Causative Pathogens of Endophthalmitis after Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Injection: An International Multicenter Study

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to investigate the microbiological spectrum of endophthalmitis after anti- VEGF injections and to compare streptococcal with nonstreptococcus- associated cases with regard to baseline characteristics and injection procedure. Methods: Retrospective,international multicenter study of patients with culture-positive endophthalmitis after intravitreal anti-VEGF injection at 17 different retina referral centers. Results: Eighty-three cases with 87 identified pathogens were included. Coagulasenegative staphylococci (59%) and viridans streptococci (15%) were the most frequent pathogens found. The use of postoperative antibiotics and performance of injections in an operating room setting significantly reduced the rate of streptococcus-induced endophthalmitis cases (p = 0.01 for both). Conclusion: We found a statistically significant lower rate of postinjectional local antibiotic therapy and operating room-based procedures among the streptococcus-induced cases compared to cases caused by other organisms

Searches for invisible scalar decays at CLIC

The Compact LInear Collider (CLIC) is a proposed TeV-scale high-luminosity electron-positron collider at CERN. The first CLIC running stage, at 380 GeV, will focus on precision Higgs boson and top quark studies while the main aim of the subsequent high-energy stages, at 1.5 TeV and 3 TeV, is to extend the sensitivity of CLIC to different Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) scenarios. We studied the prospects for measuring invisible Higgs boson and additional heavy scalar decays using CLIC data at 380 GeV and 1.5 TeV. The analysis is based on the W HIZARD event generator, with fast simulation of the CLIC detector response parametrised by the D ELPHES package. We present the expected limits for the invisible decays of the 125 GeV Higgs boson, the cross section limits for production of an additional neutral Higgs scalar, assuming its invisible decays, and limits on the mixing angle between the SM-like Higss boson and the new scalar of the "dark sector" in the framework of the vector-fermion dark matter model

Sensitivity to new physics scenarios in invisible Higgs boson decays at CLIC

We studied the possibility of measuring invisible Higgs boson decays at CLIC running at 380 GeV and 1.5 TeV. The analysis is based on the WHIZARD event generation and fast simulation of the CLIC detector response with DELPHES. The approach consisting of a two step analysis was used to optimize separation between signal and background processes. First, a set of preselection cuts was applied; then, multivariate analysis methods were employed to optimise the significance of observations. We estimated the expected limits on the invisible decays of the 125 GeV Higgs boson, as well as the cross section limits for production of an additional neutral Higgs-like scalar, assuming its invisible decays, as a function of its mass. Extracted model-independent branching ratio and cross section limits were then interpreted in the framework of the vector-fermion dark matter model to set limits on the mixing angle between the SM-like Higss boson and the new scalar of the "dark sector".We studied the possibility of measuring invisible Higgs boson decays at CLIC running at 380 GeV and 1.5 TeV. The analysis is based on the WHIZARD event generation and fast simulation of the CLIC detector response with DELPHES. We considered $e^+e^-$ background processes but also relevant $\gamma\gamma$ and $\gamma e^\pm$ interactions. The approach consisting of a two step analysis was used to optimize separation between signal and background processes. First, a set of preselection cuts was applied; then, multivariate analysis methods were employed to optimise the significance of observations. We estimated the expected limits on the invisible decays of the 125 GeV Higgs boson, as well as the cross section limits for production of an additional neutral Higgs-like scalar, assuming its invisible decays, as a function of its mass. Extracted model-independent branching ratio and cross section limits were then interpreted in the framework of the vector-fermion dark matter model to set limits on the mixing angle between the SM-like Higss boson and the new scalar of the "dark sector"

OCT Biomarkers as Functional Outcome Predictors in Diabetic Macular Edema Treated with Dexamethasone Implant

