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Current Advances in Glaucoma as Progressive Neuropathic Disease

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A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Ophthalmology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 May 2022) | Viewed by 7694

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Anna Maria Bassi

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Guest Editor

Department of Experimental Medicine, School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
Interests: assessment of in vitro human relevant models (2D and 3D in vitro models); use of millifluidic technologies; iPSC; oxidative stress; cellular response/damage to stressors; xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes; carcinogenesis mechanisms

Dr. Stefania Vernazza

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Guest Editor

Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
Interests: glaucoma; in vitro models; millifluidic techniques; molecular pathways of cell damage/response; oxidative stress

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Glaucoma, an optic neuropathy, shares several epidemiological features and mechanisms with other neurodegenerative conditions.

Although not all molecular mechanisms underlying the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death are known, intraocular pressure (IOP), for some time, was considered the only modifiable risk and prognostic factor for glaucoma, but such an approach neither restores nor fully prevents RGC loss, resulting in irreversible loss of vision until blindness and neurodegeneration. Nowadays, studies need to better understand these mechanisms, which result in damage at both a trabecular meshwork and neuronal level.

We are pleased to invite you to submit original research articles that highlight innovative findings on glaucoma neuroprotection or novel therapeutic approaches in its management from drug delivery to surgical options.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide an update on the key events underlying the pathogenesis of glaucoma and innovative neuroprotective strategies able to cure glaucoma, preventing adverse neurological effects.

Original research articles/reviews of exceptional interest and value will be considered:

- Updated glaucoma research;
- Glaucoma and other related neuropathies;
- Innovative diagnostic tools;
- Novel glaucoma neuroprotective strategies.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Anna Maria Bassi
Dr. Stefania Vernazza
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

glaucoma
trabecular meshwork
neuroprotection
RGC death
neurodegeneration
intraocular pressure

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

9 pages, 250 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Corneal Endothelial Cell Density in Normal Tension Glaucoma Compared to Healthy Controls

by Jia Xu, Manishi A. Desai and Hyunjoo J. Lee

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(12), 3515; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11123515 - 18 Jun 2022

Viewed by 1003

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) and morphology between normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and controls. A cross-sectional, single center study of 24 NTG and 26 age-matched healthy eyes were included. ECD, mean cell size (MCA) and coefficient of variance (CV) were analyzed, controlling for age and number and duration of concurrent glaucoma medications. NTG subjects had significantly lower ECD (2307 ± 514.7 vs. 2558 ± 278.5, p = 0.044) and larger MCA (458.3 ± 94.8 vs. 386.7 ± 57.3, p = 0.004), but no difference in CV compared to healthy subjects. NTG subjects stratified by number of glaucoma medications showed significant differences in ECD (p = 0.024) and MCA (p = 0.021), but no difference in CV. There were no significant differences in ECD, MCA or CV between subjects stratified by duration of glaucoma medication usage. After age-adjusting, there was no dose-dependent relationship between mean ECD or MCA and number of glaucoma medications. Post hoc analysis demonstrated only NTG subjects on three or more glaucoma medications had statistically significant differences in ECD (p = 0.032) and MCA (p = 0.037) compared to NTG subjects on two glaucoma medications. This study suggests that NTG is associated with lower corneal endothelial cell density and mean cell size. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances in Glaucoma as Progressive Neuropathic Disease)

14 pages, 2417 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of the Drug-Induced Efficacies between Omidenepag Isopropyl, an EP2 Agonist and PGF2α toward TGF-β2-Modulated Human Trabecular Meshwork (HTM) Cells

by Soma Suzuki, Masato Furuhashi, Yuri Tsugeno, Araya Umetsu, Yosuke Ida, Fumihito Hikage, Hiroshi Ohguro and Megumi Watanabe

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(6), 1652; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11061652 - 16 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1680

Abstract

To compare the drug-induced efficacies between omidenepag (OMD), an EP2 agonist, and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) on glaucomatous trabecular meshwork (TM) cells, two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) cultures of TGF-β2-modulated human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells were used. The following analyses were performed: (1) transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) and FITC-dextran permeability measurements (2D), (2) the size and stiffness of the 3D spheroids, and (3) the expression (both 2D and 3D) by several extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules including collagen (COL) 1, 4 and 6, and fibronectin (FN), and α smooth muscle actin (αSMA), tight junction (TJ)-related molecules, claudin11 (Cldn11) and ZO1, the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) 1–4, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2, 9 and 14, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and several endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related factors. TGF-β2 significantly increased the TEER values and decreased FITC-dextran permeability, respectively, in the 2D HTM monolayers, and induced the formation of downsized and stiffer 3D HTM spheroids. TGF-β2-induced changes in TEER levels and FITC-dextran permeability were remarkably inhibited by PGF2α. PGF2α induced increases in the sizes and stiffness of the TGF-β2-treated 3D spheroids, but OMD enhanced only spheroid size. Upon exposure to TGF-β2, the expression of most of the molecules that were evaluated were significantly up-regulated, except some of ER stress-related factors were down-regulated. TJ-related molecules or ER stress-related factors were significantly up-regulated (2D) or down-regulated (3D), and down-regulated (2D) by PGF2α and OMD, while both drugs altered the expression of some of the other genes in the 3D spheroids in a different manner. The findings presented herein suggest that PGF2α and OMD differently modulate the permeability of the TGFβ2-modulated 2D monolayers and the physical properties of the 3D HTM spheroids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances in Glaucoma as Progressive Neuropathic Disease)

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11 pages, 926 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diagnostic Accuracy and Detection Rate of Glaucoma Screening with Optic Disk Photos, Optical Coherence Tomography Images, and Telemedicine

by Alfonso Anton, Karen Nolivos, Marta Pazos, Gianluca Fatti, Miriam Eleonora Ayala, Elena Martínez-Prats, Oscar Peral, Vladimir Poposki, Evangelos Tsiroukis, Antonio Morilla-Grasa, Merce Comas and Xavier Castells

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(1), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11010216 - 31 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2218

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and retinography in the detection of glaucoma through a telemedicine program. Methods: A population-based sample of 4113 persons was randomly selected. The screening examination included a fundus photograph and OCT images. Images were evaluated on a deferred basis. All participants were then invited to a complete glaucoma examination, including gonioscopy, visual field, and dilated fundus examination. The detection rate, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Results: We screened 1006 persons. Of these, 201 (19.9%) were classified as glaucoma suspects; 20.4% were identified only by retinographs, 11.9% only by OCT images, and 46.3% by both. On ophthalmic examination at the hospital (n = 481), confirmed glaucoma was found in 58 (12.1%), probable glaucoma in 76 (15.8%), and ocular hypertension in 10 (2.1%), and no evidence of glaucoma was found in 337 (70.0%). The detection rate for confirmed or probable glaucoma was 9.2%. Sensitivity ranged from 69.4% to 86.2% and specificity from 82.1% to 97.4%, depending on the definition applied. Conclusions: The combination of OCT images and fundus photographs yielded a detection rate of 9.2% in a population-based screening program with moderate sensitivity, high specificity, and predictive values of 84–96%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances in Glaucoma as Progressive Neuropathic Disease)

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13 pages, 1638 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interobserver and Intertest Agreement in Telemedicine Glaucoma Screening with Optic Disk Photos and Optical Coherence Tomography

by Alfonso Anton, Karen Nolivos, Marta Pazos, Gianluca Fatti, Alejandra Herranz, Miriam Eleonora Ayala-Fuentes, Elena Martínez-Prats, Oscar Peral, Zaida Vega-Lopez, Antoni Monleon-Getino, Antonio Morilla-Grasa, Merce Comas and Xavier Castells

J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10(15), 3337; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10153337 - 28 Jul 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2134

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate interobserver and intertest agreement between optical coherence tomography (OCT) and retinography in the detection of glaucoma through a telemedicine program. Methods: A stratified sample of 4113 individuals was randomly selected, and those who accepted underwent examination including visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), non-mydriatic retinography, and imaging using a portable OCT device. Participants’ data and images were uploaded and assessed by 16 ophthalmologists on a deferred basis. Two independent evaluations were performed for all participants. Agreement between methods was assessed using the kappa coefficient and the prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK). We analyzed potential factors possibly influencing the level of agreement. Results: The final sample comprised 1006 participants. Of all suspected glaucoma cases (n = 201), 20.4% were identified in retinographs only, 11.9% in OCT images only, 46.3% in both, and 21.4% were diagnosed based on other data. Overall interobserver agreement outcomes were moderate to good with a kappa coefficient of 0.37 and a PABAK index of 0.58. Higher values were obtained by experienced evaluators (kappa = 0.61; PABAK = 0.82). Kappa and PABAK values between OCT and photographs were 0.52 and 0.82 for the first evaluation. Conclusion: In a telemedicine screening setting, interobserver agreement on diagnosis was moderate but improved with greater evaluator expertise. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances in Glaucoma as Progressive Neuropathic Disease)

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