[Study of the growth temperature of ocular surface microorganisms in norm and in infectious keratitis]. / Izuchenie temperaturnykh uslovii rosta mikroorganizmov glaznoi poverkhnosti v norme i pri infektsionnykh keratitakh.

Standard bacteriological examinations, which involve culturing microorganisms at 37 °C, are commonly used in clinical practice for diagnosing infectious diseases. However, the growth temperature of microorganisms on the ocular surface (OS) during infectious keratitis (IK) may not coincide with the laboratory standard, which is due to the characteristic features of heat exchange in the eye. PURPOSE: This exploratory study examines the distribution and properties of OS microorganisms isolated under different temperature cultivation conditions in patients with IK and healthy volunteers without ophthalmic pathology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen participants were divided into two groups. Group 1 (n=10) consisted of patients with signs of unilateral infectious keratitis, while group 2 (n=5) served as the control group. A novel microbiological method was employed to isolate pure cultures of microorganisms. This method involved cultivating microorganisms at two temperature regimes (37 °C and 24 °C) and subsequently identifying them using biochemical, immunological, and physicochemical techniques, including mass spectrometry. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with lanthanide staining used as the reference method. The temperature status of the ocular surface was assessed using non-contact infrared thermography. RESULTS: The study demonstrated the presence of psychrotolerant microorganisms on the ocular surface, which exhibited growth at a relatively low temperature of 24 °C. These psychrotolerant microorganisms were found to be isolated from the ocular surface displaying signs of temperature dysregulation. Among such microorganisms are Acinetobacter lwoffii, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, Bacillus licheniformis, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas luteola, Streptococcus spp. CONCLUSION: When identifying the causative agent of infectious keratitis, it is crucial to consider the divergence of growth temperature of ocular surface microorganisms. The presence of psychrotolerant microorganisms on the ocular surface, which can effectively grow at room temperature, should be taken into account, especially in cases of temperature dysregulation.

[Possibilities of physiotherapy in glaucomatous optic neuropathy after glaucoma surgery]. / Vozmozhnosti fizioterapevticheskoi stimulyatsii pri glaukomnoi opticheskoi neiropatii posle antiglaukomnykh operatsii.

The current primary approach to the therapeutic and surgical management of glaucoma is limited to lowering intraocular pressure (IOP). While normalization of IOP stabilizes some functional parameters, there is still potential for further restoration of lost visual function in the post-operative period while maintaining the "therapeutic window". Neuroprotection refers to the modification of retinal ganglion cells and the neuronal microenvironment to promote their survival and function. Numerous studies have identified effective neuroprotective methods for glaucoma; however, their implementation into clinical practice remains a significant challenge. This review presents the most clinically significant treatment strategies, as well as the latest therapeutic advances in physiotherapy.

[Physical therapy - the main focus of modern ophthalmic rehabilitation]. / Fizioterapiya ­ osnovnoe napravlenie sovremennoi oftal'moreabilitatsii.

Ophthalmic rehabilitation consists of improving or maintaining the functions of the visual analyzer within the possibilities of the "therapeutic window". Ophthalmic rehabilitation involves physiotherapeutic methods, as well as additional ones that improve the condition of the body and indirectly affect the organ of vision. This article presents schematic algorithms of physiotherapeutic ophthalmic stimulation in neurodystrophic diseases of the visual organ and the main results of their multifactorial objective and subjective analysis. It was shown that even with the consistent visual resolution, treatment courses can help get positive changes at the level of nerve structures lasting for three to six months. This allows us to recommend physiotherapeutic ophthalmic stimulation for maintaining the therapeutic effects obtained after the main medical or surgical treatment.

[Results of the application of complex physiotherapeutic neurostimulation in optical neuropathies of various genesis]. / Rezul'taty primeneniya kompleksnoi fizioterapevticheskoi neirostimulyatsii pri opticheskikh neiropatiyakh sosudistogo geneza.

