ObjectiveTo preliminarily evaluate the feasibility of ultra-wide-angle fundus imaging (UWFI) to observe the Weiss ring (vitreous floats) and the effectiveness and safety of neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd: YAG) laser ablation in the treatment of symptomatic Weiss ring. MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From March 2016 to December 2019, 80 eyes of 68 patients with symptomatic Weiss ring who were diagnosed and treated at Guangzhou Aier Eye Hospital were included in the study. Among them, there were 39 eyes in 32 males and 41 eyes in 36 females; the average age was 53.7±10.8 years old. All the affected eyes were examined by slit lamp microscope combined with 90 D front lens and UWFI. The position and shape of the vitreous floating objects by drawing pictures were recorded. All the affected eyes underwent Nd: YAG laser ablation treatment. Three months after treatment, a questionnaire survey was conducted on the patients to assess the improvement of subjective symptoms. Those with a total score of 10, 7-9, 3-6, and ≤2 points were defined as cured, significant improvement, partial improvement, and no improvement, respectively. The measurement software Gauge 1.0 was used to manually measure the long diameter, circumference and area of the vitreous float on the UWFI image. The diameter of the optic disc to 1 Unit (U) was set as a standardized reference value. Those who did not show UWFI and no floating objects were found on the front mirror were recorded as 0. The changes of vitreous floats before and after treatment were compared by Wilcoxon rank sum test; the changes in their size before and after treatment and the patients' subjective symptom improvement scores after treatment were analyzed by Spearman rank correlation. ResultsAfter treatment, in 80 eyes, there were no vitreous floats in 59 eyes (73.8%, 59/80) on UWFI. Before treatment, the circumference of the vitreous float was 1.84 (1.07, 2.64) U, the long diameter was 1.17 (0.84, 1.66) U, and the area was 0.18 (0.08, 0.30) U2; after treatment, the circumference was 0.00 (0.00, 0.23) U, The long diameter is 0.00 (0.00, 0.23) U, and the area was 0.00 (0.00, 0.01) U2. There were statistically significant differences in the perimeter, diameter, and area of floating objects before and after treatment (Z=−7.722, −7.560, −7.655; P＜0.001). The results of the questionnaire survey showed that the patient's subjective symptoms were cured, significantly improved, and partially improved in 49 (61.3%, 49/80), 25 (31.2%, 25/80), and 6 (7.5%, 6/80) eyes, respectively. The results of correlation analysis showed that the degree of improvement of the patient's subjective symptoms was related to the circumference (r=0.812), long diameter (r=0.796), and area (r=0.791) of the vitreous float on UWFI before and after treatment (P＜0.01). During the follow-up period, no complications such as increased intraocular pressure or decreased vision occurred. ConclusionsUWFI can objectively image the Weiss ring, and its size can be quantified relatively to the measurement software. Nd: YAG laser ablation treatment of symptomatic Weiss ring is safe and effective.
Objective To investigate the effects of heparanase and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and their correlation in CoCl2 induced human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRECs) in an hypoxia model. Methods Human eyes were selected to establish CoCl2induced HRECs hypoxia model in this study. Four experimental groups were studied: normal control group, hypoxia group (CoCl2 100 μmol/L, 48 hours),PI-88 group (specific competitive inhibitor of heparanase: phosphomannopentaose sulfate, PI-88,5 μg/ml, combined with CoCl2 100 μmol/L, 48 hours) and PBS control group. Heparanase, VEGF and Pol Ⅱ expression in HRECs of normal and hypoxia group were analyzed with immunofluorescence. Western blot was used to evaluate the expression of heparanase and VEGF in HRECs of normal, hypoxia, PI88 and PBS control groups. ResultsImmunofluorescence studies showed that the expression of heparanase and VEGF in cytoplasm was intense in hypoxia HRECs, but faint in normal group. Heparanase was also observed in the nucleus of hypoxia HRECs. Western blot results showed that the expression of Hpa and VEGF protein was increased significantly in hypoxia group compared with normal group (Hpa：F=-4。005, P＜0.05；VEGF：F=-4.063, P＜0.05), and VEGF was decreased in HRECs treated with PI-88(F=5。963, P＜0.05). ConclusionsHeparanase is upregulated that resulted in increase of VEGF expression, therefore enhanced angiogenesis in CoCl2 induced hypoxia HRECs.
