Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: To characterize preretinal neovascularizations (NV) and their corresponding branching routes in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and compare the findings with fluorescein angiography (FA).

Methods: In patients with PDR, angiograms were acquired with spectral-domain OCTA (CIRRUS 5000, OCTA AngioPlexTMCarl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.) and FA (Zeiss FF450PlusIR fundus camera or Spectralis HRA-OCT SLO, Heidelberg Engineering Inc.

Type of culture medium determines properties of cultivated retinal endothelial cells: induction of substantial phenotypic conversion by standard DMEM.

Contradictory behavior of microvascular retinal endothelial cells (REC) - a reliable in vitro model to study retinal diseases - have recently been reported which might result from cultivating the cells in standard DMEM not optimized for this cell type. Therefore, we studied DMEM's effects on phenotype and behavior of immortalized bovine REC. Cells were cultivated in endothelial cell growth medium (ECGM) until a confluent monolayer was reached and then further kept for 1-4 days in ECGM, DMEM, or mixes thereof all supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum, endothelial cell growth supplement, 90 μg/ml heparin, and 100 nM hydrocortisone.

Transport and fate of aflibercept in VEGF-A-challenged retinal endothelial cells.

Retinal vessels are at least in part involved in clearing of Fc terminus-containing proteins from the vitreous. In vitro, the Fc fusion protein aflibercept is transported through a monolayer of unchallenged immortalized bovine retinal endothelial cells (iBREC), mediated by the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), but part of the Fc fusion protein is also degraded. Aflibercept's target VEGF-A not only enhances the permeability of REC by destabilization of tight junctions (TJs) thereby allowing for paracellular flow, it may also lower the intracellular stability of the Fc fusion protein by changing its binding properties to the FcRn.

[Recanalisation by Probing with a Bicanalicular Silicone Tube (Oggel Silicone Intubation) in Patients with Acquired Lacrimal Stenosis].

Objectives: Recanalisation and bicanalicular splinting with silicone tube is one therapeutic option for acquired lacrimal duct stenosis, and restenosis is frequently achieved. The aim was to determine the therapeutic success of Oggel silicone intubation after lacrimal syringing and probing. We also analysed other characteristics of the complaint and compared the therapeutic success with published results.

Sitagliptin and the Blood-Retina Barrier: Effects on Retinal Endothelial Cells Manifested Only after Prolonged Exposure.

Inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) are widely used to treat diabetes mellitus, but data concerning their effects on the barrier stability of retinal endothelial cells (REC) in vivo and in vitro are inconsistent. Therefore, we studied whether the barrier properties of immortalized endothelial cells of the bovine retina (iBREC) were affected by the inhibitors of DPP-4 sitagliptin (10-1000 nM) and diprotin A (1-25 M). Their effects were also investigated in the presence of VEGF-A because diabetic patients often develop macular edema caused by VEGF-A-induced permeability of REC.

VEGF receptor 2 inhibitor nintedanib completely reverts VEGF-A-induced disturbances of barriers formed by retinal endothelial cells or long-term cultivated ARPE-19 cells.

Various severe ocular diseases are associated with an elevated intravitreal expression of VEGF-A which increases the permeability of retinal endothelial cells (REC) or retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vivo and in vitro. Inhibition of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) is sufficient to completely prevent VEGF-A-induced dysfunctions of barriers formed by long-term cultivated, immortal human ARPE-19 cells or immortalized bovine retinal endothelial cells (iBREC). Extended exposure to VEGF-A could result in additional activation of other growth factor receptors, potentially promoting synergistic effects of corresponding factors on various cellular processes including angiogenesis.

[Visualization of Retinal Neovascularization with Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Comparison with Fluorescein Angiography].

Objective: Comparison of retinal neovascularizations of the disc (NVD) and elsewhere (NVE) in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and fluorescein angiography (FA) in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Materials And Methods: 15 consecutive patients were included in this study. All patients received an OCTA with a 3 × 3 mm scan of the region of interest with the ZEISS OCT Cirrus 5000 with the AngioPlex module.

[Comparison Between Automated and Manual Measurement of Foveal Avascular Zone Retinopathy in Optical Coherence Tomography].

