Application and validation of a novel inflammatory score in the clinical grading of infectious endophthalmitis: The endophthalmitis management study – Report 2

Purpose: This study was conducted to describe and validate a novel inflammatory score (IS) system in the management of infectious endophthalmitis. Methods: This was a prospective comparative non?interventional observational study. The study included the patients with clinical signs and symptoms of acute post?cataract surgery endophthalmitis (surgery within 6 weeks) with visual acuity from 6/18 to light perception. IS was scored by the clinical picture at two?levels of four ocular tissues on a scale of 0 (normal) to 4 (severe). Four masked graders of different levels of experience evaluated slit?lamp photographs. The concordance correlation coefficient was assessed between the slit?lamp clinical grading and photographic grading. We measured the concordance correlation coefficient, Pearson’s correlation (indicating precision), and the bias correction factor (indicating the accuracy). Results: The study included 43 eyes of 43 patients. The concordance correlation coefficient was 0.99 (95% CI 0.995 to 0.998). Both Pearson’s correlation coefficient and the bias correction were 0.99. The interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was measured. The intra?rater ICC was 0.833 with good agreement (95% CI, 0.711 to 0.906; P < 0.001). Inter?rater ICC for consistency was 0.92 (95% CI 0.87 to 0.95). Inter?rater ICC for absolute agreement was 0.86 (95% CI 0.66 to 0.93). Conclusion: Currently used IS scoring in the study is a reliable, reproducible, and easy?to?apply scale to measure inflammation severity in endophthalmitis. We propose that it can have applications in decision?making for primary treatment and monitoring progression in acute infectious endophthalmitis

Candida Albicans Sub-Retinal Abscess following COVID-19

A 42-year-old male post-renal transplantation presented with sudden diminution of vision in the left eye. The right eye was lost following a failed vitreoretinal surgery 5 years ago. The patient had been hospitalized 4 months prior for coronavirus disease 2019 infection with a good recovery. The presenting visual acuity was 20/600 in the right eye and 20/250 in the left eye. Fundus examination revealed a sub-macular sub-retinal abscess in the left eye. Sub-retinal aspiration of the abscess revealed Candida albicans. The patient was managed with repeated intravitreal amphotericin B injections, following which the abscess resolved with scarring and vision improving to 20/60.

Evidence of dengue virus in eviscerated specimens of panophthalmitis secondary to dengue fever: A possible cause-effect phenomenon

Purpose: To report a retrospective series of three cases of infectious panophthalmitis post?dengue fever with ex vivo confirmation of dengue virus ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the tissues of the eye. Methods: Four eyes of three patients, who were diagnosed with panophthalmitis following dengue fever and who underwent evisceration, were included. All demographic and clinical data were recorded. The eviscerated samples were subjected to direct microscopy, culture for bacteria, fungi, and parasites, and molecular virology (dengue virus [DENV] NS1?specific reverse transcription loop?mediated isothermal amplification (RT?LAMP) assay). Results: The time from the development of dengue fever to the occurrence of ocular symptoms was 4.33 ± 1.15 (median 5) days. DENV NS1 RNA, suggestive of the presence of the dengue virus, was confirmed in all evisceration specimens (uveal tissue, cornea). All the patients recovered completely from dengue fever and on follow?up had healthy eviscerated sockets. Conclusion: Demonstration of the DENV RNA in the eviscerated specimens of panophthalmitis following dengue fever implicates the DENV in the pathophysiology of the ocular infection.

Biofilm formation and its effect on the management of culture-positive bacterial endophthalmitis

