DSpace Collection:https://hdl.handle.net/10171/189692024-03-29T02:00:17Z2024-03-29T02:00:17ZOcular surface analysis and automatic non-invasive assessment of tear film breakup location, extension and progression in patients with glaucomahttps://hdl.handle.net/10171/672002023-09-04T05:12:01Z2020-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Ocular surface analysis and automatic non-invasive assessment of tear film breakup location, extension and progression in patients with glaucoma
Abstract: Background: Tear film stability is the key event in ocular surface diseases. The purpose of this study is to evaluate
spatial and temporal progression of the tear film breakup using an automatic non-invasive device.
Methods: Non-invasive tear breakup time (NITBUT) parameters, such as First NITBUT (F-NITBUT) and Average
NITBUT (A-NITBUT), were evaluated in 132 glaucoma and 87 control eyes with the Keratograph 5 M device. Further
analysis of this data was used to determine size, location and progression of tear film breakup with automatically
identified breakup areas (BUA). The progression from First BUA (F-BUA) to total BUA (T-BUA) was expressed as Dry
Area Growth Rate (DAGR). Differences between both groups were analysed using Student t-test for parametric data
and Mann-Whitney U test for non-parametric data. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to assess the
relationship between parametric variables and Spearman in the case of non-parametric variables.
Results: F-NITBUT was 11.43 ± 7.83 s in the control group and 8.17 ± 5.73 in the glaucoma group (P = 0.010). A-NITBUT was
14.04 ± 7.21 and 11.82 ± 6.09 s in control and glaucoma groups, respectively (P = 0.028). F-BUA was higher in the glaucoma
group than in the control group (2.73 and 2.28; P = 0.022) and was more frequently located at the centre of the cornea in
the glaucoma group (P = 0.039). T-BUA was also higher in the glaucoma group than in the control group (13.24 and 9.76%;
P = 0.012) and the DAGR was steeper in the glaucoma group than in the control group (34.38° and 27.15°; P = 0.009).
Conclusions: Shorter NITBUT values and bigger, more central tear film breakup locations were observed in the glaucoma
group than in the control group. The DAGR indicates that tear film rupture is bigger and increases faster in glaucomatous
eyes than in normal eyes.2020-01-01T00:00:00ZVitamin D protects against oxidative stress and inflammation in human retinal cellshttps://hdl.handle.net/10171/671322023-08-21T05:17:07Z2020-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Vitamin D protects against oxidative stress and inflammation in human retinal cells
Abstract: Diabetic retinopathy is a vision-threatening microvascular complication of diabetes and is
one of the leading causes of blindness. Oxidative stress and inflammation play a major role in its
pathogenesis, and new therapies counteracting these contributors could be of great interest. In the
current study, we investigated the role of vitamin D against oxidative stress and inflammation in
human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and human retinal endothelial cell lines. We demonstrate
that vitamin D effectively counteracts the oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).
In addition, the increased levels of proinflammatory proteins such as Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, Monocyte
chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, Interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α triggered by
lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure were significantly decreased by vitamin D addition. Interestingly,
the increased IL-18 only decreased by vitamin D addition in endothelial cells but not in RPE cells,
suggesting a main antiangiogenic role under inflammatory conditions. Moreover, H2O2 and LPS
induced the alteration and morphological damage of tight junctions in adult retinal pigment epithelium
(ARPE-19) cells that were restored under oxidative and inflammatory conditions by the addition of
vitamin D to the media. In conclusion, our data suggest that vitamin D could protect the retina by
enhancing antioxidant defense and through exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties.2020-01-01T00:00:00ZMacular Function in Early and Intermediate Age-related Macular Degeneration: Correlation with the Simplified Thea Risk Assessment Scale (STARS)https://hdl.handle.net/10171/667232023-07-03T05:07:31Z2020-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Macular Function in Early and Intermediate Age-related Macular Degeneration: Correlation with the Simplified Thea Risk Assessment Scale (STARS)
Abstract: Purpose: Early detection of retinal dysfunction in age-related macular degeneration
(AMD) may be important for both prevention and treatment. The aim of this study was
to evaluate in early and intermediate AMD the correlation of macular function, assessed
by the focal electroretinogram (fERG), with the Simplified Thea Risk Assessment Scale
(STARS), a simple 13-item self-administered questionnaire.
Methods: We recorded a fERG (18°, 41 Hz) in 84 patients with AMD (40 male and
44 female, age 55–87 years, visual acuity 20/40–20/20), who had undergone a 5-year
clinical ophthalmic and general follow-up. Sixty-six patients had early and 17 patients
intermediate AMD. Fifty healthy subjects, in a comparable age range, served as controls.
The fERG amplitude (in microVolts) was the main outcome variable. STARS was calculated for each patient.
Results: Compared with controls, fERG amplitudes were significantly reduced, on
average, in both early and intermediate patients with AMD (P < 0.01). In both groups,
fERG amplitudes tended to decrease with age and to increase with visual acuity and
were negatively correlated with STARS (early r = –0.6, P < 0.01; intermediate, r = –0.50,
P < 0.05). fERG losses were greatest in patients with a STARS score of greater than 20.
Conclusions: In early and intermediate AMD, STARS robustly predicted central retinal
function, as assessed by fERG, supporting the combined use of both parameters to
estimate the clinical risk of visual function loss.
Translational Relevance: The STARS may predict macular function in AMD and could
be used in the daily clinical practice to estimate the risk of visual function loss in early
disease stages.2020-01-01T00:00:00ZMatrix metalloproteinase 13 is associated with age-related choroidal neovascularizationhttps://hdl.handle.net/10171/665612023-10-23T05:13:51Z2023-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Matrix metalloproteinase 13 is associated with age-related choroidal neovascularization
Abstract: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of severe vision loss in older individuals in developed countries. Despite advances in our understanding of AMD, its pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been proposed to play a role in AMD development. In this study, we aimed to characterize MMP-13 in AMD. We used retinal pigment epithelial cells, a murine model of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization, and plasma samples from patients with neovascular AMD to conduct our study. Our results show that MMP13 expression significantly increased under oxidative stress conditions in cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells. In the murine model, MMP13 was overexpressed in both retinal pigment epithelial cells and endothelial cells during choroidal neovascularization. Additionally, the total MMP13 levels in the plasma of patients with neovascular AMD were significantly lower than those in the control group. This suggests a reduced diffusion from the tissues or release from circulating cells in the bloodstream, given that the number and function of monocytes have been reported to be deficient in patients with AMD. Although more studies are needed to elucidate the role of MMP13 in AMD, it could be a promising therapeutic target for treating AMD.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z