bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vascular network of the human macula from OCT
Authors: RODRIGUES P , GUIMARAES P , BERNARDES R , SERRANHO P 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose To compute the vascular network of the human macula from spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) to an extent similar to that of color fundus photography (CFP).Methods Macular cube protocol scans of 512x128x1024 and 200x200x1024 voxels of 20 eyes from 13 type 2 diabetic patients and 10 eyes from 10 healthy volunteers were collected from the Cirrus HD‐OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA, USA) database. Additionally, CFPs and fluorescein angiograms (FAs) from the patients' eyes were gathered from the imaging database. Three distinct fundus references were computed from the OCT volumes after proper preprocessing. An additional OCT fundus image (OCTref) is computed as the principal component of these 3 OCT fundus references. The visible vascular network was manually segmented on CFP, FA and OCTref for comparison. Finally, a support vector machine (SVM) pattern classification algorithm was used to classify each pixel of the OCTref image into the vessel or non‐vessel classes from a set of 14 features computed from the OCT fundus references.Results Over 67% (67.8(7.2)%, average(SD)) of the vascular network manually segmented from the FA was manually segmented from the CFP, while this percentage raises to 69.2(8.9)% for OCT. In this way, the OCTref allows to compute an extended vascular network as compared to the CFP (102.8(14.4)%). When comparing the automatic versus the manual vascular segmentation, a specificity of 99.4(0.2)% and a sensitivity of 83.9(4.0)% were obtained. Overall, the accuracy of the automatic classification is of 98.0(0.4)%.Conclusion The proposed algorithm allows for the segmentation of the vascular network from OCT scans of the ocular fundus to a level similar to that of color fundus photography.
Observation of fundus using a novel high‐speed and high resolution optical coherent tomography: a preliminary report
Authors: YONEYA S , BABA M , SUZUKI M , KURODA H 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose to evaluate capability of femto‐second white laser in observing the fundus when applying it to optical coherent tomography (OCT) as a light source.Methods We have successfully developed 8 fs cw mode0locked Titanium Sapphire (TiS) laser which had broad band with ranging from 650 nm down to 950 nm. Using this laser, over 200 nm bandwidth portion ranging from 750 nm down to 950 nm pulse was created.. Acquistion time of one OCT image is o.o2 second and vertical resolution in the air is 2 μm in the air. Horizontal resolution is less than1 μm. High‐speed acquisition time allows us to observe time sequential OCT images like an OCT movie for one second using a computer soft ware. Fundus examination using this OCT system was performed in eyes of healthy volunteers and patients with age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) under approval of IRB. Effect of indocyanine green (ICG) in OCT images was also evaluated in the AMD patients when who has a routine ICG examination at clinic.Results Pulsative movement of choroidal vasculature and retinal vessels at the optic disc head could be observed in motion OCT images. Single scan OCT image of healthy macula delineated four distinctive lines in stead of three when observed with a conventional SD‐OCT, particularly in images scanned through extra fovea. Furthermore, as structure of the optic nerve head was clearly illustrated, so a manner of optic nerve how getting through the lamina cribrosa was well appreciated.Conclusion Femto‐second laser OCT is a promising tool to explore a new dimension of clinical ophthalmology particularly in examining AMD as well as glaucoma patients.
