nanog homeobox (NANOG), stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 (SSEA4), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) as markers associated with iPSC dryness and pluripotency by immunofluorescence staining Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP); hMG associated marker transmembrane protein 119 (TMEM119), purinergic receptor P2Y12 (P2RY12), and allograft inflammatory factor 1 (IBA1). The proportion of CD11b + and CD45 + cells was detected by flow cytometry. Mature hMG was collected and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide for 0, 4, 8 and 12 h, and were divided into groups 0 h, 4 h, 8 h and 12 h, respectively. Total RNA samples from the 4 groups were extracted for transcriptome sequencing, and the persistently significant differentially expressed genes (DEG) were screened. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to verify and analyze the expression of DEG mRNA. The two-tailed Student t test was used for comparison between the two groups. Results:iPSC expressed the dry related markers OCT4, SOX2, NANOG and SSEA4, and differentiated into endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm, expressing the corresponding markers AFP, α-SMA and GFAP, respectively. iPSC formed embryoid bodies under specific culture conditions, and then differentiated into hMG, and hMG expressed related markers TMEM119, P2RY12 and IBA1 by immunofluorescence staining. The double positive ratio of CD11b + and CD45 + was > 95%. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the expression of 18 DEG in hMG stimulated by LPS was changed. qPCR test results showed that compared with group 0 h, mRNA expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), phosphoglycerate kinase 1, disintegrin and metallopeptidase domain 9 (ADAM9) in LPS stimulated group 4 h were significantly increased ( t=25.43, 15.54, 6.26; P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of MER proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase (MERTK), non-hydrolase domain containing lysophospholipase 12 (ABHD12), retinal dehydrogenase 11 (RDH11), DNA damage autophagic regulator 2 (DRAM2) decreased ( t=5.94, 14.14, 8.21, 6.97; P<0.01), and the differences were statistically significant. Compared with group 0 h, mRNA expressions of RDH11, MERTK, ABHD12, DRAM2 and ADAM9 in group 8 h stimulated by LPS were significantly decreased, with statistical significance ( t=25.97, 5.47, 43.97, 38.40, 3.84; P<0.05). Compared with the group 0 h, the mRNA expressions of TLR4, ADAM9, MERTK, ABHD12, RDH11 and DRAM2 in the 12 h stimulated group were significantly decreased, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=6.39, 46.11, 5.34, 14.14, 25.97, 25.65; P<0.05). Conclusion:IRD-related genes may be involved in the occurrence and development of IRD by regulating the function of hMG.

Lattice retinal degeneration is a common peripheral retinal degenerative condition and is widely recognized as a significant precursor to retinal detachment, resulting in severe visual loss. Recent advances in deep learning technologies have driven the development and adoption of automated screening systems for lattice retinal degeneration using ultra-widefield fundus imaging. These systems have demonstrated notable success in large-scale screening of peripheral retinal diseases, offering valuable support for the early identification and risk stratification of lattice degeneration. Currently, retinal laser photocoagulation remains the mainstay treatment for lattice degeneration. This intervention effectively mitigates the risk of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. However, controversies persist regarding the optimal selection of treatment candidates and the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy. In the future, the continuous evolution of imaging analysis techniques and artificial intelligence holds promise for the development of personalized and precision-based intervention strategies. Such advancements are expected to provide more robust evidence to guide the diagnosis and treatment of lattice retinal degeneration, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Under the background of breaking the " five only" evaluation criteria, continuously optimizing the scientific research performance evaluation system of hospitals to mobilize the enthusiasm and creativity of scientific researchers and guide the direction of scientific research development plays an important role in enhancing the overall scientific research capability of hospitals. Through literature analysis and expert consultation, a certain hospital has constructed a personal scientific research performance evaluation index system for medical staff in tertiary public hospitals, oriented towards innovation quality and member contributions, and began to implement it throughout the hospital in 2021. This index system included four categories of scientific research performance: vertical scientific research projects, academic influence, science and technology awards, and transformation of achievements, with a total of 20 indicators. The annual scientific research performance score of an individual would serve as the basis for the distribution of year-end scientific research performance and an important reference for applying for key and major projects within the hospital. After the application of this evaluation index system, the enthusiasm of medical staff for scientific research has been effectively stimulated. The average individual scientific research performance score increased from 0.974 in 2020 to 1.220 in 2023. All scientific research indicators involved in the evaluation system have shown growth, with a significant increase in high-quality results. This evaluation system can provide a reference for the scientific research performance evaluation of public hospitals under the background of breaking the " five only" evaluation criteria.

