The role of hepatic and renal functions in the development of retinopathy of prematurity: Is proteinuria a new risk factor?

PURPOSE: To investigate the association of hepatic and renal parameters with the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in premature infants with a gestational age ≤ 32 weeks. METHODS: Medical records of 240 preterm infants were reviewed retrospectively, 85 of them were grouped as type 1, type 2 ROP, and control group. The 4th week hepatic and renal function test results of the groups, on the day of their first ROP examinations, were compared for the risk of development of ROP and the development of type 1 ROP. RESULTS: In this study, 12, 35, and 38 infants were enrolled in the type 1, type 2 ROP, and control group, respectively. The average gestational age and birth weight were higher; however, the duration of oxygen treatment was lower in the control group (p < 0.001). The blood glucose level was significantly higher in the type 1 ROP group than in the other groups (p = 0.023). The mean of total serum bilirubin of the type 1 ROP group was significantly lower than those of the type 2 ROP and control group (p = 0.032). Proteinuria was present in 85.7% of preterms with treatment-requiring ROP and proteinuria increased the risk of ROP by 3.9 times (OR with 95% CI 3.9 (1.19-12.75), p = 0.042). CONCLUSION: We found significantly higher blood glucose and lower total bilirubin level in the type 1 ROP group. Moreover, our findings suggest that proteinuria may not be only a comorbidity factor but also related to a higher frequency of ROP and type 1 ROP in preterm infants.

Coats disease with retinal neovascularization under subfoveal nodule: optical coherence tomography-angiography findings before and after ranibizumab treatment / Doença de Coats com neovascularização da retina sob nódulo subfoveal: achados da angiografia com tomografia de coerência óptica (OCT) antes e depois do ranibizumabe

ABSTRACT We conducted retinal neovascularization under subfoveal fibrotic nodule for Coats disease by using optic coherence tomography-angiography before and after ranibizumab treatment. Our patient was an 8-year-old boy who was referred with suspicious left retinal mass. His visual acuity was 20/400 in the left eye and 20/20 in the right eye at the time of admission. Posterior segment evaluation of the left eye revealed telengiectatic vessels at the inferotemporal region of the peripheral retina with hard exudates around the optic disc and macula typical for Coats disease. His optic coherence tomography revealed a subfoveal fibrotic nodule after ranibizumab injections and laser photocoagulation treatment. The optic coherence tomography-angiography results revealed neovascularization under the subfoveal nodule at the superficial vascular complex layer. After 3 intravitreal ranibizumab injections, his neovascularization regressed on optic coherence tomography-angiography and his visual acuity improved. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating neovascularization under the subfoveal fibrotic nodule in Coats disease on the basis of comparative with the help of optic coherence tomography-angiography before and after the treatment.

RESUMO Demonstramos uma neovascularização da retina sob o nódulo fibrótico subfoveal na doença de Coats com a ajuda da Angiotomografia de Coerência Óptica (OCT-A) antes e após o tratamento com ranibizumabe. Paciente do sexo masculino de 8 anos foi encaminhado com suspeita de massa retiniana no olho esquerdo. A acuidade visual foi de 20/400 no olho esquerdo e de 20/20 no olho direito. A avaliação do segmento posterior do olho esquerdo revelou vasos telengiectáticos na região inferotemporal da retina periférica e exsudados duros em torno do disco óptico e mácula típica da doença de Coats. A angiotomografia de coerência óptica apresentou nódulo fibrótico subfoveal após injeções de ranibizumabe e tratamento com fotocoagulação a laser. A angiotomografia de coerência óptica mostrou neovascularização sob o nódulo subfoveal na camada superficial do complexo vascular. Após três injeções de ranibizumabe intravítreo, a neovascularização regrediu na angiografia por tomografia de coerência óptica e a acuidade visual melhorou. onde sabemos, este é o primeiro relato a mostrar neovascularização sob nódulo fibrótico subfoveal na Doença de Coats com a ajuda da angiografia por tomografia de coerência óptica antes e após o tratamento.

