bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optical coherence tomography angiography findings in patients with essential hypertension
Authors: Cheour Monia , Aoun Safa Ben , Nouri Slim , Mzoughi Khadija , Sassi Hela 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPurpose: To study the variation of retinal and choroidal density in patients with essential hypertension using Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (SS‐OCT A).Methods: Prospective cross‐sectional study carried out at the Ophthalmology department of Habib Thameur University Hospital of Tunis between June, 1st 2021 and March, 30th 2022. Fifteen volunteer healthy patients (30 eyes) were included. All patients underwent complete ophthalmic examination, measurements of resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure and 3 × 3 and 4.5 × 4.5 SS‐OCT A angiograms in both eyes. Perimeter of avascular central zone (ACZ), superficial retinal plexus density (SRPD), deep retinal plexus density (DRPC) and choriocapillaris capillary vessel density (CVD) were calculated on exported jpg format images using the Fiji Software. Comparative Mann Whitney and Spearman tests were performed using 21.0 SPSS.Results: Eleven males and four females were eligible for the study. Mean age was 53.33 ± 9.73 years. Eight patients (53.3%) with chronic essential hypertension were compared to seven healthy volunteers (46.7%). Mean ACZ, SRPD, DRPD and CVD were respectively 2.62 ± 0.52 mm, 13.20 ± 2.10%, 17.14 ± 1.17% and 51.05 ± 0.85%. Mean systolic blood pressure was 13 ± 5 mmHg and mean diastolic blood pressure was 7.67 ± 5.16 mmHg. CVD was lower in patients with chronic hypertension than in the control group (50.59 vs 51.41, p = 0.047). There were no significant differences between hypertension group and normal group in ACZ, SRPD and DRPC measurements (p = 0.089, p = 0.90 and p = 0.70, respectively). No correlations were found between resting blood pressure values and ACZ measurements.Conclusions: Chronic hypertension does not affect retinal vessels and capillaries quantitative parameters. However, it may alter choroidal vascular structures by decreasing choriocapillaris vessel density. Larger studies are needed to strengthen these results.
Paracentral acute middle maculopathy secondary to retinal artery macroaneurysm elucidates anatomy and physiology of retinal capillary plexus
Authors: Goh Eunice , Ngo Wei Kiong 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPurpose: To report a novel case of Paracentral Acute Middle Maculopathy (PAMM) Secondary to Retinal Artery Macroaneurysm.Methods: A case report.Results: A 72‐year‐old lady presented with three‐month history of sudden onset left paracentral scotoma. Her medical history include hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Visual acuity was 6/7.5 and 6/45 in the right and left eye respectively. Anterior segment examination and intraocular pressures were unremarkable. A ruptured retinal arterial macroaneurysm (RAM) was seen along the second‐order artery along the inferotemporal arcade with a small area of deep‐retinal whitening along the distal branches of the artery. Corresponding optical coherence tomography showed a round superficial retinal hyperreflective lesion consistent with RAM and hyperreflective band involving the outer plexiform layer (OPL), inner nuclear layer (INL) and inner plexiform layer (IPL) consistent with PAMM. Confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy video fluorescein angiogram (FA) demonstrated a ruptured and hemorrhagic RAM with significantly delayed distal filling of the artery, with resultant PAMM in an area supplied by the tributary arterioles of the affected artery.Conclusions: Oxygen consumption is highest at the metabolically active middle retinal layer. The inner and middle retinal layers are supplied by the superficial capillary plexus in the ganglion cell layer, intermediate capillary plexus (ICP) in the INL‐IPL boundary and deep capillary plexus (DCP) in the INL‐OPL boundary. Rupture and partial thrombosis of the RAM resulted in mechanical narrowing of the vessel lumen and severe flow limitation, which was further exacerbated by her history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia. This was consistent with the FA findings of delayed filling in the distal parts of the artery. Flow limitation results in decreased blood supply to the retinal capillary plexuses, further decreasing perfusion pressure, causing most disruption to the delicately balanced ICP and DCP blood supply of the middle retinal layer. Middle retinal infarction occurs most readily and presents as PAMM in our patient. In conclusion, we described a novel case of PAMM secondary to a ruptured and partially thrombosed RAM which clearly elucidates the anatomy and physiology of retinal capillary plexuses.
