Ocular adnexal lymphoma - A single-center observational study of survival outcomes.

Purpose: This study aims to comprehensively characterize the clinical, demographic, and histopathological features of ocular adnexal lymphoma (OAL) and assess their impact on patients' survival outcomes.

Methods: A total of 123 patients were included in the study; of these, 93 patients were selected for survival analysis. Survival data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier test, and correlation was assessed through the log-rank test and Cox regression analysis.

Cost-effective synthesis of zinc oxide/crab shell-derived chitosan nanocomposite: Insights into its biomedical applications.

For biomedical applications, material scientists all over the world are working to develop cost-effective technologies and thereby synthesize new nanocomposite materials that are biocompatible, bioactive, scalable and naturally abundant. This study focuses on synthesizing and evaluating nanocomposites of zinc oxide (ZnO) and chitosan (CS) derived from crab shells, in three different weight proportions (1:0.5, 1:1, and 1:2).

Investigating the frequency of somatic MYD88 L265P mutation in primary ocular adnexal B cell lymphoma.

Background: Ocular adnexal B cell lymphoma is the most common orbital malignancy in adults. Large chromosomal translocations and alterations in cell-signaling pathways were frequently reported in lymphomas. Among the altered pathways, perturbations of NFκB signaling play a significant role in lymphomagenesis.

Investigating druggable kinases for targeted therapy in retinoblastoma.

Retinoblastoma (RB) is a childhood retinal neoplasm and commonly treated with cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents. However, these therapeutic approaches often lead to diverse adverse effects. A precise molecular therapy will alleviate these side effects and offer better treatment outcomes.

Age-related reduction in the functional properties of adult stem cells located in the peripheral region of human retinal pigment epithelium.

Purpose: Adult stem cells (SCs) with self-renewal and multilineage potential have been reported upon culturing human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. The current study aimed to identify the location of SCs in human RPE and to elucidate the age-related changes.

Methods: Peripheral, equatorial, and central RPE cells from donors of three age groups were analyzed for their sphere-forming, clonal, and label-retaining cell properties.

Impact of RB1 gene screening from blood collected on a single day from 411 family members of 113 Retinoblastoma survivors in India.

Objectives: To analyse the profile and implication of genetic testing in a cohort of retinoblastoma (RB) patients and their families conducted on a single day during World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week 2017.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of blood samples were collected from 411 subjects, including 113 probands at a camp organised for RB awareness and were analysed for RB1 mutations by Sanger sequencing and Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA). If germline mutations were detected, the parents and siblings of the proband were tested for the same mutation.

Genotypic and phenotypic diversity in X-linked retinoschisis: Findings from a South Indian patient cohort.

Purpose: Retinoschisis is a distinctive condition characterized by intraretinal layer clefts, primarily associated with X-linked recessive inheritance due to RS1 gene mutations. This study aims to uncover the RS1 mutation spectrum in a cohort of 22 X-linked retinoschisis cases from South India and emphasizes the genotypic and phenotypic associations within patients harboring only RS1 mutations.

Methods: A total of 22 probands were suspected of having X-linked retinoschisis.

Towards the Identification and Characterization of Putative Adult Human Lens Epithelial Stem Cells.

The anterior lens epithelium has the ability to differentiate into lens fibres throughout its life. The present study aims to identify and functionally characterize the adult stem cells in the human lens epithelium. Whole mounts of lens epithelium from donor eyes (normal/cataract) were immunostained for SOX2, gap junction protein alpha 1 (GJA1), PAX6, α, β and γ-crystallins, followed by a confocal analysis.

Exploring mito-nuclear genetic factors in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy: insights from comprehensive profiling of unique cases.

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a mitochondrial complex I disorder and causes inexorable painless vision loss. Recent studies from India reported that a significant proportion of LHON patients lack primary mitochondrial DNA mutations, suggesting that alternative genetic factors contribute to disease development. Therefore, this study investigated the genetic profile of LHON-affected individuals in order to understand the role of mito-nuclear genetic factors in LHON.

Synthesis of novel liquid phase exfoliation of chitosan/BiSe hybrid nanocomposites for in-vitro wound healing.

Numerous studies have recently established the potential of chitosan (Chi) to enhance wound healing. Chi is a carbohydrate biopolymer that is biocompatible, low-cost, toxic-free, and has excellent antibacterial properties. In this study, we synthesized Chi/BiSe hybrid nanocomposites (NCs) using a liquid exfoliation approach.

Hsa-miR-150-5p inhibits Wnt-β-catenin signaling in human corneal epithelial stem cells.

