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OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the reliability and agreement of tear meniscus height (TMH) measurements performed with a corneal analyzer and optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology in contact lens (CL) wearers and its correlation with contact lens discomfort symptoms. METHODS: Asymptomatic and symptomatic CL wearers classified through the Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire-8 were evaluated with the Corneal Analyzer (Topcon CA-800) and OCT technology (Topcon 3D OCT-2000). The repeatability and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated. The agreement between devices was calculated using the Bland-Altman method. The relationship between TMH measurements and the Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire-8 and Contact Lens Discomfort Index scores was assessed through the Spearman correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Seventy-nine asymptomatic and 42 symptomatic CL wearers aged 34.24±12.50 years were enrolled. The repeatability values obtained for the CA-800 were 0.07 mm in all cases, and the ICC was 0.93 for the whole sample. The CA-800 provided significantly (P<0.01) higher TMH values than the OCT for the whole sample (0.22±0.08 vs. 0.17±0.06 mm). A weak indirect correlation (ρ=-0.22) between the OCT TMH measurement and Contact Lens Discomfort Index scores was found (P≤0.04). CONCLUSION: The CA-800 provides reliable TMH measurements during CL wear; however, they might not be interchangeable with OCT ones. Tear meniscus height measurements might be useful as a complementary sign to detect CL discomfort, but it cannot be used alone as a diagnostic tool.
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INTRODUCTION: Subclinical tuberculosis (TB) is the presence of TB disease among people who are either asymptomatic or have minimal symptoms. AREAS COVERED: Currently, there are no accurate diagnostic tools and clear treatment approaches for subclinical TB. In this study, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across major databases. This review aimed to uncover the latest advancements in diagnostic approaches, explore their clinical implications, and outline potential future perspectives. While innovative technologies are in development to enable sputum-free TB tests, there remains a critical need for precise diagnostic tools tailored to the unique characteristics of subclinical TB. Given the complexity of subclinical TB, a multidisciplinary approach involving clinicians, microbiologists, epidemiologists, and public health experts is essential. Further research is needed to establish standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines specifically tailored for subclinical TB, acknowledging the unique challenges posed by this elusive stage of the disease. EXPERT OPINION: Efforts are needed for the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of subclinical TB. In this review, we describe the importance of subclinical TB, both from a clinical and public health perspective and highlight the diagnostic and treatment gaps of this stage.
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Tuberculosis Pulmonar , Humanos , Tuberculosis Pulmonar/diagnóstico , Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Esputo/microbiología , Salud PúblicaRESUMEN
Updating the mosquito fauna occurring in a specific area is crucial, given that certain species serve as vectors capable of transmitting zoonotic arboviruses. This scientific note presents the first records of mosquitoes of the tribe Orthopodomyiini in the Yucatan Peninsula. Immature mosquitoes were collected on 2 occasions inside a large tree hole in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Thirteen adult specimens, reared from the immatures, were obtained and identified as Orthopodomyia kummi based on external characteristics of females and males. This species has been recorded in Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and marginally in the United States, but its presence in the Yucatan Peninsula had gone unnoticed until now. The knowledge about mosquitoes of the genus Orthopodomyia is limited, and their epidemiological importance remains uncertain. Therefore, further studies could provide insights into the ecological and infection dynamics associated with this species.
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Distribución Animal , Culicidae , Animales , México , Femenino , Masculino , Larva/crecimiento & desarrolloRESUMEN
Survival from ovarian cancer depends on the resection status after primary surgery. We performed genome-wide association analyses for resection status of 7705 ovarian cancer patients, including 4954 with high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSOC), to identify variants associated with residual disease. The most significant association with resection status was observed for rs72845444, upstream of MGMT, in HGSOC (p = 3.9 × 10-8). In gene-based analyses, PPP2R5C was the most strongly associated gene in HGSOC after stage adjustment. In an independent set of 378 ovarian tumours from the AGO-OVAR 11 study, variants near MGMT and PPP2R5C correlated with methylation and transcript levels, and PPP2R5C mRNA levels predicted progression-free survival in patients with residual disease. MGMT encodes a DNA repair enzyme, and PPP2R5C encodes the B56γ subunit of the PP2A tumour suppressor. Our results link heritable variation at these two loci with resection status in HGSOC.
