[Choroidal changes in patients with diabetes mellitus]. / Izmeneniya khorioidei u patsientov s sakharnym diabetom.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and considered one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide. The choroid supplies blood to the retina, photoreceptors and the retinal pigment epithelium, it is essential for metabolic exchange in the retina. Many experimental studies have reported that choroidal pathology in diabetic patients may play a role in the development of DR. Choroidal thickness (CT) can be used to assess the vascularization of the choroid. Choroidal vascularity index (CVI) is also used as a marker in assessment of choroidal vascularization. Many studies have been conducted to evaluate choroidal changes in various eye diseases. However, the data on CT in DM patients, especially in those with DR, are conflicting. Thus, the choroidal status in diabetic patients with or without DR remains controversial. In this systematic review we analyze a number of articles dedicated to the relationship between structural changes in the choroid in patients with diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy of different stages, paying particular attention to choroidal thickness and certain other parameters that allow assessment of choroidal changes.

[Gerontological aspects of eye diseases]. / Gerontologicheskie aspekty zabolevanii organa zreniya.

The global rate of aging is rapidly rising due to the increase in life expectancy, and the number of age-related diseases - including eye diseases - is increasing. The most common eye conditions affecting people over 50 years old are age-related macular degeneration, cataract, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Timely and effective treatment of age-related eye diseases requires a deeper understanding of the cellular mechanisms of aging.

[Antibacterial effect of the antiseptic picloxydine dihydrochloride on conjunctival isolates of gram-negative bacteria]. / Antibakterial'noe deistvie antiseptika pikloksidina digidrokhlorida na kon"yunktival'nye izolyaty gramotritsatel'nykh bakterii.

The preoperative and postoperative use of antiseptics can be an alternative to antibiotics in repeated courses of anti-VEGF therapy for reducing the risk of developing antibiotic resistance in eye microflora. Among gram-negative bacteria, the most frequently isolated pathogen that causes eye infections is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is characterized by reduced sensitivity to antibiotics and disinfectants. PURPOSE: To study the effect of the antiseptic picloxydine dihydrochloride on the gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas luteola and P. aeruginosa isolated from the conjunctiva. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The identification of bacterial isolates and study of their sensitivity to antibiotics were carried out using the automated bacteriological analyzer BD Phoenix 100. To determine the bactericidal concentration, the method of serial dilutions of the antiseptic in a liquid nutrient medium was used. The binding of cationic molecules of picloxydine dihydrochloride to bacterial cells was detected by neutralizing the bacterial surface with increasing amounts of antiseptic, and measuring the zeta potential on the Zetasizer Nano ZS analyzer. The ultrastructure of bacterial cells was studied using the two-beam scanning ion-electron microscope Quanta 200 3D. RESULTS: The most resistant was P. aeruginosa. The interaction mechanism of picloxydine dihydrochloride with bacterial cells includes electrostatic binding of positively charged antiseptic molecules to negatively charged cell walls. Picloxydine dihydrochloride has a destructive effect on the bacterial cell wall and plasma membrane, which leads to cell lysis and release of intracellular components. CONCLUSION: Picloxydine dihydrochloride exhibits bactericidal activity against gram-negative conjunctival isolates and is promising for preventive use during repeated courses of intravitreal injections.

[Neurodegenerative biomarkers of the response to diabetic macular edema treatment]. / Neirodegenerativnye biomarkery otveta na terapiyu diabeticheskogo makulyarnogo oteka.

There are currently no reliable biomarkers for predicting the response to treatment of diabetic macula edema (DME). PURPOSE: To asses the predictive role of neurodegenerative biomarker of the response to anti-VEGF therapy of DME. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Examination and treatment was carried out on 14 patients (20 eyes) with DME. The eyes were divided into 2 groups by the type of diabetes: 6 eyes with type 1 diabetes and 14 eyes with type 2 diabetes. The duration of diabetes was 16.5±7.9 years, the level of glycated hemoglobin was 8.4±2%. A number of indicators were evaluated using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in order to determine the neurodegenerative biomarkers of the response to anti-VEGF treatment. All patients underwent standard loading course of Aflibercept (5 intravitreal injections). RESULTS: Significant improvement in Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) and decrease of central retinal thickness (CRT) was seen after the treatment course. Data analysis revealed a correlation between functional outcomes of the treatment, and the following pathological changes in the retina: thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), thickness of the complex of ganglion cell and inner plexiform layers in the macular region (GCL+), thickness of the RNFL and GCL+ complex (GCL++) in the macular region, ΔCRT, as well as BCVA, patient age, and type of diabetes. Anatomical outcomes correlate with the stage of diabetic retinopathy, RNFL, GCL+, GCL++, violation of the integrity of the ellipsoid zone before treatment. CONCLUSION: The course of intravitreal administration of the Aflibercept drug has been established to be an effective method of treating patients with clinically significant DME. Neurodegenerative biomarkers of the response to the anti-VEGF drug therapy have been determined: thickness of the peripapillary RNFL, GCL+ and GCL ++, as well as integrity of the ellipsoid zone.

