An Analysis of Solicitations From Predatory Journals in Ophthalmology.

PURPOSE: To evaluate trends associated with email communication from potentially predatory publishers to faculty in ophthalmology. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study METHODS: Ophthalmologists (n = 14) from various subspecialties and institutions were recruited to participate. Participants identified unsolicited emails that they had received originating from publishers in May 2021. Information collected included details on email contents and publisher organizations. Trends in communications from predatory publishers were evaluated. RESULTS: Over a 30-day study period, a total of 1813 emails were received from 383 unique publishers and 696 unique journals, with a mean (SD) of 4.73 (2.46) emails received per day per participant. Of the 1813 emails identified, 242 (13%) emails were invitations to conferences, whereas 1440 (80%) were solicitations for article submissions to open-access, pay-to-publish journals. A total of 522 (29.0%) emails were related to ophthalmology, and reference to a prior publication of the participant occurred in 262 emails (14%). Of the 696 unique journals identified, 174 (25%) journals were indexed on PubMed and 426 (61%) were listed on Beall's list. When comparing journals that were listed on PubMed vs those that were not, PubMed indexed journals had a higher impact factor (2.1 vs 1.5, P = .002), were less likely to use "greetings" (76% vs 91%, P < .001), had fewer spelling/grammar errors (40% vs 51%, P = .01), and were less likely to offer rapid publication (16% vs 25%, P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Unsolicited requests to publish occur frequently and may diminish the quality of the scientific literature. We encourage individuals in ophthalmology to be aware of these trends in predatory publishing.

Composition of the gut microbiome, role of diet, lifestyle, and antioxidant therapies in diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy.

The gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem in the gastrointestinal tract composed of trillions of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. Disruption of this delicate ecosystem, formally called "dysbiosis", has been linked to a variety of metabolic and inflammatory pathologies. Several studies have focused on abnormal microbiome composition and correlated these findings with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, given the complexity of this ecosystem, the current studies are narrow in design and present variable findings. Composition of the gut microbiome in patients with DR significantly differs from patients with diabetes without retinopathy as well as from healthy controls. Additionally, the gut microbiome has been shown to modify effects of medication, diet, exercise, and antioxidant use on the development and progression of DR. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of literature on the effect of oxidative stress, antioxidant therapies, and dysbiosis on DR.

Artificial intelligence in retinal image analysis: Development, advances, and challenges.

Modern advances in diagnostic technologies offer the potential for unprecedented insight into ophthalmic conditions relating to the retina. We discuss the current landscape of artificial intelligence in retina with respect to screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of retinal pathologies such as diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, central serous chorioretinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration. We review the methods used in these models and evaluate their performance in both research and clinical contexts and discuss potential future directions for investigation, use of multiple imaging modalities in artificial intelligence algorithms, and challenges in the application of artificial intelligence in retinal pathologies.

Optical coherence tomography angiography measurements in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) is an ocular imaging technology that has emerged as a non-invasive tool to evaluate retinal microvascular changes in neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease. While several studies have reported on the presence of pathologic retinal microvascular alterations in PD, the utility of OCT-A as a biomarker for PD evaluation is still unclear. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to explore the current evidence for the role of OCT-A in PD published up until June 2022. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were used to systematically identify relevant papers and a meta-analysis was conducted using Stata16 software according to the level of heterogeneity applying a random- or fixed-effect model. Thirteen studies of 925 eyes in the PD group and 1501 eyes in the control group assessing OCT-A findings in PD patients were included. The meta-analyses revealed that the foveal region of PD patients had a significantly lower vessel density in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) compared to healthy controls but that there were no significant differences in the foveal avascular zone, the SCP in whole, parafoveal, and perifoveal regions, and deep capillary plexus. OCT-A metrics may act as a potential biomarker for a more accurate and early PD diagnosis. Still, the OCT-A algorithms and interchangeability between OCT-A devices require further standardization to draw clinical conclusions regarding their utility.

