Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction by Classical Eyelid Hygiene Measures With and Without Additional Lipid Substitution for Tear Film Stabilization.

Objective: This study aimed to document the treatment success of eyelid hygiene with liposomal suspension using new diagnostic tools and to determine whether additional lipid substitution provided measurable benefits in meibomian gland dysfunction.

Methods: A single-center controlled, partially single masked study was conducted. Group A used eyelid hygiene only, whereas group B additionally applied a liposomal eye spray.

Thermal Quenching of Intrinsic Photoluminescence in Amorphous and Monoclinic HfO Nanotubes.

Nanotubular hafnia arrays hold significant promise for advanced opto- and nanoelectronic applications. However, the known studies concern mostly the luminescent properties of doped HfO-based nanostructures, while the optical properties of nominally pure hafnia with optically active centers of intrinsic origin are far from being sufficiently investigated. In this work, for the first time we have conducted research on the wide-range temperature effects in the photoluminescence processes of anion-defective hafnia nanotubes with an amorphous and monoclinic structure, synthesized by the electrochemical oxidation method.

[How to talk to relatives about corneal donation].

Corneal donation counselling is an important part of the process to inform and support potential donors and their relatives. In this article various aspects of the conversation techniques on corneal donation are discussed, including raising awareness of the importance of donation, clarifying questions and concerns, emphasizing the potential of donation and considering the emotional burden on the relatives of potential donors. Also emphasized is the role of the counsellor as a trustworthy and empathetic contact who can help family members of potential donors make an informed and positive decision.

Time-series sewage metagenomics distinguishes seasonal, human-derived and environmental microbial communities potentially allowing source-attributed surveillance.

Sewage metagenomics has risen to prominence in urban population surveillance of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Unknown species with similarity to known genomes cause database bias in reference-based metagenomics. To improve surveillance, we seek to recover sewage genomes and develop a quantification and correlation workflow for these genomes and AMR over time.

Outcomes and Cost of Donor Nephrectomy Across Surgical Specialties and Operative Approaches.

Introduction: Live donor nephrectomy (LDN) is performed by various specialty surgeons, including urologists, general surgeons, and transplant surgeons. However, national practice patterns and outcomes associated with surgeon specialty have not been previously explored. Here, we investigate surgeon specialty trends, perioperative complications, hospital length of stay, cost, and charge for LDN according to surgeon specialty.

Virtual global health education partnerships for health professional students: a scoping review.

Introduction: Although there is rising interest in virtual global health (GH) education in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been no report on the body of literature describing virtual education partnerships for health professional students. This scoping review examines virtual GH partnerships involving health professional students, including any barriers identified or best practices and ways to address them.

Methods: We searched PubMed for studies describing virtual GH education partnerships using keywords related to GH, virtual learning, and partnerships.

Thermally assisted optical processes in InP/ZnS quantum dots.

The utilization of InP-based biocompatible quantum dots (QDs) necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the structure-dependent characteristics influencing their optical behavior. The optimization of core/shell QDs for practical applications is of particular interest due to their reduced toxicity, enhanced photostability, and improved luminescence efficiency. This optimization involves analyzing thermally activated processes involving exciton and defect-related energy levels.

Review for special issue: Corneal lamellar surgery: Present outcomes and future perspectives.

Since the establishment of the first eye bank in the 1940s, their role has evolved to face new challenges. With the recent development of lamellar keratoplasties, eye banks play an even bigger role in the selection and preparation of donor tissues. The increasing number of keratoplasty techniques and the high demand for "ready-to-use" tissues are challenging eye banks to improve and develop new preparation techniques.

Impact of Pachychoroid and DRIL on the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Oedema with Intravitreal Bevacizumab.

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term outcome of intravitreal bevacizumab in eyes with diabetic macular oedema (DME) following a PRN (pro re nata) regimen. Additionally, we investigated the effect of the presence of disorganisation of the retinal inner layers (DRILs) and pachychoroid (PC) at baseline on clinical outcome.

Methods: This retrospective study included 112 naïve eyes with DME that were followed up for 2 years.

Luminescence in Anion-Deficient Hafnia Nanotubes.

Hafnia-based nanostructures and other high-k dielectrics are promising wide-gap materials for developing new opto- and nanoelectronic devices. They possess a unique combination of physical and chemical properties, such as insensitivity to electrical and optical degradation, radiation damage stability, a high specific surface area, and an increased concentration of the appropriate active electron-hole centers. The present paper aims to investigate the structural, optical, and luminescent properties of anodized non-stoichiometric HfO nanotubes.

Impact of cleanroom status on the reasons for discarding organ-cultured corneal transplants in a modern eye bank - More donor corneas thanks to astronaut suit?

Purpose: This study investigated the influence of cleanroom conditions on the discard rates of donor corneas in a German university eye bank.

Methods: Discard rates were analysed from 2017 to 2020 at the LIONS Cornea Bank at Saarland University Medical Center. 1941 corneas from 971 donors were included.

