The S-S bridge mutation between the A2 and A4 loops (T416C-I432C) of Cel7A of Aspergillus fumigatus enhances catalytic activity and thermostability.

Disulfide bonds are important for maintaining the structural conformation and stability of the protein. The introduction of the disulfide bond is a promising strategy to increase the thermostability of the protein. In this report, cysteine residues are introduced to form disulfide bonds in the Glycoside Hydrolase family GH 7 cellobiohydrolase (GH7 CBHs) or Cel7A of Aspergillus fumigatus. Disulfide by Design 2.0 (DbD2), an online tool is used for the detection of the mutation sites. Mutations are created (D276C-G279C; DSB1, D322C-G327C; DSB2, T416C-I432C; DSB3, G460C-S465C; DSB4) inside and outside of the peripheral loops but, not in the catalytic region. The introduction of cysteine in the A2 and A4 loop of DSB3 mutant showed higher thermostability (70% activity at 70°C), higher substrate affinity (Km = 0.081 mM) and higher catalytic activity (Kcat = 9.75 min-1; Kcat/Km = 120.37 mM min-1) compared to wild-type AfCel7A (50% activity at 70°C; Km = 0.128 mM; Kcat = 4.833 min-1; Kcat/Km = 37.75 mM min-1). The other three mutants with high B factor showed loss of thermostability and catalytic activity. Molecular dynamic simulations revealed that the mutation T416C-I432C makes the tunnel wider (DSB3: 13.6 Å; Wt: 5.3 Å) at the product exit site, giving flexibility in the entrance region or mobility of the substrate in the exit region. It may facilitate substrate entry into the catalytic tunnel and release the product faster than the wild type, whereas in other mutants, the tunnel is not prominent (DSB4), the exit is lost (DSB1), and the ligand binding site is absent (DSB2). This is the first report of the gain of function of both thermostability and enzyme activity of cellobiohydrolase Cel7A by disulfide bond engineering in the loop.IMPORTANCEBioethanol is one of the cleanest renewable energy and alternatives to fossil fuels. Cost efficient bioethanol production can be achieved through simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation that needs active polysaccharide degrading enzymes. Cellulase enzyme complex is a crucial enzyme for second-generation bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass. Cellobiohydrolase (Cel7A) is an important member of this complex. In this work, we engineered (disulfide bond engineering) the Cel7A to increase its thermostability and catalytic activity which is required for its industrial application.

Artificial Intelligence in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: Is it Ready for Prime Time?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review evaluates how Artificial Intelligence (AI) enhances atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk assessment, allows for opportunistic screening, and improves adherence to guidelines through the analysis of unstructured clinical data and patient-generated data. Additionally, it discusses strategies for integrating AI into clinical practice in preventive cardiology. RECENT FINDINGS: AI models have shown superior performance in personalized ASCVD risk evaluations compared to traditional risk scores. These models now support automated detection of ASCVD risk markers, including coronary artery calcium (CAC), across various imaging modalities such as dedicated ECG-gated CT scans, chest X-rays, mammograms, coronary angiography, and non-gated chest CT scans. Moreover, large language model (LLM) pipelines are effective in identifying and addressing gaps and disparities in ASCVD preventive care, and can also enhance patient education. AI applications are proving invaluable in preventing and managing ASCVD and are primed for clinical use, provided they are implemented within well-regulated, iterative clinical pathways.

The Role and Effect of Multimodal Prehabilitation Before Major Abdominal Surgery: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: For patients undergoing abdominal surgery, multimodal prehabilitation, including nutrition and exercise interventions, aims to optimize their preoperative physical and physiological capacity. This meta-analysis aims to explore the impact of multimodal prehabilitation on surgical and functional outcomes of abdominal surgery. METHODS: Medline, Embase and CENTRAL were searched for articles about multimodal prehabilitation in major abdominal surgery. Primary outcomes were postoperative complications with a Clavien-Dindo score ≥3, and functional outcomes, measured by the 6-Minute Walking Test (6MWT). Secondary outcome measures included the quality-of-life measures. Pooled risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated, with DerSimonian and Laird random effects used to account for heterogeneity. RESULTS: Twenty-five studies were included, analysing 4,210 patients across 13 trials and 12 observational studies. Patients undergoing prehabilitation had significantly fewer overall complications (RR = 0.879, 95% CI 0.781-0.989, p = 0.034). There were no significant differences in the rates of wound infection, anastomotic leak and duration of hospitalization. The 6MWT improved preoperatively in patients undergoing prehabilitation (SMD = 33.174, 95% CI 12.674-53.673, p = 0.005), but there were no significant differences in the 6MWT at 4 weeks (SMD = 30.342, 95% CI - 2.707-63.391, p = 0.066) and 8 weeks (SMD = 24.563, 95% CI - 6.77-55.900, p = 0.104) postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: As preoperative patient optimization shifts towards an interdisciplinary approach, evidence from this meta-analysis shows that multimodal prehabilitation improves the preoperative functional capacity and reduces postoperative complication rates, suggesting its potential in effectively optimizing the abdominal surgery patient. However, there is a large degree of heterogenicity between the prehabilitation interventions between included articles; hence results should be interpreted with caution.

Small bowel adenocarcinoma in Crohn's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence, manifestation, histopathology, and outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is a rare neoplasm that is associated with Crohn's disease (CD). This study aims to quantify the prevalence of CD-SBA, review the current evidence of histopathology and molecular analysis findings, and identify the clinical presentation and outcomes of CD-SBA. METHODS: Electronic databases Medline and Embase were searched for articles describing SBA in inflammatory bowel disease patients. The histopathology, molecular analysis findings, clinical presentation, prevalence, and outcomes of CD-SBA were extracted, and results were pooled with random effects. RESULTS: In total, 33 articles were included in the analysis. Prevalence of SBA was 1.15 (CI: 0.31-2.33) per 1000 CD patients. Only 11% (CI: 0.04-0.21) of CD-SBA patients had observable radiological features. CD-SBA was most commonly found in the ileum (84%), diagnosed at stage 2 (36%), with main presenting complaints including obstruction, weight loss, and abdominal pain. Significant histopathological findings included adjacent epithelial dysplasia, and an equal distribution of well-differentiated (49%) and poorly differentiated subtypes (46%). Most prevalent genetic mutation was KRAS mutation (18%), followed by mismatch repair deficiency (9.7%). The 5-year overall survival for CD-SBA patients was 29% (CI: 0.18-0.41), and 33% (CI: 0.26-0.41) for de novo SBA. No statistically significant increase in risk for CD-SBA was noted for treatment with thiopurines, steroids, and 5-ASA. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis found the prevalence of CD-SBA to be 1.15 per 1000 CD patients. The 5-year overall survival for CD-SBA was poor. The presenting symptoms were non-specific, and therefore the diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion.

Hybrid stenting of the arterial duct with carotid cutdown and flip technique: immediate and early results.

Stenting of the arterial duct (PDA) has become a standard palliation for ductal-dependent pulmonary circulation. Carotid arterial access provides a direct route for stenting vertical ducts. We evaluated our early results of hybrid ductal stenting via surgical carotid cutdown. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this retrospective single centre cohort study, hybrid PDA stenting was attempted in 11 patients with "flip technique", between January 2020 and February 2021, and was successful in 10. Median age was 29 days (interquartile range 17.5-87) and mean weight 3.37 ± 1.23 kg. Mean fluoroscopy time was 13.58 ± 5.35 minutes, mean procedure time was 48.50 ± 22.5 minutes, and mean radiation dose was 1719.5 ± 1217.6 mGycm2. Mean time for cutdown was 9.9 ± 2.4 minutes and for haemostasis and suturing was 25.3 ± 11.0 minutes. Median duration of ventilation post-stenting was 26 hours (interquartile range 21-43.75). The median ICU stay post-procedure was 5 days (interquartile range 4-7.25) and mean hospital stay was 12 ± 6.3 days. On early follow-up, carotid patency was confirmed in all patients with colour Doppler, with no intravascular thrombi, narrowing, haematomas, or aneurysms noted. There were no complications secondary to vascular access. There was one early mortality, 27 days post-stenting, which was unrelated to the procedure. CONCLUSION: This study adds to the limited literature on ductal stenting with carotid access and the flip technique. In our early experience, the hybrid carotid approach is an attractive alternative to percutaneous carotid puncture and has simplified a complex and challenging intervention, with good outcomes.

