Variability of choroidal and retinal thicknesses in healthy eyes using swept-source optical coherence tomography - implications for designing clinical trials.

Aim: The aim was to study the variability of choroidal scleral interface (CSI) thickness in healthy subjects and its relevance for designing future studies.

Methods: A total of 123 volunteers were imaged using swept-source optical coherence tomography. Early treatment diabetic retinopathy grid was used.

Alteration of retinal layers in healthy subjects over 60 years of age until nonagenarians.

Purpose: To assess alterations of retinal layers in healthy subjects over 60 years old.

Methods: Retinal layers of 160 healthy subjects (aged 60-100 years) without any retinal pathology were imaged using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Mean thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell/inner plexiform layer (GCLIPL), inner nuclear layer, outer plexiform layer/outer nuclear layer, photoreceptor complex (PR) and retinal thickness (RT) were measured in a 3.

Polysialic acid blocks mononuclear phagocyte reactivity, inhibits complement activation, and protects from vascular damage in the retina.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of blindness in the elderly population. Its pathophysiology is linked to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of the complement system. Sialic acid polymers prevent ROS production of human mononuclear phagocytes via the inhibitory sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin-11 (SIGLEC11) receptor.

Analysis of the impact of allergy and atopy on new onset of uveitis.

Purpose: The inappropriate immune response to harmless foreign and self-antigens is a common feature of allergy, atopy and autoimmune disease. The influence of environmental factors in the initiation of autoimmunity is not well understood. It is conceivable that immune responses to allergens may also serve as a trigger of bystander immune reactions, including autoimmunity such as uveitis.

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography findings of the macula in 500 consecutive patients with uveitis.

PurposeTo analyze the macular structure in a large series of consecutive patients with different types of uveitis using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).Patients and methodsFive hundred eyes of 500 consecutive patients with anterior, intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis underwent standardized macular examination using SD-OCT. Central retinal thickness (CRT), macular volume (MV), and presence of cystoid macular edema (CME), diffuse macular edema (DME), serous retinal detachment (SRD), epiretinal membrane with (ERM+) and without (ERM-) retinal surface wrinkling were determined.

Interferon-beta signaling in retinal mononuclear phagocytes attenuates pathological neovascularization.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss among the elderly. AMD pathogenesis involves chronic activation of the innate immune system including complement factors and microglia/macrophage reactivity in the retina. Here, we show that lack of interferon-β signaling in the retina accelerates mononuclear phagocyte reactivity and promotes choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in the laser model of neovascular AMD Complete deletion of interferon-α/β receptor (Ifnar) using Ifnar1(-/-) mice significantly enhanced early microglia and macrophage activation in lesion areas.

Minocycline counter-regulates pro-inflammatory microglia responses in the retina and protects from degeneration.

Background: Microglia reactivity is a hallmark of retinal degenerations and overwhelming microglial responses contribute to photoreceptor death. Minocycline, a semi-synthetic tetracycline analog, has potent anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Here, we investigated how minocycline affects microglia in vitro and studied its immuno-modulatory properties in a mouse model of acute retinal degeneration using bright white light exposure.

Targeting translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) dampens pro-inflammatory microglia reactivity in the retina and protects from degeneration.

Background: Reactive microglia are commonly seen in retinal degenerative diseases, and neurotoxic microglia responses can contribute to photoreceptor cell death. We and others have previously shown that translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) is highly induced in retinal degenerations and that the selective TSPO ligand XBD173 (AC-5216, emapunil) exerts strong anti-inflammatory effects on microglia in vitro and ex vivo. Here, we investigated whether targeting TSPO with XBD173 has immuno-modulatory and neuroprotective functions in two mouse models of acute retinal degeneration using bright white light exposure.

Acid sphingomyelinase (aSMase) deficiency leads to abnormal microglia behavior and disturbed retinal function.

Mutations in the acid sphingomyelinase (aSMase) coding gene sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 (SMPD1) cause Niemann-Pick disease (NPD) type A and B. Sphingomyelin storage in cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system cause hepatosplenomegaly and severe neurodegeneration in the brain of NPD patients. However, the effects of aSMase deficiency on retinal structure and microglial behavior have not been addressed in detail yet.

Development of emulsification resistant heavier-than-water tamponades using high molecular weight silicone oil polymers.

Purpose: Developing new blends of heavier-than-water silicone oil tamponade agents containing high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane polymer for use in vitreoretinal surgery.

Materials And Methods: The viscoelastic properties of heavier-than-water silicone oil blends (30.5% F6H8 + 69.

Spectrum of Uveitis in A German Tertiary Center: Review of 474 Consecutive Patients.

Purpose: To analyze the spectrum of uveitis at a German tertiary center.

Patients And Methods: A total of 474 consecutive patients with uveitis were classified according to the primary anatomic site of inflammation, examined for laterality of disease, and screened for etiologies.

Results: Out of the total, 253 patients (53%) had anterior uveitis, 90 patients (19%) had intermediate uveitis, 100 patients (21%) had posterior uveitis, and 31 patients (7%) had panuveitis.

Environmental and genetic risk factors for retinal angiomatous proliferation.

Purpose: To identify genetic and environmental risk factors in patients with retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP), a clinical subtype of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: In this case-control study, 108 AMD cases with RAP, 258 AMD patients with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) without RAP and 443 healthy controls were evaluated. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (ARMS2) and complement factor H (CFH) and various environmental risk factors were analysed.

Disruption of the retinitis pigmentosa 28 gene Fam161a in mice affects photoreceptor ciliary structure and leads to progressive retinal degeneration.

Mutations in the FAM161A gene were previously identified as the cause for autosomal-recessive retinitis pigmentosa 28. To study the effects of Fam161a dysfunction in vivo, we generated gene-trapped Fam161a(GT/GT) mice with a disruption of its C-terminal domain essential for protein-protein interactions. We confirmed the absence of the full-length Fam161a protein in the retina of Fam161a(GT/GT) mice using western blots and showed weak expression of a truncated Fam161a protein by immunohistochemistry.

Genetic and environmental risk factors for age-related macular degeneration in persons 90 years and older.

Purpose: We studied associations of genetic polymorphisms in age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (ARMS2) and complement factor H (CFH) in nonagenarians with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: This case-control study comprised 2737 persons (1204 controls, 1433 AMD cases), including 166 nonagenarians (52 controls, 114 AMD cases). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes ARMS2 and CFH were determined.

Enrichment of lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 (LYVE1)-positive macrophages around blood vessels in the normal human sclera.

Purpose: To investigate whether the normal adult human sclera contains lymphatic vessels and to study their relation to immune cells and blood vessel anatomy.

Methods: Scleral tissue probes from 35 adult human donor bulbi were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy for blood vessels (CD31+), lymphatic vessels (lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 [LYVE1]+, podoplanin+), and macrophages (CD68+) at 12 locations (anterior, equatorial, and posterior at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock positions of the eye) in all three scleral layers (episclera, stroma, and lamina fusca). Approval for scientific examination was obtained.

Retinal layers measurements in healthy eyes and in eyes receiving silicone oil-based endotamponade.

Purpose: To characterize the concordance/symmetry of each retinal layers in individuals without macular pathology and to further characterize the localization of inner retinal thinning in eyes receiving silicone oil-based endotamponade.

Methods: Retinal layers of one hundred eyes of 50 individuals without macular pathology were imaged using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and manually segmented using ImageJ software (developed by Wayne Rasband, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA). In the second part of the study, retrospective analysis of 3028 cases of pars plana vitrectomy in University Eye Hospital Cologne, Germany, was conducted, retrieving nine patients with silicone oil-based endotamponade with no macular condition interfering retinal layers measurements.

Patient preference of ranibizumab treatment regimen for neovascular age-related macular degeneration - monthly injections versus pro re nata.

Purpose: To identify preference of treatment regimen in patients with anti-VEGF therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in real life.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 200 patients receiving ranibizumab therapy on a pro re nata regimen with monthly controls. One hundred and twenty-four patients were recruited in a tertiary health care clinic, and 76 patients were recruited in a private practice.

Aqueous flare is increased in patients with clinically significant cystoid macular oedema after cataract surgery.

Background: To analyse the relationship of clinically significant cystoid macular oedema (CME after phacoemulsification to blood-aqueous barrier breakdown as determined by aqueous flare, visual acuity and retinal thickness in optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Materials And Methods: 30 eyes of 30 consecutive patients with clinically significant CME and vision loss were included. 46 pseudophakic and 45 phakic eyes without CME served as controls.

Adherence to ranibizumab treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration in real life.

Background: To identify factors and problems influencing treatment adherence in patients undergoing anti-VEGF therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) under real-life conditions.

Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted of 95 patients receiving ranibizumab therapy on a pro re nata (PRN) regimen with monthly controls in a tertiary health care clinic. Monthly controls included best corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp examination and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

Analysis of aggregate impact factor inflation in ophthalmology.

Purpose: To analyze the aggregate impact factor (AIF) in ophthalmology, its inflation rate, and its relation to other subject fields.

Methods: A retrospective, database review of all subject fields in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR), Science edition. Citation data, AIF, number of journals and citations from the years 2003-2011 were analyzed.