<title>Comparative photodynamic effect of rose bengal, Erythrosin B, and dihematoporphyrin ethers on lens epithelial cells</title>

The proliferation of residual lens epithelial cells (LEC) is responsible for reopacification of the lens capsule and loss of visual acuity after cataract surgery. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using Di-Hematoporphyrin Ether (DHE) was shown to kill cultured LEC. We studied 2 synthetic photodynamic drugs: Rose Bengal (RB) and Erythrosin B (EB) to determine the minimal PDT parameters. LEC located on the anterior capsule of freshly explanted rabbit lenses were subcultured for the following studies: (1) Dye uptake was evaluated by cellular fluorescence. The minimum concentrations for RB and EB after 1 minute of exposure were 1 (mu) g/ml, and 50 (mu) g/ml; (2) Cytotoxicity was evaluated by reculturing the cells, and was detectable with concentrations of 200 (mu) g/ml RB or 2000 (mu) g/ml EB; (3) The PDT effect was evaluated using concentrations of 1 to 25 (mu) g/ml of RB and 1 to 2000 (mu) g/ml of EB. The minimum parameters for PDT of cultured LEC were 0.5 (mu) g/ml of RB and 10 (mu) g/ml of EB with a 60 second 0.5 W/cm irradiation using a 514.5 nm Argon laser. To mimic the in vivo setting, LEC attached to the anterior lens capsule were incubated with EB to evaluate dye uptake. The minimum parameters were 100 (mu) g/ml and 7 minutes of exposure. RB was found most effective and may be useful, but EB was found safer and has potential for conjugation with LEC antibodies for the prevention of secondary cataracts

Measuring ocular characteristics after gel injection adjustable keratoplasty (GIAK) in the rabbit

Gel Injection Adjustable Keratoplasty (GIAK) is a refractive surgery procedure which uses an ocular ring implant made of a polyethylene oxide hydrogel to cause a refractive change in the cornea. Unlike laser photo refractive keratectomy, GIAK does not interfere with the central cornea because the ring lies around the optical axis. Thus, vision can be assessed immediately after surgery. Our in vivo study was designed to quantify GIAK's effects on tissues, the biocompatibility of the polymer and in the process investigate which ocular changes in the rabbit model can be monitored with precision using current technology. Thirty-two young rabbits underwent a delamination in one eye, 22 of which were injected with a new polymeric gel. Corneal topography, keratometry, pachymetry, and tonometry were performed on both eyes for up to 105 days. All corneas flattened with growth. In GIAK animals, we found an average flattening of 6.51 +/- 1.23 diopters (p < 0.0001) relative to the fellow eye. No statistically significant regression over the 102 days was observed. Intraocular pressure dropped slightly by 0.69 +/- 1.21 mmHg (p equals 0.025), a clinically insignificant value, while no significant change was detected in corneal thickness. Keratometry can be tracked in rabbits after GIAK surgery from POD 1. Measuring unoperated fellow eyes allows for the effects of surgery to be assessed without bias from growth. Using this protocol, GIAK was shown to be stable. It was more difficult to draw conclusions from pachymetry, tonometry, and topography data

<title>Laser scleral buckling: a new method to treat retinal detachment</title>

Scleral indentation was induced in cadaver eyes by shrinkage of scleral collagen fibers using a pulsed solid state Ho:YAG (2.1 micrometers ) laser with fiber optic delivery. Applying Ho:YAG laser radiation permits control of the amount of laser induced buckling effect by selecting laser treatment parameters such as beam spot, radiant exposure, and number of pulses. With treatment using 11.3 +/- 1.2 J/cm laser radiant exposure and 5 pulses, laser induced scleral shrinkage affected only the external two-thirds of scleral tissue. No thermal damage or disruption was observed in subjacent retinal pigment epithelium, chorioid, or retina. Coupling of two appropriately selected lasers may allow laser induced scleral buckling and transscleral retinal photocoagulation using the same laser probe for retinal reattachment surgery

Long-term efficacy of infliximab maintenance therapy for perianal Crohn’s disease

AIM: To assess the long-term efficacy of seton drainage with infliximab maintenance therapy in treatment of stricture for perianal Crohn’s disease (CD)

Favorable Effects of Voriconazole Trough Concentrations Exceeding 1 μg/mL on Treatment Success and All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the optimal trough concentration of voriconazole for adult patients with invasive fungal infections. We used stepwise cutoffs of 0.5–2.0 μg/mL for efficacy and 3.0–6.0 μg/mL for safety. Studies were included if they reported the rates of all-cause mortality and/or treatment success, hepatotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity according to the trough concentration. Twenty-five studies involving 2554 patients were included. The probability of mortality was significantly decreased using a cutoff of ≥1.0 μg/mL (odds ratio (OR) = 0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.15–0.80). Cutoffs of 0.5 (OR = 3.48, 95% CI = 1.45–8.34) and 1.0 μg/mL (OR = 3.35, 95% CI = 1.52–7.38) also increased the treatment success rate. Concerning safety, significantly higher risks of hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity were demonstrated at higher concentrations for all cutoffs, and the highest ORs were recorded at 4.0 μg/mL (OR = 7.39, 95% CI = 3.81–14.36; OR = 5.76, 95% CI 3.14–10.57, respectively). Although further high-quality trials are needed, our findings suggest that the proper trough concentration for increasing clinical success while minimizing toxicity is 1.0–4.0 μg/mL for adult patients receiving voriconazole therapy

<title>Laser sclerectomy and 5-FU controlled-drug-release biodegradable implant for glaucoma therapy</title>

Laser sclerectomy, a simple filtering procedure performed to alleviate high intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients, was taught to offer longer lasting effect and therefore improve the patient's outcome when compared with the standard trabeculectomy procedure. Recent clinical trials have shown that this was not the case and pharmacologic wound healing modulation is also required with this new procedure. Five-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is useful as an adjunct treatment for glaucoma filtering surgery. However, efficacy depends upon maintaining sustained drug levels, currently achieved by repeated daily injection of the drug for several weeks. To overcome this limitation, we designed a biodegradable implant for the sustained release of 5-FU. After laser sclerectomy, the implant is inserted through the same 1 mm wide conjunctival snip incision and positioned below the open channel. Implantation takes less than a minute. The implant releases the drug for over 15 days and totally biodegrades in less than 100 days. The combined laser surgery and implantation procedure show great potentials for the treatment of glaucoma

<title>Refractive effect of two scleral-buckling surgical procedures</title>

To reattach the retina, in many instances, biological or synthetic belt-shaped exoplants are inserted in the orbit and tightened around the globe's equator to inwardly depress the sclera until its inner layers contact the retina. In deforming the globe these `buckling procedures' are thought to affect the eye's optical system and thus vision. A new non-contact optical technique was devised to quantify the refractive effect of the two most common techniques used in retinal detachment surgery

Comparison of the Hemagglutination Inhibition Titers against Influenza Vaccine Strains in Japan from the 2017/2018 to 2021/2022 Seasons Using a Single Set of Serum Samples

In Japan, inactivated influenza vaccines are used. We measured titers of antibodies to vaccine strains of three influenza types&mdash;influenza A (H1N1), influenza A (H3N2), and influenza B/Victoria&mdash;from the 2017/2018 to 2021/2022 seasons, but not for influenza A (H3N2) from the 2018/2019 season, using a single set of serum samples from 34 healthy volunteers, and assessed the consistency in antibody positivity between seasons. The antibody titers in the 2017/2018 season were used as a reference. The influenza A (H1N1) antibody titer in 2019/2020 did not differ significantly from that in the 2017/2018 season, but the titers varied in the two subsequent seasons. The influenza A (H3N2) antibody titers toward the 2019/2020, 2020/2021, and 2021/2022 seasonal viruses differed significantly from that in the 2017/2018 season. The influenza B/Victoria antibody titer toward the 2019/2020 seasonal antigen differed from that in the 2017/2018 season, and the antibody positivity was inconsistent between seasons; however, the antibody titer in the 2020/2021 season did not differ significantly from those in the prior two seasons, and the antibody positivity was consistent between seasons. Antibody titers and their consistency can be used to evaluate cross-immunity of antibodies

<title>Noncontact laser penetrating keratoplasty: in-vivo comparative evaluation in rabbit and cat</title>

With their inherent precision and avoidance of tissue deformation, non-contact laser trephines may minimize graft postoperative astigmatism. Laser-cut corneal button geometry surpassed handheld and equaled Hanna and Krumeich vacuum held trephines, without significant endothelium or wound healing differences for linear cuts between laser and metal blades. To compare the laser with metal trephines, we performed 8 mm diameter grafts on 12 rabbits and 12 cats. A new laser system, using an advanced pulsed HF laser coupled to a computer controlled optical delivery system and equipped for quasi-instantaneous simultaneous 8-point corneal marking (200 ns) for precise suture placement at the 5.5 to 10.5 mm diameter and rapid corneal trephination (approximately equals 6 sec), or a new disposable sterile vacuum-assisted Hessburg-Barron (HB) trephine was used in each procedure. Circumferential keratotomies were more accurately and more easily performed with the laser. No statistical differences were found in wound strength and healing. The laser produced a slightly lower astigmatism. These initial results suggest the safety of HF laser corneal marking-trephination and its potential for PK procedures in humans