人脂肪组织来源的干细胞体外诱导为角膜上皮样细胞的分化潜能

目的 初步探讨人脂肪组织来源的干细胞(human adipose-derived stem cells,hADSC)体外诱导为角膜上皮样细胞的分化潜能.方法 分离、纯化、体外扩增hADSC,流式细胞术鉴定所获得细胞的CD29+、CD34-、CD49d+、CD105+、CD106-的表达情况.成脂、成骨诱导鉴定其多向分化潜能.在DMEM/F12体系、KM体系及上述二者等体积混合的KM/DMEM/F12体系内添加不同梯度浓度的生长因子对hADSC进行体外诱导:0μg·L-1、10μg·L-1、20μg·L-1、30μg·L-1、40μg·L-1、50μg·L-1的表皮生长因子(epidermal growth factor,EGF),及50μg·L-1 EGF+10μg·L-1 碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(basic fibroblast growth factor,bFGF)和50μg·L-1 EGF+20 μg·L-1 bFGF.连续诱导21 d,观察hADSC形态学的改变及第21天时角膜特异性蛋白AE5(CK3/CK12)的免疫化学表达情况,比较不同培养体系及不同浓度生长因子对hADSC诱导作用的差异.结果 流式细胞仪测定传3-5代的细胞CD34-、CD106-、CD29+、CD49d+、CD105+.成脂、成骨体外诱导14 d后.油红O、碱性磷酸酶染色阳性率分别为74.6%和29.3%.KM体系中加入终浓度为0～50μg·L-1 EGF诱导21d后,hADSC AE5阳性细胞率均占90%以上.其中,40μg·L-1EGF诱导下的AE5阳性细胞率为98.7%,50μg·L-1 EGF可达到100%.而加入bFGF的hADSC 则为AE5弱阳性.而另2个体系对各浓度ECF、bFGF诱导的hADSC的作用均为阴性.结论 人吸脂术废弃液中可获得大量高纯度脂肪组织来源的干细胞,经体外条件诱导具备向角膜上皮样细胞分化潜能.添加EGF的角质细胞培养液有利于其分化,并具有浓度依赖性,bFGF则对分化有抑制性作用.     

生长因子对培养的胚胎视网膜神经细胞增殖与凋亡的影响

目的 探讨表皮生长因子（epidermal growth factor,EGF）、成纤维细胞生长因子（fibroblast growth factor,FGF）及胎牛血清对体外培养的人胚胎视网膜神经细胞 生长、增殖、分化和凋亡等的影响及可能的机制。 方法 采用胎牛血清培养人胚胎视网膜神经细胞，加入或不加入EGF、FGF。通过神经元特异稀醇化酶（neuron specific enolase, NSE）、视网膜神经节细胞特异的Thy1.1抗体、胶质纤维酸性蛋白(glial fibrillary acidic protein,GFAP)免疫组织化学染色、倒置显微镜及扫描电镜观察鉴定细胞成分；细胞生长曲线及溴脱氧尿苷（bromodeoxyuridine, BrdU）掺入测定细胞增殖率；原位末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导的脱氧尿苷三磷酸切口末端标记（Tdt-mediated dUTP nick end labelling, TUN EL）检测细胞凋亡；c-fos、c-jun及bcl-2、bax免疫组织化学染色判断转录调控因子及细胞凋亡调控因子表达水平，计数阳性细胞并进一步作统计分析。 结果 经过EGF、FGF培养的人胚胎视网膜细胞总数增加，细胞倍增时间缩短，BrdU掺入率增加，凋亡细胞数减少，其 中NSE、Thy1.1阳性细胞数明显增加。同时，c-fos、c-jun及bcl-2阳性细胞数也增加。 结论 生长因子EGF、FGF可通过上调转录因子c-fos、c-jun及细胞凋亡抑制因子bcl-2表达促进体外培养的人胚胎视网膜细胞存活与增殖。 （中华眼底病杂志，2003，19：113-116）     

