Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-C in the Trabecular Meshwork of Patients with Neovascular Glaucoma and Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

Construction and validation of a neovascular glaucoma nomogram in patients with diabetic retinopathy after pars plana vitrectomy

BACKGROUND

Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) is likely to occur after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for diabetic retinopathy (DR) in some patients, thus reducing the expected benefit. Understanding the risk factors for NVG occurrence and building effective risk prediction models are currently required for clinical research.

AIM

To develop a visual risk profile model to explore factors influencing DR after surgery.

METHODS

We retrospectively selected 151 patients with DR undergoing PPV. The patients were divided into the NVG (NVG occurrence) and No-NVG (No NVG occurrence) groups according to the occurrence of NVG within 6 months after surgery. Independent risk factors for postoperative NVG were screened by logistic regression. A nomogram prediction model was established using R software, and the model's prediction accuracy was verified internally and externally, involving the receiver operator characteristic curve and correction curve.

RESULTS

After importing the data into a logistic regression model, we concluded that a posterior capsular defect, preoperative vascular endothelial growth factor ≥ 302.90 pg/mL, glycosylated hemoglobin ≥ 9.05%, aqueous fluid interleukin 6 (IL-6) ≥ 53.27 pg/mL, and aqueous fluid IL-10 ≥ 9.11 pg/mL were independent risk factors for postoperative NVG in patients with DR (P < 0.05). A nomogram model was established based on the aforementioned independent risk factors, and a computer simulation repeated sampling method was used to internally and externally verify the nomogram model. The area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of the model were 0.962 [95% confidence interval (95%CI): 0.932-0.991], 91.5%, and 82.3%, respectively. The AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of the external validation were 0.878 (95%CI: 0.746-0.982), 66.7%, and 95.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

A nomogram constructed based on the risk factors for postoperative NVG in patients with DR has a high prediction accuracy. This study can help formulate relevant preventive and treatment measures.

Association of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma with Diabetic Retinopathy among Patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: A Large Global Database Study

PURPOSE

To assess the correlation between primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study leveraging the global patient database of TriNetX Research Network.

PARTICIPANTS

The study included 44 359 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) with POAG and 4 393 300 patients with DM without any glaucoma ≥ 18 years of age. Propensity score matching harmonized the cohorts to 39 680 patients each, covering diagnoses from January 1, 2005, to January 1, 2023.

METHODS

We analyzed data using specific International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes for DM and glaucoma. We matched the cohorts using propensity score matching, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, blood markers, relevant medical history, and ophthalmic service use.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was the first-time occurrence of DR, including nonproliferative DR (NPDR) and proliferative DR (PDR), in patients with DM with and without glaucoma at 1-, 5-, and 10-year intervals from their individual index dates.

RESULTS

At 10 years, patients with T1DM with POAG exhibited a heightened risk for any DR (adjusted risk ratios [RRs], 4.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.05-5.57, P < 0.0001) and PDR (RR, 7.02; 95% CI, 3.62-13.61, P < 0.0001). Patients with T2DM and POAG also faced an increased 10-year risk for any DR (RR, 2.47; 95% CI, 2.28-2.68, P < 0.0001) and PDR (RR, 3.82; 95% CI, 3.09-4.70, P < 0.0001). The combined association of POAG on DR risk in those with T1DM and T2DM at 10 years was found to be significantly higher among patients with POAG (5.45%) compared with those without glaucoma (2.12%) (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.33; 95% CI, 2.14-2.53). The cumulative incidence of DR was significantly higher in the POAG group compared with nonglaucoma counterparts after a decade (log-rank P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings underscore a substantial association between POAG and DR development in both T1DM and T2DM patients, emphasizing the need for vigilant screening and comprehensive management in glaucomatous patients with DM to mitigate the risk of DR. Future research should delve into elucidating the causal mechanisms driving these observed associations.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)

The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Development and testing of a metabolic chamber for effluent collection during whole eye perfusions

Ocular hypertension is caused by dysregulated outflow resistance regulation by the conventional outflow (CO) pathway. The physiology of the CO pathway can be directly studied during ex vivo ocular perfusions. In addition to measuring outflow resistance generation by the CO tissues, perfusion media that is conditioned by CO pathway cells can be collected upon exiting the eye as effluent. Thus, contents of effluent include factors contributed by upstream cells that report on the (dys)functionality of the outflow tissues. Two methods have been used in the past to monitor effluent contents from perfused eyes, each with their limitations. To overcome these limitations, we designed and printed a metabolic chamber to accommodate eyes of different sizes during perfusions. To test this new chamber, human eyes were perfused for 4 h at constant flow rate of 2.5 μl/min, while pressure was continuously monitored and effluent was collected every hour. Facility was 0.28 ± 0.16 μl/min/mmHg for OD eyes and 0.33 ± 0.11 μl/min/mmHg for OS eyes (n = 3). Effluent samples were protein rich, with protein concentration ranging from 2700 to 10,000 μg/ml for all eyes and timepoints (N = 3). Effluent samples expressed proteins that were actively secreted by the TM and easily detectible including MYOC and MMP2. Taken together, our model provides a reliable method to collect effluent from ex vivo human eyes, while maintaining whole globe integrity.

ZD6474 Attenuates Fibrosis and Inhibits Neovascularization in Human Pterygium by Suppressing AKT-mTOR Signaling Pathway

Purpose: To investigate the antifibrotic effect of ZD6474 in human pterygium fibroblasts (HPFs) and angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) compared with mitomycin C (MMC). Methods: Pterygium and tenon fibroblasts were isolated from patients undergoing surgery to culture HPFs and human tenon fibroblasts (HTFs). The effects of ZD6474 on HPF, HTF, and HUVEC proliferation and migration were detected using CCK8 and wound-healing assays, respectively. Fibrosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) were evaluated by western blotting [transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)1/2 and snail] and immunofluorescence (vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin). The antiangiogenic effect of ZD6474 on HUVECs was assessed using a tube formation assay. To determine the potential mechanism, the expression of phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) and phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR) was evaluated by treatment with ZD6474 via western blotting. Results: ZD6474 robustly inhibited the proliferation and migration of HPFs rather than HTFs compared with those in the MMC group (**P < 0.01). In HPFs, fibrosis and EMT (vimentin, TGF-β1/2, and snail) were significantly reversed by ZD6474. MMC (>50 μg/mL) significantly reduced HTF viability, whereas ZD6474 (<5 μM/mL) did not decrease HTF viability. HUVEC proliferation and migration were clearly decreased, and tube formation was notably interrupted by ZD6474. Activation of p-AKT and p-mTOR was inhibited by ZD6474 treatment of HPFs and HUVECs. Conclusion: ZD6474 is more effective than MMC in reducing fibrosis and EMT in HPFs. In addition, ZD6474 was less toxic to HTFs. ZD6474 also exhibited antiangiogenic effects in HUVECs. This study may aid in the development of novel agents to prevent pterygium recurrence after pterygium excision.