Spiral NeuroString: High-Density Soft Bioelectronic Fibers for Multimodal Sensing and Stimulation.

Bioelectronic fibers hold promise for both research and clinical applications due to their compactness, ease of implantation, and ability to incorporate various functionalities such as sensing and stimulation. However, existing devices suffer from bulkiness, rigidity, limited functionality, and low density of active components. These limitations stem from the difficulty to incorporate many components on one-dimensional (1D) fiber devices due to the incompatibility of conventional microfabrication methods (e.g., photolithography) with curved, thin and long fiber structures. Herein, we introduce a fabrication approach, ‶spiral transformation″, to convert two-dimensional (2D) films containing microfabricated devices into 1D soft fibers. This approach allows for the creation of high density multimodal soft bioelectronic fibers, termed Spiral NeuroString (S-NeuroString), while enabling precise control over the longitudinal, angular, and radial positioning and distribution of the functional components. We show the utility of S-NeuroString for motility mapping, serotonin sensing, and tissue stimulation within the dynamic and soft gastrointestinal (GI) system, as well as for single-unit recordings in the brain. The described bioelectronic fibers hold great promises for next-generation multifunctional implantable electronics.

Positional Isomeric Cyano-Substituted Bis(2-phenylpyridine)(acetylacetonate)iridium Complexes for Efficient Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with Extended Color Range.

Bis(2-phenylpyridine)(acetylacetonate)iridium, Ir(ppy)2(acac), is a benchmark green emitter for phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PhOLEDs). In this work, we reported three positional isomeric cyano-substituted Ir(ppy)2(acac) complexes, i.e., Ir(3-CN), Ir(4-CN), and Ir(10-CN), with the emission in the yellow to red region (544-625 nm). Through theoretical investigation and single-crystal analysis, it was found that the introduction of cyano substitution at various positions of the ppy ligand allows for tuning the electron distribution and coordination bond length of Ir complexes. Therefore, the charge transfer property of Ir complexes is enhanced such that the energy gap of the cyano-substituted Ir(ppy)2(acac) complexes was reduced. In addition, Ir(3-CN), Ir(4-CN), and Ir(10-CN) exhibited high PLQYs of 83, 54, and 75%, respectively, with the phosphorescence lifetime in the range of 0.79-2.08 µs. Notably, the device utilizing Ir(3-CN) as the emitter exhibited a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 25.4%, current efficiency of 56.9 cd A-1, power efficiency of 68.7 lm W-1, and brightness of 61,340 cd m-2 at 8 V. The EQE of this device remained 24.3 and 19.9% at luminances of 1,000 and 10,000 cd m-2, corresponding to the efficiency roll-off of 4.3 and 21.7%, respectively. Comparing to the Ir complexes using the ligand with an extended conjugated structure, our results demonstrated a simple molecular design strategy for phosphorescence emitters with reduced molecular weight for efficient PhOLEDs in the yellow to red color region.

