RESUMO
AIM: To respectively evaluate macular morphological features and functional parameters by using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and macular integrity assessment (MAIA) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: This prospective, non-controlled, open study included 61 eyes of 38 consecutive patients with DME. All patients underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement, MAIA microperimetry, and SD-OCT. DME morphology, including central retinal thickness (CRT) and central retinal volume (CRV); integrity of the external limiting membrane (ELM) and photoreceptor inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) junction; and the deposition of hard macular exudates were assessed within a 1000-µm central subfield area. MAIA microperimetry parameters evaluated were average threshold (AT)-retinal sensitivity, macular integrity index (MI), fixation points within a circle of radius 1° (P1) and 2° (P2), and bivariate contour ellipse area considering 63% and 95% of the fixation points (A63 and A95, respectively). RESULTS: MI was significantly higher in eyes with disrupted ELM or IS/OS, compared with eyes with intact ELM and IS/OS. Values of BCVA (logMAR), total AT, AT within 1000-µm diameter, P2, A63, A95, and CRT were significantly worse in eyes with disrupted IS/OS, compared with eyes with intact IS/OS. The values of BCVA (logMAR), AT within 1000-µm diameter, and CRT were significantly worse in eyes with disrupted ELM, compared with eyes with intact ELM. These parameters were not significantly different between eyes with or without hard macular exudate deposition. CRV was not significantly different in the presence or absence of the integrity of ELM, IS/OS, or deposition of hard macular exudates. At the center, nasal and temporal sectors of the fovea, significant negative correlations were observed between retinal thickness and AT of the corresponding area. At the inferior and superior sectors of the fovea, no correlations were observed between retinal thickness and AT of the corresponding area. In the intact IS/OS group, significant negative correlations were observed between CRT and central AT. There was no correlation between retinal sensitivity and thickness when the IS/OS layer was disrupted. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that IS/OS integrity was an independent factor affecting MI. CONCLUSION: Functional (BCVA and visual field) and morphological parameters (retinal thickness) were significantly associated with an intact IS/OS. Local photoreceptor integrity was a strong predictor of local visual function throughout the retina. MI revealed the functional status in DME, reflecting the IS/OS juction status in the macula.
RESUMO
AIM: To investigate the anti-apoptotic effect of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-ß(1)) on chronic ocular hypertension. METHODS: The expression of TGF-ß(1) in retinal ganglion cells (RCGs) was measured using the immunohistochemiscal S-P method and real-time PCR in the normally control group, the ocular hypertension group (experimental group A), the ocular hypertension plus antibody intervention group (experimental group B) and the ocular hypertension plus antigen intervention group (experimental group C) at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks postoperatively. The count of apoptotic RCGs was measured using the TUNEL method. RESULTS: The expression of TGF-ß(1 )was significantly higher in experimental group C than that in other three groups (P<0.05). The expression was the lowest in experimental group B (4.17%). A statistically significant difference was noted between the four groups (P<0.01). The count of apoptotic RCGs was statistically significantly lower in experimental group C than that in the experimental groups A and B (P<0.01). A statistically significant difference was noted in the count of apoptotic RCGs between these three experimental groups (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: TGF-ß(1) can inhibit the apoptosis of RCGs in rats with chronic ocular hypertension.
