Screening and Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity at The Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology at The Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno.

Aim:  Evaluation of screening and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) at the Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology.

Material And Methods:  Retrospective evaluation of the medical records of premature babies, born in the period 2012-2022 and treated at the Neonatology Department and the Neonatology ICU at the University Hospital Brno. On average 150 children annually are put forward for screening of ROP.

Healing the Cornea: Exploring the Therapeutic Solutions Offered by MSCs and MSC-derived EVs.

Affecting a large proportion of the population worldwide, corneal disorders constitute a concerning health hazard associated to compromised eyesight or blindness for most severe cases. In the last decades, mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) demonstrated promising abilities in improving symptoms associated to corneal diseases or alleviating these affections, especially through their anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and pro-regenerative properties. More recently, MSC therapeutic potential was shown to be mediated by the molecules they release, and particularly by their extracellular vesicles (EVs; MSC-EVs).

Development of axitinib-loaded polymeric ocular implants for the treatment of posterior ocular diseases.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are the primary causes of vision impairment and blindness worldwide. The current treatment for these diseases is an intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents, which are costly and require frequent injections. Implants can be used to sustain the release of drugs and minimize side effects.

JAG1 mediates apoptosis in herpes simplex keratitis by suppressing autophagy via ROS/JAG1/NOTCH1/pULK1 signaling pathway.

Herpes simplex keratitis (HSK), an ocular disease resulted from herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, leads to the majority of infectious corneal blindness worldwide. The apoptosis of corneal epithelial cells (CECs) resulted from HSV-1 disrupts the epithelial barrier and exacerbates the infection; however, there is no definitive cure for HSK. Jagged1 (JAG1), one of the primary functional ligands for NOTCH receptors, plays a crucial role in regulating apoptosis and autophagy; however, its role in HSK is unclear.

Analysis of anxiety and depression status and their influencing factors in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetes and the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness. It has a serious impact on the mental and physical health of patients.

Aim: To evaluate the anxiety and depression status of patients with DR, we examined their influencing factors.

Transcorneal electrical stimulation restores DNA methylation changes in retinal degeneration.

Background: Retinal degeneration is a major cause of irreversible blindness. Stimulation with controlled low-level electrical fields, such as transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES), has recently been postulated as a therapeutic strategy. With promising results, there is a need for detailed molecular characterization of the therapeutic effects of TES.

Chlamydia trachomatis infections in Kenya - sexually transmitted and ocular infections: a scoping review.

Background: (CT), a Gram-negative intracellular bacterium, is differentiated into three biovars associated with distinct clinical syndromes, ranging from trachoma, the world's cause of preventable blindness, to the most common sexually transmitted infection. This variability underscores CT's significant impact on public health, particularly in low-resource settings. In Kenya, where the demographic is predominantly younger, the burden of CT remains poorly understood and potentially underestimated.

A Network Biology-Guided Investigation of the Long Noncoding RNAs' Role in Glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases characterized by progressive harm to the optic nerve that often results in loss of vision and blindness. Recent studies suggest that deregulation in the expression of a particular type of RNAs named long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) can impact the development of glaucoma and, hence, are promising targets for drug discovery. LncRNAs are transcripts with a length longer than 200 nucleotides that are not translated into proteins.

Age- and sex-disaggregated disease burden among the older persons in India.

Background: In the context of the increasing number and proportion of population aged 60 years or more in India, it is imperative to understand their health needs for ensuring healthy ageing.

Methods: Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, we identified the top ten causes of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), years of life lost (YLLs), and years lived with disability (YLDs) disaggregated by sex and age groups (60-64 years, 65-69 years, 70-74 years, 75-79 years, and ≥ 80 years) for India in 2019. We analysed the proportional contribution of individual causes to the total DALYs due to communicable diseases (CMNNDs), non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and injuries disaggregated by age and sex.

Clinical characteristics and intravitreal aflibercept outcomes in patients aged 90 years and older with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) stands as the primary cause of visual impairment and blindness among the elderly population. Patients over 90 years comprise a unique demographic that may necessitate particular attention. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in patients aged 90 years or older diagnosed with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Comparative Evaluation of the Corneal Sensitivity Thresholds between the Novel Non-Contact and Cochet-Bonnet Esthesiometers.

Purpose: Primarily, to evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility of the new non-contact esthesiometer (NCE) in healthy subjects. Secondarily, the corneal sensitivity threshold measurements of the NCE were compared with those of the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer (CBE).

Design: Assessment reliability study.

The art of dermatopathology.

Dermatopathology, like dermatology, has evolved in many directions; yet, both fields remain true to visual morphology-based diagnosis. Dr. Irwin Braverman is a role model for the intersection of these two visual fields.

Evaluating glaucoma in myopic eyes: Challenges and opportunities.

