Topographic specializations in the retinal ganglion cell layer of Australian passerines

Thornbills, honeyeaters, and silvereyes represent an abundant group of Australian passerines, whose diversity in niche differentiation suggests a pivotal role for vision. Using stereological methods and retinal wholemounts, we studied the topographic distribution of neurons in the ganglion cell layer of insectivorous, nectarivorous, and frugivorous species occupying terrestrial and arboreal microhabitats. All species studied have a central convexiclivate fovea (peak densities from 130,000 to 160,000 cells/mm²), which is shallow in the terrestrial/insectivorous yellow‐rumped thornbill and deep in the arboreal/nectarivorous honeyeaters and frugivorous silvereye. Surrounding the fovea, neuronal densities in the ganglion cell layer form a broadly ovoid and asymmetric plateau in the yellow‐rumped thornbill and a more restricted, circular and symmetric plateau in the other species. These differences in the plateau organization may reflect specific needs to locate food on the ground or among dense vegetation. We also found a temporal area (peak densities from 43,000 to 54,000 cells/mm²) across species, which increases spatial resolution in the frontal visual field and assists with foraging. Using microtubule‐associated protein 2 (MAP2) immunohistochemistry, we detected a higher concentration of giant ganglion cells forming an area gigantocellularis in the temporal retina of all species. Giant ganglion cell densities also form a horizontal streak in all species, except in the yellow‐rumped thornbill, which has an unusual increase toward the retinal periphery. In the yellow‐rumped thornbill and silvereye, giant ganglion cells also peak in the nasal retina. We suggest that these topographic variations afford differential sampling of motion signals for the detection of predators. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:3609–3628, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

两种纳米形貌对MG63成骨细胞增殖、分化的影响

目的:评价钛表面纳米管和纳米颗粒形貌对MG63成骨细胞的增殖、分化能力的影响。方法:通过磁控溅射和阳极氧化技术制备纳米颗粒和纳米管形貌。采用扫描电镜和轮廓仪表征材料表面形貌以及粗糙度,并将MG63成骨细胞株与不同形貌的钛材料进行复合培养,检测1d、4d、7d的MTT值及4d、7d的碱性磷酸酶活性。结果:培养1d、4d、7d后,纳米管和纳米颗粒组MTT值高于对照组,7d时,纳米管组MTT值高于纳米颗粒组;培养7d后,纳米形貌实验组碱性磷酸酶活性明显高于对照组。结论:纳米管和纳米颗粒形貌均有利于成骨细胞的增殖和分化。相对于纳米颗粒,表面的纳米管形貌更有利于促进成骨细胞的增殖。     

Fourier analysis of corneal Scheimpflug imaging: clinical use in keratoconus

AIM: To evaluate the clinical use of Fourier analysis of videokeratography data in the diagnosis and follow-up of keratoconus (KC). METHODS: We conducted a chart review of consecutive patients presented to our cornea clinic. A team of two experienced cornea specialists divided the patients into three groups: normal cornea, forme fruste KC (FFKC), and clinical KC. The exclusion criteria were a history of previous ocular surgery, any accompanying corneal pathology other than KC, high myopia (>6.00 diopters), amblyopia, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or any current autoimmune disease. The data of Fourier series harmonic analysis were evaluated for their diagnostic capacity using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. A binary logistic regression analysis was also conducted to construct a diagnostic model. A total of 259 eyes showed progression in the clinical KC group and underwent a combination of accelerated corneal collagen cross-linking and topography-guided customized treatment with an excimer laser. RESULTS: The study included 1262 eyes (618 normal, 530 KC, and 114 FFKC) of 1262 patients. We observed that maximum decentration (MaxDec) was almost as good as maximum keratometry (Kmax) in detecting progressive KC. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.95 for KC [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.93-0.96] and 0.84 for FFKC (95%CI: 0.79-0.88). Higher predictive accuracy was obtained using a model combining the spherical component, MaxDec, irregularity, and regular astigmatism in the center of the cornea (AUC: 0.97; sensitivity: 89%, and specificity: 96%). CONCLUSION: Decentration, Kmax, and posterior radii of curvatures from a 3.0-mm optical zone centered on the thinnest point of the cornea provide the highest accuracy with low reproducibility of Kmax.     

Development of visual texture segregation during the first year of life: a high-density electrophysiological study

There are important developmental changes occurring during infancy in visual cortical structures that underlie higher-order perceptual abilities. Using high-density electrophysiological recording techniques, the present study aimed to examine the development of visual mechanisms, during the first year of life, associated with texture segregation. Forty-two normal full term infants were tested at 1, 3, 6 or 12 months of age. Visual-evoked potentials to low-level stimuli varying in orientation (oriVEP) and higher-level textured stimuli (texVEP) were recorded from 128 scalp electrodes. Difference potentials were obtained to extract the VEP component associated specifically with texture segregation (tsVEP). Results show a clear developmental pattern regarding amplitude, latency and scalp distribution of tsVEP, which appears at around 3 months but does not reach maturity by 12 months of age. A reduction in latency is particularly evident between 3 and 6 months, whereas amplitude shows a gradual increase with a marked increment between 3 and 6 months for low-level orientation stimuli and between 6 and 12 months for higher-level textured stimuli. These developmental patterns are attributed to neural maturational processes such as myelination and synaptogenesis. The differential developmental rates can be explained by delayed maturational processes of brain regions involved in more complex visual processing.     

角膜形态学和生物力学参数对角膜后表面高度影响的研究

目的探讨角膜形态学和生物力学参数对近视眼人群角膜后表面高度异常的影响及其辅助诊断角膜后表面高度异常的可行性。方法病例对照研究。选取2017年12月至2018年10月在青岛眼科医院拟行角膜屈光手术的屈光不正患者144例(227只眼),其中男性90例(139只眼),女性54例(88只眼);年龄(22.8±5.6)岁。所有患者检查最佳矫正视力下的球镜和柱镜度数,并行Pentacam眼前节分析系统和Corvis ST角膜生物力学检查。根据Pentacam参数角膜后表面高度变化值(BD)进行分组,将BD<12μm定为对照组(59例,118只眼);将BD≥12μm定为高BD组(85例,109只眼),其中BD≤16μm者为可疑组(44例,53只眼),>16μm者为异常组(41例,56只眼)。选取Pentacam眼前节分析系统中BD、前表面曲率(ASK)、后表面曲率(PSK)、前表面散光(AAstig)、后表面散光(PAstig)、中央角膜厚度(CCT)、角膜直径(W-W)7个参数及Corvis ST角膜生物力学检测系统中第1次压平时间(AT1)、第1次压平长度(AL1)、第1次压平速度(AV1)、第2次压平时间(AT2)、第2次压平长度(AL2)、第2次压平速度(AV2)、最大压陷时间(HCT)、最大压陷峰距(HC-PD)、最大压陷形变幅度(HC-DA)、最大压陷曲率半径(HC-R)、形变幅度比值(DA Ratio)、综合半径、最薄点厚度/厚度变化率(ARTH)、硬度参数(SPA1)、Corvis生物力学指数(CBI)15个参数纳入研究。采用独立样本t检验、Kruskal-Wallis H检验及Bonferroni法进行组间差异性比较,利用Spearman秩相关分析探讨BD的相关影响因素,并建立多元线性回归模型寻找影响BD的主要因素。结果对照组和高BD组在年龄、球镜度数、柱镜度数差异无统计学意义(t=-3.311,-1.808,-2.359;P=0.071,0.072,0.121);Pentacam测量发现在对照组、可疑组和异常组中,ASK、PSK、PAstig、W-W组间差异有统计学意义(Z=18.492,31.547,10.773,70.167;P<0.05),AAstig、CCT组间差异无统计学意义(Z=2.204,1.108;P>0.05)。其中异常组[43.40(42.20,44.40)]较对照组[42.80(41.98,44.00)]ASK增大(t=-4.292;P<0.05),可疑组[-6.50(-6.60,-6.35)]与异常组[-6.50(-6.70,-6.33)]较对照组[-6.30(-6.50,-6.20)]PSK均增大(t=4.492,4.618;P<0.05);可疑组[0.40(0.30,0.40)]与异常组[0.40(0.30,0.40]较对照组[0.40(0.30,0.50)]PAsting均增大(t=2.796,2.515;P=0.016,0.036);可疑组[11.40(11.00,11.60)]和异常组[11.10(10.90,11.30)]较对照组[11.50(11.40,11.80)]W-W减小,同时异常组较可疑组W-W也明显减小(t=3.235,8.353,4.282;P<0.05);Corvis ST参数在3个组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。将每组患者BD与Pentacam参数进行相关性分析发现,在对照组、可疑组、异常组以及所有患者中,BD与W-W呈低至中度负相关(r=-0.614,-0.304,-0.396,-0.661;P<0.05),BD与其他参数相关性较低或未见明显相关性;将患者BD与Corvis ST参数进行相关性分析发现,仅在可疑组中,BD与AV1、HCT、HC-DA间存在低度正相关(r=0.332,0.361,0.382;P<0.05),BD与Corvis ST其他参数在各组中未见明显相关性。以BD为因变量,选取Pentacam参数与Corvis ST参数建立多元线性回归分析模型:变量W-W、ASK、PSK、HC-PD、SPA1、CCT间不存在共线性(容忍度<0.100),方程检验结果F=37.221,P<0.001,调整r^2=0.504,拟合较好。结论角膜形态学参数中角膜直径、前表面曲率、后表面曲率是影响BD的主要因素,角膜生物力学参数中HC-PD和SPA1也可能对BD产生一定程度影响。角膜形态学和生物力学参数的联合评估有助于角膜后表面高度异常的鉴别诊断。     

Enhancement of retinal pigment epithelial culture characteristics and subretinal space tolerance of scaffolds with 200 nm fiber topography

Tissue engineered retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) transplantation is a promising cell-based therapy for age-related macular degeneration. The aim of this work is to develop a supportive scaffold with a favorable topography to aid functional RPE monolayer maintenance while being tolerated underneath the retina. To this end, films and electrospun substrates with fiber diameters ranging from 200 to 1000 nm were made of polyethylene terephthalate or poly(l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone), and then tested using human fetal RPE cells in vitro and transplanted subretinally in rabbits. The results indicated that RPE on both 200 nm fiber variants showed the highest cell densities, adherent monolayers achieved deeper pigmentation, and more uniform hexagonal tight junctions. Facile subretinal implantation of flat 200 nm fiber membranes was achieved by electrospinning them onto a porous rigid-elastic carrier. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography showed a reattached, slightly thinned retina overlying the implants over 2 weeks observation. Histology demonstrated native RPE variably migrated onto the nanofibers, and a reactive gliosis with some photoreceptor degeneration. In conclusion, scaffolds with 200 nm fiber topography enhanced RPE culture, showed subretinal biocompatibility, and should thus be considered for future cell-based therapies in blinding retinal diseases.     

LASIK术后角膜地形图变化及临床疗效观察

目的 探讨准分子激光原位角膜磨镶术(Laser in situ keratomileusis,LASIK)治疗近视前后角膜地形图的变化及其与临床效果和术后并发症的关系.方法 对131例(250只眼)近视患者行LASIK术,术前及术后1月行视力、屈光度、角膜地形图及裂隙灯显微镜检查.结果 LASIK术后视力100%较术前提高;术后角膜地形图图形以平滑型(64.5%)为主;中央岛和偏心切削发生率分别为6.29%、5.03%;SimK值较术前显著降低,降低幅度与切削度数有关;PVA值与术前相比显著降低,SRI和SAI值较术前显著增高.结论 LASlK手术是目前治疗近视的最有效的方法之一,角膜地形图可帮助设计手术方案,判断手术效果,为处理术后并发症和再次补充矫正提供依据.