Guidelines for the application of the fundus autofluorescence in age-related macular degeneration(2023) / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Fundus autofluorescence(FAF)imaging is based on the fluorescence excited by the endogenous fluorophores in the retinal pigment epithelium and choroid, mainly referring to lipofuscin(LF)and melanin. The non-invasive examination method can imply the function of retinal pigment epithelium by observing the spatial distribution of LF or melanin. This technique has unique advantages in the diagnosis and differentiation of age-related macular degeneration(ARMD). This guideline is to standardize and interpret the application of FAF in different stages and classifications of ARMD.

Research progress on epigenetic modification involved in metabolic memory of diabetic retinopathy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Diabetes retinopathy(DR)may continue to develop even if blood sugar is well controlled, which indicates that previous hyperglycemia will lead to long-term harmful vascular dysfunction, and this phenomenon is defined as “metabolic memory” of diabetes retinopathy. Because the onset of DR is insidious, clinical symptomatic treatment is mainly used. Effective means of early diagnosis, accurate treatment and prognosis are lacking and new diagnosis and treatment ideas need to be developed urgently. In recent years, many new studies have shown that epigenetic modification is involved in the pathogenesis of DR “metabolic memory” in DNA methylation, histone post-translational modification and microRNA(microRNAs,miRNAs)regulation, which provides a direction and strategy for the exploration of DR molecular mechanism. In this review, we discussed the role of epigenetic modification in the pathogenesis of DR and analyzed the challenges and prospects of its application in the treatment of DR, with a view to provide a reference for early diagnosis and treatment of DR in the future.

Comparison of FP-7 and S-2 Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in refractory glaucoma patients for short-term follow-up / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Ahmed glaucoma valves (AGV) has been used for decades, but there is no detailed report about the efficacy of AGV in Chinese glaucoma patients. This study aimed to compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering efficacy and side effects of S-2 polypropylene and PF-7 silicone AGV implantation in Chinese refractory glaucoma patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients were divided into S-2 model AGV group and FP-7 model AGV group. The complete and qualified surgical success rate, change of IOP, number of anti-glaucoma medications used and postoperative complications were recorded and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Average follow-up time was comparable between two groups. IOP was reduced from (37.9 ± 12.7) mmHg preoperatively to (17.3 ± 5.3) mmHg at the last follow-up in S-2 group and reduced from (39.9 ± 14.4) mmHg to (17.7 ± 4.9) mmHg in FP-7 group. Anti-glaucoma medications were reduced from 3.8 ± 0.2 to 1.5 ± 0.2 in S-2 group, and 3.5 ± 0.2 to 0.7 ± 0.2 in FP-7 groups. The cumulative success rates were comparable in two groups, which were 61.2% and 72.1% in S-2 group and FP-7 group respectively. When IOP reduction criteria was used, complete success rates were 30.6% and 51.2% for S-2 and FP-7 groups, and qualified success rates were 86.1% and 92.7% separately. In both groups, the major complication was hypotony, and the previous trabeculectomy of patients was the major risk factor for surgery failure.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In this short-term retrospective study, S-2 AGV is showed at least as effective as FP-7 AGV in IOP reduction, but associated with higher rate of complications. Previous trabeculectomy is a principle risk factor for AGV implantation failure. These clinical outcomes are important for converting use of the FP-7 silicon AGV in Chinese refractory glaucoma patients.</p>

Analysis of MYOC gene mutation in a Chinese glaucoma family with primary open-angle glaucoma and primary congenital glaucoma / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) are subtypes of glaucoma. Myocillin is the first gene identified to be involved in POAG. Recently, myocillin mutation has been found in PCG. In this context, we reported a special glaucoma pedigree, which was composed of both PCG and POAG patients, and analyzed the mutation of myocillin in this pedigree.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The family was composed of the parents, a son and a daughter. All members of the family underwent the complete ophthalmologic examinations. All coding exons 1 - 3 and flanking introns of myocilin gene were screened for sequence alterations by polymerase chain reaction and direct DNA sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The son was the proband, who was diagnosed as PCG in both eyes. The father was diagnosed as POAG in the right eye, the left eye was still normal. Both the sister and the mother of the proband had normal intraocular pressure without glaucomatous optic disc changes. The mutations in intron 2 of myocilin gene were detected in the family. While the proband and the father were homozygous, the mother and the sister were heterozygous for the mutation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Homozygous mutation in intron 2 of myocilin gene is involved in both POAG and PCG. It is suggested that the pathogenesis might be overlapping in POAG and PCG.</p>