Quercetin Inhibits IL-1β-Induced Inflammation, Hyaluronan Production and Adipogenesis in Orbital Fibroblasts from Graves' Orbitopathy

Management of Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is challenging, as no reliable, specific, and safe medical therapeutic agents have yet been developed. We investigated the effect of quercetin in primary cultured orbital fibroblasts from GO, targeting pathways of inflammation, aberrant accumulation of extracellular matrix macromolecules, and adipose tissue expansion. Quercetin significantly attenuated intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), interleukin (IL) -6, IL-8, and cyclooxygenase (COX) -2 mRNA expression, and inhibited IL-1β-induced increases in ICAM-1, IL-6, and IL-8 mRNA. Increased hyaluronan production induced by IL-1β or tumor necrosis factor-α was suppressed by quercetin in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Treatment with noncytotoxic doses of quercetin inhibited accumulation of intracytoplasmic lipid droplets and resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) α, and C/EBPβ proteins. In conclusion, inhibition of inflammation, hyaluronan production, and adipogenesis by the natural plant product quercetin in vitro provides the basis for further study of its potential use in the treatment of GO

Greater male variability in daily energy expenditure develops through puberty

There is considerably greater variation in metabolic rates between men than between women, in terms of basal, activity and total (daily) energy expenditure (EE). One possible explanation is that EE is associated with male sexual characteristics (which are known to vary more than other traits) such as musculature and athletic capacity. Such traits might be predicted to be most prominent during periods of adolescence and young adulthood, when sexual behaviour develops and peaks. We tested this hypothesis on a large dataset by comparing the amount of male variation and female variation in total EE, activity EE and basal EE, at different life stages, along with several morphological traits: height, fat free mass and fat mass. Total EE, and to some degree also activity EE, exhibit considerable greater male variation (GMV) in young adults, and then a decreasing GMV in progressively older individuals. Arguably, basal EE, and also morphometrics, do not exhibit this pattern. These findings suggest that single male sexual characteristics may not exhibit peak GMV in young adulthood, however total and perhaps also activity EE, associated with many morphological and physiological traits combined, do exhibit GMV most prominently during the reproductive life stages

Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy secondary to acute primary-angle closure

Ajay E Kuriyan, Byron L Lam Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA Purpose: To describe a case of non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) secondary to acute primary-angle closure (APAC). Methods: Case report. Results: A 50-year-old woman with painful visual loss in the right eye was found to be in APAC with a right afferent pupillary defect. Laser peripheral iridotomy relieved pain but did not improve vision. Diffuse optic disc edema in the right eye and a small cup-to-disc ratio in the left eye were evident. Magnetic resonance imaging was normal. The patient was diagnosed with non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) secondary to APAC, a rare clinical entity which can result in markedly decreased visual acuity. Conclusion: NAION secondary to APAC is a rare clinical entity that can result in severe vision loss. Keywords: acute angle closure glaucoma, perfusion pressure, NAION, optic nerv

Spectral domain optical coherence tomography imaging of subretinal bands associated with chronic retinal detachments

Nikisha Kothari, Ajay E Kuriyan, Harry W Flynn JrDepartment of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USAAbstract: We report three patients with subretinal bands associated with retinal detachment in chronic retinal detachments who underwent successful retinal reattachment. Subretinal bands before and after surgery can be identified on clinical examination and spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Removal of subretinal bands is not mandatory to achieve retinal reattachment.Keywords: subretinal bands, retinal detachment, optical coherence tomograph

Endophthalmitis caused by Pantoea agglomerans: clinical features, antibiotic sensitivities, and outcomes

Vincent D Venincasa, Ajay E Kuriyan, Harry W Flynn Jr, Jayanth Sridhar, Darlene Miller Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA Purpose: To report the clinical findings, antibiotic sensitivities, and visual outcomes associated with endophthalmitis caused by Pantoea agglomerans.Methods: A consecutive case series of patients with vitreous culture-positive endophthalmitis caused by P. agglomerans from January 1, 1990 to December 31, 2012 at a large university referral center. Findings from the current study were compared to prior published studies.Results: Of the three study patients that were identified, clinical settings included trauma (n=2) and post-cataract surgery (n=1). Presenting visual acuity was hand motion or worse in all three cases. All isolates were sensitive to ceftazidime, gentamicin, imipenem, and fluoroquinolones. All isolates were resistant to ampicillin. Initial treatment strategies were vitreous tap and intravitreal antibiotic injection (n=1) and pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal antibiotic injection (n=2). At last follow-up, one patient had no light perception vision, while the other two had best-corrected visual acuity of 20/200 and 20/400.Conclusion: All Pantoea isolates were sensitive to ceftazidime, gentamicin, imipenem, and fluoroquinolones. All patients in the current study received at least one intravitreal antibiotic to which P. agglomerans was shown to be sensitive in vitro. In spite of this, the visual outcomes were generally poor.Keywords: ocular infection, trauma, antibiotic resistanc

Clinical outcomes of 4-point scleral fixated 1-piece hydrophobic acrylic equiconvex intraocular lens using polytetrafluoroethylene suture

Nimesh A Patel, Parth Shah, Nicolas A Yannuzzi, Zubair Ansari, Jill S Zaveri, Nidhi Relhan, Basil K Williams Jr, Ajay E Kuriyan, Christopher R Henry, Jayanth Sridhar, Luis Haddock, Jorge A Fortun, Thomas A Albini, Janet L Davis, Harry W Flynn JrDepartment of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA Purpose: To report the visual outcomes and complications of scleral fixated intraocular lenses (IOLs) using Gore-Tex suture.Methods: The current study is a retrospective noncomparative case series including patients who underwent scleral fixation of IOL (Akreos AO60) using Gore-Tex suture from August 2015 to March 2017 at a university teaching center. Primary outcome measures were visual acuity and complications at last follow-up.Results: The current study included 49 eyes of 48 patients. Mean follow-up duration postsurgery was 6.9 months (range: 0.9–29.4 months). The indications for secondary IOL surgery were dislocated IOL in 16/49 (33%), subluxed IOL in 9/49 (18%), dislocated or subluxed crystalline lens in 9/49 (18%), traumatic cataract in 8/49 (16%), and complicated cataract surgery in 7/49 (14%). Mean best-corrected logMAR visual acuity improved from 1±0.7 (20/200 Snellen equivalent) preoperatively to 0.5±0.5 (20/63 Snellen equivalent) at last follow-up. There were no intraoperative complications noted. Early postoperative complications included significant persistent corneal edema (longer than 1 week) in 4/49 (8.2%), ocular hypertension (intraocular pressure ≥25 mmHg) in 8/49 (16.3%), hypotony (intraocular pressure ≤5 mmHg) in 6/49 (12.2%), cystoid macular edema 3/21 (6.1%), IOL tilt 2/49 (4.1%), hyphema in 2/49 (4.1%), and vitreous hemorrhage in 5/49 (4.8%). There was one case of recurrent retinal detachment. One patient presented with an erosion of the Gore-Tex suture through the conjunctiva resulting in a purulent scleritis 6 months after the initial surgery, and was managed with removal of the IOL, debridement, and cryotherapy. Forty-one of 49 patients completed 3-month follow-up, among which visual acuity improved, deteriorated, or remained same compared to baseline in 27/49 (55.1%), 8/49 (16.3%), and 6/49 (12.2%) eyes, respectively.Conclusion: In the current study, visual acuity outcomes were generally favorable. The complications were largely transient. Significant complications included a suture-related infection, which required removal of the IOL, and a recurrence of a retinal detachment. Keywords: Gore-Tex, secondary intraocular lens, scleral fixation, clinical outcome