Outcomes of Post-Cataract Surgery Endophthalmitis Managed Without Microbial Cultures.

PURPOSE: To evaluate outcomes of eyes with post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis that were managed without microbial cultures. DESIGN: This retrospective, single-center comparative cohort study identified all cases of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery presenting between February 1, 2014, and November 1, 2022. SUBJECTS: All eyes presenting with presumed endophthalmitis requiring in-office treatment with intravitreal antibiotics and either a vitreous or aqueous tap were included. METHODS: Endophthalmitis cases were divided into the "culture group" if the vitreous or aqueous specimens were sent for microbiologic sampling or into the "no culture group" if an aqueous or vitreous tap was performed but not sent for microbiologic sampling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Best corrected visual acuity (VA) 12 months following endophthalmitis presentation, incidence of retinal detachment, and need for subsequent procedures. RESULTS: Of the 232 endophthalmitis cases identified, 196 (85%) were in the "culture group" and 36 (15%) were in the "no culture group". At endophthalmitis presentation, eyes in the "culture group" had a mean (SD) logMAR VA [Snellen Equivalent] of 2.14 (0.8) [20/2760] and mean (SD) logMAR VA in the "no culture group" was 1.93 (0.8) [20/1702] (p=0.185). At 12-month follow up, mean (SD) logMAR VA for the "culture group" was 0.80 (1.0) [20/126] and 0.41 (0.5) [20/50] in the "no culture group" (adjusted difference = 0.41, 95% CI = -0.043 - 0.857, p=0.076). Twenty of 196 (10%) eyes in the "culture group" developed secondary retinal detachments within 12 months of presentation compared to 0 in the "no culture group" (p=0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Eyes with endophthalmitis following cataract surgery managed without microbiologic cultures have similar visual outcomes to eyes managed with microbiologic cultures and may be less likely to develop secondary retinal detachments. This may be an acceptable strategy to manage endophthalmitis after cataract surgery when prompt access to a microbiologic facility is unavailable.

Conditional Metastasis of Uveal Melanoma in 8091 Patients over Half-Century (51 Years) by Age Group: Assessing the Entire Population and the Extremes of Age.

Purpose: To evaluate cumulative incidence of metastasis at specific timepoints after treatment of uveal melanoma in a large cohort of patients and to provide comparison of conditional outcomes in the youngest and oldest cohorts (extremes of age). Methods: Retrospective analysis of 8091 consecutive patients with uveal melanoma at a single center over a 51-year period. The patients were categorized by age at presentation (0-29 years [n = 348, 4%], 30-59 years [n = 3859, 48%], 60-79 years [n = 3425, 42%], 80 to 99 years [n = 459, 6%]) and evaluated for nonconditional (from presentation date) and conditional (from specific timepoints after presentation) cumulative incidence of metastasis at five, 10, 20, and 30 years. Results: For the entire population of 8091 patients, five-year/10-year/20-year/30-year nonconditional cumulative incidence of metastasis was 15%/23%/32%/36%, and the conditional incidence improved to 6%/15%/25%/30% for patients who did not develop metastasis in the first three years. For the extremes of age (0-29 years and 80-99 years), the nonconditional cumulative incidence of metastasis revealed the younger cohort with superior outcomes at 8%/15%/19%/27% and 21%/29%/29%/29%, respectively (P < 0.001). The conditional incidence (at one-year and two-year timepoints with metastasis-free survival) showed persistent superior younger cohort survival (P < 0.001, P = 0.001), but no further benefit for patients with three-year metastasis-free survival at 4%/12%/16%/24% and 7%/18%/18%/18%, respectively (P = 0.09). Conclusions: Non-conditional metastasis-free survival analysis for patients with uveal melanoma revealed the youngest cohort to have significantly better survival than the oldest cohort, and this persisted into one-year and two-year conditional metastasis-free survival but diminished at the three-year conditional timepoint.

Outcomes of Laser Retinopexy for Retinal Tears in Pseudophakic Eyes with Multifocal Versus Monofocal Intraocular Lenses: A Matched Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: Performing laser retinopexy through multifocal intraocular lenses may be challenging due to aberrations of the peripheral retinal view. This study investigated the influence of multifocal versus monofocal intraocular lenses on outcomes of laser retinopexy for retinal tears. METHODS: Pseudophakic eyes (multifocal and monofocal intraocular lenses) that underwent in-office laser retinopexy for retinal tears, with a minimum follow-up of 3 months, were retrospectively analyzed. Eyes with multifocal intraocular lenses were matched to controls with monofocal intraocular lenses in a 1:2 ratio for age, gender, number, and location of retinal tears. The main outcome measure was the rate of complications. RESULTS: We included 168 eyes in the study. Fifty-six eyes (51 patients) with multifocal intraocular lenses were matched with 112 eyes (112 patients) with monofocal intraocular lenses. The mean follow-up was 26 months. Baseline characteristics were similar between two groups. No significant differences were noted in the rate of successful laser retinopexy without additional procedures (91% vs. 86% at 3 months and 79% vs. 74% during follow-up, in the multifocal intraocular lens and monofocal intraocular lens group, respectively). No significant differences were observed in the rate of subsequent rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (multifocal, 4% vs. monofocal, 6%, p=.716) or need for additional laser retinopexy for new tears (14% vs. 15%; p=.939). The surgery rates for vitreous hemorrhage (0% vs. 3%; p=.537), epiretinal membrane (2% vs. 2%; p=.553), and vitreous floaters (5% vs. 2%, p=.422) were not significantly different. Visual outcomes were also similar. CONCLUSION: Multifocal intraocular lenses did not appear to negatively impact the outcomes of in-office laser retinopexy for retinal tears.

