Prognostic Significance of Biointegration at the Optic-Cornea Joint in Keratoprosthesis Implantation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize the morphological and immunological aspects of biointegration at the optic-cornea joint of a second-generation synthetic corneal device.

Methods: The initial prototype, single-piece optic-skirt configuration, is constructed from compact and flexible perfluoroalkoxy alkane with porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) overlying the skirt to allow skirt-cornea biointegration. The second-generation version was modified to add ePTFE around the optic wall to allow optic-cornea biointegration.

What Is So Great about Inpatient Rehabilitation from the Patient Experience Perspective: Qualitative Content Analysis of an Appreciative Inquiry during a Bedside Experience Rounding.

Background: Positive person-centered attributes of inpatient rehabilitation need to be identified from the patient's perspective to be further developed and sustained.

Purpose: To identify which attributes patients openly evoke as being great care experiences, using an open appreciative inquiry during the inpatient rehabilitation stay.

Methods: Qualitative secondary analysis of appreciative patient comments during a bedside patient experience rounding facilitated by a neutral party was performed.

Design and Biocompatibility of a Novel, Flexible Artificial Cornea.

Purpose: We sought to introduce the materials, design, and biocompatibility of a flexible and suturable artificial corneal device.

Methods: Single-piece, fully synthetic, optic-skirt design devices were made from compact perfluoroalkoxy alkane. The skirt and the optic wall surfaces were lined with a porous tissue ingrowth material using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.

Peer leader perspectives from a PLTL implementation in a Hispanic-serving institution.

Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) is a pedagogical approach that has been shown to benefit all students, especially underrepresented minority students and peer leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. In this work, we present results from our study of the impact of PLTL on our peer leaders from a controlled implementation in general biology, general chemistry, and statistics courses at a Hispanic-serving, minority-serving institution. More specifically, we have measured our PLTL program's impact on our peer leaders' skill development, engagement with the subject material, and sense of belonging as peer leaders.

Loop gain response to increased cerebral blood flow at high altitude.

Purpose: To compare loop gain (LG) before and during pharmacological increases in cerebral blood flow (CBF) at high altitude (HA). Loop gain (LG) describes stability of a negative-feedback control system; defining the magnitude of response to a disturbance, such as hyperpnea to an apnea in periodic breathing (PB). "Controller-gain" sensitivity from afferent peripheral (PCR) and central-chemoreceptors (CCR) plays a key role in perpetuating PB.

Variations in Management of Zone 1 Open Globe Injuries Across Corneal Specialists.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe variations in practice patterns for the management of zone 1 open globe injuries among corneal specialists worldwide.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed using an online survey distributed to members of The Cornea Society. Responses were collected between September 9, 2021, and September 30, 2021.

Defect characterization in optical coatings using scattered light.

Optical coatings play a vital role in sensing technologies. The development of new coatings that exhibit minimal optical losses requires a detailed understanding of the development of defects within them. Current methods of defect characterization involve direct microscope imaging or x-ray diffraction studies in the case of crystallites.

Twelve-Month Clinical and Histopathological Performance of a Novel Synthetic Cornea Device in Rabbit Model.

Purpose: To report the biological stability and postoperative outcomes of a second-generation, single-piece, flexible synthetic cornea in a rabbit model.

Methods: Device materials and design were amended to enhance biointegration. Optic skirt design devices were made from compact perfluoroalkoxy alkane with porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene ingrowth surface overlying the skirt and optic wall.

Follow-up Rates After Teleretinal Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy: Assessing Patient Barriers to Care.

To study patient follow-up after they engage in a teleretinal screening program and to understand potential barriers to care. This was a retrospective analysis and a prospective study of telephone-based patient interviews of outpatients screened for diabetic retinopathy (DR) through a teleretinal referral system. Of 2761 patients screened through a teleretinal referral program, 123 (4.

MALT Lymphoma Presenting with Peripheral Ulcerative Keratitis.

Objective: To report a case of ocular mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma presenting with peripheral ulcerative keratitis.

Methods: A 58-year-old man with a history of vitreous syneresis in both eyes and glaucoma presented with an abnormal, painful sensation of the left eye and mild hyperemia. Physical examination revealed peripheral ulcerative keratitis superiorly and a salmon-colored lesion in the superior conjunctiva.

Zoster Eye Disease Study: Rationale and Design.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the rationale and design of the Zoster Eye Disease Study (ZEDS).

Methods: ZEDS is a National Eye Institute-supported randomized clinical trial designed to determine whether 1 year of suppressive valacyclovir in patients with herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) reduces complications because there is currently no high-quality evidence to support its use. Eligible patients are 18 years and older, immunocompetent, have a history of a typical rash at disease onset, and have had a record of active epithelial or stromal keratitis or iritis within 1 year before enrollment.

Descemet Stripping Only for Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy: Will It Become the Gold Standard?

Descemet stripping only (DSO) has become a viable treatment option for certain cases of Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD). This article describes the history of the development of DSO, its current status, and what successful DSO tells us about the pathophysiology of FECD. Remaining questions and future directions are also highlighted.

A Close Look at the Clinical Efficacy of Rho-Associated Protein Kinase Inhibitor Eye Drops for Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy.

The current understanding on the clinical efficacy of Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor for treating Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy is summarized to clarify whether the "off-label" ROCK-inhibitor eye-drop application are appropriate. ROCK-inhibitor eye drops may eventually be deemed a cutting-edge therapy for Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy patients with acute corneal endothelial defect.

Novel Protein-Based Vaccine against Self-Antigen Reduces the Formation of Sporadic Colon Adenomas in Mice.

Novel immunopreventive strategies are emerging that show great promise for conferring long-term protection to individuals at high risk of developing colorectal cancer. The KISIMA vaccine platform utilizes a chimeric protein comprising: (1) a selected tumor antigen; (2) a cell-penetrating peptide to improve antigen delivery and epitope presentation, and (3) a TLR2/4 agonist to serve as a self-adjuvant. This study examines the ability of a KISIMA vaccine against achaete-scute family bHLH transcription factor 2 (Ascl2), an early colon cancer antigen, to reduce colon tumor formation by stimulating an anti-tumor immune response.

Association of Metformin Use With Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Case-Control Study.

Importance: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of irreversible blindness in older adults, appears to have no effective preventive measures. The common antidiabetic drug metformin has been shown to have protective outcomes in multiple age-associated diseases and may have the potential to protect against the development of AMD.

Objective: To determine whether metformin use is associated with reduced odds of developing AMD.

Update on the Surgical Management of Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy.

Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is the most common posterior corneal dystrophy and the leading indication for corneal transplantation in the United States. FECD is slowly progressive, and patients develop gradual corneal endothelial decompensation, eventually resulting in failure of the endothelium to maintain corneal deturgescence. Medical management consists of topical hyperosmotic agents to facilitate dehydration of the cornea, but surgical intervention is often required to regain corneal clarity.

Corneal Epithelial Findings in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Treated with Antibody-Drug Conjugate Belantamab Mafodotin in the Pivotal, Randomized, DREAMM-2 Study.

Introduction: Patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) represent an unmet clinical need. Belantamab mafodotin (belamaf; GSK2857916) is a first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC; or immunoconjugate) that delivers a cytotoxic payload, monomethyl auristatin F (MMAF), to myeloma cells. In the phase II DREAMM-2 study (NCT03525678), single-agent belamaf (2.