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Frontiers in Genetics 2022Th17 and regulatory T cells (Tregs) play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Th17/Treg homeostasis is critically involved in maintaining the immune...
Th17 and regulatory T cells (Tregs) play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Th17/Treg homeostasis is critically involved in maintaining the immune balance. Disturbed Th17/Treg homeostasis contributes to the progression of autoimmune diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as a new vital factor in the regulation of disturbed Th17/Treg homeostasis. To better understand the epigenetic mechanisms of miRNAs in regulating Treg/Th17 homeostasis, we included and evaluated 97 articles about autoimmune diseases and found that miRNAs were involved in the regulation of Treg/Th17 homeostasis from several aspects positively or negatively, including Treg differentiation and development, Treg induction, Treg stability, Th17 differentiation, and Treg function. Uveitis is one of the ocular autoimmune diseases, which is also characterized with Th17/Treg imbalance. However, our understanding of the miRNAs in the pathogenesis of uveitis is elusive and not well-studied. In this review, we further summarized miRNAs found to be involved in autoimmune uveitis and their potential role in the regulation of Th17/Treg homeostasis.
PubMed: 36186459
DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.848985 -
Journal of Ophthalmology 2021Corticosteroids are used in a variety of ophthalmological diseases. One challenge faced by ophthalmologists is to deliver corticosteroids to the posterior segment of the... (Review)
Review
Corticosteroids are used in a variety of ophthalmological diseases. One challenge faced by ophthalmologists is to deliver corticosteroids to the posterior segment of the eye with efficacy and safety. Sustained-release corticosteroid implants may be the answer to this problem. The 0.19 mg fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) implant (Iluvien®) releases FAc for 36 months, and it is approved for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) and noninfectious uveitis. We decided to do a systematic review to acknowledge in which other diseases FAc implant is being used off-label. A literature search was performed in the following three electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (from January 1, 2000, to September 20, 2020), using the following query: ("Fluocinolone Acetonide" OR Iluvien®) AND ("eye" OR "ocular" OR "intravitreal)." A total of 11 papers were included, and the use of FAc implant was analyzed in the following diseases: radiation-induced maculopathy (RM); paraneoplastic visual syndromes (melanoma-associated retinopathy (MAR) and cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR)); Sjogren's syndrome-related keratopathy; retinal vein occlusion (RVO); cystoid macular edema (CME); diabetic retinal neurodegeneration (DRN); and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). FAc implant may be a potential treatment for these diseases; however, the level of scientific evidence of the included studies in this review is limited. Further studies with larger cohorts and longer follow-ups are needed to validate this data.
PubMed: 34055398
DOI: 10.1155/2021/6678364 -
Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and... Jan 2020This study aims to determine if the intravitreal dexamethasone implant (DEX implant, Ozurdex; Allergan, Inc., Irvine, California) is effective for treating intermediate,...
BACKGROUND
This study aims to determine if the intravitreal dexamethasone implant (DEX implant, Ozurdex; Allergan, Inc., Irvine, California) is effective for treating intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis as a monotherapy or adjunctive treatment to systemic immunomodulatory therapies.
METHODS
A systematic review using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed database searches was conducted with the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine Levels of Evidence criteria to select publications. Available background information and patient data from each study was tabulated. Outcomes studied were central retinal thickness (CRT), best corrected visual acuity, intraocular inflammation (anterior chamber cells, vitreous haze), number of patients with prior and concomitant immunomodulatory treatments, intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation (≥ 25 mmHg), and other adverse effects associated with the implant.
RESULTS
One hundred ninety-five (61.51%) patients had previous immunomodulatory treatment while 232 (64.8%) were treated with concomitant immunomodulatory therapy with the DEX implant. CRT decreased by an average of 198.65 μm (42.74%). Visual acuity improved to an average of 0.451 (logMAR) or 20/57 (Snellen) which is a 43.11% improvement from baseline. One hundred seventy-three (59%) of eyes were quiescent at the end of the trials, of which 40 (13.7%) previously inflamed eyes became quiescent. Elevated IOP occurred in 91 (20.6%). The most common adverse events were cataract/posterior subcapsular opacities in 47 (11.03%) patients and conjunctival hemorrhage in 24 (5.44%) patients.
CONCLUSIONS
The DEX implant is an effective medication for the treatment of posterior segment uveitis, uveitic macular edema, and results in improved visual acuity. Development of elevated IOP and cataract should be closely monitored as they are tangible risks associated with the DEX implant. This study was not able to determine whether the DEX implant was more effective as a monotherapy or as an adjunctive therapy to systemic immunomodulatory treatment.
PubMed: 31925591
DOI: 10.1186/s12348-019-0189-4 -
International Ophthalmology Apr 2024To review all studies reporting the onset of white dot syndromes following COVID-19 vaccines. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
To review all studies reporting the onset of white dot syndromes following COVID-19 vaccines.
METHODS
Our protocol was registered prospectively on PROSPERO [registration number: CRD42023426012]. We searched five different databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Science Direct up to May 2023. All the studies that reported the occurrence of white dot syndrome following COVID-19 vaccines were included. All statistical tests were conducted with a 95% confidence interval and a 5% error margin. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The methodological quality of included studies was performed using the IHE Quality Appraisal Checklist for Case Series studies and JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Reports.
RESULTS
Fifty studies involving seventy-one subjects were included. Multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) was the most common disease (n = 25, 35.2% %), followed by acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN) (n = 22, 31.0%) and acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE) (n = 4, 5.6%). They were mostly unilateral (n = 50, 70.4%). The presenting symptoms were blurred vision (n = 26, 36.6%), paracentral scotoma (n = 19, 26.8%), visual field disturbance, and photopsia (n = 7, 9.9%). The mean duration for follow-up was 10.15 ± 14.04 weeks. Nineteen subjects (29.69%) received steroids with improvement reported in 68.4%. Eleven subjects (17.19%) were managed by observation only with reported full recovery and improvement.
CONCLUSION
White dot syndromes are very rare entities. Our findings highlight a possible association between COVID-19 vaccines and the occurrence of white dot syndromes. However, larger studies with good quality should be implemented to confirm these findings.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccines; SARS-CoV-2; Tomography, Optical Coherence; White Dot Syndromes
PubMed: 38652153
DOI: 10.1007/s10792-024-03119-4