ASSOCIATION OF TESSELLATION DENSITY WITH PROGRESSION OF AXIAL LENGTH AND REFRACTION IN CHILDREN: An Artificial Intelligence-Assisted 4-Year Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate fundus tessellation density (TD) and its association with axial length (AL) elongation and spherical equivalent (SE) progression in children. METHODS: The school-based prospective cohort study enrolled 1,997 individuals aged 7 to 9 years in 11 elementary schools in Mojiang, China. Cycloplegic refraction and biometry were performed at baseline and 4-year visits. The baseline fundus photographs were taken, and TD, defined as the percentage of exposed choroidal vessel area in the photographs, was quantified using an artificial intelligence-assisted semiautomatic labeling approach. After the exclusion of 330 ineligible participants because of loss to follow-up or ineligible fundus photographs, logistic models were used to assess the association of TD with rapid AL elongation (>0.36 mm/year) and SE progression (>1.00 D/year). RESULTS: The prevalence of tessellation was 477 of 1,667 (28.6%) and mean TD was 0.008 ± 0.019. The mean AL elongation and SE progression in 4 years were 0.90 ± 0.58 mm and -1.09 ± 1.25 D. Higher TD was associated with longer baseline AL (ß, 0.030; 95% confidence interval: 0.015-0.046; P < 0.001) and more myopic baseline SE (ß, -0.017; 95% confidence interval: -0.032 to -0.002; P = 0.029). Higher TD was associated with rapid AL elongation (odds ratio, 1.128; 95% confidence interval: 1.055-1.207; P < 0.001) and SE progression (odds ratio, 1.123; 95% confidence interval: 1.020-1.237; P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Tessellation density is a potential indicator of rapid AL elongation and refractive progression in children. TD measurement could be a routine to monitor AL elongation.

Characteristics of Vitreoretinal Lymphoma in B-Scan Ultrasonography: A Case-Control Study.