Side-to-side versus end-to-side ileocolic anastomosis in right-sided colectomies: A cohort control study.

Aims: The three main types of anastomotic configurations following colorectal resection are Side-to-Side Anastomosis (S-S), End-to-Side Anastomosis (E-S) and End-to-End Anastomosis (E-E). This study aims to present results from a local cohort supplemented by a systematic review with meta-analysis of existing literature to compare the post-operative outcomes between E-S and S-S. Methods: A cohort study of patients who underwent right colectomy with E-S or S-S anastomosis, was conducted at the National University Hospital Singapore. Electronic databases Embase and Medline were systematically searched from inception to 21 August 2020, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines. Studies were included if they compared post-operative outcomes between E-S and S-S. Results: In the cohort study, 40 underwent E-S and 154 underwent S-S. Both post-operative ileus (12.5% vs. 29.2%, P = 0.041) and length of hospital stay (9.35 days vs. 14.04 days, P = 0.024) favoured E-S, but anastomotic bleed favoured S-S (15.0% vs. 3.2%, P = 0.004). Five studies were included in the meta-analysis with 860 E-S and 1126 S-S patients. Similarly, post-operative ileus (odds ratio [OR] =0.302; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.122-0.747; P = 0.010) and length of hospital stay (mean differences = ‒1.54 days; CI: ‒3.00 to ‒0.076 days; P = 0.039) favoured E-S. Additional sensitivity analysis including only stapled anastomosis showed a lower rate of anastomotic leak in E-S patients (OR = 0.185; 95% CI: 0.054-0.627; P = 0.007). Conclusions: This is the first systematic review to show that the E-S technique produces superior post-operative outcomes after right colectomy compared to S-S. However, the choice of anastomosis was largely surgeon dependent, but surgeon factors were not reported.

COVID-19 and Cardiovascular Disease.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic affecting 185 countries and >3 000 000 patients worldwide as of April 28, 2020. COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which invades cells through the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor. Among patients with COVID-19, there is a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease, and >7% of patients experience myocardial injury from the infection (22% of critically ill patients). Although angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 serves as the portal for infection, the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers requires further investigation. COVID-19 poses a challenge for heart transplantation, affecting donor selection, immunosuppression, and posttransplant management. There are a number of promising therapies under active investigation to treat and prevent COVID-19.

Controversies of colonic stenting in obstructive left colorectal cancer: a critical analysis with meta-analysis and meta-regression.

PURPOSE: After almost three decades since the first description of colonic stents, the controversies of its safe application continue to impede the readiness of adoption by clinicians for malignant left bowel obstruction. This review seeks to address some of the controversial aspects of stenting and its impact on surgical and oncological outcomes. METHODS: Medline, Embase, and CNKI were searched for articles employing SEMS for left colonic obstruction. Outcomes analyzed include success rates, complications, and long-term survival. Pooled risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated. RESULTS: 36 studies were included with 2002 patients across seven randomized controlled trials and 29 observational studies. High technical (92%) and clinical (82%) success rates, and low rates of complications, including perforation (5%), were found. Those with > 8% perforation rates had poorer technical success rates than those with ≤ 8%, but there were no significant differences in 90-day in-hospital mortality and three and 5-year overall and disease-free survival. A significant increase was found in technical (RR = 1.094; CI, 1.041-1.149; p < 0.001) and clinical (RR = 1.158; CI, 1.064-1.259; p = 0.001) success rates when the duration between stenting and surgery was ≥ 2 weeks compared to < 2 weeks, but there were no significant differences in perforation rates, 90-day in-hospital mortality, and long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: Colonic stenting is safe and effective with high success rates and low complication rates. However, outcomes of higher perforation rates and optimal timing from stent till surgery remain unclear, with only a few studies reporting on these outcomes, leaving areas for future research.

