Murat Atabey Özer

Effects of Molsidomine on Retinopathy and Oxidative Stress Induced by Radiotheraphy in Rat Eyes

ABSTRACT Purpose: To determine the role of Molsidomine in preventing radiation-induced retinopathy after head and neck region irradiation of rats with a single radiation dose of 15 Gy. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar albino rats were randomly grouped into five as follows: (1) control group rats, which were applied through an intraperitoneal (i.p.) vehicle without radiotherapy (RT); (2) RT group rats received a single dose of 15 Gy irradiation and after daily 0.1 ml vehicle i.p. for 5 consecutive days; (3) molsidomine (MOL) group rats were treated for 5 consecutive days by i.p. with 4 mg/kg/day MOL; (4) irradiation plus MOL group (RT+MOL) rats received irradiation and after 10 days single daily i.p. dose of MOL for 5 consecutive days; and (5) MOL+RT group rats were treated for 5 consecutive days by i.p. with MOL before RT. At the end of the work the rats were sacrificed under high-dose anesthesia on the 16th day and then eye tissues were taken for histopathological, immunohistochemical (caspase-3), and biochemical analyses (superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GSH], and malondialdehyde [MDA]). Results: RT significantly decreased both the content of GSH and the activity of SOD, and significantly increased the production of MDA level in the rat eyes. MOL treatment significantly increased the SOD and GSH levels and significantly decreased the MDA production (p < 0.0001). In addition, RT significantly increased the number of ganglion cells (GCs; p = 0.001), whereas especially pretreatment with MOL improved (p = 0.013). RT led to significant retinopathy formation, and MOL therapy protected the retina from radiation-induced retinopathy (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: We suggest that MOL is a powerful antioxidant and free radical scavenger that prevents the rat eyes from radiation-induced retinopathy and oxidative stress.

The evaluation of retinal and choroidal structural changes by optical coherence tomography in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCL+) thickness, and macular choroidal thickness (mCT) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods: A total of 79 COPD patients and 71 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional study. The patients were divided into two subgroups (with mild-to-moderate COPD and severe COPD) using spirometric data suggested by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guideline. The RNFL, GCL+, and mCT were compared between groups. Results: The average and nasal RNFL thicknesses in the COPD group were significantly lower than those in control group (p = 0.023 and 0.027 respectively). Statistically significant reductions in average thickness and in those of all six wedge-shaped GCL+ sectors were evident in the COPD group compared with control group and were more marked in patients with severe COPD. The other RNFL data did not differ significantly between COPD and control groups. The mCT was somewhat thinner at all the measured locations in COPD group compared with control group, but statistically significance was not attained. Conclusions: The study results revealed significant average, nasal RNFL, global GCL+ loss, and a nonsignificant choroidal thinning in patients with COPD compared to healthy subjects. The eye seems to be one of the affected tissues during the natural course of the COPD.

Effects of molsidomine on retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rabbits

Abstract We investigated the effect of molsidomine (MOL) on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Rabbits were assigned to four groups: group 1, sham; group 2, I/R; group 3, MOL treatment for 4 days after I/R; group 4, MOL treatment for 1 day before I/R and 3 days after I/R. Retinal I/R was produced by elevating the intraocular pressure to 150 mm Hg for 60 min. Seven days after I/R, the eyes were enucleated. Retinal changes were examined using histochemistry. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) also were measured. We found a significant increase in the thickness of the outer nuclear layer of group 3 compared to the other groups. In groups 3 and 4, caspase-3 stained cells in the ganglion cell layer were decreased compared to group 2. We found a significant increase in caspase-3 stained cells in the inner nuclear layer (INL) of group 2 compared to the other groups. We found a significant increase in caspase-3 stained cells in group 3 compared to group 4 in the INL. The MDA level in group 2 was significantly higher than group 1 and MOL significantly decreased MDA levels in groups 3 and 4. We found that MOL protected the retina from I/R injury by enhancing antioxidative effects and inhibiting apoptosis of retinal cells.

Vitamin B12 deficiency evaluation and treatment in severe dry eye disease with neuropathic ocular pain

PurposeThis study aims to understand the effect of vitamin B12 deficiency on neuropathic ocular pain (NOP) and symptoms in patients with dry eye disease (DED).MethodsPatients with severe DED (without receiving topical artificial tears treatment) and ocular pain were enrolled (n = 90). Patients with severe DED and vitamin B12 deficiency (group 1, n = 45) received parenteral vitamin B12 supplement + topical treatment (artificial tears treatment + cyclosporine), and patients with severe DED and normal serum vitamin B12 level (group 2, n = 45) received only topical treatment (artificial tears treatment + cyclosporine). Patients were evaluated by the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, 3rd question (have you experienced painful or sore eyes during last week?) score of OSDI as a pain determiner and pain frequency measure), tear break up time (TBUT), and Schirmer’s type 1 test. We compared the groups’ OSDI, TBUT, and Schirmer’s test recordings at the first visit and after 12 weeks retrospectively.ResultsThe OSDI score, 3rd OSDI question score, TBUT, and Schirmer’s test results improved after 12 weeks (p < 0.001 for each group). The mean vitamin B12 level at enrollment was 144.24 ±43.36 pg/ml in group 1 and 417.53 ±87.22 pg/ml in group 2. The mean vitamin B12 level in group 1 reached to 450 ±60.563 pg/ml after 12 weeks of treatment. The mean score changes between the groups were not statistically significant; however, the decrease in the OSDI questionnaire score (-30.80 ±5.24) and 3rd OSDI question score (-2.82 ±0.53) were remarkable in group 1 (Table 2). The mean TBUT increase was +7.98 ±2.90 s and Schirmer’s test result increase was +12.16 ±2.01 mm in group 1. The mean TBUT increase was +6.18 ±1.49 s and Schirmer’s test result increase was +6.71 ±1.47 mm in group 2.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that vitamin B12 deficiency is related with NOP. It may be important to consider measuring the serum vitamin B12 level in patients with severe DED presenting with resistant ocular pain despite taking topical treatment.

Effects of intravitreous sodium hydrosulfide on intraocular pressure and retinopathy in ocular hypertensive rats

Abstract We investigated the possible neuroprotectant and intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering effects of intravitreous injection of sodium hydrosulfide (NaSH) in a rodent model of experimental glaucoma. Glaucoma currently is treated by controlling IOP using medications and/or surgery. These methods are not entirely adequate for all patients. We divided 24 rats into three groups. For the control group, the right eye was treated with intravitreous saline. For the glaucoma group, ocular hypertension was induced by photocoagulating three episcleral veins and the limbal plexus of the right eye using an argon laser, then saline was injected into the vitreous of these eyes during the third week. For the NaSH group, rats were treated with intravenous NaSH 3 weeks after photocoagulation. IOP was measured each week during the 6 week experimental period. Coagulating the episcleral veins rapidly increased the IOP of rat eyes. Intravitreous injection of NaSH significantly reduced IOP. Intravitreous NaSH prevented degeneration of the retina and decreased the number of apoptotic cells. Intravitreous NaSH appeared to reduce IOP and to prevent IOP induced retinopathy in rats.