Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: Retinal Microcirculation as a Potential Marker for Chronic Fatigue

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 23(22), P. 13683 - 13683

Published: Nov. 8, 2022

Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) is characterized by persisting sequelae after infection with severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). PCS can affect patients all COVID-19 disease severities. As previous studies have revealed impaired blood flow as a provoking factor triggering PCS, it was the aim of present study to investigate potential association between self-reported chronic fatigue and retinal microcirculation in potentially indicating an objective biomarker. A prospective performed, including 201 subjects: 173 28 controls. Retinal visualized OCT angiography (OCT-A) quantified using Erlangen-Angio-Tool macula peripapillary vessel density (VD). Chronic (CF) assessed according variables Bell’s score, age gender. VDs superficial vascular plexus (SVP), intermediate capillary (ICP) deep (DCP) were analyzed, considering repetitions (12 times). Seropositivity for autoantibodies targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR-AAbs) determined established cardiomyocyte bioassay. Taking account repetitions, mixed model performed detect possible differences least square means different groups included analysis. An effect relation VD observed controls (p < 0.0001). Gender analysis showed that women lower levels SVP compared male = 0.0015). The significantly ICP 0.0001 (CI: 0.32; 1)). Moreover, patients, significant difference those without CF respect 0.0033 −4.5; −0.92)). age, gender representing subjective marker CF. Consequently, might serve biomarker subjectively reported PCS.

Language: Английский

---

Dynamic retinal vessel analysis: flickering a light into the brain

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Growing aging populations pose new challenges to public health as the number of people living with dementia grows in tandem. To alleviate burden dementia, prodromal signs cognitive impairment must be recognized and risk factors reduced. In this context, non-invasive techniques may used identify early changes monitor disease progression. Dynamic retinal vessel analysis (DVA) provides an opportunity measure vasoreactivity a way that comparable cerebral vasoreactivity, thus providing window brain. We conducted literature search on PubMed Scopus studies utilizing DVA describe central nervous system diseases compare it brain function structure. included original papers full text English. identified 11 studies, which most employed cross-sectional design (91%). Studies cerebrovascular reported decreased patient compared healthy controls. yielded mixed results, at least part due high population heterogeneity. There is also evidence for association between cognition parameters such blood flow velocity, microvascular diffusivity, score. The reviewed function, despite have demonstrated relationship cognition. Heterogeneity study populations, procedures, analyses make comparisons difficult. larger sample size, clear description methods, standardized are needed elucidate eye-brain connection enhance translational clinical applications DVA.

Language: Английский

---

Localization of Microvascular Changes in Systemic Disease Without Retinopathy Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA)

Journal of Clinical Medicine, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 14(2), P. 372 - 372

Published: Jan. 9, 2025

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the location of retinal fractal dimension (FD) abnormalities in individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN) without retinopathy. Methods: The annular zone 6 mm × OCTA images centered on fovea was partitioned into thin annuli analyzed using analysis measure FDs. Results: cohort (n = 114) had an average age 55.7 years, 87% self-identifying as male; 29% 33) HTN, 8% 9) DM, 11% 12) both. Individuals DM showed significantly lower FDs C5 partition deep vascular plexus (DVP), located 1.77 2.14 from foveal center compared controls (1.57 ± 0.003 vs. 1.58 0.006; p 0.014). Those both HTN exhibited entire superficial (SVP) annulus (1.84 0.01 1.85 0.007; 0.006), well C3 (1.58 0.02 1.60 0.02; 0.008), C4 0.002 1.57 0.01; 0.036), (1.56 0.008; < 0.001), C6 1.59 0.001) partitions SVP (1.03 2.50 center) 0.008 0.015) 0.012) DVP (1.40 neither nor HTN. Conclusions: While our examined a predominantly male veteran population, findings align prior studies that reported cohorts. Our further localizes these microvascular changes, most prominent differences occurring at SVP, representing area between fovea. These data lay groundwork for developing screening protocols identify risk vasculopathies.

