Intelligent diagnosis of retinal vein occlusion based on color fundus photographs

AIM:To develop an artificial intelligence(AI)diagnosis model based on deep learning(DL)algorithm to diagnose different types of retinal vein occlusion(RVO)by recognizing color fundus photographs(CFPs).METHODS:Totally 914 CFPs of healthy people and patients with RVO were collected as experimental data sets,and used to train,verify and test the diagnostic model of RVO.All the images were divided into four categories[normal,central retinal vein occlusion(CRVO),branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO),and macular retinal vein occlusion(MRVO)]by three fundus disease experts.Swin Transformer was used to build the RVO diagnosis model,and different types of RVO diagnosis experiments were conducted.The model’s performance was compared to that of the experts.RESULTS:The accuracy of the model in the diagnosis of normal,CRVO,BRVO,and MRVO reached 1.000,0.978,0.957,and 0.978;the specificity reached 1.000,0.986,0.982,and 0.976;the sensitivity reached 1.000,0.955,0.917,and 1.000;the F1-Sore reached 1.000,0.9550.943,and 0.887 respectively.In addition,the area under curve of normal,CRVO,BRVO,and MRVO diagnosed by the diagnostic model were 1.000,0.900,0.959 and 0.970,respectively.The diagnostic results were highly consistent with those of fundus disease experts,and the diagnostic performance was superior.CONCLUSION:The diagnostic model developed in this study can well diagnose different types of RVO,effectively relieve the work pressure of clinicians,and provide help for the follow-up clinical diagnosis and treatment of RVO patients.

Total suprarenal aortic occlusion with cardiac disease: a case series of three cases

Acute aortic occlusion(AAO)has been very rarely reported in the literature and is a potentially life-threatening emergency.[1-5]AAO mostly occurs in cardiac disease patients,[1-4,6,7]and leads to cardiac complications.[1,2,5,6]Suprarenal aortic occlusion(SAO)is a very rare type of AAO,and infrarenal aortic occlusion(IAO)accounts for 75.8%-97.8%.[1,3,5-7]SAO is different from IAO in some clinical manifestations,treatment strategies,and prognoses.[3,6-8]SAO with cardiac disease will make the condition more complex and could easily cause a delay in diagnosis and portend worse outcomes with amputation and mortality rates.[1,3,6]Early and fast diagnosis and positive revascularization treatment are necessary to prevent cases from becoming fatal.[1-3]Herein,we present a case series of SAO with cardiac disease.

The prognostic value of collateral circulation in coronary chronic total occlusion underwent percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND The prognostic value of coronary collateral circulation(CC)in patients undergoing chronic total occlusion(CTO)percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)is underdetermined.The purpose of the study was to assess the prognostic value of current two CC grading systems and their association with long-term outcomes in patients with CTO underwent PCI.METHODS We consecutively enrolled patients with single-vessel CTO underwent PCI between January 2010 and December2013.All patients were categorized into well-developed or poor-developed collaterals group according to angiographic Werner's CC(grade 2 vs.grade 0–1)or Rentrop(grade 3 vs.grade 0–2)grading system.The primary endpoint was 5-year cardiac death.RESULTS Of 2452 enrolled patients,the overall technical success rate was 74.1%.Well-developed collaterals were present in686 patients(28.0%)defined by Werner's CC grade 2,and in 1145 patients(46.7%)by Rentrop grade 3.According to Werner's CC grading system,patients with well-developed collaterals had a lower rate of 5-year cardiac death compared with those with poordeveloped collaterals(1.6%vs.3.3%,P=0.02),those with suboptimal recanalization was associated with higher rate of 5-year cardiac death compared with optimal recanalization(4.7%vs.0.8%,P=0.01)and failure patients(4.7%vs.1.6%,P=0.12).However,the similar effect was not shown in Rentrop grading system.CONCLUSIONS In patients with the single-vessel CTO underwent PCI,well-developed collaterals by Werner's CC definition were associated with lower rate of 5-year cardiac death.Werner's CC grading system had a greater prognostic value than Rentrop grading system in patients with CTO underwent PCI.

