An mRNA-encoded dominant-negative inhibitor of transcription factor RUNX1 suppresses vitreoretinal disease in experimental models.

Messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapies are a promising approach to medical treatment. Except for infectious diseases, no other disease has mRNA-based therapies available. The eye is an ideal model for mRNA therapeutic development because it requires limited dosing.

Multimodal Imaging Characteristics and Correlation to Outcomes in Patients With Central Retinal Artery Occlusion Presenting to a Large Academic Center.

Purpose: To characterize a large modern cohort of patients with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) by describing presenting features and outcomes relating to manually segmented optical coherence tomography (OCT) features, angiographic reperfusion, and visual recovery.

Design: Retrospective clinical cohort study.

Methods: Patients with CRAO (ICD-10: H34.

Targeting the Tie-2 Receptor With Faricimab in Central Serous Chorioretinopathy: A Case Series Motivated by a Genetic Finding.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of faricimab, a bispecific antibody targeting VEGF and Ang-2 (thus increasing Tie-2 activity), in patients with CSC based on a recent genetic study that implicated Tie-2 signaling in CSC pathophysiology.

Design: A retrospective interventional multicenter case series.

Methods: We included patients with chronic CSC (persistent or recurrent SRF for ≥6 months) who received at least one faricimab 6 mg injection between January 1 2022, and April 1 2024,.

Longitudinal associations between subjective cognitive impairment, pain and depressive symptoms in home-dwelling older adults: Modelling within-person effects.

Objectives: Cognitive impairment, pain and depressive symptoms are common and interrelated factors in older adults. However, the directionality and specificity of their association remains unclarified. This study explored whether these factors prospectively increase reciprocal risk and examined the longitudinal association between these factors and quality of life (QoL).

Repeatability of pyramidal aberrometer measurements in keratoconus and normal eyes.

Purpose: To evaluate the intrasubject repeatability of pyramidal aberrometer measurements in a sample of keratoconus and normal eyes.

Setting: American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.

Design: Prospective comparative repeatability analysis.

An Experimental and Finite Element Approach for a Better Understanding of Ti-6Al-4V Behavior When Machining under Cryogenic Environment.

Due to increasing demand in manufacturing industries, process optimization has become a major area of focus for researchers. This research optimizes the cryogenic machining of aerospace titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V for industrial applications by studying the effect of varying the nozzle position using two parameters: the nozzle's separation distance from the tool-chip interface and its inclination angle with respect to the tool rake face. A finite element model (FEM) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model are used to simulate the cryogenic impingement of cryogenic carbon dioxide on the tool-workpiece geometry.

Acetylcholine signaling genes are required for cocaine-stimulated egg laying in Caenorhabditis elegans.

The toxicity and addictive liability associated with cocaine abuse are well-known. However, its mode of action is not completely understood, and effective pharmacotherapeutic interventions remain elusive. The cholinergic effects of cocaine on acetylcholine receptors, synthetic enzymes, and degradative enzymes have been the focus of relatively little empirical investigation.

STARGATE: A new instrument for high-resolution photodissociation spectroscopy of cold ionic species.

Spectroscopy of transient anions and radicals by gated and accelerated time-of-flight experiment is a new spectrometer developed in UCLouvain. This instrument measures high-resolution photodissociation spectra of mass-selected ions by the combination of a time-of-flight spectrometer including a specific gating, bunching, and re-referencing unit with a nanosecond pulsed dye laser, a pulsed deflection, and an energy selector. The ionic species are generated in a supersonic jet expansion by means of an electric discharge or by the impact of electrons coming from an electron gun.

Variations in the Surface Integrity of Ti-6Al-4V by Combinations of Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing Processes.

Additive manufacturing (AM) has recently been accorded considerable interest by manufacturers. Many manufacturing industries, amongst others in the aerospace sector, are already using AM parts or are investing in such manufacturing methods. Important material properties, such as microstructures, residual stress, and surface topography, can be affected by AM processes.

Quality of care, spirituality, relationships and finances in older adult palliative care patients in Lebanon.

Background: Despite making up a big proportion of the world population, older adults received little palliative care services. Moreover, palliative quality of care provided to older adults has been shown to be poor. Adequate clinician communication, familial support, and religious/spiritual support have been identified as main factors in providing good quality of care.

A conserved retromer-independent function for RAB-6.2 in epidermis integrity.

Rab proteins are conserved small GTPases that coordinate intracellular trafficking essential to cellular function and homeostasis. RAB-6.2 is a highly conserved ortholog of human RAB6 proteins.

