Endophthalmitis following intravitreal injections administered by junior medical officers in rural Western Australia.

BACKGROUND: Patients in rural Australia have limited access to intravitreal treatments due to a maldistribution of the ophthalmology workforce. To improve access, a novel outreach service model was implemented whereby junior medical staff administered intravitreal injections under a supervising ophthalmology consultant. This model involves outreach visits in hospitals, mobile clinics and a remote hub with intravitreal injections administered by junior doctors overseen by an ophthalmologist. The article explores the safety of this approach with respect to the rate of post-injection endophthalmitis. METHODS: A retrospective audit was conducted by the Lions Outback Vision outreach ophthalmology service from 2017 to mid-2023. The number of injections, locations, diagnoses, intravitreal agents used, designation of administering doctor and cases of endophthalmitis were reviewed. RESULTS: A 12 632 intravitreal injections were administered across 32 locations throughout rural Western Australia in the 6.5-year period. Three cases of endophthalmitis occurred representing a rate of 0.0237%. CONCLUSION: The rate of endophthalmitis in the outreach service is comparable to other centres. The outreach model with supervising ophthalmology consultant support in person or via telehealth and administration of injections by junior medical staff has improved access for underserved or marginalised populations.

Fungal Keratitis Post-FemtoLASIK: A Novel Therapeutic Approach with LASIK Flap Autograft and Penetrating Keratoplasty: A Case Report.

Introduction: This case report describes a rare case of fungal keratitis following femtoLASIK. Despite targetted antifungal therapy, this case necessitated an innovative surgical approach to manage an unexpected corneal perforation. Case Presentation: A 35-year-old male presented 3 weeks post-femtoLASIK for myopic astigmatism with discomfort and reduced vision in his right eye. He was diagnosed with fungal keratitis surgery caused by Purpureocillium lilacinum and was treated with a myriad of therapy. Unfortunately, the patient developed corneal perforation during flap lift and flap bed irrigation. An innovative approach involving a tectonic autograft using a viable LASIK flap, followed by prompt penetrating keratoplasty, was utilised. Conclusion: This technique was effective and able to mitigate the progression to an open globe.

Simplified homology-assisted CRISPR for gene editing in Drosophila.

In vivo genome editing with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 generates powerful tools to study gene regulation and function. We revised the homology-assisted CRISPR knock-in method to convert Drosophila GAL4 lines to LexA lines using a new universal knock-in donor strain. A balancer chromosome-linked donor strain with both body color (yellow) and eye red fluorescent protein (RFP) expression markers simplified the identification of LexA knock-in using light or fluorescence microscopy. A second balancer chromosome-linked donor strain readily converted the second chromosome-linked GAL4 lines regardless of target location in the cis-chromosome but showed limited success for the third chromosome-linked GAL4 lines. We observed a consistent and robust expression of the yellow transgene in progeny harboring a LexA knock-in at diverse genomic locations. Unexpectedly, the expression of the 3xP3-RFP transgene in the "dual transgene" cassette was significantly increased compared with that of the original single 3xP3-RFP transgene cassette in all tested genomic locations. Using this improved screening approach, we generated 16 novel LexA lines; tissue expression by the derived LexA and originating GAL4 lines was similar or indistinguishable. In collaboration with 2 secondary school classes, we also established a systematic workflow to generate a collection of LexA lines from frequently used GAL4 lines.

Severe Corneal Melt Post Trans-Scleral Cyclodiode in a Case of Neovascular Glaucoma Secondary to Coats Disease: A Case Report.

A novel case of neurotrophic keratitis and severe corneal melt requiring surgical management is presented 1 month following trans-scleral cyclodiode for Coats disease and neovascular glaucoma. Risk factors contributing to the complication include previous extracapsular cataract surgery, perioperative use of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and dexamethasone/neomycin, as well as other topical drops containing preservatives such as benzalkonium chloride. Meticulous consideration of preoptimization of the ocular surface and rationalization of perioperative eye drop regimes is discussed.

Synthetic glycans control gut microbiome structure and mitigate colitis in mice.

