Assessment of Retinal Microangiopathy in Patients with Balkan Endemic Nephropathy Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography-A Pilot Study.

Background and Objectives: It is well known that alterations in microvascular structure and function contribute to the development of ocular, renal, and cardiovascular diseases. Accordingly, the presence of fundus vascular changes in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) and Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) may provide information of prognostic value regarding the progression of renal disease. This study aimed to examine the associations between clinical characteristics and retinal optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters in patients with BEN and compare them with those in CKD. Materials and Methods: This pilot study, conducted from March 2021 to April 2022, included 63 patients who were divided into two groups: the first group consisted of 29 patients suffering from BEN, and the second was a control group of 34 patients with CKD. Demographic, laboratory, clinical, and medication data were noted for all the patients included in this study. Each eye underwent OCT angiography, and the results were interpreted in accordance with the practical guide for the interpretation of OCTA findings. Results: Statistically significantly higher levels of total serum protein and triglycerides were recorded in the BEN group than in the CKD group, while the level of HDL cholesterol was lower. Based on the performed urinalysis, statistically significantly higher values of total protein and creatinine were detected in patients with CKD compared to the BEN group. It was demonstrated that the OCTA vascular plexus density of certain parts of the retina was in significant association with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, creatinine clearance, urinary creatinine, total cholesterol, diabetes mellitus type 2, age, body mass index, total serum and urinary protein, sCRP, and diuretic and antihypertensive treatment. Conclusions: In comparison with CKD, BEN leads to more significant disturbances in retinal vasculature density.

The Influence of Myopia on the Foveal Avascular Zone and Density of Blood Vessels of the Macula-An OCTA Study.

Background and Objectives: Myopia is the most common refractive eye anomaly with a prevalence that is constantly increasing. High myopia is associated with numerous complications that can lead to permanent vision loss. It is believed that the basis of these complications lies in changes in the microvasculature of the retina caused by an increase in the longitudinal axis of the eye. Materials and Methods: Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was used to analyze differences in macular zone vascular and perfusion density and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) parameters in myopic subjects. The following OCTA parameters were analyzed: the vessel and perfusion density of retinal blood vessels in the superficial plexus; the area, perimeter, and index of circularity of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ); and foveal and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness. Results: Subjects with low myopia did not show statistically significant differences compared to the control for any of the analyzed parameters. Groups with moderate and high myopia showed a significant decrease in vessel and perfusion density in the parafoveal and the entire 3 × 3 mm analyzed field. Foveal vessel and perfusion densities in the myopic groups were similar to those of the control regardless of the degree of myopia. The area and perimeter of the FAZ, as well as foveal and mean GCC thickness, did not differ significantly no matter the degree of myopia, while the index of circularity was lower in highly myopic subjects. The minimal thickness of the GCC was also lower in the high myopia group. Conclusions: High and moderate myopia led to a loss of blood vessels in the macular region. Perfusion and vascular densities were preserved in the foveal region and were not affected by different degrees of myopia. The FAZ was not significantly larger in myopic subjects, but its circularity was lower in subjects with high myopia.

The Determination of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus's Impact on the Density of Retinal Blood Vessels and the Choriocapillaris: Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study.

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was used to analyze the alterations in the density of retinal blood vessels and the choriocapillaris (VD) in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). One hundred sixty-six eyes of 83 patients (43 of whom were men and 40 women, with a mean age of 58.59 ± 14.04) with T2DM and without diabetic retinopathy were examined for the purpose of conducting the observational prospective study. The control group (CG) consisted of 66 eyes in 33 healthy subjects (15 male and 18 female, with a mean age of 55.12 ± 12.70). The measurement regions of vessel density (VD) included the deep capillary plexus (DCP), the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), and the choriocapillaris. The results indicate considerable differences in the VD of the DCP and SCP when comparing the control group with the study groups (p < 0.001). In comparison with the control group (p < 0.001), there was a statistically significant reduction in the VD of the choriocapillaris in the study group. Furthermore, patients with T2DM showed a significantly decreased VD concerning the control in different macular regions. Thickness in several macular regions in the study group significantly decreased compared to the ones in the control group. OCTA was used to gather relevant information about the vascular changes which occurred in T2DM patients, assessed through the quantitative analysis of the blood flow in the retina and choriocapillaris.

The Application of the Combination of Monte Carlo Optimization Method based QSAR Modeling and Molecular Docking in Drug Design and Development.

In recent years, one of the promising approaches in the QSAR modeling Monte Carlo optimization approach as conformation independent method, has emerged. Monte Carlo optimization has proven to be a valuable tool in chemoinformatics, and this review presents its application in drug discovery and design. In this review, the basic principles and important features of these methods are discussed as well as the advantages of conformation independent optimal descriptors developed from the molecular graph and the Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry System (SMILES) notation compared to commonly used descriptors in QSAR modeling. This review presents the summary of obtained results from Monte Carlo optimization-based QSAR modeling with the further addition of molecular docking studies applied for various pharmacologically important endpoints. SMILES notation based optimal descriptors, defined as molecular fragments, identified as main contributors to the increase/ decrease of biological activity, which are used further to design compounds with targeted activity based on computer calculation, are presented. In this mini-review, research papers in which molecular docking was applied as an additional method to design molecules to validate their activity further, are summarized. These papers present a very good correlation among results obtained from Monte Carlo optimization modeling and molecular docking studies.