Assessment of corneal topographic, tomographic, densitometric, and biomechanical properties of Fabry patients with ocular manifestations.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether cornea verticillata affects corneal topography, tomography, densitometry, or biomechanics of Fabry patients with ocular manifestations and to compare these results with those obtained from healthy subjects. METHODS: This prospective, cross-sectional study included 23 Fabry patients (Fabry group) with cornea verticillata and the 37 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (control group). After comprehensive ophthalmological examinations, corneal topography, tomography, and densitometry measurements were taken using Pentacam HR and corneal biomechanics were captured via Corvis ST for all participants. RESULTS: All the investigated topographic and tomographic values were similar in the eyes with Fabry disease (FD) and the controls (P > 0.05). The corneal densitometry values of patients with FD were statistically significantly higher in all the concentric zones and layers, except posterior 0-2 mm and posterior 2-6 mm zones, compared to the controls (P < 0.05). The mean values of A1 velocity, A2 velocity, deformation amplitude ratio, Corvis biomechanical index, tomographic and biomechanical index, and Stiffness parameter at the first applanation in the Fabry group were statistically significantly different compared to control group (P < 0.05). However, the mean values of A1 length, A2 length, and the biomechanically corrected intraocular pressure were similar between the groups (P = 0.317, P = 0.819, and P = 0.468; respectively). CONCLUSION: Although cornea verticillata associated with FD is not considered to affect vision, it is associated with increased light backscattering and reduced corneal transparency as well as altered corneal biomechanical properties.

Retinal Microcirculation in Predicting Diabetic Nephropathy in Type 2 Diabetic Patients without Retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate retinal thicknesses and retinal microcirculation in healthy controls and in diabetic patients with or without microalbuminuria. METHODS: Eighty-six diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy (DR) (44 normoalbuminuric, 42 microalbuminuric) and 51 healthy controls were enrolled in this cross-sectional, prospective study. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) were performed. Correlations between OCTA parameters with mean urinary albumin levels were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean vessel densities of superficial capillary plexus (SCP), whole disc, and peripapillary area were significantly decreased in patients with microalbuminuria compared to patients with normoalbuminuria and controls (p < 0.05 for all). The mean vessel density of deep capillary plexus was significantly reduced in patients with microalbuminuria compared to controls (p < 0.05 for all). There were no significant differences in retinal thickness between groups (p > 0.05). Both duration of diabetes and urinary albumin levels were significantly and moderately correlated with mean vessel density of whole SCP in diabetic patients (r = 0.330, p = 0.021; r = 0.356, p = 0.017, respectively). CONCLUSION: Diabetic eyes without clinically detectable DR show impaired retinal microcirculation. Microalbuminuria is associated with alterations of retinal microcirculation in diabetic patients without DR. Evaluation of retinal microcirculation is likely useful for detecting early changes related to microvascular complications in type 2 diabetic patients.

Ultrastructural Analysis of the Anterior Lens Epithelium in Cataracts Associated with Uveitis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the transmission electron microscopic findings of lens epithelial cells (LECs) in patients with different subtypes of uveitis and to compare the findings with those in age-matched controls. METHODS: In this prospective case-control study, the anterior lens capsules were taken from 47 eyes of 47 patients with uveitis of different subtypes (17 with Fuchs uveitis syndrome [FUS], 13 with -Behçet's uveitis, 10 with idiopathic uveitis, and 7 with herpetic keratouveitis) and from 15 eyes of 15 control patients. RESULTS: In the FUS group, the LECs had homogeneous thickening and irregularity, with some small vacuoles and widespread, oval-shaped pigment clusters in some areas. In the Behçet uveitis group, there was evident thinning in the lens epithelium. The subepithelial tissue under the epithelium was thickened, and edematous areas were detected. In the idiopathic uveitis group, the LECs were thinner with small vacuoles, and the cubic structure of the LECs was transformed into a squamous one. Moreover, the LECs included some small vacuoles, similar to those in the FUS group. In the herpetic keratouveitis group, two prominent cell types were observed: (1) completely normal LECs and (2) degenerated-type LECs with pyknotic nuclei, condensation of chromatin, swelling in the cytoplasm, membrane ruptures, and intra-cytoplasmic inclusion bodies. In the control group, the LECs and all of their elements occurred in normal ultrastructural patterns, with the exception of a few small intraepithelial vacuoles, which were fewer in number and smaller than those in the FUS and idiopathic uveitis groups. CONCLUSION: The electron microscopic analysis of LECs of patients with different subtypes of uveitis revealed significant ultrastructural alterations, which may be related to the summation of oxidative stress and intraocular inflammation.

Additive Effect of Topical Nepafenac on Mydriasis in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the additive effect of topical nepafenac on pupil diameter (PD) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and cataract. METHODS: This prospective comparative study included the patients having cataract surgery with and without DM. Two consecutive PD measurements were taken using an automatic quantitative pupillometry system (MonPack One, Metrovision). A baseline measurement was taken, then one drop of nepafenac % 0.1 (Nevanac; Alcon, Fort Worth, TX) was instilled only to the eye that will be operated on (study eye). Cyclopentolate 1.0% (Sikloplejin; Abdi Ibrahim, Istanbul, Turkey) was instilled to both eyes (study eye/fellow eye) 5 minutes later. The second measurement was taken at 1 hour after this application. RESULTS: The DM group consisted of 43 patients, and the control group consisted of 39 participants. The baseline PDs of both eyes were similar in the DM group (P=0.070) and the control group (P=0.345). The change in pupil size from baseline to mydriasis was statistically significantly greater in the study eyes (2.69±0.53) than fellow eyes (2.54±0.61) in the DM group (P=0.009), but there was no statistically significant difference in the control group (2.94±0.63 vs. 2.86±0.58). When the groups were compared, the PD changes were similar in the study eyes between groups (P=0.065), while the PD changes in the fellow eyes were lower in the DM group (P=0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Nepafenac has been shown additive effect on pupil dilation in diabetic patients before cataract surgery.

The effect of topical latanoprost on corneal clarity; 1-year prospective study†.

Purpose: Quantitatively investigate the effects of topical latanoprost on the corneal optical density parameters by using Scheimpflug system. Materials and methods: New cases of primary open-angle glaucoma treated with topical latanoprost as first-line treatment were enrolled in this prospective study. Corneal densitometry measurements obtained with the Scheimpflug system (Pentacam; Oculus, HR) at baseline and 1st, 3rd, 12th months after topical latanoprost treatment. For densitometry analysis, the 12-mm diameter area of the cornea was subdivided into 4 concentric radial zones and also into anterior, central, and posterior layers based on corneal depth. Pre and post-treatment values were compared statistically by a paired sample t-test. Results: The mean age of 18 female (66.7%) and 9 male (33.3%), totally 27 cases were 59.48 ± 10.1 years. There was no statistically significant difference between pretreatment and 1st-month post-treatment corneal densitometry values in all regions (p > 0.05 for all). Corneal densitometry values began to decline at 3rd month after treatment. The decrease continued until the 12th month of the beginning of the treatment and was significant in all zones except 2-6 mm of the anterior and central zones (p = 0.23, p = 0.08, respectively). Conclusion: Long-term administration of topical latanoprost may cause decrease in corneal densitometry measurements. Further prospective studies with a longer follow-up period are required to clarify the relationship between prostaglandin analogues and their effects on the cornea transparency.

The ultrastructural alterations in the lens capsule and epithelium in eyes with traumatic white cataract.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the morphological and physiological characteristics of lens epithelial cells (LECs) in patients with traumatic cataract using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to further understand penetrating ocular injury-induced cataract morphology and epithelial repair mechanisms involved at a cellular level. METHODS: This is a prospective international study. Sixteen eyes of 16 consecutive patients who were diagnosed as traumatic white cataracts following the anterior lens capsule perforation and 13 eyes of 13 patients with idiopathic posterior subcapsular cataract were included to the study. The anterior lens capsules (aLCs: basement membrane and associated LECs) were obtained from cataract surgery and prepared for TEM. RESULTS: Two prominent cell types were observed in all aLCs of the traumatic cases: degenerated type LECs having variable sized intraepithelial vacuoles close to injury site and normal appearing LECs having an euchromatic nucleus distant from the injury site. In control group, the LECs and all their elements were in normal ultrastructural pattern except some small intraepithelial vacuoles, which were fewer and smaller than the vacuoles in the degenerated LECs of the traumatic group. CONCLUSIONS: The ultrastructural findings of our cases support that traumatically induced dysfunction of the lens epithelium may lead to an edema in superficial cortical lens fibers that subsequently undergo degeneration and produce a localized zone of vacuolization.

The significance of thiol/disulfide homeostasis and ischemia-modified albumin levels to assess the oxidative stress in patients with different stages of diabetes mellitus.

This study investigated the value of Thiol/Disulfide homeostasis and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels in discriminating diabetic cases with different stages of retinopathy and without retinopathy. In total, 122 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) were enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional study. These patients were separated into three subgroups: Group 1 included 42 patients with DM and no diabetic retinopathy (DR), Group 2 included 40 patients with DM having non-proliferative DR and the Group 3 had 40 patients with DM having proliferative DR. The native thiol, total thiol, and disulfide levels and disulfide-native thiol, disulfide-total thiol, and native thiol-total thiol ratios as well as the IMA levels were analyzed and compared among the groups. There were no statistically significant differences regarding the ages and genders of the patients between the groups. The native thiol level, the total thiol level and the native thiol-total thiol ratio showed a statistically significantly reduction, while the disulfide level, the disulfide-native thiol ratio, and the disulfide-total thiol ratio showed a statistically significantly elevation in the Group 3 compared with the Group 1 and Group 2. Additionally, the mean IMA levels were statistically significantly higher in Group 3 when compared to Group 1 and Group 2 (p = .003 and p = .014, respectively). In conclusion, both Thiol/Disulfide homeostasis parameters and IMA levels increase with the progression of DR. Thiol/Disuldife homeostasis balance and IMA levels may be used a biomarker to monitor the tissue ischemia in DM and to discriminate the different stages of DR, in the future.

Bilateral choroidal neovascularization associated with gyrate atrophy managed with intravitreal bevacizumab.

PURPOSE: To report a case with gyrate atrophy (GA) complicated by bilateral choroidal neovascularization (CNV) treated with intravitreal bevacizumab. CASE PRESENTATION: A 20-year-old man presented with a complaint of sudden visual decrease in his both eyes. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/400 and 20/500, with a spherical refractive error of -2.00 and -1.75 D, in the right and left eyes, respectively. Dilated fundus examination revealed multiple bilateral, sharply defined chorioretinal atrophy areas in the midperipheral and peripheral zone with the suspicion of CNV in both eyes. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography revealed bilateral cystoid macular edema consistent with CNV development which was confirmed by fundus fluorescein angiography. Single dose of intravitreal bevacizumab injections were performed to both eyes of the patient. At the first month after the injection, the BCVA improved and OCT revealed scar formation without any intraretinal/subretinal fluid in both eyes. At the first-year follow-up, the maculas remained dry on the OCT and the BCVA was preserved. No additional injections were needed. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal bevacizumab might be a treatment alternative, which provides satisfactory anatomical and functional results and leads to a better central vision in cases with GA complicated by CNV.

Comparison of anterior segment measurements with LenStar and Pentacam in patients with newly diagnosed glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To compare anterior segment measurements obtained using the Pentacam; Oculus, HR and the LenStar LS 900 in patients with newly diagnosed glaucoma. METHODS: Patients with ocular hypertension and primary open-angle glaucoma who had been treated with PGA were included in the study. Anterior segment measurements including central corneal thickness (CCT), keratometry, anterior chamber depth (ACD) and white-to-white (WTW) corneal diameter obtained with the optic low-coherent reflectometer (LenStar LS-900, Haag-Streit AG, Switzerland) and with the Scheimpflug system (Pentacam; Oculus, HR) were compared. In order to compare LenStar and Pentacam measurements, paired sample t test and 'Bland-Altman' plot were used in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-two female (59.5%) and 15 male (40.5%) totally 37 cases with newly diagnosed glaucoma were included in the study. Anterior segment parameter measurements obtained with both the LenStar and the Pentacam were significantly correlated for right and left eyes, so the right eye values were used in statistical analysis. WTW and ACD values measured with LenStar were statistically significantly higher than those measured with Pentacam (p: 0.0001, p: 0.0001, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference between the CCT values measured by the two devices (p: 0.217). CONCLUSION: There was a statistically significant difference between the mean values of ACD and WTW measured with the LenStar and Pentacam. These biometric devices should not be used interchangeably. It should be appropriate to use the same device on follow-up of glaucoma patients.

Evaluation of corneal topographic changes and surgically induced astigmatism after transconjunctival 27-gauge microincision vitrectomy surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the corneal topographic changes and postvitrectomy astigmatism after 27-gauge (g) microincision vitrectomy surgery (MIVS) by using Pentacam HR-Scheimpflug imaging system. METHODS: This prospective descriptive study included 30 eyes of 30 patients who underwent 27-g MIVS. All eyes underwent a Pentacam HR examination preoperatively and on the first week, first month and third month postoperatively. The power of the corneal astigmatism, mean keratometry (K m), K 1 and K 2 values and corneal asphericity (Q value) values for the both front and back surfaces of the cornea, index of surface variance (ISV), index of vertical asymmetry (IVA), index of height asymmetry (IHA), index of height decentration (IHD) and higher-order aberrations including coma, trefoil, spherical aberration, higher-order root-mean-square and total RMS were recorded. Additionally, the mean induced astigmatism was estimated by vector analysis. RESULTS: No statistically significant changes were observed in the mean power of corneal astigmatism, mean keratometry, K 1 and K 2 values, corneal asphericity values, ISV, IVA, IHA, IHD and higher-order aberrations on the first week, first month and third month after the operation. The mean surgically induced astigmatism was calculated as 0.23 ± 0.11 D on the first week, 0.19 ± 0.10 D on the first month and 0.19 ± 0.08 D on the third month postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Minor corneal surface and induced astigmatic changes are expected to result in rapid visual rehabilitation after pars plana vitrectomy with the 27-g MIVS system.

Electron microscopic evaluation of anterior lens epithelium in patients with idiopathic congenital cataract.

PURPOSE: To investigate the ultrastructure of the lens epithelial cells (LECs) in patients with idiopathic congenital cataract. METHODS: This is a prospective interventional study. The anterior lens capsules (aLC: basement membrane and associated LECs) were taken from 16 eyes of 12 consecutive patients who were diagnosed as having idiopathic congenital cataracts. The aLCs were obtained from cataract surgery and prepared for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). RESULTS: Some significant ultrastructural changes were observed in all aLCs of the participants. The anterior LECs showed alterations in different areas which were partly cuboidal and partly squamous in shape. The LECs had euchromatic nucleus and included some vacuoles in the cytoplasms as a remarkable alteration. The sizes of these intraepithelial cell vacuoles were changeable. CONCLUSIONS: We identified remarkable changes in LECs of the eyes with idiopathic congenital cataract by TEM. It can be assumed that oxidative damage may be associated with these ultrastructural changes in LECs of the eyes with idiopathic congenital cataracts.

Could Platelet Indices and Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio Be New Biomarkers for Differentiation of Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Neuropathy from Non-Arteritic Type?

The aim of this study was to assess the possible relationship between AAION (arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy) and NAION (non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy) with blood platelet parameters and NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio). The medical records of 12 patients with AAION, 33 patients with NAION, and 35 healthy subjects were examined. MPV, PDW, and PCT values showed marked elevation in AAION and NAION groups compared with control group. The mean NLR was statistically significantly higher only in AAION group compared to the NAION and control groups, suggesting that platelet function plays an important role in AIONs and NLR might be used to differentiate AAION from NAION.

Effect of myopic anisometropia on anterior and posterior ocular segment parameters.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in anterior and posterior segment parameters of more myopic eyes compared to fellow eyes using spectral domain optical coherence tomography and optical biometer device in patients with myopic anisometropia. This prospective cross-sectional study included 42 myopic anisometropic patients with and without amblyopia, aged between 7 and 40 years old. The refractive error and keratometry values, axial length (AL), central corneal thickness (CCT), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT), and central macular thickness (CMT) were evaluated. Eighteen of the patients had myopic anisometropia with amblyopia, and the remaining 24 had myopic anisometropia without amblyopia. There were 23 female and 19 male patients with a mean age as 23.67 ± 10.12 years (range 7-40). The right eyes of the subjects significantly had a higher degree of myopia. There was a significant difference in mean best-corrected visual acuity (0.195 ± 0.234 vs. 0.011 ± 0.025 logMAR, p < 0.001), spherical equivalent refraction (-3.95 ± 1.38 vs. -1.04 ± 0.99 D, p < 0.001), AL (25.06 ± 1.27 vs. 23.99 ± 0.98 mm, p < 0.001), and RNFLT (89.24 ± 12.84 vs. 94.57 ± 10.81 µm, p < 0.001) between the more myopic and fellow eyes in all patients. On the contrary, there was no significant difference in CMT and anterior segment parameters including mean keratometry and CCT in all patients and either group. During the development of the myopic anisometropia, more myopic eyes have significantly more myopic refraction, longer AL and thinner RNFLT compared to the fellow eyes.

Evaluation of biomechanical properties of the cornea in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

The purpose of this study is to compare the corneal biomechanical properties in primary hyperparathyroid patients and healthy control subjects. The study consisted of 31 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (study group) and 31 healthy subjects (control group). Corneal biomechanical properties, including corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), and intraocular pressure (IOP) were measured with an ocular response analyzer (ORA). IOP was also measured using Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), and central corneal thickness (CCT) was measured with an ultrasonic pachymeter. The differences in ORA parameters and CCT between study and control group participants were analyzed. The mean CH in study and control groups was 8.7 ± 1.9 mmHg (5.3-13.7 mmHg) and 9.8 ± 1.5 mmHg (7.7-14.3 mmHg), respectively (p = 0.018). The mean CRF was 9.5 ± 1.8 (5.5-13.7) in the study group compared with 9.8 ± 1.5 (6.2-12.8) in the control group. The difference for CRF was not statistically significant (p = 0.41). In study and control group, corneal-compensated IOP (IOPcc) values were 18.2 ± 4.2 and 16.9 ± 2.7 mmHg, respectively (p = 0.12). Mean IOP measurement values with GAT were 16.3 ± 3.4 mmHg for study group and 16.5 ± 2.7 mmHg for control group (p = 0.71). The mean differences of IOPcc and IOPGAT in the study group eyes were higher than that of control group eyes (1.9 vs. 0.4 mmHg). CCT was 536.5 ± 25.4 µm (490-593 µm) in study group eyes compared with 534.2 ± 31.4 µm (472-602 µm) in control eyes (p = 0.75). Hyperparathyroidism could be associated with a decrease of CH. The differences between IOPcc and IOPGAT in these patients were higher than normal subjects. Underestimation of IOP readings with GAT may be a consequence of the lower CH in patients with hyperparathyroididsm.

Fuchs' Uveitis: Is It Different from What We Know?

BACKGROUND: To describe ocular findings in Turkish patients with Fuchs' uveitis (FU). METHODS: The medical records of FU were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The study included 281 eyes of 258 patients with FU. There were diffusely spread keratic precipitates (KPs)[(medium sized in 253 (90.0%) eyes, stellate-medium in 28 (10%) eyes)], Koeppe nodules (KN) in 64 (22.8%) eyes and cataract in 129 (45.9%) eyes. There was vitreous infiltration of varying grades in all eyes (100%) with grade 1 haze in 96 (34.2%) eyes, grade 2 haze in 69 (24.6%) eyes, and grade 3 haze in 63 (22.4%) eyes. Stellate-medium KPs were significantly more likely in eyes with KN than in eyes without KN (28.1 vs. 4.6%, p <.001) and in eyes with +3 vitreous haze than in those without +3 vitreous haze (28.6 vs. 4.6%, p <.001). CONCLUSION: Vitreous involvement is the most frequent posterior segment finding. Posterior involvement is a feature that should not be ignored.Stellate-medium KPs and KN may be an indicator of increased and chronic inflammation.

Tomographic characteristics of focal choroidal excavation and its association with retinal disorders.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the morphological, clinical, and tomographic characteristics of focal choroidal excavation in the context of concomitant retinal pathologies. METHODS: This case series included 13 eyes of 13 patients with focal choroidal excavation diagnosed by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Morphologic characteristics of excavation and quantitative thicknesses of retinal layers and choroid were analyzed in excavation area, area adjacent to excavation, and fellow eye without focal choroidal excavation by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: At the initial examinations, one eye had a history of blunt trauma, three eyes were diagnosed with choroidal neovascularization, one with choroidal osteoma, one with angioid streaks, one with retinal detachment, one with diabetic macular edema, one with optic pit, one with torpedo maculopathy, and the rest three with idiopathic focal choroidal excavation. The mean choroidal thickness in the area of focal choroidal excavation was statistically significantly thinner compared to in the area adjacent to focal choroidal excavation and fellow eye (p < 0.001) and total average outer nuclear layer thickness was statistically significantly thicker in the area of excavation compared with fellow eye (p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the presence of focal choroidal excavation in various ocular diseases and the evaluation of focal choroidal excavation using the spectral-domain optical coherence tomography demonstrated choroidal thinning and outer nuclear layer thickening in the area of the excavation.

Topometric and Tomographic Evaluation of Subclinical Keratoconus.

