Disorganization of the retinal inner layers as a prognostic factor in eyes with central retinal artery occlusion

AIM: To evaluate baseline foveal disorganisation of retinal inner layers (DRIL) as a prognostic factor in eyes with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). METHODS: Twenty-eight CRAO patients who were followed-up between 2010 and 2016 were retrospectively investigated. Demographic characteristics and detailed ophthalmological examination findings of all patients were recorded. Macular thicknesses (MTs) from 5 separate spots and DRIL were measured with spectral-domain optic coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Correlations between DRIL score and logMAR converted visual acuity (VA), change in VA, patient reference time (RT), number of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) sessions, MT and MT change were investigated. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between the DRIL score and the final VA (r=0.787) and a negative correlation with the change in VA (r=-0.763). The RT and MT were closely related to the DRIL score. A negative correlation was found between the number of HBOT sessions and the DRIL score (r=-0.341). CONCLUSION: The DRIL score is a parameter assessed by SD-OCT, which can provide us reliable information regarding the prognosis of visual functions and response to the treatment for CRAO patients at acute phase.     

Decrease in inner retinal thickness at para- and perifoveal areas before vascular retinopathy in patients with metabolic risk factors

BackgroundHypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia are major risk factors for vascular retinopathy. The relationship between retinal thickness at the macular area and metabolic risk factors, as well as visual impairment, in elderly patients before developing vascular occlusion needs to be investigated.MethodsIn this prospective, case-control study, patients >60 years old, without objective visual threatened ocular diseases or systemic abnormalities, except for hypertension, dyslipidemia or/and hyperglycemia, were included for measurement of retinal thickness at the macular area by optical coherence tomography (OCT).ResultsFifty-four patients were analyzed; 11 patients had no metabolic risk factors, 16 had one, 17 had two, and 10 had three. There was no significant difference in age, and full and outer retinal thickness, but there was a significantly lower inner retinal thickness at the parafoveal (p = 0.0013) and perifoveal (p = 0.018) areas in patients with at least one metabolic risk factor. The superior (p = 0.040) and inferior (p = 0.046) inner retina at the perifovea and superior (p = 0.013) inner retinal thickness at the parafovea were sensitive to metabolic abnormalities. Only patients with three factors had significantly reduced best corrected visual acuity (BCVA).ConclusionElderly patients with metabolic risk factors had decreased inner retinal thickness at the para- and perifoveal areas before retinal vascular diseases. Accelerated inner retinal degeneration occurred prior to visual impairment.     

Gut microbiota as a source of a surrogate antigen that triggers autoimmunity in an immune privileged site

Recent discoveries on the role of commensal microbiota have significantly changed our understanding of human physiology. The host-microbiota interplay is now an important aspect to take into account to understand immune responses and immunological diseases. Autoimmune uveitis is a sight-threatening disease that arises without a known infectious etiology. It is unknown where and how autoreactive T cells become primed to trigger disease in the eye, which is an immune privileged site. We recently reported data supporting the notion that retina-specific T cells receive a signal in the gut from commensal microbiota-derived cross-reactive antigen(s) and trigger autoimmune uveitis in the R161H mouse model. Here we discuss our published findings, as well as our recent attempts to identify the responsible microbe(s) by using different antibiotic treatments, 16S rDNA sequencing and homology searches for candidate antigenic mimic(s) of the retinal antigen.     

走动式管理在小儿急诊分诊护理质量管理中的应用效果观察

目的观察走动式管理应用于小儿急诊分诊护理质量管理后的实际效果。方法将采用了走动式管理模式下的护理方法所护理的小儿急诊患者,设置为试验组;对照组则为仅接受常规护理的同等例数小儿急诊患者,对比两组患儿的临床护理质量,并比较两组患方的满意度。结果走动式管理组患者的护理质量评分和满意度均优于对照组患者。结论走动式管理模式下的护理方式,能够更方便、快捷地缓解小儿病患的临床症状,更大程度上减轻家属的紧张情绪,较常规护理措施质量更佳,具有较高的应用和推广价值。     

A型肉毒素内括约肌侧方注射+病灶扇形小切口切扩引流术治疗Ⅱ、Ⅲ期肛裂的临床研究

目的评价A型肉毒素内括约肌侧方注射+病灶扇形小切口切扩引流术治疗Ⅱ、Ⅲ期肛裂的安全性和有效性,探索其手术操作步骤及要点,介绍一种治疗肛裂的新手术方式。方法采用随机、平行、对照的临床试验方法,将纳入病例随机分为试验组和对照组,试验组行A型肉毒素内括约肌侧方注射+病灶扇形小切口切扩引流术,对照组行肛裂切除扩创术加部分内括约肌侧方切断术。将2组安全性指标(包括肛门狭窄、肛门失禁、急性尿潴留、术后疼痛的发生及直肠肛管测压结果)和有效性指标(包括痊愈率、手术时间、切口创面愈合时间、切口愈合分级、切口愈合后瘢痕面积大小)进行比较。结果 2组均无肛门狭窄和急性尿潴留发生;对照组肛门失禁评分高于试验组,但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。试验组术后(术后24 h、术后第1次排便及术后1周)疼痛评分明显低于对照组(P<0.01)。术前、术后直肠肛管测压结果 2组间比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。试验组痊愈率高于对照组(P<0.05),手术时间及切口创面愈合时间均明显短于对照组(P<0.01),切口愈合优于对照组(P<0.05),切口愈合后瘢痕面积小于对照组(P<0.01)。结论 A型肉毒素内括约肌侧方注射+病灶扇形小切口切扩引流术具有治愈率高、切口愈合时间短、切口愈合后瘢痕面积小、操作快捷、手术微创化等优点;且在肛门外形和功能保护方面优于对照组,本术式具有较好的临床疗效和安全性。     

