Long-term observation of the vitreomacular relationship in normal fellow eyes of patients with unilateral idiopathic macular holes.

Purpose: To describe long-term changes in the vitreomacular relationship in normal fellow eyes of patients with unilateral idiopathic macular holes (MHs).

Methods: This is a retrospective, observational case series. The medical records of patients who underwent surgery for idiopathic MHs between May 2000 and December 2010 were reviewed.

Vitreomacular interface and outer foveal microstructure in fellow eyes of patients with unilateral macular holes.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between the vitreomacular interface and the integrity of the photoreceptor microstructures in the normal fellow eyes of patients with unilateral macular holes.

Methods: Retrospective observational case series. Fifty-five normal fellow eyes of 55 patients with unilateral macular holes were enrolled in the study.

Cilostazol ameliorates systemic insulin resistance in diabetic db/db mice by suppressing chronic inflammation in adipose tissue via modulation of both adipocyte and macrophage functions.

Cilostazol, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 3B, is widely used as an anti-platelet drug in diabetic patients. Recently, cilostazol has been shown to promote preadipocyte differentiation to mature adipocyte and affect glucose homeostasis; therefore, we examined the impact of cilostazol on impaired glucose metabolism in adipose tissues of diabetic db/db mice. Administration of cilostazol at 100-300 mg/kg/day significantly improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in a dose-dependent manner in db/db mice, whereas these effects were not observed in non-diabetic control mice.

Atypical presentation of acute macular neuroretinopathy with tiny parafoveal reddish-brown lesions.

Purpose: To report two cases of acute macular neuroretinopathy with unusually small parafoveal lesions, which showed later recurrent lesions either in the same eye or the fellow eye.

Methods: Observational case series.

Patients: In case 1, a 48-year-old woman developed a sudden onset of a tiny paracentral scotoma associated with a small reddish-brown paracentral lesion.

Incidence of iatrogenic peripheral retinal breaks in 23-gauge vitrectomy for macular diseases.

Purpose: To assess the incidence of iatrogenic peripheral retinal breaks in 23-gauge vitrectomy for macular diseases and to compare it with 20-gauge vitrectomy.

Methods: Retrospective, comparative, interventional case series. We compared the incidence of iatrogenic peripheral retinal breaks in 176 eyes undergoing 23-gauge vitrectomy between January 2007 and November 2009 (23-gauge group) and 153 eyes undergoing 20-gauge vitrectomy between January 2004 and June 2006 (20-gauge group) for either idiopathic macular holes or idiopathic epiretinal membranes.

Both type I and II IFN induce insulin resistance by inducing different isoforms of SOCS expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Although elevation of the blood glucose level is a causal adverse effect of treatment with interferon (IFN), the precise underlying molecular mechanism is largely unknown. We examined the effects of type I and type II IFN (IFN-β and IFN-γ) on insulin-induced metabolic signaling leading to glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. IFN-β suppressed insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 without affecting its expression, whereas IFN-γ reduced both the protein level and tyrosine phosphorylation.

Progesterone inhibits glucose uptake by affecting diverse steps of insulin signaling in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Maternal insulin resistance is essential for efficient provision of glucose to the fetus. Although elevation of placental hormones is known to relate to the development of insulin resistance, the precise underlying mechanism of maternal insulin resistance is unknown. Therefore, we examined the molecular mechanisms of progesterone causing insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Pars plana vitrectomy with gas tamponade for lamellar macular holes.

Purpose: To report anatomic and visual improvement after pars plana vitrectomy with gas tamponade for a lamellar macular hole with poor central visual acuity.

Design: Two interventional case reports.

Methods: Two patients with a lamellar macular hole underwent vitrectomy, internal limiting membrane peeling, and long-acting gas injection.

A nontraumatic macular hole in a 10-year-old girl.

Background: Full-thickness macular holes usually develop in the elderly population. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no written report of a nontraumatic macular hole in a pediatric patient.

Case: A 10-year-old girl noticed decreased central vision in her left eye without any history of trauma.