bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increased IL‐6 levels in the vitreous of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR)
Authors: ARJAMAA O , PÖLLÖNEN M 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose To assess the activity of HIF‐1alpha and NF‐kappaB transcription factors and inflammation markers (IL‐6 and IL‐8) in the vitreous of patients suffering from proliferative diabetic retinopathy.Methods Twenty seven patients were enrolled for the study. The severity of retinopathy was classified (0, 1, 2, 3, 4) and the activity of neovascularization was graded (0, 1, 2, 3, 4) intraoperatively. Samples were collected during surgery and the NF‐κB and HIF‐1alpha and transcription factors activity and expression levels of IL‐6 and IL‐8 were measured.Results The majority of samples fell into the retinopathy classes 3 (n=12) or 4 (n=13). Neither the level of IL‐6 increased from 68.9 + 46.8 pg/ml to 102.7 + 94.1 pg/ml and IL‐8 from 165.1 + 136.0 pg/ml to 521.0 + 870.9 pg/ml (mean + SD, non‐significant change: normality test followed with Mann‐Whitney Rank Sum Test). According to the neovascularization activity the samples fell into the grades 1 (n=7), 2 (n=12) or 3 (n=7). In IL‐6 there was a statistically significant increase (p<0.05) from grade 2 to 3: 58.6 + 40.3 pg/ml and 158.4 + 102.5 pg/ml, respectively (Kruskal‐Wallis One Way ANOVA on Ranks followed with Dunn’s Method). The level of IL‐8 was in grade 1: 118.0 + 62,4 pg/ml, in grade 2: 192.3 + 127.1 pg/ml and in grade 3: 884.3 + 1161.0 pg/ml (statistically non‐significant change). There was a statistically significant Linear Regression between IL‐6 and IL‐8 (P <0.001): IL‐6 = 51.88 pg/ml + (0.092 * IL‐8), r=0.772. Increased activity of the HIF‐1alpha and NF‐κB transcription factors were not observed.Conclusion IL‐6 is a candidate to indicate activity of neovascularization process in PDR. It might be a new molecular therapeutic target to regulate innate immunity response in vitreous.
Diabetic retinopathy screening with computational support
Authors: CSUTAK A , ANTAL B , LAZAR I , PETO T , TOROK Z , BIRO A , HAJDU A 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is among the most common causes of blindness in the developed world. Since many patients retain normal vision and may experience only minimal reduction despite the presence of a severe, sight‐threatening disease, screening and early detection of DR is highly recommended. Our purpose was to develop an automated DR screening system to gain computational support for high throughput screening activities.Methods Detection of microaneurysms (MA) ‐ the most important indicators and the earliest signs of DR ‐ and of other lesions (exudates, vascular structures, etc.) have been assembled in an ensemble‐learning based framework, which has been tested on 1200 images of the Messidor database.Results Images were classified as having DR or non by the MA detector only with 95% sensitivity, 51% specificity and 76% accuracy. By including other lesions, our system reached 89% sensitivity, 82% specificity and 85% accuracy.Conclusion Our system has sensitivity/specificity values for the MA step comparable to or better then other automated systems available, as tested in the Retinopathy Online Challenge, where it is currently ranked as first. MA detection remains a key component in automated DR screening, but detection of other DR lesions can lead to further improvement. This work was supported in part by NKTH, TECH08‐2, Hungary DRSCREEN project and the NIHR BMRC in Ophthalmology (TP).
Changes in the retinal vessel diameter, retinal nerve fiver layer thickness, and optic disc after vitrectomy
Authors: LEE SU , KIM SJ , LEE JE , KIM SY , LEE SJ 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose To investigate the retinal vascular caliber, retinal nerve fiver layer thickness, and optic disc changes in patients after pars plana vitrectomy.Methods We examined 40 eyes in 40 patients who had undergone unilateral pars plana vitrectomy at before and 3 months, 6 months after operation. The diameters of central retinal arteries and veins were measured on retinal photographs. The central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE) were calculated using the revised Parr‐Hubbard formula. Retinal nerve fiver layer thickness was obtained using Stratus optical coherence tomography. Cup‐to‐disc vertical ratios of optic disc was evaluated using stereo optic disc photoResults There were no significant differences between both eyes before operation. Cup‐to‐disc vertical ratios of optic disc significantly increased for 3 months and 6 months post‐operatively (p<0.01, p<0.01) and there was significant difference between operation eye and fellow eye at the same period (p<0.01, p<0.01). The changes of CRAE and CRVE in operation eye were significantly larger than fellow eye at 6 months post‐operatively (p<0.01, p<0.01). The retinal nerve fiver layer thickness showed no significant changes.Conclusion Whereas no retinal nerve fiver layer thickness decrease was observed, vitrectomy induced changes in Cup‐to‐disc vertical ratios of optic disc and retinal vessel diameter for significant periods following surgery.
