Early-life upper airway microbiota are associated with decreased lower respiratory tract infections.

Background: Microbial interactions mediating colonization resistance play key roles within the human microbiome, shaping susceptibility to infection from birth. The role of the nasal and oral microbiome in the context of early life respiratory infections and subsequent allergic disease risk remains understudied.

Objectives: Our aim was to gain insight into microbiome-mediated defenses and respiratory pathogen colonization dynamics within the upper respiratory tract during infancy.

Vaginal and Rectal microbiome changes following administration of a multi-species antenatal probiotic: A randomized control trial.

The gut and vaginal microbiome undergo changes during pregnancy which may be protective or harmful to the birthing person. Probiotics have been found to cause protective changes to the gut and vaginal microbiomes, with the potential to improve perinatal outcomes. This randomized control trial compares the vaginal and rectal microbiomes before and after an antenatal probiotic or placebo intervention, with a diverse group of pregnant people and a special focus on racial disparities.

Antimicrobial effects of blue light therapy against cutibacterium acnes: optimal dosing and impact of serial treatments.

Background: Blue light therapy (BLT) is a Food and Drug Administration cleared modality used in dermatology as an effective treatment of acne. The primary purpose of this study is to determine if there are dose-dependent antimicrobial effects of BLT against .

Methods: A known strain of was grown on chocolate agar in a controlled laboratory environment under anaerobic conditions for 1 week.

Quality improvement study on the effectiveness of intranasal povidone-iodine decolonization on surgery patients.

Background: Surgical site infection prevention and treatment remains a challenge in healthcare settings globally. The routine use of intranasal mupirocin for decolonization has challenges and preoperative intranasal povidone-iodine decolonization is another option. The purpose of this quality improvement study was to assess if a one-time preoperative intranasal povidone-iodine application could reduce the risk of the likelihood of nasal carriage of after surgery.

Are aerosols generated during lung function testing in patients and healthy volunteers? Results from the AERATOR study.

Pulmonary function tests are fundamental to the diagnosis and monitoring of respiratory diseases. There is uncertainty around whether potentially infectious aerosols are produced during testing and there are limited data on mitigation strategies to reduce risk to staff. Healthy volunteers and patients with lung disease underwent standardised spirometry, peak flow and FE assessments.

The influence of corneoscleral topography on soft contact lens fit.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of peripheral ocular topography, as evaluated by optical coherence tomography (OCT), compared with traditional measures of corneal profile using keratometry and videokeratoscopy, on soft contact lens fit.

Methods: Ocular surface topography was analyzed in 50 subjects aged 22.8 years (SD ±5.

Characterization of soft contact lens edge fitting using ultra-high resolution and ultra-long scan depth optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To characterize the edge fitting of soft contact lenses using ultra-high resolution optical coherence tomography (UHR-OCT) and ultra-long scan depth optical coherence tomography (UL-OCT).

Methods: A total of 20 participants (11 men, 9 women; mean age, 32.3 years) were recruited.

Patient attitudes and behavior regarding hygiene and replacement of soft contact lenses and storage cases.

Purpose: To review important aspects of contact lens compliance and to survey contact lens replacement frequency, steps in lens care and hygiene and replacement of the lens storage case via online surveys.

Methods: Random US samples (n=645 and 787) of frequent replacement contact lens wearers answered questions on contact lens wear in online, sponsor-masked surveys.

Results: Wearers of lenses prescribed by their practitioner for 2 weekly replacement reported that they replaced lenses as follows: within 2 weeks 45%, within 3 weeks (minor stretching) 68%, within 4 weeks 89%, ≥8 weeks (extreme stretching) 4%, compared to Monthly wearers who reported: within 4 weeks 37%, within 5 weeks (minor stretching) 57%, ≥8 weeks 23% (≥8 weeks extreme stretching, Chi-square p=0.

Hydrogel lens comfort in challenging environments and the effect of refitting with silicone hydrogel lenses.

