Fundus topographical distribution patterns of ocular toxoplasmosis.

BACKGROUND: To establish topographic maps and determine fundus distribution patterns of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) lesions. METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients who presented with OT to ophthalmology clinics from four countries (Argentina, Turkey, UK, USA) were included. Size, shape and location of primary (1°)/recurrent (2°) and active/inactive lesions were converted into a two-dimensional retinal chart by a retinal drawing software. A final contour map of the merged image charts was then created using a custom Matlab programme. Descriptive analyses were performed. RESULTS: 984 lesions in 514 eyes of 464 subjects (53% women) were included. Mean area of all 1° and 2° lesions was 5.96±12.26 and 5.21±12.77 mm2, respectively. For the subset group lesions (eyes with both 1° and 2° lesions), 1° lesions were significantly larger than 2° lesions (5.52±6.04 mm2 vs 4.09±8.90 mm2, p=0.038). Mean distances from foveola to 1° and 2° lesion centres were 6336±4267 and 5763±3491 µm, respectively. The majority of lesions were found in temporal quadrant (p<0.001). Maximum overlap of all lesions was at 278 µm inferotemporal to foveola. CONCLUSION: The 1° lesions were larger than 2° lesions. The 2° lesions were not significantly closer to fovea than 1° lesions. Temporal quadrant and macular region were found to be densely affected underlining the vision threatening nature of the disease.

Antiangiogenic characteristics of astrocytes from optic nerve heads with primary open-angle glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the angiogenic status of the human optic nerve head (ONH) with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). METHODS: Using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, we analyzed the expression of proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors in cultured ONH astrocytes from healthy donors and donors with POAG. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to localize those factors in human ONHs from healthy donors and donors with POAG. Cocultures of normal and POAG astrocytes with human umbilical vein endothelial cells were performed to obtain functional data on angiogenesis. RESULTS: The ONH astrocytes from donors with POAG decreased expression of proangiogenic factors (vascular endothelial growth factor C and platelet-derived growth factor A) and increased expression of antiangiogenic factors (collagen XVIII and ADAMTSL-3) when compared with normal ONH astrocytes. Vascular endothelial growth factor C and platelet-derived growth factor A were markedly reduced in the lamina cribrosa of the ONHs of donors with POAG. Endostatin immunolabeling increased in the lamina cribrosa of the ONHs of donors with POAG. When cocultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells, POAG astrocytes induced less tube formation than normal ONH astrocytes. CONCLUSION: The ONH astrocytes from donors with POAG display antiangiogenic characteristics when compared with normal ONH astrocytes. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The study supports the clinical observation of decreased angiogenesis in patients with POAG.