PURPOSE: To investigate the corneal topometric and tomographic findings that can be used in the diagnosis of subclinical keratoconus. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study. The study group was selected from patients with clinically evident keratoconus in one eye and subclinical keratoconus without evident topographic findings in fellow eye. The age-matched control group was selected from patients who were candidates for laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and did not develop ectasia after LASIK surgery at least 1-year follow-up. All subjects underwent topographic, topometric and tomographic (Belin-Ambrósio Enhanced Ectasia Display III) analyses via a Pentacam HR rotating Scheimpflug camera (Oculus, Germany, version 1.20r.98) before LASIK surgery. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 151 patients (69 male and 82 female, mean age of 24.8 ± 7.2 years) and the control group also consisted of 150 patients (70 male and 80 female, mean age of 26.0 ± 6.3 years). There were statistically significant differences in all measured topometric (p˂.05) and tomographic (p˂.001) parameters between the eyes with subclinical keratoconus and those of the control group. In discriminating eyes with subclinical keratoconus from normal eyes, final D showed the highest area under curve value (0.858, sensitivity 85.2%, specificity 66.7%), followed by maximum pachymetric progression index (0.809, sensitivity 81.9%, specificity 69.4%) and average pachymetric progression index (0.796, sensitivity 81.9%, specificity 68.1%) in receiver operating characteristic analysis. CONCLUSION: Topometric and tomographic parameters might be useful for early detection of keratoconus, but the sensitivity and specificity of any parameter are not high enough to be used alone.

Alterations of Tear Film and Ocular Surface in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

Purpose: To investigate whether diabetes mellitus (DM) affects ocular surface of children with well-controlled type 1 DM.Methods: Sixty-five diabetic patients and 55 age-matched controls enrolled to study. Detailed ocular surface assessment including, ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, tear film break-up time (TBUT) analysis, Schirmer test, and conjunctival impression cytologic analysis were performed.Results: Schirmer test and TBUT results were significantly lower in DM group than controls (p = 0.001, for all). OSDI scores of all participants were within normal range. Impression cytology analysis showed grade 0 changes in all participants and there was no difference between groups for goblet cell density (p > 0.05). The TBUT results were significantly associated with duration of DM (r = -0.309, p = 0.036).Conclusion: Diabetic children without symptoms, signs, and definite diagnosis of dry eye still had lower TBUT and Schirmer test results than controls; however, impression cytology analysis was similar in both groups.

Local Ocular Surface Alterations in Children with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ocular surface characteristics based on Schirmer's test, tear break-up time (TBUT), and conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) in children with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). METHODS: This study included 51 children with HT and 53 control subjects. The ocular surface characteristics of participants were assessed via Schirmer's test, TBUT, and CIC. Conjunctival samples were examined cytologically according to the Nelson grading system. RESULTS: Schirmer's and TBUT results were significantly lower in HT group (p < .05). All samples in both the study and control groups were evaluated as grade 0 according to the Nelson classification (p = .841), however, goblet cell density (GCD) was significantly lower in HT group (p = .001). Schirmer test results were significantly associated with the duration of HT (p = .025, r = -0.311). CONCLUSION: Hashimoto's thyroiditis without any ocular complaints may cause ocular surface changes with TBUT and Schirmer's. Although CIC analysis showed similar grading results, GCD was significantly decreased in HT group.

Fusarium head blight in wheat: contemporary status and molecular approaches.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) disease that occurs in wheat is caused by Fusarium graminearum and is a major risk to wheat yield. Although several research efforts focusing on FHB have been conducted in the past several decades, conditions have become more critical due to the increase in its virulent forms. In such a scenario, conferring complete resistance in plants seems to be difficult for handling this issue. The phenotyping for FHB and finding a solution for it at the genetic level comprises a long-term process as FHB infection is largely affected by environmental conditions. Modern molecular strategies have played a crucial role in revealing the host-pathogen interaction in FHB. The integration of molecular biology-based methods such as genome-wide association studies and marker-based genomic selection has provided potential cultivars for breeding programs. In this review, we aim at outlining the contemporary status of the studies conducted on FHB in wheat. The influence of FHB in wheat on animals and human health is also discussed. In addition, a summary of the advancement in the molecular technologies for identifying and developing the FHB-resistant wheat genetic resources is provided. It also suggests the future measures that are required to reduce the world's vulnerability to FHB which was one of the main goals of the US Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative.