Implementation of a retinal stroke-code protocol results in visual recovery in patients receiving reperfusion therapies.

INTRODUCTION: Reperfusion therapies represent promising treatments for patients with Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO), but access is limited due to low incidence and lack of protocols. We aimed to describe the benefit of implementing a Retinal Stroke-Code protocol regarding access to reperfusion, visual acuity and aetiological assessment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective cohort study performed at a Comprehensive Stroke Centre. Criteria for activation were sudden monocular, painless vision loss within 6 h from onset. Eligible patients received IAT when immediately available and IVT otherwise. All patients were followed by ophthalmologists to assess best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and visual complications, and by neurologists for aetiological workup. Visual amelioration was defined as improvement of at least one Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letter from baseline to 1 week. RESULTS: Of 49 patients with CRAO, 15 (30.6%) received reperfusion therapies (12 IVT, 3 IAT). Presentation beyond 6 h was the main contraindication. Patients receiving reperfusion therapies had better rates of visual improvement (33.3% vs 5.9%, p = 0.022). There were no complications related to reperfusion therapies. Rates of neovascular glaucoma were non-significantly lower in patients receiving reperfusion therapies (13.3% vs 20.6%, p = 0.701). Similar rates of atherosclerotic, cardioembolic and undetermined aetiologies were observed, leading to 10 new diagnosed atrial fibrillation and five carotid revascularizations. CONCLUSION: A comprehensive acute management of CRAO is feasible despite low incidence. In our study, reperfusion therapies were safe and associated with higher rates of visual recovery. A similar etiological workup than ischemic stroke led to of high proportion of underlying aetiologies.

Effectiveness of a 5 weeks telerehabilitation programme with virtual reality glasses in boys with Duchenne and Becker during the COVID-19: A clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (from now "DMD" and "BMD" respectively) are the neuromuscular diseases with the most significant involvement in children. It affects dystrophin production, reducing the patient's mobility and quality of life. New technologies have become part of physical therapy in DMD and BMD. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telerehabilitation through virtual reality-based games could help these children to keep their abilities. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to know if the use of the virtual platform in a multimodal intervention program achieves changes in the results obtained in the six-minute walk test in children affected by DMD and BMD. To estimate the difference in mobility in patients with DMD and BMD, as measured with the six-minute walking test (6MWT), between 10 conventional and telerehabilitation treatment sessions. As secondary objectives, measuring other specific motor scales was proposed to see whether these had changed after receiving the 10 defined sessions. METHODS: Descriptive, open, quasi-experimental study with prospective A-B (control-intervention) design. Sample size of twelve participants who fulfilled the control criteria followed the program for five weeks, up to 10 telerehabilitation sessions. During the sessions, the participants used virtual reality glasses to train for the treatment goals. All sessions were in person, and participants were assessed before and after the intervention. Analysis was performed using R (R Core Team (2022) according to the different functional assessments performed for each test. RESULTS: The participants showed a 19.55 m increase in the 6MWT scale. The motor function was also kept stable according to other scales used to assess it. North Start result were kept stable in both treatments (P value = .199). Furthermore, Time up and go test was shorter in 0.1 seconds in telerehabilitation time and Motor Function Measure in all of the 3 dimensions shown no significant differences with a P value = .084. Finally, Infant effort (EPInfant) shown that during the training the fatigue increased in the middle and decreased by the end but the perception throughout the sessions, was lower even though the exercise intensity increased. CONCLUSIONS: There is no difference between a conventional and telerehabilitation treatment, so the telerehabilitation tool could be used without harming this type of children, facilitating their access to therapies and stimulating learning to maintain their functional capacity. Telerehabilitation may helpful maintain motor function in children with DMD and BMD. The learning effect helped to reduce the feeling of fatigue in children during the program. CLINICALTRIAL: This trial has the approval of the Andalucía Ethics Committee with PEIBA code 0107-N-20. The results of the research will be disseminated by the investigators to peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration no. NCT03879304.

Amphiphilic Dendritic Hydrogels with Carbosilane Nanodomains: Preparation and Characterization as Drug Delivery Systems.

Carbosilane dendrimers are hyperbranched lipophilic scaffolds widely explored in biomedical applications. This work exploits, for the first time, the ability of these scaffolds to generate functional hydrogels with amphiphilic properties. The monodispersity and multivalency enable a precise synthetic control of the network, while the lipophilicity improves the compatibility with poorly soluble cargo. The first family of cleavable carbosilane dendrimers was designed for this purpose, overcoming one of the main drawbacks of these type of dendrimers. Biodegradable dendritic low-swelling hydrogels with aromatic nanodomains were easily prepared using the highly efficient click thiol-ene chemistry. Our studies through electron-paramagnetic resonance, molecular dynamics simulations, and experimental assays confirmed the impact of the carbosilane dendritic nanodomains in both the encapsulation and the release pattern of model drugs such as ibuprofen and curcumin. Curcumin-loaded hydrogels were further tested in in vitro assays against advanced prostate cancer cells. The dendritic hydrogels not only enabled drugs encapsulation; as proof of concept, ibuprofen was efficiently attached via fluoride-promoted esterification and was enzymatically cleaved, achieving a controlled release over time.

Oftalmomiasis / Ophthalmomiasis

La oftalmomiasis es una enfermedad poco frecuente, causada por artrópodos; en este caso por la mosca adulta. Presentamos el caso de una paciente femenina, de 44 años de edad, con antecedentes de inmunosupresión severa secundaria a VIH, quien fue atendida en el Servicio de Oftalmología por molestia ocular. Presentaba un aumento de volumen circunscrito en conjuntiva que se extendía sobre la córnea nasal del ojo izquierdo, de aspecto blanco nacarado, deslustrado. Se le realizó exéresis de la lesión y crioterapia. Posteriormente se le aplicó colirio de mitomicina C. A los siete meses la paciente regresó a la consulta con un cuadro de complicación franca y severa de la lesión, con destrucción de los tejidos de la órbita y múltiples cavernas ocupadas por cientos de larvas de moscas(AU)

Ophthalmomiasis is a rare disease, caused by arthropods; in this case by the adult fly. We present the case of a 44-year-old female patient, with a history of severe immunosuppression secondary to HIV, who was treated at the Ophthalmology Service for ocular discomfort. She presented a circumscribed increase in volume in the conjunctiva that extended over the nasal cornea of ​​the left eye, with a pearly white, tarnished appearance. Excision of the lesion and cryotherapy were performed. Subsequently, mitomycin C eye drops were applied. Seven months later, the patient returned to the consultation with a frank and severe complication of the lesion, with destruction of the tissues of the orbit and multiple caverns occupied by hundreds of fly larvae(AU)

Dendrimers and Dendritic Materials: From Laboratory to Medical Practice in Infectious Diseases.

Infectious diseases are one of the main global public health risks, predominantly caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. The control of infections is founded on three main pillars: prevention, treatment, and diagnosis. However, the appearance of microbial resistance has challenged traditional strategies and demands new approaches. Dendrimers are a type of polymeric nanoparticles whose nanometric size, multivalency, biocompatibility, and structural perfection offer boundless possibilities in multiple biomedical applications. This review provides the reader a general overview about the uses of dendrimers and dendritic materials in the treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of highly prevalent infectious diseases, and their advantages compared to traditional approaches. Examples of dendrimers as antimicrobial agents per se, as nanocarriers of antimicrobial drugs, as well as their uses in gene transfection, in vaccines or as contrast agents in imaging assays are presented. Despite the need to address some challenges in order to be used in the clinic, dendritic materials appear as an innovative tool with a brilliant future ahead in the clinical management of infectious diseases and many other health issues.

