Glaucoma in atomic bomb survivors.

Radiation has been associated with increases in noncancerous diseases. An effect of low-dose radiation on the prevalence of clinically detected glaucoma has not been previously reported. We therefore investigated the prevalence of glaucoma in A-bomb survivors and its possible association with radiation dose.

Radiation Dose Responses, Thresholds, and False Negative Rates in a Series of Cataract Surgery Prevalence Studies among Atomic Bomb Survivors.

In order to find imperfect sensitivity or the false-negative rate of cataract surgery due to latent clinically significant or severe cataract and a dose-response threshold, cataract surgery prevalence data analysis was made for each of the two-year periods from 1986 through 2005 among atomic bomb survivors. Using the latent variable regression model published earlier, cataract prevalence studies allowing for false-negative and/or false-positive rates were conducted in each of the 10 two-year periods during 1986 to 2005. As the best statistical model for prevalence data, a logistic model with a non-negligible false negative rate was selected for analysis.

Radiation dose and cataract surgery incidence in atomic bomb survivors, 1986-2005.

Purpose: To examine the incidence of clinically important cataracts in relation to lens radiation doses between 0 and approximately 3 Gy to address risks at relatively low brief doses.

Materials And Methods: Informed consent was obtained, and human subjects procedures were approved by the ethical committee at the Radiation Effects Research Foundation. Cataract surgery incidence was documented for 6066 atomic bomb survivors during 1986-2005.

UV radiation may explain intercity difference for cataract in A-bomb survivors.

Accurate assessment of risk factors is important for the evaluation of radiation-induced ocular lens damage. Our previous study identified a significant city difference between Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic-bomb survivors in terms of cataract prevalence, prompting further analysis. This study analyzed the sites of lens opacities and used model fitting that incorporated the variable impact of UV on the eye, based on the hypothesis that the city difference in the prevalence of cataract was due to differences in UV radiation between the two cities.

Changes in foveal thickness after vitrectomy for macular edema with branch retinal vein occlusion and intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor.

Purpose To examine the outcome of vitrectomy for macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and determine the relationship between the severity of macular edema and the concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the vitreous fluid. Design Prospective observational case series. Patients and Methods Thirty-four consecutive patients (34 eyes) with macular edema associated with BRVO underwent vitrectomy.

Postoperative cataract cases among atomic bomb survivors: radiation dose response and threshold.

Recent evidence argues against a high threshold dose for vision-impairing radiation-induced cataractogenesis. We conducted logistic regression analysis to estimate the dose response and used a likelihood profile procedure to determine the best-fitting threshold model among 3761 A-bomb survivors who underwent medical examinations during 2000-2002 for whom radiation dose estimates were available, including 479 postoperative cataract cases. The analyses indicated a statistically significant dose-response increase in the prevalence of postoperative cataracts [odds ratio (OR), 1.

No association of complement factor H gene polymorphism and age-related macular degeneration in the Japanese population.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether genetic polymorphism of complement factor H (CFH) is associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the Japanese population.

Methods: Genomic DNA was examined in a cohort of 67 Japanese patients with AMD and 107 controls. TT/TC/CC genotypes on exon 9 were screened for sequence alternation by polymerase chain reaction analysis and through sequencing.

Triamcinolone acetonide inhibits IL-6- and VEGF-induced angiogenesis downstream of the IL-6 and VEGF receptors.

Purpose: To test whether triamcinolone acetonide (TA) inhibits angiogenesis induced by IL-6 or VEGF and whether this inhibition is through antagonism of the IL-6 or the VEGF receptor 2.

Methods: A rat cornea micropocket assay was used to initiate IL-6- and VEGF-mediated angiogenesis. The ability of TA or neutralizing VEGF antibody to inhibit IL-6- or VEGF-mediated neovascularization was analyzed by measuring vessel length, vessel extension, and vessel area.

High glucose concentration induces elevated expression of anti-oxidant and proteolytic enzymes in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

We investigated the differential protein expression patterns of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells exposed to increased glucose concentrations. Cultured human RPE cells (ARPE-19) were exposed for 4 days with normal blood glucose concentration (5.5 mM D-glucose), followed by exposure to either normal (5.

A reanalysis of atomic-bomb cataract data, 2000-2002: a threshold analysis.

To obtain the best statistical model for a previous study of cataract prevalence in atomic-bomb survivors, we tested the fitness of the threshold model in an updated dataset of the study, utilizing re-diagnosis by a single ophthalmologist, use of the DS02 dosimetry system, and separation of the in utero group. The results suggest that, in 730 atomic-bomb survivors, we cannot conclude thresholds are greater than 0 Sv in cortical cataract and posterior sub-capsular opacity since the lower 90% confidence limits of the thresholds were 0 Sv. Threshold dose point estimates were 0.

Intravitreal levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-6 are correlated with macular edema in branch retinal vein occlusion.

Background: To investigate whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or interleukin-6 (IL-6) contributes to the pathogenesis of macular edema in eyes with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), the correlations between these factors were investigated.

Methods: We studied 25 patients suffering from macular edema with BRVO and 14 patients with nonischemic ocular disease (control group). The degree of retinal ischemia was evaluated in terms of the area of capillary nonperfusion using Scion Images, and the severity of macular edema was examined using optical coherence tomography.

Pathogenesis of macular edema with branch retinal vein occlusion and intraocular levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-6.

Purpose: To determine whether correlations between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or interleukin-6 (IL-6) contribute to the pathogenesis of macular edema in eyes of patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Methods: Nineteen patients with macular edema with BRVO and seven patients with non-ischemic ocular disease (control group) were studied.

A five-year review of patients admitted with the diagnosis of bacterial endophthalmitis.

We conducted a retrospective, hospital-based study of patients who were diagnosed with bacterial endophthalmitis on admission to the Department of Ophthalmology, Hiroshima University Hospital, between January 1999 and December 2003. Thirty eyes of 30 patients were identified. Of these patients, 19 eyes had postoperative endophthalmitis, 8 eyes had penetrating trauma and 3 eyes were infected from an endogenous source.

Neuroprotective effects of erythropoietin on glutamate and nitric oxide toxicity in primary cultured retinal ganglion cells.

Erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) is expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), however, no clear consensus has been obtained whether Epo acts as a prosurvival factor in neurons. Because retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death is a common cause of reduced visual function in several ocular diseases, we explored whether Epo might potentially be beneficial in protecting RGCs from glutamate and nitric oxide (NO)-induced cytotoxicity, using isolated RGCs by a two-step panning method. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was used as a positive control.

Eyelid lengthening combined with penetrating keratoplasty for exposure keratopathy in Graves' ophthalmopathy--a case report.

Upper eyelid retraction is a well-known component of Graves' disease. With greater degrees of retraction, corneal exposure is usually increased. We report here on a patient with corneal perforation following exposure keratopathy due to upper eyelid retraction.

Improvement in cognitive impairment after cataract surgery in elderly patients.

Purpose: To evaluate whether cognitive impairment improves in elderly patients who have cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.

Setting: Kouki Hospital, Yamaguchi, Japan.

Methods: A prospective observational study evaluated patients' scores on the Revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS-R) and the HDS-R minus 1 item regarding immediate regeneration (ie, function of vision and memory).

Proteome analysis of human vitreous proteins.

Purpose: Various protein contents such as enzymes, growth factors, and structural components are responsible for biological activities in organs. We have created a map of vitreous proteins and developed a proteome analysis of human vitreous samples to understand the underlying molecular mechanism and to provide clues to new therapeutic approaches in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

Methods: Vitreous and serum samples were obtained from subjects with idiopathic macular hole (MH, 26 cases) and PDR (33 cases).