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To evaluate prediction accuracy of pre- and post-DMEK keratometry (K) and total keratometry (TK) values for IOL power calculations in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) eyes undergoing DMEK with cataract surgery (triple DMEK). Retrospective cross-sectional multicenter study of 55 FECD eyes (44 patients) that underwent triple DMEK between 2019 and 2022 between two centers in USA and Europe. Swept-source optical coherence tomography biometry (IOLMaster 700) was used for pre- and post-DMEK measurements. K and TK values were used for power calculations with ten formulae (Barrett Universal II (BUII), Castrop, Cooke K6, EVO 2.0, Haigis, Hoffer Q, Hoffer QST, Holladay I, Kane, and SRK/T). Mean error, mean absolute error (MAE), standard deviation, and percentage of eyes within ±0.50/±1.00 diopters (D) were calculated. Studied formulae were additionally adjusted using a method published previously (IOLup1D Method), which increases the IOL power by 1D. While both eyes from the same patient were considered for descriptive statistics, we restricted to one eye per individual (44 eyes for statistical comparisons. MAEs for all formulae were lower for post-DMEK K and TK than pre-DMEK K and TK by an average of 0.24 and 0.47 D, respectively. The lowest MAE was 0.49 D for Kane using post-DMEK TK, and the highest MAE was 1.05 D for BUII using pre-DMEK TK. Most IOLup1D formulae had lower MAEs than pre-DMEK K and TK formulae. The IOLup1D Method should be used instead of pre-DMEK K and TK values for triple DMEK in FECD eyes. Using post-DMEK TK values for cataract surgery after DMEK provides better refractive accuracy than any of the three studied methods used for triple DMEK procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: Tectonic keratoplasties (TK) are used to treat corneal and scleral perforations and to prevent the loss of the eye. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed indications, surgical procedures, and outcomes of eccentric mini and corneo-scleral tectonic keratoplasties with respect to anatomical survival and clear graft survival rates to identify risk factors for graft failure. Methods: This retrospective study includes 33 eccentric mini (graft diameter <6 mm) and/or corneo-scleral TK of 32 consecutive patients of a total of 41 TK carried out between 2005 and 2020 in the Eye Center, University of Freiburg, Germany, making up 0.7% of all keratoplasties performed during this period (n = 5557). Patient and graft specific data were extracted from medical files. Anatomical survival—defined as achieving integrity of the globe without further surgical interventions—and clear graft survival—defined as persisting graft clarity—were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. We also fitted Cox proportional hazard models to account for factors influencing anatomical and clear graft survival. Results: Median duration of anatomical success was 72.5 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 18.1—infinite (inf.)) and median duration of clear graft survival was 29.6 months (95% CI 12.5-Inf.). The 1-year survival rate for anatomical survival was 67.6% (95% CI 52.2% - 87.6%) and for clear graft survival 66.4% (95% CI 50.5%– 87.1%). No enucleation was necessary during this time-period. Non-inflammatory primary causes (n = 14) presented a trend towards better anatomical survival rates (median remained above 0.75 during follow-up) compared to inflammatory primary causes (n = 19, median 18.1 months (95% CI 2.8 - inf.)) and longer clear graft survival (median 29.6 months (95% CI 12.5 - inf.) versus 13.1 months (95% CI 3.2 - inf.)). Corneo-scleral grafts (n = 18) compared to corneal grafts (n = 15) showed a trend towards better anatomical survival (more than 50% of eyes did not fail during follow-up period (95% CI 21.9-Inf. months) versus 18.1 months (95% CI 2.4-Inf.)) and clear graft survival (median 29.6 months (95% CI 12.6-Inf.) versus 6.2 months (95% CI 2.8-Inf.)). Old age (n = 11, 75.2 – 90.1 years) compared to young age (n = 11, 6.2 – 60.2 years) was the only hazard ratio (hazard ratio 0.04 (95% CI 0.002–0.8)) that reached the level of significance (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Eccentric TK is helpful in the successful treatment of a variety of severe eye diseases. Patients at young age, with pre-existing inflammatory conditions or corneal TK are at higher risk for anatomical failure as well as clear graft failure and therefore need to be monitored closely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Die Ophthalmologie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Die Ophthalmologie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Der Ophthalmologe is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The posterior cornea is rotationally asymmetric, and Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) grafts preferentially scroll vertically. This prospective study assessed whether graft attachment after DMEK differed depending on the rotational alignment of the donor graft in the recipient eye. Methods: Pseudo‐randomization and blinding of the graft orientation in the recipient's eye were possible by procedural separation: (1) The eye bank recorded the position of an orientation marker in the donor cornea; (2) the surgeon preparing the DMEK graft recorded an upside‐down marker relative to the eye bank marker; and (3) the surgeon assessed the position of the upside‐down marker in the recipient after DMEK. Surgeons were masked towards the eye bank marker. Using mixed‐effects models, we assessed graft attachment relative to the rotational alignment of the donor graft. Results: Postoperatively, the graft