bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Blood‐retinal barrier function status from OCT data
Authors: BERNARDES R , SERRANHO P , RODRIGUES P , GONçALVES V , CUNHA‐VAZ J 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose To demonstrate the presence of blood‐retinal barrier (BRB) function information within OCT data.Methods It was recently suggested that OCT data embeds functional information on BRB status. In this work a different approach was followed resorting to the use of support vector machines (SVM) to discriminate between healthy (N=31), ETDRS level 10 diabetic retinopathy (DR) (N=31) and diabetic macular edema (DME) eyes (N=31). Healthy volunteers and diabetic patients underwent Cirrus HD‐OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, USA) using both the 512x128 and the 200x200 Macular Cube Protocols. Data was exported and the intensity distributions were computed for each eye, taking into consideration only the retina (between the inner limiting membrane ILM and the retinal pigment epithelium RPE), both on the logarithmic and linear spaces. A total of 43 parameters per eye were computed and labeled accordingly (healthy, DR and DME). A publicly available SVM toolbox (LIBSVM) was applied to assess the possibility of discriminating between each of these groups using a radial basis function (RBF) kernel and the leave‐one‐out approach for validation.Results Achieved results allow to conclude on the possibility of discriminating between healthy and DR eyes (level 10 ETDRS and DME eyes). Of added value is the fact the system is able to discriminate between healthy and ETDRS level 10 DR eyes. This suggests that optical properties of the retina are modified and that this change cannot be currently detected using any other available technique.Conclusion In this work, it was demonstrated the presence of early changes in the optical properties of the human retina related to diabetes, and that this information is embedded in OCT data. Support: FCT/PTDC/SAU‐BEB/103151/2008
Calculation of central retinal artery diameters in patients with type 1 diabetes using non‐invasive measurements
Authors: PEMP B , GARHOFER G , SCHMETTERER L 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose To compare the diameter of the central retinal artery between patients with type 1 diabetes and healthy control subjects in vivo. Central retinal artery diameters were calculated from results of non‐invasive measurements of ocular hemodynamics.Methods 16 patients with type 1 diabetes with no or mild diabetic retinopathy and 16 age‐matched healthy controls were participated in this study. Total retinal blood flow was assessed by the use of laser Doppler velocimetry and measurement of retinal vessel diameters in all veins entering the optic disc using a Dynamic Vessel Analyzer. In addition blood flow velocity in the retrobulbar central retinal artery was measured using color Doppler imaging. The diameter of the central retinal artery was then calculated individually for each subject using the obtained ocular hemodynamic data.Results Calculated central retinal artery diameters were significantly larger in patients with diabetes (180 ± 13 µm) compared to healthy controls (166 ± 10 µm, p = 0.001). There were no significant differences in retinal blood flow, retinal vessel diameters or mean flow velocity in the central retinal artery between the two groups.Conclusion The present results indicate a dilation of the central retinal artery in patients with type 1 diabetes, whereas total retinal blood flow is unaltered compared to healthy controls. Results from blood flow velocity measurements using color Doppler imaging in retrobulbar vessels do not include information about vessel diameters and need to be interpreted with caution in terms of retinal blood flow.
Comparison of optic nerve head and choroidal blood flow regulation during isometric exercise
Authors: SCHMIDL D , BOLTZ A , LASTA M , PEMP B , KAYA S , GARHOFER G , SCHMETTERER L 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose In the recent years the response of choroidal blood flow (ChBF) to isometric exercise has been characterized in some details. Generally, the degree of blood flow increase is lower than the degree of ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) increase indicating for some regulatory capacity of the choroid during these conditions. In the present study we compared the response of optic nerve head (ONH) blood flow and ChBF in response to isometric exercise.Methods Two study days were performed in 48 healthy young subjects. 24 subjects participated in the choroidal studies and 24 subjects in the ONH studies. The effect of a 6 minutes squatting period on ChBF and ONH blood flow was studied. ChBF and ONH blood flow were measured using laser Doppler flowmetry. OPP was calculated as 2/3*mean arterial pressure‐intraocular pressure.Results ChBF and ONH blood flow increased during isometric exercise (p < 0.001 each). The increase was, however, in both vascular beds less pronounced than the increase in OPP indicating for some degree of blood flow regulation. The pressure/flow curves revealed that ChBF was constant until OPP of about 60% above baseline, whereas ONH blood flow was constant until OPP of about 40% above baseline.Conclusion During isometric exercise ChBF regulates better than ONH blood flow. In some subjects an interesting phenomenon was found in the ONH blood flow experiments. During isometric exercise blood pressure temporarily decreased slightly, when subjects were exhausted from squatting. These periods were sometimes associated with a pronounced decrease in ONH blood flow (up to 30% below baseline values) although the OPP was still much higher than at baseline. The significance of this observation is unknown.
