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The purpose of the current study was to investigate the structure-function relationship in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) using optical coherence tomography and the MP-3 microperimeter. Visual field (VF) measurements were carried out using MP-3 microperimetry and the Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA, Carl-Zeiss, CA), 22 eyes of 11 patients with a clinical diagnosis of RP, both with the 10-2 test grid pattern. Optical coherence tomography (OCT, Spectralis, Heidelberg, Germany) was also performed and the ellipsoid zone (EZ) was identified in the OCT image. The mean (±SD) number of test points located within the EZ edge was 11.6 (±5.9). There was a significant relationship between mean retinal sensitivity measured with MP-3 and the area surrounded by the EZ circular line: AEZ (p 0.05). The difference between retinal sensitivity inside and outside the EZ edge was significantly larger with MP-3 than with HFA (p

Background Bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapeutics has shown significant survival benefit in clinical studies in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Since bevacizumab was administered as standard treatment until disease progression, the importance of bevacizumab during the maintenance phase was not prospectively investigated in these studies. Materials and methods Three human NSCLC cell line xenograft models were used to investigate antitumor effect of bevacizumab and tumor microvessel density (MVD) was analyzed. Results In A549 and NCI-H292 models, bevacizumab maintenance following combination with paclitaxel exhibited stronger tumor suppression than its absence. In an NCI-H292 model, bevacizumab maintenance continuously inhibited increase of MVD. In an NCI-H2228 model following induction treatment with pemetrexed and bevacizumab, maintenance with pemetrexed plus bevacizumab, had stronger efficacy than pemetrexed alone and led to lower MVD and level of thymidylate synthase. Conclusion Continuous suppression of angiogenesis by bevacizumab may contribute to the superior efficacy of maintenance treatment containing bevacizumab.

Although bevacizumab maintenance following bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy has demonstrated significant prolongation of progression-free survival in clinical studies in patients with ovarian cancer, the majority of the cancer cases in the study were of the serous histotype; therefore, data regarding clear cell carcinoma is limited. Furthermore, the efficacy of bevacizumab beyond progression has not yet been demonstrated in ovarian cancer. A xenograft model using the human ovarian clear cell carcinoma cell line RMG-I was used to investigate the antitumor effects and the mechanisms of bevacizumab in maintenance treatment and bevacizumab when administered beyond disease progression. In the RMG-I model, bevacizumab maintenance following bevacizumab in combination with paclitaxel exhibited increased tumor suppression, compared with its absence, and inhibited the increase of microvessel density (MVD) in tumors. Following disease progression during bevacizumab maintenance, continued bevacizumab treatment in combination with PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin as a secondary chemotherapeutic agent had increased efficacy, compared with PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin alone, and resulted in lower MVD accompanied with lower levels of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3, which is reported to have angiogenic activity. Continuous suppression of angiogenesis by bevacizumab may contribute to the superior efficacy of bevacizumab maintenance and bevacizumab beyond progression in ovarian cancer.

AimsCorvis ST (CST) yields biomechanical corrected IOP (bIOP) which is purported to be less dependent on biomechanical properties. In our accompanied paper, it was suggested that the repeatability of bIOP is high. The purpose of the current study was to assess the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) measured with CST and central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal hysteresis (CH), in comparison with IOP measured with Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) and the ocular response analyzer (ORA).MethodsA total of 141 eyes from 141 subjects (35 healthy eyes and 106 glaucomatous eyes) underwent IOP measurements with GAT, CST and ORA. The relationships between IOP measurements (ORA-IOPg, ORA-IOPcc, CST-bIOP and GAT IOP) and biomechanical properties (CCT, CH and corneal resistance factor (CRF)) were analysed using the linear regression analysis.ResultsIOPg, IOPcc and GAT IOP were significantly associated with CCT (pConclusionThe bIOP measurement from CST is independent from CCT, but dependent on CH and CRF.

