Choroidal thickness, ganglion cell layer and retinal nerve fiber layer: An evaluation in vitiligo patients

Aim: To evaluate the choroidal and retinal structures in vitiligo patients without periocular involvement. Methods: Choroidal and retinal images of 30 vitiligo patients and 31 healthy individuals were taken using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), in this study. The choroidal thickness (CT) was measured at the fovea and at two points 1500 μm nasal and temporal positions to the fovea in a horizontal section. Results: Subfoveal CT values were significantly lower in vitiligo patients (P = 0.037). The differences between the groups in terms of superior quadrant retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and average macular ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) values (P = 0.035 and P = 0.004, respectively) were statistically significant. Vitiligo area severity index (VASI) negatively correlated only with nasal RNFL values (r = −0.370). There was no significant correlation between other OCT parameters and VASI values (P > 0.05). Conclusion: CT and mGCIPL were found to be thinner in vitiligo patients. Progressive damage to the melanocytes in vitiligo, which play a protective role in the ocular structure, may result in these findings

Assessment of reliability and quality of YouTube videos as an information source in Retinopathy of Prematurity treatment

To assess the reliability and quality of YouTube videos as an information source in Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) treatment. A YouTube search with the keyword "ROP treatment" was conducted. First 200 videos listed in the first 10 pages were evaluated. The upload sources, video length, days on YouTube, number of total views, likes, dislikes and comments were recorded. View ratio (VR), like ratio (LR) and video power index (VPI) were analyzed. Two ophthalmologists scored all videos using the DISCERN scoring system, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria, and Global Quality Score (GQS). Seventy-three videos were included in the study. The mean VR, LR, and VPI were 4.92±10.11, 83.88±33.98, and 4.55±9.25, respectively. The main upload sources were universities/non-profit professional organizations (36.99%) and physicians (31.51%). The 18 of the 55 videos on treatment procedures contained information on all treatment procedures, 37 videos contained information about at least one of treatment options. The mean DISCERN score, JAMA score and GQS were 42.32±17.51, 2.81±1.03, and 3.12±1.48, respectively. The category of all videos according to the mean DISCERN score was "fair". The overall quality of YouTube videos on ROP treatment was intermediate. Although one third of videos were classified as good quality, most YouTube videos provided poor quality information. Competent authorities and experts should upload carefully recorded videos with reliable and quality content on YouTube to educate and increase the awareness of parents, especially in ROP requiring treatment. [Med-Science 2022; 11(4.000): 1613-8

Investigation of alterations in retrobulbar hemodynamics and their correlation with choroidal thickness after strabismus surgery

Abstract Background To evaluate the changes in retrobulbar circulation after strabismus surgery and to assess the relationship of these changes with choroidal thickness (CT). Methods This prospective study included 26 eyes of 26 patients who underwent strabismus surgery and 15 eyes of 15 healthy individuals as control group. The patients who had single horizontal muscle surgery were included in Group 1 (n = 14); and those who had surgery on both horizontal muscles were included in Group 2 (n = 12). Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) of ophthalmic artery (OA), posterior ciliary artery (PCA), and central retinal artery (CRA) were measured using Color Doppler Ultrasonography. Subfoveal CT was measured via Optical Coherence Tomography. All measurements were obtained preoperatively, at 1st week and 1st month after surgery. Results There were no differences regarding preoperative blood flow velocity parameters among the groups. OA RI increased significantly at 1st week and 1st month after surgery in Group 1 and 2 (P = 0.029 and P = 0.045, respectively). There was a significant increase in PCA PSV at 1st week in Group 1 (P = 0.002). There was no difference between the mean preoperative and postoperative CT among the 3 groups. A negative correlation between the percentage changes of CT and CRA EDV was found in Group 2 (P = 0.011). Conclusion Single and double horizontal rectus muscle surgery have a measurable effect on retrobulbar hemodynamics but these changes do not correlate with CT

