Euthyroid graves' ophthalmopathy in a Chinese population: A cross-sectional follow-up study.

Objectives: A subtype of patients with thyroid eye disease (TED) were found to be euthyroid without prior thyroid dysfunction or treatment, known as Euthyroid Graves' Ophthalmopathy (EGO). We report the prevalence, clinical and serological phenotypes of EGO in a Chinese population.

Methods: A cross-sectional follow-up study.

Rapamycin improves Graves' orbitopathy by suppressing CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) were recently implicated in immune-mediated inflammation and fibrosis progression of Graves' orbitopathy (GO). However, little is known about therapeutic targeting of CD4+ CTLs. Herein, we studied the effect of rapamycin, an approved mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) inhibitor, in a GO mouse model, in vitro, and in patients with refractory GO.

Myopia incidence and lifestyle changes among school children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based prospective study.

Background: The impacts of social restrictions for COVID-19 on children's vision and lifestyle remain unknown.

Aims: To investigate myopia incidence, spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and lifestyle changes among schoolchildren during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Two separate longitudinal cohorts of children aged 6-8 years in Hong Kong were included.

An update on endoscopic mechanical and powered dacryocystorhinostomy in acute dacryocystitis and lacrimal abscess.

Purpose: To provide a brief review of the literature on the utility and outcomes of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) in patients with acute dacryocystitis (ADC) and lacrimal abscess.

Methods: The authors performed a PubMed search of all articles published in English on endoscopic powered or mechanical DCR performed during the stage of acute dacryocystitis. Data captured include demographics, clinical presentations, time interval to surgery, intraoperative challenges, post-operative course, complications and outcomes.

Depot-specific characteristics of adipose tissue-derived stromal cells in thyroid-associated orbitopathy.

Background: Thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) causes inflammatory fibroproliferation of periocular connective tissues. We compared adipose tissue-derived stem/stromal cells (ADSCs) from three adipose depots of each patient with TAO on mesenchymal, myofibrogenic, adipogenic properties and associated hyaluronan (HA) synthesis.

Methods: ADSCs were generated from periocular (eyelid, orbital) and subcutaneous (abdominal) adipose tissues of three patients with TAO.

Differentiation potential of human adipose tissue derived stem cells into photoreceptors through explants culture and enzyme methods.

Aim: To investigate the retinal photoreceptor differentiation potential of human orbital adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) generated by enzyme (EN) and explant (EX) culture methods.

Methods: We investigated potentials of human orbital ADSCs to differentiate into photoreceptors through EN and EX culture methods. EN and EX orbital ADSCs were obtained from the same donor during rehabilitative orbital decompression, and then were subject to a 3-step induction using Noggin, DKK-1, IGF-1 and b-FGF at different time points for 38d.

Polymicrobial-Host Interactions during Infection.

Microbial pathogenesis research has, historically, focused on the study of infections as monomicrobial events. However, the advent of next generation sequencing and culture-independent identification methods has revealed that many, if not most, infections are polymicrobial either in origin or in manifestation. Polymicrobial infections are often associated with increased infection severity and poorer patient outcome.

The Role of Computer-Assisted Technology in Post-Traumatic Orbital Reconstruction: A PRISMA-driven Systematic Review.

Post-traumatic orbital reconstruction remains a surgical challenge and requires careful preoperative planning, sound anatomical knowledge and good intraoperative judgment. Computer-assisted technology has the potential to reduce error and subjectivity in the management of these complex injuries. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to explore the emerging role of computer-assisted technologies in post-traumatic orbital reconstruction, in terms of functional and safety outcomes.

Genetic Associations of Interleukin-related Genes with Graves' Ophthalmopathy: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) is the commonest extra-thyroidal manifestation of Graves' disease (GD). Associations between interleukin-related (IL) gene polymorphisms and GO have been reported in different populations. We aim to confirm such associations by conducting a meta-analysis.

Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis mimicking prolactinoma with recurrent vision loss.

Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis is a rare inflammatory condition with diffuse thickening of the dura mater, which may cause a compressive effect or vascular compromise. We report on a 28-year-old Chinese woman with a history of granulomatous mastitis 7 years previously and oligomenorrhoea, headache, blurred vision, and raised prolactin level 2 years previously, that was diagnosed as prolactinoma and treated conservatively with bromocriptine. However, she had recurrent bilateral vision loss when the bromocriptine was stopped.

