Comparative efficacy of conservative, hyperbaric oxygen, and endovascular retinal surgery approaches in central retinal artery occlusion.

Purpose: To assess and compare the efficacy of three treatment modalities for central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO): conservative therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), and endovascular retinal surgery (ERS).

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the cases of CRAO patients treated at the Toyama University Hospital. Their age range was 44-87 years; a balanced gender distribution was observed.

Graft survival of major histocompatibility complex deficient stem cell-derived retinal cells.

Background: Gene editing of immunomodulating molecules is a potential transplantation strategy to control immune rejection. As we noticed the successful transplantation of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) derived from embryonic stem cells of a cynomolgus monkey that accidentally lacked MHC class II (MHC-II) molecules, we hypothesized immune rejection could be evaded by suppressing MHC-II.

Methods: Gene editing by the Crispr/Cas9 system was performed in induced pluripotent stem cells derived from a cynomolgus monkey (miPSCs) for targeted deletion of the gene coding class II MHC trans-activator (CIITA).

Switching to brolucizumab from aflibercept in age-related macular degeneration with type 1 macular neovascularization and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: an 18-month follow-up study.

Purpose: To assess the effect of switching to brolucizumab from aflibercept on eyes with type 1 macular neovascularization (MNV) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) at 18 months.

Methods: This study was a retrospective, observational case series that included 19 eyes of 19 patients with type 1MNV and 23 eyes of 22 patients with PCV. We compared the injection intervals, visual acuity, total lesion size, and the number of polypoidal lesions between baseline and 18 months.

A ROCK Inhibitor Promotes Graft Survival during Transplantation of iPS-Cell-Derived Retinal Cells.

Currently, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) transplantation includes sheet and single-cell transplantation, the latter of which includes cell death and may be highly immunogenic, and there are some issues to be improved in single-cell transplantation. Y-27632 is an inhibitor of Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK), the downstream kinase of Rho. We herein investigated the effect of Y-27632 in vitro on retinal pigment epithelium derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS-RPE cells), and also its effects in vivo on the transplantation of iPS-RPE cell suspensions.

Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) Cells Suppress or Activate T Cells via Costimulatory Signals.

Human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have immunosuppressive properties. However, RPE cells are also known as immunogenic cells, and they have major histocompatibility complex expression and produce inflammatory proteins, and thus experience immune rejection after transplantation. In this study, to confirm the immunological properties of IPS-RPE cells, we examined whether human RPE cells derived from iPS cells could suppress or stimulate inflammatory T cells from uveitis patients via costimulatory signals.

A Strategy for Personalized Treatment of iPS-Retinal Immune Rejections Assessed in Cynomolgus Monkey Models.

Recently, we successfully transplanted an autograft, or major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-matched allografts, from induced-pluripotent-stem-cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial (iPSC-RPE) cells in patients with age-related macular degeneration. However, there was an issue regarding immune rejection after transplantation. In this study, we established a preoperational in vitro "drug-lymphocytes-grafts immune reaction (Drug-LGIR)" test to determine the medication for immune rejection using host immunocompetent cells (lymphocytes) and transplant cells (target iPSC-RPE cells) together with different medications.

Short-term results of endovascular surgery with tissue plasminogen activator injection for central retinal vein occlusion.

Purpose: To examine the effects of retinal endovascular surgery (REVS) with tissue plasminogen activator injection into the retinal vein in central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) eyes.

Methods: Sixteen consecutive CRVO patients with macular edema and decreased visual acuity who were referred to Toyama University Hospital between March 2014 and February 2016 were included in this study. Changes in visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were evaluated up to 6 months after REVS.

The Fluctuation of Intraocular Pressure Measured by a Contact Lens Sensor in Normal-Tension Glaucoma Patients and Nonglaucoma Subjects.

Purpose: We compared the fluctuation of intraocular pressure (IOP) in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) patients and individuals with nonglaucoma eyes. We obtained continuous IOP values using a SENSIMED Triggerfish contact lens sensor.

Materials And Methods: The eyes of 12 nonglaucoma subjects and 14 NTG patients were examined.

Microperimetric Biofeedback Training Improved Visual Acuity after Successful Macular Hole Surgery.

Purpose. To evaluate the efficacy of setting a preferred retinal locus relocation target (PRT) and performing Macular Integrity Assessment (MAIA) biofeedback training in patients showing insufficient recovery of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) despite successful closure of an idiopathic macular hole (MH). Methods.

Impact of obesity on musculoskeletal pain and difficulty of daily movements in Japanese middle-aged women.

Objective: To investigate the impact of obesity on musculoskeletal pain and disability, which impairs well-being, associations between body mass index (BMI), frequency of musculoskeletal pain and difficulty of daily movements were assessed in middle-aged women.

Methods: Subjects were 709 Japanese women in a community, aged 40-69. Measured BMI, current smoking habits, frequency of pain (pain score)(rarely (0), occasionally (1) or frequently (2)) during the last 1 month at shoulders, neck, upper back, lower back and legs, difficulty of three daily movements: walking continually for more than a half hour, climbing stairs and sitting on the floor with one's legs bent beneath one another, (score for each movement) (rarely (0), occasionally (1) or frequently (2)) by a questionnaire.