Rapid detection of drug abuse via tear analysis using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy and machine learning.

With the growing global challenge of drug abuse, there is an urgent need for rapid, accurate, and cost-effective drug detection methods. This study introduces an innovative approach to drug abuse screening by quickly detecting ephedrine (EPH) in tears using drop coating deposition-surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (DCD-SERS) combined with machine learning (ML). Using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), the average concentration of EPH in tear fluid of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, measured over 3 h post-injection, was 1235 ng/mL.

The burden of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) on patient experience and patient-reported outcomes (PROs): findings from the EXPLORE XLRP-2 study.

Background/aims: X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) is considered one of the most severe forms of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), accounting for 5-15% of all RP cases and primarily affecting males. However, the real-world humanistic impacts of this disease on patients are poorly investigated, especially with respect to burdens faced by patients with varying disease severities.

Methods: EXPLORE XLRP-2 was an exploratory, multicentre, non-interventional study.

Is minimally invasive glaucoma surgery killing trabeculectomies?

Purpose Of Review: The introduction of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) has changed the surgical landscape of glaucoma surgery. For more than four decades, the most commonly performed glaucoma surgery around the world has been the trabeculectomy. This article examines whether trabeculectomy is still the predominant procedure in glaucoma today, in the context of rapidly emerging MIGS devices and procedures.

Real world pharmacovigilance assessment of drug related macular degeneration risks.

Macular degeneration is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss, significantly impacting quality of life. To enhance clinical practice and reduce the risk of drug-related macular degeneration, we analyzed drug-related trends using real-world data. Disproportionality analysis of adverse event reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS, 2004-2023) identified 67,683 cases involving 1402 drugs.

Machine Learning and GLCM Analysis for Enhanced AMD Detection in Retinal Image.

Global blindness is substantially influenced by age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It significantly shortens people's lives and severely impairs their visual acuity. AMD is becoming more common, requiring improved diagnostic and prognostic methods.

Secondary Retinitis pigmentosa subsequent to docetaxel and carboplatin combination - A rare cytotoxic chemotherapy complication.

Visual loss following secondary retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a rare complication of cytotoxic chemotherapy. Few cases of docetaxel- and/or platinum-induced retinal toxicity have been reported. Routine ocular examination of patients undergoing chemotherapy is required for early recognition and intervention of ocular toxicity.

Unilateral vitritis in an immunocompetent individual - A rare presentation of ocular toxoplasmosis.

Ocular toxoplasmosis is the leading cause of infectious retinochoroiditis in both adults and children. It is caused by the obligate intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. It is a common cause of posterior uveitis and focal retinitis, typically seen in immunocompetent individuals as a primary infection or in immunocompromised individuals as reactivation of latent infection.

A rare case of tamoxifen induced bilateral optic neuritis.

Tamoxifen, an oral medication that blocks estrogen activity, is frequently prescribed for the treatment of advanced breast cancer and as an additional therapy following surgical removal of early stage disease. A 45-year-old female with a history of breast carcinoma treated with tamoxifen presented with sudden onset bilateral visual impairment for 4 days. On ocular examination, the patient exhibited optic disc edema with hyperemia and bilateral anterior pathway defects in visual evoked potentials.

Size Matters: A Comparative Study on Midday Fogging and Lens Settling in Patients With Keratoconus Wearing Mini-Scleral Lenses With Two Different Diameters.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the changes in postlens fluid optical density, timing and quantity of lens settling, and the clinical performance between two different mini-scleral lenses.

Methods: Seventeen eyes of 10 patients with keratoconus were fitted with a 15-mm mini-scleral lens (AirKone Scleral Lenses; Laboratoire LCS, Normandy, France), and 15 eyes of 10 patients with keratoconus were fitted with 16.5-mm mini-scleral lenses (Misa Lenses; Microlens Contactlens Technology, Arnhem, The Netherlands).

Complexes of vertebrate TMC1/2 and CIB2/3 proteins form hair-cell mechanotransduction cation channels.

Calcium and integrin-binding protein 2 (CIB2) and CIB3 bind to transmembrane channel-like 1 (TMC1) and TMC2, the pore-forming subunits of the inner-ear mechano-electrical transduction (MET) apparatus. These interactions have been proposed to be functionally relevant across mechanosensory organs and vertebrate species. Here, we show that both CIB2 and CIB3 can form heteromeric complexes with TMC1 and TMC2 and are integral for MET function in mouse cochlea and vestibular end organs as well as in zebrafish inner ear and lateral line.

Animal and bird-related ocular trauma: a decade of experience from a tertiary referral eye hospital of Iran.

Background: This study aimed to explore ocular and periocular injuries resulting from animal and bird attacks among patients referred to a tertiary referral eye hospital of Iran over ten years (2014-2024).

Methods: In this retrospective analysis, we collected data on patient demographics, the species of the attacking animal and bird, the nature of the ocular and periocular injuries, details of ophthalmological examinations, therapeutic interventions, and surgical treatments.

Results: One hundred and twenty-nine patients, with an average age of 36 ± 23 years (range: 1-77 years), were included in this study, of whom 81 were male.

Positional lagophthalmos variability in facial nerve palsy with and without upper eyelid loading.

Purpose: Lagophthalmos from facial nerve palsy is traditionally measured with patients in an upright position and may fail to identify positional variability. This study aims to assess the effects of body position, surgical technique, implant material, and patient demographics on lagophthalmos.

Methods: A multicenter prospective study was performed to evaluate positional changes in paralytic lagophthalmos and the effects of various patient and surgical factors.

Establishing minimal clinically important difference of modified dynamic gait index in people with subacute stroke.

Background: People with stroke (PwST) often have significant balance limitations, making it crucial to focus rehabilitation on improving mobility and reducing the risk of falls. The Modified Dynamic Gait Index (MDGI) is recommended for measuring balance in various neurological conditions, but a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) score specific to PwST is missing.

Objectives: To calculate the MCID of the MDGI in PwST during the subacute phase.

Economic Burden and Cost-Effectiveness of Management of Non-Infectious Uveitis: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: To evaluate the economic burden and cost-effectiveness of interventions and management of non-infectious uveitis (NIU).

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across Medline, Embase, and Scopus databases from inception to March 2023. Risk of bias assessments were conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools.

Contrast sensitivity before and after refractive error correction among refractive error patients in Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia 2023.

Background: Contrast sensitivity is an important measure of vision quality. Risk of falling injury is strongly associated with poor contrast sensitivity compared with poor near- and distance visual acuity. Since good visual acuity is not necessarily associated with good visual performance in the "real world" it is important to consider contrast sensitivity when prescribing corrective lenses.

Research Hotspots and Trends of RNA Research in Diabetic Retinopathy: Insights From Bibliometric Analysis.

Background: Research on RNA in diabetic retinopathy (DR) has received increasing attention in recent years. However, there is a lack of comprehensive and systematic research on the current status and future direction of RNA research in DR. Therefore, this study used bibliometric analysis to summarize the global trends and current status of DR RNA research to date.

Effectiveness of a Multifaceted Intervention (TEMP) for Prevention of Occupational Heat-Related Illness among Outdoor Workers in the Power Grid Industry: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Occupational heat-related illness (OHI) is a health threat to workers that can be fatal in severe cases. Effective and feasible measures are urgently needed to prevent OHI.

Objectives: We evaluated the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention, TEMP, in reducing the OHI risk among outdoor workers in the power grid industry.

Targeted Degradation of HCV Polymerase by GalNAc-Conjugated ApTACs for Pan-Genotypic Antiviral Therapy with High Resistance Barriers.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease. Although interferon-free direct-acting antivirals have led to significant advancements in the treatment of HCV infection, the high genetic variability of the virus and the emergence of acquired drug resistance pose potential threats to their effectiveness. In this study, we develop a broad-spectrum aptamer-based proteolysis targeting chimera, designated dNS5B, which effectively degrades both pan-genotypic NS5B polymerase and drug-resistant mutants through ubiquitin proteasome system.

A Cerium Oxide Loaded Hyaluronic Acid Nanosystem Remits Glucose Oxidative Stress-Induced Odontoblasts Mitochondrial Apoptosis through Regulation of PGAM5 Pathway.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) induced mitochondrial oxidative stress (OS) can lead to severe injury of dental pulp. The cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNP) have been proven to have excellent antioxidative activity. However, whether CNP can relieve dental pulp damage caused by DM and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Drug in Drug: Quorum Sensing Inhibitor in Star-Shaped Antibacterial Polypeptides for Inhibiting and Eradicating Corneal Bacterial Biofilms.

Biofilm-related bacterial keratitis is a severe ocular infection that can result in drastic vision impairment and even blindness. However, the therapeutic efficiency of clinical antibiotic eyedrops is often compromised because the bacteria in the biofilms resist bactericide the community genetic regulation, namely, bacterial quorum sensing. Herein, quercetin (QCT)-loaded star-shaped antibacterial peptide polymer (SAPP), QCT@SAPP, is developed based on a "drug" in a "drug" strategy for inhibiting and eradicating biofilms on the cornea.

How to Fabricate Hyaluronic Acid for Ocular Drug Delivery.

This review aims to examine existing research on the development of ocular drug delivery devices utilizing hyaluronic acid (HA). Renowned for its exceptional biocompatibility, viscoelastic properties, and ability to enhance drug bioavailability, HA is a naturally occurring biopolymer. The review discussed specific mechanisms by which HA enhances drug delivery, including prolonging drug residence time on ocular surfaces, facilitating controlled drug release, and improving drug penetration through ocular tissues.

Concomitant Potentially Contagious Factors Detected in Poland and Regarding Strains, Etiological Agents of Keratitis in Humans.

Background: Diseases in humans caused by amphizoic amoebae that can result in visual impairment and even blindness, have recently been identified more frequently worldwide. Etiologically complex incidents of keratitis, including those connected with strains detected in Poland, were evaluated in this study.

Methods: Corneal samples from cases resistant to antimicrobial therapy assessed for epidemiological, microbiological and parasitological aspects were investigated by phase-contrast microscope, slit lamp and by confocal microscopy.

Quercetin Alleviates All--Retinal-Induced Photoreceptor Apoptosis and Retinal Degeneration by Inhibiting the ER Stress-Related PERK Signaling.

All--retinal (atRAL)-induced photoreceptor atrophy and retinal degeneration are hallmark features of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt disease type 1 (STGD1). The toxicity of atRAL is closely related to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Quercetin, a natural product, is known for its potent antioxidant properties; however, its effects in mitigating atRAL-mediated retinal damage remains unclear.