Purpose To investigate if the structure-function relationship between circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (cpRNFL) thickness and visual field (VF) thresholds is stronger when using the Goldmann V target rather than the Goldman III target where glaucomatous damage is advanced. Methods Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and VF (Humphrey Field Analyzer 24-2 or 30-2) measurements with Goldmann III (SITA standard) and V (full-threshold) targets were carried out in 51 eyes of 51 patients with primary open angle glaucoma. The relationship between cpRNFL thicknesses in supero- and infero-temporal sectors, and VF sensitivity with the Goldmann III or V target was investigated. Result Visual field sensitivities (dB) both with the Goldmann III target and Goldmann V target showed a floor effect in the structure-function relationship against cpRNFL thickness, at approximately 60 μm. There was no significant relationship between visual field sensitivity measured with the Goldmann V target (dB scale: p = 0.12, 1/Lambert scale: p = 0.40; linear mixed models) and cpRNFL thickness, when corresponding visual field sensitivity, measured with the Goldmann III target, was Conclusion There was no improvement in the structure-function relationship using the Goldmann V target (full-threshold), compared to using the Goldmann III target (SITA standard), where glaucomatous damage was advanced.

Purpose To compare structure-function relationships based on the Drasdo and Sjöstrand retinal ganglion cell displacement models. Methods Single eyes from 305 patients with glaucoma and 55 heathy participants were included in this multicenter, cross-sectional study. The ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness was measured using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Visual field measurements were performed using the Humphrey 10-2 test. All A-scan pixels (128 × 512 pixels) were allocated to the closest 10-2 location with both displacement models using degree and millimeter scales. Structure-function relationships were investigated between GCIPL thickness and corresponding visual sensitivity in nonlong (160 eyes) and long (200 eyes) axial length (AL) groups. Results In both the nonlong and long AL groups, compared with the no-displacement model, both the Drasdo and the Sjöstrand models showed that the structure-function relationship around the fovea improved (P < 0.05). The magnitude of improvement in the area was either comparable between the model or was larger for the Drasdo model than the Sjöstrand model (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, structure-function relationships outside the innermost retinal region that were based on the Drasdo and Sjöstrand models were comparable to or were even worse than (in the case of the Drasdo model) those obtained using the no-displacement model. Conclusions Structure-function relationships evaluated based on both the Drasdo and Sjöstrand models significantly improved around the fovea, particularly when using the Drasdo model. This was not the case in other areas.

This study investigated the relationship between the shape of the posterior pole of the eye and the vertical asymmetry of visual field (VF) damage in glaucomatous eyes.Cross-sectional study.A total of 83 eyes of 43 patients with open-angle glaucoma.The VF was measured using the Humphrey 24-2 or 30-2 Swedish Interactive Thresholding Algorithm (SITA) standard. The vertical asymmetry of VF damage was defined as the difference between the mean total deviation (mTD) values of the superior and inferior hemi-retinas. This difference was calculated for the hemifield, central, middle, and peripheral areas. A vertical cross-sectional image of the macula was obtained, and the magnitudes of superior and inferior retinal tilt (RT) were calculated as the difference between the lower margins of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) at the fovea and at a location 2 mm superior or inferior to the RPE. The RT asymmetry was defined as the difference between the inferior and superior RT. Data were analyzed using a multivariate linear mixed model.The relationship between mTD asymmetry (hemifield, central, middle, and peripheral) and both RT asymmetry and other factors (intraocular pressure, axial length, corneal radius, age, gender, mean deviation, refraction, and visual acuity) was assessed.The inferior RT was significantly larger than the superior RT (P0.001). Hemifield mTD asymmetry was related to RT asymmetry (P = 0.017). These relationships were significant in the middle (P = 0.029) and peripheral areas (P = 0.023), but not in the central area (P = 0.40). Other factors were not related to mTD asymmetry.Vertical asymmetry of the posterior pole was related to the vertical asymmetry of glaucomatous VF damage.

Purpose To assess the repeatability of intraocular pressure (IOP) measured with the Corvis ST (CST) and the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA). Methods A total of 141 eyes from 141 subjects were studied, including 35 healthy eyes and 106 glaucomatous eyes. All subjects underwent IOP evaluations with Goldmann applanation tonometer, CST, and ORA. With CST, biomechanical corrected IOP (bIOP) was calculated; bIOP is purported to be less dependent on biomechanical properties. For ORA, corneal-compensated intraocular pressure (IOPcc) and Goldmann-correlated IOP (IOPg) were derived. The repeatability of the various IOP values was assessed using the coefficient of variance (CV) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results The CV with bIOP (5.5 ± 3.1: mean ± standard deviation) was significantly smaller than the CVs measured with IOPg (7.3 ± 4.3) and IOPcc (7.2 ± 4.4). ICC values were 0.90, 0.80, and 0.86 with IOPg, IOPcc, and bIOP, respectively. Conclusions The bIOP showed a better prevision and repeatability for IOP measurement. Translational Relevance The bIOP measurement from CST had a better reproducible than IOPcc measurement from ORA.

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the structure-function relationship in glaucomatous and normative eyes is improved by considering photoreceptor layer thickness. Humphrey 10-2 visual fields (VF) and optical coherence tomography were carried out in 615 eyes of 391 subjects, including 100 eyes of 53 healthy controls and 515 eyes of 338 glaucoma patients. The relationship between mean VF sensitivity and the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer (GCL + IPL) was analyzed using linear mixed models, by glaucoma status and degree of myopia. The structure-function relationship was also analyzed by supplementing the RNFL and GCL + IPL thickness with the thicknesses of: (i) the inner nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer (INL + OPL); (ii) the outer nuclear layer and inner segment of photoreceptor layer (ONL + ISL); (iii) the outer segment layer of photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium (OSL + RPE). The model included total thickness of RNFL, GCL + IPL and OSL + RPE was highly more optimal than the model that only included the total thickness of RNFL and GCL + IPL, in all subsets of eyes by glaucoma status and degree of myopia.

Purpose To investigate the relationship between axial length (AL) elongation and progression of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods AL was measured twice over a 5.1 ± 0.76 (mean ± standard deviation: SD) year period in 125 eyes of 72 patients with POAG. The eyes were divided into not long (AL 26 mm, 45 eyes) groups. During this period, patients' visual fields (VFs) were measured with the Humphrey Field Analyzer 12.4 ± 7.5 times and intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured with Goldmann applanation tonometry 27.0 ± 7.5 times. The relationship between the mean total deviation (mTD) progression rates in the whole field and superior and inferior hemifield, as well as in 10 VF sectors, and the variables of age, mean IOP, SD of IOP, AL, difference in AL (△AL), and mTD value at baseline was examined. Results There was a significant difference between AL at baseline and AL at repeat measurement (P < 0.0001). △AL was 0.035 ± 0.10 mm. An increase in △AL was significantly related to AL at baseline (P = 0.027), but not to age, mean IOP, and SD of IOP. △AL was related to the progression of mTD in the inferior hemifield (slower mTD progression was associated with increased △AL), but not in the whole field or superior hemifield. Increased △AL was related to slower progression rates in 2 of 10 sectors, both in the inferior hemifield. Conclusions The main finding was that an increase in AL was significantly related to slower VF progression in the inferior hemifield.

PURPOSE To compare the Esterman Disability Score (EDS) obtained with Goldmann perimetry (GP) testing and the Humphrey field analyzer (HFA) in low vision Japanese subjects. Subjects were also divided into groups by diagnosis to examine how disease influences EDS measurements. METHODS The EDS was obtained using GP (GP-EDS) and the built-in testing program of the HFA (HFA-EDS). Tests were performed within 3 months of each other. Regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between GP-EDS and HFA-EDS. RESULTS A total of 128 visually impaired subjects were included in this study. Subjects had low vision because of glaucoma (57 subjects), age-related macular degeneration (AMD, 17 subjects), retinitis pigmentosa (RP, 17 subjects), and other causes (37 subjects). The GP-EDS obtained was well-correlated with HFA-EDS (r = 0.87, P < 0.001) and it was possible to estimate HFA-EDS from GP-EDS. The GP-EDS was significantly lower than the HFA-EDS in eyes with glaucoma and RP. There was no significant difference between EDS values in eyes with AMD or other disease. CONCLUSION The GP-EDS correlated well with the HFA-EDS. However, the relationship between the EDS measured with the two different testing modalities varies by disease.

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the test-retest reproducibility and structure-function relationship of the MP-3 microperimeter, compared against the Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA).Design: Reliability and validity study.Institutional, or clinical practice.Thirty eyes of 30 primary open-angle glaucoma patients were enrolled.Visual fields (VF) were measured twice with the MP-3 and HFA instruments, using the 10-2 test grid pattern in both perimeters. Ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness was measured using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Test-retest reproducibility was assessed using the mean absolute deviation (MAD) measure at all 68 VF test points, and also the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of the repeated VF sensitivities. The structure-function relationship between VF sensitivities (measured with MP-3 or HFA) and GCC thickness (adjusted for the retinal ganglion cell displacement) was analyzed using linear mixed modeling.Reproducibility and structure-function relationship.The average measurement duration with the HFA 10-2 was 7 minutes and 6 seconds (7m06s) ± 0m49s (mean ± standard deviation). A significantly (P .001, paired Wilcoxon test) longer measurement duration was observed for the MP-3 test: 10m29s ± 2m55s. There were no significant differences in MAD and ICC values between HFA (MAD; 0.83 ± 0.69 dB and ICC: 0.89 ± 0.69, mean ± standard deviation) and MP-3 (MAD: 0.65 ± 0.67 dB and ICC: 0.89 ± 0.69). MP-3 VF sensitivities had a stronger structure-function relationship with GCC thickness compared to HFA.The MP-3 microperimeter has a similar test-retest reproducibility to the HFA but a better structure-function relationship.

PURPOSE To investigate the effect of axial length (AL) on the structure-function relationship between retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements and visual field (VF) sensitivity measured with Goldmann III and V. METHOD There were 85 eyes of 85 patients with primary open angle glaucoma included in the current study. Optical coherence tomography and VF (Humphrey Field Analyzer 24-2 or 30-2) measurements with Goldmann III and V targets were carried out in all patients. The optic disc and the VF were divided into six clusters and the relationship between circumpapillary RNFL (cpRNFL) thickness and VF sensitivity (with Goldmann III or V), age, and AL were investigated in each cluster. RESULT Visual sensitivity with Goldmann III (19.3 ± 11.7 dB, mean ± standard deviation) was significantly lower than that with Goldmann V (24.6 ± 11.0 dB, P < 0.001, linear mixed model). Visual sensitivities with both Goldmann III and V were significantly correlated with cpRNFL thickness in all clusters. Visual sensitivity decreased with increasing AL in the nasal retinal area for both targets, however, this phenomenon was only observed with the Goldmann V target in the temporal area. CONCLUSION Visual sensitivity measured with the size V target decreases with increasing AL in the temporal area, which corresponds to the papillomacular bundle. In the nasal retinal area, visual sensitivity decreases with the increase of AL for both Goldmann III and Goldmann V. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE Careful consideration is needed when measuring visual sensitivity using Goldmann V target in glaucomatous eyes with increased AL.

PURPOSE To investigate whether it is possible to improve estimation of the binocular visual field (VF) using monocular sensitivities on a linear scale adjusted for ocular dominance. METHODS Monocular and binocular VF measurements were evaluated using the Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA; 24-2 Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithm standard program) in 60 eyes of 30 patients with open angle glaucoma. Ocular dominance was measured twice in each patient and the average value was used. Measured binocular sensitivity was then predicted based on monocular measurements using the "better sensitivity" integrated visual field (IVF) method, monocular sensitivity summation methods on the dB scale, linear scale (1/Lambert), and finally monocular sensitivity summation methods on the linear scale adjusted for the ocular dominance. RESULTS The absolute prediction error with the linear scale summation method (mean ± SD: 3.11 ± 4.00) was significantly smaller than the IVF method (3.15 ± 4.09; P = 0.014). Further, the absolute prediction error for the ocular dominance adjusted method (3.10 ± 3.99) was significantly smaller than the nonadjusted linear scale summation method (P = 0.014). The absolute prediction error associated with the dB scale summation method was significantly larger than any other method (8.15 ± 5.06; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS The most accurate estimation of binocular sensitivity was achieved using the linear monocular sensitivity summation model adjusted for ocular dominance.

