bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
European study on reliability assessment of endothelial cell count in eye banks: the Euro‐Keratotest study
Authors: THURET G , HE Z , BERNARD A , CAMPOLMI N , HA THI BM , PEOC'H M , DUMOLLARD JM , DELESALLE N , GAIN P 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose In European eye banks, 15‐20% of corneas are discarded for inappropriate ECD. Given the importance of a precise, robust and reproducible ECD, we organized an international survey of the quality of ECD determinationMethods The Euro‐Keratotest study reproduced 2 surveys driven in 2003 and 2008 by our team in the 18 French eye banks (Transplantation2004), with substantial improvements: test slides (3rd generation keratotests) were fabricated with technologies employed in micro‐optics, from images of real human corneas (Optics Letters2012). Twelve different mosaics with ECDs covering the usual range observed in eye banks, were created in a 8x8 mm quartz square. Keratotests, observable with transmitted light or specular microscopes, were sent simultaneously to all volunteer eye banks (n=100). Each technician had to determine ECD and morphometry of the 12 mosaics with his/her standard counting method. Data were collected on a specific websiteResults A first analysis of 120 technicians of 38 eye banks will be presented. It allowed identification of inter and intra bank variability and of bias likely involved (inappropriate counting strategy or wrong microscope calibration) and susceptible to be improvedConclusion Participation of the eye banks to this survey using 3rd generation keratotests improves our knowledge on the reliability of cell counting methods in eye banks, and help standardize graft quality assessment. Keratotests are also perfect tools for the initial formation and continuous training of eye banks technicians, as well as for the eye banks certification. Grant: Interregional Hospital Clinical Research Project 2011, Ministry of Health, DIRC Rhônes‐Alpes
A new and quantitative method to evaluate the overall quality of corneal tissues for clinical applications and research testing
Authors: PAREKH M 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose To demonstrate the validity of a new evaluation technique for measuring the overall quality of the cornea and check the efficacy of this quantitative approach in a comparative study of corneas preserved in CorneaCold® (new formulation) or Optisol‐GS.Methods 24 pairs of unsuitable corneas with intact epithelial layer and good morphology were collected. Right corneas were placed in CorneaCold® (Eurobio‐France) and left corneas in Optisol‐GS (Bausch&Lomb‐USA) from the same donor and vice‐versa for a 4 week comparative study. The study was divided into 2 phases, where phase 1 was open and phase 2 was blinded. Cells were stained with trypan blue and counted under an optical microscope to check the mortality and cell density. Difference between epithelial and endothelial layer was evaluated microscopically for thickness measurement. A transparency device was used for calculating the degree of transparency. All the above subjective parameters were converted to objective values for determining the overall quality of the cornea.Results The conversion to objective values from subjective analysis helped to evaluate the quality of corneas at different time intervals of preservation in different media. Students t‐test at week 2 (p=0.001) and week 4 (p=7.563E‐09) showed statistically better results when corneas were preserved in CorneaCold® rather than in Optisol‐GS.Conclusion The overall quality evaluation of cornea presented here is efficient, consistent and easy. This new technique could be useful for comparative studies and to value corneas for eyebanks, biobanks and research or transplantation purposes. CorneaCold® is a promising corneal preservation medium for hypothermic storage with slightly longer preservation time.
Commercial interest
Novel interpretation of fundus autofluorescence (FAF) findings in choriocapillaritis
Authors: MANTOVANI A , STAURENGHI G , HERBORT CP 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose To determine the significance of increased fundus autofluorescence (FAF488) in choriocapillaritis, comparing photobleaching process, SD‐OCT and melanin‐related fundus autofluorescence (FAF787) findingsMethods FAF488 signal depends on both the amount of bisretinoids in the RPE and the absorbion of light by photoreceptor pigments, macular pigment and RPE melanin. During the photobleaching process (absorbion of photons by photopigment in the outer photoreceptor segments), there is a reduction of the photopigment density and so an increase of the visualization of the autofluorescent signalResults In MEWDS and MFC, the more striking FAF488 alteration is an increase of the autofluorescent signal and SD‐OCT shows a disruption of IS/OS junction, probably sign of dismanting outer photoreceptor segments; there is not an increase of FAF787 and after the photobleaching process, the areas of increased FAF488 become isofluorescent. This could mean that the areas of hyperautofluorescence are due to a better visualization of the autofluorescent signal because there is a reduction of the visual pigments and not to an increase of the fluorophores. In the APMPPE group, during the convalescent stage, increased FAF488 and FAF787 are often seen in the center of chorioretinal scars, corresponding to accumulation of fuorophores debris and to hypertrophy/hyperplasia of RPE cellsConclusion In MEWDS and MFC, photobleaching process, FAF787 and spectral‐domain OCT findings may explain the increased FAF488 present in the acute phase of the diseases as a loss of the photopigments and not to an increase of fluorophores, because there is a limited pertubation of choriocapillaris circulation with a slight ischaemic insult to outer retina.
Paediatric rheumatology clinic outcome at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, UK
Authors: JEEVA I , HARDISTY A , KOLB S , HOOLE J , LONG V , WOOD M 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose Present 1‐year data of the combined ophthalmology and rheumatology pediatric uveitis clinic at Leeds Teaching Hospitals.Methods Retrospective data collectionResults An estimated 230 patients with JIA were screened by ophthalmology in this time period.21 different paediatric patients with iritis were managed from June 2011 to May 2012 in the joint clinic.8(38%) patients were male and 13(62%) female with age at diagnosis ranged from 0.5 – 12 years. 11 patients (52%) were diagnosed with oligoarticular and 5(23%) with polyarticular JIA,3 patients were ANA +, 3(14%) did not have any joint involvement.9 patients(43%) presented with vision of 0.2logMar or worse, and 4 continued to have vision worse than 0.2 logMar while 17 patients (81%) improved or maintained stable vision of 0.1 or better.3 patients had intermediate uveitis,1 had panuveitis and 1 had papillitis with iritis.2 had eye complications of lens opacities and 1 patient had retinal detachment.17(81%) patients received systemic treatment, with 12 receiving methotrexate +/‐ mycophenolate mofetil and 5(29%) receiving anti‐TNF α therapy (infliximab or adalimumab) in addition to methotrexate +/‐ mycophenolate mofetil. 13/16 patients with JIA (81%) had iritis associated with their joint flare‐ups. 9 patients (50%) out of 18 with joint pathology received intra‐articular steroid injections during this period and 6 received (28%) periocular steroid injection. A survey of the joint clinic by the patient and medical staff showed significantly high satisfaction rate.Conclusion The joint clinic has numerous benefits and is the right approach to manage a condition where communication is crucial between team monitoring (ophthalmology) and managing (rheumatology) the condition
Long term efficacy and tolerability of anti‐TNFα therapy in the treatment of non‐infectious uveitis – a surveillance study
Authors: DAMATO EM , DICK A , LEE RJW , SHARMA SM 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose To report the efficacy and tolerability of anti‐TNFα agents in the management of non‐infectious uveitis and scleritis in adult patientsMethods Forty adult patients treated for at least twelve months with anti‐TNFα therapy for non‐infectious uveitis or scleritis were identified using an online biologics registry. Data were collected regarding prednisolone doses, immunosuppressive agents, adverse effects and steroid rescues. The main outcome measures were 1. rates of reduction of daily prednisolone dose to 10mg, 5mg or less; 2. rates of reduction in concomitant immunosuppression 3. steroid rescues and 4.adverse eventsResults In this patient cohort the use of anti‐TNFα therapy enabled the daily prednisolone dose to be maintained at 10mg or less per day in 80% of patients. The rate of steroid rescue was reduced from 0.79 rescues per person per year (PPY) to 0.29PPY following the use of anti‐TNFα therapy. In patients requiring more than 2 immunosuppressive agents at baseline, it was possible to reduce this to 1 or 0 in 80%Conclusion This study supports the current use of anti‐TNFα agents in the management of adult patients with non‐infectious uveitis, whilst awaiting results of current on going randomized controlled trials. . Their use enables steroid sparing, a reduction in concurrent immunosuppressive agents and is associated with a lower risk of relapse. This is achieved with a low rate of adverse events.
Final results of an investigator initiated, multicenter randomised controlled trial of the efficacy of Adalimumab in active uveitis refractoty to standard treatment (ADUR)
Authors: MACKENSEN F , BECKER MD , JAKOB E , DOBNER BC , HEINZ C , LORENZ HM , HEILIGENHAUS A , MAX R 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose TNF alpha inhibitors have revolutionized the care of autoimmune diseases, among them severe cases of non‐infectious uveitis. Randomized clinical trials are lacking for this indication except for etanercept. We aimed to close this gap by initiating a randomized clinical trial testing Adalimumab (ADA) in severe forms of uveitis.Methods Local and federal authorities approval has been obtained. Patients with active uveitis despite 0,1mg/kg/bodyweight of prednisone and already one immunosuppressive medication were eligible. Patients were randomized into either a therapy with ADA 40 mg s.c. every other week and high dose corticosteroids in a tapering regime or to increase the corticosteroids only. At three months main outcome parameters are assessed and efficacy determined. In case of treatment failure switch to the other arm was possible.Results 25 patients were enrolled. The last patient will finish the trial in september 2012. 20 patients have been evaluated to date. The primary outcome criterion (Visual accuity improvement > 2 lines) was reached by 63.3% patients in the ADA group (mean improvement 0.29 logMar). In the control arm only 25% of patients improved > 2 lines. In parallel the control arm showed less reduction in inflammatory activity (reduction in activity score by a mean 2.89) as compared to the ADA group (mean reduction by 15.3 points).Conclusion The results oft he trial show clear superiority of ADA over control in the treatment of severe uveitis forms in termy of visual accuity and inflammatory activty.
Commercial interest
New treatments for age related macular degeneration
Authors: MILLER JW 
Published: August 2012

AbstractTreatment of age related macular degeneration (AMD) has progressed dramatically in the last 10 years, particularly in the neovascular stage of the disease. This has been accomplished in part through greater understanding of the pathophysiology of neovascular AMD and the role of VEGF in vessel growth and leakage. Anti‐VEGF treatment halts vision loss in more than 90% of patients, and leads to vision improvement in a third. Ideally, however, we would like to develop treatments that can prevent AMD or halt its progression as well as to prevent any vision loss, and this requires greater understanding of the earliest events in AMD. Genetic studies have identified associations with the CFH gene and HTRA‐1 gene amongst others, suggesting key pathways in the disease process. Delineating the dysfunction in these pathways through additional genetic and functional studies, and then developing effective interventions, is the current goal of AMD research. In addition, investigators seek to refine our current therapies as well as to improve current diagnostic modalities in order to better characterize the phenotype of AMD patients. Finally, since photoreceptor loss is the ultimate cause of vision loss in patients with AMD as well as other retinal disorders, investigations are ongoing to identify the molecular pathways of photoreceptor cell death and test therapies that might be used for neuroprotection.
Commercial interest
Shack‐Hartmann aberrometry vs OQAS : the quarrel of the ancients and the moderns ?
Authors: GICQUEL JJ , PISELLA PJ 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe Optical Quality Analysis System (OQAS) has the advantage over Hartmann‐Shack aberrometers of being capable of measuring both wavefront aberrations and scatter. In patients with eyes with mild scatter, both techniques give similar results. However in eyes severe amount of scatter, Hartmann‐Shack aberrometry may overestimate the quality of vision. On the other hand, the OQAS suffers from a certain level of background noise, generated by the choroid. During this presentation we will determine the current indications for those two techniques.
Scleritis: general concepts
Authors: PAVESIO C 
Published: August 2012

AbstractInflammation of the sclera may be a very serious condition, not only because it can produce structural damage to the globe and eventually result in blindness, but also because it may be a manifestation of a life‐threatening systemic disease. It is predominantly a disease of the middle aged and elderly, probably reflecting the age group of the commonly associated systemic diseases. Females are more likely to be affected, and no geographical or racial differences have been detected, either in incidence or prevalence. There is also no evidence of any genetic predisposition. The disease may start in one eye only but becomes bilateral in one third of the patients, the second eye becoming involved from three months to six years after the first. It is typically a very painful condition, but painless scleritis can occur. Clinical features of anterior and posterior scleritis will be discussed.
Infectious scleritis
Authors: WATSON P 
Published: August 2012

AbstractScleritis can occur as a result of an immunological response in systemic infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, leprosy, syphilis and lyme disease. These diseases are becoming more common and, as under‐treatment in many countries leads to incomplete elimination of the underlying infection, scleritis is becoming more common. Scleritis can also result from an immunological reponse to a systemic infection by bacteria, viruses , parasites or fungi. More rarely the sclera can be infected directly through the introduction of the organism into the sclera by trauma or from the spread of infection from adjacent sources. This is much more likely to happen if the tissue has been previously irradiated or surgically treated particularly after pterygium surgery. Infectious scleritis is less common than immunologically induced scleritis , diagnosis is difficult so treatment is often delayed and frequently incorrectly treated with steroids with sometimes disastrous consequences. Therefore in all patients with scleritis it is important to ask oneself: Could this be infective?
