Behcet's Disease (BD) is a multisystem vasculitis characterized by disease alternated with recurrent episodes and remissions, involving genital, oral, ocular uvea, cutaneous, and articular manifestations. The nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway paly an important role in the BD progression. It encompasses diverse gene, protein, and cellular regulatory mechanisms operating across various levels, alongside microbiological and experimental studies involving animals and cells. At the protein research findings, activation of the NF-κB pathway in BD patients is marked by elevated plasma levels of soluble CD40 ligand, which stimulates neutrophils to release reactive oxygen species and extracellular traps, thereby promoting inflammation. At the cellular research findings, macrophages in BD patients polarize towards classically activated macrophages phenotype through the NF-κB pathway, exacerbating the inflammatory response. The activation of NF-κB is associated with increased expression of anti-apoptotic proteins in T cells, leading to prolonged inflammation. Microbiological investigations reveal that the decreased gut microbiota diversity in BD patients compromises intestinal barrier integrity. NF-κB pathway involvement in regulating neutrophil and type 1 helper T cell (Th) 1/Th17 cell function worsens inflammation. Genetically, BD patients exhibit polymorphisms in immune regulatory genes, which contribute to inflammation through the NF-κB pathway. Mutations in NF-κB-associated genes elevate the risk of BD, while mutations in the endogenous inhibitor A20 lead to abnormal NF-κB activity, sustaining inflammation. Animal experiments and in vitro experiments corroborate the efficacy of NF-κB inhibitors in attenuating inflammation. Targeting upstream inflammatory factors within the NF-κB pathway yields positive outcomes in BD patients. In summary, the NF-κB signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in the development of BD. Developing NF-κB inhibitors may open new avenues for treating BD. Further research is necessary to comprehensively elucidate the precise mechanisms by which NF-κB operates in the pathogenesis of BD, as well as its potential clinical applications in therapy.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by severe itching and recurrent eczema-like lesions. With the increase in the global incidence of AD, the incidence of ocular complications in patients also increases. Retinal detachment (RD) seriously affects the vision of patients, and is more common in young and middle-aged people, often involving both eyes with poor prognosis. What’s more, there are many similarities between RD associated with AD and traumatic RD, such as peripheral retinal breaks, giant retinal tears and retinal dialysis. Regarding the mechanism of AD complicated with RD, the trauma theory is widely accepted. Scholars have also reported on the theory of anterior eye developmental abnormalities, inflammation-traction theory, and ectodermal origin theory. On AD complicated with RD, regardless of scleral buckling surgery or vitrectomy surgery, the rate of first retinal reattachment is low with severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy or chronic uveolar inflammation after surgery, which cause traction on the ciliary body and the retina separation appearance again or new cracks appearance. Combination of behavioral therapy, drug therapy and psychotherapy can effectively reduce the occurrence of RD; prevention of eye rubbing, reduction of traumatic exercise, rational use of glucocorticoids or immunosuppressants under the guidance of dermatologists are effective ways for AD patients to prevent RD occurrence. Regular eye examinations can help patients find RD as soon as possible so that they can be treated in time.
Primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL) is one of the most common type of primary intraocular lymphoma. The current treatment options include local ocular radiotherapy (radiotherapy), systemic chemotherapy (chemotherapy), local ocular chemotherapy, and combination therapy. The treatment options are different at different stages of PVRL, however, there is no uniform treatment guideline. Local ocular chemotherapy can make the drug reach effective therapeutic concentration in the eye, and it can be repeated many times. At the same time, it can avoid the adverse reactions caused by systemic medication or radiotherapy. It is an ideal choice for relieving ocular symptoms. At present, the mainstream ocular local chemotherapeutics are methotrexate (MTX) and rituximab (RTX). The basic consensus about the intravitreal injection of MTX (IVM) is the induction-consolidation-maintenance model, however, the time of each stage and frequency of IVM are diverse. The time interval of intravitreal injection of RTX is also variable, ranging from 1 time/week to 1 time/months and so on. Corneal epithelial lesions caused by frequent MTX injections and the higher recurrence rate after RTX treatment are the main reasons for changing the treatment plan. For patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma and PVRL, combined treatment with neurology department is necessary to save patient's lives, ophthalmology treatment relieves ocular symptoms and improves the patient's quality of life. For patients with PVRL alone without central nervous system involvement, ophthalmology treatment is necessary to control patient's eye symptoms, and close follow-up should be followed to find the involvement of the central nervous system in time, and then combined with neurological treatment to save patient’s lives.
