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PloS One 2024To assess the differential association of myopia with major non-communicable ocular diseases in an African clinical cohort.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the differential association of myopia with major non-communicable ocular diseases in an African clinical cohort.
METHODS
A five-year hospital-based retrospective study of myopia cases. Patients' folders, Optical Coherence Tomography scans, and fundus photographs were reviewed for the abstraction of relevant data. Only records that employed recognized standards and classification systems for diagnosing and staging the various ocular conditions were included. Demographic characteristics, non-cycloplegic objective refractive findings, and non-communicable eye diseases were retrieved from the records. Myopia-associated risk factors were then determined using logistic regression and correlation.
RESULTS
Some 16018 patients (32027 eyes) met the inclusion criteria for at least one eye comprising 50.8% males (n = 8137) and 49.2% females (n = 7881). The mean age of the patients was 43.14 ± 17.88 years (range: 2-98 years). The mean spherical equivalent± Standard deviation for myopia was -2.30±3.23 DS (range: -0.50 to -25DS). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that myopic eyes had a higher odd of AC (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.50-0.57), POAG (OR, 6.0; 95% CI, 5.26-6.82), DR (OR, 10.70; 95% CI, 3.91-29.27) and cataracts (OR, 20; 95% CI, 15.32-26.20) but not dry eye (OR, 0.74, 95% CI, 0.68-0.81), macular degeneration and pterygium (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.32-0.40).
CONCLUSION
Africans with myopia are more at risk of developing allergic conjunctivitis, cataracts, POAG, and DR but not for dry eye, macular degeneration, and pterygium.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Child, Preschool; Child; Adolescent; Young Adult; Adult; Middle Aged; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Pterygium; Retrospective Studies; Ghana; Myopia; Refraction, Ocular; Macular Degeneration; Cataract; Conjunctiva; Glaucoma, Open-Angle
PubMed: 38236924
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297052 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Jan 2024Autoantibodies against interferon-γ (IFN-γ) can inhibit IFN-γ-dependent signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 phosphorylation and thus increase the risk...
BACKGROUND
Autoantibodies against interferon-γ (IFN-γ) can inhibit IFN-γ-dependent signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 phosphorylation and thus increase the risk of infection with intracellular pathogens, such as Talaromyces marneffei (TM), nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTMs), and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB). Here, we report a rare case of triple infection caused by TM, NTM, and TB in a human immunodeficiency virus-negative patient.
CASE PRESENTATION
A middle-aged female was admitted to our hospital after experiencing recurrent rash, cough, and expectoration for 4 months. She was successively diagnosed with NTM, TM, and TB infections without conventional immunosuppression-associated factors. However, after effective anti-infective treatment, the patient was confirmed to have allergic conjunctivitis and was successfully treated with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. The most conspicuous characteristics were recurrent infection and immune disorders.
CONCLUSIONS
High-titer anti-IFN-γ autoantibodies are strongly associated with severe and disseminated infections, such as NTM, TM, and TB. It is characterized by persistently high degree of inflammation and high immunoglobin levels.
Topics: Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Autoantibodies; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Interferon-gamma; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria; Tuberculosis
PubMed: 38216890
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09003-x -
Cell Stem Cell Feb 2024The conjunctival epithelium covering the eye contains two main cell types: mucus-producing goblet cells and water-secreting keratinocytes, which present mucins on their...
The conjunctival epithelium covering the eye contains two main cell types: mucus-producing goblet cells and water-secreting keratinocytes, which present mucins on their apical surface. Here, we describe long-term expanding organoids and air-liquid interface representing mouse and human conjunctiva. A single-cell RNA expression atlas of primary and cultured human conjunctiva reveals that keratinocytes express multiple antimicrobial peptides and identifies conjunctival tuft cells. IL-4/-13 exposure increases goblet and tuft cell differentiation and drastically modifies the conjunctiva secretome. Human NGFR+ basal cells are identified as bipotent conjunctiva stem cells. Conjunctival cultures can be infected by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1), human adenovirus 8 (hAdV8), and SARS-CoV-2. HSV1 infection was reversed by acyclovir addition, whereas hAdV8 infection, which lacks an approved drug therapy, was inhibited by cidofovir. We document transcriptional programs induced by HSV1 and hAdV8. Finally, conjunctival organoids can be transplanted. Together, human conjunctiva organoid cultures enable the study of conjunctival (patho)-physiology.
Topics: Humans; Mice; Animals; Conjunctiva; Goblet Cells; Epithelium; Interleukin-13; Homeostasis; Organoids
PubMed: 38215738
DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.12.008 -
Cureus Nov 2023Ptosis in pediatrics is commonly attributed to neurological causes. Rarely, chronic inflammation of the upper eyelid and the formation of giant papillary conjunctivitis...
