The Hidden Dangers: E-Cigarettes, Heated Tobacco, and Their Impact on Oxidative Stress and Atherosclerosis-A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of the Evidence.

Electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products have seen significant growth in sales and usage in recent years. Initially promoted as potentially less harmful alternatives to traditional tobacco, recent scientific evidence has raised serious concerns about the risks they pose, particularly in relation to atherosclerosis. While atherosclerosis has long been associated with conventional tobacco smoking, emerging research suggests that electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco may also contribute to the development of this condition and related cardiovascular complications.

Effectiveness of Mp-3 Microperimetric Biofeedback Fixation Training For Low Vision Rehabilitation in Patients Treated With Corticosteroid Ivt in Retinal Vein Occlusions.

Background: The success of fixation training using microperimetric biofeedback (MP-3 MBFT) in the realm of visual rehabilitation for patients with central vision loss caused by macular pathologies is well established. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of visual rehabilitation with microperimetric biofeedback in consolidating the benefits obtained, with the goal of reducing the need for repeated intravitreal injections (IVT). Specifically, the focus is on the eyes of patients with central vision loss treated with slow-release corticosteroid IVT following retinal venous thrombosis (RVO), aiming to enhance and maintain postoperative efficacy.

Trace Element Concentration in the Blood and Aqueous Humor of Subjects with Eye Cataract.

Cataract, characterized by the opacification of the lens, is the leading cause of reversible blindness and visual impairment globally. The study aims to investigate the role of trace elements such as Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn in the development and severity of cataract. Elements were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in blood and aqueous humor of 32 cataract cases and 27 controls living in the Latium region, Italy.

Alteration Ocular Motility in Retinitis Pigmentosa: Case-Control Study.

Purpose: To evaluate ocular motility (OM) disorders and strabismus in a sample of patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and a control sample.

Methods: In this cross-sectional retrospective analysis, we studied a sample of RP patients with a mean age of 48.74 years and an average visual acuity of 7/10 based on Snellen optotype and a sample of control patients with similar mean age (49 years [men], 47 years [women]) and sex and an average visual acuity of 9.

Real-world experience with fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant in patients with diabetic macular edema.

Objectives: to evaluate long-term effectiveness and safety of fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) implant used as second-line treatment in patients with persistent diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods: retrospective data chart review of 241 pseudophakic eyes of 178 patients treated with FAc from July 2017 to December 2021 in 10 medical retinal units in Italy. The primary endpoint was the change of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) at 2 years.

Topical antibiotic prophylaxis before intravitreal injections: a pilot study.

Purpose: To explore whether topical antibiotic prophylaxis in patients scheduled for intravitreal injections achieves surface sterility in a greater proportion of subjects as compared to povidone-iodine alone.

Material And Methods: A randomized, triple-blind clinical trial.

Population: patients scheduled for intravitreal injections for maculopathy.

Quantification of Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors and Metabolites in Urine and Hair of Patients and Their Relatives.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) are prescription drugs also used in doping to dilute urine samples and tamper with urinalyses. Dorzolamide, brinzolamide, and acetazolamide are prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Detecting CAIs and their metabolites in biological samples is crucial to documenting misuse in doping.

Bovine Serum Amine Oxidase and Polyamine Analogues: Chemical Synthesis and Biological Evaluation Integrated with Molecular Docking and 3-D QSAR Studies.

Natural polyamines (PAs) are key players in cellular homeostasis by regulating cell growth and proliferation. Several observations highlight that PAs are also implicated in pathways regulating cell death. Indeed, the PA accumulation cytotoxic effect, maximized with the use of bovine serum amine oxidase (BSAO) enzyme, represents a valuable strategy against tumor progression.

Effect of COVID-19 lockdown on refractive errors in Italian children aged 5-12 years: A multi-center retrospective study.

Purpose: to explore the potential consequences of the COVID-19 lockdown on the prevalence of myopia among Italian children aged 5-12 years.

Materials And Methods: retrospective multicenter study conducted in Italy. Population: children aged 5-12.

Effects of Photo-Biomodulation in Stargardt Disease.

Purpose: Stargardt disease (STGD1) is the most common hereditary macular degeneration and currently no treatments have been approved to interrupt the progression of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of photo-biomodulation in patients with Stargardt disease 1 year after treatment, considering as primary outcomes improvements in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), microperimetry, and pattern electroretinography (PERG) amplitude.

Materials And Methods: Ninety eyes of 45 patients with a diagnosis of Stargardt disease stage 1 were prospectively recruited at the University of Bologna.

