MANAGEMENT OF LARGE FULL-THICKNESS MACULAR HOLES: Long-Term Outcomes of Internal Limiting Membrane Flaps and Internal Limiting Membrane Peels.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To determine and compare the efficacy of a surgical internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap technique with the traditional ILM peel on long-term visual and anatomical outcomes for large (>400 µm) full-thickness macular holes. METHODS: From October 2016 to July 2022, patients undergoing initial full-thickness macular hole repair with the ILM flap or ILM peel technique were reviewed. Final outcomes were recorded and based on size in microns: 401 to 800, 801 to 1,200, and >1,200. RESULTS: Patients treated with ILM flap (n = 52, 94.2% closure rate) or ILM peel (n = 407, 93.6% closure rate) were followed with a mean follow-up time of 15.0 ± 10.2 and 20.0 ± 13.4 months, respectively. Success rates for ILM flaps and ILM peels were compared for full-thickness macular holes of 401 to 800 (100%, 95.8%, P = 0.39), 801 to 1,200 (95%, 93%, P = 0.74), and >1,200 (86.7%, 86.7%, P = 1.0) µm. Mean best-recorded logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution visual acuity for ILM flaps and ILM peels, respectively, was 1.02 ± 0.46 and 0.87 ± 0.47 preoperatively, with follow-up acuity of 0.48 ± 0.32 (P < 0.03) and 0.39 ± 0.42 (P < 0.01) at Year 3. CONCLUSION: Both techniques provide a similar anatomical closure rate and functional improvement in vision. Comparisons should be cautiously made based on difference in preoperative hole size.

COMPARISON OF 25- AND 27-GAUGE SUTURELESS CANNULA-BASED INTRAOCULAR LENS SCLERAL FIXATION VISUAL ACUITY OUTCOMES AND COMPLICATION RATES.

PURPOSE: To compare the visual outcomes and complication rates of sutureless cannula-based intraocular lens scleral (SCILS) fixation performed with 25-gauge (25 G) versus 27-gauge (27 G) instrumentation. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of consecutive cases of eyes without capsular support that underwent SCILS fixation of a three-piece intraocular lens. Sutureless cannula-based intraocular lens scleral fixation was performed by transconjunctival use of either 25-G or 27-G trocar cannulas. During postoperative follow-up evaluations, visual acuity and intraocular pressure were measured, and slit-lamp and indirect ophthalmoscopy examinations were performed to assess for development of known complications. RESULTS: A total of 69 eyes underwent 25 G (27 eyes) or 27 G (42 eyes) SCILS fixation. The mean preoperative logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity trended toward improvement from 0.95 ± 0.68 (20/178 Snellen equivalent) to 0.67 ± 0.64 (20/94 Snellen equivalent) for 25 G group at 1 year. Similar trend toward visual acuity improvement was seen in 27 G group with a mean preoperative logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity of 1.43 ± 0.94 (20/538 Snellen equivalent) improving to 0.86 ± 1.00 (20/145 Snellen equivalent) at 1 year. Statistically significant improvement was seen as early as postoperative week one for 27 G group (P < 0.01), whereas statistically significant worsening was noted at the same time in 25 G group (P = 0.01). There was a statistically significant reduction in intraocular lens displacement (P = 0.01) and need for reoperation (P = 0.01) in 27 G group. CONCLUSION: Compared with 25 G SCILS fixation, eyes managed with 27 G SCILS fixation experienced more rapid visual acuity improvement. In addition, there was a lower rate of complications including intraocular lens displacement and need for reoperation.

Triple nutrient supplementation improves survival, infarct size and cardiac function following myocardial infarction in rats.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: We evaluated the impact of triple nutrient supplementation (TNS: carnitine, taurine and coenzyme Q(10)) vs. carnitine alone (CARN) or placebo on survival, infarct size, cardiac function and metabolic gene expression using a model of myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: Male Wistar rats were randomized to three groups divided in two independent studies prior to ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD): TNS vs. Placebo and TNS vs. CARN. Nutrient supplementation [L-carnitine (300 mg/day), coenzyme Q(10) (15 mg/kg body weight/day) and taurine (0.1M)] was administered daily for four weeks prior to and for 10 days after MI. At that time, cardiac function and infarct size were measured. Metabolic gene (mRNA) expression in the peri-infarct tissue of left ventricle from TNS, placebo or corresponding time-control rats (TNS or placebo without LAD ligation) was measured 10 days after MI. When compared to placebo, TNS significantly improved survival (60% vs. 34%, p<0.02), cardiac function, and reduced infarct size (30+/-7% vs. 42+/-9%, p<0.001). Although CARN improved survival like TNS (45% vs. 50%, not significant), it did not reduce infarct size (32+/-14% vs. 19+/-10%, p<0.05) or delay myocardial remodeling. In the placebo group, MI was associated with a significantly altered pattern of metabolic gene expression (glucose transporter 1, liver carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1, medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase; p<0.01 for all three) in the left ventricle peri-infarct tissue. In contrast, gene expression was normalized in the group receiving TNS. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the potential cardioprotective impact of TNS during myocardial ischemia. In contrast to carnitine supplementation alone, TNS improved survival as well as cardiac function, gene expression and delayed remodeling.