Commercial interest
The STRONG study
Authors: LORENZ K 
Published: August 2012

AbstractNeovascular glaucoma (NVG) is a very aggressive, rare type of glaucoma but contributes disproportionately to blindness from all eye diseases. NVG is also the second most common cause for the removal of the eye‐ball across all eye diseases, usually for intractable pain. The major cause of NVG is Ischaemic Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO) leading to neovascularisation and obstruction of aqueous humour outflow and increased intraocular pressure. Today’s therapeutic approaches are insufficient and include destruction of the retina by coagulation, or off‐label anti‐VEGF injection into the eye. Clearly, there is a need for better treatments. Aganirsen is an antisense oligonucleotid that can interrupt the production of Vascular Endothelial growth factor, which plays a major role in the pathogenesis of NVG and is developed by GENE SIGNAL. A Phase II/III randomised, double‐masked, 3‐group, placebo‐controlled trial (STRONG) is proposed to assess Aganirsen’s efficacy in reducing the rate of anterior and posterior segment neovascularisation and NVG development after CRVO. Aganirsen is manufactured by AMATSI, another SME. Involving 333 subjects at 35 sites, the study is operationalized via a disease specific network (EVICR.net). The study aims at assessing a new therapeutic approach for NVG for which conditional authorization will be sought at the end of the project. STRONG also delivers new insights into the natural course of the disease and its risk factors analysing one of the largest patient cohorts ever. Also, it allows for a novel classification of NVG, yields image analysis tools, and proposes biomarkers able to differentiate between high‐ and low‐risk patients and drug responders.
Compressive lesions
Authors: KAWASAKI A 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose To learn about compressive lesions which can mimic optic neuritisMethods Case presentationsResults Idiopathic demyelinating optic neuritis is an acute unilateral optic neuropathy associated with pain. Compressive lesions are typically distinguished by chronic, progressive visual loss that is painless. Sometimes, a compressive lesion will manifest itself acutely and can be mistaken for optic neuritis. Focal inflammatory mass at the orbital apex (orbital pseudotumor) , lesions of the optic canal , expanding ophthalmc artery aneurysm, and infarction of an undiagnosed pituitary tumor (apoplexy) are examples of a compressive mass lesion that can present as an acute painful optic neruopathy. The clinical features of these entities will be discussed along with pearls for. suspecting the correct diagnosis.Conclusion Careful history and examination can reveal important clues for distinguishing compressive lesion from optic neuritis
Commercial interest
Current concepts and future directions in the pathogenesis and treatment of infectious and non‐infectious intraocular inflammation
Authors: DICK A 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose Moving away from the morbidity of steroid therapy for inflammatory disease or the overburdonsome adverse events of immunosuppressive therapy, the advent of understanding of immune response during non‐infectious uveitis alongside the explosion in biotechnology has facilitated the development of biologic therapy. This has generated a new era for increasing equisitely specific therapy. Improved diagnostics have lead to specific targeting for infectious aetiologiesMethods The review will highlight experimental evidence of targets of inhibiting T cell activation, B cell responses, Trafficking of cells, and cytokine inhibition. However, most importantly is the increasing abibility to predict and therefore target responses.Addiotionally the ability to rapidly identify infectious causes will be discussedResults We will highlight the strength of predicting response to steroid and highlighting mechanisms of steroid refractiveness has generated avenues of approach for specific therapy. In addition the efficacy of regulating trafficking and inhibiting myeloid cell function shows promise in the future treatments of non‐infectious intraocular inflammatory disease.Conclusion Biologic therapy has the opportunity to not only specifically and powerfully immunomodulate but also with the increase in understanding of individual immune response adapt to generate a more stratified and personalised approach to therapy.
