Metatranscriptome of human lung microbial communities in a cohort of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 Omicron patients.

The Omicron variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) infected a substantial proportion of Chinese population, and understanding the factors underlying the severity of the disease and fatality is valuable for future prevention and clinical treatment. We recruited 64 patients with invasive ventilation for COVID-19 and performed metatranscriptomic sequencing to profile host transcriptomic profiles, plus viral, bacterial, and fungal content, as well as virulence factors and examined their relationships to 28-day mortality were examined. In addition, the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples from invasive ventilated hospital/community-acquired pneumonia patients (HAP/CAP) sampled in 2019 were included for comparison.

Expert consensus on the monitoring and treatment of sepsis-induced immunosuppression.

Emerged evidence has indicated that immunosuppression is involved in the occurrence and development of sepsis. To provide clinical practice recommendations on the immune function in sepsis, an expert consensus focusing on the monitoring and treatment of sepsis-induced immunosuppression was developed. Literature related to the immune monitoring and treatment of sepsis were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure to design items and expert opinions were collected through an online questionnaire.

Analysis of risk factors of rapid attenuation of graft endothelium in the early stage after penetrating keratoplasty.

This study aimed to analyze the factors of rapid attenuation of graft endothelium in the early stage after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), with a view to guiding patients with PKP to better long-term outcomes. This study included 226 patients who underwent PKP with follow-up time >1 year at the Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University from January 2018 to June 2020. Medical records were retrospectively studied, and donor factors, patient factors, and surgical factors were comparatively analyzed to clarify those affecting the rapid decay of graft endothelium after PKP.

Potential roles of vitamin D binding protein in attenuating liver injury in sepsis.

Background: In sepsis, vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) has been shown to be low-expressed. The current study examined the relationship between serum VDBP level and liver injury in sepsis patients, as well as in a mouse model for sepsis and in cultured liver epithelial cell line exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Methods: The human study included 78 sepsis patients and 50 healthy volunteers.

Midterm outcomes of penetrating keratoplasty following allogeneic cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation in patients with bilateral limbal stem cell deficiency.

Aim: To evaluate the midterm outcomes of penetrating keratoplasty (PK) following allogeneic cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation (CLET) for bilateral total limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).

Methods: Ten patients (10 eyes) with bilateral LSCD were enrolled in this prospective noncomparative case series study. Each participant underwent PK approximately 6mo after a CLET.

Efficacy of rhNGF-loaded amniotic membrane transplantation for rabbit corneal epithelial and nerve regeneration.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of recombinant human nerve growth factor-loaded amniotic membrane (rhNGF-AM) on corneal epithelial and nerve regeneration in rabbit model.

Methods: Freshly prepared human amniotic membrane (AM) were immersed into PBS buffer containing 100 or 500 µg/mL rhNGF for 15, 30, and 60min at 4°C. The release kinetics of rhNGF was measured with ELISA.

Persistent Viral Presence Determines the Clinical Course of the Disease in COVID-19.

Background: The clinical management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is dependent on understanding the underlying factors that contribute to the disease severity. In the absence of effective antiviral therapies, other host immunomodulatory therapies such as targeting inflammatory response are currently being used without clear evidence of their effectiveness. Because inflammation is an essential component of host antiviral mechanisms, therapies targeting inflammation may adversely affect viral clearance and disease outcome.

The effects of simultaneous operation on dissociated vertical deviation with horizontal and torsional strabismus.

Aim: To investigate the therapeutic effects of simultaneous horizontal and vertical operations on dissociated vertical deviation (DVD) associated with other deviations.

Methods: Forty-five cases of DVD with horizontal and torsional strabismus underwent combined operation were collected retrospectively. All clinical records were analyzed.

Comparison of long-term results after manual and femtosecond assisted corneal trephination in deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty for keratoconus.

Aim: To compare long-term postoperative outcomes of manual and femtosecond assisted corneal trephination in deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (FS-DALK) for keratoconus.

Methods: In the retrospective study, 17 consecutive eyes that underwent vertical side cut incision FS-DALK and 22 eyes that underwent trephine incision DALK were collected over a 2-year period. Main measurements included postoperative uncorrected-visual acuity (UCVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), refractive sphere and cylinder, manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE), flat and steep corneal keratometry (K1 and K2), endothelial cell density (ECD), and time of epithelium healing and suture removal.

Ocular bacterial infections at a tertiary eye center in China: a 5-year review of pathogen distribution and antibiotic sensitivity.

Aim: To provide statistical evidence for the use of antibiotics in ophthalmology by assessing the distribution and antibiotic sensitivity of bacterial isolates from ocular specimens with suspected microbial infections.

Methods: This study applied a retrospective analysis of 3690 bacterial isolates from ocular specimens, which were obtained from the conjunctiva, cornea, aqueous humor, vitreous body, and other ocular sites of the patients at Shandong Eye Institute in northern China from January 2013 to December 2017. The parameters assessed mainly included the distribution of isolated bacteria and the results of susceptibility tests for antibiotics.

Exosomes derived from plasma of septic patients inhibit apoptosis of T lymphocytes by down-regulating bad via hsa-miR-7-5p.

Immunosuppression is currently a vital pathophysiological characteristic and core problem of sepsis. Apoptosis of T lymphocyte contribute to immunosuppression by decreasing immune effector cells. A report has recently revealed the potential regulatory role of exosomal miRNAs derived from plasma of septic patients on immune system, but the underlying mechanism is unclear.

Fusarium solani Activates Dectin-1 in Experimentally Induced Keratomycosis.

In this study, the response of Dectin-1 on macrophages to Fusarium solani (F. solani) and the expression patterns of Dectin-1 in experimentally F. solani-induced keratomycosis were investigated.

Etiology and failure analysis of anterior lamellar keratoplasty.

Aim: To analyze indications and reasons for failure of anterior lamellar keratoplasty (ALK).

Methods: The clinical records were retrospectively reviewed. Main outcome measures included indications for ALK and reasons for failure of ALK.

The effect of environmental factors on the differential expression of miRNAs in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot clinical study.

Objective: The objective of the study was to analyze the effect of environmental factors on the differential expression of microRNAs in the peripheral blood of migratory and local patients in northern People's Republic of China and on clinical symptoms of local patients in northern People's Republic of China with COPD.

Methods: A total of 118 patients in the northern region and 8 migratory patients were enrolled in this prospective study. We collected general information.

Modified ulcer debridement in the treatment of the superficial fungal infection of the cornea.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of modified corneal ulcer debridement in superficial fungal keratitis unresponsive to medications.

Methods: A total of 209 patients (209 eyes) with fungal keratitis, involving no more than 50% of the stromal depth and not responding to antifungal agents for 2wk, were recruited in this retrospective, noncomparative study. The patients were treated with modified corneal ulcer debridement.

RISK FACTORS, TREATMENT STRATEGIES, AND OUTCOMES OF ENDOPHTHALMITIS ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERE FUNGAL KERATITIS.

Purpose: To investigate risk factors, treatment strategies, and outcomes of endophthalmitis associated with severe fungal keratitis.

Methods: Data from 392 patients diagnosed with fungal keratitis were retrospectively examined. Patients had severe disease that was refractory to topical or systemic antifungal therapy, and the infection involved the endothelium or perforated the cornea.

A comparative study of risk factors for corneal infection in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

Aim: To compare the clinical characteristics of infectious keratopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and non-diabetes mellitus (NDM) and to investigate risk factors for infectious keratopathy in T2DM patients.

Methods: Totally 230 patients with T2DM and 168 with NDM diagnosed as infectious keratopathy were hospitalized at Qingdao Eye Hospital from 2001 to 2015. Data including sex, age, occupation, season, smoking and alcohol consumption habits, duration between onset and treatments, duration of hospitalization were collected.

Pulmonary function tests findings and their diagnostic value in patients with IgG4-related disease.

Background: IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an immune-mediated fibroinflammatory disorder that can affect most organs. To date, there have been no detailed assessments of pulmonary function in patients with IgG4-RD. In this study, we investigated pulmonary function in IgG4-RD patients and evaluated the value of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in diagnosing IgG4-related respiratory disease (IgG4-RRD).

Visual performance with accommodating and multifocal intraocular lenses.

Aim: To compare the visual functional outcomes with accommodating and multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs).

Methods: Our retrospective comparative study included 51 patients (60 eyes) received implantation of an accommodating IOL (Tetraflex; 16 patients, 20 eyes), a refractive multifocal IOL (ReZoom; 18 patients, 20 eyes), or a diffractive multifocal IOL (ZMA00; 17 patients, 20 eyes). Subjective refraction, visual acuity, contrast sensitivity (CS), intraocular aberration, and subjective photic phenomena were detected at 3mo after surgery.