Peripapillary atrophy area predicts the decrease of macular choroidal thickness in young adults during myopia progression.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the influence of peripapillary atrophy (PPA) area and axial elongation on the longitudinal changes in macular choroidal thickness (ChT) in young individuals with myopia. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: In this longitudinal investigation, 431 eyes-342 categorised as non-high myopia (non-HM) and 89 as HM-were examined for 2 years. Participants were examined with swept-source optical coherence tomography. The macular ChT, PPA area and axial length (AL) were measured at baseline and follow-up visits. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with ChT changes. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were analysed to ascertain the predictive capacity of the PPA area and axial elongation for the reduction in macular ChT. RESULTS: Initial measurements revealed that the average macular ChT was 240.35±56.15 µm in the non-HM group and 198.43±50.27 µm in the HM group (p<0.001). It was observed that the HM group experienced a significantly greater reduction in average macular ChT (-7.35±11.70 µm) than the non-HM group (-1.85±16.95 µm, p=0.004). Multivariate regression analysis showed that a greater reduction of ChT was associated with baseline PPA area (ß=-26.646, p<0.001) and the change in AL (ß=-35.230, p<0.001). The combination of the baseline PPA area with the change in AL was found to be effective in predicting the decrease in macular ChT, with an area under the curve of 0.741 (95% CI 0.694 to 0.787). CONCLUSION: Over 2 years, eyes with HM exhibit a more significant decrease in ChT than those without HM. Combining the baseline PPA area with the change in AL could be used to predict the decrease of macular ChT.

[Ipsilateral ureteroureterostomy. A safe alternative in complete duplicated collecting system with associated pathology]. / Uretero-ureteroanastomosis distal ipsilateral. Una alternativa segura en doble sistema renal completo con patología asociada.

In patients with complete double renal system with the involvement of only one system, there are several surgical alternatives for its resolution. Uretero-ureteral anastomosis has been presented as a good alternative, even in cases with atrophy of the affected system. OBJECTIVE: To report our experience in patients with complete double renal system with only one system affected, with the surgical technique of uretero-ureteral anastomosis. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Retrospective study of patients with double renal system with involvement of one of the systems, treated with uretero-ureteral anastomosis technique between January 2015 and May 2022. The variables of age, specific pathology of the affected system, preoperative study, days of hospitalization, postoperative complications (leakage, obstruction, infection), and follow-up time were evaluated. RESULTS: We analyzed 26 procedures in 25 patients, mean age 36.8 months (range: 8-80); 53.8% had ectopic ureter, 23% ureterocele, 11.5% sphincteric ureterocele, and 11.5% VUR of the lower system. All were studied preoperatively with urethrocystography and 65% with scintigraphy. 50% of the operated systems showed signs of renal atrophy. The average hospital stay was 2.2 days (range: 1-7). In an average follow-up of 26.5 months (range: 3-77), one patient presented leakage, no patient presented signs suggestive of obstruction, and one patient presented febrile urinary tract infection with persistent lower-grade reflux. CONCLUSION: In our experience, the uretero-ureteral anastomosis technique proved to be an easy and safe alternative to reproduce, with a success rate of 96%, 11% of grade I complications, and 4% of grade II complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification.

Characteristics of beta parapapillary atrophy in primary angle-closure suspect.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of beta parapapillary atrophy (ß-PPA) in patients with primary angle-closure suspect (PACS). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: In total, 215 and 259 eyes with PACS and non-PACS (NPACS), respectively, were enrolled in this observational, cross-sectional study. Stereoscopic fundus and optical coherence tomography images were used to characterise ß-PPA; the former was also used to measure the major ß-PPA parameters. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors correlated with the presence of ß-PPA and with ß-PPA parameters. RESULTS: The ß-PPA occurrence rates were 48.80% and 44.40% in the PACS and NPACS groups, respectively, with no significant difference between groups. Compared with that in the NPACS group, the ß-PPA area was significantly larger (p=0.005) in the PACS group, but the angular extent and maximum radial length did not differ between groups (p=0.110 and 0.657, respectively) after adjusting for age and axial length. The presence of ß-PPA was associated with older age (OR 1.057, 95% CI 1.028 to 1.088, p<0.001) and larger disc area (OR 1.716, 95% CI 1.170 to 2.517, p=0.006). A larger ß-PPA area was associated with older age (p=0.014), greater vertical cup-to-disc ratio (p=0.028), larger disc area (p<0.001) and PACS diagnosis (p=0.035). CONCLUSION: 48.80% of participants with PACS had ß-PPA, which is slightly larger than NPACS. The area of ß-PPA was larger in PACS, while the angular extent and maximum radial length did not differ between groups.

