ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of adjuvant intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for advanced Coats disease. MethodsThis study is a retrospective case series study. Fourteen patients (14 eyes), presenting Coats Stages 3B and 4 (8 and 6 eyes, respectively) were enrolled. All the patients were treated with adjuvant intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy. The intravitreal anti-VEGF injections varied from 1 to 7, with a median injections of 2.14. In 14 eyes, combined therapy was subretinal fluid drainage in 4 eyes, photocoagulation in 2 eyes, vitrectomy in 8 eyes. The follow-up period was ranged from 4 to 36 months, with a median follow-up of 18.8 months. Visual acuity and retinal reattachment were observed in follow up. ResultsAt last follow up, global suvival was 100.0% with no enucleation performed in any patient because of disease progression. Except for 2 children who were unable to cope with the visual acuity test, visual acuity was improved in 2 patients, stable in 8 patients, and decreased in 2 patients. 5 patients (35.7%) achieved in complete retinal reattachment, 3 patients (21.4%) were succeed in partial retinal reattachment, and the remain 6 patients(42.8%) failed in retinal reattachment. Two patients developed cataract after vitrectomy, and no other adverse reaction was observed during follow-up. ConclusionAnti-VEGF therapy combined with classic treatments in advanced Coats disease can keep or impove the visual acuity in most patients by reducing of subretinal exudation.
ObjectiveTo investigate macular microvascular abnormalities in eyes with subfoveal fibrotic nodules secondary to Coats' disease. MethodsA cross-sectional study. From January 1, 2018 to July 30, 2021, 45 eyes of 45 patients diagnosed with Coats' disease with or without subfoveal fibrotic nodules in Eye and ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University were included in this study. There were 40 eyes in 40 males and 5 eyes in 5 females. All were under 21 years old. According to the presence or absence of subfoveal fiber nodules, the patients were divided into fibrotic group (26 cases, 26 eyes) and non-fibrotic group (19 cases, 19 eyes). Optical coherence tomography angiography was used to scan 3 mm×3 mm or 6 mm×6 mm macular area of both eyes. The software of the device automatically processed the images. The presence of FAZ edge anastomotic vascular arch ring breakage and abnormal microvascular branch (AMB) in the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) were observed. ResultsIn 26 eyes of fibrosis group, AMB originating from the parafoveal retinal capillary network was observed, which grew into and destroyed the integrity of the vascular arch ring at the edge of FAZ. AMB was crisscrossing and winding, and its curvature expands. B-scan images showed the blood flow signal in the subfoveal fiber nodule, and the blood flow signal traversed between the inner retina and the fiber nodule in 23 eyes (88.46%, 23/26). In the non-fibrosis group, all the vascular abnormalities were characterized by capillary dilation and defect, and no breakage of FAZ anastomotic vascular arch ring or AMB was observed. ConclusionsIn Coats' disease with subfoveal fiber nodules, staggered and dilated AMBs emerge from the parafoveal vascular network, grow into and destroy the integrity of the vascular arch ring at the edge of FAZ, and grow down longitudinally into the fiber nodules.
Objective To investigate the molecular mechanisms by which the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MIR223HG affects the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cells. MethodsDNA damaging agent Zeocin was used to treat human embryo lung cell (MRC-5) and lung cancer cell (A549 and H1299), and the expression of MIR223HG was tested by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. Moreover, the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) protein and ATM pathway downstream factor Cell cycle checkpoint kinase 2 (Chk2), p53 tumor suppressor protein (p53) in the lung cancer cell (A549 and H1299) with Zeocin were also tested by qRT-PCR. Cell transfection and Transwell migration assay, colony formation assays, apoptosis assays were performed to verify the role of ATM in the expression of MIR223HG in lung adenocarcinoma. ResultsThe expression of MIR223HG was reduced markedly in the lung cancer cells (A549 and H1299) compared with human embryo lung cell (MRC-5) after treated with Zeocin. ATM protein and its downstream factors Chk2, p53 involved in the process, and ATM regulated the expression of MIR223HG in the lung cancer cells with Zeocin. Futhermore, ATM joined in the processes that MIR223HG regulated the lung cancer cells proliferation, migration and apoptosis. Conclusions The expression of MIR223HG is related to the DNA damage response in the lung cancer, and MIR223HG regulates lung cancer cells proliferation, migration and apoptosis by ATM/Chk2/p53 pathway. MIR223HG may be a potential therapeutic target for lung adenocarcinoma treatment.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes of macular blood flow density in patients of macular telangiectasis type 1 (Mac-Tel type 1) with macular edema before and after the treatment of anti-VEGF.MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From January 2016 to December 2017, 14 Mac-Tel type 1 patients (14 eyes) diagnosed in Nanjing Medical University Eye Hospital were included in the study. There were 6 males (6 eyes) and 8 females (8 eyes), with the mean age of 35.3±9.3 years. All patients underwent BCVA and OCT angiography examinations. The BCVA examination was performed using the Snellen visual acuity chart, which was converted into logMAR visual acuity. All the patients were received anti-VEGF injection treatment once a month for 3 consecutive months. The OCTA scanning region in the macular area was 3 mm × 3 mm. Macular blood flow density in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), the vessel density within a 300 μm width ring surrounding the foveal avascular area (FD-300) and central macular thickness (CMT) were measured in all eyes. Paired samples t-test and Pearson correlation analysis were used in this study.ResultsAt the baseline, logMAR BCVA was 0.69±0.07, CMT was 468.43±26.59 μm, SCP blood flow density was (50.99±1.19)%, DCP blood flow density was (43.79±1.44)%, FD-300 was (50.73±1.16)%. Compared with the baseline, there were significant differences between logMAR BCVA, CMT, DCP blood flow density and FD-300 in 1 week, 1 month, 3 months after treatment and 2 months after cessation of treatment (logMAR BCVA: t=6.77, 13.30, 16.99, 9.51; P=0.00, 0.01, 0.00, 0.01. CMT: t=6.99, 15.88, 26.10, 6.50; P=0.00, 0.01, 0.01, 0.00. DCP: t=6.75, 8.61, 15.12, 7.63; P=0.00, 0.01, 0.01, 0.00. FD-300: t=11.86, 13.08, 14.36, 4.41; P=0.00, 0.01, 0.01, 0.03). There was no significant difference in blood flow density of SCP between baseline and 2 months after cessation of treatment (t=1.36, P=0.19), but there was significant difference at the other time points after treatment (t=5.50, 6.84, 6.27; P=0.00, 0.01, 0.01). The Pearson's correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between FD-300 and CMT (r2=0.54, P=0.04).ConclusionsThere is no significant change in the SCP blood flow density in the patients of Mac-Tel type 1 with macular edema, while the DCP blood flow density decreased and FD-300 increased. After anti-VEGF treatment, DCP blood flow density increased and FD-300 decreased. FD-300 is positively correlated with CMT.
ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (IVR) and combined treatment for severe Coats disease. MethodsNineteen Coats disease patients (24 eyes) were enrolled in this retrospective non-comparative interventional clinical study. The patients included 17 males and 2 females. The age was ranged from 1 to 42 years old, with an average of (13.05±6.78) years. The patients included 15 children (age ≤14 years old) and 4 adults (age ≥18 years old). There were 13 patients with 3a stage and 6 patients with 3b stage. The treatment methods including IVR only, IVR combined with cryotherapy, IVR combined with cryotherapy and sclerotomy to drain subretinal fluid, IVR combined with vitrectomy. Treatments were repeated if it was necessary at the first day, the first week and the first month after injection. The interval between treatments was ≥1 month. Eleven patients (57.9%) underwent one treatment, 3 patients (15.8%) underwent 2 treatments, 3 patients (15.8%) underwent 3 treatments, 2 patients (10.5%) underwent 4 treatments. The treatment frequency including 22 times of IVR only, 6 times of IVR combined with cryotherapy, 5 times of IVR combined with cryotherapy and sclerotomy to drain subretinal fluid, 1 time of IVR combined with vitrectomy. The follow-up period was ranged from 6 to 36 months, with an average of (19.11±7.05) months. Visual acuity, retinal reattachment and ocular adverse events were observed. ResultsThree children (15.8%) were failing to test the visual acuity. Visual acuity was improved in 2 patients (10.5%), stable in 13 patients (68.4%) and decreased in 1 patient (5.3%). Three patients (15.8%) achieved totally retinal reattachment after treatment, while 16 patients (84.2%) achieved partially retinal reattachment. One patient had vitreous hemorrhage. One patient had neovascular glaucoma. ConclusionIVR and combined treatment were effective for severe Coats disease.
Idiopathic parafoveal telangiectasis (IPT) is a retinal vascular disease which is characterized by foveal and parafoveal telangiectasia. The main clinical manifestations are retinal telangiectasis, reduced retinal transparency, retinal venular dilatation, yellow exudation, retinal pigment epithelial lesions, retinal hemorrhage, macular atrophy, macular hole or lamellar hole, subretinal neovascularization and retinal detachment. According to the clinical characteristics and features of fluorescein angiography, IPT can be divided into 3 types and 6 subtypes. Laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy, and intravitreal injection of glucocorticoid or anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs, can reduce the macular edema and neovascularization. However, due to the unclear etiology of IPT, the existing treatment measures are not specific for its etiology. We need to work hard to understand further the clinical features and pathogenesis of IPT and search the targeted treatments based on its pathogenesis mechanism.
Retinopathy of prematurity, familial exudative vitreoretinopathy and Coats disease are the most common neonates and infants retinal vascular diseases, which may lead to severe visual damage because of either tractional retinal detachment caused by the proliferation of pathogenic neovascularization, or exudative retinal detachment due to the extremely leakage from abnormal retinal vessels. Classic treatment is retinal laser photocoagulation which could destroy these abnormal vessels or reduce non vascular areas to diminish the growth of new vessels, however the side effects induced by laser it self such as visual field damage, hemorrhage, retinal tear, fail to control the progression of the disease make the laser treatment hard to improve the vision of these young patients. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents have been widely applied in various adult retinal and choroidal vascular diseases, they are even possible to replace the pan retinal photocoagulation in proliferative diabetic retinopathy, while there are still many unsolved problems in the applying in neonates and infants retinal vascular diseases, like dosage, timing, retreatment and systemic side effects. We should realize the importance of selecting the laser photocoagulation and anti-VEGF for neonates and infants retinal vascular diseases.
ObjectiveTo observe the imaging characteristics of optical coherence tomography angiography in macular telangiectasia type 2 (Mac-Tel 2). MethodsA retrospective case analysis. From October 2017 to June 2021, 11 patients (22 eyes) diagnosed as Mac-Tel type 2 by multi-modal imaging in Nanjing Medical University Eye Hospital were included in this study. There were 5 males (10 eyes) and 6 females (12 eyes). The age were 41.61±11.32 years old. All patients underwent the examinations of best corrected visual acuity, indirect ophthalmoscope, fundus color photography, fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCT angiography (OCTA). The scope of 3 mm × 3 mm in macular area of eyes was scanned by OCTA. After automatic image processing, the system could provide the blood flow image of capillary layer, deep capillary layer, outer retina, choroidal capillary layer, and the B-scan image. The imaging characteristics were observed. ResultsAmong the 22 eyes, 14 eyes were in the early stage of the disease, and 8 eyes had secondary subretinal neovascularization (SRN) and/or choroidal neovascularization (CNV). FFA examination that in the early stage of the disease, the capillaries near the fovea were dilated, the blood vessels were stretched, and the late fluorescence was mainly stained; high-fluorescence leakage was seen when SRN and CNV were developed. OCTA examination showed that in the early stage of the disease, the temporal capillaries in the macular area were dilated and stretched, especially in the deep layer. The capillary space was enlarged, and the right-angled venules were seen to change and infiltrate into the deep layer; when the lesions invaded the outer retina, flower clusters-like SRN were seen; neovascularization was seen in the outer retina and choroidal capillary layer when CNV was developed. B-scan image showed that in the early stage of the disease, irregular weak reflex cavities and lamellar holes change between the neuroepithelial layers; secondary SRN and CNV showed strong little clumpy reflexes accompanied by abundant blood flow signals. ConclusionThe image characteristics of OCTA in the eyes of Mac-Tel 2 were dilated, stretched superficial and deep temporal capillaries in the macula area and right-angled changes in blood vessels.