The Relationship between Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Erectile Dysfunction

Purpose. To evaluate association between erectile dysfunction (ED) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Methods. 195 men enrolled in this cross-sectional study. 90 of them had neovascular AMD and 105 of them were healthy volunteers. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire’s erectile function (EF) domain was used to assess ED. The patients in the study and control groups were statistically compared according to visual acuity, EF score, and body mass index.Results. The mean ages were 62 (54.5–73) and 60 (54–68), in the neovascular AMD and control groups, respectively. The total EF scores were 9 (6–16) in neovascular AMD and 18 (9.5–27) in control group. The results of IIEF questionnaire on neovascular AMD patients revealed that 85 men (94.4%) had some degree of ED, whereas 68 men (64.8%) had some degree of ED on control group. Patients with neovascular AMD had a significantly higher incidence of ED than control patients (). There was a significant association between ED and neovascular AMD ().Conclusions. Our results suggested that neovascular AMD has a high association with ED.

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Increased levels of circulating CD34+ cells in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: relation with clinical and OCT features

European Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.5301/ejo.5001012 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 80-86

Author(s):

Caner Kara ◽

Pınar Ç. Özdal ◽

Emrullah Beyazyıldız ◽

Nurgül E. Özcan ◽

Mehmet Y. Teke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Control Group ◽

Study Group ◽

Control Groups ◽

Age Related ◽

Significant Difference ◽

And Control

Purpose: To investigate the levels of circulating CD34+ stem cells in patients with neovascular type age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its relation with clinical and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings. Methods: The study consisted of 55 patients: 28 patients (18 male and 10 female) with neovascular type AMD as a study group and 27 patients (12 male and 15 female) scheduled for cataract surgery as a control group. The level of CD34+ stem cells was measured by ﬂow cytometry. Demographic and clinical data were recorded. Results: The mean ages of patients in the study and control groups were 71 ± 8 and 68 ± 6 years, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of age, sex, or systemic disease association between study and control groups. However, smoking status was significantly higher in the study group (67.9% vs 37.0%; p = 0.02). Stem cell levels were significantly higher in the study group (1.5 ± 0.9 vs 0.5 ± 0.3; p<0.001), but there was no relation between stem cell levels and clinical and OCT findings. Conclusions: Increased circulating CD34+ stem cell levels were observed in patients with choroidal neovascular membrane associated with AMD, but no significant relation was found between cell levels and clinical and OCT findings.

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Profiling Cognitive Performance and Sleep Quality Measures in Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration

10.31235/osf.io/ksc9e ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Amirsaeid Moloodi ◽

Hooman Rezaie ◽

Behzad Khademi ◽

Mohammad Nami

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Control Group ◽

Control Groups ◽

Age Related ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean ◽

And Control

Objective: This study aimed at profiling cognitive functions in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Method: This cross-sectional investigation enrolled 45 patients with AMD and 45 age- and sex-matched controls. The overall cognitive performance in AMD sufferer versus control subjects was asses using the Persian version of the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination battery (ACE-R). Subjects’ sleep quality was also evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The mean global assessment and subscale scores were statistically compared between groups.Results: The mean global scores for ACE-R in AMD and control groups (80.4±12.3 and 86 ± 9.6, respectively) were found to be statistically different (p=0.018). On the other hand there was no significant difference (p=0.793) between the AMD and control groups in terms of PSQI scores (9.7±2.8 and 9.8±2.8, respectively). Conclusion: AMD patients seem to have cognitively underperformed in memory and verbal fluency domains compared to the control group. Evidence on cognitive impairments in patients with AMD may possibly herald neurocognitive insufficiencies and have common pathological mechanisms with dementias.

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Association between NF-kB polymorphism and age-related macular degeneration in a high-altitude population

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0251931 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. e0251931

Author(s):

Yan Xin ◽

Kang Zefeng ◽

Li Ling ◽

Guan Ruijuan

Keyword(s):

High Altitude ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Lipid Level ◽

Allele Frequencies ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Control Group ◽

Control Groups ◽

Age Related ◽

Significant Difference ◽

And Control

Objective To investigate the association between the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) gene polymorphism and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a high-altitude population. Methods Fifty-five patients with AMD and 57 control subjects were recruited from the Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital, China. Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood sample of each participant. Four NF-kB polymorphisms (rs3774959, rs3774932, rs3774937, and rs230526) were genotyped using a MassARRAY system. The genotype and allele frequencies were compared between the case and control groups using the chi-squared test or Fisher’s exact test. Results There was no significant difference in sex, age, hypertension, diabetes, blood lipid level or smoking and drinking status between the AMD and control groups (P > 0.05). The genotype distributions of four NF-kB polymorphisms were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the control group (P > 0.05). The frequencies of genotype AA of rs3774932 and genotype CC of rs3774937 were nominally significantly higher in the AMD group than in the control group (P = 0.046 and 0.023, respectively), although these associations did not survive the Bonferroni correction (corrected P > 0.05). Genotype distributions of rs3774959 and rs230526 were not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.08 and 0.16, respectively). No significant difference in the allele frequencies of the four polymorphisms was found between the AMD and control groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions Genotype AA of rs3774932 and genotype CC of rs3774937 in NF-kB might be risk factors for AMD.

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Profiling Cognitive Performance and Sleep Quality Measures in Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.27040 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mehrdad Afarid ◽

Hooman Rezaie ◽

Behzad Khademi1 ◽

Mohammad Nami

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Control Groups ◽

Age Related ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean ◽

And Control

BACKGROUND This study aimed at profiling cognitive functions in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). OBJECTIVE The aim of our study was to evaluate cognitive functions in patients diagnosed with AMD METHODS This cross-sectional investigation enrolled 45 patients with AMD and 45 age- and sex-matched controls. The overall cognitive performance in AMD sufferer versus control subjects was asses using the Persian version of the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination battery (ACE-R). Subjects’ sleep quality was also evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The mean global assessment and subscale scores were statistically compared between groups. RESULTS The mean global scores for ACE-R in AMD and control groups (80.4±12.3 and 86 ± 9.6, respectively) were found to be statistically different (p=0.018). On the other hand there was no significant difference (p=0.793) between the AMD and control groups in terms of PSQI scores (9.7±2.8 and 9.8±2.8, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AMD patients seem to have cognitively underperformed in memory and verbal fluency domains compared to the control group. Evidence on cognitive impairments in patients with AMD may possibly herald neurocognitive insufficiencies and have common pathological mechanisms with dementias.

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Comparison of Cytokine Levels in the Aqueous Humor of Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy and Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Patients

10.21203/rs.2.13585/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Huiying Zhou ◽

Yinyu Zhao ◽

Mingzhen Yuan ◽

Youxin Chen

Keyword(s):

Macular Degeneration ◽

Aqueous Humor ◽

Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Control Group ◽

Age Related ◽

Cytokine Levels ◽

Treatment Naïve ◽

And Control ◽

Choroidal Vasculopathy

Abstract Background The concentrations of cytokines in the aqueous humor from neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) may vary. The study was conducted to compare various cytokine levels in the aqueous humor of eyes with PCV, nAMD and control.Methods The present case control study included 49 treatment-naïve eyes from 49 patients (PCV 24, nAMD 11, and cataract 14 eyes). Totally 34 angiogenic and inflammatory cytokines in the aqueous humor were measured by Luminex bead-based multiplex array.Results The aqueous humor levels of IL-8 and IL-12p70 in the nAMD group were significantly higher than the PCV group (p=0.031, p=0.012, respectively). The levels of IL-8, IL-18, IL-21, IL-31, LIF, SDF1-α, FGF-basic, VEGF-A, and VEGF-D in the aqueous humor were significantly higher in the nAMD group and PCV group than the control (nAMD vs control, p=0.004, 0.002, 0.005, <0.0001, <0.0001, <0.0001, 0.023, <0.0001, <0.0001, respectively, PCV vs control, p=0.031, <0.0001, <0.0001, <0.0001, <0.0001, <0.0001, 0.026, <0.0001, <0.0001, respectively). In contrast, the levels of BDNF, HGF, IP-10, MCP-1, and IL-13 in the aqueous humor were significantly lower in the nAMD group and PCV group than control (nAMD vs control, p=<0.0001, <0.0001, 0.003, <0.0001, <0.0001, respectively, PCV vs control, p=<0.0001, <0.0001, <0.0001, <0.0001, <0.0001, respectively). There were significant correlations among nAMD group, PCV group and control group in aqueous humor levels of HGF, IP-10, MCP-1, IL-13, IL-31, LIF, SDF1-α, VEGF-A, VEGF-D by multivariate logistic analysis.Conclusions Various cytokines involved in inflammation and angiogenesis including HGF, IP-10, MCP-1, IL-13, IL-31, LIF, SDF1-α, VEGF-A and VEGF-D may contribute to the pathogenesis of nAMD and PCV. Measurement of IL-8 and IL-12p70 in the aqueous humor may help to differentiate nAMD and PCV.