Delivering synaptic protein mRNAs via extracellular vesicles ameliorates cognitive impairment in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Synaptic dysfunction with reduced synaptic protein levels is a core feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Synaptic proteins play a central role in memory processing, learning, and AD pathogenesis. Evidence suggests that synaptic proteins in plasma neuronal-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are reduced in patients with AD. However, it remains unclear whether levels of synaptic proteins in EVs are associated with hippocampal atrophy of AD and whether upregulating the expression of these synaptic proteins has a beneficial effect on AD. METHODS: In this study, we included 57 patients with AD and 56 healthy controls. We evaluated their brain atrophy through magnetic resonance imaging using the medial temporal lobe atrophy score. We measured the levels of four synaptic proteins, including synaptosome-associated protein 25 (SNAP25), growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), neurogranin, and synaptotagmin 1 in both plasma neuronal-derived EVs and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We further examined the association of synaptic protein levels with brain atrophy. We also evaluated the levels of these synaptic proteins in the brains of 5×FAD mice. Then, we loaded rabies virus glycoprotein-engineered EVs with messenger RNAs (mRNAs) encoding GAP43 and SNAP25 and administered these EVs to 5×FAD mice. After treatment, synaptic proteins, dendritic density, and cognitive function were evaluated. RESULTS: The results showed that GAP43, SNAP25, neurogranin, and synaptotagmin 1 were decreased in neuronal-derived EVs but increased in CSF in patients with AD, and the changes corresponded to the severity of brain atrophy. GAP43 and SNAP25 were decreased in the brains of 5×FAD mice. The engineered EVs efficiently and stably delivered these synaptic proteins to the brain, where synaptic protein levels were markedly upregulated. Upregulation of synaptic protein expression could ameliorate cognitive impairment in AD by promoting dendritic density. This marks the first successful delivery of synaptic protein mRNAs via EVs in AD mice, yielding remarkable therapeutic effects. CONCLUSIONS: Synaptic proteins are closely related to AD processes. Delivery of synaptic protein mRNAs via EVs stands as a promising effective precision treatment strategy for AD, which significantly advances the current understanding of therapeutic approaches for the disease.

Development and validation of a diagnostic nomogram to evaluate tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis of IgA nephropathy.

Background: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis is associated with IgAN prognosis. However, simple tools for predicting pathological lesions of IgAN remain limited. Our objective was to develop a tool for evaluating tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis in patients with IgAN. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 410 biopsy-verified IgAN patients were included. The factors associated with the incident interstitial fibrosis or tubular atrophy in IgAN were confirmed by using logistic regression analysis. A nomogram was developed using logistic regression coefficients to evaluate tubular atrophy or interstitial fibrosis. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) and calibration curves were used to determine the discriminative ability and predictive accuracy of the nomogram. Results: In this study, the IgAN patients with tubular atrophy or interstitial fibrosis were older and had a higher percentage of males, hypertension and urinary protein excretion (UPE), with high levels of serum cystatin C, serum creatinine, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and serum C4. The eGFRcr-cys equation calculated using serum creatinine, cystatin C and UPE were considered independent influencing factors of tubular atrophy or interstitial fibrosis in patients with IgAN. Furthermore, the nomogram demonstrated good discrimination (AUC: 0.87, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.93) and calibration in the validation cohort. Conclusion: The eGFRcr-cys and UPE are associated with tubular atrophy or interstitial fibrosis in patients with IgAN. Diagnostic nomogram can predict tubular atrophy or interstitial fibrosis in IgAN.

Imaging characterization of the fellow eye in patients with unilateral polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

