Interferons in vitreoretinal diseases; a review on their clinical application, and mechanism of action.

Purpose: This review investigates the therapeutic benefits of interferons (IFNs) in vitreoretinal diseases, focusing on their regulatory roles in innate immunological reactions and angiogenesis. The study aims to categorize the clinical outcomes of IFN applications and proposes a molecular mechanism underlying their action.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted using MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases to identify randomized clinical trials, case series, and case-control studies related to IFNs' impact on vitreoretinal diseases (1990-2022).

An Open-source Image Analysis Toolbox for Quantitative Retinal Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Background: Qualitative and quantitative assessment of retinal perfusion using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has shown to be effective in the treatment and management of various retinal and optic nerve diseases. However, manual analyses of OCTA images to calculate metrics related to Foveal Avascular Zone (FAZ) morphology, and retinal vascular density and morphology are costly, time-consuming, subject to human error, and are exposed to both inter and intra operator variability.

Objective: This study aimed to develop an open-source software framework for quantitative OCTA (QOCTA).

Evaluation of Apoptosis, Inflammation, Angiogenesis, and Neuroprotection Gene Expression in Retinal Pigmented Epithelial Cell Treated with Interferon α-2b.

Angiogenesis, retinal neuropathy, and inflammation are the main molecular features of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and should be taken into consideration for potential treatment approaches. Retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells play a major role in DR progression. This study evaluated the effect of interferon (IFN) α-2b on the expression of genes involved in apoptosis, inflammation, neuroprotection, and angiogenesis in RPE cells.

A review on the effect of garlic on diabetes, BDNF, and VEGF as a potential treatment for diabetic retinopathy.

Background: Garlic is one of the favorite herbs in traditional medicine that has been reported to have many medicinal features. The aim of the current study is to review the latest documents on the effect of garlic on diabetes, VEGF, and BDNF and, finally, to review the existing studies on the effect of garlic on diabetic retinopathy.

Main Text: The therapeutic effect of garlic on diabetes has been investigated in various studies.

Comparison of Endogenous Endophthalmitis in Patients with and Without COVID-19 Infection.

Introduction: Endogenous endophthalmitis (EE) is an ophthalmic emergency that can have severe sight-threatening complications. Prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment are central to the successful management of EE. In recent years, a significant increase has occurred in the number of cases of EE.

Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Individual studies in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) have shown the high prevalence of diabetic retinopathy. We conducted a meta-analysis to yield an estimate of the prevalence of diabetic (type 1 and 2) retinopathy in the EMR. Additionally, we explored its potential modulators.

Recent achievements in nano-based technologies for ocular disease diagnosis and treatment, review and update.

Ocular drug delivery is one of the most challenging endeavors among the various available drug delivery systems. Despite having suitable drugs for the treatment of ophthalmic disease, we have not yet succeeded in achieving a proper drug delivery approach with the least adverse effects. Nanotechnology offers great opportunities to overwhelm the restrictions of common ocular delivery systems, including low therapeutic effects and adverse effects because of invasive surgery or systemic exposure.

Evaluation of the Effect of Garlic Tablet as a Complementary Treatment for Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of garlic (Allium sativum L.) tablets as a complimentary herbal medication in diabetic macular edema.

Methods: A total of 91 diabetic participants (117 eyes) with central involved macular edema underwent a double-blind randomized trial.

Assessment of macular findings by OCT angiography in patients without clinical signs of diabetic retinopathy: radiomics features for early screening of diabetic retinopathy.

This cross-sectional study aimed to quantitatively analyze the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images using MATLAB-based software and evaluate the initial changes in macular vascular density and the distortion of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), before the clinical appearance of diabetic retinopathy. For this purpose, 21 diabetic patients without any clinical features indicating DR, and 21 healthy individuals matched with patients based on their demographic characteristics were included. Macular thickness, macular vascular density, and morphological changes of FAZ were assessed using OCTA.

Crocin as a vision supplement.

Crocin is a natural ingredient of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) flower that has shown potential for application as a supplement in eye health and preserving vision. Crocin has been examined for its potential to treat various eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular dystrophies, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration.

Were magnetic materials useful in cancer therapy?

Cancer is one of the major challenges fronting the biomedical basic researches in our time. The study and development of effective therapeutic strategies for cancer therapy are vital. Among the many probable core constituents of nanoparticles, magnetite-based nanoparticles have been widely studied for cancer therapy owing to their inherent magnetic features, multifunctional design, biodegradable and biocompatible properties.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells and COVID-19: Cure, Prevention, and Vaccination.

COVID-19 disease has been a global health problem since late 2019. There are many concerns about the rapid spread of this disease, and yet, there is no approved treatment for COVID-19. Several biological interventions have been under study recently to investigate efficient treatment for this viral disease.

Prevalence of retinal changes in patients with systemic sclerosis: the association between retinal vascular changes and nailfold capillaroscopic findings.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease affecting the skin and multiple organs. Most of the evidence on ocular involvement comes from small studies. We evaluated the retinal vascular changes in patients with SSc and its associations with types, disease duration, skin score, and nailfold capillaroscopy changes.

Visual Impairment Prevalence, Causes, and Role of Healthcare Access: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis in Iran.

Purpose: Healthcare access is one of the determinants of visual impairment (VI), as a public health problem. The objective of this study was to estimate VI prevalence, related causes, and its correlation with access to physicians in Iran.

Methods: : This systematic review and meta-analysis include observational studies published in Iran.

Potential neuroprotective biomolecules in ophthalmology.

Purposes: Retinal neurodegenerative diseases are responsible for a huge number of ocular problems worldwide. It seems that the progression of these diseases can be managed by the application of neuroprotective molecules particularly in the early stages. This article focuses on the most common neuroprotective bioagents under investigation in ophthalmology.

Diabetic Retinopathy and BDNF: A Review on Its Molecular Basis and Clinical Applications.

Impairment of neuroprotection and vasculopathy are the main reasons for the progression of diabetic retinopathy. In this review, we decided to illustrate the molecular and clinical aspects of diabetic retinal neuro-vasculopathy. We searched the Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases with these keywords: "brain-derived neurotrophic factor" and "vascular endothelial growth factor" and/or "diabetic retinopathy.

Serum Levels of Vitamin D in Diabetic Patients With and Without Retinopathy.

Purpose: To evaluate the levels of vitamin D in the serum of diabetic patients with and without diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: Thirty patients with DR and thirty diabetic patients without retinopathy were included in this cross-sectional study. Based on ophthalmic examination, patients with DR were categorized into having non-proliferative retinopathy (NPDR) and proliferative retinopathy (PDR).

Choroidal changes after intravitreal injection of interferon alpha-2b.

Unlabelled: Intravitreal injection of interferon alpha-2b (IFN-α2b) is used to treat uveitis but its effect on the choroid is unknown. We histologically evaluated the choroidal changes after intravitreal injection of IFN-α2b. We compared histological samples of IFN-α2b-injected eyes to eyes with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced uveitis and eyes injected with balanced salt solution (BSS) as controls.

Evaluation of serum interferons in patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Background: Environmental, genetic, and immunological factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In an attempt to better understand the pathogenesis of AMD, in this study, we evaluated the serum interferon (IFN) levels in patients with AMD and compared it with persons without AMD.

Materials And Methods: In this case-control study, 42 patients with AMD and 42 healthy individuals (without AMD) were enrolled as the case and control groups, respectively.

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF TOPICAL INTERFERON α2b AS A COMPLEMENTARY TREATMENT OF MACULAR EDEMA OF PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC RETINOPATHY: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial Study.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the topical interferon α2b (IFNα2b) as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of diabetic macular edema.

Method: This was a randomized controlled clinical trial performed on patients with diabetic macular edema. Fifty eyes of 50 patients (one eye/patient) who were receiving treatment for diabetic macular edema were randomly assigned to get topical IFNα2b 1 MU/mL or artificial tear eye drop as an adjunctive therapy.

Unilateral endogenous Candida endophthalmitis after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for a renal stone in an immunocompetent woman: a case report.

Purpose: To report a case of endogenous Candida endophthalmitis that may cause catastrophic sight-threatening outcomes, after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in a healthy woman.

Case Presentation: A 32-year-old woman presented to the ophthalmology clinic with the symptom of blurred vision and floater in her right eye. She underwent ESWL for renal stone 1 week prior to her presentation.

The Association of Serum Leptin Level and Anthropometric Measures With the Severity of Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

This study was performed to determine the association amongst serum leptin level and anthropometric measures with the severity of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) in subjects with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM). This case-controlled study was conducted within a one-year period, during year 2016, at outpatient retina ophthalmology clinics of Shiraz, southern Iran. Eighty-three patients with type 2 DM, referring for ophthalmoscopy evaluation, were included.

Proteinuria and Renal Dysfunction after Intravitreal Injection of Bevacizumab in Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is one of the most important microvascular complications among the patients with diabetes. Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agent enacts a key role in PDR. Some studies have dealt with the systemic exposure to these agents after intravitreal administration.

The Argus-II Retinal Prosthesis Implantation; From the Global to Local Successful Experience.

Over the past few years, visual prostheses (namely, Argus II retinal implant) and gene therapy have obtained FDA approval in treating blindness resulting from retinitis pigmentosa. Compared to gene therapy; Argus II is less costly with a demonstrated favorable outcome, though the vision is yet artificial. To obtain better results, expectation counseling and preoperative retinal assessment are critical.

Intravitreal Injection of Bevacizumab: Review of our previous Experience.

Several ocular and systemic complications have been reported after the bevacizumab intravitreal injection. This study aims at reporting the main indications for the bevacizumab intravitreal injection in our center, the intravitreal injection method in this study, and the incidence of the post-injection complication, such as endophthalmitis.This study is a retrospective review of the consecutive intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin®) injections for 359 patients between 2011 and 2013 at a single institute (Poostchi Clinic of Ophthalmology).