VEGF-Independent Activation of Müller Cells by the Vitreous from Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Patients.

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), a major complication of diabetes mellitus, results from an inflammation-sustained interplay among endothelial cells, neurons, and glia. Even though anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) interventions represent the therapeutic option for PDR, they are only partially efficacious. In PDR, Müller cells undergo reactive gliosis, produce inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, and contribute to scar formation and retinal neovascularization.

FOVEA-SPARING VERSUS COMPLETE INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE PEELING IN VITRECTOMY FOR THE TREATMENT OF MACULAR HOLES.

Purpose: To compare the anatomical and functional outcomes of vitrectomy involving complete internal limiting membrane peeling (CP) with those of vitrectomy involving fovea-sparing internal limiting membrane peeling (FSP) for the treatment of macular holes measuring >250 µm.

Methods: This prospective, randomized, comparative study included 46 eyes with a medium or large macular hole that was randomized to undergo complete (CP group) or fovea-sparing (FSP group) internal limiting membrane peeling during vitrectomy. The main outcome measures included the foveal retinal sensitivity, visual acuity, and central retinal thickness.

PEELING OF THE INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE WITH FOVEAL SPARING FOR TREATMENT OF DEGENERATIVE LAMELLAR MACULAR HOLE.

Purpose: To compare the functional and anatomical results of fovea-sparing internal limiting membrane peeling during vitrectomy with those of observation for degenerative lamellar macular hole with lamellar hole-associated epiretinal proliferation.

Design: A prospective, randomized, comparative pilot study.

Methods: Thirty-six eyes were randomized to undergo surgery with foveal internal limiting membrane sparing (Group S) or observation only (Group C).

Human vitreous in proliferative diabetic retinopathy: Characterization and translational implications.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of visual impairment in the working-age population. DR is a progressive eye disease caused by long-term accumulation of hyperglycaemia-mediated pathological alterations in the retina of diabetic patients. DR begins with asymptomatic retinal abnormalities and may progress to advanced-stage proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), characterized by neovascularization or preretinal/vitreous haemorrhages.

Treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration with aflibercept combined with pranoprofen eye drops or nutraceutical support with omega-3: A randomized trial.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine whether a combination of intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) and pranoprofen eyedrops or nutraceutical support provides additional benefit over IVA monotherapy for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, pilot study in 60 patients with treatment-naïve CNV. Patients were randomized 1:1:1 into three groups: aflibercept monotherapy (AM), aflibercept plus pranoprofen (AP) or aflibercept plus nutraceutical (AN) tablets containing multivitamin antioxidant and mineral supplementation plus omega-3.

EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE REMOVAL WITH FOVEAL-SPARING INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE PEELING: A Pilot Study.

Purpose: To compare the retinal sensitivity after complete internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling with that after foveal-sparing ILM peeling during vitrectomy for Type I epiretinal membrane.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, comparative study. Thirty-eight eyes were randomized to undergo complete peeling of the ILM (CP group) or peeling with foveal sparing (FS group).

3D endothelial cell spheroid/human vitreous humor assay for the characterization of anti-angiogenic inhibitors for the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) represents a main cause of acquired blindness. Despite the recognition of the key role exerted by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of PDR, limitations to anti-VEGF therapies do exist. Thus, rapid and cost-effective angiogenesis assays are crucial for the screening of anti-angiogenic drug candidates for PDR therapy.

Comparison of half-dose photodynamic therapy and 689 nm laser treatment in eyes with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.

Purpose: To compare visual and anatomical outcomes between half-dose photodynamic therapy (hd-PDT) and 689 nm laser therapy (689-LT) in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).

Methods: Forty eyes of 40 patients with symptomatic chronic CSC were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either hd-PDT or 689-LT delivering 95 J/cm via an intensity application of 805 mW/cm over 118 s. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography findings were compared between the two treatment groups.

Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Properties of Anti-VEGF Drugs After Intravitreal Injection.

Subretinal neovascularization and pathologic ocular angiogenesis are common causes of progressive, irreversible impairment of central vision, and dramatically affect quality of life. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy has improved the quality of life for many patients with age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other ocular diseases involving neovascularization and edema. In these pathologies, the inhibition of intraocular VEGF is the only therapy that can preserve vision.

Antiangiogenic Effectiveness of the Urokinase Receptor-Derived Peptide UPARANT in a Model of Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy.

Purpose: Pharmacologic control of neovascularization is a promising approach for the treatment of retinal angiogenesis. UPARANT, an inhibitor of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), inhibits VEGF-driven angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. This study investigates for the first time the effectiveness of UPARANT in counteracting pathologic neovascularization in the retina.

Relationship of wall-to-lumen ratio of retinal arterioles with clinic and 24-hour blood pressure.

Wall-to-lumen ratio of retinal arterioles might serve as an in vivo parameter of vascular damage. We analyzed the impact of brachial clinic blood pressure (BP), of central BP, and of 24-hour BP on wall-to-lumen ratio (WLR) of retinal arterioles. In 295 subjects (147 men; age range, 22-72 years; mean age, 54±7 years), WLR of retinal arterioles was assessed in vivo using scanning laser Doppler flowmetry.

Effect of antihypertensive treatment on microvascular structure, central blood pressure and oxidative stress in patients with mild essential hypertension.

Background: It has been previously demonstrated that dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers may possess antioxidant properties and might improve vascular structure. Combination treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor may have additional advantages, compared with a thiazide diuretic, in this regard. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to investigate the effects of a short-term treatment with lercanidipine, and to compare two combination treatments: lercanidipine + enalapril vs.

Predicting the risk of diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients.

Aims: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is often asymptomatic even in its more advanced stages. Timely and repeated screening for DR avoids a late diagnosis of DR, but the high number of diabetic patients precludes a frequent screening; thus, the need for a method to identify patients at higher risk for DR becomes crucial.

Methods: A prospective analysis of 5034 type 2 diabetic patients followed from 1996 to 2007 and not affected by retinopathy at the time of the recruitment was performed.