Relative abundances of bacterial species in the gut microbiome have been linked to many diseases. Species of gut bacteria are ecologically differentiated by their abilities to metabolize different glycans, making glycan delivery a powerful way to alter the microbiome to promote health. Here, we study the properties and therapeutic potential of chemically diverse synthetic glycans (SGs). Fermentation of SGs by gut microbiome cultures results in compound-specific shifts in taxonomic and metabolite profiles not observed with reference glycans, including prebiotics. Model enteric pathogens grow poorly on most SGs, potentially increasing their safety for at-risk populations. SGs increase survival, reduce weight loss, and improve clinical scores in mouse models of colitis. Synthetic glycans are thus a promising modality to improve health through selective changes to the gut microbiome.

How to Avoid Failures in Tibial Plafond Fractures.

Tibial plafond fractures include a wide spectrum of injuries that show their complexity. Soft-tissue injury in tibial plafond fractures is much more important than bony injury. Commonly, a staged treatment, that is, temporary external fixation followed by definitive surgery when the soft tissue is ready, is performed. Knowledge of multiple surgical approaches is a prerequisite for open reduction and internal fixation of tibial plafond fractures because of the large variation of fracture patterns.

Standard Versus Low-Dose Computed Tomography for Assessment of Acetabular Fracture Reduction.

OBJECTIVE: First, to assess the impact of varying computed tomography (CT) radiation dose on surgeon assessment of postfixation acetabular fracture reduction and malpositioned implants. Second, to quantify the accuracy of CT assessments compared with the experimentally set displacement in cadaver specimens. We hypothesized that a CT dose would not affect the assessments and that CT assessments would show a high concordance with known displacement. METHODS: We created posterior wall acetabular fractures in 8 fresh-frozen cadaver hips and reduced them with varying combinations of step and gap displacement. The insertion of an intra-articular screw was randomized. Each specimen had a CT with standard (120 kV), intermediate (100 kV), and low-dose (80 kV) protocols, with and without metal artifact reduction postprocessing. Reviewers quantified gap and step displacement, overall reduction, quality of the scan, and identified intra-articular implants. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the CT dose protocols for assessment of gap, step, overall displacement, or the presence of intra-articular screws. Reviewers correctly categorized displacement as anatomic (0-1 mm), imperfect (2-3 mm), or poor (>3 mm) in 27.5%-57.5% of specimens. When the anatomic and imperfect categories were condensed into a single category, these scores improved to 52.5%-82.5%. Intra-articular screws were correctly identified in 56.3% of cases. Interobserver reliability was poor or moderate for all items. Reviewers rated the quality of most scans as "sufficient" (60.0%-72.5%); reviewers more frequently rated the low-dose CT as "inferior" (30.0%) and the standard dose CT as "excellent" (25%). CONCLUSION: A CT dose did not affect assessment of displacement, intra-articular screw penetration, or subjective rating of scan quality in the setting of a fixed posterior wall fracture.

Metagenomics reveals niche partitioning within the phototrophic zone of a microbial mat.

Hypersaline photosynthetic microbial mats are stratified microbial communities known for their taxonomic and metabolic diversity and strong light-driven day-night environmental gradients. In this study of the upper photosynthetic zone of hypersaline microbial mats of Elkhorn Slough, California (USA), we show how metagenome sequencing can be used to meaningfully assess microbial ecology and genetic partitioning in these complex microbial systems. Mapping of metagenome reads to the dominant Cyanobacteria observed in the system, Coleofasciculus (Microcoleus) chthonoplastes, was used to examine strain variants within these metagenomes. Highly conserved gene subsystems indicated a core genome for the species, and a number of variant genes and subsystems suggested strain level differentiation, especially for nutrient utilization and stress response. Metagenome sequence coverage binning was used to assess ecosystem partitioning of remaining microbes to both reconstruct the model organisms in silico and identify their ecosystem functions as well as to identify novel clades and propose their role in the biogeochemical cycling of mats. Functional gene annotation of these bins (primarily of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Cyanobacteria) recapitulated the known biogeochemical functions in microbial mats using a genetic basis, and revealed significant diversity in the Bacteroidetes, presumably in heterotrophic cycling. This analysis also revealed evidence of putative phototrophs within the Gemmatimonadetes and Gammaproteobacteria residing in microbial mats. This study shows that metagenomic analysis can produce insights into the systems biology of microbial ecosystems from a genetic perspective and to suggest further studies of novel microbes.

Is Contralateral Templating Reliable for Establishing Rotational Alignment During Intramedullary Stabilization of Femoral Shaft Fractures? A Study of Individual Bilateral Differences in Femoral Version.

