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Am J Ophthalmol 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bicêtre, Service d'Ophtalmologie, DHU Vision & Handicaps, Centre de référence pour les maladies rares en ophtalmologie (OPHTARA), F-94275, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; Université Paris-Sud, F-94276, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; INSERM U1184, Immunology of Viral Infections and Autoimmune Diseases, F-94276, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; CEA, DSV/iMETI, IDMIT, F-92265, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France Department of Immunology of viral and auto-immune disease, (IMVA/ IDMIT), UMR1184, CEA, Fontenay-aux-Roses. Electronic address:

Purpose: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) targeting the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), or its ligand PD-L1, are the mainstay of metastatic cancer treatment. Patients receiving these treatments may develop immune-related adverse events (irAEs). This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and describe the clinical patterns of moderate to severe ocular irAEs-associated with anti-PD-(L)1 treatment. Read More

J Feline Med Surg 2019 Feb 13:1098612X19825701. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

3 Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of the nucleoside analog GS-441524 for cats suffering from various forms of naturally acquired feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).

Methods: Cats ranged from 3.4-73 months of age (mean 13. Read More

Korean J Ophthalmol 2019 Feb;33(1):36-45

Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of 4-haptic bitoric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in Asian patients with cataract and astigmatism.

Methods: A total of 19 eyes with ≤25.0 mm axial length and ≥0. Read More

Korean J Ophthalmol 2019 Feb;33(1):16-25

Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of transplantation of a circumferentially-trephined autologous oral mucosal graft using a vacuum trephine on ocular surface reconstruction in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency.

Methods: Patients with a limbal stem cell deficiency who underwent transplantation of autologous oral mucosal graft performed by a particular surgeon in Seoul National University Hospital were included. The medical records of these five patients were retrospectively reviewed. Read More

Clin Exp Dermatol 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Ocular Inflammation and Immunology Department, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.

Clin Transl Allergy 2019 4;9. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

1ENT Clinical Department, University Hospital Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, 3000 Louvain, Belgium.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) affects 23-30% of the European population with equal prevalence reported in Belgium. Despite guidelines on the correct use of effective treatment, up to 40% of AR patients remain uncontrolled. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has been shown to improve the level of control up to 84% of patients being controlled by AIT. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 24;9:3104. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States.

A recent approach for limiting production of pro-inflammatory cytokines has been to target bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) proteins. These epigenetic readers of histone acetylation regulate transcription of genes involved in inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Development of BET inhibitors (BETi) has generated enormous interest for their therapeutic potential. Read More

Am J Med Genet A 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Medical Genetics, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey.

Purpose: Martsolf (MS) and Warburg micro syndromes (WARBM) are rare autosomal recessive inherited allelic disorders, which share similar clinical features including microcephaly, intellectual disability, brain malformations, ocular abnormalities, and spasticity. Here, we revealed the functions of novel mutations in RAB3GAP1 in a Turkish female patient with MS and two siblings with WARBM. We also present a review of MS patients as well as all reported RAB3GAP1 pathogenic mutations in the literature. Read More

Ann Hum Genet 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.

Background: Behçet's disease (BD) is an inflammatory disorder characterized by oral aphthous lesions, uveitis, and genital ulcerations. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) has a crucial role in the pathogenesis of this disease because it mediates the functions of vitamin D in the immune system. Alterations of VDR expression related to polymorphic alleles of the VDR gene may play a pathogenic role in BD and BD's clinical presentations. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2019 8;2019:8310583. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary.

Aim: To evaluate tear film parameters and relationship of objective clinical signs and subjective symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) subgroups.

Methods: 39 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), 26 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 39 control persons with no ocular symptoms or surface disorders were included in this prospective, case-control, and cross-sectional study. The ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire was applied to evaluate dry eye symptoms, and objective tests of DED were performed on both eyes of each subject. Read More

Inflammopharmacology 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Cytokines and NO-Synthases, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology (LBCM), Faculty of Biological Science, USTHB, PB 32, 16111, Algiers, Algeria.

Background And Aims: Behçet disease (BD) is a chronic multisystem disease. It stands at the crossroads between the auto-immunity and auto-inflammatory disorders. Our study aims to evaluate corticosteroids therapy effects on serum immunoglobulin isotypes and anti-phospholipid auto-anti-body production in Algerian BD patients with different clinical manifestations. Read More

Vestn Oftalmol 2018 ;134(6):25-32

Perm State Medical University named after E.A. Wagner, 26 Petropavlovskaya St., Perm, Russian Federation, 614000; Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 91 Pervomaiskaya St., Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation, 620041.

Purpose: To analyze ophthalmic pathologies in HIV-infected patients of the ophthalmic hospitals of Perm city.

Material And Methods: Medical records of 75 HIV patients registered in Perm Regional Centre for Prevention and Control of AIDS and Infectious Diseases who had received treatment in ophthalmic in-patient clinics of Perm in 2005-2015 years were analyzed retrospectively. Patient examination included traditional ophthalmological methods, as well as immunological (determination of CD4 cells and viral load), serological (detection of antibodies to herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, chlamydia, toxoplasma), general clinical methods, and consultations by allied specialists. Read More

Rheumatology (Oxford) 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Infection, Inflammation and Rheumatology Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.

Objectives: Monogenic autoinflammatory disorders (AID) and primary immunodeficiencies can present early in life with features that may be mistaken for Behçet's disease (BD). We aimed to retrospectively describe the clinical and laboratory features of 11 paediatric cases referred for suspected BD who turned out to have an alternative, monogenic disease mimicking BD.

Methods: Retrospective, paediatric BD specialist multicentre case series. Read More

Eye Contact Lens 2019 Jan 29. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

State University of New York College of Optometry (C.C., K.R.), New York, NY; School of Optometry and Vision Science (C.C., M.W.), University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Center for Translational Ocular Immunology (C.C.), Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA; and University of Houston College of Optometry (K.R.), Houston, TX.

Objectives: This report aimed to explore whether certain inflammatory mediators were absorbed, extracted, or bound by various contact lens materials.

Methods: Comfilcon A, balafilcon A, omafilcon A, and etafilcon A were soaked in 500 and 100 pg/mL of interleukin-8 (IL-8), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), or interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), and also in combined solutions of inflammatory mediators (500 pg/mL or 100 pg/mL) separately. Lenses were then extracted in 1:1 2% trifluoroacetic acid:acetonitrile. Read More

Rheumatol Int 2019 Mar 31;39(3):489-495. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Department of Ophthalmology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Vasco de Quiroga No. 15, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, CP 14000, Mexico City, CP, Mexico.

Ocular involvement is present in 50-60% of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) patients and can affect any part of the ocular globe. The present study describes ophthalmologic manifestations, association with systemic symptoms, disease activity and damage in GPA. A cross-sectional study was conducted including patients with GPA who underwent rheumatologic and ophthalmologic evaluation. Read More

Am J Rhinol Allergy 2019 Feb 1:1945892419826509. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

3 Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau.

Background: Perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) often coexists in asthmatic patients. Intranasal cellulose powder (ICP) was reportedly effective in ameliorating PAR.

Objective: We investigated whether ICP is equally effective compared with intranasal corticosteroids in improving asthma control as well as nasal symptoms among children with PAR and allergic asthma (AA). Read More

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019 Jan;60(1):430-441

Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of a unilateral cut of the corneal nerve on the bilateral ocular surface and tear secretory function.

Methods: Seven-week-old female BALB/c mice were divided into control and nerve-cutting (NC) groups (n = 60). The left cornea was partially incised with a 2-mm circular trephine through the upper half of the stromal layer. Read More

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Norway.

Background/objectives: Juvenile Sjögren's syndrome (jSS) is a rare, poorly defined and possibly underdiagnosed condition affecting children/adolescents. The aim of this study was to characterize symptoms and clinical findings of jSS, and to explore the clinical application of major salivary gland ultrasonography (SGUS) in patients with jSS.

Methods: A cross-sectional multicenter study recruited patients with disease onset until 18 years of age (n=67). Read More

J Fr Ophtalmol 2019 Jan 25. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Ophthalmology Service, Hôpital Bicêtre, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris-Sud, Division of Vision and Disabilities, OPHTARA rare eye disease, 78, rue du Général-Leclerc, 94275 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre cedex, France; Viral and autoimmune disease immunology (IMVA/Infrastructure IDMIT) UMR 1184, CEA, 92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France. Electronic address:

Lacrimal occlusion with punctal or canalicular plugs have been used to treat dry eye disease for more than 40 years. Indeed, punctal plugs constitute a safe and effective tool to retain the natural tear film and prolong the effect of tear substitutes. A wide variety of plugs is available, differing in their design, location (punctal versus canalicular) and their resorbability. Read More

Ocul Surf 2019 Jan 24. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Ocular Surface Imaging Center, Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Cornea Service, New England Eye Center, Center for Translational Ocular Immunology, Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address:

Objective: Corneal nerve damage may result in neuropathic corneal pain (NCP). Autologous serum tears (AST) have been shown to results in nerve regeneration and may help alleviate corneal pain. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of AST in the treatment of NCP. Read More

Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2019 Jan 24:1-9. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Research Center of Otorhinolaryngology of the Federal Biomedical Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation.