INTRODUCTION: New insights on polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) have shed light regarding its pathophysiology and associations. However, PCV characterization is still incomplete in Caucasians, which is due to presumed lower prevalence in this population. Features typically associated with AMD such as drusen, retinal pigmentary changes or atrophy are seen in PCV, as precursors and in the fellow eye. Pachychoroid spectrum, predisposing to PCV, also presents with chronic changes in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), such as drusen-like deposits (DLD), and in the choroid. The purpose of this study is to perform a multimodal imaging characterization of unaffected fellow eyes in a sample of Caucasian patients with unilateral PCV. METHODS: Multicenter retrospective cohort study with a sample of 55 unaffected fellow eyes from patients diagnosed with unilateral PCV confirmed by indocyanine green angiography. The sample was characterized in the baseline by color fundus photography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography. Morphological characteristics of both the retina and the choroid were evaluated. The SD-OCT of the last follow-up visit was also evaluated in order to exclude evolution to PCV or choroidal neovascularization. All images captured underwent evaluation by two independent graders. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients (median age, 74 ± 15 years) were included. After 15.5 ± 6.4 months of follow-up, only one developed disease (1.9%). Soft and/or hard drusen were present in 60% and pachydrusen in 23.6%. Pachychoroid signs were present in 47.2%, the double-layer sign in 36.4%, disruption of the RPE changes in 16.4% and RPE atrophy in 10.9%. ICGA revealed choroidal vascular dilation in 63.6% and punctiform hyperfluorescence in 52.7%. Branching vascular networks were identified in only 1.9% of cases. CONCLUSION: The identification of pachychoroid signs in the OCT and ICGA were present in over half of the cases and the presence of the double-layer sign in more than a third provide crucial insights for enhanced characterization of this pathology and deeper understanding of its pathogenesis. These findings contribute significantly to the current knowledge, offering valuable markers to discern various phases of the pathology's progression.

Evaluation of combining ultrapulse CO2 with fractional CO2 laser for the treatment of atrophic scars in Asians.

Various treatment modalities have been applied to atrophic scars. Fractional CO2 laser treatment has attracted increasingly more attention because of its quicker recovery time and fewer side effects. However, its limitation of sculpting the edge is an urgent shortcoming. In order to achieve a more effective result with fewer complications, we have integrated ultrapulse CO2 and fractional CO2 lasers to for the treatment of facial atrophic scars. The study included 25 patients (10 males and 15 females) diagnosed with moderate to severe atrophic scars between August 2020 and July 2022. All subjects underwent the same surgical treatment. The effects were assessed at baseline, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months using photographic evidence. Objective evaluation of the results was conducted using a quartile grading scale, while the subjects' satisfaction and any adverse events were also recorded. The patients in the study underwent more than two laser sessions (2-5), resulting in substantial improvement in their appearance. The time interval between each session was 3-6 months. The majority of the patients (19/25, 76%) had a significant or even excellent improvement. Any adverse events observed, such as erythema, superficial crusting, and PIH, were of a mild nature and temporary in duration. This treatment combined two CO2 lasers is an effective and safe choice for atrophic scars in Asians.

Clinicopathologic Characteristics, Etiologies, and Outcome of Secondary Oxalate Nephropathy.

OBJECTIVE: To report the clinicopathologic characteristics, prognostic indicators, prognosis, and transplant outcome of secondary oxalate nephropathy (ON). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 113 consecutive patients with secondary ON diagnosed at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, between January 1, 2001, and March 1, 2023. RESULTS: The incidence of secondary ON among all native biopsies from Mayo Clinic patients over the study period (n=11,617) was 0.97%. ON was attributed to enteric hyperoxaluria in 60% of the 113 patients (68; most commonly Roux-en-Y gastric bypass), excessive ingestion of foods high in oxalate or oxalate precursors in 23% (26) (most commonly vitamin C), and idiopathic in 17% (19). Most patients presented with acute kidney injury (AKI) (particularly in the ingestion group) or AKI on chronic kidney disease, and 53% (60 of 113) were diabetic. Calcium oxalate crystals were accompanied by acute tubular injury, inflammation, and interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. Concurrent pathologic conditions were present in 53% of the patients (60 of 113), most commonly diabetic nephropathy. After a median follow-up of 36 months, 27% of the patients (30 of 112) had kidney recovery, 19% (21 of 112) had persistent kidney dysfunction, 54% (61 of 112) had development of kidney failure, and 29% (32 of 112) died. The mean kidney survival was worse for patients with a concurrent pathologic lesion (30 months vs 96 months for those without a concurrent pathologic lesion; P<.001). Independent predictors of kidney failure were the degree of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy and nadir estimated glomerular filtration rate but not the degree of crystal deposition. After a median follow-up of 58 months in 23 patients who received kidney transplant, 4 had graft loss (due to ON in 3). The 2-, 5-, and 10-year graft survivals were 90% (18 of 20), 79% (11 of 14), and 50% (6 of 12). CONCLUSION: ON is a rare cause of AKI or AKI on chronic kidney disease. Most patients have comorbid pathologic conditions, particularly diabetic nephropathy, which worsen the prognosis. Recurrence in the renal allograft and graft loss may occur if hyperoxaluria is not controlled.

Four-Year Progression of Myopic Maculopathy in Children and Adolescents With High Myopia.

Importance: Individuals with high myopia younger than 18 years are at relatively high risk of progressively worsening myopic maculopathy. Additional studies are needed to investigate the progression of myopic maculopathy in this age group, as well as the risk factors associated with progression. Objective: To investigate the 4-year progression of myopic maculopathy in children and adolescents with high myopia, and to explore potential risk factors. Design, Setting, and Participants: This hospital-based observational study with 4-year follow-up included a total of 548 high myopic eyes (spherical power -6.00 or less diopters) of 274 participants aged 7 to 17 years. Participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination at baseline and 4-year follow-up. Myopic maculopathy was accessed by the International Photographic Classification and Grading System. The data analysis was performed from August 1 to 15, 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures: The progression of myopic maculopathy progression over 4 years and associated risk factors. Results: The 4-year progression of myopic maculopathy was found in 67 of 548 eyes (12.2%) of 274 participants (138 girls [50.4%] at baseline and 4-year follow-up) with 88 lesion changes, including new signs of the tessellated fundus in 16 eyes (18.2%), diffuse atrophy in 12 eyes (13.6%), patchy atrophy in 2 eyes (2.3%), lacquer cracks in 9 eyes (10.2%), and enlargement of diffuse atrophy in 49 eyes (55.7%). By multivariable analysis, worse best-corrected visual acuity (odds ratio [OR], 6.68; 95% CI, 1.15-38.99; P = .04), longer axial length (AL) (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.34-2.24; P < .001), faster AL elongation (OR, 302.83; 95% CI, 28.61-3205.64; P < .001), and more severe myopic maculopathy (diffuse atrophy; OR, 4.52; 95% CI, 1.98-10.30; P < .001 and patchy atrophy; OR, 3.82; 95% CI, 1.66-8.80; P = .002) were associated with myopic maculopathy progression. Conclusions and Relevance: In this observational study, the progression of myopic maculopathy was observed in approximately 12% of pediatric high myopes for 4 years. The major type of progression was the enlargement of diffuse atrophy. Risk factors for myopic maculopathy progression were worse best-corrected visual acuity, longer AL, faster AL elongation, and more severe myopic maculopathy. These findings support consideration of follow-up in these individuals and trying to identify those at higher risk for progression.

Clinical characteristics, course and prognosis of Multiple Sclerosis patients with epilepsy. A case control study: MS and epilepsy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although more common than in the general population, seizures are an atypical manifestation of multiple sclerosis (MS) and their pathophysiology is not well understood. This study aims to examine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, brain imaging findings and course of epilepsy, presenting in patients with MS. METHODS: Observational retrospective study of MS patients evaluated at a single MS reference center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, between 2011 and 2022, focusing on those who developed epilepsy (EMS). Clinical, demographic, and prognostic factors were evaluated and compared to a control group of non-epileptic MS patients (NEMS). To analyze specific epilepsy characteristics, a second control group of patients with non-lesional focal epilepsy (FNLE) was also included. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (18 women), were diagnosed with epilepsy, corresponding to a prevalence of 1.95%. Comparison of brain imaging characteristics between EMS and NEMS patients showed brain atrophy (32% vs 6.1%, p<0.01), as well as cortical (26% vs 4%, p=0.03) and juxtacortical lesions (84% vs 55%, p=0.05), were more frequent in EMS patients. However, after multivariate analysis, cortical atrophy was the only variable linked to a significant increase in risk of epilepsy (OR 24, 95%CI=2.3-200, p<0.01). No significant differences in clinical characteristics, disease activity, disability levels, response to disease modified treatment (DMT) or lack of DMT efficacy were observed between MS patients with or without epilepsy. Most patients received anti-seizure medication (ASM), and seizure control was better in EMS than in FNLE patients (92% vs 58%, p=0.022) with no differences found in drug resistance. We did not find predictors of seizure recurrence in the population studied. CONCLUSION: We observed a lower prevalence of epilepsy in this group of MS patients, compared to other reported cohorts. Although epilepsy seems to have a benign course in MS patients, cortical atrophy appears to be an important contributor to the development of secondary epilepsy in MS patients. Further investigations will be necessary to identify risk factors or biomarkers predicting increased epilepsy risk in MS.