Transcatheter closure of elongated and pulmonary hypertensive patent arterial duct in infants using Amplatzer vascular plug II.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of Amplatzer vascular plug II in large and elongated ducts in infants. INTRODUCTION: Patent arterial duct device closure is technically challenging in infants with large and elongated ducts because Amplatzer duct occluder and Amplatzer duct occluder II have high chances of causing aortic coarctation and left pulmonary artery stenosis, respectively. The Amplatzer vascular plug II being soft with no retention discs on either sides helps in mitigating these problems. METHOD: This is a prospective, observational study involving infants with clinical, echocardiographic and angiographic evidence of large left to right shunt. All the children underwent duct closure using Amplatzer vascular plug II. RESULTS: Eighteen infants qualified for the study. Mean age and weight were 8.63 ± 3.84 months and 6.3 ± 1.7 kg, respectively. The angiographic mean duct diameter at the pulmonary artery end was 4.66 ± 0.92 mm, and the mean duct length was 9.4 ± 2.48 mm. The size of Amplatzer vascular plug II used varied from 6 mm to 10 mm. Technical success was achieved in 16/18 cases. One patient had device embolisation, and in the other, the device was found to be unstable. The ratio of Amplatzer vascular plug II size to the duct diameter was 1.65 ± 0.27, while the ratio of ductal length to device length was 1.48 ± 0.46 in those with successful outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Amplatzer vascular plug II is a safe and effective option in appropriately selected infants with elongated ducts. Diameter and length of Amplatzer vascular plug II vis-a-vis those of the ductus are important determinants of the successful outcome.

Embolisation of ceramic-coated PDA devices into the descending thoracic aorta: probable mechanisms and retrieval strategies.

We describe two cases of spontaneous embolisation and successful retrieval of ceramic-coated patent arterial duct devices. In both, the device embolised to the descending aorta in the absence of pulmonary hypertension and despite optimum placement. We have discussed possible mechanisms for embolisation in these patients and suggested alternative methods for device retrieval. Based on this limited experience, we conclude that for tubular ducts, ceramic-coated devices should be oversized to form a tighter waist or alternate devices may be considered.

Seroprevalence of transplacentally acquired measles antibodies in HIV-exposed versus HIV-unexposed infants at six months of age.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Measles infection is reported to be more severe, prolonged and associated with a higher complication rate in children with HIV infection. Reports indicate that infants born to HIV-infected women [HIV exposed infants (HEI)] may be more vulnerable to measles. The World Health Organization recommends measles vaccination starting at six months of age in these infants who may be HIV-infected themselves. However, in India, they are given measles vaccination at nine months of age like all other infants. In this study, the seroprevalence of transplacentally acquired measles antibodies was compared in HEI and unexposed infants (HUnI) at six months of age and the proportion of HEI undergoing seroconversion after immunization with measles vaccine was assessed. METHODS: In this prospective longitudinal study, measles IgG antibodies were estimated in serum of 49 HEI and 50 HUnI aged 6-7 months. Measles vaccine was then administered to HEI. Assessment for measles IgG antibodies was repeated 8-12 wk post-immunization. RESULTS: Measles IgG antibodies were detected in two of 49 (4.1%) HEI and 16 of 50 (32%) HUnI. HEI were 11 times more likely to lack measles antibodies as compared to HUnI (odds ratio=11.05, 95% confidence interval=2.989-40.908). Post-vaccination, seroprevalence of measles antibodies increased to 38.5 per cent (PInterpretation & conclusions: Most HEI lacked measles antibodies at six months age and were, therefore, more vulnerable to measles than HUnI. Seroconversion in response to a single dose of measles vaccine administered at six months age was low in these infants, signifying the need of additional dose(s) of measles/measles-containing vaccine.

Outcomes of a Quality Improvement Initiative to Prevent Unnecessary Packed Red Blood Cell Transfusions Among Extremely Low Birth-Weight Neonates.

BACKGROUND: Extremely low birth-weight (ELBW) infants frequently receive packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions. Recent studies have shown that more restrictive PRBC transfusion guidelines limit donor exposure and reduce transfusion-related costs without any increase in adverse clinical outcomes. PURPOSE: We developed and implemented an evidence-based PRBC transfusion guideline for ELBW infants treated in our unit and then measured provider adherence to this guideline. METHODS/SEARCH STRATEGY: We performed a retrospective review of all PRBC transfusions given to ELBW infants in 2012 (preguideline) and the first half of 2014 (postguideline). We identified the indication for each transfusion by reviewing physiological/laboratory data and the daily clinical note. We then determine whether each transfusion met criteria according to our new evidence-based guideline. FINDINGS/RESULTS: When extrapolating the newly developed protocol to 2012 data, less than 15% of transfusions among ELBW infants would have met the current evidence-based standard. Conversely, during the first 6 months of 2014, 61% of transfusions were administered in adherence to the guideline (P < 001). Using current cost estimates, this represents a projected cost savings of $31,000 in that 6-month period. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: A multidisciplinary approach to improving PRBC transfusion practices results in potentially safer, more cost-effective care for ELBW infants. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH: Given the frequency, potential harms, and costs associated with PRBC transfusions in ELBW infants, it seems both feasible and important to pursue prospective clinical trials comparing permissive and restrictive approaches to transfusion in this vulnerable population.

Short-term follow-up systems for positive newborn screens in the Washington Metropolitan Area and the United States.

For most inherited metabolic disorders on newborn screening (NBS) panels, prompt, expert confirmation and treatment are critical to optimize clinical outcomes for children with inherited metabolic diseases (IMD). In the Washington Metropolitan Area (WMA), 3 different short-term follow-up (STFU) systems exist for linking infants with positive newborn screens for IMD to appropriate specialty care. We diagrammed the STFU systems for the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia and calculated clinically relevant intervals of time between NBS collection and diagnosis/treatment initiation. We also surveyed representatives from 48 other state NBS programs to classify the STFU systems in the rest of the country. We found that in the WMA the STFU system that did not include the IMD specialist at the same time as the primary care provider (PCP) was associated with a longer median collection-to-specialist contact interval for true positive NBS for critical diagnoses (p=0.013). Nationally, 25% of state NBS programs report having a STFU system that does not include the IMD specialist at the same time as the PCP. In conclusion, there is variability among the STFU systems employed by NBS programs in the US which may lead to delays in diagnosis confirmation and treatment. National standards for STFU systems that include early involvement of an IMD specialist for all presumed positive NBS results may decrease the collection-to-specialist contact interval which could improve clinical outcomes in children with IMD.

Treatment effect of canagliflozin for patients on therapy for heart failure: Pooled analysis of the CANVAS program and CREDENCE trial.

BACKGROUND: Canagliflozin is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor that has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events in diabetic patients with and without heart failure (HF). Whether the clinical benefits and safety profile of canagliflozin are different in those on a beta blocker and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (BB + RAASi) is unknown. METHODS: We pooled participants with HF at baseline from the CANVAS Program and CREDENCE trial and assessed major adverse cardiovascular events and its components; hospitalization for heart failure (HHF); HHF or CV death; all-cause mortality; a renal composite; and a combined renal and CV composite. RESULTS: Of 14,543 participants, 2113 had HF at baseline, and 1280 were on BB + RAASi. In those with a history of HF, participants on BB + RAASi therapy were more likely to have coronary atherosclerotic disease (82 vs 72%, p < 0.001), history of myocardial infarction (42 vs 29%, p < 0.001), higher mean body mass index (34 vs 32 kg/m2, p < 0.001), and lower mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (67 vs 70 mL/min/1.73 m2, p < 0.01). They were also more likely to be on insulin, a statin, antithrombotic agent, and a diuretic (all p < 0.001). In unadjusted analysis and when adjusted for selected baseline factors, there was no heterogeneity in canagliflozin treatment effect except for HHF/CV death in those on baseline BB + RAASi vs. those not on baseline BB + RAASi (Pheterogeneity = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Canagliflozin mostly improved CV and kidney outcomes in participants with a history of HF irrespective of use of BB + RAASi at baseline, with possible greater benefit on HHF/CV death in participants on BB + RAASi.