Is spectral domain optical coherence tomography useful in improving the contour line with the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph?
Authors: BRON A , FRANCOZ A , NICOT F , KOEHRER P , AHO S , CREUZOT‐GARCHER C 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose To compare the measurements of the optic disc in glaucoma patients and glaucoma suspects with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT) and confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (HRT) before and after adjustment of the contour line with the help of the OCT.Methods In 109 consecutive patients (109 eyes), optic disc parameters were compared prospectively between the 2 devices before and after adjustment of the optic disc area (ODA) on the HRT3 with ODA obtained with the Cirrus SD‐OCT as a reference. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and the 95% limits of agreement (LoA) with Bland‐Altman plots were used to compare the agreement of the pre and post‐adjustment measurements with the OCT and the HRT.Results The ICC for the optic disc area (ODA) was better after adjustment of the contour line on the HRT3 with the help of ODA obtained with the OCT, 0.785 and 0.985, respectively. However the ICC for the rim area (RA) was still moderate after the adjustment, 0.543 and 0.627 respectively. Other parameters C/D ratio, cup area and cup volume were almost unchanged. The 95% limits of agreement (LoA) with Bland‐Altman analysis were narrowed after the adjustment of the ODA, from ‐0.52 to + 0.71 mm2 to ‐0.12 to + 0.15 mm2. However the LoA remained wide for the RA even after correction of the contour line on the HRT with the help of the OCT, ‐0.32 to + 0.74 mm2 vs ‐0.23 to +0.61 mm2.Conclusion SD‐OCT is an additional valuable tool in improving the placement of the contour line on the HRT. However the parameters of the optic disc measured by the 2 methods are not interchangeable.
The relationship between standard automated perimetry and retinal ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer thickness measured by the cirrus spectral domain optical coherence tomograph
Authors: SHIN HY , PARK HY , JUNG KI , PARK CK 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose To evaluate the strength and pattern of the relationship between the ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness measured with Cirrus high‐definition (HD)‐OCT and visual field (VF) assessed by standard automated perimetry (SAP).Methods Ninety‐three eyes of 49 glaucoma patients were enrolled. In all patients, parameters of both GCIPL and the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber laye(pRNFL) thickness were measured by Cirrus HD‐OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA). Mean sensitivity(MS) was recorded on the decibel (dB) and 1/L scales. The relationship between function and structure (GCIPL, pRNFL) was sought.Results Correlations were seen between GCIPL sectors and RNFL sectors patients with glaucoma. (r = 0.38–0.792). Average GCIPL thickness and MD correlated most strongly of a strength similar to that demonstrated between average pRNFL thickness and MD. The highest correlations were observed between superior VF cluster (in dB scale) and inferior GCIPL thickness(R2=0.49) or inferior RNFL thickness (R2 = 0.51). Correlations were slightly greater with dB scale than 1/L scale.Conclusion There was a moderate association between the GCIPL thickness and SAP. Cirrus HD‐OCT measurements of the GCIPL relate well with functional loss in patients with glaucomatous optic neuropathy.
A mutation in peroxidasin causes microphalmia and anterior segment dysgenesis in mice
Authors: YAN X , GRAW J 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose The purpose of this study was to analyze the phenotype of ENU induced Pxdn‐/‐ eyes in mice(KTA48 mutants) and investigate the molecular mechanisms of peroxidasin in eye development and disease.Methods The eyes of the mutants were analyzed by morphologically and histologically. The molecular expression was measured by immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization and real time PCR.Results The genome‐wide linkage analysis mapped the KTA48 mutation on chromosome 12; positional candidate gene analysis detected a mutation in the Pxdn gene (encoding peroxidasin) co‐segregating with the mutation. The Pxdn‐mRNA of the KTA48 mutants contains a T‐>A mutation at pos. 3816 (T3816A) creating a new Alw26I restriction site; the mutation converts the Cys at codon 1272 into a stop codon (Cys1272X).Whole mount immunostaining showed that peroxidasin is mainly expressed in the eye at E9.5. Immunostaining study showed peroxidasin is mainly express in the eye lids, developing cornea, lens, inner retina at embryonic stages. At E15.5, the phenotype of the homozygous mutant is most obvious but varies little, with its different tissues (especially anterior segment) severely impaired. At P11 Pxdn‐/‐ mice showed further anomalies in addition to the phenotype in embryonic eyes, including congenital corneal opacity, congenital cataract and congenital glaucoma. Real‐time PCR showed the expression of Pax6 is dramatically increased at E15.5 Pxdn‐/‐ eyes compared to wild‐type eyes, which was confirmed by immunofluorescence and in‐situ hybridization.Conclusion Our findings demonstrate a requirement for peroxidasin in normal eye development, which may be through regulating Pax6 expression.