Aspirin is not a risk factor of haemorrhagic complications during or after surgery of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
Authors: ZARATZIAN BRILLAT ZB , ALBALADEJO A , ROMANET R , CHIQUET C 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose To evaluate the hemorrhagic risk of treatment by acetylsalicylic acid, during the management of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment(RD).Methods This comparative prospective case control study included a cohort of 322 patients from a prospective cohort of 835 patients with primary rhegmatogenous RD. After exclusion of patients with RD secondary,74 patients were included in the hemorrhagic group and patients without hemorrhagic complications were randomly selected in order to reach a 1:3 case (control population, n=248). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors of perioperative bleeding.Results Univariate analysis showed that the presence of initial vitreous hemorrhage, size of breaks, number of breaks, pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and the number of cryotherapy impacts were significantly associated with perioperative bleeding. Independent risk factors of perioperative hemorrhage were the number of cryotherapy sessions (odds ratio =1.12 [1.06; 1.20], 95% CI), transscleral drainage (OR =4.22 [1.62; 10.98]), and PPV (OR =3.39 [1.36; 8.47]). The occurrence of bleeding complications was associated with a lower single‐operation anatomical success rate. There was also a trend toward an association between bleeding complications, the total number of RD recurrences, and final visual acuity.Conclusion Aspirin was not an independent risk factor of hemorrhagic complications during and after surgery of primary rhegmatogenous RD. The bleeding risk is instead associated with surgical factors such as PPV, cryotherapy, and subretinal fluid drainage.
OCT as sensitive indicator of geometric fundus deformities
Authors: KRASTEL H , BEUTELSPACHER SC , STEINMETZ PH , DRINGS A , ZAHN TH , JONAS JB 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose To emphasize the contribution of optical coherence tomography in detecting geometric fundus deformitiesMethods Seven cases of geometric fundus deformities are evaluated retrospectively with regard to OCT (Heidelberg Spectralis), B‐scan ultrasound, fundus imaging, direct ophthalmoscopy and functional examinations, among them acuity, color vision and various perimetric techniques.Results Patients were referred to our hospital because of unexplained reduction in visual acuity or loss within their visual fields, or were identified as being affected from geometric fundus deformity on routine exam. OCT provided the first‐at‐hand finding leading towards the explanation of abnormal visual function, or was the first to point incidentally to a geometric fundus deformity. Ophthalmoscopy (incl. an estimate of paraxial optic path length) and fundus imaging ranked next, whereas B scan ultrasound provided affirmative data. Among functions, visual fields were more often affected than acuity. There were no defects in color vision.Conclusion OCT profiles of the posterior pole of the eye provide a sensitive indicator of geometric fundus deformities, thus leading to an understanding of otherwise unexplained defects of visual function.
Reproducibility and differences between cirrus and spectralis fourier‐domain OCT in epiretinal membranes
Authors: PINILLA I , GARCIA‐MARTIN E , IDOIPE M , PEREZ‐GARCIA D , JIMENEZ B , RAMIRO P , PEIRO C , ASCASO J , ABECIA E 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose To evaluate the ability of Fourier‐domain (FD) OCT to detect retinal alterations in epiretinal membrane (ERM) eyes. To test the intra‐session reproducibility of macular thickness measurements in ERM and healthy subjects using Cirrus and Spectralis OCT.Methods Two hundred and nine of 209 subjects (87 ERM patients and 122 healthy subjects) underwent three macular scans by the same experienced examiner using Cirrus and Spectralis OCT . Differences between healthy and ERM eyes were studied. The relationship between average thicknesses with both instruments was evaluated. Repeatability was studied by intra‐class correlation coefficients and coefficients of variation (COV) for the nine areas corresponding to the ETDRS.Results Macular thickness increase was detected in ERM eyes for all OCT parameters (p<0.05). Macular average thickness was 338.45 and 431.99 µm in ERM eyes using Cirrus and Spectralis, respectively. Changes in the morphology of the retinal layers were detected using both OCTs. Macular average thickness in ERM eyes as determined by both OCTs was correlated (r= 0.678; p<0.001), but differences were statistically significant (p=0.044). In ERM eyes, measurements showed a mean COV of 2.96% using Cirrus, 2.21% using Spectralis and 0.99% using Spectralis progression feature. Intra‐class correlation coefficients were higher than 0.919.Conclusion Significant differences exist in macular thickness measurements between Cirrus and Spectralis despite the high correlation of measurements between the two instruments. Fourier‐domain OCT can be considered a valid device to detect alterations in ERM patients.
