Retinal layer thinning for monitoring disease-modifying treatment in relapsing multiple sclerosis-Evidence for applying a rebaselining concept.

BACKGROUND: Employing a rebaselining concept may reduce noise in retinal layer thinning measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: From an ongoing prospective observational study, we included patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS), who had OCT scans at disease-modifying treatment (DMT) start (baseline), 6-12 months after baseline (rebaseline), and ⩾12 months after rebaseline. Mean annualized percent loss (aL) rates (%/year) were calculated both from baseline and rebaseline for peripapillary-retinal-nerve-fiber-layer (aLpRNFLbaseline/aLpRNFLrebaseline) and macular-ganglion-cell-plus-inner-plexiform-layer (aLGCIPLbaseline/aLGCIPLrebaseline) by mixed-effects linear regression models. RESULTS: We included 173 RMS patients (mean age 31.7 years (SD 8.8), 72.8% female, median disease duration 15 months (12-94) median baseline-to-last-follow-up-interval 37 months (18-71); 56.6% moderately effective DMT (M-DMT), 43.4% highly effective DMT (HE-DMT)). Both mean aLpRNFLbaseline and aLGCIPLbaseline significantly increased in association with relapse (0.51% and 0.26% per relapse, p < 0.001, respectively) and disability worsening (1.10% and 0.48%, p < 0.001, respectively) before baseline, but not with DMT class. Contrarily, neither aLpRNFLrebaseline nor aLGCIPLrebaseline was dependent on relapse or disability worsening before baseline, while HE-DMT significantly lowered aLpRNFLrebaseline (by 0.31%, p < 0.001) and aLGCIPLrebaseline (0.25%, p < 0.001) compared with M-DMT. CONCLUSIONS: Applying a rebaselining concept significantly improves differentiation of DMT effects on retinal layer thinning by avoiding carry-over confounding from previous disease activity.

Time to glaucoma progression detection by optical coherence tomography and visual field in glaucoma individuals of African descent.

PURPOSE: To examine the time to glaucoma progression detection by retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) and visual field (VF) among African descent (AD) individuals. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Setting: Multi-center. STUDY POPULATION: We included AD glaucoma eyes from DIGS/ADAGES with ≥2-year/5-visits of optic nerve head RNFLT and 24-2 VF examinations. Intervention or Observation Procedure: Rates of VF mean deviation (MD) and RNFLT worsening were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models, and longitudinal data was simulated using the variability estimates. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The simulated time to detect trend-based glaucoma progression was assessed with assumed rates of VF MD and RNFLT change derived from the cohort (25th, 50th, 75th percentile [p25, median, p75] slopes and mean slopes). Severity-stratified analyses were also performed. RESULTS: We included 184 eyes from 128 AD subjects (mean baseline age: 63.4 years; VF MD: -4.2 dB, RNFLT: 80.2 µm). The p25, median, mean and p75 rates of change were -0.43, -1.01, -1.15 and -1.64 µm/year for RNFLT, and 0.00, -0.21, -0.30 and -0.51 dB/year for VF MD, respectively. Compared to VF MD, RNFLT showed an overall shorter mean time to progression detection (time difference: 0.4-1.7 years), with the mean rates showing the largest difference (RNFLT: 5.2 years vs. VF MD: 6.9 years). Similarly, we found an overall shorter time to detect RNFLT progression, compared to that of VF MD progression, in mild glaucoma eyes (≥1 year earlier) and in moderate-advanced glaucoma eyes (∼0.5 year earlier). CONCLUSIONS: Computer simulation showed potentially shorter time to detect RNFLT progression than VF MD progression in AD eyes. Our findings support the importance of using RNFLT to detect progressive glaucoma in AD individuals.

Corneal Epithelial Thickness in Sjogren's Disease: A Pilot Study.

