Single-cell RNA Sequencing Identifies Natural Kill Cell-Related Transcription Factors Associated With Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Background: Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) poses a growing global health concern as the leading cause of central vision loss in elderly people. Objection: This study focuses on unraveling the intricate involvement of Natural Killer (NK) cells in AMD, shedding light on their immune responses and cytokine regulatory roles. Methods: Transcriptomic data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database were utilized, employing single-cell RNA-seq analysis. High-dimensional weighted gene co-expression network analysis (hdWGCNA) and single-cell regulatory network inference and clustering (SCENIC) analysis were applied to reveal the regulatory mechanisms of NK cells in early-stage AMD patients. Machine learning models, such as random forests and decision trees, were employed to screen hub genes and key transcription factors (TFs) associated with AMD. Results: Distinct cell clusters were identified in the present study, especially the T/NK cluster, with a notable increase in NK cell abundance observed in AMD. Cell-cell communication analyses revealed altered interactions, particularly in NK cells, indicating their potential role in AMD pathogenesis. HdWGCNA highlighted the turquoise module, enriched in inflammation-related pathways, as significantly associated with AMD in NK cells. The SCENIC analysis identified key TFs in NK cell regulatory networks. The integration of hub genes and TFs identified CREM, FOXP1, IRF1, NFKB2, and USF2 as potential predictors for AMD through machine learning. Conclusion: This comprehensive approach enhances our understanding of NK cell dynamics, signaling alterations, and potential predictive models for AMD. The identified TFs provide new avenues for molecular interventions and highlight the intricate relationship between NK cells and AMD pathogenesis. Overall, this study contributes valuable insights for advancing our understanding and management of AMD.

Use of ß­blockers and risk of age­related macular degeneration among hypertensive patients: An insight from The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Although age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of legal blindness, the treatment methods for AMD are limited. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between oral ß-blockers (BBs) and the risk of developing AMD among hypertensive patients. For this purpose, a total of 3,311 hypertensive patients from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included in the study. The use of BBs and treatment duration data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire. AMD was diagnosed by gradable retinal images. Multivariate-adjusted survey-weighted univariate logistic regression was used to confirm the association between the use of BBs and the risk of developing AMD. The results revealed that the use of BBs exerted a beneficial effect (odds ratio (OR), 0.34; 95% confidence interval (95% CI, 0.13-0.92; P=0.04) in late-stage AMD in the multivariate adjusted model. When the BBs were classified into non-selective BBs and selective BBs, the protective effect in late-stage AMD was still observed in the non-selective BBs (OR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.07-0.61; P<0.001). After accounting for treatment duration, long-term treatment with BBs (>6 years) was also found to reduce the risk of late-stage AMD (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.03-0.63; P=0.01). In late-stage AMD, the long-term use of BBs was beneficial for geographic atrophy (OR, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.02-0.28; P<0.001). On the whole, the present study demonstrates that the use of non-selective BBs exerted a beneficial effect against the risk of late-stage AMD among hypertensive patients. Long-term treatment with BBs was also associated with lower risk of developing AMD. These findings may provide novel strategies for the management and treatment of AMD.

Evaluation of choroidal thickness in amblyopia using optical coherence tomography.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the choroidal thickness in children with amblyopia through spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. METHODS: A total of 31 children with unilateral amblyopia and 31 right eyes of controls with normal vision were enrolled in the study. The choroidal thickness was measured directly below the fovea and at 12 other locations: 1, 2 and 3 mm superior, temporal, inferior, and nasal to the fovea. All the parameters were compared between amblyopic eyes, fellow eyes, and control eyes. RESULTS: The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 398.03 ± 74.60, 354.13 ± 81.78, and 328.12 ± 65.93 µm in amblyopic eyes, fellow eyes, and control eyes, respectively. Significant difference was found in choroidal thickness among three groups at subfoveal choroidal thickness, N1, and S1 using multivariate analysis of covariance after adjusting for axial length. Significant negative correlation was found only between subfoveal choroidal thickness and axial length in amblyopic eyes (r = -0.463, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The subfoveal choroid is significantly thicker in amblyopic eyes than control eyes only at subfoveal choroidal thickness, N1, and S1. The choroidal thickness was thickest in the subfoveal region and thinnest in the nasal region. There are other changes in choroidal structure associated with amblyopia.

Axial Length and Ocular Development of Premature Infants without ROP.

PURPOSE: To investigate the ocular parameters of premature infants without ROP at gestational age (GA) more than 28 weeks and their relationship with growth parameters. METHODS: 76 preterm infants without ROP and 65 term infants were involved to undergo portable slit lamp, RetCam3, ultrasonic A-scan biometry, and cycloplegic streak examination at their 40 weeks' postconceptional ages (PCA). Ocular parameters of infants' right eye and growth parameters were used for analysis. RESULTS: All the infants were examined at 40 weeks' PCA. No significant difference was found between male and female in axial length of preterm infants (p = 0.993) and term infants (p = 0.591). Significant differences were found in axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), and vitreous depth (VD) between preterm and term infants. No significant correlation was found between AL and spherical equivalent in preterm infants' group. In preterm group, AL was significantly correlated with gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), and head circumference (HC). CONCLUSIONS: Preterm infants had shorter AL, shallow ACD, thicker LT, and thinner VD compared to term infants. Refractive error in preterm infants at GA between 28 to 37 weeks was not related to axial length. Among all the growth parameters of preterm infants, GA, BW, and HC had effect on axial length.

Evaluation of myopia on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measured by Spectralis optical coherence tomography.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness of myopic subjects using Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to determine variations with age and sex. A total of 271 Chinese participants with a spherical equivalent <+0.50 diopters were enrolled in the research. All subjects underwent a full ophthalmic examination. RNFL thickness was measured and compared according to sex, age and spherical equivalent. No significant difference was demonstrated between RNFL thickness in males and females. No significant difference was observed between RNFL thickness of the two age groups (≤12 years old and >12 years old). Significant differences were observed in all subfields of RNFL thickness among different spherical equivalent groups (P<0.05). In conclusion, myopia did have special influence on RNFL thickness, which was not related to sex or age.

[Evaluation of Orbscan II plus non-history double-K method in intraocular lens power calculation for patients after refractive surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the accuracy of intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation with non-history method using the keratometric value derived from one zone of Orbscan II topography after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). METHODS: For this retrospective study, 20 eyes from 20 patients undergoing myopic LASIK were included from August 2008 to November 2011. Posterior corneal curvature in peripheral 7 to 10 mm fitting zone of postoperative cornea was measured with Orbscan II topography. The ratio between anterior cornea and posterior cornea was used to calculate the preoperative total corneal power of each eye. The predicted postoperative spherical equivalent was calculated by the calculated preoperative total corneal power, power of implanted IOL, refractive error before cataract surgery and eye length from IOL-Master into the double-K method for SRK-T formula. The predicted postoperative spherical equivalent was also calculated by double-K method for SRK-T formula with clinical history. The mean difference between actual and predicted postoperative spherical equivalent, i.e. mean absolute error (MAE), were compared. RESULTS: (1) Non-history method: MAE of 11 eyes was within ± 0.5 D (55%), MAE of 15 eyes within ± 1.0 D (75%) and MAE of all eyes within ± 2.0 D. (2) Clinical-history method: MAE of 10 eyes was within ± 0.5 D (50%), MAE of 14 eyes within ± 1.0 D (70%) and MAE of all eyes within ± 2.0 D. (3) Comparison of non-history and clinical-history methods: The MAE of non-history method was (0.61 ± 0.59) D and the MAE of clinical-history method (0.68 ± 0.55) D. Paired t-test showed no statistically significant difference between two methods (t = -1.248, P = 0.227). CONCLUSION: The non-history method using the keratometric value derived from one zone of Orbscan II topography after LASIK provides an accurate calculation of IOL power and it can be used as a substitute for incomplete clinical data.

Evaluation of myopic corneal diameter with the Orbscan II Topography System.

BACKGROUND: To assess the myopic corneal diameter with Orbscan II Topography System (Bausch & Lomb, Orbtek Inc., Salt Lake City, UT, USA). METHODS: Four hundred sixty-two eyes of 231 myopic patients and 129 emmetropic eyes were measured with the Orbscan II system. Eyes were divided into four groups according to the spherical equivalent(SE) as follows: group 1 [emmetropic group, spherical equivalents between -0.50 D and +0.50 D (-0.50