hnRNP R regulates mitochondrial movement and membrane potential in axons of motoneurons.

Axonal mitochondria defects are early events in the pathogenesis of motoneuron disorders such as spinal muscular atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The RNA-binding protein hnRNP R interacts with different motoneuron disease-related proteins such as SMN and TDP-43 and has important roles in axons of motoneurons, including axonal mRNA transport. However, whether hnRNP R also modulates axonal mitochondria is currently unknown.

Semi-automated quantification of vitreal hyperreflective foci in SD-OCT and their relevance in patients with peripheral retinal breaks.

Background: Retinal breaks (RB) are emergencies that require treatment to prevent progression of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Vitreal hyperreflective foci (VHF) representing migration of RPE cell clusters or interphotoreceptor matrix from the RB are potential biomarkers. The aim of this study is to investigate VHF in RB-patients using SD-OCT.

SUBFOVEAL CHOROIDAL TUBERCULOMA IN A HEALTHY YOUNG WOMAN CAUSED BY MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS.

Purpose: To describe a case of a macular tuberculoma in a young and healthy woman after developing a tuberculous lymphadenitis caused by Mycobacterium bovis .

Methods: Retrospective case report.

Results: Tuberculous lymphadenitis caused by M.

Retinal Vascular Occlusion after COVID-19 Vaccination: More Coincidence than Causal Relationship? Data from a Retrospective Multicentre Study.

Background: To investigate whether vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is associated with the onset of retinal vascular occlusive disease (RVOD).

Methods: In this multicentre study, data from patients with central and branch retinal vein occlusion (CRVO and BRVO), central and branch retinal artery occlusion (CRAO and BRAO), and anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (AION) were retrospectively collected during a 2-month index period (1 June-31 July 2021) according to a defined protocol. The relation to any previous vaccination was documented for the consecutive case series.

Structured illumination ophthalmoscope: super-resolution microscopy on the living human eye.

In this paper, we present the prototype of an ophthalmoscope that uses structured illumination microscopy (SIM) to enable super-resolved imaging of the human retina, and give first insights into clinical application possibilities. The SIM technique was applied to build a prototype that uses the lens of the human eye as an objective to 'super-resolve' the retina of a living human. In our multidisciplinary collaboration, we have adapted this well-established technique in ophthalmology and successfully imaged a human retina using significantly lower light intensity than a state-of-the-art ophthalmoscope.

Trabeculectomy or Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation as Initial Treatment of Secondary Childhood Glaucoma in Northern Tanzania.

Purpose: The purpose is to describe the outcome of trabeculectomy with transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCPC) as an initial intervention for secondary childhood glaucoma in Northern Tanzania.

Methods: A retrospective, consecutive case series was analyzed of all children with secondary childhood glaucoma who underwent initial trabeculectomy or TSCPC between 2000 and 2013 at a referral eye unit in Northern Tanzania. Retrospective data were collected on causes of glaucoma, intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity, complications, and subsequent interventions.

Outcomes of surgical interventions for primary childhood glaucoma in Northern Tanzania.

Aim: To evaluate goniotomy, trabeculotomy, transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCPC) and trabeculectomy as initial procedures in children with primary childhood glaucoma from Northern Tanzania.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of consecutive interventions for primary childhood glaucoma from 2000 to 2013 was conducted at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre. Success was defined as postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) below 22 mmHg.

[Retinal bleeding and venous stasis in a 10-month-old infant after a fall?].

This report describes the case of a 10-month-old infant, who was delivered to our hospital by the emergency physician intubated and in an unclear unconscious state. The father reported that the child had fallen from the couch to the ground. The consulted ophthalmologist reported venous stasis in both eyes including intraretinal and preretinal bleeding in all four quadrants, a diffuse vitreous hemorrhage in the right eye and temporal retinal wrinkling in both eyes.

Intraocular Pharmacokinetics of Aflibercept and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A.

Purpose: To determine intraocular pharmacokinetics of aflibercept and VEGF-A in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) during a treatment period of 6 months.

Methods: Seven nonvitrectomized patients diagnosed with macular edema secondary to nAMD undergoing intravitreal injections (IVI) of aflibercept. Patients were treatment naïve at least for the last 2 months and received intravitreal injection of 2 mg aflibercept for the first time.

[Endogenous Candida lens abscess in a premature infant].

Background: This case report describes an extremely rare Candida lens abscess in a premature infant (gestational age 24 weeks at birth).

Case Report: After birth the infant suffered from Candida sepsis which was successfully treated with an antifungal medication. The patient was referred at the age of 6 months because of greyish alterations in the pupils but an absence of other symptoms.

[Are there diurnal variations in choroidal thickness?].

Purpose: Measurement of diurnal choroidal thickness in healthy eyes to investigate thickness variations.

Methods: A total of 30 healthy eyes in 30 subjects were examined at 6 predefined times within 24 h. Choroidal thickness was visualized using the 7-line scan of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) with enhanced depth imaging (Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering) and manually measured by two independent observers.

