Candidate Biomarkers for Response to Treatment in Psoriatic Disease.

Objective: To determine whether biologic therapy alters serum C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10), matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), S100 calcium-binding protein A8 (S100A8), acid phosphatase 5 (ACP5), and C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) levels in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and cutaneous psoriasis without arthritis (PsC), and whether baseline levels of these proteins predict response to treatment for PsA.

Methods: We included (1) patients with PsA taking tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), interleukin 17 inhibitors (IL-17i), methotrexate (MTX), and those who were untreated with bDMARDs or csDMARDs; (2) patients with PsC taking bDMARDs; and (3) matched patients with PsC who were not treated with bDMARDs or csDMARDs. Serum samples at baseline and at the 3- to 6-month follow-up visit were retrieved from the biobank.

Investigating protease-mediated peptides of inflammation and tissue remodeling as biomarkers associated with flares in psoriatic arthritis.

Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis. PsA disease involves flares, which are associated with increased joint inflammation and tissue remodeling. There is a need for identifying biomarkers related to PsA disease activity and flares to improve the management of PsA patients and decrease flares.

Third and Fourth Vaccine Doses Broaden and Prolong Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in Adult Patients with Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases.

Previous studies have reported impaired humoral responses after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), particularly those treated with anti-TNF biologics. We previously reported that IMID patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or rheumatoid arthritis exhibited greater waning of Ab and T cell responses than healthy control subjects after SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose 2. Fewer data are available on the effects of third and fourth doses.

Accelerated waning of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

BACKGROUNDLimited information is available on the impact of immunosuppressants on COVID-19 vaccination in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID).METHODSThis observational cohort study examined the immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or psoriatic disease, with or without maintenance immunosuppressive therapies. Ab and T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2, including neutralization against SARS-CoV-2 variants, were determined before and after 1 and 2 vaccine doses.

Association of -p.Ala170Ala and -p.Ile95Ile Polymorphisms with Congenital Cataract and Microphthalmia.

Purpose: To investigate the association of -p.Ala170Ala (rs34082359) and -p.Ile95Ile (rs2281983) polymorphisms with congenital cataract and microphthalmia in a western Indian population.

Trichostatin A Restores Expression of Adherens and Tight Junction Proteins during Transforming Growth Factor β-Mediated Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition.

Purpose: Adherens junctions and polarity markers play an important role in maintaining epithelial phenotype but get altered during the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Alterations of these markers during EMT of lens epithelial cell (LEC) can lead to vision compromising conditions. The aim of this study was to examine if Trichostatin-A (TSA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, can prevent EMT by restoring the adherens junction complex in LEC.

Andrographolide suppresses epithelial mesenchymal transition by inhibition of MAPK signalling pathway in lens epithelial cells.

Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of lens epithelial cells (LECs) may contribute to the development of posterior capsular opacification (PCO), which leads to visual impairment. Andrographolide has been shown to have therapeutic potential against various cancers. However, its effect on human LECs is still unknown.

Exploration of molecular factors impairing superoxide dismutase isoforms activity in human senile cataractous lenses.

Purpose: To explore different molecular factors impairing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) isoforms in senile cataractous lenses.

Methods: Enzyme activity of SOD isoforms, levels of their corresponding cofactors copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and expression of mRNA transcripts and proteins were determined in the lenses of human subjects with and without cataract. DNA from lens epithelium (LE) and peripheral blood was isolated.

Estrogen mediated protection of cytoskeleton against oxidative stress.

Background & Objectives: Cytoskeletal proteins are deregulated during oxidative stress and cataract formation. However, estrogen which protects against cataract formation and harmful effects of oxidative stress has not been tested on the cytoskeleton of lens epithelial cells (LECs). The current study was undertaken to assess if the protection rendered to LECs by estrogen was mediated by preserving the cytoskeletal proteins.

Cx43, ZO-1, alpha-catenin and beta-catenin in cataractous lens epithelial cells.

Specimens of the anterior lens capsule with an attached monolayer of lens epithelial cells (LECs) were obtained from patients (n=52) undergoing cataract surgery. Specimens were divided into three groups based on the type of cataract: nuclear cataract, cortical cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract (PSC). Clear lenses (n=11) obtained from donor eyes were used as controls.

Fungal scleral keratitis caused by Phomopsis phoenicicola.

We report a case of scleral keratitis caused by Phomopsis phoenicicola. Pterygium surgery was a predisposing factor, and the patient was treated with natamycin and fluconazole eye drops and oral fluconazole. The fungus was identified by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the fungal ribosomal DNA (rDNA) locus and confirmed on the basis of its typical pycnidia and conidia.