Coats disease with retinal neovascularization under subfoveal nodule: optical coherence tomography-angiography findings before and after ranibizumab treatment.

We conducted retinal neovascularization under subfoveal fibrotic nodule for Coats disease by using optic coherence tomography-angiography before and after ranibizumab treatment. Our patient was an 8-year-old boy who was referred with suspicious left retinal mass. His visual acuity was 20/400 in the left eye and 20/20 in the right eye at the time of admission. Posterior segment evaluation of the left eye revealed telengiectatic vessels at the inferotemporal region of the peripheral retina with hard exudates around the optic disc and macula typical for Coats disease. His optic coherence tomography revealed a subfoveal fibrotic nodule after ranibizumab injections and laser photocoagulation treatment. The optic coherence tomography-angiography results revealed neovascularization under the subfoveal nodule at the superficial vascular complex layer. After 3 intravitreal ranibizumab injections, his neovascularization regressed on optic coherence tomography-angiography and his visual acuity improved. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating neovascularization under the subfoveal fibrotic nodule in Coats disease on the basis of comparative with the help of optic coherence tomography-angiography before and after the treatment.

Effect of Pycnogenol® on an experimental rat model of allergic conjunctivitis.

BACKGROUND: Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is a frequent and challenging disease in ophthalmology practice. Cell protective effect of Pycnogenol® (PYC) depends on its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of PYC on an experimental AC model. METHODS: Ovalbumin and Al(OH)3 were given seven times intraperitoneally (i.p.) every other day and ovalbumin installed everyday directly on conjunctiva to create an AC rat model. Then, PYC (3 or 10 mg/kg i.p.) was applied in the study groups. Control rats were given adjuvant Al(OH)3 i.p. and topical saline on conjunctiva. A negative control group in which only PYC (10 mg/kg/7 days) was administered i.p. and an AC positive control group which have been given dexamethasone (1 mg/kg/7 days) was created. Mast cells were counted with a microscope; histological evaluation was performed with H-E and toluidine blue, mast cell tryptase, and TNF-α and TGF-ß staining. RESULTS: Pycnogenol treatment alone did not show any detrimental effect. Mast cell count (MCC) decreased in both dexamethasone and 10 mg/kg given PYC treatment groups compared to positive control group and these results were statistically significant (MCC 1.85 ± 0.69, p < 0.001; 2.42 ± 0.53, p = 0.003). Negative staining with TGF-ß and weak focal staining with TNF-α were the common findings of dexamethasone and PYC treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: The animal model of AC was successfully developed by using aforementioned way. PYC is a safe herbal product and it has alleviated the findings of ovalbumin-induced AC-similar to dexamethasone-histologically in this experimental model. These results are promising for the future of AC treatment.

Ophthalmic adverse effects of nasal decongestants on an experimental rat model.

PURPOSE: To investigate the potential effects of chronic exposure to a nasal decongestant and its excipients on ocular tissues using an experimental rat model. METHODS: Sixty adult male Wistar rats were randomized into six groups. The first two groups were control (serum physiologic) and Otrivine® groups. The remaining four groups received the Otrivine excipients xylometazoline, benzalkonium chloride, sorbitol, and ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid. Medications were applied into both nostrils twice a day for 8 weeks. Before the rats were sacrificed, epithelial staining, the Schirmer test, and intraocular pressure measurements were performed under ketamine/xylasine anesthesia (50 and 5 mg/kg, respectively). RESULTS: Epithelial defects and dry eye were common findings in all study groups. Cataracts developed in two cases clinically. Histopathological evaluation revealed many different pathological alterations in all parts of the ocular tissues such as corneal edema, polypoid proliferation and hyalinization of the vessel wall, cystic formation of the lens, retinal nerve fiber layer degeneration, and corpora amylacea formation of the lacrimal gland. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged usage of the nasal decongestant xylometazoline and its excipients may cause ophthalmic problems such as dry eyes, corneal edema, cataracts, retinal nerve fiber layer, and vascular damage in rats. Although these results were obtained from experimental animals, ophthalmologists should keep in mind the potential ophthalmic adverse effects of this medicine and/or its excipients and exercise caution with drugs containing xylometazoline, ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid, benzalkonium chloride and sorbitol for patients with underlying ocular problems.

Ophthalmic adverse effects of nasal decongestants on an experimental rat model / Efeitos oftálmicos adversos de descongestionantes nasais em modelo experimental com ratos

ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate the potential effects of chronic exposure to a nasal decongestant and its excipients on ocular tissues using an experimental rat model. Methods: Sixty adult male Wistar rats were randomized into six groups. The first two groups were control (serum physiologic) and Otrivine® groups. The remaining four groups received the Otrivine excipients xylometazoline, benzalkonium chloride, sorbitol, and ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid. Medications were applied into both nostrils twice a day for 8 weeks. Before the rats were sacrificed, epithelial staining, the Schirmer test, and intraocular pressure measurements were performed under ketamine/xylasine anesthesia (50 and 5 mg/kg, respectively). Results: Epithelial defects and dry eye were common findings in all study groups. Cataracts developed in two cases clinically. Histopathological evaluation revealed many different pathological alterations in all parts of the ocular tissues such as corneal edema, polypoid proliferation and hyalinization of the vessel wall, cystic formation of the lens, retinal nerve fiber layer degeneration, and corpora amylacea formation of the lacrimal gland. Conclusions: Prolonged usage of the nasal decongestant xylometazoline and its excipients may cause ophthalmic problems such as dry eyes, corneal edema, cataracts, retinal nerve fiber layer, and vascular damage in rats. Although these results were obtained from experimental animals, ophthalmologists should keep in mind the potential ophthalmic adverse effects of this medicine and/or its excipients and exercise caution with drugs containing xylometazoline, ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid, benzalkonium chloride and sorbitol for patients with underlying ocular problems.

RESUMO Objetivo: Investigar os possíveis efeitos da exposição crônica de descongestionante nasal e seus excipientes em tecidos oculares, utilizando um modelo experimental com ratos. Métodos: Sessenta ratos Wistar adultos machos foram divididos aleatoriamente em seis grupos. Os primeiros dois grupos foram controle (soro fisiológico) e Otrivina®. Os quatro grupos restantes receberam os excipientes de Otrivina, tais como Xilometazolina, Benzalcônio, Sorbitol e Ácido Etilenodiamino Tetracético (EDTA). Os medicamentos foram aplicados em ambas as narinas dos ratos, duas vezes ao dia, durante 8 semanas. Antes que os ratos fossem sacrificados, a coloração epitelial, o teste de Schirmer e a medida da pressão intraocular foram realizados sob anestesia com Ketamina/Xilasina (50 e 5 mg/kg, respectivamente). Resultados: Defeitos epiteliais e olho seco foram achados comuns nos grupos de estudo. A catarata desenvolveu-se clinicamente em dois casos. A avaliação histopatológica revelou a existência de alterações em todas as partes dos tecidos oculares, tais como edema de córnea, proliferação polipoide e hialinização da parede vascular, formação cística da lente, degeneração da camada de fibra nervosa da retina (RNFL) e formação de corpos amiláceos da glândula lacrimal. Conclusões: O uso prolongado do descongestionante nasal Xilometazolina e seus excipientes pode causar vários problemas oftalmológicos, como olho seco, edema de córnea, catarata, RNFL e dano vascular em ratos. Embora esses resultados tenham sido obtidos a partir de animais experimentais, os oftalmologistas devem ter em mente os potenciais efeitos oftalmológicos adversos desse medicamento e/ou de seus excipientes.