Effi cacy of partial and complete resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in the hemorrhagic shock model of liver injury

BACKGROUND:Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta(REBOA)can temporarily control traumatic bleeding.However,its prolonged use potentially leads to ischemia-reperfusion injury(IRI).Partial REBOA(pREBOA)can alleviate ischemic burden;however,its security and eff ectiveness prior to operative hemorrhage control remains unknown.Hence,we aimed to estimate the effi cacy of pREBOA in a swine model of liver injury using an experimental sliding-chamber ballistic gun.METHODS:Twenty Landrace pigs were randomized into control(no aortic occlusion)(n=5),intervention with complete REBOA(cREBOA)(n=5),continuous pREBOA(C-pREBOA)(n=5),and sequential pREBOA(S-pREBOA)(n=5)groups.In the cREBOA and C-pREBOA groups,the balloon was inflated for 60 min.The hemodynamic and laboratory values were compared at various observation time points.Tissue samples immediately after animal euthanasia from the myocardium,liver,kidneys,and duodenum were collected for histological assessment using hematoxylin and eosin staining.RESULTS:Compared with the control group,the survival rate of the REBOA groups was prominently improved(all P<0.05).The total volume of blood loss was markedly lower in the cREBOA group(493.14±127.31 mL)compared with other groups(P<0.01).The pH was significantly lower at 180 min in the cREBOA and S-pREBOA groups(P<0.05).At 120 min,the S-pREBOA group showed higher alanine aminotransferase(P<0.05)but lower blood urea nitrogen compared with the cREBOA group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:In this trauma model with liver injury,a 60-minute pREBOA resulted in improved survival rate and was effective in maintaining reliable aortic pressure,despite persistent hemorrhage.Extended tolerance time for aortic occlusion in Zone I for non-compressible torso hemorrhage was feasible with both continuous partial and sequential partial measures,and the significant improvement in the severity of acidosis and distal organ injury was observed in the sequential pREBOA.

Risk factors of non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy and central retinal artery occlusion

AIM:To investigate the difference in risk factors between non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy(NAION)and central retinal artery occlusion(CRAO)and develop a predictive diagnostic nomogram.METHODS:The study included 37 patients with monocular NAION,20 with monocular CRAO,and 24 with hypertension.Gender,age,and systemic diseases were recorded.Blood routine,lipids,hemorheology,carotid and brachial artery doppler ultrasound,and echocardiography were collected.The optic disc area,cup area,and cup-to-disc ratio(C/D)of the unaffected eye in the NAION and CRAO group and the right eye in the hypertension group were measured.RESULTS:The carotid artery intimal medial thickness(C-IMT)of the affected side of the CRAO group was thicker(P=0.039)and its flow-mediated dilation(FMD)was lower(P=0.049)than the NAION group.Compared with hypertension patients,NAION patients had higher whole blood reduced viscosity low-shear(WBRV-L)and erythrocyte aggregation index(EAI;P=0.045,0.037),and CRAO patients had higher index of rigidity of erythrocyte(IR)and erythrocyte deformation index(EDI;P=0.004,0.001).The optic cup and the C/D of the NAION group were smaller than the other two groups(P<0.0001).The diagnostic prediction model showed high diagnostic specificity(83.7%)and sensitivity(85.6%),which was highly related to hypertension,the C-IMT of the affected side,FMD,platelet(PLT),EAI,and C/D.CONCLUSION:CRAO patients show thicker C-IMT and worse endothelial function than NAION.NAION and CRAO may be related to abnormal hemorheology.A small cup and small C/D may be involved in NAION.The diagnostic nomogram can be used to preliminarily identify NAION and CRAO.