Purpose: The purpose of this analysis was to measure the proportion of soft contact lens wearers who wear lenses in challenging environments and to evaluate their resulting comfort in those conditions. A second objective was to determine whether refitting with silicone hydrogel lenses affects lens comfort among subjects who wear lenses in these environments.

Methods: Baseline data were collected from 496 hydrogel soft lens wearers on the frequency of use of contact lenses and the associated comfort in 12 challenging environments.

Baseline factors predictive of incident penetrating keratoplasty in keratoconus.

Purpose: To identify baseline demographic and clinical factors associated with undergoing penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in a prospective cohort of 1,065 keratoconus patients followed for eight years in the Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK) Study.

Design: Multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study.

Methods: We report the rate of PK over eight years and baseline factors predictive of PK in 1,065 patients who, at the time of study enrollment, had not undergone PK in either eye.

Prevalence of ocular surface symptoms, signs, and uncomfortable hours of wear in contact lens wearers: the effect of refitting with daily-wear silicone hydrogel lenses (senofilcon a).

Purpose: Many soft contact lens wearers have symptoms or signs that compromise successful lens wear. This study estimated the prevalence of problems in current wearers of soft contact lenses and tested the effect of refitting patients with senofilcon A silicone hydrogel lenses (ACUVUE Oasys).

Methods: Prevalence was estimated from 1,092 current lens wearers for frequent or constant discomfort or dryness, at least 2 hours of uncomfortable wear, at least grade 2 limbal or bulbar hyperemia (0-4), or at least grade 3 corneal staining (0-15).

Longitudinal changes in visual acuity in keratoconus.

Purpose: The present investigation aimed to identify factors that predict reduced visual acuity in keratoconus from a prospective, longitudinal study.

Methods: This report from the Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK) Study used 7 years of follow-up data from 953 CLEK subjects who did not have penetrating keratoplasty in either eye at baseline and who provided enough data to compute the slope of the change over time in high- or low-contrast best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Outcome measures included these slopes and whether the number of letters correctly read decreased by 10 letters or more in at least one eye in 7 years.

Estimation of the incidence and factors predictive of corneal scarring in the Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK) Study.

Purpose: The multicenter Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK) Study is a prospective, observational study of 1209 keratoconus patients. We report methods to define incident corneal scarring and baseline factors predictive of incident corneal scarring in nonsurgical eyes of CLEK Study keratoconus patients through their fifth year of follow-up.

Methods: Of the 1,209 patients, 878 patients with at least one unscarred cornea at baseline were included in this study.

The impact of lens choice in the relief of contact lens related symptoms and ocular surface findings.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of hioxofilcon A and omafilcon A soft contact lenses for the reduction of signs and symptoms of contact lens related dryness among contact lens wearers who presented with symptoms and signs at baseline.

Methods: Forty dry eye subjects, 37 females and 3 males, were enrolled in this prospective, single-center, randomized, contra-lateral, cross-over study. Subjects were randomly dispensed hioxifilcon A and omafilcon A lenses for contra-lateral eyes.

Survey of contact lens-wearing habits and attitudes toward methods of refractive correction: 2002 versus 2004.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to measure patient attitudes toward methods of refractive correction among cross-sectional populations of contact lens wearers in 2002 and 2004 at the School of Optometry contact lens clinic at Indiana University. We also assessed the role of age and gender on these attitudes.

Methods: Attitudes toward methods of refractive correction were surveyed among 349 consecutive contact lens wearers in the spring of 2002 and compared with surveyed attitudes among 99 contact lens wearers in the winter of 2004.

Forms of vision correction: demographic factors in patient attitudes and perceptions.

Purpose: To evaluate attitudes toward current treatments for vision correction in a clinical population of adults wearing spectacles and contact lenses (CLs).

Methods: Patients seen in the Indiana University Contact Lens and Primary Care Clinics in the spring of 2002 completed multiple-choice questionnaires evaluating their current device for vision, comfort, convenience, health and safety, cost, and overall satisfaction. They also rated their interest in and the convenience and health and safety of 30-day continuous wear (CW), 7-day extended wear (EW), modern orthokeratology, and LASIK and were given a forced choice on their preferred method of vision correction.