大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞体外分化为视网膜神经节样细胞的实验研究

目的探讨大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞（BMSCs）体外向视网膜神经节细胞（RGCs）方向分化的可能性。方法取成年大鼠BMSCs原代培养，传代后获得高纯度BMSCs。采用碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）诱导法，相差显微镜和荧光黄（LY）细胞内染色观察诱导后细胞形态的变化，并采用免疫细胞化学法检测微丝微管相关蛋白-2（MAP-2）、Thy1．1和胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP）的表达。结果诱导后BMSCs呈现神经元样外观。LY染色可见细胞的多级突起，部分邻近细胞出现LY染色阳性。诱导后的神经元样细胞MAP-2和Thy1．1表达阳性，GFAP表达阴性。结论大鼠BMSCs经bFGF体外诱导可分化为具有RGCs表型的神经元样细胞，诱导后细胞间存在突触联系。     

碱性成纤维细胞生长因子对视网膜缺血再灌注损伤中蛋白激酶C表达、Ca2+ 含量变化的影响

蛋白激酶C(protein kinase C，PKC)是调控细胞凋亡过程中的一个信号传导分子，Ca^2 则在视网膜缺血再灌注细胞凋亡的诱导和信号传导中起到重要作用。有研究发现，碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(basic fibroblast growth factor，bFGF)在视网膜缺血再灌注损伤中起到治疗作用。我们通过建立视网膜缺血再灌注损伤模型，眼内注射bFGF，观察视网膜PKC表达和细胞内Ca^2 含量的变化，探讨bFGF在视网膜缺血再灌注损伤中发挥作用的途径。     

表皮生长因子通过EGFR/AKT信号通路对视网膜色素上皮细胞增殖和迁徙的影响

目的：探讨表皮生长因子(epidermal growth factor,EGF)对视网膜色素上皮(retinal pigment epithelial,RPE)细胞增殖和迁徙的影响。

方法：体外培养人RPE细胞株(ARPE-19细胞),给予不同浓度EGF处理ARPE-19细胞,通过噻唑蓝(methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium,MTT)实验、5-溴脱氧尿苷(5-bromodeoxyuridine,BrdU)吸收实验和细胞划痕实验检测EGF对ARPE-19细胞活力、增殖和迁徙的影响; 通过Western blot法检测EGF对表皮生长因子受体(epidermal growth factor receptor,EGFR)和蛋白激酶B(protein kinase B,AKT)蛋白表达的影响。

结果：MTT实验显示50、100ng/mL EGF处理12h诱导ARPE-19细胞活力增加; BrdU吸收实验显示100ng/mL EGF处理24h诱导BrdU染色阳性ARPE-19细胞数增加; 细胞划痕实验显示100ng/mL EGF处理24h可以诱导ARPE-19细胞迁徙能力增加。Western blot检测显示使用10～100ng/mL EGF 处理细胞 12h或者100ng/mL EGF 处理细胞15～180min均可以诱导磷酸化EGFR(pEGFR)表达升高和总EGFR表达降低,同时也可以诱导磷酸化AKT(pAKT)表达升高,但是对总AKT表达无显著影响。

结论：EGF通过EGFR/AKT信号通路增加RPE细胞的活力、增殖和迁徙能力,可能对增殖性玻璃体视网膜病变中RPE细胞的异常增殖和迁徙起到重要作用。     

神经营养因子与生长因子在体外对人视网膜神经节细胞之作用

目的 研究神经营养因子(neurotrophic factor)与生长因子(growth factor)在体外对人视网膜神经节细胞(retinal ganglion cell,RGC)生存的作用。 方法 从捐献的尸体眼球分离并培养RGC。RGC之鉴定系根据形态学与免疫细胞化学研究。将各种神经营养因子与生长因子分别加入培养液。对RGC计数,并与未加任何因子的对照组相比较。 结果 未加任何因子的培养中不见或仅有极少量的RGC。加有神经营养蛋白-3(neurotrophin-3,NT-3)、神经生长因子(nerve growth factor,NGF)、表皮生长因子(epidermal growth factor,EGF)与血小板源性生长因子(plate derived growth factor, PDGF)的培养亦同。加有下列因子的培养中有较多的RGC出现,计数为(细胞数/每10个显微镜野)：脑源性神经营养因子(brain derived neurotrophic factor,BDNF)：4.08;睫状神经营养因子(ciliary neurotrophic factor,CNTF)：1.23;神经营养蛋白-4/5(neurotrophin-4/5,NT-4/5)：2.63;碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(basic fibroblast growth factor,bFGF)：2.65。 结论 BDNF、NT-4/5、bFGF与CNTF在体外能改善人RGC之生存,而NGF、NT-3、EGF与PDＧF则不能。 (中华眼底病杂志, 1999, 15: 149-152)     