OCTA characteristics in non-arteritic central retinal artery occlusion and correlation with visual acuity

AIM:To observe the retinal and choroidal circulations in patients with non-arteritic permanent central retinal artery occlusion(NA-CRAO)via optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)and analyze their correlation with visual acuity.METHODS:Sixty-two eyes with clinically confirmed acute NA-CRAO were included in the study and divided into:A type(mild n=29),B type(moderate n=27)and C type(severe n=6)based on the degree of visual loss,retinal edema,and arterial blood flow delay in fundus fluorescence angiography(FFA).Contralateral healthy eyes were used as the control group.Best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA),slit lamp microscopy,indirect ophthalmoscopy,fundus color photography,OCTA,and FFA were performed.Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to determine the correlations between retinal and choroidal vessels and visual acuity.RESULTS:There were no statistically significant differences in age,gender,and intraocular pressure among the three types and the control group(P>0.05).Vessel density in deep capillary plexus(VD-DCP)significantly decreased(P<0.05)in all three types of NA-CRAO patients compared to the control group.Vessel density in superficial vascular plexus(VD-SVP)significantly decreased(P<0.05)in type A patients and choriocapillaris flow area significantly decreased(P<0.05)in type B and type C patients compared to the control group;while outer retinal flow areas significantly increased in the type A(P<0.05)and decreased in type C patients(P<0.05).The retinal thickness significantly increased in type C group(P<0.05).The VD-SVP at fovea in the type A was significantly lower than both of type B and C.The VD-SVP at nasal parafovea in type A and B was significantly lower than type C(P<0.05).The logMAR BCVA of type A was significantly better than that of type B and C groups(P<0.05).Spearman’s correlation analysis showed that the logMAR BCVA was positively correlated with VD-SVP at fovea(r=0.679,P=0.031)and nasal parafovea(r=0.826,P=0.013).CONCLUSION:OCTA is valuable for assessing retinal ischemia,and evaluating visual impairment.Deep retinal vasculature is commonly affected in all NA-CRAO types.VDSVPs at fovea and nasal parafovea can serve as reliable markers of visual impairment in NA-CRAO.

Unilateral branch retinal artery occlusion in association with COVID-19:a case report

Dear Editor,I am Kunihiko Hirosawa of the Department of Ophthalmology at Juntendo University Hospital.I am writing to present a case of concomitant Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19)with branch retinal artery occlusion(BRAO).BRAO presents as a sudden,painless loss of vision on the afflicted side and is most often focal in nature[1].

Imaging characteristics and treatment strategies for carotid artery occlusion caused by skull base fracture:Three case reports

BACKGROUND Traumatic internal carotid artery(ICA)occlusion is a rare complication of skull base fractures,characterized by high mortality and disability rates,and poor prognosis.Therefore,timely discovery and correct management are crucial for saving the lives of such patients and improving their prognosis.This article retrospectively analyzed the imaging and clinical data of three patients,to explore the imaging characteristics and treatment strategies for carotid artery occlusion,combined with severe skull base fractures.CASE SUMMARY This case included three patients,all male,aged 21,63,and 16 years.They underwent plain film skull computed tomography(CT)examination at the onset of their illnesses,which revealed fractures at the bases of their skulls.Ultimately,these cases were definitively diagnosed through CT angiography(CTA)examinations.The first patient did not receive surgical treatment,only anticoagulation therapy,and recovered smoothly with no residual limb dysfunction(Case 1).The other two patients both developed intracranial hypertension and underwent decompressive craniectomy.One of these patients had high intracranial pressure and significant brain swelling postoperatively,leading the family to choose to take him home(Case 2).The other patient also underwent decompressive craniectomy and recovered well postoperatively with only mild limb motor dysfunction(Case 3).We retrieved literature from PubMed on skull base fractures causing ICA occlusion to determine the imaging characteristics and treatment strategies for this type of disease.CONCLUSION For patients with cranial trauma combined with skull base fractures,it is essential to complete a CTA examination as soon as possible,to screen for blunt cerebrovascular injury.

