Publications by authors named "Dov Weinberger"
Article Synopsis
- During combined phacovitrectomy, suturing the main corneal incision is typically done to avoid leaks, but this study explores the use of a self-sealing technique instead.
- The study reviewed cases from a university hospital where surgeons performed surgeries without planned sutures, only using them if needed due to complications.
- Results showed that only 5% of cases required suturing for leaks, indicating that preventive suturing may not be necessary and can be selectively applied when complications occur.
Article Synopsis
- 3K3A-Activated Protein C (APC) is a new anticoagulant that offers protective benefits and a lower risk of bleeding, showing promise for treating choroidal neovascularization (CNV), which can lead to vision loss.
- In experiments using a mouse model with laser-induced CNV, 3K3A-APC was injected into the eye, revealing its effects on immune cell activation and inflammatory markers.
- The results showed that 3K3A-APC reduced harmful immune responses and inflammation, leading to a decrease in CNV growth and leakage, suggesting it could be a effective multi-target treatment for this eye condition.
Purpose: To report a case of laser photocoagulation for the treatment of a combined coloboma and optic nerve head pit-related maculopathy in a patient with bilateral chorioretinal coloboma.
Methods: A case report.
Results: A 15-year-old woman, presented with the visual acuity of 20/100 in her right eye for six weeks.
Article Synopsis
- - 3K3A-Activated Protein C (APC) is a modified version of a natural anticoagulant that shows protective effects without causing bleeding risks and has anti-inflammatory qualities in various neurological injury models.
- - In a study on mice with LPS-induced uveitis, treatment with 3K3A-APC led to a significant decrease in the recruitment of inflammatory cells to the retina, helping control inflammation and prevent retinal thickening.
- - 3K3A-APC treatment also suppressed the activation of inflammatory pathways, specifically by reducing levels of NLRP3 inflammasome components and IL-1β, indicating its potential as a new treatment for inflammatory retinal diseases.
Aflibercept clearance through the drainage system in a rat model.
Int J Retina Vitreous
September 2021
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the clearance of Aflibercept, an anti-VEGF treatment, from the anterior chamber of the eye in a rat model to understand its impact on intraocular pressure (IOP).
- Following induction of choroidal neovascular lesions, rats received Aflibercept injections and were euthanized at various time intervals for analysis using fluorescence staining.
- Results showed complete clearance of Aflibercept from the anterior chamber angle within 48 hours, suggesting that there is no mechanical obstruction related to elevated IOP in the context of Aflibercept treatment.
The activated protein C (APC) ability to inhibit choroidal neovascularization (CNV) growth and leakage was recently shown in a murine model. A modified APC, 3K3A-APC, was designed to reduce anticoagulant activity while maintaining full cytoprotective properties, thus diminishing bleeding risk. We aimed to study the ability of 3K3A-APC to induce regression of CNV and evaluate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) role in APC's activities in the retina.
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- The study aimed to evaluate how lens status influences sustained intraocular pressure (IOP) increases in patients receiving anti-VEGF injections.
- Data were collected from a tertiary medical center involving 100 patients, focusing on IOP changes over a 6-month period based on their lens status (phakic, pseudophakic, or post-capsulotomy).
- Results indicated that patients who underwent Nd:YAG capsulotomy experienced a significantly higher rate of sustained IOP elevation (23.1%) compared to other groups (8.1%), highlighting that Nd:YAG capsulotomy may be a risk factor for increased IOP in those treated with anti-VEGF drugs.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess protein levels involved in coagulation, inflammation, and angiogenesis in the vitreous fluid of patients with different eye conditions.
- It involved collecting vitreous samples from patients undergoing vitrectomy for issues like retinal detachment, comparing them to control groups with macular hole and epiretinal membrane.
- Findings showed that patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) had notably higher levels of several proteins linked to coagulation and inflammation, indicating a strong correlation between these pathways in the context of PDR.
Automatic Characterization of Retinal Blood Flow Using OCT Angiograms.
Transl Vis Sci Technol
July 2019
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to analyze the retinal vascular network in healthy and diseased cases using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images, involving 56 eyes from 28 patients with conditions like diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and retinal vein occlusion.
- - An automated algorithm was used to classify OCTA images and provide quantitative data on global vessel density, fractal dimension, and fovea avascular zone area, achieving a classification success rate of 83.9%.
- - The results indicated that the vessel density measurements from the algorithm were significantly lower than previous studies and OCTA readings, yet comparable to known gold standards, suggesting the algorithm effectively identifies true vessels and improves assessment of retinal disorders.
Activated protein C (APC) exerts diverse cell signaling pathways which results in multiple distinct cytoprotective actions. These include anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities and stabilization of endothelial and epithelial barriers. We studied the ability of APC to inhibit the leakage and the growth of newly formed as well as pre-existing choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and examined the ability of APC to stabilize the Retinal Pigmented Epithelium (RPE).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChoroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a complication of age-related macular degeneration and a major contributing factor to vision loss. In this paper, we show that in a mouse model of laser-induced CNV, systemic administration of Butyroyloxymethyl-diethyl phosphate (AN7), a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), significantly reduced CNV area and vascular leakage, as measured by choroidal flatmounts and fluorescein angiography. CNV area reduction by systemic AN7 treatment was similar to that achieved by intravitreal bevacizumab treatment.
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- The study aimed to investigate the early effects of cyclosporine on the optic nerve for the first time, involving 192 eyes from 98 patients.
- Results showed that older age (over 46 years) was significantly linked to optic neuropathy in patients taking cyclosporine, while a longer treatment duration had a non-significant correlation.