Ptosis in pediatrics is commonly attributed to neurological causes. Rarely, chronic inflammation of the upper eyelid and the formation of giant papillary conjunctivitis due to vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) may lead to ptosis. In this case report, we present an eight-year-old girl with conjunctivitis who was referred to a pediatric neurology service for evaluation of ptosis. She presented with progressive left-eye ptosis while experiencing allergic conjunctivitis. Her neurological exam showed non-fatigable ptosis with a negative curtain sign. The rest of the neurology examination was normal. She tested negative for anti-MuSK and anti-Ach. The orbital MRI was unremarkable. Further detailed examination by an ophthalmologist showed severe VKC with a giant papillary formation that had led to mechanical ptosis.
PubMed: 38161878
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.49731 -
Indian Journal of Ophthalmology Jan 2024
Topics: Humans; Keratoconus; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Corneal Transplantation; Glucocorticoids; Steroids; Keratoplasty, Penetrating; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38131596
DOI: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_1799_23 -
Indian Journal of Ophthalmology Jan 2024This paper aims to describe the clinical presentation and demographic distribution of keratoconus (KCN) in India by analyzing the electronic medical records (EMR) of...
PURPOSE
This paper aims to describe the clinical presentation and demographic distribution of keratoconus (KCN) in India by analyzing the electronic medical records (EMR) of patients presenting at a multitier ophthalmology hospital network.
METHODS
This cross-sectional hospital-based study included the data of 2,384,523 patients presenting between January 2012 and March 2020. Data were collected from an EMR system. Patients with a clinical diagnosis of KCN in at least one eye were included in this study. Univariate analysis was performed to identify the prevalence of KCN. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed using R software (version 3.5.1), and the odds ratios are reported.
RESULTS
Data were obtained for 14,749 (0.62%) patients with 27,703 eyes diagnosed with KCN and used for the analysis. The median age of the patients was 22 (inter-quartile range (IQR): 17-27). In total, 76.64% of adults (odds ratio = 8.77; P = <0.001) were affected the most. The majority of patients were male (61.25%), and bilateral (87.83%) affliction was the most common presentation. A significant proportion of the patients were students (63.98%). Most eyes had mild or no visual impairment (<20/70; 61.42%). Corneal signs included ectasia (41.35%), Fleischer ring (44.52%), prominent corneal nerves (45.75%), corneal scarring (13.60%), Vogts striae (18.97%), and hydrops (0.71%). Only 7.85% showed an association with allergic conjunctivitis. A contact lens clinic assessment was administered to 47.87% of patients. Overall, 10.23% of the eyes affected with KCN underwent a surgical procedure. the most common surgery was collagen cross-linking (8.05%), followed by deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (1.13%) and penetrating keratoplasty (0.88%).
CONCLUSION
KCN is usually bilateral and predominantly affects males. It commonly presents in the second and third decade of life, and only a tenth of the affected eyes require surgical treatment.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Male; Female; Keratoconus; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data Science; Visual Acuity; India; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 38131579
DOI: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_1190_23 -
Clinical Ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) 2023There is an unmet need for new treatments for allergic conjunctivitis. (Clinical Trial)
Clinical Trial
PURPOSE
There is an unmet need for new treatments for allergic conjunctivitis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the activity of reproxalap, a novel reactive aldehyde species modulator, in a real-world model of seasonal allergen exposure.
METHODS
The INVIGORATE Trial, a prospective, quadruple-masked, vehicle-controlled, crossover, sequence-randomized Phase 3 trial, tested the efficacy of reproxalap in adults with a history of moderate to severe allergic conjunctivitis, ragweed pollen allergy, and allergen chamber-induced ocular itching and redness. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive 0.25% reproxalap ophthalmic solution or vehicle, followed by a 2-week washout period before crossing over to the other test article. The primary endpoint was ocular itching from 110 to 210 minutes after chamber entry; the key secondary endpoint was ocular redness over the chamber duration (0-4 scales for both endpoints).
RESULTS
Of the 95 randomly assigned patients, 89 completed all visits (reproxalap to vehicle: n = 46; vehicle to reproxalap: n = 43). Primary and key secondary endpoints were met: reproxalap significantly reduced ocular itching (mean [SE]: -0.50 [0.03], p < 0.001) and redness (-0.14 [0.01], p < 0.001) relative to vehicle. Responder analyses confirmed the clinical relevance of both end points. Reproxalap was safe and well tolerated. No clinically significant changes in safety assessments were observed. No serious or severe treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported. The most commonly reported TEAE was mild and transient installation site irritation after reproxalap versus vehicle administration.