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Cancer cells often exhibit DNA copy number aberrations and can vary widely in their ploidy. Correct estimation of the ploidy of single-cell genomes is paramount for downstream analysis. Based only on single-cell DNA sequencing information, scAbsolute achieves accurate and unbiased measurement of single-cell ploidy and replication status, including whole-genome duplications. We demonstrate scAbsolute's capabilities using experimental cell multiplets, a FUCCI cell cycle expression system, and a benchmark against state-of-the-art methods. scAbsolute provides a robust foundation for single-cell DNA sequencing analysis across different technologies and has the potential to enable improvements in a number of downstream analyses.
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Benchmarking , Ploidias , Ciclo Celular/genética , División Celular , Análisis de Secuencia de ADNRESUMEN
Mucosal chemokines have antimicrobial properties and play an important role in mucosal immunity. However, little is known about their expression on the ocular surface. This study aimed to analyze the expression of the mucosal chemokines CCL28, CXCL14 and CXCL17 in corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells under in vitro dry eye (DE) conditions, and in conjunctival samples from healthy subjects and DE patients. Human corneal epithelial cells (HCE) and immortalized human conjunctival epithelial cells (IM-HConEpiC) were incubated under hyperosmolar (400-500 mOsM) or inflammatory (TNF-α 25 ng/mL) conditions for 6 h and 24 h to measure CCL28, CXCL14, and CXCL17 gene expression by RT-PCR and their secretion by immunobead-based analysis (CCL28, CXCL14) and ELISA (CXCL17). Additionally, twenty-seven DE patients and 13 healthy subjects were included in this study. DE-related questionnaires (OSDI, mSIDEQ and NRS) evaluated symptomatology. Ocular surface integrity was assessed using vital staining. Tactile sensitivity was measured with Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer, and mechanic and thermal (heat and cold) sensitivity using Belmonte's non-contact esthesiometer. Subbasal nerve plexus and dendritic cell density were analyzed by in vivo confocal microscopy. Conjunctival cells from participants were collected by impression cytology to measure mucosal chemokines gene expression by RT-PCR. Our results showed that HCE and IM-HConEpiC cells increased CCL28, CXCL14, and CXCL17 secretion under hyperosmolar conditions. The gene expression of CCL28 was significantly upregulated in conjunctival samples from DE patients. CCL28 expression correlated positively with symptomatology, corneal staining, heat sensitivity threshold, and dendritic cell density. CXCL14 expression correlated positively with age, ocular pain, conjunctival staining, tactile sensitivity, and image reflectivity. CXCL17 expression correlated positively with corneal staining. These results suggest that corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells could be a source of CCL28, CXCL14, and CXCL17 on the ocular surface and that CCL28 might be involved in DE pathogenesis.
