The UK National Cyclodiode Laser Survey.

PURPOSE: To evaluate current practice of transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation (cyclodiode) laser treatment among consultant ophthalmologists in the United Kingdom. METHODS: A 31-question survey was emailed to all practising consultant ophthalmologists who were members of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. All non-responders were sent a postal version of the questionnaire. This paper looked at cyclodiode practice patterns and consisted of questions on demographic data, transillumination, and power settings, factors influencing practice, post-operative care, and repeat treatment. RESULTS: A total of 510 participants (53.6%) responded. A total of 180 (35.3%) responders reported performing cyclodiode laser treatment, of which 84 (46.7%) were glaucoma subspecialists (GSS). Initial median power settings used were 1500 mW and 2000 ms. The average number of applications delivered per sitting was 25.5 ± 1.2 applications for GSS vs 20.6 ± 2.0 for non-GSS in a seeing eye (P = 0.0013). In all, 65% routinely transilluminated the globe of which 78% were GSS and 52.3% were non-GSS (P = 0.0009). In all, 43% of the GSS vs 17% of the non-GSS lowered power settings in uveitic glaucoma (P = 0.013). In blind eyes, 30% of the GSS vs 12% of the non-GSS increased energy levels (P = 0.0014). In all, 60% of the responders performed cyclodiode at any visual acuity, whereas 22% performed combined cyclodiode and cataract surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This survey highlights a wide variation in the use of cyclodiode laser treatment amongst GSS and non-GSS. However, the most frequently used practice may not be the optimal practice. A more individualised parameter according to the condition of the eyes may optimise the outcome.

Changes in vimentin in human macrophages during apoptosis induced by oxidised low density lipoprotein.

Macrophage apoptosis contributes to the development of human atherosclerotic lesions. Oxidised LDL may be involved in macrophage death in vivo. We examined morphological and biochemical changes to the vimentin filament network during apoptosis of human macrophages. Only oxidised LDL, but not native or acetylated LDL, induced apoptosis, wherein vimentin was cleaved into fragments of 48-50, 46, 29 and 26 kDa. The use of caspase inhibitors suggested that caspase-6 mediates the formation of the 26 and 46 kDa fragments of vimentin. We were unable to demonstrate any significant involvement of caspase-3 in vimentin cleavage. However, caspase-3 was clearly activated during apoptosis whilst caspase-6 expression in macrophages was minimal. Vimentin filament breakdown occurred early during apoptosis and vimentin immunoreactivity was present in apoptotic bodies. However, the application of caspase inhibitors had no effect on the morphology of the vimentin network in apoptotic cells, suggesting that filament breakdown is not mediated by caspase proteolysis. Similar changes in vimentin were also seen in gliotoxin-induced apoptosis.