Future of virtual education and telementoring.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize recent technological advancements in medical and surgical education and explore what the future of medicine might be as it relates to blockchain technology, the metaverse, and web3. RECENT FINDINGS: Through the use of digitally assisted ophthalmic surgery and high dynamic range 3D cameras, it is now possible to record and live stream 3D video content. Although the 'metaverse' is still in its early stages, there are a variety of proto-metaverse technologies that exist to facilitate user interactions that can mimic the real world through the use of shared digital environments and 3D spatial audio. Advanced blockchain technologies can allow for further development of interoperable virtual worlds where a user has an on-chain identity, credentials, data, assets, and much more that they can carry across platforms seamlessly. SUMMARY: As remote real-time communication becomes an integral part of human interaction, 3D live streaming has the potential to revolutionize ophthalmic education by removing traditional geographic and physical constraints of in-person surgical viewing. The incorporation of metaverse and web3 technologies has created new outlets for knowledge sharing that may improve how we operate, teach, learn, and transfer knowledge.

Feasibility and Potential for Real-Time 3D Vitreoretinal Surgery Telementoring.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the potential for real-time, three-dimensional (3D) surgical telementoring to enhance vitreoretinal surgical education. METHODS: The 3D video feed from a high dynamic range surgical camera (NGENUITY) was run through a 4K video capture device (Magewell USB 4K) and set as the video input for a video conferencing application (Zoom). Remote surgical viewing was then performed in two-dimensions (2D) on a computer or in 3D with a virtual reality headset (Oculus Quest 2). RESULTS: Ten surgical cases were successfully live streamed in real time to two separate surgeons in the United States. Specific details of the case were visualized with low latency and interaction with the operating surgeon was possible without affecting the surgical display quality. Excluding the NGENUITY system and personal computers, ancillary equipment costs (video capture card and virtual reality headset) were kept to below $1,000. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that 3D surgical video streaming can be achieved in real time with minimal latency through the use of low-cost video capture equipment and video conferencing/streaming software. The use of this technology gives educators the ability to mentor trainees without the traditional geographic and physical constraints of in-person surgical viewing.

Association Between Preresidency Peer-reviewed Publications and Future Academic Productivity or Career Choice Among Ophthalmology Residency Applicants.

Importance: Ophthalmology-residency selection committees require robust metrics to review applicants. Participation in research activities is a core component of the application process for its perceived association with future academic productivity. Objective: To evaluate the correlation between the number of preresidency peer-reviewed publications (PPPs) and subsequent peer-reviewed publications or career choices of ophthalmology residency graduates. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this cross-sectional study, names of ophthalmology residency graduates were obtained. PubMed-indexed publication records were generated and publications were categorized as preresidency, intraresidency, and postresidency. First author and journal publications with an impact factor (IF) score of 3 or more were recorded. Current academic and community-based career statuses were designated. Names were obtained from cohort and alumni lists on residency program websites or by emailing program directors. Participants included US Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited ophthalmology residency graduates from 2013 to 2016. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome measure was association of PPPs with later publications, first authorship, and journal publications with an IF score of 3 or more. The secondary outcome measure was difference in characteristics associated with academic vs community-based ophthalmologist. Results: A total of 964 ophthalmologists (52% of graduates) were studied and most (85.5%) had PubMed-indexed publications. First authorship (ρ = 0.71; 95% CI, 0.67-0.74; P < .001) had a strong positive correlation with intraresidency publications, while journal publications with an IF score of 3 or more (ρ = 0.56; 95% CI, 0.51-0.60; P < .001) and PPPs (ρ = 0.38; 95% CI, 0.32-0.43; P < .001) had moderate and weak positive correlations, respectively. For postresidency publications, journal publications with an IF score of 3 or more (ρ = 0.86; 95% CI, 0.84-0.87; P < .001) had the strongest positive correlation followed by first authorship (ρ = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.74-0.79; P < .001) and PPPs (ρ = 0.26; 95% CI, 0.20-0.31; P < .001). Preresidency (t = 3.3; P = .001), intraresidency (t = 4.1; P < .001), postresidency (t = 7.5; P < .001), first author (t = 6.6; P < .001), and journal publications with an IF score of 3 or more (t = 5.9; P < .001) were greater for academic ophthalmologists compared with community-based ophthalmologists. Conclusions and Relevance: Preresidency publication history is at least weakly correlated with future publications or work in an academic setting among ophthalmologists. Multiple factors associated with academic productivity were evaluated; however, adjustment for multiple analyses was not done and further testing is required to prove whether these factors are predictive.

Severe Bilateral Photophobia and Unilateral Abducens Nerve Palsy: An Unusual Presentation of Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus.

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) is an uncommon neurocutaneous condition resulting from reactivation of the varicella zoster virus in the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve. Typical presentation of HZO includes a characteristic painful vesicular dermatomal rash. However, the appearance of isolated neurologic complications in the absence of ocular findings has not been previously emphasized. We observed a 47-year-old female patient with established HZO who presented with 1 week of worsening bilateral photophobia and double vision following completion of antiviral treatment. Her motility examination revealed near-complete abduction deficit of her left eye with no other signs of neurologic deficit. Slit lamp biomicroscopy, magnetic resonance imaging, and all laboratory tests were negative. After 2 tapering cycles of oral corticosteroid treatment, her photophobia resolved, and ophthalmoplegia significantly improved. The failure of antiviral therapy in preventing our patient's neurologic sequelae highlights the importance of concurrent steroid therapy in suspected HZO patients. Furthermore, the resolution of symptoms following administration of systemic glucocorticoids supports consideration of HZO complications as immune-mediated. Finally, the unusual presentation of bilateral photophobia in the absence of ocular inflammation warrants further investigation into the pathogenesis of HZO.

Self-Assembly Simulations of Classic Claudins-Insights into the Pore Structure, Selectivity, and Higher Order Complexes.

Tight junction (TJ) protein assembly controls permeability across epithelial and endothelial cells; thus, biochemical interactions that control the TJ assembly have physiological and biomedical significance. In this work, we employed multiscale simulations to probe the TJ self-assembly of five classic claudins (-1, -2, -4, -15, and -19). Claudin proteins assembled into dimeric and occasionally trimeric interfaces that subsequently formed larger polymeric strands. Using orientation-angle analysis to decompose polymeric strands, we found that individual claudins prefer certain dimer interfaces to others. Despite variations in the exact dimer populations observed in individual claudins, there appears to be an overall conformational uniformity in the type of dimeric interactions formed by the claudin family of proteins. A detailed structural characterization of the trimeric assemblies revealed that they could be putative receptors for trimeric Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin. Full characterization of the claudin-2 dimer interface revealed a cysteine cross-linkable interaction, which could be assembled into a symmetric pore of 7.4 Å average diameter. We extended the analysis of pore structure to other classic claudins and found that the distribution of polar residues lining the pore volume varied considerably between the barrier- and pore-forming claudins, potentially delineating the functionality in classic claudins.

Expression of the cancer-testis antigen BORIS correlates with prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: BORIS, a paralogue of the transcription factor CTCF, is a member of the cancer-testis antigen (CT) family. BORIS is normally present at high levels in the testis; however it is aberrantly expressed in various tumors and cancer cell lines. The main objectives of this study were to investigate BORIS expression together with sub-cellular localization in both prostate cell lines and tumor tissues, and assess correlations between BORIS and clinical/pathological characteristics. METHODS: We examined BORIS mRNA expression, protein levels and cellular localization in a panel of human prostate tissues, cancer and benign, together with a panel prostate cell lines. We also compared BORIS levels and localization with clinical/pathological characteristics in prostate tumors. RESULTS: BORIS was detected in all inspected prostate cancer cell lines and tumors, but was absent in benign prostatic hyperplasia. Increased levels of BORIS protein positively correlated with Gleason score, T-stage and androgen receptor (AR) protein levels in prostate tumors. The relationship between BORIS and AR was further highlighted in prostate cell lines by the ability of ectopically expressed BORIS to activate the endogenous AR mRNA and protein. BORIS localization in the nucleus plus cytoplasm was also associated with higher BORIS levels and Gleason score. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of BORIS in prostate tumors suggests potential applications of BORIS as a biomarker for prostate cancer diagnosis, as an immunotherapy target and, potentially, a prognostic marker of more aggressive prostate cancer. The ability of BORIS to activate the AR gene indicates BORIS involvement in the growth and development of prostate tumors.