Corneal Biomechanical Properties to Predict Prognosis of Abnormal Tomographic Corneas: A Prospective Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: To analyze the corneal biomechanical properties in patients with abnormal corneal tomography (ACT) and predict their stability using the biomechanical stability index (BSI). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Setting: Multicenter study. STUDY POPULATION: This study included 385 eyes of 278 patients with stable ACT (n = 70), subclinical keratoconus (SKC, n = 65), keratoconus (n = 65), normal controls (NL, n = 142). Forty-three eyes with first-visit ACT were included in a separate cohort (follow-up ACT group). OBSERVATION PROCEDURE: Tomographical and biomechanical parameters (Pentacam and Corvis ST) were recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Nonparametric tests were used for comparison. Logistic regression was employed to introduce BSI to separate stable ACT and SKC accurately. An independent dataset of 43 first-visit ACT eyes was followed up for 1 year to validate BSI's accuracy and positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV). RESULTS: The tomographical and biomechanical parameters in patients with Stable ACT remained stable over the follow-up period (12.73 ± 2.57 months, P > .05). Stable ACT had 12/14 biomechanical parameters different (P < .05) from SKC but not different from NL (P > .05). With a cut-off value of 0.585, BSI demonstrated the strongest ability to distinguish between stable ACT and SKC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.991), with 93.85% sensitivity and 97.14% specificity. During the 1-year follow-up of 43 eyes (follow-up ACT group), 30 remained stable. The accuracy, PPV, and NPV of the BSI were 95.35%, 100%, and 93.75%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Biomechanical properties of patients with stable abnormal tomography corneas were stronger than SKC and close to normal corneas, which may explain the reason for tomographic stability. The BSI may be useful for predicting disease progression in patients with ACT and the possible management of corneal cross-linking at the first visit.

Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE) Versus Laser Assisted Stromal In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) for Astigmatism Corrections: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To compare small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and laser assisted stromal in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for astigmatism correction. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis METHODS: We reviewed published studies comparing outcomes after LASIK and SMILE for astigmatism correction by querying PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science, with a cut-off date of September 3, 2022. We also compared the changes in visual acuity, refraction, and high-order aberrations between the surgeries. Astigmatism correction outcomes in the low-to-moderate group (less than or equal to -2.00 D) and high group (greater than -2.00 D) were evaluated using vector analysis. The Cochrane risk of bias tool in RevMan software was used for randomized studies (RCT), and Risk Of Bias In Nonrandomized Studies - of Interventions (ROBINS-I) was used for the nonrandomized studies (NRSs). RESULTS: There were 17 studies (5 randomized studies and 12 cohort studies), including 1,985 eyes. A statistically significant difference was found in the correction index (mean difference [MD] = -0.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.04 to -0.01, P =0.01), although there was no significant difference in the index of success (MD = 0.01, 95% CI = -0.03 to 0.05, P =0.51), different vector (MD = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.00 to 0.13, P =0.04), and angle of error (MD = 0.56, 95% CI = -0.34 to 1.45, P =0.22) between SMILE and LASIK. However, for low-to-moderate astigmatism correction, SMILE exhibited a smaller correction index (MD = -0.08, 95% CI= -0.13 to -0.02, P =0.008) and a larger difference vector (MD = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.09 to 0.27, P <0.0001) than LASIK. There was no significant difference between the different procedures in visual acuity and refraction (spherical equivalent: MD = -0.04, 95% CI = -0.08 to 0.01, P =0.15) or high-order aberration (MD = -0.01, 95% CI = -0.07 to 0.04, P =0.67), except spherical aberration (MD = -0.12, 95% CI = -0.23 to -0.01, P =0.04). The risk of bias was moderate in most studies because of poor reporting of several bias domains for RCTs, and because of confounding and selective outcome reporting for NRSs. CONCLUSIONS: When used to treat severe astigmatism, both SMILE and LASIK provide effective and predictable results and generally have equivalent outcomes. However, evidence reveals a tendency toward undercorrection in the SMILE groups for astigmatism correction. In addition, LASIK has a greater probability of causing postoperative spherical aberration.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Schisandra sphenanthera (Schisandraceae).

Schisandra sphenanthera (Austrobaileyales) is a famous traditional Chinese medicine being long-history used, is also one of early-diverging angiosperms and important links to uncover the early evolution of angiosperms. Here the complete mitochondrial genome of S. sphenanthera was obtained for the first time. It is 1,106,521 bp in length with 46.4% GC content. It contains 58 genes, including 41 protein coding genes, three ribosomal RNA genes and 14 transfer RNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that S. sphenanthera was placed in the basal angiosperm just after Amborella and Nuphar. The mitogenome of S. sphenanthera would provide a reliable genetic and evolutionary resource.