CONCLUSION
In this well-controlled allergen chamber trial, reproxalap was statistically superior to vehicle across typical symptoms and signs of allergic conjunctivitis.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
NCT04207736.
PubMed: 38105911
DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S441009 -
Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 2023The prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis in itchy eyes has increased constantly worldwide owing to environmental pollution. Currently, anti-allergic and antihistaminic...
The prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis in itchy eyes has increased constantly worldwide owing to environmental pollution. Currently, anti-allergic and antihistaminic eye drops are used; however, there are many unknown aspects about the neural circuits that transmit itchy eyes. We focused on the gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and GRP receptor (GRPR), which are reportedly involved in itch transmission in the spinal somatosensory system, to determine whether the GRP system is involved in itch neurotransmission of the eyes in the trigeminal sensory system. First, the instillation of itch mediators, such as histamine (His) and non-histaminergic itch mediator chloroquine (CQ), exhibited concentration-dependent high levels of eye scratching behavior, with a significant sex differences observed in the case of His. Histological analysis revealed that His and CQ significantly increased the neural activity of GRPR-expressing neurons in the caudal part of the spinal trigeminal nucleus of the medulla oblongata in GRPR transgenic mice. We administered a GRPR antagonist or bombesin-saporin to ablate GRPR-expressing neurons, followed by His or CQ instillation, and observed a decrease in CQ-induced eye-scratching behavior in the toxin experiments. Intracisternal administration of neuromedin C (NMC), a GRPR agonist, resulted in dose-dependent excessive facial scratching behavior, despite the absence of an itch stimulus on the face. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that non-histaminergic itchy eyes were transmitted centrally via GRPR-expressing neurons in the trigeminal sensory system, and that NMC in the medulla oblongata evoked facial itching.
PubMed: 38098939
DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1280024 -
Journal of Investigational Allergology... Dec 2023Tear dysfunction syndrome, also known as dry eye disease (DED), is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface characterized by the loss of tear film homeostasis. DED... (Review)
Review
Tear dysfunction syndrome, also known as dry eye disease (DED), is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface characterized by the loss of tear film homeostasis. DED shows a significant clinical overlap with ocular allergy (OA), which alters tear film homeostasis, thus predisposing the patient to DED. Both conditions constitute the most common ocular surface disorders and have a potentially severe impact on patients' quality of life. Clinical practice guidelines recommend topical therapies as first-line treatment for OA. However, eye drop formulations may contain additional substances that can contribute to ocular surface damage and the development of DED. Therefore, physicians treating ocular allergy should be aware of problems affecting the tear film, the role of tear film disruption in OA, and topical treatment to prevent or minimize DED. The aim of this review is to present an updated overview of the topic.
Topics: Humans; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Quality of Life; Dry Eye Syndromes; Tears; Ophthalmic Solutions
PubMed: 38095493
DOI: 10.18176/jiaci.0960 -
Journal of Investigational Allergology... Dec 2023Ocular allergy covers a series of immune-allergic inflammatory diseases of the ocular surface, with different degrees of involvement and severity. These pathologies are... (Review)
Review
Ocular allergy covers a series of immune-allergic inflammatory diseases of the ocular surface, with different degrees of involvement and severity. These pathologies are caused by a variety of IgE- and non-IgE-mediated immune mechanisms and may involve all parts of the external eye, including the conjunctiva, cornea, eyelids, tear film, and commensal flora. The most frequent is allergic conjunctivitis, a condition with different clinical forms that are classified according to the degree of involvement and the presence or absence of proliferative changes in the palpebral conjunctiva, associated atopic dermatitis, and mechanical stimuli by foreign bodies, including contact lenses. Treatment guidelines for allergic conjunctivitis propose a stepwise approach that includes medications for both ophthalmic and oral administration depending on symptom severity, allergic comorbidities, and degree of control. In the case of antihistamines, eye drops are the most prescribed ophthalmic formulations. To avoid disrupting the delicate balance of the ocular surface, topical ophthalmic medications must be well tolerated. The primary aim of this article is to review the physicochemical characteristics and other features of excipients (preservative agents, buffers, pH adjusters, viscosity enhancers, wetting agents or cosolvents, antioxidants, tonicity adjusters, and osmo-protectants) and active compounds (ocular antihistamines) that must be considered when developing formulations for ophthalmic administration of antihistamines. We also provide a brief overview of antihistamine eye drops that could be of interest to professionals treating ocular allergy and encourage the use of preservative-free formulations when possible.
Topics: Humans; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Histamine Antagonists; Histamine H1 Antagonists; Ophthalmic Solutions
PubMed: 38095492
DOI: 10.18176/jiaci.0963