Background/Aims: The kidneys and retina are highly vascularized organs that frequently exhibit shared pathologies, with nephropathy often associated with retinopathy. Previous studies have successfully predicted estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) using fundus photographs. We evaluated the performance of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formulas in eGFR prediction. Methods: We enrolled patients with fundus photographs and corresponding creatinine measurements taken on the same date. One photograph per eye was randomly selected, resulting in a final dataset of 45,108 patients (88,260 photographs). Data including sex, age, and blood creatinine levels were collected for eGFR calculation using the MDRD and CKD-EPI formulas. EfficientNet B3 models were used to predict each parameter. Results: Deep neural network models accurately predicted age and sex using fundus photographs. Sex was identified as a confounding variable in creatinine prediction. The MDRD formula was more susceptible to this confounding effect than the CKD-EPI formula. Notably, the CKD-EPI formula demonstrated superior performance compared to the MDRD formula (area under the curve 0.864 vs. 0.802). Conclusions Fundus photographs are a valuable tool for screening renal function using deep neural network models, demonstrating the role of noninvasive imaging in medical diagnostics. However, these models are susceptible to the influence of sex, a potential confounding factor. The CKD-EPI formula, less susceptible to sex bias, is recommended to obtain more reliable results.

Purpose: This study elucidates the mechanism of the physiological effect of cannabidiol (CBD) by assessing its impact on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RWPE-1 cells and prostatitis-induced by 17β-estradiol and dihydrotestosterone in a rat model, focusing on its therapeutic potential for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Materials and Methods: RWPE-1 cells were stratified in vitro into three groups: (1) controls, (2) cells with LPS-induced inflammation, and (3) cells with LPS-induced inflammation and treated with CBD. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and western blots were performed on cellular components and supernatants after administration of CBD. Five groups of six Sprague–Dawley male rats were assigned: (1) control, (2) CP/CPPS, (3) CP/CPPS and treated with 50 mg/kg CBD, (4) CP/CPPS and treated with 100 mg/kg CBD, and (5) CP/CPPS and treated with 150 mg/kg CBD. Prostatitis was induced through administration of 17β-estradiol and dihydrotestosterone. After four weeks of CBD treatment, a pain index was evaluated, and prostate tissue was collected for subsequent histologic examination and western blot analysis. Results: CBD demonstrated efficacy in vivo for CP/CPPS and in vitro for inflammation. It inhibited the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)uclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway by activating the CB2 receptor, reducing expression of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) (p<0.01). CBD exhibited analgesic effects by activating and desensitizing the TRPV1 receptor. Conclusions CBD inhibits the TLR4/NF-κB pathway by activating the CB2 receptor, desensitizes the TRPV1 receptor, and decreases the release of COX2. This results in relief of inflammation and pain in patients with CP/CPPS, indicating CBD as a potential treatment for CP/CPPS.

Background/Aims: The kidneys and retina are highly vascularized organs that frequently exhibit shared pathologies, with nephropathy often associated with retinopathy. Previous studies have successfully predicted estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) using fundus photographs. We evaluated the performance of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formulas in eGFR prediction. Methods: We enrolled patients with fundus photographs and corresponding creatinine measurements taken on the same date. One photograph per eye was randomly selected, resulting in a final dataset of 45,108 patients (88,260 photographs). Data including sex, age, and blood creatinine levels were collected for eGFR calculation using the MDRD and CKD-EPI formulas. EfficientNet B3 models were used to predict each parameter. Results: Deep neural network models accurately predicted age and sex using fundus photographs. Sex was identified as a confounding variable in creatinine prediction. The MDRD formula was more susceptible to this confounding effect than the CKD-EPI formula. Notably, the CKD-EPI formula demonstrated superior performance compared to the MDRD formula (area under the curve 0.864 vs. 0.802). Conclusions Fundus photographs are a valuable tool for screening renal function using deep neural network models, demonstrating the role of noninvasive imaging in medical diagnostics. However, these models are susceptible to the influence of sex, a potential confounding factor. The CKD-EPI formula, less susceptible to sex bias, is recommended to obtain more reliable results.

Purpose: This study elucidates the mechanism of the physiological effect of cannabidiol (CBD) by assessing its impact on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RWPE-1 cells and prostatitis-induced by 17β-estradiol and dihydrotestosterone in a rat model, focusing on its therapeutic potential for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Materials and Methods: RWPE-1 cells were stratified in vitro into three groups: (1) controls, (2) cells with LPS-induced inflammation, and (3) cells with LPS-induced inflammation and treated with CBD. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and western blots were performed on cellular components and supernatants after administration of CBD. Five groups of six Sprague–Dawley male rats were assigned: (1) control, (2) CP/CPPS, (3) CP/CPPS and treated with 50 mg/kg CBD, (4) CP/CPPS and treated with 100 mg/kg CBD, and (5) CP/CPPS and treated with 150 mg/kg CBD. Prostatitis was induced through administration of 17β-estradiol and dihydrotestosterone. After four weeks of CBD treatment, a pain index was evaluated, and prostate tissue was collected for subsequent histologic examination and western blot analysis. Results: CBD demonstrated efficacy in vivo for CP/CPPS and in vitro for inflammation. It inhibited the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)uclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway by activating the CB2 receptor, reducing expression of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) (p<0.01). CBD exhibited analgesic effects by activating and desensitizing the TRPV1 receptor. Conclusions CBD inhibits the TLR4/NF-κB pathway by activating the CB2 receptor, desensitizes the TRPV1 receptor, and decreases the release of COX2. This results in relief of inflammation and pain in patients with CP/CPPS, indicating CBD as a potential treatment for CP/CPPS.

Background/Aims: The kidneys and retina are highly vascularized organs that frequently exhibit shared pathologies, with nephropathy often associated with retinopathy. Previous studies have successfully predicted estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) using fundus photographs. We evaluated the performance of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formulas in eGFR prediction. Methods: We enrolled patients with fundus photographs and corresponding creatinine measurements taken on the same date. One photograph per eye was randomly selected, resulting in a final dataset of 45,108 patients (88,260 photographs). Data including sex, age, and blood creatinine levels were collected for eGFR calculation using the MDRD and CKD-EPI formulas. EfficientNet B3 models were used to predict each parameter. Results: Deep neural network models accurately predicted age and sex using fundus photographs. Sex was identified as a confounding variable in creatinine prediction. The MDRD formula was more susceptible to this confounding effect than the CKD-EPI formula. Notably, the CKD-EPI formula demonstrated superior performance compared to the MDRD formula (area under the curve 0.864 vs. 0.802). Conclusions Fundus photographs are a valuable tool for screening renal function using deep neural network models, demonstrating the role of noninvasive imaging in medical diagnostics. However, these models are susceptible to the influence of sex, a potential confounding factor. The CKD-EPI formula, less susceptible to sex bias, is recommended to obtain more reliable results.

Purpose: This study elucidates the mechanism of the physiological effect of cannabidiol (CBD) by assessing its impact on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RWPE-1 cells and prostatitis-induced by 17β-estradiol and dihydrotestosterone in a rat model, focusing on its therapeutic potential for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Materials and Methods: RWPE-1 cells were stratified in vitro into three groups: (1) controls, (2) cells with LPS-induced inflammation, and (3) cells with LPS-induced inflammation and treated with CBD. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and western blots were performed on cellular components and supernatants after administration of CBD. Five groups of six Sprague–Dawley male rats were assigned: (1) control, (2) CP/CPPS, (3) CP/CPPS and treated with 50 mg/kg CBD, (4) CP/CPPS and treated with 100 mg/kg CBD, and (5) CP/CPPS and treated with 150 mg/kg CBD. Prostatitis was induced through administration of 17β-estradiol and dihydrotestosterone. After four weeks of CBD treatment, a pain index was evaluated, and prostate tissue was collected for subsequent histologic examination and western blot analysis. Results: CBD demonstrated efficacy in vivo for CP/CPPS and in vitro for inflammation. It inhibited the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)uclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway by activating the CB2 receptor, reducing expression of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) (p<0.01). CBD exhibited analgesic effects by activating and desensitizing the TRPV1 receptor. Conclusions CBD inhibits the TLR4/NF-κB pathway by activating the CB2 receptor, desensitizes the TRPV1 receptor, and decreases the release of COX2. This results in relief of inflammation and pain in patients with CP/CPPS, indicating CBD as a potential treatment for CP/CPPS.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the prediction accuracy of four intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation formulas; Barrett Universal II, SRK/T, Hoffer-QST, and Kane, using conventional keratometry (K) and total keratometry (TK) in patients who underwent implantation of a four-haptic hydrophobic multifocal IOL (Artis Symbiose Plus®). Methods: We analyzed 26 patients (32 eyes) who underwent cataract surgery with implantation of the Artis Symbiose Plus®. Preoperative biometric data, including axial length, keratometry, anterior chamber depth, and lens thickness, were measured using IOL Master 700®. Postoperative refractive outcomes were compared with the target refractive errors derived from four formulas with K and TK. The mean error, mean absolute error, and median absolute error were calculated at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. The results were compared between the formulae and K and TK. Results: At 3 months postoperatively, Barrett Universal II and Kane showed significantly lower refractive errors from the target diopter than SRK/T and Hoffer-QST, with Barrett Universal II showing the most hyperopic shift and SRK/T the most myopic than the target refractive error. No significant difference in refractive prediction was found between K and TK across all the formulas. The proportion of eyes with refractive errors within ± 0.50 diopter (D) and ± 1.00 D was highest for Barrett Universal II and Kane, with no statistical significance. Conclusions Barrett Universal II and Kane provided superior refractive accuracy compared to SRK/T and Hoffer-QST for Artis Symbiose Plus®. There was no significant difference between K and TK in predicting refractive outcomes.

Background/Aims: The kidneys and retina are highly vascularized organs that frequently exhibit shared pathologies, with nephropathy often associated with retinopathy. Previous studies have successfully predicted estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) using fundus photographs. We evaluated the performance of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formulas in eGFR prediction. Methods: We enrolled patients with fundus photographs and corresponding creatinine measurements taken on the same date. One photograph per eye was randomly selected, resulting in a final dataset of 45,108 patients (88,260 photographs). Data including sex, age, and blood creatinine levels were collected for eGFR calculation using the MDRD and CKD-EPI formulas. EfficientNet B3 models were used to predict each parameter. Results: Deep neural network models accurately predicted age and sex using fundus photographs. Sex was identified as a confounding variable in creatinine prediction. The MDRD formula was more susceptible to this confounding effect than the CKD-EPI formula. Notably, the CKD-EPI formula demonstrated superior performance compared to the MDRD formula (area under the curve 0.864 vs. 0.802). Conclusions Fundus photographs are a valuable tool for screening renal function using deep neural network models, demonstrating the role of noninvasive imaging in medical diagnostics. However, these models are susceptible to the influence of sex, a potential confounding factor. The CKD-EPI formula, less susceptible to sex bias, is recommended to obtain more reliable results.