MERTK Inhibitor Associated Retinal Toxicity in a Human.

Purpose: The MER proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase (MERTK) helps maintain the homeostasis of the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE). Additionally, MERTK regulates the innate immune system. As such inhibition of MERTK has gained recent interest as a target for cancer therapeutics.

Association Between Systemic Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Optical Coherence Tomography Biomarkers in a Non-Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Cohort.

Background And Objective: Investigate associations between systemic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) biomarkers in eyes with complete retinal pigment epithelium and outer retina atrophy (cRORA) secondary to non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Patients And Methods: Cross-sectional study of patients with cRORA. OCT images and blood samples were collected at study enrollment.

Occlusion of Xen Gel Stent With Descemet's Membrane Relieved by Nd:YAG Laser.

The Xen gel stent is a minimally invasive glaucoma surgical implant designed to decrease intraocular pressure (IOP) by creating an aqueous outflow path into the subconjunctival space. Since FDA approval, it has demonstrated good safety and efficacy data; however, there are multiple reports of Xen stent occlusions with debris from the anterior chamber. Herein, we report a case of a Descemet's membrane Xen stent occlusion in a 67-year-old woman with a past medical history of primary open angle glaucoma who underwent Xen stent placement through the ab externo approach.

Differences in imaging biomarkers between patients with intermediate and advanced non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the University of Colorado AMD registry.

Purpose: To quantify and compare the different prevalence rates of specific retinal imaging biomarkers in patients with intermediate AMD (iAMD) and advanced non-neovascular AMD (nnAMD).

Methods: Cross-sectional study of patients with iAMD and advanced nnAMD. Imaging studies were reviewed for qualitative imaging biomarkers.

Association Between Quantitative and Qualitative Imaging Biomarkers and Geographic Atrophy Growth Rate.

Purpose: Investigate associations between geographic atrophy (GA) growth rate and multimodal imaging biomarkers and patient demographics in patients with advanced non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nnAMD).

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Methods: One hundred twenty-one eyes of 66 patients with advanced nnAMD with GA enrolled in the University of Colorado AMD Registry from August 2014 to June 2021, with follow-up through June 2023.

Limited English Proficiency Is Associated With Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients Presenting for Cataract Surgery.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between limited English proficiency (LEP) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients presenting for cataract surgery.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational study of patients who underwent cataract surgery between January 2014 and February 2020. Patients who self-identified as needing or preferring an interpreter were defined as having LEP.

Developing Clinical Phenotype Data Collection Standards for Research in Africa.

Modern biomedical research is characterised by its high-throughput and interdisciplinary nature. Multiproject and consortium-based collaborations requiring meaningful analysis of multiple heterogeneous phenotypic datasets have become the norm; however, such analysis remains a challenge in many regions across the world. An increasing number of data harmonisation efforts are being undertaken by multistudy collaborations through either prospective standardised phenotype data collection or retrospective phenotype harmonisation.

Demand response with heat pumps: Practical implementation of three different control options.

Unlabelled: The electrification of heating and transport and decarbonisation of supply creates a need for demand side flexibility to balance the grid. Heat pumps are expected to form a major part of heat delivery, and many modelling studies have investigated the technical potential of heat pump demand response. However, little empirical work has been reported on the practical implementation of such demand response in occupied homes.

Disparities in eye clinic patient encounters among patients requiring language interpreter services.

Background: Communication barriers are a major cause of health disparities for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). Medical interpreters play an important role in bridging this gap, however the impact of interpreters on outpatient eye center visits has not been studied. We aimed to evaluate the differences in length of eyecare visits between LEP patients self-identifying as requiring a medical interpreter and English speakers at a tertiary, safety-net hospital in the United States.

Comparison of cataract surgery outcomes in English proficient and limited English proficiency patients.

Purpose: To determine differences in cataract surgery outcomes between English proficient (EP) and limited English proficiency (LEP) patients.

Setting: Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, Aurora, Colorado.

Design: Retrospective.

Establishing and managing a quarantine and isolation centre in COVID-19 pandemic.

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a recent pandemic which has spread to over 200 countries of the world since its outbreak. As of 21st April, 2020, more than 2.3 million confirmed cases have been reported.

