The exact pathophysiological mechanisms of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) remain elusive. The risk factors of ROP include excessive oxygen therapy, malnutrition, infection and inflammation. Among the factors above, the effect of inflammation on ROP has received more attention. TNF-α is a biological active protein which is involved in neovascularization and inflammation. It may play a role in the development of ROP. This review summarized the studies on the association between TNF-α and ROP in recent years, so as to provide a new way to further study the pathogenesis and treatment methods of ROP.
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of retinal hemorrhage on the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) by laser photocoagulation.MethodsRetrospective case analysis. Screening and diagnosis of 134 eyes in 67 patients with ROP in Zone Ⅱ Stage 3+ were included in the study. Among them, 32 patients were male and 35 patients were female. The average birth gestational age was 27.80±2.55 weeks. The average birth weight was 1060±320 g. All children underwent binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy and RetCam Ⅲ. Of the 134 eyes, 38 eyes (28%) with anterior, ridge or vitreous hemorrhage (group A); 96 eyes (72%) without hemorrhage. Retinal avascular photocoagulation was performed within 72 hours after diagnosis by intravenous sedative combined with ocular surface anesthesia with 810 nm laser. Follow-up was performed at 1, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment, and then every 6 months thereafter. The same equipment and methods before treatment were used to examine and document the regression and progression of ROP. The number of eyes with lesions after photocoagulation in the two groups was compared by χ2 test. The t-test was used to compare the gestational age and birth weight.ResultsAmong 134 eyes, lesions completely resolved in 125 eyes (93.3%), progressed in 9 eyes (6.7%). In group A, 7 eyes were progressive (18.4%). In group B, 2 eyes were progressive (2.1%). There was a statistically significant difference in the number of eyes with lesions after laser treatment in group A and B (χ2=9.14, P=0.003). There was no significant difference in birth gestational age and birth weight (t=0.85, 0.25; P=0.40, 0.80).ConclusionThe laser photocoagulation is safe and effective in the treatment of ROP. The preretinal, ridge or vitreous hemorrhage is related to the progression of the lesion after laser photocoagulation.
Fundus neovascularization is a significant cause of ocular diseases, mainly including retinal neovascularization and choroidal neovascularization. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy, though effective, has limitations such as a short half-life, non-responsiveness, and drug resistance. 6-Phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), a key regulator of glycolysis, affects the generation of pathological blood vessels by modulating the metabolism of vascular endothelial cells. Small molecule inhibitors targeting PFKFB3 protein have been confirmed in animal and cell models to significantly inhibit pathological angiogenesis, showing good therapeutic potential. However, most of them are still in the preclinical research stage. In the future, it is necessary to further investigate the mechanism of PFKFB3, optimize the specificity and safety of the inhibitors, and explore the effects of combining them with existing therapies, so as to provide new strategies for the treatment of fundus neovascular diseases.
ObjectiveTo understand the current status, research hotspots, and future trends in the field of retinoblastoma (RB). MethodsUsing the Web of Science Core Collection SSCI and SCI-Expanded as data sources, relevant RB literature from January 2015 to November 2024 was retrieved. The bibliometric analysis software CiteSpace 6.2.R6 was employed to perform visual analyses of countries/regions, institutions, journals, authors, co-cited references, and keywords. ResultsA total of 5 042 relevant publications were identified. Annual publication numbers in this field consistently exceeded 400, peaking at 565 in 2021. The United States contributed the highest number of publications, with 1 600 articles (31.73%). Among institutions, Harvard University ranked first with 167 publications (3.31%). Abramson DH of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center published the most papers (75). Nature (United Kingdom) received the highest citation count (2, 349). The highest betweenness centrality was observed for the United States (0.14) among countries/regions, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (0.21) among institutions, and Berry JL of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (0.21) at the author level. Co-citation and keyword analyses revealed that RB research hotspots are shifting from a focus on basic molecular mechanisms, such as the cell cycle and RB protein, toward advanced therapeutic strategies, such as intra-arterial chemotherapy and nanoparticle-based drug delivery. Emerging keywords such as complexity, chemoresistance and carboplatin indicate that future studies will focus on optimising diagnosis and treatment. ConclusionsFrom 2015 to 2024, RB research displayed a sustained growth trend, with the United States and its institutions and scholars contributing the most publications. The research focus has shifted from the exploration of molecular mechanisms to the optimization of precise treatment strategies, among which the application of nanotechnology and the resolution of drug resistance mechanisms will become key breakthrough directions.