Meibomian Gland Performance in Glaucomatous Patients With Long-term Instillation of IOP-lowering Medications.

Purpose: To investigate the meibomian gland (MG) performance in patients with glaucoma under topical intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering medications.

Materials And Methods: This was a cross-sectional case-control study. Patients with glaucoma under different dosages and instillation periods of topical IOP-lowering medications were included.

A DNA dot hybridization model for molecular diagnosis of parasitic keratitis.

Purpose: Developing a DNA dot hybridization model for diagnosing parasitic keratitis.

Methods: Newly designed oligonucleotide probes for detecting and microsporidia were tested with target reference strains of (n = 20) and microsporidia (n = 3), and non-target microorganisms, including bacteria (n = 20) and fungi (n = 20). These probes, which had passed the preliminary tests, were then assembled as a parasite dot hybridization (PDH) model for assessing 33 clinical samples from patients with clinically suspected and microsporidia keratitis, including eight positives for , 13 positives for microsporidia, and 12 negatives for both pathogens.

A dot hybridization assay for the diagnosis of bacterial keratitis.

Purpose: To evaluate a bacterial dot hybridization (BDH) assay for the diagnosis of bacterial keratitis (BK).

Methods: Sixty-one qualified corneal scrapings from 61 patients with suspected microbial keratitis were collected consecutively and prospectively. Among the 61 patients, 16 cases were BK and 45 cases were non-BK, including fungal keratitis, viral keratitis, parasitic keratitis, and non-microbial keratitis.

A Multiplex Dot Hybridization Assay For Detection and Differentiation of Acanthamoeba and Herpes Keratitis.

Purpose: We verified a multiplex dot hybridization (MDH) assay for the rapid detection and differentiation of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) and herpes simplex keratitis (HSK).

Methods: Molecular detection of Acanthamoeba and herpes simplex virus in corneal scrapes was performed with the MDH assay and standard diagnostic methods. The experimental group included corneal scrapes (n = 33) from patients with culture- or pathology-confirmed AK (n = 15) and real-time PCR-confirmed HSK (n = 16).

PCR analysis for assessment of bacterial bioburden in orthokeratology lens cases.

Purpose: To develop a PCR gel analysis method for assessing the bacterial bioburden in orthokeratology contact lens (OK) case fluid determined by culture.

Methods: A prospective study with the participation of 41 OK wearers (20 girls, 21 boys) was performed. The mean OK-wearing experience was 3.

Bacterial Bioburden Decrease in Orthokeratology Lens Storage Cases After Forewarning: Assessment by the DNA Dot Hybridization Assay.

Background: The aim of this study was to measure the changes in the bacterial bioburden in orthokeratology (OK) lens storage cases using the DNA dot hybridization assay (DHA) after forewarning patients about their bacterial contamination severity.

Methods: Thirty-one OK lens wearers were prospectively enrolled in this study. Dot hybridization assay was used for serial measurements of bacterial bioburden in OK storage cases after lenses had been soaked for approximately 6 hr.

Microbial Bioburden of Orthokeratology Contact Lens Care System.

Objective: To assess the bioburden in an orthokeratology contact lens (OK) care system (defined by microbial identification from OK case fluid) and to identify the risk factors causing high bioburden for pediatric OK wearers in southern Taiwan.

Methods: A prospective study for the investigation of bioburden in the OK care system was performed in a tertiary medical center in southern Taiwan. Microbial isolates from the case fluids soaking OKs were analyzed, and pathogenicity was determined.

A DNA dot hybridization model for assessment of bacterial bioburden in orthokeratology lens storage cases.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate a DNA dot hybridization assay (DHA) for assessing bacterial bioburden in orthokeratology lens (OK) storage cases.

Methods: Forty-one OK wearers participated in this study. The dot hybridization assay was used to assess the bacterial bioburden of OK after removal and 6-hour soaking in a storage case.

Increased Dickkopf-1 expression accelerates bone cell apoptosis in femoral head osteonecrosis.

Intensive bone cell apoptosis contributes to osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH). Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) reportedly mediates various types of skeletal disorders. This study investigated whether DKK1 was linked to the occurrence of ONFH.

Increased IL-1beta expression and myofibroblast recruitment in subacromial bursa is associated with rotator cuff lesions with shoulder stiffness.

We evaluated whether proinflammatory cytokine expression and myofibroblast recruitment in subacromial bursa was linked to rotator cuff lesions with shoulder stiffness. We analyzed expressions of IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in subacromial bursa and joint fluid collected from 14 patients with cuff tears with stiffness as a study group (Group I) and 14 patients with rotator cuff tears without shoulder stiffness as a control group (Group II) using real-time RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA. Myofibroblast apoptosis in subacromial bursa was analyzed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase -mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) and alpha-smooth muscle actin immunofluorescence staining.