High-mobility group box-1 induces decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor-mediated neuroprotection in the diabetic retina.

To test the hypothesis that brain-derived neurotrophic factor-(BDNF-) mediated neuroprotection is reduced by high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) in diabetic retina, paired vitreous and serum samples from 46 proliferative diabetic retinopathy and 34 nondiabetic patients were assayed for BDNF, HMGB1, soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and TBARS. We also examined retinas of diabetic and HMGB1 intravitreally injected rats. The effect of the HMGB1 inhibitor glycyrrhizin on diabetes-induced changes in retinal BDNF expressions was studied.

Long-term clinical outcomes in patients with refractory uveitis associated with Behçet disease treated with infliximab.

Purpose: To assess long-term efficacy and safety of infliximab for refractory Behçet disease (BD) uveitis and to evaluate the effect of withdrawal of infliximab after achieving long-term remission.

Methods: Retrospective study of 19 patients.

Results: Mean follow-up was 44.

Angiogenic and vasculogenic factors in the vitreous from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

This study was conducted to determine levels of angiogenic and endothelial progenitor cell mobilizing (vasculogenic) factors in vitreous fluid from proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) patients and correlate their levels with clinical disease activity. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (sVEGFR-2), stem cell factor (SCF), soluble c-kit (s-kit), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels were measured by ELISA in vitreous samples from 34 PDR and 15 nondiabetic patients. eNOS was not detected.

Prognostic factors for clinical outcomes in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease treated with high-dose corticosteroids.

Purpose: To determine prognostic factors in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease who were treated with high-dose corticosteroids.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 87 patients (174 eyes).

Results: At presentation, there were 53 patients with initial-onset acute VKH disease and 34 patients with chronic recurrent VKH disease.

Autocrine CCL2, CXCL4, CXCL9 and CXCL10 signal in retinal endothelial cells and are enhanced in diabetic retinopathy.

This study aimed at examining the presence and role of chemokines (angiogenic CCL2/MCP-1 and angiostatic CXCL4/PF-4, CXCL9/Mig, CXCL10/IP-10) in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Regulated chemokine production in human retinal microvascular cells (HRMEC) and chemokine levels in vitreous samples from 40 PDR and 29 non-diabetic patients were analyzed. MCP-1, PF-4, Mig, IP-10 and VEGF levels in vitreous fluid from PDR patients were significantly higher than in controls.

High-mobility group box-1 and endothelial cell angiogenic markers in the vitreous from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

The aim of this study was to measure the levels of high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) in the vitreous fluid from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and to correlate its levels with clinical disease activity and the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the angiogenic cytokine granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), the endothelial cell angiogenic markers soluble vascular endothelial-cadherin (sVE-cadherin), and soluble endoglin (sEng). Vitreous samples from 36 PDR and 21 nondiabetic patients were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HMGB1, VEGF, sVE-cadherin, and sEng levels were significantly higher in PDR patients than in nondiabetics (P = 0.

Osteopontin and other regulators of angiogenesis and fibrogenesis in the vitreous from patients with proliferative vitreoretinal disorders.

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of the angiogenic and fibrogenic factors osteopontin (OPN), high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1), and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and the antiangiogenic and antifibrogenic pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in the vitreous fluid from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with no PVR (RD). Vitreous samples from 48 PDR, 17 PVR and 30 RD patients were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. OPN, HMGB1, CTGF, and PEDF levels were significantly higher in PDR patients than in RD patients (P < 0.

The outcomes of mycophenolate mofetil therapy combined with systemic corticosteroids in acute uveitis associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

Purpose: To study the effectiveness of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as first-line therapy combined with systemic corticosteroids in acute uveitis associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. The outcomes in this group were compared with those of another group of patients with VKH disease who were treated with corticosteroid monotherapy or with delayed addition of immunomodulatory therapy.

Methods: This prospective study included 19 patients (38 eyes) diagnosed with acute uveitis associated with VKH disease.

Expression of lysophosphatidic acid, autotaxin and acylglycerol kinase as biomarkers in diabetic retinopathy.

The proinflammatory lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a potent activator of several transcriptional factors and signaling pathways and a potent modulator of genes involved in inflammation, angiogenesis and fibrosis. This study was conducted to measure the levels of LPA and LPA-producing enzymes, autotaxin (ATX) and acylglycerol kinase (AGK) in the vitreous fluid from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and to correlate their levels with clinical disease activity and the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In addition, we examined the expression of ATX, AGK and VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) in the retinas of diabetic rats.

Cytokine and CXC chemokine expression patterns in aqueous humor of patients with presumed tuberculous uveitis.

Aqueous humor (AH) samples from 14 patients with presumed tuberculous uveitis (PTU), and 30 control patients were assayed for the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin IL-4, IL-12, IL-15, IL-17, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10, and the chemokines GRO-α/CXCL1, IL-8/CXCL8, MIG/CXCL9, IP-10/CXCL10 and SDF-1/CXCL12 with the use of a multiplex assay. Among cytokines, IL-4 and IL-12 were not detected. IL-15, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-10 levels in AH were significantly higher in patients than in controls (p<0.

Angiogenesis regulatory factors in the vitreous from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

We determined the levels of the endogenous angiogenesis inhibitors soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1), thrombospondin (TSP)-1 and TSP-2 in the vitreous fluid from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and correlated their levels with clinical disease activity and the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Vitreous samples from 30 PDR and 25 nondiabetic patients were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. TSP-1 was not detected.

Retinal functional changes measured by microperimetry after immunosuppressive therapy in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

To evaluate the effect of immunosuppressive therapy on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fixation stability, and central retinal sensitivity in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease in the acute uveitic phase. Methods. In this prospective study, 14 patients (28 eyes) were evaluated.

High-mobility group box-1 and biomarkers of inflammation in the vitreous from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: To measure levels of high-mobility group box -1 (HMGB1) and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) in the vitreous fluid from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and to correlate their levels with clinical disease activity and the levels of the inflammatory biomarkers monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). In addition, we examined the expression of HMGB1 in the retinas of diabetic mice.

Methods: Vitreous samples from 29 PDR and 17 nondiabetic patients were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

CXC chemokine expression profiles in aqueous humor of patients with different clinical entities of endogenous uveitis.

Aqueous humor (AH) samples from patients with Behçet's disease (BD) (n=29), Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease (n=21), and HLA-B27-associated uveitis (n=8), and 42 control patients were assayed for the neutrophil chemoattractants CXCL1/GRO-α and CXCL8/IL-8 and the lymphocyte chemoattractants CXCL9/MIG, CXCL10/IP-10 and CXCL12/SDF-1 with the use of a multiplex chemokine assay. Chemokine levels except SDF-1 were significantly higher in the 3 disease groups than in normal controls. Considering all patients, mean GRO-α levels were 15-fold higher than IL-8 levels and mean IP-10 levels were 22-fold higher than MIG levels.

Cytokine profiles in aqueous humor of patients with different clinical entities of endogenous uveitis.

We assayed aqueous humor (AH) samples from patients with Behçet's disease (BD), Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease, and HLA-B27-associated uveitis and control patients for the proinflammatory cytokines IL-15, IL-17, interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α and the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10. Cytokine levels were significantly higher in the three disease groups than in controls. In patients with similar disease activity, levels of IL-15 and IFN-γ were significantly higher in BD patients than in VKH and HLA-B27-associated uveitis groups.

Comparison of central corneal thickness measurements using Pentacam and ultrasonic pachymetry in post-LASIK eyes for myopia.

Purpose: To compare central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements obtained using the Pentacam Scheimpflug system with those obtained using DGH ultrasound pachymetry (UP) in post-laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) eyes for myopia.

Methods: In a prospective study, measurement agreement was assessed in 143 eyes of 72 post-LASIK patients using both the Pentacam and UP at the Eye Consultants Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Results: The mean CCT was 522 +/- 42.

Patterns of uveitis in patients admitted to a University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: To analyze clinical patterns, causes, and systemic disease associations among patients with uveitis admitted to King Abdulaziz University Hospital.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 351 patients (600 eyes).

Results: The study subjects consisted of 183 (52.

Microbiology and visual outcome of bleb-associated endophthalmitis.

Purpose: To identify the microbiological spectrum and visual outcome of bleb-associated endophthalmitis.

Methods: The medical records of patients treated for bleb-associated endophthalmitis were reviewed.

Results: Seventy-five patients were identified.

Risk factors for culture-positive endophthalmitis after repair of open globe injuries.

Purpose: To identify risk factors for the development of culture-positive endophthalmitis after repair of open globe injuries.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 629 consecutive patients with open globe injuries admitted to King Abdulaziz University Hospital between May 1996 and January 2008.

Results: Endophthalmitis developed in 12 (1.

Acute-onset nosocomial endophthalmitis after cataract surgery: incidence, clinical features, causative organisms, and visual outcomes.

Purpose: To estimate the incidence of acute-onset endophthalmitis after cataract surgery and to report its clinical features, microbiology, and final visual outcomes.

Setting: King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational case series.

Prognostic factors after primary vitrectomy and perfluorocarbon liquids for bullous rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Purpose: To identify prognostic factors for visual acuity and anatomic outcomes associated with bullous rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) management using primary pars plana vitrectomy, intraoperative perfluorocarbon liquids (PFCLs), and internal gas tamponade.

Methods: The authors studied a consecutive series of 115 eyes (115 patients) with a bullous RRD not complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) associated with large, multiple, and/or posterior breaks in 58 (50.4%) eyes.

Full preoperative panretinal photocoagulation improves the outcome of trabeculectomy with mitomycin C for neovascular glaucoma.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of full panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) followed by trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (MMC) in the management of eyes with neovascular glaucoma (NVG).

Methods: This study is based on 30 consecutive eyes of 27 patients with NVG who underwent full PRP followed by trabeculectomy with MMC. NVG was secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (23 eyes) and central retinal vein occlusion (7 eyes).

The relationship between central corneal thickness and degree of myopia among Saudi adults.

Purpose: To determine the relationship between central corneal thickness (CCT) and myopia among Saudi adults.

Methods: In a prospective study, the CCT of 982 myopic eyes and 158 emmetropic eyes as a control group was measured using ultrasound pachymetry at the Eye Consultants Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Result: The mean myopic spherical equivalent (SE) was -3.

Prognostic factors associated with outcomes after giant retinal tear management using perfluorocarbon liquids.

Purpose: To identify prognostic factors for visual acuity and anatomic outcomes associated with giant retinal tear management using intraoperative perfluorocarbon liquids.

Methods: All patients with giant retinal tears without proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) who underwent management with intraoperative perfluorocarbon liquids between 1994 and 2005 were reviewed.

Results: The study included 115 patients (117 eyes), 93 (80.