Epidemiology of endogenous uveitis in north‐eastern Italy. Analysis of 655 new cases

ABSTRACT. Purpose: To report the results of a retrospective analysis among endogenous uveitis patients in the north‐eastern area of Italy.Methods: The authors reviewed a series of 655 new cases treated between October 1986 and December 1993. The incidence of endogenous uveitis was calculated based on a 100,000 patient population.Results: The average incidence was 11.40/100,000. The majority of patients were between the ages of 20 and 70 years (74.43%). A probable diagnosis was determined in 55.57% of cases; anterior uveitis was diagnosed in 58.01% of cases, posterior uveitis in 26.11%, panuveitis in 12.98%, and intermediate uveitis in 2.9% of cases. The authors observed recurrences in 25.49% of cases. While the first cases are almost equally distributed in the various months, the recurrences seem to be significantly more frequent in the cold (from November to February; mean air temperature18°C). Respectively p=0.003 and p=0.029.Conclusion: The incidence in this series is lower than in other European and American studies. Despite the high rate of idiopathic cases in this study, the authors support that the presentation of single case experiences may allow improved multi‐centric analysis and a greater understanding of the epidemiology of uveitis

European Vitreoretinal Society Macular Hole Study, Prognostic Factors for Anatomical and Functional Success

Background: To identify prognostic preoperative and intraoperative factors for anatomical and visual success of idiopathic macular hole (MH) surgery. Methods: We conducted a non-randomized, collaborative multicenter study using data of 4207 MH surgery from 140 surgeons. Main study outcomes were anatomical closure and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improvement postoperative at 6-12 months. Results: Information on anatomical success was available for 4138 eyes of 4207 operations. Anatomical closure of MH was achieved in 85.7% (3546 eyes). Closure was higher in smaller MH (stages 1-2 versus stage 3: OR=0.35; stage 2 versus stage 4: OR=0.16, and in MH with shorter duration before the operation (OR=0.94). Macular Holes were more likely to close when dyes were used to facilitate internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling (odds ratio=1.73 to 3.58). The most important predictors of postoperative BCVA were the preoperative BCVA (estimate=0.39, p<0.001) and closure of the macular hole (estimate=0.34, p<0.001). We observed Larger improvement in BCVA in combined vitrectomy and phacoemulsification (estimate = 0.10) and post cataract surgery in phakic eyes (estimate=0.05). Retinal tears occurred in 5.1% of eyes, and were less with use of trocars (OR= -1.246) and in combined vitrectomy/ phacoemulsification surgery (OR= -0.688). Conclusion: This international survey confirmed that staining with dyes improves anatomical results but not visual outcomes. After surgery, visual acuity improved during the first year, and final visual acuity was better in both pseudophakic eyes and eyes that underwent cataract surgery during the first year following MH repair

NATIVE CHARACTERIZATION AND QC PROFILING OF HUMAN AMNIOTIC MESENCHYMAL STROMAL CELL VESICULAR FRACTIONS FOR SECRETOME-BASED THERAPY

Human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cells (hAMSCs) have unique immunomodulatory properties making them attractive candidates for regenerative applications in inflammatory diseases. Most of their beneficial properties are mediated through their secretome. The bioactive factors concurring to its therapeutic activity are still unknown. Evidence suggests synergy between the two main components of the secretome, soluble factors and vesicular fractions, pivotal in shifting inflammation and promoting self-healing. Biological variability and the absence of quality control (QC) protocols hinder secretome-based therapy translation to clinical applications. Moreover, vesicular secretome contains a multitude of particles with varying size, cargos and functions whose complexity hinders full characterization and comprehension. This study achieved a significant advancement in secretome characterization by utilizing native, FFF-based separation and characterizing extracellular vesicles derived from hAMSCs. This was accomplished by obtaining dimensionally homogeneous fractions then characterized based on their protein content, potentially enabling the identification of subpopulations with diverse functionalities. This method proved to be successful as an independent technique for secretome profiling, with the potential to contribute to the standardization of a qualitative method. Additionally, it served as a preparative separation tool, streamlining populations before ELISA and LC-MS characterization. This approach facilitated the categorization of distinctive and recurring proteins, along with the identification of clusters associated with vesicle activity and functions. However, the presence of proteins unique to each fraction obtained through the FFF separation tool presents a challenge for further analysis of the protein content within these cargoes

M1 and M2 macrophage recruitment during tendon regeneration induced by amniotic epithelial cell allotransplantation in ovine

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Dietary Silicon Deficiency Does Not Exacerbate Diet-Induced Fatty Lesions in Female ApoE Knockout Mice.

