Explore the vast range of titles available.

Infectious endophthalmitis is a severe ocular condition that requires rapid and accurate pathogen identification for effective treatment. Traditional diagnostic methods are limited by the small volume of intraocular fluid available and the need for centralized laboratories. To address these challenges, we propose an integrated microfluidic diagnostic platform based on a polymer piezoresistive microcantilever sensor, fabricated via additive manufacturing. The sensor features a functionalized surface for specific pathogen adsorption, enabling real-time detection through mechanical deflection and electrical signal transduction via a Wheatstone bridge. Using COMSOL Multiphysics, we developed a multiphysics model to simulate fluid dynamics, mechanical stress, and electrical output under intraocular-like conditions. Simulation results demonstrate that the sensor detects mechanical loading with high sensitivity (minimum pressure: 0.2 Pa; output voltage: ∼36.2 mV), and that flow velocity and surface reaction rates significantly affect signal characteristics. These findings validate the feasibility of a low-volume, high-sensitivity, and portable detection system for intraocular diagnostics, providing a strong foundation for clinical translation of microfluidic biosensing technologies.

Microplastic (MP) exposures have been a significant global public health concern. Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed ocular surgery worldwide, and various plastic tools are used in cataract surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of MPs in surgical devices, intraocular fluids, and cataractous crystalline lenses in cataract surgery. We collected surgical solutions/devices (irrigation saline, balanced salt solution [BSS], and ophthalmic viscosurgical device [OVD]), ocular inflow/outflow fluids from six phacoemulsification cases, cataractous crystalline lenses from two extracapsular cataract extraction patients, and operating room (OR) air samples. Numbers and characteristics of MPs were measured using raman spectroscopy and surface morphologies of MPs were measured using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy. There were no MPs in saline or BSS in syringes nor in OVD. A small number of MPs were detected in ocular inflow fluids (mean ± standard deviation [SD] = 0.1 ± 0.1/mL) and OR air (mean ± SD = 0.5 ± 0.3/mL). Higher concentrations were observed in intraocular outflow fluid, with one plastic bag-collected sample showing 50.4 ± 0.3/mL, compared with 1.5(± 1.4)–7.2(± 3.5)/mL in other patients whose samples were collected in glass containers. MPs were also detected in cataractous crystalline lens (mean ± SD = 12.3 ± 5.8/100 mg). Ocular inflow fluids contained only 10–19 μm polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) fragments. However, intraocular outflow fluids and cataractous crystalline lenses contained smaller 5–9 μm fragments and fibers of six polymer types: PE, PP, polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyamide (PA). Patients who had other ocular diseases within past three years or who had diabetes at the time of surgery showed higher concentrations of total MPs and PE ( P  < 0.05). MPs can be exposed into eyeball during cataract surgery, potentially from surgical instruments or indoor air. Substantial intraocular MP contamination exists prior to surgery rather than from external surgical sources.

Myopia is the most common eye disease in the world which is caused by a mismatch between the optical power of the eye and its excessive axial length. Scleral remodeling, oxidative stress, inflammation, pathological states of angiogenesis and fibrosis and metabolism are closely associated with the onset and progression of myopia and the pathological changes that may ultimately result. Intraocular fluid is a collective term for the fluid within the eye, and changes in its composition can reflect the physiological and pathological status within the eye, with aqueous humor and vitreous being the commonly tested specimens. Recent studies have revealed potential changes in a variety of molecules in intraocular fluid during myopia progression. Abnormal expression of these molecules may reflect different stages of myopia and provide new perspectives for disease monitoring and treatment. Therefore, in this review, we systematically review the molecular changes in intraocular fluid associated with myopia, as well as the possible mechanisms, with a view to informing basic myopia research and clinical work.

