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Corneal graft survival in rabbits was significantly (P<0-001) prolonged by topical treatment to the recipient eye with cyclosporin A 1% in arachis oil applied five times daily for 4 weeks. No graft was rejected whilst treatment was maintained but all grafts subsequently underwent rejection by the 64th postoperative day. All animals in a simultaneous control group in this fully masked study developed allograft reactions by the 23rd day. No local or systemic side-effects attributable to cyclosporin A were observed. It is believed that this is the first report of inhibition of an allograft reaction by cyclosporin A applied topically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to test the efficacy of topically applied cyclosporin-A in preventing corneal allograft rejection, existing rabbit models were modified to produce a new model in which the allograft reaction could be consistently initiated solely as a result of corneal transfer without any additional means of sensitisation. With this model, which reflects clinical corneal grafting more closely than many previous models, cyclosporin-A 1% drops applied to the recipient eye 5 times daily for 4 weeks inhibited corneal graft rejection. When cyclosporin-A 1% drops were applied to corneal allografts for 13 weeks, 44% of grafts remained clear 180 days after transplantation. No side effects were observed that could be attributed to topically applied cyclosporin-A. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Three cases of suppurative keratitis caused by Branhamella catarrhalis are described. Each presented as a localised stromal infiltrate in a previously scarred cornea. The condition responded to penicillin G and to gentamicin treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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Blood and tear levels of immunoglobulins against herpes simplex virus (HSV) were examined in 28 patients with dendritic keratitis over a period of 28 days. By means of an indirect micro-immunofluorescent technique blood and tear HSV IgG were detected, but neither circulating HSV IgM nor local HSV IgA were found. Over a four-week interval non-diagnostic fluctuations of HSV IgG occurred in most patients, though seven (25%) developed a rising blood IgG titre. Tear IgG appeared to be an exudate from blood. HSV was isolated from 68% of corneal swabbings and 11% of conjunctival swabbings. This study provides guidelines for laboratory testing in recurrent herpetic keratitis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We produced experimental immune reactions by exchanging peripheral corneal transplants between rabbits. Clobetasone butyrate 0.1% and dexamethasone phosphate 0.1% eye drops were equally effective in delaying corneal allograft rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Thirty patients with bilateral herpetic keratitis were evaluated, 40% of whom were atopic. Stromal keratitis occurred in 40% of the eyes and recurrent ulceration in 68%. Four patients (5 eyes) developed secondary microbial keratitis. Visual acuity decreased to 6/60 or less because of corneal opacification in 17% of the eyes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Sixty patients were treated with either acyclovir 2% ointment or idoxuridine 1% ointment 5 times a day in a stratified randomised double-blind clinical trial. The 2 antiviral agents were equally effective. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose. To determine the advantages of next-generation metagenomic sequencing (mNGS) technology in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious keratitis (IK). Methods. A total of 287 patients with IK admitted to the Department of Ophthalmology of Nanjing First Hospital between August 2018 and December 2022 were analyzed retrospectively, and the pathogenic causes, etiological characteristics, detection, treatment methods, and efficacy were summarized. Results. Trauma and foreign matter were the most common causes of IK (144 patients, 50.2%). Of the 287 patients, 228 (79.4%) were diagnosed with a specific etiology, including 110 (48.2%) fungal infections, 44 (19.3%) viral infections, 42 (18.4%) mixed infections, and 30 (13.2%) bacterial infections. Filamentous fungi represented by Fusarium and Aspergillus were the most common, followed by bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, viruses (Herpes Simplex Virus/Varicella-Zoster Virus), and parasites. The positivity rates of secretion culture, corneal laser confocal microscopy (CM), mNGS, and pathological sections were 47.3% (133/281), 45.3% (111/245), 83.9% (104/124), and 19.3% (40/207), respectively. The positivity rate of mNGS for bacteria and viruses was higher than that of the other methods, and the positivity rate for fungi was the same as that for CM. As a result, 214 cases (74.6%) were cured, 51 cases (17.8%) improved, 8 cases (2.8%) did not heal, ocular content enucleation was performed in 14 cases (4.9%), and the overall efficacy rate was 92.3%. Conclusion. Trauma and foreign matter are the main causes of IK. The mNGS technology is an efficient and comprehensive detection method for viruses and bacteria, especially for mixed infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics, distribution of isolates, prevailing patterns, and antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial keratitis (BK) in a Tertiary Referral Hospital located in Southwest China. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 660 cases of bacterial keratitis occurring between January 2015 and December 2022. The demographic data, predisposing factors, microbial findings, and antibiotic sensitivity profiles were examined. Results: Corneal trauma emerged as the most prevalent predisposing factor, accounting for 37.1% of cases. Among these cases, bacterial culture results were positive in 318 cases, 68 species of bacteria were identified. The most common Gram-Positive bacteria isolated overall was the staphylococcus epidermis and the most common Gram-Negative bacteria isolated was Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci accounted for 18.1% of all Gram-Positive bacteria. The detection rate of P. aeruginosa showed an increasing trend over time (Rs=0.738, P=0.037). There was a significant decrease in the percentage of Gram-Negative microorganisms over time (Rs=0.743, P=0.035). The sensitivity of Gram-Positive bacteria to linezolid, vancomycin, tigecycline, quinupristin/ dalfopristin, and rifampicin was over 98%. The sensitivity rates of Gram-Negative bacteria to amikacin, meropenem, piperacillin/tazobactam, cefoperazone sodium/ sulbactam, ceftazidime, and cefepime were all above 85%. In patients with a history of vegetative trauma, the possibility of BK should be taken into account in addition to the focus on fungal keratitis. Conclusion: The microbial composition primarily consists of Gram-Positive cocci and Gram-Negative bacilli. Among the Gram-Positive bacteria, S. epidermidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae are the most frequently encountered, while P. aeruginosa is the predominant Gram-Negative bacteria. To combat Gram-Positive bacteria, vancomycin, linezolid, and rifampicin are considered excellent antimicrobial agents. When targeting Gram-Negative pathogens, third-generation cephalosporins exhibit superior sensitivity compared to first and second-generation counterparts. As an initial empirical treatment for severe cases of bacterial keratitis and those unresponsive to fourthgeneration fluoroquinolones in community settings, the combination therapy of vancomycin and tobramycin is a justifiable approach. Bacterial keratitis can be better managed by understanding the local etiology and antibacterial drug susceptibility patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common cause of bacterial keratitis, with potential complications such as corneal perforation and endophthalmitis. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) membrane is utilized as a treatment for corneal ulcers. Maintaining a balance between collagen formation and extracellular matrix remodeling is crucial in fibrosis, a process regulated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and Tissue Inhibitors of Matrix Metalloproteinases (TIMPs). This study aims to analyze the effect of the PRF membrane on the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in keratitis. Methods: This study employed an experimental design with a randomized posttest-only control group. New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were used as animal models with Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis. Levofloxacin eye drops were administered to both the control and treatment groups. However, in the treatment group, a PRF membrane was sutured. The expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was compared between the two groups. Results: The animal models consisted of 12 New Zealand white rabbits, divided into a control group and a treatment group, each comprising 6 rabbits. The mean ± SD of MMP-9 in the treatment group was 2.58 ± 0.72, whereas in the control group, it was 4.62 ± 1.56. TIMP-1 data in the treatment group had a median of 4.10 (with a minimum of 2.00 and a maximum of 4.80), while in the control group, it was 4.80 (with a minimum of 4.20 and a maximum of 8.96). Analysis using the independent t-test and Mann-Whitney test revealed substantial disparities in the expression levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 between the control and treatment groups, with pvalues of 0.016 and 0.036, respectively. The treatment group exhibited a lower expression of MMP-9 compared to the control group, whereas the treatment group demonstrated a higher expression of TIMP-1 in comparison to the control group. Conclusion: PRF membranes can modulate MMP-9 expression and the balance between MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in degrading and depositing the extracellular matrix (ECM). They can be considered as an option for cases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis to reduce corneal scarring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research being done on infectious disease risk factors of corneal graft donors. It references a study by S. S. Hassan et al published in the 2008 issue of "Archives of Ophthalmology." The objective of the research is to investigate how donor health status affects the risk of infection after corneal transplant. The outcome measures, relevant methodology and results of the study are revealed.

The article presents a study on the role of donor corneoscleral rim cultures in the prognosis of postkeratoplasty endophthalmitis. The method of the study, which involved the review of refrigerated donor corneas, aims to measure the incidence of endophthalmitis after corneal transplantation. 2,459 patients studied had positive donor rim culture and 31 developed endophthalmitis. Isolates found in the culture include Candida species which were blamed to the preservation medium, inoculation method or type of medium. A comment on the study is included.

