Assessing effects of mechanical stimulation of fluid shear stress on inducing matrix Metalloproteinase-9 in cultured corneal epithelial cells.

Blinking is regarded as mechanical stimulation of fluid shear stress on the corneal epithelial cells. Therefore, we evaluated whether fluid shear stress affects matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in cultured human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs). No other study has shown the influence of fluid shear stress on HCECs regarding mRNA expression and the protein levels of MMPs. Cultured HCECs were exposed to shear stress (0, 1.2, 12 dyne/cm2) for 12 and 24 h with the parallel-plate type of flow chamber. Gene expression of MMPs and TIMPs was measured by real-time polymerase reaction. Concentrations of MMP-1 and MMP-9 in cell lysates were determined using bead-based amplified luminescent proximity homogenous assay-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of MMP-9 and MMP-1 in HCECs exposed to low and high flow for 12 and 24 h, respectively, increased significantly compared with those under static conditions. The expression of MMP-9 in the cells exposed to high flow for 24 h increased significantly compared with those under static and low flow conditions. Levels of MMP-9 in cell lysates exposed to fluid flow for 24 h were elevated significantly with increasing shear stress. Fluid shear stress exerted on HCECs affected MMPs, which was associated with inflammation and pathogenesis. Mechanical stress induced by blinking might influence expression of MMPs on the ocular surface. Further studies are warranted to establish the molecular mechanism of shear stress-induced alternations of MMPs.

PATTERN AND CHARACTERISTICS OF DRUSEN SUBTYPES IN CHINESE AND INDIAN POPULATIONS IN SINGAPORE.

PURPOSE: To report the pattern and characteristics of drusen subtypes in Asian populations and the association with choroidal thickness. METHODS: This is the cross-sectional analysis of the population-based cohort study. Two thousand three hundred and fifty-three eyes of 1,336 Chinese and Indian participants aged older than 50 years, eyes with best-corrected visual acuity better than 20/60, and without other retinal diseases were recruited. Pachydrusen, reticular pseudodrusen, soft and hard drusen were graded on both color fundus photographs, and optical coherence tomography imaging with automated segmentation yielding and measurements of choroidal thickness. RESULTS: Nine hundred and fifty-five Chinese and 381 Indians were included in the final analysis. The pattern of pachydrusen, soft drusen, hard drusen, and reticular pseudodrusen was 14.0%, 3.7%, 12.5%, and 0.2%, respectively. Mean choroidal thickness was the thickest in eyes with pachydrusen (298.3 µm; 95% confidence interval: 290.5-306.1), then eyes with hard (298.1 µm; 95% confidence interval: 290.6-305.5) and soft drusen (293.7 µm; 95% confidence interval: 281.9-305.4) and thinnest in eyes without drusen (284.6 µm; 95% confidence interval: 280.5-288.7). Systemic associations of the various drusen subtypes also differed. CONCLUSION: Patterns, characterization and choroidal thickness of drusen subtypes, and their associations provide insights into the Asian phenotypic spectrum of age-related macular degeneration and the underlying pathogenesis.

Modified Supporting Materials to Fabricate Form Stable Phase Change Material with High Thermal Energy Storage.

Thermal energy storage (TES) is vital to the absorption and release of plenty of external heat for various applications. For such storage, phase change material (PCM) has been considered as a sustainable energy material that can be integrated into a power generator. However, pure PCM has a leakage problem during the phase transition process, and we should fabricate a form stable PCM composite using some supporting materials. To prevent the leakage problem during the phase transition process, two different methods, microencapsulation and 3D porous infiltration, were used to fabricate PCM composites in this work. It was found that both microsphere and 3D porous aerogel supported PCM composites maintained their initial solid state without any leakage during the melting process. Compared with the microencapsulated PCM composite, the 3D porous aerogel supported PCM exhibited a relatively high weight fraction of working material due to its high porosity. In addition, the cross-linked graphene aerogel (GCA) could reduce volume shrinkage effectively during the infiltration process, and the GCA supported PCM composite kept a high latent heat (∆H) and form stability.