Are negative beliefs about psychosis associated with emotional distress in adults and young people with such experiences? A meta-analysis.

Objective: Emotional distress, including depression and anxiety, is commonly reported amongst individuals experiencing psychosis. The beliefs individuals hold about the meaning of their psychosis may explain the distress they experience. The current meta-analysis aimed to review the association between beliefs about psychosis experiences and emotional distress.

HIV-attributable causes of death in the medical ward at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, South Africa.

Introduction: Data on the association between HIV infection and deaths from underlying medical conditions are needed to understand and assess the impact of HIV on mortality. We present data on mortality in the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (CHBH) South Africa and analyse the relationship between each cause of death and HIV.

Methods: From 2006 to 2009 data were collected on 15,725 deaths including age, sex, day of admittance and of death, HIV status, ART initiation and CD4+ cell counts.

The Hayflick Limit and Age-Related Adaptive Immune Deficiency.

The adaptive immune system (AIS) acquires significant deficiency during chronological ageing, making older individuals more susceptible to infections and less responsive to vaccines compared to younger individuals. At the cellular level, one of the most striking features of this ageing-related immune deficiency is the dramatic loss of T-cell diversity that occurs in elderly humans. After the age of 70 years, there is a sharp decline in the diversity of naïve T cells, including a >10-fold decrease in the CD4+ compartment and a >100-fold decrease in the CD8+ compartment.

Brain Structure and Response to Emotional Stimuli as Related to Gut Microbial Profiles in Healthy Women.

Objective: Brain-gut-microbiota interactions may play an important role in human health and behavior. Although rodent models have demonstrated effects of the gut microbiota on emotional, nociceptive, and social behaviors, there is little translational human evidence to date. In this study, we identify brain and behavioral characteristics of healthy women clustered by gut microbiota profiles.

Transcriptomic and epigenomic characterization of the developing bat wing.

Bats are the only mammals capable of powered flight, but little is known about the genetic determinants that shape their wings. Here we generated a genome for Miniopterus natalensis and performed RNA-seq and ChIP-seq (H3K27ac and H3K27me3) analyses on its developing forelimb and hindlimb autopods at sequential embryonic stages to decipher the molecular events that underlie bat wing development. Over 7,000 genes and several long noncoding RNAs, including Tbx5-as1 and Hottip, were differentially expressed between forelimb and hindlimb, and across different stages.

Disease-related differences in resting-state networks: a comparison between localized provoked vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, and healthy control subjects.

Localized provoked vulvodynia (LPVD) affects approximately 16% of the female population, but biological mechanisms underlying symptoms remain unknown. Like in other often comorbid chronic pain disorders, altered sensory processing and modulation of pain, including central sensitization, dysregulation of endogenous pain modulatory systems, and attentional enhancement of pain perception, have been implicated. The aim of this study was to test whether regions of interest showing differences in LPVD compared to healthy control subjects (HCs) in structural and evoked-pain neuroimaging studies, also show alterations during rest when compared with HCs and a chronic pain control group (irritable bowel syndrome [IBS]).

The diagnostic dilemma of progressive muscular atrophy.

Progressive muscle atrophy is a rare subtype of motor neuron disease that affects only the lower motor neurons and presents as asymmetrical rapidly progressive muscle weakness, atrophy and normal sensations. The diagnostic electrophysiological findings are denervation potentials in three out of four body segments (bulbar, cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral). The disease is fatal and the management is supportive.

International survey of perceived barriers to admission and discharge from spinal cord injury rehabilitation units.

Study Design: Survey.

Objectives: To describe and compare perceived barriers with patient flow in spinal rehabilitation units (SRUs).

Setting: International.

Pneumorrhachis of thoracic spine after gunshot wound.

Air in the spinal canal (Pneumorrhachis) is a rare complication of traumatic spinal injuries reported at various levels of the spinal canal. Pneumorrhachis resolves spontaneously most of the times. Rarely, it may cause cord compression.

International comparison of the organisation of rehabilitation services and systems of care for patients with spinal cord injury.

Study Design: Survey.

Objectives: Describe and compare the organisation and delivery of rehabilitation services and systems of care for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Setting: International.