Purpose
In this study we evaluate the changes of choroidal thickness after doing physical aerobic exercise in healthy young adults using spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT), with Enhanced Depth Imaging (EDI) protocol, and manual segmentation. This is a modified technique which allows us to obtain an improved image of the choroidal layer.
Methods
Thirty eyes of 15 volunteers between 18 and 31 years old were prospectively and consecutively enrolled, with ±6.50 D maximum ametropia and 3.00 D of astigmatism, with neither systemic nor ocular pathology as inclusion criteria. All the subjects were examined in the same conditions and by the same investigator. Measures from autorefractometer, ocular biometry and SD‐OCT were taken. The SD‐OCT images were taken at basal measurement, after doing 10 minutes of physical exercise and then two more measures after the exercise (3 and 10 minutes after finalization). The choroidal layer was manually segmented, valuing thicknesses and volumes in the different areas from the ETDRS (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study).
Results
In all the areas the average thickness increased 3 minutes after exercise compared to basal. We found significant differences (p < 0.05) by means of the test of ranks with signs of Wilcoxon in the areas: 3 mm temporal, 3 mm nasal, 6 mm superior, 3 mm superior and in the subfoveal choroidal thickness. After 10 minutes, this value decreased, finding only statistical values (p < 0.05) in the subfoveal choroidal thickness. Volumes measures showed the same pattern.
Conclusions
In healthy young people 3 minutes after finishing physical exercise the choroidal thickness increases. Ten minutes after the finish, the choroidal thickness decreases.
Purpose
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a heterogeneous group of retinal degenerative disorders which represent a major cause of blindness in adult people with no effective therapy found.
Most RP cases are due to rhodopsin mutations, which cause retinal disorganization due to rod degeneration and oxidative stress. Melatonin and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) have been reported to exhibit anti‐apoptosis, antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the synergistic effects of these two natural antioxidants in the P23H rat.
Methods
20 P23H rats crossed with Long Evans (LE) rats, were used and compared to 20 SD (P23H background) crossed with LE rats. Vehicle, or 10 mg/kg/day of Melatonin and/or 10 mg/kg/day of EGCG were orally administered for 6 months. Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity was evaluated by a monthly optomotor test.
Results
P23HxLE rats showed lower values than SDxLE rats in all optomotor parameters studied. SDxLE rats treated with melatonin or EGCG increased, after 60 days of treatment, visual function parameters even higher than young animals. P23HxLE rats treated with melatonin or EGCG showed better visual acuity and contrast sensitivity than those treated with vehicle in all measurements done after 30 days of treatment, slowing the disease progression. In all animal groups, treatment with melatonin and EGCG simultaneously obtained better visual acuity and contrast sensitivity values than treatment with any of those compounds alone.
Conclusions
In conclusion, oral treatment of melatonin or EGCG improved vision in wild type animals and delayed vision loss in P23H rats. Furthermore, combination of both compounds had a better effect than any of those treatments alone, suggesting different mechanisms of action.
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