Objective: To investigate the effect of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in the alteration of tight junction protein expression in choroid plexus epithelial cells created by lanthanum-activated matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) . Methods: In October 2020, immortalized rat choroid plexus epithelial cell line (Z310) cells were used as the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier in vitro, and were divided into control group and 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 mmol/L lanthanum chloride (LaCl(3)) treatment group. After treating Z310 cells with different concentrations of LaCl(3) for 24 hours, the morphological changes of Z310 cells were observed under inverted microscope, the protein expression levels of MMP9, occludin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) were observed by cellular immunofluorescence method, and the protein expression levels of MMP9, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase1 (TIMP1) , occludin, ZO-1 and Nrf2 were detected by Western blotting. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells was detected by flow cytometry. Results: Compared with the control group, Z310 cells in the LaCl(3) treatment group were smaller in size, with fewer intercellular junctions, and more dead cells and cell fragments. The expression level of MMP9 protein in cells treated with 0.25 and 0.5 mmol/L LaCl(3) was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05) , and the expression level of TIMP1 and tight junction proteins occudin and ZO-1 was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the ROS production level in the 0.25, 0.5 mmol/L LaCl(3) treatment group was significantly increased (P<0.05) , and the Nrf2 protein expression level in the 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 mmol/L LaCl(3) treatment group was significantly decreased (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Lanthanum may increase the level of ROS in cells by down regulating the expression of Nrf2, thus activating MMP9 to reduce the expression level of intercellular tight junction proteins occludin and ZO-1.
Rats ; Animals ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/metabolism* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Tight Junction Proteins/metabolism* ; Occludin/pharmacology* ; Choroid Plexus/metabolism* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Lanthanum/pharmacology* ; Epithelial Cells ; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein/metabolism* ; Phosphoproteins/pharmacology*

Objective To compare the macular structure and microcirculation in both eyes of the patients with myopic anisometropia.Methods Optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)was employed to scan the macular areas in both eyes of 44 patients with myopic anisometropia.The patients were assigned into high and low groups based on the refractive diopter,and the parameters such as retinal thickness,choroidal thickness,vascular density,and perfusion density in the macular areas of both eyes were compared between the two groups.Results Other macular areas except the central and external nasal areas and the choroid of the fovea in the high group were thinner than those in the low group(all P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in retinal vascular density or perfusion density in different areas between the two groups(all P>0.05).Conclusion In the patients with myopic anisometropia,most areas of the retina in the case of high myopia is thinner than that in the case of low myopia,while there is no difference in retinal vascular density or perfusion density in both eyes.
Humans ; Anisometropia ; Choroid/blood supply* ; Microcirculation ; Myopia ; Retina ; Tomography, Optical Coherence/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) for fetuses with choroid plexus cysts (CPC) detected by prenatal ultrasonography. METHODS: Amniotic fluid chromosomal karyotype was analyzed in 104 fetuses with CPC, and copy number variations (CNVs) among the fetuses were detected by using CMA. RESULTS: Ten fetuses (9.62%) were found to have an abnormal karyotype, and 14 additional CNVs were detected in those with a normal karyotype. The fetuses were divided into isolated CPC group (n = 87) and non-isolated CPC group (n = 17) based on the presence of additional ultrasonographic abnormalities. The detection rates for karyotypic abnormalities of the two groups were 4.6% and 35.3%, respectively, whilst those for the CMA were 4.6% and 47.1%, respectively. The detection rates for karyotypic abnormalities and CMA of the non-isolated CPC group were significantly higher than those of the isolated CPC group (P < 0.05). The detection rate for CMA in the non-isolated group was significantly higher than chromosomal karyotype abnormalities (P < 0.05). Among the 8 fetuses with abnormal CMA, 4 had single umbilical artery, 3 had abnormal cardiac structure, and 2 had enhanced intestinal echo. CONCLUSION CPC is closely associated with chromosomal abnormalities. Chromosome karyotype analysis in combination with CMA can effectively detect fetal chromosomal abnormalities and provide a basis for genetic counseling.
Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Choroid Plexus/diagnostic imaging* ; Microarray Analysis ; Karyotype ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Amniotic Fluid ; Cysts

PURPOSE: We investigated the long-term longitudinal changes in axial length (AL), mean ocular perfusion pressure (MOPP), and choroidal thickness (CT) according to the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) after glaucoma surgery. The potential variables associated with CT changes were also evaluated.METHODS: This was a prospective study for 1 year after glaucoma surgery, which included 71 eyes of 71 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. The subfoveal CT (SFCT) and peripapillary CT (PPCT) were measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography preoperatively and 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively. MOPP was calculated from the IOP and blood pressure. The AL was measured using partial coherence interferometry. Regression analysis was conducted to assess the possible association of variables.RESULTS: The AL decreased and the MOPP, SFCT, and PPCT increased significantly with IOP reduction at 1 year post-operatively (all, p < 0.001). The changes in SFCT and PPCT were significantly associated with IOP reduction at 1 year postoperatively (r = −0.519 and r = −0.528, respectively). Importantly, greater increases in SFCT and PPCT were found in patients with IOP reduction more than 30% from baseline, when compared with those with less than 30% reduction (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). The SFCT increased more significantly in patients with AL ≤ 24 mm, compared with patients with AL > 24 mm (p = 0.044).CONCLUSIONS: Reduction in the IOP, increase in the MOPP, decrease in the AL, and increase in the CT after glaucoma surgery persisted for 1 year during a long-term follow-up. These results suggested that glaucoma surgery reduced mechanical compression on the optic nerve fiber and increased intraocular blood flow.
Blood Pressure ; Choroid ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Humans ; Interferometry ; Intraocular Pressure ; Optic Nerve ; Perfusion ; Prospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate the changes in clinical findings after switching from ranibizumab or aflibercept to bevacizumab due to the limited number of insured injections in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). METHODS: The study population consisted of patients who had undergone intravitreal injection of ranibizumab or aflibercept for ≥ 6 months and were then treated with bevacizumab for ≥ 6 consecutive months for exudative ARMD. We evaluated best-corrected visual acuity, central subfield macular thickness, disease activity, and the number of injections for one year at the time of switching the drugs. RESULTS: Forty patients (26 men and 14 women) were included in the analysis. The mean age was 71.9 (56-89) years old, with typical ARMD in 23 eyes, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in 15 eyes, and retinal angiomatous proliferation in two eyes. The number of injections for 6 months increased from 2.3 to 2.9 after switching the drugs (p < 0.001). Visual acuity was not significantly different between 6 months before and at the time of switching (LogMAR 0.55 ± 0.34 and 0.52 ± 0.27, respectively) (p = 0.300), but decreased significantly to 0.57 ± 0.34 at 6 months after switching (p = 0.018). There were no significant differences in central subfield macular thickness or disease activity. CONCLUSIONS: Bevacizumab required more injections to achieve similar anatomical outcomes in patients with exudative ARMD treated with ranibizumab or aflibercept, and visual acuity decreased despite anatomical stability.
Bevacizumab ; Choroid ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Macular Degeneration ; Male ; Ranibizumab ; Retinaldehyde ; Visual Acuity

OBJECTIVE: Arthrocentesis is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that is used to alleviate the symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of arthrocentesis on the blood supply to the retinal structures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Arthrocentesis was performed on 20 patients with TMJ disorders, and choroidal thickness (CT) in patients was measured to evaluate retinal blood circulation. The blood volume of the retinal structures was evaluated ipsilaterally before and after arthrocentesis, and these measurements were then compared with measurements obtained from the contralateral side. RESULTS: Before arthrocentesis, there were no differences in retinal blood volumes between the ipsilateral and contralateral sides (P = 0.96). When ipsilateral CT measurements taken before and after arthrocentesis were compared, retinal blood supply was found to have significantly decreased after arthrocentesis (P = 0.04). When contralateral CT measurements taken before and after arthrocentesis were compared, retinal blood supply was also found to have decreased after arthrocentesis, but not significantly (P = 0.19). CONCLUSION: The solution of local anesthesia with epinephrine applied before the arthrocentesis procedure was found to reduce the blood volume of the retinal structures. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has investigated the blood volume of the retinal structures following arthrocentesis.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Local ; Arthrocentesis ; Blood Circulation ; Blood Volume ; Choroid ; Epinephrine ; Humans ; Retinaldehyde ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; Temporomandibular Joint

No abstract available.
Choroid ; Hypopigmentation ; Vitiligo

PURPOSE: To introduce novel findings of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) via optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) METHODS: This study is a retrospective chart review of 16 patients (16 eyes) with PCV. OCTA (Avanti RTVue XR) findings were evaluated and selected for analysis after agreement by two retina specialists . RESULTS: Twenty one polyps in 16 eyes (16 patients) with PCV were included in this study. The mean patient age was 67 years (13 men and three women). The shape of polypoidal lesions on OCTA at initial were halo (five polyps), rosette (seven polyps), and vascular network (nine polyps). Eight months after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment, in a total of four eyes, seven polyps could be followed up completely, the two halo type polypoidal lesions changed to rosette and vascular network type. The lesions of three rosette and two vascular network type lesions did not change in shape. In addition, the size of the polypoidal lesions (one among two halo types, two among three rosette types, and two among two vascular network types) decreased, but one halo type did not change and one rosette type increased in size on OCTA. CONCLUSIONS: En-face OCTA enabled us to categorize novel types of PCV with polypoidal lesions.
Angiography ; Choroid ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; Humans ; Male ; Polyps ; Retina ; Retrospective Studies ; Specialization ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a pivotal role in pathologic ocular neovascularization and vascular leakage via activation of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2). This study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic mechanisms and effects of the tetrapeptide Arg-Leu-Tyr-Glu (RLYE), a VEGFR2 inhibitor, in the development of vascular permeability and choroidal neovascularization (CNV). In cultured human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs), treatment with RLYE blocked VEGF-A-induced phosphorylation of VEGFR2, Akt, ERK, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), leading to suppression of VEGF-A-mediated hyper-production of NO. Treatment with RLYE also inhibited VEGF-A-stimulated angiogenic processes (migration, proliferation, and tube formation) and the hyperpermeability of HRMECs, in addition to attenuating VEGF-A-induced angiogenesis and vascular permeability in mice. The anti-vascular permeability activity of RLYE was correlated with enhanced stability and positioning of the junction proteins VE-cadherin, β-catenin, claudin-5, and ZO-1, critical components of the cortical actin ring structure and retinal endothelial barrier, at the boundary between HRMECs stimulated with VEGF-A. Furthermore, intravitreally injected RLYE bound to retinal microvascular endothelium and inhibited laser-induced CNV in mice. These findings suggest that RLYE has potential as a therapeutic drug for the treatment of CNV by preventing VEGFR2-mediated vascular leakage and angiogenesis.
Actins ; Animals ; Capillary Permeability ; Choroid ; Choroidal Neovascularization ; Claudin-5 ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Permeability ; Phosphorylation ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; Retinaldehyde ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

A 35-year-old female visited emergency department for a sudden onset of headache with vomiting after management for abortion at local department. Neurological examination revealed drowsy mentality without focal neurological deficits. CT showed 3.2×3.4 cm hyperdense intraventricular mass with intraventricular hemorrhage. The intraventricular hemorrhage was found in lateral, 3rd, and 4th ventricles. MRI showed well enhancing intraventricular mass abutting choroid plexus in the trigone of the right lateral ventricle. CT angiography showed tortuous prominent arteries from choroidal artery in tumor. Her neurological status deteriorated to stupor and contralateral hemiparesis during planned preoperative workup. Urgent transtemporal and transcortical approach with decompressive craniectomy for removal of intraventricular meningioma with hemorrhage was done. Grossly total removal of ventricular mass was achieved. Pathological finding was meningotheliomatous meningioma of World Health Organization (WHO) grade I. The patient recovered to alert mentality and no motor deficit after intensive care for increased intracranial pressure. However, visual field defect was developed due to posterior cerebral artery territory infarction. The visual deficit did not resolve during follow up period. Lateral ventricular meningioma with spontaneous intraventricular hemorrhage in pregnant woman is very uncommon. We report a surgical case of lateral ventricular meningioma with rapid neurological deterioration for intraventricular hemorrhage.
Adult ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Choroid ; Choroid Plexus ; Critical Care ; Decompressive Craniectomy ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fourth Ventricle ; Headache ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infarction ; Intracranial Pressure ; Lateral Ventricles ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningioma ; Neurologic Examination ; Paresis ; Posterior Cerebral Artery ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Stupor ; Visual Fields ; Vomiting ; World Health Organization