Under the background of breaking the " five only" evaluation criteria, continuously optimizing the scientific research performance evaluation system of hospitals to mobilize the enthusiasm and creativity of scientific researchers and guide the direction of scientific research development plays an important role in enhancing the overall scientific research capability of hospitals. Through literature analysis and expert consultation, a certain hospital has constructed a personal scientific research performance evaluation index system for medical staff in tertiary public hospitals, oriented towards innovation quality and member contributions, and began to implement it throughout the hospital in 2021. This index system included four categories of scientific research performance: vertical scientific research projects, academic influence, science and technology awards, and transformation of achievements, with a total of 20 indicators. The annual scientific research performance score of an individual would serve as the basis for the distribution of year-end scientific research performance and an important reference for applying for key and major projects within the hospital. After the application of this evaluation index system, the enthusiasm of medical staff for scientific research has been effectively stimulated. The average individual scientific research performance score increased from 0.974 in 2020 to 1.220 in 2023. All scientific research indicators involved in the evaluation system have shown growth, with a significant increase in high-quality results. This evaluation system can provide a reference for the scientific research performance evaluation of public hospitals under the background of breaking the " five only" evaluation criteria.

Objective:To observe the expression of genes related to hereditary retinal diseases (IRD) in human microglia (hMG).Methods:A experimental study. Efficient differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) into hMG. Identification of octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), sex-determining transcription factor 2 (SOX2), Nanog homeobox (NANOG), stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 (SSEA4), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) as markers associated with iPSC dryness and pluripotency by immunofluorescence staining Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP); hMG associated marker transmembrane protein 119 (TMEM119), purinergic receptor P2Y12 (P2RY12), and allograft inflammatory factor 1 (IBA1). The proportion of CD11b + and CD45 + cells was detected by flow cytometry. Mature hMG was collected and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide for 0, 4, 8 and 12 h, and were divided into groups 0 h, 4 h, 8 h and 12 h, respectively. Total RNA samples from the 4 groups were extracted for transcriptome sequencing, and the persistently significant differentially expressed genes (DEG) were screened. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to verify and analyze the expression of DEG mRNA. The two-tailed Student t test was used for comparison between the two groups. Results:iPSC expressed the dry related markers OCT4, SOX2, NANOG and SSEA4, and differentiated into endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm, expressing the corresponding markers AFP, α-SMA and GFAP, respectively. iPSC formed embryoid bodies under specific culture conditions, and then differentiated into hMG, and hMG expressed related markers TMEM119, P2RY12 and IBA1 by immunofluorescence staining. The double positive ratio of CD11b + and CD45 + was > 95%. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the expression of 18 DEG in hMG stimulated by LPS was changed. qPCR test results showed that compared with group 0 h, mRNA expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), phosphoglycerate kinase 1, disintegrin and metallopeptidase domain 9 (ADAM9) in LPS stimulated group 4 h were significantly increased ( t=25.43, 15.54, 6.26; P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of MER proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase (MERTK), non-hydrolase domain containing lysophospholipase 12 (ABHD12), retinal dehydrogenase 11 (RDH11), DNA damage autophagic regulator 2 (DRAM2) decreased ( t=5.94, 14.14, 8.21, 6.97; P<0.01), and the differences were statistically significant. Compared with group 0 h, mRNA expressions of RDH11, MERTK, ABHD12, DRAM2 and ADAM9 in group 8 h stimulated by LPS were significantly decreased, with statistical significance ( t=25.97, 5.47, 43.97, 38.40, 3.84; P<0.05). Compared with the group 0 h, the mRNA expressions of TLR4, ADAM9, MERTK, ABHD12, RDH11 and DRAM2 in the 12 h stimulated group were significantly decreased, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=6.39, 46.11, 5.34, 14.14, 25.97, 25.65; P<0.05). Conclusion:IRD-related genes may be involved in the occurrence and development of IRD by regulating the function of hMG.

Lattice retinal degeneration is a common peripheral retinal degenerative condition and is widely recognized as a significant precursor to retinal detachment, resulting in severe visual loss. Recent advances in deep learning technologies have driven the development and adoption of automated screening systems for lattice retinal degeneration using ultra-widefield fundus imaging. These systems have demonstrated notable success in large-scale screening of peripheral retinal diseases, offering valuable support for the early identification and risk stratification of lattice degeneration. Currently, retinal laser photocoagulation remains the mainstay treatment for lattice degeneration. This intervention effectively mitigates the risk of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. However, controversies persist regarding the optimal selection of treatment candidates and the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy. In the future, the continuous evolution of imaging analysis techniques and artificial intelligence holds promise for the development of personalized and precision-based intervention strategies. Such advancements are expected to provide more robust evidence to guide the diagnosis and treatment of lattice retinal degeneration, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

