Organic diet intervention significantly reduces urinary glyphosate levels in U.S. children and adults.

Background: A growing set of studies show that an organic diet is associated with reduced levels of urinary pesticide analytes. However, with the exception of one pilot study of two individuals, diet intervention studies to date have not analyzed glyphosate, the most commonly used herbicide in the United States and globally.

Objective: To investigate the impact of an organic diet intervention on levels of glyphosate and its main metabolite, AMPA (aminomethyl phosphonic acid), in urine collected from adults and children.

CASE REPORT OF ABIOTROPHIA DEFECTIVA ENDOPHTHALMITIS AFTER REPEATED INJECTIONS OF DEXAMETHASONE INTRAVITREAL IMPLANT (OZURDEX).

Purpose: To present a case of endophthalmitis caused by Abiotrophia defectiva after repeated injections of dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Ozurdex), in a patient already on systemic immunosuppressive therapy, and discuss the management of this challenging situation.

Methods: Case report and review of literature.

Results: A 70-year-old female patient with history of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis presented for urgent evaluation due to left eye vision loss and mild discomfort 12 days after receiving her seventh dexamethasone implant injection.

An assessment of acute insecticide toxicity loading (AITL) of chemical pesticides used on agricultural land in the United States.

We present a method for calculating the Acute Insecticide Toxicity Loading (AITL) on US agricultural lands and surrounding areas and an assessment of the changes in AITL from 1992 through 2014. The AITL method accounts for the total mass of insecticides used in the US, acute toxicity to insects using honey bee contact and oral LD50 as reference values for arthropod toxicity, and the environmental persistence of the pesticides. This screening analysis shows that the types of synthetic insecticides applied to agricultural lands have fundamentally shifted over the last two decades from predominantly organophosphorus and N-methyl carbamate pesticides to a mix dominated by neonicotinoids and pyrethroids.

Organic diet intervention significantly reduces urinary pesticide levels in U.S. children and adults.

Background: Previous diet intervention studies indicate that an organic diet can reduce urinary pesticide metabolite excretion; however, they have largely focused on organophosphate (OP) pesticides. Knowledge gaps exist regarding the impact of an organic diet on exposure to other pesticides, including pyrethroids and neonicotinoids, which are increasing in use in the United States and globally.

Objective: To investigate the impact of an organic diet intervention on levels of insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides or their metabolites in urine collected from adults and children.

Progression to Surgery for Patients With Idiopathic Epiretinal Membranes and Good Vision.

Backround And Objective: Patients with idiopathic epiretinal membranes (ERMs) and visual acuity of 20/40 or better are often monitored until vision or associated symptoms worsen to affect everyday living. This study looks at the rate of progression to surgery and the characteristics associated with progression.

Patients And Methods: This study was a retrospective, consecutive case series of patients with newly diagnosed idiopathic ERMs who were referred to the Retina Service at the Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston between January 2009 and May 2015 with 20/40 or better visual acuity.

Optical coherence tomography findings in methanol toxicity.

Background: Methanol toxicity poses a significant public health problem in developing countries, and in Southeast Asia, where the most common source of poisoning is via adulterated liquor in local drinks. Methanol toxicity can have devastating visual consequences and retinal specialists should be aware of the features of this toxic optic neuropathy. The authors report a case of severe systemic methanol toxicity and relatively mild optic neuropathy demonstrating unique retinal changes on optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Effect of intravitreal aflibercept on recalcitrant diabetic macular edema.

Background: Despite anti-VEGF therapy, some patients develop chronic diabetic macular edema. The objective of this study was to evaluate anatomic and visual outcomes of switching patients with chronic DME from intravitreal bevacizumab or ranibizumab to intravitreal aflibercept injection.

Methods: In this retrospective observational case series, 11 eyes with recalcitrant diabetic macular edema (DME) were evaluated 6 months prior to and 6 months following initial intravitreal aflibercept injection (IAI).

Bilateral acute simultaneous onset anterior uveitis presumed secondary to erlotinib: A report of two cases.

Purpose: To report two new cases of presumed erlotinib-associated bilateral acute simultaneous-onset anterior uveitis effectively treated with topical steroids.

Observations: Two patients were referred to the uveitis clinic with bilateral acute simultaneous onset, anterior uveitis six weeks after starting the chemotherapeutic agent erlotinib. Frequent topical steroid were started and the inflammation responded swiftly and completely.

Subconjunctival Bevacizumab for the Treatment of Keratoprosthesis-Associated Cystoid Macular Edema.

The authors present a case of keratoprosthesis-associated cystoid macular edema (CME) responsive to subconjunctival bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech, South San Francisco, CA). A 40-year-old woman with a history of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and Boston keratoprosthesis type I implantation developed CME 10 months after surgery and received sub-Tenon's kenalog with minimal improvement. Sixteen months after surgery, she received a subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab and demonstrated visual and anatomic improvement.

CHARACTERIZING THE EFFECT OF ANTI-VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR THERAPY ON TREATMENT-NAIVE CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION USING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY.

Purpose: To use optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) to characterize the effects of anti-VEGF injections on treatment-naive choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

Methods: From August 2014 to May 2015, treatment-naive eyes with CNV were scanned using a prototype OCTA system on a commercially available SD-OCT device (Optovue Inc, Fremont, CA). Optical coherence tomography angiography scans were obtained before anti-VEGF injection and at follow-up visits.

Retinal Pigment Epithelial Adenocarcinoma Presenting as an Amelanotic Mass.

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) neoplasms are extraordinarily rare and have been infrequently described in the literature. Most RPE tumors are pigmented and may simulate choroidal melanoma. The best management of RPE tumors has not yet been elucidated.

Conjunctival papilloma: features and outcomes based on age at initial examination.

Importance: Conjunctival papilloma is a benign epithelial tumor occurring in both children and adults with varying clinical features and outcomes. In this article, we describe our experience regarding the difference in the clinical features and outcomes of conjunctival papilloma based on age at initial examination.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical features, treatment, and outcomes in patients with conjunctival papilloma based on age at initial examination.

Transluminal migration of ingested foreign body without peritonitis.

The authors present 2 cases of transluminal migration of an ingested foreign body into the peritoneal cavity without causing peritonitis. Clinical and radiologic features and surgical approach are described, focusing on the absence of an acute abdomen in transluminal migration and the use of laparoscopy in achieving extraction of the foreign object.