Commercial interest
Novel therapeutic strategies for the induction of tolerance in corneal transplantation
Authors: RITTER T , TREACY O , O'FLYNN L , WILK M , MORCOS M , RYAN A , NOSOV M 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose To develop novel treatment protocols for the prolongation of corneal allograft survival.Methods Genetic manipulation of donor corneas prior to transplantation is an attractive approach to protect the graft from allogeneic rejection. A lentiviral construct which encodes for Programmed Death‐Ligand 1 (PD‐L1) was applied for ex‐vivo genetic modification of corneal grafts before transplantation. Moreover, the generation and application of regulatory cell populations such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and tolerogenic dendritic cells (tolDCs) to modulate immune‐mediated rejection in transplanted animals and their mechanism of action will be discussed in this presentation.Results Overexpression of PD‐L1 in ex‐vivo cultured corneas prior to transplantation significantly prevents corneal allograft rejection by modulating both innate and adaptive intra‐graft allo‐immune responses. Moreover, systemic injection of MSCs and tolDCs is able to prolong corneal allograft survival and reduces neovascularisation and graft opacity. A significant reduction of graft‐infiltrating inflammatory cells was also recorded for both applications.Conclusion Local overexpression of immunomodulatory molecules is a promising approach to prevent corneal graft rejection. In addition treatment of transplanted animals with regulatory cells also modulates corneal allograft survival. These novel therapies may have the potential to be further developed towards a clinical application. [Supported by Science Foundation of Ireland (SFI 07/IN.1/B925). TR is supported by a Travel Grant from Millennium Research Funds, National University of Ireland, Galway]
Counselling the patient with advanced disease
Authors: ANSARI E 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose To provide an understanding of how to counsel patients about irreversible sight loss.Methods Understanding : the patient's perspective the grief reaction sharing information the role of the clinician the role of the counsellorResults Time‐ listen listen and listen to the patient and their concerns. Team‐ you cannot manage this alone! Trust‐ this happens if time, transparency and team approach are employed.Conclusion Glaucoma is responsible for irreversible loss of vision. It is very important to inform the patient fully about this from the outset and to be transparent and supportive if blindness supervenes. A solid team approach with the help of a counsellor is very important.
Natural compounds as lead therapeutic agents against diabetic eye disease
Authors: PETRASH M 
Published: August 2012

AbstractDiabetes is a leading cause of new cases of blindness throughout the world. Given the rapid increase in diabetes incidence in recent years, diabetic eye disease will likely become an even bigger problem in the future. There are currently no medical therapies for prevention of early stage ophthalmic complications of diabetes, and treatment for late stage disease is complicated and prohibitively expensive for deployment on a large scale. We have centered our efforts on identifying therapeutic compounds identified as natural products, with a particular focus on plant materials identified over time to be associated with efficacy against diabetes and its complications. The Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis), commonly known as Amla, is used in the practice of Indian traditional medicine (Ayurveda) to minimize the effects of diabetes and its complications. We previously showed that treatment of experimentally diabetic rats with crude extracts from Amla fruit delayed the onset and progression of cataracts and prevented the accumulation of sorbitol and diabetes‐induced markers of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation products in the eye. Because these results were consistent with the effects of aldose reductase (AR) inhibition, we embarked on a bioassay‐guided scheme to search for putative AR inhibitors (ARI), using human AR (AKR1B1) activity as an assay read out. Fractionation of materials in an Amla extract resolved several compounds with ARI activity. Structure elucidation by NMR identified the major inhibitor as 1‐O‐galloyl‐beta‐D‐glucose, also known as beta‐glucogallin (bGG). We and others have shown that AR inhibition by sorbinil and a variety of other validated ARIs suppresses inflammatory markers associated with exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxins. Our studies show that treatment of LPS‐exposed mice with bGG dose‐dependently suppresses infiltration of inflammatory cells in the anterior and posterior chambers and prevents morphological disruption of retinal layers. Using macrophage cell cultures, we demonstrated that bGG down‐regulates endotoxin‐induced expression of a variety of pro‐inflammatory cytokines including TNFa and IL1b. Similar studies are being carried out with a novel drug lead recently identified in a family of flowering plants commonly cultivated in India and Malaysia (Piperaceae). Overall, our studies suggest that natural products may be a rich source of lead compounds useful for development as therapeutic agents against diabetic complications.
Evaluation remains a key point
Authors: MATHYSEN D 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose European postgraduate medical assessment have developed during the last 25 years. Currently, all European medical specialties examinations use MCQs. The European Board of Ophthalmology Diploma (EBOD) examination uses multiple independent true/false MCQs for the written part of the examination. Since true/false MCQs may be prone to guessing, thorough statistical evaluation has been set‐up over the last five years to monitor the performance of the examination and its MCQs.Methods In 2010, the European Board of Ophthalmology (EBO) decided to introduce negative marks for the MCQs. To study the influence of negative marks on the performance/reliability of the examination, the following statistical performance parameters of test items have been compared: P‐value, Rit‐value, Cronbach‐alpha and 3‐parameter item‐response analysis.Results A decrease in average P‐value (P < 0.66) was observed compared to the situation without negative marks (P > 0.75). An increase in average Rit‐value (Rit > 0.15) was observed compared to the situation without negative marks (Rit < 0.15). An increase in Cronbach‐alpha (> 0.85) was observed compared to the situation without negative marks (< 0.80). 3‐parameter item‐response analyses revealed that almost none of the questions was influenced by guessing correctly (average c <<< 0.33), while without negative marks all questions were influenced by guessing correctly (average c ~ 0.33).Conclusion Introduction of negative marks at the EBO examination, did lead to a decrease in item‐facility (P‐value) due to less "wild" guessing; an increase in Pearson correlation (Rit‐value) between item and total scores and an increase in reliability (Cronbach‐alpha). 3‐parameter analysis showed that the portion of correct answers due to guessing is negligible with the use of negative marks.
I have got a grant
Authors: GRIGORIU D 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose Ever since the EBO grants have been awarded, the aim was to open communication channels between doctors from all over Europe, particularly linking the East to the West. From my point of view the actual collaboration between the young and the more experienced does just that, enabling the grant recipient to broaden her/his horizon, thus greatly enhancing self‐confidence; and my aim is to prove this.Methods I am going to share some of my personal experience during my stay in VU Medical Center in Amsterdam and speak about the impact that meeting the renowned team there had on the way I perceive my work and my responsibility towards my patients.Results During my one month stay in Amsterdam I found excellent support in Prof. Ringens and his team – the vitreo‐retinal surgeons, strabismus specialists and the retinoblastoma team. I thus made important steps in learning how to use an indirect ophthalmoscope, got to talk about complex retinoblastoma cases and saw some uveitis cases which are more frequent in Latin America or Asia and not so common in Eastern Europe.Conclusion By receiving this grant I had the opportunity to come into contact with some of the best European ophthalmologists, to get new ideas on how to improve my practice and upgrade my skills in examining the patients. And, above all, I felt more than welcome among them and I feel certain I can count on them for further guidance and support.
Complexity of genetics in keratoconus
Authors: GAJECKA M , KAROLAK JA , MOLINARI A , PITARQUE JA , BEJJANI BA , POLAKOWSKI P , SZAFLIK J , SZAFLIK JP , NOWAK DM 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose Mapping and genome sharing among affected individuals continue to be important for establishing a link between a genomic variant and its phenotypic consequences. In one large Ecuadorian keratoconus (KC) family a mutation and three other sequence variants were recognized, showing 100% segregation with disease phenotype in DOCK9, IPO5 and STK24 at 13q32 locus. Here we present further linkage and sequencing results of candidate KC genes identified in other Ecuadorian families.Methods Linkage analyses were performed in 3 large KC families. Next, candidate genes at indentified loci were screened by standard techniques using genomic DNA samples from these families and selected individuals from other Ecuadorian families and control Ecuadorian individuals. Coding exons and intron‐exon boundaries of the genes were evaluated.Results Suggestive keratoconus loci, 2q13‐q14.3, 20p13, and 5q31 were identified. Sequencing of IL1A, IL1B and IL1RN at 2q13‐q14.3, SLC4A11 at 20p13, TGFBI, PITX1 and IL9 at 5q31 have been completed. Numerous SNV were identified in coding and non‐coding regions.Conclusion Identified keratoconus loci and the sequence variants are specific for the studied families only. Our results indicate high complexity of genetics in familial keratoconus. Support: Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Grant NN402591740 and National Science Center, Grant 2011/03/N/NZ5/01470