OBJECTIVES: To determine native individual bilateral differences (IBDs) in femoral version in a diverse population. METHODS: Computed tomography scans with complete imaging of uninjured bilateral femora were used to determine femoral version and IBDs in version. Age, sex, and ethnicity of each subject were also collected. Femoral version and IBDs in version were correlated with demographic variables using univariate and multivariate regression models. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-four subjects were included in the study. The average femoral version was 9.4 degrees (±9.4 degrees). The mean IBD in femoral version was 5.4 degrees (±4.4 degrees, P < 0.001). A total of 17.7% of subjects had a difference in version ≥10 degrees, and 4.3% had a difference in version ≥15 degrees. A femur with anteversion ≥20 degrees or retroversion was associated with a greater mean difference in version from the contralateral side compared with those with midrange anteversion. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral differences in femoral version are common and can result in a difference from native anatomy that may be clinically significant if only the contralateral limb is used to establish rotational alignment during intramedullary stabilization of diaphyseal femur fractures. This is also an important consideration when considering malrotation of femur fractures because most studies define malrotation as a greater than 10-15-degree difference compared with the contralateral side. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Use of a Defined Surgical Approach for the Debridement of Open Tibia Fractures.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a defined approach for debridement of open tibia fractures would result in no change in reoperation rate, but reduce the need for flap coverage. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Academic Level 1 trauma center. PATIENTS: A total of 66 patients with 68 open diaphyseal tibia fractures were included. Patients under the age of 18 and with orthopaedic trauma association open fracture classification (OTA-OFC) skin score of 3 were excluded. INTERVENTION: Debridement of the open fracture through direct extension of the traumatic wound or through a defined surgical interval. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Number of operations. Need for soft-tissue transfer. RESULTS: A total of 47 patients had direct extension of the traumatic wound and 21 patients had a defined surgical approach. The groups had similar proportions of Gustilo-Anderson and OTA-OFC subtypes. The average number of surgeries, including index procedure, per patient was 1.96 in the direct extension group and 1.29 in the defined approach group (P = 0.026). Flap coverage was needed in 9 patients in the direct extension group and no patients in the defined approach group (P = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: A defined surgical approach to the debridement of open tibia fractures is safe and may reduce the need for flap coverage in select patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Metagenomic analysis of intertidal hypersaline microbial mats from Elkhorn Slough, California, grown with and without molybdate.

Cyanobacterial mats are laminated microbial ecosystems which occur in highly diverse environments and which may provide a possible model for early life on Earth. Their ability to produce hydrogen also makes them of interest from a biotechnological and bioenergy perspective. Samples of an intertidal microbial mat from the Elkhorn Slough estuary in Monterey Bay, California, were transplanted to a greenhouse at NASA Ames Research Center to study a 24-h diel cycle, in the presence or absence of molybdate (which inhibits biohydrogen consumption by sulfate reducers). Here, we present metagenomic analyses of four samples that will be used as references for future metatranscriptomic analyses of this diel time series.

Kinematic Analysis of Speech Sound Sequencing Errors Induced by Delayed Auditory Feedback.

Purpose: Delayed auditory feedback (DAF) causes speakers to become disfluent and make phonological errors. Methods for assessing the kinematics of speech errors are lacking, with most DAF studies relying on auditory perceptual analyses, which may be problematic, as errors judged to be categorical may actually represent blends of sounds or articulatory errors. Method: Eight typical speakers produced nonsense syllable sequences under normal and DAF (200 ms). Lip and tongue kinematics were captured with electromagnetic articulography. Time-locked acoustic recordings were transcribed, and the kinematics of utterances with and without perceived errors were analyzed with existing and novel quantitative methods. Results: New multivariate measures showed that for 5 participants, kinematic variability for productions perceived to be error free was significantly increased under delay; these results were validated by using the spatiotemporal index measure. Analysis of error trials revealed both typical productions of a nontarget syllable and productions with articulatory kinematics that incorporated aspects of both the target and the perceived utterance. Conclusions: This study is among the first to characterize articulatory changes under DAF and provides evidence for different classes of speech errors, which may not be perceptually salient. New methods were developed that may aid visualization and analysis of large kinematic data sets. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.5103067.

Transcriptional and Chromatin Dynamics of Muscle Regeneration after Severe Trauma.

Following injury, adult skeletal muscle undergoes a well-coordinated sequence of molecular and physiological events to promote repair and regeneration. However, a thorough understanding of the in vivo epigenomic and transcriptional mechanisms that control these reparative events is lacking. To address this, we monitored the in vivo dynamics of three histone modifications and coding and noncoding RNA expression throughout the regenerative process in a mouse model of traumatic muscle injury. We first illustrate how both coding and noncoding RNAs in tissues and sorted satellite cells are modified and regulated during various stages after trauma. Next, we use chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing to evaluate the chromatin state of cis-regulatory elements (promoters and enhancers) and view how these elements evolve and influence various muscle repair and regeneration transcriptional programs. These results provide a comprehensive view of the central factors that regulate muscle regeneration and underscore the multiple levels through which both transcriptional and epigenetic patterns are regulated to enact appropriate repair and regeneration.

Permanent draft genome of strain ESFC-1: ecological genomics of a newly discovered lineage of filamentous diazotrophic cyanobacteria.

The nonheterocystous filamentous cyanobacterium, strain ESFC-1, is a recently described member of the order Oscillatoriales within the Cyanobacteria. ESFC-1 has been shown to be a major diazotroph in the intertidal microbial mat system at Elkhorn Slough, CA, USA. Based on phylogenetic analyses of the 16S RNA gene, ESFC-1 appears to belong to a unique, genus-level divergence; the draft genome sequence of this strain has now been determined. Here we report features of this genome as they relate to the ecological functions and capabilities of strain ESFC-1. The 5,632,035 bp genome sequence encodes 4914 protein-coding genes and 92 RNA genes. One striking feature of this cyanobacterium is the apparent lack of either uptake or bi-directional hydrogenases typically expected within a diazotroph. Additionally, a large genomic island is found that contains numerous low GC-content genes and genes related to extracellular polysaccharide production and cell wall synthesis and maintenance.

American College Students' Views of Depression and Utilization of On-Campus Counseling Services.

BACKGROUND: College students are becoming increasingly depressed; however, many do not attend university counseling to seek help. OBJECTIVES: What is the relationship between young adults' mental health literacy, perceived stigma of depression and treatment, knowledge of treatment benefits and risks, beliefs about alternative therapies, and influence of his or her social network with usage of university counseling? STUDY DESIGN: A survey was administered to N = 107 American undergraduate college students to ascertain the students' understanding of depression and their views of counseling services on campus. RESULTS: Both likelihood of using alternative therapies and perceived discrimination of social network accounted for 18% of the variance for likelihood of participants seeking campus counseling. CONCLUSIONS: When a young adult college student perceives stigma or discrimination of depression from family and friends, then they may be less likely to seek university counseling for depression as well as possible applications with alternative therapies as a favorable option.

An Unusual Inverted Saline Microbial Mat Community in an Interdune Sabkha in the Rub' al Khali (the Empty Quarter), United Arab Emirates.

Salt flats (sabkha) are a recognized habitat for microbial life in desert environments and as analogs of habitats for possible life on Mars. Here we report on the physical setting and microbiology of interdune sabkhas among the large dunes in the Rub' al Khali (the Empty Quarter) in Liwa Oasis, United Arab Emirates. The salt flats, composed of gypsum and halite, are moistened by relatively fresh ground water. The result is a salinity gradient that is inverted compared to most salt flat communities with the hypersaline layer at the top and freshwater layers below. We describe and characterize a rich photosynthetically-based microbial ecosystem that is protected from the arid outside environment by a translucent salt crust. Gases collected from sediments under shallow ponds in the sabkha contain methane in concentrations as high as 3400 ppm. The salt crust could preserve biomarkers and other evidence for life in the salt after it dries out. Chloride-filled depressions have been identified on Mars and although surface flow of water is unlikely on Mars today, ground water is possible. Such a near surface system with modern groundwater flowing under ancient salt deposits could be present on Mars and could be accessed by surface rovers.

Cyanobacterial reuse of extracellular organic carbon in microbial mats.

