Crocodile Skin Retinal Appearance: Miliary Distribution of Bilateral Idiopathic Multifocal Retinal Pigment Epithelial Detachments.

This report presents cases of an unusual appearance of bilateral idiopathic multifocal retinal pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) in three patients, using multimodal imaging. Three patients with multiple PEDs, initially diagnosed as drusen, were referred for evaluation. They underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination and multimodal imaging.

Tear levels of apoptotic, matrix-degrading and antioxidant biomarkers in patients with and without keratoconus: A cross sectional study.

Purpose: To assess the tear levels of a set of apoptotic, matrix-degrading and antioxidant biomarkers, including Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) and Superoxide Dismutase 3-Extracellular (SOD3).

Methods: Sandwich-ELISA commercial kits were used to test the expression of the three tear biomarkers in the lacrimal fluid of eligible participants. Linear logistic regression analysis was performed todetermine whether the set of tear biomarkers could be associated with clinically manifest keratoconus.

Pressure Cycling Technology Combined With MicroLC-SWATH Mass Spectrometry for the Analysis of Sex-Related Differences Between Male and Female Cerebella: A Promising Approach to Investigating Proteomics Differences in Psychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Purpose: Pressure cycling technology (PCT) coupled with data-independent sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra (SWATH-MS) can be a powerful tool for identifying and quantifying biomarkers (e.g., proteins) in complex biological samples.

Salzmann Nodular Degeneration in Ocular and Systemic Diseases.

This review aimed to evidence the predisposing conditions for Salzmann nodular degeneration (SND), where particular attention was paid to its association with ocular and systemic diseases. SND is a rare disease characterized by bluish-white nodules located in the mid-periphery of the cornea, which are otherwise completely clear. SND has been found in association with different systemic and ocular diseases, and it may have unilateral or bilateral presentation.

The use of rh-NGF in the management of neurotrophic keratopathy.

Neurotrophic keratitis or keratopathy (NK) is a degenerative corneal disease induced by impairment of the trigeminal nerve function. This condition may lead to persistent epithelial defects, corneal ulceration, and perforation. The diagnosis of NK requires a careful investigation of any ocular and systemic condition associated with the disease and ocular surface and corneal sensitivity examinations.

Expression of Hormones' Receptors in Human Corneal Endothelium from Fuchs' Dystrophy: A Possible Gender' Association.

: Age and sex are the most significant risk of factors for advanced Fuchs dystrophy. Nevertheless, few data are available on the hormone's receptor pattern expressed in adult and advanced fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD). We investigated the impact of gender, growth factors and extracellular matrix (ECM) regulatory proteins expressed by the dystrophic endothelia.

Extensive Contact Lens Wear Modulates Expression of miRNA-320 and miRNA-423-5p in the Human Corneal Epithelium: Possible Biomarkers of Corneal Health and Environmental Impact.

The identification of new biomarkers of ocular diseases is nowadays of outmost importance both for early diagnosis and treatment. Epigenetics is a rapidly growing emerging area of research and its involvement in the pathophysiology of ocular disease and regulatory mechanisms is of undisputable importance for diagnostic purposes. Environmental changes may impact the ocular surface, and the knowledge of induced epigenetic changes might help to elucidate the mechanisms of ocular surface disorders.

Assessment of the Predictive Ability of Theranostics for Corneal Cross-linking in Treating Keratoconus: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose: To validate the ability of theranostic imaging biomarkers in assessing corneal cross-linking (CXL) efficacy in flattening the maximum keratometry (K) index.

Design: Prospective, randomized, multicenter, masked clinical trial (ClinicalTrails.gov identifier, NCT05457647).

In vivo profiling of phytocannabinoids in Cannabis spp. varieties via SPME-LC-MS analysis.

Background: In vivo solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a minimally invasive, non-exhaustive sample-preparation technique that facilitates the direct isolation of low molecular weight compounds from biological matrices in living systems. This technique is especially useful for the analysis of phytocannabinoids (PCs) in plant material, both for forensic purposes and for monitoring the PC content in growing Cannabis spp. plants.

Targeted next-generation sequencing analysis in Italian patients with keratoconus.

Objective: To report variants in 26 candidate genes and describe the clinical features of Italian patients with keratoconus (KC).

Subjects/methods: Sixty-four patients with a confirmed diagnosis of KC were enrolled in this genetic association study. Patients were classified into two study groups according to whether they had a confirmed diagnosis of progressive or stable KC.

Retinal Vessel Analysis and Microvascular Abnormalities in Patients with Philadelphia-Negative Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

: Philadelphia-negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms are a group of clonal hematopoietic disorders including polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and primary myelofi-brosis. These neoplasms are characterized by an increased risk of thrombotic complications. Several studies have highlighted that the study of vessels of the retina offers the opportunity to visualize, in vivo, the damage to microcirculation that is common in various systemic pathologies.

Clinical Evaluation of Corneal Endothelial Parameters following Laser Refractive Surgery in Myopic Eyes: A Review.

The aim of this review was to investigate the influence of various laser refractive surgery methods on the corneal endothelium in myopic patients. The role of the corneal endothelium in laser refractive surgery (LRS) is currently being addressed in the assessment of postoperative corneal edema risk. : Changes in corneal endothelial cell density and morphology after LRS were evaluated based on a systematic review of current studies.

Visual Acuity Examination Methodology in Keratoconus.