Ticks are obligate ectoparasites and vectors of a variety of pathogens in humans and animals. Certain tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) have been identified as the cause of zoonoses, posing potentially significant threats to the human health and livestock industries. Fungi are one of the major TBPs that can affect ticks and cause disease in humans. At present, there are few studies on the diversity of fungal microbial communities carried by Ixodes. Therefore, profiling tick-borne fungi will contribute to understanding the tick-fungal interaction. This study evaluated the community profile and differences in the fungal microbiome in Ixodidae collected on parasitic ticks or nonparasitic ticks in Wuwei, Gansu Province, China. The Shannon index, Simpson index, and Richness index were used to evaluate the diversity of mycobiome. Principle coordinates analysis (PCoA) was conducted to determine patterns of diversity in mycobiome. Using correlation analysis to determine the correlation of mycobiome. The results show that the high-throughput sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer gene generated 3,634,943 raw reads and 7,482 amplicon sequence variants. The dominant tick species in this region was Dermacentor nuttalli (Ixodidae). The mycobiome belonged to four classes—Dothideomycetes, Sordariomycetes, Ustilaginomycetes, and Tremellomycetes—and more than 261 genera, the most abundant genera were Cladosporium, Purpureocillium, Aureobasidium, Tranzscheliella, and Sporormiella. Alpha diversity indicated that the abundance and evenness of mycobiome were marginally higher in nonparasitic ticks than in parasitic ticks. PCoA showed that the community structures of parasitic ticks vary from nonparasitic ticks, samples from nonparasitic ticks tended to cluster more closely than those from the parasitic ticks. Correlation analysis indicated that there was a significant positive correlation or negative correlation between the mycobiome. Our results indicate that the mycobiome carried by Dermacentor nuttalli had rich diversity, and there was a significant difference in mycobiome between parasitic ticks and nonparasitic ticks. These findings may conducive to understand the complex interaction between ticks and commensal fungi and provide help for the further exploration of the behavioral characteristics of ticks and formulation of effective biological control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes a wide range of diseases ranging from relatively mild primary skin lesions to severe and often fatal episodes of encephalitis. Currently, the most effective drugs for HSV-infected people are nucleoside analogs (e.g., acyclovir), which target enzymes encoded by viral DNA. The effectiveness of nucleoside analogs is reduced because of poor solubility in water, rapid intracellular catabolism, high cellular toxicity, and the appearance of resistant viral strains. Antisense technology, which exploits therapeutic nucleic acids (antisense oligonucleotides, their analogs, and siRNAs), seems to be a promising alternative antiviral therapy due to the high affinity of these agents to target nucleic acids, their high solubility in water, and low cytotoxicity. In the last decade, antisense oligonucleotides have been investigated as potential medicines for various diseases associated with harmful nucleic acids. Oligonucleotides with different chemical modifications targeted to specific regions of the HSV genome have shown effectiveness in suppressing the virus. siRNA-based agents have demonstrated prolonged and efficient (up to 99%) inhibition of HSV replication. The publications over the past 30 years considered in the review suggest the promising use of therapeutic nucleic acids to combat herpes viral infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corneal transparency is an essential characteristic necessary for normal vision. In response to microbial infection, the integrity of the cornea can become compromised as a result of the inflammatory response and the ensuing tissue pathology including neovascularization (NV) and collagen lamellae destruction. We have previously found complement activation contributes to cornea pathology-specifically, denervation in response to HSV-1 infection. Therefore, we investigated whether the complement system also played a role in HSV-1-mediated neovascularization. Using wild type (WT) and complement component 3 deficient (C3 KO) mice infected with HSV-1, we found corneal NV was accelerated associated with an increase in inflammatory monocytes (CD11b + CCR2 + CD115 +/- Ly6G - Ly6C high ), macrophages (CD11b + CCR2 + CD115 + Ly6G - Ly6C high ) and a subpopulation of granulocytes/neutrophils (CD11b + CCR2 - CD115 + Ly6G + Ly6C low ). There were also increases in select pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic factors including IL-1α, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2, MMP-3, MMP-8, CXCL1, CCL2, and VEGF-A that coincided with increased inflammation, neovascularization, and corneal opacity in the C3 KO mice. The difference in inflammation between WT and C3 KO mice was not driven by changes in virus titer. However, viral antigen clearance was hindered in C3 KO mouse corneas suggesting the complement system has a dynamic regulatory role within the cornea once an inflammatory cascade is initiated by HSV-1.

Background: Fungal keratitis is a common blinding eye disease, and Fusarium is one of the main species that cause fungal keratitis. As is well known, oxidative stress plays an important role in Fusarium keratitis and it is also a significant initiating factor of ferroptosis. But the relationship between Fusarium keratitis and ferroptosis is currently unclear. This study aimed to speculate and validate potential ferroptosis-related genes in Fusarium keratitis using bioinformatics analysis, which provided ideas for further research on its specific mechanism and new targets for its treatment. Methods: The microarray expression profiling dataset (GSE58291) came from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained by the limma package of the R software. The DEGs were performed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. Then, the DEGs were intersected with the genes in the ferroptosis database. The top 5 hub genes were obtained by the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and the cytoHubba plug-in of Cytoscape software. The hub genes were subjected to GSEA analysis. Then we analyzed the immune infiltration of the samples by CIBERSORT and ssGSEA algorithm. Finally, we validated the mRNA of hub genes by qPCR. Results: A total of 1,368 DEGs were identified and 26 ferroptosis-related DEGs were obtained. At the same time, ferroptosis-related pathways were enriched by GO and KEGG using DEGs. HMOX1, CYBB, GPX2, ALOX5 and SRC were obtained by the PPI network analysis and the cytoHubba plug-in of Cytoscape software. The iron metabolism and immune response related pathways were enriched using GSEA. They included hematopoietic cell lineage, lysosome and FC gamma R mediated phagocytosis. T cells follicular helper, monocytes, macrophages and mast cells might play an important role in Fusarium keratitis using analysis of immune infiltration. Finally, qPCR confirmed that the expression of HMOX1, CYBB, ALOX5 mRNA in the DON group was significantly elevated, while the expression of GPX2 were significantly decreased. Conclusions: Ferroptosis may play an important role in Fusarium keratitis. HMOX1, CYBB, ALOX5 and GPX2 may be key ferroptosis-related genes in the pathogenesis of Fusarium keratitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]