AIM:To explore the potential mecha-nism of arecoline in promoting oral submucous fi-brosis based on key factors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)pathway.METHODS:SD rats were randomly divided into arecoline low-dose group,arecoline medium-dose group,and are-coline high-dose group(5,10,and 15 mg/mL).The oral buccal mucosa was injected with the corre-sponding concentration of arecoline(ANE)solution to induce the establishment of oral submucous fi-brosis(OSF)models,with 8 rats in each group.An-other 8 unmodeled rats were selected as the blank group,and the changes in mouth opening of the rats were detected after 8 weeks of grouping and intervention.HE and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological changes of oral buccal mucosa,measure the length of epithelial staple process and calculate collagen volume fraction.Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression of collagen-Ⅰ(COL-Ⅰ),E-cadherin,fibro-nectin(FN)and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins and mRNA in rat oral buccal muco-sa.The levels of tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,in-terleukin(IL)-1β and transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1 in rat serum were detected by ELISA.Hu-man immortalized keratinocytes(HaCaT cell line)were cultured in vitro,and the effects of different concentrations of arecoline,PI3K activator,and PI3K inhibitor on the survival rate of HaCaT cells were investigated by CCK-8 method.According to the results of CCK-8,the concentration of arecoline 75 μg/mL,the concentration of PI3K activator 10μmol/L,and the concentration of PI3K inhibitor 2μmol/L were selected as the subsequent experi-mental concentrations.The cells were set as blank group,arecoline group,PI3K activator group,PI3K inhibitor group,and arecoline+PI3K inhibitor group.The mRNA expression levels of COL-Ⅰ,E-cad-herin,FN,PI3K,Akt,and mTOR in each group of cells were detected by qRT-PCR.The levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and TGF-β1 in each group of cells were de-tected by ELISA.RESULTS:Compared with the blank group,the arecoline low-dose group,the are-coline medium-dose group,and the arecoline high-dose group significantly reduced the mouth open-ing,significantly shortened the length of the epi-thelial staple process,significantly increased the collagen volume fraction,inflammatory cell infiltra-tion,and severe pathological damage.The protein expression levels of COL-Ⅰ,FN,p-PI3K,p-Akt,and p-mTOR were up-regulated,and the protein expres-sion levels of E-cadherin were down-regulated.The mRNA expressions of COL-Ⅰ,FN,PI3K,Akt,and mTOR were significantly increased.The mRNA ex-pression of E-cadherin was significantly reduced,and the levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,and TGF-β1 were sig-nificantly increased(all P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Com-pared with the blank group,the mRNA expression levels of COL-Ⅰ,FN,PI3K,Akt,and mTOR in the cells of the arecoline group and the PI3K activator group were up-regulated,and the mRNA expression lev-els of E-cadherin were down-regulated.Compared with the blank group,the mRNA expression levels of COL-Ⅰ,FN,PI3K,Akt,and mTOR in the cells of the PI3K inhibitor group were down-regulated,and the mRNA expression levels of E-cadherin were up-regulated.Compared with the PI3K inhibitor group,the mRNA expression levels of COL-Ⅰ,FN,PI3K,Akt,and mTOR in the cells of the arecoline+PI3K inhibi-tor group were up-regulated,the mRNA expression levels of E-cadherin were down-regulated,and the levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,and TGF-β1 were significant-ly increased(all P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).CONCLUSION:Arecoline can significantly promote oral submucous fibrosis,which may play a pro-fibrotic role by up-regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

