OBJECTIVE To correlate inflammatory cytokines and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in vitreous and plasma with vitreous retinol binding protein 3 (RBP3), diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity, and DR worsening in a population with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS RBP3, VEGF, and inflammatory cytokines were measured in plasma and vitreous samples (n = 205) from subjects of the Joslin Medalist Study and Beetham Eye Institute. RESULTS Higher vitreous RBP3 concentrations were associated with less severe DR (P < 0.0001) and a reduced risk of developing proliferative DR (PDR) (P < 0.0001). Higher RBP3 correlated with increased photoreceptor segment thickness and lower vitreous interleukin-12 (IL-12), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and TNF-β (P < 0.05). PDR was associated with lower vitreous interferon-γ and IL-10 and higher VEGF, IL-6, and IL-15 (P < 0.05), but was not associated with their plasma concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Higher vitreous RBP3 concentrations are associated with less severe DR and slower rates of progression to PDR, supporting its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic agent for preventing DR worsening, possibly by lowering retinal VEGF and inflammatory cytokines.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of automated imaging software of the Nidek ConfoScan 4 confocal biomicroscope at analyzing canine corneal endothelial cell density and morphology in health and disease, by comparing to a manual analysis method.Animal studied: Nineteen eyes of 10 dogs were evaluated and include 3 Beagles, 3 Jack Russell Terriers, and 4 miscellaneous breeds. Twelve clinically normal and seven eyes affected with corneal endothelial dystrophy (CED) were scanned and analyzed.Procedures: Endothelial cell density (ECD), mean and standard deviation (SD) of cell area, percent polymegathism, mean and SD of the number of cell sides, and percent pleomorphism were calculated using automated and manual methods for each scan. Results:The automated analysis showed significantly greater ECD in comparison to the manual frame method due to misidentification of cell domains in CED-affected dogs. No significant differences in ECD were observed between normal and CED-affected dogs in automated analysis, while CED-affected dogs showed significantly lower ECD in manual frame method and planimetry. Using both automated and manual methods, CED-affected dogs showed greater variability of cell area or the number of cell sides than normal dogs. Conclusion:The automated imaging software is unable to accurately identify cell borders in CED-affected dogs resulting in inaccurate estimates of ECD. Thus, manual analysis is *

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<p>  </p> <p><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> To correlate inflammatory cytokines and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in vitreous and plasma with vitreous Retinol Binding Protein 3 (RBP3), diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity, and DR worsening in population with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.<br> <strong>RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS</strong>: RBP3, VEGF and inflammatory cytokines were measured in plasma and vitreous samples (n=205) from subjects of the Joslin Medalist Study and Beetham Eye Institute.<br> <strong>RESULTS:</strong> Higher vitreous RBP3 concentrations were associated with less severe DR (p<0.0001), and reduced risk of developing proliferative DR (PDR, p<0.0001). Higher RBP3 correlated with increased photoreceptor segment thickness and lower vitreous IL-12, TNF-a and TNF-b  (p<0.05). PDR was associated with lower vitreous IFN-γ and IL-10, and higher VEGF, IL-6, and IL-15 (p<0.05), but was not associated with their plasma concentrations. <br> <strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>Higher vitreous RBP3 concentrations are associated with less severe DR and slower rates of progression to PDR, supporting its potential as a biomarker and  therapeutic agent for preventing DR worsening, possibly by lowering retinal VEGF and inflammatory cytokines.</p>

<p>  </p> <p><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> To correlate inflammatory cytokines and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in vitreous and plasma with vitreous Retinol Binding Protein 3 (RBP3), diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity, and DR worsening in population with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.<br> <strong>RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS</strong>: RBP3, VEGF and inflammatory cytokines were measured in plasma and vitreous samples (n=205) from subjects of the Joslin Medalist Study and Beetham Eye Institute.<br> <strong>RESULTS:</strong> Higher vitreous RBP3 concentrations were associated with less severe DR (p<0.0001), and reduced risk of developing proliferative DR (PDR, p<0.0001). Higher RBP3 correlated with increased photoreceptor segment thickness and lower vitreous IL-12, TNF-a and TNF-b  (p<0.05). PDR was associated with lower vitreous IFN-γ and IL-10, and higher VEGF, IL-6, and IL-15 (p<0.05), but was not associated with their plasma concentrations. <br> <strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>Higher vitreous RBP3 concentrations are associated with less severe DR and slower rates of progression to PDR, supporting its potential as a biomarker and  therapeutic agent for preventing DR worsening, possibly by lowering retinal VEGF and inflammatory cytokines.</p>