Symptom prevalence and management in older adult patients in Lebanon.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to explore symptoms and the effectiveness of their management in older adult palliative care candidates in Lebanon. The aims of this study were to: (1) determine symptom prevalence in Lebanese older adults who qualify for palliative care; (2) identify the severity and distress of symptoms; (3) identify the prevalence of symptom management and its efficacy; and (4) explore the relationship between overall symptom burden and its correlates.

Method: This study uses an observational cross-sectional design using convenience sampling (N = 203) to recruit older adults qualifying for palliative care from three major medical centers in Lebanon.

Evaluation of allergic sensitization in Lebanese patients with allergic conjunctivitis.

Purpose: To describe the profile of patients with allergic conjunctivitis (AC) regarding their demographics, symptomatology and specific allergen sensitization, in a Lebanese tertiary hospital.

Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted at the Hôtel-Dieu de France hospital (Beirut, Lebanon) during a period of 18 months. Patients with seasonal or perennial AC presenting for ophthalmic consultation had measurements of total and specific IgE.

INTRAVITREAL DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANT IN RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA-RELATED CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA.

Purpose: To report the clinical outcome after intravitreal dexamethasone implant in patients with retinitis pigmentosa and cystoid macular edema.

Methods: Multicenter retrospective case series of eyes with retinitis pigmentosa and cystoid macular edema that underwent intravitreal dexamethasone implant. Primary outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity in LogMAR and central macular thickness.

Anemic Control in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Controversial Issue.

Anemia in chronic kidney disease doubles the risk of death and leads to many complications. Management includes erythropoietin-stimulating agent therapy, treatment of iron deficiency, patient education, and collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.

[Screening of diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy in Lebanese population using retinography and SD-OCT: The role of telemedicine].

Purpose: Diabetes and diabetic retinopathy (DR) are nowadays a major public health threat. The aim of this study is the screening of DR and diabetic maculopathy (DM) in a primary medical care center in Lebanon. We study also the interest of retinography and of SD-OCT in a telemedicine screening program.

Effect of hemodialysis on visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and macular thickness in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of hemodialysis (HD) on visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), and central foveal thickness (CFT) in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Materials And Methods: Forty-nine eyes from 49 chronic kidney-disease patients were analyzed. Causes of chronic kidney disease included diabetes mellitus (n=9 patients), hypertensive nephrosclerosis (n=15 patients), and other causes (n=25 patients).

Rapid and permanent neuronal inactivation in vivo via subcellular generation of reactive oxygen with the use of KillerRed.

Inactivation of selected neurons in vivo can define their contribution to specific developmental outcomes, circuit functions, and behaviors. Here, we show that the optogenetic tool KillerRed selectively, rapidly, and permanently inactivates different classes of neurons in C. elegans in response to a single light stimulus, through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Novel 'heavy' dyes for retinal membrane staining during macular surgery: multicenter clinical assessment.

Purpose:   To evaluate the feasibility of two novel 'heavy' dye solutions for staining the internal limiting membrane (ILM) and epiretinal membranes (ERMs), without the need for a prior fluid-air exchange, during macular surgery.

Methods:   In this prospective nonrandomized multicenter cohort study, the high molecular weight dyes ILM-Blue™ [0.025% brilliant blue G, 4% polyethylene glycol (PEG)] and MembraneBlue-Dual™ (0.

Neural regeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Axon regeneration is a medically relevant process that can repair damaged neurons. This review describes current progress in understanding axon regeneration in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Factors that regulate axon regeneration in C.

Azithromycin 1.5% ophthalmic solution: efficacy and treatment modalities in chronic blepharitis.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of topical 1.5% azithromycin in the treatment of moderate to severe chronic blepharitis and to compare the efficacy of two different treatment modalities.

Methods: A randomized clinical trial included 67 patients with chronic anterior and/or posterior blepharitis, followed-up for 3 months.

Clinical and molecular findings in three Lebanese families with Bietti crystalline dystrophy: report on a novel mutation.

Purpose: Bietti crystalline dystrophy (BCD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutation of the cytochrome P450, family 4, subfamily V, polypeptide 2 (CYP4V2) gene and characterized by retinal pigmentary abnormalities and scattered deposits of crystals in the retina and the marginal cornea. The aim of this study was to investigate the spectrum of mutations in CYP4V2 in Lebanese families, and to characterize the phenotype of patients affected with BCD.

Methods: Nine patients from three unrelated Lebanese families were clinically and molecularly investigated.