The PreserFlo MicroShunt in the Context of Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery: A Narrative Review.

Recently, the quest for novel glaucoma surgical techniques and devices has been underway. Trabeculectomy remains the gold standard, but it requires the implantation of glaucoma drainage devices and frequent follow-ups, and it also carries a high risk of serious complications. The need for less invasive and safer procedures has led to the development of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), particularly for patients with mild-to-moderate disease.

Early Complications and Results of Preserflo MicroShunt in the Management of Uncontrolled Open-Angle Glaucoma: A Case Series.

We analyze the surgical outcomes and early complications with their management of the Preserflo MicroShunt (Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan) at six-month follow-up.

Comparison of ExPress Mini-Device Implantation Alone or Combined with Phacoemulsification for the Treatment of Open-Angle Glaucoma.

We propose comparative assessment of the effectiveness of two surgical methods for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma: (1) ExPress mini-device implantation combined with phacoemulsification and (2) ExPress mini-device implantation alone. In this prospective study, 81 patients (88 phakic eyes) with uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma enrolled for surgery. They were assigned two groups, those with coexisting cataracts (46 eyes; P-ExPress group) and those with glaucoma alone (42 eyes; ExPress group).

Metalloproteinase 9 and TIMP-1 expression in retina and optic nerve in absolute angle closure glaucoma.

Purpose: Glaucoma is one of the most important reason causes of the blindness, associated with retinal ganglion cells (RGC) death. This process is not fully understood, however apoptosis due to hypoxia is one of the most important processes leading to RGC death. Glaucomatous optic neuropathy is characterized by remodeling of the extracellular matrix due to metalloproteinase activation, which leads to loss of RGC and axons at the optic nerve head.

Prospective Randomized Study Comparing Combined Phaco-ExPress and Phacotrabeculectomy in Open Angle Glaucoma Treatment: 12-Month Follow-Up.

Purpose of the Study. To compare the efficacy and safety of phacotrabeculectomy (P-Trab) and phacoemulsification with the ExPress (P-ExPress) mini glaucoma shunt implantation. Study Plan.

Evaluation of the endothelial cell density and the central corneal thickness in pseudoexfoliation syndrome and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.

Purpose. Evaluation of central corneal thickness (CCT) and endothelial cell density (ECD) in patients with senile cataract and coexisting pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome with glaucoma (PEXG) and without glaucoma using specular microscopy. Participants and Methods.

HIF-1 expression in retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve axons in glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a result of increased intraocular pressure leading to damage to retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve axons. The aim of this study was to evaluate HIF-1 expression in optic nerve axons and retinal ganglion cells in 42 eyes enucleated because of complete glaucoma compared to eyes removed because of injury.The immunohistochemical reaction was done and specimens were examined under a light microscope.

The evaluation of human papillomavirus and p53 gene mutation in benign and malignant conjunctiva and eyelid lesions.

Papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas are the most common conjunctival and eyelid lesions. The etiology is still unclear and recently human papillomavirus infection and p53 gene mutation have been taken into consideration. The aim of our study was the evaluation of HPV DNApresence and p53 gene mutation in 45 benign and 38 malignant squamous lesions of the conjunctiva and eyelid.

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH)--implications for human genetic identification.

The aim of this study was assessment of possible effects of loss of heterozygosity on human genetic identification of histolopathogical tissue sections. DNA templates were extracted from tumour tissue specimens excised from oncological patients and from reference blood samples. AmpFlSTR Identifiler PCR Amplification Kit and ABI 310 Genetic Analyzer (Applera) were used to obtain genetic profiles.

The expressions of Fas and caspase-3 in human glaucomatous optic nerve axons.

Background: Glaucoma is a chronic neurodegeneration of the optic nerve and one of the leading causes of vision loss in the world among the aging. Recent data suggest an important role for Fas receptor- and caspase-3-mediated apoptosis in the pathophysiology of glaucoma. In this study, Fas receptor and caspase-3 immunoexpression in the optic nerve axons of eyeballs with absolute glaucoma and eyes enucleated following extensive trauma were compared.

[The influence of pregnancy on progression of diabetic retinopathy].

Purpose: Pregnancy is considered an important risk factor of the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR). The aim of the study was to assess whether retinal changes tend to progress during pregnancy in women with type 1 diabetes.

Material And Methods: 136 women with type 1 diabetes were enrolled to this 3 years prospective study.

[An application of Color Doppler ultrasonography in evaluate of brachytherapy in patients with uveal melanomas].

Unlabelled: Uveal melanomas, even those of big size, are recently more readily treated conservatively, with radiotherapy, though the efficiency of this treatment has not been yet established.

Purpose: Of the study was the assessment of the usefulness of Color Doppler (CD) or Power Doppler (PD) examination in monitoring the effectiveness of brachytherapy in the management of melanomas.

Material And Methods: Examination was performed in 15 patients, who were treated because of medium size or large uveal melanomas, with plaque radiation (brachytherapy).

[Ocular findings in patients with Steinert myotonic dystrophy].

The authors present one of many myotonic dystrophies: Steinert myotonic dystrophy (Steinert disease), which is a disease occuring seldom, and causing a lot of problems during the diagnostic and treatment process. Genetic factors, results of the histopathology tests, main clinical symptoms, particularly ophtalmic manifestation are described in this article.

[The role of nitric oxide in physiology and pathogenesis of ocular diseases].

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas with diverse biological activities produced from arginine by nitric oxide synthetase (NOS). The loss of retinal ganglion cells is a hallmark of many ophthalmic diseases including glaucoma, retinal ischemia due to central artery occlusion and anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. It may well be significant in optic neuritis, optic nerve, trauma and AIDS.

[Biosynthesis of nitric oxide and its function in organism].

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas with diverse biological activities produced from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthetase (NOS). This article provides a short overview of the basic function of NO which takes part in smooth muscle relaxation, neurotransmission, modulation of inflammation in a number of tissues and pathological conditions. The discovery of these new physiological and pathological pathways allows for better understanding of many complex processes.

[Genetic abnormalities underlying formation of choroidal melanoma].

Genetic mechanisms underlying formation of ocular and skin melanoma differ in many aspects, the former being still poorly understood. It has been suggested that choroidal melanoma can develop due to accumulation of genetic alterations in the DNA of normal melanocytes. Neoplastic transformation in the choroid can be triggered as a consequence of the following genetic alterations: --deletions and/or amplifications in the genetic material, usually in the chromosome 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 18; --point mutations, especially within some egzones, which leads to monosomia or loss of heterozygosity of the chromosome.

[Problems of perioperative period in patients with Steinert's myotonic dystrophy operated due to cataract].

Steinert's myotonic dystrophy is a genetically conditioned systemic disease with symptoms related to circulatory, respiratory, muscular, endocrine and mental disturbances. Most if not all of these patients develop lens opacification as a presenting symptom and need to undergo cataract surgery. Nevertheless, selection of a type of anaesthesia can arise to a problem in these patients because local anaesthesia can be insufficient whereas general endotracheal anaesthesia is known, to potentially provoke serious postoperative complications.

[Morphological parameters of the optic disc in patients with primary open angle glaucoma and low myopia].

Purpose: To compare the morphological parameters of the optic disc in patients with low myopia and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and in patients with glaucoma without refractive errors.

Material And Methods: 53 patients, aged 33-88 (56.2 +/- 11.

[Non-penetrating deep sclerectomy with SK-GEL implant in the patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma].

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of non-penetrating deep sclerectomy with SK-GEL implant in the patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.

Material And Methods: Non-penetrating deep sclerectomy with SK-GEL implant was performed in 5 eyes of 5 patients aged 65 to 78 (mean age 73 years +/- 5.4).

[The expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, Bak and Bax proteins in axons of the optic nerve in closed-angle glaucoma].

Purpose: The aim of our study was the evaluation of Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, Bak and Bax immunoexpression in axons of the optic nerve with absolute glaucoma.

Material And Methods: This study was conducted on 19 patients with absolute glaucoma, suffered from severe ophthalmalgia, treated of necessity by enucleation in 1991-2003 in our Department of Ophthalmology. The samples were immuno-stained with antibodies for Bcl-2, Bak, Bax and Bcl-xl protein.

[Loss of heterozygosity at microsatellite marker localised near the metalloproteinase gene in patients with PEX syndrome].

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the possible occurrence of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at microsatellite marker localised near the area for metalloproteinase gene in the anterior capsule, lens nucleus, iris and trabeculum samples taken from patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX).

Material And Methods: In our study we examined 19 patients (12 women and 7 men) with PEX syndrome who underwent surgical treatment for glaucoma, cataract or both at the same time. The mean age was 75.

[Genetic instability in human malignant uveal melanomas].

Purpose: The aim of the study was evaluation of genetic changes: loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MSI) in the genome of cells of the uveal melanoma.

Material And Methods: The incidence of MSI and LOH in cells of uveal melanomas was examined in tissue specimens obtained at surgical resection of the tumour in 14 patients. The results were related to respective MSI and LOH incidence in the genome of peripheral blood cells of the same patients.

Loss of heterozygosity in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the possible occurrence of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the anterior capsule, lens nucleus, iris, and trabeculum samples taken from patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX). Loss of heterozygosity in a microsatellite marker locus indicates that the neighboring gene may be inactivated. Previous attempts to find a gene defect that might be responsible for pseudoexfoliation glaucoma have been unsuccessful.