Peripheral administration of a κ-opioid receptor agonist nalfurafine inactivates gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse generator activity in goats.

Neurons co-expressing kisspeptin, neurokinin B, and dynorphin A (KNDy neurons), located in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus, are indicated to be the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator. Dynorphin A is reported to suppress GnRH pulse generator activity. Nalfurafine is a selective agonist of the κ-opioid receptor (KOR), a receptor for dynorphin A, clinically used as an anti-pruritic drug.

Characteristics of Patients Who Drop Out of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy for Macular Edema Associated with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion.

Purpose: To investigate the dropout rate of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment for macular edema (ME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and identify the characteristics of dropout cases.

Methods: We studied 235 eyes of 235 treatment-naïve BRVO-ME patients receiving intravitreal injection of ranibizumab. Additional intravitreal anti-VEGF drug was given when ME relapsed or persisted, and photocoagulation was performed as needed.

Immune Mediators Profiles in the Aqueous Humor of Patients with Simple Diabetic Retinopathy.

Various immune mediators identified to date are associated with the development of advanced forms of diabetic retinopathy (DR), such as proliferative DR and diabetic macular edema, although the exact pathophysiological mechanisms of early stages of DR such as simple DR remain unclear. We determined the immune mediator profile in the aqueous humor of eyes with simple DR. Fifteen eyes of fifteen patients with simple DR were studied.

Continuous acceleration of neural activity of the GnRH pulse generator during chronic peripheral infusion of neurokinin 3 receptor agonist in goats.

Secretion of pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is essential for reproduction. Kisspeptin neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), which coexpress neurokinin B (NKB) and its receptor (NK3R), are believed to be components of the GnRH pulse generator that regulates pulsatile GnRH secretion. We examined the effects of peripheral infusion of senktide, an NK3R selective agonist, on GnRH pulse generator activity by monitoring multiple unit activity (MUA) in the goat ARC.

Ectopic inner foveal layer as a factor associated with metamorphopsia after vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane.

Purpose: To analyse the relationship between the extent of metamorphopsia and optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters including the ectopic inner foveal layer (EIFL) in patients with epiretinal membrane (ERM) who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV).

Methods: This study included 63 eyes of 62 patients who underwent PPV for ERM. Metamorphopsia was assessed by measuring the metamorphopsia score for vertical lines (MV) and metamorphopsia score for horizontal lines (MH) using M-CHARTS.

Long-Term Outcome of Eyes with Vitrectomy for Submacular and/or Vitreous Hemorrhage in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: To study long-term clinical outcomes in patients with submacular hemorrhage (SMH) and/or vitreous hemorrhage (VH) associated with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and the real-world clinical situation of adding anti-VEGF therapy after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV).

Methods: In this retrospective case series, 25 eyes with SMH and/or VH associated with nAMD were treated by PPV and followed up for at least 24 months. When exudative changes were unresolved or recurred after PPV, additional intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy was given.

Silkworm recombinant bovine zona pellucida protein 4 (bZP4) as a potential female immunocontraceptive antigen; impaired sperm-oocyte interaction and ovarian dysfunction.

Porcine zona pellucida proteins (ZPs) have been utilized as female immunocontraceptive antigens. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential use of silkworm recombinant bovine ZP4 as an alternative. When the protein was injected with monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) - an immuno-stimulative agent - into two female goats, marked elevation of the anti-ZP4 titer was detected.

Local administration of Neurokinin B in the arcuate nucleus accelerates the neural activity of the GnRH pulse generator in goats.

Kisspeptin neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), which co-express neurokinin B (NKB) and dynorphin A, are termed KNDy neurons. These neurons are candidates for the intrinsic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator. The central and peripheral administration of NKB or its receptor (NK3R) agonist evokes GnRH pulse generator activity and the subsequent pulsatile GnRH/luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion.

Case of peripheral fibrovascular proliferative retinopathy associated with morning glory disc anomaly.

It is known that the retinal detachments (RDs) associated with a morning glory disc anomaly (MGDA) usually appear from around the disc anomaly and complications by peripheral fibrovascular proliferation and tractional RD are very rare. We report our findings in an eye with MGDA that had a tractional RD, massive exudation from a peripheral temporal fibrovascular proliferation and vasculatures stretched by this proliferation and by a contraction of the hyaloidal membrane. The RD was successfully treated by vitrectomy and encircling buckling surgery.

Machine Learning Approach for Intraocular Disease Prediction Based on Aqueous Humor Immune Mediator Profiles.

Purpose: Various immune mediators have crucial roles in the pathogenesis of intraocular diseases. Machine learning can be used to automatically select and weigh various predictors to develop models maximizing predictive power. However, these techniques have not yet been applied extensively in studies focused on intraocular diseases.

Vitreous metabolomics profiling of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Aims/hypothesis: Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) with retinal neovascularisation (NV) is a leading cause of vision loss. This study identified a set of metabolites that were altered in the vitreous humour of PDR patients compared with non-diabetic control participants. We corroborated changes in vitreous metabolites identified in prior studies and identified novel dysregulated metabolites that may lead to treatment strategies for PDR.

Effectiveness of prophylactic intravitreal bevacizumab injection to proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients with elevated preoperative intraocular VEGF in preventing complications after vitrectomy.

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injections for the prevention of post-vitrectomy complications in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) patients with elevated vitreous vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration.

Design: Prospective case series.

Methods: Thirty-three patients (42 eyes) with PDR who underwent primary vitrectomy in the Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Medical University Hospital were studied.

Recent trends of ocular complications in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Purpose: To elucidate the recent trends in prevalence and characteristics of ocular complications of atopic dermatitis (AD).

Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

Methods: Among AD patients who visited our department between 2012 and 2015, 70 patients (140 eyes; recent AD group) who gave informed consent to participate in the study were analyzed.

Absence of Posterior Vitreous Detachment Is a Risk Factor of Severe Bleb-Related Endophthalmitis.

Purpose: Bleb-related endophthalmitis (BRE) after glaucoma surgery is an infection caused by bacteria in the avascular bleb gaining access into the eye. We report the clinical features and outcome of 10 consecutive eyes with severe BRE treated at our hospital.

Methods: Ten patients (10 eyes) with stage IIIb BRE after trabeculectomy diagnosed and treated at the Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Medical University, between April 2013 and May 2015, were studied.

miR-30a-5p inhibition promotes interaction of Fas endothelial cells and FasL microglia to decrease pathological neovascularization and promote physiological angiogenesis.

Ischemia-induced angiogenesis contributes to various neuronal and retinal diseases, and often results in neurodegeneration and visual impairment. Current treatments involve the use of anti-VEGF agents but are not successful in all cases. In this study we determined that miR-30a-5p is another important mediator of retinal angiogenesis.

A Single Pheromone Receptor Gene Conserved across 400 My of Vertebrate Evolution.

Pheromones are crucial for eliciting social and sexual behaviors in diverse animal species. The vomeronasal receptor type-1 (V1R) genes, encoding members of a pheromone receptor family, are highly variable in number and repertoire among mammals due to extensive gene gain and loss. Here, we report a novel pheromone receptor gene belonging to the V1R family, named ancient V1R (ancV1R), which is shared among most Osteichthyes (bony vertebrates) from the basal lineage of ray-finned fishes to mammals.

Structure and zonal expression of olfactory receptors in the olfactory epithelium of the goat, Capra hircus.

The mammalian olfactory system employs sophisticated mechanisms to detect and recognize an extensive range of smells. In rodents, the olfactory epithelium (OE), situated within the nasal cavity, mainly comprises four defined endoturbinates and several ectoturbinates. Olfactory receptors (ORs) belong to a large family, comprising over 1,000 genes in rodents, which are expressed in olfactory sensory neurons in the OE that detect odor molecules.

Mapping of KNDy neurons and immunohistochemical analysis of the interaction between KNDy and substance P neural systems in goat.

A population of neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) coexpresses kisspeptin, neurokinin B (NKB), and dynorphin, and therefore they are referred to as KNDy neurons. It has been suggested that KNDy neurons participate in several brain functions, including the control of reproduction. The present study aimed to advance our understanding of the anatomy of the KNDy neural system.

A neurokinin 3 receptor-selective agonist accelerates pulsatile luteinizing hormone secretion in lactating cattle.

Pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion, which is indispensable for follicular development, is suppressed in lactating dairy and beef cattle. Neurokinin B (NKB) neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus are considered to play an essential role in generating the pulsatile mode of GnRH/luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. The present study aimed to clarify the role of NKB-neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) signaling in the pulsatile pattern of GnRH/gonadotropin secretion in postpartum lactating cattle.

An administration of TAK-683 at a minimally effective dose for luteinizing hormone stimulation under the absence of the ovary induces luteinizing hormone surge in ovary-intact goats.

The present study aimed to evaluate hormonal responses and their association with the TAK-683 blood concentrations in goats administered TAK-683 at a low dose, which had been previously determined as the minimally effective dose for luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulation in ovariectomized goats. In Experiment 1, 5 µg of TAK-683 treatment had no significant stimulatory effect on LH secretion in ovariectomized Shiba goats (n = 4). In Experiment 2, cycling goats received the treatment of prostaglandin F and progesterone-releasing controlled internal drug releasing (CIDR) to induce the follicular phase, then they were treated with 5 µg of TAK-683 (hour 0) intravenously (n = 4, IV) or subcutaneously (n = 3, SC) or with vehicle intravenously (n = 4, control) at 12 h after CIDR removal.

EFFICACY OF THE INVERTED INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE FLAP TECHNIQUE WITH VITRECTOMY FOR RETINAL DETACHMENT ASSOCIATED WITH MYOPIC MACULAR HOLES.

Purpose: To evaluate the anatomical and functional outcome of the inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap technique with vitrectomy for retinal detachment associated with macular hole (MHRD) in highly myopic eyes.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study, 21 eyes with MHRD that underwent vitrectomy with conventional ILM peeling (ILM-peeling group, n = 11) or the inverted ILM flap technique (ILM flap group, n = 10) combined with C3F8 tamponade were enrolled in this study. The initial retinal reattachment rate, macular hole closure rate, and postoperative visual acuity at the final visit were compared between the ILM-peeling group and ILM flap group.

PERSISTENT OVERPRODUCTION OF INTRAOCULAR VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR AS A CAUSE OF LATE VITREOUS HEMORRHAGE AFTER VITRECTOMY FOR PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether vitreous levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) predict late vitreous hemorrhage (VH) after vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and how VEGF level changes in patients with postoperative late VH.

Methods: Eighty-five eyes of 68 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy who underwent vitrectomy were analyzed retrospectively. Vitreous samples were collected from eyes undergoing primary vitrectomy and from eyes with late VH undergoing second vitrectomy.

Possible Relation between Lack of Posterior Vitreous Detachment and Severe Endogenous Endophthalmitis.

. Endogenous endophthalmitis (EE) is a rare ocular disease caused by bacterial or fungal infection of intraocular spaces by hematogenous spread of pathogens from distant infectious loci in the body. We investigated the clinical characteristics and management of eyes with EE in ten consecutive patients.