Serial optical coherence tomography angiography for corneal vascularization.

Purpose: Recently, optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has been used to successfully delineate vessels within the retina. This current study aims to assess corneal vascularization secondary to herpetic keratitis pre- and post-treatment using serial OCTA imaging adapted for the anterior segment.

Methods: All eyes were scanned using the split-spectrum amplitude decorrelation angiography (SSADA) algorithm on the AngioVue OCTA system (Optovue Inc.

Benzene Probes in Molecular Dynamics Simulations Reveal Novel Binding Sites for Ligand Design.

Protein flexibility poses a major challenge in binding site identification. Several computational pocket detection methods that utilize small-molecule probes in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been developed to address this issue. Although they have proven hugely successful at reproducing experimental structural data, their ability to predict new binding sites that are yet to be identified and characterized has not been demonstrated.

Amphiphilic xanthones as a potent chemical entity of anti-mycobacterial agents with membrane-targeting properties.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a deadly disease and infects one-third of the world's population. Given the low success rates encountered in clinical development, there is an urgent need to identify structurally novel antimicrobials for tuberculosis. The present report details the anti-mycobacterial activities, structure-activity relationships (SARs) and mechanism of action of amphiphilic xanthone derivatives.

Post-operative strabismus control and motor alignment for basic intermittent exotropia.

Aim: To assess strabismus control and motor ocular alignment for basic exotropia surgery at 5y follow-up.

Methods: The medical records of 80 consecutive patients aged less than 17 years of age, who underwent surgery for basic exotropia by a single surgeon between years 2000 to 2009 and completed a minimum of 5y follow-up post-operatively were reviewed. Pre- and post-operative characteristics were documented at 1wk, 6mo, 1, 3 and 5y follow-up.

Recent Advances of Using Hybrid Nanocarriers in Remotely Controlled Therapeutic Delivery.

The development of hybrid biomaterials has been attracting great attention in the design of materials for biomedicine. The nanosized level of inorganic and organic or even bioactive components can be combined into a single material by this approach, which has created entirely new advanced compositions with truly unique properties for drug delivery. The recent advances in using hybrid nanovehicles as remotely controlled therapeutic delivery carriers are summarized with respect to different nanostructures, including hybrid host-guest nanoconjugates, micelles, nanogels, core-shell nanoparticles, liposomes, mesoporous silica, and hollow nanoconstructions.

Demographics and Personality Factors Associated with Burnout among Nurses in a Singapore Tertiary Hospital.

Background. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and extent of burnout among nurses in Singapore and investigate the influence of demographic factors and personal characteristics on the burnout syndrome. Methods.

High resolution iridocorneal angle imaging system by axicon lens assisted gonioscopy.

Direct visualization and assessment of the iridocorneal angle (ICA) region with high resolution is important for the clinical evaluation of glaucoma. However, the current clinical imaging systems for ICA do not provide sufficient structural details due to their poor resolution. The key challenges in achieving high quality ICA imaging are its location in the anterior region of the eye and the occurrence of total internal reflection due to refractive index difference between cornea and air.

Study on Incentives for Glaucoma Medication Adherence (SIGMA): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial to increase glaucoma medication adherence using value pricing.

Background: Many glaucoma patients do not adhere to their medication regimens because they fail to internalize the (health) costs of non-adherence, which may not occur until years or decades later. Behavioural economic theory suggests that adherence rates can be improved by offering patients a near-term benefit. Our proposed strategy is to offer adherence-contingent rebates on medication and check-up costs.

Optical coherence tomography angiography in dural carotid-cavernous sinus fistula.

Background: Recently, applications of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) have been limited to the retina and posterior segment. Although early studies have described its use for other clinical applications, its role in anterior segment vasculature and optic disc imaging has been limited thus far.

Case Presentation: We describe a novel clinical application of OCTA in a patient with dural carotid-cavernous sinus fistula (CCF), which was complicated by increased intra-ocular pressure (IOP).

Knowledge and attitudes toward corneal donation among Singaporean youth: a cross-sectional study.

Background: To assess the knowledge of Singaporean youth regarding corneal donation and gauge their willingness to donate their corneas.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 500 students from five tertiary institutions in Singapore. All students answered self-administered questionnaires which included seven questions that tested knowledge and three questions that determined willingness to donate corneas.

Ophthalmology simulation for undergraduate and postgraduate clinical education.

This is a review education paper on the current ophthalmology simulators utilized worldwide for undergraduate and postgraduate training. At present, various simulators such as the EYE Exam Simulator (Kyoto Kagaku Co. Ltd.

