Makoto Inoue

PURPOSE: To determine whether the postoperative length of the photoreceptor cone outer segment tips (COST) line defect is significantly correlated with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after macular hole closure.

DESIGN: Retrospective, consecutive, observational case series.

PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-one eyes of 51 patients with a surgically closed macular hole were studied.

METHODS: Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was used to obtain images of the foveal area, and the ...

PURPOSE: To investigate the retinal neural damage that occurs during inflammation and the therapeutic effects of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) blocker, telmisartan, using a model of endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU).

METHODS: The localization of AT1R and AT2R was shown by immunohistochemistry. EIU was induced by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Animals were treated with telmisartan for 2 days and were evaluated 24 hours later. Expression levels of ...

PURPOSE: To investigate the involvement of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and the nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB pathway with diabetes-induced retinal inflammation.

METHODS: Six weeks after induction of diabetes, C57BL/6 mice were treated with the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1-R) blocker (ARB) telmisartan or valsartan, the AT2-R blocker PD123319, or the NF-kappaB inhibitor dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ) daily for 1 week. Retinal mRNA and protein levels of the RAS components ...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes after vitrectomy, without gas tamponade or laser photocoagulation to the margin of the optic nerve, for the treatment of macular detachment associated with optic disc pits and to characterize retinal manifestations during treatment of optic pit maculopathy using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

DESIGN: Noncomparative, retrospective, interventional case series.

PARTICIPANTS: Eight consecutive patients (8 to 56 years of age) with unilateral ...

PURPOSE: To examine whether the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1-R) signaling plays a role in ocular inflammation in endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU).

METHODS: EIU was induced in C57BL/6 mice by a single intraperitoneal injection of 150 mug lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Tissue localization, mRNA expression, and protein levels of AT1-R in murine retinas were examined by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and Western blot analyses, respectively. Telmisartan, an AT1-R antagonist widely used as an ...

PURPOSE: A recent study revealed that angiotensin receptor signaling mediates ocular inflammation and neovascularization. It was also found that prorenin undergoes nonproteolytic activation leading to upregulation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) when prorenin receptor interacts specifically with the handle region of prorenin. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the role of the receptor-dependent nonproteolytic activation of prorenin in ocular inflammation in ...

PURPOSE: To determine whether a recovery of the microstructures of the foveal photoreceptors after macular hole closure is correlated with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

DESIGN: Retrospective, consecutive, observational case series.

METHODS:

SETTING: Single-center academic practice.

STUDY POPULATION: Forty-one eyes of 41 patients with surgically closed macular holes. OBSERVATIONAL PROCEDURES: The presence and intactness of the cone outer segment tips (COST) line were determined by ...

PURPOSE: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), also known as kininase II, functions not only to convert angiotensin I to angiotensin II, but also to cleave bradykinin into inactive fragments. Thus, ACE inhibition causes the tissue accumulation of bradykinin, exerting either of two opposite effects: anti- or proangiogenic. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of bradykinin in the development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV), with or without ACE ...

BACKGROUND: To determine whether the status of a macular hole can be determined by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in gas-filled eyes.

DESIGN: Prospective study, university hospital setting.

PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-six eyes with a macular hole, seven eyes with a macular hole retinal detachment and four eyes with a macular hole and myopic traction maculopathy underwent vitreous surgery.

METHODS: The macular area was examined by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography ...

PURPOSE: To investigate the structural abnormalities of optic disc pits and colobomas by swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODS: Sixteen eyes with congenital optic disc pits, and seven eyes with optic disc colobomas were studied. Papillary and peripapillary areas were examined with swept-source OCT. The entire course of the pit or cavity and the spatial relationship between pits and retrobulbar subarachnoid space (SAS) were examined.

RESULTS: Optical coherence ...

PURPOSE: To determine whether there is a significant correlation between the integrity of the foveal microstructures and the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after pars plana vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane (ERM) removal.

METHODS: This was a retrospective, interventional case series. Forty-six eyes of 45 patients with an ERM underwent vitrectomy. The foveal area was examined by spectral-domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) preoperatively and postoperatively. The correlation ...

Interleukin (IL)-6, a potent proinflammatory cytokine, is suggested to be a risk factor for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) because of its increased levels in the serum of patients with age-related macular degeneration; however, the role of IL-6 in CNV has not been defined. The present study reveals the critical contribution of IL-6 signaling and its downstream STAT3 pathway to the murine model of laser-induced CNV. CNV induction by laser treatment stimulated IL-6 expression in the ...

PURPOSE: To investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects of telmisartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1-R) antagonist, on ischemia-induced retinal neovascularization.

METHODS: C57BL/6 neonatal mice were reared in an 80% concentration of oxygen from postnatal day (P)7 to P12, followed by room-air breathing until P17, to induce ischemia-initiated retinal neovascularization (i.e., a murine model of ischemic retinopathy). Tissue localization of AT1-R was examined by ...

PURPOSE: To investigate the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) species and their activation associated with the pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

METHODS: Sandwich enzyme immunoassays were used to measure concentrations of MMP-1, -2, -3, -7, -8, -9, and -13 in vitreous samples from patients with PDR and nondiabetic vitreoretinal diseases. To evaluate activation ratios of the zymogen of MMP-2 (proMMP-2) and -9 (proMMP-9) in the vitreous samples and fibrovascular ...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of vitrectomy on the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and postoperative complications in highly myopic eyes with myopic traction maculopathy.

METHODS: The medical records of 71 eyes of 64 patients with myopic traction maculopathy and high myopia (≤-8.0 diopters and axial length, ≥26.0 mm) were reviewed. Twenty-six eyes had only macular retinoschisis, 30 eyes had foveal detachment, and 15 eyes had macular hole. The BCVA and complications were studied in ...