Purpose: In our earlier study, we identified hsa-miR-150-5p as a highly expressed miRNA in enriched corneal epithelial stem cells (CESCs). In this study, we aimed to understand the molecular regulatory function of hsa-miR-150-5p in association with the maintenance of stemness in CESCs.

Methods: The target mRNAs of hsa-miR-150-5p were predicted and subjected to pathway analysis to identify targets for functional studies.

Hsa-miR-143-3p inhibits Wnt-β-catenin and MAPK signaling in human corneal epithelial stem cells.

Our previous study demonstrated hsa-miR-143-3p as one of the highly expressed miRNAs in enriched corneal epithelial stem cells (CESCs). Hence this study aims to elucidate the regulatory role of hsa-miR-143-3p in the maintenance of stemness in CESCs. The target genes of hsa-miR-143-3p were predicted and subjected to pathway analysis to select the targets for functional studies.

Mutation profile of neurodegenerative mitochondriopathy - LHON in Southern India.

Background: Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) is a rare mitochondriopathy causing retinal ganglion cell degeneration resulting in central vision loss. It is caused by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations and thus follows maternal inheritance pattern.

Methods: We analysed the whole mitochondrial genome in 100 South Indian LHON patients by utilizing Sanger and Next Generation Sequencing approaches.

Clinical reassessments and whole-exome sequencing uncover novel mutation associated with bestrophinopathy phenotype.

Background: The diagnosis of retinal dystrophies can be challenging due to the spectrum of protean phenotypic manifestations. This study employed trio-whole-exome sequencing (trio-WES) to unveil the genetic cause of an inherited retinal disorder in a south Indian family.

Materials And Methods: Proband's initial ophthalmic examinations was performed in the year 2016.

Human papillomavirus in retinoblastoma: A tertiary eye care center study from South India.

Purpose: This study is aimed to investigate the presence of Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in tumors obtained from sporadic retinoblastoma patients.

Methods: One hundred six tumor tissues obtained from sporadic RB patients were analyzed for HPV infection by use of both seminested PCR and real-time quantitative PCR.

Results: Of 106 RB patients, 55 were male and 51 were female.

Clinical exome sequencing facilitates the understanding of genetic heterogeneity in Leber congenital amaurosis patients with variable phenotype in southern India.

Background: Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), primarily characterized by retinal degeneration is the most severe form of inherited retinal dystrophy (IRD) responsible for congenital blindness. The presence of phenotypic heterogeneity makes the diagnosis of LCA challenging, especially in the absence of pronounced disease pathognomonic, yet it can be well comprehended by employing molecular diagnosis. Therefore, the present study aimed to reveal the causative mutations in ten LCA patients with variable phenotypes using clinical exome sequencing (CES).

Human Corneal Epithelial Cells Internalize Aspergillus flavus Spores by Actin-Mediated Endocytosis.

Human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells play a significant role in the innate immune response by secreting cytokines and antimicrobial peptides when they encounter fungal pathogens. But the detailed mechanism of attachment and engulfment of the fungal conidia by HCE cells is not well understood. Here, we show the phagocytosis of conidia by RCB2280 cells and primary HCE cultures using confocal microscopy and proteomic analysis of conidium-containing phagosomes.

A hospital-based five-year prospective study on the prevalence of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy with genetic confirmation.

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) along with genetic screening at a tertiary eye care center in southern India.

Methods: Patients with LHON were identified at the Neuro-Ophthalmology Clinic, Aravind Eye Hospital (AEH; Madurai, India) from 2015 to 2019. Clinical data were collected along with blood samples.

MicroRNA Profiling of Highly Enriched Human Corneal Epithelial Stem Cells by Small RNA Sequencing.

The objective of the study was to elucidate the microRNA (miRNA) profile of an enriched human corneal epithelial stem cell (CESC) population in comparison to differentiated central corneal epithelial cells (CCECs) by small RNA sequencing. The CESCs were enriched by differential enzymatic treatment to isolate the basal limbal epithelial cells followed by laser capture microdissection of cells with nucleus to cytoplasm ratio ≥0.7, from donor tissues.

High synergistic antibacterial, antibiofilm, antidiabetic and antimetabolic activity of Withania somnifera leaf extract-assisted zinc oxide nanoparticle.

Nanotechnology is currently gaining immense attention to combat food borne bacteria, and biofilm. Diabetes is a common metabolic disease affecting majority of people. A better therapy relies on phytomediated nanoparticle synthesis.