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Although it is known that caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and its derivatives could ameliorate acute myocardial injury, their effects on chronic myocardial ischemia (CMI) were not reported. This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of caffeic acid p-nitro phenethyl ester (CAPE-pNO2, a derivative of CAPE) on CMI and underlying mechanisms. SD rats were subjected to high-fat-cholesterol-diet (HFCD) and vitamin D3, and the H9c2 cells were treated with LPS to establish CMI model, followed by the respective treatment with saline, CAPE, or CAPE-pNO2. In vivo, CAPE-pNO2 could reduce serum lipid levels and improve impaired cardiac function and morphological changes. Data of related assays indicated that CAPE-pNO2 downregulated the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and galectin-3 (Gal-3). Besides, CAPE-pNO2 decreased collagen deposition, the number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes, and some related downstream proteins of Gal-3 in the CMI rats. Interestingly, the effects of CAPE-pNO2 on TGF-β1, Gal-3, and other proteins expressed in the lung were consistent with that in the heart. In vitro, CAPE-pNO2 could attenuate the fibrosis, apoptosis, and inflammation by activating TGF-β1/Gal-3 pathway in LPS-induced H9c2 cell. However, CAPE-pNO2-mediated cardioprotection can be eliminated when treated with modified citrus pectin (MCP, an inhibitor of Gal-3). And in comparison, CAPE-pNO2 presented stronger effects than CAPE. This study indicates that CAPE-pNO2 may ameliorate CMI by suppressing fibrosis, inflammation, and apoptosis via the TGF-β1/Gal-3 pathway in vivo and in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the changes of objective optical quality after orthokeratology., Methods: Prospective, self-controlled study. Optical quality, including objective scatter index (OSI), modulation transfer function (MTF) cutoff frequency, contrast visual acuity (CVA) and objective tear film quality, was assessed with the OQAS II instrument before and 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after orthokeratology. Parameters of corneal astigmatism and e value from topography were also assessed. The data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA., Results: Cylinder refraction was (-0.39 ± 0.39)D, (-0.65 ± 0.57)D, (-0.79 ± 0.56)D, and (-0.81 ± 0.53) D, respectively, at the four timepoints, and there was a statistically significant difference between before and after therapy (P < 0.05). Uncorrected visual acuity was 3.97 ± 0.51, 4.95 ± 0.12, 5.00 ± 0.06, and 5.00 ± 0.05, respectively. The e value was 0.37 ± 0.24, -0.23 ± 0.42, -0.29 ± 0.39, and -0.30 ± 0.37, respectively. The negative values after therapy were significantly different from the value before therapy (P < 0.01). The corneal astigmatism in 3 mm diameter was (1.27 ± 0.75) D, (1.06 ± 0.69) D, (1.11 ± 0.68) D , and (1.15 ± 0.67) D, respectively. There was no significant difference in astigmatism between before and after therapy (P ≥ 0.05). After therapy, the OSI increased from 0.59 ± 0.47 before therapy to 0.99 ± 0.66 at 1 week, 1.47 ± 1.17 at 1 month, and 1.49 ± 1.03 at 3 months. The difference between pre- and post-therapy OSI values was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The MTF cutoff frequency decreased from (36.6 ± 12.0) cpd before therapy to (34.2 ± 8.9) cpd at 1 week, (27.9 ± 12.6) cpd at 1 month, and (27.7 ± 11.6) cpd at 3 months after therapy. The difference in MTF cutoff frequency between before and 1 month after therapy was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The 100% CVA, 20% CVA, and 9% CVA all declined after therapy, but there was no statistically significant difference between before and after therapy. The OSI of tear film quality was 1.27 ± 1.12, 2.09 ± 1.67, 2.07 ± 1.12, and 2.10 ± 1.33, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant between before and after therapy (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: After 3 months of orthokeratology, the corneal central astigmatism remained, and the e value became negative, while OSI increased, and MTF cutoff frequency and tear film quality declined. The alteration was more and more obvious along with the therapy within 1 month, and was not significant within the following month. After short-term corneal reshaping, the ocular optical quality declined in some degree, but the loss was acceptable.