AIM:To explore the potential mecha-nism of arecoline in promoting oral submucous fi-brosis based on key factors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)pathway.METHODS:SD rats were randomly divided into arecoline low-dose group,arecoline medium-dose group,and are-coline high-dose group(5,10,and 15 mg/mL).The oral buccal mucosa was injected with the corre-sponding concentration of arecoline(ANE)solution to induce the establishment of oral submucous fi-brosis(OSF)models,with 8 rats in each group.An-other 8 unmodeled rats were selected as the blank group,and the changes in mouth opening of the rats were detected after 8 weeks of grouping and intervention.HE and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological changes of oral buccal mucosa,measure the length of epithelial staple process and calculate collagen volume fraction.Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression of collagen-Ⅰ(COL-Ⅰ),E-cadherin,fibro-nectin(FN)and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins and mRNA in rat oral buccal muco-sa.The levels of tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,in-terleukin(IL)-1β and transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1 in rat serum were detected by ELISA.Hu-man immortalized keratinocytes(HaCaT cell line)were cultured in vitro,and the effects of different concentrations of arecoline,PI3K activator,and PI3K inhibitor on the survival rate of HaCaT cells were investigated by CCK-8 method.According to the results of CCK-8,the concentration of arecoline 75 μg/mL,the concentration of PI3K activator 10μmol/L,and the concentration of PI3K inhibitor 2μmol/L were selected as the subsequent experi-mental concentrations.The cells were set as blank group,arecoline group,PI3K activator group,PI3K inhibitor group,and arecoline+PI3K inhibitor group.The mRNA expression levels of COL-Ⅰ,E-cad-herin,FN,PI3K,Akt,and mTOR in each group of cells were detected by qRT-PCR.The levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and TGF-β1 in each group of cells were de-tected by ELISA.RESULTS:Compared with the blank group,the arecoline low-dose group,the are-coline medium-dose group,and the arecoline high-dose group significantly reduced the mouth open-ing,significantly shortened the length of the epi-thelial staple process,significantly increased the collagen volume fraction,inflammatory cell infiltra-tion,and severe pathological damage.The protein expression levels of COL-Ⅰ,FN,p-PI3K,p-Akt,and p-mTOR were up-regulated,and the protein expres-sion levels of E-cadherin were down-regulated.The mRNA expressions of COL-Ⅰ,FN,PI3K,Akt,and mTOR were significantly increased.The mRNA ex-pression of E-cadherin was significantly reduced,and the levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,and TGF-β1 were sig-nificantly increased(all P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Com-pared with the blank group,the mRNA expression levels of COL-Ⅰ,FN,PI3K,Akt,and mTOR in the cells of the arecoline group and the PI3K activator group were up-regulated,and the mRNA expression lev-els of E-cadherin were down-regulated.Compared with the blank group,the mRNA expression levels of COL-Ⅰ,FN,PI3K,Akt,and mTOR in the cells of the PI3K inhibitor group were down-regulated,and the mRNA expression levels of E-cadherin were up-regulated.Compared with the PI3K inhibitor group,the mRNA expression levels of COL-Ⅰ,FN,PI3K,Akt,and mTOR in the cells of the arecoline+PI3K inhibi-tor group were up-regulated,the mRNA expression levels of E-cadherin were down-regulated,and the levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,and TGF-β1 were significant-ly increased(all P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).CONCLUSION:Arecoline can significantly promote oral submucous fibrosis,which may play a pro-fibrotic role by up-regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and genetic etiology of a Chinese Hui family with nanophthalmos.Methods:A pedigree investigation was performed.The clinical features and genetic etiology analysis were conducted in this Chinese family with nanophthalmos who first visited Beijing Tongren Eye Center in October 2005 and were followed up until October 2023.This family included 25 individuals of 4 generations, among which there were 3 patients.All the patients underwent medical history collection and comprehensive ophthalmological examinations, including visual acuity, intraocular pressure, slit-lamp microscope, IOLMaster, ultrasound biomicroscopy, color fundus photography, B-scan ultrasonography, visual field, etc.Genomic DNA was extracted from the 3 patients and 3 phenotypically normal individuals.Disease-causing genes were screened by whole-exome sequencing.Bioinformatic analysis and prediction of pathogenicity of candidate variants were conducted, followed by further validation by Sanger sequencing and co-segregation analysis.All the included subjects were informed of the purpose and methods of the study and signed an informed consent form.The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University (No.TRECKY2021-241).Results:Nanophthalmos in this family was inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.The proband and his two sisters were diagnosed with nanophthalmos based on clinical evaluation of typical phenotypes including the reduction of visual acuity, hyperpresbyopia, short ocular axis, shallow anterior chamber, narrow anterior chamber angle, high intraocular pressure, crowded optic disc, tortuous retinal vessel, etc.companied by angle-closure glaucoma, exudative retinal detachment and uveal effusion and other common complications.Compound heterozygous variants c. 1010_1021del (p.His337_Glu340del) and c. 1486G>A (p.Glu496Lys) were detected in MFRP gene in all three patients, and c. 1010_1021del, one of the biallelic variants was first reported.Both variants were rare in healthy populations and were co-segregated within this pedigree.According to the standards and guidelines for the interpretation of sequence variants: a joint consensus recommendation of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology, the variants were predicted to have strong pathogenicity and were the genetic cause of the nanophthalmos in this pedigree. Conclusions:This study finds a novel pathogenic variant c.1010_1021del in a nanophthalmos pedigree.

The treatment of hereditary retinopathy depends on gene replacement or editing therapy, and adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector is one of the most widely used gene transfer vectors. The delivery methods of AAV vector-mediated target genes to the retina inlucde intravitreal injection, subretinal injection, and suprachorioidal injection. Intravitreal injection of AAV vector is currently the most commonly used delivery route, which can effectively improve the functions of retina disorders such as blinding retinal dystrophy in mice. Subretinal injection of AAV vector can deliver the target gene to the local retina, resulting in stronger efficiency of transfection and gene expressio, however, the high technical operations are required. In recent years, as a new high-profile delivery route suprachorioidal injection of AAV vector can achieve more extensive transfection of target genes in the retina of rabbits and rats. At present, the efficiency of AAV vector transduction in the retina is affected by the delivery mode. In the future, it is necessary to further explore the effect of AAV vector delivery mode on the transduction efficiency in order to find an important delivery route for mediating gene therapy for retinal diseases.