Radiation-Induced Alterations in Proliferation, Migration, and Adhesion in Lens Epithelial Cells and Implications for Cataract Development

The lens of the eye is one of the most radiosensitive tissues. Although the exact mechanism of radiation-induced cataract development remains unknown, altered proliferation, migration, and adhesion have been proposed as factors. Lens epithelial cells were exposed to X-rays (0.1–2 Gy) and radiation effects were examined after 12 h and 7 day. Proliferation was quantified using an MTT assay, migration was measured using a Boyden chamber and wound-healing assay, and adhesion was assessed on three extracellular matrices. Transcriptional changes were also examined using RT-qPCR for a panel of genes related to these processes. In general, a nonlinear radiation response was observed, with the greatest effects occurring at a dose of 0.25 Gy. At this dose, a reduction in proliferation occurred 12 h post irradiation (82.06 ± 2.66%), followed by an increase at 7 day (116.16 ± 3.64%). Cell migration was increased at 0.25 Gy, with rates 121.66 ± 6.49% and 232.78 ± 22.22% greater than controls at 12 h and 7 day respectively. Cell adhesion was consistently reduced above doses of 0.25 Gy. Transcriptional alterations were identified at these same doses in multiple genes related to proliferation, migration, and adhesion. Overall, this research began to elucidate the functional changes that occur in lens cells following radiation exposure, thereby providing a better mechanistic understanding of radiation-induced cataract development.

Risk Factors Which Lead to Development of Senile Cataract: A Review

Maturing processes, including those brought about by various outside factors, have stood out for researchers throughout the last years. Senile cataract is a multifactorial illness. The expense of surgery of cataract medical procedures stays among the highest costing procedures in general public healthcare. Age is an essential element that causes senile cataract morbidity, which double ten every ten years. This article considers some sources which portray research results on impact on cataract development by risk factors like age, sex, race, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes (pancreatic), usage of specific drugs, various environmental aspects, including ultraviolet and ionizing radiation; many of which are shown to cause increment or decrease the risk of senile cataract; there is clashing information on specific factors. Depending on etiology, experts spot senile, congenital, traumatic, complicated, and occupational cataracts. Senile cataract (hereafter referred to as “cataract”) is the most prevalent. The layout also contains quantitative data of cataracts and risk, given through odds ratio and advance because of age, alcohol consumption, ionizing radiation, etc. The researchers also express that there is still no finding on whether the dose-effect relationship for cataract evolvement is a non-threshold or threshold. Surgical procedures are the only treatment available. The surgical procedure usually needs less than an hour. The surgeon makes a small incision in the sclera or limbus of the eye, sometimes with a laser. A small tool is put in to break up the cataract and gently suction it out through the opening created. Then they put in the new lens, made of plastic, silicone, or acrylic, and close the incision. Surgical procedures namely phacoemulsification and minor incision cataract surgery (SICS) are widely used for cataract surgeries; the former is the latest development in cataract surgeries and is less time-consuming. If both eyes are affected, two surgeries are done separately.

Cataract Progression Following Lens-Sparing Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

Purpose: Lens-sparing pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) is often followed by cataract development. However, there have been few prospective studies evaluating the timing of cataract progression and potential associated factors.Methods: This was an observational study conducted at the Ophthalmology Unit of the University Hospital of Parma (Parma, Italy). Patients presenting with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), who underwent PPV with preservation of the lens, were examined according to a scheduled follow-up (3, 6 and 12 months after PPV) and then preoperatively when cataract extraction surgery (CES) was indicated, or at the end of the study follow-up period (May 2021). The primary outcome was the interval between PPV and CES indication (based on predefined refractive criteria).Results: A total of 36 eyes of 36 patients (mean age: 52 ± 10 years) were included in the study. Nineteen eyes (53%) were indicated for CES a median of 14.5 months (IQR: 12.0–24.8) after PPV. The nuclear and posterior subcapsular forms of cataract progressed significantly starting at 6 months after PPV. Older age at the time of PPV, silicone oil tamponade and RRD without macular involvement were significantly and independently associated with an earlier indication for CES. Conclusions: Patient age and the use of silicone oil tamponade must be taken into consideration when evaluating the risk of cataract development after PPV.

High Incidence of Cataracts in the Follow-Up of Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Coronary Total Occlusion

Development of cataracts is a well-known adverse effect of ionizing radiation, but little information is available on their incidence in patients after other medical procedures, such as cardiac catheterizations. The study objective was to determine the incidence of cataracts in a cohort of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic coronary total occlusion (CTO) and its association with radiation dose. The study analyzed the incidence of cataracts during the follow-up of 126 patients who underwent chronic total coronary PCI, using Cox regression to identify predictive factors of cataract development. The study included 126 patients, 86.9% male, with a mean age of 60.5 years (range, 55.0–68.0 years). Twenty-three (18.2% n = 23) developed cataracts during a mean follow-up of 49.5 months (range 37.3–64.5 months). A higher incidence was observed in patients who received more than 5 Gy (29.0% vs. 14.7%, Hazard ratio (HR = 2.84 [1.19–6.77]). Multivariate analysis revealed a relationship between cataract development during the follow-up and a receipt of radiation dose >5 Gy (HR = 2.60, 95% confidence interval [CI 1.03–6.61]; p = 0.03), presence or history of predisposing eye disease (HR = 4.42, CI:1.57–12.40), diabetes (HR = 3.33 [1.22–9.24]), and older age, as in >57 (HR, 6.40 [1.81–22.61]). An elevated incidence of cataracts was observed in patients after PCI for CTO. The onset of cataracts is related to the radiation dose during catheterization, which is a potentially avoidable effect of which operators should be aware.