A porcine model to study the effect of brain death on kidney genomic responses.

Introduction: A majority of transplanted organs come from donors after brain death (BD). Renal grafts from these donors have higher delayed graft function and lower long-term survival rates compared to living donors. We designed a novel porcine BD model to better delineate the incompletely understood inflammatory response to BD, hypothesizing that adhesion molecule pathways would be upregulated in BD.

Asteroid hyalosis-a comprehensive review.

Asteroid hyalosis is a relatively common cause of vitreous opacities, which is possibly associated with diabetes mellitus and hereditary pigmentary retinopathies. We review the history, epidemiology, and biochemistry of asteroid hyalosis, as well as its relationship with ocular and systemic conditions. We describe imaging modalities used for diagnostic evaluations in cases of severe asteroid hyalosis and propose hypotheses regarding its lack of significant effects on vision.

The effects of aging vitreous on contrast sensitivity function.

Purpose: Contrast sensitivity function (CSF) declines with age. When unassociated with cataracts, this is hypothesized to be due to macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) thinning. However, other studies found associations with increased vitreous echodensity and posterior vitreous detachment (PVD).

Profound vision loss impairs psychological well-being in young and middle-aged individuals.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of profound vision loss on psychological well-being in adolescents, young adults, and middle-aged adults with regard to mood, interpersonal interactions, and career-related goals. In addition, we assessed the significance of the resources that may be used to enhance psychological well-being in cases of profound vision loss, and in particular, examined the utility of low vision aids and the role of the ophthalmologist as a provider of emotional support.

Methods: A questionnaire was issued to individuals aged 13-65 years with profound vision loss resulting from Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).

Degradation of Contrast Sensitivity Function Following Posterior Vitreous Detachment.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) on contrast sensitivity function (CSF) in previously normal eyes, with the hypothesis that PVD reduces CSF.

Design: Prospective observational case series.

Methods: At a single clinical practice 28 eyes were evaluated: 8 eyes of 8 adults (mean age 54.

An International Study of Emotional Response to Bilateral Vision Loss Using a Novel Graphical Online Assessment Tool.

Background: Leber׳s hereditary optic neuropathy usually causes rapid bilateral blindness in young adults, and thus represents a unique and severe psychologic stressor.

Objective: We aimed to describe adjustment to this major life event, using a new tool to enhance recall of past affective states by using life event-related context. This is the largest (n = 116 with Leber׳s hereditary optic neuropathy), and first study reporting on the emotional aspects of this nontrauma cause of blindness.

Floaters and reduced contrast sensitivity after successful pharmacologic vitreolysis with ocriplasmin.

Purpose: To describe the onset of floaters and reduction in contrast sensitivity (CS) following successful pharmacologic vitreolysis with ocriplasmin for the treatment of vitreo-macular traction (VMT) in a patient with previously normal CS.

Observations: A 65-year-old woman with a past ocular history of normal visual acuity (VA = 20/26) and contrast sensitivity (1.81% Weber) presents with a 4-month history of distortions.

Pharmacologic vitreolysis with ocriplasmin: rationale for use and therapeutic potential in vitreo-retinal disorders.

With increased knowledge about the origins and pathophysiology of vitreo-retinal disorders—and, in particular, the central role of anomalous posterior vitreous detachment in vitreo-maculopathies—a paradigm shift from surgery to pharmacotherapy is taking place with the development of pharmacologic vitreolysis. The first approved agent for pharmacologic vitreolysis therapy is ocriplasmin, a truncated form of the nonspecific serine protease plasmin. Twelve studies comprise the current ocriplasmin clinical trial program, demonstrating the efficacy and safety of a single intravitreal injection of ocriplasmin for the treatment of patients with symptomatic vitreo-macular adhesion or vitreo-macular traction, including patients with macular holes.