-
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2024Internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS) is a prevalent vascular condition associated with ischemic cerebrovascular disease. The ophthalmic artery is the first branch of...
BACKGROUND
Internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS) is a prevalent vascular condition associated with ischemic cerebrovascular disease. The ophthalmic artery is the first branch of the internal carotid artery stenosis (ICA). Given the crucial role of the ICA in ocular perfusion, we aimed to assess the thickness and vessel density of the retina and choroid in individuals with ICAS.
METHODS
The PubMed and Embase databases were searched from inception to 10 January 2023 for studies evaluating retinal and choroidal changes between ICAS patients and healthy controls using optical coherence tomography (OCT) or optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Data of interest were extracted and analyzed using Stata software version 16.
RESULTS
Thirteen studies involving 419 ICAS eyes and 398 healthy eyes were included. The pooled results demonstrated that the average thickness of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) (WMD = -0.26, 95% CI: -0.45 to -0.08, = 0.005), ganglion cell complex (GCC) (WMD = -0.36, 95% CI: -0.65 to -0.06, = 0.017), and choroid (WMD = -1.06, 95% CI: -1.59 to -0.52, = 0.000), were significantly thinner in patients with ICAS than in healthy controls. The overall vessel density of the radial peripapillary capillaries (RPC) in whole-image scans was lower in ICAS patients than in healthy control subjects (WMD = -0.94, 95% CI: -1.49 to -0.39, = 0.001). No differences were detected in the vessel density of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) (WMD = -0.84, 95% CI: -1.15 to -0.53, = 0.092), the deep capillary plexus (DCP) (WMD = -0.27, 95% CI: -0.56 to 0.03, = 0.074), or the choriocapillaris (CC) (WMD = -0.39, 95% CI: -1.12 to 0.35, = 0.300).
CONCLUSION
This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that ICAS can reduce the vessel density of the RPC and the thickness of the retina and choroid. The retinal and choroidal microvasculature is a potential biomarker of the initial signal of ICAS.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://inplasy.com/, identifier NPLASY202410038.
PubMed: 38686328
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1368957 -
Ophthalmic Research 2024Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) can mimic glaucoma and consequently cause difficulties in differential diagnosis. The purpose of this paper was to summarize... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) can mimic glaucoma and consequently cause difficulties in differential diagnosis. The purpose of this paper was to summarize differences in diagnostic tests that can help perform a correct diagnosis.
METHODS
The search strategy was performed according to the PRISMA 2009 guidelines, and four databases were used: MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane. Totally, 772 references were eligible; 39 were included after screening with respect to inclusion criteria that included English language and published in the 20 years before search date.
RESULTS
Ninety percent (n = 35) of included studies used optical coherence tomography (OCT). Glaucomatous eyes had a significantly greater cup area, volume and depth, cup-to-disk ratio, a lower rim volume and area, and a thinner Bruch's membrane opening-minimum rim width. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning in glaucomatous eyes occurred primarily at the superotemporal, inferotemporal, and inferonasal sectors, while AION eyes demonstrated mostly superonasal thinning. Glaucoma eyes showed greater macular ganglion cell layer thickness, except at the inferotemporal sector. OCT angiography measurements demonstrated a significant decrease in superficial and deep macular vessel density (VD) in glaucoma compared to AION with similar degree of visual field damage; the parapapillary choroidal VD was spared in AION eyes compared to glaucomatous eyes.
CONCLUSION
By use of OCT imaging, optic nerve head parameters seem most informative to distinguish between glaucoma and AION. Although both diseases affect the RNFL thickness, it seems to do so in different sectors. Differences in structure and vascularity of the macula can also help in making the differential diagnosis.
Topics: Humans; Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic; Diagnosis, Differential; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Nerve Fibers; Retinal Ganglion Cells; Optic Disk; Glaucoma; Visual Fields; Intraocular Pressure
PubMed: 38262372
DOI: 10.1159/000535568 -
Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2024Hereditary optic neuropathies (HONs) such as dominant optic atrophy (DOA) and Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) are mitochondrial diseases characterized by a... (Review)
Review
Hereditary optic neuropathies (HONs) such as dominant optic atrophy (DOA) and Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) are mitochondrial diseases characterized by a degenerative loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and are a cause of blindness worldwide. To date, there are only limited disease-modifying treatments for these disorders. The discovery of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has opened several promising opportunities in the field of HON research and the search for therapeutic approaches. This systematic review is focused on the two most frequent HONs (LHON and DOA) and on the recent studies related to the application of human iPSC technology in combination with biomaterials technology for their potential use in the development of RGC replacement therapies with the final aim of the improvement or even the restoration of the vision of HON patients. To this purpose, the combination of natural and synthetic biomaterials modified with peptides, neurotrophic factors, and other low- to medium-molecular weight compounds, mimicking the ocular extracellular matrices, with human iPSC or iPSC-derived cell retinal progenitors holds enormous potential to be exploited in the near future for the generation of transplantable RGC populations.
PubMed: 38247929
DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11010052 -
Biological Psychiatry Global Open... Jan 2024Inner retinal atrophy has been demonstrated in schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) using optical coherence tomography (OCT). This systematic review and meta-analysis...
BACKGROUND
Inner retinal atrophy has been demonstrated in schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) using optical coherence tomography (OCT). This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the role of contemporary Fourier domain OCT devices in SSD.
METHODS
MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, PsycInfo, PYSNDEX, World Health Organization, and Cochrane databases were searched from inception until May 2022. All peer-reviewed adult SSD case-control studies using Fourier domain OCT were included. Ocular pathologies known to affect retinal OCT scans were excluded. Search, data appraisal, and summary data extraction were independently performed by 2 authors.
RESULTS
The review criteria was met by k = 36 studies, with k = 24 studies (1074 cases, 854 controls) suitable for meta-analysis. The SSD group exhibited a thinner global peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (-3.26 μm, 95% CI, -5.07 to -1.45, = 64%, k = 21), thinner average macular layer (-7.88 μm, 95% CI, -12.73 to -3.04, = 65%, k = 11), and thinner macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform sublayer (-2.44 μm, 95% CI, -4.13 to -0.76, = 30%, k = 8) compared with the control group. Retinal nerve fiber layer findings remained significant after exclusion of metabolic disease, low quality, outlier, and influential studies. Studies involving eye examinations to exclude eye disease were associated with greater atrophy in SSD. Except for cardiometabolic disease, most studies did not report clinically significant covariate data known to influence retinal thickness.
CONCLUSIONS
Individuals with SSD generally exhibited retinal atrophy, possibly paralleling reduced brain volumes documented in clinical imaging. Prospective longitudinal studies that collect clinical data, including various illness phases, and control for confounders will be necessary to evaluate retinal atrophy as a biomarker in SSD.
PubMed: 38021252
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.08.013 -
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine... Aug 2023To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Xuebijing injection (XBJ) on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Xuebijing injection (XBJ) on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients.
METHODS
Related studies on multiple biological databases and websites were searched up to December 11, 2021 without language and publication time restrictions. Review Manager V.5.3 and Stata 14 software were used for data analysis.
RESULTS
Seven studies were finally included. The Metaanalysis showed that compared with the routine treatment alone, XBJ combined with the routine treatment can reduce the 28day mortality ( = 0.3, 95% : 0.12, 0.74), Creactive protein ( = -12.8, 95% : -23.13, 3.46), erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( = -9.32, 95% : -14.66, -3.98) and interleukin-6 (S = -0.6, 95% : -1.04, -0.17) levels and increase the leukocyte ( = 0.73, 95% : 0.42, 1.04) and lymphocyte count ( = 0.18, 95% : 0.07, 0.29) in peripheral blood; additionally, it has no obvious side effects ( = 1.11, 95% : 0.65, 1.9). There was no evidence that the XBJ combined therapy can improve the nucleic acid conversion rate and computed tomography improvement rate of COVID19 patients.
CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary evidence suggests that XBJ combined with routine treatment seems to be more effective than routine treatment for patients with COVID19. Limited by the number and quality of included papers, this finding still needs further validation by more studies.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Injections
PubMed: 37454247
DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20230517.002