Longitudinal comparison of outcomes after sub-Bowman keratomileusis and laser in situ keratomileusis: randomized, double-masked study.

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of sub-Bowman keratomileusis (100-μm flap) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) (120-μm flap) using 150-kHz femtosecond laser.

Design: Randomized, double-masked, contralateral clinical trial.

Methods: One hundred patients (200 eyes) with myopia or myopic astigmatism were included.

Antagonist of GH-releasing hormone receptors alleviates experimental ocular inflammation.

Disruptions in immunity and occurrence of inflammation cause many eye diseases. The growth hormone-releasing hormone-growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor-1 (GHRH-GH-IGF1) axis exerts regulatory effects on the immune system. Its involvement in ocular inflammation remains to be investigated.

Intraocular pressure profiles during femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery.

Purpose: To document the intraocular pressure (IOP) profiles during femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery.

Setting: Refractive cataract surgery center.

Design: Prospective case series.

Accessory proteins of SARS-CoV and other coronaviruses.

The huge RNA genome of SARS coronavirus comprises a number of open reading frames that code for a total of eight accessory proteins. Although none of these are essential for virus replication, some appear to have a role in virus pathogenesis. Notably, some SARS-CoV accessory proteins have been shown to modulate the interferon signaling pathways and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Randomized trial on silicone intubation in endoscopic mechanical dacryocystorhinostomy (SEND) for primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Purpose: To study the effect of bicanalicular silicone intubation on endonasal endoscopic mechanical dacryocystorhinostomy (EEM-DCR) for primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO).

Design: Randomized clinical trial.

Participants: A total of 120 consecutive adults (103 females) with a presenting age of 64 ± 13.

Eyelid tumours and pseudotumours in Hong Kong: a ten-year experience.

Objective: To describe the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with eyelid tumours in Hong Kong.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: A tertiary eye centre in Hong Kong.

Eyebrow tissue expansion: an underappreciated entity in thyroid-associated orbitopathy.

Objectives: To report photographic evidence of eyebrow tissue expansion in patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) and to demonstrate consistency in grading through the use of standardized photographs.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients referred for evaluation of TAO in an orbitofacial tertiary care center between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2010. A grading key was produced with representative views of each of 4 grades (0 [no expansion] to 3 [severe expansion]), corresponding to increasing severity of eyebrow tissue expansion.

Lateral canthal surgery.

The lateral canthus is a delicate and complicated three-dimensional structure with function relevant to the health of the ocular surface. Dysfunction of the lateral canthus, due to aging changes or iatrogenic trauma, results in ocular morbidity ranging from chronic irritation to tearing to recalcitrant keratopathy. From an aesthetic standpoint, symmetric, normally positioned lateral canthi are cornerstones of youthful periorbital appearance, disruption of which leads to cosmetically significant deformity or asymmetry.

Rituximab treatment of patients with severe, corticosteroid-resistant thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.

Purpose: To study the effectiveness of anti-CD20 (rituximab [RTX]; Rituxan; Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA) therapy in patients with severe, corticosteroid (CS)-resistant thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).

Design: Retrospective, interventional case series.

Multiple gene polymorphisms in the complement factor h gene are associated with exudative age-related macular degeneration in chinese.

Purpose: Variants in the complement factor H (CFH) gene have been shown to be strongly associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this study, sequence alterations in CFH were investigated in 163 Chinese patients with exudative AMD and 155 unrelated Chinese control subjects.

Methods: All the 22 CFH exons, intron-exon boundaries, and promoter sequences were screened by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing.

Association of CTLA-4 and IL-13 gene polymorphisms with Graves' disease and ophthalmopathy in Chinese children.

Purpose: The frequency of childhood Graves' disease (GD) in Hong Kong Chinese is among the highest in the world but childhood Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) appears to have milder clinical severity than does the adult disease. This study was conducted to investigate CTLA-4 and IL-13 polymorphisms in Chinese pediatric patients with GD and GO.

Methods: Recruited for the study were 177 childhood patients with GD (age range, 2-16 years) and 151 unrelated control subjects (age range, 4-16 years) for genotype analysis of IL-13 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (-1112C/T and 2044G/A), CTLA-4 SNPs (-318C/T, 49A/G, and CT60A/G), and the repeat length of (AT)n in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of CTLA-4.