Impact of Immunosuppressants and Vaccination on COVID-19 Outcomes in Autoimmune Patients and Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Nationwide Propensity Score-Matched Study.

Purpose: This study investigates the impact of varying degrees of immunosuppression on the clinical outcomes of immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with autoimmune diseases or post-solid organ transplant statuses, in the context of COVID-19. By focusing on these highly vulnerable populations, the study underscores the significant health inequalities faced by immunocompromised patients, who experience disproportionately worse outcomes in comparison to the general population.

Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis of the K-COV-N dataset was conducted, comparing the effects of immunosuppression in autoimmune and transplant groups with matched control groups.

One-year follow-up of optical coherence tomography angiography microvascular findings: macular telangiectasia type 2 versus tamoxifen retinopathy.

Purpose: To compare microstructural and microvascular changes in eyes with macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel2) and in those with tamoxifen retinopathy (TR) at baseline and at the 1-year follow-up using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA).

Methods: We followed up patients diagnosed with MacTel2 or TR for at least 1 year. We included 17 patients with MacTel2 (31 eyes) and 15 with TR (25 eyes) who discontinued tamoxifen use after a TR diagnosis.

A pilot study of scleral thickness in central serous chorioretinopathy using anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

The aim of this study is to compare the scleral thickness of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) eyes with controls using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS OCT). This prospective case control study included 15 patients (15 eyes) with CSC and 15 age and gender matched healthy subjects. All subjects underwent spectral domain OCT with enhanced depth imaging and swept source AS OCT of temporal sclera.

SYSTEMIC FACTORS AND EARLY TREATMENT RESPONSE TO INTRAVITREAL INJECTION FOR DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA: The Role of Renal Function.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of systemic factors on early treatment response to intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVBI) and intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IVDI) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 117 treatment naïve DME patients who underwent IVBI. We divided the patients according to their IVBI response.

Long-Term Visual/Anatomic Outcome in Patients with Fovea-Involving Fibrovascular Pigment Epithelium Detachment Presenting Choroidal Neovascularization on Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Background: To evaluate long-term visual/anatomic outcome after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy in patients with fovea-involving fibrovascular pigment epithelium detachment (PED) presenting with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods: Patients with fibrovascular PED or subretinal CNV confirmed by OCTA who were treated by a relaxed treat-and-extend regimen for 2 years were retrospectively reviewed. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central subfield retinal thickness (CST) before and after anti-VEGF injection were analyzed.

An International Comparison of Baseline Characteristics of Patients Undergoing Initiation of Anti-VEGF Therapy for DME.

Background And Objective: Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a leading cause of vision loss worldwide. The object of this study is to compare global differences of baseline characteristics of patients undergoing initiation of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for DME.

Patients And Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study included diabetic patients with foveal-involving retinal edema secondary to DME as documented by fundus exam and optical coherence tomography who were undergoing initiation of intravitreal anti-VEGF drugs.

The Effect of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Inhibitors on Uveitis in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors (TNFis), which are the main treatment for ankylosing spondylitis (AS), have been reported not only to reduce the incidence of anterior uveitis (AU) but also to induce it, and these effects differ among the various types of TNFis in clinical use. The present study investigated the effect of TNFis on uveitis by analyzing the long-term clinical course of AU in AS patients treated with TNFi therapy.

Methods: Patients treated with at least one TNFi between January 2007 and July 2017 were reviewed, and 54 patients with at least one episode of AU were included in this study.

Risk factors and outcomes of patients with ocular involvement of candidemia.

Background: Ocular involvement of candidemia can result in serious complications, including vision loss. This study investigated the risk factors for ocular involvement in patients with candidemia and the outcomes of treatment.

Methods: Episodes of candidemia in hospitalized adults who underwent ophthalmic examinations within 2 weeks of candidemia onset between January 2014 and May 2017 were retrospectively reviewed.

Energetics and Vibrational Signatures of Nucleobase Argyrophilic Interactions.

This study investigates the interactions of both purine (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidine (cytosine, thymine, and uracil) nucleobases with a pair of silver atoms (Ag). Full geometry optimizations were performed on several structures of each nucleobase/Ag complex and the corresponding isolated monomers using the M06-2X density functional with a correlation consistent triple-ζ basis set augmented with diffuse functions on all atoms and a relativistic pseudopotential on Ag (aug-cc-pVTZ for H, C, N, and O and aug-cc-pVTZ-PP for Ag; denoted aVTZ). Harmonic vibrational frequency computations indicate that each optimized structure corresponds to a minimum on the M06-2X/aVTZ potential energy surface.

OCT Angiography Findings of Tamoxifen Retinopathy: Similarity with Macular Telangiectasia Type 2.

Purpose: We aimed to describe the vascular changes in eyes associated with tamoxifen retinopathy using OCT angiography (OCTA) and to compare these changes with abnormalities in macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel 2) previously reported in the literature.

Design: Retrospective, observational study.

Participants: Seventeen eyes with tamoxifen retinopathy and 17 eyes of age-matched healthy control participants.

Relationship Between Neutralizing Antibodies Against Adeno-Associated Virus in the Vitreous and Serum: Effects on Retinal Gene Therapy.

