Objective:To evaluate the risk factors for the complexity and surgical prognosis in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).Methods:A historical cohort study of the CONCEPT trial, including 97 patients (97 eyes) who were diagnosed with PDR and requiring three-channel 23-gauge transconjunctival pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) from June 2017 to January 2018 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University.All patients received preoperative intravitreal injection of 0.5 mg conbercpet.Based on the PDR complexity score, patients were divided into >3 group or ≤3 group, and the systematic risk factors were compared between the two groups.The influence of sex, age, hypertension, renal insufficiency, duration of diabetes mellitus, and hemoglobin A1c level on the PDR complexity score was evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis.Based on age, patients were divided into <45 years group, 45-<60 years group, and ≥60 years group, and the differences in mean operative time, incidence of intraoperative hemorrhage, surgically induced lacrimation and silicone oil filling, and incidence of hemorrhage on color fundus photos and macular edema by optical coherence tomography at postoperative months 1 and 6 were analyzed among different age groups.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (No.2017-SR-283).Written informed consent was obtained from each subject.Results:The age of patients with PDR complexity score >3 was 46.5(36.0, 51.8) years, which was less than 54.0(45.5, 61.5) years for PDR complexity score ≤3, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=1.835, P=0.002).Among the factors predicting PDR complexity score >3, logistic regression analysis indicated that only age was statistically significant ( P=0.005).For each 1-year increase in age, the risk of PDR complexity score >3 would increase by 7.4%( OR: 0.929, 95% CI: 0.883-0.977).Among the systemic factors, there were significant differences in age, history of diabetes, proportion of patients with hypertension and renal insufficiency among the three age groups (all at P<0.05).Among the ocular factors, there were significant differences in the proportion of patients with history of retinal laser treatment, fibrovascular membrane and complexity score >3 among the three groups (all at P<0.05).The proportion of patients with fibrovascular membrane and complexity score >3 in the <45 years group was significantly higher than that in the 45-<60 and ≥60 years groups (all at P<0.05).There were significant differences in the proportion of patients with intraoperative bleeding and silicone oil filling in the three age groups (all at P<0.017).The proportion of intraoperative bleeding and silicone oil filling in <45 years group was significantly higher than that in 45-<60 and ≥60 years groups (all at P<0.05).The macular edema on postoperative month 1 in the <45 years old group was significantly higher than that in the 45-<60 and ≥60 years groups (both at P<0.05). Conclusions:Among systemic factors, age has a significant impact on the increased PDR complexity and contributes to the poor prognosis of patients.There is a higher percentage of intraoperative complications and early postoperative macular edema in patients in the younger age group compared to the older age group.

Single cell RNA sequencing technique provides a strong technical support for the analysis of cell heterogeneity in biological tissues, and has been widely used in biomedical research. In recent years, considerable scRNA-seq data have been accumulated in the research of ocular fundus diseases. The ocular fundus is abundant for the network of vessel and neuron, which leads to the complicated pathogenesis of fundus diseases. Through single cell RNA sequencing technique, the expression of thousands of genes of certain cell types or even subtypes can be obtained in the disease environment. Single cell RNA sequencing technique accurately reveals the pathogenic cell types and pathogenic mechanisms of ocular fundus diseases such as neovascular retinopathy, which provides a theoretical basis for the birth of new diagnosis and treatment targets. The construction of multi-omics single-cell database of ocular fundus diseases will enable high-quality data to be further explored and provide an analysis platform for ophthalmic researchers.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with dexamethasone intravitreal implant (DEX) in the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).Methods:A prospective randomized controlled study. A total of 57 PDR patients with 79 eyes diagnosed by Department of Ophthalmology of The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from May 2021 to February 2023 were included in the study. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed in all affected eyes. Central macular thickness (CMT) was measured by OCT. The patients were randomly divided into control group and experimental group, with 27 cases and 35 eyes and 30 cases and 44 eyes, respectively. All eyes were treated with routine 25G PPV and intraoperative whole- retina laser photocoagulation. At the end of the operation, the experimental group was given 0.7 mg DEX intravitreal injection. At 1, 4, 12, and 24 weeks after operation, the same equipment and methods were used for relevant examinations. The improvement after surgery was assessed according to the diabetic retinopathy severity score (DRSS). Mixed analysis of variance was used to compare logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution BCVA and CMT between the two groups and within the two groups before and after operation.Results:At 1, 4, 12 and 24 weeks after surgery, BCVA was significantly improved at different time points after surgery, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.001). At different time after operation, BCVA and CMT in experimental groups were significantly better than that in control group, with statistical significance ( P<0.05). Compared with the CMT before surgery, the CMT at all time point after surgery in experimental group were significantly decreased, and the difference were statistically significant ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference one week after eye operation in control group ( P=0.315). At 4, 12 and 24 weeks after operation, CMT decreased in control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Compared with before surgery, DRSS increased two steps higher at 1, 4, 12 and 24 weeks after surgery in 20 (45.45%, 20/44), 26 (59.10%, 26/44), 32 (72.73%, 32/44) and 31 (70.45%, 31/44) eyes in the experimental groups, respectively. The control group consisted of 15 (42.86%, 15/35), 15 (42.86%, 15/35), 16 (45.71%, 16/35) and 18 (51.43%, 18/35) eyes, respectively. There was no significant difference in DRSS at 1, 4 and 24 weeks after operation between the control group and the experimental group ( P=0.817, 0.178, 0.105). At 12 weeks after surgery, the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.020). Conclusion:PPV combined with intravitreal injection of DEX in the treatment of PDR can improve postoperative visual acuity, alleviate postoperative macular edema and improve the severity of DR.

