ABSTRACT
Age-related macular degeneration [AMD] is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss and debilitating disease in old age, which involves the central retina/macula among elderly patients. The genetic and environmental factors have important role in this multifactorial disease. Oxidative stress and DNA damages would have important impact on the onset and progression of AMD. In this study, the possible association of c.-31A>G [rs3087404] polymorphism in the promoter region of SMUG1 gene with AMD disease was investigated. Fifty five AMD patients and 130 healthy age-, gender- and ethnicity-matched unrelated people as control group were genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism PCR [RFLP-PCR]. Both groups were from Northwest of Iran [Tabriz]. Statistical analysis showed a significant association of AG genotype of this polymorphism with AMD. These results suggest a possible protective effect of this genotype for AMD disease [P=0.02, OR=0.574] among patients from Northwest of Iran. This genotype was observed more frequently in controls compared to the patients [59.23% v s 45.45%]
ABSTRACT
Calcification and inflammation are among the important cases of exudative age-related macular degeneration [E-ARMD]. The aim of the present study was to elucidate if there is any relationship between serum Osteoprotegerin [OPG], soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand [RANK-ligand] and E-ARMD. In a cross-sectional study, we compared 45 E-ARMD patients with 45 matched controls. Diagnosis was confirmed by fluorescein angiography. Serum samples were analyzed for OPG, RANK-ligand, low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], total cholesterol [TC], and triglyceride [TG]. The levels of OPG and RANK-ligand were measured by ELISA methods. The mean age was 72.0 +/- 11.5 years in the E-ARMD group and 68.2 +/- 8.9 years in the control group [p=0.09]. The level of serum OPG was 132.10 +/- 75.49 pg/ml in the E-ARMD group and 94.88 +/- 61.65 pg/ml in the control subjects. E-ARMD patients had significantly high levels of OPG [p=0.012], as well as significantly high levels of LDL-C and TC [p=0.001 and p=0.005, respectively]. We could not find any significant difference in RANK-ligand, HDL-C, or TG between two study groups [p>0.05]. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the levels of OPG in E-ARMD patients. The present study showed that E-ARMD patients had high levels of serum OPG. It may act as a protective factor for E-ARMD or only as a secondary phenomenon of different processes of E-ARMD. Further prospective studies would be necessary for prognostic and predictive significance of OPG in patients affected by E-ARMD
ABSTRACT
To report an unusual presentation of pellucid marginal degeneration [PMD]. A 57-year-old man with history of corneal ectasia experienced acute hydrops and spontaneous corneal perforation in his right eye. Examination revealed PMD in both eyes. After initial treatment with cyanoacrylate adhesive and a bandage contact lens, therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty was undertaken in the right eye. Due to severity of the condition, the fellow eye was also scheduled for penetrating keratoplasty. Spontaneous corneal hydrops and perforation may occur in patients with corneal ectasia due to PMD
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Corneal Edema , Cornea/pathology , Dilatation, PathologicABSTRACT
To determine the susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein [LDL] to oxidation in the plasma of male patients with wet type age related macular degeneration [AMD] and in a similar control group, in order to evaluate the LDL oxidative status as risk factor of AMD. We conducted this study in the Retina Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Nikookari Eye Hospital ' Drug of Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran during the period between October 2004 and December 2005. Sixty male patients with AMD [mean age 67 +/- 16 years] with BMI 4.1 +/- 1.3 were selected as the patient group. The control group consisted of 60 males, apparently healthy, and without ophthalmologic signs and family history of AMD. Low-density lipoprotein was isolated by gradient ultracentrifugation and susceptibility of LDL to in vitro copper-mediated oxidation was assayed by measuring conjugated dienes production [lag phase duration] at 234 nm. Lipid and lipoproteins were determined by standard methods. Comparing with control, significant reduction in the duration of lag phase [p<0.004] and a significant increase in LDL-C concentrations [p=0.006], were noticed. No significant change in cholesterol [p>0.3], triglyceride [p>0.1] and high density lipoprotein cholesterol [p>0.1] levels were found between control and patient groups. A significant negative correlation between Lag phase and LDL-C levels [p=0.004, r=-0.364] was found in the patient group. The increased LDL concentration and enhanced susceptibility of LDL to oxidation may play a roll in the wet type AMD process