OBJECTIVE

Despite being a preventable and treatable condition, central microbial keratitis (CMK) and its complications remain to be a significant cause of vision loss in our country. This study presents the demographic profile, risk factors, etiologies, treatments, and outcomes of CMK in the Philippines.

The study was a two-center, prospective, non-randomized clinical study involving the patients of the External Disease and Cornea Clinics of two tertiary eye referral centers in the Philippines. It was conducted as the Philippine leg of the Asia Cornea Society Infectious Keratitis Study (ASCIKS).1 Patients with a clinical diagnosis of CMK rendered by a cornea specialist, and who signed the consent form, were recruited into the study. They underwent uniform sample collection and culture techniques as described in the ACSIKS. All patients were followed-up for 6 months. Data collected included demographics, risk factors, culture results, management, and treatment outcomes. Descriptive statistics and frequency were used to analyze the data.

A total of 348 patients diagnosed with CMK were included. Trauma (65.5%) among the middle-aged (42.9 ± 17.9 years) male population was the most significant risk factor for development of CMK, followed by contact lens wear (12.9%), prior ocular surgery (6.0%), and ocular surface diseases (3.4%). Bacterial keratitis (53.2%) was still the most common etiology of CMK, followed by fungal keratitis (27.0%), Acanthamoeba keratitis (5.7%), and viral keratitis (2.0%). Aspergillus species (18.3%) were the most common microbial isolates. Pseudomonas species (13.9%) were the most common bacterial isolates. The median time from onset of symptoms to consultation with the study centers was 2 weeks. Medical treatment was enough to treat the infection in 34.8% of cases. Surgical intervention was necessitated in 22.6% with evisceration/enucleation done in 1 out of 3 patients who had surgery.

Bacterial infection remains the most common cause of CMK in the Philippines, followed by fungal infection. Significant risk factors include trauma and contact lens wear. Aspergillus species and Pseudomonas species were the most common fungal and bacterial isolates, respectively. Despite medical treatment, almost a quarter of the cases still required surgical intervention.

The study is designed to observe the mechanism of Tongfu Xiefei Guanchang Solution(TFXF) in the treatment of acute lung injury(ALI) in rats by improving intestinal barrier and intestinal flora structure via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK)/myosin light chain kinase(MLCK) signaling pathway. Sixty SPF-grade Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control(CON) group, lipopolysaccharide(LPS) group(7.5 mg·kg~(-1)), LPS + dexamethasone(DEX) group(3.5 mg·kg~(-1)), LPS + high-dose(HD)-TFXF group(14.74 g·kg~(-1)), LPS + middle-dose(MD)-TFXF group(7.37 g·kg~(-1)), and LPS + low-dose(LD)-TFXF group(3.69 g·kg~(-1)). ALI model of the rat was established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS. The lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activity and total protein concentration in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) were measured; tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) levels in lung and colon tissue of rats were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the pathological expression in the lung and colon tissue of rats. The mRNA expression of p38 MAPK, TNF-α, and IL-1β in rat lung tissue was determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(real-time PCR). Western blot was used to detect the protein expression related to the p38 MAPK/MLCK signaling pathway in the colon tissue of rats. 16S rRNA sequencing was used to detect changes in the composition and content of intestinal flora in rats, and correlation analyses were performed to explore the regulatory role of intestinal flora in improving ALI in rats. The results showed that compared with those in the LPS group, the histopathological scores of lung and colon tissue, LDH activity, and total protein concentration in BALF were significantly reduced in rats in all groups after drug administration. Except for the LPS + LD-TFXF group, the remaining groups significantly reduced the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the lung and colon tissue of rats. The protein expressions of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p-p38 MAPK)/p38, phosphorylated myosin light chain(p-MLC)/myosin light chain 2(MLC2), and MLCK in colon tissue of rats in each drug administration group were significantly decreased. The mRNA expression levels of p38 MAPK, TNF-α, and IL-1β were significantly reduced in the LPS + HD-TFXF group. 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that the abundance of intestinal flora was significantly higher in the LPS + HD-TFXF group, and intestinal floras including Sobs, Shannon, and Npshannon were significantly higher. The β-diversity distribution of intestinal flora tends toward the CON group, and the abundance of Firmicutes was significantly higher. The abundance of Proteobacteria was significantly reduced; the abundance of Bacteroides was significantly reduced, and the abundance of Ruminococcus was significantly higher. The main species differences were Blautia, Roseburia＿sp＿499, and Butyricicoccus. TNF-α and IL-1β of lung tissue were negatively correlated with Muribaculaceae, unclassified norank＿f＿Eubacterium＿coprostanoligenes, and Ruminococcus and positively correlated with Bacteroides. Meanwhile, TNF-α and IL-1β of colon tissue were negatively correlated with unclassified norank＿f＿Eubacterium＿coprostanoligenes and Ruminococcus and positively correlated with Bacteroides. The predicted biological function of the flora was related to the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, amino acid biosynthesis, sugar metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation. The above studies show that TFXF can repair lung and colon tissue structure and regulate inflammatory factor levels by modulating the abundance and diversity of intestinal flora species in ALI rats. Its mechanism of action in ameliorating ALI in rats may be related to the inhibition of inflammation, improvement of intestinal mucosal permeability, and maintenance of intestinal flora homeostasis and barrier through the p38 MAPK/MLCK signaling pathway.
Animals ; Acute Lung Injury/genetics* ; Rats ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase/genetics* ; Male ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Lung/metabolism* ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism* ; Humans

Three different preclinical evaluation methods of MTF through-frequency response, MTF through-focus-response and expected visual acuity were used to compare and analyze the imaging differences of IOLs with four different optical designs. The research work could be used in the simultaneous vision IOLs in the optical design stage and verify the optical quality of the IOLs, the results can predict the visual representation of the patients better. The evaluation results can provide reference for IOL manufacturers and users in product design, development, validation and application selection.
Humans ; Prosthesis Design ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Vision, Ocular ; Visual Acuity

OBJECTIVES: To study the virtual reality-pattern visual evoked potential (VR-PVEP) P100 waveform characteristics of monocular visual impairment with different impaired degrees under simultaneous binocular perception and monocular stimulations. METHODS: A total of 55 young volunteers with normal vision (using decimal recording method, far vision ≥0.8 and near vision ≥0.5) were selected to simulate three groups of monocular refractive visual impairment by interpolation method. The sum of near and far vision ≤0.2 was Group A, the severe visual impairment group; the sum of near and far vision <0.8 was Group B, the moderate visual impairment group; and the sum of near and far vision ≥0.8 was Group C, the mild visual impairment group. The volunteers' binocular normal visions were set as the control group. The VR-PVEP P100 peak times measured by simultaneous binocular perception and monocular stimulation were compared at four spatial frequencies 16×16, 24×24, 32×32 and 64×64. RESULTS: In Group A, the differences between P100 peak times of simulant visual impairment eyes and simultaneous binocular perception at 24×24, 32×32 and 64×64 spatial frequencies were statistically significant (P<0.05); and the P100 peak time of normal vision eyes at 64×64 spatial frequency was significantly different from the simulant visual impairment eyes (P<0.05). In Group B, the differences between P100 peak times of simulant visual impairment eyes and simultaneous binocular perception at 16×16, 24×24 and 64×64 spatial frequencies were statistically significant (P<0.05); and the P100 peak time of normal vision eyes at 64×64 spatial frequency was significantly different from the simulant visual impairment eyes (P<0.05). In Group C, there was no significant difference between P100 peak times of simulant visual impairment eyes and simultaneous binocular perception at all spatial frequencies (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the P100 peak times measured at all spatial frequencies between simulant visual impairment eyes and simultaneous binocular perception in the control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS VR-PVEP can be used for visual acuity evaluation of patients with severe and moderate monocular visual impairment, which can reflect the visual impairment degree caused by ametropia. VR-PVEP has application value in the objective evaluation of visual function and forensic clinical identification.
Humans ; Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Vision, Ocular ; Vision, Binocular/physiology* ; Vision Disorders/diagnosis* ; Virtual Reality

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and repetitive behaviors. With the rapid development of computer vision, visual behavior analysis aided diagnosis of ASD has got more and more attention. This paper reviews the research on visual behavior analysis aided diagnosis of ASD. First, the core symptoms and clinical diagnostic criteria of ASD are introduced briefly. Secondly, according to clinical diagnostic criteria, the interaction scenes are classified and introduced. Then, the existing relevant datasets are discussed. Finally, we analyze and compare the advantages and disadvantages of visual behavior analysis aided diagnosis methods for ASD in different interactive scenarios. The challenges in this research field are summarized and the prospects of related research are presented to promote the clinical application of visual behavior analysis in ASD diagnosis.
Humans ; Autism Spectrum Disorder/diagnosis* ; Vision, Ocular ; Behavior