Optic disc pit macular serous detachment recurrence. A surgical approach using ILM autograph
Authors: Parikakis Efstratios , Diafa Aspasia , Kontomichos Loukas , Batsos Georgios , Gianni Theodora , Mpouratzis Nikolaos , Spanos Evangelos , Karagiannis Dimitrios 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPurpose: We aim to present a surgical approach for optic disc pit macular serous detachment recurrence, using pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and internal limiting membrane (ILM) autograft.Methods: Case report – Description of the surgical technique and presentation of the outcome.Results: A 55 year‐old female patient referred to our clinic's Vitreoretinal Department complained of reduced visual acuity at the right eye. On clinical examination, optic disc pit, cystic maculopathy and serous detachment were noted. The patient reported a history of vitrectomy for optic pit macular detachment on the same eye 25 years ago. To manage the recurrent macular detachment, she underwent a vitrectomy, during which the ILM was removed, and part of it used as an autograft on the optic disc pit. Mild endophotocoagulation on the area of the maculopapular bundle was performed, and gas endotamponade was utilized. On follow‐up examinations, a continuous improvement in serous detachment and visual acuity was noted.Conclusions: In cases with recurrent macular serous detachment due to optic disc pit maculopathy, PPV combined with ILM autograft, endophotocoagulation and gas tamponade seems to be a promising technique with satisfactory anatomical and functional improvement.
Closure of large macular holes
Authors: Ilyuk Oksana 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPurpose: Despite the variety of different techniques for large macular holes (LMH) closure, this task is still challenging, especially in patients with myopia. We compared closure rates of LMH achieved by conventional internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and inverted ILM flap.Methods: Material and Methods. We represent single‐surgeon series of 42 consecutive treatment‐naive patients (pts) with LMH and myopia, for 21 pts retinal detachment (RD) was confirmed either before or during surgery. Initially we performed conventional ILM peeling (CP) – 17 pts, 8 with RD; starting from 2017 all patients were operated with inverted ILM flap (IF) technique – 25 pts, 13 with RD.Results: Results. Conventional ILM peeling allowed us to attain LMH closures in 3 of 8 pts with RD (33%) and 4 of 9 pts without RD only. Again, we achieved closures of LMH in all patients (with and without RD), operated with IF technique. In one patient operated with inverted ILM flap technique, we observed gliotic changes along the line of overlapping, but without significant loss of vision.Conclusions: Conclusion. Inverted ILM flap technique serves as a novel exceptionally effective approach for LMH closure in myopic patients. We found no influence of retinal detachment on the effectiveness of IF technique.
Optical coherence tomography angiography reveals retinal microvascular changes in patients with multiple sclerosis without optic neuritis
Authors: Popa‐Cherecheanu Alina , Bostan Mihai , Chua Jacqueline , Sim Yin Ci , Tan Bingyao , Bujor Inna , Garhofer Gerhard , Schmetterer Leopold 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPurpose: Retinal imaging has attracted much interest as a non‐invasive low‐budget biomarker for neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a functional extension of OCT and allows for the non‐invasive visualization of the retinal and choroidal microvasculature. We investigated retinal microvasculature changes in patients with relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) without history of optic neuritis (ON) and compared them to a healthy control group.Methods: The study was performed in a prospective, case–control design, including 58 participants (n = 100 eyes) with RRMS without ON and 78 age‐ and sex‐matched control participants (n = 136 eyes). OCTA images of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP) and choriocapillaris (CC) were obtained using a commercial OCTA system (Zeiss Cirrus HD‐5000 Spectral‐Domain OCT with AngioPlex OCTA, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA). Perfusion density (PD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) features (area and circularity) in both the SCP and DCP, as well as flow deficit in the CC were used as outcome variables.Results: MS patients showed significantly increased PD in SCP (p = 0.003) and decreased PD in DCP (p < 0.001) as compared to controls when data were corrected for confounders. A significant difference was also noted when large vessels (LV) in the SCP were removed from the PD calculation (p = 0.004). Deep FAZ was significantly larger (p = 0.005) and less circular (p < 0.001) in the eyes of MS patients compared to healthy controls. Neither LV, PD or FAZ features in the SCP, nor flow deficits in the CC showed any statistically significant differences between the MS patients and the controls (p > 0.186).Conclusions: Our study shows that MS patients have microvascular changes in the macular parafoveal retina even without ON. They show increased PD in SCP and decreased PD in DCP. To which degree retinal biomarkers in MS are associated with the progression of MS remains to be studied.
