Effects of Retinal Transcription Regulation After GB20 Needling Treatment in Retina With Optic Neuritis

Potential Roles of Nr4a3-Mediated Inflammation in Immunological and Neurological Diseases

As a protein of the orphan nuclear receptor Nr4a family, Nr4a3 has no identified natural ligands. However, its biological activity can be mediated by inducing conformational changes through interactions with specific certain small molecules and receptors. Nr4a3 is activated as an early stress factor under various pathological conditions and plays a regulatory role in various tissues and cells, participating in processes such as cell differentiation, apoptosis, metabolism, and homeostasis. At present, research on the role of Nr4a3 in the pathophysiology of inflammation is considerably limited, especially with respect to its role in the central nervous system (CNS). In this review, we discuss the role of Nr4a3 in multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, retinopathy, Parkinson's disease, and other CNS diseases. This review shows that Nr4a3 has considerable potential as a therapeutic target in the treatment of CNS diseases. We provide a theoretical basis for the targeted therapy of CNS diseases and neuroinflammation, among other conditions.

Ocular manifestations of multiple sclerosis in patients from three countries: A Web-based survey

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluates the epidemiological characteristics, ophthalmological manifestations, and different therapeutic options available for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in China, Spain, and Cuba.

METHODS

A self-designed questionnaire was used to conduct a comparable descriptive cross-sectional study on patients with MS. The survey included patients' demographic data, ocular manifestations related to MS, and treatment methodology followed in the three countries. The online survey was designed using the Wenjuanxing survey platform, and a survey link was circulated through WhatsApp, WeChat, and emails. Quantitative data were expressed as mean and standard deviation, the Kruskal-Wallis test was used for non-parametric variables. Qualitative data were expressed as numerical and percentage. The chi-square test (χ²) was used to compare the group's response categories. The statistical difference was considered significant when p < 0.05.

RESULTS

The female-to-male ratio in all the three countries was 2-3:1, and relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) was the most frequent in all three countries. Vision loss was slow and progressive in half of the patients from the three countries, with no significant differences (p = 0.524). A higher percentage of steroid treatment was observed in Chinese patients in comparison with the patients from other two countries (p < 0.001), and a similar trend was seen in the use of traditional medicines. Almost one-third of patients who did not receive any treatment recovered spontaneously in all the three countries (p = 0.097).

CONCLUSIONS

MS occurs more frequently in the relapsing-remitting clinical form and there is a clear female predominance. The first ocular crisis or clinical debut of MS is characterized by slow and progressive visual impairment, increasing and adding to other ocular manifestations during its evolutionary course. Spontaneous recovery of vision after an attack of optic neuritis in the course of MS is possible.