胎儿视网膜前体细胞的分离培养

目的建立视网膜前体细胞的培养方法。方法分离8~12周流产胎儿的视网膜神经上皮细胞，采用悬浮和贴壁两种方法分别进行培养和传代，取传代细胞用含5%胎牛血清的、无碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）的培养基诱导分化培养14 d，并采用免疫荧光法检测培养细胞诱导分化前后前体细胞和视网膜终末细胞标记物表达的改变。结果悬浮培养的细胞形成神经球并表达神经干细胞的标记物巢蛋白nestin，但无法成功传代扩增；贴壁培养的细胞可连续传代并表达nestin，传代细胞诱导分化后表达视网膜终末细胞的标记物胶质原纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)、β微管蛋白(β-tubulin)和恢复蛋白recoverin。结论从8～12周的人胚胎视网膜神经上皮分离培养的视网膜前体细胞具有体外扩增和多分化潜能。（中华眼底病杂志，2007，23：98-100）     

大鼠胚胎视网膜干细胞的分离培养

目的分离培养大鼠胚胎视网膜干细胞。方法从胎龄第16d的SD大鼠视网膜神经上皮分离视网膜细胞并进行悬浮培养,观察细胞增殖以及自发分化情况,采用免疫细胞化学方法检测Nestin、β-Tubulin、GFAP和Recoverin的表达。结果原代细胞可形成悬浮生长的神经球,传代后能形成新的细胞球。原代及传代细胞大部分表达神经干细胞标记物Nestin,分化后的细胞部分表达神经元标记物β-Tubulin或神经胶质细胞标记物GFAP,少数细胞表达光感受器细胞标记物Recoverin。结论分离培养的SD胚鼠视网膜神经干细胞可以在体外扩增并具有多分化潜能。     

生长因子对人视网膜神经胶质细胞增殖的作用

目的：研究生长因子对培养的人视网膜神经胶质细胞增殖的作用。方法：在培养的人视网膜神经胶质细胞中分别加入表皮生长因子(epidermal growth factor, EGF,0.5～100.0ng/ml)和神经生长因子(nerve growth factor,NGF,0.05～10.0ng/ml),培养3天后用MTT法测量细胞增殖情况。结果：EGF(0.5～100.0ng/ml)和NGF(0.05～10.0ng/ml)均能刺激人视网膜神经胶质细胞的增殖,其EC₅₀(half effective concentration,半数有效浓度)分别为17.0ng/ml和 0.7ng/ml。结论：EGF和NGF均能刺激人视网膜神经胶质细胞的增殖,它们可能在增殖性玻璃体视网膜病变(proliferative vitreoretinopathy,PVR）等增殖性病变中起一定作用。 (中华眼底病杂志,1998,14:33-34) (中华眼底病杂志,1998,14:33-34)     

大鼠视网膜前体细胞的传代培养及体外分化诱导

目的了解表皮生长因子（EGF）、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）及睫状神经营养因子（CNTF）对其分化的影响。方法取孕18d的SD大鼠胚胎眼的视网膜，分别用悬浮法及贴壁法培养。传至第一代后转入分别含10ng／mlCNTF、20ng／mlEGF、10ng／mlbFGF、10％胎牛血清的DMEM：F12中进行诱导分化，贴壁后2、3、4、6d分别行nestin、Vimentin、Opsin及GFAP的二步法免疫组织化学染色。结果大鼠的RPCs在悬浮时呈球状生长。nestin及Vimentin染色阳性，悬浮培养传至一代，贴壁培养传至五代，传代后细胞数量不断减少并可在体外分化为含视网膜光感受器细胞及胶质细胞的混合神经元。CNTF、bFGF及EGF不同程度地增加了光感受器细胞的比例。结论RPCs可在体外培养并传代。CNTF、bFGF及EGF参与视网膜发育的调节。     

低温冷冻对角膜缘干细胞生物学特性的影响

目的 评价低温冷冻保存对体外培养兔角膜缘干细胞生物学特性的影响.设计实验研究.研究对象新西兰白兔.方法 新西兰白兔20只（40眼）,制备2 mm周边角膜和2 mm球结膜的环形浅层角膜缘植片,待形成细胞单层后,将培养的细胞低温冻存1个月,然后复苏培养.将未冻存的细胞和冻存复苏后的细胞采用免疫细胞荧光染色、流式细胞仪检测,鉴定培养细胞的生物学特性,通过倒置显微镜、MTT比色法比较传代培养的角膜缘干细胞低温保存前后的形态结构和特性.主要指标角膜缘干细胞活性及生物学特性.结果 显微镜下观察冻存复苏后的细胞,与未冻存细胞相比,细胞状态差,贴壁时间晚,核浆比变小,形态不规则;免疫荧光细胞染色检测ABCG2单克隆抗体阳性率未冻存细胞为81.7%,低温冻存细胞降至46.9%,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;流式细胞仪检测低温冻存细胞与未冻存细胞角膜缘干细胞占总细胞的比例分别为0.90%和2.43%,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;MTT法检测低温冻存的细胞比未冻存细胞增殖活性降低,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）.结论 低温冻存后角膜缘干细胞的活性和生物学特性均受到严重影响,其冻存方法和复苏技术有待进一步改进.     

体外培养的晶状体上皮细胞株的确定及生长、分化规律

目的建立牛、兔、人晶状体上皮细胞的体外培养，进一步认识晶状体上皮细胞生长、分化规律。方法应用组织块培养方法进行３种晶状体上皮细胞的体外培养，经Ｇｉｍｓａ染色，在倒置显微镜下对培养的晶状体上皮细胞的生长、分化规律进行观察。结果培养至６ｗｋ的人胎儿晶状体上皮细胞中有特征性的“晶状体小体”形成；牛、兔晶状体上皮细胞去分化是发生在第３代，而人晶状体上皮细胞在第４代开始出现去分化；它们传代至第８代时生长都趋于停止，出现老化表现；来自人的晶状体上皮细胞生长增殖率与年龄呈负相关关系（ｒ＝－０．９９６）。结论“晶状体小体”的形成可作为确定晶状体上皮细胞株的一项特征性依据，而体外培养的人、牛、兔晶状体上皮细胞具有相同的有限生长潜能，在相同的条件下，牛、兔晶状体上皮细胞的生长增殖速度比人晶状体上皮细胞快，但易于发生去分化；此外，人晶状体上皮细胞的生长增殖率与年龄密切相关，年龄越小，晶状体上皮细胞的生长增殖速度越快。     

Magnetic attraction of iron-endocytosed corneal endothelial cells to Descemet's membrane

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of a novel method of magnetic attraction of iron-endocytosed corneal endothelial cells to Descemet's membrane. METHODS: Cultured rabbit corneal endothelial cells (RCEC) were exposed to spherical iron powder at various concentration ranging 0-100 micro moll(-1). After 24hr, the cell density and morphology were evaluated. RCEC that had been exposed to spherical iron powder (RCEC-iron), were trypsinized and poured onto a culture dish where a neodium magnet was fixated paracentrally. After 24hr, the cell density was measured at the areas with and without a magnet. Rabbits' corneas were cryo-injuried to detach corneal endothelial cells and 1x10(5)/200 micro l RCEC-iron were injected into the anterior chamber. Neogium magnet was fixed on the lid for 24hr to attract RCEC to Descemet's membrane. Each operated eye was observed up to 2 months after the injury. RCEC group (rabbits with cryo-injury and injection of normal cultured RCEC) and cryo group (rabbits with cryo-injury but without injection of RCEC) served as controls. RESULTS: The RCEC-iron density on the dish decreased in the medium containing iron powder of 10 micro moll(-1) or more. When RCEC had been exposed to iron powder of between 5 and 10 micro moll(-1), the ratio of RCEC in the field with a magnet to RCEC in the field without a magnet increased. In the RCEC-iron group, the mean corneal thickness gradually decreased and was significantly less than in the other two groups at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the cell injection. Fluorescein microscopic examination showed a monolayer of DiI-labelled cells on the Descemet's membrane. CONCLUSION: Magnetic attachment of iron-endocytosed corneal endothelial cells to Descemet's nembrane can be a method of choice for corneal endothelial decompensation.     