Distrofia de Schnyder / Schnyder dystrophy

Entre las distrofias estromales encontramos la distrofia de Schnyder, que se caracteriza por ser bilateral y progresiva. Su diagnóstico es relativamente sencillo cuando se presenta con cristales de colesterol y fosfolípidos. El estudio histológico y la microscopia confocal confirman el diagnóstico. Presentamos dos casos clínicos de distrofia de Schnyder, en pacientes del sexo femenino, quienes acudieron a la consulta y refirieron disminución de la visión y cambio de coloración de los ojos. Los hallazgos clínicos y la microscopia confocal confirman el diagnóstico de distrofia de Schnyder, la cual se caracteriza por la presencia de cristales en el estroma anterior central de distribución anular o disciforme, asociado a arco lipoide y haze en la media periferia. La fotoqueratectomía con excímer láser cuando la afección se limita al estroma anterior, o la queratoplastia penetrante en casos más avanzados, constituyen el arsenal terapéutico en esta afección.(AU)

Among the stromal dystrophies, we may find Schnyder dystrophy that is characterized by its bilateral and progressive nature. Diagnosis is relatively simple when presented with choresterol crystals and phospholipids. The histological study and the confocal microscopy confirm the diagnosis. We reported two female patients with Schnyder dystrophy, who went to the ophthalmological service and stated decreased vision and changed eye color. The clinical and confocal microscopy findings confirmed the diagnosis of Schnyder dystrophy. This entity is characterized by the presence of crystals into the central anterior stroma with annular distribution and related to lipoid arch and haze in the mid-periphery. The excimer laser photokeratectomy to manage the anterior stroma and the penetrating keratoplasty for more advanced cases are the best therapeutic tools to treat this condition.(AU)

Distrofia de Schnyder / Schnyder dystrophy

Entre las distrofias estromales encontramos la distrofia de Schnyder, que se caracteriza por ser bilateral y progresiva. Su diagnóstico es relativamente sencillo cuando se presenta con cristales de colesterol y fosfolípidos. El estudio histológico y la microscopia confocal confirman el diagnóstico. Presentamos dos casos clínicos de distrofia de Schnyder, en pacientes del sexo femenino, quienes acudieron a la consulta y refirieron disminución de la visión y cambio de coloración de los ojos. Los hallazgos clínicos y la microscopia confocal confirman el diagnóstico de distrofia de Schnyder, la cual se caracteriza por la presencia de cristales en el estroma anterior central de distribución anular o disciforme, asociado a arco lipoide y haze en la media periferia. La fotoqueratectomía con excímer láser cuando la afección se limita al estroma anterior, o la queratoplastia penetrante en casos más avanzados, constituyen el arsenal terapéutico en esta afección.

Among the stromal dystrophies, we may find Schnyder dystrophy that is characterized by its bilateral and progressive nature. Diagnosis is relatively simple when presented with choresterol crystals and phospholipids. The histological study and the confocal microscopy confirm the diagnosis. We reported two female patients with Schnyder dystrophy, who went to the ophthalmological service and stated decreased vision and changed eye color. The clinical and confocal microscopy findings confirmed the diagnosis of Schnyder dystrophy. This entity is characterized by the presence of crystals into the central anterior stroma with annular distribution and related to lipoid arch and haze in the mid-periphery. The excimer laser photokeratectomy to manage the anterior stroma and the penetrating keratoplasty for more advanced cases are the best therapeutic tools to treat this condition.

Diagnóstico del queratocono subclínico por topografía de elevación / Diagnosis of the subclinical keratoconus through elevation topography

Objetivo: definir parámetros más eficaces de la topografía de elevación para la detección del queratocono subclínico. Métodos: se estudiaron con topografía Galilei las córneas de 15 pacientes con diagnóstico clínico de queratocono grupo 1: n = 23 ojos, de 12 pacientes con queratocono subclínico diagnosticados por topografía de elevación grupo 2: n = 18 y un grupo control de 13 pacientes miopes distribuidos por sexo, edad y equivalente esférico refractivo grupo 3: n = 25. Se analizaron los siguientes parámetros: localización del ápex, elevación de las caras anterior y posterior de la córnea, paquimetría mínima y profundidad de cámara anterior. Resultados: la ubicación más frecuente del ápex fue en el sector inferotemporal 52,1 por ciento. El promedio de máxima elevación de la cara anterior fue 40,83 ± 17,75 mm en el grupo 1 y de 16,89 ± 8,22 mm en el grupo 2, donde ambos fueron significativamente diferentes al grupo control p < 0,02. El promedio de la máxima elevación de la cara posterior fue 73,35 ± 17,73 mm en el grupo 1 y 41,22 ± 9,94 mm en el grupo 2. Ambos resultados fueron significativamente diferentes al grupo control p < 0,00. El mínimo espesor y la profundidad de cámara anterior también mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos estudiados. Conclusiones: los parámetros de elevación de cara anterior, posterior, paquimetría y profundidad de cámara anterior, medidos en la topografía de elevación con Galilei, difieren significativamente entre individuos normales y con queratocono clínico y subclínico(AU)

Objective: to define the most effective parameters of corneal elevation topography for subclinical keratoconus screening. Methods: Galilei topography system-based study included corneas from 15 patients with clinical diagnosis of keratoconus group 1, n = 23 eyes, from 12 patients with subclinical keratoconus group 2, n = 18 eyes and a control group of 13 myopic subjects paired in gender, age and refractive spherical equivalent group 3, n = 25. The following parameters were analyzed: location of the apex, anterior and posterior corneal elevation, minimal pachyimetry and anterior chamber depth. Results: the most frequent location of the apex was at the inferotemporal sector 52 percent. Mean anterior maximum elevation was 40,83 ± 17,75 mm in group 1 and 16,89 ± 8,22 mm in group 2; these results were significantly different from the control group p < 0,02. Mean posterior maximum elevation was 73,35 ± 17,73 mm in group 1 and 41,22 ± 9,94 mm in group 2, both showing a statistically significant difference from that of the control group p < 0,00. Minimal corneal thickness and anterior chamber depth also showed statistically significant differences among the three groups. Conclusions: statistically significant differences were found in anterior and posterior elevation, minimal corneal thickness and anterior chamber depth parameters, as measured by the Galilei system, between the normal myopic subjects, and those with clinical and subclinical keratoconus(AU)

Diagnóstico del queratocono subclínico por topografía de elevación / Diagnosis of the subclinical keratoconus through elevation topography

OBJETIVO: definir parámetros más eficaces de la topografía de elevación para la detección del queratocono subclínico. MÉTODOs: se estudiaron con topografía Galilei las córneas de 15 pacientes con diagnóstico clínico de queratocono (grupo 1: n = 23 ojos), de 12 pacientes con queratocono subclínico diagnosticados por topografía de elevación (grupo 2: n = 18) y un grupo control de 13 pacientes miopes distribuidos por sexo, edad y equivalente esférico refractivo (grupo 3: n = 25). Se analizaron los siguientes parámetros: localización del ápex, elevación de las caras anterior y posterior de la córnea, paquimetría mínima y profundidad de cámara anterior. RESULTADOS: la ubicación más frecuente del ápex fue en el sector inferotemporal (52,1 %). El promedio de máxima elevación de la cara anterior fue 40,83 ± 17,75 mm en el grupo 1 y de 16,89 ± 8,22 mm en el grupo 2, donde ambos fueron significativamente diferentes al grupo control (p < 0,02). El promedio de la máxima elevación de la cara posterior fue 73,35 ± 17,73 mm en el grupo 1 y 41,22 ± 9,94 mm en el grupo 2. Ambos resultados fueron significativamente diferentes al grupo control (p < 0,00). El mínimo espesor y la profundidad de cámara anterior también mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos estudiados. CONCLUSIONES: los parámetros de elevación de cara anterior, posterior, paquimetría y profundidad de cámara anterior, medidos en la topografía de elevación con Galilei, difieren significativamente entre individuos normales y con queratocono clínico y subclínico.

OBJECTIVE: to define the most effective parameters of corneal elevation topography for subclinical keratoconus screening. METHODS: Galilei topography system-based study included corneas from 15 patients with clinical diagnosis of keratoconus (group 1, n = 23 eyes), from 12 patients with subclinical keratoconus (group 2, n = 18 eyes) and a control group of 13 myopic subjects paired in gender, age and refractive spherical equivalent (group 3, n = 25). The following parameters were analyzed: location of the apex, anterior and posterior corneal elevation, minimal pachyimetry and anterior chamber depth. RESULTS: the most frequent location of the apex was at the inferotemporal sector (52 %). Mean anterior maximum elevation was 40,83 ± 17,75 mm in group 1 and 16,89 ± 8,22 mm in group 2; these results were significantly different from the control group (p < 0,02). Mean posterior maximum elevation was 73,35 ± 17,73 mm in group 1 and 41,22 ± 9,94 mm in group 2, both showing a statistically significant difference from that of the control group (p < 0,00). Minimal corneal thickness and anterior chamber depth also showed statistically significant differences among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: statistically significant differences were found in anterior and posterior elevation, minimal corneal thickness and anterior chamber depth parameters, as measured by the Galilei system, between the normal myopic subjects, and those with clinical and subclinical keratoconus.

Active colitis exacerbates immune response to internalized food antigens in mice.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have indicated that colitis increases intestinal permeability to food antigens. This condition also generates an immunoreactive milieu in the gut, which may exacerbate or counteract allergy reactions. This, along with the fact that both colitis and allergy are being codiagnosed more frequently, means the scientific interest on the immune relation between these pathologies is increasing. We evaluated the immune response to an internalized food antigen that was initiated during a concomitant active intestinal inflammatory response. METHODS: An ovalbumin (OVA)-induced immune response was analyzed in healthy mice and in mice suffering from colitis induced by the administration of dinitrofluorobenzene/dinitrosulfonic acid (DNFB/DNS) at the moment of OVA challenge. The OVA-induced clinical score and allergy response both in plasma and in splenocyte cultures from these animals were compared. RESULTS: Although no differences were observed in the allergy clinical score, the concomitant active colitis led to an increase in the immune response to OVA antigen, as shown by increased spleen size and OVA-induced splenocyte proliferation, exacerbated expression of total and OVA-specific IgG1 levels, increased colonic IL-4 expression and OVA-induced IL-4 and IL-5 cytokine expression in spleen cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that animals with active colitis undergo an exacerbated immune response to an internalized antigen. This finding could be relevant for the allergy management of patients presenting simultaneously with chronic colitis.

Microscopia confocal en córneas de cien ojos sanos / Confocal microscopy results of one hundred healthy eye corneas

Objetivo: Analizar las estructuras celulares por microscopia confocal, Confoscan 4, en córneas sanas en nuestro medio. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo longitudinal a 100 ojos sanos de médicos que trabajan en nuestra institución, y pacientes que asistieron al servicio de córnea. Esta investigación fue desde mayo de 2007 a mayo 2008, en el Instituto Cubano de Oftalmología "Ramón Pando Ferrer", La Habana. En los médicos se examinaron ambos ojos y en los pacientes el ojo no afectado. Se recopilaron un total de 50 casos sin afección corneal. Resultados: De los 100 ojos estudiados, 64 tenían paquimetrías por encima del valor medio. Estuvieron presentes los tres tipos de células epiteliales en casi la totalidad de los pacientes; así como los queratocitos en las diferentes profundidades del estroma corneal. La mayoría de los ojos tenían un conteo celular endotelial por encima de 2 500, cifra comprendida dentro de los valores normales. Se encontraron fibras nerviosas en cada una de sus capas. Conclusiones: La microscopia confocal se presenta como una nueva herramienta que permite observar en vivo la histología corneal y complementar las observaciones de la biomicroscopia convencional. Esto constituye un reto para el mejor entendimiento de la histopatología corneal. De esta manera podemos actuar de forma profiláctica y terapéutica, en el seguimiento y evolución de patologías corneales.

Objective: This paper is aimed at analyzing the corneal cellular structures through Confoscan S4-aided confocal microscopy in apparently healthy corneas. Methods: A prospective longitudinal study of 100 healthy eyes from practicing doctors, and from patients who had attended the corneal service at “Ramón Pando Ferrer” Cuban Institute of Ophthalmology in Havana since May 2007 was conducted. Both eyes of participating doctors were examined whereas the non-affected eye was examined in the patients. A total of 50 cases with no corneal disease notified from May 2007 to May 2008 were considered. Results: The 100 studied eyes came from apparently healthy patients, and the pachymetry values of 64 of them were above the average. Since they were healthy corneas, the 3 types of epithelial cells as well as the keratocytes were present in almost all the patients and at different depths of the corneal stroma, respectively. Most of the studied eyes had endothelial cell counts above 2 500, a figure within the normal range, and there were nerve fibers in each of their layers. Conclusion: Confocal microscope is a new tool that allows in vivo observation of corneal histology and thus supplements conventional biomicroscopy observations. It contributes to better understanding of corneal pathology, with a view to prophylactically and therapeutically acting upon corneal pathologies during their follow-up and evolution.

A shorter and more specific oral sensitization-based experimental model of food allergy in mice.

Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) is one of the most prevalent human food-borne allergies, particularly in children. Experimental animal models have become critical tools with which to perform research on new therapeutic approaches and on the molecular mechanisms involved. However, oral food allergen sensitization in mice requires several weeks and is usually associated with unspecific immune responses. To overcome these inconveniences, we have developed a new food allergy model that takes only two weeks while retaining the main characters of allergic response to food antigens. The new model is characterized by oral sensitization of weaned Balb/c mice with 5 doses of purified cow's milk protein (CMP) plus cholera toxin (CT) for only two weeks and posterior challenge with an intraperitoneal administration of the allergen at the end of the sensitization period. In parallel, we studied a conventional protocol that lasts for seven weeks, and also the non-specific effects exerted by CT in both protocols. The shorter protocol achieves a similar clinical score as the original food allergy model without macroscopically affecting gut morphology or physiology. Moreover, the shorter protocol caused an increased IL-4 production and a more selective antigen-specific IgG1 response. Finally, the extended CT administration during the sensitization period of the conventional protocol is responsible for the exacerbated immune response observed in that model. Therefore, the new model presented here allows a reduction not only in experimental time but also in the number of animals required per experiment while maintaining the features of conventional allergy models. We propose that the new protocol reported will contribute to advancing allergy research.

Resultados del tratamiento con anillos de Ferrara en pacientes con diagnóstico de queratocono / Results of the treatment of patients diagnosed with keratoconus using Ferrara rings

OBJETIVO: El propósito de este trabajo fue evaluar los resultados del tratamiento con anillos de Ferrara en pacientes con queratocono. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo descriptivo en 17 ojos de 12 pacientes de uno y otro sexos con diagnóstico de queratocono, operados con anillos intraestromales de Ferrara, y se evaluó la refracción dinámica y queratometría topográfica preoperatoria y a los 6 meses del posoperatorio de los pacientes, así como las complicaciones detectadas mediante biomicroscopia. Los datos fueron procesados con el uso del paquete profesional estadístico SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) versión 11.5. RESULTADOS: La agudeza visual sin y con corrección mejoró en 70,6 y 82,4 por ciento respectivamente. El componente esférico y el astigmatismo evolucionaron favorablemente en 76,5 por ciento de los pacientes. Las queratometrías en el meridiano fuerte mejoraron en 94,1 y el débil en 70,6 por ciento. Las complicaciones no fueron significativas. Las opacidades perianulares fueron las más frecuentes en 29,4 por ciento de los casos. CONCLUSIONES: El implante de anillos intraestromales de Ferrara constituye una alternativa quirúrgica y terapéutica eficaz para los pacientes portadores de queratocono(AU)

OBJECTIVES: This paper was aimed at evaluating the results of the treatment of patients with keratoconus using Ferrara rings. METHODS: A prospective and descriptive study of 17 eyes from 12 patients of both sexes, diagnosed with keratoconus and operated on with intrastromal Ferrara rigs was conducted. Dynamic refraction and topographic keratometry were assessed preoperatively and 6 months after the surgery as well as detected complications were analyzed using biomicroscopy. Data processing used SPSS package (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 11.5. RESULTS: Visual acuity without and with correction improved in 70.6 percent and 82.4 percent of cases respectively. Spheral component and astigmatism positively evolved in 76,5 percent of patients. Keratometries in the strong and the weak meridians improved in 94,1 percent and 70,6 percent respectively. Complications were not significant, being perianular opacities the most frequent in 29,4 percent of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The insertion of intrastromal Ferrara rings is an effective surgical therapeutic choice for patients having keratoconus(AU)