Parents' Awareness of and Perspectives on Childhood Refractive Error and Spectacle Wear in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess parents' awareness of and perspectives on childhood refractive errors in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between October and November 2020 in public schools across different regions of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using an online questionnaire that assessed parents' knowledge and perceptions of childhood refractive errors and spectacle wear. Results: A total of 358 parents from different regions of Saudi Arabia completed the questionnaire and were obtained in this study (response rate: 85%). Approximately one third (38.3%) of the parents reported that they had never heard of refractive errors and one-third (33.8%) mentioned that uncorrected refractive errors did not lead to visual impairment. The majority (74.0%) cited using eyeglasses as an effective way to manage childhood refractive errors. Two-thirds (63.7%) stated that they did not receive any information about paediatric eye care. Better knowledge was associated with a higher educational level, female gender and older age (P <0.001, P = 0.008 and P = 0.024, respectively). Regarding parents' perspective on spectacle wear, 13.7% felt that using eyeglasses affected their children's chances of learning. However, 82.7% supposed that eyeglasses did not affect their children's employment opportunities. Almost a quarter of the sample (22.1%) thought that using eyeglasses would decrease the eye's power, resulting in childhood visual impairment. Conclusion: The level of awareness and perceptions regarding childhood refractive errors and spectacle wear was low among parents. Therefore, a policy is needed to improve the awareness and perception of the key stakeholders in this issue, including parents and teachers.

α1-Acid Glycoprotein-Decorated Hyaluronic Acid Nanoparticles for Suppressing Metastasis and Overcoming Drug Resistance Breast Cancer.

Robust inflammation-suppressing nanoparticles based on α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP)-conjugated hyaluronic acid nanoparticles (AGP-HA NPs) were designed to regulate breast cancer cells' sensitivity to chemotherapy and to suppress tumor metastasis. The successful conjugation between AGP and HA NPs was confirmed using FTIR, zeta potential, and UV-vis spectroscopy. In vitro studies on MCF-7 cells indicated the remarkable ability of AGP-HA NPs in suppressing migratory tumor ability by 79% after 24 h. Moreover, the efficacy study showed the high capability of AGP-HA NPs in modulating MDA-MB-231 cells and restoring cell sensitivity to the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX). Furthermore, the finding obtained by flow cytometry and confocal spectroscopy demonstrated that AGP-HA NPs enhanced DOX uptake/retention and aided it to reach cell nucleus within 4 h of incubation. Therefore, AGP-HA NPs represent a viable and effective treatment option to strengthen the anticancer effects of chemotherapeutic agents and potentially improve patients' survival rates.

Filaggrin Expression in the Lid Margin During Contact Lens Wear.

AIM: To investigate the expression of the keratinization-related protein, filaggrin, in the lid margin epithelium of contact lens (CL) wearers compared with nonwearers. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 100 individuals with different exposures to CL wear: short, moderate, and long experience; previous CL wearers; and nonwearers as controls. Impression cytology samples were collected from the lid wiper (LW) area of the central upper lid margin. After fixing, an equal, random sample was selected from each group (n=13) for immunocytochemistry analysis using antihuman primary anybody (mouse filaggrin), then stained with secondary antibody (fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated donkey anti-mouse immunoglobulin G horseradish peroxidase) to detect filaggrin. Imaging was performed with the 3i-Vivo 2-photon microscope equipped with a Zeiss 20×-objective and SlideBook-reader software. RESULTS: Sixty-five samples from 65 participants (37 women; mean age±SD: 25.1±4.1 years) were collected. Filaggrin was detected in all 65 randomly selected immunostained marginal epithelium samples. All samples were similar in showing patchy areas of filaggrin immunostaining, regardless of CL wear, symptoms or epithelium morphology. Because the filaggrin immunostaining showed similar patterns across almost all the observed samples, comparison between subject groups was impractical. The presence of filaggrin in the healthy LW was additionally confirmed by an independent laboratory. CONCLUSION: Filaggrin expression seems to be a normal part of epithelial cell differentiation in the lid margin and may not be a useful keratinization/stress biomarker in the marginal epithelium. Investigating other keratinization biomarkers that are not detected in the normal mucocutaneous junction/LW may help to understand the keratinization nature of LW epithelium changes in CL wearers.

Normal Ocular Protrusion Values in South Indian Population and Effect of Age, Gender and Refractive Status on Ocular Protrusion.

