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The meibomian gland is a unique sebaceous gland located in the eyelid. Its main function is to secrete lipids and form the lipid layer of the tear film to delay the evaporation of waterborne tears, increase the surface tension of the tear film, and to lubricate the contact area of the eyelid and eyeball. Abnormal secretion of the meibomian gland is known as meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), which has become the most important cause of evaporative dry eye disease (DED). The clinical pathophysio-logical process and underlying molecular mechanisms of MGD are not clear. As serious side effects may occur with the long-term use of hormonotherapy and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for the treatment of MGD, meibomian gland physiotherapy is considered the most effective and safest therapy for MGD. This review summarizes the physical therapy modalities of western medicine (WM) and traditiond Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of MGD to provide optimal treatments for these patients and to further lay a foundation for mechanistic studies of MGD.

Objective: To explore the molecular targets and associated potential pathways of Lycii Fructus (LF, Gou Qi Zi, 枸杞子) in the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) by the approaches of network pharmacology and bioinformatics. Methods: The potential blood-entry active ingredients and targets of LF were retrieved by Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). RP-related gene targets were retrieved through disease comprehensive databases. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of LF component-targets and RP disease-targets was constructed by STRING, and the intersection of the 2 networks was extracted. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of theintersection network were conducted by Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). CytoHubba was used to screen the key targets. Results: A total of 188 chemical constituents related to LF was retrieved from TCMSP database. 45 active ingredients were screened according to pharmacokinetic parameters oral bioavailability (OB) and drug similarity (DL). 36 active ingredients were further screened and 201 targets related to these constituents were obtained. 206 target genes directly related to RP were obtained from the disease comprehensive databases, and 89 genes were obtained from the intersection of component-target and disease-target PPI network. These genes were mainly involved in intracellular signal transduction, GTPase activity regulation, cell morphology regulation, and other biological processes. Molecular functions were mainly related to Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor activity, GTPase activator activity, receptor signal protein serine/threonine kinase activity and so on. They were enriched in the cytoplasm, cell membrane, Golgi apparatus, and other regions. The mechanism was related to cell cycle pathways, neurotrophin signaling pathways, Ras signaling pathways, and so on. 10 key gene targets of LF in the treatment of RP were screened. Conclusions: The material basis for LF to exert its pharmacodynamic effect is 36 active ingredients such as cycloartenol, mandenol, and so on. The key targets of LF in the treatment of RP include 10 genes, such as Rho, PAK, and so on. The main mechanism is related to the regulation of the Ras signaling pathway, neurotrophin signaling pathway, cell cycle related pathway, and other signaling networks. Keywords: Network pharmacology, Retinitis pigmentosa, Lycii Fructus (Gou Qi Zi, 枸;杞;子;), Molecular mechanism, Target, Signaling pathway

Objective: To investigate the effects of Lycii Fructus (LF, Gou Qi Zi, 枸杞子) and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix Ex Rhizoma (SM, Dan Shen, 丹 参 ) on the syndrome of deficiency with blood stasis in the RCS (rdy-/-, p-/-) rats with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Methods: A total of 32 RCS (rdy-/-, p-/-) rats were divided into 4 groups (equal amounts of female and male rats in each group): model group treated with 0.9% normal saline, LF group treated with LF formula granules, SM group treated with SM formula granules, and LF and SM (L·S) group treated with LF and SM formula granules. Eight RCS (rdy +/ +, p +/ +) rats (4 males and 4 females) were treated with 0.9% normal saline to serve as blank group. The contents of E2, PG, P-Selectin, plasma viscosity, whole blood relative index of the high shear rate and fibrinogen content in plasma, and the content of cAMP and cGMP in retinal homogenate were detected. The retina was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Results: The contents of E2, PG, P-Selectin, plasma viscosity, whole blood relative index of the high shear rate, and fibrinogen content in the plasma of L·S group significantly differed from those of model group (P < 0.01), but were similar to those of blank group. The contents of cAMP and cGMP in the retinal homogenate of L·S group significantly differed from those in model group (P < 0.01) but were similar to those in blank group (P > 0.05). Conclusions: LF and SM can effectively treat retinitis pigmentosa by ameliorating the syndrome of deficiency with blood stasis. Keywords: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP), Lycii Fructus (Gou Qi Zi, 枸;杞;子;), Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix Ex Rhizoma (Dan Shen, 丹;参;), Syndrome of deficiency with blood stasis, RCS (rdy-/-, p-/-) rat

