Biomedical Papers-Olomouc最新文献

{"title":"Fat embolism and COVID-19 infection: autopsy and post-mortem laboratory findings in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients.","authors":"Adriana Gavronova, Lukas Hamerlik, Margita Bartkova, Vaclav Svrchokryl, Veronika Kralikova, Katerina Vranova, Peter Ondra, Martin Dobias","doi":"10.5507/bp.2024.014","DOIUrl":"10.5507/bp.2024.014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The article is one of the very first autopsy reports worldwide, which associates COVID-19 infection and pulmonary fat embolism.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To point to a crucial connection between a severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and pulmonary fat embolism as one of the possible major mechanisms of severe COVID-19 symptoms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Lung, brain and kidney tissues examination of 16 full human autopsy cases. All deceased suffered from COVID-19 infection, none of them was admitted to hospital prior to death, immediate causes of death vary. Autopsies accompanied by microbiological examination and histological examination using Oil Red O staining were performed. Consequently, we have implemented a control cohort consisting of 16 deceased with no presence of pulmonary infection and various immediate causes of death.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 16 autopsy cases, 11 (68.8%) were males and 5 (31.3%) females, with overall mean age 68.1 (39-86) years. Causes of death of studied subjects were natural, mostly from respiratory failure (in 12 cases, 75%). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed in 7 cases (43.8%). None of dissected persons had larger signs of body trauma. Pulmonary fat embolism was found in 11 cases (68.8%), which generalised to kidneys in 8 patients (50% of all cases, 72.3% of cases with pulmonary fat embolism) and to brain tissue in 1 case.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We demonstrated a reasonable relation between a COVID-19 disease and a variously severe fat embolism, severity of which does not directly correlate with body weight. Further investigation or even change of medical treatment needs to be considered in patients with COVID-19.</p>","PeriodicalId":55363,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Papers-Olomouc","volume":" ","pages":"116-122"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141181471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adrenal insufficiency - causes and laboratory diagnosis.","authors":"Tomas Brutvan, Jana Jezkova, Marcela Kotasova, Michal Krsek","doi":"10.5507/bp.2024.033","DOIUrl":"10.5507/bp.2024.033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adrenal insufficiency (AI) manifests as a clinical syndrome arising from either the direct impairment of adrenal glands, leading to primary AI characterized by deficiencies in glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, or adrenal cortex atrophy due to diminished adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation, a consequence of hypothalamic and/or pituitary damage, resulting in secondary AI. The diagnosis of AI is based on clinical assessment and biochemical tests, including basal hormone level measurements and stimulation tests. In evaluating the results of laboratory tests, it is necessary to consider factors that may influence both pre-analytical and analytical phases, as well as the chosen methodology. Correct diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency and timely initiation of suitable replacement therapy are paramount. These steps are crucial not only for managing the condition but also to avert potentially life-threatening adrenal crises.</p>","PeriodicalId":55363,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Papers-Olomouc","volume":" ","pages":"73-81"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142395515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Two de novo UBR1 variants in trans as a cause of Johanson-Blizzard syndrome.","authors":"Lukas Strych, Tomas Zavoral, Pavla Komrskova, Tomas Vanecek, Ivan Subrt","doi":"10.5507/bp.2025.005","DOIUrl":"10.5507/bp.2025.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims/background: </strong>Johanson-Blizzard syndrome (JBS) is a rare autosomal recessive disease caused by pathogenic variants in the UBR1 gene. JBS is usually suspected based on characteristic anomalies, but only genetic testing provides a definitive diagnosis. Since most variants are inherited from the parents, we aimed to identify the causal variants in a Czech proband with clinically suspected JBS and perform segregation analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A proband with clinically suspected JBS underwent clinical exome sequencing (CES). Sanger sequencing was used for the validation, characterization, and segregation of variants in the family. The variants were also characterized using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and in silico analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Using CES in the proband, we identified two novel causal variants in the UBR1 gene, c.3482A>C and c.3509+6T>C. Although the variants were found in trans, neither was detected in the parents. Sanger sequencing of the cDNA revealed that the novel variant c.3509+6T>C caused activation of the non-canonical GC donor splice site. The inclusion of 70 bp of the intronic sequence generated a frameshift and a premature termination codon leading to nonsense-mediated decay, as detected by qPCR. In silico protein structural analysis showed that the novel missense variant c.3482A>C in the zinc-stabilized domain RING-H2 altered a highly conserved zinc-coordinating histidine by proline.