Qualitative analysis of fundus photographs enables straightforward pattern recognition of advanced pathologic myopia. However, it has limitations in defining the classification of the degree or extent of early disease, such that it may be biased by subjective interpretation. In this study, we used the fovea, optic disc, and deepest point of the eye (DPE) as the three major markers of the posterior globe to quantify the relative tomographic elevation of the posterior sclera (TEPS). Using this quantitative index from eyes of 860 myopic patients, support vector machine based machine learning classifier predicted pathologic myopia an AUROC of 0.828, with 77.5% sensitivity and 88.07% specificity. Axial length and choroidal thickness, the existing quantitative indicator of pathologic myopia only reached an AUROC of 0.758, with 75.0% sensitivity and 76.61% specificity. When all six indices were applied, the discriminative ability of the SVM model was excellent, demonstrating an AUROC of 0.868, with 80.0% sensitivity and 93.58% specificity.

To characterize intereye differences in posterior segment parameters and determine their significance in open-angle glaucoma patients with unilateral damage, a 12.0×9.0×2.6 mm volume of the posterior segment in each eye was scanned with swept-source optical coherence tomography. Coronally reconstructed images were analyzed to determine the deepest point of the eye (DPE), the Disc-DPE distance, depth and angle from the optic disc center.

The posterior sclera measurements, including the Disc-DPE distance, Disc-DPE depth, and posterior pole-cross-sectional area, were significantly different between the unilateral glaucoma eyes and contralateral healthy eyes (P=0.043, P=0.035, and P=0.049). A multivariate analysis showed that a larger baseline intraocular pressure IAD (OR 1.381; P=0.009) and larger PP-HW IAD (OR 1.324; P=0.032) were significantly associated with the presence of glaucoma.

Qualitative analysis of fundus photographs enables straightforward pattern recognition of advanced pathologic myopia. However, it has limitations in defining the classification of the degree or extent of early disease, such that it may be biased by subjective interpretation. In this study, we used the fovea, optic disc, and deepest point of the eye (DPE) as the three major markers of the posterior globe to quantify the relative tomographic elevation of the posterior sclera (TEPS). Using this quantitative index from eyes of 860 myopic patients, support vector machine based machine learning classifier predicted pathologic myopia an AUROC of 0.828, with 77.5% sensitivity and 88.07% specificity. Axial length and choroidal thickness, the existing quantitative indicator of pathologic myopia only reached an AUROC of 0.758, with 75.0% sensitivity and 76.61% specificity. When all six indices were applied, the discriminative ability of the SVM model was excellent, demonstrating an AUROC of 0.868, with 80.0% sensitivity and 93.58% specificity.

To characterize intereye differences in posterior segment parameters and determine their significance in open-angle glaucoma patients with unilateral damage, a 12.0×9.0×2.6 mm volume of the posterior segment in each eye was scanned with swept-source optical coherence tomography. Coronally reconstructed images were analyzed to determine the deepest point of the eye (DPE), the Disc-DPE distance, depth and angle from the optic disc center.

The posterior sclera measurements, including the Disc-DPE distance, Disc-DPE depth, and posterior pole-cross-sectional area, were significantly different between the unilateral glaucoma eyes and contralateral healthy eyes (P=0.043, P=0.035, and P=0.049). A multivariate analysis showed that a larger baseline intraocular pressure IAD (OR 1.381; P=0.009) and larger PP-HW IAD (OR 1.324; P=0.032) were significantly associated with the presence of glaucoma.

Common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are predicted to collectively explain 40-50% of phenotypic variation in human height, but identifying the specific variants and associated regions requires huge sample sizes. Here, using data from a genome-wide association study of 5.4 million individuals of diverse ancestries, we show that 12,111 independent SNPs that are significantly associated with height account for nearly all of the common SNP-based heritability. These SNPs are clustered within 7,209 non-overlapping genomic segments with a mean size of around 90 kb, covering about 21% of the genome.

In out-of-sample estimation and prediction, the 12,111 SNPs account for 40% of phenotypic variance in populations of European ancestry but only around 10-20% in populations of other ancestries. Effect sizes, associated regions and gene prioritization are similar across ancestries, indicating that reduced prediction accuracy is likely to be explained by linkage disequilibrium and differences in allele frequency within associated regions.

To characterize intereye differences in posterior segment parameters and determine their significance in open-angle glaucoma patients with unilateral damage, a 12.0×9.0×2.6 mm volume of the posterior segment in each eye was scanned with swept-source optical coherence tomography. Coronally reconstructed images were analyzed to determine the deepest point of the eye (DPE), the Disc-DPE distance, depth and angle from the optic disc center.

The posterior sclera measurements, including the Disc-DPE distance, Disc-DPE depth, and posterior pole-cross-sectional area, were significantly different between the unilateral glaucoma eyes and contralateral healthy eyes (P=0.043, P=0.035, and P=0.049). A multivariate analysis showed that a larger baseline intraocular pressure IAD (OR 1.381; P=0.009) and larger PP-HW IAD (OR 1.324; P=0.032) were significantly associated with the presence of glaucoma.