Factors affecting laser power in retinal Navilas laser treatment.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of patient-associated factors on the minimum laser power needed for a mild visible burn in focal laser treatments using the 532 nm Navilas laser system.

Methods: We conducted a monocentric prospective pilot study of 58 eyes of 40 patients with diabetic macular edema. The following parameters were analysed: axial length, refraction, iris pigmentation, lens status, lens grading and densitometry, retinal and choroidal thickness and focus setting during treatment.

[Full depth imaging: a new imaging technique using optical coherence tomography (OCT)].

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the full depth imaging (FDI) mode as a new acquisition technique with spectral domain (SD) optical coherence tomography (OCT) from Heidelberg Engineering for illustrating vitreoretinal and choroidal structures with high contrast.

Methods: Patients with different diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, chorioretinopathia centralis serosa, diabetic retinopathy and epiretinal gliosis were examined with the FDI mode. For comparison, we also examined healthy probands with conventional OCT and the enhanced depth imaging (EDI) mode.

[Bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation in a patient with metastatic breast cancer].

A 64-year-old female patient with a history of metastatic breast cancer presented with bilateral deterioration of visual acuity over a period of several weeks. Examination revealed patchy fundus pigmentation, serous retinal detachment and cataract in both eyes. After diagnosis of a bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation (BDUMP) and due to disease progression, a course of plasmapheresis three times a week over a period of 2 weeks was initiated.

[Adjuvant stereotactic low energy radiation therapy of exudative age-dependent macular degeneration (Oraya system)].

With respect to the increasing number of patients and the risk and burden for patients caused by injections, a reduction in the number and frequency of injections with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors in exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is desirable. Stereotactic low-voltage x-ray irradiation seems to be a promising approach. For this purpose the Oraya system is available and has shown positive results in initial studies.

High-resolution imaging of autofluorescent particles within drusen using structured illumination microscopy.

Purpose: Autofluorescent (AF) material within drusen has rarely been described and there is little knowledge about origin and formation of these particles. Drusen formation is still a relatively unknown process and analysis of AF inclusions might be important for the understanding of fundamental processes. Here we present a detailed analysis of drusen containing AF material using structured illumination microscopy (SIM), which provides a lateral resolution twice as high as conventional fluorescence microscopy.

Autofluorescence imaging of human RPE cell granules using structured illumination microscopy.

Background/aims: To characterise single autofluorescent (AF) granules in human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells using structured illumination microscopy (SIM).

Methods: Morphological characteristics and autofluorescence behaviour of lipofuscin (LF) and melanolipofuscin (MLF) granules of macular RPE cells (66-year-old donor) were examined with SIM using three different laser light excitation wavelengths (488, 568 and 647 nm). High-resolution images were reconstructed and exported to Matlab R2009a (The Mathworks Inc, Natick, MA, USA) to determine accurate size and emission intensities of LF and MLF granules.

[Acute bilateral impaired vision with central scotoma in an 11-year-old boy].

This article presents a case of acute bilateral impaired vision and central scotoma in an 11-year-old boy. Looking directly into a laser beam of a laser pointer for only a few seconds can cause retinal damage in the form of lesions of the retinal pigment epithelium and the photoreceptor layer, up to retinal hemorrhage. Patients often complain about impaired vision and a central scotoma of the affected eye.

[Is choroidal thickness of importance in idiopathic macular hole?].

Background: The pathogenesis of idiopathic macular hole (MH) formation is not fully understood and the choroid might be involved in its etiology. Recently published data reported choroidal thickness (CT) to be significantly thinner in eyes with idiopathic MH and in fellow eyes compared to age-matched healthy controls [24].

Methods: The enhanced depth imaging (EDI) modus of the Spectralis OCT (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg) was used to measure subfoveal CT in 12 patients with MH of which 2 suffered from bilateral MH.

Light-emitting diode technology in vitreoretinal surgery.

Background: Systems for vitreoretinal illumination during surgery usually consist of an external light source and a light fiber. We introduce a new illumination system for vitreoretinal surgery based on the light-emitting diode technology, with an embedded light source in the handle of the light fiber, making a separate light source unnecessary.

Methods: A prototype of a new illumination system for vitreoretinal surgery (ocuLED; Geuder, Heidelberg, Germany) was tested.

Severe Arthrographis kalrae keratomycosis in an immunocompetent patient.

Purpose: To describe a severe case of keratomycosis caused by Arthrographis kalrae requiring repeated keratoplasty.

Methods: A 42-year-old otherwise healthy soft contact lens wearer developed a unilateral central corneal ulcer. Treatment with topical and systemic voriconazole is described.

Structured illumination microscopy of autofluorescent aggregations in human tissue.

Sections from human eye tissue were analyzed with Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM) using a specially designed microscope setup. In this microscope the structured illumination was generated with a Twyman-Green Interferometer. This SIM technique allowed us to acquire light-optical images of autofluorophore distributions in the tissue with previously unmatched optical resolution.