was not fully attached in 59 of 179 eyes (33%). A second air fill (rebubbling) was performed in 11%. The graft axis was in line with the recipient cornea axis in 40%, oblique in 28% and orthogonal in 32%. We did not detect an elevated risk of incomplete attachment (odds ratio [OR], 1.16; 95% CI, 0.61–2.20), risk of rebubbling (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.47–3.31) or larger areas of graft detachment in non‐aligned grafts compared to aligned grafts. Conclusion: Rotational alignment was not strongly associated with the risk of incomplete graft attachment, although modestly elevated risks cannot be ruled out. Efforts are needed to reduce the need for rebubbling after DMEK and to identify modifiable risk factors for graft detachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To discuss and evaluate new technologies for a better diagnosis of corneal diseases and limbal stem cell deficiency, the outcomes of a consensus process within the European Vision Institute (and of a workshop at the University of Cologne) are outlined. Various technologies are presented and analyzed for their potential clinical use also in defining new end points in clinical trials. The disease areas which are discussed comprise dry eye and ocular surface inflammation, imaging, and corneal neovascularization and corneal grafting/stem cell and cell transplantation. The unmet needs in the abovementioned disease areas are discussed, and realistically achievable new technologies for better diagnosis and use in clinical trials are outlined. To sum up, it can be said that there are several new technologies that can improve current diagnostics in the field of ophthalmology in the near future and will have impact on clinical trial end point design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Der Ophthalmologe is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Der Ophthalmologe is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The objectives of this preliminary, longitudinal, and explorative cohort study were to assess changes in and the onset of osteoarthrosis (OA)-related pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and to address factors that might impact the development or reduction of associated pain symptoms. Materials and Methods: In this sex-matched study, 60 women were recruited (30 asymptomatic with a magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] diagnosis of OA-related TMJ changes, 30 symptomatic with accompanying MRI evidence of OA of the TMJ). All subjects underwent a baseline clinical examination and MRI assessment and were subsequently referred to a dental practitioner, who was informed of the diagnosis and further treatment where required. Not all subjects underwent dental treatment interventions. Following a mean 4-year period, subjects were reexamined clinically. Spearman rank correlation and Mann-Whitney L tests were used to evaluate possible correlations in reported pain level changes with the number of posterior occlusal contacts and new dental restorations placed between baseline and recall appointments. Results: The dropout rate was 28% (6.7% for symptomatic, 50% for asymptomatic). OA-related TMJ pain in symptomatic subjects decreased with time (pain reduction: -3.6 ± 3.4 on a 0 to 10 numeric rating scale); asymptomatic patients rarely developed pain. Conclusion: These preliminary results suggest that factors other than dental occlusion might play a role in the reduction of pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on experiments conducted regarding phosphorus budgets and bioavailable phosphorus content in soil. It mentions that scarcity of mineable phosphorus (P) an efficient use of P is a main objective in sustainable agriculture. It states that the organic fertilizers had a comparable P fertilizer effect as the inorganic fertilizers.

Background:Any inflammatory response following corneal transplantation may induce rejection and irreversible graft failure. The purpose of this study is to analyze the anti-inflammatory effect of azithromycin (AZM) following experimental keratoplasty in rats. Methods:Corneal transplants were performed between Fisher-donor and Lewis-recipient rats. Recipients were postoperatively treated three times daily with AZM, miglyol, ofloxacin or dexamethasone eye drops. As an additional control, AZM was applied following syngeneic keratoplasty. Furthermore, short-term treatments with AZM for seven days perioperatively or with AZM only three days prior to the transplantation were compared to appropriate controls. All transplants were monitored clinically for opacity, edema, and vascularization. Infiltrating CD45+, CD4+, CD8+, CD25+, CD161+ and CD163+ cells were quantified via immunohistochemistry. Results:AZM significantly promoted corneal graft survival compared with miglyol or ofloxacin treatment. This effect was comparable to topical dexamethasone. No adverse AZM effect was observed. Histology confirmed a significant reduction of infiltrating leukocytes. The short-term application of AZM for three days prior to transplantation or for seven days perioperatively reduced corneal graft rejection significantly compared with the controls. Conclusions:Along with antibiotic properties, topical AZM has a strong anti-inflammatory effect. Following keratoplasty, this effect is comparable to topical dexamethasone without the risk of steroid-induced adverse effects. Short-term treatment with AZM three days prior to the transplantation was sufficient to promote graft survival in the rat keratoplasty model. We therefore suggest further assessing the anti-inflammatory function of topical AZM following keratoplasty in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]