Subjective sleep quality in non-demented older adults with and without cognitive impairment.

Objective: Sleep problems are prevalent among older adults who are at risk of developing dementia. Until now, there have been relatively few studies investigating subjective sleep quality in these individuals. The first objective of this study was to compare seniors with cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND) and older adults without cognitive impairment (non-CIND) on several subjective sleep measures.

Targeting hyperactivation of the AKT survival pathway to overcome therapy resistance of melanoma brain metastases.

Brain metastases are the most common cause of death in patients with metastatic melanoma, and the RAF-MEK-ERK and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways are key players in melanoma progression and drug resistance. The BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib significantly improved overall survival. However, brain metastases still limit the effectiveness of this therapy.

SOX2 expression and prognostic significance in ovarian carcinoma.

The transcription factor SOX2 has been extensively studied for its role in embryonic stem cell self-renewal and pluripotency. More recent data suggest oncogenic functions of SOX2 and demonstrate expression in several carcinoma types, predominantly of squamous cell origin. The gene SOX2 is located at chromosome 3q26, a region that is frequently amplified in ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma.

Early effects of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide on inflammation and proliferation in human choroidal neovascularization.

Objective: To evaluate the early effects of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) on inflammation, proliferation, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

Methods: Retrospective review of an interventional case series of 29 patients who underwent macular translocation. Fourteen CNV membranes without previous therapy (control CNV group) and 4 CNV membranes excised 3 days after photodynamic therapy (PDT CNV group) comprised the control groups.

Analysis of the neuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 in internal limiting membranes after indocyanine-green assisted peeling.

Background: Indocyanine green-assisted internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling was suspected to disrupt the innermost layer of the neural retina. We examined whether surgically excised specimens contain remnants of neuronal tissue.

Methods: Ten patients with macular hole underwent pars plana vitrectomy and indocyanine green-assisted ILM peeling.

Effect of bevacizumab on inflammation and proliferation in human choroidal neovascularization.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, California) on inflammation and proliferation in human choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration.

Methods: Retrospective review of interventional series of 38 patients who underwent choroidal neaovascular membrane (CNVM) extraction. Twenty-four patients received intravitreal bevacizumab 1 to 154 days preoperatively (bevacizumab CNV group).

Influence of verteporfin photodynamic therapy on inflammation in human choroidal neovascular membranes secondary to age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To examine the short- and long-term consequences of verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) on inflammation with regard to infiltration of macrophages and leukocytes and expression of thy-1 in human choroidal neovascularization membranes (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: Retrospective review of an interventional case series of 43 patients who underwent removal of CNV. Twenty patients were treated with PDT 3 to 246 days preoperatively.

Matrix metalloproteinases in human choroidal neovascular membranes excised following verteporfin photodynamic therapy.

Aim: To evaluate expression of proangiogenic matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2 and 9 at distinct intervals after verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) in human choroidal neovascular membranes (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: Retrospective review of an interventional case series of 49 patients who underwent removal of CNV. Twenty-six patients were treated with PDT 3 to 383 days prior to surgery.

Effect of verteporfin photodynamic therapy on endostatin and angiogenesis in human choroidal neovascular membranes.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) on endostatin with regard to expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVs) secondary to age-related macular degeneration.

Methods: A retrospective review of an interventional case series of 68 patients who underwent removal of CNV. 29 patients were treated with PDT 3-655 days before surgery.

Expression of VEGF and PEDF in choroidal neovascular membranes following verteporfin photodynamic therapy.

Purpose: To examine the impact of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) expression in human choroidal neovascularization (CNV) membranes with regard to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression.

Design: Interventional case series.

Methods: Retrospective review of interventional case series of 42 patients (42 eyes) who underwent removal of CNV.

Consequences of verteporfin photodynamic therapy on choroidal neovascular membranes.

Objective: To examine the impact of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on angiogenesis in human choroidal neovascular membranes with respect to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, proliferation, and vascularization.

Methods: Retrospective review of an interventional case series of 50 patients (50 eyes) who underwent removal of choroidal neovascular membranes. Choroidal neovascularization was secondary to age-related macular degeneration.

Expression of endostatin in human choroidal neovascular membranes secondary to age-related macular degeneration.

Endostatin is an endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor which requires E-selectin for its antiangiogenic activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of endostatin in human choroidal neovascular membranes (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with regard to vascularization and proliferative activity. An interventional case series of 36 patients who underwent removal of CNV were retrospectively investigated.