Plasma rich in growth factors as an adjuvant agent in non‐penetrating deep sclerectomy
Authors: Rodriguez‐Calvo Pedro Pablo , Rodriguez‐Una Ignacio , García Montserrat , Gonzalez‐Iglesias Hector , Fernandez‐Vega‐Cueto Andres , Merayo‐Lloves Jesus 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPurpose: To evaluate the utility and safety of plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) eye drops in the postoperative treatment of non‐penetrating deep sclerectomy (NPDS).Methods: Retrospective case–control study, including open‐angle glaucoma patients. Cases were consecutively recruited, and used topical PRGF for 4 months after NPDS. Historical controls were patients who had undergone the same technique immediately before the start of the study (without PRGF). Prior to surgery, intraocular pressure (IOP), the number of topical hypotensive medications, and visual field mean deviation (MD) were registered. Postoperatively (1 week, 3 and 6 months), those three variables were also analysed, as well as complications, manipulations and reinterventions.Results: Preoperatively, the PRGF group (n = 37) and the control group (n = 49) were similar in age (70.9 ± 10.0 vs. 71.5 ± 10.7 years; p = 0.68), IOP (23.0 ± 9.0 vs. 20.6 ± 10.2 mmHg; p = 0.26), MD (−15.0 ± 8.8 vs. −15.9 ± 7.8 dB; p = 0.76) and the number of hypotensive medications (2.8 ± 0.9 vs. 2.7 ± 0.8; p = 0.40). IOP significantly decreased at all follow‐up visits in both groups, compared to preoperative values. That reduction was greater at 6 months with PRGF (p < 0.01): 10.9 ± 4.3 mmHg (−52.6%) versus 15.0 ± 8.0 mmHg (−27.2%). In the final analysis, the number of drugs similarly reduced in both groups (p = 0.32). MD showed no significant differences. Surgical complications were observed in 12 control eyes (25%) and 5 eyes (14%) treated with PRGF (p = 0.06). No complications related to the use of PRGF were identified. The needling rates were 9.4% and 5.9% in PRGF and controls, respectively (p = 0.58). Three eyes (6.3%) required further glaucoma surgery in the control group, and 1 (2.7%) in the PRGF‐group (p = 0.78). The final complete success rate was higher with PRGF: 83.8% vs 60.4%.Conclusions: Postoperative PRGF reduced IOP and complications rate in the mid‐term after NPDS, thus it may be considered as a possible safe adjuvant agent to achieve surgical success.
BAP1 UCH‐domain enzymatic activity
Authors: Staskiewicz Aleksandra , Repo Pauliina , Backlund Michael , Kivelä Tero , Turunen Joni 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPurpose: Pathogenic variants in BRCA‐associated protein 1 (BAP1) cause BAP1 tumour predisposition syndrome (BAP1‐TPDS) with an elevated risk of several cancers including uveal melanoma (UM). BAP1 is a deubiquitinating enzyme that needs to retain its enzymatic activity and be able to locate in the nucleus to function as a tumour suppressor. BAP1 loss of function variants are easily interpreted as pathogenic, but many missense variants remain as of unknown significance (VUS). We studied the effect of UCH domain missense variants on the enzymatic activity of BAP1.Methods: We selected 22 rare missense variants within or near the UCH domain (aa1‐240). Nineteen have been identified in patients with UM (Walpole et al.) and three in the general population (according to gnomAD). The variants were cloned to a bacterial vector and expressed as a GST‐fusion protein. Finally, we assayed the purified fusion proteins for their ability to cleave ubiquitin.Results: Nine variants significantly reduced the deubiquitinating activity of BAP1. Seven mutants with variants found in patients with familial BAP1‐TPDS, retained <20% of their activity. Three variants retained about 50% of activity, and the function of 12 variants was interpreted as normal (70%–120%).Conclusions: Functional studies are needed for accurate classification of BAP1 missense variants. Although BAP1 variants are dominant, penetrance might be affected by variants effect on enzymatic activity and patients with pathogenic variants might not exhibit familial BAP1 ‐TPDS. Some pathogenic variants that have been suggested to be pathogenic retained enzymatic activity, casting doubt on their classification. If enzymatic activity is retained, re‐classification should be considered or, when found in a family with clear BAP1‐TPDS, further studies need to be conducted.References.1. Walpole S, Pritchard AL, Cebulla CM, et al. Comprehensive Study of the Clinical Phenotype of Germline BAP1 Variant‐Carrying Families Worldwide. JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2018; 110(12): 1328–1341.