Purpose: This study was to assess corneal epithelial thickness (CET) in patients with Sjogren's disease (SjD). Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of SjD patients from September 2021 to January 2022. Patient demographics, unanesthetized Schirmer's test, serologic markers, and symptoms as measured by the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) were reviewed. Epithelial thickness from both eyes was measured using anterior segment OCT at the central 3mm and concentric 5mm, 7mm, and 9mm zones for the superior, temporal, inferior, and nasal corneal quadrants. Associations between corneal epithelial thickness with patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and symptoms were evaluated using regression models. Results: Fifteen SjD patients (100% female) were included with a mean age of 58.4 years. Patients with Sjogren's disease had a significantly thinner superior corneal epithelium compared to the inferior epithelium (mean 47.7mm vs 53.1mm, p = 0.001). The epithelial thickness mean standard deviation (MSD) was significantly inversely correlated with the unanesthetized Schirmer test (r=-0.39, p = 0.005), suggesting that an overall variability of CET correlates with decreased aqueous tear production. SS-A, SS-B, ANA, and RF positivity were not associated with any measures of CET. Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that there is significant superior versus inferior thinning of corneal epithelium in Sjogren's patients. There was a significant correlation between variability of corneal epithelial thickness and decreased tear production in Sjogren's patients. Further larger studies are needed to understand the relationship of CET with objective and subjective measurements of ocular surface disease.

Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography: Characteristic hints for the diagnosis of scarring alopecia due to lupus erythematodes: A preliminary study.

INTRODUCTION: Lupus erythematosus (LE) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease, that can affect the skin to varying degree. In particular, discoid LE (DLE) and the rare form of lupus panniculitis/profundus are associated with scarring alopecia. The heterogeneity of the clinical, dermatoscopic, and histologic presentation poses a major challenge to the clinician in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of other forms of scarring alopecia. OBJECTIVE: While noninvasive imaging techniques using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) have proven to be helpful in the diagnosis of scarring alopecia in the context of LE, this study aimed to investigate line-field confocal OCT (LC-OCT) to identify characteristic features of cicatricial alopecia in LE. METHODS: Fifteen patients with cicatricial alopecia in LE were included and the most affected/inflamed areas of the scalp were prospectively examined. In analogy to histopathology and previously reported criteria in RCM, all images were evaluated according to seven established criteria and underwent descriptive analyses. RESULTS: LC-OCT revealed characteristic features of cicatricial alopecia, such as lymphocytic interface dermatitis (14/15; 93.3%) and basal cell vacuolization (13/15; 86.7%). The most impressive feature was the occurrence of prominent hyperreflective fibers in 14/15 patients (93.3%). CONCLUSION: LC-OCT imaging can noninvasively detect morphologic criteria such as lymphocytic and vacuolar interface dermatitis of cicatricial alopecia due to LE. In particular, the presence of hyperreflective collagen fibers appears to be a characteristic easily recognizable feature that may facilitate differential diagnosis with other forms of cicatricial alopecia. Further studies are mandatory to differentiate other forms of scarring alopecia.

Understanding the flow behavior around marine biofilms.

In vitro platforms capable of mimicking the hydrodynamic conditions prevailing in natural aquatic environments have been previously validated and used to predict the fouling behavior on different surfaces. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has been used to predict the shear forces occurring in these platforms. In general, these predictions are made for the initial stages of biofilm formation, where the amount of biofilm does not affect the flow behavior, enabling the estimation of the shear forces that initial adhering organisms have to withstand. In this work, we go a step further in understanding the flow behavior when a mature biofilm is present in such platforms to better understand the shear rate distribution affecting marine biofilms. Using 3D images obtained by Optical Coherence Tomography, a mesh was produced and used in CFD simulations. Biofilms of two different marine cyanobacteria were developed in agitated microtiter plates incubated at two different shaking frequencies for 7 weeks. The biofilm-flow interactions were characterized in terms of the velocity field and shear rate distribution. Results show that global hydrodynamics imposed by the different shaking frequencies affect biofilm architecture and also that this architecture affects local hydrodynamics, causing a large heterogeneity in the shear rate field. Biofilm cells located in the streamers of the biofilm are subjected to much higher shear values than those located on the bottom of the streamers and this dispersion in shear rate values increases at lower bulk fluid velocities. This heterogeneity in the shear force field may be a contributing factor for the heterogeneous behavior in metabolic activity, growth status, gene expression pattern, and antibiotic resistance often associated with nutrient availability within the biofilm.

Application of novel non-invasive ophthalmic imaging to visualize peripapillary wrinkles, retinal folds and peripapillary hyperreflective ovoid mass-like structures associated with elevated intracranial pressure.

Background: Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition, for which clinically useful non-invasive measures have been elusive, in some cases due to their inadequate sensitivity and specificity. Our aim was to evaluate novel non-invasive ophthalmic imaging of selected pathological features seen in elevated ICP, namely peripapillary hyperreflective ovoid mass-like structures (PHOMS), peripapillary wrinkles (PPW) and retinal folds (RF) as potential biomarkers of elevated ICP. Methods: This single-center pilot study included subjects with untreated or incompletely treated high ICP. The retinas of these subjects were evaluated with averaged en-face optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT retinal cross-sections (OCT B-scans), adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO), and fundus photos. Results: Seven subjects were included in the study. 6 subjects with high ICP (5 idiopathic intracranial hypertension, 1 medication induced, 30.8 ± 8.6 years, 75% female, 5 with papilledema) and 1 control (20-25 years) were included. PHOMS, PPW and RF were present in all subjects with papilledema, but neither in the high ICP subject without papilledema nor in the control subject. Averaged en-face OCT scans and AOSLO were more sensitive for PPW and RF than OCT B-scans and commercial fundus photos. Conclusion: PPW, RF and PHOMS volume have potential as non-invasive biomarkers of ICP. Novel imaging modalities may improve sensitivity. However, lack of automated image acquisition and processing limits current widespread adoption in clinical settings. Further research is needed to validate these structures as biomarkers for elevated ICP and improve clinical utility.

Invasive and Non-invasive Assessment of Non-culprit Coronary Lesions in Patients with ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

The angiographic evidence of coronary multivessel disease (MVD) increases significantly the risk of recurrent ischemic events in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Recent evidence suggests that a complete revascularization strategy should be considered the standard of care in these patients and performed for significant non-culprit lesions (NCLs) after careful assessment of the individual risk-benefit ratio. However, the optimal timing and the modality for the assessment of NCLs is not fully standardized. This brief review aims to summarise the management of MVD in patients with STEMI and to provide an overview of the principal techniques used to guide revascularisation in this high-risk clinical setting.

Uncovering a hidden danger: a case report of diffuse coronary spasm concealing spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

BACKGROUND: Over recent years, spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) has emerged as a no longer rare cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). On the other hand, coronary artery spasm (CAS) is the main cause of ischemic heart disease with non-obstructive coronary lesions. Clinical manifestations of both vary from stable angina to ACS or, rarely, sudden cardiac death. These entities may be underdiagnosed on a coronary angiography. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a young woman presenting with acute chest pain and no coronary risk factors. Angiography revealed a focal subcritical stenosis of the right coronary artery. Coronary wiring resulted in diffuse and critical spasm. However, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) showed extensive SCAD. She was therefore treated conservatively. On the fourth day, cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) excluded disease progression, and then she was discharged on medical therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Combined IVI plays a vital role in providing accurate and detailed visualization of the coronary anatomy and thus allowing for more precise diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment planning. CCTA can be considered a valuable tool in the noninvasive follow-up of SCAD.

Diabetic retinopathy: New concepts of screening, monitoring, and interventions.

