Autoantibodies detection in patients affected by autoimmune retinopathies

Objective: Autoimmune retinopathies (ARs) encompass a spectrum of immune diseases that are characterized by the presence of autoantibodies against retinal proteins in the bloodstream. These autoantibodies (AAbs) lead to a progressive and sometimes rapid loss of vision. ARs commonly affect subjects over 50 years of age, but also rare cases of kids under 3 years of age have been reported. Patients and methods: In this study, 47 unrelated Caucasian patients were enrolled. All subjects showed negative cancer diagnoses and negative results in their genetic screenings. We studied 8 confirmed retinal antigens using Western blotting analysis, with α-enolase followed by carbonic anhydrase II being the two most frequently found in the patients' sera. Results: Nineteen patients were positive (40.4%), thirteen uncertain (27.7%), and fifteen were negative (31.9%). Their gender did not correlate with the presence of AAbs (p=0.409). Conclusions: AAbs are responsible for retinal degeneration in some cases, while in others, they contribute to exacerbating the progression of the disease; however, their detection is crucial to reaching a better diagnosis and developing more effective treatments for these conditions. Moreover, finding good biomarkers is important not only for AR monitoring and prognosis, but also for helping with early cancer diagnosis

Erratum to: Changes in patterns of uveitis at a tertiary referral center in Northern Italy: analysis of 990 consecutive cases

Erratum to: Changes in patterns of uveitis at a tertiary referral center in Northern Italy: analysis of 990 consecutive case

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Surgical management of post-uveitic epiretinal membranes

Purpose: Previous reports described unfavorable visual outcomes after surgery for uveitic macular pucker. Our goal was to demonstrate that patients with history of uveitis may benefit from vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane if executed under appropriate circumstances. Methods: We performed pars plana vitrectomy with ERM and ILM peeling in patients with post-uveitic macular pucker who did not show signs of ocular inflammation for at least 3 months after the suspension of immunosuppressive therapy. Visual acuity, central macular thickness at OCT, ocular inflammation, and complications were recorded. Results: Twenty-six eyes were operated. Mean duration of follow-up was 67 months. Visual acuity significantly improved from 20/80 to 20/40 after surgery. Vision increased in 20 (77%), remained stable in 4 (15%), and decreased in 2 (8%) eyes. Best-corrected visual acuity ameliorated by at least 2 ETDRS lines in 14 eyes (54%). Contingency analysis did not show any statistical difference among the different types of uveitis (p = 0.46). Mean central foveal thickness improved postoperatively (428 ± 104 vs 328 ± 130 microns; p = 0.017). Conclusion: Patients with uveitic epiretinal membrane benefit from vitrectomy with membranectomy if operated when intraocular inflammation had subsided

Clinical Relevance of Subcentimetric Lymph Node Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Ocular Sarcoidosis

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical relevance of subcentimetric lymph node biopsy via mediastinoscopy in patients with presumed ocular sarcoidosis (OS). Methods: Retrospective study of consecutive patients who underwent biopsy via mediastinoscopy for suspected OS. The biopsy outcomes and clinical features of patients with subcentimetric nodes and of those with lymph nodes >1 cm were compared. Results: A total of 67 patients with presumed OS were included. Forty-two patients (63%) had lymph nodes 651 cm in diameter, while 25(37%) showed subcentimetric lymph nodes. Biopsy was consistent with sarcoidosis in 83% of patients with lymph nodes 651 cm and in 76% of patients with subcentimetric lymph nodes (p = .60). Patients with OS who had subcentimetric lymph nodes had less lymphopenia (p = .01), lower lysozyme values (p = .03) and a longer diagnostic delay compared to those with larger lymph nodes. Conclusions: The biopsy of subcentimetric lymph nodes via mediastinoscopy may provide a histological diagnosis and reduce diagnostic delay

Design and development of an eco-innovative sorghum snack

A new and sustainable cereal bar (named SOcrock) was created in the context of EcoTrophelia, an European competition originated from the EcoTroFood project (from the European Commission's Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme) and dedicated to student teams for creating prototype of food products with quality and environmentally friendly aspects. The designed product recipe consisted only of white sorghum, powdered grape seeds, honey, and dark chocolate. This essential composition was formulated in order to boost nutritional added value such as presence of polyphenols, high fiber content, low level of sodium, and a low caloric intake, all within an organic product, free of gluten and preservatives. A selected variety of white sorghum was the basic ingredient of the product: versatile, with nutritional properties similar to corn, sorghum has lower water requirements and withstands high temperatures brilliantly. In this product sorghum was transformed and used in three forms: as blown grain, as syrup (obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of the grains) and as fiber (by-product of syrup production). Further innovation was the direct inclusion of grape seeds (by-products from distillery) that represents a simple solution for the recovery of low cost bio-active compounds. The preparation of the finished product was obtained by a semi-industrial processing line consisting in a cooker equipment (with hollow space in a diathermic oil bath) complete of planetary system and overturning head, cooling tunnel, and heat sealing packaging machine. The product impact on the ecosystem in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and exploitation of natural resources was evaluated. It resulted in a Type II environmental label which highlighted the product always falls in the best categories for sustainability. The developed product was awarded the bronze prize at the 2013 EcoTrophelia European final