Objective: To observe the effects of Buddlejae Flos (Mi Meng Hua, 密蒙花) granules on the expression of TGF-β1, NF-κB, IL-10 and IL-12 in lacrimal gland cells in castrated male rabbits. Methods: A total of 30 New Zealand male white rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups. Group A: blank group; group B: model group; group C: Buddlejae Flos (Mi Meng Hua, 密蒙花) granules group; group D: placebo group; group E: testosterone group. Except for the group A, all rabbits were treated with bilateral testicular and epididymis resection before intervention. Rabbits in group C were administered with Buddlejae Flos (Mi Meng Hua, 密蒙花) granules (100 mg/kg), 3 times per day; Rabbits in group D were administered with normal saline, 3 times per day. Rabbits in group E were injected with testosterone propionate (0.5 mL/kg) in the thigh muscle, every 3 days. Schirmer I test (SIT) and break-up time (BUT) were measured on 1st day before modeling and 30th day after modeling. After 30 days of intervention, all rabbits were sacrificed. The removal lacrimal gland was stained in immunohistochemica staining. The expression of TGF-β1, NF-κB, IL-10 and IL-12 in lacrimal gland tissue of each group was detected, and the structure of lacrimal gland was observed. Results: The results of SIT and BUT showed that there was significant difference between group B and D compared with group A (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between group C and E (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the comparison of inflammatory factors TGF-β1, NF-κB, IL-10 and IL-12 between group B and D (P > 0.05). There were significant differences between group B and D compared with other groups (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between group A, C and E (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Buddlejae Flos (Mi Meng Hua, 密蒙花) granules have an inhibitory effect on the expression of TGF-β1, NF-κB, IL-10 and IL-12 in castrated male rabbit lacrimal gland cells, and alleviate the inflammation of lacrimal gland tissue by inhibiting the expression of TGF-β1, NF-κB, IL-10 and IL-12 in lacrimal gland tissue, so as to treat dry eye. Keywords: Buddlejae Flos (Mi Meng Hua, 密;蒙;花;) granules, Castrated male rabbit, Lacrimal gland tissue, Inflammatory factors, Dry eye

Objective: To analyze the effects of Dan Huang Ming Mu Recipe (DHMMR) (a pharmaceutical preparation from herbs and having the function of replenishing vital essence, removing heat, promoting blood circulation and excreting pathogenic water) on diabetic retinopathy (DR) after retinal laser photocoagulation through regulating the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF). Methods: Forty male Brown Norway (BN) rats were randomly divided into blank group (group A, 10 BN rats) and model group (30 BN rats). DR models were induced by 40 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) and the body weight and blood glucose of rats were monitored. After 12-week injection, fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) and histopathological examination were detected to confirm the successful establishment of DR models. Subsequently, the right eyes of model group rats were conducted retinal laser photocoagulation with the left eyes having no retinal laser photocoagulation and rats of the model group were randomly divided into group B (the model control group), group C (the positive control group), and group D (the DHMMR group), with 10 rats in each group. Rats of the group A and the group B were given vehicle, and the group C were given calcium dobesilate suspension by gavage, and the group D were given DHMMR by gavage. After 4-week gavage, FFA was carried out to observe the fundus microvascular change. Then, the rats were sacrificed to do histopathological examinations and the serum levels of P-selectin, cAMP, cGMP, and the relative expression of the protein of VEGF and PEDF in retina were detected. Results: After 12-week STZ injection, the blood glucose of the model group were pronouncedly higher than the blank group (P < 0.01). Fundus micro-hemangioma changes were observed in the rats of the model group through FFA, and the rats of the blank group did not see any changes. The pictures of HE staining showed that the retinal structure of the model group was more disordered than the blank group. After 4-week gavage, treatments with DHMMR showed dramatic reduction of serum levels of P- selectin, cAMP and cGMP compared with the group B (P < 0.01). FFA and histopathological examinations of DHMMR-treated rats revealed significantly suppression of retinal edema, fundus microvascular destruction and retinal destruction distinguishing from the group B. And the relative expression of VEGF protein of the group D and the group A was markedly lower than that of the group B (P < 0.01). The relative expression of PEDF protein of the group D and the group A was dramatically higher than that of the group B to the contrary (P < 0.01). Conclusions: DHMMR demonstrates pronounced suppressive effects on the progression of DR after retinal laser photocoagulation, through down-regulating VEGF and up- regulating PEDF. Keywords: Diabetic retinopathy (DR), Dan Huang Ming Mu Recipe (DHMMR), Reinal laser photocoagulation, Brown Norway (BN) rats, Streptozotocin (STZ), Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF)