Ranked determinants of telemedicine diabetic retinopathy screening performance in the United States primary care safety-net setting: an exploratory CART analysis.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide, despite easy detection and effective treatment. Annual screening rates in the USA remain low, especially for the disadvantaged, which telemedicine-based DR screening (TDRS) during routine primary care has been shown to improve. Screening rates from such programs have varied, however, pointing to inconsistent implementation and unaddressed barriers.

Evaluation of multi-level barriers and facilitators in a large diabetic retinopathy screening program in federally qualified health centers: a qualitative study.

Background: Recommended annual diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening for people with diabetes has low rates in the USA, especially in underserved populations. Telemedicine DR screening (TDRS) in primary care clinics could expand access and increase adherence. Despite this potential, studies have observed high variability in TDRS rates among clinics and over time, highlighting the need for implementation supports.

Implementation and sustainment of a statewide telemedicine diabetic retinopathy screening network for federally designated safety-net clinics.

Context: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of incident blindness among working-age adults in the United States. Federally designated safety-net clinics (FDSC) often serve as point-of-contact for patients least likely to receive recommended DR screenings, creating opportunity for targeted interventions to increase screening access and compliance.

Study Design And Methods: With such a goal, we implemented and assessed the longitudinal performance of an FDSC-based telemedicine DR screening (TDRS) network of 22 clinical sites providing nonmydriatic fundus photography with remote interpretation and reporting.

Unique homologous siRNA blocks hypoxia-induced VEGF upregulation in human corneal cells and inhibits and regresses murine corneal neovascularization.

Purpose: To determine whether RNA interference (RNAi) could block hypoxia-induced upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human corneal epithelial cells in vitro and inhibit and regress injury-induced murine corneal neovascularization in vivo.

Methods: siRNA selected on the basis of target sequence homology between mouse and human VEGF was placed into expression cassettes and transfected into human corneal epithelial cells. Hypoxia-induced VEGF synthesis was assayed.

Soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 contributes to the corneal antiangiogenic barrier.

Purpose: Pathological neovascularisation within the normally avascular cornea is a serious event that can interfere with normal vision. Upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been associated with neovascularisation in the eye, suggesting that maintaining low levels of VEGF is important for corneal avascularity and intact vision. This study aims to determine the expression profile and possible contribution of sVEGFR-1 to the corneal avascular barrier.

Systemic soluble Tie2 expression inhibits and regresses corneal neovascularization.

This study was designed to determine if soluble Tie2 (sTie2) expression inhibits and regresses corneal neovascularization, and if VEGF contributes to its effect. The corneas of BALB/c mice were scraped and the mice were injected with either an adenovirus expressing soluble Tie2 (Ad.sTie2) or an empty adenoviral vector.