The prevalence of anxiety symptoms and disorders among ophthalmic disease patients.

Background: Progressive and irreversible vision loss has been shown to place a patient at risk of mental health problems such as anxiety. However, the reported prevalence of anxiety symptoms and disorders among eye disease patients vary across studies. Thus, this study aims to clarify the estimated prevalence of anxiety symptoms and disorders among ophthalmic disease patients. Methods: Relevant studies on the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and disorders among eye disease patients were collected through international databases, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. A random-effects model was used to determine the pooled prevalence of anxiety symptoms and disorders among ophthalmic disease patients. Results: The 95 included studies yielded a pooled prevalence of 31.2% patients with anxiety symptoms and 19.0% with anxiety disorders among subjects with ophthalmic disease. Pediatric patients were more anxious (58.6%) than adults (29%). Anxiety symptoms were most prevalent in uveitis (53.5%), followed by dry eye disease (DED, 37.2%), retinitis pigmentosa (RP, 36.5%), diabetic retinopathy (DR, 31.3%), glaucoma (30.7%), myopia (24.7%), age-related macular degeneration (AMD, 21.6%), and cataract (21.2%) patients. Anxiety disorders were most prevalent in thyroid eye disease (TED, 28.9%), followed by glaucoma (22.2%) and DED (11.4%). When compared with healthy controls, there was a twofold increase on the prevalence of anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.912, 95% CI 1.463-2.5, p < 0.001) and anxiety disorders (OR = 2.281, 95% CI 1.168-4.454, p = 0.016). Conclusion: Anxiety symptoms and disorders are common problems associated with ophthalmic disease patients. Thus, comprehensive and appropriate treatments are necessary for treating anxiety symptoms and disorders among ophthalmic disease patients.

The role of IL-6-174 G/C polymorphism and intraocular IL-6 levels in the pathogenesis of ocular diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is one of the key regulators behind the inflammatory and pathological process associated with ophthalmic diseases. The role of IL-6-174 G/C polymorphism as well as intraocular IL-6 levels among various eye disease patients differ across studies and has not been systematically reviewed. Thus, this study aims to provide a summary to understand the relationship between IL-6 and ophthalmic disease. In total, 8,252 and 11,014 subjects for IL-6-174 G/C and intraocular levels of IL-6, respectively, were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. No association was found between IL-6-174 G/C polymorphisms with ocular diseases. Subgroup analyses revealed a suggestive association between the GC genotype of IL-6-174 G/C with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Further, the level of intraocular IL-6 among ocular disease patients in general was found to be higher than the control group [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24-1.58, P < 0.00001]. Closer examination through subgroup analyses yielded similar results in several ocular diseases. This study thus indicates that the IL-6-174 G/C polymorphism does not predispose patients to ocular disease, although the GC genotype is likely to be a genetic biomarker for PDR. Moreover, intraocular IL-6 concentrations are related to the specific manifestations of the ophthalmic diseases. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to confirm this conclusion.

Pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects of Physalis angulata leaf extract on retinoblastoma cells.

AIM: To investigate the effect of Physalis angulata leaf extract on apoptotic and proliferation of retinoblastoma cells. Despite several previous studies evidencing the anti-cancer potential of Physalis angulata; however, certain study that proves its benefits in retinoblastoma cancer cells has been limited. METHODS: This study utilizes an in-vitro experimental study by applying Y79 human retinoblastoma cell line culture obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC; 10801 University Boulevard Manassas, VA 20110, USA). The cell was divided into 4 groups. Group I was the control group without the administration of Physalis angulata leaf extract. Whereas, group II, II and IV are engaged with 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL of Physalis angulata leaf extract respectively. After a 24h incubation, an examination with microtetrazolium (MTT) cell proliferation assay and Annexin V apoptosis detection was conducted. Statistical analysis was performed with the Tukey test. RESULTS: Physalis angulata leaf extract improved apoptosis and significantly reduced the number of living cells in retinoblastoma cells, along with the increase in the given dose. Based on the Tukey test, a significant difference was found in the treatment group at 50 µg/mL (P=0.025) and 100 µg/mL (P=0.001) in the measurement of apoptosis. Proliferation measurements also indicated a significant decrease in the number of living cells in the 50µg/mL treatment group (P=0.004), and in the 100 µg/mL treatment group (P=0.000). Meanwhile, a dose of 25 µg/mL indicated insignificant difference in the two measurements. Improved apoptosis and decreased number of living cells occured at a dose of 100 µg/mL. Decreased number of living cells (in the measurement of proliferation) was due to the inhibited proliferation or improved apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Physalis angulata leaf extract improve apoptosis in retinoblastoma cell culture, requiring further research to inhibit proliferation.