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>To the best of our knowledge, we report the first molecular confirmation of JBS in the Czech Republic and the first identification of two de novo causal variants in two alleles. Our findings also expand the spectrum of pathogenic variants in the UBR1 gene.</p>","PeriodicalId":55363,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Papers-Olomouc","volume":" ","pages":"98-106"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143383967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Meta-analysis study on anesthetic sedation recovery and onset times in pediatric and elderly patients undergoing CT and MRI.","authors":"Qiong Zhao, Fei Meng, Huimei Han, Lili Han","doi":"10.5507/bp.2024.034","DOIUrl":"10.5507/bp.2024.034","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are crucial diagnostic modalities that require patients to remain immobile for extended periods, with anesthesia sometimes used for comfort and image quality enhancement. The study compares dexmedetomidine and propofol in reducing recovery time and sedation onset in pediatric and elderly patients undergoing CT and MRI procedures. A meta-analysis of fifteen studies assessing recovery time, sedation onset, and failed sedation between dexmedetomidine and propofol in pediatric and elderly patients during CT and MRI was conducted. The study indicated that the administration of anaesthesia markedly improved patient compliance and reduced motion artefacts in both CT and MRI (P<0.00001, I²=94%). The meta-analysis indicated that the mean difference (MD) in the onset of sedation was significantly faster in the control group (P<0.00001, I²=96%). The study reveals that dexmedetomidine and propofol anesthesia can improve patient image quality during CT and MRI procedures by reducing motion artefacts. Dexmedetomidine sedated people more quickly than propofol, but no significant differences in sedation duration were observed.</p>","PeriodicalId":55363,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Papers-Olomouc","volume":" ","pages":"82-90"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Serum neurofilament light chain in response to probiotics in bi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial (CleverAge Biota).","authors":"Lenka Fialova, Ales Bartos, Marta Kalousova, Libuse Noskova, Miroslava Zelenkova, Michaela Slukova, Tomas Zima","doi":"10.5507/bp.2024.032","DOIUrl":"10.5507/bp.2024.032","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Neurodegenerative disorders affecting the brain and spinal cord are caused by a large number of factors. More recently, imbalances in gut microbiota are found to be one factor linked directly to neurological dysfunction. Probiotics prevent cognitive decline. For the first time, the effect of probiotics was assessed by monitoring the concentrations of the neurodegeneration biomarker neurofilament light chains (NfL) in a well-defined group of community-dwelling individuals. The aim of this study was to determine whether administration of our new probiotics could reduce NfL concentrations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The serum NfL concentrations were measured in total of 190 serum samples of 85 older community-dwelling individuals. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: the PROPLA group and the PLAPRO group. Individuals in the PROPLA group started with a three-month use of probiotics and continued with a three-month use of placebo while the order was reversed in the PLAPRO group. The participants underwent detailed examinations at three time points: at baseline, in three and six months. The serum NfL concentrations were determined using ultrasensitive single-molecule array (SIMOA) assay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Longitudinal comparisons of NfL concentrations between samplings at different time points in the PROPLA and PLAPRO groups showed no statistically significant differences. Baseline NfL concentrations at the beginning of the study and in the succeeding samplings were not significantly different for the two groups in cross-sectional comparisons.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Serum NfL concentrations were not influenced by the three-month use of probiotics.</p>","PeriodicalId":55363,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Papers-Olomouc","volume":" ","pages":"91-97"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142481508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer following vessel density correction at different IOP values.","authors":"Jan Lestak, Martin Fus, Sarka Pitrova","doi":"10.5507/bp.2024.001","DOIUrl":"10.5507/bp.2024.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The aim of this study was to define the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in the peripapillary region of the retina after adjusting for the effect of vessel density (VD) in patients with pathological intraocular pressure (IOP).</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>69 patients (122 eyes) with IOP >21 mmHg (range 21-36 mmHg, mean 23.65±2.70 mmHg). 32 were men (average age 55±13 years) and 37 were women (average age 52±14 years). IOP was measured using the Ocular Response Analyser (ORA). VD and RNFL were measured peripapillary by OCT (Avanti RTVue XR) in eight segments: Inferior Temporal - IT (1); Temporal Inferior - TI (2); Temporal Superior - TS (3); Superior Temporal - ST (4); Superior Nasal - SN (5); Nasal Superior - NS (6); Nasal Inferior - NI (7) and Inferior Nasal - IN (8). The VD value was subtracted from the total RNFL value.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A corrected value for the RNFLc nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLc) was introduced to account for VD across the RNFL volume in each segment. Person's correlation coefficient (r) was used to assess the correlation between IOP and RNFLc. The strongest correlations in RNFLc were in segments 5 (r=-0.32, P=0.002) and 8 (r=-0.21, P=0.037).