Purpose: We determine the prevalence of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) to adeno-associated virus (AAV) in the vitreous humor and serum of patients with vitreoretinal diseases and investigate the relationship between NAb titers in the vitreous humor and serum.

Methods: We analyzed NAbs to AAV serotypes 2, 5, 8, and 9 via in vitro neutralization in the vitreous humor and serum from 32 patients requiring vitrectomy for vitreoretinal diseases. The blood-retinal barrier (BRB) was evaluated for integrity based on preoperative examinations, with vitreous hemorrhage (VH) on funduscopy or dye leakage on fluorescein angiography observed indicating disruption.

Correlation between Visual Function and Structural Characteristics of the Macula in Advanced Retinitis Pigmentosa.

We aimed to correlate the visual function and structural characteristics of the retina and choroid in advanced retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients. A cross-sectional, retrospective review was conducted of medical records of 149 RP patients who reported visual field constriction on a central 30-2 Humphrey visual field chart. Using spectral domain-optical coherence tomography, central foveal thickness (CFT), ellipsoid zone (EZ) length, macular volume (MV), and submacular choroidal thickness (SMChT) were measured.

PRESERVATION OF THE FOVEAL FLAP IN MACULAR HOLE SURGERY.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of preserving the foveal flap on surgical outcomes of full-thickness macular hole (MH) with foveal flaps.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with Stages 2 and 3 idiopathic MH, who underwent pars plana vitrectomy by a single surgeon at Asan Medical Center from November 2011 to November 2016. In the study group, we included eyes with MH and a foveal flap on preoperative spectral domain optical coherence tomography and successfully preserved the flap during surgery.

The mechanism of antibacterial activity of tetrandrine against Staphylococcus aureus.

Tetrandrine (TET) is a bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid derived from the radix of Stephania tetrandra S. Moore. TET performs a wide spectrum of biological activities.

Changes in the clinical features and prognostic factors of endogenous endophthalmitis: fifteen years of clinical experience in Korea.

Purpose: To identify changes in the clinical features, management, and prognostic factors of endogenous endophthalmitis in Korea from 1996 through 2010.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of patients diagnosed with endogenous endophthalmitis from January 1996 to December 2010, which was divided into 3 periods: 1996 to 2000, 2001 to 2005, and 2006 to 2010. Variables included age, source of infection, systemic conditions, initial and final visual acuities, causative organisms, and treatment.

Synergistic effect of tetrandrine and ethidium bromide against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) along with other resistant bacteria have become a significant social and clinical problem. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop bioactive compounds from natural products as alternatives to the very few antibiotics that remain effective. Recently, the efflux mechanism has been identified as the main contributor to antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

Reversible Sensorineural Hearing Loss due to Pachymeningitis Associated with Elevated Serum MPO-ANCA.

Hypertrophic pachymeningitis is a progressive disease resulting in a diffuse thickening of dura mater due to inflammation, tumor or autoimmune diseases, but most cases are idiopathic. It is seldom reported to be related to sensorineural hearing loss, but it can cause sensorineural hearing loss which can be potentially reversed through treatment. Here, we report the case of a 54-year-old woman who had progressive, bilateral, worse in the left, sensorineural hearing loss and visual disturbance with an accompanying headache over several months.

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and scanning laser polarimetry in glaucoma diagnosis.

Purpose: To evaluate glaucoma diagnostic capability of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) imaging by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (Cirrus OCT) and scanning laser polarimetry (GDx VCC).

Methods: We imaged 88 glaucomatous and 77 healthy eyes using both devices. Areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves (area under the curves, AUCs) and sensitivities at fixed specificities of average, superior, and inferior RNFL thickness were compared.

Characteristics of visual field progression in medically treated normal-tension glaucoma patients with unstable ocular perfusion pressure.

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics of visual field (VF) progression in medically treated normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) patients (Koreans) with unstable ocular perfusion pressure (OPP).

Methods: One hundred one eyes of 101 NTG patients followed up for more than 4 years (mean follow-up, 6.2 years ± 12.

Effect of age on anterior chamber angle configuration in Asians determined by anterior segment optical coherence tomography; clinic-based study.

Purpose: To evaluate the distribution of anterior chamber angle (ACA) parameters and to assess association of these parameters with age in Asian subjects.

Methods:  Four hundred and thirty-nine consecutive Korean subjects aged from 30 to 89 were enrolled from a university clinic. All participants were scanned using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT, Visante, version 2.

Relationship between visual field sensitivity and macular ganglion cell complex thickness as measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To evaluate the strength and pattern of the relationship between visual field (VF) mean sensitivity (MS), assessed by standard automated perimetry (SAP), and macular ganglion cell complex thickness (GCCT), measured with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Methods: Ninety-seven glaucoma patients were enrolled. GCCT, determined by ganglion cell complex (GCC) scanning, and two peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (pRNFLT) measurements, using the NHM4 (RNFL1) and RNFL 3.

The fabrication and characterization of organic light-emitting diodes using transparent single-crystal Si membranes.

For applications such as solar cells and displays, transparent single-crystal Si membranes were fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. The SOI wafer included a buried layer of SiO2 and Si3N4 as an etch-stop layer. The etch-stop layer enabled fabrication of transparent single-crystal Si membranes with various thicknesses, and the thinning technology is described.