The aim of this study was to identify the most reliable ocular exam and establish a threshold for deciding whether to perform neuroimaging in order to screen for diverse diseases other than normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). A retrospective, observational, comparative study was used. In total, 106 individuals with atypical features of NTG who underwent glaucoma assessments and contrast-enhanced MRI of the brain or orbit were included.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFT cell surface CTLA4 sequesters the costimulatory ligands CD80 and CD86 on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to prevent autoimmunity. Therapeutic immunosuppression by recombinant CTLA4-immunoglobulin (Ig) fusion proteins, including abatacept, is also attributed to CD80/CD86 blockade. Recent studies show that CTLA4-Ig binding to APC surface cis-CD80:PD-L1 complexes can release the inhibitory ligand PD-L1, but whether this contributes to T cell inhibition remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the context of glaucoma, intraocular pressure (IOP) and age are recognized as the primary factors contributing to its onset and progression. However, significant reductions in IOP fail to completely halt its advancement. An emerging body of literature highlights the role of neuroinflammation in glaucoma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Topical prostaglandin analogues are commonly used to treat patients with glaucoma, but may cause periocular and periorbital complications known as prostaglandin-associated periorbitopathy syndrome (PAPS).
Methods: A literature review was conducted on PAPS. Given the lack of consensus on grading PAPS, glaucoma specialists from Asia convened to evaluate current PAPS grading systems and propose additional considerations in grading PAPS.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of recurrent disc hemorrhage (DH) and choroidal microvasculature dropout (MvD).
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 181 eyes with open-angle glaucoma. The clinical characteristics of patients with nonrecurrent and recurrent DH with and without MvD were investigated.
We aimed to characterize and compare the occurrence of peripapillary microvasculature dropout (MvD) between glaucoma suspects and patients with glaucoma. In addition, the factors related to the development of parapapillary MvD in glaucoma suspects and patients with glaucoma were investigated. Of a total 150 eyes, 68 eyes of glaucoma suspects and 82 eyes of glaucoma patients were analyzed in this study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To observe the development of glaucoma in myopic eyes with and without myopic optic neuropathy (MON) and analyze associated factors to the development of typical glaucomatous damage.
Design: A prospective, observational, cohort study.
Methods: A total of 233 myopic eyes with no definite evidence of glaucomatous damage were included.
The surface area of encapsulation around the Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) endplate is a critical factor in the surgical outcome as it is associated with the degree of IOP reduction. We investigated the surgical outcome of AGV implantation with an additional pericardium graft inserted adjacent to the endplate, with the intent of expanding the surface area of encapsulation. We enrolled 92 patients (92 eyes) who underwent AGV implantation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo explore various parameters that can evaluate the central visual impairment in patients with early-stage glaucoma, we included patients into a study with central visual impairments with an MD value greater than -6.0 dB on the 24-2 VF test. A possible association between structural parameters acquired by OCT and functional parameters of VF and PERG was determined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSuperficial and deep macular vessel density (VD) is decreased in eyes with glaucoma. Superficial VD comprises both the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell/inner plexiform layer (GC/IPL), and various terms have been used previously to describe the layers of macular VD. In our study, we readjusted the macular segmentation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To investigate whether the trajectories of saccadic eye movements (SEMs) significantly differ between glaucoma patients and controls.
Methods: SEMs were recorded by video-based infrared oculography in 53 patients with glaucoma and 41 age-matched controls. Participants were asked to bilaterally view 24°-horizontal, 14°-vertical, and 20°-diagonal eccentric Goldmann III-sized stimuli.
Purpose: To identify factors associated with the development of epiretinal membranes (ERM) in glaucoma patients.
Design: Multicenter, propensity-score matched, case-control study.
Methods: One hundred ninety-two eyes of 192 patients with glaucoma from the Catholic Medical Center Glaucoma Suspect Cohort Study were analyzed.