Background: The novel intranasal formulation of azelastine hydrochloride (AZE) and fluticasone propionate (FP) in a single spray (MP-AzeFlu) was compared with a first-line intranasal antihistamine spray (AZE) in Russian seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) patients.

Methods: Moderate-to-severe SAR/rhinoconjunctivitis patients (n = 149; aged 18-65 years) were randomized to receive MP-AzeFlu (137/50 μg AZE/FP per spray) or AZE (137 μg/spray), both as 1 spray/nostril twice daily, in a multicenter, open-label, 14-day, parallel-group trial. The primary outcome was change from baseline in morning and evening reflective total nasal symptom score (rTNSS). Read More

J Neuroophthalmol 2019 Jan 22. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (RNM, GPVS, RR, GJH) and Neurology (LS), Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri; Blue Sky Neurology (NHK), Denver, Colorado; Department of Pathology and Immunology (CJF, RES, SD, GJH), Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Radiology (JT), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado; and Department of Neurology (AD), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

A 21-year-old man experienced unilateral vision loss associated with multiple atrophic chorioretinal lesions. He was treated for a presumptive diagnosis of acute retinal necrosis, but his vision did not improve with antiviral therapy. Over the course of several weeks, his symptoms progressed to involve both eyes. Read More

Mediators Inflamm 2018 23;2018:9891049. Epub 2018 Dec 23.

Eye & Vision Health, Flinders University School of Medicine, Rm 4E-431, 1 Flinders Drive, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2017/3164375.]. Read More

Mucosal Immunol 2019 Jan 22. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.

The cornea is essential for vision yet highly sensitive to immune-mediated damage following infection. Generating vaccines that provide sterile immunity against ocular surface pathogens without evoking vision loss is therefore clinically challenging. Here, we tested a prophylactic live-attenuated vaccine against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), a widespread human pathogen that can cause corneal blindness. Read More

Allergy 2019 Jan 22. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Allergy Unit, IBIMA-Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga-ARADyAL, UMA, Málaga, Spain.

Background: The nasal allergen challenge (NAC) is a useful tool for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (AR) and local allergic rhinitis (LAR) and might serve to design and monitor allergen immunotherapy. Nevertheless, data about its safety and reproducibility are scarce.

Objective: To investigate the safety and reproducibility of NAC in pediatric and adult rhinitis patients with/without asthmatic symptoms, and in healthy controls. Read More

Elife 2019 Jan 22;8. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Unit on Neuron-Glia Interactions in Retinal Disease, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States.

Constitutive TGFβ signaling is important in maintaining retinal neurons and blood vessels and is a factor contributing to the risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a retinal disease involving neurodegeneration and microglial activation. How TGFβ signaling to microglia influences pathological retinal neuroinflammation is unclear. We discovered that ablation of the TGFβ receptor, TGFBR2, in retinal microglia of adult mice induced abnormal microglial numbers, distribution, morphology, and activation status, and promoted a pathological microglial gene expression profile. Read More

Semin Arthritis Rheum 2018 Dec 28. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Department of Internal Medicine, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Rheumatology, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, Ghent, Belgium; Unit for Molecular Immunology and Inflammation, VIB Inflammation Research Center (IRC), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address:

Objectives: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare and complex autoimmune disorder characterized by microvascular damage and progressive fibrosis which affects the skin and multiple other organs. Much of the published data concerning SSc and the eye consists of single case reports or small case studies. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the current level of evidence for SSc-related ocular changes. Read More

Sci Transl Med 2019 Jan;11(475)

Unit on Ocular and Stem Cell Translational Research, National Eye Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Considerable progress has been made in testing stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) as a potential therapy for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, the recent reports of oncogenic mutations in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) underlie the need for robust manufacturing and functional validation of clinical-grade iPSC-derived RPE before transplantation. Here, we developed oncogenic mutation-free clinical-grade iPSCs from three AMD patients and differentiated them into clinical-grade iPSC-RPE patches on biodegradable scaffolds. Read More

J Immunother Cancer 2019 Jan 16;7(1):12. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Genitourinary Malignancies Branch and Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Background: We report phase 1b data from patients enrolled in the JAVELIN Solid Tumor clinical trial (NCT01772004) with unresectable stage IIIC or IV melanoma that had progressed after ≥1 line of therapy for metastatic disease.

