Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on ocular disease: KNHANES 2015-2021.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on ocular diseases and changes in risk factors before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was conducted using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2015-2021, a national cross-sectional health examination and survey. Associations between ocular diseases and risk factors were determined using the chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis.

Adipose Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Promote the Regeneration of Corneal Endothelium Through Ameliorating Senescence.

Purpose: Human corneal endothelial cells (hCECs) have been considered unable to regenerate in vivo, resulting in corneal decompensation after significant loss of hCECs. adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ASC)-derived exosomes can regenerate tissues and organs. In this study, we investigated whether ASC-derived exosomes could protect and regenerate CECs.

Electroporation Improves Retinal Delivery of Intravitreally Injected Exosomes.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes are promising therapeutic agents and natural nanoscale delivery platforms for treating degenerative retinal diseases. This study investigated the effect of electroporation on the retinal delivery of intravitreally administered MSC-derived exosomes in a murine model. Exosomes isolated from adipose tissue-derived MSCs were stained with ExoGlow exosome-specific dye and administered to the right eyes of 40 Sprague-Dawley rats.

Role of NADPH Oxidase 4 in Corneal Endothelial Cells Is Mediated by Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Autophagy.

Human corneal-endothelial cells (hCEnCs) are located on the inner layer of the cornea. Injury to CEnCs leads to permanent corneal edema, requiring corneal transplantation. NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) has been reported to be implicated in the pathogenesis of CEnCs diseases.

Novel ROCK Inhibitors, Sovesudil and PHP-0961, Enhance Proliferation, Adhesion and Migration of Corneal Endothelial Cells.

The loss or dysfunction of human corneal endothelial cells (hCEnCs) is a leading cause of blindness due to corneal failure. Corneal transplantation with a healthy donor cornea has been the only available treatment for corneal endothelial disease. However, the need for way to regenerate the CEnCs has been increased due to the global shortage of donor corneas.

Association of Dry Eye Diseases and Auditory Sensitivity.

This study aimed to evaluate the association between dry eye and inner ear diseases in a Korean population. Methods: Data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES V, 2010−2012), a national cross-sectional health examination and survey, were collected by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The association between dry eye and inner ear disease was determined using the chi-square test and logistic regression analysis.

Geriatric nutritional risk index is associated with retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) is a nutrition-related risk assessment tool and has been used in various clinical settings. The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the associated risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains inconclusive. We aimed to evaluate the association between GNRI and DR in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Low Contrast Visual Evoked Potentials for Early Detection of Optic Neuritis.

Optic neuritis (ON) detection is important for the early diagnosis and management of multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). However, the conventional high-contrast visual evoked potential (VEP) used for ON detection lacks sensitivity for identifying ON presenting as mild or unremarkable visual disturbance, which is common in first-episode ON. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether a change in contrast or check size improves the sensitivity of VEP to first-ever ON.

Postoperative hypoalbuminemia is an independent predictor of 1-year mortality after surgery for geriatric intertrochanteric femoral fracture: A retrospective cohort study.

Preoperative hypoalbuminemia from malnutrition is associated with increased morbidity and mortality after geriatric hip fracture surgery. However, little is known regarding the correlation between postoperative hypoalbuminemia and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate whether postoperative hypoalbuminemia could predict 1-year mortality after intertrochanteric femoral fracture surgery in elderly patients.

Electronic thermal transport measurement in low-dimensional materials with graphene non-local noise thermometry.

In low-dimensional systems, the combination of reduced dimensionality, strong interactions and topology has led to a growing number of many-body quantum phenomena. Thermal transport, which is sensitive to all energy-carrying degrees of freedom, provides a discriminating probe of emergent excitations in quantum materials and devices. However, thermal transport measurements in low dimensions are dominated by the phonon contribution of the lattice, requiring an experimental approach to isolate the electronic thermal conductance.

Role of Neutrophils on the Ocular Surface.

The ocular surface is a gateway that contacts the outside and receives stimulation from the outside. The corneal innate immune system is composed of many types of cells, including epithelial cells, fibroblasts, natural killer cells, macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, mast cells, basophils, eosinophils, mucin, and lysozyme. Neutrophil infiltration and degranulation occur on the ocular surface.

Comparison of a preservative-free nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and preservative-free corticosteroid after uneventful cataract surgery: multicenter, randomized, evaluator-blinded clinical trial.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroidal eyedrops for inflammation management after cataract surgery using slitlamp indicators.

Setting: 11 eye centers in South Korea.

Design: Randomized prospective multicenter study with a blinded evaluator.

Optimizing External Beam Radiotherapy as per the Risk Group of Localized Prostate Cancer: A Nationwide Multi-Institutional Study (KROG 18-15).

Purpose: This nationwide multi-institutional study analyzed the patterns of care and outcomes of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in localized prostate cancer patients. We compared various risk classification tools and assessed the need for refinements in current radiotherapy (RT) schemes.

Methods And Materials: We included non-metastatic prostate cancer patients treated with primary EBRT from 2001 to 2015 in this study.

A Comparison of Anesthetic Quality Between Interscalene Block and Superior Trunk Block for Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Interscalene block is the most commonly used nerve block for shoulder surgery, and superior trunk block has been investigated as a phrenic-sparing alternative. This randomized controlled trial compared ultrasound-guided interscalene block and superior trunk block as anesthesia for arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Objectives: Our aims were to determine the superiority of anesthesia quality and compare the risk of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis between these 2 blocks.

miR-30c-1 encourages human corneal endothelial cells to regenerate through ameliorating senescence.

In the present study, we studied the role of microRNA-30c-1 (miR-30c-1) on transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1)-induced senescence of hCECs. hCECs were transfected by miR-30c-1 and treated with TGF-β1 to assess the inhibitory effect of miR-30c-1 on TGF-β1-induced senescence. Cell viability and proliferation rate in miR-30c-1-transfected cells was elevated compared with control.

Aharonov-Bohm effect in graphene-based Fabry-Pérot quantum Hall interferometers.

Interferometers probe the wave-nature and exchange statistics of indistinguishable particles-for example, electrons in the chiral one-dimensional edge channels of the quantum Hall effect (QHE). Quantum point contacts can split and recombine these channels, enabling interference of charged particles. Such quantum Hall interferometers (QHIs) can unveil the exchange statistics of anyonic quasi-particles in the fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE).

Low Contrast Visual Acuity Might Help to Detect Previous Optic Neuritis.

Optic neuritis (ON) has been considered to be an important factor in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), making ON detection increasingly critical for early diagnosis. Furthermore, subclinical ONs presenting no distinct decrease in visual acuity can be missed. Low contrast visual acuity (LC-VA) is known to be able to capture visual loss not seen in conventional high-contrast visual acuity (HC-VA) in MS.

Serum Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Glaucoma.

Despite the importance of the early detection of glaucoma, most patients with progressive glaucoma show minimal symptoms. We aimed to evaluate biomarkers for glaucoma diagnosis in Korea. Forty-two volunteers with/without open-angle glaucoma were enrolled from January through October 2015-divided into a control or open-angle glaucoma group, which was further divided into normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and high-tension glaucoma (HTG) groups-and underwent assessments for myelin basic protein (MBP), heat shock protein 60, anti-Sjögren's-syndrome-related antigen A (SSA) and antigen B (SSB), anti-α-fodrin, and anti-nucleic acid.

SIRT1 Activation Using CRISPR/dCas9 Promotes Regeneration of Human Corneal Endothelial Cells through Inhibiting Senescence.

Human corneal endothelial cells (hCECs) are restricted in proliferative capacity in vivo. Reduction in the number of hCEC leads to persistent corneal edema requiring corneal transplantation. This study demonstrates the functions of SIRT1 in hCECs and its potential for corneal endothelial regeneration.

COL8A2 Regulates the Fate of Corneal Endothelial Cells.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of COL8A2 repression on corneal endothelial cells (CECs) in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: Cultured human CECs (hCECs) were transfected with COL8A2 siRNA (siCOL8A2), and the cell viability and proliferation rate were measured. The expression of cell proliferation-associated molecules was evaluated by Western blotting and real-time reverse transcription PCR.

Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy and Declining Renal Function in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: At a university hospital in Korea, we conducted a retrospective study to determine the association of the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) with declining renal function in type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We included a total of 1527 patients with type 2 diabetes who followed up in our diabetes clinic and underwent fundus photographic examinations from August 2006 to February 2014. DR was assessed by retinal ophthalmologists using comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations.