Shaoying Fu

OBJECTIVE: To understand the prevalence and demographic characteristics of infectious keratitis and infectious corneal blindness. METHODS: A multi-center, population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1 to August 31, 2010. A total of 191,242 individuals of all age groups from 10 geographically representative provinces were sampled using stratified, multi-stage, random and systematic sampling procedures. A majority, 168,673 (88.2%), of those sampled participated in the study. The examination protocol included a structured interview, visual acuity testing, an external eye examination, and an anterior segment examination using a slit lamp. The causes and sequelae of corneal disease were identified using uniform customized protocols. Blindness in one eye caused by infectious keratitis was defined as infectious corneal blindness. RESULTS: The prevalence of past and active infectious keratitis was 0.192% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.171-0.213%), and the prevalence of viral, bacterial, and fungal keratitis was 0.11%, 0.075%, and 0.007%, respectively. There were 138 cases of infectious corneal blindness in at least one eye in the study population (prevalence of 0.082% [95%CI, 0.068%-0.095%]). Statistical analysis suggested that ocular trauma, alcoholic consumption, low socioeconomic levels, advanced age, and poor education were risk factors for infectious corneal blindness. CONCLUSIONS: Infectious keratitis is the leading cause of corneal blindness in China. Eye care strategies should focus on the prevention and rehabilitation of infectious corneal blindness.

PURPOSE: The objective of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of rapamycin on rabbit lens epithelial cell proliferation, migration, and secretion of extracellular matrix fibronectin (Fn). METHODS: Rabbit lens epithelium cells (rLECs) were isolated from 1 month old rabbit. rLECs were either cultured for 24, 48, or 72 h with different doses of rapamycin (0.1, 1, and 10 ng/ml). The proliferation kinetics, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced migration of rLEC was determined by methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay, western blotting and transwell chamber assay, respectively. The effect of rapamycin on the synthesis of Fn was examined via immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Rapamycin significantly inhibited rLEC proliferation and PCNA protein expression when administered doses and time periods except for 0.1 ng/ml for 24 h. bFGF-induced migration rLECs was inhibited by pretreatment with rapamycin for 48 h. Extracellular matrix Fn formation of rLECs was also reduced by rapamycin. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, rapamycin strongly inhibited rLEC proliferation, bFGF-induced migration, and extracellular matrix Fn formation. Thus, rapamycin may have a potential inhibition of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) and needs further study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) on the expression of components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in cultured human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells. METHODS: Cultured human trabecular cells were transfected with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) specific for the human SPARC gene. Protein and mRNA expressions of fibronectin (FN) and the α1chains of collagen I and collagen III were quantified. RESULTS: After silencing of the SPARC gene by transfection of cells with SPARC siRNA, the expression of COL1A1 and COL3A1 mRNAs and proteins was significantly enhanced, as compared to that in the control group (all, p < 0.001). In contrast, SPARC siRNA significantly reduced the expression of FN and SPARC mRNAs and FN protein, as compared to that in the control group (all, p < 0.001.). CONCLUSIONS: SPARC modulates the expression of several ECM genes in cultured human TM cells.