Purpose. Based on the study of cytokines content in the vitreous body and subsilicone fluid (SSF), to evaluate risk factors for the development of macular edema in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) after endovitreal surgery. Material and methods. An analysis of the treatment of 28 patients (28 eyes) with RRD complicated by PVR Sr type 1–4 involving the macular area was carried out. Patients underwent vitrectomy or vitrectomy combined with circumferential scleral indentation and silicone oil tamponade. During the initial intervention, the vitreous humor was collected, and upon completion of the silicone tamponade, the CVS was taken. In both obtained samples, the quantitative content of the following cytokines was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA): GIF1α, interleukins (IL) – 4, 6, 17, TGF-β1, VEGF and TNF-α. Besides standard ophthalmological examination, all patients underwent optical coherence tomography in the postoperative period with assessment of the thickness and volume of the macular retinal area. Results. Connection between the quantitative content of cytokines in the vitreous body and preoperative indices showed significant negative correlation between TNF-a content and the number of detached quadrants as well as between the «visual field on the sum of 8 meridians» index and VEGF content. The values of TNF-αquantitative content had a pronounced negative correlation with the index «visual field on the sum of 8 meridians» after surgery, and positive correlation with the time of silicon oil finding in the vitreous cavity and the number of detached quadrants before treatment. We also found that IL-6 content had a significant positive correlation with the thickness of the central retinal zone and a negative correlation with the total visual field at the stage of treatment completion. The data obtained by comparing quantitative content of cytokines in CSF in patients with and without macular edema showed a statistically significant positive correlation between the risk of macular edema and content of IL-6, as well as TNF-α. Conclusion. Significant correlations were determined between the risks of macular edema and cytokines concentration in subsilicon-oil fluid that have proinflammatory properties (TNF-αand IL-6). Quantitative TNF-αcontent in sub-silicone fluid has a direct correlation with the time of silicone oil presence in the vitreous cavity, which may determine early completion of tamponade. Quantitative content of the cytokines studied in the vitreous body cannot be a predictor of macular edema development in the postoperative period. Key words: cytokine profile, regmatogenous retinal detachment, subsilicone fluid, intraocular fluid, macular edema

Purpose This paper aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of a newly developed gene-based technology-nanopore targeted sequencing (NTS) in suspected endophthalmitis patients. Methods This retrospective study included 43 patients (44 eyes) with suspected endophthalmitis. NTS was applied along with microbiological culture to detect unknown pathogens in intraocular fluid samples. The diagnostic utility of NTS was mainly evaluated from three aspects, including the positivity rate of bacterial/fungal presence, diagnostic turnaround time and the frequency of change in treatment based on etiology test results. Non-parametric, two-sided Wilcoxon rank sum test, the McNemar’s test and the kappa statistic were used for statistical comparisons. Results NTS showed significant advantages over traditional culture in positivity rates and diagnostic time ( P  < 0.001, kappa = 0.082; Z  = −5.805, P  < 0. 001). As regards antibiotic strategy, 17 patients (39.53%) and 5 patients (11.63%) underwent medication change following NTS and culture results respectively ( P  < 0.001, kappa = 0.335). With reasonable use of antibiotic and surgical intervention, most patients responded favorably, judged by significantly improved visual acuity ( Z  = −4.249, P  < 0.001). The mean duration of hospitalization was 8.49 ± 2.45 days (range, 1–16 days). Conclusion The high efficiency feature of NTS in pathogen detection renders it a valuable supplementary to traditional culture. Additionally, it has facilitated patients’ management for the early and precise diagnosis of endophthalmitis.

Investigate intraocular fluid testing’s role in ARNs management and prognosis. 46 ARNs patients (49 eyes) treated from 2021 to 2023 were divided into precision ( n  = 22) and conventional ( n  = 24) groups based on intraocular fluid testing. Precision group received intravitreal ganciclovir (20 mg/ml [viral copies < 5 × 10 6 ] or 40 mg/ml [> 5 × 10 6 ]) twice weekly; conventional group received fixed 20 mg/ml. BCVA, viral copies, cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10), and biomarkers (VCAM, VEGF, BFGF) were analyzed. No baseline differences in BCVA, IOP, or clinical features between groups ( P  > 0.05). Precision group showed fewer injections, higher final BCVA, and lower retinal detachment rates ( P  < 0.05). Viral copies negatively correlated with final BCVA ( P  < 0.05). In precision group: viral copies positively correlated with injection frequency, IL-6, IL-8, VCAM, BFGF; retinal necrosis extent positively linked to initial/final BCVA but inversely with IL-6, IL-8, and viral load. Conventional group showed retinal necrosis involvement positively correlated with detachment risk ( P  < 0.05). Intraocular fluid testing optimizes ARNs treatment personalization, improves outcomes, and enhances prognostic evaluation.

