Homocysteine & its metabolite homocysteine-thiolactone & deficiency of copper in patients with age related macular degeneration - A pilot study.

Background & Objectives: Age related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a leading cause of blindness, particularly in persons above 60 yr of age. Homocysteine is implicated in many ocular diseases including ARMD. This study was undertaken to assess the status and relationship between plasma homocysteine, homocysteine - thiolactone, homocysteinylated protein and copper levels in patients with ARMD.

Increased homocysteine, homocysteine-thiolactone, protein homocysteinylation and oxidative stress in the circulation of patients with Eales' disease.

Background: Eales' disease (ED) is an idiopathic retinal vascular disorder. It presents with inflammation and neovascularization in the retina. Adult men, aged between 15 and 40 years are more susceptible than women.

Total antioxidant capacity in Eales' disease, uveitis & cataract.

Background & Objectives: The human system possesses antioxidants that act harmoniously to neutralize the harmful oxidants. This study was aimed to evaluate the serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as a single parameter in Eales' disease (ED) and in an acute inflammatory condition such as uveitis and in cataract which is chronic, compared to healthy controls.

Methods: The TAC assay was done spectrophotometrically in the serum of Eales' disease cases (n=20) as well as in other ocular pathologies involving oxidative stress namely, uveitis and cataract (n=20 each).

Tear ascorbic acid levels and the total antioxidant status in contact lens wearers: a pilot study.

Aims: The tear ascorbate owing to its high concentration, functions as an effective antioxidant against the oxidative damage of cornea. Contact lens wearers (CLW) are prone to oxidative stress due to the lens-induced hypoxic conditions. A pilot study was done to compare the tear ascorbic acid level and the total antioxidant capacity give as in normal and CLW.

Lysyl oxidase activity in the ocular tissues and the role of LOX in proliferative diabetic retinopathy and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Purpose: Lysyl oxidase (LOX) cross-links the side chain of collagen and elastin and thereby contributes to extracellular matrix (ECM) integrity. ECM remodeling is seen in various ocular diseases. Until now, there have been no reports on the LOX enzyme's activity in ocular tissues.

Hyperhomocysteinemia and low methionine stress are risk factors for central retinal venous occlusion in an Indian population.

Purpose: The underlying cause of disturbed homocysteine metabolism is incompletely understood in young persons with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) with mild hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcys) and no other systemic disease in India. A 2-year prospective study was undertaken to determine whether HHcys is a risk factor for CRVO in an Indian population.

Method: The prevalence of fasting HHcys was evaluated in a consecutive series of 29 patients with CRVO (mean age, 30 +/- 6 years) along with 57 age- and sex-matched control subjects (healthy subjects, mean age 27 +/- 5 years).

Iron chelation abrogates excessive formation of hydroxyl radicals and lipid peroxidation products in monocytes of patients with Eales' disease: direct evidence using electron spin resonance spectroscopy.

Purpose: Eales' disease (ED) is an idiopathic retinal vasculitis condition, which affects the retina of young adult males. Retinal changes include perivasculitis, non-perfusion and neovascularization. Disruption of blood-retinal barrier (BRB) is the common feature in intra-ocular inflammatory diseases.

Trace elements iron, copper and zinc in vitreous of patients with various vitreoretinal diseases.

Purpose: To measure the concentrations of iron, copper and zinc in human vitreous and to interpret their levels with various vitreoretinal diseases like proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, intraocular foreign body, Eales' disease and macular hole.

Methods: Undiluted vitreous fluid collected during pars plana vitrectomy was used to measure trace elements using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Results: The level of vitreous iron increased threefold in Eales' disease (1.

Accumulation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and its relationship with antioxidant parameters in patients with Eales' disease: implications for antioxidant therapy.

Purpose: Eales' disease (ED) is an idiopathic retinal inflammatory disease, which affects the retina of young adult males. Oxidative stress has been associated with the development of various inflammatory diseases. Accumulation of DNA oxidation products has been considered as an early biomarker for assessing oxidative tissue damage.

Involvement of oxidative and nitrosative stress in promoting retinal vasculitis in patients with Eales' disease.

Objectives: Eales' disease (ED) is an idiopathic retinal vasculitis condition, which affects retina of young adult males. The histopathological hallmark in ED is the adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelium and the infiltration of these cells into the retinal parenchyma. Phagocyte generated free radicals have been implicated in mediating tissue damage associated with various inflammatory vasculopathies.