Sex Differences in the Prevalence of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: A Mini Review

In this review, we aimed to investigate the literature on sex-specific prevalence of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and to determine whether women or men are more at risk for MGD. A search was conducted on PubMed using the terms: (Sex OR Gender OR prevalence) AND (Meibomian gland). Twenty-four relevant studies on MGD prevalence were identified, including 10 population-based and 14 hospital-based studies. Among the population-based studies, five studies reported higher rates among men, three studies found no differences, and one study observed higher rates among women. In the hospital-based studies, 10 studies reported no difference, two found higher rates among men, and one found higher among women. In the reviewed literature, there was a considerable variation between studies in terms of quality, sample size, age ranges, diagnostic criteria. While most of the population-based studies suggest a higher prevalence among men, the majority of clinic-based studies show no significant difference. Further research with larger samples and standardized criteria is needed to determine whether men are indeed more susceptible to MGD.</p

Post-operative uncorrected visual acuity vs. pre-operative best spectacle-corrected visual acuity.

<p>Post-operative uncorrected visual acuity vs. pre-operative best spectacle-corrected visual acuity.</p

Stability of spherical equivalent.

<p><b>Error bars indicate standard deviation.</b></p

Attempted vs. achieved spherical equivalent refractive change at 12 months postoperatively.

<p>Attempted vs. achieved spherical equivalent refractive change at 12 months postoperatively.</p

Spadix-Bract Structured Nanobowls for Bimodal Imaging-Guided Multidrug Chemo-Photothermal Synergistic Therapy

Multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) simultaneously having functions of multimodal therapy and imaging are highly needed in biomedical applications. A unique monstera flower-like gold nanorod/polydopamine bowl (GNR/PDA bowl) with spadix-bract nanostructure was fabricated by a novel and facile approach. The possible formation mechanism of the GNR/PDA bowl spadix-bract NPs was proposed by monitoring the synthetic process. The obtained monstera flower-like GNR/PDA bowl spadix-bract NPs were further selectively functionalized with 1-dodecanethiol (DT) on GNR domains (spadix) to achieve efficient hydrophobic drug delivery capability; meanwhile, the PDA bowl (bract) can load the hydrophilic anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). The resultant monstera flower-like DT-GNR/PDA bowl spadix-bract NPs possess an excellent biocompatibility, high dual-drug-loading contents, excellent photothermal conversion efficiency, strong near-infrared (NIR) absorbance, effective attenuation of X-rays, and pH/NIR dual-responsive properties, which enable the NPs to be applied for synergistic bimodal computed tomography/photoacoustic (CT/PA) imaging-guided multidrug chemotherapy and photothermal therapy (PTT). Moreover, the synthetic approach could be extended to prepare Au/PDA bowl NPs and Fe₂O₃/PDA bowl NPs, which may greatly expand the application of the PDA-based bowl NPs

Pre-operative corneal surface with the epithelium (green) (a), is reshaped into a regular aspheric surface of desired curvature (b) and the new surface is transferred below the epithelium (c) in a single non-interrupted ablation.

<p>Pre-operative corneal surface with the epithelium (green) (a), is reshaped into a regular aspheric surface of desired curvature (b) and the new surface is transferred below the epithelium (c) in a single non-interrupted ablation.</p

Mean wavefront aberrations 12 months after surgery and pre-operatively (6 mm zone analysis, 96 eyes).

<p>RMS: Root Mean Square; HOA: Higher Order Aberration; SD: Standard Deviation; S3+5+7: Odd Order Aberrations; S4+6+8: Even Order Aberrations.</p

Summarized outcomes of recent studies reporting PRK-outcomes in treatment of myopic astigmatism in virgin eyes.

<p>WF: Wavefront; T-PRK: Transepithelial PRK; SI: Safety Index =  preoperative CDVA/postoperative CDVA; EI: Efficacy Index =  postoperative UDVA/preoperative CDVA; MMC: Mitomycin C.</p

Reappraising Medfly Longevity

<p>The solid lines represent mean differences, and the dotted lines represent 95%LoA. <i>A</i>: Comparison between K_cal and K_actual. <i>B</i>: Comparison between K_1.3315 and K_actual. <i>C</i>: Comparison between K_1.3375 and K_actual. Kcal was calculated with the mean keratometric index of 1.3299 obtained in this study. K_1.3315 was calculated with the keratometric index of 1.3315 obtained from the Gullstrand schematic eye. K_1.3375 was calculated with the conventional keratometric index of 1.3375.</p

Selective Growth Synthesis of Ternary Janus Nanoparticles for Imaging-Guided Synergistic Chemo- and Photothermal Therapy in the Second NIR Window

Multifunctional therapeutic agents in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window have attracted wide attention on account of their synergetic properties for effective cancer therapy. Here, we construct a selective growth strategy for the first time to fabricate ternary Janus nanoparticles (JNPs) containing hemispherical MnO₂ at one side and Au core covered with CuS shell at opposite side. The obtained ternary JNPs are further modified with poly­(ethylene glycol)­thiol to enhance the stability and biocompatibility (designated as PEG–CuS–Au–MnO₂ ternary JNPs). The MnO₂ domain with mesoporous structures can serve as hydrophobic drug carriers and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agents. Meanwhile, the Au segment is used for X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging. Moreover, the PEG–CuS–Au–MnO₂ ternary JNPs can conduct hyperthermia at 1064 nm in NIR-II window to ablate tumors in deep tissue, which is ascribed to the localized surface plasmon resonance coupling effect of the Au core and CuS domain. All of the results reveal that PEG–CuS–Au–MnO₂ ternary JNPs not only exhibit pre-eminent CT/MR imaging capabilities, but also provide high chemo-photothermal antitumor efficacy under the guidance of CT/MR imaging. Taking together, the PEG–CuS–Au–MnO₂ ternary JNPs can be regarded as a prospective therapeutic nanoplatform for dual-modal imaging-guided synergistic chemo-photothermal cancer therapy in the NIR-II window