New Linear and Star-Shaped Thermogelling Poly([R]-3-hydroxybutyrate) Copolymers.

The synthesis of multi-arm poly([R]-3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)-based triblock copolymers (poly([R]-3-hydroxybutyrate)-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-[[poly(methyl ether methacrylate)-g-poly(ethylene glycol)]-co-[poly(methacrylate)-g-poly(propylene glycol)]], PHB-b-PNIPAAM-b-(PPEGMEMA-co-PPPGMA), and their subsequent self-assembly into thermo-responsive hydrogels is described. Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAM) followed by poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEMA) and poly(propylene glycol) methacrylate (PPGMA) was achieved from bromoesterified multi-arm PHB macroinitiators. The composition of the resulting copolymers was investigated by (1) H and (13) C J-MOD NMR spectroscopy as well as size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

A Perspective on the Trends and Challenges Facing Porphyrin-Based Anti-Microbial Materials.

The emergence of multidrug resistant bacterium threatens to unravel global healthcare systems, built up over centuries of medical research and development. Current antibiotics have little resistance against this onslaught as bacterium strains can quickly evolve effective defense mechanisms. Fortunately, alternative therapies exist and, at the forefront of research lays the photodynamic inhibition approach mediated by porphyrin based photosensitizers.

Biodegradable Polysaccharides for Controlled Drug Delivery.

Polysaccharides are ideal candidates for drug delivery and biomedical applications as they are easily obtained from natural sources. Furthermore, they can be subjected to a wide range of chemical and enzymatic reactions, they have biocompatible and biodegradable properties and have inherently low immunogenicity. Polysaccharides are potentially the materials of choice for the development of "smart" delivery systems, which are capable of releasing, at the appropriate time and site of action, an encapsulated drug.

Diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus and is a major cause of vision loss in middle-aged and elderly people. One-third of people with diabetes have DR. Severe stages of DR include proliferative DR, caused by the abnormal growth of new retinal blood vessels, and diabetic macular oedema, in which there is exudation and oedema in the central part of the retina.

The diagnosis and assessment of visual function in Singaporean children with electrophysiology: 10-year results.

Purpose: To study the clinical use and efficacy of electrophysiology in children.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of all children aged <16 years, who were referred to the Visual Electrophysiology Laboratory at the Singapore National Eye Center between 2003 and 2013.

Results: A total of 586 children, median age 8 years (range 0.

Recent Advances in Shape Memory Soft Materials for Biomedical Applications.

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are smart and adaptive materials able to recover their shape through an external stimulus. This functionality, combined with the good biocompatibility of polymers, has garnered much interest for biomedical applications. In this review, we discuss the design considerations critical to the successful integration of SMPs for use in vivo.

Thermogels: In Situ Gelling Biomaterial.

In situ gel delivery systems are preferred over conventional systems due to sustained and prolonged release action of therapeutic payload onto the targeted site. Thermogel, a form of in situ gel-forming polymeric formulation, undergoes sol-gel transition after administration into the body. At room temperature, the system is an aqueous polymer solution that easily entraps therapeutic payload by mixing.

Factors influencing the pupillary light reflex in healthy individuals.

Purpose: To determine the ocular anatomical factors influencing the pupillary light reactions to different wavelengths of light, measured with chromatic pupillometry.

Methods: Community-based, cross-sectional study including subjects with normal ocular health (ages 50-79 years). Direct pupillary responses to continuously increasing irradiances (6.

Long-term outcomes of myopic choroidal neovascularisation treated with combined ranibizumab and dexamethasone characterised by multi-modal imaging.

Aim: To characterise the long-term outcomes of myopic choroidal neovascularisation (mCNV) treated with combined ranibizumab and dexamethasone, with the use of multi-modal imaging.

Methods: A retrospective study of 20 eyes with mCNV treated with intra-vitreal ranibizumab and dexamethasone on a treat-as-needed basis were followed up for a mean period of 47 months (range 19-81 months).

Results: The mean age was 55 ± 16 years, with mean refractive error of -9.

Determinants of pupil diameters and pupil dynamics in an adult Chinese population.

Background: To investigate the determinants of pupil diameter (PD), amplitude of pupil diameter change (PD-change) and speed of pupil constriction (SPC) using video anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in a population-based sample of Chinese adults.

Methods: Chinese adults aged 40 to 80 years who were free from glaucoma were consecutively recruited from the population-based Singapore Chinese Eye Study. The SPC was measured by AS-OCT videography.