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Francesco Aiello,1 Gabriele Gallo Afflitto,1,2 Giulio Pocobelli,1 Diego Ponzin,3 Carlo Nucci1 1Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy; 2Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; 3Fondazione Banca degli Occhi del Veneto, Venice, ItalyCorrespondence: Francesco Aiello, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, Rome, 00133, Italy, Email francescoaiello@hotmail.comAbstract: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic exerted a great impact on medical practice, which was reframed according to the actual needs. Ophthalmological services and procedures including corneal transplantation did not represent an exception. The adoption and implementation of new standard operating procedures as well as of new technologies for remote consultation and smart-working reshaped daily activities of both eye bankers, physicians, researchers, and patients. Regulatory restrictions were issued redefining corneal donor eligibility criteria, as well as handling and harvesting procedures of donor ocular tissues. Surgical schedules underwent an abrupt contraction with prioritization of urgent procedures. Local lockdowns and confinement strategies resulted in both a reduction and redirection of research activities. The evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 colonization of ocular tissues, long-term corneal storage techniques, new disinfection strategies, split corneal transplants and cell-based therapies for the treatment of corneal disease peaked in the pipeline. Aim of this article is to summarizes the overall impact of the pandemic on the corneal transplantation machinery, and the current and future perspectives for the corneal transplant community.Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, eye bank, cornea, cornea transplantation, cornea transplant, basic sciences

Massimo Cesareo,1 Ernesto Di Marco,1 Clarissa Giannini,1 Matteo Di Marino,1 Francesco Aiello,1 Antonio Pisani,2 Mariangela Pierantozzi,3 Nicola Biagio Mercuri,4,5 Carlo Nucci,1 Raffaele Mancino1 1Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; 2Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; 3Parkinson’s Center, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; 4Neurology, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; 5Fondazione Santa Lucia I.R.C.C.S, Rome, ItalyCorrespondence: Massimo Cesareo; Ernesto Di MarcoOphthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, via Montpellier, Rome, 100133, ItalyTel/Fax +39 0620902973Email massimo.cesareo@uniroma2.it; Ernesto2601@hotmail.itPurpose: To assess the structure and function of the retinal posterior pole in patients with early Parkinson’s disease (PD) and to identify possible biomarkers correlated with clinical features.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional case-control study of 21 patients with PD and 22 age-matched healthy controls (HC) was conducted. All subjects underwent full ophthalmological examinations, fundus perimetry (FP) and spectral domain-OCT (SD-OCT) of the entire retinal posterior pole and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL).Results: We analyzed 41 eyes from 21 patients (14 males and 7 females) with early PD (Hoehn and Yahr scale (H&Y) equal to or less than stage 2) and 41 eyes from 22 HC (12 males and 10 females). We found no significant difference in the pRNFL thickness between patients with PD and HC. The statistical analysis of the SD-OCT posterior pole area, consisting of 64 values for each retinal layer, revealed a decrease in the outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness in patients with PD (p < 0.0001). On the contrary, a significant increase in the thickness of the outer plexiform layer (OPL) (p < 0.0001) and of the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) (p= 0.002) compared to healthy controls was detected. Other retinal layers showed no significant statistical differences. The differential light sensitivity (DLS) values measured by FP were significantly lower in patients than the healthy controls (15 [13– 16.2] vs 17.95 [16.08– 18.96] p< 0.0001).Conclusion: Our results showed that DLS and retinal structure differed in the posterior pole between patients with early PD and controls. Thickening of the OPL may represent accumulation of α-synuclein in the OPL of patients with PD.Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, optical coherence tomography, retina, dopamine, alpha-synuclein