Common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are predicted to collectively explain 40-50% of phenotypic variation in human height, but identifying the specific variants and associated regions requires huge sample sizes. Here, using data from a genome-wide association study of 5.4 million individuals of diverse ancestries, we show that 12,111 independent SNPs that are significantly associated with height account for nearly all of the common SNP-based heritability. These SNPs are clustered within 7,209 non-overlapping genomic segments with a mean size of around 90 kb, covering about 21% of the genome.

In out-of-sample estimation and prediction, the 12,111 SNPs account for 40% of phenotypic variance in populations of European ancestry but only around 10-20% in populations of other ancestries. Effect sizes, associated regions and gene prioritization are similar across ancestries, indicating that reduced prediction accuracy is likely to be explained by linkage disequilibrium and differences in allele frequency within associated regions.

To characterize intereye differences in posterior segment parameters and determine their significance in open-angle glaucoma patients with unilateral damage, a 12.0×9.0×2.6 mm volume of the posterior segment in each eye was scanned with swept-source optical coherence tomography. Coronally reconstructed images were analyzed to determine the deepest point of the eye (DPE), the Disc-DPE distance, depth and angle from the optic disc center.

The posterior sclera measurements, including the Disc-DPE distance, Disc-DPE depth, and posterior pole-cross-sectional area, were significantly different between the unilateral glaucoma eyes and contralateral healthy eyes (P=0.043, P=0.035, and P=0.049). A multivariate analysis showed that a larger baseline intraocular pressure IAD (OR 1.381; P=0.009) and larger PP-HW IAD (OR 1.324; P=0.032) were significantly associated with the presence of glaucoma.

Reduced neurotrophic support is one possible cause for retinal ganglion cells dying in glaucoma. Experiments were designed to investigate the effect of EP2 receptor agonist butaprost on transformed retinal ganglion (RGC-5) cells where reduced neurotrophic support was simulated by serum withdrawal. Cultures were analysed for cell viability, flow cytometry, reactive oxygen species and apoptosis.

We demonstrated the existence of all four types of PGE2 receptors in RGC-5 cells and exposure of cultures to butaprost resulted in an elevation of cAMP. Serum deprivation induced RGC-5 cell death was significantly attenuated by butaprost as well as by rolipram and forskolin where intracellular cAMP levels were increased. These data are of value in relation to the possible use of EP2 receptor agonists to reduce both elevated intraocular pressure and retinal ganglion cell death as occurs in glaucoma.

Common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are predicted to collectively explain 40-50% of phenotypic variation in human height, but identifying the specific variants and associated regions requires huge sample sizes. Here, using data from a genome-wide association study of 5.4 million individuals of diverse ancestries, we show that 12,111 independent SNPs that are significantly associated with height account for nearly all of the common SNP-based heritability. These SNPs are clustered within 7,209 non-overlapping genomic segments with a mean size of around 90 kb, covering about 21% of the genome.

In out-of-sample estimation and prediction, the 12,111 SNPs account for 40% of phenotypic variance in populations of European ancestry but only around 10-20% in populations of other ancestries. Effect sizes, associated regions and gene prioritization are similar across ancestries, indicating that reduced prediction accuracy is likely to be explained by linkage disequilibrium and differences in allele frequency within associated regions.

Reduced neurotrophic support is one possible cause for retinal ganglion cells dying in glaucoma. Experiments were designed to investigate the effect of EP2 receptor agonist butaprost on transformed retinal ganglion (RGC-5) cells where reduced neurotrophic support was simulated by serum withdrawal. Cultures were analysed for cell viability, flow cytometry, reactive oxygen species and apoptosis.

We demonstrated the existence of all four types of PGE2 receptors in RGC-5 cells and exposure of cultures to butaprost resulted in an elevation of cAMP. Serum deprivation induced RGC-5 cell death was significantly attenuated by butaprost as well as by rolipram and forskolin where intracellular cAMP levels were increased. These data are of value in relation to the possible use of EP2 receptor agonists to reduce both elevated intraocular pressure and retinal ganglion cell death as occurs in glaucoma.

Common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are predicted to collectively explain 40-50% of phenotypic variation in human height, but identifying the specific variants and associated regions requires huge sample sizes. Here, using data from a genome-wide association study of 5.4 million individuals of diverse ancestries, we show that 12,111 independent SNPs that are significantly associated with height account for nearly all of the common SNP-based heritability. These SNPs are clustered within 7,209 non-overlapping genomic segments with a mean size of around 90 kb, covering about 21% of the genome.

In out-of-sample estimation and prediction, the 12,111 SNPs account for 40% of phenotypic variance in populations of European ancestry but only around 10-20% in populations of other ancestries. Effect sizes, associated regions and gene prioritization are similar across ancestries, indicating that reduced prediction accuracy is likely to be explained by linkage disequilibrium and differences in allele frequency within associated regions.