Reproducibility of retinal thikness measurements in patients with age‐related macular degeneration using fourier –domain optical coherence tomography
Authors: RAMIRO P , PINILLA I , CABEZON L , PEREZ D , IBANEZ J , MATEO A , CRISTOBAL JA 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose To assess the reproducibility intraoperative macular thickness measurements using optical coherence tomography, spectral domain (spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany) in patients with wet AMD and to evaluate differences in reproducibility with optical coherence tomography (Stratus, Carl Zeiss Meditect Inc, USA).Methods prospective observational study and cross‐sectional study included 30 eyes of 30 patients with exudative AMD. All of them were dealt with macular status by fast‐track protocol posterior pole with spectral domain OCT (Spectralis OCT) and time domain OCT (Stratus OCT). Each patient underwent 3 consecutive scans each of the scanners and performed by the same observer to compare the reproducibility of both devices. We evaluated the central macular thickness in macular different areas described in the ETDRS (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study).Statistics was performed descriptive analysis of variance and calculated the intraclass coefficient of correlation (ICC) and coefficients of variationResults The thickness of the retina was highly reproducible for all ETDRS areas with OCT Spectralis with values of ICC and VOC better than the Stratus OCT. VOCs spectralis were obtained with less than 5% indicating a high reproducibility and the ICC greater than 0.9.Conclusion Reproducibility of retinal thickness measurements with optical coherence tomography spectral domain is almost perfect, there are few differences in intraobserver assessments. The values ​​are higher than getting with time‐domain OCT .Fourier domain OCT is a valid and highly reliable device for diagnosis and monitoring of retinal diseases such as wet AMD.
Presence of contracting cellular elements at the border of stage III and IV macular holes
Authors: MENDRINOS E , BOCHATON‐PIALLAT ML , GILODI N , TSILIMBARIS MK , POURNARAS CJ 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose Myofibroblasts play a major role in the production of retractile phenomena causing contraction or shrinkage of the epiretinal membranes (ERM) in proliferative vitreoretinopathy, diabetic retinopathy or idiopathic macular epiretinal membranes. The presence of a‐smooth muscle actin (a‐SMA)‐positive myofibroblasts and of ED‐A fibronectin (FN), one of the main inducers of myofibroblastic differentiation was studied in internal limiting membranes (ILM) removed during macular hole surgery.Methods Samples of ILMs following macular hole surgery in 9 eyes were collected. Double immunofluorescence staining with antibodies recognizing a‐SMA and ED‐A FN followed by confocal microscopy analysis as well as electronic microscopy were performed.Results a‐SMA and ED‐A FN were detected in ILM removed in stage III and IV macular holes. ED‐A FN was expressed in close relation with a‐SMA‐positive myofibroblasts predominately located close to the border of the macular hole area. Distally to the hole area the ILM specimens were a‐SMA and ED‐A FN negative. No a‐SMA staining was observed in ILM specimens of stage II macular hole specimens.Conclusion Scanning electron microscopy indicated that cellular migration was not apparent around the macular hole in the early stage of the development of this pathology.Cellular elements expressing contractile properties related to a‐SMA, typical of myofibroblasts differentiation, appear to be present at late stage macular holes.
