Improvements of Retinal Sensitivity after Intravitreal Injection of Aflibercept in Eyes with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration with or without Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy.

Purpose: We aim to determine the effects of intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) on the mean sensitivity (MS) of the central retina, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and central foveal thickness (CFT) in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) with or without polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

Methods: This was a prospective, interventional study. All eyes were treatment-naive with nAMD with or without PCV.

Surgical outcomes of vitrectomy for breakthrough vitreous hemorrhage in eyes with exudative age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To report the outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy in cases with breakthrough vitreous hemorrhage (VH) secondary to exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. We also investigated the relationship between the preoperative b-mode ultrasonographic findings and the postoperative visual acuity to determine if the ultrasonographic findings can predict the surgical outcome after pars plana vitrectomy.

Methods: This was a retrospective, interventional, case series.

Long-Term Effects of Half-Time Photodynamic Therapy on Retinal Sensitivity in Eyes with Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of half-time photodynamic therapy (PDT) on the retinal sensitivity in eyes with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Twenty-two eyes of 22 patients with chronic CSC were studied. PDT was applied with full-dose verteporfin and half-time laser duration.

Acute Posterior Multifocal Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy Sharing Characteristic OCT Findings of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease.

A 17-year-old male presented with acute bilateral paracentral scotomata and blurred vision. Funduscopic examination showed bilateral macular serous retinal detachment and yellow-white placoid lesions at the level of retinal pigment epithelium. OCT study showed typical VKH disease findings with marked choroidal thickening and macular serous retinal detachment partly with subretinal septa in both eyes.

Different fixation targets affect retinal sensitivity obtained by microperimetry in normal individuals.

Purpose: To determine the differences in the retinal sensitivities obtained by microperimetry with a single cross or a circular fixation target in normal individuals.

Methods: Thirty-two eyes of 16 healthy volunteers (mean age 28.9±1.

Changes in subfoveal choroidal thickness and reduction of serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with POEMS syndrome.

Aims: To determine the changes in the subfoveal choroidal thickness (CT), the foveal thickness (FT) and the serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) after thalidomide treatment in patients with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome.

Methods: We studied 13 left eyes of 13 treatment-naïve patients with POEMS syndrome. The subfoveal CT and FT were determined by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography, and the serum level of VEGF was determined by ELISA at the baseline and at 6 months after thalidomide treatment.

Transcriptional repression of p27 is essential for murine embryonic development.

The Nczf gene has been identified as one of Ncx target genes and encodes a novel KRAB zinc-finger protein, which functions as a sequence specific transcriptional repressor. In order to elucidate Nczf functions, we generated Nczf knockout (Nczf-/-) mice. Nczf-/- mice died around embryonic day 8.

Correlation between peripapillary retinal thickness and serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with POEMS syndrome.

Aims: To determine whether there is a significant correlation between the peripapillary retinal thickness (pRT) and the serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational case series. We studied 34 eyes of 17 treatment-naïve patients with POEMS syndrome whose intracranial pressure was within the normal range.

Correlation between serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor and subfoveal choroidal thickness in patients with POEMS syndrome.

Purpose: The study was conducted to determine whether serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels are significantly correlated with subfoveal choroidal thickness (CT) and foveal thickness (FT) in patients with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome.

Patients And Methods: In this cross-sectional observational case series, we studied 31 eyes of 16 treatment-naïve patients with POEMS syndrome with no evidence of fundus abnormalities. Subfoveal CT and FT were measured using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT), and correlations between serum VEGF levels and subfoveal CT and FT were determined.

Pneumatic displacement with intravitreal bevacizumab for massive submacular hemorrhage due to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of pneumatic displacement combined with intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) with that of pneumatic displacement (PD) alone to treat massive submacular hemorrhage (SMH) secondary to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

Methods: Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients with massive SMH secondary to PCV were studied. Twenty-two eyes were treated with a combination of PD and 1.

Werner syndrome with refractory cystoid macular edema and immunohistochemical analysis of WRN proteins in human retinas.

Background: To present our findings in a case of Werner syndrome with refractory cystoid macular edema (CME) and to determine the expression and the distribution of WRN proteins in human retinas.

Case Presentation: A 35-year-old man with Werner syndrome who developed CME after YAG laser treatment was studied. Optical coherence tomographic (OCT) scans were used to examine the CME in the right eye.

One-year results of intravitreal ranibizumab combined with reduced-fluence photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

Purpose: To compare the 1-year results of intravitreal ranibizumab combined with reduced-fluence photodynamic therapy (RF-PDT) to intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) alone for eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

Methods: We reviewed the medical records from 47 consecutive patients with PCV (47 naïve eyes). Seventeen eyes from 17 patients had one IVR treatment combined with RF-PDT followed by two additional IVR treatments (combined group), and 30 eyes from 30 patients were treated with 3 monthly IVR treatments (IVR group).

Level of vascular endothelial growth factor 165b in human aqueous humor.

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor 165b (VEGF165b) is a splice variant of VEGF-A and is an anti-angiogenic form as opposed to a pro-angiogenic form of VEGF. We compared the level of VEGF165b in the aqueous humor of 77 eyes with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and 38 eyes with retinal vein occlusion (RVO).

Design: A prospective, interventional case series.

Retinal pigment epithelium tear after vitrectomy for vitreomacular traction syndrome in an eye with retinal angiomatous proliferation.

An 87-year-old Japanese man presented with retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) and a retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) detachment in his right eye. His decimal best-corrected visual acuity was 0.15 in the right eye, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed a vitreomacular adhesion in the right eye as well.

Two-year course of subfoveal pigment epithelial detachment in eyes with age-related macular degeneration and visual acuity better than 20/40.

Purpose: To investigate the course of subfoveal pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) in eyes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ≥20/40.

Methods: Thirty-seven eyes of 35 patients with a subfoveal PED were divided into an avascular PED group (n = 11), a vascularized PED group due to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV, n = 14) and an occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV) group (n = 12). Intravitreal bevacizumab or ranibizumab was given as needed.

[Six cases of sterile endophthalmitis developed consecutively after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab].

Purpose: To report a series of 6 cases of sterile endophthalmitis that developed consecutively after an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (IVB).

Patients And Methods: On April 13 and 14, 2009, we performed IVB for consecutive 12 eyes of 12 patients in a sterile condition. Within two days after injection, blurred vision without ocular pain, anterior chamber inflammation, and vitreous opacity were developed in 6 of the eyes of 6 patients.

Foveal microstructure on spectral-domain optical coherence tomographic images and visual function after macular hole surgery.

Purpose: To determine the correlation between the recovery of foveal microstructure and the visual acuity or the foveal sensitivity after idiopathic macular hole (MH) closure.

Design: Prospective, consecutive, observational case series.

Methods: We studied 43 eyes of 43 patients before and 1, 3, and 6 months after MH surgery.

Subretinal hemorrhage after photodynamic therapy for juxtapapillary retinal capillary hemangioma.

A 75-year-old Japanese woman presented with a juxtapapillary retinal capillary hemangioma (RCH) in her left eye. Twelve months after the initial examination, the size of the hemangioma had increased and the exudation from the RCH involved the macula. Her best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) had decreased from 0.

Comparison of intravitreal bevacizumab to photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: short-term results.

Aims: To compare the short-term therapeutic effects of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) to those of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

Materials And Methods: Retrospective interventional case study. Eighty-nine eyes of 89 patients with symptomatic PCV were treated by IVB or PDT.

Two-year comparison of photodynamic therapy and intravitreal bevacizumab for treatment of myopic choroidal neovascularisation.

Aim: To compare the long-term outcome of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with that of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) for myopic choroidal neovascularizations (mCNVs).

Methods: 24 eyes were selected from 40 consecutive patients with mCNV, and the patients were divided into Group A, consisting of 12 eyes treated by PDT, and Group B, consisting of 12 eyes treated by 1.25 mg IVB.

Changes in visual function and thickness of macula after photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To determine the correlation between the changes in the central retinal sensitivity and the changes in the foveal thickness (FT) after photodynamic therapy (PDT) for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: Nineteen eyes of 19 patients with choroidal neovasularizations (CNVs) secondary to AMD were studied. The pretreatment values of the central retinal sensitivity determined by Micro Perimeter 1 (MP1; Nidek Technologies), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and optical coherence tomography (OCT)-determined FT were compared to the postoperative values at three and six months after PDT.

Identification of the consensus DNA sequence for Nczf binding.

The Nczf gene, which is identified as a target gene of Ncx, encodes a novel Kruppel-associated box (KRAB) zinc finger protein, which functions as a sequence-specific transcriptional repressor. We generated a fusion protein of the zinc finger domain of Nczf and glutathione S-transferase to identify Nczf-binding consensus DNA sequences with random oligonucleotides of 15 and 35 bases. The consensus binding sequence of core nucleotides contains (A/T/C)CTTT(A/G)TTNT.