Investigation of the choroidal thickness in patients with hypothyroidism

Purpose: The effect of hypothyroidism on the choroidal thickness (CT) was investigated in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and overt hypothyroidism, and biochemically and clinically euthyroid patients receiving levothyroxine treatment. The patients were compared with healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: One eye of 71 hypothyroid and 22 healthy subjects between 20 and 40 years of age were included in this study. CT measurements were taken at the fovea and at 2 points that were 1500 μm nasal and temporal to the fovea using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Independent sample t-test′s and was used for statistical analysis of the data. Results: The CT was significantly thicker in hypothyroid patients compared to healthy subjects (P values were 0.013 for subfoveal, 0.015 for temporal and 0.020 for nasal segments). The intraocular pressure (IOP) and body mass index (BMI) were also significantly higher in hypothyroid patients (P values were 0.021 and 0.003, respectively). There was not a statistically significant difference in the BMI and IOP measurements between healthy subjects and euthyroid patients (P > 0.05). However, there was a statistically significant difference in the subfoveal, temporal and nasal CT measurements between healthy subjects and euthyroid patients (P values were 0.006, 0.031 and 0.013, respectively). Conclusions: All subgroups of hypothyroid patients had thicker CT compared to healthy subjects. Euthyroid patients receiving levothyroxine treatment had lower IOP, BMI levels, and serum lipid levels than patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and overt hypothyroidism

Optical coherence tomography findings in Parkinson's disease

The aim of this study is to compare optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings of retinal thickness (RT) and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) patients to those of healthy subjects, and to investigate whether there is any relationship between the severity of the disease and the RNFLT values. This prospective study was included 25 IPD patients and 29 healthy controls. In the IPD group, the Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y), Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) were performed. Intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity (VA), spherical equivalent, axial length (AL), and central corneal thickness (CCT) were measured using OCT in both groups. The RT was measured in the central retinal (RTc), nasal (RTn), and temporal (RTt) segments. Nasal (RNFLTn), nasal superior (RNFLTns), nasal inferior (RNFLTni), temporal (RNFLTt), temporal superior (RNFLTts), and temporal inferior (RNFLTti) measurements were made and mean RTFLT was calculated (RNFLTg) for each individual. In the patient group, IOP and VA values were statistically significantly lower The RTn and RNFLTg were significantly thinner in the patient group. There was no statistically significant relationship between the severity of IPD and these findings. In our study, RNFLTg and RTn were found to be thinner in the IPD group, which may have caused lower VA scores. The effects of retinal dopamine depletion on RT and RNFLT, and lower IOP values in the non-glaucomatous IPD patients should be further investigated

Type I Ifn-Related Netosis In Ataxia Telangiectasia And Artemis Deficiency

Background: Pathological inflammatory syndromes of unknown etiology are commonly observed in ataxia telangiectasia (AT) and Artemis deficiency. Similar inflammatory manifestations also exist in patients with STING-associated vasculopathy in infancy (SAVI). Objective: We sought to test the hypothesis that the inflammation-associated manifestations observed in patients with AT and Artemis deficiency stem from increased type I IFN signature leading to neutrophil-mediated pathological damage. Methods: Cytokine/protein signatures were determined by ELISA, cytometric bead array, or quantitative PCR. Stat1 phosphorylation levels were determined by flow cytometry. DNA species accumulating in the cytosol of patients' cells were quantified microscopically and flow cytometrically. Propensity of isolated polymorhonuclear granulocytes to form neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) was determined using fluorescence microscopy and picogreen assay. Neutrophil reactive oxygen species levels and mitochondrial stress were assayed using fluorogenic probes, microscopy, and flow cytometry. Results: Type I and III IFNsignatures were elevated in plasma and peripheral blood cells of patients with AT, Artemis deficiency, and SAVI. Chronic IFN production stemmed fromthe accumulation of DNA in the cytoplasm of ATand Artemis-deficient cells. Neutrophils isolated from patients spontaneously produced NETs and displayed indicators of oxidative and mitochondrial stress, supportive of theirNETotic tendencies. Asimilar phenomenonwas also observed in neutrophils from healthy controls exposed to patient plasma samples or exogeneous IFN-alpha. Conclusions: Type I IFN-mediated neutrophil activation and NET formation may contribute to inflammatory manifestations observed in patients with AT, Artemis deficiency, and SAVI. Thus, neutrophils represent a promising target to manage inflammatory syndromes in diseases with active type I IFN signature.Wo