Relationship between nonperfusion area from widefield optical coherence tomography angiography and macular vascular parameters in diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between the nonperfusion area (NPA) from widefield optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and macular vascular parameters in diabetic retinopathy (DR). METHODS: In total, 51 eyes from 51 patients with proliferative DR (PDR) or moderate/severe non-PDR were included. Widefield OCTA using the Zeiss Plex Elite 9000 was performed. A semi-automatic algorithm calculated the percentages of the NPA within the total image. Macular OCTA (3 × 3 mm and 6 × 6 mm area) was scanned using the RTVue-XR Avanti. Vessel density (VD) was automatically separated into the superficial (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) measurements were computed according to the parafoveal (1-3 mm) and perifoveal (3-6 mm) regions. RESULTS: A negative correlation was found between the average VD of the SCP and DCP obtained 3 × 3 mm and 6 × 6 mm area and the NPA. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the temporal-perifoveal region most negatively correlated with the NPA (r = - 0.55, p < 0.0001). No correlation was found between FAZ measurements and DR severity (area, p = 0.07; perimeter, p = 0.13). CONCLUSION: Diabetic macular nonperfusion was significantly associated with the NPA from widefield OCTA. In particular, the temporal-perifoveal DCP disorder may be a sensitive indicator of wide NPA.

Niclosamide suppresses the expansion of follicular helper T cells and alleviates disease severity in two murine models of lupus via STAT3.

BACKGROUND: Autoantibody production against endogenous cellular components is pathogenic feature of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Follicular helper T (TFH) cells aid in B cell differentiation into autoantibody-producing plasma cells (PCs). The IL-6 and IL-21 cytokine-mediated STAT3 signaling are crucial for the differentiation to TFH cells. Niclosamide is an anti-helminthic drug used to treat parasitic infections but also exhibits a therapeutic effect on autoimmune diseases due to its potential immune regulatory effects. In this study, we examined whether niclosamide treatment could relieve lupus-like autoimmunity by modulating the differentiation of TFH cells in two murine models of lupus. METHODS: 10-week-old MRL/lpr mice were orally administered with 100 mg/kg of niclosamide or with 0.5% methylcellulose (MC, vehicle) daily for 7 weeks. TLR7 agonist, resiquimod was topically applied to an ear of 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice 3 times a week for 5 weeks. And they were orally administered with 100 mg/kg of niclosamide or with 0.5% MC daily for 5 weeks. Every mouse was analyzed for lupus nephritis, proteinuria, autoantibodies, immune complex, immune cell subsets at the time of the euthanization. RESULTS: Niclosamide treatment greatly improved proteinuria, anti-dsDNA antibody levels, immunoglobulin subclass titers, histology of lupus nephritis, and C3 deposition in MRL/lpr and R848-induced mice. In addition, niclosamide inhibited the proportion of TFH cells and PCs in the spleens of these animals, and effectively suppressed differentiation of TFH-like cells and expression of associated genes in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Niclosamide exerted therapeutic effects on murine lupus models by suppressing TFH cells and plasma cells through STAT3 inhibition.

Nonparallel transcriptional divergence during parallel adaptation.

How underlying mechanisms bias evolution toward predictable outcomes remains an area of active debate. In this study, we leveraged phenotypic plasticity and parallel adaptation across independent lineages of Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata) to assess the predictability of gene expression evolution during parallel adaptation. Trinidadian guppies have repeatedly and independently adapted to high- and low-predation environments in the wild. We combined this natural experiment with a laboratory breeding design to attribute transcriptional variation to the genetic influences of population of origin and developmental plasticity in response to rearing with or without predators. We observed substantial gene expression plasticity, as well as the evolution of expression plasticity itself, across populations. Genes exhibiting expression plasticity within populations were more likely to also differ in expression between populations, with the direction of population differences more likely to be opposite those of plasticity. While we found more overlap than expected by chance in genes differentially expressed between high- and low-predation populations from distinct evolutionary lineages, the majority of differentially expressed genes were not shared between lineages. Our data suggest alternative transcriptional configurations associated with shared phenotypes, highlighting a role for transcriptional flexibility in the parallel phenotypic evolution of a species known for rapid adaptation.

Fabrication and Analysis of Sepiolite/Glass Microcapsules/Liquid Crystal Polymer Composites.

Liquid crystal polymer (LCP) composites filled with sepiolite and glass microcapsules were prepared by melt compounding. The composites were extruded using a twin-screw extruder and injection-molded. The objective of this study is to check a possibility of producing a polymeric composite with a low dielectric constant. Physical characteristics of the composites, such as morphological, rheological, mechanical, and electrical properties were analyzed. In particular, the glass microcapsule-reinforced LCP composites showed a significant improvement in lowering the dielectric constant due to its high air content. Additionally, sepiolite could act as an effective filler to improve the mechanical properties of the composites.

Intermittent Fasting Aggravates Lupus Nephritis through Increasing Survival and Autophagy of Antibody Secreting Cells in MRL/lpr Mice.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which the main contributors to organ damage are antibodies against autoantigens, such as double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Calorie restriction and intermittent fasting (IF) have been shown to improve autoimmune disease symptoms in patients and animal models. Here, we tested the hypothesis that IF might improve symptoms in MRL/lpr mice, which spontaneously develop an SLE-like disease. Groups of mice were fed every other day (IF) or provided food ad libitum (controls), and various lupus-associated clinicopathological parameters were analyzed for up to 28 weeks. Contrary to expectations, anti-dsDNA antibody levels, immune complex deposition in the kidney, and glomerular injury were higher in the IF group than the control group, although there were no differences in spleen and lymph node weights between groups. Proteinuria was also worsened in the IF group. IF also increased the abundance of B cells, plasmablasts, and plasma cells and elevated autophagy in plasma cells in the spleen and lymph nodes. Secretion of anti-dsDNA antibody by splenocytes in vitro was reduced by chloroquine-induced inhibition of autophagy. These results suggest that IF exacerbates lupus nephritis in MRL/lpr mice by increasing autoantibody immune complex formation.

miR-106b-5p and miR-17-5p could predict recurrence and progression in breast ductal carcinoma in situ based on the transforming growth factor-beta pathway.

PURPOSE: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is well-known precursor of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Parts of patients show recurrence as DCIS or IDC after local treatment, but there are no established markers predicting relapse. We analyzed changes in miRNA and oncogene expression during DCIS progression/evolution to identify potential markers predicting recurrence. METHODS: Forty archival tissues diagnosed as primary or recurrent DCIS and DCIS adjacent to IDC were analyzed. MiRNA hierarchical clustering showed up-regulation of miR-17-5p and miR-106b-5p in recurrent DCIS and DCIS adjacent to IDC. Target genes were predicted based on pre-formed miRNA databases and PanCancer Pathway panel. MiRNAs were transfected into MCF-10A and MCF-7 cells; western blot analysis was performed with MCF-7 cell line to evaluate the effects on TGF-ß downstream pathway. RESULTS: miRNA hierarchical clustering showed 17 dysregulated miRNAs, including miR-17-5p and miR-106b-5p. Based on miRNA database and nCounter Pancancer pathway analysis, TGFßRII was selected as target of miR-106b-5p and miR-17-5p. MiR-106b-5p- and miR-17-5p-transfected MCF-7 cells showed decreased expression of TGFßRII, especially in cells transfected with both miRNAs. CONCLUSION: miR-106b-5p and miR-17-5p might have a role in breast cancer recurrence and progression by suppressing TGF-ß activity, leading to early breast cancer carcinogenesis.

Clinical Prediction Performance of Glaucoma Progression Using a 2-Dimensional Continuous-Time Hidden Markov Model with Structural and Functional Measurements.

PURPOSE: Previously, we introduced a state-based 2-dimensional continuous-time hidden Markov model (2D CT HMM) to model the pattern of detected glaucoma changes using structural and functional information simultaneously. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the detected glaucoma change prediction performance of the model in a real clinical setting using a retrospective longitudinal dataset. DESIGN: Longitudinal, retrospective study. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred thirty-four eyes from 134 participants diagnosed with glaucoma or as glaucoma suspects (average follow-up, 4.4±1.2 years; average number of visits, 7.1±1.8). METHODS: A 2D CT HMM model was trained using OCT (Cirrus HD-OCT; Zeiss, Dublin, CA) average circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cRNFL) thickness and visual field index (VFI) or mean deviation (MD; Humphrey Field Analyzer; Zeiss). The model was trained using a subset of the data (107 of 134 eyes [80%]) including all visits except for the last visit, which was used to test the prediction performance (training set). Additionally, the remaining 27 eyes were used for secondary performance testing as an independent group (validation set). The 2D CT HMM predicts 1 of 4 possible detected state changes based on 1 input state. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prediction accuracy was assessed as the percentage of correct prediction against the patient's actual recorded state. In addition, deviations of the predicted long-term detected change paths from the actual detected change paths were measured. RESULTS: Baseline mean ± standard deviation age was 61.9±11.4 years, VFI was 90.7±17.4, MD was -3.50±6.04 dB, and cRNFL thickness was 74.9±12.2 µm. The accuracy of detected glaucoma change prediction using the training set was comparable with the validation set (57.0% and 68.0%, respectively). Prediction deviation from the actual detected change path showed stability throughout patient follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The 2D CT HMM demonstrated promising prediction performance in detecting glaucoma change performance in a simulated clinical setting using an independent cohort. The 2D CT HMM allows information from just 1 visit to predict at least 5 subsequent visits with similar performance.

Can Macula and Optic Nerve Head Parameters Detect Glaucoma Progression in Eyes with Advanced Circumpapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Damage?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of OCT optic nerve head (ONH) and macular parameters to detect disease progression in eyes with advanced structural glaucomatous damage of the circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cRNFL). DESIGN: Longitudinal study. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-four eyes from 37 patients with advanced average cRNFL damage (≤60 µm) followed up for an average of 4.0 years. METHODS: All patients were examined with spectral-domain OCT and visual field (VF) assessment during at least 4 visits. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Visual field mean deviation (MD) and VF index. OCT cRNFL (average, superior, and inferior quadrants), ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) (average, superior, and inferior), rim area, cup volume, average cup-to-disc (C:D) ratio, and vertical C:D ratio. RESULTS: At baseline, patients had a median VF MD of -10.18 dB and mean cRNFL of 54.55±3.42 µm. The rate of change for MD and VF index were significant. No significant rate of change was noted for cRNFL, whereas significant (P < 0.001) rates were detected for GCIPL (-0.57±0.05 µm/year) and ONH parameters such as rim area (-0.010±0.001 mm2/year). CONCLUSIONS: Macula GCIPL and ONH parameters may be useful in tracking progression in patients with advanced glaucoma.

Molecular pathogenesis of plasminogen Hakodate: the second Japanese family case of severe type I plasminogen deficiency manifested late-onset multi-organic chronic pseudomembranous mucositis.

A 64-year-old man first developed ligneous conjunctivitis at the age of 58 years after right pulmonary resection because of suspected cancer; otherwise, he had been healthy. Since then, he began to suffer from various forms of chronic pseudomembranous mucositis. Laboratory tests demonstrated that he had 7.8 % of plasminogen activity and 5.9 % of the normal antigen level. Thus, he was diagnosed as having severe type I plasminogen deficiency, making him the third case in Japan. DNA sequencing and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses revealed that this patient was a compound heterozygote of a G-to-A missense mutation (G266E) in exon VIII and a g-to-a mutation at the obligatory splicing acceptor site in intron 12 (IVS12-1g>a). These two mutations were confirmed to be novel. Molecular modeling and splice site strength calculation predicted conformational disorder(s) for the Glu266 mutant and a drastic decrease in splicing efficiency for intron 12, respectively. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the patient contained a small amount of the normal-sized plasminogen protein. Mass spectrometric analysis of the patient's plasminogen revealed a peptide containing the wild-type Gly266 residue and no peptides with mutations at Glu266. However, he had never suffered from thrombosis. Low levels of fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products (FDP), D-dimer, and plasmin-α2-plasmin inhibitor complex clearly indicated a hypo-fibrinolytic condition. However, his plasma concentration of elastase-digested crosslinked FDPs was 4.8 U/mL, suggesting the presence of an on-going plasmin(ogen)-independent "alternative" fibrinolytic system, which may protect the patient from thrombosis. The patient has been free from recurrence of ligneous conjunctivitis for approximately 2.5 years.

SYSTEMIC RISK FACTORS IN BILATERAL PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY REQUIRING VITRECTOMY.

PURPOSE: The visual outcome after vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is often poor. Bilateral vitrectomy has been especially associated with a poor visual prognosis in patients with PDR. The authors investigated the systemic risk factors for PDR requiring bilateral vitrectomy compared with unilateral vitrectomy. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed 86 consecutive patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus with PDR who underwent vitrectomy. These patients were divided into 2 groups: bilateral vitrectomy within 1 year (n = 25) and unilateral vitrectomy (n = 61). The authors compared the systemic risk factors: age, sex, duration of diabetes, hemoglobin A1c, body mass index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, uric albumin, hypertension, dyslipidemia, history of ischemic heart disease, arteriosclerosis obliterans, and smoking. RESULTS: There were significantly more cases with severe renal dysfunction in the bilateral vitrectomy group compared with the unilateral one (estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/minute/1.73 m; bilateral cases = 5/25; unilateral cases = 2/61; P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The authors found that severe renal dysfunction may be a risk factor in PDR requiring bilateral vitrectomy, indicating that careful attention needs to be paid to prevent the progression of diabetic retinopathy to severe PDR in the other eye if patients have severe unilateral PDR and severe renal dysfunction.

Hypertensive choroidopathy with eclampsia viewed on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: We report a case of hypertensive choroidopathy with detailed retinal images obtained using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). CASE: A 19-year-old pregnant woman with no history of high blood pressure had an eclamptic seizure at the 39th week of pregnancy; the baby was delivered by emergency Caesarean section. Six days later, she presented with bilateral blurred vision (best-corrected visual acuity [VA], 0.5, right eye; 0.3, left eye). Bilateral extensive, punctate, pale-yellow Elschnig's spots were present in the posterior fundus. SD-OCT showed a serous retinal detachment (SRD) and retinal pigment epithelium detachment (PED) representing a waveform retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layer in each eye. The reflective intensity decreased partly at the waveform RPE. A wavy structure suggestive of fibrin was present in both foveas between the photoreceptor ellipsoid zone and the RPE-outer segment line. Four weeks after delivery and oral antihypertensive treatment, the SRDs, PEDs and wavy structure resolved and the VA recovered. CONCLUSION: SD-OCT visualized SRDs, PEDs, wavy structures under the photoreceptor ellipsoid zone, and areas of low intensity RPE layer in hypertensive choroidopathy.

Correction: Sato-Akushichi et al. Choroidal Volume Evaluation after Photodynamic Therapy Using New Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging Algorithm. Pharmaceuticals 2021, 14, 1140.

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One-Year Outcome of Combination Therapy with Full or Reduced Photodynamic Therapy and One Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Pachychoroid Neovasculopathy.

This paper evaluates a one-year treatment outcome after full or reduced photodynamic therapy (PDT) and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) combination therapy for pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV). After the initial combination therapy, a total of 29 eyes from 29 patients (16 for full treatment and 13 for reduced treatment), exhibited reduced, central retinal thickness and central choroidal thickness, and the improvements were maintained for 1 year after the initial combination therapy. Twenty-two eyes (75.9%) required no additional treatments for 1 year. The recurrence rate was 31.3% in the full treatment and 15.4% in the reduced treatment, with no significant differences between them. One shot of anti-VEGF and full or reduced PDT combination therapy had similar efficacy in treating PNV. Further prospective, large-scale, and long-term studies are required to determine a better treatment for PNV.

Extracellular matrix gene expression in human trabecular meshwork cells following mechanical fluid flow stimulation.

AIM: To investigate changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) gene expression in human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells in response to mechanical fluid flow stimulation. METHODS: HTM cells were grown on a glass plate coated with 0.02% type I collagen (COL) and exposed to shear stress (0, 0.2, 1.0 dyne/cm2) for 12h. Changes in genes related to the ECM were evaluated by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Phosphorylation of Smad2 protein was investigated by Western blotting. RESULTS: After mechanical stimulation, COL type 4 alpha 2, COL type 6 alpha 1, and fibronectin-1 mRNA were significantly higher than the static control (P<0.05, <0.05, and <0.01, respectively). The metalloproteinase-2 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 mRNA were significantly higher than the static control (P<0.05 and <0.01, respectively), while the differences in the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases-2 mRNA were not significant. The phosphorylation of Smad2 levels was significantly higher compared to the static control cells. CONCLUSION: Changes in the expressions of genes associated ECM metabolism result in HTM cells after mechanical stimulation. The mechanical stimulation of the aqueous humor to the trabecular meshwork may promote ECM turnover and contribute to intraocular pressure homeostasis.

Glaucoma Diagnostic Performance of Retinal Blood Flow Measurement With Doppler Optical Coherence Tomography.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of retinal blood flow (RBF) measured with the Doppler optical coherence tomography (OCT) segmental scanning method to distinguish between healthy and glaucoma eyes. Methods: Fifty-eight patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG) who had a single-hemifield visual field defect and 44 age-matched healthy subjects were enrolled. Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) was measured with swept-source OCT. Superior and inferior temporal arteries (TAs) and temporal veins (TVs) RBF were measured with Doppler OCT. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to compare the diagnostic performances in the damaged and normal hemispheres. Results: Multivariate regression analysis showed TA RBF and TV RBF were significantly reduced in the damaged and normal hemispheres. The ROC analysis showed that the AUC for quadrant RNFLT, TA RBF, and TV RBF were 0.973, 0.909, and 0.872 in the damaged hemisphere, respectively. The AUC values in the normal hemisphere were 0.783, 0.744, and 0.697, respectively. The combination of quadrant RNFLT and TA/TV RBF had a greater AUC than quadrant RNFLT alone in both damaged (AUC = 0.987) and normal (AUC = 0.825) hemispheres. Conclusions: In NTG eyes with single-hemifield damage, the RBF was found to be significantly reduced in the damaged and normal hemispheres independent from structural changes. The combination of RNFLT and RBF could improve diagnostic performances for glaucoma. Translational Relevance: Combining morphological and blood flow measurements with Doppler OCT may be useful in glaucoma diagnosis.

Effect of insulin treatment on pulsatility ratio and resistance index of the retinal artery in patients with type 2 diabetes.

This study aimed to evaluate whether long-term insulin treatment is associated with abnormalities in retinal circulation in type 2 diabetic patients. We evaluated 19 eyes of nondiabetic individuals and 68 eyes of type 2 diabetic patients. The eyes of diabetic patients were classified into two groups according to the presence or absence of long-term insulin therapy. We used a Doppler optical coherence tomography flowmeter to measure diameter, velocity, and blood flow in the major temporal retinal artery. The pulsatility ratio (PR) and resistance index (RI), indices of vascular rigidity, were calculated from the blood velocity profile. PR and RI were significantly elevated in type 2 diabetic patients compared with nondiabetic subjects (P < 0.05). In type 2 diabetes patients, PR and RI were significantly higher in patients receiving long-term insulin treatment than in those without (P < 0.01). There was a significant difference in velocity (P < 0.05), but not diameter and blood flow, between nondiabetic subjects and type 2 diabetes patients. No significant difference in diameter, velocity, or blood flow was observed between the groups with and without long-term insulin treatment. Long-term insulin treatment can affect PR and RI, which might be associated with vascular rigidity of the retinal artery in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Choroidal Volume Evaluation after Photodynamic Therapy Using New Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging Algorithm.

To evaluate choroidal volume and thickness changes after photodynamic therapy (PDT) for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Chronic CSC eyes with a history of PDT were selected. Average choroidal volume, average choroidal thickness, the maximum and minimum choroidal thickness of the macula irradiated area and peripheral non-irradiated areas before and after one and three months of treatment were examined. A total of 14 patients with chronic CSC and 9 controls without any eye pathology were enrolled. The mean choroidal volume in CSC before and, and after one and three months of treatment were 2.36 (standard deviation: 0.70), 1.90 (0.69), 1.86 (0.66) mm3 for the central area, 1.25 (0.38), 1.14 (0.35), 1.13 (0.34) mm3 for superior nasal area, 1.47 (0.41), 1.28 (0.43), 1.26 (0.43) mm3 for superior temporal area, 1.07 (0.49), 0.95 (0.38), 0.93 (0.35) mm3 for inferior nasal area, 1.17 (0.38), 1.04 (0.32), 1.03 (0.33) mm3 for inferior temporal area. This study revealed the choroidal volume changes in a short period after PDT and a decrease in unirradiated choroidal volume was also shown after the treatment. The algorithm provided on the ARI Network enables to evaluate the choroidal changes quantitatively and qualitatively.