To characterize intereye differences in posterior segment parameters and determine their significance in open-angle glaucoma patients with unilateral damage, a 12.0×9.0×2.6 mm volume of the posterior segment in each eye was scanned with swept-source optical coherence tomography. Coronally reconstructed images were analyzed to determine the deepest point of the eye (DPE), the Disc-DPE distance, depth and angle from the optic disc center.

The posterior sclera measurements, including the Disc-DPE distance, Disc-DPE depth, and posterior pole-cross-sectional area, were significantly different between the unilateral glaucoma eyes and contralateral healthy eyes (P=0.043, P=0.035, and P=0.049). A multivariate analysis showed that a larger baseline intraocular pressure IAD (OR 1.381; P=0.009) and larger PP-HW IAD (OR 1.324; P=0.032) were significantly associated with the presence of glaucoma.

Reduced neurotrophic support is one possible cause for retinal ganglion cells dying in glaucoma. Experiments were designed to investigate the effect of EP2 receptor agonist butaprost on transformed retinal ganglion (RGC-5) cells where reduced neurotrophic support was simulated by serum withdrawal. Cultures were analysed for cell viability, flow cytometry, reactive oxygen species and apoptosis.

We demonstrated the existence of all four types of PGE2 receptors in RGC-5 cells and exposure of cultures to butaprost resulted in an elevation of cAMP. Serum deprivation induced RGC-5 cell death was significantly attenuated by butaprost as well as by rolipram and forskolin where intracellular cAMP levels were increased. These data are of value in relation to the possible use of EP2 receptor agonists to reduce both elevated intraocular pressure and retinal ganglion cell death as occurs in glaucoma.

Qualitative analysis of fundus photographs enables straightforward pattern recognition of advanced pathologic myopia. However, it has limitations in defining the classification of the degree or extent of early disease, such that it may be biased by subjective interpretation. In this study, we used the fovea, optic disc, and deepest point of the eye (DPE) as the three major markers of the posterior globe to quantify the relative tomographic elevation of the posterior sclera (TEPS). Using this quantitative index from eyes of 860 myopic patients, support vector machine based machine learning classifier predicted pathologic myopia an AUROC of 0.828, with 77.5% sensitivity and 88.07% specificity. Axial length and choroidal thickness, the existing quantitative indicator of pathologic myopia only reached an AUROC of 0.758, with 75.0% sensitivity and 76.61% specificity. When all six indices were applied, the discriminative ability of the SVM model was excellent, demonstrating an AUROC of 0.868, with 80.0% sensitivity and 93.58% specificity.

To characterize intereye differences in posterior segment parameters and determine their significance in open-angle glaucoma patients with unilateral damage, a 12.0×9.0×2.6 mm volume of the posterior segment in each eye was scanned with swept-source optical coherence tomography. Coronally reconstructed images were analyzed to determine the deepest point of the eye (DPE), the Disc-DPE distance, depth and angle from the optic disc center.

The posterior sclera measurements, including the Disc-DPE distance, Disc-DPE depth, and posterior pole-cross-sectional area, were significantly different between the unilateral glaucoma eyes and contralateral healthy eyes (P=0.043, P=0.035, and P=0.049). A multivariate analysis showed that a larger baseline intraocular pressure IAD (OR 1.381; P=0.009) and larger PP-HW IAD (OR 1.324; P=0.032) were significantly associated with the presence of glaucoma.

Reduced neurotrophic support is one possible cause for retinal ganglion cells dying in glaucoma. Experiments were designed to investigate the effect of EP2 receptor agonist butaprost on transformed retinal ganglion (RGC-5) cells where reduced neurotrophic support was simulated by serum withdrawal. Cultures were analysed for cell viability, flow cytometry, reactive oxygen species and apoptosis.

We demonstrated the existence of all four types of PGE2 receptors in RGC-5 cells and exposure of cultures to butaprost resulted in an elevation of cAMP. Serum deprivation induced RGC-5 cell death was significantly attenuated by butaprost as well as by rolipram and forskolin where intracellular cAMP levels were increased. These data are of value in relation to the possible use of EP2 receptor agonists to reduce both elevated intraocular pressure and retinal ganglion cell death as occurs in glaucoma.

Qualitative analysis of fundus photographs enables straightforward pattern recognition of advanced pathologic myopia. However, it has limitations in defining the classification of the degree or extent of early disease, such that it may be biased by subjective interpretation. In this study, we used the fovea, optic disc, and deepest point of the eye (DPE) as the three major markers of the posterior globe to quantify the relative tomographic elevation of the posterior sclera (TEPS). Using this quantitative index from eyes of 860 myopic patients, support vector machine based machine learning classifier predicted pathologic myopia an AUROC of 0.828, with 77.5% sensitivity and 88.07% specificity. Axial length and choroidal thickness, the existing quantitative indicator of pathologic myopia only reached an AUROC of 0.758, with 75.0% sensitivity and 76.61% specificity. When all six indices were applied, the discriminative ability of the SVM model was excellent, demonstrating an AUROC of 0.868, with 80.0% sensitivity and 93.58% specificity.