Vision-Related Quality of Life among Patients with Different Types of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Background: This study aimed to assess the vision-related quality of life (VRQol) of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to evaluate VRQol according to different types of AMD.

Methods: In this small-scale, single-center, prospective investigation, patients with AMD and subjects without any signs of macular disease were asked to complete the NEI-VFQ-39. A total of 159 subjects were included and grouped according to the type of AMD as follows: 40 patients with dry AMD in both eyes (DD), 40 patients with exudative AMD in one eye (DE), 41 patients with exudative AMD in both eyes (EE), and 38 subjects without any signs of macular disease, as a control group (CG).

Adoption and Outcomes of Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate in the United States.

Objective: To investigate the utilization of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) using a large real-world cohort. We compare the safety, readmission, and retreatment rates of HoLEP to other widely used endoscopic surgical interventions for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) including transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), photoselective vaporization of the prostate, and prostatic urethral lift.

Methods: Men who underwent endoscopic treatments for BPH from 2000 to 2019 were identified in the Premier Healthcare Database (n = 218,793).

Prostate cancer genetic alterations in Hispanic men.

Background: Differences in DNA alterations in prostate cancer among White, Black, and Asian men have been widely described. This is the first description of the frequency of DNA alterations in primary and metastatic prostate cancer samples of self-reported Hispanic men.

Methods: We utilized targeted next-generation sequencing tumor genomic profiles from prostate cancer tissues that underwent clinical sequencing at academic centers (GENIE 11th).

16 Reliability and efficiency of corneal thickness measurements using sterile donor tomography in the eye bank.

Purpose: To evaluate the reliability and efficiency of sterile corneal thickness measurements of donor corneas stored in a plastic culture flask filled with organ culture medium I (MI) or II (MII) based on tomographic data using two different software: the built-in software of the anterior segment OCT (AS-OCT) and a MATLAB self-programmed software.

Methods: Twenty-five (25) donor corneas (50%) stored in MI and 25 (50%) in MII were imaged 5 times consecutively using an AS-OCT. The central corneal thickness (CCT) was measured both with the manual measurement tool of the AS-OCT (=CCTm) and with a MATLAB self-programmed software allowing (semi-)automated analysis (=CCTa).

Impact of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Targeting on Pathologic Upgrading and Downgrading at Prostatectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Context: The evidence supporting multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) targeting for biopsy is nearly exclusively based on biopsy pathologic outcomes. This is problematic, as targeting likely allows preferential identification of small high-grade areas of questionable oncologic significance, raising the likelihood of overdiagnosis and overtreatment.

Objective: To estimate the impact of MRI-targeted, systematic, and combined biopsies on radical prostatectomy (RP) grade group concordance.

Insurer coverage of prostate cancer biomarkers.

Introduction: Several recently-developed prostate cancer (CaP) biomarkers are recommended per national guidelines, yet feasibility of obtaining these tests is unknown. We used a national database to assess insurance coverage of CaP biomarkers.

Materials And Methods: Insurance policies regarding 4K Score, ExoDx, My Prostate Score, Prostate Cancer Antigen 3, Prostate Health Index, and SelectMDx as of January 1, 2022 were extracted from the policy reporter database.

Establishing a Virtual Global Health Education Partnership: The Cleveland-Cusco Connection.

Introduction: The Cleveland-Cusco Connection (CCC) elective was created during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue global health (GH) education for Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) and Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco (UNSAAC) medical students. The CCC elective was held over Zoom and aimed to promote international collaboration, knowledge about health systems, and perspectives in GH with synchronous and asynchronous learning.

Methods: Peruvian and US medical students participated in six monthly sessions consisting of student presentations and large and small group discussions.

Race and prostate cancer: genomic landscape.

In the past 20 years, new insights into the genomic pathogenesis of prostate cancer have been provided. Large-scale integrative genomics approaches enabled researchers to characterize the genetic and epigenetic landscape of prostate cancer and to define different molecular subclasses based on the combination of genetic alterations, gene expression patterns and methylation profiles. Several molecular drivers of prostate cancer have been identified, some of which are different in men of different races.

Predictors and Trends of Opioid-Sparing Radical Prostatectomy From a Large National Cohort.

Objective: To examine the use of pain medications after radical prostatectomy using a large national database.

Methods: The Premier Hospital Database was queried to identify all robotic and laparoscopic radical prostatectomies from January 2015 to March 2020 with length of stay more than or equal to 1 day. "Opioid-sparing" was defined as absence of intravenous opioid use after post-operative day 0 and absence of oral opioid use throughout admission.

First Year Real Life Experience With Intravitreal Brolucizumab for Treatment of Refractory Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

To assess the morphological and functional outcomes within the first year of treatment with intravitreal brolucizumab for refractory neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). This retrospective study included 21 eyes from 19 patients with refractory nAMD followed for 12 months. All patients were switched to brolucizumab after treatment with at least two other anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF).