@article{YousefStrzalkowskaHillenkampetal.2020, author = {Yousef, Yousef Al and Strzalkowska, Alicja and Hillenkamp, Jost and Rosentreter, Andr{\´e} and Loewen, Nils A.}, title = {Comparison of a second-generation trabecular bypass (iStent inject) to ab interno trabeculectomy (Trabectome) by exact matching}, series = {Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology}, volume = {258}, journal = {Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology}, issn = {0721-832X}, doi = {10.1007/s00417-020-04933-z}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-232613}, pages = {2775-2780}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Purpose To achieve a highly balanced comparison of trabecular bypass stenting (IS2, iStent inject) with ab interno trabeculectomy (T, Trabectome) by exact matching. Methods Fifty-three IS2 eyes were matched to 3446 T eyes. Patients were matched using exact matching by baseline intraocular pressure (IOP), the number of glaucoma medications, and glaucoma type, and using nearest neighbor matching by age. Individuals without a close match were excluded. All surgeries were combined with phacoemulsification. Results A total of 78 eyes (39 in each group) could be matched as exact pairs with a baseline IOP of 18.3 ± 5.1 mmHg and glaucoma medications of 2.7 ± 1.2 in each. IOP in IS2 was reduced to 14.6 ± 4.2 mmHg at 3 months and in T to a minimum of 13.1 ± 3.2 mmHg at 1 month. In IS2, IOP began to rise again at 6 months, eventually exceeding baseline. At 24 months, IOP in IS2 was 18.8 ± 9.0 mmHg and in T 14.2 ± 3.5 mmHg. IS2 had a higher average IOP than T at all postoperative visits (p < 0.05 at 1, 12, 18 months). Glaucoma medications decreased to 2.0 ± 1.5 in IS2 and to 1.5 ± 1.4 in T. Conclusion T resulted in a larger and sustained IOP reduction compared with IS2 where a rebound occurred after 6 months to slightly above preoperative values.}, language = {en} } @article{WeisschuhWissingerGramer2012, author = {Weisschuh, Nicole and Wissinger, Bernd and Gramer, Eugen}, title = {A splice site mutation in the PAX6 gene which induces exon skipping causes autosomal dominant inherited aniridia}, series = {Molecular Vision}, volume = {18}, journal = {Molecular Vision}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-124379}, pages = {751-757}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Purpose: To identify the underlying genetic cause in a two generation German family diagnosed with isolated aniridia. Methods: All patients underwent full ophthalmic examination. Mutation screening of the paired box gene 6 (PAX6) was performed by bidirectional Sanger sequencing. A minigene assay was applied to analyze transcript processing of mutant and wildtype PAX6 variants in HEK293 cells. Results: We identified a PAX6 sequence variant at the splice donor site (+5) of intron 12. This variant has been described before in another family with aniridia but has not been characterized at the transcript level. We could demonstrate that the mutant allele causes the skipping of exon 12 during transcript processing. The mutation is predicted to result in a 'run on' translation past the normal translational stop codon. Conclusions: A splice site mutation resulting in exon skipping was found in a family with autosomal dominant aniridia. The mutation is predicted to result in an enlarged protein with an extra COOH-terminal domain. This very likely affects the transactivation properties of the PAX6 protein.}, language = {en} } @article{WaxmanStrzalkowskaWangetal.2023, author = {Waxman, Susannah and Strzalkowska, Alicja and Wang, Chao and Loewen, Ralitsa and Dang, Yalong and Loewen, Nils A.}, title = {Tissue-engineered anterior segment eye cultures demonstrate hallmarks of conventional organ culture}, series = {Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology}, volume = {261}, journal = {Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology}, number = {5}, doi = {10.1007/s00417-022-05915-z}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-323845}, pages = {1359-1368}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Background Glaucoma is a blinding disease largely caused by dysregulation of outflow through the trabecular meshwork (TM), resulting in elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). We hypothesized that transplanting TM cells into a decellularized, tissue-engineered anterior segment eye culture could restore the outflow structure and function. Methods Porcine eyes were decellularized with freeze-thaw cycles and perfusion of surfactant. We seeded control scaffolds with CrFK cells transduced with lentiviral vectors to stably express eGFP and compared them to scaffolds seeded with primary TM cells as well as to normal, unaltered eyes. We tracked the repopulation behavior, performed IOP maintenance challenges, and analyzed the histology. Results Transplanted cells localized to the TM and progressively infiltrated the extracellular matrix, reaching a distribution comparable to normal, unaltered eyes. After a perfusion rate challenge to mimic a glaucomatous pressure elevation, transplanted and normal eyes reestablished a normal intraocular pressure (transplanted = 16.5 ± 0.9 mmHg, normal = 16.9 ± 0.9). However, eyes reseeded with eGFP-expressing CrFK cells could not regulate IOP, remaining high and unstable (27.0 ± 6.2 mmHg) instead. Conclusion Tissue-engineered anterior segment scaffolds can serve as readily available, scalable ocular perfusion cultures. This could reduce dependency on scarce donor globes in outflow research and may allow engineering perfusion cultures with specific geno- and phenotypes.}, language = {en} } @article{WaltherZimmermannTheuersbacheretal.2021, author = {Walther, Grit and Zimmermann, Anna and Theuersbacher, Johanna and Kaerger, Kerstin and Lilienfeld-Toal, Marie von and Roth, Mathias and Kampik, Daniel and Geerling, Gerd and Kurzai, Oliver}, title = {Eye infections caused by filamentous fungi: spectrum and antifungal susceptibility of the prevailing agents in Germany}, series = {Journal of Fungi}, volume = {7}, journal = {Journal of Fungi}, number = {7}, issn = {2309-608X}, doi = {10.3390/jof7070511}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-241810}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Fungal eye infections can lead to loss of vision and blindness. The disease is most prevalent in the tropics, although case numbers in moderate climates are increasing as well. This study aimed to determine the dominating filamentous fungi causing eye infections in Germany and their antifungal susceptibility profiles in order to improve treatment, including cases with unidentified pathogenic fungi. As such, we studied all filamentous fungi isolated from the eye or associated materials that were sent to the NRZMyk between 2014 and 2020. All strains were molecularly identified and antifungal susceptibility testing according to the EUCAST protocol was performed for common species. In total, 242 strains of 66 species were received. Fusarium was the dominating genus, followed by Aspergillus, Purpureocillium, Alternaria, and Scedosporium. The most prevalent species in eye samples were Fusarium petroliphilum, F. keratoplasticum, and F. solani of the Fusarium solani species complex. The spectrum of species comprises less susceptible taxa for amphotericin B, natamycin, and azoles, including voriconazole. Natamycin is effective for most species but not for Aspergillus flavus or Purpureocillium spp. Some strains of F. solani show MICs higher than 16 mg/L. Our data underline the importance of species identification for correct treatment.}, language = {en} } @article{WabbelsFrickeSchittkowskietal.2021, author = {Wabbels, Bettina and Fricke, Julia and Schittkowski, Michael and Gr{\"a}f, Michael and Lorenz, Birgit and Bau, Viktoria and Nentwich, Martin M. and Atili, Abed and Eckstein, Anja and Sturm, Veit and Beisse, Christina and Sterker, Ina and Neppert, Birte and Mauschitz, Matthias M.}, title = {Yokoyama procedure for esotropia associated with high myopia: real-world data from a large-scale multicentre analysis}, series = {Acta Ophthalmologica}, volume = {99}, journal = {Acta Ophthalmologica}, number = {8}, doi = {10.1111/aos.14808}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-239939}, pages = {e1340 -- e1347}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Purpose High myopic patients may develop strabismus due to globe dislocation out of the normal extraocular muscle cone. Surgical correction of this strabismus type is possible by joining the superior and lateral rectus muscles without the need for a scleral suture called the Yokoyama procedure. Data from large patient samples and the evaluation of a potential effect of an additional medial rectus recession (MRR) have been lacking so far. Methods We pooled retrospective patient data of 14 departments of ophthalmology in Germany and Switzerland and analysed determinants of postoperative results using multivariable regression models. Results We included 133 patients (mean age: 59.7 ± 13.4 years, surgery between 2008 and 2017) with a mean preoperative esotropia (both Yokoyama with and without MRR) of 23.8°±4.6°. The angle of preoperative esotropia increased with age. The postoperative esotropia was 8.7° ± 9.9°, and six patients were overcorrected. While preoperative esotropia was highly associated with postoperative results, we found no association of additional MRR with any of our postoperative outcome measures. The Yokoyama procedure had a higher absolute effect in patients with higher preoperative esotropia. Conclusion Our study confirms the positive effect of the Yokoyama procedure on strabismus due to high myopia in large-scale real-world data. In some cases, MRR may be needed because of muscle contracture, although additional MRR statistically did not affect the postoperative outcome. In patients with bilateral high myopic strabismus, correction of both eyes seems beneficial. The effect size of the Yokoyama procedure appears to be mainly driven by preoperative esotropia.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{VermaFuehring2022, author = {Verma-F{\"u}hring, Raoul}, title = {Die Trabekulopunktion als Pr{\"a}diktiver Test f{\"u}r den Erfolg der Ab Interno Trabekulektomie im Schweineaugenmodell}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-28263}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-282633}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {To investigate trabeculopuncture (TP) for predicting the outcome of ab interno trabeculectomy (AIT). Ex vivo porcine anterior segments were perfused and sequentially underwent two procedures, TP and AIT. We concluded that a 10\% reduction in IOP after TP can be used to predict the success (>20\% IOP decrease) of AIT in porcine eyes. As porcine eyes share many similarities with human eyes, our findings may have implications on the validity of this test as a predictor for surgical outcomes of AITs in humans.}, subject = {Glaukom}, language = {en} } @article{VermaFuehringDakroubHanetal.2022, author = {Verma-Fuehring, R. and Dakroub, M. and Han, H. and Hillenkamp, J. and Loewen, N. A.}, title = {Trabeculopuncture as a predictive test of distal outflow resistance in canal-based surgery}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {12}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-022-13990-9}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-299740}, year = {2022}, abstract = {We investigated whether trabeculopuncture (TP) could detect distal outflow resistance to predict the outcome of canal-based glaucoma surgery such as ab interno trabeculectomy (AIT). These procedures have a high utilization in open angle glaucoma, but fail in eyes with an unidentified distal outflow resistance. We assigned 81 porcine eyes to two groups: trial (n = 42) and control (n = 39). At 24 h, four YAG-laser trabeculopunctures were placed nasally, followed by a 180° AIT at the same site at 48 h. The proportion of TP responders between both AIT groups was compared. Histology and outflow canalograms were determined. Both post-TP and post-AIT IOPs were lower than baseline IOP (p = 0.015 and p < 0.01, respectively). The success rates of TP and AIT were 69\% and 85.7\%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity values of TP as predictive test for AIT success were 77.7\% and 83.3\%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 96.6\% and 38.5\%, respectively. We conclude that a 10\% reduction in IOP after TP can be used as a predictor for the success (> 20\% IOP decrease) of 180° AIT in porcine eyes.}, language = {en} } @article{vanKoolwijkRamdasIkrametal.2012, author = {van Koolwijk, Leonieke M. E. and Ramdas, Wishal D. and Ikram, M. Kamran and Jansonius, Nomdo M. and Pasutto, Francesca and Hys, Pirro G. and Macgregor, Stuart and Janssen, Sarah F. and Hewitt, Alex W. and Viswanathan, Ananth C. and ten Brink, Jacoline B. and Hosseini, S. Mohsen and Amin, Najaf and Despriet, Dominiek D. G. and Willemse-Assink, Jacqueline J. M. and Kramer, Rogier and Rivadeneira, Fernando and Struchalin, Maksim and Aulchenko, Yurii S. and Weisschuh, Nicole and Zenkel, Matthias and Mardin, Christian Y. and Gramer, Eugen and Welge-L{\"u}ssen, Ulrich and Montgomery, Grant W. and Carbonaro, Francis and Young, Terri L. and Bellenguez, C{\´e}line and McGuffin, Peter and Foster, Paul J. and Topouzis, Fotis and Mitchell, Paul and Wang, Jie Jin and Wong, Tien Y. and Czudowska, Monika A. and Hofman, Albert and Uitterlinden, Andre G. and Wolfs, Roger C. W. and de Jong, Paulus T. V. M. and Oostra, Ben A. and Paterson, Andrew D. and Mackey, David A. and Bergen, Arthur A. B. and Reis, Andre and Hammond, Christopher J. and Vingerling, Johannes R. and Lemij, Hans G. and Klaver, Caroline C. W. and van Duijn, Cornelia M.}, title = {Common Genetic Determinants of Intraocular Pressure and Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma}, series = {PLoS Genetics}, volume = {8}, journal = {PLoS Genetics}, number = {5}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pgen.1002611}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-131378}, pages = {e1002611}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Intraocular pressure (IOP) is a highly heritable risk factor for primary open-angle glaucoma and is the only target for current glaucoma therapy. The genetic factors which determine IOP are largely unknown. We performed a genome-wide association study for IOP in 11,972 participants from 4 independent population-based studies in The Netherlands. We replicated our findings in 7,482 participants from 4 additional cohorts from the UK, Australia, Canada, and the Wellcome Trust Case-Control Consortium 2/Blue Mountains Eye Study. IOP was significantly associated with rs11656696, located in GAS7 at 17p13.1 (p = 1.4 x 10\(^{-8}\)), and with rs7555523, located in TMCO1 at 1q24.1 (p = 1.6 x 10\(^{-8}\)). In a meta-analysis of 4 case-control studies (total N = 1,432 glaucoma cases), both variants also showed evidence for association with glaucoma (p = 2.4 x 10\(^{-2}\) for rs11656696 and p = 9.1 x 10\(^{-4}\) for rs7555523). GAS7 and TMCO1 are highly expressed in the ciliary body and trabecular meshwork as well as in the lamina cribrosa, optic nerve, and retina. Both genes functionally interact with known glaucoma disease genes. These data suggest that we have identified two clinically relevant genes involved in IOP regulation.}, language = {en} } @article{TarauBerlinCurcioetal.2019, author = {Tarau, Ioana-Sandra and Berlin, Andreas and Curcio, Christine A. and Ach, Thomas}, title = {The cytoskeleton of the retinal pigment epithelium: from normal aging to age-related macular degeneration}, series = {International Journal of Molecular Science}, volume = {20}, journal = {International Journal of Molecular Science}, number = {14}, issn = {1422-0067}, doi = {10.3390/ijms20143578}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-201781}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a unique epithelium, with major roles which are essential in the visual cycle and homeostasis of the outer retina. The RPE is a monolayer of polygonal and pigmented cells strategically placed between the neuroretina and Bruch membrane, adjacent to the fenestrated capillaries of the choriocapillaris. It shows strong apical (towards photoreceptors) to basal/basolateral (towards Bruch membrane) polarization. Multiple functions are bound to a complex structure of highly organized and polarized intracellular components: the cytoskeleton. A strong connection between the intracellular cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix is indispensable to maintaining the function of the RPE and thus, the photoreceptors. Impairments of these intracellular structures and the regular architecture they maintain often result in a disrupted cytoskeleton, which can be found in many retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This review article will give an overview of current knowledge on the molecules and proteins involved in cytoskeleton formation in cells, including RPE and how the cytoskeleton is affected under stress conditions — especially in AMD.}, language = {en} } @article{StrzalkowskaStrzalkowskiAlYousefetal.2021, author = {Strzalkowska, A. and Strzalkowski, P. and Al Yousef, Y. and Grehn, F. and Hillenkamp, J. and Loewen, Nils A.}, title = {Exact matching of trabectome-mediated ab interno trabeculectomy to conventional trabeculectomy with mitomycin C followed for 2 years}, series = {Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology}, volume = {259}, journal = {Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology}, issn = {0721-832X}, doi = {10.1007/s00417-020-05031-w}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-235224}, pages = {963-970}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Purpose We used exact matching for a highly balanced comparison of ab interno trabeculectomy (AIT) with the trabectome to trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (TRAB). Methods A total of 5485 patients who underwent AIT were exact-matched to 196 TRAB patients by baseline intraocular pressure (IOP), number of glaucoma medications, and glaucoma type. Nearest-neighbor-matching was applied to age. Success was defined as a final IOP of less than 21 mmHg, IOP reduction of at least 20\% reduction from baseline, and no secondary surgical interventions. Outcomes were measured at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Results A total of 165 AIT could be matched to 165 TRAB. The mean baseline IOP was 22.3 ± 5.6 mmHg, and the baseline number of glaucoma medications was 2.7 ± 1.1 in both groups. At 24 months, IOP was reduced to 15.8 ± 5.2 mmHg in AIT and 12.4 ± 4.7 mmHg in TRAB. IOP was lower than baseline at all visits (p < 0.01) and lower in TRAB than AIT (p < 0.01). Glaucoma medications were reduced to 2.1 ± 1.3 in AIT and 0.2 ± 0.8 in TRAB. Compared to baseline, patients used fewer drops postoperatively (p < 0.01) and more infrequently in TRAB than in AIT (p > 0.01). Secondary surgical interventions had the highest impact on success and became necessary in 15 AIT and 59 TRAB patients. Thirty-two challenging events occurred in TRAB and none in AIT. Conclusion Both AIT and TRAB reduced IOP and medications. This reduction was more significant in TRAB but at the expense of four times as many secondary interventions.}, language = {en} }