Soluble Protein Hydrolysate Ameliorates Gastrointestinal Inflammation and Injury in 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid-Induced Colitis in Mice.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic, recurring gastrointestinal diseases that severely impair health and quality of life. Although therapeutic options have significantly expanded in recent years, there is no effective therapy for a complete and permanent cure for IBD. Well tolerated dietary interventions to improve gastrointestinal health in IBD would be a welcome advance especially with anticipated favorable tolerability and affordability. Soluble protein hydrolysate (SPH) is produced by the enzymatic hydrolysis of commercial food industry salmon offcuts (consisting of the head, backbone and skin) and contains a multitude of bioactive peptides including those with anti-oxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate whether SPH ameliorates gastrointestinal injury in 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced mouse colitis model. Mice were randomly assigned to four groups: Control (no colitis), Colitis, Colitis/CP (with control peptide treatment), and Colitis/SPH (with SPH treatment). Colitis was induced by cutaneous sensitization with 1% TNBS on day -8 followed by 2.5% TNBS enema challenge on day 0. Control peptides and SPH were provided to the mice in the Colitis/CP or Colitis/SPH group respectively by drinking water at the final concentration of 2% w/v daily from day -10 to day 4. Then, the colon was harvested on day 4 and examined macro- and microscopically. Relevant measures included disease activity index (DAI), colon histology injury, immune cells infiltration, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and anti-oxidative gene expression. It was found that SPH treatment decreased the DAI score and colon tissue injury when compared to the colitis-only and CP groups. The protective mechanisms of SPH were associated with reduced infiltration of CD4+ T, CD8+ T and B220+ B lymphocytes but not macrophages, downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6), and upregulated anti-inflammatory cytokines (transforming growth factor-ß1 and interleukin-10) in the colon tissue. Moreover, the upregulation of anti-oxidative genes, including ferritin heavy chain 1, heme oxygenase 1, NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1, and superoxide dismutase 1, in the colons of colitis/SPH group was observed compared with the control peptide treatment group. In conclusion, the protective mechanism of SPH is associated with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects as demonstrated herein in an established mice model of colitis. Clinical studies with SPH as a potential functional food for the prevention or as an adjuvant therapy in IBD may add an effective and targeted diet-based approach to IBD management in the future.

Transgenic human HOXB1-9 directs anterior-posterior axial skeleton pattern in Hoxb1-9 deficient mice.

The cervical and anterior thoracic regions of mammals generally exhibit similar vertebral numbers and identities along the anterior-posterior axis. The position of the forelimbs along the axial skeleton is also generally conserved. In contrast, the number of lumbar and sacral vertebrae and pelvic position exhibit more variation, correlating with posture and locomotion. The molecular mechanisms that lead to these conserved and variable axial skeletal patterns between species are not fully understood. Here we use a human HOXB1-9 transgene to complement a HoxB1-9 deficiency in the mouse. In TgHOXB1-9 mice, human HOXB1, B2, B3, and B4 (HOXB1-4) genes were expressed in mouse embryos in patterns similar to mouse Hoxb1-4 genes. Human transgene expression rescued the cervical and anterior thoracic vertebral patterning defects of HoxB1-9Δ/Δ mice. In addition, the posterior shift in forelimb position of HoxB1-9Δ/Δ mice was rescued by the transgene. Interestingly, the position of the lumbar-sacral transition in both TgHOXB1-9; HoxB1-9Δ/Δ and TgHOXB1-9; HoxB1-9+/+ mice was altered from six lumbar and four sacral vertebrae found in wild-type controls to five lumbar and five sacral vertebrae. The change in the position of the lumbar-sacral transition consequently altered the position of the pelvis. In contrast to the conserved expression of human HOXB1-4 genes in TgHOXB1-9 mouse embryos, the anterior border of human HOXB9 expression in the neural tube and paraxial mesoderm was shifted posteriorly by 2-3 somites compared to the anterior boundary of endogenous Hoxb9 expression. These findings suggest that conservation and variation in Hoxb/HOXB expression contributes to conserved and species-specific vertebral pattern and limb position.

A universal strategy for the fabrication of single-photon and multiphoton NIR nanoparticles by loading organic dyes into water-soluble polymer nanosponges.

The development of optical organic nanoparticles (NPs) is desirable and widely studied. However, most organic dyes are water-insoluble such that the derivatization and modification of these dyes are difficult. Herein, we demonstrated a simple platform for the fabrication of organic NPs designed with emissive properties by loading ten different organic dyes (molar masses of 479.1-1081.7 g/mol) into water-soluble polymer nanosponges composed of poly(styrene-alt-maleic acid) (PSMA). The result showed a substantial improvement over the loading of commercial dyes (3.7-50% loading) while preventing their spontaneous aggregation in aqueous solutions. This packaging strategy includes our newly synthesized organic dyes (> 85% loading) designed for OPVs (242), DSSCs (YI-1, YI-3, YI-8), and OLEDs (ADF-1-3, and DTDPTID) applications. These low-cytotoxicity organic NPs exhibited tunable fluorescence from visible to near-infrared (NIR) emission for cellular imaging and biological tracking in vivo. Moreover, PSMA NPs loaded with designed NIR-dyes were fabricated, and photodynamic therapy with these dye-loaded PSMA NPs for the photolysis of cancer cells was achieved when coupled with 808 nm laser excitation. Indeed, our work demonstrates a facile approach for increasing the biocompatibility and stability of organic dyes by loading them into water-soluble polymer-based carriers, providing a new perspective of organic optoelectronic materials in biomedical theranostic applications.

Development of a novel liquid crystal Apta-sensing platform using P-shape molecular switch.

Described herein is a liquid crystal (LC)-based aptasensor via employing the reorientation of LC triggered by the conformational changes of a P-shaped DNA structure. The structure consists of a short linker sequence as an immobilizer probe with ability to hybridize with the central part of the intact aptamer (Apt) sequence and an Apt terminal-locker (ATL) strand with complementary segments of the Apt terminal fragments. Bindings of two arm segments of the Apt sequence with the ATL strand enforces it to form a P-shaped configuration on the sensing platform. The selective interaction between the Apt strand and OTA leads to the disassembly of the Apt-ATL hybrid, collapse of the P-shaped structure, and consequently, transition of the optical appearance of the aptasensor texture. Determination of Ochratoxin A (OTA) in foods is an urgent demand in attempt to minimize food safety risks. To demonstrate the feasibility of our aptasensing design, the OTA specific aptamer was selected as a model. The developed LC aptasensor possesses a wide linear range from 0.01 aM to 100 pM, ultra-low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0078 aM, and quantitative recoveries of 91-103.51% for OTA in rice and grape juice samples. This study proposes a novel and universal LC-based platform for facile, ultra-sensitive, and precision sensing of hazardous analytes in real samples.

Recent Advances in Aptasensing Strategies for Monitoring Phycotoxins: Promising for Food Safety.

Phycotoxins or marine toxins cause massive harm to humans, livestock, and pets. Current strategies based on ordinary methods are long time-wise and require expert operators, and are not reliable for on-site and real-time use. Therefore, it is urgent to exploit new detection methods for marine toxins with high sensitivity and specificity, low detection limits, convenience, and high efficiency. Conversely, biosensors can distinguish poisons with less response time and higher selectivity than the common strategies. Aptamer-based biosensors (aptasensors) are potent for environmental monitoring, especially for on-site and real-time determination of marine toxins and freshwater microorganisms, and with a degree of superiority over other biosensors, making them worth considering. This article reviews the designed aptasensors based on the different strategies for detecting the various phycotoxins.

Enhancing the signal contrast ratio and stability of liquid crystal-based sensors by using fine grids made by photolithography of photoresists.

We prepared fine grid patterns on a glass substrate through photolithography of photoresists; we filled photoresist grids with liquid crystals (LCs) to construct LC-based sensors. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the photoresist grids were flat, smooth, and 3.0-8.0 µm thick. In contrast to conventional LC-based sensors, in which LCs are filled in metal grids placed on glass substrates, our results proved that LC-based sensors constructed using photoresist grids exhibited a larger signal contrast ratio, better signal stability in aqueous solutions and lower limit of detection for mercuric ions. All these characteristics enhanced the performance of the LC-based sensors.

Highly sensitive distance-based liquid crystalline visualization for paper-based analytical devices.

We successfully report on the first demonstration of a highly sensitive distance-based liquid crystalline visualization for paper-based analytical devices. The construction of this paper sensor was achieved by immobilizing 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) as liquid crystalline molecules (LCs) onto a paper strip substrate. The sensing mechanism is based on the ultrasound-assisted decomposition of 5CB by the hydroxyl radical (•OH) which is generated from the oxidase enzymatic reaction of the analyte, this then results in the change of texture and color of paper. The utility of our devices was then demonstrated with the determination of bilirubin (BR) in biological samples using a bilirubin oxidase enzymatic reaction. The quantification of BR can be achieved by dipping the tip of the paper strips into the analyte solutions and then by measuring the length of color which has been changed on the paper, by the naked eye. Under optimized conditions, this paper sensor offered the linear range of BR detection from 2.0 to 30.0 pmol/L (R2 = 0.9945) with the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.80 pmol/L. In addition, the results of this sensor were highly reproducible, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 3.50%. The recoveries of spiked BR in human urine and serum samples were in the range of 99.09-107.89%, which demonstrates the high accuracy of this paper sensor. Overall, this work presents a simple method to determine the concentration of H2O2 and BR at pmol levels with an instrument-free length-measuring readout, so it could be suitable for quantitative analysis of other biomarkers based on oxidase enzymatic reaction, which can provide important information about early disease diagnosis and patient prognosis.

A rapid and highly sensitive paper-based colorimetric device for the on-site screening of ammonia gas.

A rapid and highly sensitive paper-based colorimetric device for the on-site detection of ammonia (NH3) gas is presented in this study. The detection principle of this device is based upon a change of color from red to yellow on a paper that has been immobilized with a pH indicator, i.e., methyl orange (pKa = 3.4), in the presence of NH3 gas. The color signal of the device can be measured through the hue channel of an HSL system via the application of a smartphone. This device can detect the amount of NH3 gas within 3 min. The linear relationship between the NH3 gas concentration and the hue signal was found to be in the range from 6.0 to 54.0 ppbv with R2 = 0.9971, and the limit of detection was found to be 2.0 ppbv. In addition, this device showed remarkably high selectivity to NH3 gas amongst the other common volatile organic compounds and general gases that are present in environmental air without the assistance of any membrane material. Furthermore, we demonstrated the applicability of this device for the detection of total NH3 gas at a chicken farm and in a laboratory, with relative standard deviations of 6.2% and 5.4%, respectively. The developed NH3 gas device in the study is easy to operate and cost-effective, with the reduction of a large consumption of chemical reagents; also, its signals can be measured simply and then recorded through a smartphone. It is suitable for the application of routine on-site detection of NH3 gas, especially concerning regions which have limited resources.

Using Diazotization Reaction to Develop Portable Liquid-Crystal-Based Sensors for Nitrite Detection.

A liquid-crystal (LC)-based sensor for detecting nitrite in aqueous solutions was developed using a diazotization reaction as the sensing mechanism. First, tetradecyl 4-aminobenzoate (14CBA) was synthesized and doped into a nematic LC, i.e., 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (5CB). When the LC mixture was cast on a glass substrate and then immersed into an aqueous solution without nitrite, the orientation of LC was planar and the LC image was bright. In the presence of nitrite, it reacted with alkylanilines to give corresponding diazonium ions with a positive charge, which aligned at the LC/aqueous interface to cause homeotropic orientation of LC. As a result, a bright-to-dark transition of the LC image was observed. The limit of detection (LOD) of this system for nitrite is 25 µM with high selectivity. In addition, this system can work in environmental water samples such as tap water and pond water. Finally, we demonstrated that the optical signals of LC can be measured and recorded using a built-in digital camera of a smartphone, suggesting the portability of this system for on-site applications.

Carbazole/Benzimidazole-Based Bipolar Molecules as the Hosts for Phosphorescent and Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters for Efficient OLEDs.