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Dieldrín/análogos & derivados , Síndromes de Ojo Seco , Humanos , Síndromes de Ojo Seco/patología , Quimiocinas/genética , Córnea/patología , Conjuntiva/patología , Quimiocinas CC , Quimiocinas CXCRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the short-term efficacy of cyclosporine A (CsA)-0.1% cationic emulsion (CE) in patients with dry eye disease (DED) and mitigation of the inflammatory flares triggered by desiccating stress environments. METHODS: A single-center non-randomized clinical trial was performed at a tertiary care setting. Twenty patients with DED treated with CsA 0.1% CE were exposed to a normal controlled environment (NCE) (23 °C, 50% relative humidity) and an adverse controlled environment (ACE) (23 °C, 10% relative humidity, 0.43 m/s localized airflow) during baseline and the 1- and 3-month visits. Patients underwent the following evaluations: conjunctival hyperemia and staining, corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) using the Oxford and Cornea and Contact Lens Research Unit (CCLRU) scale, meibomian gland (MG) secretion quality, Dry Eye Questionnaire-5, Symptom Assessment in Dry Eye (SANDE II), and Change in Dry Eye Symptoms Questionnaire. Multivariate models were adjusted for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Nineteen women and one man (mean age, 58.9 ± 12.3 years) completed the study. All symptom questionnaires, CFS, conjunctival hyperemia and staining, and MG secretion quality improved (p ≤ 0.003) with 1 month of treatment; improvements were maintained after 3 months (p ≤ 0.02), except for SANDE II (p ≥ 0.07). The CFS worsening (total CCLRU) after baseline ACE exposure (from 8.6 to 10.1) was higher, although not significant (p = 0.64), compared with 1 month (from 5.4 to 5.8) and 3 months (from 5.0 to 5.9) after treatment. CONCLUSION: Topical CsA-0.1% CE improved DED signs and symptoms after 1 month of treatment under controlled environmental conditions. Future studies should confirm the benefit of CsA-0.1% CE in desiccating stress environments. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT04492878.
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PURPOSE: To assess the reliability and agreement of non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT) in symptomatic and asymptomatic contact lens (CL) wearers using automatic objective and conventional subjective techniques. METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study, soft CL wearers, classified into symptomatic and asymptomatic based on the Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire-8, underwent NIBUT assessment with the CL in situ. The CA-800 Corneal Analyzer and the EasyTear® VIEW+ Tearscope were used for objective and subjective evaluation, respectively. The within-subject repeatability and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated. The agreement between the devices was compared using the Bland-Altman method. RESULTS: A total of 141 CL wearers (51 male and 90 female) with a mean age of 33.6 (SD = 12.2) years were included. The repeatability and ICC values obtained with the CA-800 device when measuring NIBUT were 5.4 s and 58.6% across the whole sample, 4.2 s and 48.8% for the asymptomatic group and 7.1 s and 68.4% for the symptomatic group. When using the subjective method (EasyTear®), the respective repeatability and ICC values were 7.3 s and 32.7% for the whole sample, 6.5 s and 30.4% for the asymptomatic group and 8.6 s and 35.9% for the symptomatic group. The CA-800 device provided significantly (p < 0.001) shorter NIBUT values compared with EasyTear® for the whole sample (3.3 [2.9] vs. 8.1 [3.4] s), the asymptomatic (3.3 [3.0] vs. 7.7 [3.6] s) and the symptomatic (3.8 [2.9] vs. 8.6 [3.0] s) groups. CONCLUSION: Objective (CA-800) NIBUT assessment provides more reliable measurements than the conventional subjective technique using the EasyTear® device. However, CL practitioners should also be aware that the objective method indicates shorter NIBUT values. Symptomatic CL wearers may also need a higher number of NIBUT measurements to obtain reliable estimations.
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Lentes de Contacto Hidrofílicos , Síndromes de Ojo Seco , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Adulto , Estudios Prospectivos , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Estudios Transversales , Síndromes de Ojo Seco/diagnóstico , Síndromes de Ojo Seco/etiología , LágrimasRESUMEN
PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the subjective and objective differences among the steps of the contact lens discomfort (CLD) progression classification established by the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) using questionnaires and clinical signs, and to propose a simplified classification. METHODS: Contact lens (CL) wearers were evaluated in a single visit. The Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire (CLDEQ)-8, the Contact Lens Discomfort Index, and Visual Analog Scales for discomfort and dryness were administered. The non-invasive break-up time, the tear film lipid layer thickness, conjunctival hyperaemia and papillae, lid-parallel conjunctival folds, the fluorescein tear film break-up time, corneal and conjunctival staining, lid wiper epitheliopathy, and the Schirmer test were assessed. Sign and symptom scores were compared among TFOS CLD progression steps using analysis of variance or the Kruskal-Wallis H test. Steps 1 and 2 (reduced comfort), and steps 3 and 4 (reduced wearing time) of the TFOS classification were combined to obtain a simplified classification, and the same comparison was performed. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: One hundred-fifty CL wearers (97 women and 53 men) aged 34.4 ± 12.6 years were included. In the TFOS classification, there were significant differences between step 0 (no CLD) and the rest of the severity steps for the scores obtained in all questionnaires (p ≤ 0.015). All steps were differentiated (p ≤ 0.032) based on the simplified classification for all questionnaires, except steps 1 and 2 for the CLDEQ-8 and dryness VAS (p = 0.089 and p = 0.051, respectively). There were no differences (all p ≥ 0.06) between the sign scores among the steps of either classification. CONCLUSION: CLD management is encouraged from its first appearance. Simplifying the phases of CLD severity may allow a more accurate classification and a better awareness of the problem by clinicians and CL wearers by using more straightforward simple messages.