BACKGROUND: Dietary silicon has been positively linked with vascular health and protection against atherosclerotic plaque formation, but the mechanism of action is unclear. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effect of dietary silicon on 1) serum and aorta silicon concentrations, 2) the development of aortic lesions and serum lipid concentrations, and 3) the structural and biomechanic properties of the aorta. METHODS: Two studies, of the same design, were conducted to address the above objectives. Female mice, lacking the apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene, and therefore susceptible to atherosclerosis, were separated into 3 groups of 10-15 mice, each exposed to a high-fat diet (21% wt milk fat and 1.5% wt cholesterol) but with differing concentrations of dietary silicon, namely: silicon-deprived (-Si; <3-μg silicon/g feed), silicon-replete in feed (+Si-feed; 100-μg silicon/g feed), and silicon-replete in drinking water (+Si-water; 115-μg silicon/mL) for 15-19 wk. Silicon supplementation was in the form of sodium metasilicate (feed) or monomethylsilanetriol (drinking water). RESULTS: The serum silicon concentration in the -Si group was significantly lower than in the +Si-feed (by up to 78%; P < 0.003) and the +Si-water (by up to 84%; P < 0.006) groups. The aorta silicon concentration was also lower in the -Si group than in the +Si-feed group (by 65%; P = 0.025), but not compared with the +Si-water group. There were no differences in serum and aorta silicon concentrations between the silicon-replete groups. Body weights, tissue wet weights at necropsy, and structural, biomechanic, and morphologic properties of the aorta were not affected by dietary silicon; nor were the development of fatty lesions and serum lipid concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that dietary silicon has no effect on atherosclerosis development and vascular health in the apoE mouse model of diet-induced atherosclerosis, contrary to the reported findings in the cholesterol-fed rabbit model

TGF-β concentrations and activity are down-regulated in the aqueous humor of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Controversy still exists regarding the role of the TGF-β in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), a major cause of severe visual loss in the elderly in developed countries. Here, we measured the concentrations of active TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3 by ELISA in the aqueous humor of 20 patients affected by nAMD, who received 3 consecutive monthly intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF-A antibody. Samples were collected at baseline (before the first injection), month 1 (before the second injection), and month 2 (before the third injection). The same samples were used in a luciferase-based reporter assay to test the TGF-β pathway activation. Active TGF-β1 concentrations in the aqueous humor were below the minimum detectable dose. Active TGF-β2 concentrations were significantly lower at baseline and at month 1, compared to controls. No significant differences in active TGF-β3 concentration were found among the sample groups. Moreover, TGF-β pathway activation was significantly lower at baseline compared to controls. Our data corroborate an anti-angiogenic role for TGF-β2 in nAMD. This should be considered from the perspective of a therapy using TGF-β inhibitors

Strategy for the management of diabetic macular edema: the European Vitreo-Retinal Society macular edema study

Objective. To compare the efficacy of different therapies in the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). Design. Nonrandomized, multicenter clinical study. Participants. 86 retina specialists from 29 countries provided clinical information on 2,603 patients with macular edema including 870 patients with DME. Methods. Reported data included the type and number of treatment(s) performed, the pre-and posttreatment visual acuities, and other clinical findings.The results were analyzed by the French INSEE (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies). Main Outcome Measures. Mean change of visual acuity and mean number of treatments performed. Results.The change in visual acuity over time in response to each treatment was plotted in second order polynomial regression trend lines. Intravitreal triamcinolone monotherapy resulted in some improvement in vision. Treatmentwith threshold or subthreshold grid laser also resulted in minimal vision gain. Anti-VEGF therapy resulted in more significant visual improvement. Treatment with pars plana vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling alone resulted in an improvement in vision greater than that observed with anti-VEGF injection alone. In our DME study, treatment with vitrectomy and ILM peeling alone resulted in the better visual improvement compared to other therapies