Investigating the Influence of Temperature and Supplementation Timing on Antifungal Efficacy in Storage Medium for Corneal Transplantation.

Introduction: Although antifungal supplementation reduces the fungal load in the corneal storage medium, consensus is lacking on the influence of dosing and temperature. The study aims to evaluate the impact of eye bank warming protocol and timing of antifungal supplements on efficacy in Optisol-GS and tissue.

Methods: Corneoscleral rims contaminated with Candida albicans (C.

Metabolomics facilitates differential diagnosis in common inherited retinal degenerations by exploring their profiles of serum metabolites.

The diagnosis of inherited retinal degeneration (IRD) is challenging owing to its phenotypic and genotypic complexity. Clinical information is important before a genetic diagnosis is made. Metabolomics studies the entire picture of bioproducts, which are determined using genetic codes and biological reactions.

Characterizing the Robustness of Distinct Clinical Assessments in Identifying Dry Eye Condition of Animal Models.

Purpose: The study aims to characterize the robustness of distinct clinical assessments in identifying the underlying conditions of dry eye disease (DED), with a specific emphasis on the involvement of conjunctival goblet cells.

Methods: Seven rabbits receiving surgical removal of the lacrimal and Harderian glands were divided into two groups, one with ablation of conjunctival goblet cells by topical soaking of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to the bulbar conjunctiva ( = 3) and one without ( = 4), and the conditions of DED were assessed weekly using Schirmer test, tear breakup time (TBUT), tear osmolarity, and National Eye Institute (NEI) fluorescein staining grading. After 8 weeks, the rabbits were sacrificed, and the eyes were enucleated for histopathological examination.

Injectable, Antioxidative, and Tissue-Adhesive Nanocomposite Hydrogel as a Potential Treatment for Inner Retina Injuries.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been recognized as prevalent contributors to the development of inner retinal injuries including optic neuropathies such as glaucoma, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, traumatic optic neuropathy, and Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, among others. This underscores the pivotal significance of oxidative stress in the damage inflicted upon retinal tissue. To combat ROS-related challenges, this study focuses on creating an injectable and tissue-adhesive hydrogel with tailored antioxidant properties for retinal applications.

Comparative Proteomics Reveals Prolonged Corneal Preservation Impaired Ocular Surface Immunity Accompanied by Fibrosis in Human Stroma.

Cornea transplantation is one of the most commonly performed allotransplantations worldwide. Prolonged storage of donor corneas leads to decreased endothelial cell viability, severe stromal edema, and opacification, significantly compromising the success rate of corneal transplantation. Corneal stroma, which constitutes the majority of the cornea, plays a crucial role in maintaining its shape and transparency.

Comorbidity of Ocular and Facial Demodicosis.

Purpose: To determine the association between ocular and facial demodicosis, and the effect of facial treatment on ocular demodicosis.

Design: Prospective clinical cohort study.

Methods: Ocular demodicosis outpatients from a tertiary medical center were enrolled from April to December 2020.

The versatile roles of lumican in eye diseases: A review.

Lumican is a keratan sulfate proteoglycan that belongs to the small leucine-rich proteoglycan family. Research has lifted the veil on the versatile roles of lumican in the pathogenesis of eye diseases. Lumican has pivotal roles in the maintenance of physiological tissue homogenesis and is often upregulated in pathological conditions, e.

Maximize Donor Cornea Use in a Hepatitis B Endemic Area via Serology Matching.

Background: This study aims to investigate the rationality of the allocation guidelines in a hepatitis B endemic area that uses corneas from hepatitis B donors.

Methods: Under Taiwan's current guidelines, corneas donated from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)(+) donors can be allocated to HBsAg(+) or hepatitis B surface antibody recipients. From January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019, corneas donated to National Taiwan University Hospital were divided into HBsAg(+), HBsAg(-)/hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc)(+), and HBsAg(-)/anti-HBc(-) groups.

Keratoplasty Registries: Lessons Learned.

Clinical registries have been developed for decades in the field of ophthalmology, and they are especially well-suited to the study of keratoplasty practices. A comprehensive donor/recipient registry system can provide insight into donor, recipient, and surgical factors associated with immediate and long-term outcomes and adverse reactions. Furthermore, linkage with demographic databases can elucidate relationships with social determinants of health and potentially shape public policy.

Extending the utility of anterior corneal buttons through refrigeration and glycerol cryopreservation: utility rate and outcome analysis.

Background/aims: To evaluate the utility rate, indication, outcome, and cost of refrigeration and glycerol cryopreservation for storing anterior corneal buttons during endothelial keratoplasty for subsequent use in tectonic lamellar patch grafting.

Method: Anterior corneal buttons collected after precutting or prestripping during endothelial keratoplasty from January 2014 to December 2019 were preserved using the following protocol: (1) refrigeration for up to 4 weeks at 4° in Optisol-GS and (2) glycerol cryopreservation for up to 2 years. The utility rate, outcome and cost of these cryopreserved anterior corneal buttons were retrospectively examined.

Transmembrane Mucin 1 Blocks Fluorescein Ingress to Corneal Epithelium.

Purpose: To determine the role of transmembrane mucins in blocking fluorescein ingress to the corneal epithelium and its deficiency in contributing to corneal fluorescein punctate staining.

Methods: A dry eye model was established by extirpating lacrimal and Harderian glands in rabbits to correlate the expression of mucins with fluorescein-stained areas on the corneal button using immunofluorescence. Expression of transmembrane mucins was promoted in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) by culturing with the mucin-promoting medium (MPM) or diquafosol treatment.