Road to fulfillment (not perdition): taming immune response to restore vision
Authors: DICK A 
Published: December 2011

AbstractUnderstanding immune regulation that maintains retinal function whilst interrogating immune responses during retinal inflammation has illuminated avenues to harness for future therapy of many disorders including uveitis and neovascular age‐related macular degeneration. The retina is endowed with a network of a continual turnover of myeloid derived cells. The default response is to regulate inflammation, however during inflammation the over burdening infiltration of activated T cells or macrophages generates damage and homeostasis is difficult to refirm. By harnessing approaches of suppressing infiltration via inhibiting trafficking of cells into the tissue, or inhibiting activation of cell infiltrate and then restoring homeostasis via recapitulating natural mechanisms of control will prevent damage, facilitate healing and regeneration and maintain immunoregulation.
Commercial interest
Late‐Onset Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis associated with cataract phacoemulsification
Authors: PRIETO CALVO E , IDOIPE CORTA M , EGEA ESTOPINAN C , SANCHEZ PEREZ A 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose Diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) is characterized by the presence of a diffuse inflammatory infiltrate localized at the laser in situ keratomileusis interface, with a non‐infectious etiology. Most cases of DLK occur within the first week following surgery but late‐onset DLK has been associated with inflammatory conditions such as iritis, viral keratoconjunctivitis or interstitial keratitis; and it can occur even years after LASIK.Methods Prospective, interventional, single case report. A 67‐year‐old male patient, who had undergone bilateral LASIK 13 years earlier, developed an episode of DLK on the third day of the postoperative‐cataract surgery on his left eye (LE). Slit‐lamp biomicroscopy and optical coherence tomography (anterior segment mode) were performed to demonstrate the presence of highly‐reflective multifocal infiltrates and the absence of fluid at the flap interface. The patient was treated with intensive topical corticosteroids.Results Treatment with topical 1.0% prednisolone acetate was instituted and continued for months, with improvement in patient symptoms and visual acuity.Conclusion This is a case of DLK with an extremely delayed onset, which emphasizes the importance of following‐up of these patients not only in the early postoperative period.
Topical treatment with 0.05% cyclosporine for subepithelial infiltrates secondary to adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis
Authors: KONTADAKIS G , PLAKA A , LIMNOPOULOU A , DIAKONIS V , KYMIONIS G 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose To evaluate the treatment with topical 0,05% cyclosporine A (CsA) in patients with subepithelial corneal infiltrates secondary to adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis.Methods 4 patients (8 eyes) before and after treatment with CsA 0.05% eyedrops twice daily were prospectively examined. All patients had been treated with topical corticosteroids previously without improvement. The objective data recorded included best‐corrected decimal visual acuity, intraocular pressure and evaluation of severity of SEIs (improved, stable, or worse).Results 1 male and 3 females, mean age of 45 +/‐ 10 years, were included. Mean follow‐up on CsA was 12 months +/‐ 4 months. The mean best‐corrected decimal visual acuity before and after treatment was 0.8 +/‐ 0.25 and 1.0 +/‐ 0.28, respectively. 3 patients showed clinical improvement, and 1 was stable during the treatment period. Patients reported reduction in the severity of symptoms before and after the treatment. Most of the patients reported no foreign body sensation, glare, or other side effects with topical CsA treatment. Overall, patients noted an improvement in vision and satisfaction with CsA treatment.Conclusion Topical CsA 0.05% is a safe and effective alternative treatment in patients with SEIs who do not respond to other treatment modalities or have unwanted side effects from topical steroids.
Corneal biomechanical properties in myopic LASIK
Authors: DEL BUEY MA , LAVILLA L , CRISTOBAL JA , LANCHARES E , MATEO J , ASCASO FJ , RODRIGUEZ A , PEIRO C , MATEO A , RUIZ DE GOPEGUI E 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose Describe and quantify the effect of myopic LASIK on corneal biomechanics considering the preoperative hysteresisMethods In 126 eyes with myopia and myopic astigmatism the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) was used to measure corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), Goldman‐correlated intraocular pressure (IOPg), and corneal‐compensated IOP (IOPcc) before and 3 months after LASIK. We divided the sample into three groups based on the values of CH (mmHg) preoperative: G1 (30 eyes) CH 7.5‐9.5, G2 (66 eyes) 9.5‐11.5, G3 (30 eyes) >11.5.Results After LASIK, there was a reduction in mean CH (ΔCH; G1:0.98 G2:1.51 G3: 1.81), CRF (ΔCRF; G1:2.35 G2:2.46 G3:2.83), IOPcc (ΔIOPcc; G1: 3.26 G2:1.74 G3: 1.75) and IOPg (ΔIOPg; G1: 5.01 G2:3.92 G3: 4.31) in three groups. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the percentage change of CH (G1: 13% G2: 14.6% G3: 15%) and CRF (G1: 25% G2: 23% G3: 24%). While the percentage decrease in IOPcc (G1: 18% G2: 10.5% G3: 11.5%) and IOPg (G1: 31% G2: 25% G3: 27%) was statistically different. Was find a significant correlation between ΔCH and ΔCRF with microns of ablation (r =‐ 0.406, r =‐ 0.616) and spherical equivalent (r = 0.405, r =‐ 0.599).Conclusion LASIK surgery decreases the corneal hysteresis and corneal resistance factor. The percentage decline of corneal hysteresis and corneal resistance factor after LASIK surgery was no different between the three groups based on the preoperative hysteresis. Although there is a correlation between variations of the CH and CRF, with microns of ablation and the refractive error corrected.