To investigate the vision-related quality of life (VRQOL) in relation to the type of existing visual field (EVF) in the presence of visual field defect. We evaluated the VRQOL of 95 patients by using Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (NEI VFQ-25). Patients fulfilled the following criteria: (1) they underwent a Goldmann perimetry (GP) test within 3 months of the initial visit, (2) the results of the GP test could be classified into three categories, and (3) the best-corrected decimal visual acuity (VA) was ≤0.3. The EVF was assessed by composite measurement of both eyes for the V-4e or I-4e isopters, as obtained using the GP test. We compared the VFQ-25 scores between three groups: (1) the "center and peripheral" group in which the EVF of the V-4e area was30º and the I-4e area was30º, (2) the "central VF" group in which the EVF of the V-4e area was20º, and (3) the "central VF loss" group in which the central scotoma was5º and the EVF of the V-4e area was30º in peripheral vision. There were significant differences between the three groups (P = 0.02, ANOVA). The total score of the "central VF loss" group was significantly lower than those of the "center and peripheral" and "central VF" groups. The central vision influenced the VRQOL to a greater extent than peripheral vision.

Purpose: To investigate the association between vision-related quality of life (VRQOL) and changes in visual acuity (VA). Methods: We examined the VA in 100 patients for >1 year and evaluated the degree of its impact on VRQOL using the National Eye Institute Visual Function (VF) Questionnaire (VFQ-25; Japanese version). Before determining VFQ-25, we monitored the changes in VA in these patients for 1 year and classified them into the following two groups depending on VA changes. Patients exhibiting a decline of >3 steps in VA, as assessed by the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution scale, were placed in the ‘decline’ group (47.0%) and patients exhibiting no change in VA were placed in the ‘no change’ group (53.0%). We compared the VFQ-25 scores between both groups in all patients with glaucoma (GLA) and macular degeneration (MD). Results: The total score of the decline was 34.9 ± 13.6 and that of the no change group was 44.6 ± 13.9: the difference in the scores between both groups was statistically significant (p = 0.006). Similar results were obtained for patients with GLA and MD (p = 0.007 and 0.003, respectively). Conclusion: VRQOL differed between patients with constant VA and those with reduced VA, even though VA values were equal at a certain time point.

It has been reported that bevacizumab in combination with paclitaxel significantly prolongs progression-free survival compared with paclitaxel alone in the initial treatment for metastatic breast cancer. To understand how bevacizumab enhances the efficacy of paclitaxel, we investigated the mechanism in a MX-1 human breast cancer xenograft model. The antitumor activity of bevacizumab at 5 mg/kg in combination with paclitaxel at 20 or 30 mg/kg was significantly higher than that of either agent alone. First, we measured the paclitaxel concentration in tumor to see whether bevacizumab enhances the activity by increasing the tumor concentration of paclitaxel. When given in combination with bevacizumab, the levels of paclitaxel in the tumor increased. Paclitaxel at 30 mg/kg with bevacizumab showed a similar tumor concentration as paclitaxel alone at either 60 or 100 mg/kg, with a similar degree of tumor growth inhibition. In contrast, no remarkable differences in paclitaxel concentration in the plasma or liver were observed between the paclitaxel monotherapy group and the paclitaxel plus bevacizumab group. An increase in paclitaxel concentration by bevacizumab was also found in another model, A549. In the same MX-1 model, vascular permeability in the tumor was significantly decreased by treatment with bevacizumab. There was no difference in microvessel density between the bevacizumab alone group and the combination group. Results suggest that the synergistic antitumor activity of paclitaxel and bevacizumab in combination may be a result of the increase in paclitaxel concentration in tumor resulting from the downregulation of vascular permeability when co-administered with bevacizumab.

Purpose To investigate the structure-function mapping in the central 10° by relating Humphrey field analyzer (HFA) 10-2 visual field (VF) and circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) thickness from spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). We also compared the obtained results with a previously reported mapping between 10-2 VF and the optic disc. Methods In 151 eyes of 151 POAG patients and 35 eyes from 35 healthy participants, cpRNFL thickness measurements were obtained using SD-OCT and the 10-2 VF was measured with the HFA. The relationship between visual sensitivity and cpRNL thickness values in the temporal 180° was analyzed using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. The optic disc angle corresponding to each VF test point was then derived using the coefficients from the optimal LASSO regression. Results The structure-function map obtained was largely consistent with the mapping reported previously; superior central VF test points correspond to a more vulnerable area of the optic disc, more distant toward the inferior pole from the center of the temporal quadrant (9:00 o'clock for the right eye) while inferior VF test points correspond closer to the center of the temporal quadrant. The prediction error tended to be large in the 'more vulnerable area' in the map reported previously. Conclusions The structure-function map obtained largely confirms the previously reported map; however, some important differences were observed.

To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity with glaucoma probability score (GPS), a new glaucoma diagnosis program in Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II ver 3.0 in detecting early glaucoma in Japanese eyes.Sensitivity and specificity with GPS were determined in 148 early stage open-angle glaucoma eyes of 148 hospital-based patients (mean deviation-5 dB) and age-matched and refraction-matched 148 eyes of 148 ophthalmologically normal subjects selected from a population-based sample of the Tajimi Study. The results with GPS were compared with those with Moorfields regression analysis (MRA) and FS Mikelberg discriminant function (FSM). Analysis was also carried out by stratifying the eyes by refraction and disc area.For all glaucoma eyes, sensitivity with GPS (71.7%) was similar to MRA and FSM (75.2%, P=0.8; 77.2%, P=0.5; Fisher exact test). Specificity with GPS (80.7%) was also statistically equivalent with MRA and FSM (91.1%, P=0.06; 87.4%, P=0.3). Although sensitivity with GPS was lower in higher myopic eyes than in the less myopic eyes, specificity did not differ with refractive error. Specificity with GPS was lower and sensitivity higher (P0.0001) in larger discs (2.0 mm) than in smaller discs (or =2 mm). In larger discs, specificity with GPS was lower (P=0.005) than with MRA and in smaller discs, sensitivity with GPS was lower than with MRA or FSM.In Japanese eyes, sensitivity and specificity with GPS to detect early glaucoma were similar with MRA or FSM, although the specificity tended to be lower than results in white eyes. Subgroup analysis revealed a notable dependency in diagnostic ability on disc area and refractive error. The diagnostic ability of GPS is still not sufficient for glaucoma detection in the Japanese population requiring further investigation.

It is important to compare the results of Corneal Visualization Scheimpflug Technology instrument (CST) measurements and Reichert Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) parameters. The purpose of the study was to investigate the association between CST measurements and ORA parameters in ninety-five patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Measurements of CST, ORA, axial length (AL), average corneal curvature (CC), central corneal thickness (CCT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) with Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) were carried out. The association between CST and ORA parameters was assessed using linear regression analysis, with model selection based on the second order bias corrected Akaike Information Criterion index. Measurements from ORA (corneal hysteresis [CH] and corneal response factor [CRF]) had high intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and low coefficients of variation, but some CST parameters showed much lower reproducibility, namely: A1 length, A2 length, highest concavity time and peak distance. Of 12 CST parameters tested, 8 were significantly correlated with CH and 10 were significantly correlated with CRF, however, the magnitude of the correlation coefficients were weak to moderate at best. The optimal model to explain CH using CST measurements was given by: CH = -76.3 + 4.6*A1 time + 1.9*A2 time + 3.1 * highest concavity deformation amplitude + 0.016*CCT (R2 = 0.67, p

Our vision system receives two different images from our two eyes. Since these two images usually have high correlation they are fused into a single stable image. In binocular rivalry suppression a stimulus presented in one eye is suppressed and a different stimulus in the other eye is perceived for a certain time interval. For strabismic observers the suppression is continuous between different retinal images caused by misalignment of eye positions. Previous research investigated the effects of this binocular rivalry suppression on a number of visual processes. The present study looked at the effects of contrast adaptation for the adaptation stimulus presented to eyes under interocular suppression. We compared normal and strabismic observers and found that in both types, regardless of the existence of suppression, there was the effect of contrast adaptation. These findings provide evidence that the suppression occurs at a site in the visual system after the locus of contrast adaptation. The contrast adaptation strength differed in the two types of observers.

Purpose To assess the thickness of the photoreceptor layer in the macular region in glaucomatous eyes. Method Humphrey 10–2 visual field (VF) testing was carried out and mean threshold (mTH) was calculated in 118 eyes from 118 patients with open angle glaucoma. Macular optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements (RS 3000, Nidek Co.ltd., Aichi, Japan) were also carried out in all eyes. Thickness measurements were recorded in the outer segment and retinal pigment epithelium (OS+RPE), the nerve fiber layer (NFL), the ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer (GCL+IPL), the inner nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer (INL+OPL) and the outer nuclear layer and inner segment (ONL+IS). The relationship between mTH and the thickness of these five different layers was investigated. Additionally, the influence of OS+RPE on mTH was investigated using partial correlation eliminating the effect of other variables of NFL, GCL+IPL, INL+OPL, ONL+IS, age, gender and axial length. Results The thickness of the OS+RPE layer was significantly decreased with the decrease of mTH (coefficient = 0.63 p

To investigate the relationship between methods used to evaluate the visual field (VF) and vision-related quality of life (VRQOL) in Japanese patients. We evaluated the VRQOL of 50 patients using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (VFQ-25). Patients meeting the following criteria were assessed: (1) a Goldmann perimetry (GP) test conducted within 3 months of the initial visit; (2) best-corrected decimal visual acuity (VA) of the better eye when VRQOL was measured was less than 0.3 but more than 0.05. The VF was estimated based on a composite measure of the V-4e isopters of both eyes, as measured by GP. We calculated the VF using the American Medical Association (AMA) score, the Esterman disability score (EDS), the functional field score (FFS), the composite VF area calculated with area measurement software, and SR, an evaluation method based on solid angles. We then studied the relationships between the VFQ-25 score and the VF scores. Only EDS correlated significantly with the VFQ-25 score (r = 0.34, P = 0.02); AMA scoring did not correlate with the VFQ-25 score. It is necessary to reexamine standard VF evaluation methods.

To assess the prevalence of atypical retardation pattern (ARP) in scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) with variable corneal compensation (VCC) and enhanced corneal compensation (ECC), and to evaluate the factors relating to typical scan score (TSS). Measurements of SLP–VCC, SLP–ECC, and the Humphrey field analyzer (HFA) were performed in 105 normal subjects and 82 open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients. ARP was defined as an SLP image with TSS

To compare the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) parameters obtained with newly introduced GDx with enhanced corneal compensation (ECC) and those with GDx with variable corneal compensation (VCC) and to evaluate their reproducibility and the correspondence with visual field damage (VFD) in total or sectorized fields in association with refractive errors in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients.Measurement reproducibility was assessed in 30 normal and 30 OAG eyes. Correlation between the RNFLT parameters and the corresponding VFD was evaluated in 58 OAG eyes.All parameters of both GDx VCC and ECC showed high intraclass correlation coefficients among the repeated measurements (0.89 to 0.99), suggesting good reproducibility. All RNFLT parameters were significantly correlated between VCC and ECC (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.58-0.92, P0.001) though they were significantly different. In OAG eyes, correlation between temporal, superior, nasal, inferior, temporal average and mean deviation of VFD was similar in both algorithms (Rs=0.58 and 0.53, P0.001). When the OAG eyes were subgrouped by refractive error at -5 D, the correlation was significant for both ECC and VCC in the lower myopic group (-5 D) (Rs=0.71 and 0.74, P0.0001) but was significant only for ECC in the higher myopic group (or=-5 D) (ECC: Rs=0.44, P=0.016, VCC: Rs=0.19, P=0.309). In all 58 OAG eyes, significant correlation between the sectorized VFD and the corresponding RNFLT was found in the superior arcuate, inferior arcuate, and inferior para-arcuate areas for both VCC and ECC in the sector analysis (P0.01), whereas the correlation was significant only for ECC (Rs=0.46, P0.001) but not for VCC (Rs=0.30, P=0.024) in the superior para-arcuate.The results of GDx ECC were well correlated with those of VCC and had good reproducibility equivalent to that of VCC. Introduction of the ECC algorithm should improve the correspondence with VFD at least in moderate to high myopic OAG patients.

Background Bevacizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody to human vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and has been used for many types of cancers such as colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, and glioblastoma. Bevacizumab might be effective against gastric cancer, because VEGF has been reported to be involved in the development of gastric cancer as well as other cancers. On the other hand, there are no established biomarkers to predict the bevacizumab efficacy in spite of clinical needs. Therefore, we tried to identify the predictive markers for efficacy of bevacizumab in gastric cancer patients by using bevacizumab-sensitive and insensitive tumor models. Methods Nine human gastric and two colorectal cancer mouse xenografts were examined for their sensitivity to bevacizumab. We examined expression levels of angiogenic factors by ELISA, bioactivity of VEGF by phosphorylation of VEGFR2 in HUVEC after addition of tumor homogenate, tumor microvessel density by CD31-immunostaining, and polymorphisms of the VEGF gene by HybriProbe™ assay. Results Of the 9 human gastric cancer xenograft models used, GXF97, MKN-45, MKN-28, 4-1ST, SC-08-JCK, and SC-09-JCK were bevacizumab-sensitive, whereas SCH, SC-10-JCK, and NCI-N87 were insensitive. The sensitivity of the gastric cancer model to bevacizumab was not related to histological type or HER2 status. All tumors with high levels of VEGF were bevacizumab-sensitive except for one, SC-10-JCK, which had high levels of VEGF. The reason for the refractoriness was non-bioactivity on the phosphorylation of VEGFR2 and micro-vessel formation of VEGF, but was not explained by the VEGF allele or VEGF165b. We also examined the expression levels of other angiogenic factors in the 11 gastrointestinal tumor tissues. In the refractory models including SC-10-JCK, tumor levels of another angiogenic factor, bFGF, were relatively high. The VEGF/bFGF ratio correlated more closely with sensitivity to bevacizumab than with the VEGF level. Conclusions VEGF levels and VEGF/bFGF ratios in tumors were related to bevacizumab sensitivity of the xenografts tested. Further clinical investigation into useful predictive markers for bevacizumab sensitivity is warranted.

Our vision system receives two different images from our two eyes. Since these two images usually have high correlation they are fused into a single stable image. In binocular rivalry suppression a stimulus presented in one eye is suppressed and a different stimulus in the other eye is perceived for a certain time interval. For strabismic observers the suppression is continuous between different retinal images caused by misalignment of eye positions. Previous research investigated the effects of this binocular rivalry suppression on a number of visual processes. The present study looked at the effects of contrast adaptation for the adaptation stimulus presented to eyes under interocular suppression. We compared normal and strabismic observers and found that in both types, regardless of the existence of suppression, there was the effect of contrast adaptation. These findings provide evidence that the suppression occurs at a site in the visual system after the locus of contrast adaptation. The contrast adaptation strength differed in the two types of observers.