María Dolores Pinazo-Durán,1,* Roberto Gallego-Pinazo,2,* Jose Javier García-Medina,1,3,* Vicente Zanón-Moreno,1,4 Carlo Nucci,5 Rosa Dolz-Marco,2 Sebastián Martínez-Castillo,2 Carmen Galbis-Estrada,1 Carla Marco-Ramírez,1 Maria Isabel López-Gálvez,6,* David J Galarreta,6,* Manuel Díaz-Llópis4,*1Ophthalmic Research Unit "Santiago Grisolía", Valencia, Spain; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Macula Section, The University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain; 3Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Reina Sofia, Murcia, Spain; 4Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Spain; 5University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; 6Instituto de Oftalmobiología Aplicada (IOBA), Valladolid, Spain *Members of the Spanish Net of Ocular Pathology of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Madrid), OFTAREDBackground: Oxidative stress (OS) and its biomarkers are the biochemical end point of the imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the ability of the antioxidant (AOX) biological systems to fight against oxidative injury.Objective: We reviewed the role of OS and its downstream signaling in aging eyes.Methods: A search of the literature and current knowledge on the physiological and pathological mechanisms of OS were revisited in relation to the eyes and the aging process. Most prevalent ocular diseases have been analyzed herein in relation to OS and nutraceutic supplements, such as dry-eye disorders, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.Results: Clinical, biochemical, and molecular data from anterior and posterior eye segment diseases point to OS as the common pathogenic mechanism in the majority of these ocular disorders, many of which are pathologies causing visual impairment, blindness, and subsequent loss of life quality. Studies with nutraceutic supplements in aging eye-related pathologies have also been reviewed.Conclusion: OS, nutritional status, and nutraceutic supplements have to be considered within the standards of care of older ophthalmologic patients. OS biomarkers and surrogate end points may help in managing the aging population with ocular diseases.Keywords: oxidative stress, eyes, aging, ophthalmic diseases, antioxidants, epidemiology

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study is to assess body hydration in patients with posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). PVD, one of the most common eye diseases, is associated in both research and the collective image with reduced daily water intake, but this finding is not supported by strong evidence in the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Based on Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) evaluation, different PVD stages are identified: absent posterior vitreous detachment, partial posterior vitreous detachment (P-PVD), or complete posterior vitreous detachment (C-PVD). BIA is a simple, non-invasive bedside method used to assess body composition. Patients underwent BIA and completed a floaters symptoms. 30 patients were enrolled and divided into two groups according to the degree of vitreous detachment, in P-PVD (n=12) and C-PVD (n=18). Patients underwent BIA and completed a floaters symptoms questionnaire. BIA measured the Resistance (R), Reactance (Xc), Phase Angle (PhA), Total Body Water (TBW), Extracellular Water (ECW), Fat Mass (FM), Fat-Free Mass (FFM), and Body Cell Mass Index (BCMI). Finally, patients received a test to assess adherence to the Mediterranean diet (Mediterranean Diet Test Score, MDTS) with the addition of daily water intake. RESULTS: Relevant data were obtained from the BIA evaluation: the values of R and Xc were lower in the P-PVD group than C-PVD group (respectively 417.08±58.12 O vs. 476.94±51.29 O p=0.006 and 41.33±8.23 O vs. 50.61±7.98 O p=0.004). Instead, patients in the P-PVD group reported higher values of TBW and ECW than C-PVD group (respectively 44.13±7.57 L vs. 37.96±6.27 L p=0.021 and 21.03±4.06 L vs. 17.24±2.63 L p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, we reported a significant correlation between vitreous pathology and anthropometric and BIA measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Hypertensive retinopathy (HR) is the most common ocular manifestation of systemic arterial hypertension. This paper aims to summarize the current knowledge of HR, reviewing its classical features, such as epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, classifications, management and the most significant systemic correlations. We also provide an update on the latest advances in new technologies focusing on novel instrumental classifications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was performed to identify articles regarding HR listed in Embase, PubMed, Medline (Ovid) and Scopus database up to 1 December 2021. The reference lists of the analyzed articles were also considered a source of literature information. The following keywords were used in various combinations: hypertensive retinopathy, hypertension and eye, hypertensive retinopathy and systemic correlations, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and hypertensive retinopathy, optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and hypertensive retinopathy, adaptive optics (AO) and hypertensive retinopathy. The authors analyzed all English articles found using the aforementioned keywords. All the publications were thoroughly reviewed to create a detailed overview of this issue. RESULTS: HR signs have a significative association with cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and other systemic diseases. Patients with arteriosclerotic changes and, at the same time, severe HR, are at increased