Through the eyes into the brain, using artificial intelligence

INTRODUCTION@#Detection of neurological conditions is of high importance in the current context of increasingly ageing populations. Imaging of the retina and the optic nerve head represents a unique opportunity to detect brain diseases, but requires specific human expertise. We review the current outcomes of artificial intelligence (AI) methods applied to retinal imaging for the detection of neurological and neuro-ophthalmic conditions.@*METHOD@#Current and emerging concepts related to the detection of neurological conditions, using AI-based investigations of the retina in patients with brain disease were examined and summarised.@*RESULTS@#Papilloedema due to intracranial hypertension can be accurately identified with deep learning on standard retinal imaging at a human expert level. Emerging studies suggest that patients with Alzheimer's disease can be discriminated from cognitively normal individuals, using AI applied to retinal images.@*CONCLUSION@#Recent AI-based systems dedicated to scalable retinal imaging have opened new perspectives for the detection of brain conditions directly or indirectly affecting retinal structures. However, further validation and implementation studies are required to better understand their potential value in clinical practice.

Coexistence of Straatsma syndrome without macular extension and abnormal ellipsoid zone / Coexistência da síndrome de Straatsma sem extensão macular e zona elipsoide anormal

ABSTRACT Myelinated retinal nerve fibers are rare congenital anomalies that appear as gray-white patches. They may be present in a syndrome characterized by ipsilateral myelinated retinal nerve fibers, myopia and amblyopia. The author reported an ellipsoid zone defect on spectral domain optical coherence tomography in a case of Straatsma syndrome without macular extension.

RESUMO Fibras nervosas retinais mielinizadas são anomalias congênitas raras que aparecem como manchas branco-acinzentadas. Eles podem se apresentar em uma síndrome caracterizada por fibras nervosas retinais mielinizadas ipsilaterais, miopia e ambliopia. O autor relatou um defeito na zona elipsoide na tomografia de coerência óptica de domínio espectral em um caso de síndrome de Straatsma sem extensão macular.

SD-OCT assessment and visual field changes 1 year or more after a single episode of unilateral acute primary angle closure / Avaliação do SD-OCT e mudanças do campo visual 1 ano ou mais após episódio único de fechamento angular primário agudo unilateral

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate structural and visual field (VF) changes after ≥1 year of a single acute primary angle closure (APAC) attack using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and standard automated perimetry (SAP). Methods: Patients with a single unilateral APAC crisis at least 1 year ago were included consecutively from 2013 to 2016. Contralateral eye was used as control. All patients underwent ophthalmic examination, RNFL imaging by SD-OCT, and SAP using Octopus 1-2-3. Results: 54 eyes (27 patients) were enrolled. Male-to-female ratio was 1:2. Mean time for the SD-OCT and SAP assessment after the crisis was 5.0±5.1 (1.0-23.5) years, and IOP was 52.5±9.8 mmHg. In APAC eyes, the thicknesses of all quadrants of peripapillary RNFL (36.3%; P<0.001) and some macular sections (from 2.1% to 4.7%; P<0.01) were reduced compared to contralateral eyes. Additionally, in APAC eyes, the mean defect on VF was negatively and statistically correlated with the reduction of all quadrants of peripapillary RNFL thickness. Conclusion: A single episode of APAC was associated with peripapillary RNFL and macular thickness and with VF defects after ≥1 year of the crisis in the affected eye. Statistically meaningful correlations were found between structural and functional damage.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar alterações estruturais e do campo visual 1 ano ou mais após uma crise única de fechamento angular primário agudo utilizando tomografia de coerência óptica de domínio espectral e perimetria automatizada padronizada. Métodos: Pacientes que apresentaram crise unilateral única de fechamento angular primário agudo há pelo menos 1 ano foram consecutivamente incluídos entre 2013 e 2016. Os olhos contralaterais foram utilizados como controles. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a exame oftalmológico, avaliação das camadas de fibras nervosas da retina utilizando tomografia de coerência óptica de domínio espectral e perimetria automatizada padronizada com o Octopus 1-2-3. Resultados: Foram incluídos 54 olhos (27 pacientes) com razão homem:mulher de 1:2. O tempo médio após a crise foi de 5,0±5,1 anos (1,0 a 23,5) e a pressão intraocular na crise foi 52,5±9,8mmHg. Nos olhos com fechamento angular primário agudo, todas as espessuras das camadas de fibras nervosas da retina peripapilares (36,3%; p<0,001) e de algumas seções maculares (de 2,1 a 4,7%; p<0,01) estavam reduzidas em comparação aos olhos contralaterais. Além do mais, nos olhos submetidos a fechamento angular primário agudo, o mean defect do campo visual foi estatisticamente e negativamente correlacionado com a redução da espessura de todos os quadrantes peripapilares da camada de fibras nervosas da retina. Conclusão: Um único episódio de fechamento angular primário agudo foi associado com redução na espessura da camada de fibras nervosas da retina peripapilar e da espessura macular e com defeitos de campo visual 1 ano ou mais após a crise no olho afetado. Correlações estatisticamente significativas foram identificadas entre danos estruturais e funcionais.

Effect of acupuncture on retinal and choroidal thickness in patients with optic atrophy / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of acupuncture on visual acuity, intraocular pressure, visual field, retinal and choroidal thickness on optic disc and macular area in patients with optic atrophy.@*METHODS@#A total of 33 patients with optic atrophy were treated with acupuncture. Acupuncture was given at Chengqi (ST 1), Shangjingming (Extra), Qiuhou (EX-HN 7) and Fengchi (GB 20) etc., 30 min each time, once a day, for 14 days. The visual acuity, intraocular pressure, visual field indexes (mean deviation [MD], pattern standard deviation [PSD] and visual field index [VFI]), optic disc retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, macular retinal thickness and choroidal thickness of optic disc and sub-foveal were compared before and after treatment.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the visual acuity was increased (P<0.05), the MD value was decreased (P<0.05), the thickness of nerve fiber layer on the upper temporal side of optic disc was thinner (P<0.05), and the choroidal thickness of average, nasal side and lower temporal side of optic disc was increased (P<0.05). There was significant correlation between visual field MD and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in different quadrants before and after treatment (P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture could improve visual acuity, increase choroidal thickness in part of optic disc area in patients with optic atrophy.

Vessel density in early-stage primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma: a comparative controlled optical coherence tomography angiography study / Densidade vascular no estágio inicial do glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto e do glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo: estudo comparativo controlado com angiografia por tomografia de coerência óptica

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study aimed to compare the vessel density of the optic nerve head and radial peripapillary capillary in the eyes with early-stage primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and control eyes. Methods: With visual field mean deviation scores >-6.0 dB, 54 eyes from 37 patients diagnosed with primary open angle glaucoma (n=18) and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (n=18) and healthy controls (n=18) were enrolled in this cross-sectional observational study. Retrieved from optical coherence tomography angiography, vessel density for the optic nerve head and radial peripapillary capillary were analyzed according to the distribution of the data and appropriate tests. The diagnostic accuracy of vessel density parameters was also assessed. Results: The whole-image vessel density of the radial peripapillary capillary and inside-disc vessel density of the optic nerve head were significantly lower in eyes with primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma compared to those in the control eyes (p<0.05). Compared to that in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, the inside-disc vessel density of the optic nerve head was significantly lower in primary open angle glaucoma (p<0.05). Inferotemporal sector vessel density of the optic nerve head for both primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma was significantly lower than that of the controls (p=0.009). In discrimination of primary open angle glaucoma vs. control and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma vs. control, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values for inside-disc vessel density of the optic nerve head were 0.855 and 0.731, respectively (p<0.001, p=0.018). However, in discrimination of primary open angle glaucoma vs. pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values for whole-image and inside-disc vessel densities of the optic nerve head were 0.707 and 0.722 (p=0.034, p=0.023). Conclusions: Vessel densities of the optic nerve head and radial peripapillary capillary were significantly lower in eyes with primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma compared to healthy control eyes. In the early stage of glaucoma, the inside-disc vessel density of the optic nerve head slab may be lower in eyes with primary open angle glaucoma eyes compared to eyes with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.

RESUMO Objetivo: Comparar a densidade vascular da cabeça do nervo óptico e a densidade capilar peripapilar radial em olhos em estágios iniciais de glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto e com glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo, bem como em olhos controle. Métodos: Este é um estudo observacional transversal, no qual foram incluídos 54 olhos com valores de desvio médio do campo visual superiores a -6,0 dB. Os olhos incluídos eram de 37 pacientes, diagnosticados com glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto (n=18), glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo (n=18) e controles saudáveis (n=18). Os valores de densidade vascular da cabeça do nervo óptico e a densidade capilar peripapilar radial foram obtidos a partir de angiografias por tomografia de coerência óptica, analisados de acordo com a distribuição dos dados e submetidos a testes estatísticos apropriados. Também foi avaliada a precisão diagnóstica dos parâmetros de densidade vascular. Resultados: Os valores para a densidade capilar peripapilar radial e no interior do disco óptico nas imagens inteiras foram significativamente menores no glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto e no glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo do que no grupo controle (p<0,05). A densidade vascular no interior do disco óptico na cabeça do nervo óptico foi significativamente menor no glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto do que no glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo (p<0,05). A densidade vascular no setor temporal inferior da cabeça do nervo óptico foi significativamente menor tanto no glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto quanto no glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo, em comparação com o grupo controle (p=0,009). A área abaixo da curva de ROC para a densidade vascular no interior do disco óptico na cabeça do nervo óptico, foi de 0,855 para a comparação do glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto com o controle (p<0,001) e de 0,731 para a comparação do glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo com o controle (p=0,018). Porém, na comparação do glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto com o glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo, os valores da área abaixo da curva de ROC para a densidade vascular na imagem inteira e no interior do disco óptico na cabeça do nervo óptico foram respectivamente de 0,707 e 0,722 (p=0,034, p=0,023). Conclusões: A densidade vascular na cabeça do nervo óptico e a densidade capilar peripapilar radial mostraram-se significativamente diminuídas no glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto e no glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo, em comparação com olhos controle saudáveis. Nos estágios iniciais do glaucoma, a densidade vascular no interior do disco óptico, na cabeça do nervo óptico, pode ser menor em olhos com glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto do que em olhos com glaucoma pseudoesfoliativo.

