bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Autophagy induction decreases protein aggregation in response to polyphenolic pinosylvin and heat shock exposures in ARPE‐19 cells
Authors: Amirkavei M. , Koskela A. , Koskelainen A. , kaarniranta K. 
Published: September 2017

PurposeImpaired protein degradation and increased protein aggregation in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells associate with the age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) pathology. Heat shock proteins (Hsps) refold misfolded proteins and attempt to prevent the accumulation of detrimental cytoplasmic protein aggregates. Once Hsps capacity is exceeded the protein aggregates are secondarily degraded by autophagy or proteasomes. The Hsps and clearance mechanisms are important to prevent RPE damage and AMD development. We showed recently that stilbenoid polyphenol, pinosylvin has strong cytoprotective power against oxidative stress in ARPE‐19 cells. Here, we investigated the effects of pinosylvin and/or heat shock on the regulation of autophagy in ARPE‐19 cells in the protein aggregation model.MethodsARPE‐19 cells were solely or simultaneously treated with 15 µM pinosylvin and/or heat shock at 42˚C for 30 min with or without proteasome inhibitor MG‐132 (1 µM) or autophagy inhibitor bafilomycin A1 (50 nM) and followed up to 48 h. Autophagy markers p62/SQSTM1 (sequestosome 1), LC3 (microtubule‐associated protein 1A/1B‐light chain 3) and Hsp70 (heat shock protein 70) were analyzed by Western blotting (WB). Cytotoxicity was analysed by LDH assay.ResultsInhibition of proteasomes with MG‐132 or heat shock highly upregulated Hsp70, p62 and LC3 detected in WB. Simultaneous treatment with pinosylvin and heat shock showed stronger autophagy induction and cytoprotection rather than theirs single treatments during proteasome inhibition.ConclusionsCombination of polyphenolic pinosylvin and thermotherapy may provide improved autophagy and cytoprotective response in RPE cells.
An educational information platform on the ocular surface and dry eye disease ‐ OSCB‐Berlin.org
Authors: Knop E. , Knop N. 
Published: September 2017

PurposeThe OCULAR SURFACE is an important part of the eye for the first steps of vision and thus for everything that comes later. The complexity and the ever‐increasing wealth of new scientific findings makes it increasingly difficult for many to understand the ocular surface and its diseases – in particular DRY EYE DISEASE.MethodsExperienced scientists have collected relevant research‐based information, from the literature & own results and experience. It is intended to provide useful, reliable understandable information for all stake‐holders from laymen & patients, over clinical practitioners to the fellow scientists in the field that is also suitable for academic teaching.ResultsThis educational OSCB‐WebSite‐ Homepage of the Ocular Surface Center Berlin (OSCB‐Berlin.org) follows a newly developed didactic style that is image‐driven in the user interface & content. Text is in parallel with images like a text book ‐ but in addition the information is intensely cross‐linked by hyperlinks and supplemented by Animations, so that the reader can enter from any starting point and dig deeper until the information interest is satisfied. The Website is based on pictographic images that illustrate the content. When it becomes more complex, static images are supplemented with Animations in the same style that make even complex content easily understandable. Every topic is covered in three different formats with increasing depth of information to satisfy different interest groups.ConclusionsConclusion. The new online INFORMATION PLATFORM on the OCULAR SURFACE and DRY EYE DISEASE covers many aspects of the ocular surface and its alterations with a focus on Dry Eye Disease. It contains reliable, science‐based, unbiased information & constitutes a public information platform for all stakeholders in the field.and is supported by hundreds of colleagues world‐wide.
Assessment of the visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, color vision and visual integration in the Alzheimer's Disease progression according to the scale GDS
Authors: Salobrar‐Garcia E. , Hurtado L. , Lopez‐Cuenca I. , de Hoz R. , Salazar J.J. , Ramirez A.I. , Yubero R. , Gil P. , Ramirez J.M. 
Published: September 2017

PurposeAlzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by an accumulation of abnormal plaques and tangles in the brain with cortical atrophy most pronounced in the medial temporal and posterior temporoparietal regions. The process is estimated to begin years before the appearance of clinical symptoms. The aim of this work was to investigate the potential use of ophthalmological psychophysical tests as AD follow‐up.MethodsTwenty‐six mild AD patients, 12 moderate AD and 32 controls underwent visual acuity (VA), contrast sensitivity (CS), colour perception tests and perception visual test (PDT). All patients were classified according the Global Deteriorate Scale (GDS).ResultsIn comparison with control: i) patients with mild AD presented a significant decrease in the VA, in the CS (for all the spatial frequencies), in the blue colour perception and in PDT; ii) patients with moderate AD showed the same result as the mild AD, compared with controls, furthermore a significant increase of the total number of errors in the colour test (p < 0.05 in all instances). In comparison with mild AD, moderate AD patients had no statistical differences in CS, VA and PDT (p > 0.05) but significant differences in the colour perception (total number of errors and unspecific blue axis errors) (p < 0.05).ConclusionsIn comparison with the control group, patients with mild and moderate AD presented a statistically significant decrease in CS, for all the spatial frequencies (the higher the spatial frequency, the greater the loss of CS perception), and in the colour perception. Therefore AD patients, show alterations in the M, P, and K visual pathways. Psychophysical tests could be useful tools to diagnose support and follow‐up in mild AD.
Optical coherence tomograpy in cerebral amyloidosis
Authors: Van Keer K. , Schaeverbeke J. , Barbosa Breda J. , Evenepoel C. , Abegão Pinto L. , Stalmans I. , Vandenberghe R. , Vandewalle E. 
Published: September 2017

PurposeTo correlate structural and vascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters with cerebral amyloid burden in cognitive intact (Control) and mild cognitive impairment patients (MCI).MethodsControls and MCI patients were recruited from an ongoing longitudinal cohort of cognitively intact older adults and a memory clinic‐based cohort of amnestic MCI patients respectively. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and parafoveal vessel density were measured using Angio‐OCT. Amyloid burden was quantified on [18F]flutemetamol or florbetaben PET scans as standard uptake value ratio (SUVR) and categorized as positive (Aβ+) or negative (Aβ‐). For statistical analyses, univariate correlation coefficients and one‐way ANOVA with LSD post‐hoc comparisons were performed.Results35 Controls (16 Aβ+, 19 Aβ‐) and 28 MCI patients (20 Aβ+, 8 Aβ‐) were recruited. Parafoveal vessel density and inferior RNFL showed a significant negative correlation with SUVR (spearmans ρ = ‐0.296, P = 0.020; and ‐0.336, P = 0.008 respectively). Inferior RNFL was significantly lower in the Aβ+ MCI group compared to the Aβ‐ Controls, Aβ+ Controls and Aβ‐ MCI patients (P = 0.007, P = 0.023 and P = 0.015 respectively) with no significant differences being found between the other subgroups.ConclusionsThis pilot study demonstrates that lower parafoveal vessel density values, as assessed with angio‐OCT, are correlated with higher cerebral amyloid burden. The reduced inferior RNFL thickness in MCI, previously reported in other studies, appears to be confined to Aβ+ MCI patients. These findings provide further support for a potential role of OCT in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
Retinal nerve fibre layer thickness associates with cognitive impairment and physical disability in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Birkeldh U. , Zahavi O. , Manouchehrinia A. , Hietala A. , Hillert J. , Wahlberg‐Ramsay M. , Brautaset R. , Nilsson M. 
Published: September 2017

PurposeReductions in the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) have been indicated even in early‐stages of multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim was to assess the potential of the RNFL quadrant measurements in differentiating disease phenotypes and their association with cognitive impairment and physical disability.MethodsFour hundred and sixty‐five MS patients and 168 healthy controls (HCs) were included. MS subjects were divided in subgroups according to disease phenotype. All subjects underwent optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination of all retinal quadrants using Canon OCT HS‐100. Associations were tested using linear mixed effect models.ResultsThe global RNFL thickness was 6.4 μm thinner (95% CI: −8.5 to −4.3, p < 0.001) in relapsing‐remitting MS (RRMS), 11.6 μm thinner (95% CI: −14.4 to −8.8 μm, p < 0.001) in secondary progressive MS (SPMS) and 10.7 μm thinner (95% CI: −16.0 to −5.5, p < 0.001) in primary progressive MS (PPMS) compared with HCs. Global RNFL and temporal quadrant showed high correlation to cognitive impairment and physical disability in MS.ConclusionsWe report that RNFL thickness reduction is significantly associated with physical and cognitive disability and OCT measurements are useful for axonal loss. We suggest the use of temporal quadrant RNFL thickness as a more sensitive outcome as oppose to the global RNFL thickness.
Optical coherence tomography outcomes in patients with Friedreich ataxia
Authors: Rojas Lozano P. , Ferreras Amez A. , Monsalve B. , García‐Salobrar E. , Muñoz Blanco J.L. , Urcelay J.L. , Salazar J.J. , Ramirez A.I. , de Hoz R. , Ramírez J.M. 
Published: September 2017

