Submacular hemorrhage during neovascular age-related macular degeneration: a meta-analysis and meta-regression on the use of tPA and anti-VEGFs.

BACKGROUND: Submacular hemorrhage (SMH) associated with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) precipitates rapid visual decline and impacts quality of life. Treatments vary, but combined recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy has gained prominence as a viable treatment option. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the combination of tPA and anti-VEGF. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines, focusing on studies examining tPA and anti-VEGF therapy in SMH secondary to nAMD. Outcomes measured were change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and success rate of SMH displacement. Meta-regression assessed the relative efficacy of intravitreal and subretinal delivery. RESULTS: Out of 257 initial reports, 22 studies involving 29 patient populations met inclusion criteria. Our analysis showed significant improvement in BCVA and a high rate of successful SMH displacement with combined tPA and anti-VEGF therapy. No significant differences were found between subretinal and intravitreal tPA administration. Furthermore, when evaluating the effects of subretinal versus intravitreal anti-VEGF administration in patients treated with subretinal tPA, the results indicated similar efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Combined tPA and anti-VEGF therapy is effective in managing SMH in nAMD patients, significantly improving visual acuity and SMH displacement. The location of tPA and anti-VEGF delivery did not significantly impact outcomes.

Update on coronavirus disease 2019: Ophthalmic Manifestations and Adverse Reactions to Vaccination.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was one of the most devastating public health issues in recent decades. The ophthalmology community is as concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic as the global public health community is, as COVID-19 was recognized to affect multiple organs in the human body, including the eyes, early in the course of the outbreak. Ophthalmic manifestations of COVID-19 are highly variable and could range from mild ocular surface abnormalities to potentially sight and life-threatening orbital and neuro-ophthalmic diseases. Furthermore, ophthalmic manifestations may also be the presenting or the only findings in COVID-19 infections. Meanwhile, global vaccination campaigns to attain herd immunity in different populations are the major strategy to mitigate the pandemic. As novel vaccinations against COVID-19 emerged, so were reports on adverse ophthalmic reactions potentially related to such. As the world enters a post-pandemic state where COVID-19 continues to exist and evolve as an endemic globally, the ophthalmology community ought to be aware of and keep abreast of the latest knowledge of ophthalmic associations with COVID-19 and its vaccinations. This review is a summary of the latest literature on the ophthalmic manifestations of COVID-19 and the adverse ophthalmic reactions related to its vaccinations.

The Present and Future of Optic Pathway Glioma Therapy.

Optic pathway gliomas (OPGs) encompass two distinct categories: benign pediatric gliomas, which are characterized by favorable prognosis, and malignant adult gliomas, which are aggressive cancers associated with a poor outcome. Our review aims to explore the established standards of care for both types of tumors, highlight the emerging therapeutic strategies for OPG treatment, and propose potential alternative therapies that, while originally studied in a broader glioma context, may hold promise for OPGs pending further investigation. These potential therapies encompass immunotherapy approaches, molecular-targeted therapy, modulation of the tumor microenvironment, nanotechnologies, magnetic hyperthermia therapy, cyberKnife, cannabinoids, and the ketogenic diet. Restoring visual function is a significant challenge in cases where optic nerve damage has occurred due to the tumor or its therapeutic interventions. Numerous approaches, particularly those involving stem cells, are currently being investigated as potential facilitators of visual recovery in these patients.

Ketogenic Diet in the Treatment of Gliomas and Glioblastomas.

In recent years, scientific interest in the use of the ketogenic diet (KD) as a complementary approach to the standard cancer therapy has grown, in particular against those of the central nervous system (CNS). In metabolic terms, there are the following differences between healthy and neoplastic cells: neoplastic cells divert their metabolism to anaerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect), they alter the normal mitochondrial functioning, and they use mainly certain amino acids for their own metabolic needs, to gain an advantage over healthy cells and to lead to a pro-oncogenetic effect. Several works in literature speculate which are the molecular targets of KD used against cancer. The following different mechanisms of action will be explored in this review: metabolic, inflammatory, oncogenic and oncosuppressive, ROS, and epigenetic modulation. Preclinical and clinical studies on the use of KD in CNS tumors have also increased in recent years. An interesting hypothesis emerged from the studies about the possible use of a ketogenic diet as a combination therapy along with chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) for the treatment of cancer. Currently, however, clinical data are still very limited but encouraging, so we need further studies to definitively validate or disprove the role of KD in fighting against cancer.