Giant cavernous aneurysms occluded by aneurysmal thrombosis,calcification,parent artery occlusion:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Patients with giant intracranial aneurysms(GIAs)are at a high risk of rupture,morbidity,and mortality even after surgical or endovascular treatment.We described a case of a spontaneously occluded GIA secondary to gradual growth of the GIA,continuously progressed aneurysmal thrombosis,complete aneurysmal calcification and complete occlusion of the parent artery-the right internal carotid artery(RICA).CASE SUMMARY A 72-year-old female patient complained of sudden pain in her right eye upon admission to our hospital.She had been diagnosed with a GIA[30 mm(axial)×38 mm(coronal)×28 mm(sagittal)]containing an aneurysmal thrombus located in the cavernous sinus segment of RICA diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),enhanced MRI,and magnetic resonance angiography more than 14 years ago.Later,with slow growth of the cavernous carotid GIA,aneurysmal thrombosis progressed continuously,spontaneous occlusion of the RICA,complete aneurysmal calcification,and occlusion of the GIA occurred gradually.She had no history of subarachnoid hemorrhage but missed the chance for endovascular therapy at an early stage.As a result,she was left with severe permanent sequelae from the injuries to the right cranial nerves Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ,V1/V2,and Ⅴ.CONCLUSION The risk of rupture of the cavernous carotid GIAs was relatively low and possibly further be reduced by the stasis flow and spontaneous occlusion of the parent artery internal carotid artery(ICA)induced by the mass effect of the cavernous carotid GIAs and the extremely rare aneurysmal calcification.However,nowadays,it is advisable to recommend early endovascular treatment for the cavernous carotid GIAs to prevent injuries to the surrounding intracranial nerves and occlusion of the ICA,mainly caused by the mass effect of the cavernous carotid GIAs.

An Application of RGBD-Based Skeleton Reconstruction for Pedestrian Detection and Occlusion Handling

This study explores the challenges posed by pedestrian detection and occlusion in AR applications, employing a novel approach that utilizes RGB-D-based skeleton reconstruction to reduce the overhead of classical pedestrian detection algorithms during training. Furthermore, it is dedicated to addressing occlusion issues in pedestrian detection by using Azure Kinect for body tracking and integrating a robust occlusion management algorithm, significantly enhancing detection efficiency. In experiments, an average latency of 204 milliseconds was measured, and the detection accuracy reached an outstanding level of 97%. Additionally, this approach has been successfully applied in creating a simple yet captivating augmented reality game, demonstrating the practical application of the algorithm.

Stranched Internal Hernia Revealed by Occlusion of the Large Libra: A Propos of a Case

The left para-duodenal internal hernia, whose origin is generally embryological, is a rare etiology of intestinal obstruction found mainly in young adults. We report here the case of acute intestinal obstruction by left para-duodenal internal hernia in a 36-year-old young man. It was a patient who consulted urgently for occlusive syndrome with cessation of materials and gases. Abdominal percussion noted abdominal tympanism and pre-hepatic dullness was preserved. The flow and icicle signs were negative. Palpation did not objectify hepatosplenomegaly and did not find any organomegaly either. On the other hand, she found an epigastric defense. The abdominal X-ray without preparation showed water levels that were wider than high, hail-like. We performed a median above and below umbilical laparotomy and intraoperatively, it was an internal hernia with incarceration of small loops in a voluminous left paraduodenal sac of 12 cm. They were not necrotic and quickly recolored after extrication. We resected the hernial sac and closed the hernial orifice with separate stitches with absorbable suture 0. The postoperative course was simple. The patient was discharged from the hospital on the 4th postoperative day. After 18 months of hindsight, he is doing well.

Comparison of efficacy of conbercept,aflibercept,and ranibizumab ophthalmic injection in the treatment of macular edema caused by retinal vein occlusion:a Meta-analysis

AIM:To evaluate and compare the anatomical and functional outcomes and negative effects of the three anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)drugs in the treatment of macular edema(ME)due to retinal vein occlusion(RVO)based on the evidence pooled from current clinical trials and observational studies.METHODS:A systematic literature search was conducted on nine online databases from inception until April 30,2022.The main endpoints were best corrected visual acuity(BCVA),central macular thickness(CMT),and adverse events(AEs).Cumulative Meta-analysis was conducted to synthesize the outcomes of the drugs.The retrieved data were analyzed using Stata software(version 12.0).RESULTS:A total of 20 studies comprising 1674 eyes met the inclusion criteria to the Meta-analysis.It was observed that conbercept and aflibercept had better visual acuity effects compared with ranibizumab at 1mo[weight mean difference(WMD)=-0.03,P=0.001;WMD=-0.05,P=0.019],but the effects were not different from that of ranibizumab at 6mo.Moreover,there was not statistically significant dif ference in the propor tion of patients gaining≥15 letters at 12-24mo between aflibercept and ranibizumab[odds ratio(OR)=1.16,P=0.427].Conbercept had higher mean CMT change effects at 1mo(WMD=-14.43,P=0.014)and 6mo(WMD=-35.63,P≤0.001)compared with ranibizumab.Meanwhile,the mean CMT change effects at 1mo(WMD=-10.14,P=0.170),6mo(WMD=-26.98,P=0.140)and 12-24mo(WMD=-12.34,P=0.071)were comparable among the groups.Similarly,AEs were not significantly different among the treatments(OR=0.75,P=0.305;OR=1.04,P=0.89).The stability of effect size of mean BCVA and CMT improved with the increase in sample size.Aflibercept and conbercept required fewer injections compared with ranibizumab.CONCLUSION:This is the first study to evaluate the efficacy and AEs of intravitreal administration of conbercept,ranibizumab,and aflibercept in the treatment of RVOME.Intravitreal aflibercept or conbercept results in better mean change in vision and CMT reduction compared with ranibizumab.Conbercept can be considered to be a promising and innovative drug with good anti-VEGF effects.

Long-term outcomes of anti-VEGF treatment with 5+PRN regimen for macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion

AIM:To assess the long-term outcomes of treating macular edema(ME)associated with central retinal vein occlusion(CRVO)with a regimen of“5+pro re nata(PRN)”.METHODS:This retrospective study included 27 eyes of 27 patients with ME associated with non-ischemic CRVO(non-iCRVO group,n=15)and ischemic CRVO(iCRVO group,n=12).The eyes were treated with five consecutive intravitreal injections of conbercept or ranibizumab,followed by reinjections as needed or PRN.Retinal laser photocoagulation or intravitreal dexamethasone implants(DEX)were implemented in both groups when necessary.The best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA,logMAR)and central retinal thickness(CRT)were recorded at baseline,at 1,2,3,4,5,6,and 12mo,and at the final visit.The efficacy rates of BCVA and CRT before and after treatment were calculated.The number of injections at each visit and the incidence of adverse events were also recorded.RESULTS:The patients,aged 59.4±15.1y,were followed up for 24.7±8.8mo(range:15-42mo).After treatment,BCVA improved significantly from 1.04±0.56 logMAR at baseline to 0.59±0.36 logMAR(P=0.038)at the final visit in all patients.Both the non-iCRVO and the iCRVO groups achieved improved BCVA compared to the baseline at all visit points,but there was no statistical significance(P=0.197 and 0.33,respectively).The mean CRT was statistically reduced compared to baseline at all visit points in all the eyes and in both groups(all P<0.001).The apparent effective rate was 22.22% for BCVA and 37.04% for CRT after the first injection,48.15%for BCVA and 62.96% for CRT after 5 consecutive injections,and 74.08% for BCVA and 100% for CRT at the end of follow up.The average number of injections in all patients was 9.0±2.4 at 12mo and 14.9±8.1 finally with no statistical significance between both groups(P>0.05).Laser treatment was applied to all eyes in the iCRVO group,while only 5 patients in the noniCRVO group.Six patients in the non-iCRVO group and 3 patients in the iCRVO group had a drug switch.DEX was applied to 4 eyes in the non-iCRVO group and 5 eyes in the iCRVO group.CONCLUSION:The 5+PRN anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)regimen is found to be safe and effective for both iCRVO and non-iCRVO,especially in the iCRVO group.The best regimen for such patients needs to be further investigated.Adjuvant laser therapy and DEX are necessary in some cases.