Patients And Methods: Patients received avelumab (10 mg/kg)-a human anti-PD-L1 antibody. Assessments included objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2019 ;1899:211-227

Immunoregulation Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute, NEI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Non-infections uveitis in humans is an autoimmune disease of the retina and uvea that can be blinding if untreated. Its laboratory equivalent is experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) induced in susceptible rodents by immunization with retinal antigens and described elsewhere in this series (Agarwal et al., Methods Mol Biol, 900:443-469, 2012). Read More

Med J Malaysia 2018 Dec;73(6):415-417

Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, United States of America.

IgG4-related disease is a newly described systemic autoimmune and allergic disease, characterized histologically by a fibroinflammatory response with IgG4 plasma cells. It was initially described as affecting the pancreas, but commonly involves the head and neck region as well. While a biopsy is essential for definitive diagnosis, cross sectional imaging may be the initial modality which may suggest this entity. Read More

Autoimmun Rev 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of "Medicina dei Sistemi", University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a connective tissue disease that involves multiple organs. Ocular structures and visual pathways can be affected in SLE because of disease-related eye involvement or drug toxicity. All the part of the eye may be interested with an external, anterior involvement, responsible of the dry eye disease, or posterior (retina) and neuro-ophtalmic manifestations. Read More

J Autoimmun 2019 Jan 9. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Unit of Rheumatology, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy; Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences with Interest in Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.

Tuftsin-PhosphorylCholine (TPC) is a novel bi-specific molecule which links tuftsin and phosphorylcholine. TPC has shown immunomodulatory activities in experimental mouse models of autoimmune diseases. We studied herein the effects of TPC ex vivo on both peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and temporal artery biopsies (TABs) obtained from patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) and age-matched disease controls. Read More

Eur J Ophthalmol 2019 Jan 14:1120672118823125. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

3 Private Practice, Gdańsk, Poland.

Tadeusz Krwawicz (1910-1988) pioneered the use of cryosurgery in, as ophthalmology. The idea arose in 1959 while experimenting because on lyophilization to store corneas and lenses for transplantation it was difficult to remove the lens without damage the capsule was usually torn. Subsequent experiments on rabbits revealed that touching the lens with a wire cooled to 203°K (-70°C) resulted in firm attachment of the lens capsule and subcapsular masses. Read More

J Extracell Vesicles 2018 23;7(1):1535750. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Department of Cell Biology, Kraków, Poland.

The last decade has seen a sharp increase in the number of scientific publications describing physiological and pathological functions of extracellular vesicles (EVs), a collective term covering various subtypes of cell-released, membranous structures, called exosomes, microvesicles, microparticles, ectosomes, oncosomes, apoptotic bodies, and many other names. However, specific issues arise when working with these entities, whose size and amount often make them difficult to obtain as relatively pure preparations, and to characterize properly. The International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) proposed Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles ("MISEV") guidelines for the field in 2014. Read More

J Immunol 2019 Feb 11;202(4):1057-1068. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; and

Autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) is a treatable condition that manifests in acute and progressive vision loss in patients. It has recently been determined that AIR is associated with an imbalance of T1 versus regulatory T cell immunity toward the retinal protein, recoverin. This study describes a new murine model to understand the immunopathology of AIR and its association with T cell responses toward recoverin. Read More

Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi 2019 Jan;57(1):55-59

Department of Nephrology and Immunology, Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao 266000, China.

To analyze the clinical and genetic features of immunodeficiency, centromeric instability, and facial anomalies (ICF) syndrome with a case report and literature review. The clinical data and genetic test of a girl diagnosed with ICF syndrome in the Department of Nephrology and Immunology in Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital in December 2016 were extracted and analyzed. "ICF syndrome" "immunodeficiency, centromeric instability and facial anomalies syndrome" "ICF syndrome and DNMT3B" were used as key words to search Chinese databases and Pubmed for literature until March 2018, and the literature was reviewed. Read More

Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep 2019 Mar 21;13:122-126. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution (MERSI), 1440 Main Street, Suite 201, Waltham, MA, 02451, USA.

Aim: To report a case of bilateral papillitis as the initial ophthalmologic presentation in a patient with complex medical history and multisystemic symptoms, eventually revealing a diagnosis of sarcoidosis.

Methods: Retrospective interventional case report.

Report: A 54-year-old Caucasian woman presented with bilateral decreased vision, photophobia and eye pain for a month. Read More

Transl Vis Sci Technol 2018 Nov 21;7(6):30. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.

