Immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS): A single-site experience of 41 patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The practice of immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) was more widely adopted in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic, in response to limited surgical capacity and the risk of nosocomial infection. This study reports on a single site experience of ISBCS in Northern Ireland.

Methods: Data was collected prospectively between 17 November 2020 and 30 November 2021.

Inhibition of bradykinin in SARS-CoV-2 infection: a randomised, double-blind trial of icatibant compared with placebo (ICASARS).

Unlabelled: SARS-CoV-2 binds to ACE2 receptors and enters cells. The symptoms are cough, breathlessness, loss of taste/smell and X-ray evidence of infiltrates on chest imaging initially caused by oedema, and subsequently by a lymphocytic pneumonitis. Coagulopathy, thrombosis and hypotension occur.

Vascular risk factors for COVID-19 ARDS: endothelium, contact-kinin system.

SARS-CoV-2 binds to ACE2 receptors, expressed within the lungs. Risk factors for hospitalization include hypertension, diabetes, ischaemic heart disease and obesity-conditions linked by the presence of endothelial pathology. Viral infection in this setting causes increased conversion of circulating Factor XII to its active form (FXIIa).

Paracentral acute middle maculopathy as a cause of unexplained visual loss in central retinal vein occlusion.

A 79-year-old man presented with unilateral unexplained sudden onset visual loss in the setting of central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Non ischemic CRVO in the right eye (RE) was confirmed on fluorescein angiography. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) showed absence of macular edema and hyperreflective band-like lesions in the middle retinal layers of the RE suggesting a diagnosis of paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM).

The ocular phenotype of stiff-skin syndrome.

PURPOSE Stiff skin syndrome (SSS; MIM#184900) is a rare autosomal dominantly inherited Mendelian disorder characterised by thickened and stone-hard indurations of the skin, mild hypertrichosis, and limitation of joint mobility with flexion contractures. It is autosomal dominant with high penetrance and results from mutations in the fibrillin 1 (FBN1; MIM*134797) gene. Here we present the associated ocular phenotype in a two generation nonconsanguineous Northern Irish family.

Expression of hematopoietic cell markers by retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Purpose: We investigated the expression of various isoforms of the hematopoietic cell marker CD45 on retinal pigment epithelial cells in relation to their expression of CD68 and the cytokine-reactive intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). We also determined the effect of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta, TNF alpha and IFN gamma on the expression of these molecules by RPE cells in culture.

Methods: Monolayers of RPE cells between 3rd and 7th passages were cultured in the presence or absence of cytokines, followed by immunohistochemical staining for CD45 (170-220 kD), CD45RA (205 and 220 kD), CD45RO (180 kD), CD68 and ICAM-1, using the alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) technique.

Binding, coupling, and mRNA subtype heterogeneity of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors in cultured human RPE.

In retinal pigment epithelium, apically applied epinephrine changes the conductance of specific ions which subsequently affects the membrane voltage and stimulates transepithelial fluid transport. In this investigation, myo-[3H]inositol radiotracer studies, radioligand binding with [125I]HEAT, and ribonuclease protection assays were performed to examine the coupling of this receptor to phosphoinositide hydrolysis and the specific mRNA subtypes expressed in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells. After labeling second to sixth passage cells with 3-muCi myo-[3H]inositol for 24 hr, epinephrine caused a dose- and time-dependent increase in [3H]inositol phosphate products (EC50 of 0.

Distribution of cytokine proteins within epiretinal membranes in proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

This study reports on the immunohistochemical staining for cytokine proteins of 26 epiretinal membranes obtained from eyes undergoing surgery for the treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy. All specimens were investigated for the distribution of staining for interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). The results showed that 22 of the membranes (85%) stained for TNF alpha not only intracellularly but also in the extracellular matrix.

Expression of mRNA coding for TNF alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6 by cells infiltrating retinal membranes.

Background: Cellular mechanisms of inflammation are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy, and cytokines, which are products of cell activation, are known to play an important role in the development and maintainance of inflammatory reactions. It was the aim of this work to investigate the presence of cells expressing cytokine mRNA within retinal membranes.

Methods: The presence of mRNA coding for the cytokines interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) was investigated in 19 epiretinal membranes obtained from eyes undergoing vitrectomy for the treatment of retinal detachment complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Traumatic retinal angiopathy--associated with wearing of car seat belts.

Three patients who were involved in road traffic accidents and sustained seat belt related injuries developed a retinal angiopathy characterised by retinal haemorrhage, oedema and focal ischaemia. Significant unilateral visual loss (2/60 - 6/18) was reported 1-48 hours following injury and central or paracentral annular scotomata were present. Although there was good recovery of visual acuity all patients had permanent scotomata, colour vision defects and loss of contrast sensitivity.

Ocular larva migrans: a case report.

A case of intraocular toxocara larva migrans occurring in a 12-year-old boy is presented. Motility is inferred from the nature of multiple intraocular lesions observed. Possible mechanisms preventing a conclusive immunological response to the organism are discussed.