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupoint thread METHODS: A total of 60 children with refractive amblyopia were randomized into an observation group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 1 case dropped off). In the control group, comprehensive therapy of eye covering of intact side and family refined performance was adopted. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, acupoint thread RESULTS: After treatment, the corrected vision was increased compared before treatment in the both groups ( CONCLUSION Acupoint thread
Acupuncture Points ; Amblyopia/therapy* ; Child ; Humans ; Retina ; Vision, Ocular ; Visual Acuity

Optogenetics ; Vision, Ocular

OBJECTIVE: To compare the visual, refractive, and patient-reported outcomes of eyes implanted with one of 3 trifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, comparative, non-interventional study wherein subjects implanted with FineVision Micro F, AT LISA tri 839MP or AcrySof IQ PanOptix trifocal IOL after phacoemulsification were recruited. Manifest refraction, uncorrected and corrected visual acuity (VA) at distance, intermediate and near vision, contrast sensitivity, modulated transfer function (MTF) values and questionnaire answers were compared among the 3 groups using analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: Fifty-seven (57) eyes were included in the study: 21 eyes with FineVision (group A), 21 eyes with LISA tri (group B), and 15 eyes with PanOptix IOL (group C). The post-operative mean manifest spherical equivalent was -0.01D, -0.07D, and 0.05D, respectively (p=0.083). Uncorrected distance VA and best-corrected distance VA were similar among the groups. Groups A and C had better uncorrected and corrected intermediate VA at 80 cm and at 60 cm compared to group B. Group A had significantly better uncorrected near visual acuity than groups B and C (p=0.032). Mesopic contrast sensitivity testing showed group C had higher contrast sensitivities without glare in at the spatial frequency of 6 CPD (p=0.038) and with glare at 3 CPD (p=0.039) and at 12 CPD (p=0.009). MTF average height analysis showed that the group A had significantly superior resolution in far targets compared to groups B and C (p=0.001). At near targets, groups A and C had better resolutions compared to group B (p=0.017). There was no significant difference in patient satisfaction for far, intermediate and near VA among the groups. CONCLUSION: Eyes implanted with any of the 3 trifocal IOL designs achieved excellent uncorrected and bestcorrected distance, intermediate and near vision. FineVision and PanOptix provided significantly better intermediate vision than LISA tri at both 80 cm and 60 cm testing distance. FineVision had better near visual outcomes than PanOptix and LISA tri. Patient satisfaction was high in all 3 trifocal IOLS
Lenses, Intraocular ; Vision, Ocular

Dynamic variations of the cell microenvironment can affect cell differentiation, cell signaling pathways, individual growth, and disease. Optogenetics combines gene-encoded protein expression with optical controlling, and offers a novel, reversible, non-invasive and spatiotemporal-specific research tool to dynamically or reversibly regulate cell signaling pathways, subcellular localization and gene expression. This review summarizes the types of optogenetic components and the involved cellular signaling pathways, and explores the application and future prospects of the light-controlled cell signaling pathways.
Cell Differentiation ; Light ; Optogenetics ; Proteins ; Signal Transduction

Objective To research the correlation between the visual acuity ratio and pattern reversal visual evoked potential （PRVEP） P100 waveform amplitude ratio of both eyes. Methods Forty-seven volunteers were selected, and the visual chart visual acuity of both eyes was measured. The visual acuity ratio of the eye with poor vision to the eye with better vision was calculated by five grade notation method. The amplitudes of P100 waveforms of both eyes were recorded respectively by using black-and-white checkerboard PRVEP and chosing 1°, 15' stimulating visual angle, and the ratio of amplitudes between the two eyes was also calculated. SPSS 20.0 software was used to analyze the correlation between the visual acuity ratio and the ratio of P100 waveform amplitudes between the two eyes. Return test and linear regression analysis with the binocular ratio of P100 waveform amplitudes as the independent variable （x） and the binocular visual acuity ratio as the dependent variable （y） were made. Results There was a positive correlation between the binocular visual acuity ratio and the ratio of P100 waveform amplitudes under 15' stimulating visual angle （Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.62, P=0.000）. The fitting linear regression equation was y=0.090 x+0.846 （F=20.954, P=0.000）. There was no significant correlation between the binocular ratio of visual acuity and the binocular ratio of P100 waveform amplitudes under 1° stimulating visual angle （P>0.05）. Results of return test showed that there was no statistical significance in the difference between visual acuity estimated by equation and actual detected visual acuity. Conclusion In forensic appraisal of monocular injury, fitting linear regression equation of binocular visual acuity ratio and the binocular ratio of P100 waveform amplitudes under 15' stimulating visual angle, is helpful for visual acuity level estimation of the injured eye to some extent.
Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Eye/physiopathology* ; Humans ; Regression Analysis ; Vision, Ocular ; Visual Acuity