Purpose: Gelatinous drop-like corneal dystrophy (GDLD) is a rare autosomal recessive corneal dystrophy that causes severe vision loss. Because of its poor prognosis, there is a demand for novel treatments for GDLD. Here, we establish a new in vitro disease model of GDLD based on immortalized human corneal epithelial (HCE-T) cells. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 17;9:2922. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.

Recurrent viral diseases often occur after the viruses evade the hosts' immune system, by inducing exhaustion of antiviral T cells. In the present study, we found that functionally exhausted herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) -specific CD8 T cells, with elevated expression of lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3), an immune checkpoint receptor that promotes T cell exhaustion, were frequent in symptomatic (SYMP) patients with a history of numerous episodes of recurrent corneal herpetic disease. Similarly, following UV-B induced virus reactivation from latency the symptomatic wild-type (WT) B6 mice that developed increase virus shedding and severe recurrent corneal herpetic disease had more exhausted HSV-specific LAG-3CD8 T cells in both trigeminal ganglia (TG) and cornea. Read More

Pathogens 2019 Jan 1;8(1). Epub 2019 Jan 1.

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.

is a major cause of corneal infections that can cause reduced vision, even blindness. Secreted toxins cause tissue damage and inflammation resulting in scars that lead to vision loss. Identifying tissue damaging proteins is a prerequisite to limiting these harmful reactions. Read More

J Cell Commun Signal 2019 Jan 3. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Molecular Medicine Research Center, Research Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is considered as a diabetes-related complication that can render severe visual impairments and is also a risk factor for acquired blindness in both developed as well as developing countries. Through fibrovascular epiretinal membranes (ERMs), this condition can similarly lead to tractional retinal detachment. Laboratory efforts evaluating the DR pathogenesis can be provided by ocular vitreous fluid and ERMs resulting from vitrectomy. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2019 Jan 3. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany

Pediatr Blood Cancer 2019 Jan 2:e27599. Epub 2019 Jan 2.

Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.

Heritable retinoblastoma can rarely be associated with a midline intracranial neuroblastic tumor, referred to as trilateral retinoblastoma. We present an unusual midline brain tumor in an infant that was identified as ectopic retinoblastoma by histopathology, DNA methylation analysis, and molecular genetic detection of biallelic somatic inactivation of the RB1 gene. There was no ocular involvement, and germline mutation was excluded. Read More

BMC Neurol 2018 Dec 28;18(1):222. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Department of Neurology, Chonbuk National University School of Medicine, Jeonju, 54896, Republic of Korea.

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG), an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder, occurs owing to autoantibodies against acetylcholine receptors. MG symptoms can be triggered by various vaccines. Many studies have evaluated the safety and adverse events of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Read More

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2018 Dec;59(15):6111-6123

Ocular Surface Imaging Center, Cornea Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

Purpose: To determine the reliability and clinical relevance of in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM)-based immune-cellular metrics of palpebral conjunctival inflammation in meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Methods: Sixteen MGD patients and 13 reference controls included in this cross-sectional, retrospective study, had an ocular surface exam, symptom assessment (Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire [OSDI]), and palpebral conjunctival IVCM imaging. Bland-Altman analyses, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICCa), Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (ρc), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, and correlations were performed. Read More

JAMA Ophthalmol 2018 Dec 27. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution, Waltham, Massachusetts.

J Med Case Rep 2018 Dec 23;12(1):388. Epub 2018 Dec 23.

Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1 Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.

Background: Mucosal melanoma of the head and neck is a rare malignant tumor associated with a poor prognosis. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and biotherapy are common strategies for treating mucosal melanoma of the head and neck. Episcleritis is an idiopathic, immune-mediated disease, and is classified into two types: simple episcleritis and nodular episcleritis. Read More

PLoS One 2018 21;13(12):e0209849. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Department of Pathology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, United States of America.

The viridans group streptococci comprise multiple species and have gained more recognition in recent years as common etiologic agents of bacterial endophthalmitis. The purpose of this study was to identify the species of human endophthalmitis isolates of viridans streptococci and to characterize their potential virulence attributes. The species of 22 endophthalmitis strains of viridans streptococci were identified by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight. Read More

Indian J Ophthalmol 2019 Jan;67(1):69-74

Advanced Eye Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh, India.

Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of intraoperative intravitreal dexamethasone implant in patients of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis undergoing phacoemulsification with posterior chamber intraocular lens (PCIOL) implantation.

Methods: Retrospectively, data of patients with JIA-associated uveitis undergoing phacoemulsification with PCIOL implantation with intraoperative dexamethasone implant injection were analyzed. Patients with a minimum follow-up of 6 months were included. Read More