Lobar Microbleeds in the Posterior Cortical Atrophy Syndrome: A Comparison to Typical Alzheimer's Disease.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Posterior cortical atrophy is a clinico-radiographical syndrome that presents with higher-order visual dysfunction and is most commonly due to Alzheimer's disease. Understanding factors associated with atypical presentations of Alzheimer's disease, such as posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), holds promise to shape our understanding of AD pathophysiology. Thus, we aimed to compare MRI evidence of lobar microbleeds (LMBs) in posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) syndrome to typical AD (tAD) and to assess and compare MRI evidence of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in each group. FINDINGS: We retrospectively collected clinical and MRI data from participants with PCA (n = 26), identified from an institutional PCA registry, and participants with tAD (n = 46) identified from electronic health records from a single institution. LMBs were identified on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI); the Fazekas grade of white matter disease was assessed using FLAIR images, and Boston criteria version 2.0 for cerebral amyloid angiopathy were applied to all data. The proportion of participants with PCA and LMB (7.7%) was lower than for tAD (47.8%) (p = 0.005). The frequency of "probable" CAA was similar in both groups, while "possible" CAA was more frequent in tAD (30.4%) than PCA (0%) (p = 0.001). The Fazekas grades were not different between groups. Lobar microbleeds on SWI were not more common in PCA than in typical AD. Clinicopathological investigations are necessary to confirm these findings. The factors that contribute to the posterior cortical atrophy phenotype are unknown.

[Clinical and pathological analysis of 345 cases of vulvar lichen sclerosus and a preliminary study on the frequency of maintenance treatment].

Objective: To analyze and summarize the clinical and pathological characteristics, management, and efficacy of patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) through a single center large sample study, and preliminarily to explore the frequency of maintenance treatment medication for VLS. Methods: The clinical data of VLS patients in Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from 2018 to 2021 were retrospectively collected. The clinicopathological characteristics (patients' age, course of disease, complicated disease history, family history, symptoms, signs and pathology), treatment and effects were retrospectively analyzed. The patients in the maintenance treatment stage were followed up regularly to explore the minimum frequency of individual medication to maintain the stability of the disease. Results: (1) General situation: a total of 345 patients with VLS were included in this study. The average age was (50.4±14.7) years (ranged from 8 to 84 years old), prevalence was highest in the 50-59 years group (30.1%, 104/345). Immune diseases occurred in 18.6% (33/177) of patients, 24.3% (43/177) of patients had allergic skin diseases, and 5.6% (10/177) of the patients' immediate family members had chronic vulvar pruritus or vulvar hypopigmentation. (2) Clinical features: the most common symptom was vulvar pruritus (96.1%, 196/204) among 204 patients with recorded symptoms. The most common sign was hypopigmentation of the vulva (96.3%, 206/214). The most common involved sites were labia minora (70.3%, 142/202), labia majora (67.8%, 137/202), and labial sulcus (59.4%, 120/202). The cumulative number of sites involved in 62 vulvar atrophy patients (2.7±1.1) was significantly higher than that in 152 non-atrophy patients (2.2±1.0; t=3.48, P=0.001). The course of vulvar atrophy was (9.3±8.5) years, which was significantly longer than that of non-atrophy patients [(6.6±5.6) years; t=2.04, P=0.046]. (3) Pathological features: among the 286 patients with electronic pathological sections, the most common pathological feature in the epidermis was epithelial nail process passivation (71.3%, 204/286). The common pathological features in the dermis were interstitial collagenization (84.6%, 242/286), and inflammatory cell infiltration (73.8%, 211/286). (4) Treatment: 177 patients received standardized treatment after diagnosis and were followed up regularly in our hospital. In the initial treatment stage, 26.0% (46/177) of the patients were treated with 0.05% clobetasol propionate cream, and 74.0% (131/177) of the patients were treated with 0.1% mometasone furoate ointment. The complete remission rates of the two methods were respectively 80.4% (37/46) and 74.0% (97/131), and there was no statistically significant difference (χ²=0.76, P=0.385). During maintenance treatment, 27.1% (48/177) of the patients took the medication twice a week, 35.0% (62/177) took the medication once a week, and 37.9% (67/177) took the medication once every 10 days. During follow-up after 6 months of maintenance treatment, there were no patients with recurrence of pruritus or progression of vulvar signs. Conclusions: The majority of VLS patients have itching, hypopigmentation, involvement of labia minora and labia majora, progressive atrophy, and inflammatory infiltration of dermis. Local treatments of mometasone furoate and clobetasol propionate have good initial therapeutic effects. The frequency exploration of individualized maintenance treatment could minimize the occurrence of adverse reactions when ensuring the stability of the patients' condition.

Efficacy and safety of fractional microneedle radiofrequency for atrophic acne scars: A real-world clinical study of 126 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical efficacy and safety of fractional microneedle radiofrequency (FMR) for facial atrophic acne scars in a real-world setting. METHODS: The clinical data of patients with atrophic acne scars who had received FMR therapy from February 2018 to August 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The improvement of atrophic acne scars was assessed using the ECCA Grading Scale (échelle d'évaluation clinique des cicatrices d'acné), Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), and modified Manchester Scar Scale (mMSS). Adverse reactions during FMR treatment were also recorded. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FMR for atrophic acne scars. RESULTS: A total of 126 patients with facial atrophic acne scars were included. A total of 590 FMR treatment sessions were accomplished, with each of 82 patients receiving 4 or more treatment sessions, and 1 receiving a maximum of 14 sessions. All patients showed improvement in symptoms after FMR treatment, with moderate to significant improvement (ECCA score reduction of 26%-100%) in 92 (73.0%) patients. As the number of treatment sessions increased, the ECCA score gradually decreased from an average of 85.6 before to 35.0 after FMR. The average scores for distortion, color, and visual analogue scale (VAS) of mMSS all showed certain reductions. The change in GAIS score indicated improvement after treatment, with minimal improvement in 16 patients (12.7%), good improvement in 57 patients (45.2%), significant improvement in 45 patients (35.7%), and optimal improvement in 8 patients (6.4%). The univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the long pulse width and the number of FMR treatment sessions were positively associated with clinical efficacy. Compared to the short pulse-width group (200 ms), the longer pulse-width group (300 ms) (odds ratio [OR] = 8.3, p = 0.003) and the even longer pulse-width group (400-500 ms) (OR = 52.6, p < 0.001) demonstrated stronger efficacies. Patients who received more than three treatment sessions had better outcomes compared to those who received three or fewer treatment sessions (OR = 4.0, p = 0.036). All patients experienced posttreatment transient erythema, but no crusting, infection, or blister. Six cases developed grid-like erythema around 1 month posttreatment and one case experienced hyperpigmentation, both of which resolved within 1-3 months after appropriate management. CONCLUSION: FMR is a safe and effective treatment modality for improving facial atrophic acne scars, and the number of FMR treatment sessions and pulse width are associated with clinical efficacy.

Optic Nerve MRI T2-Hyperintensity: A Nonspecific Marker of Optic Nerve Damage.

BACKGROUND: MRI abnormalities are common in optic neuropathies, especially on dedicated orbital imaging. In acute optic neuritis, optic nerve T2-hyperintensity associated with optic nerve contrast enhancement is the typical imaging finding. In chronic optic neuropathies, optic nerve T2-hyperintensity and atrophy are regularly seen. Isolated optic nerve T2-hyperintensity is often erroneously presumed to reflect optic neuritis, frequently prompting unnecessary investigations and neuro-ophthalmology consultations. Our goal was to determine the significance of optic nerve/chiasm T2-hyperintensity and/or atrophy on MRI. METHODS: Retrospective study of consecutive patients who underwent brain/orbital MRI with/without contrast at our institution between July 1, 2019, and June 6, 2022. Patients with optic nerve/chiasm T2-hyperintensity and/or atrophy were included. Medical records were reviewed to determine the etiology of the T2-hyperintensity and/or atrophy. RESULTS: Four hundred seventy-seven patients (698 eyes) were included [mean age 52 years (SD ±18 years); 57% women]. Of the 364 of 698 eyes with optic nerve/chiasm T2-hyperintensity without atrophy, the causes were compressive (104), inflammatory (103), multifactorial (49), glaucoma (21), normal (19), and other (68); of the 219 of 698 eyes with optic nerve/chiasm T2-hyperintensity and atrophy, the causes were compressive (57), multifactorial (40), inflammatory (38), glaucoma (33), normal (7), and other (44); of the 115 of 698 eyes with optic nerve/chiasm atrophy without T2-hyperintensity, the causes were glaucoma (34), multifactorial (21), inflammatory (13), compressive (11), normal (10), and other (26). Thirty-six eyes with optic nerve/chiasm T2-hyperintensity or atrophy did not have evidence of optic neuropathy or retinopathy on ophthalmologic examination, and 17 eyes had clinical evidence of severe retinopathy without primary optic neuropathy. CONCLUSIONS: Optic nerve T2-hyperintensity or atrophy can be found with any cause of optic neuropathy and with severe chronic retinopathy. These MRI findings should not automatically prompt optic neuritis diagnosis, workup, and treatment, and caution is advised regarding their use in the diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis. Cases of incidentally found MRI optic nerve T2-hyperintensity and/or atrophy without a known underlying optic neuropathy or severe retinopathy are rare. Such patients should receive an ophthalmologic examination before further investigations.

Valproate-induced hyperammonemia, neuroleptic sensitivity, and cerebellar atrophy-A clinical conundrum in the management of bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Treatment of bipolar disorder (BD) involves complexities especially when patients come with significant sensitivity to various psychotropic medications and comorbidities. The following cases aim to recapitulate and discuss some of such situations. CASES: Case 1: A 36-year-old man with intellectual development disorder and BD experienced catatonia, seizures, and hyperammonemia following valproate administration. Treatment involved electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and a tailored medication regimen, ultimately leading to stability. Case 2: A 63-year-old man with long-standing BD exhibited resistance to lithium and valproate of late, having co-existing essential tremors and cerebellar atrophy. Multiple medication trials led to side effects, requiring ECT for symptom improvement, followed by a carefully adjusted maintenance regimen. CONCLUSION: Medication side effects can pose major challenges in treatment of BD. Comprehensive evaluation and monitoring are essential. ECT can prove valuable in such cases. There is pressing need to develop more safer treatment alternatives, especially considering the progressively ageing society.

Clinical and MRI characterization of apraxic syndrome in corticobasal degeneration: A single-case study.

Objective: To identify the cortical and subcortical distribution of atrophy and the disorganization of white matter bundles underlying the apraxic disorders in a patient with corticobasal degeneration (CBD). Method: Patient underwent appropriate neuropsychological tasks aimed at identifying the nature of the apraxic disorder and morphometric structural MRI with whole-brain voxel-wise analysis. Results: Progressive limbkinetic apraxia (LKA) with onset in the right upper limb with subsequent extension to the limbs, trunk, orofacial district, and eye movements was documented, associated with element of ideomotor apraxia (IMA). The MRI study showed grey matter atrophy extending to much of the frontal cortex bilaterally, including the precentral cortex, and into the inferior parietal regions. Caudate and putamen were involved on the left. Significant clusters of white matter atrophy were found in the bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF) and corpus callosum (CC). Sensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were normal. Conclusion: Previous observations in CBD indicate lack of inhibitory control from the sensory to the primary motor cortex with dysfunctional frontoparietal and cortico-motoneuron projections. Our neuroimaging data are partially consistent with these observations suggesting that the apraxic disorder in our patient might be produced by the disconnection of the primary motor cortex from the parietal areas that prevents selection and control of muscle movements, in the presence of preserved cortico-motoneuron as demonstrated by normal PEM. Apraxic disorders in CBD are high-level deficits of movement control that spare the motoneuron.

Associations Between Cognitive Impairment and Neuroimaging in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease which commonly involves cognitive dysfunction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have shown that patients with MS (pwMS) have diffuse patterns of brain atrophy, however, the relationship between the presentation of cognitive dysfunction and brain tissue loss remains understudied. Given the integral function of thalamus as a central nervous system relay center and its involvement in various brain circuits, thalamic atrophy may play a key role in the development and progression of cognitive dysfunction. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between cognitive impairment in pwMS and thalamic atrophy. METHODS: A total of 121 pwMS who had neuropsychological testing and quantitative MRI within 1 year of each were retrospectively identified. Grouped LASSO linear regression with 10-fold cross validation was used to estimate each neuropsychological test score with thalamic volume as the focal predictor and all other demographic and MRI metrics as covariates. RESULTS: Rates of impairment ranged from 19% to 44%. Results showed notable associations between thalamic volume and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (ß = 0.11), Brief Visuospatial Memory Test, delayed (ß = 0.12), California Verbal Learning Test, delayed and total (ß = 0.24 and ß = 0.15 respectively), and Trail Making Test Part A (ß = -0.01), after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate an independent association between thalamic volumes and processing speed and memory performance, after accounting for demographic, clinical, and other MRI variables, among pwMS.

Occurrence of Dry Eye Disease in Patients With Concomitant Strabismus: A Preliminary Cross-sectional Analysis.

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of strabismus on dry eye parameters. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the preliminary assessment of ocular parameters related to dry eye disease was performed in patients with untreated concomitant strabismus. In total, 204 patients with concomitant strabismus and 125 volunteers without strabismus (4 to 30 years old, 170 male and 159 female) were enrolled. The Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire (OSDI) was administered, and ocular surface was examined using the Oculus Keratograph 5M (Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH) to collect data on tear film break-up time (TBUT), ocular redness index (based on bulbar conjunctival blood vessel engorgement), and meibomian gland atrophy. Subgroup analysis was performed based on strabismus type (concomitant exotropia, concomitant esotropia, and non-strabismus); age (juvenile versus adults age > 18 years); and 5- to 10-year and 10- to 20-year strabismus course, according to an age of 12 years. RESULTS: Concomitant exotropia and esotropia were reported in 134 and 70 patients, respectively. A total of 125 healthy volunteers were recruited. The three groups showed significant differences in the ocular redness index (right eye: P = .012, left eye: P = .018). In contrast, other parameters were not significantly different. Similarly, no statistical differences in ocular surface indicators were observed when patients were divided by age (P > .05 for all) and the 5- to 10-year and 10- to 20-year strabismus course. The meibomian gland showed varying degrees of atrophy in both the strabismus and non-strabismus groups. CONCLUSIONS: Strabismus does not affect tear film stability with age in this cohort with constant strabismus up to 30 years, indicating that strabismus may not increase the risk of dry eye disease. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024;61(1):30-37.].

Effect of Late-Stage Meniere's Disease and Vestibular Functional Impairment on Hippocampal Atrophy.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated correlations among clinical features, degree of inner ear endolymphatic hydrops (EH), and hippocampal volume (HV) in different stages of Meniere's disease (MD). METHODS: From February 2021 to April 2022, clinical data were collected from 99 patients (39 males, 60 females, mean age: 50.4 ± 10.0 [range: 26-69] years) with unilateral MD admitted to the Department of Vertigo Disease of Shandong ENT Hospital. The left and right ears were affected in 64 and 35 patients, respectively. There were 50 and 49 cases in early (Stages 1, 2) and late stages (Stages 3, 4), respectively. Fifty healthy participants were included as controls. Audiovestibular function test results, EH grading using gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and HV determined on MRI were analyzed for patients at different stages of MD. RESULTS: Between-group comparisons of early and late MD revealed significant differences in the disease course, vestibular function (VF), degree of EH, and HV. There were no significant between-group differences based on age, sex, affected side, subjective degree of dizziness, hospital anxiety, or depression. Mean HV in patients with early-stage MD was correlated with the canal paresis value of the caloric test and pure tone hearing threshold, HV in late-stage patients was correlated with vestibular EH. CONCLUSION: Patients with late-stage MD exhibited severe auditory and VF impairments, increased EH, and atrophy of the HV. More advanced disease was associated with greater vestibular damage and degree of EH. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:410-418, 2024.

An Overlooked Manifestation of Hypercortisolism: Cerebral Cortical Atrophy and Challenges in Identifying the Etiology of Hypercortisolism - A Report of 2 Pediatric Cases.

INTRODUCTION: Endogenous Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a rare, severe disease that can cause multiple systemic involvements and behavioral problems due to excessive cortisol production. Structural changes can be noted in the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of these cases. CASES: A 9-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy were admitted with hypercortisolism. In the female patient, altered consciousness was prominent along with cerebral and cerebellar brain atrophy, and findings indicating posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome were detected in the brain MRI. Although the male patient's neurological examination was normal, significant cerebral atrophy was seen in the brain MRI. Case 1 was diagnosed as having ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS) due to a thymic carcinoid tumor. Case 2 underwent a pulmonary lobectomy upon detection of a bronchial lesion in the Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT scan while being examined for EAS due to a lack of suppression in the high-dose dexamethasone suppression test. However, hypercortisolism persisted despite the removal of the bronchial lesion, and subsequently, a diagnosis of Cushing's disease was established following bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling. DISCUSSION: Endogenous hypercortisolism may cause brain atrophy of varying severity. The central nervous system findings can be overlooked in children with CS. More comprehensive studies are needed to better understand the behavioral changes caused by the effects on the brain and to evaluate whether these changes are reversible. In addition, identifying the source of hypercortisolism can be difficult due to a lack of experience related to the rarity of the disease in children.