Evaluating and Gene Polymorphisms and Serum Protein Levels and Their Association with Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Its Treatment Efficiency.

: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness, affecting millions worldwide. Its pathogenesis involves the death of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), followed by photoreceptor degeneration. Although AMD is multifactorial, various genetic markers are strongly associated with the disease and may serve as biomarkers for evaluating treatment efficacy.

The Impact of (rs10490924), (rs3024997), (rs1061622), (rs4149576), and (rs1143623) Polymorphisms and Serum Levels on Age-Related Macular Degeneration Development and Therapeutic Responses.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major global health problem as it is the leading cause of irreversible loss of central vision in the aging population. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapies are effective but do not respond optimally in all patients. This study investigates the genetic factors associated with susceptibility to AMD and response to treatment, focusing on key polymorphisms in the (rs10490924), (rs1143623), (rs1061622), (rs4149576), (rs3024997), ARMS2, IL1B1, TNFRSF1B, TNFRSF1A, and VEGFA serum levels in AMD development and treatment efficacy.

Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Association between Treatment Efficacy and Single-Nucleotide Variants in , , , , , , and Genes.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition leading to vision loss and eventual blindness, with exudative AMD posing a heightened risk due to choroidal neovascularization and localized edema. Therapies targeting the VEGF pathway aim to address this mechanism for treatment effectiveness. Our study aimed to evaluate associations between specific genetic variants ( rs8017304, rs2588809; rs6987702, rs4351379; rs13095226; rs1064583; rs1859430, rs2069870, rs11741137, rs2069885, rs2069884; rs1800871, rs1800872, rs1800896; rs1570360, rs699947, rs3025033, rs2146323) and the response to anti-VEGF treatment for exudative AMD.

(rs1061170, rs1410996), (rs2071559, rs1870377) and KDR and CFH Serum Levels in AMD Development and Treatment Efficacy.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major global health problem as it is the leading cause of irreversible loss of central vision in the aging population. Av-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapies have been shown to be effective, but they do not respond optimally to all patients.

Objective: This study investigates the genetic factors associated with susceptibility to AMD and response to treatment, focusing on key polymorphisms in the (rs1061170, rs1410996) and (rs2071559, rs1870377) genes and the association of CFH and KDR serum levels in patients with AMD.

Association of Gene Polymorphisms (rs10181656, rs7574865, rs7601754, rs10168266) and Serum STAT4 Levels in Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Unlabelled: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive degenerative disease that affects the central part of the retina: the macula. AMD is the most common cause of central vision loss in industrialized countries. Increasing attention is being paid to the study of genetic factors that may influence the manifestation of AMD.

Coronary artery disease, its associations with ocular, genetic and blood lipid parameters.

Background/objectives: To investigate the associations between ophthalmic parameters, CYP4F2 (rs2108622) and ABCA1 (rs1883025) polymorphisms and coronary artery disease, considering the accessibility, non-invasive origin of retinal examination and its possible resemblance to coronary arteries.

Subjects/methods: Overall 165 participants divided into groups based on the coronary angiography results and clinical status: control group (N = 73), MI group (N = 63), 3VD (three vessel disease) (N = 24). All the participants underwent total ophthalmic examination - optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography of the macula region were performed and evaluated.

Relative Leukocyte Telomere Length and Genetic Variants in Telomere-Related Genes and Serum Levels Role in Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Unlabelled: Telomere shortening is well known to be associated with ageing. Age is the most decisive risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) development. The older the individual, the higher the AMD risk.

Exploring association between pseudoexfoliation syndrome and ocular aging.

Purpose: Within a population-based follow-up study, to examine the 10-year incidence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX), possible risk factors for PEX and its association with ocular aging of the cornea, lens and retina.

Methods: The baseline examination was conducted in 2006 on a random sample of 1,033 adult participants from Kaunas city (Lithuania) population of whom 631 had ophthalmic examination data at attendance of the 10-year follow-up in 2016. Detailed examination of the anterior and posterior segment of the eye was carried out.

Retinal and Choroidal Thinning-A Predictor of Coronary Artery Occlusion?

. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) allowed visualization of retina and choroid to nearly the capillary level; however, the relationship between systemic macrovascular status and retinal microvascular changes is not yet known well. .

, Gene Variants and CCL2, CCR2 Serum Levels Association with Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of progressive and irreversible blindness in developed countries. Although the pathogenesis is not fully understood, AMD is a multifactorial pathology with an accumulation of inflammatory components and macrophages and a strong genetic predisposition. Our purpose was to investigate the association between early AMD and (rs1024611, rs4586, rs2857656) and (rs1799865) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and CCL2, CCR2 serum levels in a Lithuanian population.

Can a Set of Questions after Routine Cataract Surgery Predict Unexpected Findings and Avoid an Unnecessary Follow-Up Visit?

to evaluate whether a set of questions after a routine cataract surgery can predict unexpected findings and avoid an unnecessary follow-up visit. single-center, prospective, cohort study included 177 routine cataract surgery cases of two experienced surgeons between November 2019 and December 2020. Inclusion criteria included unremarkable postoperative day one follow-up examination.

Assessment of Absorption of Glycated Nail Proteins in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Retinopathy.

Glycation occurs in a variety of human tissues and organs. Knowledge about the relationship between predictive biochemical factors such as absorption of glycated nail proteins and severity of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains limited. The study group consisted of patients with type 2 DM and DR ( = 32) and a control group ( = 28).

Phacoemulsification Induced Changes of Choroidal Thickness in Eyes with Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

: Patients with cataract and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may safely undergo cataract phacoemulsification to enhance visual acuity. Although it has not been proven that cataract surgery can cause AMD progression, different phacoemulsification effects are observed not only on retinal but also on choroidal tissues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of phacoemulsification on the choroidal thickness (CT) in eyes with and without AMD.

Link of ocular pseudoexfoliation syndrome and vascular system changes: results from 10-year follow-up study.

Purpose: To examine the 10-year incidence of the pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) in adults in a population-based follow-up study, to determine its link with vascular diseases, and to identify possible risk factors of the PEX.

Methods: The baseline examination was performed in 2006 on a random sample of 1033 participants from Kaunas city (Lithuania) population. In 2016, a follow-up study of 686 participants who returned for the examination was conducted.

The Role of C21orf91 in Herpes Simplex Virus Keratitis.

This paper aims to describe the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of C21orf91 rs1062202 and rs10446073 in patients with herpetic keratitis by evaluating corneal sub-basal nerves, as well as the density of Langerhans cells (LC) and endothelium cells (EC) during the acute phase of the disease. : A prospective clinical study included 260 subjects: 70 with herpetic eye disease, 101 with previous history of herpes labialis-but no history of herpetic eye disease-and 89 with no history of any herpes simplex virus (HSV) diseases. All subjects underwent a complete ophthalmological examination including in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) of the central cornea.

Corneal Sub-Basal Nerve Changes in Patients with Herpetic Keratitis During Acute Phase and after 6 Months.

The purpose of this study was to describe corneal sensitivity and the morphological changes of sub-basal corneal nerves using in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) in herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis-affected eyes, and to compare with both contralateral eyes and with the eyes of patients with a previous history of herpes labialis but no history of herpetic eye disease, and with healthy patients with no history of any HSV diseases, during the acute phase of the disease and after six months. A prospective clinical study included 269 patients. All of them underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometry and LSCM within the central 5 mm of the cornea.

Association of ApoE haplotype with clinical evidence of pituitary adenoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the association of the presence, invasiveness, hormonal activity and recurrence of pituitary adenoma (PA) with ApoE genotypes and alleles.

Materials And Methods: Our study group included 142 patients with PA and the control group included 256 healthy individuals. The genotyping of ApoE (rs7412 and rs429358) was performed using a real-time PCR method.

Corneal esthesiometry and sub-basal nerves morphological changes in herpes simplex virus keratitis/uveitis patients.

Aim: To describe and compare corneal sensation and morphological changes of sub-basal corneal nerves by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) in herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis/uveitis and contralateral, clinically unaffected eyes.

Methods: A prospective clinical study included 30 HSV eyes and 30 contralateral eyes of 30 patients, diagnosed with unilateral HSV keratitis/uveitis. Both eyes underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometry and LSCM of the central cornea, using the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph III Rostock Cornea Module.

Changes in subfoveal choroidal thickness after uncomplicated cataract surgery.

Background: Recent investigations show that phacoemulsification causing an inflammatory insult to the eye has an effect not only on retina but on the choroid as well. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) after uneventful phacoemulsification using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT).

Methods: This prospective study included 30 eyes of 23 patients with senile cataract undergoing uncomplicated phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation.

ABO blood group polymorphism has an impact on prostate, kidney and bladder cancer in association with longevity.

The aim of the present study was to assess the ABO blood group polymorphism association with prostate, bladder and kidney cancer, and longevity. The following data groups were analyzed: Prostate cancer (n=2,200), bladder cancer (n=1,530), renal cell cancer (n=2,650), oldest-old (n=166) and blood donors (n=994) groups. The data on the ABO blood type frequency and odds ratio in prostate cancer patients revealed a significantly higher blood group B frequency (P<0.

Association of Ki-67 Labelling Index and IL-17A with Pituitary Adenoma.

The aim of the present study was to determine if the Ki-67 labelling index reflects invasiveness of pituitary adenoma and to evaluate IL-17A concentration in blood serum of pituitary adenoma patients. The study was conducted in the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. All pituitary adenomas were analysed based on magnetic resonance imaging findings.

The association of matrix metalloproteinases polymorphisms and interleukins in advanced age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To assess the impact of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)1-1607 1G/2G (rs1799750), MMP7-181 A/G (rs11568818) single-nucleotide polymorphism and systemic cytokins interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6 levels on the development of exudative age-related macular degeneration (eAMD) Methodology: The study group comprised 282 patients with eAMD, and the control group enrolled 379 randomly selected persons. The genotyping of MMP1-1607 (rs1799750) and MMP7-181 (rs11568818) was performed by using the polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism method. To determine IL-1β and IL-6 serum levels, the immunoenzymatic method with monoclonal antibodies coated plates was performed.

The role of apolipoprotein E (rs7412 and rs429358) in age-related macular degeneration.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of incurable visual impairment in the developed countries. The main pathological change in AMD is the formation of drusen containing 40% of lipids, dominated by esterified cholesterol (EC) and phosphatidylcholine (PC), and protein. Haplotype ε4 of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) acts as a ligand for the low-density lipoprotein receptor and is involved in the maintenance and repair of neuronal cell membranes.

The role of and gene polymorphisms in pituitary adenoma.

Background: The pathogenesis of pituitary adenoma (PA) is complex and poorly understood. It is thought that PA has a multifactorial aetiology; genetic factors also have an impact on PA development. Since and genes play an important role in tumour growth, differentiation and progression, we decided to determine if the frequency of the genotypes of and polymorphisms influence the development of PA.