Choroidal Morphologic and Vascular Features in Patients With Myopic Choroidal Neovascularization and Different Levels of Myopia Based on Image Binarization of Optical Coherence Tomography

Purpose: To characterize the choroidal morphologic and vascular features in different levels of myopes and patients with myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV).Methods: A total of 148 subjects were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, including 78 low-to-moderate myopes (LMM), 53 high myopes (HM), and 17 high myopic patients with mCNV. Ocular biometrics were measured using an optical low-coherence reflectometry device. Retinal and choroidal imaging was performed using enhanced depth imaging (EDI) spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Retinal parameters including retinal thickness and retinal volume were obtained from a built-in software. Binarization technique was adopted to investigate choroidal parameters including choroidal thickness (CT), vascular area, stromal area, and choroidal vascularity index (CVI). Choroidal parameters were measured at five locations to cover as much area of choroid as possible, and their patterns of distribution were further analyzed.Results: Patients with mCNV had an atrophic retina of comparable thickness to HM (273.65 ± 17.28 vs. 276.49 ± 13.29 μm, p = 0.47), but the choroid was thinner than that of HM (153.94 ± 15.12 vs. 236.09 ± 38.51 μm, p < 0.001). Subfoveal CVI was greatest in the mCNV eyes (0.651 ± 0.009), followed by HM (0.645 ± 0.012) and LMM eyes (0.636 ± 0.012). Similar to CT, CVI was also found significantly different among these three groups at all five locations (p for trend < 0.001 for all locations). Axial length (AL) was negatively correlated with retinal volume (r = −0.236, p = 0.009), which is the only significant finding in associations between ocular factors and retinal parameters. Strong, negative correlations were identified between AL and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT, r = −0.820, p < 0.001). However, AL was positively correlated with subfoveal CVI (r = 0.668, p < 0.001). CVI was greater in myopic eyes with thinner choroid (r = −0.578, p < 0.001). BCVA exhibited no significant association with CVI (r = 0.139, p = 0.092), but was negatively correlated with SFCT (r = −0.386, p < 0.001) and positively correlated with AL (r = 0.351, p < 0.001).Conclusion: Choroid in patients with mCNV was thinner yet more vascularized than that in HM and LMM subjects. CVI increased with a longer AL which was associated with a smaller SFCT, choroidal vascular area (VA), and total choroidal area (TCA). Better BCVA was achieved in subjects with thicker SFCT and shorter AL.

Effects of Refractive Accommodation on Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness in Silicone Oil-Filled Eyes

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of refractive accommodation on subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in silicone oil (SO)-filled eyes.METHODS: This retrospective, self-comparative study was conducted on 40 patients with unilateral macula-on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, who underwent vitrectomy and SO tamponade. The SFCT of SO-filled eyes and the fellow control eyes were measured using optical coherence tomography at their one-month visit after surgery. The patients wore soft contact positive lenses for 24 hours in the SO-filled eyes, to correct their refractive error. SFCT and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) were measured before and after wearing the contact lenses. Mean SFCT was compared between SO-filled eyes and the fellow control eyes, and SFCT and CVI were compared before and after refractive error correction in the SO-filled eyes.RESULTS: Mean SFCT of SO-filled eyes (221.52±38.41 um) was less than that of the fellow eyes (273.41±31.30 um) (P<0.001). After refractive error correction, the mean SFCT increased to 269.28±36.90 um(P <0.001). However, CVI decreased from 57.01±2.41 to 55.39±2.39 (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: SFCT reduction in SO-filled eyes was primarily due to the hyperopia status. The non-uniform change in CVI suggests that changes in CT are mainly attributed to a greater expansion of the stromal area instead of the choroidal vascular area.

Peripapillary and Macular Choroidal Vascularity Index in Eyes with Fuchs’ Uveitis

Background To investigate the choroidal vascularity alterations of macula and peripapillary area in eyes with unilateral Fuchs uveitis (FU). Methods This study included 18 eyes with unilateral FU and 18 healthy fellow eyes. The choroidal vascularity index (CVI) was analyzed and the results were compared between eyes with FU and healthy fellow eyes (control group). Results The mean subfoveal (s)CVI (%) value was significantly lower in the FU group as compared with the control group:60.92 ± 2.63 vs. 64.01 ± 2.54,respectively (p = 0.001). The mean pCVI (%) values of superior and inferior quadrant were significantly lower in the Fuchs group as compared with the control group:58.87 ± 4.48 vs. 61.98 ± 3.32, respectively, in superior quadrant (p = 0.035); and 57.29 ± 6.65 vs. 61.44 ± 4.76, respectively, in inferior quadrant (p = 0.014). Conclusion The chronic continuous inflammation in FU causes inflammation-mediated thinning in the vascular area of the subfoveal and peripapillary choroid. The changes in the peripapillary region are remarkable in terms of the further glaucoma risk of these eyes.

Evaluation of Radiation Maculopathy after Treatment of Choroidal Melanoma with Ruthenium-106 using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

BACKGROUND: To assess the impact of brachytherapy on macular microvasculature utilizing optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in treated choroidal melanoma.METHODS: In this retrospective observational case series, we reviewed the recorded data of the patients with choroidal melanoma treated with rheuthenium-106 (106Ru) plaque radiotherapy with follow-up period of more than 6 months. Automatically measured OCTA retinal parameters were analyzed after image processing. The non-irradiated fellow eye is considered as the control.RESULTS: Thirty-one eyes of 31 patients with the mean age of 51.1 years were recruited. Six eyes had no radiation maculopathy (RM). From 25 eyes with RM, nine eyes (36%) revealed a burnout macular microvasculature with imperceptible vascular details. Foveal and optic disc radiation dose had the highest value to predict the burnout pattern (ROC, AUC: 0.763, 0.727). Superficial and deep foveal avascular zone (FAZ) were larger in irradiated eyes in comparison to healthy eyes (1629 µm2 vs. 428 µm2, P =0.005; 1837 µm2 vs 268 µm2, P =0.021; respectively). Foveal and parafoveal vascular area density (VAD) and vascular skeleton density (VSD) in both superficial and deep capillary plexus (SCP and DCP) were decreased in all irradiated eyes in comparison with control eyes (P< 0.001). Compared with fellow healthy eyes, irradiated eyes without RM had significantly lower VAD and VSD at foveal and parafoveal DCP (all P<0.02). However, these differences at SCP were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The OCTA is a valuable tool for evaluating RM. Initial subclinical microvascular insult after 106Ru brachytherapy is more likely to occur in DCP. The deep FAZ area was identified as a more critical biomarker of BCVA than superficial FAZ in these patients.

Microvascularization and Expression of Fibroblast Growth Factor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Their Receptors in the Mare Oviduct

The oviduct presents the ideal conditions for fertilization and early embryonic development. In this study, (i) vascularization pattern; (ii) microvascular density; (iii) transcripts of angiogenic factors (FGF1, FGF2, VEGF) and their receptors—FGFR1, FGFR2, KDR, respectively, and (iv) the relative protein abundance of those receptors were assessed in cyclic mares’ oviducts. The oviductal artery, arterioles and their ramifications, viewed by means of vascular injection-corrosion, differed in the infundibulum, ampulla and isthmus. The isthmus, immunostained with CD31, presented the largest vascular area and the highest number of vascular structures in the follicular phase. Transcripts (qPCR) and relative protein abundance (Western blot) of angiogenic factors fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) and 2 (FGF2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and their respective receptors (FGFR1, FGFR2, VEGFR2 = KDR), were present in all oviduct portions throughout the estrous cycle. Upregulation of the transcripts of angiogenic receptors FGF1 and FGFR1 in the ampulla and isthmus and of FGF2 and KDR in the isthmus were noted. Furthermore, in the isthmus, the relative protein abundance of FGFR1 and KDR was the highest. This study shows that the equine oviduct presents differences in microvascular density in its three portions. The angiogenic factors VEGF, FGF1, FGF2 and their respective receptors are expressed in all studied regions of the mare oviduct, in agreement with microvascular patterns.

role of prostaglandin F2α on ovulation and LH release in cows

This study aimed to evaluate the role of prostaglandin F2α (PGF) on ovulation. In Experiment 1, cows were randomly allocated to two treatments to receive 150 μg of d-Cloprostenol (PGF Group, n = 12) or 2 mL of NaCl 0.9% (Control Group, n = 11) and CIDRs, were removed 4 days later. No cow ovulated in Control and PGF groups. In Experiment 2, cows were randomly separated into two experimental groups to receive 4 injections of 150 μg of d-Cloprostenol (n = 9) or 2 mL of NaCL 0.9% (n = 9). In this experiment, ovulation was not observed in any cows. In Experiment 3, ovariectomized cows receive three injections of 300μg of PGF analog (PGF Group, n = 5), 100μg of Lecirelin (GnRH Group, n = 5) or 2 mL of PBS (Control Group, n = 4). The LH concentration was higher (P <0.0001) in cows from the GnRH group than in the PGF and Control groups. In experiment 4, cows with preovulatory follicles (>11.5 mm) were treated with Saline (Control Group, n = 6); Lecirelin (GnRH Group, n = 7) or Cloprostenol Sodium (PGF Group, n = 6). There was a significant increase in the vascular area of follicles from 0 to 24 h in GnRH and PGF treatments. In conclusion, PGF was not able to induce ovulation in cows with high or low plasma progesterone concentration. Additionally, PGF alone was not able to induce LH release and follicle luteinization, but increased follicular vascularization.