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The greatest changes in RNFLc (RNFL minus VD) were in eyes with pathological IOP in segments 5 and 8, the location of the retinal ganglion cell magnocellular fibers. That is, when the thickness of the nerve fiber layer was reduced by correcting for vessel density, there was a significant correlation in segments 5 (r =-0.32, P<0.05) and 8 (r =-0.21, P<0.05) with intraocular pressure. The results suggest use of a corrected RNFL from VD value as more appropriate for detecting early changes in glaucoma.</p>","PeriodicalId":55363,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Papers-Olomouc","volume":" ","pages":"140-143"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139479555","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determination of the prevalence and predictors of ventricular thrombus with assessment of the risk of systemic embolization to the CNS in patients after acute myocardial infarction using magnetic resonance imaging, echocardiography and cardiac markers - a prospective, unicentric, observational study.","authors":"Stepan Hudec, Martin Hutyra, Jan Precek, Jan Latal, Radomir Nykl, Miloslav Spacek, Martin Sluka, Daniel Sanak, Zbynek Tudos, Dalibor Pastucha, Milos Taborsky","doi":"10.5507/bp.2023.050","DOIUrl":"10.5507/bp.2023.050","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) formation is one of the well-known and serious complications of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) due to the risk of systemic arterial embolization (SE). To diagnose LVT, echocardiography (TTE) is used. Late gadolinium-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance (DE-CMR) is the gold standard for diagnosing LVT.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim of this observational study was to determine the role of transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac markers in predicting the occurrence of LVT compared with a reference cardiac imaging (DE-CMR) and to determine the risk of systemic embolization to the CNS using brain MRA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Seventy patients after MI managed by percutaneous coronary intervention (localization: 92.9% anterior wall, 7% other; median age 58.7 years) were initially examined by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE, n=69) with a focus on LVT detection. Patients were then referred for DE-CMR (n=55). Laboratory determination of cardiac markers (Troponin T and NTproBNP) was carried out in all. Brain MRA was performed 1 year apart (n=51).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of LVT detected by echocardiography: (n=11/69, i.e. 15.9%); by DE-CMR: (n=9/55, i.e. 16.7%). Statistically significant parameters to predict the occurrence of LVT after AMI (cut off value): (a) detected by echocardiography: anamnestic data - delay (≥ 5 hours), echocardiographic parameters - left atrial volume index (LAVI≥ 32 mL/m²), LV EF Simpson biplane and estimated (≤ 42%), tissue Doppler determination of septal A wave velocity (≤ 7.5cm/s); (b) detected by DE-CMR: anamnestic data - delay (≥ 13 hours), DE-CMR parameters - left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (≥ 54mm). The value of cardiac markers (Troponin T and NTproBNP in ng/L) in LVT detected by echocardiography did not reach statistical significance. In LVT detected by DE-CMR, NTproBNP was statistically significantly increased at 1 month after AMI onset (no optimal cut-off value could be determined). There was no statistically significant association between the LVT detection (both modalities) and the occurrence of clinically manifest and silent cardioembolic events.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study confirmed a relatively high prevalence of LVT in the high-risk group of patients with anterior wall STEMI. Due to the low prevalence of thromboembolic complications, no significant association between the LVT detection and the occurrence of a cardioembolic event was demonstrated.</p>","PeriodicalId":55363,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Papers-Olomouc","volume":" ","pages":"132-139"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139426149","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Oxidative stress, microparticles, and E-selectin do not depend on HIV suppression.","authors":"Katerina Havlickova, Svatava Snopkova, Miroslav Pohanka, Radek Svacinka, David Vydrar, Petr Husa, Jirina Zavrelova, Filip Zlamal, Lenka Fabianova, Miroslav Penka, Petr Husa","doi":"10.5507/bp.2024.002","DOIUrl":"10.5507/bp.2024.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Oxidative stress and inflammation are considered predictors of diseases associated with aging. Markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial activation were investigated in people with HIV on antiretroviral treatment to determine whether they had an immunosenescent phenotype that might predispose to the development of premature age-related diseases.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>This study was conducted on 213 subjects with HIV. The control groups consisted of healthy HIV-negative adults. The level of oxidative stress was measured by assessing the production of malondialdehyde levels, which were detected by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) assay. The level of microparticles indicated the presence of inflammation and endothelial activation was measured by E-selectin levels. Significant differences were determined by appropriate statistical tests, depending on the distribution of variables. Relationships between continuous variables were quantified using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>TBARS, and microparticle and E-selectin levels were significantly higher in untreated and treated subjects with HIV compared with HIV-negative controls (P<0.001). The levels of the investigated markers were not significantly different between untreated and treated patients and no significant correlation of these markers was found with CD4⁺ count, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio, and the number of HIV-1 RNA copies.