Retinal vascular biomarkers for early detection and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease

The earliest detectable change in Alzheimer''s disease (AD) is the buildup of amyloid plaque in the brain. Early detection of AD, prior to irreversible neurological damage, is important for the efficacy of current interventions as well as for the development of new treatments. Although PiB-PET imaging and CSF amyloid are the gold standards for early AD diagnosis, there are practical limitations for population screening. AD-related pathology occurs primarily in the brain, but some of the hallmarks of the disease have also been shown to occur in other tissues, including the retina, which is more accessible for imaging. Retinal vascular changes and degeneration have previously been reported in AD using optical coherence tomography and laser Doppler techniques. This report presents results from analysis of retinal photographs from AD and healthy control participants from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) Flagship Study of Ageing. This is the first study to investigate retinal blood vessel changes with respect to amyloid plaque burden in the brain. We demonstrate relationships between retinal vascular parameters, neocortical brain amyloid plaque burden and AD. A number of RVPs were found to be different in AD. Two of these RVPs, venular branching asymmetry factor and arteriolar length-to-diameter ratio, were also higher in healthy individuals with high plaque burden (P=0.01 and P=0.02 respectively, after false discovery rate adjustment). Retinal photographic analysis shows potential as an adjunct for early detection of AD or monitoring of AD-progression or response to treatments.     

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) study in Argentinean Huntington’s disease patients

Abstract

Background: Huntington’s disease (HD) is a genetic, rare and progressive neurodegenerative disorder that causes motor and cognitive impairment in midlife patients. Although retinal damage was observed in animal HD models and in patients with other neurodegenerative diseases, we still need confirmation of impairment in HD patients. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive methodology that analyses the retinal nerve fibre layers (RNFL) and could reflect processes of neurodegeneration.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with 14?HD patients who underwent a spectral domain OCT. Results were compared with a control group. Demographic data were also obtained.

Results: Temporal and superior RNFL sectors in HD showed a significant RNFL thinning compared with a control group. However, no differences were identified in mean total RNFL thickness between HD patients and controls.

Conclusions: OCT is a rapid and non-invasive technique that can be investigated in larger cohorts of patients to assess its potential role as a biomarker in HD patients.     

橙皮苷在低压低氧所致大鼠视网膜抗氧化能力和炎症介质调控改变中的作用

目的　探讨橙皮苷（HSD）在低压低氧所致大鼠视网膜抗氧化应激能力及炎性介质调控改变中的干预作用。方法　取健康雄性清洁级成年SD大鼠72只（144眼），随机分为对照组、低压低氧组及HSD干预组，每组24只（48眼）。对照组大鼠饲养于常氧环境，低压低氧组及HSD干预组大鼠放置于模拟海拔5000 m高度的低压氧舱内喂养。HSD干预组大鼠给予HSD灌胃，对照组和低压低氧组大鼠给予生理盐水，各组大鼠每天等量灌胃一次，连续7 d。通过HE染色光镜下观察大鼠视网膜组织形态变化；采用酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)法检测大鼠视网膜谷胱甘肽(GSH)和半胱氨酸(Cys)蛋白浓度、丙二醛（MDA）含量以及肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）活性；Western-blot检测大鼠视网膜核因子-κB p65（NF-κB p65）和细胞色素C（Cyto-C)蛋白表达水平。结果　光镜下观察可见，与对照组相比，低压低氧组大鼠出现视网膜水肿，HSD干预组较低压低氧组大鼠视网膜水肿程度减轻。与对照组相比，低压低氧组大鼠视网膜中GSH蛋白浓度和Cys蛋白浓度降低，MDA含量升高，差异均有统计学意义（均为P<0.001）；与低压低氧组相比，HSD干预组提高了GSH蛋白浓度和Cys蛋白浓度，降低了MDA含量，GSH蛋白浓度和MDA含量两组相比差异均有统计学意义（均为P<0.001），Cys蛋白浓度两组相比差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。与对照组相比，低压低氧组大鼠视网膜中NF-κB p65蛋白表达水平和TNF-α活性升高，差异均有统计学意义（P<0.01、 P<0.001）；与低压低氧组相比，HSD干预组大鼠视网膜中NF-κB p65蛋白表达水平和TNF-α活性降低，差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05、P<0.001）。与对照组相比，低压低氧组大鼠视网膜Cyto-C蛋白表达水平明显升高，差异有统计学意义（P<0.01）；与低压低氧组相比，HSD干预组大鼠视网膜中Cyto-C蛋白表达水平降低，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论　HSD能够通过提高大鼠视网膜抗氧化应激能力、抑制炎症介质释放以及减少线粒体损伤而发挥保护视网膜功能的作用。