ObjectiveTo study changes in choroidal thickness(CT) with intravitreal injections of ranibizumab treatment. MethodsThis is a prospective, uncontrolled, open-label study. A total of 31 eyes of 31 patients diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and 33 eyes of 33 patients diagnosed with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to pathological myopia (PM) were included in the study. All affected eyes were treated with intravitreal ranibizumab 0.05 ml (10 mg/ml) and followed up monthly until 6 months. Enhanced depth imaging on Cirrus spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was used to measure the CT. The initial CT was compared with the data at 1, 3 and 6 month after treatment, and the correlation between of the decrease of CT at the 6 month and the number of injection times was analyzed. ResultsIn AMD group, the average CT respectively decreased by (9.68±11.02), (12.58±11.04), (13.84±11.67)μm at 1, 3 and 6 month, and the differences were significant(t=4.89, 6.34, 6.60;P < 0.001). In PM group, the average CT respectively decreased by (2.06±10.92), (3.64±8.78), (3.27±7.20)μm at 1, 3 and 6 month. The difference at 1 month was not significant (t=1.08, P=0.287). While after 3 months and 6 months, the differences were significant(t=2.38, 2.61;P=0.024, 0.014). The injection times were not correlated with the CT decreases at 6 month in both groups(r=0.04, 0.30;P=0.815, 0.099). ConclusionIntravitreal injections of ranibizumab can induce choroidal thickness reduction for wet age-related macular degeneration and choroidal neovascularization secondary to pathologic myopia.
Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb761 on protein expression in lightdamaged retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Methods The human RPE cells (ARPE19) were divided into normal control group, light damage group and EGb761 treatment group; the cells of latter 2 groups were exposed to the cold white light ［(2200 ± 300) lx］ to induce light damage responses. The lightdamaged RPE cells were treated with or without EGb761 (100 g/ml). The soluble protein of those cells were extracted and separated by twodimension electrophoresis and stained by silverstaining. Different proteins in the gel were analyzed by ImageMaster and identified by MALDITOFMS, and were further analyzed by mass spectrometry and bioinformatics.Results ImageMaster and MALDITOFMS identified 25, 33 and 11 different proteins between light damage group and EGb761 treatment group, between normal control and light damage group, between normal control and EGb761 treatment group of RPE cells respectively. Mass spectrometry and bioinformatics analysis successfully identified 16 proteins, including metabolic enzymes, cytoskeleton proteins, antioxidation protein and other types of proteins expressed differentially．Conclusion Protein expression profiles are different between normal control group, light damage group and Ginkgo biloba extract treatment group of RPE cells. The mechanism of protective effect of EGb761 may involve cathepsin B, heat shock protein, cytochrome C reductase, and other proteins.
Objective To explore the connection between the melanin content of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and the function of photoreceptors, and the function of melanin on retinal light damage. Methods Agematched old dopachrome tautomerase knockout (DCT-/-) mice and wildtype mice were collected as the DCT-/- group and wildtype group, with 20 mice in each group. Baseline electroretinograms (ERG) in accordance with the international standards for the clinical electrophysiology were performed on all the mice, and the max ERG was recorded. Two mice were randomly selected in each group and were executed，and the removal eyeballs were as the control. The remaining 18 mice in each group were exposed to cold fluorescent light with the quantity of electricity of 20 W for 36 hours with a circle of 12 hours light12 hours dark12 hours light, which was repeated continuously for three times. The light intensity was (5000plusmn;356) lx. Six days after the light illumination, ERG were performed again and the results were recorded. Cervical dislocation methods were used to executed 2 mice which were chosen randomly in each group, and the eyeballs were removed. The tissue sections were observed under the optical and electron microscope.Results The results of ERG showed that the amplitude of a and b wave was lower in DCT-/- group than that in wildtype group before and after light injury （a wave before light injury: t=-7.13，Plt;0.01；b wave before light injury: t=-4.414，Plt;0.01；a wave after light injury: t=-10.162，Plt;0.01；b waveafter light injury: t=-6.772，Plt;0.01）. The decrease of amplitude of a and b wave was much obvious in DCT-/- group than that in wildtype group （a wave:t=4.975,Plt;0.01；b wave:t=2.908,Plt;0.01）. After the light injury, retinal edema and thinning were found in DCT-/- group which wasobvious than that in wildtype group; the photoreceptor layers and melanin were more seriously affected in DCT-/- group than that in wild-type group.Conclusions After the light illumination, the melanin of RPE cells reduces and the function of photoreceptors decreases, which suggests that melanin may play an protective role in the light injury.
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficiency of intravitreal Conbercept on exudative age-related macular degeneration (eAMD). MethodsThis is an open and prospective study without control trial. Twenty eyes from 20 patients (19 males and 1 female) with eAMD diagnosed by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) were enrolled in this study. Before the injection, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of early treatment of diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS), non-contact tonometer, ophthalmoscope, fundus photography, fundus fluorescein angiograph (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were examined. The initial average letters of ETDRS acuity were 41.20±22.61, range from 8 to 80. The initial average central retina thickness (CRT) was (345.25±131.96) μm, range from 152 to 770 μm.All affected eyes were treated with intravitreal conbercept 0.05 ml (10 mg/ml). The patients were followed up for 6 to 9 months, with the mean time of (7.35±0.99) months.The BCVA, CRT after treatment were compared with baseline using paired t-test. ResultsDuring the 1, 3, 6, 12 months after treatment and the latest follow up, the mean BCVA were all improved with statistically significant difference (t=5.85, 7.09, 7.44, 7.25; P < 0.05). At 1 month ater treatment, the mean BCVA was obviously improved in 6 eyes (30%), improved in 8 eyes (40%), stable in 6 eyes (30%). At latest follow up, the mean BCVA was obviously improved in 6 eyes (30%), improved in 9 eyes (45%), stable in 5 eyes (25%). During the 1, 3, 6, 12 months after treatment and the latest follow up, the mean CRT were all decreased with statistically significant difference (t=3.34, 3.78, 3.47, 3.44; P < 0.05). At latest follow up, the leakage in macula lutea disappeared in 6 eyes (30%), decreased in 11 eyes (55%) and increased in 3 eyes (15%). No adverse events such as secondary retinal detachment or endoophthalmitis were found during the follow-up duration. ConclusionIntravitreal conbercept is a safe and effective approach for eAMD, may improve visual acuity, exudation and macular edema.
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of intravitreal Conbercept on idiopathic choroidal neovascularization (ICNV). MethodsThis is an open and prospective study without control trial. Twelve eyes from 11 patients (7 females and 4 males) with ICNV diagnosed by best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), non-contact tonometer, ophthalmoscope, fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) were enrolled in this study. All affected eyes were treated with intravitreal Conbercept 0.05 ml (10 mg/ml) and received an average of (1.91±1.04) injections. The initial average letters of Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart acuity were 61.73±14.58, range from 25 to 77. The patients were followed up for 6 to 9 months.The initial average central retinal thickness (CRT) was (330.73±47.79)μm, range from 290 to 467 μm. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), OCT and ophthalmoscope examination were assessed monthly. ResultsDuring the 1, 3, 6 months after treatment, themean BCVA were all improved with statistically significant difference (t=2.68, 3.80, 3.65; P < 0.05). At 1 month later after treatment, the mean BCVA was obviously improved in 1 eye (9.09%), improved in 8 eyes (72.73%), stable in 1 eye (9.09%), decreased in 1 eye (9.09%). At 6 month later after treatment, the mean BCVA was obviously improved in 3 eyes (27.27%), improved in 6 eyes (54.55%), stable in 1 eye (9.09%), decreased in 1 eye (9.09%).During the 1, 3, 6 months after treatment, the mean CRT were all decreased with statistically significant difference(t=2.44, 3.78, 4.12; P < 0.05).At latest follow up, the leakage in macula lutea disappeared in 6 eyes(58.33%), decreased in 11 eyes (25%)and increased in 3 eyes (16.67%). There were no systemic or ocular serious side effects during the follow up. ConclusionIntravitreal Conbercept for ICNV showed CNV regression, retinal thickness reduction, visual acuity improvement and safety.