Stomach perforation-induced general occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome and stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 therapy effect

BACKGROUND Using rat stomach perforation as a prototypic direct lesion applied in cytoprotection research,we focused on the first demonstration of the severe occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome induced by stomach perforation.The revealed stomachinduced occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome corresponds to the previously described occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes in rats suffering multicausal pathology and shared severe vascular and multiorgan failure.This general point was particularly reviewed.As in all the described occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes with permanent occlusion of major vessels,peripheral and central,and other similar noxious procedures that severely affect endothelium function,the stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 was resolving therapy.AIM To reveal the stomach perforation-induced general occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome and BPC 157 therapy effect.METHODS The procedure included deeply anesthetized rats,complete calvariectomy,laparotomy at 15 min thereafter,and stomach perforation to rapidly induce vascular and multiorgan failure occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome.At 5 min post-perforation time,rats received therapy[BPC 157(10μg or 10 ng/kg)or saline(5 mL/kg,1 mL/rat)(controls)]into the perforated defect in the stomach).Sacrifice was at 15 min or 60 min post-perforation time.Assessment(gross and microscopy;volume)included:Brain swelling,peripheral vessels(azygos vein,superior mesenteric vein,portal vein,inferior caval vein)and heart,other organs lesions(i.e.,stomach,defect closing or widening);superior sagittal sinus,and peripherally the portal vein,inferior caval vein,and abdominal aorta blood pressures and clots;electrocardiograms;and bleeding time from the perforation(s).RESULTS BPC 157 beneficial effects accord with those noted before in the healing of the perforated defect(raised vessel presentation;less bleeding,defect contraction)and occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes counteraction.BPC 157 therapy(into the perforated defect),induced immediate shrinking and contraction of the whole stomach(unlike considerable enlargement by saline application).Accordingly,BPC 157 therapy induced direct blood delivery via the azygos vein,and attenuated/eliminated the intracranial(superior sagittal sinus),portal and caval hypertension,and aortal hypotension.Thrombosis,peripherally(inferior caval vein,portal vein,abdominal aorta)and centrally(superior sagittal sinus)BPC 157 therapy markedly reduced/annihilated.Severe lesions in the brain(swelling,hemorrhage),heart(congestion and arrhythmias),lung(hemorrhage and congestion),and marked congestion in the liver,kidney,and gastrointestinal tract were markedly reduced.CONCLUSION We revealed stomach perforation as a severe occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome,peripherally and centrally,and rapid counteraction by BPC 157 therapy.Thereby,further BPC 157 therapy may be warranted.

Differential analysis of aqueous humor cytokine levels in patients with macular edema secondary to diabetic retinopathy or retinal vein occlusion

AIM:To evaluate the difference and the correlation between the concentrations of cytokines in the aqueous humor of eyes with macular edema secondary to diabetic retinopathy(DR)or retinal vein occlusion(RVO).METHODS:This is a retrospective case control study.The aqueous humor samples were collected during intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)for patients diagnosed with macular edema secondary to DR(DME)or RVO(RVO-ME)at Xijing Hospital from August 2021 to July 2022.Meanwhile,aqueous humor samples during vitrectomy from patients with idiopathic macular hole(IMH)were also collected and served as controls.The aqueous humor concentrations of VEGF,platelet-derived factor(PDGF),interleukin(IL)-6,IL-8,IL-18,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1(MCP-1)were measured with Human Premixed Multi-Analyte Kit(Luminex).The difference of the aqueous cytokines and the correlation between the two diseases were analyzed.RESULTS:A total of 40 eyes of 38 patients were enrolled in the study,including 13 eyes of 11 DME patients(DME group),16 eyes of 16 RVO-ME patients(RVO-ME group)and 11 eyes of 11 IMH patients(control group).The VEGF,PDGF,IL-6,IL-8,and MCP-1 levels of the aqueous humor were higher in both DME and RVO-ME groups compared with the control group(all P<0.05),the levels of TNF-αwas higher in the DME group than in the control group(P<0.05).The VEGF,IL-6,MCP-1,and TNF-αlevels in the aqueous humor were significantly higher in the DR group than those in the RVO group(all P<0.05).Correlation analyses revealed that there were complex positive correlations between IL-6,IL-8,IL-18,MCP-1,and TNF-αlevels in the aqueous humor of eyes with two diseases.CONCLUSION:Although ischemic and inflammatory factors are similarly involved in the pathogenesis of DME and RVO-ME,the roles of these factors are more significant or more likely to be activated in DR patients,suggesting different treatment strategies should be considered for the two diseases.

