Visual field after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy and laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the visual field after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy and laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity. METHOD: Retrospective cohort study. Infants with retinopathy of prematurity treated by anti-VEGF therapy or laser treatment were included in the study. Degrees of visual field in eight directions examined by Goldmann perimeter (intensity, 1000 apostilb; size, V4e = 64 mm2) were compared between the anti-VEGF therapy and laser treatment groups. The visual acuity (VA) and spherical equivalent refraction were also compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Nine eyes with anti-VEGF therapy and 12 eyes with laser treatment were enrolled in the analysis. The total, upper, nasal upper, nasal, nasal lower, temporal lower, and temporal upper visual fields were significantly wider in the eyes with anti-VEGF therapy than in those with laser treatment (496 vs 416, P = .002; 53 vs 45, P = .008; 56 vs 43, P = .003; 58 vs 39, P < .001; 55 vs 44, P = .01; 72 vs 65, P = .01; and 62 vs 56, P = .03, respectively). The logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution VA tended to be better in the eyes with anti-VEGF therapy than in those with laser treatment (0.01 vs 0.15, P = .06). Eyes with anti-VEGF therapy had significantly lower myopia than those with laser treatment (spherical equivalent refraction: -0.72 vs -5.7, P = .001). CONCLUSION: Anti-VEGF therapy may provide a wider visual field, better VA, and less myopia compared with laser treatment.

Effects of internal limiting membrane peeling on anatomical and functional outcomes in macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy: Japan-Retinal Detachment Registry.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling on retinal attachment after a single surgery, and on postoperative visual acuity (VA) at 6 months, in eyes with macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). STUDY DESIGN: Nationwide, multicenter retrospective cohort study. METHODS: The Japan-RD Registry database was used for analysis of patients who had undergone vitrectomy for macula-off RRD complicated by PVR. Multivariate analysis was performed to detect prognostic factors for retinal attachment after a single surgery and for VA at 6 months postoperatively. Retinal attachment after a single surgery or VA at 6 months postoperatively was the objective variable; ILM peeling, preoperative VA, PVR grade, age, and intraocular pressure were explanatory variables. RESULTS: Eighty-nine eyes met the inclusion criteria; ILM peeling was performed in 25 eyes (28%). Preoperative VA was significantly associated with retinal attachment, but ILM peeling did not (odds ratios = 2.1 and 1.3, respectively; p = 0.009 and 0.67, respectively). Poor preoperative VA and younger patient age were significantly associated with poor postoperative VA, but ILM peeling was not (ß-values = 0.37, -0.008, and 0.15, respectively; p < 0.001, p = 0.02, and p = 0.15, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative VA was a risk factor associated with retinal attachment. Preoperative VA and patient age were risk factors associated with postoperative poor VA. In eyes with macula-off RRD complicated by PVR, ILM peeling did not have a clear beneficial effect on anatomical and functional outcomes, suggesting that it may be unnecessary for eyes with this condition.

Association between treatment for retinopathy of prematurity and blood monocyte counts.

PURPOSE: To investigate blood monocyte counts as a risk factor for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) treatment. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Infants who underwent ROP screening at Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital between January, 2011 and July, 2021 were included in this study. Screening criteria were a gestational age (GA) < 32 weeks or birth weight (BW) < 1500 g. The week with the largest difference in monocyte counts between the infants with and without type 1 ROP determined based on the effect size. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to investigate whether the monocyte counts constituted an independent risk factor for type 1 ROP. The objective variable was type 1 ROP, and the explanatory variables were GA, BW, infants' infection, and Apgar score at 1 min and monocyte counts in the week with the largest monocyte-counts difference between the with- and without type 1 ROP groups. RESULTS: In total, 231 infants met the inclusion criteria. The monocyte counts in the fourth week after birth (4w MONO) exhibited the largest difference between infants with and without type 1 ROP. The analysis was performed on 198 infants, excluding 33 infants without 4w MONO data. Thirty-one infants had type 1 ROP, whereas 167 infants did not. BW and 4w MONO were significantly associated with type 1 ROP (odds ratio: 0.52 and 3.9, P < .001 and 0.004, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The 4w MONO was an independent risk factor for type 1 ROP and may be useful in follow-up of infants with ROP.

Blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a risk factor in treatment for retinopathy of prematurity.

PURPOSE: To investigate the blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a risk factor for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) development or treatment. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. Infants who underwent ROP screening at Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital and Omihachiman Community Medical Center between April 2010 and December 2021 were included in this study. Screening criteria were gestational age (GA) < 32 weeks or birth weight (BW) < 1500 g. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to investigate whether the NLR constituted an independent risk factor for ROP development or treatment. The objective variable was ROP development or treatment, and the explanatory variables were GA, BW, NLR, maternal infection or clinical chorioamnionitis and corticosteroid use by the mother. Maternal infection or clinical chorioamnionitis and corticosteroid use by the mother was included in the explanatory variables to adjust for factors affecting the NLR. RESULTS: In total, 220 infants met the inclusion criteria, of whom 125 developed ROP, whereas 95 infants did not display ROP. GA was significantly associated with ROP development (odds ratio (OR): 0.41, p < 0.001); however, the NLR was not significantly associated with ROP development (OR: 1.0, p = 0.74). Thirty-eight infants received treatment for ROP, whereas 182 infants had no such treatment. BW and the NLR were significantly associated with ROP treatment (OR: 1.6 and 0.66, p < 0.001 and 0.003, respectively). CONCLUSION: The NLR was not a risk factor for ROP development but was a risk factor for ROP treatment.

Assessment of mouse VEGF neutralization by ranibizumab and aflibercept.

PURPOSE: To assess the interaction between ranibizumab, aflibercept, and mouse vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), both in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: In vivo, the effect of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab and aflibercept on oxygen induced retinopathy (OIR) and the effect of multiple intraperitoneal injections of ranibizumab and aflibercept on neonatal mice were assessed. In vitro, the interaction of mouse VEGF-A with aflibercept or ranibizumab as the primary antibody was analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS: In both experiments using intravitreal injections in OIR mice and multiple intraperitoneal injections in neonatal mice, anti-VEGF effects were observed with aflibercept, but not with ranibizumab. Western blot analysis showed immunoreactive bands for mouse VEGF-A in the aflibercept-probed blot, but not in the ranibizumab-probed blot. CONCLUSIONS: Aflibercept but not ranibizumab interacts with mouse VEGF, both in vivo and in vitro. When conducting experiments using anti-VEGF drugs in mice, aflibercept is suitable, but ranibizumab is not.

Efficacy of scleral imbrication on all quadrants in enucleated pig eyes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in axial length (AL) and corneal astigmatism induced by scleral imbrication on all quadrants in pig eyes. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study METHODS: We produced scleral imbrications either on all quadrants or on 2 consecutive quadrants of 5 enucleated pig eyes. Scleral imbrications 8 mm wide were made at 8 mm from the limbus on each quadrant. We determined the AL using an electronic caliper and the corneal astigmatism using a keratometer before and after the 2 types of scleral imbrications and compared the changes in ocular AL and corneal astigmatism induced by the 2 surgical procedures. RESULTS: The AL reduction after the scleral imbrication on all quadrants (3.96 ± 0.56 mm) was larger than that on 2 quadrants (2.39 ± 0.41 mm) (P = .001). The change in corneal astigmatism induced by imbrication on all quadrants (2.98 ± 1.96 D) was less than that on 2 quadrants (5.95 ± 2.04 D) (P < .029). CONCLUSIONS: Scleral imbrication on all quadrants induced a shorter AL and less corneal astigmatism than did a standard scleral imbrication on 2 quadrants. Therefore, the former could be a more effective operation for retinal disorders associated with high myopia, including macular hole retinal detachment and myopic foveoschisis.

Changes in fetal growth restriction and retinopathy of prematurity during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: To investigate changes in the number of preterm infants, low birth weight infants, and infants with fetal growth restriction (FGR) or retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we reviewed the medical records of infants born and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and growth care unit of Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital before the COVID-19 pandemic (April 1, 2019 to September 30, 2019) and during the pandemic (April 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020). Medical records of infants' mothers were also collected. Preterm infants, low birth weight infants, infants with FGR, infant and maternal factors associated with FGR, and infants requiring treatment for ROP were compared between the two periods. RESULTS: There were fewer infants born at < 28 weeks of gestation, infants with birth weight < 1,500 g, and infants with FGR during the pandemic period than the pre-pandemic period (pre-pandemic: n = 4 vs. during pandemic: n = 0, P = 0.048; pre-pandemic: n = 15 vs. during pandemic: n = 6, P = 0.02; and pre-pandemic: n = 31 vs. during pandemic: n = 12, P = 0.0002, respectively). There were no significant differences in any infant or maternal factors associated with FGR. The number of infants requiring treatment for ROP decreased during the pandemic, although this difference was not statistically significant (pre-pandemic: n = 3 vs. during pandemic: n = 0, P = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed a reduction in the number of infants with FGR during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of infants born at < 28 weeks of gestation and infants with birth weight < 1,500 g also decreased during the pandemic period. There was a trend toward fewer infants requiring treatment for ROP during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effect of intravitreal bevacizumab for retinopathy of prematurity on weight gain.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the short-term effect on body weight (BW) gain after intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS: This was a retrospective 1:1 matched case-control study. Infants with ROP treated by IVB or photocoagulation (PC) at Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital between April 2010 and December 2019 were included in the study. To match BWs at treatment between the IVB and PC groups, 1:1 matching for BWs at treatment within 100 g was performed. The BW gains for the 7 days before treatment (pre-treatment week), the 7 days after treatment (first post-treatment week), and the period from 7 to 14 days after treatment (second post-treatment week) were compared between the IVB and PC groups. RESULTS: Following 1:1 matching, 13 infants in both groups were enrolled in the analysis. The weekly BW gain for the first post-treatment week was significantly lower in the IVB group compared with the PC group (86 g vs. 145 g; P = 0.046), whereas the weekly BW gains for the pre-treatment week (173 g vs. 159 g; P = 0.71) and the second post-treatment week (154 g vs. 152 g; P = 0.73) were comparable between the two groups. The short-term inhibitive effect of IVB on BW gain was particularly observed in infants weighing less than 1500 g at treatment (<1500 g: 47 g vs. ≥1500 g: 132 g; P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: IVB could have a short-term inhibitive effect on BW gain in infants with ROP, and this effect is more likely to occur in infants with a lower BW at the time of treatment.

Evaluation of acquired color vision deficiency in retinal vein occlusion using the Rabin cone contrast test.

PURPOSE: To investigate acquired color vision deficiency (CVD) using the Rabin cone contrast test (RCCT) in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 39 patients with macular edema due to RVO who were treated with intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents and demonstrated improvement of best-corrected visual acuity to 20/20 Snellen VA or better. The acquired CVD was evaluated by the RCCT and standard pseudo-isochromatic plates-part 2 (SPP-2). RESULTS: Mean L, M, and S color contrast test (CCT) scores were significantly lower in RVO eyes than in the fellow eyes (L CCTs, 70.0 ± 13.3 vs. 90.0 ± 8.0, respectively, P < 0.01; M CCTs, 85.0 ± 16.6 vs. 95.0 ± 5.7, respectively, P < 0.01; S CCTs, 80.0 ± 21.5 vs. 95.0 ± 7.1, respectively, P < 0.01). Acquired CVD was diagnosed in 25 eyes of 39 patients by the RCCT and in 15 eyes of 39 patients by SPP-2. The RCCT was performed on two different days in 21 patients. It revealed acquired CVD in 17 eyes on the first day and in 10 eyes on the second day. Acquired CVD was improved in 9 eyes, unchanged in 8 eyes, and worsened in 2 eyes. CONCLUSIONS: The RCCT revealed eyes with RVO had acquired CVD. Acquired CVD caused by RVO can be improved further in some cases even after recovery of vision to 20/20. The RCCT may be able to quantitatively diagnose acquired CVD status.

Time window for cognitive activity involved in emotional processing.

BACKGROUND: From previous studies it is becoming evident that the processing of unpleasant stimuli occurs early (0 to 300 ms); however, it is not clear how cognitive processing related to pleasant/unpleasant emotions occurs at later time windows (≥ 300 ms). On the other hand, as evident from the previous reports, BIS and BAS personality traits are strongly associated with unpleasant and pleasant responses, respectively. Therefore, in the present study, we aim to identify the time window involved in human pleasant/unpleasant emotional processing by investigating ERP components correlated with BIS/BAS personality traits. METHODS: Twenty-nine men took part in the study and recording ERP during presented sounds. BIS/BAS score was calculated using the Japanese edition of the BIS/BAS questionnaire. RESULTS: Significant correlation was not observed between BIS and BAS scores. A significant and positive correlation was observed between N100 amplitude and BIS score. A positive correlation was found between BAS fun seeking subscale score and LPP amplitude. Our findings did not contradict previous study results. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the processing of unpleasant emotions takes place early on, since N100 response was larger in high BIS subjects who are known to be sensitive to unpleasant emotions. LPP was larger in high BAS subjects who are known to be sensitive to pleasant emotions. The LPP was considered to be augmented because the ACC activity level during pleasant emotions reflected on LPP.

Effect of empathy trait on attention to various facial expressions: evidence from N170 and late positive potential (LPP).

BACKGROUND: The present study sought to clarify the relationship between empathy trait and attention responses to happy, angry, surprised, afraid, and sad facial expressions. As indices of attention, we recorded event-related potentials (ERP) and focused on N170 and late positive potential (LPP) components. METHODS: Twenty-two participants (12 males, 10 females) discriminated facial expressions (happy, angry, surprised, afraid, and sad) from emotionally neutral faces under an oddball paradigm. The empathy trait of participants was measured using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI, J Pers Soc Psychol 44:113-126, 1983). RESULTS: Participants with higher IRI scores showed: 1) more negative amplitude of N170 (140 to 200 ms) in the right posterior temporal area elicited by happy, angry, surprised, and afraid faces; 2) more positive amplitude of early LPP (300 to 600 ms) in the parietal area elicited in response to angry and afraid faces; and 3) more positive amplitude of late LPP (600 to 800 ms) in the frontal area elicited in response to happy, angry, surprised, afraid, and sad faces, compared to participants with lower IRI scores. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that individuals with high empathy pay attention to various facial expressions more than those with low empathy, from very-early stage (reflected in N170) to late-stage (reflected in LPP) processing of faces.