Risk factors in central retinal vein occlusion: A multi-center case-control study conducted on the Italian population : Demographic, environmental, systemic, and ocular factors that increase the risk for major thrombotic events in the retinal venous system.

Purpose: To explore the risk factors for central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) by comparing a large sample of patients with healthy controls.

Materials And Methods: Multi-center case-control study. The study group includes patients affected by central retinal vein occlusion, confirmed angiographically, aged 50 years old or above (Group A).

Efficacy and safety of intravitreal Fluocinolone Acetonide microimplant (ILUVIEN) in patients with chronic diabetic macular edema: 1 year follow-up.

Purpose: Evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal 0.19 mg fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) micro implant in patients with chronic diabetic macular edema (cDME).

Methods: Prospective study recruiting subjects with cDME.

Prolonged face mask use might worsen dry eye symptoms.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore whether prolonged and consistent face mask use might be associated with worsening of dry eye symptoms in patients with dry eye disease (DED).

Methods: Subjects with a previous diagnosis of DED. Their OSDI scores were compared with those recorded in Fall 2019 using the Wilcoxon paired test.

Utility of Ocular Motility Tests in Orbital Floor Fractures with Muscle Entrapment That is Not Detected on Computed Tomography.

Purpose: Determine the usefulness of ocular motility testing to detect the presence of muscle entrapment.

Materials And Methods: Cross-sectional study of patients with symptoms of diplopia secondary to facial trauma. Inclusion criteria: age between 20 and 80 years; symptoms of diplopia following facial trauma; presence of orbital floor fracture confirmed radiologically; presence of muscle entrapment confirmed at the time of surgery; best-corrected visual acuity of 0.

Effects of Repeated Intravitreal Injections of Dexamethasone Implants on Intraocular Pressure: A 4-Year Study.

Purpose: Dexamethasone and other corticosteroids are administered intravitreally to treat a variety of retinal diseases. As a side effect, they can alter intraocular pressure (IOP). The purpose of this study is to describe the incidence, severity, and management of ocular hypertension following the administration of multiple intravitreal injections of dexamethasone implants.

Cancer Diagnostic Delay in Northern and Central Italy During the 2020 Lockdown Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

Objectives: We performed data collection concerning the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-related delay in the diagnosis of cancers to individuate proper corrective procedures.

Methods: A comparison was made among the number of first pathologic diagnoses of malignancy made from weeks 11 to 20 of 2018, 2019, and 2020 at seven anatomic pathology units serving secondary care hospitals in northern-central Italy.

Results: Cancer diagnoses fell in 2020 by 44.

Inherited and acquired thrombophilia in adults with retinal vascular occlusion: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Retinal vascular occlusion is a leading cause of sight loss. Both retinal artery occlusion (RAO) and retinal vein occlusion (RVO) have been associated with hypercoagulable states; however, the burden of thrombophilia in these patients is unclear.

Objectives: This study aims at estimating the prevalence of inherited and acquired thrombophilias in adults with RAO or RVO through a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature.

Optical coherence tomography of retinal and choroidal layers in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia treated with lipoprotein apheresis.

Purpose: Detect and quantify morpho-functional alterations of the retina and choroid in patients affected by familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) treated with lipoprotein apheresis (LA) using optic coherence tomography (OCT) and optic coherence tomography-angriography (OCTA).

Design: Observational study.

Subjects: To be diagnosed: A group of 20 patients (40 eyes) being clinically and genetically diagnosed as FH and under treatment (FH-Group)", for at least 2 years, was compared to a control group of 20 healthy subjects (40 eyes), with a normal lipid profile and no ocular disease (CT-Group).

Involvement of the biogenic active amine agmatine in mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and release of pro-apoptotic factors.

Agmatine (AGM) produces a dual effect on the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) mechanism in rat liver mitochondria: at low concentrations, it induces the phenomenon, at high ones, inhibits it. The prevention at high concentrations is evidenced by the significant inhibition of mitochondrial swelling induced by Ca and phosphate; in this condition, AGM both prevents the release of Apoptosis Inducing Factor (AIF) and enhances the release of other pro-apoptotic factors, such as cytochrome c (cyt c) and Smac/DIABLO. As these factors are released without MPT induction, the involvement of mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) could be hypothesized.

Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Intravitreal Therapy and Macular Ganglion Cell Layer Thickness in Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

: To assess macular ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness in patients treated with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) for exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). : This was a two-year retrospective institutional case series where records of patients treated with anti-VEGF injections for unilateral AMD were reviewed for BCVA, intraocular pressure, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Macular GCL thickness was evaluated with automated retinal segmentation based on ETDRS grid rings.