Purpose: To determine the risk factors of meibomian gland loss in dry eye disease. Methods: The medical charts of 229 dry eye disease patients who had a meibography were retrospectively reviewed. They were divided into 4 groups according to the degree of meibomian gland loss. Telangiectasia and irregularity of eyelid margin, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), non invasive breakup time (NIBUT), lipid layer thickness (LLT) and tear meniscus height (TMH) were compared. Age, gender, history of eyeline tattoo, history of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and autoimmune diseases were also investigated to analyze the correlation with the severe meibomian gland loss. Severe meibomian gland loss was defined as loss of more than 75% of the conjunctival area, and risk factors were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Results: Comparing the four groups divided according to the degree of meibomian gland loss, the group with severe meibomian gland loss was older (p = 0.001), had lower LLT (p < 0.001), had a higher frequency of eyeline tattoos. The ratio of hyperlipidemia (p < 0.001) and chemotherapy (p < 0.001) was also high in the group with severe meibomian gland loss. As a result of multiple logistic regression analysis, age, eyeline tattoo, hyperlipidemia, and chemotherapy were variables that had a significant effect on sever meibomian gland loss. (p < 0.05) Conclusions Age and history of eyeline tattoo, hyperlipidemia, and chemotherapy are significant variables that cause severe meibomian gland loss in dry eye disease patients. J Korean Ophthalmol Soc 2023;64(12):1152-1157

Liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), poses a significant global threat to human lives. To advance the development of innovative diagnostic and treatment approaches, it is essential to examine the hidden features of HCC, particularly its 3D genome architecture, which is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the 3D genome organization of four HCC cell lines—Hep3B, Huh1, Huh7, and SNU449—using in situ Hi-C and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing. Our findings revealed that HCC cell lines had more long-range interactions, both intra-and interchromosomal, compared to human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs). Unexpectedly, HCC cell lines displayed cell line-specific compartmental modifications at the megabase (Mb) scale, which could potentially be leveraged in determining HCC subtypes. At the sub-Mb scale, we observed decreases in intra-TAD (topologically associated domain) interactions and chromatin loops in HCC cell lines compared to HMECs. Lastly, we discovered a correlation between gene expression and the 3D chromatin architecture of SLC8A1, which encodes a sodium-calcium antiporter whose modulation is known to induce apoptosis by comparison between HCC cell lines and HMECs. Our findings suggest that HCC cell lines have a distinct 3D genome organization that is different from those of normal and other cancer cells based on the analysis of compartments, TADs, and chromatin loops. Overall, we take this as evidence that genome organization plays a crucial role in cancer phenotype determination. Further exploration of epigenetics in HCC will help us to better understand specific gene regulation mechanisms and uncover novel targets for cancer treatment.

objectives: ：This study aims to compare the mental health of adolescents living in child care institutions (orphanages) and youth shelters, to provide basic data for appropriate psychiatric interventions for each facilities. Methods: ：The sample consisted of 157 adolescents in child care institutions and 31 adolescents in Youth Shelters who completed the Korean version of the Youth Self Report (K-YSR). We compared the K-YSR scores between the two groups and also examined factors related to suicidality. Results: ：Adolescents in youth shelters were older and had higher rates of drinking (p<0.001), smoking (p<0.001), and “abnormal sleep” (p=0.007) than adolescents in child care institutions. They also showed higher ‘suicidality’ (p=0.004) and K-YSR scores. On the other hand, adolescents in child care institutions have lower ‘suicidality’, but they have higher ‘suicidality’ when they have ‘abnormal sleep’ (OR 4.194; p=0.006),abnormal diet’ (OR 2.503; p=0.010), and ‘concerns about weight gain’ (OR 2.503; p=0.010). Additionally, 17.6% of participants in the study showed ‘suicidality’. The ‘suicidality’ group had a higher overall K-YSR score than the non-suicidal group, and had higher ‘abnormal sleep’ (OR 3.766; p=0.014) and ‘concern about weight gain’ (OR 2.864; p=0.032). Conclusions ：Adolescents in youth shelters appear to have more serious clinical difficulties than adolescents in child care institutions, so prompt psychiatric intervention is needed. Additionally, it is necessary to consider mental health assessments including suicidality when adolescents in child care institutions complain of sleep, eating, or weight gain problems.

Purpose: To compare the clinical outcomes of penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) and Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) in eyes with Glaucoma Ahmed Valve implants. Methods: The charts of 11 patients who underwent PKP and 11 who underwent DSAEK between February 2016 and June 2018 were retrospectively reviewed; all patients previously underwent Ahmed valve implant surgery. The best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and endothelial cell count were compared 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Graft rejection and graft failure were also evaluated during follow-up. The survival rates were compared using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Results: The difference in graft survival rates of the PKP and DSAEK groups was not significant (p = 0.295); however, graft failure occurred earlier in the PKP group (12.9 ± 10.1 vs. 18.8 ± 5.3 months). The postoperative best corrected visual acuity of the PKP group had improved at 1 (p = 0.027) and 3 (p = 0.017) months, while the DSAEK group showed significant improvement at 1, 3, and 6 months (all p = 0.005). Intergroup analysis showed better visual prognosis of the DSAEK group at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery (p = 0.023, p = 0.007, and p = 0.004, respectively). Conclusions In our study, the two corneal transplantation methods did not have significantly different graft survival rates; however, graft failure occured later in the DSAEK group and the postoperative visual acuity was better than in the PKP group. Although further study is needed, performing DSAEK in patients with an Ahmed valve implant seems to be a good alternative to PKP.