The effect of aging on the antioxidative activity of astaxanthin in human aqueous humor.

We previously evaluated the antioxidative effects of astaxanthin intake in the aqueous humor by measuring reactive oxygen species-related parameters, including O scavenging activity, HO level, and total hydroperoxides level. In this study, we analyzed the antioxidative effects of astaxanthin in relation to age in 16 males and 19 females (average age 71.3 and 70.

Effects of astaxanthin on VEGF level and antioxidation in human aqueous humor: difference by sex.

In our previous report, we showed the effect of astaxanthin intake on VEGF level in the aqueous humor and the relationship between VEGF level and reactive oxygen species-related parameters and other relevant factors. VEGF level is associated with total hydroperoxide level, and a multivariate analysis identified sex as a secondary factor affecting these relationships. Here, we analyzed the effects of astaxanthin on the relationship between VEGF level and reactive oxygen species-related parameters by sex.

Gender differences in mRNA expression of aquaporin 8 and glutathione peroxidase in cataractous lens following intake of an antioxidant supplement.

Antioxidants can decrease oxidative damage and prevent age-related ocular disease. Our previous investigation on human aqueous humor following intake of a lutein-containing antioxidant supplement reported an increase in the scavenging activity of superoxide in both genders and an increase in the amount of hydrogen peroxide (HO) in females. Aquaporin 8 (AQP8) is a diffusion facilitator of HO and glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) is a HO scavenging enzyme.

Refractive changes after lens-sparing vitrectomy for macular hole and epiretinal membrane.

Purpose: Cataract progression after lens-sparing vitrectomy might differ according to original posterior segment diseases. Our objective was to analyze the refractive values after lens-sparing vitrectomy for macular hole (MH) and epiretinal membrane (ERM).

Materials And Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 25 MH patients (25 eyes) and 23 ERM patients (23 eyes) who underwent lens-sparing vitrectomy.

Evaluating the Biostability of Yellow and Clear Intraocular Lenses with a System Simulating Natural Intraocular Environment.

Purpose: Blue light-filtering intraocular lenses (IOLs) are thought to protect the retina from blue light damage after cataract surgery, and the implantation of yellow-tinted IOLs has been commonly used in cataract surgery. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation measuring the long-term biostability of yellow-tinted IOLs using an in vitro system simulating natural intraocular environment.

Methods: Six hydrophobic acrylic IOLs, three clear IOLs, and three yellow-tinted IOLs were included in the study.

The effect of astaxanthin on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels and peroxidation reactions in the aqueous humor.

We explored the effect of astaxanthin on vascular endothelial growth factor in the aqueous humor, by measuring vascular endothelial growth factor levels and oxidation-related parameters, including O2 (•-) scavenging activity, H2O2 level, and total hydroperoxide level in the aqueous humor, obtained from 35 patients before and after astaxanthin administration. We evaluated the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor and the oxidation-related parameters as well as the patient's diabetic status, age, and sex. Vascular endothelial growth factor levels did not change significantly but O2 (•-) scavenging activity and total hydroperoxide level significantly (p<0.

Vitrectomy in patients over 90 years of age.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate vitrectomy procedures performed in patients over 90 years of age at the Dokkyo Medical University Koshigaya Hospital (Koshigaya, Japan).

Patients And Methods: Vitrectomies were performed in nine eyes of nine patients who were over 90 years of age between May 2010 and March 2015. Factors such as the underlying vitreoretinal disease, preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), surgical time, postoperative body position, need for a second surgery, systemic disease, and intraoperative changes in systemic conditions have been evaluated.

[Study of free radicals in aqueous humor in glaucoma and cataracts: differences in presence or absence of diabetes mellitus and neovascular glaucoma].

Purpose: This study was conducted for the purpose of comparing differences in the types of free radicals in the aqueous humor of glaucoma and cataract patients.

Subjects And Methods: Free radicals in the aqueous humor of 44 glaucoma eyes and 15 cataract eyes were measured by electron spin resonance (ESR), followed by comparing the detection rates. In addition, subgroup analyses were also conducted for the presence or absence of complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) and neovascular glaucoma (NVG) in the patients.

The gender-differentiated antioxidant effects of a lutein-containing supplement in the aqueous humor of patients with senile cataracts.

Antioxidant supplements are expected to decrease oxidative damage and prevent ocular diseases. In this study, changes in the anti-oxidative ability and oxidative status in the aqueous humor before and after intake of a lutein-containing supplement were measured. Forty patients who all had identical grades of cataracts in both eyes were included.

Effects of astaxanthin on antioxidation in human aqueous humor.

We evaluated the antioxidative effects of astaxanthin through the changes in superoxide scavenging activity, levels of hydrogen peroxide and total hydroperoxides in human aqueous humor. The study subjects were 35 patients who underwent bilateral cataract surgery on one side before and the other side after intake of astaxanthin (6 mg/day for 2 weeks). Their aqueous humor was taken during the surgery and subjected to measurements of the three parameters.

Lens dislocation has a possible relationship with laser iridotomy.

We report our recent experience of four eyes with spontaneous lens dislocation in four patients with no history of trauma or any systemic disease associated with zonular dialysis. Lens dislocation developed with 0.5 to 6 months following laser iridotomy.

A case of radial keratoneuritis in non-Acanthamoeba keratitis.

A case of non-Acanthamoeba keratitis with radial keratoneuritis, which is thought to be pathognomonic for Acanthamoeba keratitis, is reported. A healthy 32-year-old woman with a history of frequent replacement of her contact lenses due to wear was examined at Dokkyo Medical University Koshigaya Hospital (Saitama, Japan) and found to have a slight corneal opacity that was accompanied by radial keratoneuritis. Based on both the patient's clinical findings and past history, the presence of Acanthamoeba keratitis was highly suspected.

Four cases of endophthalmitis after 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy.

We report our recent experience with four cases of endophthalmitis (one male, three females) after 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). One was a case of persistent cystoid macular edema caused by branch retinal vein occlusion, whereas the remaining three were cases of epiretinal membrane. Preoperative antibiotics before the first PPV procedure were not administered in three of the four cases.

Cataract surgery in patients older than 90 years of age.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine whether differences exist after cataract surgery is performed in patients over and under 90 years of age.

Study Design: Retrospective, nonrandomized study.

Participants: Cataract surgery was performed in 21 patients (31 eyes) who were older than 90 years of age and in 45 patients (70 eyes) who were younger than 90 years of age.

Case of bilateral complete posterior dislocation of lens caused by elder abuse.

We report a case of bilateral complete dislocation of lenses into the vitreous cavities due to elder abuse in a patient with senile dementia. According to the patient's son, bilateral complete lens dislocation occurred after he hit his father in the head with socks in order to control his violent behavior. Although the patient was taken to our ophthalmological ward for a planned vitrectomy, restlessness and inability to remain in his room during the night led to his leaving the hospital.

Effects of antioxidant supplementation on mRNA expression of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, β-actin and 18S rRNA in the anterior capsule of the lens in cataract patients.

This was a preliminary study of the effects of antioxidant supplementation on the peroxidation status of the lens by investigating mRNA expression of anti-oxidative enzymes in the lens. The mRNA expression levels of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), β-actin (β-ACT) and 18S rRNA (18S) were measured in this study because they are common reference genes for measuring mRNA levels by means of a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in various tissues. Thirteen patients with binocular cataracts of the same grade were included in the study after giving informed consent.

Four cases of traumatic hypotony maculopathy treated by various methods.

Several reports have been published on methods for treating hypotony maculopathy. Currently, the preferred choice of treatment depends on the severity of the illness. We experienced four cases of traumatic hypotony maculopathy and treated them by various methods.

Use of pars plana vitrectomy with phacoemulsification in vitreous cavity to treat complete posterior dislocation of lens.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with phacoemulsification in the vitreous cavity for treatment of complete posterior dislocation of the lens without any damage to the lens capsule.

Methods: We evaluated factors such as cause of dislocation, scleral fixation of an intraocular lens (IOL), preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, corneal endothelial cell density, and intraoperative and postoperative complications.

Results: Displacement in the eleven eyes studied was mostly caused by ocular trauma and was idiopathic (four eyes each).

Scleral fixation of foldable acrylic intraocular lenses in aphakic post-vitrectomy eyes.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome for scleral fixation of a foldable acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) in aphakic post-pars plana vitrectomy eyes for vitreoretinal disease.

Methods: The medical records of 15 patients were reviewed. We evaluated such factors as the underlying vitreoretinal disease, preoperative expected refraction and postoperative actual refraction, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), corneal endothelial cell density, and intraoperative and postoperative complications.

Relationship between Pentosidine and Pyridinoline Levels in Human Diabetic Cataract Lenses.

The relationship between the levels of two different crosslink compounds, pentosidine and pyridinoline, in human diabetic cataract lenses was investigated to elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of diabetic cataract. Subjects were classified into diabetes mellitus (DM) group and non-DM group according to the presence or absence of DM. The levels of the crosslink compounds were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography and spectrofluorometry after acid hydrolysis.

A retrospective study of nine cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical features of Acanthamoeba keratitis in nine patients diagnosed at Dokkyo Medical University Koshigaya Hospital, Saitama, Japan.

Methods: In nine eyes of nine patients, Acanthamoeba keratitis was diagnosed by direct light microscopy of corneal scrapings stained by the Parker ink-potassium hydroxide method between September 2006 and September 2009. Their clinical features and course were studied retrospectively.

Photorefractive keratectomy: measuring the matrix metalloproteinase activity and chondroitin sulfate concentration in tear fluid.

We herein report the case of a 20-year-old man who underwent a photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). We measured matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity and chondroitin 4 sulfate and chondroitin 6 sulfate concentrations in tear fluid. Tear fluid was collected pre-operatively via microcapillary tube, and was collected postoperatively on the first and fourth days, and after one week, one month, three months, and six months.

A case of iridoschisis associated with lens displacement into the vitreous cavity.

We report the case of a 67-year-old woman with a lens that was displaced into the vitreous cavity in one eye and ipsilateral iridoschisis. She was free from a history of ocular trauma or of heritable ocular disease. Her best-corrected visual acuity was 1.

Ultraviolet B exposure and type of lens opacity in ophthalmic patients in Japan.

Over the course of an individual's lifetime, lens fiber cells proliferate and differentiate to form various parts of the lens. The specific pathogenic effects of ultraviolet B radiation (UVB), one of the major causes of cataracts, may differ depending upon the particular part of the lens. In this study, the association of UVB exposure with specific types of lens opacity was investigated in relation to lifetime cumulative exposure, and was confirmed by subjects' ages at exposure.

Levels of mature cross-links and advanced glycation end product cross-links in human vitreous.

Purpose: To determine the levels of pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline, two mature enzymatic cross-links, and pentosidine, an advanced glycation end product (AGE) cross-link, in the human vitreous, and to investigate the correlations among the cross-links and the effects of aging and diabetes mellitus (DM) on the levels of cross-links.

Methods: Forty-five vitreous samples were collected from 32 patients (32 eyes) undergoing vitrectomy for diabetic retinopathy (DM group) and from 13 patients (13 eyes) (control group) who were age- and sex-matched patients with idiopathic macular hole or epiretinal membrane with no systemic conditions. The levels of the cross-links were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography after acid hydrolysis and pretreatment with SP-Sephadex.