[Modern diagnosis and treatment of endophthalmitis]. / Sovremennye vozmozhnosti diagnostiki i lecheniya endoftal'mitov.

Endophthalmitis is characterized by inflammation of intraocular fluids and tissues, which can lead to irreversible loss of vision if the disease is not treated timely and properly. Endophthalmitis can be classified as exogenous or endogenous depending on the route of infectious agent transmission. Exogenous endophthalmitis occurs when pathogens enter the eye through direct inoculation, while endogenous endophthalmitis develops when pathogens get into the eye through the hematogenous route from a distant infection focus. Classification of endophthalmitis helps determine the etiology and probable causative organisms of the disease. Diagnosis of endophthalmitis is based on clinical data. Early diagnosis and treatment are keys to preserving the eye. Best results are achieved by rapid initiation of an empirical broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy.

[Conjunctival microflora and its antibiotic sensitivity after serial intravitreal injections]. / Mikroflora kon''iunktivy i ee chuvstvitel'nost' k antibiotikam posle mnogokratnykh intravitreal'nykh in''ektsii.

INTRODUCTION: The approach to post-procedure management of patients undergoing intravitreal injections should be unified and consistent. Frequent use of antibiotic drugs leads to generation of resistant conjunctival strains. PURPOSE: To study the composition of conjunctival microflora and its antibiotic susceptibility in patients who received 20 or more intravitreal injections and concomitant antibiotic therapy, and in a group of patients of the same age without history of intravitreal injections or ophthalmological operations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 40 inoculations were performed (20 patients in each group, 40 eyes). In case of culture growth, species identification and antibiotic sensitivity of the microorganisms were investigated using automated identification and susceptibility testing system BD Phoenix 100. RESULTS: Culture growth was observed in 70% of the control group patients. All isolated microorganisms were different types of staphylococci - Staphylococcus epidermidis (78.57%), S. caprae (7.14%), S. hominis (7.14%), and S. aureus (7.14%). In the second group, we observed culture growth in 55% of cases. Eleven cultures were Gram-positive bacteria: S. epidermidis (72.73%), S. haemolyticus (18.18%), S. aureus (9.09%). Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected in 1 patient. In the control group, multi-resistant cultures accounted for 42.86%. In the group of patients with multiple intravitreal injections, 75% of cases showed multiresistance (9 out of 12 isolates). In the group of patients who have undergone 20 or more injections, greatest resistance was observed to penicillin G, doxycycline, gentamicin, erythromycin, clindamycin, moxifloxacin, fusidic acid, chloramphenicol, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Overuse of antibiotics in the management of patients receiving intravitreal injections leads to selection of resistant strains.

[Antibiotic resistance in patients after serial intravitreal injections]. / Rezistentnost' k antibiotikam u patsientov na fone mnogokratnykh intravitreal'nykh in''ektsii.

Despite the lack of convincing data on the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy in the prevention of Post-Injection Endophthalmitis (PIE), the use of topical antibiotics for intravitreal injections is still a common practice. Frequent, monthly use of antibiotics results in changes of the composition of conjunctival flora and spontaneous mutations of bacteria, and leads to selective survival of resistant and virulent strains that can cause serious damage inside the eye.

The role of black holes in galaxy formation and evolution.

Virtually all massive galaxies, including our own, host central black holes ranging in mass from millions to billions of solar masses. The growth of these black holes releases vast amounts of energy that powers quasars and other weaker active galactic nuclei. A tiny fraction of this energy, if absorbed by the host galaxy, could halt star formation by heating and ejecting ambient gas. A central question in galaxy evolution is the degree to which this process has caused the decline of star formation in large elliptical galaxies, which typically have little cold gas and few young stars, unlike spiral galaxies.