Tubeimoside-1 (TBMS1) is a triterpene saponins active components with large content in Cucurbitaceae plant Fritillaria, which is water-soluble and stable. It has a broad inhibitory effect on lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer and other tumors. The mechanism is mainly related to the inhibition of tumor cell growth, induction of tumor cell apoptosis, inhibition of tumor cell invasion and metastasis, induction of cell autophagy, and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT), as a high-resolution, non-invasive, in-vivo image method has been widely used in retinal field, especially in the examination of fundus diseases. Nowadays, the modality has been gradually popularized in most of the national basic-level hospitals. However, OCT is only employed as a diagnostic tool in most cases, ophthalmologists lack of awareness of further exploring the information behind the raw data. In the era of fast-developing artificial intelligence, on the basis of standardized information management, a more comprehensive OCT database should be established. Further original image processing, lesion analysis, and artificial intelligence development of OCT images will help improve the understanding level of vitreoretinal diseases among clinicians and assist ophthalmologists to make more appropriate clinical decisions.

Objective:To analyze the changes of subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and choroidal volume in type 2 diabetes patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) through automated choroid segmentation.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted.Sixty-four patients (88 eyes) with type 2 diabetes diagnosed in The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University from May 2016 to May 2017 were enrolled, including 27 males (32 eyes) and 37 females (56 eyes), with an average age of (62.7±7.4) years and an average diabetes duration of (13.7±7.2) years.Best corrected visual acuity, slit lamp ophthalmoscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) examination were carried out among all the patients.The patients were divided into non-DR (NDR) group (28 eyes), nonproliferative DR (NPDR) group (36 eyes) and proliferative DR (PDR) group (24 eyes) according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study.Nineteen age-matched normal subjects (32 eyes) were enrolled as normal control group.SFCT and choroidal volume were measured through automated choroid segmentation based on SD-OCT with enhanced depth imaging.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University (No.2017-SR-176).Results:Mean SFCT and choroidal volume of normal control group, NDR group, NPDR group and PDR group were (277.8±45.3)μm and (8.8±1.0)mm 3, (220.9±38.7)μm and (7.6±1.3)mm 3, (231.8±26.7)μm and (8.2±0.9)mm 3, (252.0±42.2)μm and (8.7±1.0)mm 3, respectively, with significant overall differences among the groups ( F=14.615, P<0.001; F=7.711, P<0.001). Mean SFCT and choroidal volume were significantly smaller in NDR and NPDR group than those in normal control group (both at P<0.05). Mean SFCT and choroidal volume of PDR group was greater than those of NDR group (both at P<0.05). Conclusions:SFCT and choroidal volume decrease during the early course of diabetes and increase significantly as DR worsens from NDR to PDR.

Circular RNA (circRNA) is a new group of endogenous non-coding RNAs produced by back-splicing, which has multiple molecular functions such as acting as microRNA sponges, regulators of transcription and splicing, adaptors for protein-protein interaction. Recent studies have shown that circRNA play an essential role in development and progression of retinal microvascular dysfunction, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, eye diseases caused by hyperhomocysteine and ocular malignancy. In pathological conditions, the differential expression of circRNA alters the transcription and translation of corresponding genes, thus changing the activity and function of cells. CircRNA may become a new marker and prognostic indicator of fundus diseases, and its targeted intervention may also become a potential treatment for fundus diseases.

Objective:To analyze the status and influencing factors of awareness of diabetic retinopathy (DR) knowledge in diabetics in Funing County, Jiangsu Province.Methods:This is a cross-sectional study. In 2021, a total of 2 125 residents with diabetes in Funing County, Jiangsu Province were recruited using cluster random sampling methods. General examinations were performed and ophthalmological evaluation were conducted including visual acuity in daily life, slit lamp microscope with preset lens, digital non-mydriatic fundus photography. Clinical assessment and classification of DR were according to the international standard clinical classifications of diabetic retinopathy in 2019. DR was classified into no obvious DR, mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), moderate NPDR, severe NPDR and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Field questionnaire surveys were conducted to show the awareness rate of DR knowledge. Then Chi-square test and Logistic regression analysis were used to investigate influencing factors.Results:Among 2 125 subjects, 762 (35.86%, 762/2 125) residents were male and 1 363 (64.14%, 1 363/2 125) residents were female. A total of 444 (20.89%, 444/2 125) subjects were diagnosed as DR. Among which, 438 (20.61%, 438/2 125) subjects were NPDR, 6 (0.28%, 6/2 125) subjects were PDR. A total of 419 (19.72%, 419/2 125) subjects were diagnosed as cataract. The topic awareness rates were all below 45.00%. The overall population awareness rate was 19.45% (4 959/25 500). Awareness rate was correlated with age, visual acuity in daily life, education level, family history of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy grades and the type of treatment for diabetes ( P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that the knowledge rate of prevention and treatment of DR Decreased significantly in patients aged 60-79 compared with those aged under 50 ( P<0.05). Compared with those with visual acuity <0.1 in daily life, the knowledge rate of DR prevention and treatment in those with visual acuity ≥0.1 was significantly decreased ( P<0.05). While primary school to college education, with family history of diabetes, with DR, oral hypoglycemic agents and/or insulin treatment were associated with higher awareness rate ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The DR knowledge level is low among diabetics in Funing County, Jiangsu Province in 2021. Age, visual acuity in daily life, education level, family history of diabetes, with DR and receiving drug treatments are main influencing factors for diabetic’s awareness.