Choroidal vascularity index: a step towards software as a medical device

The choroidal vascularity index (CVI) is a relatively new parameter, calculated off optical coherence tomography (OCT) images, for the quantitative evaluation of choroid vascularity. It is defined as the ratio of vascular area to the total choroidal area, presented as a percentage. The choroid is an important vascular bed, often implicated in ocular and systemic conditions. Since the introduction of CVI, multiple studies have evaluated its efficacy as a tool for disease prognostication and monitoring progression, with promising results. The CVI was born out of the need for more robust and accurate evaluations of choroidal vasculature, as prior parameters such as choroidal thickness and choroidal vessel diameter had their limitations. In this review, we summarise current literature on the CVI, explain how the CVI is derived and explore its potential integration into future research and translation into clinical care. This includes the application of CVI in various disease states, and ongoing attempts to produce an automated algorithm which can calculate CVI from OCT images.

On the Regulatory Capabilities of Thyroid Mast Cells in Thiamazole Model of Hypothyroidism and Infrared Laser Exposure

The regulatory effect of mast cells on the state of thyroid gland in hypothyroidism and laser therapy remains unclear. Aim: to study the secretory processes of mast cells in relationship with the indicators of functional activity of thyroid gland. Materials and methods. Experimental groups: (55 rats) 1) intact rats, 2) hypothyroidism (thiamazole 25mg/kg) 3) hypothyroidism and 0.5W laser exposure, 4) hypothyroidism and 2.0W laser exposure. Histological samples of the thyroid gland were removed on the 1, 7, and 30 days. Histological sections were stained with toluidine blue. Morphometric data analysis included descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests (Mann Whitney, Spearman correlation coefficient). Results. The increase in the granular saturation of mast cells and the average histochemical coefficient was observed in the hypothyroidism group, the degranulation index increased by day 30. After 0.5 W laser exposure, there was a decrease in the granular content in mast cells and an increase in the degranulation index; the granular saturation increased by day 30. After 2.0 W laser exposure, the content of granules in mast cells decreased on day 1, and on days 7 and 30 it was higher than in the hypothyroidism group; the degranulation index decreased by day 30. The correlation was revealed between the indicators of granule accumulation in a mast cell, the index of mast cell degranulation, the thyroid epithelium height, and relative vascular area. Conclusions. The synthesis processes prevailed over secretion for mastocytes in thiamazole hypothyroidism. 0.5 W laser exposure was more effective for stimulation of the secretory processes in mast cells compared to 2.0 W exposure. The secretory activity of mast cells was associated with the functional activity of thyroid gland, which confirms their regulatory role in tissue repair after thiamazole induced hypothyroidism modeling.

A case of hybrid medical management of advanced cornual ectopic pregnancy

Cornual ectopic pregnancy is perilous and treacherous entity which accounts for 2-4% of all ectopic pregnancies and has a maternal mortality of 2-2.5%. There is always a dilemma in diagnosis due to the area being in close proximity to the endometrial cavity. The precise localisation is difficult till the gestation is advanced, which poses problems in its subsequent management. Surgical approach in this highly vascular area leads to excessive bleeding is a daunting nightmare for a surgeon and also imposes a great threat to the future fertility of the patient. Here we present a case of 26 year old spontaneously conceived primigravida who presented for booking visit at 10 week period of gestation. On transvaginal sonography, there was a suspicion of right cornual ectopic pregnancy which was later confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Despite due to advanced viable gestation, with an evident cardiac activity and very high serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin (βhCG) (more than 1 lakh mIU/ml), we tried a pioneering technique of conservative hybrid approach with intracavitary instillation and systemic antimetabolite drug methotrexate, in view to safeguard her future fertility by diminishing the likelihood of hysterectomy. While on the treatment, patient developed hyper reaction to methotrexate, which was managed with a multidisciplinary approach. She responded very well to the therapy with complete resolution of the cornual ectopic pregnancy.