Objective To determine the effect of posterior vitreous detachment on the prognosis of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Methods One hundred and sixteen patients (116 eyes) with BRVO who underwent vitreous examination were retrospectively studied.The relati onship of vitreous conditions to posterior segment neovascularization and macular edema was statistically investigated. Results In 40 ischemic cases,12 of 25 eyes (48.0%) with no posterior vitreous detachme nt (PVD) or partial PVD developed retinal or optic disc neovascularization ,or both,but only one of the 15 eyes (6.7%) with complete PVD developed neovasculariz ation during a mean follow-up period of 10.7plusmn;2.2 months (Plt;0.05) . Diffuse macular edema was found in 45 eyes (38.8%).The incidence o f macular edema was significantly higher in eyes with vitreomacular attachment (51.5%) than in those with vitreomacular separation (22.0%) (Plt;0.01). Conclusion It was suggest ed that compl ete PVD may play a role in protecting eyes with BRVO from posterior segment neov ascularization and macular edema. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2001,17:2-4)
Objective To investigate the regulating effect of Notch-1 on retinal progenitor cells (RPC) differentiating into retinal ganglion cells (RGC). Methods RPC of 14-day embryonic SD rats were induced and differentiated in the culture medium with Notch-1 antisense oligonucleotides (experimental group) or missense oligonucleotides (control group) for 14 days. The condition of growth and differentiation of the cells were observed daily under the phase-contrast microscope. RGC were identified by Thy1.1 immunocytochemistry methods and the cellular number was counted. Results RPC in both of the two groups differentiated into various retinal cells, including Thy1.1-positive RGC. The percentage of RGC derived from RPC was 31.19%plusmn;6.90% in experimental group and 16.57%plusmn;4.31% in control group, and the difference was statistically significant (t=9.84，Plt;0.001). Conclusion Notch-1 may down-regulate the differentiation of RPC, and the inhibition of Notch-1 may promote RPC differentiating into RGC. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2007, 23: 101-103)
Objective To construct expression plasmid of the fusion protein of brainderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)green fluorescent protein (GFP), and observe its characteristics.Methods BDNF cDNA segment was inserted into plasmid pcDNA3.1/ NT-GFP-TOPO and in the same reading frame with GFP. After verified by sequencing, the BDNFGFP plasmid was transferred into cultured Schwann cells by electroporation. And the expression of BDNFGFP fusion protein was observed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. The neuralprotective function of the fusion protein was evaluated by transferring the plasmid into adult rat retinas with transected optic nerve.Results The sequence of BDNFGFP plasmid was verified correctly by autosequencing. The results of Western blotting showed that the BDNF-GFP fusion protein expressed a brand with the relative molecular mass of 41times;103. Seven days after the optic nerve was transected, the number of survival retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in BDNF-GFP group and GFP group was （1201plusmn;286） and（482plusmn;151）cells/mm2, respectively; and the survival rate was （51.39plusmn;12.24）% and （20.62plusmn;6.46）% , respectively. Twentyeight days after the optic nerve was transected, the number of survival RGC in the two groups was （715plusmn;71） and （112plusmn;24）cells/mm2, respectively; the survival rate was（30.59plusmn;3.04）% and (4.79plusmn;1.03）% respectively. The differences of the survival rate of RGC between the two groups were significant (t=3.144，11.378；Plt;0.01).Conclusion BDNF-GFP fusion plasmid can express a fusion protein which emit green fluorescence and has the biological activity of BDNF.