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Lentes de Contacto Hidrofílicos , Síndromes de Ojo Seco , Masculino , Humanos , Femenino , Lentes de Contacto Hidrofílicos/efectos adversos , Síndromes de Ojo Seco/diagnóstico , Síndromes de Ojo Seco/etiología , Conjuntiva , Córnea , LágrimasRESUMEN
PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze the differences in the expression of pain-related genes in conjunctival epithelial cells among symptomatic contact lens (CL) wearers (SCLWs), asymptomatic CL wearers (ACLWs), and non-CL wearers (non-CLWs). METHODS: For this study, 60 participants (20 non-CLWs, 40 CLWs) were enrolled. The CLW group comprised 20 ACLWs and 20 SCLWs according to the Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire short form©. Conjunctival cells were collected using impression cytology, and RNA was isolated and used to determine the expression levels of 85 human genes involved in neuropathic and inflammatory pain. The effects of CL wear and discomfort were evaluated using mixed-effects ANOVA with partially nested fixed-effects model. Gene set enrichment analysis was performed to assign biological meaning to sets of differentially expressed genes. RESULTS: Six genes (CD200, EDN1, GRIN1, PTGS1, P2RX7, and TNF) were significantly upregulated in CLWs compared to non-CLWs. Eleven genes (ADORA1, BDKRB1, CACNA1B, DBH, GRIN1, GRM1, HTR1A, PDYN, PTGS1, P2RX3, and TNF) were downregulated in SCLWs compared to ACLWs. These genes were mainly related to pain, synaptic transmission and signaling, ion transport, calcium transport and concentration, and cell-cell signaling. CONCLUSIONS: CL wear modified the expression of pain- and inflammation-related genes in conjunctival epithelial cells. These changes may be in part, along with other mechanisms, responsible for CL discomfort in SCLWs.
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Lentes de Contacto Hidrofílicos , Síndromes de Ojo Seco , Humanos , Conjuntiva/metabolismo , Células Epiteliales/metabolismo , Síndromes de Ojo Seco/metabolismo , Dolor , Expresión GénicaRESUMEN
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a very important cereal worldwide, since it is the staple food for more than half of the world's population. Iron (Fe) deficiency is among the most important agronomical concerns in calcareous soils where rice plants may suffer from this deficiency. Current production systems are based on the use of high-yielding varieties and the application of large quantities of agrochemicals, which can cause major environmental problems. The use of beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms is considered a relevant sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers. The main goal of this study was to determine the ability of the nonpathogenic strain Fusarium oxysporum FO12 to induce Fe-deficiency responses in rice plants and its effects on plant growth and Fe chlorosis. Experiments were carried out under hydroponic system conditions. Our results show that the root inoculation of rice plants with FO12 promotes the production of phytosiderophores and plant growth while reducing Fe chlorosis symptoms after several days of cultivation. Moreover, Fe-related genes are upregulated by FO12 at certain times in inoculated plants regardless of Fe conditions. This microorganism also colonizes root cortical tissues. In conclusion, FO12 enhances Fe-deficiency responses in rice plants, achieves growth promotion, and reduces Fe chlorosis symptoms.
