microRNAs (miRNAs) are short 20- to 22-nucleotide noncoding RNAs that negatively regulate the expression of target genes at the post-transcriptional level. The expression of specific miRNAs and their roles in the osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) exposed to mechanical stretch remain unclear. Here, we found that stretch induced both osteogenic differentiation and the differential expression of miR-21 in PDLSCs. Furthermore, we identified activin receptor type IIB (ACVR2B) as a target gene of miR-21. Luciferase reporter assays showed that miR-21 interacts directly with the 3'-untranslated repeat sequence of ACVR2B mRNA. Mechanical stretch suppressed ACVR2B protein levels in PDLSCs, and this suppressive effect was modulated when endogenous miR-21 levels were either enhanced or inhibited. Both stretch and the expression of miR-21 altered endogenous ACVR2B protein levels and thus the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs. In addition, gain- and loss of function of ACVR2B mediated the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs. This study demonstrates that miR-21 is a mechanosensitive gene that plays an important role in the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs exposed to stretch.

Three SNPs and the AT repeat length in CTLA-4 conferred susceptibility to childhood GD, whereas IL-13 polymorphisms did not. No association was found between CTLA-4 and IL-13 with GO.

To investigate retinal neurovascular structural changes in patients with essential hypertension. METHODS. This observational cross-sectional study consisted of 199 right eyes from 169 nondiabetic essential hypertensive patients, divided into groups as follows: group A, 113 patients with hypertensive retinopathy (HTNR); group B, 56 patients without HTNR; and a control group of 30 healthy subjects. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), radial peripapillary segmented (RPC), ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL), and superficial (SVP) and deep (DVP) vascular plexus density at the macula (6 × 6 mm 2) were measured by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). RESULTS. DVP density was significantly reduced in groups A and B compared to the control group (group A DVP, P = 0.001; group B DVP P = 0.002). GC-IPL, RNFL thickness, and RPC and SVP density in group A were significantly decreased compared to the control group or group B (all P < 0.05). In hypertensive patients, GC-IPL and RNFL thickness were negatively correlated with severity of HTNR (GC-IPL, r =-0.331, P < 0.001; RNFL, r =-0.583, P < 0.001) and level of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM)

Retinal neovascularization (RNV) is an eye disease that can cause retinal detachment and even lead to blindness. RNV mainly occurs in the elderly population. The pathogenesis of RNV has been previously reported to be highly related to the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and other angiogenic factors. It has also been reported that VEGFA and other factors associated with RNV could be regulated by certain microRNAs (miRNA), a group of small non-coding RNAs which are able to regulate the expression of many genes in vivo. Here, we demonstrate that the miRNA miR-410 is highly expressed in mice within two weeks after birth. miR-410 could suppress VEGFA expression through interaction with the 3′UTR of the VEGFA messenger RNA. Overexpressing a miR-410 mimic effectively suppresses VEGFA expression in various cell lines. Further experiments on oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) in mice revealed that eye drops containing large amounts of miR-410 efficiently downregulate VEGFA expression, prevent retinal angiogenesis and effectively treat RNV. These results not only show the underlying mechanism of how miR-410 targets VEGFA but also provide a potential treatment strategy for RNV that might be used in the near future.

Including posterior corneal astigmatism (PCA) into consideration may increase the accuracy of astigmatism correction after corneal refractive surgery. In the present study we aim to investigate the distribution pattern of PCA in a large number of myopic patients from multiple ophthalmic centers. There were 7829 eyes retrospectively included in the study. Pentacam data of the eyes were retrieved from the machine and only results with image quality labelled with ‘OK’ were included. Distribution of PCA was slightly positively skewed (Skewness = 0.419, Kurtosis = 0.435, KS P < 0.0001). Mean PCA was 0.34 ± 0.14 D (range: 0.00 D-0.99 D). PCA was ≥ 0.25 D in 74.91% of the eyes and was ≥ 0.50 D in 11.61% of the eyes. In 97.55% of the eyes the steep meridian of PCA was vertical (SMV). PCA magnitude was significantly higher in eyes with SMV PCA (P < 0.0001) or high manifest astigmatism (MA, P < 0.0001). There was a significant correlation between anterior corneal astigmatism (ACA) magnitude and PCA magnitude in all of the eyes (r = 0.704, P < 0.0001). There was also a trend of decreasing frequency and magnitude of SMV PCA with aging (both P < 0.0001). In conclusion, PCA is present in myopic patients having corneal refractive surgery and PCA magnitude is increased with higher MA or ACA. Consideration of the impact of PCA on laser astigmatism correction may be necessary.

Low-dose (2 mg) triamcinolone acetonide intravitreal injection as an adjunct to vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade in treating proliferative vitreoretinopathy (grade C or D) appears to be effective and safe.

The short-term efficacy of IVTA and IVB on treating clinically significant macular edema varied with different optical coherence tomography findings. In clinically significant macular edema combined with serous retinal detachment, IVTA may be more favorable than IVB in CRT reduction and BCVA improvement. In patients with diffused macular thickening, IVB may be better than IVTA in macular thickness reduction, although this does not translate to a significant improvement in BCVA.

An image-based deep learning model was developed to detect different morphological patterns of diabetic macular edema based on optical coherence tomography images with high accuracy and transparency. This model could help ophthalmologists to make personalized therapeutic strategies for patients with diabetic macular edema.