Contemporary attitudes and beliefs on coronary artery calcium from social media using artificial intelligence.

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a powerful tool to refine atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk assessment. Despite its growing interest, contemporary public attitudes around CAC are not well-described in literature and have important implications for shared decision-making around cardiovascular prevention. We used an artificial intelligence (AI) pipeline consisting of a semi-supervised natural language processing model and unsupervised machine learning techniques to analyze 5,606 CAC-related discussions on Reddit. A total of 91 discussion topics were identified and were classified into 14 overarching thematic groups. These included the strong impact of CAC on therapeutic decision-making, ongoing non-evidence-based use of CAC testing, and the patient perceived downsides of CAC testing (e.g., radiation risk). Sentiment analysis also revealed that most discussions had a neutral (49.5%) or negative (48.4%) sentiment. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of an AI-based approach to analyze large, publicly available social media data to generate insights into public perceptions about CAC, which may help guide strategies to improve shared decision-making around ASCVD management and public health interventions.

Artificial Intelligence in Cardiovascular Care-Part 2: Applications: JACC Review Topic of the Week.

Recent artificial intelligence (AI) advancements in cardiovascular care offer potential enhancements in effective diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. More than 600 U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved clinical AI algorithms now exist, with 10% focusing on cardiovascular applications, highlighting the growing opportunities for AI to augment care. This review discusses the latest advancements in the field of AI, with a particular focus on the utilization of multimodal inputs and the field of generative AI. Further discussions in this review involve an approach to understanding the larger context in which AI-augmented care may exist, and include a discussion of the need for rigorous evaluation, appropriate infrastructure for deployment, ethics and equity assessments, regulatory oversight, and viable business cases for deployment. Embracing this rapidly evolving technology while setting an appropriately high evaluation benchmark with careful and patient-centered implementation will be crucial for cardiology to leverage AI to enhance patient care and the provider experience.

Artificial Intelligence for Cardiovascular Care-Part 1: Advances: JACC Review Topic of the Week.

Recent artificial intelligence (AI) advancements in cardiovascular care offer potential enhancements in diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. Innovations to date focus on automating measurements, enhancing image quality, and detecting diseases using novel methods. Applications span wearables, electrocardiograms, echocardiography, angiography, genetics, and more. AI models detect diseases from electrocardiograms at accuracy not previously achieved by technology or human experts, including reduced ejection fraction, valvular heart disease, and other cardiomyopathies. However, AI's unique characteristics necessitate rigorous validation by addressing training methods, real-world efficacy, equity concerns, and long-term reliability. Despite an exponentially growing number of studies in cardiovascular AI, trials showing improvement in outcomes remain lacking. A number are currently underway. Embracing this rapidly evolving technology while setting a high evaluation benchmark will be crucial for cardiology to leverage AI to enhance patient care and the provider experience.

Influence of macular pigment on the sensitivity to discomfort glare from daylight.

Understanding the factors that influence the human perception of glare is necessary to properly address glare risks in buildings and achieve comfortable visual environments, especially in the workplace. Yet large inter-individual variabilities in glare perception remain unexplained and thus uncovered by the current empirical glare models. We hypothesize that this variability has an origin in the human retina, in particular in the density of macular pigments present in its central area, which varies between individuals. Macular pigments are known to absorb blue light and attenuate chromatic aberration, thus reducing light scatter. This study presents the outcomes of the first experiment ever conducted in a daylit office environment, in which glare sensitivity and macular pigment density were measured and compared for 110 young healthy individuals, along with other ocular parameters. The participants were exposed to different glare conditions induced by the sun filtered through either color-neutral or blue-colored glazing. In neutral daylight conditions with sun disc in the near periphery, neither macular pigment nor any other investigated ocular factors have an impact on discomfort glare perception whereas glare perception in conditions with the blue-colored sun disc in the near periphery was found to be correlated with macular pigment optical density.