Purpose: To compare the clinicomicrobiological features and outcomes in patients with infectious endophthalmitis caused by biofilm?positive (BP) and biofilm?negative (BN) bacteria. Methods: This was a prospective, interventional, comparative, nonrandomized, consecutive case series. Culture?positive bacterial endophthalmitis cases from August 1, 2018 to July 31st 31, 2019 were included. All vitreous samples were tested for biofilm using crystal violet plate and XTT (2,3?bis?(2?methoxy?4?nitro?5?sulfophenyl)?2H?tetrazolium?5?carboxanilide) methods and classified as BN and BP. The antibiotic susceptibility of all organisms was determined. Anatomic and functional success was defined as intraocular pressure >5 mm Hg and final best?corrected vision ?20/400, respectively, at last visit. Results: There were 50 eyes in the BN group and 33 eyes in the BP group. BN group eyes required 2.86 ± 1.45 surgical interventions, and BP group eyes needed surgical 6.36 ± 2.89 interventions, P < 0.0001, 95% Confidence Interval, CI: 2–4. Median follow?up was 6 and 5 months, respectively (P = 0.33). Final logMAR vision was a median of 1.2 and 1.9 respectively; P = 0.0005, 95% C.I.: 0.4–1.7. Functional success was achieved in 44% and 21.2% (P = 0.03, 95% C.I.: 1.86%–40.08%) and anatomic success was achieved in 68% and 42.42%, respectively (P = 0.02, 95% C.I.: 3.85%–45.47%). The antimicrobial resistance patterns between the two groups were comparable. Conclusion: Endophthalmitis caused by the biofilm?forming bacteria needs a greater number of surgical interventions. The anatomic and functional outcomes are poorer than non?biofilm?forming bacterial endophthalmitis. The increased virulence and poorer outcomes can be hypothesized to be due to the physical barrier effect of the biofilm on the antibiotics

Clinical features and microbiology of post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis with and without intracameral moxifloxacin prophylaxis: Endophthalmitis prophylaxis study report 3

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the clinical presentations, microbiology, and management outcomes of post–cataract surgery endophthalmitis, with and without intracameral moxifloxacin prophylaxis. Methods: This study was designed as a retrospective, consecutive, comparative case series. Records of consecutive cataract surgery from January 1, 2015, till June 30, 2020, were analyzed. The cases that developed endophthalmitis were analyzed. The endophthalmitis cases were divided by their prophylaxis treatment into two groups: with intracameral moxifloxacin (ICM) and without (N?ICM). Inclusion criteria were (1) age ? 18 years, (2) cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation, (3) endophthalmitis within 6 weeks of cataract surgery, and (4) cataract surgery in the institute by any of the three methods—phacoemulsification, manual small incision cataract surgery, and extracapsular cataract extraction. Results: In the study period, 66,967 cataract surgeries were performed; 48.7% (n = 32,649) did not receive ICM. There was no difference between the N?ICM and ICM groups in the incidence of clinical (n = 21, 0.064% and n = 15, 0.043%; P = 0.23) and culture proven (n = 19, 0.033% and n = 11, 0.023%; P = 0.99) endophthalmitis, respectively. Greater number of patients in the N?ICM group had lid edema (76.2% vs. 40%; P = 0.03), corneal edema (71.4% vs. 33.3%; P = 0.03) and lower presenting vision with available correction (logMAR [logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution] 1.26 ± 1.2 vs. logMAR 0.54 ± 0.85; P = 0.02). The final best?corrected visual acuity following treatment was worse in the N?ICM group (logMAR 1.26 ± 1.2 vs. 0.54 ± 0.85; P = 0.02). Conclusion: Endophthalmitis after intracameral moxifloxacin may have relatively milder signs and symptoms and may respond better to treatment.

PEGylated Lipova E120 liposomes loaded with celecoxib: in-vitro characterization and enhanced in-vivo anti-inflammatory effects in rat models

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is responsible for adaptive thermogenesis. We previously showed that genetic deficiency ofreceptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) prevented the effects of high-fat diet (HFD). This study was tocompare BAT activity in RAGE knock out (Ager-/-, RKO) and wild-type (WT) mice after treated with HFD or LFD.[18F]FDG PET-CT imaging under identical cold-stimulated conditions and mean standard uptake values (SUVmean), ratio ofSUViBAT/SUVmuscle (SUVR, muscle as the reference region) and %ID/g were used for BAT quantification. The resultsshowed that [18F]FDG uptake (e.g., SUVR) in WT-HFD mice was significantly reduced (three-fold) as compared to that inWT-LFD (1.40 ± 0.07 and 4.03 ± 0.38; P = 0.004). In contrast, BAT activity in RKO mice was not significantly affectedby HFD, with SUVRRKO-LFD: 2.14 ± 0.10 and SUVRRKO-LFD: 1.52 ± 0.13 (P = 0.3). The uptake in WT-LFD was almostdouble of that in RKO-LFD (P = 0.004); however, there was no significant difference between RKO-HFD and WT-HFDmice (P = 0.3). These results, corroborating our previous findings on the measurement of mRNA transcripts for UCP1 inthe BAT, suggest that RAGE may contribute to altered energy expenditure and provide a protective effect against HFD byAger deletion (Ager -/-).

An unusual presentation of nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy with subretinal fluid treated with intravitreal bevacizumab.

A 62‑year‑old hypertensive male presented with acute nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) with contiguous macular edema and subretinal fluid in the right eye. Presenting vision was 20/1000. The patient was treated with intravitreal bevacizumab 1.25 mg/0.05 ml. At 1 month follow‑up, the macular edema and the optic nerve head edema completely resolved with a good visual improvement up to 20/40. The visual improvement was maintained at the last follow‑up 6 months postinjection. Intravitreal bevacizumab may be a good option for acute NAION especially in an unusual presentation with macular edema and subretinal fluid.

Different treatment modalities for choroidal neovascularization in two eyes of one patient with bilateral type 2A parafoveal telangiectasia.

A 60-year-old diabetic man presented with a history of decrease in vision in both eyes since 2 weeks. At presentation, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in the right eye (RE) was 20/30 and that in the left eye (LE) was 20/80. The right fundus revealed a grayish reflex, yellowish crystalline deposits and retinal pigment epithelial hyperplasia at the macula. The left fundus showed subretinal fluid and temporal subretinal hemorrhage near a grayish reflex at the macula. A diagnosis in both eyes of idiopathic macular telangiectasia (IMT) type 2A with RE stage 4 and LE stage 5, choroidal neovascularization (CNVM) was made. The patient was treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) in LE. The visual acuity improved to 20/40 over the next 6 months. At a 4-year follow-up, he developed decreased vision in RE diagnosed as IMT with CNV and was treated with intravitreal ranibizumab. At 6-month follow-up post injection, the vision was 20/40p.

Aromatherapy for stress relive.

Most people work a 48 hour week so we can estimate that we typically spend almost about 3,000 hours at work each year. And many people work even more than this. Our jobs are often very stressful and stress is a known trigger for many common ailments and diseases. Mood and sleep disturbances, upset stomach, headaches and disturbed relationships with family and friends are examples of stress related problems that are quick to develop. Before you think about stress reduction, start by identifying the particular stresses in your work and the effect they have on you. What, specifically, is it about your work situation that makes you feel anxious, angry, frustrated, burned out, depressed, etc this question is unknown. For this aromatherapy enhance your mood and encourage a sense of general wellbeing. And if that’s not enough for you, aromatherapy has also been shown to relieve minor pains and discomfort and to boost the circulation and the immune system.

Traumatic endophthalmitis presenting as isolated retinal vasculitis and white-centered hemorrhages: Case report and review of literature.

The article reports a case and review of the literature of endophthalmitis presenting as isolated retinal vasculitis. A 26-year-old male was observed to have white-centered retinal hemorrhages and retinal vasculitis following an occult scleral perforation. At presentation, the visual acuity was 20/60. With clinical suspicion of early endophthalmitis, he underwent wound exploration, scleral tear repair, vitreous biopsy and administration of intravitreal antibiotics. Microbiology evaluation revealed significant presence of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus epidermidis. Final visual acuity improved to 20/20 at 6 weeks postoperatively. Literature search revealed eight similar cases, all of them due to Staphylococcus species. Retinal vasculitis and white-centered retinal hemorrhages can be a presenting sign of early endophthalmitis, especially with non-fulminant pathogens like S. epidermidis.

Crosstalk between RXR, LXR and VDR within blood mononuclear cellular model.

An accumulation of data from in vitro to in vivo model system has established a pivotal role of three crucial ligand activated nuclear receptors RXR, LXR-α and VDR for their ability to regulate an array of genes involved in regulation of fundamental cellular processes to patho-physiological situations. Keeping in view RXR as a common heterodimeric partner for LXR-α and VDR, the present study was designed to dissect the interrelationship between these three nuclear receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cellular model. The present study revealed that all the three nuclear receptors displayed auto regulation in response to their specific ligands; Both LXR-α and VDR regulated the expression of their heterodimeric partner RXR; and VDR was regulated by LXR-α through its ability to modulate SREBP response element present in the promoter region of VDR gene. Based on these findings, the role of these nuclear receptors could be better understood in various nuclear receptor mediated pathological processes.