Language: Английский

---

Interplay of Retinal and Choroidal Vasculatures in Ocular Health and Disease

Advances in experimental medicine and biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 459 - 463

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Paracentral Acute Middle Maculopathy (PAMM) in Ocular Vascular Diseases—What We Know and Future Perspectives

Vision, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 9(1), P. 19 - 19

Published: March 3, 2025

Paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM) is a macular condition primarily detected using optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. It presents as hyperreflective bands within the inner nuclear layer (INL) of retina, often leading to localized degenerative phenomena. PAMM that reveals dysfunction in microvascular network retina. However, it not an isolated phenomenon but rather indicator deeper and even systemic, prevalently vascular-related issues related wide array conditions impact circulation, including retinal vein artery occlusion, diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive vascular changes. occurs due impaired perfusion deep capillary plexus, clinically subtle noticeable blind spots (scotomas) central visual field. Recent advances imaging technology, particularly angiography (OCTA), have provided clearer view underlying alterations. Thus, may currently serve biomarker broader ocular systemic pathologies before disease progression. This review explores latest reports literature on PAMM, from its characteristic features evolving theories behind development. By bridging gap between ophthalmology health, facilitate earlier diagnosis tailored management strategies for extend far beyond eye. Understanding this entity could ultimately transform our approach assessing health toward further research, risk prediction, patient care.

Language: Английский

---

Factors associated with Hypertensive Retinopathy among People with Hypertension: A Systematic Review

Research in Community and Public Health Nursing, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 36, P. 130 - 130

Published: March 31, 2025

Purpose: The associated factors for hypertensive retinopathy (HTR) are rarely investigated. This study aimed to identify the HTR using a systematic review. Methods: review included cross-sectional, case-controlled, and cohort studies on risk published in Korean English with full texts available from PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, databases. Methodological quality was assessed Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist. Results: Eleven were finally selected, three including patients hypertension without diabetes mellitus, older age, male sex, alcohol consumption, duration hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, microalbuminuria, high creatinine levels, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular changes identified as HTR. Conversely, remaining eight studies, younger non-smoking status, renal function indicators (albuminuria, uric acid) factors. Conclusions: Regardless inclusion impaired functions determined significant However, considering limited number evidence lack confirm causality, we recommend further research

Language: Английский

---

The Retinal Age Gap as a Marker of Accelerated Aging in the Early Course of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia Bulletin, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 14, 2025

Abstract Background and Hypothesis Given the available findings confirming accelerated brain aging in schizophrenia (SZ), we conducted a study aimed at verifying whether quantitative retinal morphological data enable age prediction patients present with positive gap (RAG). Study Design Two samples of controls were enrolled: one included 59 SZ 60 controls, all whom underwent optical coherence tomography (OCT) enabling measurement 72 variables. A second sample 65 70 was then combined first sample, to generate database where each subject represented by 28 Four different machine learning (ML) algorithms used for based on z-standardized OCT data. The associations between RAG, demographic, clinical also analyzed. Results Patients from both had significantly higher RAG ranging 5.88 7.44 years depending specific sample. Predictions larger group but fewer variables exhibited relative error. All ML generated similar outcomes regarding age. correlated dose antipsychotic medication severity symptoms. Correlations chronological showed that highest younger patients, about 45 years, it decreased. Conclusions ML-based results corroborated its pharmacological treatment syndrome severity. finding is novel requires replication.

Language: Английский

---

Genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia through neuroinflammatory pathways associated with retinal thinness

Nature Mental Health, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 21, 2025

Abstract Schizophrenia is associated with structural and functional changes in the central nervous system, including most distal part of it, retina. However, question whether retinal atrophy present before individuals develop schizophrenia or a secondary consequence disorder remains unanswered. Here we address this by examining association between polygenic risk scores for morphologies without diagnosis. We used population data 34,939 white British Irish from UK Biobank. Our robust regression results show that higher were thinner overall maculae, while controlling confounding factors ( b = −0.17, P 0.018). Similarly, found greater specific to neuroinflammation gene sets ganglion cell inner plexiform layers −0.10, self-contained 0.014, competitive 0.02). These provide new evidence genetic could predispose heightened neuroinflammatory responses. Over time, these responses contribute neurodegenerative processes such as thinning.

Language: Английский

---

Künstliche Intelligenz (KI) zur Früherkennung von Netzhauterkrankungen

Kompass Ophthalmologie, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 8

Published: April 25, 2025

Künstliche Intelligenz (KI) hat sich zu einem transformativen Werkzeug auf dem Gebiet der Augenheilkunde entwickelt und revolutioniert die Diagnose Behandlung von Krankheiten. Diese Arbeit gibt einen umfassenden Überblick über KI-Anwendungen bei verschiedenen Netzhauterkrankungen zeigt ihr Potenzial, Effizienz Vorsorgeuntersuchungen erhöhen, Frühdiagnosen erleichtern Patientenergebnisse verbessern. Wir erklären grundlegenden Konzepte KI, einschließlich des maschinellen Lernens (ML) Deep Learning (DL), deren Anwendung in heben Bedeutung KI-basierten Lösungen Bewältigung Komplexität Variabilität hervor. gehen auch spezifische Anwendungen KI im Zusammenhang mit wie diabetischer Retinopathie (DR), altersbedingter Makuladegeneration (AMD), makulärer Neovaskularisation, Frühgeborenen-Retinopathie (ROP), retinalem Venenverschluss (RVO), hypertensiver (HR), Retinopathia pigmentosa, Morbus Stargardt, Best (Best’sche vitelliforme Makuladystrophie) Sichelzellenretinopathie ein. konzen­trieren uns aktuelle Landschaft KI-Technologien, verschiedener KI-Modelle, ihrer Leistungsmetriken klinischen Implikationen. Darüber hinaus befassen wir den Herausforderungen Schwierigkeiten Integration klinische Praxis, «Black-Box-Phänomens», Verzerrungen Darstellung Daten Einschränkungen ganzheitlichen Bewertung Patienten. Abschließend wird kollaborative Rolle an Seite medizinischen Fachpersonals hervorgehoben, wobei ein synergetischer Ansatz für Erbringung Gesundheitsdienstleistungen befürwortet wird. Es betont, wichtig es ist, als Ergänzung nicht Ersatz menschliche Expertise einzusetzen, um Potenzial maximieren, Gesundheitsversorgung revolutionieren, Ungleichheiten verringern entwickelnden

---

Early Renal Dysfunction and Reduced Retinal Vascular Density Assessed by Angio-OCT in Hypertensive Patients

Biomedicines, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13(5), P. 1176 - 1176

Published: May 12, 2025

Background: The eye and kidney share embryological, structural, pathophysiological similarities, suggesting potential interconnections between retinal renal microvascular changes. Hypertension, a major risk factor for impairment, also affects microvasculature. This study investigates the relationship vascular density, assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCT-A), early dysfunction in hypertensive patients. Methods: A total of 142 patients (mean age 47 ± 13 years; 74% male) were enrolled from Nephrology Hypertension Unit at University Palermo. Retinal density was measured using OCT-A, function estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Clinical hemodynamic parameters, including 24-h aortic blood pressure, analyzed. Results: Patients with eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 exhibited significantly lower densities, particularly parafoveal region. Superficial inversely associated pulse pressure (p = 0.012) directly correlated 0.012). Deep independently 0.001). Multiple linear regression confirmed that linked to reduced function, independent pressure. Conclusions: region, is decline These findings suggest changes could serve as non-invasive biomarker dysfunction, applications stratification disease monitoring. Further research needed establish causality clinical utility.

Language: Английский

---