Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the leading cause of blindness for children, early detection and treatment can prevent ROP progression and improve the visual prognosis. ROP prevention system, including advocacy, screening, diagnosis/treatment and follow-up, is the key to reducing the rate of blindness in children. The proposed tertiary ROP prevention network includes primary health centers in county-level, secondary health centers in municipal-level and tertiary health centers in provincial-level or national-level. The idea is to explore the greatest benefits in the ROP prevention process from the existing allocation of medical resources, but also to avoid wasting at the current stage of social development. We tested this idea in Shaanxi Province recently. The preliminary practice results indicated that ROP tertiary prevention network can increase the ROP screening coverage, promote the prevention and treatment of ROP. However this work is still in its infancy. We need to expand its scope and strength the advocacy efforts to find a way to prevent and treat ROP in China.
ObjectiveTo screen compounds or drugs can affect the hypoxia induced-gene expression of retinal vascular endothelial cell based on gene expression microarrays and connectivity map (CMAP) technology. MethodsTotally 326 up-regulated and down-regulated genes of hypoxic human embryonic retinal microvascular endothelial cells minduced by cobalt chloride in the previous study were converted into query signature format documents. Gene profile of the disease characteristics was then compared with that of control in CMAP website database, positive and negative compounds related to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) were finally screened out. Results44 and 18 compounds or drugs have positive and negative relationship with ROP respectively by searching CMAP database with differentially expressed genes. Ciclopirox, cobalt chloride, gossypol and withaferin A have positive relationship with ROP. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate, harmalol, naringin and probenecid have a negative effect on ROP. ConclusionsCiclopirox, cobalt chloride, gossypol and withaferin A have a positive effect on ROP. However, cyclic adenosine monophosphate, harmalol, naringin and probenecid have a negative effect.