Background Ocular Toxocariasis (OT) is characterized by complicated clinical manifestations, which makes it difficult to diagnose. In this study, we mainly evaluated the diagnostic values of intraocular fluid (IF) total IgE level and IF/Serum IgE ratio in OT and compared the differences between child and adult patients. Methods 76 patients with 52 children (< 16 years) and 24 adults of clinically-diagnosed OT and 64 patients with non-OT uveitis were enrolled in this study. The paired IF and serum samples were collected for total IgE, total IgG and specific IgG testing. The IF IgE levels and IF/Serum IgE ratios were compared between child and adult patients. The area under the curve (AUC) was generated to assess the diagnostic performances of the above indicators. Results The IF IgE level was significantly higher in child patients than in adult patients (1671.79 ± 1425.97 versus 784.44 ± 544.73 ng/ml, p  = 0.015). Besides, the IF/Serum IgE ratio showed similar trend with 24.02 ± 6.10 in children and 7.68 ± 5.05 in adults ( p  = 0.001). The best cutoff value of the IF IgE concentration was 10.65 ng/ml, yielding 77.6% (95%CI, Confidence Interval, 66.4–86.1%) sensitivity and 98.4% (95%CI, 90.5–99.9%) specificity. The IF IgE level showed lower AUC than that of IF specific IgG level (0.925 versus 0.975, p  = 0.037). However, the AUC of IF/Serum IgE ratio for OT was significantly higher than that of GWC (0.934 versus 0.527, p  < 0.0001). The best cutoff value of IF/Serum IgE ratio was 0.48 with the sensitivity of 78.4% (95%CI, 67.0-86.8%) and specificity of 98.4% (95%CI, 90.5–99.9%). For the diagnosis of child OT, the cutoff value of IF IgE level of child OT was 13.10 ng/ml with the high sensitivity of 82.7% (95%CI, 69.2–91.3%) while the best cutoff value of 10.65 ng/ml for adult OT yielded only 66.7% (95%CI, 44.7–83.6%) sensitivity. However, the sensitivity of IF/Serum IgE ratio for child OT (86.3%, 95%CI, 73.1–93.8%) was close to that for adult OT (87.0%, 95%CI, 65.3–96.6%). Conclusions Both IF IgE level and IF/Serum IgE ratio demonstrated good diagnostic performance for ocular toxocariasis and higher sensitivity of IF IgE level was noted for the diagnosis of child OT.

Background Ocular toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii is an infectious disease which is widely distributed around the world and can present with various clinic manifestations. We are here reporting an unusual case presented with epiretinal membrane (ERM), i.e., macular pucker. Case presentation A 16-year old male patient visited our outpatient clinic complaining of decreased vision for about 8 years in his left eye. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/20 OD and 20/400 OS. There was sensory exotropia in his left eye. No inflammatory cells or flare were found in his anterior chamber or vitreous cavity OU. An ERM involving his left macular area was found on his dilated fundus exam, which was confirmed by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). The ERM was found to involve his left macular area with his foveal ellipsoid zone absent. The right eye was found to be within normal limit. After a thorough discussion with the patient and his parents about treatment options and surgical benefits, risks and alternatives, we performed vitrectomy, peeled off the ERM and collected the vitreous sample for parasite testing during the procedure. Patient’s blood also was drawn for serological testing. Vitreous sample analysis and serological tests confirmed ocular toxoplasmosis OS as his final diagnosis. Unfortunately, the BCVA of this patient was not improved after the surgery, but the exotropia disappeared. Conclusion ERM is an unusual clinical presentation of ocular toxoplasmosis. We may add Toxoplasma gondii infection as a differential diagnosis when encountering ERM cases.