PurposeTo compare the ETDRS macular thicknesses (MT), the ganglion cell complex plus inner plexiform layer thicknesses (GCC) and the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses between patients with Friedreich ataxia (FA) and age‐matched healthy individuals.MethodsSeven FA patients and 19 age‐matched controls were prospectively selected. All participants underwent a neurological evaluation, a comprehensive ophthalmological assessment and imaging with spectral domain Cirrus OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA). Both eyes were included, left eyes were converted to a right eye format. The OCT parameters were compared between groups with the Mann‐Whitney U test. A p < 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsMean age was 44.73 ± 11.9 and best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.97 ± 0.1 for the control group, while mean age was 37.85 ± 10.2 years and BCVA was 0.76 ± 0.2 for the AF group. The central macular thickness was similar in both groups, but the macular thicknesses of the inner ring of the ETDRS grid, except the temporal area, were reduced in FA ataxia compared to healthy controls. The nasal and inferior thicknesses of the outer ring were also lower in AF patients. All the GCC measurements and the RNFL thicknesses around the optic disc, except the eight clock‐hour position, were decreased in FA individuals.ConclusionsIn AF patients, the macular, GCC and RNFL thicknesses were lower than in healthy controls, presumably because of the loss of the ganglion cells. More studies are needed to evaluate the changes in the retina due to AF.
Visual impairment in combined pathology: multiple sclerosis and pituitary adenoma
Authors: Ioyleva E. , Makarenko I. 
Published: September 2017

PurposeTo study the changes of visual function in patients with combined pathology: multiple sclerosis and pituitary adenoma.MethodsFour females from 18 to 41 years old were examined.They complained of decrement of visual acuity, pain with eye movement. We identified decrease in visual acuity from 0.01 to 0.1, visual field central defect.To exclude organic pathology, the patient was sent for MRI of the brain, confirmed the diagnosis: MS and pituitary adenoma. For identify the root cause of reduced visual acuity, patients were examined by Cirrus HD‐OCT; Humphrey HFA II‐750i; Microperimetry on MP‐1, MRI of the brain and orbits.Results144 patients were examined in the S. Fyodorov “Eye Microsurgery” Complex, Moscow, 4 of them were diagnosed and confirmed a combined pathology:MS and pituitary adenoma. According ophthalmoscopy in three patients was marked optic disk hyperemia and swelling of the disc margin, one patient – temporal optic disk pallor. According microperimetry we received a decrease in overall photosensitivity from 8.3 to 11 dB. OCT: in 3 patients revealed a slight an increase average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (A RNFL) from 110 to 113 μm. In 1 patient revealed a decrease A RNFL thickness to 76 μm. To confirm demyelinating cause of optic neuritis was scheduled MRI of orbits. In two patients were found nidus of demyelination in the optic nerve. Hormonal activity of pituitary microadenomas in the blood serum: cortisol from 350 to 400 mME/l, prolactin from 190 to 315 nmol/l.ConclusionsVisual impairment caused by demyelinating process that is confirmed by special methods of examination. Identified pituitary microadenomas is hormone‐inactive tumor, therefore they do not affect the clinical course of MS. Combined pathology requires a change in tactics of patient's management with the participation of the endocrinologist and neurosurgeon.
Idebenone is effective and well tolerated in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON): Long‐term results of real world clinical practice
Authors: Llòria X. , Catarino C. , Silva M. , Klopstock T. 
Published: September 2017

PurposeLHON is a mitochondrial disease resulting in progressive, severe central vision loss, which is caused by 1 of 3 mitochondrial DNA mutations in >95% of patients. Idebenone, at a dose of 900 mg/day, is effective and safe in patients with LHON. Here, we report long‐term treatment outcomes in real world clinical practice.MethodsThe Expanded Access Program (EAP) assessed idebenone's therapeutic potential in patients with onset of symptoms within 1 year prior to enrollment. Efficacy was assessed as clinically relevant recovery (CRR) or clinically relevant stabilization (CRS). CRR is defined as improvement from off‐chart to reading 5 letters on the ETDRS chart, or as an improvement of 10 letters. CRS is defined as maintenance of VA <1.0 logMAR (20/200).Results85 patients carried one of the 3 most common mutations and had at least 1 post‐baseline (BL) visual acuity (VA) assessment. At BL, median age was 23.6 years and median treatment duration at last observation was 17.3 months. A subset of 25 patients presented with VA <1.0 logMAR, from which 52% experienced CRS. CRR from nadir was observed in 51% of patients. The number of eyes which remained on chart increased from 51% at nadir to 67% at last observation, and those <1.0 logMAR increased from 7% to 27%. At BL, 9% of patients were <1.0 logMAR in both eyes, which increased to 23% following treatment. The proportion of patients with CRR increased with treatment duration, with approximately 50% observed up to 6 months, but extending up to 18 months. CRR and CRS were observed, to different degrees, regardless of mutation.ConclusionsIdebenone has a good safety profile for the long‐term treatment of LHON, and when initiated early, can stabilize good residual vision and prevent severe vision loss and blindness in a large proportion of patients. Maximal benefit may be achieved by prolonged treatment.
Prediction of ophthalmological problems in 6.5 year‐old prematurely born children
Authors: Holmstrom G. , Hreinsdottir J. , Kaul Fredriksson Y. , von Hofsten C. , Rosander K. , Hellström Westas L. 
Published: September 2017

PurposeThe aim of the study was to describe the ophthalmological outcome at 6.5 years and to identify possible predictive factors visual problems at this age.MethodsThis is a prospective, population‐based study, including all infants born ≤32 weeks gestational age (GA) in Uppsala County, Sweden, during 2004 to 2007. The children were screened for ROP in the neonatal period, visual tracking test were performed at 4 months tests of, and at 2.5 years, ophthalmological, visuospatial and cognitive testing were performed. At 6.5 years, 84 prematurely born and 64 children born at term participated in ophthalmological and visual testing. Of the preterm children, 24 (29%) had ROP and 9 had IVH 3‐4 and/or PVL in the neonatal period.ResultsMean visual acuity (VA) did not differ between preterm and full‐term children, but a “subnormal” VA of ≤0.8 was more common in the preterm than the control group (31% versus 14%) (p < 0.05). No prematurely born child was blind, but two had VA < 0.5. A contrast sensitivity of < 0.5 was more common (36% versus 19%, p < 0.05) and strabismus was also more common in the pre‐terms (8% versus 0%, p < 0.05). Within the preterm group, logistic regression analyses revealed GA, ROP, PVL/IVH, and mild cognitive disability (Bayley III test), to be predictive factors for ophthalmological and visual problems at 6.5 years age.ConclusionsPrematurely born children had an increased prevalence of ophthalmological problems at 6.5 years age. Treated ROP and early neurological problems were risk factors for later ophthalmological dysfunctions. This study also showed that reduced cognitive function at 2.5 years appeared to predict such problems.
Comparison of traditional training and push‐pull training for the binocular visual function in anisometropic amblyopia
Authors: Fu J. , Hong J. , Zhao B. 
Published: September 2017

