Effects of intravitreal injection of bevacizumab on inflammatory cytokines in the vitreous with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Background: To investigate the effects of preoperative intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (IVB) on the levels of 27 inflammatory cytokines, including interleukins (ILs) and vascular endothelial growth factor.

Methods: From among 200 patients who had proliferative diabetic retinopathy and underwent vitrectomy in our department from September 2009 to October 2010, 8 study subjects met the enrollment criteria in which both eyes at nearly equivalent stages underwent vitrectomy. The first vitrectomy for each patient was performed without IVB (control group), whereas the second vitrectomy on the contralateral eye was performed with IVB treatment (1.

A Novel Compound Heterozygous Mutation in the CYP4V2 Gene in a Japanese Patient with Bietti's Crystalline Corneoretinal Dystrophy.

Purpose: To describe the clinical and genetic characteristics of a Japanese family in which one member exhibited Bietti's crystalline corneoretinal dystrophy (BCD).

Methods: Using direct sequencing, mutation screening was performed in the CYP4V2 gene of both the patient with BCD and her daughter. Ophthalmic examinations were performed to determine the clinical features of both subjects.

[A case of hypertrophic pachymeningitis impeding differential diagnosis of mycosis of orbital apex syndrome].

Purpose: Mycosis of the orbital apex is often fatal. We report case of orbital apex syndrome, which appeared to have been caused by hypertrophic pachymeningitis with positive systemic mycosis antigens treated with systemic corticosteroid combined with antimicrobiotic therapy.

Case: A 57-year-old woman presented with disturbed ocular motility and visual disturbance of her left eye.

Crystal deposits on the lens capsules in Bietti crystalline corneoretinal dystrophy associated with a mutation in the CYP4V2 gene.

Purpose: We report a patient (Case 1) with Bietti crystalline corneoretinal dystrophy (BCD) associated with previously unknown findings of crystal-like deposits on the anterior and posterior lens capsules. This patient is one of four (Cases 1-4) in whom we have found BCD associated with the same mutation in the CYP4V2 gene.

Methods: We present a case report with molecular diagnosis.

Changes in intraocular indocyanine green concentrations during macular hole surgery.

Purpose: To report changes in intraocular indocyanine green (ICG) concentration which was used for visualization of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) during vitreous surgery on 3 eyes of 3 patients with full-thickness macular hole.

Methods: During intraocular surgery with ICG-assisted ILM peeling, aliquots of intraocular fluid obtained at 1 min after ICG administration (0.5 ml of 5 mg/ml ICG solution), before and after ILM peeling, and before and after fluid/gas exchange were subjected to spectrophotometric analysis.

Prolonged rhodopsin phosphorylation in light-induced retinal degeneration in rat models.

Purpose: The effects of various light-induced stresses on the retina were examined in the retinal degenerative rat model.

Methods: Retinal morphology and electroretinograms (ERGs) were analyzed after application of light-induced stress of several intensities (650, 1300, 2500, or 5000 lux). For evaluation of rhodopsin (Rho) function, the kinetics of Rho regeneration and dephosphorylation were studied by spectrophotometric analysis and immunofluorescence labeling with antibodies specifically directed toward the phosphorylated residues (334)Ser and (338)Ser in the C terminus of Rho.

Clinical and immunologic aspects of cancer-associated retinopathy.

Purpose: To report clinical and immunologic aspects of cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR).

Design: Observational consecutive case series.

Methods: A retrospective review was made of 18 consecutive patients with cancer-associated retinopathy who had antiretinal antibody determination by Western blot testing.