Multi-Omics Integration With Machine Learning Identified Early Diabetic Retinopathy, Diabetic Macula Edema and Anti-VEGF Treatment Response.

Purpose: Identify optimal metabolic features and pathways across diabetic retinopathy (DR) stages, develop risk models to differentiate diabetic macular edema (DME), and predict anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy response.

Methods: We analyzed 108 aqueous humor samples from 78 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and 30 healthy controls. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution-mass-spectrometry detected lipidomics and metabolomics profiles.

Identification of key lncRNAs in age-related macular degeneration through integrated bioinformatics and experimental validation.

This study aimed to identify key long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients and to identify relevant pathological mechanisms of AMD development. We identified 407 differentially expressed mRNAs and 429 differentially expressed lncRNAs in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and retina in the macular region of AMD patients versus controls (P < 0.05 and |log2FC| > 0.

Downregulation of SIRT6 and NMNAT2 is associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: To determine the expression levels of and in diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: We obtained peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and vitreous samples from 77 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: 52 with DR and 25 without DR, and 27 healthy control subjects. Western blot analysis and qRT-PCR were performed to evaluate the expression of and in their PBMCs.

Decreased expression of Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor and Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: To investigate the expression of Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R), sodium-glucose co-transporter (SGLT) 1, SGLT2, Glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1) and GLUT2 in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: We obtained peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and vitreous samples from 26 proliferative DR (PDR) patients, 25 non-proliferative DR (NPDR) patients, 25 non-DR (NDR) patients, and 26 nondiabetic patients with idiopathic epiretinal membranes (ERMs, control). The protein level and mRNA expression level of GLP-1R were quantified by immunoblot and qRT-PCR and the levels of SGLT1, SGLT2, GLUT1, and GLUT2 expression were determined by PCR.

Ageing fundus degenerations of Macaca fascicularis on multi-modal imaging and histopathology: Similarities and differences compared to human.

To characterize the ageing fundus degenerations in Macaca fascicularis, we used multimodal imaging including color fundus photograph, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, fundus fluorescence angiography, and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) to survey and track fundus changes of 84 Macaca fascicularis, ranging from 5 to 24 years old over 2 years, and followed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and immunofluorescence (IF) staining. The Macaca fascicularis in our cohort showed ageing characteristics different from human, including the more common yellow dot maculopathy, the unique appearance of patchy hyperautoflurescence, and the absence of subretinal drusenoid deposit, basal laminar deposit, geographic atrophy or choroidal neovascularization. Same with human, hard drusen, soft drusen, atherosclerosis, tessellated retina, staining of vessels in peripheral choroid on late-phase ICGA, and peripheral hard drusen were detected.

CORRELATION BETWEEN FOCAL CHOROIDAL EXCAVATION AND UNDERLYING RETINOCHOROIDAL DISEASE: A Pathological Hypothesis From Clinical Observation.

Purpose: To evaluate focal choroidal excavation (FCE) in eyes with various diseases using multimodal imaging modalities and to investigate the correlation of FCE and underlying chorioretinal diseases.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included 62 eyes from 56 patients who were identified by optical coherence tomography as having FCE. All included patients underwent comprehensive clinical examinations and multimodal imaging to identify and detect the characteristics of FCE and its correlation with underlying chorioretinal diseases.

Patchy hyperautofluorescence as a predictive factor for the recurrence of punctate inner choroidopathy.

Purpose: To investigate baseline clinical and imaging factors that may correlate with risk of recurrence of punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC).

Methods: In this retrospective observational study, charts and multimodal imaging of forty-five patients diagnosed with PIC during the active inflammatory phase were reviewed. MMI examinations, including fundus photography, shortwave fundus autofluorescence(SW-FAF), fluorescein angiography(FFA), indocyanine green angiography(ICGA), and spectral domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT_), were conducted to diagnose PIC, and MMI parameters at baseline were assessed as potential biomarkers indicating the recurrence of inflammation.

Identification of NLRP3 Inflammation-Related Gene Promoter Hypomethylation in Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: To identify and validate key genes that could provide a new perspective for genetic marker screening of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: The gene expression and DNA methylation profiles were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Differential expression analysis was conducted using the limma package, and then the functions of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed using the DAVID database, followed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks using Cytoscape software.

Age-Related Scattered Hypofluorescent Spots on Late-Phase Indocyanine Green Angiography as Precursor Lesions of Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy.

Purpose: Age-related scattered hypofluorescent spots on late-phase indocyanine green angiography (ASHS-LIA) might represent lipid accumulation in Bruch's membrane in the form of basal linear deposits (BlinD). The present study was conducted to describe the clinical characteristics of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) associated with ASHS-LIA.

Methods: Consecutive patients with treatment-naïve PCV who underwent color fundus photography (FP), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) at the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center from June 2016 through May 2018, were reviewed.

Enhanced Expression of NLRP3 Inflammasome-Related Inflammation in Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the association between nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-induced inflammation and disease severity in diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 64 patients with diabetes (DR, 43; without DR, 21) and 25 healthy controls. The protein and mRNA expression levels of NLRP3 inflammasomes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were determined using western blotting and quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR.

Assessment of biomarkers using multiplex assays in aqueous humor of patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Background: With the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes, diabetic retinopathy (DR) has become a leading health problem worldwide. The pathogenesis of DR is complex and several vascular, inflammatory, and neuronal mechanisms are involved. The purpose of this study was to assess the levels of immune and inflammatory biomarkers in the aqueous humor of patients with different severities of DR and to analyze the correlations between Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and these biomarkers, and between IL-6 and the severity of the disease.

Analysis of the Serum Lipid Profile in Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy.

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), the predominant subtype of neovascular age-related macular degeneration in the Asian population, is associated with genetic polymorphism of lipid metabolism. In this study, we performed the untargeted lipidomics approach of ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) to reveal the potential discriminating lipid profile of PCV patients in serum (21 PCV patients and 19 age-matched controls). Unsupervised principal component, supervised orthogonal partial least squares analysis, correlation analysis, and heatmap analysis were performed with the data obtained by UPLC-MS.

Th17 cell frequency and IL-17A concentrations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and vitreous fluid from patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Objective To quantify T helper (Th)17 cells and determine interleukin (IL)-17A levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) culture and vitreous fluid from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods Th17 cell frequency and IL-17A concentrations in PBMCs from 60 patients with T2DM with DR, 30 without DR and 30 sex- and age-matched healthy individuals were measured by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. IL-17A levels in vitreous fluid from 31 eyes with proliferative DR and diabetic macular oedema (DR group) and 32 eyes with an epiretinal membrane and macular hole (control group) that underwent vitrectomy were also examined by ELISA.

Increased levels of IL-6, sIL-6R, and sgp130 in the aqueous humor and serum of patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: Trans-signaling of interleukin (IL)-6 through its soluble receptor (sIL-6R) is critically involved in the promotion of chronic inflammatory diseases. The aim of the present study was to estimate IL-6, sIL-6R, and soluble gp130 (sgp130, a natural antagonist of IL-6 trans-signaling) concentrations in the serum and aqueous humor (AqH) of patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: Paired AqH and serum samples were collected from 152 consecutive diabetic patients (105 with DR and 47 without DR, NDR) and 51 healthy controls.

Oral Chinese herbal medicine for kidney nourishment in Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review of the effect on MMSE index measures and safety.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the Chinese herbal medicine for kidney nourishment (CHMK) assessed with the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) index objective outcome measures in individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

Methods: Searches were conducted in 7 medical databases from their inceptions until July 19, 2014 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the oral administration of CHMK plus conventional pharmacotherapy with the same conventional pharmacotherapy alone with MMSE index measures as outcomes. Relevant resources were also manually retrieved.

[Simultaneous determination of eight derivatives of propranolol in cornea perfusate in vitro by high performance liquid chromatography].

A high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous determination of eight derivatives of propranolol. Cassette dosing method was used in the epithelium side of cornea in vitro to get the effect of penetrant, and the perfusate was collected in the side of endothelium. The protein in the sample was precipitated and discarded by high speed centrifugation before injection.