- The authors recommend including optic nerve function tests, like visual evoked potential (VEP), in the follow-up care for patients on cyclosporine to monitor potential issues.
Purpose: Persistent fetal vasculature (PFV) is a unique ocular disorder usually presenting early in life. The unregressed embryonal hyaloid vasculature poses a risk of severe ocular complications leading to decreased visual acuity. Surgery is the mainstay of therapy in complicated cases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTranscleral approach for closing retinal tears using DuraSeal™ hydrogel sealant.
Indian J Ophthalmol
February 2018
Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate an innovative approach for closing retinal tears using DuraSeal™ (DS) hydrogel sealant in a rabbit model.
Methods: Retinal detachment with a small tear was performed on 20 New Zealand rabbits. Thereafter, rabbits were divided into two groups; the experimental group received a transscleral injection of 0.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to determine if NETosis (a process where neutrophils expel DNA traps) plays a role in ocular inflammation caused by cytokines and to assess NET complexes in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).
- In experiments with mice, injections of IL-8 or TNF-α led to a significant increase in inflammatory cells and NET-like structures containing several markers, indicating active NETosis.
- Analysis of vitreous samples revealed that patients with severe PDR had higher levels of key inflammatory markers compared to those with milder cases, suggesting a correlation between NET formation and disease severity.
Article Synopsis
- The study assesses the effectiveness and consistency of a mobile laser indirect ophthalmoscope for inducing choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in mice.
- Researchers used a diode laser and various lenses to standardize parameters like spot size and intensity, and monitored CNV development using multiple evaluation methods.
- Findings indicate the setup is reliable for CNV induction, with significant correlations between laser application and CNV area, and successful inhibition of CNV using VEGF antibodies.
Purpose: To determine whether intravitreal unconjugated tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) (alteplase) can penetrate the intact neural retina and reach the subretinal space in an experimental model.
Methods: This study was performed in 24 Sprague-Dawley rats aged 12 weeks. Under general anesthesia, the right eye was injected with either 0.
Article Synopsis
- The study examines the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) in the vitreous fluid of patients with various eye conditions to understand their correlation.
- 78 patients were grouped based on their vitreoretinal issues (macular hole/epiretinal membrane, retinal detachment, and diabetic retinopathy), and their IL-6 and TAT levels were measured and compared.
- Findings show significant differences in IL-6 and TAT levels among groups, with diabetes linked to higher IL-6 in retinal detachment cases, indicating that TAT levels may differ due to inflammation and specific eye tissue responses.
Article Synopsis
- A study investigated how retinal detachment affects electroretinographic (ERG) responses and cellular changes in rabbits.
- Retinal detachment was induced in ten rabbits, and various assessments were made over a 21-day period, including imaging and ERG recordings.
- The results showed that while most ERG responses remained stable after reattachment, a specific change in the scotopic b-wave was noted, linked to remodeling of certain retinal cells, indicating functional and structural changes in the retina.
Article Synopsis
- This study aims to compare the time it takes for patients to undergo laser capsulotomy after cataract surgery using two different types of intraocular lenses (IOLs): hydrophilic and hydrophobic acrylic.
- A retrospective analysis of 222 patients was conducted, focusing on various demographic data and the time between cataract surgery and laser capsulotomy.
- Results showed that patients with the hydrophilic SeeLens had a significantly shorter interval to laser capsulotomy (23 months) compared to those with the hydrophobic AcrySof IOL (28 months).
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the effectiveness of using perfluorocarbon heavy liquid as a temporary tamponade for patients with giant retinal tears after vitrectomy, involving 13 patients treated between 2011 and 2015.
- All patients achieved retinal reattachment during surgery, with a follow-up period showing that the retina remained attached in all cases, although one patient experienced complications requiring additional surgery.
- Postoperative visual acuity improved, especially in patients with macula-off detachments, indicating perfluorocarbon heavy liquid is a safe and effective option for this procedure.
Photodynamic Therapy for Pseudophakic Eyes Compared to Eyes With Cataract.
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
December 2016
Background And Objective: Verteporfin photodynamic therapy (vPDT) plays a role in the treatment of chorioretinal conditions. The purpose of this study was to compare vPDT outcomes between cataractous and pseudophakic eyes.
Patients And Methods: In this prospective study of consecutive patients with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated with vPDT, cataract and pseudophakic eyes were compared for number and timing of vPDT treatments, duration of follow-up, angiographic features, and changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).
Article Synopsis
- Pathological angiogenesis and chronic inflammation are key factors in the development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in eye diseases, prompting a study on the effects of a compound called SAS on retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells.
- SAS was demonstrated to inhibit specific integrins on RPE cells, enhance the expression of protective factors such as PEDF, and significantly reduce inflammatory gene expression linked to angiogenesis when RPE cells were co-cultured with endothelial cells.
- The findings indicate that SAS could serve as an effective anti-inflammatory treatment for chorioretinal conditions, potentially improving therapeutic strategies in managing these diseases.
Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of subconjunctival aflibercept, a vascular endothelial growth factor trap compound, for the treatment of corneal neovascularization in a rat model.
Methods: Chemical burn was produced in the central cornea of 31 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were randomized to receive treatment with subconjunctival injection of 0.
Article Synopsis
- Myopic individuals, especially those with severe myopia, face higher risks of serious eye conditions like cataracts and retinal detachment, often leading to visual impairment.
- The study investigates the effect of scleral crosslinking (using riboflavin and UV-A radiation) on preventing axial myopia in a rabbit model by measuring eye length changes.
- Results show that this technique effectively reduces induced axial elongation in the rabbits, suggesting potential benefits for treating myopia-related issues.