AIM: To determine the absolute and relative ocular protrusion values in normal south Indian population, and its relation to age, gender and type of refractive error. METHODS: A total of 387 subjects aged 7-70 years were included in this study. Both right and left absolute ocular protrusion values were measured by a single physician using Luedde exophthalmometer in primary gaze. Right eye ocular protrusion data were used for reporting the absolute ocular protrusion values, and difference between right and left eye absolute ocular protrusion values of the same individual was used to report the relative ocular protrusion values. Subject age was grouped as decades. Measurement values were evaluated by descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: The mean absolute ocular protrusion of right eye was 14.67 ± 1.70 mm and left eye was 14.32 ± 1.75 mm. The mean right absolute ocular protrusion values from 1st to 7th decade were 12.73 ± 1.21 mm, 14.8 ± 1.25 mm, 15.79 ± 1.31 mm, 15.77 ± 1.36 mm, 15.87 ± 1.28 mm, 15 ± 1.03 mm and 14.36 ± 0.88 mm respectively. One-way analysis of variance showed that there was a significant difference in the ocular protrusion among the age groups (p < 0.005). The mean relative ocular protrusion was 0.35 ± 0.64 mm. The type of refractive error (up to ±6.00D) has no significant effect on the absolute ocular protrusion values and showed a weak correlation between magnitude of myopia and hyperopia on absolute ocular protrusion. There was a statistically significant difference in absolute ocular protrusion among the female and male subjects. CONCLUSION: Age and gender seems to significantly influence the absolute ocular protrusion and need to be considered for clinical evaluation of bilateral proptosis. The refractive error up to ±6.00D seems to have no significant effect on the absolute ocular protrusion.

Effects of Cyclopentolate Hydrochloride Dosage on Anterior Segment Parameters in Young Adults (Measured with Pentacam).

PURPOSE: To assess the effects of 0.5% and 1% cyclopentolate on the main parameters of the anterior segment (central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber angle (ACA), depth (ACD) and volume (ACV)) in low/moderate myopia and hyperopia along with the effect on IOP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Both eyes of 30 subjects (15 myopic and 15 hyperopic) with mean age±standard deviation of 21.4±3.6 years were enrolled. Each participant was administered two drops of cyclopentolate 1% in the right eye and two drops of cyclopentolate 0.5% in the left eye, 15 minutes apart. All participants underwent intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement using noncontact tonometry, and anterior chamber parameter measurement using Pentacam. RESULTS: Following the use of 0.5% and 1% cyclopentolate among the hyperopic group, there was a statistically significant increase in ACD for 1% (pre 2.762±0.28 mm and post 2.89±0.25 mm) and 0.5% (pre 2.71±0.28 and post 2.86±0.27 mm) and ACV for 1% (pre 141.40±20.59 mm3 and post 154.35±19.69 mm3) and 0.5% (pre 137.40±20.48 mm3 and post 152.93±20.50 mm3). In contrast, ACA decreased with both doses 1% and 0.5%, but was not statistically significant (p for both >0.05%). With 0.5% and 1% cyclopentolate among the myopia group, there was a significant increase in ACD following cyclopentolate 1% (pre 3.18±0.22 mm and post 3.25±0.21 mm) and 0.5% (pre 3.200±0.22 mm and post 3.26±0.05 mm), p˂0.05. The ACV was significantly increased following 1% cyclopentolate, p˂0.001. The ACA showed a statistically significant decrease following cyclopentolate 1%, P=0.01, but not a significant decrease after cyclopentolate 0.5%, P=0.170. There was a significant increase in the IOP after 1%, p˂0.001, while a decrease with 0.5%, p=0.008. CONCLUSION: A topical dosage of cyclopentolate 1% showed significant changes in ACA and ACV among the hyperopia and myopic groups compared to 0.5%. Therefore, it is important to consider the use of a 0.5% cyclopentolate dosage to minimize changes to anterior chamber parameters.

