Vitrectomy combined with glial tissue removal at the optic pit in a patient with optic disc pit maculopathy: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>We present a case of a man with optic disc pit maculopathy, whose vision improved after vitrectomy combined with glial tissue removal from the optic pit area, and without the use of photocoagulation.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 45-year-old man complained of blurred vision, and ophthalmoscopy revealed a retinal detachment and retinoschisis extending from an optic disc pit through the macula in his left eye. He was diagnosed with optic disc pit maculopathy, and vitrectomy was performed. A posterior vitreous detachment was created, glial tissue at the optic pit was removed, and octafluoropropane (C₃F₈) was injected as a gas tamponade. The retinal detachment and retinoschisis disappeared after six months, and vision improved to 20/20 without any visual field defects (Goldmann perimetry). A cataractous lens was extracted 2 years after the vitrectomy, and vision has remained 20/20 for 10 years without any recurrence.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The removal of glial tissue during vitrectomy may be beneficial in patients with optic disc pit maculopathy.</p

Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 Blockade Suppresses Ocular Inflammation After Retinal Laser Photocoagulation in Mice

PURPOSE. To investigate the effect of the vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) inhibitor RTU-1096 on retinal morphologic changes and ocular inflammation after retinal laser photocoagulation in mice. METHODS. C57BL/6JJcl mice were fed a diet containing RTU-1096, a specific inhibitor for VAP-1, or a control diet ad libitum for 7 days. Laser photocoagulation was performed on the peripheral retina of the animals. The semicarbazide sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) activities in plasma and chorioretinal tissues were measured. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images were acquired before and at 1, 3, and 7 days after laser photocoagulation, and thickness of the individual retinal layers was measured. Intravitreal leukocyte infiltration was assessed by histologic analysis. The expression level of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in retinal tissues were examined by quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS. One day after laser photocoagulation, the thickness of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) increased in the laser group compared with in the control group, and RTU-1096 administration abrogated the ONL thickening. Histologic analysis and OCT observation revealed that laser photocoagulation caused infiltration of inflammatory cells and the appearance of hyperreflective foci at the vitreoretinal surface, both of which were suppressed by RTU-1096 administration. In addition, systemic administration of RTU-1096 reduced upregulation of the leukocyte adhesion molecules ICAM-1 in the retina. CONCLUSIONS. The current data indicate that VAP-1/SSAO inhibition may be a potential therapeutic strategy for the prevention of macular edema secondary to scatter laser photocoagulation in patients with ischemic retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy

Communication—Alkyl-Chain-Length Dependence of Quaternary Ammonium Cation on Zn Deposition Morphology in Alkaline-Based Electrolytes

ArticleJournal of The Electrochemical Society. 166(10): A2242 (2019)journal articl

Influence of Active Fingertip Contact with a Stable Surface on Postural Sway and Electromyographic Activities of the Lower Extremity Muscles Immediately after Descending a Step

Recent studies have shown that active contact cues from a fingertip provide information that leads to reduced postural sway during static standing. Although the falling risk increases immediately after descending a step, little is known about the influence of active fingertip contact with a stable surface. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of fingertip contact on the sway and the EMG (Electromyographic) activities of lower extremity muscles immediately after descending a step. Nine healthy male volunteers participated in this study. Sway was measured by the center of pressure (COP) and compared under three conditions: (1) standing without touching, (2) standing with the right index fingertip lightly touching (<1N), and (3) standing forcefully touching (5~10N). EMG activities were measured associated with sway and compared. More areas of COP were observed while standing without touching than while standing with light or forceful touching, but there was no significant difference between the two touching conditions. No significant differences in the length of COP and the EMG activities were observed among the three conditions. The results suggested that the fingertip touch contact with a stable surface decreased sway immediately after descending a step by finely controlling the lower extremity muscles

UNEXPECTED ECTOPIC BONE FORMATION ON THE DORSUM OF A FOOT AFTER FREE PERONEAL FLAP TRANSFER : A CASE REPORT

We experienced a case in which ectopic bone formation with trabecular structures occurred after free peroneal flap transfer containing periosteum of a fibula onto a soft tissue defect on the dorsum of a foot in a 2-year 9-month-old boy. In this case, ectopic bone formation was detected by radiography 5 months after the operation and the bone was removed because of the restricted dorsiflexion of the ankle. This case suggests that new bone can be formed by the periosteum if it is grafted with its vasculature preserved by microvascular anastomosis

Renin-Angiotensin System Hyperactivation Can Induce Inflammation and Retinal Neural Dysfunction

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a hormone system that has been classically known as a blood pressure regulator but is becoming well recognized as a proinflammatory mediator. In many diverse tissues, RAS pathway elements are also produced intrinsically, making it possible for tissues to respond more dynamically to systemic or local cues. While RAS is important for controlling normal inflammatory responses, hyperactivation of the pathway can cause neural dysfunction by inducing accelerated degradation of some neuronal proteins such as synaptophysin and by activating pathological glial responses. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are risk factors for high incidence vision-threatening diseases such as diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and glaucoma. In fact, increasing evidence suggests that RAS inhibition may actually prevent progression of various ocular diseases including uveitis, DR, AMD, and glaucoma. Therefore, RAS inhibition may be a promising therapeutic approach to fine-tune inflammatory responses and to prevent or treat certain ocular and neurodegenerative diseases

Combined vitreous and cataract surgeries in highly hyperopic eye

We report a case of a patient with a highly hyperopic eye who underwent cataract surgery combined with vitreous surgery to create a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) to prevent choroidal neovascularization (CNV). A 78-year-old man noticed a decrease in his vision due to a cataract in his right eye. The patient had a severe visual loss in his left eye because of a CNV 2 years after a cataract surgery. His visual acuities were 20/30 OD and 20/600 OS, and funduscopic examination showed an orange-colored lesion OD and degenerative subretinal fibrosis OS. The posterior vitreous was attached to the retina in both eyes. The axial length was 18.9 mm OD and 19.0 mm OS. Cataract surgery combined with vitreous surgery to create PVD was performed on the right eye, and the vision improved to 20/20 with no signs of developing CNV after 5 years. We conclude that cataract surgery combined with vitreous surgery to create a PVD may prevent the development of CNV in highly hyperopic eyes