Age-related macular degeneration
(AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly individuals in developed
countries. The etiology and pathophysiology of AMD are not fully understood.
Formation of drusen is the main pathological change in AMD. Lipids make up about 40% of drusen volume, thus possible relation between AMD and genes
controlling lipid metabolism could provide novel insights into AMD. Our purpose
was to determine the genotype frequencies of LIPC rs10468017, rs493258 and LPL
rs126789919 in patients with AMD in Lithuanian population.
Glaucoma is currently recognized to
be a multifactorial, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder. It is characterized by the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) loss of axons as well as optic nerve atrophy, progressive degeneration of RGCs till cell death. In this
work, we used DBA/2J mice as a model of spontaneous glaucoma and we
investigated the involvement of BDNF and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
(MAPK) pathways in correlation with IOP elevation and progression of
neurodegenerative processes in the retina of DBA/2J mice.
In particular, we
performed western blot analysis to study retinal levels of the BDNF and its
receptor, TrkB, and to better understand possible modulation of p38 MAPK and
ERK1/2 activation at different stages of retinal degeneration in DBA/2J mice.
We showed that BDNF starts to decrease already at an early stage in correspondence to IOP elevation (7 months of age). MAPKs, in particular p38
MAPK and ERK1/2, appeared maximally affected at more advanced stages of neuro degeneration
(10-12 and 18 months of age) characterized by RGC degeneration and death, optic
nerve atrophy. Thus, BDNF signaling and MAPKs are differentially activated at
different stages of retinal degeneration in DBA/2J mice, a murine model of
glaucoma.a
Concussion is a form of mild traumatic
brain injury (TBI) owing to structural, metabolic and functional changes
involving white mater tracts of the central nervous system in the absence of
macroscopic findings. Sports-related concussion is a rapidly evolving condition stimulating interest among lay and scientific communities. Recent studies have
shown a high rate of under reporting of concussion signs and symptoms by athletes
and side line personnel. Accordingly, reliable and validated testing strategies
are necessary to insure timely detection and removal from play for individuals
suspected of concussion.
Vision and visual motor problems are commonly reported
among athletes following concussion. This is to be expected as it is estimated
that approximately 50% of the brain is devoted to vision and visual motor
processing. As such, testing of vision and ocular motility function are critical to the evaluation of a concussed individual. While disorders of vision
and ocular motility have been well-reported with TBI, most of these studies
have focused on visual motor problems in the setting of combat related TBI
resulting from blast injuries. There are limited studies related to vision and
visual motor abnormalities from sport-related concussion.