Complex regulation of optic nerve head blood flow during combined isometric exercise and elevation of intraocular pressure
Authors: BOLTZ A , SCHMIDL D , LASTA M , PALKOVITS S , KAYA S , GARHOFER G , SCHMETTERER L 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose For a long time it was assumed that ocular vascular beds are characterized by one specific pressure/flow curve. Recently we have, however, shown that this behavior is much more complex in the choroid, because alterations in arterial and venous pressure lead to different regulatory behaviors. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that this is also the case in the optic nerve head.Methods Two study days were performed in 40 healthy subjects. On the 1st day the effect of isometric exercise and an elevation of IOP on optic nerve head blood flow (ONHBF) were studied separately. On the 2nd day the effect of combined IOP and mean arterial pressure (MAP) increase was investigated. IOP was increased in a stepwise way using the suction cup method. ONHBF was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry. For correlation analysis all values from all subjects were pooled according to IOP and MAP values.Results When data were grouped according to MAP values a highly significant correlation was found between ONHBF and IOP (p<0.001). The regression lines at different MAP levels were almost equal. When data were pooled according to IOP levels a significant correlation was found between MAP and ONHBF for IOP values up to 25 mmHg (p<0.05) and the correlation lines were almost identical. At higher IOP values, however, no correlation between ONHBF and MAP was found.Conclusion Our data are in agreement with previously published studies that ONHBF shows some autoregulatory capacity. The autoregulatory behavior appears to be complex and dependent on the site of perfusion pressure regulation (arterial vs venous). Compared to the choroid the ONH adapts its perfusion better to an increase in IOP
Clinical and ultrastructural feature of a cornea with pellucid marginal degeneration
Authors: AKHTAR S , KIRAT O , KATAN H , ALMUBRAD T 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose Pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD) of the cornea is a rare ectatic disorder which typically affects the inferior peripheral cornea in a crescentic fashion. We report clinical, histological and ultrastructural PMD cornea.Methods A 57 year old female was diagnosed with PMD and keratoconus in the right eye, and PMD in the left eye. Uncorrected vision was: OD 5/200 with pinhole 20/400; OS 20/100 with the pinhole to 20/70. The patient underwent lamellar keratoplasty in the right eye and the excised cornea was processed for light and electron microscopiy.Results Four months post‐operatively uncorrected vision in the right eye was 20/160 improving with the pinhole to 20/60. Ultrastructure of the peripheral and central parts of the cornea was similar to each other. The epithelium was irregular and most of the basal epithelial cells were vacuolated. Hemidesmosomes were broken at various places. Bowman’s layer was degenerated and absent or replaced by collagenous panus. Lamellae in the anterior and middle stroma were thin and undulating. Numerous microfilaments were aggregated at the inter‐lamellar junction. The collagen fibrils (CF) were running in random directions in the anterior and middle stroma.Conclusion Our observation of disorganisation and degeneration of CF suggestes that PMD could be related to malfunctioning in the synthesis of CF due to a disorder in keratocan, a luecine rich proteoglycan. Cross linking treatment should be considered for treatment in early stages of the disease.
Genetics and treatment of Stargardt disease
Authors: ALLIKMETS R 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose When the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)‐binding cassette (ABC) transporter gene, ABCA4 (originally named ABCR), was cloned and characterized in 1997 as the causal gene for autosomal recessive Stargardt disease (STGD) it seemed as if just another missing link was added to the extensive table of genetic determinants of rare monogenic retinal dystrophies. Now, 14 years later, the ABCA4 gene continues to emerge as the predominant determinant of a wide variety of retinal degeneration phenotypes, such as STGD, cone‐rod dystrophy, retinitis pigmentosa, and age‐related macular degeneration.Methods A combination of genetic, molecular biology, gene‐ and small molecule therapy approaches.Results ABCA4 has caused exciting and sometimes intense discussions among ophthalmologists and geneticists, resulting in more than 300 publications during this time. In my presentation I will summarize our current knowledge of the role of ABCA4 in retinal disease and review the substantial progress in diagnostic and therapeutic applications for ABCA4‐associated disorders which most recently seemed impossible.Conclusion Although ACBA4 has proven to be a complex and difficult research and therapeutic target, I hope to convince the audience that treatment of all ABCA4‐associated disorders, and especially STGD, should be possible in the near future.
Unexpected ectopic thyroid tissue in the orbit: a clinical case report
Authors: ASOKLIS R , RUZGYS R , PAJAUJIS M , PETROSKA D 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose To present clinical case report of the benign ectopic thyroid tissue in the orbit.Methods 75‐year‐old woman with a slowly growing, painless, elastic tumor in the left inferior –lateral part of the orbit complained about diplopia, eye globe protrusion and dislocation medialy‐superiorly. Symptoms were progressing for two years. Head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), tumor excision and histopathological examination of the obtained specimen were performed.Results Head MRI showed 18x14 mm in size, non‐homogenic, contrast accumulating mass with well defined margins in the inferior –lateral part of the orbit. Gross examination of the excised mass revealed grey color, round tumor, covered by connective tissue. Histologicaly tumor was well circumscribed, composed of micro‐/ macrofolicules with colloid. Folicular epithelium had no atypical changes. These criteria support diagnosis of ectopic thyroid tissue with slight signs of goiter. In the National Pathology Registre it was found that one year before patient had thyroidectomy and histological diagnosis of nodular thyroid hyperplasia and follicular adenoma was established. Possibility of follicular carcinoma metastasis to the orbit was rejected reviewing both cases by three pathologists and only usual Hematoxylin/Eosin method was used for staining.Conclusion There are rear case reports of ectopic thyroid tissue. To our knowledge this is the first description of thyroid tissue with signs of goiter in the orbit.
Efficacy of wet chamber warming goggles (Blephasteam®) in patients with posterior blepharitis
Authors: DOAN S , CHIAMBARETTA F , CORTEVAL F , SEMBEIL J , BAUDOUIN C 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose Posterior blepharitis is a main cause of dry eye. Lid hygiene is an important treatment, but compliance is often poor because of its complexity and lack of specific devices. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of wet chamber warming goggles (Blephasteam®) in patients with posterior blepharitis.Methods In this interventional multicenter prospective uncontrolled study, patients with meibomian gland dysfunction were enrolled. Blephasteam® (Laboratoires Thea, Clermont‐Ferrand, France) was used once or twice a day during 10 minutes, with a following lid massage. Main outcome measures were assessed at baseline and after 3 weeks, including symptoms (ocular discomfort on a visual analogic scale‐primary endpoint, and separate symptoms), signs of blepharitis, Schirmer test, Break up time, corneal fluorescein vital staining, and tear osmolarity (measured with the Tearlab® system).Results Thirty patients (16 women, 14 men), mean age 48 ± 22 years (4 to 82 years) were included. After 3 weeks of treatment, mean global visual analogic scale symptom score decreased by 15.2 ± 22 mm (range, +32 to ‐57 mm on a 100 mm scale)(p=0.004). Mean composite blepharitis score decreased by ‐3.5 points on the worst eye (range, +1 to ‐10 on a 20 points scale)(p<0,001). No change was observed for the other parameters among which BUT, IOP and tear osmolarity. Improvement rated by the patient was important in 48 % of cases, moderate in 36% and fair in 16%.Conclusion Blephasteam® wet chamber warming goggles are a promising alternative to classical lid hygiene techniques. A multicenter extended study is ongoing.
