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Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of self‐tonometry on clinicians' decision in glaucoma treatment. Materials and Methods: Medical records of 133 patients who had performed self‐tonometry using iCare® Home between January and December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion criteria were as follows: age over 18 years, all types of glaucoma, as well as ocular hypertension and glaucoma suspect, compliance with tonometer manufacturer's recommendations and monitoring over at least 2 days. The data consisted of age, gender, diagnosis, visual field index, rate of progression and type of treatment pre‐ and post‐intraocular pressure (IOP) phasing. The following IOP measurements were used to calculate the mean and maximum IOP, and range over each day and consecutive days: Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) measurements from referral and training visits and iCare® Home measurements made by the trainers and the patients themselves. A total of 90 patients were included. Results: Clinicians were satisfied with the actual treatment in 54.4% of the cases. There was a statistically significant difference between the clinicians' decision to maintain same treatment or to escalate therapy for all the mean and maximum IOPs measured on each single day and over a 2‐ or 3‐day period (p < 0.002). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the presence of high IOP values obtained with self‐tonometry supports an intensification of glaucoma treatment. Self‐tonometry provides clinicians with an important complement for clinical decision‐making, and under‐ or over‐treatment may be avoided for the benefit of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The VISIONARY study demonstrated statistically significant intraocular pressure (IOP) reductions with the preservative-free fixed-dose combination of tafluprost 0.0015% and timolol 0.5% (PF tafluprost/timolol FC) in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT) patients, sub-optimally controlled with topical prostaglandin analogue (PGA) or beta-blocker monotherapy. Current subanalyses have examined these data according to the baseline monotherapy. Methods: A European, prospective, observational study included adults (aged ≥ 18 years) with OAG or OHT, who were switched to the PF tafluprost/timolol FC from PGA or beta-blocker monotherapy. Treatment outcomes were reported according to prior monotherapy subgroup: beta-blocker, preserved latanoprost, PF-latanoprost, bimatoprost, tafluprost, and travoprost. Endpoints included the mean change from baseline regarding IOP, conjunctival hyperemia, and corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) at Week 4 and Week 12, and at Month 6. Results: The subanalysis included 577 patients. All prior monotherapy subgroups demonstrated statistically significant IOP reductions from baseline at Week 4, that were maintained through Month 6 (p < 0.001). Mean (SD) IOP change at Month 6 was 6.6 (4.16), 6.3 (4.39), 5.6 (3.67), 4.9 (2.97), 4.6 (4.39), and 4.7 (3.64) mmHg for prior beta-blocker, preserved latanoprost, PF-latanoprost, tafluprost, bimatoprost, and travoprost subgroups, respectively. The largest IOP change was observed in the preserved latanoprost subgroup for each of the ≥ 20%, ≥ 25%, ≥ 30%, and ≥ 35% IOP reduction categories at Month 6, demonstrating respective reductions of 8.06, 9.20, 10.64, and 11.55 mmHg. CFS was significantly reduced at Month 6 in the prior bimatoprost subgroup (p = 0.0013). Conjunctival hyperemia severity was significantly reduced at each study visit for prior preserved latanoprost users (p < 0.001). Conclusion: PF tafluprost/timolol FC therapy provided statistically and clinically significant IOP reductions from Week 4 over the total 6-month period, in patients with OAG/OHT, regardless of the type of prior PGA or beta-blocker monotherapy used. Conjunctival hyperemia severity and CFS decreased significantly in prior bimatoprost and preserved latanoprost users, respectively. Clinical Study Number: European Union electronic Register of Post-Authorization Studies (EU PAS) register number: EUPAS22204. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased tissue stiffness is a hallmark of cancer and promotes tumor progression. It is hypothesized that decreased tumorous stress may aid or sensitize chemotherapies. To overcome extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffening and fulfill sensitized chemotherapy in one nanosystem, a reactive oxygen species‐activatable nanoenzyme (SP‐NE) based on a dendritic polyglycerol scaffold, integrating collagenase and paclitaxel (PTX) prodrug, is constructed. The dense and tough ECM is highly remitted by SP‐NE in the tumor microenvironment (TME) mimicking gelatin hydrogel models, which causes cell shrinkage, disorders cytoskeletal constructions, and subsequently enhances chemotherapeutic efficacy. ECM softening via SP‐NE downregulates mechanotransduction signaling pathways of integrin‐focal adhesion kinase (FAK)‐Ras homolog family member A (RhoA) implicated in cytoskeletal assembly, and integrin‐FAK‐phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase (pERK 1/2) mediating mitosis. Notably, this programmed nanosystem in human breast MCF‐7 tumor‐bearing mice models displays a significant relief of ECM stress from 4300 to 1200 Pa and results in 87.1% suppression of tumor growth at a low PTX dosage of 3 mg kg−1. The attenuated expression of the key players RhoA and pERK 1/2 involved in cellular mechano‐sensing is further verified in vivo. This study thus provides a new and potential nanoplatform to selectively decrease TME stiffness for enhanced chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A non-interventional, multicenter, European, prospective evaluation of the effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of a topical preservative-free tafluprost (0.0015%) and timolol (0.5%) fixed-dose combination (PF tafluprost/timolol FC) in adults with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT) demonstrating insufficient response to topical beta-receptor blockers or prostaglandin analogue (PGA) monotherapy.Methods: Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) change from baseline was measured at study visits following a switch to PF tafluprost/timolol FC. Primary endpoint was absolute mean IOP change at month 6. Change from baseline concerning ocular signs and symptoms was also explored.Results: Analyses included 577 patients (59.6% female). Mean age (SD) was 67.8 (11.67) years. Mean (SD) IOP reduction from baseline was significant at all study visits; 5.4 (3.76) mmHg (23.7%) at week 4, 5.9 (3.90) mmHg (25.6%) at week 12, and 5.7 (4.11) mmHg (24.9%) at month 6 (p < 0.0001 for all visits). At month 6, 69.2%, 53.6%, 40.0%, and 25.8% were responders based on ≥ 20%, ≥ 25%, ≥ 30%, and ≥ 35% cutoff values for mean IOP, respectively. Significant reductions were observed concerning corneal fluorescein staining (p < 0.0001), dry eye symptoms, irritation, itching, and foreign body sensation (p < 0.001 for each parameter). Conjunctival hyperemia was significantly reduced at all study visits (p < 0.0001 at each visit). Overall, 69 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were reported, one of which was serious (status asthmaticus). Most AEs were mild to moderate in severity, and the majority had resolved or were resolving at the end of the study period.Conclusion: In clinical practice, PF tafluprost/timolol FC provided statistically and clinically significant IOP reductions in patients with OAG and OHT insufficiently controlled on or intolerant to PGA or beta-receptor blocker monotherapy. The full IOP reduction appeared at week 4 and was maintained over the 6-month study period. Key symptoms of ocular surface health improved.Trial Registration: European Union electronic Register of Post-Authorisation Studies (EU PAS) register number, EUPAS22204. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]