Improving visual prognosis of the diabetic patients during the past 30 years based on the data of the Finnish Register of Visual Impairment.

Purpose: To evaluate changes in visual impairment (VI) due to diabetic retinopathy (DR) recorded in the Finnish Register of Visual Impairment (RVI) during the past 30 years.

Methods: Data from the visually impaired diabetic persons included in the RVI were analysed using three 10-year cohorts (1982-90, 1991-2000, 2001-10). Information on the age at the time of the first VI registration, severity of VI determined according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) definition, and the age at death was collected.

Extracellular superoxide dismutase induces mouse embryonic fibroblast proliferative burst, growth arrest, immortalization, and consequent in vivo tumorigenesis.

Aims: Rat sarcoma virus (RAS)-induced tumorigenesis has been suggested to follow a three-stage model consisting of an initial RAS activation, senescence induction, and evasion of p53-dependent senescence checkpoints. While reactive oxygen species act as second messengers in RAS-induced senescence, they are also involved in oncogenic transformation by inducing proliferation and promoting mutations. In the current work, we investigated the role of extracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD3) in RAS-induced senescence and immortalization in vitro and in vivo.

Sexually dimorphic effects of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibition on dopamine metabolism in multiple brain regions.

The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme metabolises catecholamines. COMT inhibitors are licensed for the adjunctive treatment of Parkinson's disease and are attractive therapeutic candidates for other neuropsychiatric conditions. COMT regulates dopamine levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) but plays a lesser role in the striatum.

Brief report: Mesenchymal stromal cell atrophy in coculture increases aggressiveness of transformed cells.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are able to influence the growth abilities of transformed cells. Here, we show that papillary thyroid cancer TPC1 and HEK 293T cells interact physically with human primary bone marrow-derived MSCs followed by evanescence of MSC cytoplasm. Interestingly, transformed cells were able to connect only to apoptotic MSCs that had lost their migration ability, whereas naïve MSCs avoided the direct contact.

Modulation of hippocampal dopamine metabolism and hippocampal-dependent cognitive function by catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibition.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) catabolises the catecholamine neurotransmitters and influences cognitive function. COMT modulates dopamine levels in the prefrontal cortex and its action in this region is generally invoked to explain its effects on cognition. However, its role in other brain regions important for cognitive function remains largely unexplored.

SOD3 decreases ischemic injury derived apoptosis through phosphorylation of Erk1/2, Akt, and FoxO3a.

Background: Extracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD3), which dismutates superoxide anion to hydrogen peroxide, has been shown to reduce the free radical stress derived apoptosis in tissue injuries. Since both superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide have a marked impact on signal transduction pathways and could potentially explain a number of apoptosis and survival -related phenomena in different pathological conditions, we clarified the impact of SOD3 on Akt and Erk1/2 cell survival pathways in rat hind limb injury model.

Methodology And Principal Findings: Based on our data, the hind limb ischemic rats treated with virally delivered sod3 have milder injury and less apoptosis than control animals that could be due to parallel activation of pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic Erk1/2 and Akt pathways.

Human brain weight is correlated with expression of the 'housekeeping genes' beta-2-microglobulin (β2M) and TATA-binding protein (TBP).

Aims: Many variables affect mRNA measurements in post mortem human brain tissue. Brain weight has not hitherto been considered to be such a factor. This study examined whether there is any relationship between brain weight and mRNA abundance.

Extracellular superoxide dismutase is a thyroid differentiation marker down-regulated in cancer.

Reactive oxygen species, specifically hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), have a significant role in hormone production in thyroid tissue. Although recent studies have demonstrated that dual oxidases are responsible for the H(2)O(2) synthesis needed in thyroid hormone production, our data suggest a pivotal role for superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD3) as a major H(2)O(2)-producing enzyme. According to our results, Sod3 is highly expressed in normal thyroid, and becomes even more abundant in rat goiter models.

Prevalence of major eye diseases and causes of visual impairment in the adult Finnish population: a nationwide population-based survey.

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of cataract, glaucoma, age-related maculopathy (ARM) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in the adult Finnish population.

Methods: A representative cross-sectional sample of the Finnish population aged 30 years and older. Of the 7979 eligible people, 7413 (93%) were interviewed and/or examined.

Human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal stromal cell transplantation in a rat hind limb injury model.

Background Aims: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have been used in a wide variety of pre-clinical experiments and in an increasing number of human clinical trials. Although many of these studies have shown different levels of engraftment, the exact fate of MSC after transplantation and the tissue response to their engraftment have not been investigated in detail. In the present work we studied the distribution of human MSC in a rat hind limb ischemic injury model immediately after transplantation and also analyzed the recipient tissue response to transplanted cells.

The decline in visual acuity in elderly people with healthy eyes or eyes with early age-related maculopathy in two Scandinavian population samples.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyse the decline in visual acuity (VA) during normal ageing in two Scandinavian population samples of subjects aged ≥ 70 years and to study the age-specific decline in VA in eyes with early age-related maculopathy (ARM).

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional analysis of data pertaining to VA in the better eye in one population sample from Oulu (OU), Finland (aged 70-82 years) and a second population sample from Gothenburg (GG), Sweden (aged 82 or 88 years). The change in VA with age was evaluated in healthy eyes (OU, n = 119; GG, n = 40) and in eyes with early ARM (OU-ARM, n = 22; GG-ARM, n = 114) using linear regression or logistic regression.

SOD3 reduces inflammatory cell migration by regulating adhesion molecule and cytokine expression.

Inflammatory cell migration characteristic of ischemic damages has a dual role providing the tissue with factors needed for tissue injury recovery simultaneously causing deleterious development depending on the quality and the quantity of infiltrated cells. Extracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD3) has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory role in ischemic injuries where it increases the recovery process by activating mitogen signal transduction and increasing cell proliferation. However, SOD3 derived effects on inflammatory cytokine and adhesion molecule expression, which would explain reduced inflammation in vascular lesions, has not been properly characterized.

Extracellular superoxide dismutase is a growth regulatory mediator of tissue injury recovery.

Extracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD3) gene therapy has been shown to attenuate tissue damages and to improve the recovery of the tissue injuries, but the cellular events delivering the therapeutic response of the enzyme are not well defined. In the current work, we overexpressed SOD3 in rat hindlimb ischemia model to study the signal transduction and injury healing following the sod3 gene transfer. The data suggest a novel sod3 gene transfer-derived signal transduction cascade through Ras-Mek-Erk mitogenic pathway leading to activation of AP1 and CRE transcription factors, increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and cyclin D1 expression, increased cell proliferation, and consequently improved metabolic functionality of the injured tissue.

Use of eye care services and need for assistance in the visually impaired.

Purpose: To assess the use of eye care services and unmet need for assistance in visually impaired people.

Methods: Cross-sectional population-based survey on a sample representing the Finnish population aged 30 years and older. Of the 7979 eligible people, 6645 (83.

Mice with targeted Slc4a10 gene disruption have small brain ventricles and show reduced neuronal excitability.

Members of the SLC4 bicarbonate transporter family are involved in solute transport and pH homeostasis. Here we report that disrupting the Slc4a10 gene, which encodes the Na(+)-coupled Cl(-)-HCO(3)(-) exchanger Slc4a10 (NCBE), drastically reduces brain ventricle volume and protects against fatal epileptic seizures in mice. In choroid plexus epithelial cells, Slc4a10 localizes to the basolateral membrane.

The association between visual acuity and functional limitations: findings from a nationally representative population survey.

Purpose: To determine the independent effect of visual acuity on individual activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and mobility.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey on a sample representing the Finnish population aged 55 years and above. Of the 3392 eligible people, 3185 (93.

Effect of fenofibrate on the need for laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy (FIELD study): a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy is often associated with visual field reduction and other ocular side-effects. Our aim was to assess whether long-term lipid-lowering therapy with fenofibrate could reduce the progression of retinopathy and the need for laser treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: The Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) study was a multinational randomised trial of 9795 patients aged 50-75 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Repeatability (test-retest variability) of refractive error measurement in clinical settings.

Purpose: To estimate the repeatability of refractive error measurement (REM) in a clinical environment in cataractous, pseudophakic and healthy eyes.

Methods: The refractive error of patients referred for cataract surgery or consultation measured by ophthalmic professionals was re-examined and the measurement results were compared. A total of 99 eyes from 99 persons (41 cataractous, 36 pseudophakic and 22 healthy eyes) with visual acuity (VA) of 0.

A nationwide population-based survey on visual acuity, near vision, and self-reported visual function in the adult population in Finland.

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence rates of habitual visual acuity (VA) levels and visual impairment in Finland and to assess their correlation with self-reported visual function.

Design: Cross-sectional population-based study.

Participants: Subjects were selected randomly from the Finnish population aged 30 years or older.

Phacoemulsification in trabeculectomized eyes.

Purpose: To evaluate retrospectively risk indicators for cataract surgery and the effect of phacoemulsification on intraocular pressure (IOP) control in eyes that have undergone trabeculectomy.

Methods: We undertook a retrospective analysis of 138 eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or exfoliation glaucoma (EG) in 138 consecutive patients over the age of 40 years undergoing trabeculectomy with no antimetabolites performed by one surgeon. Of the 48 eyes (35%) undergoing a cataract operation during the follow-up period of 2-5 years, 46 were included in this analysis.

Random measurement error in visual acuity measurement in clinical settings.

Purpose: To estimate the random measurement error in visual acuity (VA) determination in the clinical environment in cataractous, pseudophakic and healthy eyes.

Methods: The VAs of patients referred for cataract surgery or consultation by ophthalmic professionals were re-examined and the VA results for distance using projector acuity charts were compared. Refractive errors were also remeasured.

Traumatic cataract and other adverse events with the implantable contact lens.

Purpose: To evaluate the surgical outcome and adverse events associated with implantation of the implantable contact lens (ICL) for the correction of high myopia or high hyperopia.

Setting: Helsinki University Eye Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Methods: In this nonrandomized prospective clinical trial, the ICL V4 was implanted in 26 eyes of 13 patients with normal enrollment criteria (younger than 45 years, a clinically clear crystalline lens) (Group 1) and the V2, V3, or V4 were implanted in 38 eyes of 22 patients with heterogeneous criteria (older than 45 years or opacities in the crystalline lens) (Group 2).

Strontium plaque brachytherapy for exudative age-related macular degeneration: three-year results of a randomized study.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of strontium plaque (Sr90) brachytherapy for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

Design: Randomized clinical trial.

Participants: Eighty-eight eyes of 86 patients with subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD were randomized either to plaque radiotherapy or to observation.