Background: Regimens for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) have been changed from injectable-containing regimens to all-oral regimens. The economic effectiveness of new all-oral regimens compared with conventional injectable-containing regimens was scarcely evaluated. This study was conducted to compare the cost-effectiveness between all-oral longer-course regimens (the oral regimen group) and conventional injectable-containing regimens (the control group) to treat newly diagnosed MDR-TB patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDendritic cells (DCs) are ubiquitous immune cells endowed with a unique capacity to initiate antigen-specific immunity and tolerance. Owing to their unique functional attributes, DCs have long been considered ideal candidates for the induction of effective antitumour responses. At the forefront of the cancer-immunity cycle, attempts to harness DC natural adjuvant properties in the clinic have resulted so far in suboptimal antitumour responses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To investigate associated factors including structural parameters of myopia and vessel density (VD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) to visual acuity (VA) and central visual function in glaucoma patients with myopia.
Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.
Methods: Sixty-five eyes of 60 glaucoma patients with myopia and without media opacity and retinal lesions were included.
We identify the angiotensin II (AngII)-associated changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the biomechanical properties of the sclera after systemic hypotension. Systemic hypotension was induced by administering oral hydrochlorothiazide. AngII receptor levels and ECM components in the sclera and biomechanical properties were evaluated based on the stress-strain relationship after systemic hypotension.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Gastric cancer adversely affects nutrition and immunity, while increasing the risk of tuberculosis (TB). This study investigated the incidence and risk factors for TB in gastric cancer patients who had undergone gastrectomy or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).
Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted using Korean national insurance claims data.
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is an important modulator of neuroinflammation, secreted from activated glial cells in response to intraocular stress. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical factors associated with elevated TNF-α and its level in aqueous humor of patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG). Aqueous humor was collected from 73 OAG eyes, and TNF-α level was analyzed using the singleplex bead immunoassay method.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe analyzed tuberculosis (TB)-related costs according to treatment adherence, as well as the association between treatment adherence, treatment outcomes, and costs related to drug-susceptible TB in South Korea. Patients who had newly treated TB in South Korea between 2006 and 2015 were selected from nationwide sample claims data and categorized into adherent and non-adherent groups using the proportion of days TB drugs covered. Patients were followed-up from the initiation of TB treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrcis: Reduced P50-N95 amplitude on pattern electroretinography (PERG) and the presence of microvasculature dropout (MvD) on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) at baseline were significant factors associated with visual field (VF) progression in predominantly normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients.
Objective: We investigated the baseline demographics and ocular characteristics that predict future progression in glaucoma patients, including PERG and OCT-A parameters.
Methods: One Hundred forty eyes with open angle glaucoma that were prospectively enrolled and followed up for at least 3 years, and underwent at least 5 serial VF tests were included.
Antibodies targeting "immune checkpoints" have revolutionized cancer therapy by reactivating tumor-resident cytotoxic lymphocytes, primarily CD8+ T cells. Interest in targeting analogous pathways in other cytotoxic lymphocytes is growing. Natural killer (NK) cells are key to cancer immunosurveillance by eradicating metastases and driving solid tumor inflammation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to find out the significance of the difference between frequency-doubling technology perimetry (FDT) and standard automated perimetry (SAP) in terms of the detected visual field (VF) damage, and evaluate associated factors to SAP-FDT difference in early glaucoma. Glaucoma patients in early stage (MD better than - 6.0 decibel, 96 eyes) were included in this cross-sectional study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ocular and hemodynamic factors contributing to the central visual function in glaucoma patients with myopia.
Methods: This study was a prospective observational study, which included 236 eyes of 140 patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), which includes 114 eyes with mild myopia (axial length ≥24 and <26 mm) and 122 eyes with moderate-to-severe myopia (axial length ≥26 mm). Ocular characteristics were axial length and posterior pole profiles, including peripapillary atrophy (PPA) to disc area ratio, disc tilt ratio, disc torsion, and disc-foveal angle.