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Most microbes evolve faster than their hosts and should therefore drive evolution of host-microbe interactions. However, relatively little is known about the characteristics that define the adaptive path of microbes to host association. Here we identified microbial traits that mediate adaptation to hosts by experimentally evolving the free-living bacterium Pseudomonas lurida with the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as its host. After ten passages, we repeatedly observed the evolution of beneficial host-specialist bacteria, with improved persistence in the nematode being associated with increased biofilm formation. Whole-genome sequencing revealed mutations that uniformly upregulate the bacterial second messenger, cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP). We subsequently generated mutants with upregulated c-di-GMP in different Pseudomonas strains and species, which consistently increased host association. Comparison of pseudomonad genomes from various environments revealed that c-di-GMP underlies adaptation to a variety of hosts, from plants to humans. This study indicates that c-di-GMP is fundamental for establishing host association.
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Proteínas de Escherichia coli , Nematodos , Animales , Humanos , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/genética , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Simbiosis , BacteriasRESUMEN
MAIN CONCLUSION: FO12 strain enhances Fe deficiency responses in cucumber plants, probably through the production of ethylene and NO in the subapical regions of the roots. Rhizosphere microorganisms can elicit induced systemic resistance (ISR) in plants. This type of resistance involves complex mechanisms that confer protection to the plant against pathogen attack. Additionally, it has been reported by several studies that ISR and Fe deficiency responses are modulated by common pathways, involving some phytohormones and signaling molecules, like ethylene and nitric oxide (NO). The aim of this study was to determine whether the nonpathogenic strain of Fusarium oxysporum FO12 can induce Fe deficiency responses in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants. Our results demonstrate that the root inoculation of cucumber plants with the FO12 strain promotes plant growth after several days of cultivation, as well as rhizosphere acidification and enhancement of ferric reductase activity. Moreover, Fe-related genes, such as FRO1, IRT1 and HA1, are upregulated at certain times after FO12 inoculation either upon Fe-deficiency or Fe-sufficient conditions. Furthermore, it has been found that this fungus colonizes root cortical tissues, promoting the upregulation of ethylene synthesis genes and NO production in the root subapical regions. To better understand the effects of the FO12 strain on field conditions, cucumber plants were inoculated and cultivated in a calcareous soil under greenhouse conditions. The results obtained show a modification of some physiological parameters in the inoculated plants, such as flowering and reduction of tissue necrosis. Overall, the results suggest that the FO12 strain could have a great potential as a Fe biofertilizer and biostimulant.
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Cucumis sativus , Fusarium , Cucumis sativus/genética , Raíces de Plantas/metabolismo , Hierro/metabolismo , Etilenos/metabolismoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Mucinous ovarian carcinoma (MOC) is a rare histotype of ovarian cancer, with low response rates to standard chemotherapy, and very poor survival for patients diagnosed at advanced stage. There is a limited understanding of the MOC immune landscape, and consequently whether immune checkpoint inhibitors could be considered for a subset of patients. METHODS: We performed multicolor immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) on tissue microarrays in a cohort of 126 MOC patients. Cell densities were calculated in the epithelial and stromal components for tumor-associated macrophages (CD68+/PD-L1+, CD68+/PD-L1-), T cells (CD3+/CD8-, CD3+/CD8+), putative T-regulatory cells (Tregs, FOXP3+), B cells (CD20+/CD79A+), plasma cells (CD20-/CD79a+), and PD-L1+ and PD-1+ cells, and compared these values with clinical factors. Univariate and multivariable Cox Proportional Hazards assessed overall survival. Unsupervised k-means clustering identified patient subsets with common patterns of immune cell infiltration. RESULTS: Mean densities of PD1+ cells, PD-L1- macrophages, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and FOXP3+ Tregs were higher in the stroma compared to the epithelium. Tumors from advanced (Stage III/IV) MOC had greater epithelial infiltration of PD-L1- macrophages, and fewer PD-L1+ macrophages compared with Stage I/II cancers (p = 0.004 and p = 0.014 respectively). Patients with high epithelial density of FOXP3+ cells, CD8+/FOXP3+ cells, or PD-L1- macrophages, had poorer survival, and high epithelial CD79a + plasma cells conferred better survival, all upon univariate analysis only. Clustering showed that most MOC (86%) had an immune depleted (cold) phenotype, with only a small proportion (11/76,14%) considered immune inflamed (hot) based on T cell and PD-L1 infiltrates. CONCLUSION: In summary, MOCs are mostly immunogenically 'cold', suggesting they may have limited response to current immunotherapies.
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Antígeno B7-H1 , Neoplasias Ováricas , Humanos , Femenino , Antígeno B7-H1/genética , Carcinoma Epitelial de Ovario/patología , Neoplasias Ováricas/tratamiento farmacológico , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos , Factores de Transcripción Forkhead/uso terapéutico , Linfocitos Infiltrantes de Tumor , Microambiente TumoralRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Cyclin E1 (CCNE1) is a potential predictive marker and therapeutic target in tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC). Smaller studies have revealed unfavorable associations for CCNE1 amplification and CCNE1 overexpression with survival, but to date no large-scale, histotype-specific validation has been performed. The hypothesis was that high-level amplification of CCNE1 and CCNE1 overexpression, as well as a combination of the two, are linked to shorter overall survival in HGSC. METHODS: Within the Ovarian Tumor Tissue Analysis consortium, amplification status and protein level in 3029 HGSC cases and mRNA expression in 2419 samples were investigated. RESULTS: High-level amplification (>8 copies by chromogenic in situ hybridization) was found in 8.6% of HGSC and overexpression (>60% with at least 5% demonstrating strong intensity by immunohistochemistry) was found in 22.4%. CCNE1 high-level amplification and overexpression both were linked to shorter overall survival in multivariate survival analysis adjusted for age and stage, with hazard stratification by study (hazard ratio [HR], 1.26; 95% CI, 1.08-1.47, p = .034, and HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.05-1.32, p = .015, respectively). This was also true for cases with combined high-level amplification/overexpression (HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.09-1.47, p = .033). CCNE1 mRNA expression was not associated with overall survival (HR, 1.00 per 1-SD increase; 95% CI, 0.94-1.06; p = .58). CCNE1 high-level amplification is mutually exclusive with the presence of germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants and shows an inverse association to RB1 loss. CONCLUSION: This study provides large-scale validation that CCNE1 high-level amplification is associated with shorter survival, supporting its utility as a prognostic biomarker in HGSC.
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Carcinoma , Cistadenocarcinoma Seroso , Neoplasias Ováricas , Femenino , Humanos , Neoplasias Ováricas/patología , Factores de Transcripción/genética , ARN Mensajero , Cistadenocarcinoma Seroso/genética , Proteínas Oncogénicas/genética , Proteínas Oncogénicas/uso terapéutico , Ciclina E/genéticaRESUMEN
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.956602.].
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The establishment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) long-term infection in vivo depends on several factors, one of which is the availability of key nutrients such as iron (Fe). The relation between Fe deprivation inside and outside the granuloma, and the capacity of Mtb to accumulate lipids and persist in the absence of growth is not well understood. In this context, current knowledge of how Mtb modifies its lipid composition in response to growth arrest, depending on iron availability, is scarce. To shed light on these matters, in this work we compare genome-wide transcriptomic and lipidomic profiles of Mtb at exponential and stationary growth phases using cultures with glycerol as a carbon source, in the presence or absence of iron. As a result, we found that transcriptomic responses to growth arrest, considered as the transition from exponential to stationary phase, are iron dependent for as many as 714 genes (iron-growth interaction contrast, FDR <0.05), and that, in a majority of these genes, iron deprivation enhances the magnitude of the transcriptional responses to growth arrest in either direction. On the one hand, genes whose upregulation upon growth arrest is enhanced by iron deprivation were enriched in functional terms related to homeostasis of ion metals, and responses to several stressful cues considered cardinal features of the intracellular environment. On the other hand, genes showing negative responses to growth arrest that are stronger in iron-poor medium were enriched in energy production processes (TCA cycle, NADH dehydrogenation and cellular respiration), and key controllers of ribosomal activity shut-down, such as the T/A system mazE6/F6. Despite of these findings, a main component of the cell envelope, lipid phthiocerol dimycocerosate (PDIM), was not detected in the stationary phase regardless of iron availability, suggesting that lipid changes during Mtb adaptation to non-dividing phenotypes appear to be iron-independent. Taken together, our results indicate that environmental iron levels act as a key modulator of the intensity of the transcriptional adaptations that take place in the bacterium upon its transition between dividing and dormant-like phenotypes in vitro.
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To assess the prophylactic effect of LipiFlow treatment in Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) patients exposed to an adverse environmental humidity. MGD patients were exposed to normal (23 °C; 50% relative humidity; 30 min) and adverse (23 °C; 10% relative humidity; 2 h) controlled environments consecutively during baseline and follow-up visits (3, 6, and 12 months) after a single LipiFlow treatment. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), lipid layer thickness (LLT), fluorescein tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal and conjunctival staining, change in dry eye symptoms questionnaire (CDES-Q), and Meibomian gland yielding liquid secretion (MGYLS), were assessed. Linear mixed-effects and cumulative logit mixed models were fitted to assess the effect of the LipiFlow treatment over time and within the controlled environments. Seventeen females and 4 males (59.6 ± 9.4 years) completed the study. LLT and TBUT did not vary significantly (p > 0.05) after LipiFlow treatment. OSDI, corneal and conjunctival staining, and MGYLS scores were improved (p ≤ 0.01) 12 months after treatment. After the adverse exposure, corneal staining increased at all visits (p = 0.01), and there was no significant improvement in CDES-Q scores after LipiFlow treatment (p ≥ 0.07). One LipiFlow treatment improved objective and subjective outcomes in MGD disease for at least one year. Further studies are needed to support that LipiFlow might also help as an adjuvant to avoid acute flares against an adverse environmental humidity.
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Síndromes de Ojo Seco , Enfermedades de los Párpados , Hipertermia Inducida , Disfunción de la Glándula de Meibomio , Síndromes de Ojo Seco/terapia , Enfermedades de los Párpados/terapia , Femenino , Fluoresceínas , Humanos , Lípidos , Masculino , Disfunción de la Glándula de Meibomio/terapia , Glándulas Tarsales , Estudios Prospectivos , LágrimasRESUMEN
PURPOSE: To evaluate the postoperative changes in corneal epithelium thickness and refractive power after femtosecond laser-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for myopia correction using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) with an integrated Placido disc topographer. METHODS: The VisuMax 500-kHz femtosecond laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG) and Amaris 750 excimer laser (SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions) were used. Central, paracentral, and 6-mm epithelial thickness values were obtained, and the change in the value of epithelial thickness was calculated. Changes in the refractive power of the epithelium were also evaluated. The repeatability of this new measurement was also analyzed using the intraclass correlation (ICC). The total follow-up period was 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 77 LASIK eyes were matched with 77 SMILE eyes. Mean spherical equivalent was -3.92 ± 1.67 diopters (D) for LASIK versus -4.02 ± 1.63 D for SMILE (P = .356). Epithelial thickness parameters significantly and equally thickened in both types of surgery. The change in the value of epithelial thickness was positively correlated with spherical aberration. Analysis of the refractive power of the corneal epithelial layer (ICC > 0.70) showed a tendency for the postoperative myopization of the refractive component of this layer (-0.11 D for SMILE and -0.53 D for LASIK at 3 mm) and an increase in its cylinder and aberrometry. Increasing postoperative spherical aberration and epithelial thickness increased myopization of the epithelial refractive sphere (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Corneal epithelium thickens similarly after LASIK and SMILE, being slightly higher after SMILE. This correlates with the induced spherical aberration. Corneal epithelium thickening induces myopization of its refractive power, which accounts for a slight regression of the net refractive power change on the treated cornea. [J Refract Surg. 2022;38(9):602-608.].