Plastic vs. glass: the effect of the synthetic material in contact with DMEK tissue during staining on endothelial cell loss.

Purpose: Endothelial cell loss (ECL) during Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) graft preparation has been shown to affect graft survival and the need for re-grafting. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively assess the impact of the plastic and glass mediums in contact with DMEK donor tissue during intra-operative graft staining on ECL.

Methods: Retrospective study that included patients who underwent DMEK surgery between January 2019 and June 2021 at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont and the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, Canada.

The Association Between Vitamin D Serum Level and COVID-19 Patients' Outcomes in a Tertiary Center in Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with the risk for immune-mediated inflammatory reactions in various respiratory infections. Our study investigated the association between vitamin D deficiency and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients' outcomes. We included 545 patients who were admitted to a tertiary center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from March 2020 to July 2021 with a vitamin D serum test result at the time of infection or prior to disease onset.

In vivo quantification of cochlin in glaucomatous DBA/2J mice using optical coherence tomography.

The expression of cochlin in the trabecular meshwork (TM) precedes the clinical glaucoma symptoms in DBA/2J mice. The ability to quantify cochlin in the local tissue (TM) offers potential diagnostic and prognostic values. We present two (spectroscopic and magnetomotive) optical coherence tomography (OCT) approaches for in vivo cochlin quantification in a periodic manner.

Human trabecular meshwork sphingolipid and ceramide profiles and potential latent fungal commensalism.

Purpose: We determined the profiles of sphingomyelin, sphingoid base, sphingoid base-1-phosphate, and ceramide, and their quantitative differences between control and glaucomatous trabecular meshwork (TM) derived from human donors.

Methods: Control and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) TM samples were collected from cadaver donors. In addition, POAG TM surgical specimens also were procured.

A comparison of trabecular meshwork sphingolipids and ceramides of ocular normotensive and hypertensive states of DBA/2J mice.

Purpose: To determine the differential profiles of sphingomyelin, sphingoid base, sphingoid base-1-phosphate, and ceramide and their quantitative differences between trabecular meshwork (TM) derived from normotensive and hypertensive intraocular pressure states of DBA/2J mice.

Methods: Normotensive and hypertensive state TM were collected from mice and analyzed. Lipid extraction was performed using the Bligh and Dyer method, and the protein concentrations were determined using the Bradford method.

Sphingolipids and ceramides in human aqueous humor.

Purpose: To determine the differential profiles of sphingomyelin, sphingoid base, sphingoid base-1-phosphate and ceramide lipid species and their quantitative differences between control and glaucomatous aqueous humor (AQH) derived from human donors.

Methods: AQH from control and primary open-angle glaucoma donors was collected and subjected to lipid extraction using suitable modifications of the Bligh and Dyer method. Proteins were estimated using Bradford's method.