Anti-Vegf therapy leads to an improvement in grade of retinal pigment epithelium alterations on single layer retinal pigment epithelium map in diabetic macular edema.

PURPOSE: In bovine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, increased secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has a positive linear association with proliferation of RPE. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) based improvement in grades of topographic retinal pigment epithelium alterations (RPE-A), were evaluated after intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy, in diabetic macular edema (DME), for the first time. METHODS: A tertiary care center-based, prospective study. Forty-four consecutive patients, 40-65 years of age with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) with DME, were administered three doses of anti-VEGF therapy at monthly intervals. Pre- and post-intervention SD-OCT was done and central sub field thickness (CST), cube average thickness (CAT) and topographic grades of RPE-A were assessed using single layer RPE map (SL-RPE) as; Grade 0: No alterations, Grade 1: Alteration in two quadrants, Grade 2: Alteration in more than two quadrants. RESULTS: CST decreased from 354.2 ± 16.0 µm pre-intervention to 233.2 ± 7.9 µm post-intervention. CAT reduced from 340.6 ± 6.5 µm pre-intervention to 274.1 ± 5.1 µm post-intervention. Significant improvement in grades of RPE-A pre- v/s post-intervention were observed. (Grade 0: 0 v/s 39; Grade 1: 17 v/s 3; Grade 2: 27 v/s 2) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Anti-VEGF therapy is associated with an improvement in grades of RPE-A in DME.The study was registered with the Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2019/03/018135).

Iraq/Afghanistan war lung injury reflects burn pits exposure.

This descriptive case series retrospectively reviewed medical records from thirty-one previously healthy, war-fighting veterans who self-reported exposure to airborne hazards while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2003 and the present. They all noted new-onset dyspnea, which began during deployment or as a military contractor. Twenty-one subjects underwent non-invasive pulmonary diagnostic testing, including maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) and impulse oscillometry (IOS). In addition, five soldiers received a lung biopsy; tissue results were compared to a previously published sample from a soldier in our Iraq Afghanistan War Lung Injury database and others in our database with similar exposures, including burn pits. We also reviewed civilian control samples (5) from the Stony Brook University database. Military personnel were referred to our International Center of Excellence in Deployment Health and Medical Geosciences, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell under the auspices of Northwell IRB: 17-0140-FIMR Feinstein Institution for Medical Research "Clinicopathologic characteristics of Iraq Afghanistan War Lung Injury." We retrospectively examined medical records, including exposure data, radiologic imaging, and non-invasive pulmonary function testing (MGC Diagnostic Platinum Elite Plethysmograph) using the American Thoracic Society (ATS) standard interpretation based on Morgan et al., and for a limited cohort, biopsy data. Lung tissue, when available, was examined for carbonaceous particles, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Raman spectroscopy), metals, titanium connected to iron (Brookhaven National Laboratory, National Synchrotron Light Source II, Beamline 5-ID), oxidized metals, combustion temperature, inflammatory cell accumulation and fibrosis, neutrophil extracellular traps, Sirius red, Prussian Blue, as well as polarizable crystals/particulate matter/dust. Among twenty-one previously healthy, deployable soldiers with non-invasive pulmonary diagnostic tests, post-deployment, all had severely decreased MEP values, averaging 42% predicted. These same patients concurrently demonstrated abnormal airways reactance (X5Hz) and peripheral/distal airways resistance (D5-D20%) via IOS, averaging - 1369% and 23% predicted, respectively. These tests support the concept of airways hyperresponsiveness and distal airways narrowing, respectively. Among the five soldiers biopsied, all had constrictive bronchiolitis. We detected the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)-which are products of incomplete combustion-in the lung tissue of all five warfighters. All also had detectable titanium and iron in the lungs. Metals were all oxidized, supporting the concept of inhaling burned metals. Combustion temperature was consistent with that of burned petrol rather than higher temperatures noted with cigarettes. All were nonsmokers. Neutrophil extracellular traps were reported in two biopsies. Compared to our prior biopsies in our Middle East deployment database, these histopathologic results are similar, since all database biopsies have constrictive bronchiolitis, one has lung fibrosis with titanium bound to iron in fixed mathematical ratios of 1:7 and demonstrated polarizable crystals. These results, particularly constrictive bronchiolitis and polarizable crystals, support the prior data of King et al. (N. Engl. J. Med. 365:222-230, 2011) Soldiers in this cohort deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003, with exposure to airborne hazards, including sandstorms, burn pits, and improvised explosive devices, are at high risk for developing chronic clinical respiratory problems, including: (1) reduction in respiratory muscle strength; (2) airways hyperresponsiveness; and (3) distal airway narrowing, which may be associated with histopathologic evidence of lung damage, reflecting inhalation of burned particles from burn pits along with particulate matter/dust. Non-invasive pulmonary diagnostic tests are a predictor of burn pit-induced lung injury.

Evaluation of Sphingomonas paucimobilis as an emerging nosocomial pathogen in a teaching hospital in Uttarakhand.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sphingomonas paucimobilis is an opportunistic pathogen and was rarely encountered in clinical specimens previously. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features, associated co-morbidities, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of S. paucimobilis infection in a tertiary hospital in Uttarakhand. MATERIALS AND METHODS: S. paucimobilis isolates cultured from various sections of hospital and OPDs were identified and analyzed for their antibiograms in the microbiology laboratory for a duration of one year from January 2020 to December 2020. RESULTS: S. paucimobilis was isolated from 49 samples (0.01%) out of 3792 samples processed in VITEK 2 Compact automated ID/AST instrument. The maximum number of isolates were obtained from urine samples (31%), followed by blood (24%). Septicemia (41%), meningitis (17%), lower respiratory tract infections and ventilator associated pneumonia (14%) constituted a major portion of infections caused by this organism. Diabetes mellitus (22%) and steroid usage (16%) were major associated co-morbid conditions. Third and Fourth generation cephalosporins like ceftriaxone (81%) and cefepime (86%) were found to be the most susceptible drugs whereas 61% of isolates were resistant to colistin. CONCLUSION: This organism is an up-and-coming pathogen and should not be simply labeled as a contaminant. Although the organism is not grossly virulent and still might not be associated with serious life-threatening infections; however their evolving resistance patterns and increased spectrum of infections should be seriously taken into account.

Elevated advanced glycation end products are associated with subfoveal ellipsoid zone disruption in diabetic macular edema.

PURPOSE: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), due to increased production and a slow turnover rate, serve as mediators of "metabolic memory" even after the resolution of hyperglycemia. A prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the association of AGEs with subfoveal ellipsoid zone (EZ) disruption in diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: A tertiary-care-center-based cross-sectional study included 40 consecutive cases with DME and 20 healthy controls in the age group of 40-65 years. All the study subjects underwent spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for cross-sectional imaging of the retina. The EZ was defined as a hyperreflective band below the external limiting membrane. The disruption of EZ was graded as intact EZ and disrupted EZ. Serum AGEs were assessed by assay of Nε-carboxymethyl-lysine (Nε-CML) using the standard protocol. Data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Subfoveal EZ disruption was noted in 80% (32/40) of the cases of DME. In the cases without EZ disruption, visual acuity (LogMAR VA) was 0.60 ± 0.52, whereas in cases with EZ disruption, LogMAR VA was 0.96 ± 0.56 (P < 0.001). In the cases without EZ disruption, Nε-CML was 94.31 ± 57 ng/mL, whereas in cases with EZ disruption Nε-CML was 120.64 ± 71.98 ng/mL (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In DME, increased levels of AGEs are significantly associated with EZ disruption on SD-OCT.

Sequential restoration of external limiting membrane and ellipsoid zone after intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy in diabetic macular oedema.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To study the mechanism of restoration of retinal photoreceptor ellipsoid zone (EZ), after intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) therapy, in diabetic macular oedema (DMO). SUBJECTS/METHODS: Forty-four consecutive patients aged 40-65 years having type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) with DMO were prospectively recruited for IVB therapy. It comprised of three doses (1.25 mg in 0.05 ml) of IVB at monthly intervals. Patients with other ocular and systemic diseases affecting retinal vessels and earlier ophthalmological interventions were excluded. Visual acuity (logMAR VA) was recorded. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was performed pre and post intervention. Central sub-foveal thickness (CST) and grades of disorganization of retinal inner layers (DRIL), external limiting membrane (ELM) and EZ were assessed. Data were statistically analysed on SPSS software. Clinical trials registry: CTRI/2019/03/018135. RESULTS: Mean logMAR VA decreased after IVB therapy from 1.78 ± 0.07 pre-intervention to 0.42 ± 0.05 post intervention (p < 0.001). Similarly, CST reduced from 354.23 ± 15.0 µm pre-intervention to 233.18 ± 7.88 µm post intervention (p < 0.001). Among qualitative variables, DRIL decreased from 93.2% pre-intervention to 13.6% post intervention. Likewise, global ELM disruption reduced from 81.8 to 9.1% and global EZ disruption reduced from 79.5 to 11.4%. ELM restoration preceded EZ restoration. CONCLUSION: Anti-VEGF therapy restores the barrier effect of ELM. It causes ELM to restore first followed by EZ restoration in DMO.

ESBL and MBL in Cefepime Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa: An Update from a Rural Area in Northern India.

INTRODUCTION: Cefepime, a fourth generation cephalosporin, is widely used for the empirical treatment of serious infections in critically ill hospitalized patients. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), one of the commonest bacteria causing nosocomial infections has a propensity to develop antibiotic resistance quite promptly. AIM: We undertook this study to assess the efficacy of cefepime against current clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa and to study existence of different beta-lactamase enzymes among cefepime resistant P. aeruginosa isolates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total of 618 isolates of P. aeruginosa recovered consecutively from various clinical samples of a tertiary care hospital were analysed. Their Antimicrobial sensitivity profile against piperacilin (100µg), piperacillin/tazobactam (100µg/10µg), ceftazidime (30µg), cefoperazone (75µg), cefepime (30µg), ciprofloxacin (5µg), gentamycin (10µg), amikacin (30µg) and imipenem (10µg) (Himedia) was tested by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines). We further looked for ESBL, MBL and ESBL + MBL co producers among the cefepime resistant isolates by two different methods (combined double disc synergy test, imipenem-EDTA combined disc test and vitek2). RESULTS: Among 618 consecutive clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa, we observed resistance to cefepime in 457 (74%) isolates. We observed resistance to ciprofloxacin (n=506, 82%) in maximum number of isolates followed by that to Gentamycin (n=475, 77%), amikacin (n=366, 60%), and cefoperazone (n=350, 56.6%). Among all our cefepime resistant P. aeruginosa isolates only 27(6%) were ESBL producers, 18(4%) MBL producers and 2(0.4%) were ESBL+ MBL co-producers. All the ESBL and MBL isolates were also tested by VITEK 2 advanced expert system (bioMirieux Vitek Systems Inc, Hazelwood, MO, France) which revealed a 100% concordance with the phenotypic method tested. CONCLUSION: This paper highlights the need to reconsider prescribing empirical antibiotics for Pseudomonas infections in this region and formulate a strong antibiotic policy to curb the menace of spread of multidrug resistant strains.

Waardenburg syndrome--a case report.

Waardenburg syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by varying degree of deafness associated with pigmentary anomaly and defects of neural crest cell derived structures. Four subtypes (I-IV) with variable penetrance and gene expression of different clinical features have been described. We report a patient showing constellation of complete heterochromia, dystopia canthorum, white forelock, and synophrys. Other affected family relatives with heterochromia have been depicted in pedigree.

Manual small incision cataract surgery for subluxated cataract with lens coloboma.

INTRODUCTION: The lens coloboma results from a segmental defective or absent development of the zonules. It is usually unilateral and bilateral cases are rare. These eyes are at greater risk of complications during cataract surgery due to ocular malformations. In addition the capsular bag requires stabilization using modified capsule tension ring, capsular tension segment or capsular anchor. METHODS: Lens extraction is indicated for cataract or subluxation if visual function is sufficiently compromised. We report our surgical experience in a patient with bilateral isolated lens coloboma by performing manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) in left eye and phacoemulsification in right eye. RESULTS: The nuclear rotation was hampered because of the lack of zonules and presence of lens coloboma. MSICS was converted to the intracapsular technique in left eye, though breaking the nucleus into pieces during phacoemulsification in right eye enabled its mobilization and successful completion with implantation of modified capsule tension ring. CONCLUSIONS: A patient with lens subluxation and lens coloboma is better managed by phacoemulsification as compared to the MSICS.