Cytotoxic effects of antiproliferative agents on human retinal glial cells in vitro

Purpose: Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is characterizedby the formation of cellular membranes on the detached retina and also in the vitreous. Glial cellscan be found in epiretinal and subretinal membranes from eyes with PVR, proliferative diabeticretinopathy (PDR), idiopathic macular pucker, uveitis and other diseases affecting theretina. Proliferation and contraction of glial cells appears to play a role in the pathogenesisof PVR. This study is designed to inspect the effectiveness of harringtonine, as well as colchicine,daunomycin and fluorouracil, against cellular proliferation of cultured human retinal glial cellsthat might be involved in the retinal and/or vitreous proliferation. Methods: Cultures of human retinal glial cells were preparedusing the enzyme digesting method. Cells that had been in culture for 2–5 passages were usedin this study. Harringtonine (0.063 g/ml 2.0 g/ml), colchicines(0.5 g/ml 16.0 g/ml), daunomycin (0.1 g/ml 3.2 g/ml) and 5-fluorouracil(0.5 g/ml 16.0 g/ml) were added to cultures of human retinal glial cellsand the proliferation rates of the cells were measured by the MTT method. Results: Harringtonine at the dosage of 0.063 g/mlinduced suppression of cellular growth, but the changes were not statistically significant (p > 0.05).At a dosage ranging from 0.125 g/ml to 2.0 g/ml, harringtonine significantly suppressedcellular growth according to the test (p < 0.01). Likewise, other antiproliferativeagents inhibited cellular growth significantly at a dosage from 1.0 g/ml to 16.0 g/ml(colchicine), 0.2 g/ml to 3.2 g/ml (daunomycin) and 1.0 g/ml to 16.0 g/ml(5-fluorouracil), but not at 0.5 g/ml (colchicine), 0.1 g/ml (daunomycin) and0.5 g/ml (5-fluorouracil). The ID₅₀ were 0.33 g/ml (harringtonine), 3.11 g/ml (colchicine), 0.79 g/ml (daunomycin) and 5.23 g/ml (5-fluorouracil), respectively.Conclusions: Harringtonine was extremely effective ininhibiting human retinal glial cell proliferation, like other antiproliferative drugs such as colchicine,daunomycin and 5-fluorouracil. Harringtonine, therefore, may be a candidate for further studies regardingthe treatment of experimental PVR.     

曲尼司特对培养兔晶状体上皮细胞的作用

目的 观察曲尼司特(Tranilast)对培养兔晶状体上皮细胞增殖的作用及其对细胞周期的影响。方法 将传代的兔晶状体上皮细胞用含不同曲尼司特浓度的培养液培养，每天计数，绘制细胞生长曲线，收集细胞做流式细胞仪检查。空白培养液培养的细胞做阴性对照，含0．004％丝裂霉素C(MMC)培养液培养的细胞为阳性对照。结果 用180μmol／L的培养液培养细胞时细胞增殖明显受到抑制，随药物浓度增加，细胞增殖受抑制越明显，细胞生长曲线越低平，细胞形态变化不大。经流式细胞术进行细胞周期分析，随药物浓度增加G0／G1期细胞数增多(67．47％～79％)，而S期细胞数减少(21．19％～4．32％)。阳性对照组细胞于48h全部死亡。结论 曲尼司特具有抑制晶状体上皮细胞增殖的效果，且呈浓度依赖性。曲尼司特将细胞抑制在G1期的限制点内。     

尾静脉注射碘酸钠对小鼠视网膜形态结构变化的影响

目的　探讨尾静脉注射碘酸钠（NaIO₃）对小鼠视网膜形态结构的影响。方法　36只昆明小鼠分为4组:对照组、损伤3 d组、损伤7 d组、损伤14 d组。对照组不作任何处理，各损伤组小鼠经尾静脉单剂量注射NaIO₃（35 mg?kg^-1）。在NaIO₃损伤3 d、7 d、14 d后取材，进行视网膜组织铺片和组织切片。利用HE染色、NeuN免疫组织化学染色及 Opn1mw、GFAP、Iba1免疫荧光染色，检测NaIO₃注射后不同时间小鼠视网膜形态结构的改变。结果　HE染色结果显示，损伤3 d后外核层每10 μm长度细胞数由正常水平（31.97±2.27）个下降至（26.21±0.83）个，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；损伤7 d后内核层每10 μm长度细胞数由正常水平（12.33±0.16）个下降至（11.39±0.43）个，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。NeuN染色结果显示，损伤14 d后视网膜神经节细胞层每100 μm长度视网膜神经节细胞数由正常水平（14.92±1.74）个下降至（11.25±0.09）个，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。GFAP染色结果显示，损伤3 d组每200 μm × 200 μm 范围内活化的Müller细胞数由对照组的（16.96±0.85）个增加至（20.42±1.64）个，差异也有统计学意义（P<0.05）。Opn1mw、Iba1染色结果显示，损伤后视网膜视锥细胞外节段变薄、小胶质细胞数增加。结论　尾静脉注射NaIO₃会引起小鼠视网膜形态结构不可逆的损伤，且该损伤具有时间依赖性。     

兔角膜内皮、上皮及基质细胞体外培养扩增的研究

目的 建立角膜上皮、基质及内皮细胞体外培养扩增的简单稳定的方法，为组织工程化角膜的构建提供种子细胞。方法 内皮细胞与后弹力层在培养基中孵育后消化法获原代细胞，胰酶消化去除表层上皮后取角膜缘，组织块法培养角膜缘上皮细胞，基质细胞应用胶原酶消化法获原代培养，各细胞融合后胰酶消化依次传代培养。结果 原代内皮细胞4—5d融合成单层细胞，可连续传6—7代。上皮细胞1周左右生长融合，连续传3—4代后细胞形态改变。基质细胞接种6—7d后近融合，传代后增殖明显，可连续传10代。结论依据角膜组织特征选择合适的方法体外分离、培养角膜3种细胞成分，可获连续传代扩增的角膜细胞。     

Amacrine and horizontal cell dysfunction in adult ceroid-lipofuscinosis (Kufs disease) and anatomical correlates in the ovine model

Psychophysical examination of the visual performance of a patient with Kufs disease suggests abnormal functioning of the amacrine and horizontal cell systems of lateral inhibition. The sheep model offers insight into early patho-physiology of these cell types.     

Effects of ambient oxygen concentration on the proliferation and viability of cultured human corneal epithelial cells

Ambient oxygen (O(2)) affects the metabolism and other functions of corneal epithelial cells. The effects of O(2) concentration on the proliferation and viability of corneal epithelial cells in culture were investigated. Simian virus 40-transformed human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells were maintained at 37 degrees C in a humidified incubator containing 5% CO(2) and 95% air. The cells were subsequently transferred to a multigas incubator and exposed to 5% CO(2) and either 1, 21, or 60% O(2) plus 94, 74, or 35% N(2), respectively. Cell proliferation was evaluated by determination of cell number and measurement of the incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine. Cell lysis was quantified by measurement of the release of lactate dehydrogenase. Apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometric analysis of cells stained with annexin V and propidium iodide as well as by immunoblot analysis of cleavage of caspase-7. The phosphorylation (activation) of Akt was also detected by immunoblot analysis. Hyperoxia (60% O(2)) inhibited the increase in cell number and the incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine apparent in HCE cells exposed to normoxia (21% O(2)). It also induced the release of lactate dehydrogenase, an increase in the proportion of apoptotic (annexin V(+), propidium iodide(-)) cells, the cleavage of caspase-7, and the phosphorylation of Akt. None of these effects was observed in cells exposed to hypoxia (1% O(2)). The amounts of the cleaved forms of caspase-3, 6, and 9 did not differ among HCE cells cultured under 1, 21, or 60% O(2). These results indicate that hyperoxia inhibited the proliferation of, and induced death by apoptosis in, cultured human corneal epithelial cells. The antiapoptotic protein Akt was also activated in cells exposed to hyperoxia, possibly reflecting a protective response to oxygen toxicity.     

Socioeconomic and Ethnic Disparities in Periocular Cutaneous Malignancies

ABSTRACT

Cutaneous malignancies make up the majority of periocular tumors diagnosed and treated by ophthalmologists. In this review, we examine literature regarding ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in incidence and clinical outcomes of the three most common cutaneous periocular tumors: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. In all three tumor types, the literature shows an increased incidence among two groups: those with lightly pigmented skin and those of higher socioeconomic status. While incidence is high in these groups, clinical outcomes for these patients tend to be good. Those with lower socioeconomic status and ethnic minorities, on the other hand, have a low incidence but are more likely to have poor clinical outcomes. These disparities are likely the result of both biologic and behavioral differences between patients and could provide opportunities for intervention to change risk perception and improve outcomes.