Optical neuropathies (ON) are the outcome of many diseases of various origins. The main ones are classified as inflammatory, vascular and traumatic ON. ON lead to subatrophy of the optic nerve, but even after the completion of treatment, it is possible to improve visual functions by using physiotherapeutic means of ophthalmic rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of complex physiotherapeutic neuro-ophthalmostimulation in case of ON of vascular origin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 60 patients (120 eyes) with a verified diagnosis of optic neuropathy of vascular origin, who were divided into 2 groups comparable in age, gender and anatomical and functional characteristics: the main group of 30 patients (60 eyes) and the control group - 30 patients (60 eyes), including 24 men and 36 women, mean age was 66.2±4.1 years, disease duration was 4.1±1.7 years. All patients underwent courses of conservative treatment with vitamins according to the available ophthalmological standards, repeating them 1-2 times a year, the last of which was six months before the present study. Physiotherapy courses and patients did not pass. 20 healthy volunteers were taken to create basic indicators of the «norm¼ of the applied research methods. Patients of the main group used a set of procedures: transcranial magnetic electrical stimulation, endonasal electrophoresis with the drug neuroprotector Semax 0.1%, oxybaric chamber and acupuncture. Patients in the control group were prescribed basic therapy, including taking the vitamin complex BEROCCA for 3 months. Breakpoints: before treatment and at times: 1st week, 12 weeks and 24 weeks after the course of treatment, according to the standard recommendations for international multicenter studies. The following were assessed: visual field boundaries (dilation meridians; in deg.), light sensitivity (MS, MD; in dB), indicators of the state of the retinal ganglion layer (GCS thickness, volume loss): Avg CCG (in µm), FLV, GLV (in %). RESULTS: When evaluating the results in patients of the main group who received complex neurostimulation, the therapeutic efficacy in a week after the end of treatment was 94%, in 12 weeks - in 88% and in 24 weeks - 83%, while in patients of the control group for all studied indicators showed only a positive trend and therapeutic efficacy did not exceed 30-42%. CONCLUSION: Under the influence of the developed neurostimulating complex, the activity of nerve cells objectively increases, leading to a significant increase in the boundaries of the field of view and light sensitivity and a decrease in global losses of the retinal ganglion complex and optic nerve.

[Modern treatment of different forms of optic nerve atrophy]. / Sovremennye sposoby terapii razlichnykh form atrofii zritel'nogo nerva.

Optic nerve atrophy (ONA) is one of the most common causes of blindness and low vision in the world. The disease occurs in 60-68% of cases. The causes of optic nerve atrophy are diverse: inflammatory and vascular diseases of the optic nerve and retina, glaucoma, atherosclerosis of the main vessels of head and neck, diseases of central nervous system, intoxication of various etiologies, as well as congenital and hereditary diseases. The literature review presents data on the diagnosis and classification of optic nerve atrophy, as well as on drug and non-drug treatment in combination with physiotherapy.

[Frequency and type of macular edema after cataract surgery in patients with glaucoma]. / Chastota i kharakter makuliarnogo oteka pri sochetanii katarakty i glaukomy.

Cataract is one of the common causes of reversible vision loss in people older than 50 years. Currently, the only way to treat it effectively is phacoemulsification with simultaneous implantation of an intraocular lens - a method that minimizes the amount of surgical trauma and the number of intra- and postoperative complications. Nevertheless, the problem of prevention and timely diagnosis of pathological changes in the retina, which may develop after extraction of cataracts, and in particular - macular edema, remains relevant. This problem becomes especially important when it comes to patients with concomitant cataract and glaucoma who use local antihypertensive drugs - in particular, prostaglandin analogues - for a long time. Having common properties with inflammatory mediators, in some cases they can cause vasodilation, increase vascular permeability and contribute to the development of exudative processes. Drugs of this group can cause impairment of the hematophthalmic and hematoretinal barriers provoking the development of cystoid macular edema, including in the early postoperative period after cataract extraction. As described by S. Irvine in 1953, macular edema is related to late postoperative complications and remains one of the main causes of visual impairment after lens removal. The review provides information about some studies concerning the effect of prostaglandin derivatives on the postoperative period after phacoemulsification. At this time, there is no consensus on this matter.

[Dynamics of changes in morphometric parameters of the macular zone in glaucoma patients after phacoemulsification]. / Dinamika morfometricheskikh parametrov makuliarnoi zony u patsientov s glaukomoi posle fakoémul'sifikatsii.

PURPOSE: To analyze the dynamics of morphometric changes in the macular zone using optical coherence tomography (OCT) data in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) after phacoemulsification (PE). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study enrolled 93 patients (95 eyes) requiring PE; they were divided into 2 groups. The first (control) group consisted of 30 patients (32 eyes) without concomitant eye pathology. The second group included 63 patients (64 eyes) with POAG and IOP stabilized by eye drops. In the 2A subgroup (32 eyes) patients used prostaglandin analogues, in the 2B subgroup (31 eye) - carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. OCT was used to analyze retinal thickness and volume. OCT was performed before PE, after 1 week, after 1, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS: In the control group, the volume and thickness of the retina varied within the normal range. In the 2A subgroup, signs of macular edema (ME) in the early post-operative period were noted in 6.2% of patients. In the late post-operative period, changes in the macular zone were noted in 18.7% of cases. After the treatment, ME regressed completely in 4 patients (12.5% of all cases). One patient with retinal thickness of more than 500 µm required parabulbar and intravenous injections of glucocorticoids, which resulted in ME decrease. Another patient developed epiretinal fibrosis with tractions after ME. Among the patients of subgroup 2B, a trend for increase in the volume and thickness of the macular zone was observed in 3 cases; the values stayed within the normal range, and later returned to the initial level. CONCLUSION: Patients with POAG develop ME after PE in 1-3 months. The use of topical prostaglandin analogues may be the reason of ME development.