The increasing global prevalence of myopia presents a significant public health concern, and growing evidence has demonstrated that myopia is a major risk factor for the development of open-angle glaucoma. Therefore, timely detection and management of glaucoma in myopic patients are crucial; however, identifying the structural alterations of glaucoma in the optic nerve head (ONH) and retinal tissues of myopic eyes using standard diagnostic tools such as fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCT angiography (OCTA) presents challenges. Additionally, myopia-related perimetric defects can be confounded with glaucoma-related defects.

Exploring transparency: A comparative analysis of explainable artificial intelligence techniques in retinography images to support the diagnosis of glaucoma.

Machine learning models are widely applied across diverse fields, including nearly all segments of human activity. In healthcare, artificial intelligence techniques have revolutionized disease diagnosis, particularly in image classification. Although these models have achieved significant results, their lack of explainability has limited widespread adoption in clinical practice.

Quantifying Patient Preferences and Expectations About Diabetic Retinopathy Monitoring.

Importance: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness among adults in the US. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual DR monitoring for all individuals with diabetes, yet monitoring rates remain below 70%.

Objective: To evaluate how patient preferences and expectations about DR monitoring are associated with expected monitoring adherence behaviors.

Swept-source optical coherence tomography assessment of Schlemm's canal after phacoemulsification with goniosynechialysis in Chinese patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma.

Background: Primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. However, the features of the morphology of Schlemm's canal (SC) in PACG eyes after phacoemulsification with goniosynechialysis (phaco-GSL) surgery are still unknown. This study aimed to evaluate changes in the SC in Chinese patients with PACG after phaco-GSL using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT).

Metabolomic studies reveal and validate potential biomarkers of diabetic retinopathy in two Chinese datasets with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus and causes vision impairment and blindness. The presence of major risk factors for DR, such as high levels of HbA1c, does not predict all DR pathogenesis in the clinic, which suggests that uncovering the underlying mechanisms and identifying novel markers are needed. Previous evidence has shown that the serum metabolic signature of DR is unique and detectable compared with that of diabetes mellitus (DM).

In situ size amplification strategy reduces lymphatic clearance for enhanced arthritis therapy.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by painful swelling and inflammation, arising from the immune system attacking on healthy cells. However, arthritic sites often experience increased lymph flow, hastening drug clearance and potentially reducing treatment effectiveness. To address this challenge, an in situ size amplification has been proposed to reduce lymphatic clearance and thereby enhance arthritis therapy.

Global burden of low vision and blindness due to age-related macular degeneration from 1990 to 2021 and projections for 2050.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness and low vision worldwide. This study examines the global burden and trends in AMD-related low vision and blindness from 1990 to 2021, with projections through 2050.

Methods: Data were obtained from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD 2021) study, covering 204 countries and regions.

Unveiling Key Genes Modulating Retinal Cell Survival and Autophagy in Glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness, with rising incidence globally. Effective treatment is challenging due to limited understanding of the disease mechanisms. Growth factor activity is crucial in glaucoma, with potential to reduce retinal ganglion cell (RGC) apoptosis and slow disease progression.

Prevalence of ocular manifestations of vitamin A deficiency in children: A systematic review.

Objective: Identify the prevalence of ocular manifestations due to vitamin A in children.

Methods: The systematic search was carried out in September 2022. Observational studies with populations between 0-18 years old, who had ocular manifestations due to vitamin A deficiency, were included.

MYO1F positions cGAS on the plasma membrane to ensure full and functional signaling.

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP)-adenosine monophosphate (AMP) synthase (cGAS) detects viral or endogenous DNA, activating the innate immune response to infections and autoimmune diseases. Upon binding to double-stranded DNA, cGAS synthesizes 2'3' cGMP-AMP, which triggers type I interferon production. Besides its presence in the cytosol and nucleus, cGAS is found at the plasma membrane, although its significance remains unclear.

Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy and Dilated Fundus Examinations by Metropolitan Status from 2017-2021: An Assessment of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Purpose: Diabetic eye disease, namely diabetic retinopathy (DR), remains a leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide. Research has shown that treatment for diabetes and eye care was disrupted during the pandemic - with disparities between urban and rural populations being unknown. Thus, we aimed to assess the prevalence of reported rates of DR and dilated fundus exams from 2017 to 2021.

BEST1 VARIANT ASSOCIATED WITH AN ATYPICAL MACULAR AND PERIPHERAL RETINAL PHENOTYPE.

Purpose: Best vitelliform macular dystrophy is an inherited macular dystrophy associated with over 250 pathogenic variants of the Bestrophin-1 ( BEST1 ) gene. Although several types of lesions of best vitelliform macular dystrophy are well-described, reports of phenotypic variations associated with rare genetic variants are limited.

Methods: This was a retrospective case series performed in 2021 at a tertiary eye care center.

dCasMINI-mediated therapy rescues photoreceptors degeneration in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is characterized by degeneration of rod and cone photoreceptors that progresses to irreversible blindness. Now, there are no mutation-agnostic approaches to treat RP. Here, we utilized a single adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based CRISPR activation system to activate phosphodiesterase 6B (Pde6b) to mitigate the severe degeneration in mice.