OPA1‐related sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: LERUEZ S , BONNEAU D , AMATI‐BONNEAU P , DEFOORT‐DHELLEMMES S , CROCHET M , DROUIN V , BLANCHET C , JUUL G , LARSEN M , LAENERS G , REYNIER P , MILEA D 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose The OPA1 gene, encoding a dynamin‐like mitochondrial GTPase, is responsible for autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA, OMIM #165500), which can be associated with extra‐ocular abnormalities including sensorineural deafness.The purpose of this study is to determine, in a large series of patients carrying OPA1 mutations, the prevalence of the R445H mutation and of rarer OPA1 mutations in patients with ADOD and to describe the phenotype associated with these rarer mutations.Methods We retrospectively reviewed the files of all the OPA 1 patients with documented deafness diagnosed in our laboratory between 2003 and 2011.Results In our series, deafness occurred in 6.4% of OPA1 patients. Hearing loss occurred as the first sign of the disease in one third of the patients, prior to visual loss. In addition to the most common mutation responsible for ADOA and deafness (R445H), we report 6 additional mutations responsible for this association.Conclusion Deafness can be associated with dominant optic atrophy, due to OPA1 mutations, other than the classical R445H mutation. Unexplained sensorineuronal hearing loss can even be the first event and its association to optic atrophy and should prompt molecular genetic analysis, which can lead to an appropriate diagnosis.
Analysis of lincRNA at 13q32 keratoconus locus
Authors: KAROLAK JA , NOWAK DM , MOLINARI A , PITARQUE JA , BEJJANI BA , GAJECKA M 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose Keratoconus (KC) is a disease of the eye characterized by thinning and protrusion of the cornea. The causes of KC remain unknown. Our mutation screening of genes from 13q32 KC locus have revealed substitution in STK24 showing 100% segregation with KC phenotype in the Ecuadorian family. To continue the KC causes search, some non‐coding RNA from 13q32 locus were selected for further molecular analysis. Here, we present sequencing results of lincRNA localized ~1kb from 5’ end of STK24.Methods The lincRNA was screen by sequencing technique using DNA samples from 23 members of KC‐014 family and selected affected and unaffected individuals from Ecuador.Results Sequencing analysis of lincRNA localized ~1kb from 5’ end of STK24 have revealed g.99230266C>T substitution showing segregation with KC phenotype in the Ecuadorian KC‐014 family.Conclusion Mutation analysis of lincRNA mapped at the 13q32 locus have revealed sequence alteration segregating with the KC phenotype in Ecuadorian family. Since it is known, that lincRNAs are co‐expressed with neighboring coding genes and may function as a regulator of epigenetic marks and gene expression, we suggest that this lincRNA localized in close proximity to STK24 gene might play a role in development and/or progression of familial KC in patients from Ecuador. To our knowledge, this is the first report presenting lincRNA analysis in KC. Support: Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Grant NN402591740
Retinal oxygen saturation in health and disease
Authors: HARDARSON S 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose Measurements of retinal vessel oxygen saturation can provide insight into the nature of several eye diseases.Methods Dual wavelength oximeters are used by our group and others. They measure light absorbance at one oxygen‐sensitive and one oxygen‐insensitive wavelength and use the absorbance values to calculate retinal vessel oxygen saturation.Results Oxygen saturation in the larger retinal venules is decreased in central retinal vein occlusion but increased in diabetic retinopathy and age‐related macular degeneration. In glaucoma, retinal venous oxygen saturation increases with increased visual field defect.Conclusion Oxygen saturation in the larger retinal vessels, particularly the venules, reflects the balance between oxygen supply and oxygen consumption in the retina. In glaucoma, for example, a rise in the retinal venous oxygen saturation is most likely due to tissue atrophy and less oxygen consumption. Oxygen saturation in the larger vessels can also be affected by the efficiency of oxygen distribution by the retinal capillaries. Increased retinal venous oxygen saturation in diabetic retinopathy may for example partly be explained by shunting of blood through preferential channels in the capillary network.
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