Objective:To observe the flow density (FD) of macular and optic disc and area of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (S-NPDR).Methods:A prospective cross-sectional study. From October 2019 to April 2020, 31 eyes of 25 S-NPDR patients (S-NPDR group) who were diagnosed in the ophthalmological examination of Jiangsu Province Hospital and 30 eyes of 30 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers (control group) were included in this study. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was used to scan the macular area of 6 mm×6 mm and optic disc of 4.5 mm×4.5 mm. The software automatically divides it into three concentric circles centered on the macular fovea, which were foveal area with a diameter of 1 mm, parafoveal area of 1 to 3 mm, and foveal peripheral area of 3 to 6 mm. The area around the optic disc was divided into 8 areas: nasal upper, nasal lower, inferior nasal, inferior temporal, temporal lower, temporal upper, superior temporal and superior nasal. The FD of the optic disc, the superficial capillary layer (SCP) and deep capillary layer (DCP) of the retina and FAZ area were measured. The FD and FAZ area were compared between the two groups by independent sample t test. The correlation between FAZ area and FD was analyzed by Pearson correlation. Results:In parafoveal and perifoveal area, compared with the control group, the FD of SCP ( t=6.470, 5.220; P<0.001) and DCP ( t=7.270, 7.370; P<0.001) decreased in S-NPDR group. In foveal area, there was statistically significant difference in the FD of DCP between the two groups ( t=2.250, P=0.030), while the difference in FD of SCP between the two groups was not statistically significant ( t=0.000, P=0.900). The FAZ area in S-NPDR group was larger than that in control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.390, P=0.030). The FD in the S-NPDR group was lower than that in the control group except the superior nasal, the difference was statistically significant ( t=7.520, 5.000, 4.870, 3.120, 2.360, 2.120, 5.410, 5.560, 2.640; P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the FAZ area of S-NPDR was negatively correlated with FD of SCP ( r=-0.513, P=0.004), and had no correlation with FD of DCP ( r=0.034, P=0.859). Conclusion:The overall FD in macular area and optic disc of patients with S-NPDR decreased and the FAZ area enlarged.

Objective: To study the damage effects of blue-light exposure on retinal morphology and function in mouse. Methods: Twenty 8-week-old clean C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into blue-light exposure group and normal control group by coin tossing method.The mice in the blue-light exposure group was exposed to 10 000 lx blue light for 5 days after dark adaptation for 24 hours, and the mice in the normal control group was kept under the normal light intensity for 5 days at 12-hour light/12-hour darkness cycles.The retinal thickness was detected by optical coherence tomography (OCT), and retinal function was evaluated by electroretinogram (ERG). The mice was sacrificed and the frozen section and flat mount of eyeball wall was created at 24 hours after irradiation.The expressions of rhodopsin (Rho), zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and β-catenin in the retinas were detected by immunofluorescent staining.The use and care of the experimental animals adhered to ARVO Statement by American Society of Visual and Ophthalmological Sciences (No.IACUC-1803029). Results: The thickness of the retinal outer nuclear layer at 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1 000 μm from the superior and inferior to optic nerves were thinned in the mice of the blue-light exposure group compared with those of the normal control group, showing significant differences between the two groups (all at P<0.05). The b-wave amplitude of the scotopic and photopic ERG was (305.50±41.52)μV and (119.50±6.67)μV in the blue-light exposure group, respectively, which was significantly reduced in comparison with (415.50±28.77)μV and (139.75±8.26)μV of the normal control group (both at P<0.05). Immunofluorescent staining showed that the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells of the mice exhibited hexagonal shape with regular arrangement, retinal morphology was regular, and the expressions of Rho, ZO-1 and β-catenin proteins showed stronger fluorescence in the retinas of normal control group.However, structural disorder, diminishing fluorescence intensity of Rho, ZO-1 and β-catenin were found in the blue-light exposure group.The morphology of the retina was disordered while the cell structure was destroyed. Conclusions Blue-light irradiation results in morphological and functional damages of retina.