Commercial interest
The first consultation
Authors: SPILEERS W 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose Patients with complaints of seeing badly in the dark need a full ophthalmological workup.Methods Acquired versus congenital nightblindness has to be questioned in a full anamnesis. Visual acuity, biomicroscopy and fundus examination are essential followed by visual field testing and possibly visual electrophysiology (flash ERG)Results Several causes of congenital and acquired nightblindness can be found. Not all patients complaining of seeing badly in the dark are "nightblind"Conclusion A full clinical ophthalmological work up can identify adequately several causes of night blindness
Causes of night blindness
Authors: LEROY BP 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose To describe the causes of both genetically determined and acquired night blindness.Methods A case presentation format will be used to illustrate different genetically determined and acquired conditions leading to night blindness. Both clinical and electrophysiological phenotypes as well as genotypes will be discussed.Results Phenotypes and genotypes of genetically determined diseases leading to night blindness are very different. An important distinction to be made is the one between stationary and progressive diseases. Indeed, other than night blindness the visual outcome differs considerably between different conditions.Conclusion The causes of night blindness are diverse. Taking a thorough history in combination with an extensive clinical examination and psychophysical and electrophysiological tests most often allows a to make a specific diagnosis. Acquired conditions are generally treatable, and should be differentiated from those that are inherited. For genetic disease, it is important to distinguish between progressive and stationary conditions.
Electrophysiology of patients with nyctalopia
Authors: HOLDER GE 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThe lecture will use a case‐based approach to demonstrate the value of electrophysiological testing in the diagnosis and management of patients with nyctalopia. The diagnostic features of various inherited and acquired diseases will be described, including photoreceptor dystrophies, congenital stationary night blindness, fundus albipunctatus, melanoma associated retinopathy, vitamin A deficiency and others.
Changes in expression of matrix metalloproteinases 12 and 19 in corneal epithelial cells after UV irradiation
Authors: ARDAN T , CEJKOVA J 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc‐binding endopeptidases that degrade various components of extracellular matrix. MMP‐12 participates in macrophage migration and MMP‐19 is involved in regulation of angiogenesis. Based on our previous findings dealing with the coincidence of the concentration of proteolytic enzymes with the severity of corneal injury induced by UV irradiation, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of UVA and UVB rays on expression of matrix metalloproteinases 12 and 19 in the corneal epithelium.Methods In the first group of rabbits the corneas were irradiated with UVA lamp (365 nm, once a day during 4 days, and a dose per day 1.01 J/cm2). In the second group of rabbits the corneas were irradiated with UVB lamp (312 nm, once a day during 4 days, and a dose per day 1.01 J/cm2). Matrix metalloproteinases 12 and 19 were examined on cryostat sections immunohistochemically by using sheep polyclonal anti‐MMP‐12 and anti‐MMP‐19 antibodies.Results Results show that as compared to normal corneas, UVA rays did not change the expression of MMPs studied in the corneal epithelium. In contrast, UVB rays induced overexpression of both MMPs in corneal epithelial cells. The expression of MMP‐12 was more pronounced in irradiated corneas than the expression of MMP‐19.Conclusion In conclusion, UVB rays (not UVA rays) evoked increased expression of MMPs in irradiated corneas. Results point to the suggestion that overexpression of these MMPs due to UVB‐exposure might mediate previously found angiogenesis and neutrophil migration through the UVB‐irradiated cornea and thus contribute to the development of abundant inflammatory response.
OCT in uveitis
Authors: NERI P , ARAPI I 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose To describe the role of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in uveitis.Methods The current literature is reviewed and the experience of a tertiary referral centre is reported.Results The involvement of the posterior pole during an active eye inflammatory disease can entail a reduction of visual acuity, which is sometimes difficult to treat. Albeit fluorescein angiography (FA) is still the gold standard for the detection of blood‐retinal barrier (BRB) disruption and has been the best option for the diagnosis of cystoid macular oedema (CMO), OCT represents an essential tool that can ameliorate the interpretation of FA findings. Epiretinal membrane (ERM) and tractional maculopathy may represent a sight‐threatening sequela of uveitis. OCT is extremely useful in documenting pathologies at the vitreo‐retinal interface, such as the formation of ERM, as well as it is also helpful in proving early infiltrates at the posterior vitreous interface. Although FA still remains the gold standard for the choroidal neovascularization (CNV) assessment, OCT is very helpful in documenting CNV nearby a chorioretinal scar. OCT has been used to study the type of CNV and to find its correlation to RPE.Conclusion OCT may demonstrate a variety of morphological changes, that may point towards a specific uveitic disease: different forms of macular oedema may be described in uveitis as well as OCT features which can be peculiarly found in several diseases. In addition, OCT can be very useful in documenting both ERM and CNV.
