Pharmacological blocking of microfibrillar-associated protein 4 reduces retinal neoangiogenesis and vascular leakage.

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema are leading causes of vision-loss evoked by retinal neovascularization and vascular leakage. The glycoprotein microfibrillar-associated protein 4 (MFAP4) is an integrin αβ ligand present in the extracellular matrix. Single-cell transcriptomics reveal MFAP4 expression in cell-types in close proximity to vascular endothelial cells including choroidal vascular mural cells and retinal astrocytes and Müller cells.

A curative effect evaluation of intensity-modulated radiation therapy combined with periorbital triamcinolone acetonide injection in treating thyroid eye disease patients with active extraocular muscle but low CAS.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) combined with periorbital triamcinolone acetonide injection in treating thyroid eye disease (TED) patients with active extraocular muscle but low CAS. The retrospective observational study was conducted. A total of 156 eligible patients were selected from the TED patient database of the Ophthalmology Department of West China Hospital of Sichuan University.

A multicenter study of neurofibromatosis type 1 utilizing deep learning for whole body tumor identification.

Deep-learning models have shown promise in differentiating between benign and malignant lesions. Previous studies have primarily focused on specific anatomical regions, overlooking tumors occurring throughout the body with highly heterogeneous whole-body backgrounds. Using neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) as an example, this study developed highly accurate MRI-based deep-learning models for the early automated screening of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) against complex whole-body background.

Analysis of quantitative OCT and SS-OCTA metrics three months after initiation of intravitreal faricimab for treatment-recalcitrant neovascular AMD.

Purpose: To utilize optical coherence tomography (OCT) and SS-OCT angiography (SS-OCTA) for quantifying morphological changes seen in eyes with recalcitrant neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) transitioned to intravitreal faricimab injections during the manufacturer's recommended induction phase of treatment.

Methods: Fifty-four treatment-recalcitrant patients (60 eyes) were recruited. OCT and SS-OCTA images were obtained at 0 and 3 months.

Assessment of corneal vessels activity through the 'Barcode sign' of corneal OCT.

Background/objectives: Anterior segment optical Coherence Tomography (AS-OCT) is used extensively in imaging the cornea in health and disease. Our objective was to analyse and monitor corneal vascularisation (CVas) through the corresponding back-shadows visible on AS-OCT.

Subjects/methods: AS-OCT scans were obtained from 26 consecutive patients (eyes) with CVas of different aetiologies.

Evaluation of transcriptomic changes after photobiomodulation in spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a significant cause of lifelong disability, with no available disease-modifying treatments to promote neuroprotection and axon regeneration after injury. Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a promising therapy which has proven effective at restoring lost function after SCI in pre-clinical models. However, the precise mechanism of action is yet to be determined.

Poor fixation stability does not account for motion perception deficits in amblyopia.

People with amblyopia show deficits in global motion perception, especially at slow speeds. These observers are also known to have unstable fixation when viewing stationary fixation targets, relative to healthy controls. It is possible that poor fixation stability during motion viewing interferes with the fidelity of the input to motion-sensitive neurons in visual cortex.

Estimation of microbiota and interleukin-1 beta in tears and conjunctival secretions of patients with ocular defects after using unilateral ocular prosthesis.

Statement Of Problem: Clinical studies evaluating the levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in tears and conjunctival secretions of patients with ocular defects after using ocular prostheses are lacking. Therefore, a comparative evaluation of IL-1β levels in the defective eye before and after placement of an ocular prosthesis is needed.

Purpose: The purpose of this clinical study was to compare the microbiota and IL-1β in tears and conjunctival secretions of patients with an ocular defect after using an ocular prosthesis.

Stopping of adalimumab in juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis (ADJUST): a multicentre, double-masked, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Adalimumab is an effective treatment for juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis. Data are scarce on the effects of discontinuing adalimumab after control of the disease had been reached. We aimed to assess efficacy and safety of discontinuing treatment in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis.

Assessing the performance of Microsoft Copilot, GPT-4 and Google Gemini in ophthalmology.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of large language models (LLMs), specifically Microsoft Copilot, GPT-4 (GPT-4o and GPT-4o mini), and Google Gemini (Gemini and Gemini Advanced), in answering ophthalmological questions and assessing the impact of prompting techniques on their accuracy.

Design: Prospective qualitative study.

Participants: Microsoft Copilot, GPT-4 (GPT-4o and GPT-4o mini), and Google Gemini (Gemini and Gemini Advanced).

Topographic corneal changes in children with moderate to severe blepharokeratoconjunctivitis.

Purpose To determine the corneal topographic characteristics of children with blepharokeratoconjunctivitis (BKC), a chronic inflammatory ocular surface disease involving the lid margin, conjunctiva, and cornea. Methods The corneal topography of 21 children diagnosed with BKC between March 2008 and June 2019 at a single institution were reviewed retrospectively. Pachymetry and asymmetry indices were also analyzed.

Analysis of the effect of congenital unilateral trochlear nerve paresis on retinal vascular density: a retrospective study.

Purpose: To use swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) to investigate the alterations in retinal vascular density (VD) in patients presenting with congenital unilateral trochlear nerve palsy.

Methods: The medical records of patients diagnosed with congenital unilateral trochlear nerve palsy and those of a healthy control group were reviewed retrospectively. Comprehensive ocular examinations and SS-OCTA imaging were conducted.

Classification of Fibro-osseous Tumors in the Craniofacial Bones using DNA Methylation and Copy Number Alterations.

Fibro-osseous tumors of the craniofacial bones are a heterogeneous group of lesions comprising cemento-osseous dysplasia (COD), cemento-ossifying fibroma (COF), juvenile trabecular ossifying fibroma (JTOF), psammomatoid ossifying fibroma (PsOF), fibrous dysplasia (FD), and low-grade osteosarcoma (LGOS) with overlapping clinicopathological features. However, their clinical behavior and treatment differ significantly, underlining the need for accurate diagnosis. Molecular diagnostic markers exist for subsets of these tumors, including GNAS mutations in FD, SATB2 fusions in PsOF, mutations involving the RAS-MAPK signaling pathway in COD, and MDM2 amplification in LGOS.

Clinical features, diagnosis, management, and prognosis of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma.

Because of its benign nature and rarity, circumscribed choroidal hemangioma (CCH) often receives limited attention, leading to a high rate of misdiagnosis and a lack of standardized treatment protocols. We provide a thorough clarification of the demographics, clinical features, diagnosis, management, and prognosis of CCH. We conducted a systematic search of the PubMed, EMBASE, and Ovid databases up to December, 2023, to identify relevant studies.

Label-free quantitative imaging of conjunctival goblet cells.

Purpose: To introduce and validate quantitative oblique back-illumination microscopy (qOBM) as a label-free, high-contrast imaging technique for visualizing conjunctival goblet cells (GCs) and assessing their functional changes.

Methods: qOBM was developed in conjunction with moxifloxacin-based fluorescence microscopy (MBFM), which was used for validating GC imaging. Initial validation was conducted with polystyrene beads, followed by testing on normal mouse conjunctiva under both ex-vivo and in-vivo conditions.

Establishment and evaluation of rabbit model for corneal ectasia by photorefractive keratectomy.

The study aimed to compare the effects of different types of excimer laser keratectomy on rabbit corneas and to identify the optimal disease model for corneal ectasia. Additionally, investigating the structural and molecular alterations in the novel disease model helped explore the mechanisms underlying biomechanical cues in corneal ectasia. 2.

Metabolic Reprogramming of Neutrophils in the Tumor Microenvironment: Emerging Therapeutic Targets.

Neutrophils are pivotal in the immune system and have been recognized as significant contributors to cancer development and progression. These cells undergo metabolic reprogramming in response to various stimulus, including infections, diseases, and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Under normal conditions, neutrophils primarily rely on aerobic glucose metabolism for energy production.

Insights into proprioceptive acuity assessed with a dynamic joint position reproduction task.

This study investigated proprioceptive acuity using the conventional joint position reproduction (JPR) task and a modified version, the Dynamic JPR task (D-JPR), during Concentric and Eccentric muscle contractions. Seventeen participants were recruited and received a tactile stimulus indicating the position cue at Initial (INI), Intermediate (INT), and Final (FIN) phases of movements, during either the concentric or eccentric phases. After the movement, they replicated the position where they received the stimulus.

Arctiin suppress Th17 cells response and ameliorates experimental autoimmune uveitis through JAK/STAT signaling.

Conventional treatments for autoimmune uveitis, such as corticosteroids and systemic immunosuppressants, often result in adverse side effects, prompting the need for therapies targeting specific molecular pathways. This study investigates the effects of Arctiin, known for its diverse biological properties, on experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) through its action on Th17 cells and the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. Our findings reveal that Arctiin significantly alleviates EAU by reducing clinical scores, inflammatory cell infiltration, and levels of inflammatory cytokines like IL-17 and TNF-α in the eye.

Severity grading of hypertensive retinopathy using hybrid deep learning architecture.

Background And Objectives: Hypertensive Retinopathy (HR) is a retinal manifestation resulting from persistently elevated blood pressure. Severity grading of HR is essential for patient risk stratification, effective management, progression monitoring, timely intervention, and minimizing the risk of vision impairment. Computer-aided diagnosis and artificial intelligence (AI) systems play vital roles in the diagnosis and grading of HR.