Diagnostic methods for the etiological assessment of infectious corneal pathology (Review).

Infectious keratitis is a leading cause of visual morbidity, including blindness, all across the globe, especially in developing countries. Prompt and adequate treatment is mandatory to maintain corneal integrity and to recover the best possible final visual acuity. Although in most of the cases practitioners chose to employ empirical broad-spectrum antimicrobial medication that is usually effective, in some instances, they face the need to identify the causative agent to establish the appropriate therapy. An extensive search was conducted on published literature before December 2020 concerning the main laboratory investigations used to identify the microbial agents found in infectious keratitis, their indications, advantages, and disadvantages, as well as the results reported by other studies concerning different diagnostic tools. At present, the gold standard for diagnosis is still considered to be the isolation of microorganisms in cultures, along with the examination of smears, but other newer techniques, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), next-generation sequencing (NGS), and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) have gained popularity in the last decades. Currently, these newer methods have proved to be valuable adjuvants in making the diagnosis, but technological advances hold promise that, in the future, these methods will have increased performance and availability, and may become the new gold standard, replacing the classic cultures and smears.

Repair of the Orbital Wall Fractures in Rabbit Animal Model Using Nanostructured Hydroxyapatite-Based Implant.

Cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of nanostructured hydroxyapatite (nanoHAp) are dependent on its physical parameters. Therefore, an understanding of both surface chemistry and morphology of nanoHAp is needed in order to be able to anticipate its in vivo behavior. The aim of this paper is to characterize an engineered nanoHAp in terms of physico-chemical properties, biocompatibility, and its capability to reconstitute the orbital wall fractures in rabbits. NanoHAp was synthesized using a high pressure hydrothermal method and characterized by physico-chemical, structural, morphological, and optical techniques. X-ray diffraction revealed HAp crystallites of 21 nm, while Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images showed spherical shapes of HAp powder. Mean particle size of HAp measured by DLS technique was 146.3 nm. Biocompatibility was estimated by the effect of HAp powder on the adhesion and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in culture. The results showed that cell proliferation on powder-coated slides was between 73.4% and 98.3% of control cells (cells grown in normal culture conditions). Computed tomography analysis of the preformed nanoHAp implanted in orbital wall fractures, performed at one and two months postoperative, demonstrated the integration of the implants in the bones. In conclusion, our engineered nanoHAp is stable, biocompatible, and may be safely considered for reconstruction of orbital wall fractures.

Tear lipocalin, lysozyme and lactoferrin concentrations in postmenopausal women.

RATIONALE: Among the most frequently encountered pathologies examined by the ophthalmologist is dry eye syndrome (DE), which can be discovered particularly in the elderly. The initial diagnosis of DE is of high importance, but also challenging. This is because the biochemical changes in the tear film often develop before any detectable signs. OBJECTIVE: In this study, the possible relationship between ocular symptomatology, tear volume and tear break-up time (TBUT) and lipocalin, lactoferrin and lysozyme concentrations in the tear film were explored in a group of symptomatic dry-eyed postmenopausal (PM) women compared to age-matched controls. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-six healthy PM females with ages of at least 50 years were grouped in two homogeneous lots (by age, post-menopause, co-morbidities) of 33 females each, one lot presenting mild or moderate dry eye syndrome (DE) and one asymptomatic non-dry eye (NDE), based on their feedback to the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire and noninvasive TBUT and Schirmer test results. Tears were collected via capillary tubes and an eye wash method. Tear lysozyme, lactoferrin and lipocalin concentrations were determined via electrophoresis. RESULTS: OSDI responses revealed 3 mild DE, 30 moderate DE and 33 NDE. The OSDI total score and sub scores for the DE group were significantly greater than for the NDE group (p < 0.001). The mild and moderate DE group exhibited significantly shorter TBUTs compared to NDE (p < 0.001). No difference in tear lysozyme or lipocalin concentrations was found between DE and NDE groups, irrespective of the tear collection method, but a significant difference was found in lactoferrin concentration (p<0.001). No significant correlations were found between symptoms or signs of DE compared to either lipocalin, lysozyme or lactoferrin concentrations. DISCUSSION: In a PM population, lipocalin and lysozyme are invariable, irrespective of the presence and severity of DE symptoms. However, lactoferrin shows a significant decrease. This is a comprehensive study of lipocalin, lactoferrin and lysozyme in dry-eyed PM women and our results suggested that lactoferrin could be used as a biomarker of DE in postmenopausal women. ABBREVIATIONS: PM = postmenopausal; DE = dry eye disease; NDE = non-dry eye; ELISA = Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

[Macular hole--a rare complication of toxocariasis]. / Gaura maculara--consecinta rara a infectiei toxocarozice.

Macular hole is a condition that characterizes older patients, being rare in adolescent patients and exceptionally at children. The etiopathogenic mechanism of most macular holes in children and adolescent is idiopathic. The suggested etiopathogenic mechanism is vitreoretinal traction due to a toxocara granuloma for a 9 years old girl.