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Purpose This study aimed to determine the role of miR-21 in orbital fibroblasts obtained from donors with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and to elucidate the regulation of fibrosis by miR-21 in the pathological process of TAO. Methods The expression of miR-21 was investigated in orbital tissues from 26 donors with TAO and 10 donors without TAO. Human orbital fibroblasts were cultivated from TAO donors, and the role of miR-21 in orbital fibroblast proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation was analyzed. Moreover, the effect of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) on miR-21 expression was also analyzed. In addition, the regulation of miR-21 in TGF-β1-induced collagen production was determined. Results The expression of miR-21 in orbital fibroblasts from TAO was higher than in donors without TAO. Additional experiments demonstrated that miR-21 enhanced proliferation, decreased apoptosis, and promoted differentiation in TAO orbital fibroblasts. Moreover, this study also showed that TGF-β1 induced miR-21 expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner and miR-21 promoted collagen I mRNA expression and total collagen production induced by TGF-β1. Additionally, miR-21 activated the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway by enhancing Smad3 phosphorylation. Conclusions The present study shows that miR-21 regulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation in orbital fibroblasts from TAO, and acts as a mediator in TGF-β1-induced collagen production. These data predict a close association between miR-21 and orbital muscle fibrosis, and provide a novel therapeutic target for TAO.

To investigate the retina nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in unilateral amblyopic patients with high myopia.Twenty-three cases (23 eyes) with unilateral high myopia amblyopia were tested by GD(X) ECC with laser polarized light scans in the posterior pole of retina, to measure the relative RNFL thickness according to papilla optical as a center, 3.2 mm as the diameter of outer ring, 2.4 mm as the diameter of inner ring. The relative RNFL thickness of high myopia amblyopia was compared with fellow eyes, normal eyes and high myopia respectively and statistics analysis.TSNIT average, superior average and inferior average of RNFL in high myopia amblyopia became thinning (56.39 +/- 5.69, 68.30 +/- 10.16, 67.34 +/- 5.83), it showed statistically differences when compared with fellow eyes (t = 2.090, 2.243, 4.236) and normal eyes (t = 3.087, 1.025, 3.481) (P0.05). RNFL parameters were no statistically significant differences between high myopia amblyopia and simple high myopia (t = 0.872, 0.297, 0.658; P0.05). TSNIT average decreases with axial length in high myopia amblyopia and high myopia, there was inverse linear correlation between RNFL thickness and axial length (r = -0.462, -0.395; P0.05).The RNFL thickness of unilateral high myopia amblyopia of children was thinner than normal, but there wasn't obvious compared with simple high myopia. The reasons for decreased best corrected vision of unilateral high myopia amblyopia in children still need further research.

To investigate the clinical features of congenital ocular elevator muscle palsy and to evaluate the efficacy of surgical treatment.Pre- and post-operative eye position, superior rectus muscle and inferior oblique muscle function, clinical features were examined and analyzed in 11 patients with congenital double elevator palsy of ocular muscles.When fixated with the nonparetic eye, ten of 11 patients showed hypotropia and pseudoblepharoptosis in the primary position; One of 11 patients fixated with the paretic eye and showed hypotropia in the primary position. All cases were a monocular elevation deficiency in abduction and adduction, and showed pseudoblepharoptosis. In ten patients fixated with the nonparetic eye, two of 10 were undergone inferior rectus recession on paretic eyes; six of 10 were undergone inferior rectus recession and superior oblique tenectomy on paretic eyes; two of 10 were applied inferior rectus recession and superior oblique tenectomy on paretic eyes, superior rectus recession was performed on healthy eyes in six months postoperation. The patient fixated with the paretic -eye were undergone superior rectus recession and inferior oblique tenectomy on healthy eyes. Seven patients with exotropia had lateral rectus muscle surgery performed at the time of their vertical operation. Strabismus were complete corrected in 81.8% (9/11) of patients in our study and 18.2% (2/11) of patients were partial corrected. The functions of superior rectus muscle and inferior oblique muscle were not corrected. Nine patients showed complete correction of the psuedoptosis, one patient showed partial correction of the psuedoptosis, one patient did not showed any improvement of the pseudoptosis.We conclude that superior rectus muscle and inferior oblique muscle insufficiency are the primary factors in the etiology of congenital double ocular elevator palsy. Vertical rectus recession and superior oblique tenectomy on paretic eyes is an effective way of surgical treatment the disease.

To investigate the therapeutic effect of a new probe for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.The probe was designed and manufactured by ourselves. We observed 158 cases (172 eyes) with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction and treated them with the probe 1-3 times.The mean period of postoperative follow-up was 17.8 (range 12-24 months) months. The success rate was 98.2%. Common complications included a slight blood-stained nasal discharge.Our newly designed and manufactured probe provides a new probe for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. The probe is a safe, simple and effective treatment method for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.