Abstract: Subretinal inflammation plays a critical role in retinal degenerative diseases. Although activated macrophages have been shown to play a key role in the progression of retinopathies and specifically in age-related macular degeneration, little is known about the mechanisms involved in the loss of photoreceptors leading to vision impairment. In our study on retinal damages induced by photo-oxidative stress, we have observed that CD36-deficient mice featured less subretinal macrophage accumulation with attenuated photoreceptor degeneration compared to wild-type (WT) mice. Treatment with CD36-selective azapeptide ligand (labelled MPE-001) as modulator of the inflammatory environment of the retina reduced subretinal macrophage/activated microglia accumulation with preservation of photoreceptor layers and function assessed by ERG in WT, in a CD36-dependent manner. The azapeptide modulated the transcriptome of subretinal macrophage/activated microglia by reducing pro-inflammatory markers. In isolated macrophages, the CD36-selective azapeptide induced dissociation of the CD36-TLR2/6 heterodimer complex (using FRET) altering the TLR2 signaling pathway, thus decreasing NF-KB activation and inflammasome activity. The azapeptide also incurred cytoprotection against photoreceptor apoptosis elicited by activated macrophages. These findings suggest that the azapeptide as ligand of co-receptor CD36 decreases the inflammatory response by modulating CD36-TLR2/6 complex signaling pathway in macrophages, and suggests its potential application in the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases.

Abstract: The inverted retina is a basic characteristic of the vertebrate eye. This implies that vertebrates must have a common ancestor with an inverted retina. Of the two groups of chordates, cephalochordates have an inverted retina and urochordates a direct retina. Surprisingly, recent genetics studies favor urochordates as the closest ancestor to vertebrates. The evolution of increasingly complex organs such as the eye implies not only tissular but also structural modifications at the organ level. How these configurational modifications give rise to a functional eye at any step is still subject to debate and speculation. Here we propose an orderly sequence of phylogenetic events that closely follows the sequence of developmental eye formation in extant vertebrates. The progressive structural complexity has been clearly recorded during vertebrate development at the period of organogenesis. Matching the chain of increasing eye complexity in Mollusca that leads to the bicameral eye of the octopus and the developmental sequence in vertebrates, we delineate the parallel evolution of the two-chambered eye of vertebrates starting with an early ectodermal eye. This sequence allows for some interesting predictions regarding the eyes of not preserved intermediary species. The clue to understanding the inverted retina of vertebrates and the similarity between the sequence followed by Mollusca and chordates is the notion that the eye in both cases is an ectodermal structure, in contrast to an exclusively (de novo) neuroectodermal origin in the eye of vertebrates. This analysis places cephalochordates as the closest branch to vertebrates contrary to urochordates, claimed as a closer branch by some researchers that base their proposals in a genetic analysis.

Abstract: Since the 21st century, the development of corneal tissue engineering technology has been developing rapidly. With the progress of biomaterials, cell culture and tissue engineering technology, tissue engineering cornea has gained great development in both basic scientific research and clinical application. In particular, tissue engineered corneal scaffolds are the core components of tissue engineered corneas. It is the focus of current research on tissue engineering cornea to search for scaffolds with good biocompatibility, high safety and good biomechanical properties. In this paper, the recent research progress of tissue engineering corneal materials is reviewed.

Abstract: The biological mechanisms of eye growth and refractive development are increasingly well characterised, a result of many careful studies that have been carried out over many years. As the outer coat of the eye, the sclera has the ultimate impact on the restraint or facilitation of eye growth, thus any changes in its biochemistry, ultrastructure, gross morphology and/or biomechanical properties are critical in refractive error development and, in particular, the development of myopia. The current review briefly revisits our basic understanding of the structure and biomechanics of the sclera and how these are regulated and modified during eye growth and myopia development. The review then applies this knowledge in considering recent advances in our understanding of how the mechanisms of scleral remodelling may be manipulated or controlled, in order to constrain eye growth and limit the development of myopia, in particular the higher degrees of myopia that lead to vision loss and blindness. In doing so, the review specifically considers recent approaches to the strengthening of the sclera, through collagen cross-linking, scleral transplantation, implantation or injection of biomaterials, or the direct therapeutic targeting and manipulation of the biochemical mechanisms known to be involved in myopia development. These latest approaches to the control of scleral changes in myopia are, where possible, placed in the context of our understanding of scleral biology, in order to bring a more complete understanding of current and future therapeutic interventions in myopia, and their consequences.

Abstract: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an emerging cause of childhood blindness in the developing countries. The low and middle-income countries are facing common challenges in the midst of the ‘third epidemic’ of ROP. Improvement in neonatal care facilities has increased survival of preterm babies. Lack of awareness and non-uniform standards of care in the ever-increasing number of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and special newborn care units (SNCUs) has resulted in this surge of ROP. Apart from low birth weight and the degree of prematurity, use of unblended supplemental oxygen, sepsis, anemia and blood transfusion are important risk factors associated with ROP in developing countries. Atypical forms of aggressive posterior ROP (APROP) are seen in heavier birth weight babies in the developing countries. Prevention of ROP by good quality neonatal care, timely diagnosis by mandatory ROP screening in NICUs and training manpower for laser treatment of ROP requires close collaboration between the neonatologists, ophthalmologists and the policy makers. Team approach and inter-disciplinary co-ordination are keys in a nation’s drive to fight this preventable cause of blindness.

Abstract: Cornea serves as the partial front barrier and major light reflection organ of the eye. The integrity of corneal surface is essential for ocular function. Injuries or congenital diseases could significantly destruct the homeostasis of the ocular surface, especially the microenvironment of limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs), and will eventually cause dysfunction of corneal regeneration and diminish of LESCs. The loss of LESCs by different reasons are named limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), which is one of the leading cause of vision loss worldwide. To restore the corneal surface, LESC transplantation in the form of tissue or cell cultures is currently a viable and promising method to treat LSCD. In this review, we aim to introduce the characters and niche of LESCs, and discuss different aspects of its application in cornea surface reconstruction.

Abstract: In a rapidly changing world, there is an increased need to cultivate ophthalmologists who are not only technically capable but also possess the leadership skills required to be at the forefront of change. Ophthalmologists make daily frontline decisions that determine the quality and efficiency of care based on their leadership qualities. However, they also educate, advocate, perform research, run departments and work in practices—all of which require the practice of effective leadership. Although the need for ophthalmic leadership has been recognised, few training programs offer leadership skills as a component of their core curricula, focussing on clinical knowledge with less emphasis on teaching of non-clinical professional competencies. Clinicians who participate in leadership development are more likely to feel empowered to provide patient-centred care, develop a greater self-awareness and confidence to initiate positive change and promote better team alignment. In turn, the ophthalmic profession collectively benefits from effective leadership as organizations are better run, issues are advocated more globally and challenges are address holistically by ophthalmologists who are not merely technically capable surgeons or researchers, but effective communicators and collaborators. In this paper, we explore the role of leadership in the spheres of healthcare and ophthalmology. We discuss the value of leadership across clinical, educational and organisational levels, with specific emphasis on the current state of development and conclude with a series of recommendations to ensure the continued development of effective ophthalmic leaders into the future.

Background: To explore the application effect of psychological nursing intervention in patients with traumatic endophthalmitis.

Methods: A total of 90 patients with traumatic endophthalmitis admitted to our hospital from August 2018 to April 2019 were selected as study objects and randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 45 cases in each group. The control group received routine nursing care, and the observation group performed psychological nursing intervention on the basis of the control group. The scores of self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) and nursing satisfaction degree were compared before and after nursing treatment in two groups.

Results: The scores of SAS and SDS of the observation group were better than those of the control group. The score of the nursing satisfaction degree of the observation group was higher than that of the control group, showing statistically significant difference (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Psychological nursing intervention can improve the physical and mental condition of patients with traumatic endophthalmitis, reduce their negative emotions such as anxiety and depression, and improve the satisfaction of nursing. It is worthy of clinical promotion.

Abstract: Timely and widely available, social media (SM) platforms and tools offer new and exciting learning opportunities in medical education. Despite scarce, we sought for a body of consistent evidence allowing us to substantially approach the concept of SM and how physicians as learners and medical educators can use SM based-education to benefit their clinical practice and their patients’ outcomes. We correlate education theories with the progression of world-wide web phases and how this influences the process of teaching and learning. We mention some examples of SM tools already in use in healthcare education. Potential advantages and effectiveness SM in medical education, as well as limitations of SM and pre-requisites for its use are discussed. Our concluding remarks underline the good practices in effectively utilizing SM in healthcare education.