Objective: A comparison between automated and manual measurements of a foveal avascular zone in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Material And Methods: Consecutive patients with non-proliferative DR were included in this study. All patients received an OCTA, with a 3 × 3 mm scan of the macular region taken with the Zeiss OCT CIRRUS 5000 with the AngioPlex module.

[Invasive Eyelid Infections by β-Hemolytic Streptococci of Serogroup A].

Background: Invasive soft tissue infections by are rapidly progressive and potentially life-threatening infectious diseases. These can also affect the eyelid. Aggressive virulence factors and the synthesis of exotoxins can lead to complications, such as periorbital necrotizing fasciitis (PONF) and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS).

[The Importance of the Preoperative Information from a Patient's Perspective - a Structured Interview of 100 Ophthalmological University-Based Outpatients].

Background: The patient's knowledge about their illness, as well as their expectations regarding pre-intervention, consultation and treatment, may differ from the physician's assumptions. Therefore, it is of great importance that the physician can identify misconceptions and missing knowledge and to focus on those points in the preoperative consultation, as well as meeting patient expectations as to the consultation itself. The aim of this study was to identify such expectations and the knowledge gaps of patients scheduled for ophthalmologic treatment.

[Patient's Knowledge after Informed Consent for Intravitreal Injections].

Background: Intravitreal treatment (IVT) is one of the most common ophthalmological procedures. Therapeutic effectiveness is however dependent on patient compliance. Unwanted treatment cessation rates are high though.

Comparison of foveal avascular zone between optical coherence tomography angiography and fluorescein angiography in patients with retinal vein occlusion.

Objective: To compare area of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in different retinal vascular layers in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and fluorescein angiography (FA) in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO).

Design And Methods: Prospective cross-sectional comparative study in 47 eyes of 47 patients. FA was recorded with the Zeiss FF450plusIR camera and OCTA was obtained with the Zeiss Cirrus 5000 equipped with the AngioPlex module.

Comparison between Findings in Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography and in Fluorescein Angiography in Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy.

Objective: To compare typical findings of diabetic retinopathy in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and fluorescein angiography (FA).

Subjects/methods: 42 patients were enrolled in this study. We performed FA and obtained en face 3 × 3 mm OCTA images of the macular region.

[Augmented Reality in Ophthalmology: Technical Innovation Complements Education for Medical Students].

Background: At the Medical Faculty of the University of Ulm, the learning objectives of ophthalmology are taught to students in a one-week block course in the fourth year of study. According to the National Competency-based Learning Objective Catalogue Medicine (NKLM), one of these learning objectives is the clinical examination of the eye, including the eye fundus examination. In order to best train this expertise as defined in the NKLM, a novel, augmented reality-based training simulator (Eyesi Indirect, VRmagic Holding AG, Mannheim, Germany) was integrated into the teaching at the University Eye Hospital Ulm.

Quantity and quality of image artifacts in optical coherence tomography angiography.

Objective: To analyze quality and frequency of OCTA artifacts and to evaluate their impact on the interpretability of OCTA images.

Design: 75 patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR), retinal artery occlusion (RAO), retinal vein occlusion (RVO), or neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and healthy controls were enrolled in this cross-sectional study in the outpatient department of a tertiary eye care center.

Methods: All participants underwent an OCTA examination (spectral domain OCT Cirrus 5000 equipped with the AngioPlex module).

Fate of the Fc fusion protein aflibercept in retinal endothelial cells: competition of recycling and degradation.

Purpose: Intravitreal injection of the VEGF-binding protein aflibercept is widely used to treat various ocular diseases. In vitro, immortalized bovine retinal endothelial cells (iBREC) take up and transport aflibercept through the cell layer in a serum-dependent manner, likely mediated through the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), but degradation of the Fc domain-containing protein might be a competing intracellular process. Therefore, aflibercept's associations with proteins either involved in FcRn-mediated transport or in the lysosomal pathway were studied.

[Innovative Teaching Methods: Wet Lab-based Ophthalmosurgical Education for Medical Students].

Background: An increased demand for young physicians in Germany is causing increased competition to attract the best minds, even during their undergraduate studies. Therefore, it is the task of the university hospitals to offer their students the best possible courses in order to arouse interest in the relevant subject area. We therefore examined the impact of an ophthalmosurgical wet lab on teaching undergraduate medical students.