Factors Affecting Disease Stability After Intravitreal Brolucizumab Injection for Refractory Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to identify the factors affecting neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) disease stability after brolucizumab treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 31 patients (31 eyes) with recalcitrant nAMD who were switched to brolucizumab after conventional anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment. We divided patients into two groups by treatment extension (TE) period: group 1 with TE < 12 weeks (N = 16) and group 2 with TE ≥ 12 weeks (N = 15).

Gastric and colorectal cancer incidence attributable to dietary factors in Korea.

Background: Dietary factors play a role in the etiology of gastrointestinal cancer. We aimed to estimate the burden of gastric and colorectal cancer that can be attributable to dietary factors in adults aged 20 years and older in Korea in 2018.

Methods: Dietary intakes in 2000 were estimated using data from the 2001, 2005, and 2007-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).

Physiotherapeutic Protocol Focusing Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Approach in Viral Encephalitis: A Case Report.

Encephalitis is an inflammatory condition of the brain parenchyma accompanied by symptoms indicative of brain dysfunction. A headache, fever, vomiting, altered state of consciousness, and, in some cases, seizures characterize varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encephalitis. Rehabilitation after the manifestation of neurological symptoms must be tailored, and a well-coordinated intervention must be formulated.

Neurenteric cyst of the craniovertebral junction treated to reduce recurrence using different strategies: Two case reports and a literature review.

Rationale: Neurenteric cysts are rare benign lesions that are usually located in the lower cervical and upper thoracic spine and extremely rare in the craniovertebral junction. It is generally challenging to completely remove the neurenteric cysts of the craniovertebral junction. We report the cases of 2 patients with neurenteric cyst in the ventral craniovertebral junction managed using different treatment strategies.

Association Between Parapapillary Microvasculature Dropout and Central Retinal Vessel Trunk in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma.

Prcis: Central retinal vessel trunk displacement is an important factor in the generation and development of deep-layer microvasculature dropout in primary open angle glaucoma.

Purpose: To investigate the association between the microvasculature dropout and the central retinal vessel trunk in primary open angle glaucoma eyes.

Methods: In total, 112 eyes from 112 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were included.

Short-Term Safety and Efficacy of Intravitreal Brolucizumab Injections for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Multicenter Retrospective Real-World Study.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to determine the short-term real-world safety and efficacy of intravitreal brolucizumab injections in Korean patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study involved 294 eyes (treatment naïve 20 eye [6.8%] and nontreatment naïve 274 eyes [93.

Influence of scan direction on subfoveal choroidal vascularity index using optical coherence tomography.

We investigated the influence of scan direction on subfoveal choroidal vascularity index (CVI) measurements using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in young healthy subjects. Seventy-eight eyes of 41 healthy volunteers were included. Choroidal structures were obtained using SD-OCT with enhanced depth imaging (EDI) through radial scans at the center of the macula.

Comparison of the Structure-Function Relationship Between Advanced Primary Open Angle Glaucoma and Normal Tension Glaucoma.

Purpose: The aim was to investigate and compare the characteristics of visual field (VF) defects in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) with advanced glaucomatous damage and to determine whether the structure-function relationships found in advanced glaucoma differ based on their glaucoma classification.

Patients And Methods: Ninety-seven eyes of 97 patients (59 eyes with POAG and 38 eyes with NTG) with advanced glaucoma were included in this cross-sectional study. Scores at each test point of the 30-2 VF total deviation map were recorded, and average values at each test point were point-wise compared between the groups.

Clinical Utility of Bruch Membrane Opening-Minimum Rim Width for Detecting Early Glaucoma in Myopic Eyes.

Prcis: Bruch membrane opening-minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) is overall a useful parameter for diagnosing early glaucoma in myopic eyes.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of BMO-MRW compared with peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness for detecting early glaucoma in patients with moderate to severe myopia.

Methods: One eye was randomly selected from each of the 253 subjects (127 normal controls, 82 with glaucoma suspect, and 44 with early glaucoma).

Efficacy of Switching from Cyclosporine A 0.05% Anionic Emulsion to Cyclosporine A 0.1% Cationic Emulsion in Patients with Dry Eye Associated with Sjögren's Syndrome.

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of switching from cyclosporine A (CsA) 0.05% anionic emulsion (CsA AE) to CsA 0.1% cationic emulsion (CsA CE) in patients with dry eye (DE) associated with Sjögren's syndrome (SS).

Acircularity and circularity indexes of the foveal avascular zone in high myopia.

This study explored the association between foveal avascular zone (FAZ) parameters and high myopia using optical coherence tomography angiography. We divided 106 eyes of 106 patients into quartiles based on the axial length. The upper quartile was then defined as the high myopia group (n = 27), while the lower quartile was the non-high myopia group (n = 26).

Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of Tafluprost, Travoprost, and Latanoprost in Korean Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma or Normal-Tension Glaucoma: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study (LOTUS Study).

This multicenter retrospective cohort study compared the effectiveness and safety of long-term tafluprost, travoprost, or latanoprost in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). Data were extracted from electronic medical records of 300 patients treated with tafluprost, travoprost, or latanoprost for >6 months. Propensity matching for age and sex was used for effectiveness and safety comparisons.

Clinical Features of Advanced Glaucoma With Optic Nerve Head Prelaminar Schisis.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical characteristics of optic nerve head (ONH) prelaminar schisis in eyes with advanced glaucoma.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: One hundred sixteen eyes with advanced glaucoma (30-2 mean deviation <-12 dB) were included.

Comparison of the Intraocular Pressure-Lowering Effect and Safety of Preservative-Free And Preservative-Containing Brimonidine/Timolol Fixed-Combination Ophthalmic Solutions in Patients with Open-Angle Glaucoma.

: To compare the therapeutic efficacy and safety of newly developed preservative-free (PF) brimonidine/timolol fixed-combination (BTFC) ophthalmic solutions and a preservative-containing (PC) BTFC ophthalmic solution in patients with open-angle glaucoma.: This study was conducted as a multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-group clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PF BTFC as compared with PC BTFC in adult patients (aged ≥ 19 years) with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT). A total of the 106 patients were enrolled, with 53 patients each randomized to the two treatment groups and included in the analysis of the safety set (SS).

Anterior Scleral Thickness in Myopic Eyes and Its Association with Ocular Parameters.

Purpose: This study was designed to determine whether the anterior scleral thickness is affected by axial elongation and to investigate the association between anterior scleral thickness and various ocular parameters in myopic eyes.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 79 healthy myopic participants. Anterior scleral thickness was measured in 8 meridians (superior-nasal, superior, superior-temporal, temporal [T], inferior-temporal, inferior [I], inferior-nasal, and nasal [N]) using anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

The protective effect of 3% diquafosol on meibomian gland morphology in glaucoma patients treated with prostaglandin analogs: a 12-month follow-up study.

Background: To determine if 3% diquafosol (DQS) can preserve the meibomian gland morphology in glaucoma patients treated with prostaglandin analogs (PGA) for a 12-month follow-up period.

Methods: This study included 84 eyes of 46 normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients who were treated with either preservative-containing PGA (PC-PGA; 16 patients, 28 eyes), preservative-free PGA (PF-PGA; 21 patients, 39 eyes), or a combination of PC-PGA and 3% DQS (PC-PGA + DQS; 9 patients, 17 eyes). The meibography of the upper eyelid was acquired using Keratograph® 5 M at baseline and at each follow-up (1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months).

Effect of epidermal growth factor ointment on persistent epithelial defects of the cornea.

Background: Healthy corneal epithelium acts as a barrier against damage to the deeper structures in the eye. Failure in the mechanisms of corneal epithelization can lead to persistent epithelial defects of the cornea (PEDs) and can compromise its function. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) promotes the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts during wound healing and may be beneficial in treating patients with PEDs.

Integrated anti-hyperlipidemic bioactivity of whole Citrus grandis [L.] osbeck fruits-multi-action mechanism evidenced using animal and cell models.

Changes in human life style have increased the incidence of obesity which has become a risk factor to human health. In Taiwan, the annual production of Citrus grandis [L.] reaches 75 000 tons, while the amount of waste fruits could reach 5%.

Parapapillary atrophy and changes in the optic nerve head and posterior pole in high myopia.

We investigated the relationship between microstructure of β-parapapillary atrophy (β-PPA) and morphologic features of optic nerve head (ONH) and posterior pole in highly myopic eyes. Eighty-nine highly myopic eyes were included in this study. Bruch's membrane opening (BMO) area, lamina cribrosa (LC) thickness, anterior laminar depth, peripapillary and subfoveal choroidal thickness (CT), macular Bruch's membrane (BM) length, and width of β-PPA with and without Bruch's membrane (PPA and PPA) were evaluated.

Association of macular thickness with parapapillary atrophy in myopic eyes.

Background: To investigate whether macular structure could be affected by axial elongation and to determine the association between macular intraretinal thickness and the microstructure of β-zone parapapillary atrophy (PPA) in myopic eyes.

Methods: The study recruited 113 healthy myopic subjects (113 eyes). Images of the macula, subfoveal choroid, and optic nerve head were acquired using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Bruch's membrane opening enlargement and its implication on the myopic optic nerve head.

We examined the association between Bruch's membrane opening (BMO) area and various ocular parameters and investigated the implication of BMO enlargement on the myopic optic nerve head. One hundred eighty-five myopic eyes were included in this cross-sectional study. Among the included eyes, 53 having axial lengths between 26 and 27 mm were further analyzed to investigate the association between BMO area and various ocular parameters.

Neuroprotective Effect of Brazilian Green Propolis on Retinal Ganglion Cells in Ischemic Mouse Retina.

Purpose: The current study was undertaken to investigate whether Brazilian green propolis (BGP) can increase the viability of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in ischemic mouse retina, and examined the possible mechanisms underlying this neuroprotection.

Materials And Methods: C57BL/6J mice were subjected to constant elevation of intraocular pressure for 60 min to establish retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury. Mice then received saline or BGP (200 mg/kg) intraperitoneally once daily until sacrifice.

Trends in the characteristics of acute primary angle closure in Korea over the past 10-years.

Purpose: To investigate the changes in the demographic, clinical, and biometric characteristics of APAC patients in South Korea during the last decade.

Methods: Medical records of patients with APAC who visit the emergency department or the glaucoma clinic of Chonnam National University Hospital, a tertiary referral center in Gwangju, South Korea in 2007 and 2017 were analyzed. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and treatment modality were compared between the APAC patients in 2007 and 2017.

Structure-function Relationship in Advanced Glaucoma After Reaching the RNFL Floor.

Unlabelled: PRéCIS:: Although the circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) reached the measurement floor, the nasal macular region is important for assessing central visual function in advanced glaucoma.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between the central visual field (VF) and macular parameters obtained from spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in patients with advanced glaucoma that reached the cpRNFL thickness measurement floor and to determine whether the structural changes measured by SD-OCT are useful for estimating the functional status in these patients.

Methods: A total of 68 eyes from 68 patients with advanced glaucoma were included.

Comparison of the meibomian gland dysfunction in patients with chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease and Sjögren's syndrome.

Aim: To investigate the abnormalities in the meibomian gland in patients with dry eye disease (DED) associated with chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease (coGVHD) in comparison with Sjögren's syndrome (SS), a major form of aqueous deficient DED and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), a common cause of evaporative DED.

Methods: A total 135 eyes of 135 subjects included in this study: patients with DED associated with coGVHD (=30), patients with SS (=35), patients with MGD (=35), and normal controls (=35). All participants completed the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, ocular surface examination [Schirmer test, tear film breakup time (TFBUT), and ocular surface staining], and meibomian gland assessment [meiboscore (gland dropout detected on meibography using infrared camera of the Keratograph 5M), meibum expressibility score (MES), meibum quality score (MQS), lid margin abnormality].