Geographic and socioeconomic access disparities to Phase 3 clinical trials in ophthalmology in the United States.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: To identify geographic and socioeconomic variables associated with residential proximity to Phase 3 ophthalmology clinical trial sites. METHODS: The geographic location of clinical trial sites for Phase 3 clinical trials in ophthalmology was identified using ClinicalTrials.gov. Driving time from each United States (US) census tract centroid to nearest clinical trial site was calculated using real traffic patterns. Travel data were crosslinked to census-tract level public datasets from United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS). Cross-sectional multivariable regression was used to identify associations between census-tract sociodemographic factors and driving time (>60 min) from each census tract centroid to the nearest clinical trial site. RESULTS: There were 2330 unique clinical trial sites and 71,897 census tracts. Shortest median time was to retina sites [33.7 min (18.7, 70.1 min)]. Longest median time was to neuro-ophthalmology sites [119.8 min (48.7, 240.4 min)]. Driving >60 min was associated with rural tracts [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 7.60; 95% CI (5.66-10.20), p < 0.0001]; Midwest [aOR 1.84(1.15-2.96), p = 0.01], South [aOR 2.57 (1.38-4.79), p < 0.01], and West [aOR 2.52 (1.52-4.17), p < 0.001] v. Northeast; and tracts with higher visual impairment [aOR 1.07 (1.03-1.10), p < 0.001)]; higher poverty levels [4th v.1st Quartile of population below poverty, aOR 2.26 (1.72-2.98), p < 0.0001]; and lower education levels [high school v. Bachelor's degree or higher aOR 1.02 (1.00-1.03), p = 0.0072]. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant geographic and socioeconomic disparities in access to ophthalmology clinical trial sites for rural, non-Northeastern, poorer, and lower education level census tracts, and for census tracts with higher levels of self-reported visual impairment.

Multiple Internal Hernias: A Complication of Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

Introduction: Internal hernias are the most common cause of small bowel obstruction following laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (LRYGBP) with four distinct types. Herein, we report the clinical course of a patient with two independent hernias at the Petersen's space and a rarer subtype at the jejunojejunal window. A high index of suspicion for less common subtypes of internal hernias and the possibility of multiple, simultaneous internal hernias is critical. Case Description: We describe the case of a 52-year-old female with a history of LRYGBP who presented with abdominal pain and emesis due to an internal hernia at Peterson's defect, requiring subsequent laparoscopic repair. On postoperative day three, the patient presented again with recurrent abdominal pain and emesis. Repeat exploratory laparoscopy found a separate internal hernia involving the jejunojejunal window with the previously repaired Petersen's defect intact. Discussion: This case illustrates a unique scenario of a patient post-LRYGBP with multiple internal hernias at the Peterson's space and the less common jejunojejunal window, which was missed during the index surgery. Failure to identify simultaneous hernias may result in additional invasive intervention and further morbidity. Conclusion: Multiple less-common variants of internal hernias may present simultaneously following LRYGBP.

CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF PATIENTS WITH ENDOPHTHALMITIS AFTER DEXAMETHASONE INTRAVITREAL IMPLANT.

PURPOSE: To report a case series of endophthalmitis associated with intravitreal dexamethasone injections in a single practice and to discuss the clinical findings and visual outcomes of each case. METHODS: All endophthalmitis cases following intravitreal dexamethasone injections performed from January 1, 2014 to October 20, 2020 were identified using Wills Eye/MidAtlantic billing records. The diagnosis, clinical information, and microbiology were confirmed for each case. Data were analyzed using Excel (Microsoft Excel, Redmond, WA). RESULTS: Four cases of endophthalmitis were identified from 3,925 intravitreal dexamethasone injections in a single practice and one case was referred from an outside institution, resulting in an incidence of 0.102% (1 in 981 injections). Mean age was 82.3 years (range, 63-88 years) with a mean of 11.3 intravitreal dexamethasone injections performed (range, 2-30 injections) before endophthalmitis. Cases presented with endophthalmitis a mean (SD) of 3.6 (1.64) days after causative injection. Three cases grew gram-positive organisms. All patients responded to intravitreal antibiotics. Mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution visual acuity at causative injection, endophthalmitis presentation, 3 months, and last follow-up was 0.44 (20/55), 2.22 (20/3,319), 1.18 (20/303), and 1.46 (20/577), respectively. CONCLUSION: Endophthalmitis following intravitreal steroid injections may occur more frequently than other intravitreal injections. Dexamethasone-attributed endophthalmitis remains uncommon, and prompt intravitreal antibiotic treatment seems to be effective in this series.

Association of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy with subclinical Cushing's syndrome.

Purpose: To report the clinical course of a patient with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) secondary to subclinical hypercortisolism before and after adrenalectomy. Observations: A 50-year-old female patient with multifocal, chronic CSCR was found to have an adrenal incidentaloma and was diagnosed with subclinical hypercortisolism. Patient elected to undergo minimally-invasive adrenalectomy and presented at 3 months after surgery without subretinal fluid. Conclusions and Importance: Subclinical Cushing's Syndrome (SCS) may present an underrecognized risk factor for developing chronic CSCR. Further investigation is needed to determine the threshold of visual comorbidity that may influence surgical management.

GEOGRAPHIC ACCESS DISPARITIES TO CLINICAL TRIALS IN RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To identify geographic and socioeconomic variables predictive of residential proximity to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) clinical trial locations. METHODS: This cross-sectional epidemiological study used census tract-level data from three national public data sets and trial-level data from ClinicalTrials.gov. Socioeconomic predictors of driving distance and time to the nearest ROP clinical trial location were identified. Primary outcomes were time >60 minutes and distance >60 miles traveled to the nearest ROP clinical trial site. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that residents were more likely to travel >60 minutes to the nearest ROP clinical trial site if they lived in census tracts that were rural (adjusted odds ratio 1.20, P = 0.0002), had higher percentages of the population living ≤ federal poverty level (fourth quartile vs. first quartile, adjusted odds ratio 1.19, P < 0.0001), or had less education (associate vs. bachelor's degree, adjusted odds ratio 1.01, P <0.007). By contrast, counties with higher percentages of births with birth weight <1500 g (adjusted odds ratio 0.88, P = 0.0062) were less likely to travel >60 minutes. Similar variables predicted travel distance. CONCLUSION: Although counties with higher incidences of very low-birth-weight infants were closer to ROP clinical trial sites, residents living in rural and low-income census tracts had significantly greater travel burdens.

XMAP215 promotes microtubule-F-actin interactions to regulate growth cone microtubules during axon guidance in Xenopuslaevis.

It has long been established that neuronal growth cone navigation depends on changes in microtubule (MT) and F-actin architecture downstream of guidance cues. However, the mechanisms by which MTs and F-actin are dually coordinated remain a fundamentally unresolved question. Here, we report that the well-characterized MT polymerase, XMAP215 (also known as CKAP5), plays an important role in mediating MT-F-actin interaction within the growth cone. We demonstrate that XMAP215 regulates MT-F-actin alignment through its N-terminal TOG 1-5 domains. Additionally, we show that XMAP215 directly binds to F-actin in vitro and co-localizes with F-actin in the growth cone periphery. We also find that XMAP215 is required for regulation of growth cone morphology and response to the guidance cue, Ephrin A5. Our findings provide the first strong evidence that XMAP215 coordinates MT and F-actin interaction in vivo We suggest a model in which XMAP215 regulates MT extension along F-actin bundles into the growth cone periphery and that these interactions may be important to control cytoskeletal dynamics downstream of guidance cues. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Biosecurity aspects and pathogen inactivation in acidified high risk animal by-products.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of formic acid addition to ground high risk animal by-products (ABP 1) in terms of stabilization and pathogen inactivation and to evaluate the biosecurity risk connected with the ABP 1 based combustion fuel Biomal. Laboratory studies were performed on the persistence of Salmonella Typhimurium, Bacillus cereus spores, porcine herpes virus, avian influenza virus, bovine viral diarrhea virus, equine rhinitis A virus and porcine parvovirus in Biomal at different storage times. It was shown that Salmonella and enveloped viruses were inactivated within 1 day (24 h). Bacillus cereus spores were not reduced during 147 days and the non-enveloped virus porcine parvovirus was still detected after 168 days of storage. The conclusion that can be drawn from the study is that transmission of some highly contagious diseases such as foot-and-mouth-disease, swine vesicular disease and egg drop syndrome, caused by non-enveloped viruses, may follow accidental leakages of Biomal. In addition, there is a risk of transmission of the diseases anthrax and black leg, caused by sporulating bacteria.