Evaluation of choroidal thickness and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in patients with unilateral amblyopia: a prospective study / Avaliação da espessura da coroide e da camada de fibras nervosas da retina em pacientes com ambliopia unilateral: um estudo prospectivo

ABSTRACT Purpose: to compare the Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness (RNFL) of amblyopic and normal fellow eyes. Design: Prospective, cross-sectional, observational case series. Methods: Forty patients age 12 to 41 years (mean 23.73 ± 6.42) with unilateral amblyopia were studied. Among them, 11(28.2%) patients had amblyopia secondary to strabismus and 29(71.8 %) had anisometropic amblyopia. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the peripapillary RNFL thickness of amblyopic and fellow eyes was performed. RNFL thickness measurements were taken from the superior, inferior, nasal and temporal quadrants in the peripapillary region. Also, subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) was measured using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Results: Mean global RNFL thickness of the amblyopic and fellow eyes was 104.48 microns and 102.83 microns, respectively. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (p>0.05%). The thicknesses of the superior, inferior, nasal and temporal quadrants of the retinal nerve fiber layer between the amblyopic and normal fellow eyes showed no statistically significant difference (p>0.05%). However, the SFCT of amblyopic eye was 11 or more microns thicker than the fellow eye and this was statistically significant different (p<0.05%). Conclusions: This study demonstrated SFCT in amblyopic eyes was significantly thicker than the normal fellow eyes. The amblyopic process may involve the choroid, but not the prepapillary NFL.

RESUMO Objetivo: comparar a espessura da coroide subfoveal (CSF) e da camada de fibra nervosa retinal (CFNR) de olhos amblíopes e normais. Design: série de casos prospectivos, transversais e observacionais. Métodos: Quarenta pacientes com idade entre 12 e 41 anos (média 23,73 ± 6,42) com ambliopia unilateral foram estudados. Entre eles, 11 (28,2%) pacientes apresentavam ambliopia secundária a estrabismo e 29 (71,8%) apresentavam ambliopia anisometrópica. Foi realizada tomografia de coerência óptica (TCO) da espessura da CFNR peripapilar do olho amblíope e do outro olho. As medidas de espessura da CFNR foram realizadas nos quadrantes superior, inferior, nasal e temporal na região peripapilar. Além disso, a espessura da coroide subfoveal (CSF) foi medida através de tomografia de coerência óptica de domínio espectral (TCO-DE). Resultados: A espessura média global da CFNR do olho amblíope e do outro olho foi de 104,48 mícrons e 102,83 mícrons, respectivamente. A diferença entre os dois grupos não foi estatisticamente significativa (p > 0,05%). As espessuras dos quadrantes superior, inferior, nasal e temporal da camada de fibras nervosas da retina entre o olho amblíope e o normal não apresentaram diferença estatisticamente significativa (p > 0,05%). No entanto, a CSF do olho amblíope foi 11 mícrons mais espessa (ou mais) do que a do outro olho - essa diferença foi estatisticamente significativa (p < 0,05%). Conclusões: Este estudo demonstrou que a CSF dos olhos amblíopes foi significativamente mais espessa do que a dos olhos normais. O processo amblíope pode envolver a coroide, mas ele não envolve a CFNR peripapilar.

Inyección de gas intravítreo combinada con fotocoagulación con láser de argón para el tratamento de la maculopatía de la foseta del disco óptico sin vitrectomía / Intravitreal gas injection combined with argon laser photocoagulation for treatment of optic disc pit maculopathy without vitrectomy

RESUMEN Presentamos el caso de un paciente con foseta del disco óptico, quien presentó una disminución de la agudeza visual secundaria a desprendimiento seroso de retina. Se decidió realizar una inyección intravítrea de 0.3ml de gas C3F8 (100%), seguida de fotocoagulación con láser de argón en el borde temporal de la foseta, logrando reaplicación total de la retina, con reabsorción de todo el líquido subretiniano visible en la tomografía de coherencia optica (OCT) luego de 400 días. Además hubo una mejoría significativa en la agudeza visual.

ABSTRACT We present the case of a patient with an optic disk pit, presenting with great loss of visual acuity secondary to serous retinal detachment. The management chosen was an intravitreal injection of 0.3 mL of C3F8 (100%), followed by argon laser photocoagulation on the temporal edge of the pit, ), achieving total retinal reattachment , and reabsorption of all subretinal fluid visible at optical coherence tomography after 400 days, in addition to great improvement in visual acuity.

Segmentation of retinal vessels by fusing contour information and conditional generative adversarial / 生物医学工程学杂志

The existing retinal vessels segmentation algorithms have various problems that the end of main vessels are easy to break, and the central macula and the optic disc boundary are likely to be mistakenly segmented. To solve the above problems, a novel retinal vessels segmentation algorithm is proposed in this paper. The algorithm merged together vessels contour information and conditional generative adversarial nets. Firstly, non-uniform light removal and principal component analysis were used to process the fundus images. Therefore, it enhanced the contrast between the blood vessels and the background, and obtained the single-scale gray images with rich feature information. Secondly, the dense blocks integrated with the deep separable convolution with offset and squeeze-and-exception (SE) block were applied to the encoder and decoder to alleviate the gradient disappearance or explosion. Simultaneously, the network focused on the feature information of the learning target. Thirdly, the contour loss function was added to improve the identification ability of the blood vessels information and contour information of the network. Finally, experiments were carried out on the DRIVE and STARE datasets respectively. The value of area under the receiver operating characteristic reached 0.982 5 and 0.987 4, respectively, and the accuracy reached 0.967 7 and 0.975 6, respectively. Experimental results show that the algorithm can accurately distinguish contours and blood vessels, and reduce blood vessel rupture. The algorithm has certain application value in the diagnosis of clinical ophthalmic diseases.

Angioid streaks and optic disc drusen in cherubism: a case report / Estrias angióides e drusas de disco óptico no Querubismo: um relato de caso

ABSTRACT A 65-year-old female patient was referred to our hospital for evaluation for cataract surgery. Her past medical history included corrective jaw surgeries for facial deformities that developed during infancy and persisted through early adulthood. A complete ophthalmological examination revealed bilateral angioid streaks, drusen in both optic disc areas, and a subretinal neovascular membrane in the left macula. Genetic analysis revealed a mutation in the SH3BP2 gene compatible with the diagnosis of cherubism. Clinical and laboratory evaluation revealed no additional systemic disorders. Cherubism is a rare disease characterized by the development of painless fibro-osseous lesions in the jaws and the maxilla in early childhood. Ophthalmologic findings in this disease are primarily related to orbital bone involvement. This is the first report of AS and optic disc drusen in a patient diagnosed with cherubism. Our findings suggest that angioid streaks and optic disk drusen should be included in the differential diagnosis of ophthalmic disorders identified in patients with this genetic abnormality.

RESUMO Paciente de 65 anos, sexo feminino, foi encaminhada para avaliação de cirurgia de catarata. Relatou história de cirurgias mandibulares para correção de deformação facial desenvolvida ao longo da infância e adolescência. O exame oftalmológico completo mostrou estrias angióides bilaterais, drusas em ambas as áreas dos discos ópticos e membrana neovascular sub-retiniana na mácula esquerda. A análise genética revelou mutação no gene SH3BP2 compatível com o diagnóstico de Querubismo. A avaliação clínica e laboratorial descartou outros distúrbios sistêmicos. O Querubismo é uma doença óssea rara caracterizada pelo desenvolvimento de lesões fibro-ósseas indolores na mandíbula e maxila durante a primeira infância. Os achados oftalmológicos nesta doença estão principalmente relacionados ao envolvimento ósseo orbitário. Este artigo descreve pela primeira vez a ocorrência de estrias angióides e drusas de disco óptico no Querubismo. Enfatizamos que essa condição deve ser incluída no diferencial de pacientes com tais achados, principalmente quando ambos existirem em associação.

Inner retinal thickness and optic disc measurements in obese children and adolescents / Espessura retiniana interna e medidas do disco óptico na obesidade pediátrica

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate optic nerve head parameters and inner retinal layer thicknesses in obese children and adolescents. Methods: Forty-one eyes of 41 pediatric obese participants and 41 eyes of 41 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in this study. Body mass index was calculated, based on sex and age, using body weight and height measurements. Blood lipid values (i.e., cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride) were measured in obese participants. Optical coherence tomography was used to examine optic nerve head parameters, including rim area, disc area, cup-to-disc ratio, and cup volume, as well as the thicknesses of retinal nerve fiber layers and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layers. Results: Optic disc parameters were similar in obese and healthy children (p>0.05). The percentage of binocular retinal nerve fiber layer thickness symmetry was significantly different between obese and control groups (p=0.003). Compared to the control group, participants in the obese group exhibited thinner retinal nerve fiber layers in the superior quadrants (p=0.04) and thinner ganglion cell-inner plexiform layers in the superior-temporal sectors (p=0.04). There were no statistically significant correlations between the ocular parameters and lipid blood test values assessed in this study (p>0.05). Body mass index was significantly negatively correlated with the mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (r=-0.33, p=0.03) in the obese group. There was no significant correlation between intraocular pressure and body mass index (r=0.05, p=0.74). Conclusion: Compared to healthy children, obese children had greater binocular retinal nerve fiber layer thickness asymmetry and thinner retinal nerve fiber and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layers in several sectors. Blood lipid levels were not associated with retinal thickness or optic disc parameters in obese children.

RESUMO Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os parâmetros da cabeça do nervo óptico e a espessura da camada interna da retina em crianças e adolescentes obesos. Métodos: Quarenta e um olhos de 41 participantes pediátricos obesos e 41 olhos de 41 controles saudáveis pareados por idade e sexo foram incluídos neste estudo. O índice de massa corporal foi calculado com base no sexo e na idade, utilizando medidas de peso e estatura corporal. Os valores de lipídios no sangue (colesterol, lipoproteína de baixa e alta densidade e triglicérides) foram medidos nos participantes obesos. A tomografia de coerência óptica foi usada para examinar os parâmetros da cabeça do nervo óptico, incluindo a área da borda, área do disco, razão escavação/disco, volume da escavação, espessura s camadas de fibra nervosa da retina e as camadas plexiformes internas das células ganglionares da mácula. Resultados: Os parâmetros do disco óptico foram semelhantes em crianças obesas e saudáveis (p>0,05). A porcentagem da simetria da espessura da camada de fibras nervosas da retina binocular foi significativamente diferente entre os grupos obesos e controle (p=0,003). Comparados ao grupo controle, os participantes do grupo obeso exibiram camadas mais finas de fibras nervosas da retina nos quadrantes superiores (p=0,04) e camadas plexiformes mais finas da célula ganglionar interna nos setores temporal superior (p=0,04). Não houve correlação significante entre os parâmetros oculares e os valores dos exames de sangue lipídico avaliados neste estudo (p>0,05). O índice de massa corporal foi significativamente correlacionado negativamente com a espessura média da camada de fibras nervosas da retina (r=-0,33, p=0,03) no grupo obeso. Não houve correlação significativa entre a pressão intraocular e o índice de massa corporal (r=0,05, p=0,74). Conclusão: Comparadas às crianças saudáveis, as crianças obe sas apresentaram maior assimetria binocular na espessura da ca mada de fibras nervosas da retina e fibras nervosas da retina mais finas e camadas plexiformes internas das células ganglionares em vários setores. Os níveis de lipídios no sangue não foram associados à espessura da retina ou aos parâmetros do disco óptico em crianças obesas.

Inverted internal limiting membrane flap for the management of optic disc pit maculopathy / Técnica do flap invertido da membrana limitante interna para o manejo da maculopatia causada pela fosseta do disco óptico

ABSTRACT Optic disc pit is a rare congenital anomaly that can cause serous macular detachment. It has no universally accepted single treatment. Recently, several investigators have performed new procedures to directly seal the pit. Herein, we report a case showing a promising method for optic pit maculopathy surgical treatment. We created an inverted internal limiting membrane flap and fold it over the pit to promote barrier in order to stop further fluid accumulation. Gradual absorption of subretinal fluid was observed over 12 months of follow-up. Optical coherence tomography can demonstrate internal limiting membrane folded over the pit and progressive subretinal fluid resolution. This technique resulted in a satisfactory anatomic outcome with good functional improvement in the best-corrected visual acuity.

RESUMO A fosseta do disco óptico é uma rara anomalia con gênita que pode causar descolamento de retina seroso na mácula. Não há um tratamento cirúrgico padrão universalmente aceito. Recentemente, cirurgiões têm realizado procedimentos novos que visam selar o buraco diretamente. Esse caso clínico mostra um método promissor para o tratamento cirúrgico da maculopatia causada pela fosseta do disco. Optamos por criar um flap invertido com a membrana limitante interna, dobrando-o sobre a fosseta para promover uma barreira, impedindo o acúmulo de fluido. A absorção gradual do líquido subretiniano foi observada ao longo de 12 meses de acompanhamento. Imagens de tomografia de coerência óptica podem demonstrar a membrana limitante interna dobrada sobre a fosseta e a resolução progressiva do fluido subretiniano. Esta técnica resultou em um resultado anatômico satisfatório com boa melhora funcional na acuidade visual.

Reversal of cupping em glaucoma juvenil tratado com análogo de prostaglandina tópica / Reversal of cupping in juvenile glaucoma treated with topical prostaglandin analogue

Resumo A reversão da escavação é uma entidade rara que se refere à redução da escavação do disco óptico em resposta à diminuição sustentada dos níveis de pressão intra-ocular (PIO), em cerca de 25% da PIO basal. A ocorrência deste fenômeno apenas com o tratamento clínico é pouco relatada na literatura, Este estudo relata um caso de um paciente com glaucoma juvenil, que apresentou à gonioscopia ângulo aberto e tomografia de coerência óptica (OCT) com uma diminuição significativa na camada de fibras nervosas retinianas em ambos os olhos. Após um ano utilizando análogos de prostaglandina tópica e manutenção de níveis baixos de PIO, ocorreu diminuição da escavação do nervo óptico, que foi confirmada pelos padrões topográficos da OCT. O "reversal of cupping" é um sinal da diminuição da tensão ao nível da lâmina crivosa e está provavelmente associada a uma redução do risco para a progressão do glaucoma a longo prazo, sem melhora da função visual.

Abstract Reversal of cupping is a rare entity, characterized by the reduction of optical disc cupping in response to sustained decrease in intraocular pressure (IOP) levels by 25% of the basal IOP. The occurrence of this phenomenon with clinical treatment is rarely reported in the literature. This study reports a case of a patient with juvenile glaucoma with augmented cupping, significant decrease in the retinal nerve fiber layer in both eyes and altered topografic measures in optical coherence tomography (OCT). After one year using topical prostaglandin analog and keeping low IOP levels, a decrease in optic nerve cupping was detected in rethinography, confirmed by the improvement of OCT topographic measures. Reversal of cupping is a sign of decreased tension at the level of the lamina cribosa and is probably associated with a reduced risk for long-term progression of glaucoma without improvement of visual function.

Joint optic disc and cup segmentation based on residual multi-scale fully convolutional neural network / 生物医学工程学杂志

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness, but its early symptoms are not obvious and are easily overlooked, so early screening for glaucoma is particularly important. The cup to disc ratio is an important indicator for clinical glaucoma screening, and accurate segmentation of the optic cup and disc is the key to calculating the cup to disc ratio. In this paper, a full convolutional neural network with residual multi-scale convolution module was proposed for the optic cup and disc segmentation. First, the fundus image was contrast enhanced and polar transformation was introduced. Subsequently, W-Net was used as the backbone network, which replaced the standard convolution unit with the residual multi-scale full convolution module, the input port was added to the image pyramid to construct the multi-scale input, and the side output layer was used as the early classifier to generate the local prediction output. Finally, a new multi-tag loss function was proposed to guide network segmentation. The mean intersection over union of the optic cup and disc segmentation in the REFUGE dataset was 0.904 0 and 0.955 3 respectively, and the overlapping error was 0.178 0 and 0.066 5 respectively. The results show that this method not only realizes the joint segmentation of cup and disc, but also improves the segmentation accuracy effectively, which could be helpful for the promotion of large-scale early glaucoma screening.

The effect of panretinal photocoagulation on confocal laser scanning ophthalmoscopy and stereo photographic parameters of optic disk topography in patients with diabetic retinopathy / Efeito da panfotocoagulação retiniana na oftalmoscopia confocal de varredura a laser e parâmetros da estereofotografia do disco óptico em pacientes com retinopatia diabética

ABSTRACT Purpose: To determine the effect of panretinal photocoagulation on optic disk topographic parameters in non-glaucomatous patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Methods: This was a prospective, single-center, observational study. Thirty-eight eyes of 26 patients with diabetes underwent panretinal photocoagulation for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Stereoscopic disk photographs and optic nerve head parameters were evaluated using the Zeiss fundus camera and the confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph), respectively, at baseline and 12 months after the completion of panretinal photocoagulation. Results: Thirty-eight eyes of 26 patients (15 female) with a mean age of 53.7 (range 26-74) years were recruited. No significant difference was found between the stereo photography determined mean horizontal and vertical cup-to-disk ratio before and after panretinal photocoagulation treatment (p=0.461 and 0.839, respectively). The global values of the optic nerve head parameters analyzed with the HRT3 showed no significant change from baseline to 12 months, including the disk area, cup area, rim area, cup volume, rim volume, cup-to-disk area ratio, linear cup-to-disk ratio, mean cup depth, maximum cup depth, cup shape measure, height variation contour, mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and cross-sectional area. Conclusion: Our results suggest that panretinal photocoagulation does not cause morphological optic disk changes in patients with diabetic proliferative retinopathy after 1 year of follow-up.

RESUMO Objetivo: Determinar o efeito da panfotocoagulação retiniana nos parâmetros topográficos do disco óptico em pacientes não glaucomatosos com retinopatia diabética proliferativa. Métodos: Este é um estudo observacional pros­pectivo e unicêntrico. Trinta e oito olhos de 26 pacientes dia­béticos foram submetidos à panfotocoagulação retiniana para retinopatia diabética proliferativa. As estereofotografias e os parâmetros do disco óptico foram avaliados usando o retinógrafo Visucam da Zeiss e o oftalmoscópio confocal de varredura a laser (Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph), respectivamente, no início e 12 meses após a conclusão da panfotocoagulação. Resultados: Trinta e oito olhos de 26 pacientes (15 mulheres) com média de idade de 53,7 anos (intervalo de 26-74) foram recrutados. Nenhuma diferença significativa foi encontrada entre a média horizontal e vertical para relação escavação/disco óptico determinadas pelas estereo­fotografias antes e após o tratamento com panfotocoagulação retiniana (p=0,461 e 0,839, respectivamente). Os valores globais dos parâmetros do disco óptico analisados com a tomografia de varredura a laser não mostraram nenhuma mudança significativa entre o início até os 12 meses, incluindo disk area, cup area, rim area, cup volume, rim volume, C/D area ratio, linear C/D ratio, mean cup depth, maximum cup depth, cup shape measure, height variation contour, mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness e cross-sectional area. Conclusão: Nossos resultados sugerem que a panfotocoagulação retiniana não causa alterações morfológicas no disco óptico em pacientes com retinopatia diabética proliferativa após um ano de seguimento.

Ultrassonografia do nervo óptico no modo A para o diagnóstico do glaucoma / A mode optic nerve ultrassonography for glaucoma diagnosis

Resumo Objetivos: Determinar se a medida do diâmetro horizontal ou refletividade do nervo óptico retrobulbar no modo A apresenta correlação com a relação da escavação pelo diâmetro do nervo óptico no glaucoma, considerando: a correlação das medidas, a sensibilidade e especificidade entre os métodos e qual a medida tem maior sensibilidade e especificidade para discriminar glaucomatosos. Métodos: Estudo mascarado, prospectivo e comparativo de nervos ópticos de 38 pacientes com glaucoma de ângulo primário de ângulo aberto e 37 pacientes controles, que foram examinados para determinação ecográfica retrobulbar de seus diâmetros no modo A (DNA) e das suas refletividades (RNA). Biomicroscopicamente foram estabelecidas as relações do comprimento vertical ou horizontal da escavação pelo diâmetro correspondente dos discos ópticos (EV/DV ou EH/DH). Estas medidas foram avaliadas quanto às suas correlações, consistências, sensibilidades e especificidades. Resultados: A média de DNA foi de 2,93 mm no grupo controle e de 2,72 mm no grupo glaucomatoso (p<0,001) e a do RNA foi de 32,22% no grupo controle e 31,59% no grupo glaucomatoso (p=0,577). DNA correlacionou-se moderada e significativamente com EH/DH (-0,450, p <0,01) e EV/DV (-0,463, p<0,01) e o RNA se correlacionou de forma insignificante com EH/DH e EV/DV. A consistência das medidas de DNA foi de 0,6780(IC95%: 0,5883-0,7561) e de RNA foi de 0,6902(0,6010-0,7640) e a elas foram inferiores às medidas de consistência do disco. A medida de 2,85 mm de DNA foi a de maior sensibilidade (0,757) e especificidade (0,714) para diagnóstico de glaucoma. Conclusão: A ecografia A Estandardizada da medida do diâmetro do nervo óptico retrobulbar foi a mais indicado para diagnóstico do glaucoma.

Abstract Objectives: Determine if retrobulbar optic nerve horizontal diameter measurement or reflectivity correlates with the optic disc excavation diameter relation in glaucoma, considering: measurements correlation, the sensitivity and specificity between the methods and which value has greater sensitivity and specificity to differentiate patients with and without glaucoma. Methods: In a masked study, the optic nerves of 38 patients with open angle primary angle glaucoma and 37 control patients were examined for retrobulbar echographic determination of their A mode (DNA) and their reflectivity (RNA) diameters. Biomicroscopically the relationships of the vertical or horizontal length of the excavation by the corresponding diameter of the optical discs (EV / DV or EH / DH) were estahed. These measures were evaluated for their correlations, consistencies, sensitivities and specificities. Results: Mean DNA was 2.93 mm in the control group and 2.72 mm in the glaucomatous group (p <0.001) and that of the RNA was 32.22% in the control group and 31.59% in the glaucomatous group (p = 0.577). DNA was moderately and significantly correlated with EH / DH (-0.450, p <0.01) and EV / DV (-0.463, p <0.01) and RNA correlated insignificantly with DH / DH and EV / DV. DNA measurements was 0.6780 (95% CI: 0.5883-0.7561) and RNA was 0.6902 (0.6010-0.7640) and were lower than the consistency measurements of the disc. The measurement of 2.85 mm of DNA was the one of greater sensitivity (0.757) and specificity (0.714) for diagnosis of glaucoma. Conclusion: The standard method A of retrobulbar optic nerve diameter measurement was the most suitable for glaucoma diagnostic.

Papilledema with Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis

PURPOSE: We report two patients diagnosed with a sinus thrombosis with papillary edema. CASE SUMMARY: Case 1 was a 27-year-old male who presented with complaints of headache and vomiting for 2 months and blurred vision in both eyes. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 1.0 in the right eye and 1.0 in the left eye. A visual field (VF) examination revealed a binocular peripheral VF defect and optical coherence tomography (OCT) and a fundus examination indicated optic disc swelling in both eyes. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed no specific finding but magnetic resonance venography revealed filling defect signs in the transverse sinus and a cerebrospinal fluid examination indicated elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). Case 2 was a 54-year-old female who came to our hospital with suspicion of bilateral optic disc swelling. The BCVA was 0.9 in the right eye and 1.0 in the left eye. A VF examination revealed an inferior-temporal VF defect and blind spot enlargement in the right eye. OCT and a fundus examination showed optic disc swelling in both eyes. Brain MRI showed no specific finding but magnetic resonance venography revealed a decrease in blood flow in the transverse sinus, sigmoid sinus. A cerebrospinal fluid examination indicated elevated ICP. CONCLUSIONS: In the case of optic disc swelling in both eyes, a secondary cause of ICP elevation and the possibility of optic disc swelling due to sinus thrombosis should be considered, and brain MRI and venography are needed to distinguish these possibilities.