Objective To investigate the effects of recombinant adeno-associated virus type-2 (rAAV2) mediated delivery of pigment epitheliumderived factor (PEDF) on oxygen-induced retinal neovascularization (OIRNV) in mice. Methods A total of 22 C57/BL6 mice at the age of 3 days received intravitreal injections of 1 mu;l rAAV2-PEDF and rAAV2EGFP into the left eyes (experimental group) and the right eyes (control group). All mice were put into the oxygen box right after the injection to induce the OIRNV model.4 mice were sacrificed and PEDF protein in retina was measured by western blot at postnatal days 13 (P13). Twelve mice underwent retinal angiography with high molecular weight fluoresceindextran, and another 6 mice were sacrificed for retinal lectin immunohistochemistry staining at P17. Absolute and relative nonperfusion areas of retinal neovascularization were analyzed by Image-Pro Plus 5.1 software. Results The expression level of PEDF protein was higher in the experimental group than that in the control group.The absolute nonperfusion area was (0.96plusmn;0.22) mm2 in the experimental group and (1.96plusmn;0.34) mm2 in the control group; the difference between the two groups was significant（t=-8.554, P＜0.01）. The relative nonperfusion area was (8.64plusmn;1.52)% in the experimental group and (17.27plusmn;2.98)% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (t=-8.97, P＜0.01).The absolute area of retinal neovascularization was (0.37plusmn;0.11) mm2 in the experimental group which was obviously higher than (1.26plusmn;0.38) mm2 in the control group (t=-7.8, P＜0.01); the relative areas in experimental and control groups was (3.96plusmn;0.66)% and (11.45plusmn;2.06)%, respectively, whose difference is apparently(t=-8.51, P＜0.01).The areas of retina neovascularization were (0.11plusmn;0.003) mm2 and (0.41plusmn;0.02) mm2 in the experimental and control groups, respectively, and the difference between the two groups was significant（t=-5.14, P＜0.01）.Conclusions PEDF protein can stably express in the mice retina after rAAV2-PEDF transfetion. rAAV2-PEDF can decrease the retinal non-perfusion areas and inhibit the retinal neovascularization in OIRNV mice.
Objective To observe the efficacy of monotherapy and combination treatments of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs for advanced exudative age-related macular degeneration (EAMD). Methods Thirty-two eyes from 28 patients with EAMD were enrolled in this study. Fifteen eyes were treated with PDT or intravitreal anti-VEGF drugs (monotherapy group), while 17 eyes were treated with combination treatments of PDT and intravitreal anti-VEGF drugs (combination group). The follow-up was ranged from 5 to 28 months with a mean of 21 months. Vision and intraocular pressure were measured and optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed every month after treatment. Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) were performed every 3 months during follow-up period. The changes of visual acuity, leakage in macula lutea and central retinal thickness (CRT) before and after treatment, and adverse events during follow-up period were observed. The mean treatment times of monotherapy and combination group were compared and analyzed. Results Among 32 eyes, visual acuity improved in 20 eyes (62.5%), stabilized in 9 eyes (28.1%) and decreased in 3 eyes (9.4%). The leakage in macula lutea disappeared in 17 eyes (53.1%), decreased in 12 eyes (37.5%) and increased in 3 eyes (9.4%). CRT was reduced in 23 eyes (71.8%), increased in 9 eyes (28.2%). The mean treatment times of the combination group (2.3plusmn;0.2) was significantly less than that of monotherapy group (3.4plusmn;0.5)(P＜0.05). No adverse events such as secondary retinal hemorrhage, vitreous hemorrhage or endoophthalmitis were found during the follow-up duration. Conclusions Both monotherapy and combination treatments of PDT and intravitreal anti-VEGF drugs for EAMD may improve visual acuity, exudation and macular edema. Combination of PDT and anti-VEGF therapy decreases the frequency of retreatment.