Purpose: To evaluate the expressions of erythropoietin (EPO) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the vitreous and fibrovascular membranes (FVMs) of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) after the intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (IVR) and further explore the relationship between EPO and VEGF. Method: The concentrations of EPO and VEGF levels in the vitreous fluid were measured in 35 patients (24 PDR and 11 non-diabetic patients) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The patients were divided into three groups: PDR with IVR (IVR group) before par plana vitrectomy ( n = 10), PDR without IVR (Non-IVR group) ( n = 14) and a control group [macular holes (MHs) or epiretinal membranes (ERM), n = 11]. Fluorescence immunostaining was performed to examine the expressions of VEGF, EPO and CD 105 in the excised epiretinal membranes. Result: The PDR eyes of Non-IVR group had the highest vitreous VEGF and EPO levels (836.30 ± 899.50 pg/ml, 99.29 ± 27.77 mIU/ml, respectively) compared to the control group (10.98 ± 0.98 pg/ml and 18.96 ± 13.30 mIU/ml/ml). Both the VEGF and EPO levels in the IVR group (13.22 ± 2.72 pg/ml and 68.57 ± 41.47 mIU/ml) were significantly lower than the Non-IVR group ( P = 0.004 and P = 0.04, respectively). Furthermore, no significant difference was observed for VEGF levels between the control and IVR groups (10.9 ± 0.98 pg/ml and 13.22 ± 2.72 pg/ml, respectively, P = 0.9). Yet the EPO level in the IVR group was significantly higher than that in the Non-diabetic group (68.57 ± 41.47 pg/ml and 18.96 ± 13.30 pg/ml, respectively, P = 0.001). The expressions of EPO, VEGF, and CD105 were significantly reduced in fluorescence immunostaining of FVMs in the IVR group compared with the Non-IVR group. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the EPO and VEGF levels were 0.951 and 0.938 in the PDR group. Conclusion: Both of the VEGF and EPO level were significantly increased in PDR patients, which have equal diagnostic value in the prediction of PDR. IVR could reduce the EPO level, but not enough to the normal level.

Background/aimsTo determine if patients with vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) and concomitant central nervous system lymphoma (CNSL) may present without brain MRI findings, but possess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) suspicious for lymphoma.MethodsThis was a retrospective, single-centre, observational study evaluating patients with a diagnosis or suspicion of VRL seen at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center between 2006 and 2024. Patients were included if the final diagnosis was biopsy-proven CNSL and both MRI brain with and without contrast±CSF evaluation (obligatory for inclusion if MRI negative) were performed at the initial diagnostic workup. Patients were excluded if CNS disease treatment (brain, spine or CSF) preceded ocular disease. Patients with prior extra-CNS disease were included. Clinical records and radiographic imaging were retrospectively reviewed and relevant data were recorded for each patient. We evaluated the proportion of patients with MRI negative and CSF suspicious for lymphoma. Subgroup analysis included imaging features, pathology, treatment and disease course.ResultsWe identified 65 patients. Of the 65 patients at the presentation of VRL, 30 had negative MRI brain and CSF, 16 had positive brain MRI and negative CSF and 8 had both positive MRI brain and CSF. 11 (16.9%) had CSF suspicious for lymphoma without positive findings on MRI of the brain. In this subgroup, the median age was 66 years (range 49–82) and 36% were female. 86% of these patients were asymptomatic neurologically. 73% underwent systemic treatment. At a mean 3 years follow-up, 91% of patients were living.ConclusionIn patients with suspected VRL, it is possible to have CSF test positive for lymphoma in the context of negative brain MRI. This suggests, when evaluating VRL patients for concomitant CNS disease, CSF evaluation leads to earlier detection and systemic treatment, even when MRI brain findings are negative. In our cohort, an absence of CSF evaluation in the context of negative brain MRI could have missed 16.9% of patients with CNS lymphoma.