Outer Retinal Tubulation in Geographic Atrophy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Outer retinal tubulation (ORT) is observed on optical coherence tomography images from patients with geographic atrophy (GA), but its clinical implications are unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of ORT and its association with GA lesion growth rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This post hoc longitudinal analysis assessed 62 eyes randomized to sham treatment in the phase 2 FILLY trial. ORT prevalence was estimated at baseline, month 12, and month 18 and change in GA lesion growth from baseline to month 18 was calculated. RESULTS: ORT prevalence rates were 24%, 43%, and 43% at baseline, month 12, and month 18, respectively. Slower mean GA lesion growth was observed in eyes with ORT present at baseline in the overall population as well as the subfoveal and nonsubfoveal GA subgroups. CONCLUSION: ORT presence may indicate a slower-growing GA lesion phenotype, independent of foveal involvement. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2024;55:XX-XX.].

Aminoindole and naphthalimide based charge transfer fluorescent probes for pH sensing and live cell imaging.

Fluorescent probes are essential for imaging of cancer cells and for tracking organelles inside cells. We have synthesized three molecular rotors AIN, AINP and F-AINP based on 1-aminoindole (AI) as an electron donor and naphthalimide as an electron acceptor. All compounds showed charge transfer (CT) character, aggregation induced emission (AIE) and emission responsiveness towards temperature variation and solvent viscosity. AINP was most sensitive towards viscosity among all molecules with a viscosity sensitivity of ∼0.37. AIN, AINP and F-AINP showed negative temperature coefficients in chloroform with internal sensitivities of -0.04% °C-1, -0.08% °C-1 and -0.1% °C-1, respectively. Furthermore, all the rotors were sensitive towards the pH of the solvent environment as revealed by acid titration and base back-titration and served as colorimetric pH sensors with intriguing photophysical characteristics. Additionally, AINP and F-AINP were used to image the live cancer cell line A549 and the fibroblast cell line L929, and the imaging studies revealed the incorporation of dyes in the cytoplasmic space of the cells except for the nuclei.

The Prospects of Cadherin-23 as a Mediator of Homophilic Cell-Cell Adhesion.

Cadherins (calcium-dependent adhesion proteins) constitute a family of cell surface proteins that mediate cell-cell adhesion and actively participate in tissue morphogenesis and in mediating tissue integrity. The ecto-domains of cadherins from opposing cell surfaces interact with each other to form the load-bearing trans-dimers and mechanically hold cells together. The "classical" cadherins and desmosomes that form separate groups in cadherin superfamily are mostly explored for their roles in cell-cell adhesion. However, majority of cadherins in cells belong to "nonclassical" group which is poorly explored in the context of their cell-binding properties. This review focuses on the role of "nonclassical" cadherin, cadherin-23, in cell-cell adhesion. Overall, this review highlights the need for further investigations on the role of "nonclassical" cadherin-23 in cell-cell adhesion.

Use of Kaolin-impregnated Gauze for Improvement of Intraoperative Hemostasis and Postoperative Wound Healing in Blepharoplasty.

PURPOSE: Kaolin is a mineral shown to be effective in controlling hemorrhage when combined with standard gauze and applied to wounds. This study investigates the application of kaolin to control intraoperative bleeding and promote wound healing in eyelid surgery. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, double-blind study recruited patients who underwent eyelid surgery. Following skin incision, kaolin-impregnated gauzewas placed in one eyelid wound bed and cotton gauze in the other, then removed. Distinct, individual areas of bleeding were recorded. Standardized photographs were obtained postoperatively on Day 1, 4, and 7. Photographs were graded for edema and ecchymosis by four blinded observers. Patients also completed a survey inquiring which side had more bruising, swelling, and pain at each return visit. RESULTS: A total of 46 patients completed the study. The number of intraoperative bleeding sites for kaolin versus plain gauze was not significantly different (p=0.96). Photographic grading by blinded observers did not identify any statistically significant differences in postoperative edema at any time point between lids. There was a statistically significant difference for ecchymosis at postoperative Day 4 (p=0.009) and Day 7 (p=0.016). Patient surveys did not show any difference in perceived edema, ecchymosis, or pain between lids. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative hemostasis was not affected by the use of kaolin-impregnated gauze. The effectiveness of kaolin in wound healing showed improved ecchymosis at Days 4 and 7 when assessed by blinded observers. Patients did not notice any improvement in postoperative edema, ecchymosis, or pain.

Risk of ocular blood splatter during oculofacial plastic surgery.

PURPOSE: To assess intraoperative blood splatter to the ocular surface and adnexa during oculofacial surgery. METHODS: Four surgeons and multiple assistants at three separate locations wore a total of 331 protective eye shields during 131 surgeries. Postoperatively, a luminol blood detection system was used to identify blood splatter on the shields. In the event of positive blood splatter, the total number of blood spots was counted. Controls were used to verify the blood detection protocol. A postoperative questionnaire was given to all surgeons and assistants after each case, and they were asked whether intraoperative blood splatter was noticed. RESULTS: Blood was detected on 61% of eye shields and in a total of 80% of surgical cases. However, only 2% of blood splatters were recognized intraoperatively by the surgical participants. There was no significant difference in the splatter rate between surgeons (64%), assistants (60%), and surgical technicians (58%) (p = 0.69). Shields worn during full-thickness eyelid procedures, direct brow lifting, orbitotomy with bony window, and orbital fracture repairs were more likely to be splattered (p = 0.03), and there was a significant difference between splatter rates among different surgeons (range, 29-90%; p = 0.0004), suggesting that blood splatter rate may be both procedure dependent and surgeon dependent. CONCLUSIONS: Mucocutaneous and transconjunctival transmission of human immunodeficiency virus and viral hepatitis has been documented. These results suggest that oculofacial plastic surgeons should consider eye protection for patients with known blood-borne diseases and in cases where blood splatter is expected. This precautionary practice is supported by the high incidence (98%) of undetected, intraoperative blood splatter.