Gene expression in tears of patients with dry eye disease and meibomian gland dysfunction treated with intensive pulsed light
Authors: Vérges Carlos , Salgado‐Borges Jose Manuel 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPurpose: To better understand the effect of IPL we have designed a study where we compared the signs and symptoms of patients with DED‐MGD and the changes in the genes found in the conjunctival cells after treatment with IPL (Thermaeye Plus) using a transcriptomic and multiplexed approach.Methods: A prospective study of 60 consecutive subjects, 30 controls and 30 patients with DED‐MGD. These were treated with 4 IPL sessions (12 flashes of 8 J/cm2) on periocular area at day 1, 14, 28, and 49 and evaluated before and 1 month after last session. Tears were collected from the conjunctival fornix at the beginning and at the end, 1 month after the last session. They were amplified with nCounter® Low RNA Input Amplification Kit and the Human Immunology V2 Panel (NanoString Technologies) with 594 transcripts genes was performed to analyse the differentially expressed genes.Results: 7 pathways' signatures upregulated in DED‐MGD were compared to controls: Type I and Type II Interferon, MHC class I and II antigen presentation, B cell Receptor signalling, Immunometabolism and T cell receptor signalling. A high correlation was observed between the clinical improvement after the IPL and the decrease in some of the upregulated genes (p < 0.01). Ten genes showed a positive significant correlation with OSDI (ADA, LTA, CD19, TLR9, IRF5, TGFB1, CD27, HLA‐DPB1, PTPN6 and MAP4K1) and IFITM1, showed inverse correlation. For osmolarity, CD19 and IRF5 were significantly and positively correlated, For TS1 parameter, we observe a positive correlation for NCR1, CEACAM8 and CCL8 genes and inverse correlation for TGFBI/SLC2A1 genes.Conclusions: High correlation between clinical data and genetic analysis was present in patients with DED‐MGD comparing pre and post‐treatment with IPL. The presence of upregulated genes related to the inflammatory process reduced after IPL treatment suggests that part of the effect of IPL is due to the improvement of inflammation.
Successful outcome of paediatric cytomegalovirus optic neuritis treated with combined steroid and valganciclovir: A case report
Authors: Margaretha Lydia , Prayitnaningsih Seskoati , Wulandari Lely Retno 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPurpose: To report the clinical approach for diagnosis and management of paediatric optic neuritis.Methods: A 13 years old girl patient came to the emergency room with complaints of sudden blurred vision in both eyes and pain with eye movement. On Ophthalmic examination, the visual acuity in the right eye was 6/30 and the left eye was no light perception. There was a positive relative afferent pupillary defect in the left eye. Both the optic disc was swollen. The colour vision was abnormal and there was inferior visual field defect. Laboratory examination showed an increase leukocyte, increase in cytomegalovirus (CMV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody, and decrease in cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) cell. The head and orbital MRI did not show any intracranial pathological lesion. The patient was diagnosed with optic neuritis caused by CMV and treated with intravenous methylprednisolone 250 mg every 6 h for 3 days followed by oral prednisone 1 mg/kg daily and valganciclovir 16 mg/kg daily for 3 weeks.Results: After 3 days of only intravenous steroid treatment, her visual acuity improved to 6/9 in right eye and 1/300 in left eye. The vision increase significantly to 6/6 in the right eye and 6/7.5 in the left eye after 1 month treated with combined steroid and valganciclovir.Conclusions: A comprehensive examination, includes history taking, optic nerve examination, laboratory and serology tests related to infection, also head and orbital MRI to rule out other causes is important in the management of paediatric optic neuritis. Appropriate treatment with IV methylprednisolone and valganciclovir provide a better visual prognosis for paediatric CMV optic neuritis.