PURPOSE: Identification and characterization of patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) are important for individualizing treatment and optimizing outcome. We investigated OCT biomarkers for DME treated by intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) implant. DESIGN: Multicenter, retrospective, observational cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 299 eyes from 284 patients treated with DEX implant for DME (na\uefve, n = 209; refractory, n = 90). Baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was between 0.3 and 1.0 on a logarithm of minimum angle of resolution visual chart. METHODS: The OCT scans previous to DEX implants were evaluated for submacular fluid, size and location of cystoid changes, inner segment-outer segment (IS-OS) continuity, quantity and location of hyperreflective foci (HRF), vitreomacular interface abnormalities, and epiretinal membrane. The BCVA and central macular thickness were recorded at baseline and at 1, 2, and 4 months after treatment with DEX implants. Correlations between OCT measures and visual outcome were analyzed using the generalized estimating equations procedure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The correlation between spectral-domain (SD) OCT measures at baseline and BCVA response (mean change from baseline; categorized improvement [<5, 5-9, or 6510; Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters] in BCVA) after treatment with a DEX implant. RESULTS: The presence of subretinal fluid (odds ratio [OR], 1.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-3.20; P = 0.01), absence of HRF (OR, 3.66; 95% CI, 1.40-9.62; P = 0.01), and integrity of the IS-OS layer (OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.30-3.37; P = 0.003) were all predictive of better visual outcome after treatment with DEX implants. Although eyes with na\uefve DME gained more vision than refractory eyes (P < 0.001), the predictive value of OCT findings did not differ according to this classification. CONCLUSIONS: Spectral-domain OCT is useful in identifying various imaging findings in DME. Among eyes with DME, those with submacular fluid, no HRF, and a continuous IS-OS layer responded better to DEX implants than those without these features. These findings call for further study of combinations of OCT and metabolic biomarkers

OCT Biomarkers as Functional Outcome Predictors in Diabetic Macular Edema Treated with Dexamethasone Implant

none29mixedZur; D.h; kEmail Author; Iglicki; M.h; Busch; C.a; Invernizzi; A.p; Mariussi; M.q; Zur D; Busch C; Cebeci Z; Chhablani J; Chaikitmongkol V; Couturier A; Fraser-Bell S; Giancipoli E; Iglicki M; Invernizzi A; Laíns I; Loewenstein A; Lupidi M; Rehak M; Rodriguez P; Mendes T; Sala-Puigdollers A; International Retina GroupZur, ; D., H; Kemail, Author; Iglicki, ; M., H; Busch, ; C., A; Invernizzi, ; A., P; Mariussi, ; M., Q; Zur, D; Busch, C; Cebeci, Z; Chhablani, J; Chaikitmongkol, V; Couturier, A; Fraser-Bell, S; Giancipoli, E; Iglicki, M; Invernizzi, A; Laíns, I; Loewenstein, A; Lupidi, M; Rehak, M; Rodriguez, P; Mendes, T; Sala-Puigdollers, A; International Retina, Grou

Underdiagnosed optic disk pit maculopathy : Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Features For Accurate Diagnosis

PURPOSE: To report a cohort with optic disk pit maculopathy (ODPM) presenting with neurosensory macular detachment that were initially misdiagnosed and mistreated; and to describe structural features on spectral domain optical coherence tomography in misdiagnosed and all other consecutive cases of ODPM. METHODS: Multicenter international retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: 59 eyes from 59 patients with ODPM. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 1) Proportion of patients with ODPM initially misdiagnosed, inaccurate diagnosis and treatment. 2) Morphologic features on spectral domain optical coherence tomography: other causes of subretinal and/or intraretinal fluid, inner/outer retinoschisis, communication with optic disk pit, and retinal pigment epithelium alterations. 3) Visual and anatomical outcomes 6 months after proper treatment. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (25.4%) with ODPM were correctly diagnosed initially and those were significantly younger than misdiagnosed cases (age 33.8 \ub1 15.2 vs. 58.7 \ub1 15.8 years, P &lt; 0.0001). Forty of forty-four misdiagnosed eyes (90.9%) were treated for their presumed diagnosis before referral. Eyes with initial misdiagnosis had significantly more outer retinoschisis at baseline (88.4 vs. 40.0%, P = 0.0002) and more retinal pigment epithelium alterations (90.0 vs. 27.3%, P &lt; 0.0001) 6 months after proper treatment. CONCLUSION: Optic disk pit maculopathy is an underdiagnosed entity and can mimic other causes for subretinal fluid. Awareness and identification of pertinent spectral domain optical coherence tomography features can help avoid inappropriate and delayed treatment