optical coherence tomography angiography in the evaluation of geographic atrophy area extension

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Immunopathogenesis of psoriasis: a possible role of TGFβ/Smads pathway

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease with both genetic and environmental factors contributing to its pathogenesis. Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGFβ) is a member of a large family of pleiotropic cytokines with three different isoforms (TGFβ1,2,3). Smads are a family of eight-related proteins that function as intracellular signaling intermediates for TGFβ once the latter is bound to its receptors (TGFbRI, II and III). The involvement of Smads in TGFβ signaling has been studied intensively in the skin in the process of wound healing. Few studies, and with controversial results, have investigated at the immunohistochemical and molecular level the role of TGFβ/Smads signaling in psoriasis

prevalence and phenotypes of age related macular degeneration in eyes with high myopia

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Optical coherence tomography angiography in geographic atrophy

To analyze choriocapillaris (CC) vessel density (VD) around geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to non-neovascular dry age-related macular degeneration using optical coherence tomography angiography

Choroidal neovascular area and vessel density comparison between two swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography devices

PURPOSE: To compare choroidal neovascularization (CNV) area and vessel density (VD) measurements between two different swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) devices. METHODS: En face optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images of patients affected by neovascular age-related macular degeneration were collected prospectively from two devices: Zeiss PLEX Elite 9000 (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) and Topcon DRI OCT Triton SS-OCTA (Topcon, Tokyo, Japan). Choroidal neovascularization area and VD of images were measured and analyzed with ImageJ software by two readers to evaluate the agreement between two devices, with respect to different image size (3 7 3 and 6 7 6 mm) and different image segmentation (automatic vs. manual), and a Topcon equivalent Zeiss segmentation as control (i.e., the equivalent anatomical slab given by Topcon device on the Zeiss device). RESULTS: A total of 30 eyes (30 patients) were analyzed. There was an excellent agreement between the two readers in CNV area measurements intraclass correlation coefficient >0.9 in all analyses. We found excellent agreement in CNV area measurements (manual and automatic segmentations) when comparing 3 7 3-mm or 6 7 6-mm images both for each single device and between the two devices (overall intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.9). Vessel density measurements between manual to automatic segmentation within the same device and same image size had a high intraclass correlation coefficient value, but there was a poor agreement in VD between different image sizes (3 7 3 mm vs. 6 7 6 mm) in the same device and also comparing the two devices (3 7 3 Topcon vs. 3 7 3 Zeiss; 6 7 6 Topcon vs. 6 7 6 Zeiss). There was a poor agreement between the Topcon equivalent Zeiss segmentation and all other segmentations. CONCLUSION: There was an excellent agreement in CNV area measurements for both swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography devices in automatic and manual segmentations. However, the Topcon equivalent Zeiss segmentation was not comparable with any of the preset segmentations of Topcon and Zeiss devices. There was a poor agreement in CNV VD between different image size and different devices. For these reasons, it seems that, for accurate longitudinal analysis of VD, it is better to use the same device for each individual, even if both devices can be used interchangeably for CNV area measurements using automatic or manual segmentations

A Review of Current and Future Management of Geographic Atrophy

<p><b>Article full text</b></p> <p><br></p> <p>The full text of this article can be found here<b>.</b> <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40123-017-0086-6">https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40123-017-0086-6</a></p><p></p> <p><br></p> <p><b>Provide enhanced content for this article</b></p> <p><br></p> <p>If you are an author of this publication and would like to provide additional enhanced content for your article then please contact <a href="http://www.medengine.com/Redeem/”mailto:[email protected]”"><b>[email protected]</b></a>.</p> <p><br></p> <p>The journal offers a range of additional features designed to increase visibility and readership. All features will be thoroughly peer reviewed to ensure the content is of the highest scientific standard and all features are marked as ‘peer reviewed’ to ensure readers are aware that the content has been reviewed to the same level as the articles they are being presented alongside. Moreover, all sponsorship and disclosure information is included to provide complete transparency and adherence to good publication practices. This ensures that however the content is reached the reader has a full understanding of its origin. No fees are charged for hosting additional open access content.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Other enhanced features include, but are not limited to:</p> <p><br></p> <p>• Slide decks</p> <p>• Videos and animations</p> <p>• Audio abstracts</p> <p>• Audio slides</p

Early response to the treatment of choroidal neovascularization complicating central serous chorioretinopathy: a OCT-angiography study

PURPOSE: To analyze the quantitative and qualitative early changes of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) after treatment using optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A). METHODS: Charts of consecutive patients with diagnosis of chronic CSC complicated by CNV were retrospectively reviewed. Included patients were divided in photodynamic therapy (PDT) or aflibercept group on the basis of the treatment received (half-fluence PDT or aflibercept 2.0\u2009mg/0.05\u2009ml intravitreal injection). Main outcome measures included the changes between baseline and 1-month follow-up in CNV vessel density (VD) and area on OCT-A images after thresholding and binarization. RESULTS: A total of 30 eyes of 26 Caucasian patients were included: 17 eyes of 15 patients in PDT group (mean age 53\u2009\ub1\u200911 years) and 13 eyes of 11 patients in aflibercept group (mean age 58\u2009\ub1\u20098 years [p\u2009=\u20090.196]). In both PDT and aflibercept groups, best-corrected visual acuity improved at 1 month, and central macular thickness and subretinal fluid significantly decreased. VD did not change after the treatment in both groups (p\u2009=\u20090.502 and p\u2009=\u20090.086) although CNV area decreased significantly (from 0.586\u2009\ub1\u20090.449\u2009mm2 to 0.553\u2009\ub1\u20090.453\u2009mm2 [0.041]) in the PDT group, and nonsignificantly (from 0.767\u2009\ub1\u20090.466\u2009mm2 to 0.733\u2009\ub1\u20090.472\u2009mm2 [p\u2009=\u20090.095]) in the aflibercept group. The same results were confirmed in the subanalysis of the 18 treatment-na\uefve eyes. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that, despite all patients showed a favorable clinical response, VD of CNVs complicating chronic CSC did not change after treatment. These findings support the idea that arteriogenesis is the main driving force of CNV in pachychoroid-related macular disorders

Acute macular neuroretinopathy and peripheral retinal vascular abnormalities in a patient born hiv seropositive

PURPOSE: To describe the case of a born HIV seropositive woman who developed outer retinal alterations secondary to vascular abnormalities in the perimacular region and in the periphery of both eyes. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 21-year-old woman born HIV seropositive was referred for a routinary visit. Her best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes, and during the visit, only mild superotemporal metamorphopsia in the left eye was reported. Multimodal imaging disclosed findings consistent with acute macular neuroretinopathy such as reddish-brown lesions at fundus examination and disruption of ellipsoid zone at spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Peripheral vascular alterations were also noted at fluorescein angiography. CONCLUSION: Several associations or risk factors have been identified in patients with acute macular neuroretinopathy, including oral contraceptives, epinephrine/ephedrine, or systemic shock. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case describing peripheral vascular alterations and acute macular neuroretinopathy in association with HIV seropositivity at birth