Systemic and ocular manifestations of Anti‐MOG disease in Canada
Authors: Lalonde Melanie , O'Neil Alexis , Nguyen Hong‐An , Rush Carolina , Coupland Stuart , Karanjia Rustum 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPurpose: There is limited published data on anti‐MOG disease in Canada. The purpose of this study was to increase the understanding of the ophthalmic and neurological manifestations of anti‐MOG disease in adults living in a Canadian setting through a retrospective/prospective chart review.Methods: Data from standard of care ophthalmic and neurological assessments was collected for patients who were diagnosed with Anti‐MOG disease at a quaternary care teaching hospital.Results: Nineteen patients diagnosed with Anti‐MOG disease were identified. Of these, 70% were female and 30% were male, with ages ranging from 18 to 82 years old. On ocular examination the majority of eyes had normal visual acuity (87%). Three eyes were hand motion or no light perception. On fundus examination, 84% of participants presented with optic disc abnormalities with the most common findings being disc atrophy and temporal pallor. In patients affected with Anti‐MOG with decreased visual acuity, pattern Visual Evoked Potentials were significantly reduced in amplitude. Other than the initial optic neuritis, half of participants experienced no additional neurological effects, while the others experienced variable residual symptoms such as scintillating scotomas, recurrent mild paresthesia of both legs, seizures, urinary urgency, oscillopsia and neuropathic pain. Of the 15 participants with recent MRI results, 67% showed persistent hyperintense T2 abnormalities while 22% showed resolution of prior T2 abnormalities.Conclusions: The initial results of this study match existing literature for anti‐MOG disease. Optic nerve atrophy and temporal pallor are commonly found ocular signs in patients with anti‐MOG. Interestingly, patients were found to have persistent decreased VEP amplitudes with normal inner and outer retinal function. Overall, the ophthalmic and neurological findings were variable between participants. Study recruitment is ongoing.
Correlation between biomechanical and endothelial corneal properties in myopic children
Authors: Corbu Maria‐Cristina , Voinea Liliana , Coviltir Valeria , Schmitzer Speranta , Constantin Mihaela , Dascalescu Dana , Burcel Miruna , Ciuluvica Radu , Potop Vasile 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPurpose: The purpose of the study is to investigate the endothelial layer and biomechanical properties of the cornea, in a group of low‐moderate myopic children.Methods: This prospective study included only the right eye from myopic patients younger than 18. We performed a complete ophthalmologic examination, including autorefractometry under cycloplegia (to determine the spherical equivalent ‐ SE), slit lamp and fundus examination, visual acuity and ocular tonometry. Furthermore, the patients were examined with the Aladdin biometer (Topcon, Tokyo, Japan) to determine central corneal thickness (CCT) and axial length (AL), with the Specular Microscope (Nidek, Gamagori, Japan) to determine number (Num) and density (CD) of endothelial cells, and with the Ocular Response Analyser (Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments Inc., Depew, NY) to determine corneal hysteresis (CH) and resistance factor (CRF). IBM SPSS Statistics 26 was used for statistical analysis.Results: Our study included 64 right eyes from 64 patients (51.56% male, 48.44% female). The average age was 14.27 years (standard deviation 2.71). The average SE is −2.57 (SD 1.62), AL 24.69 (SD 1.15), CCT 0.565 (SD 0.036), CH 12.32 (SD 1.88), CRF 12.64 (SD 2.24), Num cell 175.17 (SD 38.55), CD 3126.86 (SD 192.74). There are significant correlations between the biomechanical properties of the cornea and the characteristics of the endothelial layer. We found a statistically significant moderate positive correlation between CH and CD in this paediatric myopic population (Pearson's r of 0.353, p 0.004), and also between CRF and CD (Pearson's r of 0.2557, p 0.041). Between AL and the number of cells, there is a significant negative correlation (Pearson's r of −0.287, p 0.025). There are no significant correlations between the number of endothelial cells and CH, CRF, SE or CCT, or between CD and AL, CCT, SE.Conclusions: Our study reveals that in children with myopia, the endothelial cell count is higher in corneas with a higher hysteresis and resistance factor. Moreover, the relationship between the axial length and the number of endothelial cells suggests an impact of myopia on the endothelial layer and warrants further studies, including a larger number of patients and more corneal properties, such as corneal diameter and curvature.