PURPOSE: To explore the characteristics of vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) in B-scan ultrasonography. DESIGN: Single-center case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 106 eyes of 56 patients with biopsy-proven VRL and 86 eyes of 59 patients with uveitis were included. METHODS: B-scan ultrasonography of the included eyes was performed. Evaluated were the ultrasonographic signs as well as a special pattern termed centrifugal condensation, which refers to the peripherally hyperreflective appearance of the vitreous haze in ultrasonography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Posterior vitreous detachment, vitreoretinal adhesion, location of vitreous haze, thickening or occupying lesions of the retina, retinal detachment, and centrifugal condensation pattern of vitreous haze were evaluated through B-scan ultrasonography. The incidences of these signs were compared between the 2 groups; odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. RESULTS: The incidence of vitreoretinal adhesion in patients with VRL (6/106) was lower than in patients with uveitis (20/86; P = 0.001; OR: 0.195; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.073-0.522). The incidence of retinal thickening or occupying lesions in patients with VRL (21/106) was higher than that in patients with uveitis (1/86; P = 0.005; OR: 19.068; 95% CI: 2.455-148.265). The incidences of posterior vitreous detachment and retinal detachment were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P = 0.453 and P = 0.310, respectively). The centrifugal condensation pattern was more likely to be observed in patients with VRL (49/106) than in patients with uveitis (13/86; P < 0.001; OR: 4.831; 95% CI: 2.416-9.660). CONCLUSIONS: B-scan ultrasonography might help to provide clues for the suspicion of VRL. Thickening or occupying lesions of the retina and centrifugal condensation pattern of vitreous haze might be suggestive of VRL. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Prognosis, Risk Factors, and Clinical Features of Intraocular Recurrence in Primary Vitreoretinal Lymphoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical features, risk factors, and prognosis of the intraocular recurrence in primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL). DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-seven eyes of 51 patients diagnosed with PVRL between December 2011 and January 2021 were enrolled in this study. Fourteen patients among them had experienced intraocular recurrence. METHODS: Data on demographic and ophthalmic characteristics, results of diagnostic tests, treatments, and prognosis of intraocular recurrence and nonrecurrence for PVRL patients were collected and compared. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine the cutoff values. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical features and risk factors. RESULTS: Fourteen (19 eyes) of 51 PVRL patients had intraocular recurrences, resulting in a recurrence rate of 27.5% over a mean follow-up period of 42.5 months. No difference was observed in central nervous system lymphoma (CNSL) relapse rate (54.3% vs. 64.3%, P = 0.52) or median time to CNSL (36.5 months; 95% confidence interval [CI], 24.6-48.3 vs. 37.3 months; 95% CI, 24.8-49.8; P = 0.78) between intraocular nonrecurrence and intraocular recurrence groups. Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences in the survival outcomes, such as mortality (28.6% vs. 29.7%, P = 1.00) and median overall survival (70.8 months; 95% CI, 54.0-87.7 vs. 59.2 months; 95% CI, 44.8-73.6; P = 0.30), between these 2 groups. Younger onset age (odds ratio [OR] 0.90; 95% CI, 0.84-0.98; P = 0.010), isolated PVRL (OR, 35.3; 95% CI, 2.08-600.0; P = 0.014), and no history of intravitreal chemotherapy (OR, 7.72; 95% CI, 1.37-43.6; P = 0.021) were identified as independent risk factors for intraocular recurrences. Of the patients with intraocular recurrence, 23.6% were asymptomatic and were diagnosed during routine follow-up. The rate of interleukin-10 (IL-10)/interleukin-6 > 1 was significantly lower than that at diagnosis (43.8% vs. 92.3%, P = 0.008). However, the rate of IL-10 ≥ 50 pg/mL was high (81.3%) and not significantly different from that at diagnosis (92.3%, P = 0.61). CONCLUSIONS: This study did not identify an impact of intraocular recurrence on CNS manifestations or survival outcomes in patients with PVRL. Younger patients have a higher risk of intraocular recurrence, and combined systemic and intravitreal chemotherapy may reduce intraocular recurrence. Regular ophthalmic follow-up and IL-10 testing are recommended to detect intraocular recurrence. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Pharmacokinetics and Bioequivalence of Fluconazole Capsules Manufactured in France and China in Healthy Chinese Participants: Open-Label, Randomized, Single-Dose, 2-Way, Crossover Bioequivalence Study Under Fasted and Fed Conditions.

This was an open-label, randomized study in healthy Chinese participants to assess the bioequivalence of 2 fluconazole 150-mg capsules under fasted and fed conditions. The study consisted of 2 treatment periods, separated by a 14-day washout period. Thirty-six participants were enrolled, with 18 participants each in the fasted and fed groups. In each treatment period, participants received a single oral dose of the test or reference fluconazole 150-mg capsule. After washout, participants received the alternate treatment. Blood samples for pharmacokinetic analysis were collected from 1 hour before dosing to 72 hours after dosing. The median plasma concentration-time profiles were similar for both treatments under fasted and fed conditions. Bioequivalence of fluconazole between the 2 capsules was demonstrated as 90% confidence intervals of the geometric mean ratios for the maximum plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to 72 hours after dosing under fasted and fed conditions were within the acceptable range of 80%-125%. Overall, 7 participants reported at least 1 treatment-emergent adverse event; all were mild in severity. No serious adverse events or deaths were reported. The test fluconazole capsule was bioequivalent to the reference capsule, and a single dose was well tolerated. Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT03621072.

Longitudinal Analysis of Ocular Manifestation and Interleukin During Intravitreal Treatment of Vitreoretinal Lymphoma With Methotrexate.

