We reported one case of MTX-induced aplastic anemia and reviewed related literature to investigate the mechanism of action of MTX, and summarize the clinical feature, diagnostic criteria, risk factor, and interventions. These were hoped to arouse the attention of clinicians and clinical pharmacists, in order to effectively prevent, diagnose, and treat MTX-induced aplastic anemia.
ObjectiveTo observe and analyze the short-term effects of intravitreal injection of Conbercept (IVC) on the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP inhibitor-2 (TIMP-2) in the aqueous humor of eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). MethodsA prospective clinical study. From March 2024 to June 2024, 30 consecutive patients with 30 eyes with PDR (PDR group) undergoing IVC combined with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) at Department of Ophthalmology of The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology were included in the study, along with 20 patients with 20 eyes undergoing cataract surgery (control group) during the same period. In the PDR group, IVC treatment was performed 3 to 7 days before PPV, and 0.05-0.10 ml aqueous humor was collected before IVC and before PPV. In the control group, 0.05-0.10 ml aqueous humor was collected before cataract surgery. The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), MMP-2, and TIMP-2 in the aqueous humor were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For normally distributed data, independent samples t-test were used for comparison between two groups; for non-normally distributed data, the Mann-Whitney U test was used. Correlation analysis was performed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences in age (Z=－1.810) and gender composition (χ2=3.450) between the PDR group and the control group (P＞0.05). Before IVC, VEGF and MMP-2 expression levels were (0.23±0.10), (2.11±1.32) ng/ml and (0.12±0.03), (0.53±0.26) ng/ml in patients' aqueous fluid in PDR group and control group, respectively. The expression level of TIMP-2 and the ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2 were (0.99±0.26), (1.76±0.11) ng/ml and 2.04 (1.19, 2.98), 0.36 (0.15, 0.39), respectively. Compared with the control group, the expression levels of VEGF and MMP-2 in aqueous humor in PDR group (t=－5.030, －5.260) and the ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2 (Z=－5.740) were significantly increased, with statistical significance (P＜0.01). The expression level of TIMP-2 was significantly lower than that of control group, the difference was statistically significant (t=12.120, P＜0.01). After IVC, the expression levels of VEGF and MMP-2 in aqueous humor of PDR patients were (0.13±0.03) and (2.11±1.32) ng/ml, respectively. The expression level of TIMP-2 and the ratio of MMP-2/ TIMP-2 were (0.95±0.28) ng/ml and 1.57 (1.02, 3.13), respectively. Compared with before IVC, the expression level of VEGF in aqueous humor in PDR group after IVC was significantly decreased, and the difference was statistically significant (t=6.080, P＜0.01). The expression levels of MMP-2 (t=1.220), TIMP-2 (t=0.290) and the ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2 (Z=－0.260) were not significantly different (P=0.270, 0.780, 0.800). After IVC, there was no significant difference in VEGF expression level between PDR group and control group (t=－1.200, P=0.240). The expression level of MMP-2 was still significantly increased (t=－5.880), the expression level of TIMP-2 was still significantly decreased (t=11.520), and the ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2 was still significantly increased (Z=－5.780), with statistical significance (P＜0.01). Correlation analysis showed that VEGF was positively correlated with MMP-2 in aqueous humor of PDR patients before IVC (r=0.590, P＜0.01). ConclusionsIVC can effectively reduce the level of VEGF in the aqueous humor of eyes with PDR in the short term, but it has no significant effect on the levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-2.
ObjectiveTo observe the proteomic changes in vitreous fluid samples from patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment combined with choroidal detachment (RRDCD). MethodsA prospective cross-sectional clinical study. Vitreous fluid samples were collected from 35 patients with RRDCD (RRDCD group) and 40 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD group) who were diagnosed at Wuhan Aier Eye Hospital between November 2021 and December 2023. Prior to vitrectomy, 0.3-0.5 ml of vitreous fluid was collected from the affected eyes. Differentially expressed proteins were analyzed using Data-Independent Acquisition (DIA). Three of these proteins were randomly selected for validation using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Bioinformatics analyses, including gene ontology functional enrichment and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment, were performed to explore the functions of the differentially expressed proteins. ResultsSignificant differences were observed between the RRDCD and RRD groups in intraocular pressure (t=－12.795), the number of retinal tears (t=4.601), the extent of retinal detachment (χ2=39.642), axial length (t=0.840), postoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy incidence (χ2=4.730), single-surgery reattachment rate (χ2=7.717), and best-corrected visual acuity (t=7.033) at 6 months postoperatively (P＜0.05). A total of 237 differentially expressed proteins were identified between the RRDCD and RRD groups, with 63 upregulated and 174 downregulated. These proteins were involved in pathways such as extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, complement activation, coagulation, and lysosomal pathways. ELISA validation results showed that the expression trends of the three selected proteins in the RRDCD and RRD groups were consistent with the DIA proteomic analysis. Compared to the RRD group, proteins such as fibrin, coagulation factors, cathepsins, and trypsin inhibitors were significantly upregulated in the RRDCD group.ConclusionsThe protein expression profile in vitreous fluid samples from RRDCD patients show significant alterations compared to the RRD group. These differential changes suggest that RRDCD is closely associated with complement and coagulation cascade activation, lysosomal pathways, and extracellular matrix remodeling.