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Elevated markers of oxidative stress, inflammatory and endothelial activation were independent of the virologic and immunologic status of people with HIV. These results support the hypothesis that residual viremia in cellular reservoirs of various tissues is a key factor related to the premature aging of the immune system and predisposition to the premature development of diseases associated with aging.</p>","PeriodicalId":55363,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Papers-Olomouc","volume":" ","pages":"123-131"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139934383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of the combined parameters including the frequency of primary cilia, PD-L1, Smoothened protein, membranous β-catenin and cytoplasmic β-catenin expression with the outcome of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma.","authors":"Aneta Rozsypalova, Blanka Rosova, Alzbeta Filipova, Dimitar Hadzi Nikolov, Renata Chloupkova, Igor Richter, Roman Zachoval, Radoslav Matej, Bohuslav Melichar, Tomas Buchler, Josef Dvorak","doi":"10.5507/bp.2024.005","DOIUrl":"10.5507/bp.2024.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>The objective of this study was to investigate the association and combined prognostic significance of the PD-L1, Smoothened protein and β-catenin expressions in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The PD-L1, Smoothened protein and β-catenin expression were evaluated in 104 ccRCC patients. All studied tumor samples were acquired from nephrectomy specimens of primary tumors and not from biopsies or metastases. An indirect immunohistochemistry using polyclonal rabbit anti-Smoothened antibody, monoclonal mouse anti-human β-catenin-1 antibody, immunohistochemical assay PD-L1 28-8 pharmDx using monoclonal rabbit anti-PD-L1 antibody and anti-VHL (C- terminal) rabbit antibody was used. Immunohistochemistry was scored semiquantitavely.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Median overall survival (OS) was significantly better in patients with lower PD-L1 expression (≤5%), Smoothened protein (SMO) expression (<5%) or cytoplasmic β-catenin expression (≤75%) than in patients with higher expressions of these biomarkers (P<0.001, P=0.047, and P<0.001, respectively). Membranous β-catenin showed an opposite effect with its lower expression (≤75%) being associated with longer OS (P=0.020). There was significant association between PD-1 and PD-L1 expression (P=0.007) and significant association of tumor grade (WHO 2016) with membranous β-catenin (P<0.001), cytoplasmic β-catenin (P=0.005), pVHL (P=0.042), PD-L1 (P=0.049) and PD-1 (P=0.028) expression.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The present study provides the first data on the potential association and combined prognostic significance of frequency of primary cilia, PD-L1, Smoothened protein and β-catenin expression with the outcome in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.</p>","PeriodicalId":55363,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Papers-Olomouc","volume":" ","pages":"107-115"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139991977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Macular pigment evaluation using dual-wavelength fundus auto-fluorescence imaging.","authors":"Patrik Rajs, Ivana Liehneova, Zbynek Stranak","doi":"10.5507/bp.2023.051","DOIUrl":"10.5507/bp.2023.051","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Macular pigment plays an important role in the reduction of oxidative stress and in preventing retinal diseases. Quick and easy measurements of the macular pigment are essential in both clinical and research settings. Dual wavelength fundus auto-fluorescence seems to be the optimal method. This study aims to investigate changes in fundus autofluorescence in patients taking daily lutein oral supplements and develop image processing methods for follow-up evaluations of the images.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>New devices allow us to examine fundus autofluorescence using both blue and green excitation wavelengths. This allows detection of the amount of macular pigment by subtracting these two images because the yellow pigment particles absorb blue wavelengths. We determined daily dose of 25 mg of lutein and 3 mg of zeaxanthin. Patients were followed up for 15 months at 3-month intervals.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>During our 15-month study, we observed a positive trend in pixel lightness values, suggesting an increase in macular pigments in the foveal area. In all patients taking daily lutein supplements, the foveal index significantly increased after six months, with a median change of 0.081. We did not observe a significant change after the first three months (0.006) and only a small change between the 6th and 12th-month visits (0.012).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>With appropriate patients and procedures for capturing autofluorescence images, this is a valuable technique for macular pigment evaluation in follow-up examinations using software image post-processing and analysis with commonly available hardware. To put this into everyday practice, developing tools to automate the assessment is necessary.</p>","PeriodicalId":55363,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Papers-Olomouc","volume":" ","pages":"144-148"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139426150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}