Cyanobacterial organic matter excretion is crucial to carbon cycling in many microbial communities, but the nature and bioavailability of this C depend on unknown physiological functions. Cyanobacteria-dominated hypersaline laminated mats are a useful model ecosystem for the study of C flow in complex communities, as they use photosynthesis to sustain a more or less closed system. Although such mats have a large C reservoir in the extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs), the production and degradation of organic carbon is not well defined. To identify extracellular processes in cyanobacterial mats, we examined mats collected from Elkhorn Slough (ES) at Monterey Bay, California, for glycosyl and protein composition of the EPS. We found a prevalence of simple glucose polysaccharides containing either α or ß (1,4) linkages, indicating distinct sources of glucose with differing enzymatic accessibility. Using proteomics, we identified cyanobacterial extracellular enzymes, and also detected activities that indicate a capacity for EPS degradation. In a less complex system, we characterized the EPS of a cyanobacterial isolate from ES, ESFC-1, and found the extracellular composition of biofilms produced by this unicyanobacterial culture were similar to that of natural mats. By tracing isotopically labeled EPS into single cells of ESFC-1, we demonstrated rapid incorporation of extracellular-derived carbon. Taken together, these results indicate cyanobacteria reuse excess organic carbon, constituting a dynamic pool of extracellular resources in these mats.

Microbial response to single-cell protein production and brewery wastewater treatment.

As global fisheries decline, microbial single-cell protein (SCP) produced from brewery process water has been highlighted as a potential source of protein for sustainable animal feed. However, biotechnological investigation of SCP is difficult because of the natural variation and complexity of microbial ecology in wastewater bioreactors. In this study, we investigate microbial response across a full-scale brewery wastewater treatment plant and a parallel pilot bioreactor modified to produce an SCP product. A pyrosequencing survey of the brewery treatment plant showed that each unit process selected for a unique microbial community. Notably, flow equalization basins were dominated by Prevotella, methanogenesis effluent had the highest levels of diversity, and clarifier wet-well samples were sources of sequences for the candidate bacterial phyla of TM7 and BD1-5. Next, the microbial response of a pilot bioreactor producing SCP was tracked over 1 year, showing that two different production trials produced two different communities originating from the same starting influent. However, SCP production resulted generally in enrichment of several clades of rhizospheric diazotrophs of Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria in the bioreactor and even more so in the final product. These diazotrophs are potentially useful as the basis of a SCP product for commercial feed production.

Fermentation couples Chloroflexi and sulfate-reducing bacteria to Cyanobacteria in hypersaline microbial mats.

Past studies of hydrogen cycling in hypersaline microbial mats have shown an active nighttime cycle, with production largely from Cyanobacteria and consumption from sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). However, the mechanisms and magnitude of hydrogen cycling have not been extensively studied. Two mats types near Guerrero Negro, Mexico-permanently submerged Microcoleus microbial mat (GN-S), and intertidal Lyngbya microbial mat (GN-I)-were used in microcosm diel manipulation experiments with 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU), molybdate, ammonium addition, and physical disruption to understand the processes responsible for hydrogen cycling between mat microbes. Across microcosms, H2 production occurred under dark anoxic conditions with simultaneous production of a suite of organic acids. H2 production was not significantly affected by inhibition of nitrogen fixation, but rather appears to result from constitutive fermentation of photosynthetic storage products by oxygenic phototrophs. Comparison to accumulated glycogen and to CO2 flux indicated that, in the GN-I mat, fermentation released almost all of the carbon fixed via photosynthesis during the preceding day, primarily as organic acids. Across mats, although oxygenic and anoxygenic phototrophs were detected, cyanobacterial [NiFe]-hydrogenase transcripts predominated. Molybdate inhibition experiments indicated that SRBs from a wide distribution of DsrA phylotypes were responsible for H2 consumption. Incubation with (13)C-acetate and NanoSIMS (secondary ion mass-spectrometry) indicated higher uptake in both Chloroflexi and SRBs relative to other filamentous bacteria. These manipulations and diel incubations confirm that Cyanobacteria were the main fermenters in Guerrero Negro mats and that the net flux of nighttime fermentation byproducts (not only hydrogen) was largely regulated by the interplay between Cyanobacteria, SRBs, and Chloroflexi.

One-step assembly of Re(I) tricarbonyl 2-pyridyltetrazolato metallacalix[3]arene with aqua emission and reversible three-electron oxidation.

The reaction of 2-pyridyltetrazolate with [Re(CO)5X] (X = Cl, Br) yielded the formation of an unexpected cyclic metallacalix[3]arene, as revealed by X-ray structural studies, characterised by aqua emission and reversible three-electron oxidation.