Retinal vessel geometry in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane.

We investigated the associations between retinal vascular geometric measurements and idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM). Whether changes in retinal vascular geometry are independent of systemic cardiovascular risk factors was also evaluated. This retrospective, cross sectional study included 98 patients with idiopathic ERM, and 99 healthy age-matched controls. Quantitative retinal vascular parameters were measured from digital retinal fundus photographs using a semi-automated computer-assisted program. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate associations between retinal vascular geometric parameters and the presence of idiopathic ERM after adjusting for systemic cardiovascular risk factors. There was no significant difference in the baseline characteristics of the two groups, except that the ERM group had a higher proportion of females than the control group. In multivariate regression analyses, female sex (odds ratio [OR] 0.402; 95% CI 0.196-0.802; P = 0.011), wider retinal venular caliber (OR 16.852; 95% CI 5.384-58.997; P < 0.001) and decreased total fractal dimension (OR 0.156; 95% CI 0.052-0.440; P = 0.001) were associated with idiopathic ERM. Idiopathic ERM was associated with alterations in global retinal microvascular geometric parameters, wider retinal venules, and less complex vascular branching patterns, independent of cardiovascular risk factors.

Clinical Efficacy of Immediate Manual Meibomian Gland Expression After Thermal Pulsation (LipiFlow) for Obstructive Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: Comparison With Thermal Pulsation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of immediate manual meibomian gland expression (MGX) after LipiFlow thermal pulsation (TearScience Inc, Morrisville, NC) for obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction and to compare the LipiFlow only and MGX after LipiFlow. METHODS: Patients who underwent immediate manual MGX after LipiFlow or who received only LipiFlow treatment were included. Thirty eyes from 15 patients were enrolled in each group. All patients underwent 3 treatments at monthly intervals. All patients were followed up for 6 months after treatment. All patients were examined before and at 3 and 6 months after treatment. Examinations included the Ocular Surface Disease Index score, noninvasive tear film breakup time (NIBUT), lipid layer thickness (LLT), corneal and conjunctival staining, and tear meniscus height. RESULTS: The Ocular Surface Disease Index scores improved in both groups during the follow-up periods (P = 0.001 and P = 0.001). In the LipiFlow-only group, the NIBUT and LLT significantly improved at 3 months (P < 0.001 and P = 0.006) but deteriorated at 6 months. In the MGX after LipiFlow group, the NIBUT and LLT improved at 3 months (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001), and this improvement was maintained at 6 months. The improvement of NIBUT at 3 months was greater in the MGX after LipiFlow group (3.24 ± 1.16 to 9.25 ± 1.36 s) than in the LipiFlow-only group (3.78 ± 1.75 to 7.18 ± 2.70 s), and the improvements of the LLT at 6 months were greater in the MGX after LipiFlow group (30.27 ± 10.74 to 46.93 ± 20.81 µm) than in the LipiFlow-only group (34.70 ± 10.79 to 38.73 ± 14.70 µm). CONCLUSIONS: Both LipiFlow only and MGX after LipiFlow were clinically effective for obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction. However, the efficacy and persistence of treatment were greater in patients who received MGX after LipiFlow.

Nobiletin Inhibits CD36-Dependent Tumor Angiogenesis, Migration, Invasion, and Sphere Formation Through the Cd36/Stat3/Nf-Κb Signaling Axis.

Targeted cancer therapy with natural compounds is more effective than nontargeted therapy. Nobiletin is a flavonoid derived from citrus peel that has anticancer activity. Cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) is a member of the class B scavenger receptor family that is involved in importing fatty acids into cells. CD36 plays a role in tumor angiogenesis by binding to its ligand, thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), and then interacting with transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFß1). CD36 is implicated in tumor metastasis through its roles in fatty acid metabolism. This study investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying nobiletin's anticancer activity by characterizing its interactions with CD36 as the target molecule. We hypothesize that the anti-angiogenic activity of nobiletin involving its regulation of CD36 via signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) rather than through TSP-1. Gene analysis identified a Gamma interferon activation site (GAS) element in the CD36 gene promoter that acts as a STAT3 binding site, an interaction that was confirmed by ChIP assay. STAT3 interacts with nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), suggesting that nobiletin also acts through the CD36/ (STAT3)/NF-κB signaling axis. Nobiletin inhibited CD36-dependent breast cancer cell migration and invasion as well as CD36-mediated tumor sphere formation. Taken together, these results suggest that nobiletin inhibits cancer stem cells in multiple ways.