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Choroidal neovascularization activity and structure by optical coherence tomography angiography in age related macular degeneration

Acta biomedica scientifica ◽

10.29413/abs.2021-6.6-1.2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (6-1) ◽

pp. 12-18

Author(s):

M. A. Kovalevskaya ◽

O. A. Pererva

Keyword(s):

Macular Degeneration ◽

Choroidal Neovascularization ◽

Vascular System ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Control Group ◽

Type I ◽

Neovascular Amd ◽

Anti Vegf ◽

Age Related

Background. In economically developed countries, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual disability among the population of the older age group. The main criterion for the anti-VEGF treatment of neovascular AMD is the activity of choroidal neovascularization (CNV), which is determined by its confi guration. The search for optimal criteria for quantifying the state of the macular region in order to decide on the appointment of anti-VEGF therapy continues.Aim: improving the effi ciency of diagnosis and treatment of AMD based on the assessment of the configuration of vascular system on the “Key to Diagnosis II” platform.Material and methods. The study included 341 patients: 64 % (218 patients, 267 eyes) with non-neovascular AMD, 36 % (123 patients, 174 eyes) – with neovascular AMD. 56 patients (58 eyes) had active type I CNV. Group 1A – active CNV before treatment (9 patients, 9 eyes), group 1B – non-active CNV after treatment with antiVEGF (9 patients, 9 eyes); control group – 10 patients (10 eyes) without AMD. Analysis of OCT-angio images of choriocapillaries included the isolation of CNV, its area, fractal dimension (Df) and the complexity of the vascular system (CVS) counting.Results. Group 1A: Df – 1.5871 ± 0.05, CVS – 2.29 ± 0.29, area – 11734 ± 4866; group 1B: Df – 1.6462 ± 0.08, CVS – 1.65 ± 0.18, area – 6797 ± 3818; control: Df – 1.9167 ± 0.06, CVS – 1, area – 0. Significant differences were found for CVS (p = 0.0003). Df correlates with the CNV area (p = 0.7) and is probably an unreliable parameter due to incomplete visualization of active CNV.Conclusions. CVS is a quantitative biomarker for determining the activity of type 1 CNV in patients with AMD and can serve as a parameter for convolutional neural networks training for automated analysis of OCT angiography images based on the “Key to Diagnosis II” platform

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Medical Compliance of Fibrate and the Decreased Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Dyslipidemia-Related Diseases: A Population-Based Cohort Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18010301 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 301

Author(s):

Kai Wang ◽

Ming-Ju Hsieh ◽

Hsiang-Wen Chien ◽

Chia-Yi Lee ◽

Chao-Bin Yeh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Macular Degeneration ◽

Population Based ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Diagnostic Code ◽

Control Groups ◽

Age Related ◽

Dry Amd ◽

Medical Compliance ◽

Cox Proportional Hazard Regression ◽

And Control

The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in dyslipidemia-related diseases with or without the use of fibrate. Patients were defined as dyslipidemia-related diseases according to the diagnostic code and lab exam arrangement, then the population was divided into those with fibrate application and those without via 1:2 ratios of propensity-score matching. The primary outcome is the development of AMD after dyslipidemia-related diseases by the Cox proportional hazard regression. Besides, the relationship between the medical compliance of fibrate, presented as medical possession ratio (MPR), and the AMD development was also analyzed. A total of 22,917 patients and 45,834 individuals were enrolled in the study and control groups. There were 572 and 1181 events of any AMD development in the study and control groups which showed identical risk of AMD (aHR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.85–1.04). However, a reduced risk of any AMD was found in those patients reached a baseline MPR more than 20% (aHR: 0.729, 95% CI: 0.599–0.887, p = 0.0016) and overall MPR more than 5% three years after the diagnosis of dyslipidemia-related diseases (aHR: 0.712, 95% CI: 0.557–0.909, p = 0.0065). Besides, a lower risk of dry-AMD was also found in those patients with the above conditions (aHR: 0.736, 95% CI: 0.599–0.906, p = 0.0038 and aHR: 0.721, 95% CI: 0.557–0.934, p = 0.0133, respectively). In conclusion, the use of fibrate with fair initial medical compliance will decrease the incidence of AMD in patients with dyslipidemia-related diseases, especially for the development of dry-AMD.

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Thyroid dysfunction as a modifiable risk factor for age-related macular degeneration: A case-control investigation

10.21203/rs.3.rs-44137/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mohsen Farvardin ◽

Seyed esmaeil mousavi ◽

Kamran Zare ◽

Somaye Bazdar ◽

Zahra Farvardin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Macular Degeneration ◽

Thyroid Dysfunction ◽

Case Control ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Control Groups ◽

Age Related ◽

Significant Difference ◽

History Of ◽

And Control ◽

Wet Amd

Abstract Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is regarded amongst as a common conditions resulting in visual impairment in elderly. Age and gender are unmodifiable risk factors for AMD, obesity, smoking, and hyperlipidemia are known to be modifiable culprits. This has remained controversial for hypertension and thyroid dysfunction. The present study attempted to investigate possible links between thyroid dysfunction and incidence of wet AMD.Methods: The present case-control study enrolled a total number of 90 patients with wet AMD and 90sex-, age-matched control subjects through a convenient sequential sampling method. Thyroid hormones were profiled in serum assay. Statistical measures were done to compare means between groups.Results: Our findings showed a significant difference in free T4 levels between the between wet AMD and control groups (p = 0.002), though this has not been the case for T3 and TSH l. In addition, there were no differences in serum lipid profile between groups. Although there found to be no significant difference in the past history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia between wet AMD and control groups, history of smoking was higher in controls) (p = 0.039).Conclusion: Based on our findings retinal examination and proper screening need to perhaps be a part of the overall health examination especially in elderly subjects with thyroid dysfunction. The clinical significance and related recommendations on the above need ti substantiated in future community-based research.

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Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in age-related macular degeneration

10.21203/rs.3.rs-985190/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Antonio Pérez Serena ◽

Daisy Paola Martínez Betancourt ◽

Fernando González del Valle ◽

Jose María Ruiz Moreno

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Fundus Photography ◽

Control Group ◽

Neovascular Amd ◽

Age Related ◽

Vitamin D Levels ◽

25 Hydroxy Vitamin D

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to determine the 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients. Methods Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients were classified into four groups: early AMD (N =10), intermediate AMD (N=12), advanced atrophic AMD (N=19) and advanced neovascular AMD (N=52) after undergoing fundus photography. Serum 25(OH)D levels of all subjects were evaluated. From a random control group of 326 patients whose 25(OH)D levels had been measured, a group of 93 were selected to match the age range of the AMD group. We measured 25(OH)D levels during the same period to rule out seasonal variation. Results A total of 93 AMD patients (36 males and 57 females) and 93 healthy individuals (39 males and 54 females) were enrolled in this study with the mean age of 78.96±8.46 vs. 78.80±8.35, respectively. The patients affected by AMD had statistically significant lower 25(OH)D levels (15±10 ng/mL) than the healthy subjects control group (21±14 ng/mL) (p = 0.004). However, the median 25(OH)D levels in early AMD, intermediate AMD, advanced atrophic AMD and advanced neovascular AMD (12.5±7.3; 15±11; 15±8 and 17±11.5, respectively) were not statistically significant (p = 0.442). Conclusion This study shows that patients affected by AMD had lower vitamin D levels compared to healthy subjects. Further research is necessary to investigate the possible association between 25(OH)D levels and AMD.

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Evaluation of Aqueous Flare Intensity in Eyes Undergoing Intravitreal Bevacizumab Therapy to Treat Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Frontiers in Pharmacology ◽

10.3389/fphar.2021.656774 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Joanna Dolar-Szczasny ◽

Claudio Bucolo ◽

Sandrine Zweifel ◽

Adriano Carnevali ◽

Robert Rejdak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Macular Degeneration ◽

Intravitreal Bevacizumab ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Control Group ◽

Neovascular Amd ◽

Barrier Permeability ◽

Age Related ◽

Blood Aqueous Barrier ◽

Laser Flare

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of repeated intravitreal bevacizumab injections on blood-aqueous barrier permeability in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Patients and Methods: Forty-eight consecutive patients with neovascular AMD received 3 intravitreal bevacizumab injections (1 mg) every 30–40 days. Subjects were followed for a period of 4 months and were examined at baseline, 1 day and 1 month after each injection. A control group comprised of 19 neovascular AMD patients waiting to begin anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. Anterior chamber (AC) inflammation was evaluated with biomicroscopy and laser flare photometry.Results: None of the subjects treated with bevacizumab had detectable ocular inflammation during follow-up. An analysis for variance (ANOVA) of the mixed-effects model has shown neither an effect between treatment and control group (p = 0.921), nor over the time course of the follow-up (p = 0.773). Before treatment, median AC inflammation was 6.7 photons/ms (range: 3.5–18.2 photons/ms). One month after the first, second, and third injections, median laser flare was 6.4, 6.8, and 6.6 photons/ms, respectively, none of which were significantly different from baseline (all p > 0.05). Blood-aqueous barrier permeability did not change between injections and was not different from the control group.Conclusion: Inflammation induced by intravitreal bevacizumab was not detected by examination or flare photometry. This suggests that monthly bevacizumab dosing seems to be safe. The absence of AC inflammation could also reflect the known anti-inflammatory properties of anti-VEGF agents.

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