Skills (3)
Publications (89) View all
-
Article: A Population-based Survey of the Prevalence and Types of Glaucoma in Central Iran: The Yazd Eye Study.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: PURPOSE: To describe the prevalence and types of glaucoma in Yazd, central Iran. DESIGN: Population-based, cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Iranian adults aged 40 to 80 years, residing in Yazd, Iran, in 2010 and 2011. METHODS: Eligible samples were selected using cluster random sampling. Each participant underwent an interview and ophthalmologic examinations, including refraction, determination of uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, Goldmann applanation tonometry, gonioscopy, dilated fundus examination, central corneal thickness measurement, visual field testing, and stereoscopic fundus photography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of different types of glaucoma. RESULTS: Of 2320 eligible individuals, 2098 (response rate, 90.4%) participated in the study and 1990 completed all evaluations for glaucoma diagnosis. Overall, 47 persons (2.4%) were categorized with ocular hypertension, 32 persons (1.6%) were categorized with primary angle-closure suspect (PACS), and 16 persons (0.8%) were categorized with primary angle closure (PAC). The total number of subjects with glaucoma was 87 (4.4%; 95% confidence interval, 3.3-5.4), consisting of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG, 3.2%, including high-tension glaucoma [1.7%] and normal-tension glaucoma [NTG], 1.5%]), primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG, 0.4%), pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (0.4%), and other secondary glaucomas (0.4%). The mean age of subjects with glaucoma was 63.3±11 years, and 57.5% of them were female. Seventy-eight individuals (89.7%) were unaware of their disease. Positive family history of glaucoma was present in 6.9% of glaucoma subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of glaucoma in Yazd (4.4%) is comparable to that in other population-based studies in Asia, with POAG accounting for the majority of cases. Most affected subjects were unaware of their disease. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.Ophthalmology 05/2013; · 5.45 Impact Factor -
Article: FOXC1 in human trabecular meshwork cells is involved in regulatory pathway that includes miR-204, MEIS2, and ITGβ1.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Forkhead box C1 (FOXC1) is a transcription factor that affects eye development. FOXC1 is implicated in the etiology of glaucoma because mutations in the gene are among the causes of Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome which is often accompanied by glaucoma. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness. It is a complex disorder whose genetic basis in most patients remains unknown. Microarrays expression analysis was performed to identify genes in human trabecular meshwork (TM) primary cultures that are affected by FOXC1 and genes that may have roles in glaucoma. This represents the first genome wide analysis of FOXC1 target genes in any tissue. FOXC1 knock down by siRNAs affected the expression of 849 genes. Results on selected genes were confirmed by real time PCR, immunoblotting, and dual luciferase reporter assays. Observation of MEIS2 as a FOXC1 target and consideration of FOXC1 as a potential target of miR-204 prompted testing the effect of this micro RNA on expression of FOXC1 and several genes identified by array analysis as FOXC1 target genes. It was observed that miR-204 caused decreased expression of FOXC1 and the FOXC1 target genes CLOCK, PLEKHG5, ITGβ1, and MEIS2 in the TM cultures. Expression of CLOCK, PLEKHG5, ITGβ1has not previously been reported to be affected by miR-204. The data suggest existence of a complex regulatory pathway in the TM part of which includes interactions between FOXC1, miR-204, MEIS2, and ITGβ1. All these molecules are known to have TM relevant functions, and the TM is strongly implicated in the etiology of glaucoma.Experimental Eye Research 03/2013; · 3.26 Impact Factor -
Dataset: Prospective Randomized Trial of Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole versus Pyrimethamine and Sulfadiazine in the Treatment of Ocular Toxoplasmosis
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Objective: To compare the efficacy of the classic treatment of ocular toxoplasmosis (pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine, and prednisolone) with a regimen consisting of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (co-trimoxazole) plus prednisolone. Design: Prospective randomized single-blind clinical trial. Participants: Fifty-nine patients with active ocular toxoplasmosis were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups: 29 were treated with pyrimethamine/sulfadiazine, and 30 patients received trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Intervention: Treatment consisted of 6 weeks' treatment with antibiotics plus steroids. Antitoxoplasmosis antibodies (immunoglobulin M [IgM] and IgG) were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Main Outcome Measures: Changes in retinochoroidal lesion size after 6 weeks' treatment, visual acuity (VA) before and after intervention, adverse drug reactions during follow-up, and rate of recurrence. Results: Active toxoplasmosis retinochoroiditis resolved in all patients over 6 weeks' treatment, with no significant difference in mean reduction of retinochoroidal lesion size between the 2 treatment groups (61% reduction in the classic treatment group and 59% in the trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole group, P 0.75). Similarly, no significant difference was found in VA after treatment between the 2 groups (mean VAs after treatment were 0.12 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR] [20/25] in the classic treatment group and 0.09 logMAR [20/25] in the trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole group, P 0.56). Adverse effects were similar in both groups, with one patient in each suffering from any significant drug side effects. The overall recurrence rate after 24 months' follow-up was 10.16%, with no significant difference between the treatment groups (P 0.64). Conclusions: Drug efficacies in terms of reduction in retinal lesion size and improvement in VA were similar in a regimen of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and the classic treatment of ocular toxoplasmosis with pyr-imethamine and sulfadiazine. Therapy with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole seems to be an acceptable alternative for the treatment of ocular toxoplasmosis. Ophthalmology 2005;112:1876 –1882 © 2005 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ocular toxoplasmosis is caused by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii and is a major cause of preventable blindness, particularly in young people. 1,2 It accounts for 15% to 17% of all cases of uveitis, 25% of posterior uveitis in the United States, and 85% of posterior uveitis in Brazil. 1 In a previous study conducted at our institution, -
Article: The Yazd Eye Study-A Population-based Survey of Adults aged 40-80 Years: Rationale, Study Design and Baseline Population Data.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Abstract Purpose: To describe the rationale, methodology and baseline data of the Yazd Eye Study, a study in the urban and rural areas of Yazd, a district in the center of Iran. Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study included adults aged 40-80 years from the non-institutionalized population of the Yazd district, in 2010-2011. Using multi-stage, systematic cluster random sampling and a probability proportional to size strategy, 58 clusters of 40 subjects were selected from 251 clusters in different enumeration areas. A detailed interview and eye examination were performed for each eligible participant. The eye examination included refraction testing, uncorrected and best corrected visual acuity testing, slit lamp biomicroscopy, Goldmann applanation tonometry, gonioscopy, dilated fundus examination, visual field, determination of central corneal thickness, and stereoscopic fundus photography. General health assessments and laboratory tests including hemoglobin, hematocrit, glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting blood sugar, serum lipids, and urine albumin to creatinine ratio were also performed to assess anthropometric and systemic risk factors. Results: Of 2320 eligible individuals, 2098 (response rate 90.4%) participated in the study. The mean ± standard deviation age of participants was 54.1 ± 10.0 years, and included 994 men (47.4%) and 1104 women (52.6%). Most participants lived in urban regions (89.2%) and were younger than 60 years old (72.0%). Among the participants, 20.1% were illiterate, and 40.9%, 28.0%, and 11.0% had primary, secondary and college or university level education, respectively. Conclusion: This study is expected to provide an estimate of the prevalence and risk factors of major eye diseases and normal eye indices in the Yazd district.Ophthalmic epidemiology 01/2013; 20(1):61-9. · 1.93 Impact Factor -
Article: Contribution of the latent transforming growth factor-beta binding protein 2 gene to etiology of primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation syndrome.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To assess for the first time the possible contribution of latent transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta binding protein 2 (LTBP2), an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein that associates with fibrillin-1-containing microfibrils, to the etiology of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome. Mutations in LTBP2 have previously been shown to be the cause of primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) and other disorders that often manifest as secondary glaucoma. All exons of LTBP2 were sequenced in the DNA of 42 unrelated patients with POAG and 48 unrelated patients with PEX syndrome. Contribution of candidate variations to disease was assessed by screening in control individuals and use of biochemical, bioinformatics, and evolutionary criteria, and in one case by segregation analysis within the family of a proband with POAG. Microscopy was performed on the skin of a patient with PEX syndrome whose condition developed into PEX glaucoma during the course of the study and on the skin of her son previously identified with PCG who harbored the same LTBP2 mutation. Among the 30 sequence variations observed in LTBP2, five found in five patients with POAG and two found in two patients with PEX glaucoma syndrome may contribute to their diseases. One of the mutations was observed in a patient with POAG and in a patient with PEX glaucoma syndrome. Light, fluorescent, and electron microscopy showed that a mutation present in one of the individuals affected with PEX glaucoma syndrome and in her son affected with PCG causes disruptions in the ECM. Some LTBP2 sequence variations can contribute to the etiology of POAG and PEX glaucoma syndrome. It is not expected that in these diseases LTBP2 mutations behave in a strictly Mendelian fashion with complete penetrance. In conjunction with recent findings, the results suggest that anomalies in the ECM are among the factors that can contribute to POAG and PEX glaucoma syndrome. LTBP2 and other related ECM protein coding genes should be screened in larger cohorts with these diseases, which are common disorders and important to the public health.Molecular vision 01/2013; 19:333-47. · 2.20 Impact Factor
