Visual outcome of 25 Gauge vitrectomy for acute post operative infectious endophthalmitis.

BACKGROUND: The correlation between the change in foveal thickness measured using optical coherence tomography (OCT) following surgery for infectious endophthalmitis and preoperative and postoperative visual acuity is uncertain, and there are few pertinent studies on this topic. OBJECTIVE: We explored the variations in macular thickness using OCT after emergency vitrectomy for post-cataract infectious endophthalmitis and the relationship between macular thickness with changes in visual function. METHODS: We included 10 cases of post-cataract infectious endophthalmitis. Each patient underwent 25-G vitrectomy. RESULTS: The infection in all 10 patients was under control and visual function improved. Postoperative vitreous humor culture was positive in 8 patients, including 7 cases of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus epidermidis and 1 case of Lactobacillus acidophilus. The average age of these 10 patients was 71.60 ± 8.71 years (P< 0.05, two-tailed). There was no significant correlation between time 2 (the time of onset after cataract surgery) and visual prognosis. The average time 1 (the time of the vitrification surgery caused by the onset of the disease) was 1.45 ± 0.76 days (P< 0.05, two-tailed). The postoperative 3dVA ranged from 0.20 to 3.00, with an average visual acuity of 1.87 ± 1.12, which was superior to the preoperative value (P< 0.01, two-tailed). The correlation between the post3dVA and post 1mVA was significant. The post 1mVA ranged from 0.05 to 2.20, with an average visual acuity of 0.94 ± 0.74 (P< 0.05, two-tailed). The correlation between post 1mVA and post3mVA was significant. Also, paired t-tests comparing preoperative and postoperative visual acuity revealed a significant correlation (P< 0.05, two-tailed). The post3mVA was 0-1.00 with an average visual acuity of 0.44 ± 0.41. The postoperative foveal thickness ranged from 176.00 to 514.00 µm, with an average thickness of 281.10 ± 113.12 µm. CONCLUSION: Emergency 25-G minimally invasive vitrectomy can improve visual acuity and decrease the reoperation rate for patients who have acquired post-cataract infectious endophthalmitis. There were significant correlations between age, disease onset to operation time, preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, and postoperative macular thickness.

Diagnostic Value of Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography for Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic value of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Methods: A search of electronic databases was conducted from 2010 to 2021 to review the relevant literature on SD-OCT to identify PCV and other lesions causing serious or serosanguinous retinal pigment epithelial detachment (PED), specifically neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD). The QUADAS-2 scale was used to evaluate the quality of the literature. We performed a meta-analysis, including heterogeneity tests, analyze and synthesize the study data, meta-regression analysis, subgroup analysis, Fagan's plot, sensitivity analysis and publication bias tests. Results: A total of 12 related studies involving 1,348 eyes were included in this study, and the random-effects model was used for meta-analysis. The results showed that the pooled sensitivity of SD-OCT in the diagnosis of PCV was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.84-0.89), the pooled specificity was 0.83 (95% CI: 0.80-0.86), and the pooled positive/negative likelihood ratios were 5.38 (95% CI: 3.28-8.80) and 0.16 (95% CI: 0.10-0.25), respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was 36.07 (95% CI: 15.98-81.40), and the area under the sROC curve (AUC) was 0.9429. When the pre-test probability was set at 20%, the post-test positive and negative probabilities were 58% and 4%, respectively. Meta-regression indicated that race was the primary source of heterogeneity (P <0.05). The Deeks' funnel plot showed no significant publication bias in this study (P>0.05). Conclusion: SD-OCT has high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of PCV, as well as significant clinical applicability. Since color fundus photography (CFP) is more clinically available and can improve the diagnostic efficacy, we recommend SD-OCT combined with CFP to diagnose PCV, especially without indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Systematic Review Registration: https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2021-12-0048/, identifier: INPLASY2021120048.

Combination of highly efficient microflora to degrade paint spray exhaust gas.

Spray paint exhaust gas contains recalcitrant volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX). Treating BTX with a biofilter often achieves unsatisfactory results because the biofilter lacks efficient microbial community. In this work, three strains for BTX degradation were isolated and identified as Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis by using 16S rRNA sequencing technology. A consortium of highly efficient microbial community was then constructed on a stable biofilm to treat BTX in a biofilter. A relatively suitable ratio of P. putida, B. cereus and B. subtilis was obtained. An efficiency of over 90% was achieved in the biofilter with VOC concentration of 1000 mg/m3 through inoculation with the microbial community after only 10 days of operation. Thus, fast start-up of the biofilter was realised. Analysis of intermediate products by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry indicated that BTX was degraded into short-chain aldehydes or acids via ring opening reactions.

Association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in TLR4 gene and gene-environment interaction with primary open angle glaucoma in a Chinese northern population.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to investigate the association of several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) gene and additional gene-environment interaction with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) risk. METHODS: Tests for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in controls and haplotype analysis were performed using SNPstats (https://www.snpstats.net). Generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) was performed to test the interaction effects among four SNPs within the TLR4 gene and environmental factors. Logistic regression was performed to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence interval [CI]) for association between four SNPs within the TLR4 gene and POAG risk. RESULTS: The POAG risk was significantly higher in carriers with the T allele of rs4986791 and the T allele of rs2149356 within the TLR4 gene than in those with the wild-type genotype, adjusted ORs (95% CI) were 1.65 (1.23-2.12) and 1.70 (1.16-2.31). The GMDR model suggested a significant two-locus model (p = 0.0010) involving rs2149356 and alcohol drinking. Alcohol drinkers with the rs2149356-GT+TT genotype within the TLR4 gene have the highest POAG risk compared to never alcohol drinkers with the rs2149356-GG genotype (OR = 2.62; 95% CI = 1.48-3.78) after covariates adjustment. However, the study did not find a significant any-locus model involving SNP and smoking. In all samples, the haplotype rs2149356-G-rs7873784-C was observed most frequently in two groups (47.47% and 48.21% for the POAG patients and controls, respectively). The results also indicated that no significant haplotype was associated with POAG risk. CONCLUSIONS: The minor alleles of rs4986791 and rs2149356 within the TLR4 gene, as well as interaction between rs2149356 and alcohol drinking, were associated with an increased POAG risk.