Pinguecula with spheroidal degeneration: clinicopathologic correlation.

Clinicopathologic correlation of a pinguecula with spheroidal degeneration: a benign entity occasionally encountered in clinical practice.

Preoperative Medical Testing and Falls in Medicare Beneficiaries Awaiting Cataract Surgery.

Purpose: Delaying cataract surgery is associated with an increased risk of falls, but whether routine preoperative testing delays cataract surgery long enough to cause clinical harm is unknown. We sought to determine whether the use of routine preoperative testing leads to harm in the form of delayed surgery and falls in Medicare beneficiaries awaiting cataract surgery.

Design: Retrospective, observational cohort study using 2006-2014 Medicare claims.

A Revised Estimate of Costs Associated With Routine Preoperative Testing in Medicare Cataract Patients With a Procedure-Specific Indicator.

Importance: Routine preoperative medical testing is not recommended for patients undergoing low-risk surgery, but testing is common before surgery. A 30-day preoperative testing window is conventionally used for study purposes; however, the extent of routine testing that occurs prior to that point is unknown.

Objective: To improve on existing cost estimates by identifying all routine preoperative testing that takes place after the decision is made to perform cataract surgery.

Primary implantation of type I Boston keratoprosthesis in nonautoimmune corneal diseases.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to report outcomes of type I Boston keratoprosthesis (KPro) as primary corneal surgery in nonautoimmune corneal disorders.

Methods: In this retrospective, observational, large single-center case series of 43 eyes (37 patients) that were followed for an average of 39 months (1-6 years), primary implantation of the type I Boston KPro was performed in all patients. Visual acuity at year 1, visual acuity at last follow-up, and postoperative complication rates were examined for all eyes.

Effects of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibition with MK-0431 on Syngeneic Mouse Islet Transplantation.

Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors increase circulating levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide which may promote β-cell proliferation and survival. This study tested if DPP-4 inhibition with MK-0431 is beneficial for diabetic mice syngeneically transplanted with a marginal number of islets. We syngeneically transplanted 150 C57BL/6 mouse islets under the kidney capsule of each streptozotocin-diabetic mouse and then treated recipients with (n = 21) or without (n = 17) MK-0431 (30 mg/kg/day, po) for 6 weeks.

Prevention and Reversal of Diabetes by All-Trans Retinoid Acid and Exendin-4 in NOD Mice.

It has been shown that all-trans retinoid acid (ATRA) hinders the development of autoimmune diabetes by inducing immune tolerance status. Meanwhile, exendin-4 increases beta-cell function and mass. Thus, we hypothesized that ATRA and exendin-4 combination therapy would prevent and reverse autoimmune diabetes.

The genetics of keratoconus.

Keratoconus is a bilateral, non-inflammatory corneal ectasia characterized by progressive conical thinning and protrusion of the cornea. Its etiology has long been believed to be multifactorial, with environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors all contributing to the disease process. This review focuses specifically on examining the evidence that supports a genetic basis for keratoconus.

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone prevents chronic corticosterone induced depression-like behavior.

High level of serum corticosteroid is frequently associated with depression, in which a notable HPA (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal) axis hyperactivity is often observed. There are two types of corticosteroid receptors expressed in the hippocampus that provide potent negative feedback regulation on the HPA axis but dysfunction during depression, i.e.

Ocular involvement in hospitalized patients with candidemia: analysis at a Boston tertiary care center.

Purpose: To study the prevalence, microbial profile, and risk factors for ocular involvement in patients with candidemia.

Methods: The records of all inpatient consultations requested at the Brigham and Women's Hospital from October 2009 to June 2011 to evaluate for ocular involvement in patients with candidemia were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Forty-nine consults were requested to rule out ocular involvement in patients with candidemia.