PurposeTo compare the binocular visual function in anisometropia amblyopia used by Push‐pull Training and traditional training.MethodsA total of 64 children with anisometropia amblyopia were enrolled in our study and randomly divided into two groups. After wearing glasses to correct refractive errors in the first three months, the experimental group were treated with push‐pull training, and the the control group were treated with traditional covering method and visual stimulation for a period of 6 months. Then binocular visual functio was measured by synoptophore and random‐dot stereograms(RDS).ResultsThe average visual acuity of the amblyopic eyes in the experimental group was increased 4.2±2.6 lines and the control group was increased 4.52±1.9 lines (p>0.05). The average score of far stereoscopic in experimental group increased 9.3±4.7 points and the control group increased 10.1±5.6 points(P>0.05.)There was no statistical difference between the two groups.The average score of large‐scale RDS stereoscopic in experimental group increased 14.2±9.7points and the control group increased 12.1±7.5points (P<0.05). The average score of the acuity stereopsis RDS in experimental group was increased 19.3±10.2 points and the control group increased 13.5±8.4 points(P<0.05). The average score of cross stereoscopic RDS in experimental group increased 14.9±6.8 points and the control group increased 11.8±5.7 points (P<0.05). The average score of uncross stereoscopic RDS in experimental group increased 17.1±7.9 points and the control group increased13.4±6.6 points (P<0.05). There was statistical difference between the two groups.Conclusionscompared with traditional cover training methods, the push‐pull training method can not only achieve the same visual acuity, but also establish better binocular vision function.
A method for a rapid objective measurement of eye deviation angle in both strabismus and phoria
Authors: Yehezkel O. , Spierer A. , Oz D. , Yam R. , Belkin M. 
Published: September 2017

PurposeStrabismus is usually treated by corrective surgery of the extraocular muscles, the parameters of which mainly depend on the misalignment measurement and hence on its precision. The current strabismus angle measurement (prism cover test) hasn't changed since the eighteenth century. This test is time‐consuming, cumbersome, severely limited by the child's cooperation, subjective and highly dependent on the examiner's skill and experience. Studies have shown a very high inter‐examiner variability in measurement results. Moreover, the angle of strabismus itself may vary over time and the current low‐efficiency test does not allow for multiple testing of the same patient, thus reducing the test's accuracy. Increasing the measurement accuracy and efficiency may reduce the number of reoperations and will improve results of strabismus surgery, prism prescriptions and orthoptic therapy and monitoring.MethodsWe are evaluating the accuracy and repeatability of NovaSight's novel strabismus angle measurement method using an automatic and objective system based on eye tracking, in comparison to the prism cover test results.ResultsA group of 23 adult subjects (average age 26.8 ± 4.6 years) with eye deviations, heterotropia and heterophoria, were tested by both the automatic and the manual tests in a masked fashion by two experienced optometrists. The clinical trial results show a high correlation of over 88% between the presented automatic test and the golden standard prism cover test while a significant difference in standard deviation was found, the repeatability of the automated test is twice as high as that of the manual test.ConclusionsThe system increases the examination accuracy and thus may reduce the number of strabismus reoperations. The system also reduces chair time significantly and has the potential to become the new standard of care.
Can the retina be used to diagnose and plot the progression of Alzheimer's disease?
Authors: Mahajan D. , Votruba M. 
Published: September 2017

PurposeAlzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of senile dementia. The fact that the diagnosis can only be definitively made postmortem, or when the disease is fairly advanced, presents a serious problem if novel therapeutic interventions are to be devised and used early in the course of the disease. Therefore there is a pressing need for more sensitive and specific diagnostic tests with which we can detect Alzheimer's disease in the preclinical stage. In this presentation we describe the work of a systematic review,addressing the question whether the retina can be used to make a specific and early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.MethodsThis review was written during the EVER fellowship,2016 in the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences .All human and animal reviews, clinical and comparative studies, published in any language in the past 5 years from March 2011 were studies. 36 suitable papers were choosen after screening.ResultsWith improvements in retinal imaging techniques like OCT, Doppler, FLIO and FLES, which are non invasive and inexpensive, the early diagnosis of AD is possible. Dynamic vessel analysis, retinal oximetry and adaptive optic retinal imaging are recent advances in retinal imaging, which provide a detailed analysis of the retina. Retinal vasculature screening may be a method for population screening of AD. With curcumin and immunotherapy the progression of the disease can be monitored and treatment can be planned, which is highly promising.ConclusionsA high degree of clinical suspicion is needed to correlate problems in cognition with the changes in the eye, particularly the retina, pupil and ocular movements, so that the disease can be detected early and managed in the prodromal phase. The definitive diagnosis currently requires a combination of many biomarkers.