The Safety Profile of FDA-Approved Epithelium-Off Corneal Cross-Linking in a US Community-Based Healthcare System.

Purpose: To determine the occurrence of early post-operative complications following FDA-approved epithelium-off corneal cross-linking in the United States.

Materials And Methods: This multicenter, retrospective cohort study identified patients who underwent epithelium-off (epi-off) corneal cross-linking (CXL) for keratoconus and post-refractive keratectasia within the Kaiser Permanente Northern California healthcare system between 2016 and 2018. Post-operative complications including delayed epithelial healing, infection, and loss of visual acuity were recorded.

Daily spirometry in an acute exacerbation of adult cystic fibrosis patients.

To help answer the question of length of intravenous antibiotics during an acute exacerbation of cystic fibrosis (CF), we had subjects to follow daily home spirometry while on intravenous antibiotics. CF patients, 18 and older, with an acute exacerbation requiring intravenous antibiotics had a daily FEV1. The average time to a 10% increase over their initial sick FEV1 was calculated, as well as the time to a new baseline.

Recurrent Bleeding, Survival, and Longitudinal Pulmonary Function following Bronchial Artery Embolization for Hemoptysis in a U.S. Adult Population.

Purpose: To report outcomes of bronchial artery embolization (BAE) for hemoptysis, including recurrent bleeding, survival, and longitudinal pulmonary function.

Materials And Methods: A prospective database identified 69 patients who underwent 97 BAE procedures (n = 1-7 per patient) at a tertiary academic medical center over a period of 11 years. Technical and clinical success were determined.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with pulmonary dysfunction in cystic fibrosis.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is common in CF. Whether vitamin D affects pulmonary function in CF is unknown.

Methods: Data were abstracted from clinically stable CF patients who had pulmonary function studies and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D, ng/ml] levels drawn within 2 months of each other.

Complications related to a cosmetic eye-whitening procedure.

Purpose: To report sight-threatening complications following extensive bulbar conjunctival resection and postoperative mitomycin C therapy for cosmetic eye-whitening in the United States.

Design: Retrospective noncomparative case series.

Methods: Multicenter report of 9 patients referred for evaluation and management of complications following bilateral cosmetic eye whitening.

Cyclosporine A 1% eye drops for the treatment of subepithelial infiltrates after adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis.

Purpose: To describe the use of cyclosporine A (CSA) 1% eye drops for the treatment of symptomatic corneal subepithelial infiltrates (SEI) occurring as a sequelae of adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis (AK) that are resistant to tapering of corticosteroid eye drops.

Methods: This is a retrospective case series of patients seen at 2 institutions who had symptomatic corneal SEI occurring after AK that was resistant to tapering of corticosteroid eye drops and who were subsequently treated with CSA 1%. Information gathered included basic demographic information (age and sex), involved eye(s), duration of symptoms, initial best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), type of corticosteroid used, clinical course, and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity at the last follow-up visit.

Membrane array analysis of tear proteins in ocular cicatricial pemphigoid.

Purpose: To explore non-invasive, protein-based, membrane array technology as a means to evaluate the global immune and angiogenic profile of tear proteins in patients with active ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP).

Methods: Forty-three proteins consisting of cytokines, angiogenic/growth factors, and immunoinflammatory modulators were measured by membrane array in tear samples of four control patients and four OCP patients during active disease and after treatment.

Results: Signals for several distinct and consistent molecular entities were upregulated in all four active OCP tear samples relative to controls.

Epidemiology of ulcerative keratitis in Northern California.

Objective: To determine the incidence and associated risk factors for ulcerative keratitis in northern California.

Methods: In this large-population, retrospective, cohort study, all medical records with diagnosis coding for corneal ulcers during a consecutive 12-month period were reviewed. Incidence rates were calculated using a dynamic population model.

Survey of professionals' expectations of developmental task achievement of cystic fibrosis self-care in children.

We surveyed 174 professionals with at least 6 months of experience working with children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF), to obtain estimates of ages at which 50% of children with CF may be able to perform each of 44 self-care behaviors related to the treatment of CF. Respondents were 63 physicians, 36 nurses, 24 dietitians, 18 respiratory therapists, 17 nurse practitioners, 10 social workers, and 4 psychologists, who had a mean of 11.4 years (SD = 7.

Diagnosis of conjunctival B-cell lymphoma by polymerase chain reaction heteroduplex analysis.

Purpose: To report a case initially assessed as giant papillary conjunctivitis and subsequently as B-cell lymphoma by the molecular technique of polymerase chain reaction heteroduplex analysis.

Design: Observational case report.

Methods: Clinical, histologic, immunohistochemical, and polymerase chain reaction heteroduplex analysis findings are presented.

Measuring self-care independence in children with cystic fibrosis: the Self-Care Independence Scale (SCIS).

We describe the development and psychometric properties of a survey tool designed to evaluate children's level of independence in their cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment. Children's self-care autonomy is important to measure and may have a direct effect on children's active involvement in their treatment and their adherence. Existing instruments that evaluate children's independence in their CF treatment fail to yield practical information that can help research and patient management.