Visual acuity is one of the most important parameters for evaluating the vision of patients with keratoconus. This study reviewed 295 articles related to keratoconus published between 2017 and 2022 in which visual acuity was one of the parameters measured. The methodology of visual acuity testing in studies on keratoconus was thoroughly analyzed.

Dupilumab-Associated Blepharoconjunctivitis: Clinical and Morphological Aspects.

Purpose: To describe the clinical and morphologic changes in the ocular surface microstructure of patients affected with moderate-to-severe Atopic Dermatitis (AD) before and during Dupilumab treatment.

Methods: This is a monocentric observational study on thirty-three patients affected with AD before and during Dupilumab treatment. All patients underwent a slit-lamp examination: complete clinical assessment, Break Up Time test (BUT), Schirmer test, and corneal staining grading (Oxford scale) were performed.

Hypochlorous acid hygiene solution in patients affected by blepharitis: a prospective randomised study.

Background/aims: To investigate the clinical outcomes and antimicrobial activity of an hypochlorous acid hygiene solution compared with hyaluronic acid wipes for blepharitis treatment in patients with dry eye disease (DED).

Methods: This study involved 48 eyes of 48 patients affected by blepharitis with mild to moderate DED. 24 patients were treated with a hypochlorous acid hygiene solution (HOCL group) and 24 patients were treated with hyaluronic acid wipes (HYAL group) for a period of 4 weeks.

SPME as a green sample-preparation technique for the monitoring of phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoids in complex matrices.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS), particularly its signaling pathways and ligands, has garnered considerable interest in recent years. Along with clinical work investigating the ECS' functions, including its role in the development of neurological and inflammatory conditions, much research has focused on developing analytical protocols enabling the precise monitoring of the levels and metabolism of the most potent ECS ligands: exogenous phytocannabinoids (PCs) and endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids, ECs). Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is an advanced, non-exhaustive sample-preparation technique that facilitates the precise and efficient isolation of trace amounts of analytes, thus making it appealing for the analysis of PCs and ECs in complex matrices of plant and animal/human origin.

solid phase microextraction for therapeutic monitoring and pharmacometabolomic fingerprinting of lung during lung perfusion of FOLFOX.

In vivo lung perfusion (IVLP) is a novel isolated lung technique developed to enable the local, in situ administration of high-dose chemotherapy to treat metastatic lung cancer. Combination therapy using folinic acid (FOL), 5-fluorouracil (F), and oxaliplatin (OX) (FOLFOX) is routinely employed to treat several types of solid tumours in various tissues. However, F is characterized by large interpatient variability with respect to plasma concentration, which necessitates close monitoring during treatments using of this compound.

Accuracy of an Air-Puff Dynamic Tonometry Biomarker to Discriminate the Corneal Biomechanical Response in Patients With Keratoconus.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess accuracy of the mean corneal stiffness ( kc , N/m) parameter to discriminate between patients with keratoconus and age-matched healthy subjects.

Methods: Dynamic Scheimpflug imaging tonometry was performed with Corvis ST (Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH, Germany) in patients with keratoconus (n = 24; study group) and age-matched healthy subjects (n = 32; control). An image processing algorithm was developed to analyze the video sequence of the Corvis ST air-puff event and to determine the geometric and temporal parameters that correlated with the corneal tissue biomechanical properties.

Persistence of norfluoxetine in marine mussels.

The concentration of pharmaceuticals in coastal waters is tending towards increasing due to a shift of the human population into coastal zones. In parallel, the number of prescriptions of antidepressants, mainly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), is constantly growing. Most of the SSRI is metabolised into active compounds; for instance, norfluoxetine (NFLU) is the main active metabolite of fluoxetine.

One-Year Results of Photorefractive Keratectomy for Myopia and Compound Myopic Astigmatism with 210 nm Wavelength All Solid-State Laser for Refractive Surgery.

Background: To examine the 12-month clinical and refractive outcomes of PRK performed with a UV all-solid-state laser.

Methods: The study included healthy patients with myopia and/or compound myopic astigmatism enrolled for refractive surgery and treated with PRK using a 210 nm wavelength, 2 kHz repetition rate, UV all-solid-state laser (LaserSoft, Katana Technologies GmbH, Kleinmachnow, Germany). All subjects were examined at baseline and after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the treatment with a slit lamp, refraction, visual acuity assessment (logMAR chart), tonometry, ophthalmoscopy, and corneal tomography with a Scheimpflug camera.

Five-year results of iontophoresis-assisted transepithelial corneal cross-linking for keratoconus.

Purpose: To assess long-term efficacy and safety of iontophoresis-assisted transepithelial corneal cross-linking (I-CXL) for keratoconus.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-seven eyes of 21 patients (15 M, 6F) affected by progressive keratoconus were evaluated. All subjects were treated with iontophoresis-assisted transepithelial CXL.

Prediction of total corneal power in keratoconus using anterior surface data.

Clinical Relevance: Keratoconus results in an increase in anterior and posterior curvatures and a reduction in corneal thickness. Anterior corneal ectasia is partially compensated by remodelling the corneal epithelium. Therefore, there is an alteration in the relationship between corneal surfaces and variation in corneal power.

Enhanced Monofocal Intraocular Lenses: A Retrospective, Comparative Study between Three Different Models.

The purpose of this study was to compare the visual performance and optical quality between three new enhanced monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs). This retrospective study included patients affected by cataracts with corneal astigmatism less than 0.75 D and no ocular comorbidities who underwent cataract surgery with bilateral implantation of Tecnis Eyhance ICB00 (Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.