Flap technique-assisted surgeries for advanced retinitis pigmentosa complicated with macular hole: a case report and literature review.

Background: Full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) is a rare complication in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients and may increase intraoperative challenges. Furthermore, lens capsular flap transplantation and inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap were reported to close complicated FTMH successfully. Here, we present a case of bilateral advanced RP complicated by a FTMH treated with a novel lens capsular flap transplantation and inverted internal limiting membrane flap.

The structure-function correlation analysed by OCT and full field ERG in typical and pericentral subtypes of retinitis pigmentosa.

To investigate the structure-function correlation analysed by full-field electroretinography (ffERG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in typical and pericentral subtypes of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). A retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study of right eyes was conducted. The primary analysis used ffERG data to compare the RP subtypes.

Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Early Detection of Retinitis Pigmentosa - the Most Common Inherited Retinal Degeneration.

The purpose of this study was to detect the presence of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) based on color fundus photographs using a deep learning model. A total of 1670 color fundus photographs from the Taiwan inherited retinal degeneration project and National Taiwan University Hospital were acquired and preprocessed. The fundus photographs were labeled RP or normal and divided into training and validation datasets (n = 1284) and a test dataset (n = 386).

Review, analysis, and education of antiseptic related ocular injury in the surgical settings.

Preoperative skin antiseptic preparation is the gold standard for prevention of surgical infection. However, improper use of antiseptics may lead to severe ocular damage. Currently, the most common surgical antiseptics can be divided into aqueous-based and alcohol-based disinfectants, with chlorhexidine and iodine/iodophors being the two major components.

Metabolic Syndromes as Important Comorbidities in Patients of Inherited Retinal Degenerations: Experiences from the Nationwide Health Database and a Large Hospital-Based Cohort.

This study aimed to evaluate the medical and socioeconomic impacts of IRDs using the nationwide health database and a large hospital-based cohort. This retrospective cross-sectional cohort study used data from the nationwide National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). All patients with IRD from January 2012 to December 2016 were selected from the NHIRD and matched with the general population at a ratio of 1:4.

Genetic characteristics and epidemiology of inherited retinal degeneration in Taiwan.

Inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs) are a group of phenotypically and genotypically heterogeneous disorders with substantial socioeconomic impact. In this cohort study, we tried to address the genetic characteristics and epidemiology of IRDs in Taiwan. Totally, 312 families with IRDs were identified and recruited and genetic testing was performed via probe capture-based NGS targeting 212 IRD-related genes.

Genotypes Predispose Phenotypes-Clinical Features and Genetic Spectrum of -Associated Retinal Dystrophies.

The gene is one of the most common disease-causing genes of inherited retinal degeneration. In this study, we report different phenotypes of -associated retinal dystrophies in the Taiwanese population, its clinical progression, and its relationship with genetic characteristics. Thirty-seven subjects were recruited and all patients underwent serial ophthalmic examinations at a single medical center.

Connectivity between nidopallium caudolateral and visual pathways in color perception of zebra finches.

Researchers demonstrated an elegant ability for red discrimination in zebra finches. It is interested to understand whether red activates exhibit much stronger response than other colors in neural network levels. To reveal the question, local field potentials (LFPs) was recorded and analyzed in two visual pathways, the thalamofugal and the tectofugal pathways, of zebra finches.

Keratoconus Screening Based on Deep Learning Approach of Corneal Topography.

Purpose: To develop and compare deep learning (DL) algorithms to detect keratoconus on the basis of corneal topography and validate with visualization methods.

Methods: We retrospectively collected corneal topographies of the study group with clinically manifested keratoconus and the control group with regular astigmatism. All images were divided into training and test datasets.

Use of white light confocal microscopy for the detection of spatial changes in the corneal nerves in cases of early-stage keratitis with radial keratoneuritis.

Purpose: Radial keratoneuritis (RK) is a common feature of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) is noninvasive and provides real-time images for the diagnosis of corneal diseases by allowing the visualization of corneal structures and morphologies of living organisms at the cellular level. Images of AK with RK obtained using commercial white light IVCM devices have not been frequently evaluated.

The effect of human platelet lysate on corneal nerve regeneration.

Aim: This study aimed to test whether human platelet lysate (HPL) has neurotrophic ability for corneal nerve regeneration.

Methods: We measured the neurotrophic factors in human peripheral serum (HPS) and two commercially available HPLs, UltraGRO and PLTMax. In vitro, we compared the growth rates, neuronal differentiation and immunostaining of neuron markers in mouse neuroblastoma cell line (Neuro-2a) and primary culture of mouse trigeminal ganglion cells that were cultivated in different concentrations of fetal bovine serum, HPS and HPL.

Analysis of P. aeruginosa disinfectant sensitivity and microbial adhesions to worn cosmetic contact lenses.

Purpose: To compare the sensitivity of two genotypes of P. aeruginosa to various disinfectant solutions and analyze the attached bacteria on worn cosmetic contact lenses (cosCLs).

Methods: In this prospective study, healthy volunteers wore etafilcon (brown), nelfilcon (gray), or hilafilcon (black) cosCLs and microbial adhesion analysis was performed.

Therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty for microbial keratitis in Taiwan from 2001 to 2014.

Purpose: To study the surgical outcome of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK) for medically uncontrolled microbial keratitis at a tertiary hospital in Taiwan over a 14-year period.

Methods: This is a retrospective case series study. Patients who underwent TPK at National Taiwan University Hospital in 2001-2014 were included.