ObjectiveTo observe the safety and effectiveness of patching retinal breaks with Healaflow in 27G vitrectomy combined with air tamponade in the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).MethodsClinical-based prospective continuous study. From March 2017 to May 2018, 51 eyes of 50 RRD patients diagnosed in Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital were included in the study. All eyes were treated with 27G vitrectomy, and laser photocoagulation was performed around retinal hiatus and denaturation zone after complete retinal reattachment. A blunt 27G needle was used to completely cover the surface of the retinal tear with the Healaflow. The injection amount was determined according to the size of the retinal tear, and the standard was that the tear was completely contained. There was no postoperative position limitation. The average follow-up was 15.8±6.3 months. The primary and final anatomic attachment rate, BCVA after operation, the intraoperative and postoperative complications, the recurrence of retinal detachment and so on were recorded.Results51 eyes of 50 patients were enrolled, including 29 males (58.0%) and 21 females (42.0%). The average age was 58.5±1 years. A single break was present in 28 eyes (54.9%) and 2 to 5 breaks in 23 eyes (45.1%). The macula was involved in 32 eyes (62.7%) and attached in 19 eyes (37.3%) intraoperatively. Initial reattachment was achieved in 50 eyes (98.0%) and final reattachment in 51 eyes (100.0%). The logMAR BCVA before and 3 months after operation were 0.95±0.80 and 0.22±0.17, respectively. The difference of logMAR BCVA between before and after operation was significant (t=7.336, P＜0.001). The intraocular pressure was elevated transiently in 31 eyes (60.8%). No other complications occurred during follow-up.ConclusionThe treatment of primary RRD with 27G vitrectomy combined with Healaflow patch and air tamponade is a safe, effective and convenient method with high success rate and rapid recovery of visual function.
Blood-retina barrier destruction, nerve injury, formation of neovascularization and fibroblast proliferation membrane are important pathological changes of DR, which are related to the combined effects of various vitreous cytokines. VEGF is mainly involved in increasing retinal vascular permeability and inducing neovascularization. Pigment epithelium derived factor is vital reducing vascular permeability and neuroprotection; IL plays a key role in mediating inflammatory response. TNF-α is related to inflammation, which is significantly up-regulated by hypoxia. TGF-β is an important cytokine regulating cell proliferation and differentiation. Connective tissue growth factor can promote the growth, migration and adhesion of endothelial cell. In addition, many other molecular mechanisms have not been fully elucidated, and further study on the molecular mechanism of DR is urgent. With the further study of molecular mechanism, the early intervention and targeted treatment of DR will be more effective.
ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy and safety of intravitreal injection of conbercept in the treatment of proliferatived diabetic retinophathy (PDR) complicated with vitreous hemorrhage by minimally invasive vitreoretinal surgery.MethodsProspective clinical study. A total of 50 patients with PDR complicated with vitreous hemorrhage clinically diagnosed in Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital who needed vitrectomy were recruited in this study. According to the principle of informed consent, the patients were divided into two groups: postoperative injection group and the control group. Twenty-five eyes of 25 patients in each group were examined before operation. No significant proliferative changes in the posterior pole and traction retinal detachment were observed. There was significant difference of age between two groups (t=－24.697, P=0.030), but no significant difference of sex (χ2=0.330, P=0.564), duration of diabetes (t=－1.144, P=0.258), logMAR BCVA (t=－0.148, P=0.883), lens state (χ2=0.397, P=0.529), panretinal laser photocoagulation (χ2=1.333, P=0.248). The postoperative injection group was treated with intravitreous injection of 0.05 ml conbercept (10 mg/ml) immediately after 27G minimally invasive vitrectomy. The other treatment and follow-up were the same as those in the postoperative injection group except for conbercept injection. All patients underwent routine slit-lamp examination, indirect ophthalmoscope and B-ultrasound examination before operation. The main outcome measure included the time of operation, the incidence rate of iatrogenic retinal holes and silicone oil filling. The recurrence of vitreous hemorrhage, BCVA, intraocular pressure, central retinal thickness (CRT), postoperative complications and progression were recorded 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after operation.ResultsAt 1 week and 1, 3, 6 months after operation, there was significant difference of logMAR BCVA between the two groups (t=－4.980, －4.840, －4.892, －5.439; P<0.001). At 3 and 6 months after operation, the recurrence of vitreous hemorrhage in the postoperative injection group was lower than that in the control group, but there was no statistical difference between two groups (χ2=3.030, 4.153; P=0.192, 0.103). At 1 week and 1, 3, 6 months after operation, the CRT in the postoperative injection group was lower than that in the control group, the difference was significant (t=－2.622, －2.638, －3.613, －3.037; P=0.012, 0.010, 0.001, 0.004, 0.005). There was no complications such as choroid detachment, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, retinal detachment, iris redness and neovascular glaucoma in all the eyes after operation.ConclusionsIntravitreal injection of conbercept in the treatment of PDR after operation is safe and effective. It can reduce the recurrence of vitreous hemorrhage after vitrectomy, improve the BCVA.