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.

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].

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Endovascular Therapy of Internal Carotid Artery Tandem Occlusions and Literature Review

Acute large vessel occlusion is a common cause of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), with high rates of disability and lethality. The incidence of tandem occlusion of the internal carotid artery accounts for about 20% of patients with large vessel occlusion of the anterior circulation in acute ischemic stroke. The low rate of recanalization by intravenous thrombolysis in AIS due to internal carotid artery tandem occlusion, the poor establishment of collateral circulation within a short time, and the complex pathogenesis often suggest a poor prognosis for patients. Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is beneficial for the opening of intracranial large vessel occlusion with internal carotid artery tandem occlusion, there are many problems regarding the emergency management of carotid artery occlusion or stenosis after mechanical thrombectomy, and there are currently no standardized treatment recommendations;The sequential approach to the management of carotid tandem occlusion, the timing of carotid stenting, and the use of antiplatelet agents remain controversial. The current state of research on carotid tandem occlusion is analyzed in the literature to promote clinical understanding of endovascular treatment for patients with acute ischemic stroke due to carotid tandem occlusion.

Acute Aortic Occlusion in a Critically Ill Adult Presenting to the Emergency Department

Acute Aortic Occlusion (AAO) is a rare, life-threatening event so far described mainly in small-scale series. The most common causes of AAO are large saddle emboli to the aortic bifurcation, in-situ thrombosis of an atherosclerotic aorta, and occlusion of previous surgical reconstruction. We present the case of a 52-year-old female with rheumatic heart disease, ischemic cardiomyopathy with restricted left ventricular function, atrial fibrillation, and previous cardio-embolic stroke, who was brought to the Emergency Department (ED) with sudden-onset dyspnea and lower backache radiating to both the legs. On arrival at the ED, the patient was electively intubated and mechanically ventilated in view of hypoxia and altered mental status, attributed to respiratory failure secondary to acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. The secondary survey revealed absence of bilateral femoral and popliteal artery pulsations. A computed tomography (CT) aortogram showed a complete lumen occlusion thrombus in the infra-renal region of the abdominal aorta at the level of L3-L4 lumbar vertebrae. An emergency embolectomy was performed successfully, following which the patient was started on heparin infusion and managed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). In the ICU, she suffered a torsade-cardiac arrest, with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) following rapid defibrillation. She was extubated on Day 3. Three weeks later, she was discharged from the hospital. At the time of discharge, she had developed ischemic lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy, for which neuro-rehabilitation was advised. In our case report, we would like to highlight the following key points: 1) The importance of a detailed secondary survey in the Emergency Department (ED). 2) An inter-disciplinary approach to a complex syndrome that ensures the highest probability of a good outcome. .

COVID-19 vaccine-related retinal vascular occlusion

Retinal artery or vein occlusion(RAVO)is the ocular analog of cerebral stroke,and the iatrogenic causes,such as vaccines,were reported[1].The popularity of COVID-19 vaccines caused concerns about their potential association with RAVO[2,3].To investigate this potential association,we searched PubMed,MEDLINE,and EMBASE on March 28,2023,with the following keywords:[“retinal artery occlusion”OR“retinal vein occlusion”]AND“COVID-19 vaccines”.

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.

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.

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.

Central Retinal Vein Occlusion in Healthy Young Adults Following COVID-19 Vaccination: Case Series

Our aim is to report 4 cases of central retinal vein occlusion following COVID-19 vaccine administration. In this case series, 4 patients between 23-32 years of age presented to us with unilateral central retinal vein occlusion after 2-15 days of getting vaccinated against COVID-19. One patient was a known case of hypertension and 1 was hypothyroid. All the patients had disc swelling, flame shaped haemorrhages, dilated and tortuous blood vessels in the retina. One patient had cystoid macular edema and was treated with intravitreal ranibizumab. As there were no positive systemic risk factors or incidents, COVID-19 vaccines might have an association with the central retinal vein occlusion in these cases. .