Effect of a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor nintedanib on bFGF and VEGF concentrations in a rabbit retinal vein occlusion model

AIM:To evaluate whether a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor nintedanib could inhibit basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)simultaneously for retinal vascular disease in vivo.METHODS:After a laser induced rabbit retinal vein occlusion(RVO)model was made,0.5 mg of nintedanib was injected intravitreally in the left eye on the third day while the right eye was as a control.Intracameral samples were taken on the day before laser treatment and days 1,3,7,14,21,and 28 after treatment.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to test the bFGF and VEGF-A concentrations in the aqueous humor.RESULTS:Both bFGF and VEGF-A rose significantly on the third day after laser treatment in both eyes.In the control eye the bFGF concentration peaked on the 14th day while the VEGF-A concentration dropped rapidly soon after the third day.After nintadanib injection in the study eye,both bFGF and VEGF-A showed a significant reduction on the 4th day(7th day after laser treatment)when compared to the control eye,and kept on low level in the following several weeks.CONCLUSION:Intravitreal injection of nintedanib can inhibit the expression of bFGF and VEGF in the process of RVO model to a certain extent,which is expected to become a new method for the treatment of retinal vascular diseases or fibrotic diseases.

Optical coherence tomography angiography for macular microvessels in ischemic branch retinal vein occlusion treated with conbercept:predictive factors for the prognosis

AIM:To evaluate the predicative factors of visual prognosis using optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)in ischemic branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO)patients with macular edema(ME)after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)treatment.METHODS:In this retrospective analysis,data from 60 patients(60 eyes)with a definite diagnosis of ischemic BRVO with ME by fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA)were studied.The eyes with ME according to spectral domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT)underwent intravitreal conbercept(IVC)and 3+pro re nata(PRN)regimen.The injection times were recorded.Two weeks after injection,fundus laser photocoagulation was performed in the non-perfusion area of the retina.The patients were followed up once a month for 6mo.The bestcorrected visual acuity(BCVA),foveal avascular zone(FAZ),and A-circularity index(AI),at 6mo and the baseline were compared.RESULTS:All patients showed significant improvement in BCVA from 0.82±0.32 to 0.39±0.11 logMAR(P<0.001).The mean central macular thickness(CMT)significantly decreased from 476.22±163.54 to 298.66±109.23μm.Both the FAZ area and AI at 6mo were significantly higher than those at the baseline:the FAZ area increased(0.38±0.02 vs 0.39±0.02 mm^(2),P<0.05);the AI increased(1.27±0.02 vs 1.31±0.01,P=0.000).The baseline BCVA showed a significantly positive correlation with the baseline FAZ area,FAZ perimeter(PERIM)and AI,final visual gain(FVG)and injection times,respectively(P<0.001).FVG showed a significantly negative correlation with the FAZ area,PERIM,AI and injection times,but a significantly positive correlation with vessel densities(VDs)300μm area around FAZ(FD-300;P<0.001).Injection times was positively correlated with the baseline FAZ area,and AI,but inversely correlated with the baseline FD-300(P<0.001).However macular ischemia was noted in 5 cases during follow-up.CONCLUSION:Using OCTA to observe macular ischemia and quantify parameters can better predict the final visual prognosis of patients before treatment.The changes in FAZ parameters may influence the visual prognosis and injection times.