risk for coronary disease, peripheral vascular disease, stroke and dementia. HR is even now diagnosed and classified by its clinical appearance on a fundoscopic exam that is limited by interobserver variability. New technologies, like OCT, OCTA, AO and artificial intelligence may be used to develop a new instrumental classification that could become an objective and quantitative method for the evaluation of this disease. They could be useful to evaluate the subclinical retinal microvascular changes due to hypertension that may reflect the involvement of other vital organs. CONCLUSIONS: The eye is the only organ in the human body where changes in the blood vessels due to systemic hypertension can be studied in vivo. All doctors should be familiar with this disease because it has been largely demonstrated that signs of HR are correlated to patient's health and mortality. Researchers should develop a new common, standardized, and objective method to assess hypertensive retinal changes; new technologies may have a significant role in this field. This review takes most of the literature published so far, including the OCTA studies in order to stimulate new points of reference to standardize parameters and new diagnostic markers of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of achieving global climate neutrality, as outlined by the Conference of Parties and the EU Green Deal, focuses on urban areas and their energy dynamics. Despite efforts, the reliance on fossil fuels highlights the need for a practical transition to diverse energy sources. This includes improving power plant efficiency and integrating renewables like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. Electrifying sectors, diversifying energy sources, deploy storage systems and are crucial to reducing dependency. Research on nuclear energy and hydrogen, is essential too. Europe aims to support 100 cities in achieving climate neutrality by 2030, using innovation, financial tools, and “Climate City Contracts” (CCC) to guide the process. Within this context, renewable energy communities could contribute up to 20% of urban energy by 2030, emphasizing the need for advanced electricity systems/smart grids.

This paper analyzes the influence of the radial electric field radiated by return strokes on the lightning performance of an overhead distribution line. The calculation of the lightning electromagnetic pulse (LEMP) over a finitely conducting ground is performed by solving the Sommerfeld integral for the radial component of the electric field. The proposed method uses a trapezoidal scheme in which nodes are equidistant in logarithmic scale. The method is implemented in the LIOV-EMTP (lightning induced overvoltages-electromagnetic transient program) code that solves the field-to-multiconductor line coupling equations and calculates the lightning induced voltages in distribution networks having complex and realistic configuration. The results obtained by the proposed method for the LEMP calculation are compared with those obtained by using the Cooray–Rubinstein formula, which is the most commonly adopted approximation. Finally, the peak-amplitude probability distributions of the induced voltages obtained by using the two approaches are presented. It is shown that for ground conductivity values larger than 0.001 S/m, the Cooray–Rubinstein formula provides results in agreement with the accurate solution, while it significantly underestimates the lightning performance for lower conductivities and for lines with a high insulation level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This note concerns the open channel flow problem. The flow is assumed to be steady (with constant discharge), two-dimensional (with non-hydrostatic pressure distribution), without both wave breaking and sediment transport. The flow problem consists in finding the location of the free surface, and the velocity and pressure fields. The problem solution is obtained by a hybrid model which incorporates the dissipation in potential flows. In order to set up the model, this note proposes a new Picard iteration for the potential velocity field. By coupling approximate expressions for the velocity field to dynamic equations, the flow problem is reduced to one of solving a nonlinear ordinary differential equation. To illustrate the model validation, numerical simulations are performed for open channel flow over curved bottom, and the free overfall problem. In terms of free surface location and bottom pressure profile, the obtained results are in good agreement with data in literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An accurate evaluation of the lightning performance of overhead power distribution lines, that is, the evaluation of the expected number of annual flashovers, can be obtained by the application of the Monte Carlo method. In order to reduce the computational effort, a simplified waveform of the channel base current is generally assumed, for example, a linearly rising current with flat top. This paper proposes a Monte Carlo approach able to take into account the typical functions adopted to represent the waveform of the lightning current at the channel base (i.e., the Heidler function and the CIGRÉ function). Moreover, this paper analyzes the effects of different current waveforms on the lightning performance of distribution lines for both direct and indirect strokes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general integral expressions for the elements of the ground impedance matrix do not have an analytical inverse transform in the time domain. Therefore, the ground transient resistance of a multiconductor line is commonly evaluated in the time domain by means of approximated expressions in order to avoid the numerical inverse fast Fourier transform burden. In this paper, we propose a new analytical approach for calculating the transient ground resistance in the time domain that stands on the very accurate Sunde logarithmic expression for the ground impedance matrix of an overhead multiconductor line. The proposed analytical approach is adopted for calculating lightning induced voltages in a multiconductor overhead line. The results show that the proposed analytical formula is in perfect agreement with the numerical inverse Fourier transform of the general Sunde expression and, therefore, is more accurate than the approximated expressions available in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid Associated Ophthalmopathy (TAO) is a complex pathology to treat and a considerable threat for Graves' Disease (GD) patients. Thus, there is great interest to find tools able to predict the onset and prognosis of TAO. Chronic inflamed tissues are characterized by tissue damage and recruitment of cells from the bloodstream, events that can lead to self-antigen exposure and induce autoimmune phenomena. In this study, we determined whether the occurrence of antibody anti-extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules [Collagen CI, CIII, CIV, CV, laminin (LM) and fibronectin, (FN)], anti-smooth muscle (ASM), anti-nuclear antigen (ANA), anti-ribonucleoprotein (RNP) and anti-thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor (TRAbs) were associated with TAO in GD patients. We analyzed serum of 50 patients affected by GD, 24 of whom were affected by TAO, and 40 healthy donors (HD). The occurrence of TRAbs or ANA, anti-SM and anti-RNP antibodies did not allow to discriminate TAO+ from TAO- GD patients. Among the 24 TAO+ and 26 TAO- patients, 15/24 and 17/26 displayed TRAbs, respectively. None of the GD patients displayed anti-RNP antibodies, while 20/24 TAO+ and 17/26 TAO- patients were found to be positive for ANA and 3/24 TAO+ and 4/26 TAO- patients showed anti-SM antibodies. Conversely, when compared with HD control sera, GD sera showed antibodies to all individual ECM molecules. Remarkably, anti-CIII autoantibodies of the IgG isotype were significantly associated with GD TAO+ patients (p=0.045). Indeed, 6 out of 24 GD TAO+ patients scored positive for anti-CIII IgGs as compared to only 1 out of 26 TAO-. Our results suggest the potential involvement of anti-ECM antibodies in GD and a contribution of anti-CIII IgGs in TAO pathogenesis of GD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inflammation triggers secondary neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS).Objectives: It is unclear whether classical anti-inflammatory cytokines have the potential to interfere with synaptic transmission and neuronal survival in MS.Methods: Correlation analyses between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) contents of anti-inflammatory cytokines and molecular, imaging, clinical, and neurophysiological measures of neuronal alterations were performed.Results: Our data suggest that interleukin-13 (IL-13) plays a neuroprotective role in MS brains. We found, in fact, that the levels of IL-13 in the CSF of MS patients were correlated with the contents of amyloid-β1-42. Correlations were also found between IL-13 and imaging indexes of axonal and neuronal integrity, such as the retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and the macular volume evaluated by optical coherence tomography. Furthermore, the levels of IL-13 were related to better performance in the low-contrast acuity test and Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite scoring. Finally, by means of transcranial magnetic stimulation, we have shown that GABAA-mediated cortical inhibition was more pronounced in patients with high IL-13 levels in the CSF, as expected for a neuroprotective, anti-excitotoxic effect.Conclusions: The present correlation study provides some evidence for the involvement of IL-13 in the modulation of neuronal integrity and synaptic function in patients with MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study on non-hydrostatic pressure and the non-uniform velocity effects using different coefficients of the kinetic energy, momentum and piezometric head. It notes on the justification on the difference in energy and momentum principles in hydraulics but they believe that such explanation is not acceptable. It states that the authors' flow process has one-dimensional character.