Adaptive optics imaging in age‐related macular degeneration
Authors: GOCHO‐NAKASHIMA K , BENCHABOUNE M , ULLERN M , LAMORY B , CHATEAU N , SAHEL JA , PAQUES M 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose To document cases of drusen and age‐related geographic atrophy(GA) at the microscopic scale using adaptive optics(AO).Methods Four cases of age‐related drusens, 2 cases of familial drusen and 7 patients of GA underwent en face retinal imaging by AO retinal camera(rtx1, Imagine Eyes, Orsay, France). AO images were confronted to high‐resolution spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography(OCT) and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy(SLO) examinations.Results In AO images, most drusen appeared as doughnut‐shaped highly reflective zones, and were better delineated than by color fundus photograph. The overlying cone mosaic could be detected over most of them, including their top. Between drusen, the cone photoreceptor mosaic appeared normal. In GA cases, AO images revealed irregular patches of multiple cone‐like bright spots as well as larger dark disks in atrophic areas.Conclusion AO provided images of microscopic structures in various types of AMD, including GA. Local losses in cone contrast at the drusen slopes confirmed a strong relation between cone visibility and their orientation. There was no evidence of cone loss in association to drusen. In GA patients, our findings suggest that photoreceptors with shortened outer segments may survive within atrophic areas, which may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring the function of surviving cones. These results demonstrate that AO retinal camera can detect isolated residual photoreceptors, and hence that it will be a powerful tool for quantifying spontaneous or therapeutic changes in AMD patients. Supported by ANR through Tecsan Program (project iPhot n° ANR‐09‐TECS‐009)
Peripheral corneal ulceration associated with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: ALMALIOTIS D , KONIDARIS V , STAMOULAS K , GEORGALA A , KARAMPATAKIS V 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPurpose To report a case of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and associated peripheral corneal ulceration.Methods A 60 year old woman with RA diagnosed 15 years ago, and under immunosuppressive therapy (IV abatacept 250 mg / month), demonstrated blurring of vision in her right eye. Visual acuity was 6 / 10 in the right eye and 10 / 10 in the left eye. Slitlamp examination revealed a paracentral superior corneal melt in the right eye. Anterior chamber reaction was 2+. Laboratory investigations revealed negative Extractable Nuclear Antigens (ENA) Screen ELISA Test, negative anti‐Sm antibodies, positive serum IgG and IgA reactivities, and IgE and IgM within normal levels. Evaluation for the underlying connective tissue disease revealed highly elevated Rheumatoid Factor and C‐reactive protein (CRP) (955 IU/ml, normal range: 0‐20 IU/ml, and 1.59 mg/dl, normal range: 0‐0.8 respectively). The patient underwent extensive treatment with topical tobramycin and lubricants and oral prednisolone 60 mg/day with tapering doses, and methotrexate p.os. 15 mg / week was added.Results The condition was improved within a few days after the initiation of prednisolone treatment. Re‐epithelization occurred one week after the onset of the treatment and only punctate fluorescein dye uptake was detected in the margins of the lesion.Conclusion The effective control of the underlying disease and early diagnosis of the dry eye syndrome in RA patients may prevent serious corneal complications, such as corneal ulceration, which are difficult to treat. The initiation of treatment with steroids and immunosuppresants was found to halt the progression of keratolysis and assist re‐epithelization.