Potential effects of nutraceuticals in retinopathy of prematurity

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), the most common cause of childhood blindness, is a hypoxia-induced eye disease characterized by retinal neovascularization. In the normal retina, a well-organized vascular network provides oxygen and nutrients as energy sources to maintain a normal visual function; however, it is disrupted when pathological angiogenesis is induced in ROP patients. Under hypoxia, inadequate oxygen and energy supply lead to oxidative stress and stimulate neovasculature formation as well as affecting the function of photoreceptors. In order to meet the metabolic needs in the developing retina, protection against abnormal vascular formation is one way to manage ROP. Although current treatments provide beneficial effects in reducing the severity of ROP, these invasive therapies may also induce life-long consequences such as systemic structural and functional complications as well as neurodevelopment disruption in the developing infants. Nutritional supplements for the newborns are a novel concept for restoring energy supply by protecting the retinal vasculature and may lead to better ROP management. Nutraceuticals are provided in a non-invasive manner without the developmental side effects associated with current treatments. These nutraceuticals have been investigated through various in vitro and in vivo methods and are indicated to protect retinal vasculature. Here, we reviewed and discussed how the use of these nutraceuticals may be beneficial in ROP prevention and management

Dataset on the activation of Mueller cells through macrophages upon hypoxia in the retina

The dataset presented in this article complements the article entitled "Myeloid cells contribute indirectly to VEGF expression upon hypoxia via activation of Mueller cells" (C. Nuernberg, N. Kociok, C. Brockmann, T. Lischke, S. Crespo-Garcia, N. Reichhart, S. Wolf, R. Baumgrass, S.A. Eming, S. Beer-Hammer, and A.M. Joussen). This complementary dataset provides further insight into the experimental validation of the VEGF(fl/fl) LysMCre (here named VEGF(mcko)) knockout model used in the main article through genomic and quantitative Real-Time PCR in various murine tissues as well as additional flow cytometry data and immunohistochemical stainings. By providing these data, we aim to enable researcher to reproduce and critically analyze our data

Outcome Measures of New Technologies in Uveal Melanoma Review from the European Vision Institute Special Interest Focus Group Meeting

Uveal melanoma UM is the most common primary intraocular tumor in adults. New diagnostic procedures and basic science discoveries continue to change our patient management paradigms. A recent meeting of the European Vision Institute EVI special interest focus group was held on Outcome Measures of New Technologies in Uveal Melanoma, addressing the latest advances in UM, starting with genetic developments, then moving on to imaging and treatment of the primary tumor, as well as to investigating the most recent developments in treating metastases, and eventually taking care of the patient s well being. This review highlights the meeting s presentations in the context of the published literatur

Adjuvant Ab Interno Tumor Treatment After Proton Beam Irradiation

PURPOSE This study was performed to show long term outcomes concerning globe preservation in uveal melanoma patients after proton beam therapy with the main focus on outcomes according to different adjuvant ab interno surgical procedures. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. METHODS All patients treated with primary proton beam therapy for choroidal or ciliary body melanoma between June 1998 and June 2015 were included. RESULTS A total of 2499 patients underwent primary proton beam therapy, with local tumor control and globe preservation rates of 95.9 and 94.8 after 5 years, respectively. A total of 110 4.4 patients required secondary enucleation. Unresponsive neovascular glaucoma was the leading cause of secondary enucleation in 78 of the 2499 patients 3.1 . The 5 year enucleation free survival rate was 94.8 in the endoresection group, 94.3 in the endodrainage group, and 93.5 in the comparator group. The log rank test showed P [ .014 comparator group vs endoresection group and P [ .06 comparator group vs endodrainage vitrectomy group . Patients treated with endoresection or endodrainage vitrectomy developed less radiation retinopathy 30.5 and 37.4 after 5 years, P [ .001 and P [ .048 [Kaplan Meier], respectively and less neovascular glaucoma 11.6 and 21.3 after 5 years, P [ .001 and P [ .01 [Kaplan Meier], respectively compared with the comparator group 52.3 radiation retinopathy and 57.8 neovascular glaucoma after 5 years . CONCLUSION This study suggests that in larger tumors the enucleation and neovascular glaucoma rates might be reduced by adjuvant surgical procedures. Although endoresection is the most promising adjuvant treatment option, the endodrainage vitrectomy is recommended in patients who are ineligible for endoresection. Am J Ophthalmol 2017;178 94 100. 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved