MicroCycle: An Integrated and Automated Platform to Accelerate Drug Discovery.

We herein describe the development and application of a modular technology platform which incorporates recent advances in plate-based microscale chemistry, automated purification, in situ quantification, and robotic liquid handling to enable rapid access to high-quality chemical matter already formatted for assays. In using microscale chemistry and thus consuming minimal chemical matter, the platform is not only efficient but also follows green chemistry principles. By reorienting existing high-throughput assay technology, the platform can generate a full package of relevant data on each set of compounds in every learning cycle.

Glaucoma Agreement in New Zealand (GAINZ).

Clinical Relevance: With an ageing population, ophthalmologists are becoming burdened with glaucoma management, and patient care can be delayed. Therefore, the use of optometrists in glaucoma management can help alleviate the burden.

Background: The ageing population and subsequent rise of glaucoma prevalence are putting a strain on the public health system in New Zealand.

High-throughput synthesis provides data for predicting molecular properties and reaction success.

The generation of attractive scaffolds for drug discovery efforts requires the expeditious synthesis of diverse analogues from readily available building blocks. This endeavor necessitates a trade-off between diversity and ease of access and is further complicated by uncertainty about the synthesizability and pharmacokinetic properties of the resulting compounds. Here, we document a platform that leverages photocatalytic N-heterocycle synthesis, high-throughput experimentation, automated purification, and physicochemical assays on 1152 discrete reactions.

Early Results of Irrigating Goniectomy With TrabEx+: A Novel Device for the Treatment of Open-angle Glaucoma.

Prcis: Irrigating goniectomy with the TrabEx+ device can lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma, as a standalone procedure or combined with cataract surgery.

Purpose: The aim was to describe the efficacy and safety of irrigating goniectomy performed using the TrabEx+ device, either as a standalone procedure or combined with cataract surgery, in eyes with medically treated open-angle glaucoma.

Methods: A retrospective case series of eyes treated by a single surgeon at a single UK teaching hospital.

Primary photodynamic therapy for small amelanotic choroidal melanomas: consecutive case series of 69 patients with at least 24-month follow-up.

Aims: To investigate the success and recurrence rates and visual outcomes in a large case series of amelanotic posterior choroidal melanomas treated by means of primary photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin.

Methods: Retrospective case series from a single specialist ocular oncology centre. All patients had a clinical diagnosis of choroidal melanoma and were selected for PDT based on tumour characteristics.

Blue Laser Induced Retinal Injury in a Commercial Pilot at 1300 ft.

Background: We report what may be the first evidence-based report of a retinal laser injury to a pilot during commercial flight from a laser device on the ground. Given the significant subjective (blind spot) and objective evidence of focal retinal damage, coupled with the distance involved, we suspect the laser had a radiant power of several watts, known to be injurious to the human retina.

Case Report: An airline pilot presented to our department complaining of a blind spot in the upper left area of his visual field in the right eye (right supero-nasal scotoma) following exposure to a laser beam while performing a landing maneuver of a commercial aircraft.

What is modulating solubility in simulated intestinal fluids?

The aim of this study was to understand which parameters are responsible for the selective modulation of compounds solubility in simulated intestinal fluids. The solubility of 25 chemically diverse reference compounds was measured in simulated intestinal fluid (FaSSIF-V2) and in aqueous phosphate and maleate buffers. Electrostatic interactions between compounds and the bio-relevant medium components seem to explain the different solubility behavior observed for acids and bases.