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Biomedical subjects

D Charteris

Publications and source records attributed to D Charteris.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Macular hole surgery without prone positioning.

PURPOSE: To investigate the role of vitrectomy without prone posturing in the anatomic and functional outcome of macular hole surgery (MHS). METHODS: Forty-one consecutive eyes of 41 patients with stage II-IV full-thickness macular holes underwent pars plana vitrectomy and 16% C3F8 tamponade. In 25 cases posturing group (P), subjects were instructed to assume prone positioning for 10 days postoperatively, whereas in 16 cases non-posturing group (NP) patients were advised to avoid lying supine but no other posturing instructions were given. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative clinical data were collected, with macular hole closure rate and change in LogMAR visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, metamorphopsia, and 25-Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) being the primary outcome measures. RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up of 4.21.2 months, anatomical hole closure was noted in 22/25 (88%) and 14/16 (87.5%) in groups P and NP respectively. Visual acuity improved by a mean of eight letters and there was no significant difference in the two groups (P=0.724). Similarly, postoperative prone posturing did not have an effect on the final contrast sensitivity, metamorphopsia, and VFQ-25 composite scores (P=0.238, P=0.472, and P=0.87, respectively). However, eyes in group NP developed significantly more severe cataract in the early postoperative period (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Prone posturing following MHS provides no functional or anatomic benefit but it is associated with slower progression of cataract. Combined phacovitrectomy without face down positioning may be considered for all phakic patients undergoing MHS.

Aged↗

Ultrastructure of vitreomacular traction syndrome associated with persistent hyaloid artery.

AIM: To demonstrate the ultrastructure of vitreomacular traction associated with persistent hyaloid artery. METHODS: Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in a 66-year-old man with progressive vitreomacular traction associated with a persistent hyaloid artery. Epimacular tissue was peeled and processed for transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Ultrastructural analysis revealed multiple sheets of cellular and collagenous components. Myofibroblasts and newly formed collagen were the predominant features. Fibrous astrocytes, fibroblasts, macrophages, and basement membrane were also present. CONCLUSION: The cellular composition of the epimacular tissue and high cellular activity suggest that persistence of the hyaloid artery may contribute to the development of vitreomacular traction.

Aged↗

Stable rAAV-mediated transduction of rod and cone photoreceptors in the canine retina.

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors are attractive candidates for the treatment of inherited and acquired retinal disease. Although rAAV vectors are well characterized in rodent models, a prerequisite to their clinical application in human patients is the thorough evaluation of their efficacy and safety in intermediate animal models. In this study, we describe rAAV-2-mediated expression of GFP reporter gene in retinal cells following local vector delivery in dogs. Subretinal delivery of rAAV.CMV.GFP was performed unilaterally in eight normal dogs from 6 weeks of age. The area of retinal transduction was maximized by the optimization of surgical techniques for subretinal vector delivery by pars-plana vitrectomy and the use of fine-gauge subretinal cannulae to create multiple retinotomies. rAAV-2 vectors mediated efficient stable reporter gene expression in photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelial cells. We found efficient transduction of cone photoreceptors in addition to rods in both the canine retina and after subretinal vector delivery in another intermediate animal model, the feline retina. GFP expression in dogs was confined to the area of the retinal bleb and was sustained in cells at this site for at least 18 months. Electroretinography demonstrated a modest reduction in global rod-mediated retinal function following subretinal delivery of rAAV.CMV.GFP. Three of the eight animals developed delayed-onset intraocular inflammation, in two cases associated with a serum antibody response to GFP protein. We conclude that rAAV-2 vectors mediate efficient sustained transgene expression in rod and cone photoreceptors following subretinal delivery in this intermediate animal model. The possibility of adverse effects including intraocular immune responses and reduced retinal function requires further investigation prior to clinical applications in patients.

Animals↗

A prospective study of matrix metalloproteinases in proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

PURPOSE: The migration, proliferation, differentiation, and adhesion of cells and other cellular functions are influenced by the surrounding extracellular matrix, in normal and wound-healing conditions. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of enzymes that degrade and remodel the extracellular matrix and, thus, play a central role in the wound-healing process. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), a wound-healing process in the retina, is a major cause of the failure of retinal detachment surgery. The role of MMPs in the pathobiology of PVR is unknown. We have investigated the presence of MMPs in the vitreous of patients with retinal detachment and the predictive value of MMPs for the future development of PVR. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 140 consecutive patients with a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in whom vitrectomy was considered necessary because of a giant retinal tear and the presence of preoperative PVR, among other reasons. Vitreous samples were obtained and analyzed by zymography for the presence of MMPs. The patients were then followed up for the development of postoperative PVR (mild and severe). RESULTS: Two species of MMPs were detected in the vitreous: MMP-2 and MMP-9. MMP-2 was detected in all of the vitreous samples obtained, whereas MMP-9 was found in only 64 (47%) of 136 samples. The levels of MMPs detected were not significantly associated with the presence of preoperative PVR (P > 0.05), but they were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with the development of postoperative PVR (mild and severe). CONCLUSIONS: The results from this prospective study suggest that MMPs may be an important predictor and may also play a role in the development of postoperative PVR.

Adolescent↗

Intravitreal growth factors in proliferative diabetic retinopathy: correlation with neovascular activity and glycaemic management.

AIM: Many growth factors are implicated in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). It was decided to test the hypothesis that no one factor is predominant but that a regular profile of levels of different growth factors might be operating, and that the profile might differ according to whether or not insulin therapy was part of the patient's glycaemic management. The levels of several growth factors in vitrectomy samples were therefore determined from diabetic patients with tractional, non-haemorrhagic sequelae of PDR and these levels were correlated with (a) each other (growth factor profile), (b) neovascular activity, and (c) the method of glycaemic management (insulin treated (IT) or non-insulin treated (NIT)). METHODS: 72 samples of vitreous were obtained from either diabetic patients with PDR (n = 51) or non-diabetic (control) patients (n = 21). Levels of bFGF, IGF-I, EGF, and insulin were determined by radioimmunoassay; levels of TGF-beta 2 by ELISA; and levels of IGF-I binding protein by western ligand blotting. The data were analysed using appropriate statistics. RESULTS: There was no regular growth factor profile. bFGF levels were significantly greater in vitreous from NIT patients compared with IT patients and controls. The highest levels of bFGF were found in NIT patients with actively vascularised membranes. TGF-beta 2 levels were significantly greater in vitreous from IT patients compared with NIT patients and controls The highest levels of TGF-beta 2 were found in IT patients with actively vascularised membranes. IGF-I levels were significantly greater in diabetics (irrespective of insulin treatment) than non-diabetics and the highest levels of IGF-I were found in IT patients with actively vascularised membranes. A 34 kDa IGFBP was the predominant IGFBP identified in vitreous and was found to be elevated in diabetics patients. CONCLUSION: In PDR there is a correlation between intravitreal growth factor levels and both disease state (whether active or fibrotic) and method of glycaemic management.

Analysis of Variance↗

Is surgery for proliferative vitreoretinopathy justifiable?

Surgery for proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) may require prolonged procedures often with limited improvement in visual function. Forty-seven consecutive patients who had PVR surgery in one eye had a case note review to assess anatomical re-attachment rate and improvement in visual acuity. All patients had at least 3 clock-hours of grade C PVR membrane. Surgery comprised vitrectomy and membrane peel in all cases. There was a mean follow-up period of 9 months (range 3-23 months). Thirty-two eyes (68%) had an attached retina with the mean visual acuity being 0.089 (where 6/60 = 0.10). A mean of 2.15 PVR operations were performed per eye. Seventeen patients chosen at random were contacted by telephone and standardised questions were asked regarding their surgery. Eleven (65%) patients stated that, with the benefit of hindsight, they would still have had surgery and 8 (47%) patients stated that the peripheral vision gained was of benefit.

Eye Diseases↗

Retinal and preretinal localisation of epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor alpha, and their receptor in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

A number of growth factors have been implicated in the development and perpetuation of preretinal fibrovascular membranes in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). The aim of this study was to determine the potential role of epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha), and their receptor (EGF-R) in PDR development. Immunostaining for EGF, TGF-alpha, and EGF-R was compared between normal retina, PDR retina, and PDR preretinal membranes. Weak staining for EGF and EGF-R was observed throughout the neural retina from non-diabetic eyes while weak to moderate staining for TGF-alpha was observed in the ganglion cell layer and the inner and outer nuclear layers. In contrast, intense staining for EGF and TGF-alpha and moderate staining for EGF-R were observed throughout the PDR retina. Immunoreactivity for EGF, TGF-alpha, and EGF-R was seen in the majority of the 11 excised membranes studied and, though variable, was generally greater than that observed in normal retinas. These results suggest an autocrine/paracrine role for EGF, TGF-alpha, and EGF-R in PDR.

Diabetic Retinopathy↗