A series of carbazole/benzimidazole-based molecules, namely, o-CbzBiz, m-CbzBiz, and p-CbzBiz, were readily synthesized in three steps by integrating carbazole with benzimidazole via the ortho-, meta-, and para-positions of phenyl linked to N-phenyl carbazole. These bipolar molecules exhibited a maximum UV absorption band ranging from 310 to 327 nm and a maximum emission band ranging from 380 to 400 nm. Density functional theory calculations showed that the twist angles between the donor and acceptor moieties of these molecules were from 54.9 to 67.1°. Such a twisted structure hampered the π-electron conjugation within the molecule and resulted in high-lying LUMO levels and triplet energies, which make them suitable to be applied as host materials in OLED devices. Our results showed that a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of OLED reached 21.8% when p-CbzBiz was applied as the host of a green phosphorescent emitter, i.e., Ir(ppy)2(acac). In addition, a maximum EQE of OLED reached 16.7% when o-CbzBiz with the host of a green TADF emitter, i.e., 4CzIPN. Moreover, these devices exhibited lower efficiency roll-off than the CBP-hosted device using the same emitters, which demonstrated the bipolar charge carrier property of carbazole/benzimidazole-based molecules.

To treat or not to treat: a clinical series of retinal arterial macroaneurysms: A single-center retrospective study.

Retinal arterial macroaneurysms (RAMs) develop as outpouchings of the arterial wall that is weakened by arteriosclerosis. The traditional treatment of RAMs comprises observation, focal laser photocoagulation, or surgery. Recently, intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs has been announced as an effective therapy for fovea-threatening RAMs and quickly improve visual acuity and central retinal thickness (CRT).In the retrospective series, medical charts and ocular images of 24 patients diagnosed as having RAM between May 2011 and November 2018 in our facility were reviewed to delineate clinical manifestations and visual prognosis in RAM patients receiving different treatment modalities. Twenty-four patients (25 eyes; 11 men and 13 women) were enrolled, and one eye with comorbidity of branch retinal vein occlusion was excluded. The mean age of the patients was 69.00 ±â€Š13.45 years. Fourteen patients (58.33%) had a history of hypertension, and 17 patients (70.83%) were aged > 60 years. Furthermore, patients with fovea-threatening RAMs presented with either hypertension or were aged > 60 years.Eyes with fovea involvement (n = 18) were analyzed and separated into two groups according to their treatment modalities: those receiving anti-VEGF intravitreal injections (n = 13) and observation only (n = 5). The baseline visual acuity revealed no significant difference in the two groups. In patients receiving anti-VEGF intravitreal injections, a significantly better visual acuity was detected after anti-VEGF intravitreal injections than the baseline visual acuity (logMAR, 0.78 ±â€Š0.51 vs 1.52 ±â€Š0.48, P < .001), and CRT significantly improved (505.50 ±â€Š159.26 µm vs 243.60 ±â€Š60.17 µm, P = .001). Patients receiving anti-VEGF intravitreal injections also revealed better final visual acuity than those in the observation group (logMAR, 0.78 ±â€Š0.51 vs 1.34 ±â€Š0.48, P = .04).A systematic work-up for hypertension and arteriosclerotic disease could be considered the recommended procedure once RAM has been diagnosed. With better final visual acuity, significant visual improvements, and fast reduction of CRT observed in patients with fovea-threatening RAMs receiving anti-VEGF intravitreal injections, intravitreal anti-VEGF was considered an effective therapy for complicated RAM. During the follow-up period, the majority of RAM eyes had good maintenance of visual function even with foveal complications.

Quantitative analysis of liquid crystal-based immunoassay using rectangular capillaries as sensing platform.

In past studies, liquid crystal (LC)-based immunoassays were accomplished by fabricating an LC cell with two pieces of glass slides after immunobinding, which makes the determination of the immunoassay not in real-time and requires trained personnel. Herein, we developed the LC-based immunoassay by using rectangular capillaries as the substrate for immunobinding. The inner surface of rectangular capillaries was decorated with a long alkyl saline, dimethyloctadecyl[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ammonium chloride (DMOAP), followed by immobilization of human serum albumin (HSA) as the probe. In this situation, the orientation of LC was homeotropic and dark LC image was observed under polarized light. When the solution containing anti-human serum albumin (anti-HSA) were dispensed into the capillary through capillary action, the specific immunobinding between HSA and anti-HSA formed an immunocomplex on the inner surface of capillary, which disrupted the original orientation of LC and led to a dark-to-bright transition of the LC images. The quantification of anti-HSA can be achieved by measuring the length of the bright LC image in the rectangular capillary. By using this immunoassay, the limit of detection (LOD) for anti-HSA is 1 µg/mL, and it did not respond to HSA and anti-human immunoglobulin G (anti-h-IgG). On the other hand, the diversity of the LC-based immunoassay can be extended for HSA detection when we immobilized anti-HSA in the capillary. Because the post-fabrication of LC cell was waived by using rectangular capillaries to develop the LC-based immunoassay, it is more convenient for users to handle and collect more reliable data. Moreover, the results of the immunoassay were visualized through naked-eye and could be recorded by a smartphone; it is more suitable for portable and point-of-care applications.

