Imaging analysis of the biological parameters of the lens in patients with cortical age-related cataracts using ultrasound biomicroscopy.

BACKGROUND: The spatial position of the lens in patients with cortical age-related cataract (CARC) is unclear. We investigated a basis for the assessment of visual quality after cataract surgery by analysing the ultrasound biomicroscopic characteristics of the biological parameters of the lens in patients with CARC. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 119 patients (50 males and 69 females, totalling 238 eyes) with CARC who underwent simple cataract surgery were selected. The lens thickness (LT), axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens vault (LV), trabecular-iris angle (TIA), iris-lens angle (ILA), iris-lens contact distance (ILCD) were measured by A-scan ultrasound and ultrasound biomicroscopy. The corresponding lens position (LP) and relative lens position (RLP) were calculated. RESULTS: LP was greater in men than in women (P < 0.05), LV was smaller in men than in women (P = 0.002), ILA and ILCD were not statistically significant (P = 0.072 and P = 0.854, respectively). There were significant differences in TIA, ILA, and ILCD in the four quadrants (all P < 0.05), with a trend in the distribution of TIA: superior < inferior < nasal < temporal, ILA: nasal < inferior < temporal < superior, and ILCD: superior < temporal < inferior < nasal. CONCLUSIONS: The lens protrudes more obviously in females than in males and the lens tilts to a certain extent with the increase of age and tends to be more upward and temporal in the supine position. Therefore, trends in lens-related parameters in patients with CARC should be taken seriously.

Differences Between Angle Configurations in Different Body Positions by Ultrasound Biomicroscopy in Patients with Cortical Age-Related Cataract.

Purpose: To investigate the differences in parameters related to angle configuration and lens position in patients with cortical age-related cataract by ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in different body positions. Methods: Prospective study with 55 patients with cortical age-related cataract proposed for phacoemulsification, examined using a Compact Touch STS UBM (Quantel Medical, France). UBM bag/balloon technology was applied to measure the central anterior chamber depth (ACD) and lens vault (LV) in horizontal and vertical orientation in sitting and supine positions, angle opening distance (AOD500), trabecular iris angle (TIA) and iris lens angle (ILA) in four quadrants: superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal. Results: We found no significant difference in ACD between sitting and supine positions (p = 0.053); LV was significantly greater in the supine position (p < 0.001); AOD500 in superior and inferior quadrants were significantly longer in the sitting position (p = 0.001; p < 0.001); TIA in superior and inferior quadrants was significantly greater in the sitting position (p < 0.001; p < 0.001), and TIAmax-min was significantly smaller in the sitting position (p = 0.001); ILA in temporal quadrant was significantly larger in the sitting position (p = 0.015) and ILAmax-min was significantly smaller in the sitting position (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The anterior chamber angle was narrower and the lens was positioned more anteriorly in the supine than in the sitting position in cortical age-related cataract. Different positions may affect the angle configuration and the relative space of lens through different directions of mechanics and modes of action.

Observation of Magnetism-Induced Topological Edge State in Antiferromagnetic Topological Insulator MnBi4Te7.

Breaking time reversal symmetry in a topological insulator may lead to quantum anomalous Hall effect and axion insulator phase. MnBi4Te7 is a recently discovered antiferromagnetic topological insulator with TN ∼ 12.5 K, which is composed of an alternatively stacked magnetic layer (MnBi2Te4) and nonmagnetic layer (Bi2Te3). By means of scanning tunneling spectroscopy, we clearly observe the electronic state present at a step edge of a magnetic MnBi2Te4 layer but absent at nonmagnetic Bi2Te3 layers at 4.5 K. Furthermore, we find that as the temperature rises above TN the edge state vanishes, while the point defect induced state persists upon an increase in temperature. These results confirm the observation of magnetism-induced edge states. Our analysis based on an axion insulator theory reveals that the nontrivial topological nature of the observed edge state.

Thymol Protects against Aspergillus Fumigatus Keratitis by Inhibiting the LOX-1/IL-1ß Signaling Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of action of thymol in Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) keratitis. METHODS: The minimum inhibitory concentration of thymol against A. fumigatus was detected. To characterize the anti-inflammatory effects of thymol, mouse corneas and human corneal epithelial cells were pretreated with thymol or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) before infection with A. fumigatus spores. Slit-lamp microscopy, immunohistochemistry, myeloperoxidase detection, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting were used to assess infection. Neutrophil and macrophage recruitment, in addition to the secretion of LOX-1 and IL-1ß, were quantified to evaluate the relative contribution of thymol to the inflammatory response. RESULTS: We confirmed that the growth of A. fumigatus was directly inhibited by thymol. In contrast with the DMSO group, there was a lower degree of inflammation in the mouse corneas of the thymol-pretreated group. This was characterized by significantly lower clinical scores, less inflammatory cell infiltration, and lower expression of LOX-1 and IL-1ß. Similarly, in vitro experiments indicated that the production of LOX-1 and IL-1ß was significantly inhibited after thymol treatment, in contrast with the DMSO-pretreated group. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that thymol exerted a direct fungistatic activity on A. fumigatus. Furthermore, thymol played a protective role in fungal keratitis by inhibiting LOX-1/IL-1ß signaling pathway and reducing the recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages.

CLEC-1 Acts as a Negative Regulator of Dectin-1 Induced Host Inflammatory Response Signature in Aspergillus fumigatus Keratitis.

Purpose: C-type lectin-like receptor-1 (CLEC-1) is a member of the Dectin-1 cluster of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). It is involved in host immunity, has immunoregulatory function, and supports allograft tolerance. Our study aimed to describe the role of CLEC-1 in response to fungal keratitis, in situ, in vivo, and in vitro. Methods: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of CLEC-1 in corneas of patients with Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) keratitis. In vitro and in vivo experiments were designed in THP-1 macrophages and C57BL/6 mouse models, respectively. The expression of CLEC-1 in corneas of mice model was determined by qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence. CLEC-1 overexpression in mouse corneas was achieved by intrastromal injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. Disease response was evaluated by slit-lamp photography, clinical score, and colony forming unit (CFU). Bioluminescence imaging system image acquisition, myeloperoxidase (MPO) assays, immunofluorescence staining, qRT-PCR, and Western blot were used to investigate the role of CLEC-1. To further define the role of CLEC-1, we used lentivirus vectors to overexpress CLEC-1 or/and Dectin-1 in THP-1 macrophages. Results: The expression of CLEC-1 was increased in corneas of patients with A. fumigatus keratitis. In corneas of mice from the A. fumigatus keratitis model, the expression of CLEC-1 was decreased in the acute inflammatory stage and increased during convalescence. Following Natamycin treatment, CLEC-1 was upregulated in A. fumigatus keratitis mice. Compared with normal C57BL/6 mice, overexpression of CLEC-1 converted the characteristic susceptible response to resistance, as demonstrated by slit-lamp photography and clinical score. In vivo studies revealed decreased MPO levels and neutrophils recruitment and higher fungal load after the upregulation of CLEC-1. Compared with control corneas, CLEC-1 overexpression impaired corneal pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1ß production. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that CLEC-1 may act as a negative regulator of Dectin-1 induced host inflammatory response via suppressing neutrophils recruitment and production of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1ß production in response to A. fumigatus keratitis.

Effect of incision on visual outcomes after implantation of a trifocal diffractive IOL.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate visual acuity, corneal astigmatism and corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs) after implantation of trifocal diffractive IOLs operated with either a corneal steep-axis incision or 135° incision. METHOD: This prospective study enrolled patients randomly assigned to different groups. According to preoperative corneal astigmatism, 101 eyes of 77 patients were assigned into group A1 (0 ~ 0.50 D) or A2 (0.51 ~ 1.00 D) with a corneal steep-axis incision or group B1 (0 ~ 0.50 D) or B2 (0.51 ~ 1.00 D) with a 135° incision. Visual acuity, corneal astigmatism and corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs) were followed-up for 3 months. RESULTS: Corneal astigmatism in group A2 significantly decreased 3 months after surgery (P < 0.01) and was significantly lower than that in group B2 1 day, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively (all values of P < 0.01). The following parameters were better in group A2 than in group B2: uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA) at 1 day, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months (P = 0.00, 0.00, 0.01, 0.01, respectively);uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) at 1 day and 2 weeks (P = 0.00, 0.01); and uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA) at 1 day, 2 weeks, and 1 month postoperatively (P = 0.00, 0.01, 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: After a corneal steep-axis incision, patients with preoperative corneal astigmatism of 0.51 D to 1.00 D exhibited reduced corneal astigmatism and achieved better UIVA and early postoperative UDVA/UNVA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively Registered Trials ISRCTN10086721 , 23/06/2018.