Inductive Characterization of ENDS-Associated Adverse Events Among California Young Adults.

Introduction: Previous studies have identified numerous adverse events experienced with the use of ENDS or E-cigarettes. However, much remains unknown about adverse event frequency, duration, and response experienced by users. The purpose of this study was to inductively characterize ENDS-attributed adverse events among young adults. Methods: Sixteen focus groups were held with 114 young adults (aged 18-29 years) who have reported lifetime ENDS use in April 2021. Discussion topics included current and previous tobacco, nicotine, and cannabis use; specific symptoms and frequency and duration of and response to symptoms of ENDS-attributed adverse events; and the impact of other conditions such as COVID-19 on ENDS use. Data were inductively analyzed using a team-based approach. Results: More than 40 ENDS-attributed adverse events were reported in focus groups among approximately three quarters of all study participants, with headache, coughing, lightheadedness, nausea, dry or sore throat, and dizziness the most common. In general, adverse events were transient, with most resolving in a few hours, although some tended to last for longer. The frequency of adverse events varied most between every time ENDS were used and when someone vaped excessively. Finally, behavioral responses varied by adverse events, with difficulty in breathing, chest pain, and lung discomfort more likely to result in quitting permanently. Conclusions: Overall, the results of this study show that not only do adverse events vary greatly, but they also vary across multiple dimensions of user experience.

Treatment of persistent corneal epithelial defect with overnight wear of a prosthetic device for the ocular surface.

PURPOSE: To report experience in the treatment of persistent corneal epithelial defect using overnight wear of a prosthetic device for the ocular surface. DESIGN: Retrospective interventional case series. METHODS: A clinical database of patients who underwent prosthetic replacement of the ocular surface ecosystem (PROSE) treatment from March 2003 to August 2008 was searched to identify patients treated for persistent corneal epithelial defect. In early 2003, overnight wear of a PROSE device and addition of commercially available, nonpreserved, topical ophthalmic moxifloxacin to the saline in the device reservoir became standard practice at this center when treating persistent corneal epithelial defect. Medical records were abstracted to obtain underlying diagnoses, previous treatments, days to re-epithelialization, and complications for subsequent analysis. RESULTS: PROSE treatment incorporating overnight wear, with adjunctive use of moxifloxacin, was employed in 20 eyes of 19 patients for a total of 372 days. Re-epithelialization occurred in 17 of 20 eyes. Median duration of treatment incorporating overnight wear was 8.5 days (range = 2-76 days). Healing occurred in ≤7 days in 12 eyes, 8-14 days in 3 eyes, and >14 days in 2 eyes (range = 1-35 days). There were no cases of microbial keratitis. CONCLUSIONS: Overnight wear of a PROSE device is effective in promoting healing of persistent corneal epithelial defect. In comparison to an earlier series from this center, the rate of microbial keratitis as a complication of treatment has been reduced with the use of a nonpreserved topical fourth-generation fluoroquinolone in the device reservoir.

Limbal stem cell deficiency and corneal neovascularization.

The corneal limbus harbors corneal epithelial stem cells and contributes to the unique microenvironment of the stem cell niche. Corneal conditions, such as infections, tumors, immunological disorders, trauma, and chemical burns, often lead to the deficiency of the corneal stem cells, and subsequent vision loss. One key feature of limbal stem cell deficiency is corneal neovascularization. There is a delicate balance between pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors that, in a normal cornea, maintain an avascular state. A pro-angiogenic shift in this balance can occur due to various mechanisms, such as inflammation, gene mutations, physical breach in the limbal barrier, and decreased production of anti-angiogenic molecules. Currently available treatment options for limbal stem cell deficiency include allogeneic and autologous limbal transplants, and more recently, transplantation of alternative sources of epithelium, such as cultivated corneal and oral mucosal stem cells. Further studies are needed to investigate the combination of limbal and stem cell transplantation and concurrent anti-angiogenic therapy.

Histopathology of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty with pneumatic dissection: the "big-bubble" technique.

PURPOSE: To describe characteristic histopathologic markers in deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) using pneumatic dissection: Anwar "big-bubble" technique. METHODS: Case reports. Deep stromal buttons from 2 patients with keratoconus who had undergone DALK surgery using the "big-bubble" technique were examined by light microscopy. RESULTS: The histopathology of excised corneal buttons demonstrated multiple intrastromal spaces consistent with air bubbles. Apical stromal thinning seen clinically was not as readily appreciated on histopathology. CONCLUSIONS: Pneumatic dissection in DALK produces diffuse intrastromal air bubbles that may mask the corneal thinning that usually characterizes keratoconus histopathologically. This is a characteristic finding of which ocular pathologists and corneal surgeons should be aware.

Human recombinant erythropoietin and the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity: a multiple regression model.

BACKGROUND: Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) is used for the treatment of anemia of prematurity. However, it has also been found to have properties similar to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the major angiogenic factor implicated in the pathogenesis of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). We sought to determine whether rhEPO is an independent risk factor for the development of ROP. METHODS: Data were analyzed from 264 infants admitted to the Loma Linda University Children's Hospital neonatal intensive care unit in 1994 and 2002. The data included demographic characteristics, incidence of major morbidities, rhEPO treatment, number of red blood cell transfusions received, and incidence and severity of ROP. A multiple logistic regression model was used to determine the relation of the studied risk factors to the incidence (any stage) and severity (threshold ROP requiring cryotherapy or laser photocoagulation) of ROP. RESULTS: The risk of developing ROP increased among infants who received >20 doses of rhEPO was higher compared with those who received < or =20 doses (OR, 3.53; 95% CI, 1.59, 7.85). These infants were also more likely to require laser photocoagulation (OR, 4.31; 95% CI, 1.99, 9.33). The age at which rhEPO was started was also a significant risk factor, with those starting rhEPO after 20 days of age having almost fourfold the risk of ROP compared with those starting it on or before 20 days of age (OR, 3.57; 95% CI, 1.59, 8.03). CONCLUSIONS: rhEPO was found to be a significant independent risk factor for the development of ROP.

The role of hepatic, renal and intestinal gluconeogenic enzymes in glucose homeostasis of juvenile rainbow trout.

Rainbow trout is unable to utilize high levels of dietary carbohydrates and experiences hyperglycemia after consumption of carbohydrate-rich meals. Carbohydrates stimulate hepatic glycolytic activity, but gene expression of the rate-limiting gluconeogenic enzymes glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) remains high. Although there is significant mRNA expression and activity of gluconeogenic enzymes in trout intestine and kidney, the regulation of these enzymes by diet is not known. We tested the hypothesis that dietary carbohydrate modulates intestinal and renal G6Pase, FBPase and PEPCK. Fish were either fasted or fed isocaloric carbohydrate-free (CF) or high carbohydrate (HC) diets for 14 days. As expected, fish fed HC exhibited postprandial hyperglycemia and enhanced levels of hepatic glucokinase mRNA and activity. Dietary carbohydrates had no significant effect on the expression and activity of PEPCK, FBPase and G6Pase in all three organs. In contrast, fasting enhanced the activity, but not the mRNA expression of both hepatic and intestinal PEPCK, as well as intestinal FBPase. Therefore, the activity of rate-limiting gluconeogenic enzymes in trout can be modified by fasting, but not by the carbohydrate content of the diet, potentially causing hyperglycemia when fed high levels of dietary carbohydrates. In this species consuming low carbohydrate diets at infrequent intervals in the wild, fasting-induced increases in hepatic and intestinal gluconeogenic enzyme activities may be a key adaptation to prevent perturbations in blood glucose during food deprivation.

Surgical results of bleb revision with scleral patch graft for late-onset bleb complications.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To describe the results of bleb revision with scleral patch graft for late-onset bleb-related complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective case series between October 1996 and March 2003. RESULTS: Fourteen patients had surgery for bleb leak, hypotonous maculopathy, dysesthesia, or bleb-associated infections after initial trabeculectomy or thermal sclerostomy. The preoperative intraocular pressure was 3.3 +/- 2.6 mm Hg, and the final intraocular pressure was 11.6 +/- 3.4 mm Hg after 10.1 +/- 6.8 months. Seven eyes required no further bleb revision or glaucoma medications. Visual acuity improved in 10 of 14 eyes. A second scleral patch graft revision was necessary in 3 eyes, but bleb leaks and hypotony resolved in all 14 eyes at last follow-up. Complications included bleb failure, bullous keratopathy progression, cataract progression, and ptosis. CONCLUSION: Bleb revision with scleral patch graft is effective for treating late-onset bleb complications, resulting in improvement in visual acuity and resolution of hypotonous maculopathy, bleb leaks, and dysesthesia.

Septuagenarian's phenotype leads to ascertainment of familial MYOC gene mutation.

PURPOSE: To report a family with a myocilin (MYOC) gene mutation ascertained on the basis of the phenotype of the 71-year-old proband with juvenile-onset primary open-angle glaucoma (JOAG). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A thorough patient history of the proband and review of medical records revealed that a filtering procedure performed 50 years before had controlled the intraocular pressure (IOP) and prevented optic disc damage and visual field loss until the bleb failed after cataract surgery. Patient characteristics and history led to suspicion of a mutation in the MYOC gene. Mutation screening and clinical evaluation of the proband and family members were undertaken. RESULTS: A Val426Phe mutation was found in the JOAG proband and in 3 other blood relatives with glaucoma. The mutation was not present in unaffected relatives. CONCLUSIONS: A functioning filtering procedure performed 50 years before the current study was all that was needed to prevent glaucomatous damage and control IOP in the proband. Once the bleb failed, increased IOP led to damage in a relatively brief period of time. Although not every JOAG patient has the MYOC mutation, there is a somewhat typical MYOC phenotype that may predict an increased chance of harboring a MYOC mutation. Use of such phenotype information in evaluating whether to screen older patients can lead to identification of families at risk for open-angle glaucoma.