Fixation behavior in macular dystrophy assessed by microperimetry.

PURPOSE: To investigate the fixation behavior in macular dystrophy using microperimetry. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with macular dystrophy and unilateral macular pucker. Macular dystrophic eyes were compared based on fixation within or outside of the atrophic region. The normal fellow eyes in patients with unilateral macular pucker formed the control group. Clinical and demographic characteristics of age, sex, best-corrected visual acuity, spherical equivalent, and fixation behavior (which included foveal mean sensitivity (MS), fixation MS, MS improvement, stability, centrality, and eccentric distance of fixation) were analyzed. A total of 58 patients were recruited, comprising 29 eyes of 29 patients in the macular dystrophy group and 29 eyes of 29 patients in the control group. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, patients with macular dystrophy had significantly poorer visual acuity, foveal MS, fixation MS, stability, and centrality, and more eccentric preferred retinal locations (PRLs). In macular dystrophy, the PRLs were most common on the superior side (48.3%). Compared to fixation in the atrophic region, PRLs out of the atrophic lesion gained more MS (7.41 vs. 0.89 dB, p = 0.001), although with less stable fixation (10.0 vs. 47.4%, p = 0.044). By multivariate linear regression, eccentric distance was found to be significantly associated with MS improvement (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: The commonest location of PRLs in macular dystrophy is anatomically superior to the lesion. The dystrophic eye can gain better sensitivity by using PRLs outside the atrophic area.

Ocular injuries after bungee jumping: A case report and literature review.

We report a case of ocular injury after bungee jumping. A 29-year-old woman presented with bilateral subconjunctival hemorrhage and periorbital petechiae after bungee jumping. Her best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes. Ocular examinations revealed no other intraocular hemorrhages. She received conservative treatment. One week later, the subconjunctival hemorrhage and periorbital petechiae resolved spontaneously. Her vision remained stable, and no detectable ocular complications were found during the follow-up. In conclusion, bungee jumping can cause ocular injuries. Further studies are required to identify their causes and potential risk factors.

Risk of Microangiopathy in Patients with Epilepsy under Long-term Antiepileptic Drug Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Long-term antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy is considered a risk factor of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, the duration of therapy contributes to acceleration of large-vessel atherosclerosis. Therefore, in this study, we tested the hypothesis that long-term AED therapy plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of microangiopathy in patients with epilepsy. METHODS: We recruited 120 patients with epilepsy (age, 18-60 years) and 40 healthy controls. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to measure the central macular thickness and diameters of the retinal artery and vein to evaluate atherosclerotic retinopathy; microalbumin and creatinine levels in urine were assessed to evaluate atherosclerotic nephropathy. In addition, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), lipid profiles, homocysteine, folate, uric acid, and body mass index were determined. RESULTS: The ratio of urine albumin to creatine and OCT findings showed that patients with epilepsy had higher abnormal microalbuminuria and narrowing retinal vein diameters, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that increased triglyceride and hs-CRP levels might contribute to microalbuminuria. In addition, serum creatinine, duration of AED therapy, enzyme-inducing AED therapy, and duration of enzyme-inducing AED therapy were candidate risk factors for retinal vein narrowing. CONCLUSION: Patients with epilepsy are at a higher risk for microangiopathy presented as retinopathy and nephropathy. Long-term AED therapy, particularly with enzyme-inducing AEDs; high triglyceride levels, and inflammatory processes play an important role in the development of microangiopathy in patients with epilepsy.

Factors associated with corneal epithelial defects after pars plana vitrectomy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the risk factors associated with corneal epithelial defects (CED) and delayed healing (exceeding 1 week) following pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled patients who underwent PPV at a single center in Taiwan between 2011 and 2012. Medical records were reviewed, including demographic, underlying disease, surgical indication, operation parameters, and existence of CED. These data were statistically analyzed. All patients were evaluated during follow-ups at day 1 and week 1 after PPV. Patients with persistent CED 1 week after PPV were diagnosed with delayed healing. RESULTS: A total of 255 patients were included in the study, consisting of 139 men and 116 women, with a mean age of 56.9 years. PPV was performed under the indications of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), diabetic retinopathy, or vitreoretinal interface disease. Out of 255 eyes, 59 developed CED 1 day after surgery (23.1%), and CED was associated with younger age, diabetes mellitus (DM), RRD, longer duration of surgery, and silicon oil use during surgery. Among them, seven patients (11.9%) demonstrated delayed healing, which was associated with a higher rate of DM (p = 0.085), compared to patients who healed within 1 week. CONCLUSION: Patients with RRD, longer duration of surgery, and DM may be at risk of developing CED after PPV. In addition, patients with DM demonstrated a higher incidence of delayed corneal healing.

Rapid Cataract Progression after Nd:YAG Vitreolysis for Vitreous Floaters: A Case Report and Literature Review.

PURPOSE: We report a case of rapid cataract progression after Nd:YAG vitreolysis for vitreous floaters. CASE REPORT: A 55-year-old man presented with acute onset of blurred vision following Nd:YAG vitreolysis for symptomatic floaters in the left eye. His initial best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/1,000 in the left eye. Ocular examinations showed frost-like opacities of the lens and a suspected break of the posterior capsule in the left eye. There were no detectable retinal lesions. Cataract surgery was then arranged. Posterior capsular rupture and vitreous loss occurred during surgery, which required a subsequent pars plana vitrectomy. After the surgery, BCVA in the left eye gradually improved to 20/20 and was maintained during a 1-year follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Crystalline lens injuries and rapid cataract progression may occur following Nd:YAG vitreolysis. While dealing with this type of complicated cataract, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of posterior lens capsule rupture during surgery and the need for combined vitrectomy.

Retinal Detachment Associated With Basketball-Related Eye Trauma.

PURPOSE: Basketball is a popular sport involving significant body contact, which may frequently result in ocular trauma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and visual outcomes of retinal detachment associated with basketball-related injury. DESIGN: Retrospective, interventional case series. METHODS: We reviewed the course of patients who sustained traumatic retinal detachment from basketball-related ocular trauma between 2003 and 2015. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were evaluated for basketball-related traumatic retinal detachment. Twelve (92%) were male and 1 (8%) female, with an average age of 18.2 years. The majority (9 of 13, 70%) of patients had moderate-to-high myopia, and none were using protective eyewear when they sustained the eye trauma. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment was observed in all eyes. The preoperative mean visual acuity was 20/625 (range, hand motions to 20/20). Initial surgery using scleral buckling alone was performed in most (8 of 13, 62%) of the patients. Retinal reattachment was achieved in 10 (76%) eyes after the first operation and in 12 (92%) at the end of the intervention. The mean follow-up was 3.9 years (range, 4 months to 12 years). The visual acuity during last follow-up was 20/231 (range, light perception to 20/20). In the multivariable analysis, initial visual acuity was an independent factor affecting the final visual outcome (P = .006). CONCLUSION: Retinal detachment associated with basketball-related injury may cause severe visual loss. In the current study, all retinal detachments were of rhegmatogenous type and commonly occurred in young individuals with myopia. Initial visual acuity was associated with the prognosis. Risk awareness for early detection and intervention are important in these traumas.