The effects of the first versus second glaucoma drainage implant surgery in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the outcome of non-valved glaucoma drainage implant surgery (GDIS) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients divided in the first GDI group (patients who underwent the first GDIS) and the second GDI group (patients who underwent the second GDIS because of the failed first GDIS). METHODS: Intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity (VA), visual field defect (VFD), medication score (MS), survival rate of GDIS, complications, and patient background was retrospectively analyzed. Two success criteria were set: Criteria (1) IOP reduction ≥ 20% and 5 < IOP ≤ 21, Criteria (2) IOP reduction ≥ 20% and 5 < IOP ≤ 14. RESULTS: There were 136 eyes of 109 patients in the first GDI group and 32 eyes of 27 patients in the second GDI group. In the first GDI group and II, mean preoperative IOP was 26.7 ± 6.7 mmHg and 23.7 ± 3.5 mmHg, respectively (P = 0.09). No statistically significant difference in postoperative IOP reduction was found between the two groups (P = 0.39). At 5-years postoperative, the Criteria 1 (Criteria 2) survival rate in the first GDI group and the second GDI group was 60.4% (31.7%) and 61.2% (25.6%), respectively (Criteria 1: hazard ratio [HR]: 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30-1.35 [P = 0.24]; Criteria 2: HR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.46-1.44, P = 0.48). No significant difference in VA, VFD change, MS, or complications was observed. Young patient age was the only significant factor for failure in the first GDI group (odds ratio: 0.95, 95% confidence interval: 0.91-1.00, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The second GDIS may be as effective as the first GDIS for IOP reduction in POAG patients, however, there is a high risk of failure in young-age patients and the surgery may be ineffective in eyes requiring Criteria 2.

Histological analysis of trabeculotomy - An investigation on the intraocular pressure lowering mechanism.

The primary aim of trabeculotomy (TLO) and/or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) is to produce a direct communication between the anterior chamber (AC) and collector channels (CC), which is believed to be the process by which intraocular pressure (IOP) is normalized. However, we previously reported our finding of the large opening of the Schlemm's canal (SC) into the AC in eyes with failed TLO (Amari et al., 2015). If the routes from the AC to the CC by TLO/MIGS are direct, IOP should be stabilized at around aqueous vein pressure if the SC and CC are undamaged. However, in eyes in which TLO/MIGS is successful, IOP usually stays at around the middle or high teens post surgery. In this current study, we retrospectively investigated the specific reason for middle- or high-teens IOP following TLO/MIGS via the histological examination of trabeculectomy (TRAB) specimens that include the area of previous TLO/MIGS in eyes with failed TLO or insufficient IOP control following TLO by specifically focusing on the behavior of the SC endothelium (SCE). Patient background, maximum IOP prior to TLO/MIGS and TRAB, the number medications administered, and elapsed time between TLO/MIGS and TRAB were reviewed. In 42 TRAB specimens of 31 120-180° TLO eyes (Group A; 27 ab-externo and 4 ab-interno eyes) and 11 360° suture TLO eyes (Group B), SC length (SCL), the site of the incision in the trabecular meshwork (TM) [i.e., the center (CEN)/anterior-tip (TIP)], and TM opening into the AC [i.e., open (OPN)/closed (CLS)] were histologically investigated. The correlation between the clinical parameters of the maximum IOP of pre-TLO/MIGS, the maximum IOP of pre-TRAB, the percentage of IOP reduction (PIR), and the histological results were statistically evaluated. Our findings revealed a significant negative correlation between the maximum IOP of pre-TRAB and SCL (P = 0.0167), and a significantly higher PIR in the eyes with OPN than those with CLS in Group A (P = 0.0045). However, no significant difference in SCL was found between the OPN and CLS eyes in both groups. In comparison to Group A, a higher percentage of OPN (82%) yet a smaller SCL (P = 0.0024) was observed in Group B. No significant correlation between clinical and histological parameters was found in Group B. In both groups, the common finding was sealing of the SC openings by SC endothelium (SCE) and no direct communication between the AC and the CC. This fact indicates that the nature by which SCE seals off the opened SC lumen into the AC created by TLO may be very important for maintaining the blood-aqueous barrier. Based on these results, we concluded that accessibility for aqueous humor to the SC and preservation of the SC may be important for lowering IOP by TLO. However, the opening of the SC into the AC (OPN type) does not guarantee an adequate IOP lowering effect if the SC is widely collapsed. Thus, TLO may be improved only by eliminating the most resistant part of the TM with minimal SCE damage.

Comparisons of Schlemm's canal and trabecular meshwork morphologies between juvenile and primary open angle glaucoma.

The histologic differences in Schlemm's canal (SC) and trabecular meshwork (TM), obtained from the trabeculectomy specimens of different age-group glaucoma patients, were compared. This study involved 44 trabeculectomy specimens of 37 juvenile-onset open-angle glaucoma (JOAG) patients (Group A) and 24 trabeculectomy specimens of 24 elderly-onset primary OAG (POAG) patients (age range: 70-79 years, Group B) with no familial history of POAG. Clinical parameters of gender, maximum intraocular pressure (IOP), and the number of glaucoma medications used prior to trabeculectomy were investigated and compared between the two groups. From light microscopy photographs of hematoxylin-eosin, and immunohistochemical staining of markers for SC endothelium (SCE), the total SC length (TSC), comprised of the opened-SC length (OSC) and the closed-SC length (CSC), the percentage of CSC in TSC (%CSC), the percentage of positive SCE marker in CSC (%PinCSC), and the percentage of negative SCE marker in OSC (%NinOSC) were analyzed. Moreover, podoplanin staining patterns in the TM were investigated and compared between the two groups. Among the clinical parameters, the mean maximum IOP in Group A (33.41 ± 9.24 mmHg) was the only significant parameter when compared to that in Group B (22.96 ± 7.17 mmHg, P = 0.000003). TSC in Group A was significantly shorter than that in Group B (P = 0.00092), and %CSC (P = 0.00004) and %PinCSC (P = 0.00342) in Group B were significantly higher than those in Group A. No statistically significant difference in %NinOSC was found between Group A and Group B (P = 0.76060). Juxtacanalicular tissue (JCT) in Group A showed compact and weak staining with podoplanin, while the JCT and closed-SC area in Group B showed intense staining. In the Group A subjects, TSC (P = 0.04819) and OSC (P = 0.02867) were significantly shorter in the non-familial cases than in the familial cases. Platelet coagulations 10-37 µm in size at the defect of the SCE in the inner wall of the SC were observed in 8 eyes (18%) and 4 eyes (17%) in Group A and Group B, respectively. The platelets appeared to repair the SCE damage for maintaining the blood aqueous barrier in both groups of POAG eyes. Smaller SC diameters and accompanying TM abnormality were features observed in the young-onset JOAG patients, thus suggesting developmental abnormalities in the outflow routes. The collapse of SC lumen, presumably due to aging, was the feature observed in the elderly-onset POAG patients. In Group A, the significantly higher IOP, despite of no significant number of topical medications used prior to trabeculectomy, also suggested that JOAG eyes can be categorized as a distinct type of POAG from the eyes of elder-aged POAG patients. The SCE drop out observed in the glaucomatous eyes of the different age groups suggested that worsening of IOP control may possibly occur equally in both groups.

Evaluation of the outcome of long-tube shunt implant surgery in uveitic glaucoma patients by analyzing the background of uveitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of long-tube shunt surgery (LTSS) without valve in uveitic glaucoma (UG) eyes. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 45 UG eyes that underwent only LTSS or LTSS combined with trabeculectomy (TLE) (LTSS/TLE). The UG eyes were analyzed by categorizing them into granulomatous/non-granulomatous, steroid responder/non-responder, and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) (POAG background)/non-POAG (non-POAG background). All granulomatous UG eyes received a continuous 3-times-daily administration of topical betamethasone post-LTSS. RESULTS: The eyes consisted of granulomatous (37 eyes, 82%)/non-granulomatous (5 eyes, 11%), steroid responder (19 eyes, 42%)/non-steroid responder (13 eyes, 29%), and 20 eyes with POAG or POAG background (p = 0.0022, 83%) among 24 cases of unilateral UG. The 5-year survival rates of only LTSS and LTSS/TLE were 66% and 100%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival-curve estimates in the non-granulomatous group were 100% for 6-year postoperative period, while the granulomatous group showed a gradual decrease along the 6-year (81%) postoperative period. The 5-year survival rates in the steroid responder group and the non-steroid responder group eyes were 74% and 78%, respectively. No intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation was observed in the positive steroid responder eyes post-LTSS. CONCLUSIONS: LTSS and LTSS/TLE were both effective in UG. Positive steroid response may be masked by LTSS in the positive responder eyes. Continuous administration of topical betamethasone post-LTSS may be important for preventing an IOP spike by suppressing inflammation in the anterior chamber. LTSS combined with TLE may be recommended in eyes with granulomatous UG, and the coexistence of a POAG/POAG background.

Pharmacokinetics of hesperetin and naringenin in the Zhi Zhu Wan, a traditional Chinese medicinal formulae, and its pharmacodynamics study.

Zhi Zhu Wan (ZZW), a classical Chinese medical formulae consisted of Atractylodes Rhizome and Fructus Citrus Immaturus, has been commonly used for treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Hesperetin and naringenin are the main components of ZZW, and both can alleviate intestinal tract disorders. In this work, plasma pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics characteristics of ZZW after oral administration were investigated using a rapid and sensitive ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method with an electrospray ionization source in positive ion mode. Biosamples were prepared using methanolic precipitation, and the separation of hesperetin and naringenin was achieved on a Waters ACQUITY HSS BEH (2.1 mm × 5 mm, 1.7 µm) column by linear gradient elution, and the total run time was only 3 min. Data were analyzed and estimated using WinNonlin Professional version 5.1. With pharmacokinetic analysis, the estimated pharmacokinetic parameters (i.e. C(max), area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) and t(1/2)), were C(max) = 776.06 ng/mL, AUC = 9473 ng/mL·h, t1/2 = 5.26 h for hesperetin and C(max) = 2910.6 ng/mL, AUC = 40607.9 ng/mL·h, t1/2 = 4.69 h for naringenin, respectively. In the present study, we have also valuated and clarified the effect of ZZW on small intestinal movement. It was found that ZZW can accelerate intestinal motility in mice and may hold a promising treatment for intestinal diseases.

Microangiopathy in Ocular Sarcoidosis Using Fluorescein Gonio and Fundus Angiography from Diagnostic and Therapeutic Aspects.

In this retrospective study, we investigated vascular abnormalities in sarcoidosis using fluorescein gonioangiography (FGA) to detect angle neovascularization (ANV), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), and pathological specimens from the aspects of microangiopathy. In 57 sarcoidosis patients, clinical data was reviewed by dividing the cases into three groups (Group I: histologically diagnosed; Group II: positive bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (BHL); Group III: negative BHL). The FFA, FGA, and pathological examination data in the autopsy eyes and trabeculectomy specimens were investigated. FGA and FFA detected ANV (91%) and nodule-associated abnormalities (87%), respectively. No intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation was observed after continuous topical betamethasone, except in the steroid responder group. Maximum IOP had significant correlation with nodules in the angle (p = 0.02696) and visual field defect (p = 0.0151). Granulomas adjacent to blood vessels, including the Schlemm's canal, and thickening of the retinal blood vessel wall caused occlusion of those vessels. Photocoagulation was required for retinal tears (14%) and the retinal blood vessel occlusion (7%). Suppression of IOP elevation via continuous topical betamethasone may be important to avoid irreversible outflow-route changes and optic-nerve damage, and the concept of microangiopathy in ocular sarcoidosis may be important for understanding the proper treatment of serious complications.

A Histologic Categorization of Aqueous Outflow Routes in Familial Open-Angle Glaucoma and Associations With Mutations in the MYOC Gene in Japanese Patients.

Purpose: This study evaluated specific relationships between pathogenic mechanisms and genetic polymorphisms in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). We analyzed the morphologies of trabeculectomy specimens obtained from patients with familial POAG. Methods: We used light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to examine specimens obtained from 17 eyes of 14 patients with familial POAG. We also conducted exome analyses of two families and used targeted Sanger sequencing to analyze samples obtained from the remaining patients. Results: The POAG cases examined in this study were divided into two groups based on morphologic characteristics. Group A eyes (7 eyes from 5 patients) had an abnormally thick trabecular meshwork (TM), whereas group B eyes (10 eyes from 9 patients) had a TM of normal thickness. The characteristics of the outflow routes in group A eyes were remarkable and included apoptotic TM cells, abnormally thickened TM basement membranes, fused TM beams, and occluded Schlemm's canals. All group A patients harbored mutations (F369L, P370L, T377M, and T448P) in the myocilin (MYOC) gene that were not found in group B patients. Conclusions: Although age matching of morphologic changes in the outflow routes was impossible due to the small sample size, this study suggests that abnormal TM cells may cause sequential damage in abnormally thickened TM basement membranes, TM cell apoptosis, TM beam fusion, and the occlusion of Schlemm's canals. The four detected MYOC mutations appeared to be associated with morphologic changes in the TM and the underlying pathogenesis of a subtype of familial POAG.

Morphological Abnormalities of Schlemm's Canal in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma From the Aspect of Aging.

PURPOSE: To evaluate morphological abnormalities of Schlemm's canal (SC) among primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients with a family history of POAG (group A), those without a family history of POAG (group B), and patients with normal-tension glaucoma (group C) from the aspect of aging. METHODS: A total of 160 trabeculectomy specimens from 133 POAG patients were processed for light microscopy using immunohistochemical staining of thrombomodulin and transmission electron microscopy. The following parameters were statistically evaluated: SC length, the percentage of the thrombomodulin-negative area (PTNA) of SC, and the inner-wall SC endothelial cell density (SC-ECD/100 µm). RESULTS: No significant differences in age were observed among the three groups (group A: 56.71 ± 14.83; group B: 58.13 ± 18.13; group C: 56.61 ± 9.78). Length of SC in the group A patients (198.70 ± 81.65 µm, n = 70 eyes) was significantly shorter than in group B (250.30 ± 70.83 µm, n = 67 eyes), and group C (277.70 ± 65.52 µm, n = 23 eyes) patients. A positive correlation of patient age and SC length was observed in group B (r = 0.45, P = 0.0013), but SC length in group A tended to decrease with aging (r = -0.22, P = 0.07). No significant difference in SC was found between group A and B patients before age 50 years (P = 0.30). Correlations between patient age and increase of PTNA (r = 0.38, P = 0.0013) and patient age and decrease of SC-ECD (r = -0.53, P = 3.95 × 10(-6)) were observed only in the group B cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that SC in group A may easily collapse during middle age, while SC in group B remains open and SC endothelial cells drop out at around middle age.

Chromatographic fingerprinting analysis of Zhizhu Wan preparation by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detector.

BACKGROUND: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula has been used for over 1000 years and most of them contain complicate chemical constituents. Chromatographic fingerprinting has been widely accepted as a crucial method for qualitative and quantitative analyses for TCM. Zhi Zhu Wan (ZZW), a classical Chinese medical formula, has been commonly used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disease, which pose a serious challenge to its quality control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this work, a sensitive and reliable method of high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detector (HPLC-PDA) was developed to control the quality of ZZW for chemical fingerprint analysis and quantitative analysis of four major bioactive constituents, including hesperidin, naringin, neohesperidin, and atractylenolide I. The chromatographic separation was performed on a Waters Symmetry C18 column (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 µm particle size), with an aqueous 0.095% phosphate acid and acetonitrile mobile phase gradient. RESULTS: Optimization of other experimental conditions was validated with satisfactory accuracy, precision, repeatability, and recovery. In quantitative analysis, the four components showed good regression (R > 0.9994) within test ranges, and the recovery method ranged from 99.32% to 100.630%. HPLC fingerprints of the ZZW samples were compared by performing similarity analysis. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the newly developed HPLC-PDA fingerprint method would be suitable for quality control of ZZW.

Pharmacokinetics-based elucidation on disparity in clinical effectiveness between varieties of Zhi Zhu Wan, a Traditional Chinese Medical formula.

AIM: Zhi Zhu Wan (ZZW) is a classical Chinese medical formulation used for the treatment of functional dyspepsia that attributed to Spleen-deficiency Syndrome. ZZW contains Atractylodes Rhizome and Fructus Citrus Immaturus, the later originates from both Citrus aurantium L. (BZZW) and Citrus sinensis Osbeck (RZZW). The present study is designed to elucidate disparities in the clinical efficacy of two ZZW varieties based on the pharmacokinetics of naringenin and hesperetin. MEHTOD: After oral administration of ZZWs, blood sample was collected from healthy volunteers at designed time points. Naringenin and hesperetin were detected in plasma by RP-HPLC, pharmacokinetic parameters were processed using mode-independent methods with WINNONLIN. RESULTS: After oral administration of BZZW, both naringenin and hesperetin were detected in plasma, and demonstrated similar pharmacokinetic parameters. Ka was 0.384+/-0.165 and 0.401+/-0.159, T(1/2(ke))(h) was 5.491+/-3.926 and 5.824+/-3.067, the AUC (mg/Lh) was 34.886+/-22.199 and 39.407+/-19.535 for naringenin and hesperetin, respectively. However, in the case of RZZW, only hesperetin was found in plasma, but the pharmacokinetic properties for hesperetin in RZZW was different from that in BZZW. T(max) for hesperetin in RZZW is about 8.515h, and its C(max) is much larger than that of BZZW. Moreover, it was eliminated slowly as it possessed a much larger AUC value. CONCLUSION: The distinct therapeutic orientations of the Chinese medical formula ZZWs with different Fructus Citrus Immaturus could be elucidated based on the pharmacokinetic parameters of constituents after oral administration.

Hydrolysis of flavanone glycosides and degradation of the corresponding aglycones from dried immature Citrus fruit by human fecal flora in vitro.

The hydrolysis of the flavanone glycosides contained in dried immature Citrus fruit, originating from Citrus aurantium L (Family Rutaceae), and degradation of their aglycones in human fecal flora have been analyzed. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the flavanone glycosides and their corresponding aglycones in human fecal flora. The separation of compounds was performed with an ODS column by isocratic and stepwise gradient elution with 0.5 % (v/v) acetic acid-acetonitrile. As a result, the hydrolysis rate of hesperidin and narirutin (flavanone rutinoside) was faster than that of naringin and neohesperidin (flavanone neohesperioside). When the half-life time of each flavanone glycoside was carefully calculated (under the mixed conditions with the human fecal flora), hydrolysis of the flavanone rutinoside turned out to be approximately two times faster than of flavanone neohesperioside. The observed degradation rates of both aglycones was found not to be different. Therefore, it seems that the hydrolysis rate of flavanone glycosides in dried immature citrus fruit with human fecal flora is closely related to the steric hindrance of the sugar. This finding might be effectively used for further pharmacokinetics research on the flavanone glycosides of dried immature Citrus fruit.