Purpose: To investigate the impact of combined phacovitrectomy versus vitrectomy alone on perioperative concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the aqueous humor (AH) of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Methods: This prospective, comparative case series included 15 patients with PDR indicated for vitreoretinal surgery. AH samples were collected at three time points: preoperatively (one week prior to surgery), intraoperatively, and postoperatively (one month after surgery).Twelve patients underwent phacovitrectomy, and three patients underwent vitrectomy alone. All patients received a preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab injection. Concentrations of VEGF and IL-8 were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: In the overall cohort, AH VEGF concentrations followed a U-shaped pattern, decreasing from a preoperative mean of 322.26 pg/ mL to an intraoperative mean of 45.47 pg/mL (p = 0.002) before significantly rebounding to 205.16 pg/mL postoperatively (p = 0.005 vs.intraoperative). This trend was driven by the phacovitrectomy group, which showed a significant postoperative VEGF rebound (p = 0.002).Conversely, the vitrectomy-only group showed no significant change. IL-8 concentrations increased significantly from the intraoperative to the postoperative period in the phacovitrectomy group (p = 0.003), a change not observed in the vitrectomy-only group. Conclusions Phacovitrectomy induces a significant postoperative elevation of both VEGF and IL-8 in the anterior chamber, creating a pro-angiogenic and pro-inflammatory microenvironment. These findings provide a potential mechanistic explanation for increased risk of neovascular glaucoma observed clinically following combined phacovitrectomy.

PURPOSE: To compare mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score between glaucoma group and normal control group and to evaluate the correlation between MMSE score and spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) values in both groups. METHODS: This prospective study includes thirty glaucoma patients (eleven primary open angle glaucoma and nineteen normal tension glaucoma) and thirty normal controls. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and Ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness were measured with SD-OCT, and the average values of both eyes were used. The cognitive function was evaluated with MMSE by a single examiner. RESULTS: The mean MMSE scores of glaucoma group and normal group were 26.07 ± 2.95, and 27.00 ± 1.68 respectively (p = 0.137). MMSE score of less than 24 only showed in glaucoma group. MMSE score and RNFL thickness showed statistically no signifance in correlation (R² = 0.236; p = 0.070), however, MMSE score and GC-IPL showed statistically significant correlation (R² = 0.256; p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Glaucoma patients tend to show low cognitive function even though the correlation between glaucoma patient and low cognitive function was not statistically significant. Therefore, the aspect of cognitive depression should be concerned, when facing glaucoma patients.
Cognition* ; Depression ; Ganglion Cysts ; Glaucoma* ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Humans ; Nerve Fibers ; Prospective Studies ; Retinaldehyde

To investigate the population densities of potential malaria vectors, Anopheles species were collected by light traps in malaria endemic areas, Paju and Gimpo, Gyeonggi-do of Korea. Five Anopheles Hyrcanus sibling species (An. sinensis, An. pullus, An. lesteri, An. kleini, and An. belenrae) were identified by PCR. The predominant species, An. pullus was collected during the late spring and mid-summer, while higher population consists of An. sinensis were collected from late summer to early autumn. These 2 species accounted for 92.1% of all Anopheles mosquitoes collected, while the other 3 species accounted for 7.9%. Taking into account of these population densities, late seasonal prevalence, and long-term incubation period (9-13 months) of the Korean Plasmodium vivax strain, An. sinensis s.s is thought to play an important role in the transmission of vivax malaria in the study areas.
Animals ; Anopheles/*classification/genetics/*growth & development ; Humans ; Malaria, Vivax/transmission ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods ; Population Dynamics ; Republic of Korea ; Seasons