CXC Chemokine Expression Profiles in Aqueous Humor of Patients with Different
Authors: ABU EL ASRAR A , AL‐OBEIDAN S , KANGAVE D , GEBOES K , OPDENAKKER G , VAN DAMME J , STRUYF S 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose To investigate the CXC chemokine expression profiles in the aqueous humor from patients with active uveitis associated with Behçet’s disease, VKH disease, and HLA‐B27‐related intraocular inflammation and to correlate.Methods Aqueous humor (AH) samples from patients with Behçet’s disease (BD) (n=29), Vogt‐Koyanagi‐Harada (VKH) disease (n=21), and HLA‐B27‐associated uveitis (n=8), and 42 control patients were assayed for the neutrophil chemoattractants CXCL1/GRO‐α and CXCL8/IL‐8 and the lymphocyte chemoattractants CXCL9/MIG, CXCL10/IP‐10 and CXCL12/SDF‐1 with the use of a multiplex chemokine assay.Results Chemokine levels except CXCL12/SDF‐1 were significantly higher in the 3 disease groups than in normal controls. Considering all patients, mean CXCL1/GRO‐α levels were 15‐fold higher than CXCL8/IL‐8 levels and mean CXCL10/IP‐10 levels were 22‐fold higher than CXCL9/MIG levels. In patients with the same disease activity, AH levels of CXCL1/GRO‐α and CXCL10/IP‐10 were significantly higher in patients with BD than in patients with VKH disease and HLA‐B27‐associated uveitis (p=0.0474; p<0.001, respectively).Conclusion These data suggest that CXCL1/GRO‐α and CXCL10/IP‐10 are the predominant CXC chemokines involved in neutrophil and activated T lymphocyte chemoattraction in endogenous uveitis, particularly in BD.
TRPM1 and MITF expression in conjunctival melanocytic proliferations
Authors: MOULIN AP , ZOGRAFOS L 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose Downregulation of TRPM1, a transient receptor potential cation channel, has been correlated with a higher metastatic risk in skin melanoma. The promoter of TRPM1 contains MITF binding sites and MITF regulates in vitro the transcription of TRPM1. We have showed a partial loss of TRPM1 mRNA expression in a limited number of conjunctival melanoma. The aim of this study was to further investigate TRPM1 and MITF expression in a broader panel of conjunctival melanocytic proliferationsMethods Expression of MITF and TRPM1 was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 17 conjunctival naevi, 8 PAM (6 PAM with atypia) and 16 conjunctival melanoma. Statistical analysis was performed with JUMP 8,0 software.Results A complete preservation of both MITF and TRPM1 expression was identified in all the naevi and the PAM. A partial loss of TRPM1 expression was found in 44% of the conjunctival melanoma (2 cases with a scattered loss of expression and 5 cases with a regional loss of expression). There was a significant partial loss of TRPM1 expression in the melanoma group compared with the naevi group (p=0,0027) or with the PAM group (p=0,0331). A partial loss of MITF was identified in 50% of the melanoma with significant reduction compared with the naevi group (p=0,0005) or with the PAM group (p=0,0262). There was a significant correlation between partial loss of TRPM1 expression and partial loss of MITF expression (p<0,001).Conclusion We demonstrate a reduction of both MITF and TRPM1 expression in conjunctival melanoma compared with benign melanocytic lesions, suggesting that the loss of these proteins might be correlated with tumor progression. The concomitant partial reduction of expression of both genes is in concordance with the regulatory role of MITF on TRPM1 transcription.