Changes in the tarsal conjunctiva viewed by in vivo confocal microscopy are associated with ocular symptoms and contact lens wear.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of soft contact lens (CL) wear on the morphology of the epithelial-lamina propria junction as well as the possible association with symptoms of discomfort. METHODS: Ninety-two subjects were recruited, including 60 soft CL wearers, 16 previous wearers, and 16 non-wearers. Additionally, subjects were classified as symptomatic or asymptomatic using the Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire 8 for the CL wearers (a score ≥ 12 was considered symptomatic) and the Dry Eye Questionnaire 5 for the previous wearers and non-wearers (a score ≥ 5 was considered symptomatic). In vivo confocal microscopy of the tarsal conjunctiva was performed on a single occasion. Papillae density, shortest diameter, longest diameter, area, circularity, lumen/wall brightness ratio, irregularity, reflectivity, inhomogeneous appearance of wall and inhomogeneous appearance of rete ridges were evaluated. Effects of CL wear, symptoms and their interaction were analysed using two-way analysis of variance. Correlations were investigated using Spearman's coefficient. Data are presented as mean (standard deviation) or median [interquartile range]. RESULTS: Contact lens wearers, compared to previous wearers and non-wearers, showed higher circularity [0.65 (0.08) vs 0.59 (0.10) vs 0.57 (0.11), p = 0.003]. Subjects with symptoms, compared to asymptomatic participants, showed higher circularity [0.64 (0.08) vs 0.61 (0.10), p < 0.001] and lower irregularity (1.0 [0.7-2.0] vs 1.3 [1.0-2.3], p = 0.009). For previous wearers, those with symptoms showed greater density (135.4 [107.3-183.3] vs 87.5 [85.4-116.7], p = 0.013) and circularity [0.64 (0.07) vs 0.54 (0.10), p = 0.016]. For non-wearers, those with symptoms showed higher circularity [0.65 (0.08) vs 0.50 (0.08), p < 0.001]. DEQ-5 correlated with circularity (ρ = 0.55, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Soft CL wear modifies papillae of the epithelial-lamina propria junction into a more rounded shape; however, CL cessation appears to resolve this alteration. Additionally, a more rounded papillae shape is associated with ocular symptoms in subjects not actively wearing CLs.

Polymeric Reactor for the Synthesis of Superparamagnetic-Thermal Treatment of Breast Cancer.

Engineered superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have been studied extensively for their localized homogeneous heat generation in breast cancer therapy. However, challenges such as aggregation and inability to produce sub-10 nm SPIONs limit their potential in magnetothermal ablation. We report a facile, efficient, and robust in situ method for the synthesis of SPIONs within a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) reactor adsorbed onto reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (rGO) via the microwave hydrothermal route. This promising modality yields crystalline, stable, biocompatible, and superparamagnetic PEGylated SPION-rGO nanocomposites (NCs) with uniform dispersibility. Our findings show that rGO acts as a breeding ground for the spatially distributed nanosites around which the ferrihydrite seeds accumulate to ultimately transform into immobilized SPIONs. PEG, in parallel, acts as a critical confining agent physically trapping the accumulated seeds to prevent their aggregation and create multiple domains on rGO for the synthesis of quantum-sized SPIONs (9 ± 1 nm in diameter). This dual functionality (rGO and PEG) exhibits a pronounced effect on reducing both the aggregation and the sizes of fabricated SPIONs as confirmed by the scanning transmission electron microscopy images, dynamic light scattering analyses, and the specific absorption rates (SARs). Reduced aggregation lowered the toxicity of NCs, where PEGylated SPION-rGO NCs are more biocompatible than PEGylated SPIONs, showing no significant induction of cell apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane injury, or oxidative stress. Significantly less lactate dehydrogenase release and hence less necrosis are observed after 48 h exposure to high doses of PEGylated SPION-rGO NCs compared with PEGylated SPIONs. NCs induce local heat generation with a SAR value of 1760 ± 97 W/g, reaching up to 43 ± 0.3 °C and causing significant MCF-7 breast tumor cell ablation of about 78 ± 10% upon applying an external magnetic field. Collectively, rGO and PEG functionalities have a synergistic effect on improving the synthesis, stability, biocompatibility, and magnetothermal properties of SPIONs.

Molecular Characterization, Bioinformatic Analysis, and Expression Profile of Lin-28 Gene and Its Protein from Arabian Camel (Camelus dromedarius).

Lin-28 is an RNA-binding protein that is known for its role in promoting the pluripotency of stem cells. In the present study, Arabian camel Lin-28 (cLin-28) cDNA was identified and analyzed. Full length cLin-28 mRNA was obtained using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). It was shown to be 715 bp in length, and the open reading frame (ORF) encoded 205 amino acids. The molecular weight and theoretical isoelectric point (pI) of the cLin-28 protein were predicted to be 22.389 kDa and 8.50, respectively. Results from the bioinformatics analysis revealed that cLin-28 has two main domains: an N-terminal cold-shock domain (CSD) and a C-terminal pair of retroviral-type Cysteine3Histidine (CCHC) zinc fingers. Sequence similarity and phylogenetic analysis showed that the cLin-28 protein is grouped together Camelus bactrianus and Bos taurus. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis showed that cLin-28 mRNA is highly expressed in the lung, heart, liver, and esophageal tissues. Peptide mass fingerprint-mass spectrometry (PMF-MS) analysis of the purified cLin-28 protein confirmed the identity of this protein. Comparing the modeled 3D structure of cLin-28 protein with the available protein 3D structure of the human Lin-28 protein confirmed the presence of CSD and retroviral-type CCHC zinc fingers, and high similarities were noted between the two structures by using super secondary structure prediction.

The Effect of Contact Lens Wear on the Cellular Morphology of the Lid Wiper Area.

SIGNIFICANCE: This cross-sectional study presented a link between contact lens wear and changes on the cellular morphology characteristics of the lid wiper (LW) epithelium, which was not visible by LW staining. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to establish if the duration of contact lens (CL) wear affects the cellular morphology of the LW epithelium. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 100 individuals with different exposures to CL wear: short, moderate, and long experience of CL wear; previous CL wearers; and nonwearers (NWs) as controls. Impression cytology samples were collected from the central upper lid margin (LW area). After fixing, samples were stained with periodic acid-Schiff and haematoxylin for cell morphology analysis and subsequently graded according to the Nelson 0- to 3-point scale. Lid wiper staining was assessed with the aid of lissamine green and graded using the Korb (0- to 3-point) scale. One-way Kruskal-Wallis analysis followed by the Dunn multiple-comparisons test was used for statistical comparison. RESULTS: The Nelson grade for LW epithelium morphology was significantly different between groups (P = .003). Abnormal epithelial morphology as defined by grade 2 or 3 was evident in 66.7% of CL wearers with short experience and 76.5% of CL wearers with moderate experience. This was significantly higher than NWs of whom only 21.5% showed greater than grade 1 (P = .02 and .005, respectively). There was no significant difference between NWs and other groups. Lid wiper staining did not significantly differ between groups (P = .50) or correlate with the Nelson grade (Spearman r = 0.02, P = .08). CONCLUSIONS: Metaplasia of the LW epithelium was significantly greater in the early to moderate stages of CL. This supports the view that mechanical irritation is responsible for LW changes in CL wear. Ceasing CL wear seems to lead to recovery. Lid wiper staining did not reflect the underlying morphological changes.

Molecular cloning, bioinformatics analysis, and expression of small heat shock protein beta-1 from Camelus dromedarius, Arabian camel.

Small heat shock protein beta-1 (HSPB-1) plays an essential role in the protection of cells against environmental stress.Elucidation of its molecular, structural, and biological characteristics in a naturally wild-type model is essential. Although the sequence information of the HSPB-1 gene is available for many mammalian species, the HSPB-1 gene of Arabian camel (Arabian camel HSPB-1) has not yet been structurally characterized. We cloned and functionally characterized a full-length of Arabian camel HSPB-1 cDNA. It is 791 bp long, with a 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of 34 bp, a 3'-UTR of 151 bp with a poly(A) tail, and an open reading frame (ORF) of 606 bp encoding a protein of 201 amino acids (accession number: MF278354). The tissue-specific expression analysis of Arabian camel HSPB-1 mRNA was examined using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR); which suggested that Arabian camel HSPB-1 mRNA was constitutionally expressed in all examined tissues of Arabian camel, with the predominately level in the esophagus tissue. Peptide mass fingerprint-mass spectrometry (PMF-MS) analysis of the purified Arabian camel HSPB-1 protein confirmed the identity of this protein. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the HSPB-1 protein of Arabian camel is grouped together with those of Bactrian camel and Alpaca. Comparing the modelled 3D structure of Arabian camel HSPB-1 protein with the available protein 3D structure of HSPB-1 from human confirmed the presence of α-crystallin domain, and high similarities were noted between the two structures by using super secondary structure prediction.

Hyaluronic Acid Coated Chitosan Nanoparticles Reduced the Immunogenicity of the Formed Protein Corona.

Studying the interactions of nanoparticles (NPs) with serum proteins is necessary for the rational development of nanocarriers. Optimum surface chemistry is a key consideration to modulate the formation of the serum protein corona (PC) and the resultant immune response. We investigated the constituent of the PC formed by hyaluronic acid-coated chitosan NPs (HA-CS NPs). Non-decorated chitosan NPs (CS NPs) and alginate-coated chitosan NPs (Alg-CS NPs) were utilized as controls. Results show that HA surface modifications significantly reduced protein adsorption relative to controls. Gene Ontology analysis demonstrates that HA-CS NPs were the least immunogenic nanocarriers. Indeed, less inflammatory proteins were adsorbed onto HA-CS NPs as opposed to CS and Alg-CS NPs. Interestingly, HA-CS NPs differentially adsorbed two unique anti-inflammatory proteins (ITIH4 and AGP), which were absent from the PC of both controls. On the other hand, CS and Alg-CS NPs selectively adsorbed a proinflammatory protein (Clusterin) that was not found on the surfaces of HA-CS NPs. While further studies are needed to investigate abilities of the PCs of only ITIH4 and AGP to modulate the interaction of NPs with the host immune system, our results suggest that this proof-of-concept could potentially be utilized to reduce the immunogenicity of a wide range of nanomaterials.

Proteomic Analysis of the Protein Expression Profile in the Mature Nigella sativa (Black Seed).

Nigella sativa (N. sativa) seed has been used as an important nutritional flavoring agent and in traditional medicine for treating many illnesses since ancient times. Understanding the proteomic component of the seed may lead to enhance the understanding of its structural and biological functional complexity. In this study, we have analyzed its proteome profile based on gel-based proteome mapping technique that includes one-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry strategy. We have not come across any such studies that have been performed in N. sativa seeds up to date. A total of 277 proteins were identified, and their functional, metabolic, and location-wise annotations were carried out using the UniProt database. The majority of proteins identified in the proteome dataset based on their function were those involved in enzyme catalytic activity, nucleotide binding, and protein binding while the major cellular processes included regulation of biological process followed by regulation of secondary biological process, cell organization and biogenesis, protein metabolism, and transport. The identified proteome was localized mainly to the nucleus then to the cytoplasm, plasma membrane, mitochondria, plastid, and others. A majority of the proteins were involved in biochemical pathways involving carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid and shikimate pathway, lipid metabolism, nucleotide, cell organization and biogenesis, transport, and defense processes. The identified proteins in the dataset help to improve our understanding of the pathways involved in N. sativa seed metabolism and its biochemical features and detail out useful information that may help to utilize these proteins. This study could thus pave a way for future further high-throughput studies using a more targeted proteomic approach.

Impact of duration of contact lens wear on the structure and function of the meibomian glands.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of the duration of contact lens (CL) wear on the meibomian glands (MGs), eyelid and tear film. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of CL wearers and non-wearers (NWs) aged between 18 and 35 years. The sample comprised of: (i) Three groups of CL wearers of different duration profiles (short, moderate and long experience of CL wear); (ii) a group of previous CL wearers (PWs) who had ceased wear for at least 6 months prior to the present study; (iii) healthy non-wearers as a control group. Study procedures were conducted in the order from least invasive to most invasive as follows: symptom assessment, lipid assessment, non-invasive break-up time, tear meniscus area, tear osmolarity and evaporation, Phenol red thread, MG expressibility, ocular surface and eyelid assessments, meibography, Marx line and lid wiper assessment using lissamine green. For statistical comparison of continuous data, one-way analysis of variance was used with Bonferroni post-hoc correction, where appropriate. Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson Chi-Square respectively were used for ordinal and categorical variables. RESULTS: A total of 100 participants (49 males and 51 females; mean age ± SD: 25.4 ± 4.1) were enrolled across the five groups, such that each was composed of 20 age/sex matched individuals. Significant differences between the study groups were found for MG expressibility (p < 0.001), number of plugged orifices (p = 0.001), number of expressed orifices (p < 0.001), MG dropout (p = 0.001), Marx line score (p < 0.001), palpebral redness (p = 0.003), and roughness (p = 0.002), non-invasive break-up time (p < 0.001), Phenol red thread (p = 0.005), and tear meniscus area (p = 0.029). For all these variables, the NW group was statistically different from all other groups. Duration of wear was not a significant factor, except for Marx line score which was different in PWs compared to those with longer experience of CL wear (p = 0.03) CONCLUSION: Alterations to MG morphology and function accompany contact lens wear. Although these changes onset during the first 2 years of wear, prolonged CL exposure beyond this point does not appear to be associated with further modification. Cessation of wear for at up to 6 months does not lead to resolution.

Detection of low-abundance protein phosphorylation by selective 18O labeling and mass spectrometry.

Reversible phosphorylation regulates the majority of intracellular networking and pathways. The study of this widely explored post-translational modification is usually challenged by low stoichiometric levels of modification. Many approaches have been developed to overcome this problem and to achieve rigorous characterization of protein phosphorylation. We describe a method for enhanced detection of low-abundance protein phosphorylation that uses selective introduction of (18)O label into phosphorylation sites with H(2)(18)O and mass spectrometric detection. The method was applied to introduce (18)O label into bacterially expressed Aurora A kinase phosphorylation sites and resulted in the representation of phosphorylated peptides as doublets or triplets according to the number of phosphate groups. A total of 28 phosphopeptides were observed by this method.