PurposeCorticosteroids are efficient anti-inflammation treatments. However, there are still arguments on whether it should be used in keratitis. This study was to observe the effect of corticosteroids on keratocytes both in normal condition and inflammation status in vitro.MethodsRat keratocytes were cultured and used for examination. 10 μg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to establish the inflammatory keratocyte cell model, and prednisolone acetate (PA), dexamethasone (Dex) and fluorometholone (Flu) were used as corticosteroids treatments. 5 d-growth curve and cell viabilities were assayed by CCK8, and cell morphologies and migration rate were studied. TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β levels were examined by ELISA. Western blotting was used to quantified type VI collagen (Col VI) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) expressions, and immunofluorescence staining assays of Col I and Col VI were carried out.ResultsIn normal condition, proliferation and migration of keratocytes were slightly influenced in PA, Dex and Flu groups. The secretion of Col I and Col VI was suppressed and MMP9 expression increased in corticosteroids groups. But no significant difference was seen in TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β expression levels. In inflammatory status, TNF-α, IL-6 and MMP9 levels increased in LPS group, while they significantly decreased in corticosteroids groups. Although keratocytes viabilities and migration were slightly affected in 24 h, no significant differences were seen between LPS group and corticosteroids groups in 5-d proliferation. Col I and Col VI secretion in LPS-keratocytes was maintained with corticosteroids treatments.ConclusionsCorticosteroids showed lightly effects on keratocytes proliferation and migration, but it successfully decreased TNF-α, IL-6 level and maintained the secretion of and Col I and Col VI, while suppressed the expression of MMP9 in LPS-induced keratocytes. PA was suggested to use in early stage of keratitis clinical treatment.

Background To report the first case of a cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) with ocular symptoms and review the characteristics of this case and the main point of confusion for the diagnosis of such a case. Case presentation A 58-year-old woman presented to the ophthalmology clinic with 1 and a half years of right eye redness, ocular hypertension and recurrent headache. One and a half years ago she was diagnosed with right eye dry eye and glaucoma and had received treatment according to this diagnosis. However, none of the treatments led to any improvement in redness and headache. Physical examination revealed dry eye and severe corkscrew hyperaemia with dilated vessels in the right eye. The results of fundoscopic examination of both eyes were normal. After we considered that the symptoms may be related to abnormal intracranial vessels, computed tomography angiography and venography (CTA + CTV) were performed, and the results showed an arteriovenous malformation in the right parietal-occipital area in the brain. The AVM was definitively located by further examination with digital subtraction angiography (DSA). After AVM endovascular embolism treatment, the conjunctival congestion of the right eye was significantly relieved, and the intraocular pressure decreased to normal. Conclusion In clinical practice, when corkscrew hyperaemia accompanied by neurological symptoms is found, cerebral vascular diseases might be considered. In this case, the ophthalmologist’s diagnosis should combine disease history and imaging examination.

In this study, we purified and characterized the procoagulant protein FV-2 from Daboia russelli siamensis (Myanmar) venom using ion-exchange chromatography on CM-Sephadex C-50 and gel filtration on Superdex G-75 column. The activation of factor X and prothrombin was determined, respectively, by specific chromogenic substrates. The fibrinogen-clotting activity, thermal stability, and pH stability were also determined. The N-treminal sequence was determined by the National Center of Biomedical Analysis of China. In the end, FV-2 was achieved with a molecular weight of 13,608.0 Da. It could activate factor X, but did not affect prothrombin or fibrinogen. The suitable pH was 6.5-7.5, and the suitable temperature ranged from 25 to 60°C. The N-terminal sequence was Asn-Phe-Phe-Gln-Phe-Ala-Glu-Met-Ile-Val-Lys-Met-Thr-Gly-Lys. Taken together, our studies suggest that FV-2 is a factor X-activating enzyme, which can activate factor X to factor Xa, but it has no effect on prothrombin and fibrinogen.

Our findings suggested that FII had protective effect on LPS-induced endotoxemia and organ injuries by suppressing the activation of NF-κB which decreased TNF-α level.

Background To report a case of a cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation(AVM) with eye symptoms firstly and review the characteristic of this case and the main confusing point for diagnosis of such case. Case presentation A 58-year-old women presented to the ophthalmology clinic with 1 and an half year of right eye redness, Ocular hypertension and recurrent headache. One and a half year ago she was diagnosed as right eye dry eye and glaucoma and had received treatment according to diagnosis, however all the treatment did not lead to any improvement of redness and headache. On physical examination, it revealed dry eye and severe corkscrew hyperemia with dilated vessels in the right eye. After we consider that the symptom may be related to intracranial abnormal vessels, Computed tomography angiography and venography (CTA+CTV) were performed and the results showed an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of right parietal-occipital area in the brain. The AVM was definitely located by the further examination of Digital subtraction angiography (DSA). After the AVM endovascular embolism treatment, the conjunctival congestion of the right eye was significantly relieved and the intraocular pressure was decreased to normal. Conclusion In clinical practice, when found corkscrew hyperemia accompanied by neurological symptoms, it might be considered as a result from cerebral vessels diseases, so in this case ophthalmologists diagnosis should combine disease history and imaging examination.