Retinal defocus and form-deprivation induced regional differential gene expression of bone morphogenetic proteins in chick retinal pigment epithelium.

We previously reported bidirectional gene expression regulation of the Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMP2, 4, and 7) in chick retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in response to imposed optical defocus and form-deprivation (FD). This study investigated whether there are local (regional) differences in these effects. 19-day old White-Leghorn chicks wore monocular +10 or - 10 D lenses, or diffusers (FD) for 2 or 48 hr, after which RPE samples were collected from both eyes, from a central circular zone (3 mm radius), and 3 mm wide annular mid-peripheral and peripheral zones in all cases.

Original endoscopic orbital decompression of lateral wall through hairline approach for Graves' ophthalmopathy: an innovation of balanced orbital decompression.

Background: Orbital decompression is an important surgical procedure for treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO), especially in women. It is reasonable for balanced orbital decompression of the lateral and medial wall. Various surgical approaches, including endoscopic transnasal surgery for medial wall and eye-side skin incision surgery for lateral wall, are being used nowadays, but many of them lack the validity, safety, or cosmetic effect.

Low density lipoprotein - rosiglitazone - chitosan-calcium alginate/nanoparticles inhibition of human tenon's fibroblasts activation and proliferation.

Anti-fibrotic therapeutic methods with safety and efficiency after glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS) are desirable. In our previous study, by using Human Tenon's Fibroblasts (HTFs) as a model, we proved the expression of peroxisome proliferator activates receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) in HTFs; in addition, rosiglitazone (RSG), an agonist of PPAR-γ, can inhibit transforming growth factorsβ1 (TGF-β1)-induced reactivation of HTFs, thus to inhibit specifically scarring after GFS through intervening TGF-β/Smads signal pathway. However, a better drug delivery way of RSG, to prolong the duration of its function, and to reduce the toxicity of RSG to ocular tissue still remains challenges.

Effectiveness of strabismus surgery on the health-related quality of life assessment of children with intermittent exotropia and their parents: a randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of strabismus surgery to improve the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) assessment scores of children with intermittent exotropia and their parents.

Methods: For this prospective, randomized, parallel group study, 130 children (8-17 year of age) with intermittent exotropia were recruited and randomized to undergo either corrective strabismus surgery or active monitoring without surgery. Each child was accompanied by a parent.

MiRNA-21 promotes fibrosis in orbital fibroblasts from thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the role of miR-21 in orbital fibroblasts obtained from donors with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and to elucidate the regulation of fibrosis by miR-21 in the pathological process of TAO.

Methods: The expression of miR-21 was investigated in orbital tissues from 26 donors with TAO and 10 donors without TAO. Human orbital fibroblasts were cultivated from TAO donors, and the role of miR-21 in orbital fibroblast proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation was analyzed.

Enhanced SOX2 expression in retinoblastoma tissues and peripheral blood is associated with the clinicopathological characteristics of the disease.

The present study aimed to investigate the association between the expression of sex-determining region Y box 2 (SOX2) in retinoblastoma (Rb) tissues and peripheral blood, and the clinicopathological characteristics of Rb. The expression of SOX2 in Rb tissues was detected by immunohistochemical staining and western blot analysis. SOX2 expression in the peripheral blood of children with Rb was determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Detection of underdiagnosed concurrent branch retinal artery occlusion in a patient with central retinal vein occlusion using spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

Background: Combined branch retinal artery and central retinal vein occlusion is a rare condition that has been infrequently reported. This case report, aside from reporting the above-mentioned condition, highlights the importance of performing spectral domain optical coherence tomography in establishing a complete diagnosis, especially in uncertain and complicated cases. We also present spectral domain optical coherence tomography findings of a case of combined unilateral simultaneous central retinal vein and branch retinal artery occlusion.

Comparison of the Icare tonometer and the hand-held goldmann applanation tonometer in pediatric aphakia.

Purpose: To compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements obtained by the Icare and the hand-held Goldmann applanation tonometer (also called Perkins) in aphakic children after congenital cataract surgery.

Methods: We investigated 125 children with aphakia after congenital cataract surgery in this study. A younger group (3 to 30 mo) and an elder group (31 to 72 mo) were divided in those patients by their age.

