The Effect of Hemodialysis on Axial Length, Ocular Surface, and Intraocular Pressure in Patients with End-Stage Renal Failure

The effect of hemodialysis on macular thickness

Introduction/Objective. During hemodialysis (HD) treatment great fluctuations were recorded in the systemic hemodynamic parameters and in the volume and composition of ocular fluid. There are only a few studies that analyzed the effect of HD on retinal and macular thickness with conflicting results. Objective of this study was to determine macular thickness, marked as central foveal thickness, average macular thickness and macular volume, shortly before and after HD. Methods. Prospective study of 30 chronic renal failure (CRF) patients on HD treatment. Thorough ophthalmologic examinations were performed including evaluation of best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure and slit-lamp examination of all eye segments. Macular thickness was determined by optical coherence tomography shortly before and after HD. The next parameters were evaluated: central foveal thickness, average macular thickness and macular volume. The correlation between systemic parameters and macular thickness changes during HD was tested. Results. There were significant changes in body weight and blood pressure pre- and post-HD. Results showed macular thickness (central foveal thickness, average macular thickness and macular volume) decreased, but the change was not significant. There was no significant correlation between systemic hemodynamic parameters and macular thickness changes. Conclusion. Results of this study showed there was no statistically significant changes in macular thickness CRF patient undergoing HD. Further research on a larger group of patients and a longer follow-up time are required to confirm these findings.

Hemodialysis Effect on the Composition of the Eye Fluid of Cataract Patients

Numerous reports have proven that dialysis patients experience disturbances in the levels of elements in biological fluids. Disturbances in the homeostasis of essential elements or the appearance of highly toxic elements are serious problems also in clinical ophthalmology. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of hemodialysis (HD) on the elemental composition of anterior chamber aqueous humor (AH) in patients undergoing cataract surgery. The study involved 22 patients. The control group enrolled 16 patients (age 75.68 ± 9.67, female 54.55%, male 45.45%) with cataract and normal kidney function (control), and the second group included six patients (age 70.33 ± 12.74, female 33.33%, male 66.67%) with cataract undergoing HD treatment. The elements quantification was established using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-MS). In the eye fluid of dialysis patients, there were increased levels of manganese (Mn) and mercury (Hg) and decreased levels of vanadium (V) and zinc (Zn). In addition, a statistically significant increase in the Hg/Zn and Hg/selenium (Se) ratios and a lowering of the iron (Fe)/Mn ratio were observed in the studied group in comparison to the control. The obtained results indicated the need for Zn and Se supplementation in order to eliminate the hazards caused by Hg toxicity. A lower level of V in the eye fluid of dialysis patients may have a positive effect on maintaining a calcium and phosphorus homeostasis. Our study gives a deep insight into changes of elements concentrations in AH induced by HD.

Significance of TEAD Family in Diagnosis, Prognosis and Immune Response for Ovarian Serous Carcinoma

Purpose

To explore the molecular profiles of transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD) family in ovarian serous carcinoma (OSC).

Methods

In this study, we use bioinformatics methods including GEPIA, GE-mini, Oncomine 3.0, Kaplan–Meier plotter, cBioPortal, WebGestalt, TIMER2.0 and DiseaseMeth2.0, and in vitro experimental RT-PCR to assess the expression profiles and prognostic significance of TEAD family in OSC.

Results

According to the bioinformatics analysis, TEAD family was abnormally expressed in OSC. In terms of prognosis, Kaplan–Meier plotter indicated that OSC patients with high level of TEAD4 showed poor overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and post progression survival (PPS). TEAD family also had significantly diagnostic values for OSC patients. Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) algorithm indicated that TEAD family was significantly associated with different types of infiltrating immune cells, including B cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T cells. Gene set enrichment analysis of TEAD family-associated coexpression genes was further explored. In in vitro experiments, the RT-PCR results showed the upregulated TEAD2/4 in OSC tissues and cells (A2780 and TOV112D). Moreover, decreased expression of TEAD2 could induce the ferroptosis through increasing the ROS accumulation.

Conclusion

Thus, TEAD family correlated with the diagnosis, prognosis and immune infiltration in OSC. These results could provide comprehensive understanding of TEAD family in the diagnosis and prognosis of OSC patients.