Objective lt;brgt;To evaluated the effect of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) on age-related macular degeneration (AMD). lt;brgt; lt;brgt;Methods lt;brgt;Sixty-two cases (62 eyes) of exudative AMD were managed with TTT. Before treatment, 58 cases underwent fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA),42 cases underwent simultaneous indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), and 56 cases underwent optic coherence tomography (OCT).TTT was delivered using a 810 nm diode laser with variable spot sizes 0.5-3.0 mm and power range 60-40 mW,60 seconds duration. Sixty-two cases were followed up for 1-10 months with 4.8 months average. lt;brgt; lt;brgt;Results lt;brgt;The visual acuities of last visit were compared with those before the treatment. The visual acuity was unchanged in 43 cases (69.3%), improved in 15 cases (24.2%), and declined in 4 cases (6.5%). OCT was re-done in 51 cases and compared with OCT images before TTT treatment. The height of macular edema was unchanged in 29 cases (56.9%), decreased in 18 cases (35.3%), and increased in 4 cases (7.8%). The amelioration of visual acuity was compatible with that of macular configuration in the majority of cases (74.5%). Only in 13 cases (25.5%) the amelioration of visual acuity lagged behind that of macular configuration. The re-treatment was performed in 18 cases (29.1%), probably due to insufficiency of laser power. No side-effect was found. lt;brgt; lt;brgt;Conclusion lt;brgt;TTT makes most of the cases of exudative AMD retaining or improving their visual acuity. The employment is secured. Further exploration is needed in order to obtain the parameters of the laser treatment. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 180-183)
Microparticles are small vesicles that are released by budding of the plasma membrane during cellular activation and apoptotic cell breakdown. A spectrum of cell types can release microparticles including endothelial cells, platelets, macrophages, lymphocytes and tumor cells. Biological effects of microparticles mainly include procoagulant activity, inhibition of inflammation and cancer progression. The present study shows that vitreous microparticles isolated from proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) stimulated endothelial cell proliferation and increased new vessel formation, promoting the pathological neovascularization in PDR patients. Oxidative stress induces the formation of retina pigment epithelium-derived microparticles carrying membrane complement regulatory proteins, which is associated with drusen formation and age related macular degeneration. Microparticles from lymphocyte (LMP) play an important role in anti-angiogenesis by altering the gene expression pattern of angiogenesis-related factors in macrophages. Besides, LMP are important proapoptotic regulators for retinoblastoma cells through reduction of spleen tyrosine kinase expression and upregulation of the p53-p21 pathway which ultimately activates caspase-3. However, how to apply the microparticles in the prevention and treatment of retinal diseases is a major challenge, because the study of the microparticles in the fundus diseases is still limited. Further studies conducted would certainly enhance the application of microparticles in the fundus diseases.
Objective To study the significance of detection the short-term fluctuation (SF) of macular light threshold detected by Octopus-123 automatic perimeter in suspected early age-related macular dege-neration (AMD). Methods SF of macular light sensitivity, Amsler chart and central visual acuity were examined in 51 patients(66 eyes) with suspected early AMD group and in 32 patients (40 eyes) in the control group. Results SF were significantly different in suspected early AMD group and control group. SF was more sensitive than the examination of central visual acuity and Amsler chart. SF was related to the quantity, location and quality of drusen. Conclusion Visual function of some suspected early AMD patients with drusen may be damaged, though the central visual acuity appears normal. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 119-120)
Purpose To evaluate shortterm visual acuity effects of a single photodynamic therapy(PDT) treatment with Visudyne (CIBA Vision Corp, Duluth, Ga) for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods Definitely diagnostic AMD patients with classic CNV were treated with PDT (5 cases, 7 eyes). The data of visual acuity testing, ophthalmic examination, color photographs, optic coherence tomography, fluorescein angiograms and indocyanine green angiogram before photodynamic therapy and 1 week ,1 month after it were used to evaluate the effects of a single treatment of PDT with Visudyne. Results The visual acuity of all the treated eyes at the follow-up examination at 1 month after PDT were not reduced. Distinct reduction of fluorescein leakage from CNV was noted in all patients by 1 week after PDT. Fluorescein leakage from a portion of the CNV reappeared by 1 month after treatment in 2 eyes. Conclusion PDT with Visudyne achieved short-term cessation of fluorescein leakage from CNV without loss of vision or growth of classic CNV in some patwo ients with AMD. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2000,16:213-216)
Purpose To clarify the relationship between diabetic retinopathy (DR) and maculopathy (DM) and explore the clinical implication of independent graduation of DM. Methods Fundus fluorescein angiography and routine ophthalmological examination were performed on 582 cases of diabetes.Their ocular fundi and macular impairments were graded. Results In general,the severity of diabetic macular impairment was accompanied by retinal involvement,but discrepancy existed between DM and DR.Degree I DM occurred in 5.4% (16/294) among cases without DR,in stage IV DR,degree Ⅲ DM accounted for the most part ,54.5% (116/213).There were still 5.1% (2/39) cases without DM in stage Ⅴ DR. Conclusion The degree of the macular lesions in DM is often not in parallel with the gradation of general affections in retinal tissue other than in macular region in DR,therefore,independentg radation of diabetic maculopathy has its clinical significance for choosing the optimal period of treating maculopathy and preserving the macular function. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2000,16:153-154)
Objective To investigate the clinical features of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Methods The clinical manifestations and the findings of fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) of 7 eyes in 6 patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy were analyzed retrospec tively.Results The ophthalmoscopic examination of PCV in this series of patients revealed orange-red lesions mainly in macular region in early stage, and then hemorrhage, exudation, edema, serous and (or) hemorrhagic detachment of retinal pigment epithelium in affected portions in advanced stage, and retinal and choroidal atrophy in late stage. FFA discovered the vascular dilation at the border of the choroidal vascular network in 1 eye, dotted hyperfluorescence in 6 eyes, and patches of hyperfluorescence in late phase. ICGA disclosed a vascular branching network in choroid with polypoid pattern of the terminal path of the vessels of network in early phase in 5 eyes, and the typical dotted or clustered polypoidal hyperfluorescence in 7 eyes in late phase.Conclusion The characteristic findings of FFA and ICGA are very diagnostic for PCV. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2003，19：269-332)
PURPOSE:Understanding the characteristics of color vision defects in patients with maculopathy. METHODS:Applying Panel D-15 test and FM 100-hue test to evaluate the color vision of 78 patients (122 eyes) with maculopathy and analyzing the types of color vision defects and the relationship between the color discrimination and the visual acuity. RESULTS:All eyes of the wetform AMT(14 eyes),Stargardt's disease(10 eyes),macular hole (6 eyes)and central exudative retinochoroidopathy(3 eyes)showed color vision defects and high average roots of total error scores of FM 1000-hue test.The abnormal rates of color vision and the average roots of tota error scores in patients with epiretinal membrane (18 eyes)and dry-form AMD(71 eyes)were low.The roots of total error scores in FM 100-hue test was negatively relative with the visual acuity（r-0.8944）. CNCLUSION:The types and severities of color vision defects vary in different maculopathy.The color discrimination was negatively relative with the visual acuity. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1996,12: 80-82）
To review the advance in the experimental studies and evaluate the potential therapeutic appl ication of the growth differentiation factor 5(GDF-5) and osteogenic protein 1 (OP-1) in intervertebral disc degeneration.Methods Relevant l iterature at home and abroad publ ished in recent years was searched and analyzedcomprehensively. Results The growth factor was one of the most potential proteins in curing the intervertebral discdegeneration. In vitro, exogenous GDF-5 or OP-1 increased the deoxyribonucleic acid and proteoglycan contents ofboth nucleus pulposus and annlus fibrosis cells types significantly. GDF-5 at 200 ng/mL or OP-1 significantly stimulatedproteoglycan synthesis and collagen synthesis. In vivo, the injection of GDF-5(100 μg) or OP-1(100 μg in 10 μL 5% lactose) resulted in a restoration of disc height, improvement of magnetic resonance imaging scores, and histologic grading scores had statistical significance. Conclusion A single injection of GDF-5 or OP-1 has a reparative capacity on intervertebral discs, presumably based on its effect to stimulate matrix metabol ism of intervertebral disc cells and enhance extracellular matrix production. A single injection of exogenous GDF-5 or OP-1 in the degenerated disc shows a good prospect.
Objective To assess the vision-related quality of life(VRQL) in patients with age-related maculopathy (AMD) and the related factors in Shanghai. Methods The VRQL of 105 patiens with AMD and 105 without (the control group) in Shanghai was investigated via Chinese-version low vision quality of life questionnaire. Resutls The Cronbach α coefficient of the questionnaire is 0.97 in the patients with AMD, whose scores of the various quality of life were significantly lower than those in the control group. The more the exudative defect happened, or the longer the disease course developed, the lower the sccores were. All the scores of the scales and the total questionnaire were significantly related to the better or worse monocular visual acuity. The better monocular visual acuity was the first independent risk factor affecting all aspects of VRQL in pateints with AMD. Conclusions Decreased visual acutiy may gradually impair the VRQL in patients with AMD. Chinese-version questionnaire of low vision quality of life can provide the general information of the VRQL in patients with AMD.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：303-306)
Objective To evaluate the cell biological features and the effect of transplantation of transforming growth factor β3 (TGF-β3) gene-modified nucleus pulposus (NP) cells on the degeneration of lumbar intervertebral discs in vitro. Methods NP cells at passage 2 were infected by recombinant adenovirus carrying TGF-β3 (Ad-TGF-β3) gene (Ad-TGF-β3 group), and then the cell biological features were observed by cell vital ity assay, the expression of the TGF-β3 protein was determined by Western blot, the expression of collagen type II in logarithmic growth phase was determined by immunocytochemistry. The cells with adenovirus-transfected (Adv group) and the un-transfected cells (blank group) were used as controls. The model of lumbar disc degeneration was establ ished by needl ing L3, 4, L4, 5, and L5, 6 in 30 New Zealand rabbits (weighing 3.2-3.5 kg, male or female). Then Ad-TGF-β3-transfected rabbit degenerative nucleus pulposus cells (100 μL, 1 × 105/ mL, group A, n=12), no gene-modified nucleus pulposus cells (100 μL, 1 × 105/mL, group B, n=12), and phosphatebuffered sal ine (PBS, 100 μL, group C, n=6) were injected into degenerative lumbar intervertebral discs, respectively. L3, 4, L4, 5, and L5, 6 disc were harvested from the rabbits (4 in groups A and B, 2 in group C) at 6, 10, and 14 weeks respectively to perform histological observation and detect the expression of collagen type II and proteoglycan by RT-PCR. Results The viabil ity of nucleus pulposus cells was obviously improved after transfected by recombinant Ad-TGF-β3 gene. At 3, 7, and 14 days after transfected, TGF-β3 expression gradually increased in nucleus pulposus cells. The positive staining of collagen type II was seen in Ad-TGF-β3 group, and the positive rate was significantly higher than that of Adv group and blank group (P lt; 0.05). The disc degeneration in group A was sl ighter than that in groups B and C. The expressions of collagen type II mRNA and proteoglycan mRNA in group A were significantly higher than those in groups B and C at 6, 10, and 14 weeks (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion TGF-β3 can improve the biological activity of NP cells and promote the biosynthesis of collagen type II and proteoglycan in intervertebral discs, alleviate the degeneration of intervertebral discs after transplantation.