Assessing susceptibility to age-related macular degeneration with genetic markers and environmental factors.

Objectives: To evaluate the independent and joint effects of genetic factors and environmental variables on advanced forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), including geographic atrophy and choroidal neovascularization, and to develop a predictive model with genetic and environmental factors included.

Methods: Demographic information, including age at onset, smoking status, and body mass index, was collected for 1844 participants. Genotypes were evaluated for 8 variants in 5 genes related to AMD.

Lack of association of CFD polymorphisms with advanced age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of irreversible central vision loss worldwide. Research has linked AMD susceptibility with dysregulation of the complement cascade. Typically, complement factor H (CFH), complement factor B (CFB), complement component 2 (C2), and complement component 3 (C3) are associated with AMD.

Genetic and functional dissection of HTRA1 and LOC387715 in age-related macular degeneration.

A common haplotype on 10q26 influences the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and encompasses two genes, LOC387715 and HTRA1. Recent data have suggested that loss of LOC387715, mediated by an insertion/deletion (in/del) that destabilizes its message, is causally related with the disorder. Here we show that loss of LOC387715 is insufficient to explain AMD susceptibility, since a nonsense mutation (R38X) in this gene that leads to loss of its message resides in a protective haplotype.

Common variants on chromosome 2 and risk of primary open-angle glaucoma in the Afro-Caribbean population of Barbados.

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. Although a number of genetic loci have shown association or genetic linkage to monogenic forms of POAG, the identified genes and loci do not appear to have a major role in the common POAG phenotype. We seek to identify genetic loci that appear to be major risk factors for POAG in the Afro-Caribbean population of Barbados, West Indies.

Toll-like receptor 3 and geographic atrophy in age-related macular degeneration.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration is the most common cause of irreversible visual impairment in the developed world. Advanced age-related macular degeneration consists of geographic atrophy and choroidal neovascularization. The specific genetic variants that predispose patients to geographic atrophy are largely unknown.

Promoter polymorphism of the erythropoietin gene in severe diabetic eye and kidney complications.

Significant morbidity and mortality among patients with diabetes mellitus result largely from a greatly increased incidence of microvascular complications. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and end stage renal disease (ESRD) are two of the most common and severe microvascular complications of diabetes. A high concordance exists in the development of PDR and ESRD in diabetic patients, as well as strong familial aggregation of these complications, suggesting a common underlying genetic mechanism.

Further mapping of 10q26 supports strong association of HTRA1 polymorphisms with age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex disorder with genetic and environmental influences. The genetic influences affecting AMD are not well understood and few genes have been consistently implicated and replicated for this disease. A polymorphism (rs11200638) in a transcription factor binding site of the HTRA1 gene has been described, in previous reports, as being most significantly associated with AMD.

Association of HTRA1 polymorphism and bilaterality in advanced age-related macular degeneration.

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs11200638, in the promoter of HTRA1 has recently been shown to increase the risk for AMD. In order to investigate the association of this HTRA1 polymorphism and the bilaterality of AMD, we genotyped rs11200638 in control, unilateral, and bilateral advanced AMD patients. The A allele for SNP rs11200638 in HTRA1, was significantly more prevalent in bilateral wet AMD and GA patients than in unilateral groups (p=.

HTRA1 variant confers similar risks to geographic atrophy and neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of irreversible visual impairment in the developed world. The two forms of advanced AMD, geographic atrophy (GA) and choroidal neovascularization (wet AMD), represent two types of degenerative processes in the macula that lead to loss of central vision. Soft confluent drusen, characterized by deposits in macula without visual loss are considered a precursor of advanced AMD.

Essential role of Elovl4 in very long chain fatty acid synthesis, skin permeability barrier function, and neonatal survival.

Mutations in the gene ELOVL4 have been shown to cause stargardt-like macular dystrophy. ELOVL4 is part of a family of fatty acid elongases and is yet to have a specific elongase activity assigned to it. We generated Elovl4 Y270X mutant mice and characterized the homozygous mutant as well as homozygous Elovl4 knockout mice in order to better understand the function or role of Elovl4.