The science of diabetes care has progressed to provide a better understanding of the oxidative and inflammatory lesions and pathophysiology of the neurovascular unit within the retina (and brain) that occur early in diabetes, even prediabetes. Screening for retinal structural abnormalities, has traditionally been performed by fundus examination or color fundus photography; however, these imaging techniques detect the disease only when there are sufficient lesions, predominantly hemorrhagic, that are recognized to occur late in the disease process after significant neuronal apoptosis and atrophy, as well as microvascular occlusion with alterations in vision. Thus, interventions have been primarily oriented toward the later-detected stages, and clinical trials, while demonstrating a slowing of the disease progression, demonstrate minimal visual improvement and modest reduction in the continued loss over prolonged periods. Similarly, vision measurement utilizing charts detects only problems of visual function late, as the process begins most often parafoveally with increasing number and progressive expansion, including into the fovea. While visual acuity has long been used to define endpoints of visual function for such trials, current methods reviewed herein are found to be imprecise. We review improved methods of testing visual function and newer imaging techniques with the recommendation that these must be utilized to discover and evaluate the injury earlier in the disease process, even in the prediabetic state. This would allow earlier therapy with ocular as well as systemic pharmacologic treatments that lower the and neuro-inflammatory processes within eye and brain. This also may include newer, micropulsed laser therapy that, if applied during the earlier cascade, should result in improved and often normalized retinal function without the adverse treatment effects of standard photocoagulation therapy.

Multimodal phenotyping of foveal hypoplasia in albinism and albino-like conditions: a pediatric case series with adaptive optics insights.

Aim of the present study is to evaluate the relationship between genetic and phenotypic data in a series of patients affected by grade I and II of foveal hypoplasia with stable fixation and good visual acuity using multimodal imaging techniques. All patients underwent complete clinical and instrumental assessment including structural Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), OCT Angiography and Adaptive Optics (AO) imaging. Central macular thickness (CMT), inner nuclear layer (INL), vessel density in superficial capillary plexus were the main variables evaluated with OCT technology. Cone density, cone spacing, cone regularity, cone dispersion and angular density were the parameters evaluated with AO. Genetic evaluation and trio exome sequencing were performed in all affected individuals. Eight patients (3 males and 5 females) with a mean age of 12.62 years (range 8-18) were enrolled. The mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.18 ± 0.13 logMAR, mean CMT was 291.9 ± 16.6 µm and INL was 26.2 ± 4.6 µm. The absence of a foveal avascular zone (FAZ) was documented by examination of OCT-A in seven patients in the superficial capillary plexus. However, there was a partial FAZ in the deep plexus in patients P5 and P8. Of note, all the patients presented with major retinal vessels clearly crossing the foveal center. All individuals exhibited a grade I or II of foveal hypoplasia. In 5 patients molecular analyses showed an extremely mild form of albinism caused by compound heterozygosity of a TYR pathogenic variant and the hypomorphic p.[Ser192Tyr;Arg402Gln] haplotype. One patient had Waardenburg syndrome type 2A caused by a de novo variant in MITF. Two patients had inconclusive molecular analyses. All the patients displayed abnormalities on OCT-A. Photoreceptor count did not differ from normal subjects according to the current literature, but qualitative analysis of AO imaging showed distinctive features likely related to an abnormal pigment distribution in this subset of individuals. In patients with foveal hypoplasia, genetic and multimodal imaging data, including AO findings, can help understand the physiopathology of the foveal hypoplasia phenotype. This study confirms that cone density and visual function can both be preserved despite the absence of a pit.

Suppress the cell growth of cancer stem-like cells (NTERA-2) using Sox2-Oct4 decoy oligodeoxynucleotide-encapsulated niosomes-zinc hybrid nanocarriers under X-irradiation.

Sox2 and Oct4 dysregulations could significantly increase in the cancer stem cell (CSC) population in some cancer cells and resistance to common treatments. In this study, the synergistic effects of Sox2-Oct4 decoy oligodeoxynucleotides-encapsulated Niosomes-zinc hybrid nanocarriers along with X-irradiation conditions as a combinational therapy tool were investigated in the treatment of cancer-like stem cells (NTERA-2). The NTERA-2 cell line known as a cancer-like stem cell line was used in this investigation. Sox2-Oct4 decoy oligodeoxynucleotides were designed based on the sequence of the Sox2 promoter and synthesized. Physicochemical characteristics of ODNs-encapsulated niosomes-zinc hybrid nanocarriers (NISM@BSA-DEC-Zn) investigated with FT-IR, DLS, FESEM, and ODNs release kinetic estimation assays. Further investigations such as hemolysis, uptake, cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle, and scratch repair tests were performed. All the above assays were completed with and without X-ray exposure conditions (fractionated 2Gy). Physicochemical characteristics results showed that the Niosomes-Zn nanocarriers were successfully synthesized. NISM@BSA-DEC-Zn was efficiently taken up by NTERA-2 cells and significantly inhibited cell growth, increased apoptosis, and reduced cell migration in both conditions (with and without X-ray exposure). Furthermore, NISM@BSA-DEC-Zn treatment resulted in G1 and G2/M cell cycle arrest without and with X-irradiation, respectively. The prepared nanocarrier system can be a promising tool for drug delivery in cancer treatment. Decoy ODN strategy along with zinc nanoparticles could increase the sensitivity of cancer cells toward irradiation, which has the potential for combinational cancer therapies.

Purtscher Retinopathy Resulting from a Car Crash Accident-Multimodal Imaging Value.

Purtscher retinopathy is a rare but severe sight-threatening eye condition that mostly occurs in middle-aged men after chest compression or head injury. In cases such as acute pancreatitis, connective tissue disorders, kidney failure or COVID-19 infection with similar ocular findings but no history of trauma, a diagnosis of Purtscher-like retinopathy is made. We present a case of a 72-year-old female with typical symptoms of Purtscher retinopathy in both eyes after a car crash accident. Although the pathophysiology of the disease is not fully understood, the main cause of Purtscher retinopathy seems to be an embolic occlusion of the precapillary arterioles which supply the superficial peripapillary capillaries. Activation of the C5a component of the complement predisposes the leukocytes to aggregation, which obstructs blood flow. The main symptom of Purtscher retinopathy is sudden, painless deterioration of vision which occurs up to 48 h after the injury. In most patients, the changes observed in the fundus of the eye resolve within several months, and visual acuity slowly improves, sometimes even returning to the state from before the injury. However, risk factors such as older age, high hyperopia, and late treatment implementation can make the prognosis less favorable.

OCT Angiography of the Retina and the Choroid in the Macula in Patients with Normal Tension Glaucoma and Primary Open Angle Glaucoma.

The aim of this study was to compare vessel density (VD) in the retina and choroid in eyes with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and controls. Patients with POAG, NTG and controls underwent OCT scanning of the macula and the disc followed by 6 × 6 mm macula OCT angiography (OCTA) imaging. Global and hemifield VD were recorded for the superficial (SVP) and deep (DVP) vascular plexus and the choriocapillaris (CC). The OCT thickness of the nerve fiber layer (NFL) and ganglion cell layer (GCC) was also measured. Data from 65 POAG, 33 NTG and 40 control eyes matched for age were analyzed. Mean SVP VD was lower in NTG and POAG eyes compared to controls (38.8 ± 5.3, 40.7 ± 6.8 and 48.5 ± 4.0%, p < 0.001). Mean DVP VD was lower in NTG and POAG eyes compared to controls (43.1 ± 6.1, 44.5 ± 7.6 and 48.6 ± 5.8%, p = 0.002). There was no difference in SVP VD or DVP VD between the glaucoma groups (p > 0.050). No difference was noted in CC VD between the groups (68.3 ± 2.3, 67.6 ± 3.7 and 68.5 ± 2.6%, p = 0.287). Lower SVP and DVP VD was seen in eyes with glaucoma compared to normal eyes. NTG and POAG eyes had similar VD loss. Eyes with glaucoma manifested similar CC VD compared to controls.

Robust Ultrafast Projection Pipeline for Structural and Angiography Imaging of Fourier-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography.

The current methods to generate projections for structural and angiography imaging of Fourier-Domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) are significantly slow for prediagnosis improvement, prognosis, real-time surgery guidance, treatments, and lesion boundary definition. This study introduced a robust ultrafast projection pipeline (RUPP) and aimed to develop and evaluate the efficacy of RUPP. RUPP processes raw interference signals to generate structural projections without the need for Fourier Transform. Various angiography reconstruction algorithms were utilized for efficient projections. Traditional methods were compared to RUPP using PSNR, SSIM, and processing time as evaluation metrics. The study used 22 datasets (hand skin: 9; labial mucosa: 13) from 8 volunteers, acquired with a swept-source optical coherence tomography system. RUPP significantly outperformed traditional methods in processing time, requiring only 0.040 s for structural projections, which is 27 times faster than traditional summation projections. For angiography projections, the best RUPP variation took 0.15 s, making it 7518 times faster than the windowed eigen decomposition method. However, PSNR decreased by 41-45% and SSIM saw reductions of 25-74%. RUPP demonstrated remarkable speed improvements over traditional methods, indicating its potential for real-time structural and angiography projections in FD-OCT, thereby enhancing clinical prediagnosis, prognosis, surgery guidance, and treatment efficacy.

The Role of Line-Field Confocal Optical Coherence Tomography in Detecting Extramammary Paget Disease Recurrences: A Pilot Diagnostic Study.

Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is an uncommon adenocarcinoma of apocrine gland-rich areas, presenting significant diagnostic challenges due to its nonspecific clinical appearance and frequent misidentification as benign, inflammatory skin conditions. Traditional diagnostic methods such as biopsy are invasive and uncomfortable, often required repeatedly due to high recurrence rates. Dermoscopy and non-invasive imaging techniques have been used but provide limited diagnostic accuracy due to their constraints in depth penetration and resolution. Recent advancements in imaging technologies, such as line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT), show promise in enhancing diagnostic precision while minimizing invasive procedures. LC-OCT merges high-resolution imaging with deep penetration capabilities, capturing detailed horizontal and vertical skin images akin to histopathology. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of LC-OCT in detecting EMPD and its recurrence in 17 clinically suspicious anogenital regions, belonging to six patients. Data were collected prospectively at the patient's bedside by an LC-OCT expert with poor training for EMPD, and, then, reviewed retrospectively by an independent LC-OCT expert with adequate training for EMPD and no concerns about time. The prospective examination yielded 64.7% accuracy (11 true results out of 17 total cases), 71.4% sensitivity (10 true positives out of 14 actual positives), and 33.3% specificity (1 true negative out of 3 actual negatives). The retrospective analysis achieved 94.1% accuracy (16 true results out of 17 total cases), 100% sensitivity (14 true positives out of 14 actual positives), and 66.7% specificity (2 true positives out of 3 actual positives), with the only false positive case being a difficult-to-diagnose concomitant presentation of a lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. Despite the need for specialized training, our results suggest that LC-OCT represents a valuable tool for accurately identifying EMPD and improving its management by reducing unnecessary biopsies. Further studies are needed to standardize its clinical application.

Volumetric Biomarkers of Visual Outcome after Surgical Repair in Lamellar Macular Holes.

BACKGROUND: We investigate novel OCT parameters, based on the volumetric analysis of lamellar macular holes (LMHs), as prognostic indicators for visual outcomes after surgery. METHODS: LMHs were divided into degenerative LMHs (D-LMHs) and ERM-foveoschisis (ERM-FS). Pre-operative clinical, OCT linear and volumetric parameters were collected. Volumes were obtained using the OCT automatic segmentation, such as central retinal volume (CRV) and outer nuclear layer (ONL) volume, or using a novel method to calculate volumes of specific LMH entities like epiretinal proliferation (ERP), foveal cavity (FC) in D-LMH and schitic volume (SV) in ERM-FS. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis evaluated the factors predictive for post-operative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). RESULTS: We included 31 eyes of 31 patients (14 D-LMH,17 ERM-FS). A pre-operative BCVA ≤ 0.48 logMAR was a predictor for achieving ≤0.30 logMAR at final follow-up. A lower pre-operative BCVA (p = 0.008) and the presence of ERP (p = 0.002) were associated with worse visual outcomes post-surgery. Moreover, novel pre-operative OCT parameters significantly associated with worse post-operative BCVA, such as increased FC volume (p = 0.032) and lower CRV (p = 0.034) in the D-LMH subtype and lower CRV (p < 0.001) and ERP volume (p < 0.001), higher SV (p < 0.001) and foveal ONL volume (p < 0.001) in the ERM-FS subtype. CONCLUSIONS: Novel volumetric OCT parameters can be prognostic indicators of visual outcome following surgery in LMHs.

Innovations in Intracoronary Imaging: Present Clinical Practices and Future Outlooks.

Engaging intracoronary imaging (IC) techniques such as intravascular ultrasound or optical coherence tomography enables the precise description of vessel architecture. These imaging modalities have well-established roles in providing guidance and optimizing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) outcomes. Furthermore, IC is increasingly recognized for its diagnostic capabilities, as it has the unique capacity to reveal vessel wall characteristics that may not be apparent through angiography alone. This manuscript thoroughly reviews the contemporary landscape of IC in clinical practice. Focused on current methodologies, the review explores the utility and advancements in IC techniques. Emphasizing their role in clarifying coronary pathophysiology, guiding PCI, and optimizing patient outcomes, the manuscript critically evaluates the strengths and limitations of each modality. Additionally, the integration of IC into routine clinical workflows and its impact on decision-making processes are discussed. By synthesizing the latest evidence, this review provides valuable insights for clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals involved in the dynamic field of interventional cardiology.

Evaluation of Selected Biometric Parameters in Cataract Patients-A Comparison between Argos® and IOLMaster 700®: Two Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography-Based Biometers.

Background and Objectives: To compare the biometry of eyes obtained with two swept-source optical coherence tomography-based biometers-Argos (A), using an individual refractive index, and IOLMaster 700 (IM), using an equivalent refractive index-for all structures. Materials and Methods: The biometry of 105 eyes of 105 patients before cataracts were analyzed in this study. Parameters such as axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and lens thickness (LT) were compared from both devices. According to the axial length measurements, patients were divided into three groups, as follows: group 1-short eyes (AL < 22.5 mm), group 2-average eyes (22.5 ≤ AL ≤ 26.0 mm), and group 3-long eyes (AL > 26.0 mm). Results: The correlation coefficiency among all compared parameters varies from R = 0.92 to R = 1.00, indicating excellent reliability of IM and A. A statistical significance in axial length was indicated in the group of short eyes (n = 26)-mean AL (A) 21.90 mm (±0.59 mm) vs. AL (IM) 21.8 mm ± (0.61 mm) (p < 0.001)-and in the group of long eyes (n = 5)-mean AL (A) 27.95 mm (±2.62 mm) vs. mean AL (IM) 28.10 mm (±2.64) (p < 0.05). In the group of average eyes (n = 74), outcomes were similar-mean AL (A) 23.56 mm (±0.70 mm) vs. mean AL (IM) 23,56 mm (±0.71 mm) (p > 0.05). The anterior chamber depth measurements were higher when obtained with Argos than with IOLMaster 700-mean ACD (A) 3.06 mm (±0.48 mm) vs. mean ACD (IM) 2.92 mm (±0.46) p < 0.001. There was no statistical significance in mean LT-mean LT (A) 4.75 mm (±0.46 mm) vs. mean LT (IM) 4.72 mm (±0.44 mm) (p = 0.054). The biometry of one eye with dense cataracts could be measured only with Argos, using the Enhanced Retinal Visualization mode. Conclusions: Axial length measurements from both devices were different in the groups of short and long eyes, but were comparable in the group of average eyes. The anterior chamber depth values obtained with Argos were higher than the measurements acquired with IOLMaster 700. These differences may be particularly important when selecting IOLs for patients with extreme AL values.