A Promising Antifungal and Antiamoebic Effect of Silver Nanorings, a Novel Type of AgNP.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) play an important role in the medical field due to their potent antimicrobial activity. This, together with the constant emergence of resistance to antimicrobial drugs, means AgNPs are often investigated as an alternative to solve this problem. In this article, we analyzed the antifungal and antiamoebic effects of a recently described type of AgNP, silver nanorings (AgNRs), and compared them with other types of AgNPs.

Bacteria associated with acne use glycosaminoglycans as cell adhesion receptors and promote changes in the expression of the genes involved in their biosynthesis.

Background: Cell surface glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) participate in many physiological and pathological processes, including infections and inflammatory response. Acne is a common chronic inflammatory skin disorder that affects the pilosebaceous unit and has a multifactorial etiology, including bacterial colonization of the hair follicle. This study aimed to investigate the participation of GAG in the adhesion of Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis to keratinocytes and fibroblasts of the skin by competition experiments and cell surface removal using specific liases.

The Genes Encoding Small Leucine-Rich Proteoglycans Undergo Differential Expression Alterations in Colorectal Cancer, Depending on Tumor Location.

Small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) regulate different processes and undergo significant alterations in various diseases. Colon carcinomas (CCs) are heterogeneous pathologies with important clinical and molecular differences depending on their location, which makes it interesting to analyze the alterations in SLRPs in right- and left-sided tumors (RS- and LSCCs). SLRP transcription levels were studied in 32 CCs using qPCR compared to healthy colon mucosae samples from the same patients, 20 of them from LSCCs and the remaining 12 from RSCCs.

Alterations in the Expression of the Genes Responsible for the Synthesis of Heparan Sulfate in Brains With Alzheimer Disease.

The saccharide chains of heparan sulfate appear to be involved in several aspects Alzheimer disease (AD) pathogenesis. Their structural complexity is due to the expression of different isoenzymes. We studied the differential transcription of heparan sulfate chain biosynthesis in AD brains, analyzing different brain regions in patients with different extents of AD pathology.

Use of autologous plasma rich in growth factors fibrin membrane in the surgical management of ocular surface diseases.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the surgical use of autologous plasma rich in growth factors fibrin membrane (mPRGF) in improving corneal wound healing and regeneration in a variety of complex ocular surface defects.

Methods: Chart review on 15 eyes of 14 included patients undergoing ocular surface intervention using intraoperative mPRGF at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and at the Instituto Oftalmológico Fernández-Vega was performed. Patients were grouped based on type of intervention or condition (penetrating keratoplasty, superficial keratectomy, neurotrophic or persistent corneal ulcers, and corneal perforation).

Plasma Rich in Growth Factors for the Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases.

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to describe and review the technology of plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF), a novel blood derivative product, in the treatment of ocular surface disorders.

Methods: To demonstrate the importance of this technology in the treatment of ocular pathologies, a thorough review of the preclinical and clinical literature results obtained following use of the different therapeutic formulations of PRGF was carried out. A literature search for applications of PGRF plasma in the ophthalmology field was carried out using the PubMed database.

Differential expression and localization of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 in rabbit and human eyes.

Introduction: The superfamily of transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channels is involved in nociception. Members of this family, such as the vanilloid receptor type 1 (TRPV1) channel, are activated by a wide range of stimuli including heat (⟩43°C), low pH (⟨6.5), hypoxia, and hypertonicity.

Human adipose-derived stem cells for the treatment of chemically burned rat cornea: preliminary results.

Purpose: Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) are multipotent, safe, non-immunogenic and can differentiate into functional keratocytes in situ. The topical use of ADSC derived from human processed lipoaspirate was investigated for treating injured rat cornea.

Methods: A total of 19 rats were used.

Epidemiology of refractive errors in an adult European population: the Segovia study.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of refractive errors in Segovia, Spain.

Methods: A cohort of 569 subjects was randomly selected in a stratified manner according to gender and age in a cross-sectional, population-based epidemiologic study, the target population of which was urban residents aged 40 to 79 years. All participants underwent an ophthalmic examination that included measurement of visual acuity (VA) and refraction, tonometry, anterior segment biomicroscopy, funduscopy, optic nerve head photography, and visual field testing.

Inflammatory response to contact lenses in patients with keratoconus compared with myopic subjects.

Purpose: To determine the levels of inflammatory molecules in the tears of patients who wore rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses (CLs) and who had either keratoconus or myopia.

Methods: A prospective, case-control study with 4 groups enrolled 20 RGP CL keratoconus wearers and 28 keratoconus non-lens wearers, 20 myopic CL wearers, and 20 subjects with myopia that were non-lens wearers (1 eye per patient). Fifteen microliters of tears were collected by capillary flow.

Corneal lamellar dissection by using suture threads in porcine eyes.

Purpose: Lamellar dissection is one of the most delicate maneuvers in corneal surgery. We describe a new method that uses Ferrara ring instrumentation.

Methods: A 360 degrees tunnel is created at half of the stromal depth in porcine corneas.

Hyperopic LASIK retreatments with the Technolas laser.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and predictability of hyperopic LASIK retreatments.

Methods: This retrospective, consecutive, non-comparative, observational study included 85 eyes that underwent hyperopic LASIK retreatment with 1-year follow-up. Complete ophthalmic examination included distance uncorrected (UCVA) and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), cycloplegic refraction, and pachymetry.

Interface corneal edema secondary to steroid-induced elevation of intraocular pressure simulating diffuse lamellar keratitis.

Purpose: To describe interface corneal edema secondary to steroid-induced elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) following LASIK.

Methods: Retrospective observational case series. Diffuse interface edema secondary to steroid-induced elevation of IOP was observed after LASIK simulating diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) in 13 eyes.

Intracorneal hydrogel lenses and corneal aberrations.

Purpose: To investigate the optical performance of the cornea based on corneal aberrometry following intracorneal hydrogel lens implantation.

Methods: A retrospective, nonconsecutive, observational study of the anterior corneal surface aberration profile of four hyperopic eyes previously implanted with an intracorneal hydrogel lens were studied by videokeratographic elevation maps before and 6 months after surgery.

Results: Intracorneal hydrogel lenses reduced the optical performance in all four eyes by increasing the spherical aberrations by a mean factor of 1.

Total and corneal optical aberrations induced by laser in situ keratomileusis for hyperopia.

Purpose: To evaluate changes induced by standard laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for hyperopia on total and corneal optical quality.

Methods: Total and corneal aberrations were measured before and after standard hyperopic LASIK in 13 eyes (preoperative spherical equivalent refractive error +3.17 +/- 1.

Visual outcome in herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus uveitis: a clinical evaluation and comparison.

Purpose: To compare clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with uveitis caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV).

Design: Retrospective comparative study.

Participants: Forty patients with HSV uveitis and 24 patients with VZV uveitis.