New classes of glaucoma medical treatment

Glaucoma is a progressive degenerative disease of the optic nerve head, characterized by a specific pattern of axonal loss and visual field deterioration. This review aims at introducing the different novel pharmacologic agents for its treatment, as well as their mechanisms. Most glaucoma patients require lifelong care and individualized treatment. Intraocular pressure (IOP), which is regulated by aqueous humor production, outflow via the trabecular meshwork (parasympathomimetics only) and uveoscleral outflow pathways, is currently the only treatable target for glaucoma treatment. Conventional glaucoma medications are categorized as β blockers, α agonists, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, parasympathomimetics, and prostaglandin analogues. The development of basic research-derived novel classes of pharmacologic agents features novel action mechanisms, which are different from those of conventional medications. New classes of recently approved or clinical trial-tested medications include Rho-kinase inhibitors, nitric oxide donors, adenosine agonists, and prostaglandin analogs targeting E-type prostanoid receptors, etc. Their integration and future development will facilitate the expansion and customization of therapeutic options.

Progressive Optic Disc Tilt in Young Myopic Glaucomatous Eyes

PURPOSE: To explore the progressive change and associated factors of optic disc tilt in young myopic glaucomatous eyes by analyzing long-term follow-up data.METHODS: Optic disc images were obtained from spectral-domain optical coherence tomography enhanced depth imaging from at least five different visits. At each visit, the disc tilt angle (DTA), defined as the angle between the Bruch's membrane opening plane and the optic canal plane, was estimated at the central frame that passes through the optic disc. Glaucoma progression was assessed on the basis of changes noted on serial optic disc and retinal nerve fiber layer photographs or changes in the visual field (VF). A linear mixed effect model was used to assess the influence of parameters (age, sex, baseline and follow-up intraocular pressure, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, VF mean deviation, axial length, central corneal thickness), and presence of glaucomatous progression upon DTA change.RESULTS: A total of 26 eyes of 26 young myopic primary open-angle glaucoma patients (axial length >24.0 mm; mean age, 25.1 ± 4.0 years; mean follow-up, 3.3 ± 0.9 years) were included. DTA was 7.0 ± 3.4 degrees at baseline and 8.3 ± 3.8 degrees at last visit, which represents a significant difference (p < 0.001). Worse VF mean deviation (p < 0.001) and longer axial length (p = 0.006) were significantly associated with DTA increase.CONCLUSIONS: Young myopic glaucomatous eyes showed progressive optic disc tilting. Progressive optic disc tilting in young myopic glaucomatous eyes may be related to either continuous axial myopic shift or glaucomatous structural change.

Analysis of Changes in Retinal Photoreceptors Using Optical Coherence Tomography in a Feline Model of Iodoacetic Acid-induced Retinal Degeneration

PURPOSE: We investigated structural changes in the retina by using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in a feline model of retinal degeneration using iodoacetic acid (IAA).METHODS: We examined 22 eyes of 11 felines over 2 years of age. The felines had fasted for 12 hours and were intravenously injected with IAA 20 mg/kg of body weight. OCT (Spectralis OCT) was performed at the point where the ends of the retinal vessels collected in the lateral direction from the optic nerve head and area centralis. Similarly, OCT was performed four times at 1-week intervals following injections, at which point the felines were sacrificed and histologic examinations were performed. Using OCT, the thickness of each layer of the retina was measured.RESULTS: The average body weight of the three male and eight female felines investigated in this study was 1.61 ± 0.19 kg. The mean total retinal thickness of the felines before injection was 221.32 ± 9.82 µm, with a significant decrease in the retinal thickness at 2, 3, and 4 weeks following injections of 186.41 ± 35.42, 174.56 ± 31.94, and 175.35 ± 33.84 µm, respectively (p = 0.028, 0.027, and 0.027, respectively). The thickness of the outer nuclear layer was 57.49 ± 8.03 µm before injection and 29.26 ± 17.87, 25.62 ± 13.88, and 31.60 ± 18.38 µm at 2, 3, and 4 weeks, respectively, after injection (p = 0.028, 0.028, 0.046, respectively).CONCLUSIONS: In a feline model of retinal degeneration using IAA, the total retinal thickness and the thickness of the outer nuclear layer were shown to decrease significantly on OCT.

Common Locations of Gastric Cancer: Review of Research from the Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Era

Detection of early-stage gastric cancer improves the prognosis of patients. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a curative and stomach-preserving treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC) associated with a low risk of lymph node metastasis. However, several studies have reported missed diagnosis of gastric cancer. Therefore, endoscopists are required to learn accurate diagnostic skills to eliminate endoscopic blind spots. A systematic screening protocol to map the entire stomach without blind spots reduces the risk of missed lesions. Knowledge of the features of EGC or dysplasia is essential to identify suspicious lesion. Information of the common sites of occurrence of EGC can also enable a detailed endoscopic examination to improve detection rates. Previous reports investigating the location of gastric cancers resected by ESD or surgery showed that the antrum and lesser curvature of stomach were predominantly affected. Helicobacter pylori-induced atrophic changes advance from the antrum to the corpus along the lesser curvature, predominantly affecting these areas. Gastric cancers in the antrum and the lower corpus are also commonly missed during screening examination. Therefore, a careful examination of the lower third stomach is warranted to avoid missing synchronous and metachronous gastric lesions. Knowledge of the location of EGC enables accurate endoscopic examination and detection of EGC in early stage.