Quantitative study of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and peripapillary vessel density in patients with different stages of Parkinson's disease.

Aim: To observe the changes in the thickness of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) and peripapillary vessel density (pVD) in patients with different stages of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: Totally 47 patients (47 eyes) with primary PD were divided into the mild group and the moderate-to-severe group according to Hoehn & Yahr (H&Y) stage. Among them, there were 27 cases (27 eyes) in mild group and 20 cases (20 eyes) in moderate-to-severe group.

Anti-VEGF reduces inflammatory features in macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion.

Aim: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) in patients with macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO-ME).

Methods: Twenty-eight eyes from twenty-eight treatment-naïve patients (14 males and 14 females) with RVO-ME were included in this retrospective study. The retinal vein occlusion (RVO) was comprised of both central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO, =14) and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO, =14).

Influence of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus on intraocular pressure and the role of opioid peptides.

Background: An opioid peptide neuron/humoral feedback regulation might be involved in changes of intraocular pressure (IOP). The aims of this study are to investigate the effects of arcuate nucleus (ARC) and opioid peptides on intraocular pressure (IOP).

Methods: Fifty-four healthy purebred New Zealand white rabbits (108 eyes) were randomly divided into 4 groups, including control group, electrical stimulation group, [D-Ala2, N-Me-Phe4, Gly5-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO) group, and [D-Pen 2, D-Pen5]- enkephalin (DPDPE) group.

Expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor in rat retina following optic nerve injury.

Purpose: To investigate the apoptosis in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) in the retina following optic nerve crush.

Methods: Healthy Wistar rats (N = 70) were divided into two groups: a normal control group and an optic nerve injury group. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry were performed to detect the expression of IGF-1R and to measure the apoptosis of RGCs, respectively.

Erythropoietin receptor positive circulating progenitor cells and endothelial progenitor cells in patients with different stages of diabetic retinopathy.

Objective: To investigate the possible involvement of erythr opoietin (EPO)/erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) system in neovascularization and vascular regeneration in diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: EPOR positive circulating progenitor cells (CPCs: CD34(+)) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs: CD34(+)KDR(+)) were assessed by flow cytometry in type 2 diabetic patients with different stages of DR. The cohort consisted of age- and sex-matched control patients with out diabetes ( n=7),non-proliferative DR (NPDR, n=7),non-proliferative DR (PDR, n=8), and PDR complicated with diabetic nephr opathy (PDR-DN, n=7).

αB-crystallin malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and lutathione peroxidase changes in X-ray irradiated rat lens.

Aim: To evaluate αB-crystallin malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) changes in X-ray irradiated rat lens.

Methods: Eight-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats received X-ray irradiation to the head with rest of the body protected. The exposure dose ranged from 2 to 25 Grays (Gy).

Pharmacokinetic and toxicity study of intravitreal erythropoietin in rabbits.

Aim: To study the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of intravitreal erythropoietin (EPO) for potential clinical use.

Methods: For toxicity study, 4 groups (60 rabbits) with intravitreal injection (IVit) of EPO were studied (10 U, 100 U, or 1,000 U) per eye for single injection and 0.6 U/eye (the designed therapeutic level in rabbits) for monthly injections (6X).