Gaibani P, Caroli F, Nucci C, Sambri V. Major surface protein complex of Treponema denticola induces the production of tumor necrosis factor [alpha] , interleukin-1[beta], interleukin-6 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 by primary human peripheral blood monocytes. J Periodont Res 2010; 45: 361-366. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Background and Objective: Treponema denticola is a micro-organism that is involved in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Major surface protein complex (MSPc), which is expressed on the envelope of this treponeme, plays a key role in the interaction between T. denticola and gingival cells. The peptidoglycan extracted from T. denticola induces the production of a large variety of inflammatory mediators by macrophage-like cells, suggesting that individual components of T. denticola cells induce the inflammatory response during periodontal disease. This study was designed to demonstrate that MSPc of T. denticola stimulates release of proinflammatory mediators in primary human monocytes. Material and Methods: Primary human monocytes were separated from the blood of healthy donors and incubated for up to 24 h with varying concentrations of MSPc. The production of tumor necrosis factor [alpha] (TNF-[alpha]), interleukin-1[beta] (IL-1[beta]), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) was measured at different time points with commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: T. denticola MSPc induced the synthesis of TNF-[alpha], IL-1[beta], IL-6 and MMP-9 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Similar patterns of TNF-[alpha], IL-1[beta] and IL-6 release were observed when cells were stimulated with 100 and 1000 ng/mL of MSPc. The production of MMP-9 was significant only when cells were treated with 1000 ng/mL of MSPc. Conclusion: These results indicate that T. denticola MSPc, at concentrations ranging from 100 ng/mL to 1.0 [mu]g/mL, activates a proinflammatory response in primary human monocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeTo obtain age-specific data on changes in the prevalence and management of optically correctable visual impairments (OCVIs) in Ponza, Italy.MethodsOphthalmologic examinations were carried out to 1000 Ponzans aged 40–87 years in 1988 and to 836 persons in 2000. Visual acuity (VA) was evaluated under uncorrected (VAUC), presenting (VAPR), and best-corrected (VABC) conditions. We calculated the prevalence of total OCVIs (subjects with VAUC>0.5 logMAR and VABC0.5 logMAR in the better eye), uncorrected OCVIs (VAPR>0.5 logMAR), and corrected OCVIs (VAPR0.5 logMAR) as well as the OCVI correction rate ((corrected OCVI/total OCVI) × 100). Subjects with uncorrected OCVIs were compared to those with corrected OCVIs to evaluate possible associations with some risk factors.ResultsAmong 52- to 63-year olds there were increases in the prevalence of total OCVI (from 15.7 to 22.7%, P=0.051), corrected OCVI (from 10.9 to 19.9%, P=0.005), and OCVI correction rate (from 69.2 to 87.8%, P=0.045). Among 64- to 75-year olds decreases were observed in the prevalence of total OCVI (from 28.5 to 20.0%, P=0.029) and uncorrected OCVI (from 12.6 to 4.8%, P=0.003) while the OCVI correction rate increased from 55.9 to 76.1% (P=0.033). The overall prevalence of uncorrected OCVIs dropped from 7.5 to 4.1%. In 2000, uncorrected OCVI was associated with limited education, very advanced age, retirement, and refractive error associated with eye diseases.ConclusionsRefractive error management has improved in Ponza since 1988, and these changes may be, in part, due to higher education levels, increased frequency of cataract surgery, and slower progression of cataract-related disability.Eye (2009) 23, 522–529; doi:10.1038/eye.2008.104; published online 18 April 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the morphological effects produced in vivo by two in-office bleaching agents on enamel surface roughness using a non-contact profilometric analysis of epoxy replicas. The null hypothesis tested was that there would be no difference in the micromorphology of the enamel surface during or after bleaching with two different bleaching agents. Eighteen subjects were selected and randomly assigned to two treatment groups (n=9). The tooth whitening materials tested were 38% hydrogen peroxide (HP) (Opalescence Xtra Boost) and 35% carbamide peroxide (CP) (Rembrandt Quik Start). The bleaching agents were applied in accordance with manufacturer protocols. The treatments were repeated four times at one-week intervals. High precision impressions of the upper right incisor were taken at baseline as the control (CTRL) and after each bleaching treatment (T0: first application, T1: second application at one week, T2; third application at two weeks and T3: fourth application at three weeks). Epoxy resin replicas were poured from impressions, and the surface roughness was analyzed by means of a non-contact profilometer (Talysurf CLI 1000). Epoxy replicas were then observed using SEM. All data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and differences were determined with a t-test. No significant differences in surface roughness were found on enamel replicas using either 38% hydrogen peroxide or 35% carbamide peroxide in vivo. This in vivo study supports the null hypothesis that two in-office bleaching agents, with either a high concentration of hydrogen or carbamide peroxide, do not alter enamel surface roughness, even after multiple applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]