3D Model Occlusion Culling Optimization Method Based on WebGPU Computing Pipeline

Nowadays,Web browsers have become an important carrier of 3D model visualization because of their convenience and portability.During the process of large-scale 3D model visualization based on Web scenes with the problems of slow rendering speed and low FPS(Frames Per Second),occlusion culling,as an important method for rendering optimization,can remove most of the occluded objects and improve rendering efficiency.The traditional occlusion culling algorithm(TOCA)is calculated by traversing all objects in the scene,which involves a large amount of repeated calculation and time consumption.To advance the rendering process and enhance rendering efficiency,this paper proposes an occlusion culling with three different optimization methods based on the WebGPU Computing Pipeline.Firstly,for the problem of large amounts of repeated calculation processes in TOCA,these units are moved from the CPU to the GPU for parallel computing,thereby accelerating the calculation of the Potential Visible Sets(PVS);Then,for the huge overhead of creating pipeline caused by too many 3D models in a certain scene,the Breaking Occlusion Culling Algorithm(BOCA)is introduced,which removes some nodes according to building a Hierarchical Bounding Volume(BVH)scene tree to reduce the overhead of creating pipelines;After that,the structure of the scene tree is transmitted to the GPU in the order of depth-first traversal and finally,the PVS is obtained by parallel computing.In the experiments,3D geological models with five different scales from 1:5,000 to 1:500,000 are used for testing.The results show that the proposed methods can reduce the time overhead of repeated calculation caused by the computing pipeline creation and scene tree recursive traversal in the occlusion culling algorithm effectively,with 97%rendering efficiency improvement compared with BOCA,thereby accelerating the rendering process on Web browsers.

Subintimal recanalization for non-acute occlusion of intracranial vertebral artery in an emergency endovascular procedure:A case report

BACKGROUND Endovascular recanalization of non-acute intracranial artery occlusion is technically difficult,particularly when the microwire enters the subintima.Although the subintimal tracking and re-entry technique has been well established in the endovascular treatment of coronary artery occlusion,there is limited experience with its use in intracranial occlusion due to anatomical variations and a lack of dedicated devices.CASE SUMMARY A 74-year-old man was admitted to the hospital two days after experiencing acute weakness in both lower extremities,poor speech,and dizziness.After admission,imaging revealed acute ischemic stroke and non-acute occlusion of bilateral intracranial vertebral arteries(ICVAs).On the fourth day of admission,the patient's condition deteriorated and an emergency endovascular recanalization of the left ICVA was performed.During this procedure,a microwire was advanced in the subintima of the vessel wall and successfully reentered the distal true lumen.Two stents were implanted in the subintima.The patient's Modified Rankin Scale was 1 at three months postoperatively.CONCLUSION We present a technical case of subintimal recanalization for non-acute ICVA occlusion in an emergency endovascular procedure.However,we emphasize the necessity for caution when applying the subintimal tracking approach in intracranial occlusion due to the significant dangers involved.

Emergency internal iliac artery temporary occlusion after massive hemorrhage during surgery of cesarean scar pregnancy:A case report

BACKGROUND Cesarean scar pregnancy(CSP)is rare but may result in uterine rupture during pregnancy or massive hemorrhage during abortion procedures.Awareness of this condition is increasing,and most patients with CSP are now diagnosed early and can be managed safely.However,some atypical patients are misdiagnosed,and their surgical risks are underestimated,increasing the risk of fatal hemorrhage.CASE SUMMARY A 27-year-old Asian woman visited our institution because of abnormal pregnancy,and she was diagnosed with a hydatidiform mole through transvaginal ultrasound(TVS).Under hysteroscopy,a large amount of placental tissue was found in the scar of the lower uterine segment,and a sudden massive hemorrhage occurred during the removal process.The bilateral internal iliac arteries were temporarily blocked under laparoscopy,and scar resection and repair were rapidly performed.She was discharged in good condition 5 d after the operation.CONCLUSION Although TVS is widely used in the diagnosis of CSP,delays in the diagnosis of atypical CSP remain.Surgical treatment following internal iliac artery temporary occlusion may be an appropriate management method for unanticipated massive hemorrhage during CSP surgery.