Polymorphism of endothelial nitric oxide synthase T786C in patients with normal tension glaucoma and primary open angle glaucoma
Authors: LUKASIK U , KOSIOR‐JARECKA E , WROBEL‐DUDZINSKA D , KUSMIREK K , KOCKI J , ZARNOWSKI T 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose Comparison of allelic variant frequency of eNOS gene T786C in patients with normal tension glaucoma and primary open angle glaucoma.Methods The studied group constituted 97 patients with NTG and 49 patients with POAG. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood and T786C polymorphism was studied by RT‐PCR method.Results In NTG patients TT genotype was present in 36% patients, TC in 52.6% and CC in 11.3%. In POAG patients genotype TT was detected in 42.9% persons, TC in 48.9% and CC in 8.2%. The difference in allelic frequency was not statistically significant (p=0.75). In women with NTG the allelic frequency was similar to men (respectively, in women: TT‐35.9%, TC‐48.4%, CC‐15.6% and men TT‐36.4%, TC‐60.6%, CC‐3%; p=0.92). In group of women with POAG the allelic frequency was also similar to men (in women: TT‐41.2%, TC‐50%, CC‐8.8% and men: TT‐46.7%, TC‐46.7% a CC‐6.7%; p=0.09). Comparing the difference in genotype frequencies between both glaucoma types no significant difference was detected in women (p=0.9) and men (p=0.7). The CC genotype was most frequently present in NTG women (15.6%), comparing to NTG men (3%) and POAG women (8.8%).Conclusion The frequency of particular genotypes of T786C polymorphism of eNOS gene did not significantly differ in patients with NTG and POAG, yet the mutated allelic form is most frequent in NTG women.
Non invasive tear film break‐up time and blinking
Authors: NEPP J 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose The break‐up time of the tear film for evaluation of dry eyes is performed with fluorescein in blue light of the slit lamp. Errors may occure by the observer and has to be repeated for accurat results. The BUT can also be seen with a Keratograph 4 (KG‐BUT). In this pilot‐study we want to evaluate the measurements with KG‐BUT in patients with dry eyes. The Fluorescein‐BUT (FL‐BUT) and the KG‐BUT was compared and we observed the correlation of both kinds of BUT with the Lid‐opening‐time LOT. So we wanted to find out, if the KG‐BUT is more accurate compared to the FL‐BUT.Methods 17 eyes of 10 patients were observed. The keratograph 4 of Oculus was used for measurements, five times for each eye. Than the measurement of the LOT was done in ten blink‐intervalls. At last the FL‐BUT was measured at the slit lamp, three time repeated. The BUT was performed single blinded by two different observers. We compared the mean time of each patient of KG‐BUT with Fl‐BUT and both with the LOT . For statistic analysis the Pearson correlation was used.Results The Fl‐BUT was 4,2 sec average, (0,7‐8sec for single patients, stdev 1,8) the KG‐BUT 5,6 sec average (1,2‐14,5sec; stdev 4,13). The LOT was 3,6 sec average (1,75 ‐6,3sec; stdev 1,8). There was no significant correlation between Fl‐BUT and KG‐BUT (R: ‐20),no correlation between LOT and KG BUT (R:8). There was a positive correlation between Fl‐BUT and LOT (R: 50).Conclusion This pilot study point at a relation of Fl‐BUT with the lid opening time LOT. The clinic observation seemes to be more accurate than the measurement with the Keratograph. But as the KG‐BUT is independent from the observer and without contact further observations have to be performed additionally.