PURPOSE: To explore the trend of ocular manifestations and interleukin (IL) during the treatment of vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) and to evaluate the potential effects of different intravitreal administration schedules on the therapeutic response. DESIGN: Interventional comparative nonrandomized clinical study. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with VRL between January 2011 and January 2022 were included. Intravitreal methotrexate (MTX) injections consisting of induction, consolidation, and maintenance were scheduled. At baseline and each visit, ocular manifestations and IL in aqueous humor were recorded. Effects of the variations (eg, frequency and number) in the injection schedule on the therapeutic response were analyzed. RESULTS: Fifty-eight eyes of 33 patients were treated with intravitreal MTX chemotherapy. A mean ± standard deviation of 9 ± 3 injections were given; 52 eyes achieved complete remission (CR). IL-10, keratic precipitates, and subretinal lesions correlated well with the course of treatment (all P < .001). Initial injection given twice weekly was correlated with a higher rate of CR (36/36) than given once weekly or less frequently (16/22; P = .011). Ocular progression occurred in 13 eyes of 8 patients. The completion of schedule was correlated with PFS (induction + consolidation + maintenance: 547 [335-874] days; induction + consolidation: 355 [322-831] days; induction only: 147 [116-187.5] days; P < .001). IL-10 >50 pg/mL was a feasible threshold for the detection of ocular relapse (sensitivity 100.0%, specificity 95.1%). CONCLUSION: Keratic precipitates, subretinal lesions, and IL-10 could serve as indicators for therapeutic response. Intensive initial administration and adequate injection numbers would help to improve the response and prognosis. IL-10 >50 pg/mL could help detect ocular relapse.

Efficacy and safety of tofacitinib in Chinese patients with active psoriatic arthritis: a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: Efficacy and safety of tofacitinib, an oral Janus kinase inhibitor, were evaluated in a 6-month, double-blind, phase 3 study in Chinese patients with active (polyarthritic) psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and inadequate response to ≥1 conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug. METHODS: Patients were randomised (2:1) to tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily (N=136) or placebo (N=68); switched to tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily after month (M)3 (blinded). PRIMARY ENDPOINT: American College of Rheumatology (ACR50) response at M3. Secondary endpoints (through M6) included: ACR20/50/70 response; change from baseline in Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI); ≥75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI75) response, and enthesitis and dactylitis resolution. Safety was assessed throughout. RESULTS: The primary endpoint was met (tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily, 38.2%; placebo, 5.9%; p<0.0001). M3 ACR20/ACR70/PASI75 responses, and enthesitis and dactylitis resolution rates, were higher and HAQ-DI reduction was greater for tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily versus placebo. Incidence of adverse events (AEs)/serious AEs (M0-3): 68.4%/0%, tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily; 75.0%/4.4%, placebo. One death was reported with placebo→tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily (due to accident). One serious infection, non-serious herpes zoster, and lung cancer case each were reported with tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily; four serious infections and one non-serious herpes zoster case were reported with placebo→tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily (M0-6). No non-melanoma skin cancer, major adverse cardiovascular or thromboembolism events were reported. CONCLUSION: In Chinese patients with PsA, tofacitinib efficacy was greater than placebo (primary and secondary endpoints). Tofacitinib was well tolerated; safety outcomes were consistent with the established safety profile in PsA and other indications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03486457.

Retinal changes of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma after intravitreal methotrexate.

BACKGROUND: To identify retinal changes using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and ultra-widefield images in eyes with primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL) during intravitreal methotrexate (MTX) treatment.  METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed 111 eyes of 58 patients with vitreous cytology-proven confirmed PVRL, who received intravitreal injections of MTX. RESULTS: At the initial visit, the OCT manifestations included vitreous cells (105 eyes, 94.6%), intraretinal infiltration (44 eyes,39.6%), subretinal infiltration (45 eyes, 40.5%,), retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) abnormalities (66 eyes, 59.5%), disruption of the ellipsoid zone (58 eyes, 52.3%), subretinal fluid (4 eyes, 3.6%), RPE detachment (PED) (28 eyes, 25.2%), epiretinal membrane (ERM) (8 eyes, 7.2%), macular edema (10 eyes, 9%). After therapy, tumor regression was achieved in all eyes. Between the initial presentation and regression, the vitreous cells (94.6% vs. 0%, P < 0.001), intraretinal infiltration (39.6% vs. 0%, P < 0.001), RPE abnormalities (59.5% vs.19.8%, P < 0.001), PED (25.2% vs.0%, P < 0.001), and subretinal infiltration (40.5%vs.16.2%, P < 0.001) were significantly reduced. The fundus photography findings all improved after therapy. The mean Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (logMAR) for the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at presentation was 0.79 ± 0.81 (range, 0-2.9), which improved to 0.70 ± 0.97 (range, 0-2.9, P = 0.01) at the final visit. CONCLUSIONS: SD-OCT combined with ultra-widefield imaging, which can reflect retinal changes, are valuable tools for monitoring the effect of PVRL treatment.

Cell-Free DNA Sequencing of Intraocular Fluid as Liquid Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Vitreoretinal Lymphoma.

Purpose: To seek novel diagnostic approaches, we improved the workflow of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) sequencing and evaluated its feasibility in vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) specimens; the profile of mutations was preliminarily analyzed for potential diagnostic value. Methods: The study was a diagnostic trial. 23 eyes of 23 patients with VRL and 25 eyes of 25 patients with inflammatory eye diseases were enrolled. Approximate 500µl undiluted vitreous humor and 10ml diluted vitreous fluid was obtained through diagnostic vitrectomy and sent for cytopathological examinations. 500µl of the diluted vitreous fluid was spared for cfDNA sequencing. For cfDNA sequencing, DNA fragmentation procedure was added to the workflow to improve the extraction efficiency; mutations detected were analyzed for potential diagnostic model. The sensitivity and specificity of the cytopathology and cfDNA sequencing were compared. The clinical manifestations were preliminarily analyzed for potential correlations with the genotypes. Results: CfDNA sequencing was accomplished in 23 eyes with VRL and 20 eyes with inflammatory eye diseases. VRL-related mutated genes included MYD88 (18 eyes, 78%), ETV6 (11 eyes, 48%), PIM1 (11 eyes,48%), BTG2 (7 eyes, 30%), IRF4 (7 eyes, 30%), CD79B (6 eyes, 26%), LRP1B (6 eyes, 26%), etc. Logistic regression based on the mutations of MYD88 and ETV6 was of the potential for the diagnosis of VRL (P<0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.789, sensitivity 0.913, specificity 0.950); by comparison, the sensitivity and specificity of the vitreous cytopathology were 0.826 and 1.000, respectively. Further analysis of the mutation profile showed that patients carrying CD79B mutation tended to have higher intraocular interleukin-10 level (P=0.030), that CARD11 mutation was correlated with younger age at ocular onset (P=0.039), and that patients with intracranial involvement carried more multiple-site mutations in the BTG2 gene (P=0.013). Conclusions: The improved workflow of CfDNA sequencing is of sound feasibility in a limited amount of vitreous humor. The logistic model based on the mutations could help to provide reliable clues for the diagnosis of VRL.

PERIVASCULAR FLOWER-BUD-LIKE LESIONS ON EN FACE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH VITREORETINAL LYMPHOMA.

PURPOSE: To describe perivascular flower-bud-like lesions (PFBLs) as novel characteristics of vitreoretinal lymphoma on en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on 23 consecutive patients (35 eyes), who had biopsy-proven vitreoretinal lymphoma between January 2018 and March 2021. En face OCT angiography images were analyzed before and after intervention. PFBLs were initially identified on midretinal slabs of en face OCT angiography, and were further characterized by other imaging modalities. RESULTS: Perivascular flower-bud-like lesions were detected in 12 eyes (34.3%) of 8 patients, of which 8 eyes had best-corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better. In 10 of the 12 eyes, PFBLs were detected within 6 months of symptom onset. On en face OCT angiography, PFBLs presented as punctate points or confluent bands surrounding retinal vessels, with arterial and venous involvement. In 4 of the 12 eyes, arteries were mainly affected. On OCT B-scans, PFBLs commonly appeared as hyperreflective full-thickness intraretinal lesions that colocalized with subretinal pigment epithelium deposits (3 eyes, 25%) and retinal pigment epithelium irregularities (4 eyes, 33.3%). However, PFBLs could not always be identified on other imaging modalities such as fundus photographs and fundus fluorescein angiography. In all eyes with follow-up, PFBLs attenuated or resolved months after receiving chemotherapy or diagnostic vitrectomy. CONCLUSION: PFBLs are characteristic imaging findings of vitreoretinal lymphoma and may facilitate an early diagnosis of vitreoretinal lymphoma, which would in turn lead to more timely and effective treatment.

Efficacy and safety of tofacitinib modified-release 11 mg once daily plus methotrexate in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis: 24-week open-label phase results from a phase 3b/4 methotrexate withdrawal non-inferiority study (ORAL Shift).

OBJECTIVES: To report the efficacy, safety and patient-reported outcome measures (PROs) of tofacitinib modified-release 11 mg once daily plus methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from the open-label phase of Oral Rheumatoid Arthritis Trial (ORAL) Shift. METHODS: ORAL Shift was a global, 48-week, phase 3b/4 withdrawal study in patients with moderate to severe RA and an inadequate response to methotrexate. Patients received open-label tofacitinib modified-release 11 mg once daily plus methotrexate; those who achieved low disease activity (LDA; Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI)≤10) at week 24 were randomised to receive blinded tofacitinib 11 mg once daily plus placebo (ie, blinded methotrexate withdrawal) or continue with blinded tofacitinib 11 mg once daily plus methotrexate for another 24 weeks. Efficacy, PROs and safety from the open-label phase are reported descriptively. RESULTS: Following screening, 694 patients were enrolled and received tofacitinib plus methotrexate in the open-label phase. At week 24, 527 (84.5%) patients achieved CDAI-defined LDA. Improvements from baseline to weeks 12 and 24 were generally observed for all efficacy outcomes (including measures of disease activity, and response, LDA and remission rates) and PROs. Adverse events (AEs), serious AEs and discontinuations due to AEs were reported by 362 (52.2%), 20 (2.9%) and 41 (5.9%) patients, respectively. No deaths were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Tofacitinib modified-release 11 mg once daily plus methotrexate conferred improvements in disease activity measures, functional outcomes and PROs, with most (84.5%) patients achieving CDAI-defined LDA after 24 weeks of open-label treatment; the safety profile was generally consistent with the historic safety profile of tofacitinib.Funded by Pfizer Inc; NCT02831855.

CLINICAL FEATURES, DIAGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE, AND PROGNOSIS OF VITREORETINAL LYMPHOMA IN YOUNG PATIENTS.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical features, diagnostic approaches, and outcomes of young patients with vitreoretinal lymphoma. METHODS: Fifty-one vitreoretinal lymphoma patients (97 eyes) referred to the Eye and ENT Hospital of the Fudan University from 2011 to 2020 were grouped based on their onset age (age ≤50 years and age >50 years). Complete eye examinations, evaluation of systemic conditions, and biological analysis of intraocular fluids were performed. RESULTS: Young patients accounted for 31.4% (n = 16) of the cohort. More eyes had retinal/subretinal pigment epithelial infiltration (20 [64.5%] vs. 23 [34.8%]; P = 0.018) in young patients than in elderly ones. The mutation rate of Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 gene (MYD88) was significantly lower in young patients than in elderly ones (5 [50%] vs. 21 [91.3%]; P = 0.016). The median time to new onset of central nervous system lymphoma was significantly shorter in young patients (11.7 vs. 36.2 months; P = 0.012). However, mean overall survival did not differ between the 2 groups (64.9 vs. 57.5 months; P = 0.871). CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis and central nervous system evaluation are crucial for young vitreoretinal lymphoma patients with rapid central nervous system involvement. Meanwhile, young vitreoretinal lymphoma patients have some unique features, including more retinal/subretinal pigment epithelial infiltrations and lower MYD88 mutation rates.

A novel PAX2 heterozygous mutation in a family with Papillorenal syndrome: A case report and review of the literature.

PURPOSE: Papillorenal syndrome (PAPRS) is a rare inherited disorder often involves abnormalities of eye and kidney. Paired box 2 (PAX2) gene, which is widely expressed in the development of the organs including kidney, ureter, eye, ear, and central nervous system has been considered an underlying cause of PAPRS. The present work aims to further our understanding of PAX2 gene and PAPRS by reporting a family with PAPRS associated with a novel PAX2 mutation and describing ocular manifestation of PAX2 mutation in previous literatures. OBSERVATION: We herein present a family with PAPRS presented with typical congenital optic disc defects and mild renal dysplasia. Through screening of candidate genes based on the next-generation sequencing, the heterozygous PAX2 mutation c.175C > T (p. Arg59Trp) was identified which had never been reported. CONCLUSIONS: The study expands the genetic and clinic spectrum of PAPRS. Further review of detailed ocular manifestation and genotypes of PAX2 mutation in previous study improves the recognition of the ocular phenotypes' spectrum, assists in the identification of PAPRS. Moreover, this study reveals that PAPRS is a systemic disorder with heterogeneous diverse phenotypes, and shows the importance of gene panel sequencing in the diagnosis of PAPRS which could achieve high diagnostic rates.

Immune Cell Status and Cytokines Profiles in Patients with Acute Retinal Necrosis.

Purpose: To assess the immune status of acute retinal necrosis (ARN) patients and to investigate the immune cell types involved in the immunopathogenesis.Methods: Peripheral blood and intraocular fluid were collected from 17 ARN patients and 9 control subjects. The Percentage of immune cells was measured using flow cytometry, levels of complement and antibodies were determined by rate nephelometry, and cytokine levels in the serum and aqueous humor (AH) were detected using cytokine quantitative chips. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0. p < .05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Proportion of T-helper 17 cells (p = .034) in serum and concentrations of multiple cytokines associated with Th17 cells (IL-6, IL-17, IL-17 F, IL-21, IL-22) in AH and serum were elevated of ARN patients.Conclusion: Th17 cells appeared to participate in the development of ARN. We found inflammatory cytokines and cells were elevated in the serum and AH of ARN patients.

A Novel Approach to Quantitative Evaluation of Outer Retinal Lesions Via a New Parameter "Integral" in Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to design a new parameter "integral" to quantitatively evaluate the spatial cumulative reflectivity of the outer retinal layers in optical coherence tomography (OCT), and to investigate its role in the detection of outer retinal diseases. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Fovea-centered line OCT scans were performed on 60 eyes of 60 healthy volunteers and 44 eyes of 44 patients diagnosed with outer retinal diseases. The integrals of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) and interdigitation zone (IZ) were measured by respectively accumulating the grayscale values of all the pixels within the EZ and IZ at specified locations on the scanning lines, and were then adjusted by calculating their percentages on the outer retina. The integrals of the EZ and IZ were compared between the two groups. Results: The integrals of the EZ and IZ were stably and normally distributed in the healthy eyes, and were significantly lower in eyes with outer retinal lesions than in healthy ones (P < 0.05). Moreover, the integrals of the EZ and IZ were correlated with best corrected visual acuity (BCVA; adjusted R2 = 0.620) and the presence of outer retinal lesions (Nagelkerke R2 = 0.767). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.954 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.918-0.990) when the integral was selected as a diagnostic variable. Conclusions: Obtained from this novel quantification method, the new parameter integral was comparable between different individuals and had the potential to detect outer retinal abnormalities in reflectivity through OCT. Translational Relevance: Our work verified the feasibility of the new image analysis technique in the detection of the diseases affecting the outer retina.

Methotrexate withdrawal in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who achieve low disease activity with tofacitinib modified-release 11 mg once daily plus methotrexate (ORAL Shift): a randomised, phase 3b/4, non-inferiority trial.

BACKGROUND: Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. We assessed the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib after methotrexate withdrawal in patients who achieved low disease activity (LDA) with tofacitinib in combination with methotrexate. METHODS: ORAL Shift was a phase 3b/4 non-inferiority trial in patients aged at least 18 years with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis and an inadequate response to methotrexate done in 109 centres across 16 countries. After 24 weeks of open-label tofacitinib modified-release 11 mg once daily plus methotrexate, patients who achieved LDA (clinical disease activity index [CDAI] ≤10) were randomly assigned 1:1 via an automated web-based response system to receive tofacitinib plus placebo (tofacitinib monotherapy; ie, masked methotrexate withdrawal) or continue tofacitinib plus methotrexate for 24 weeks in a double-blind manner. The primary endpoint was the least squares mean change from week 24 to week 48 in disease activity score in 28 joints with four variables, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-4[ESR]). The primary analysis was done in all patients who received at least one dose of study treatment in both phases, and safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of study treatment since enrolment. Non-inferiority of tofacitinib monotherapy versus tofacitinib plus methotrexate was declared if the upper bound of the 95% CI for the difference in change in DAS28-4(ESR) between treatment groups was less than 0·6. Safety was assessed in both phases. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02831855, and is complete. FINDINGS: Between Sept 1, 2016, and Nov 1, 2017, 694 patients were enrolled in the open-label phase and 623 received study treatment for 24 weeks. 533 achieved CDAI-defined LDA and were randomly assigned into the double-blind phase (267 in the tofacitinib monotherapy group and 266 in the tofacitinib plus methotrexate group). Three participants in the monotherapy group did not start treatment so were not included in the primary analysis. Non-inferiority was demonstrated (difference 0·30 [95% CI 0·12-0·48]). 107 (41%) of 264 patients in the tofacitinib monotherapy group and 109 (41%) of 266 in the tofacitinib plus methotrexate group had adverse events; five patients from each group discontinued because of adverse events; two patients died in the tofacitinib plus methotrexate group. No new safety findings were reported up to 48 weeks. INTERPRETATION: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who achieve LDA with a combination of tofacitinib plus methotrexate may consider withdrawing methotrexate without significant worsening of disease activity or unexpected safety issues. FUNDING: Pfizer.

Rate of Adjacent Segment Degeneration of Cervical Disc Arthroplasty Versus Fusion Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: The concern of adjacent segment disease (ASD) has led to the development of motion-preserving technologies, such as cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA). However, there is still controversy whether CDA is superior to anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) as to the incidence of ASD. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the rate of ASD between CDA and ACDF. METHODS: Systematic searches of all relevant studies through November 2017 were identified from the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and CNKI. Randomized controlled trials comparing the clinical effectiveness of CDA and ACDF for cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD) were included. Two independent reviewers searched and assessed all literature according to the standard of Cochrane systematic review. Data extraction and quality assessment were conducted, and RevMan 5.2 was used for data analysis. The random effects model was used if there was heterogeneity between studies; otherwise, the fixed effects model was used. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies were included in our meta-analysis. The pooled data revealed that the CDA group had significantly lower adjacent segment diseases than the ACDF group did. Furthermore, there were fewer adjacent segment reoperations in the CDA group compared with the ACDF group. CONCLUSIONS: In this meta-analysis, we conclude that CDA was better than the ACDF in terms of ASD and adjacent segment reoperations. This conclusion suggests that CDA is a superior alternative invention for the treatment of cervical DDD to preserve cervical range of motion and reduce the risk of ASD; however, this requires further validation and investigation in larger sample-size prospective and randomized studies with long-term follow-up.

Computational study on single molecular spectroscopy of tyrosin-glycine, tryptophane-glycine and glycine-tryptophane.

Quantum chemistry calculations play a fundamental role in revealing the molecular structures observed in gas-phase spectroscopic measurements. The supersonic jet cooling widely used in single molecular spectroscopy experiment is a non-equilibrium process and often causes confusion on the theoretical and experimental comparison. A computational approach is proposed here to account for the effect of the non-equilibrium cooling on the experimental spectra and applied to the cases of tyrosin-glycine (YG), tryptophane-glycine (WG) and glycine-tryptophane (GW). The low energy conformers of YG, WG and GW are obtained through thorough conformational searches. The structural features and equilibrium distributions of conformations and the energy barriers for conformer conversions are then determined. Three classes of transition energy barriers, high, medium and low, are found for the conversions among conformers with distinctly different, similar and the same structural types, respectively. The final conformation populations are determined by assuming an initial temperature of about 450 K and allowing for only the conformation conversion with a low energy barrier to occur during the rapid cooling process. The results provide a natural explanation for the numbers of YG, WG and GW conformations observed experimentally. The theoretical conformation assignments are also in good agreement with the experimental IR data.

Role of microRNAs in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

The morbidity of diabetes mellitus has been increasing annually. As a progressive metabolic disorder, chronic complications occur in the late stage of diabetes. In addition, cardiovascular diseases account for the major cause of morbidity and mortality among the diabetic population worldwide. Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a type of diabetic heart disease. Patients with DCM show symptoms and signs of heart failure while no specific cause, such as coronary disease, hypertension, alcohol consumption, or other structural heart diseases has been identified. The pathogenesis of DCM is complex and has not been well understood until recently. MicroRNAs (miRs) belong to a novel family of highly conserved, short, non-coding, single-stranded RNA molecules that regulate transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene expression. Furthermore, recent studies have demonstrated an association between miRs and DCM. In the current review, the role of miRs in the pathogenesis of DCM is summarized. It was concluded that miRs contribute to the regulation of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, myocardial electrical remodeling, epigenetic modification and various other pathophysiological processes of DCM. These studies may provide novel insights into targets for prevention and treatment of the disease.

Isolation and characterization of human spermatogonial stem cells.

BACKGROUND: To isolate and characterization of human spermatogonial stem cells from stem spermatogonium. METHODS: The disassociation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) were performed using enzymatic digestion of type I collagenase and trypsin. The SSCs were isolated by using Percoll density gradient centrifugation, followed by differential surface-attachment method. Octamer-4(OCT4)-positive SSC cells were further identified using immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry technques. The purity of the human SSCs was also determined, and a co-culture system for SSCs and Sertoli cells was established. RESULTS: The cell viability was 91.07% for the suspension of human spermatogonial stem cells dissociated using a two-step enzymatic digestion process. The cells isolated from Percoll density gradient coupled with differential surface-attachement purification were OCT4 positive, indicating the cells were human spermatogonial stem cells. The purity of isolated human spermatogonial stem cells was 86.7% as assessed by flow cytometry. The isolated SSCs were shown to form stable human spermatogonial stem cell colonies on the feeder layer of the Sertoli cells. CONCLUSIONS: The two-step enzyme digestion (by type I collagenase and trypsin) process is an economical, simple and reproducible technique for isolating human spermatogonial stem cells. With little contamination and less cell damage, this method facilitates isolated human spermatogonial stem cells to form a stable cell colony on the supporting cell layer.

[An in vitro biomechanical evaluation of effect of augmentation pedicle screw fixation with polymethylmethacrylate on osteoporotic spine stability].

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain whether augmentation pedicle screw fixation with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) can enhance the stability of unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures of osteoporotic spine. METHODS: Six fresh frozen female osteoporotic spines (T10-L5) were harvested and an anterior and posterior column unstable model of L1 was made. Each specimen was fixated with plate and the stability test were performed by flexion, extension, axial rotation and lateral bending. The test of fatigue was done with MTS 858. The tests were repeated after screws were augmented with PMMA. To compare the biomechanical stability of 6 different conditions: a. normal specimens (control), b. defect model fixed with plate, not augmented and not fatigued, c. after fatigued, not augmented, d. screws augmented with PMMA, not fatigued, e. after augmented and fatigued. RESULTS: In b., d. and e. conditions, the ranges of motion (ROM) were 6.23 +/- 1.56, 4.49 +/- 1.00, 4.46 +/- 1.83 in flexion and 6.60 +/- 1.80, 4.41 +/- 0.82, 4.46 +/- 1.83 in extension. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05), they were significantly smaller than those in a. and c. conditions (8.75 +/- 1.88, 1.47 +/- 2.25 and 8.92 +/- 2.97, 12.24 +/- 3.08) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that augmentation pedicle screws fixation with PMMA can increase the stability of osteoporotic spine.