Objective: To investigate the levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in tears of patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP).Design: Prospective, noninterventional cohort study.Participants: Four SJS patients (7 eyes), 19 OCP patients (37 eyes), and 20 healthy controls who underwent phacoemulsification (40 eyes).Methods: Tear washes were collected from all patients and were analyzed for levels of MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-8, MMP-9, MMP-12, MPO, and TIMP-1 using multianalyte bead-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Total MMP activity was determined using a fluorometric assay. Correlation studies were performed between the various analytes within study (Read more...)
FDA: Don’t Use Any Sterile Product From NuVision Pharmacy
Sterile products from NuVision may still pose serious risks to patients and should not be used, the FDA said. News Alerts
Lab Notes: Sugar-Fed Mice Lose the Rat Race
(MedPage Today) — When mice ate proportionately as much sugar as many Americans, they died earlier, mated less frequently, and were bullied more by other mice. Also this week: new insight into atherosclerosis.
Research in Retinal Disease: The Foundation Fighting Blindness Invests $2.1 Million in Seven New Research Efforts
As I continually search the web for interesting news about new technologies for treating retinal diseases, I came across this news from the Foundation Fighting Blindness’ website yesterday afternoon. It relates to some of the annual grants to researchers that the FFB will be funding this year. It includes better ways of looking at retinal cells (via use of the adaptive optics laser scanning ophthalmoscope) and several projects involving gene therapy, along with a couple looking at ways of, hopefully, stopping the progression of dry AMD.
The following write up is reprinted with permission of the FFB.
PEEK App Uses Smartphone Technology to Bring Eye Exams to Developing Countries
Smartphone camera quality may sound like a first world issue, but camera-equipped cell phones may be the key to treating the eyes of over 250 million people with visual impairments who live in third world countries. A new application called PEEK (Portable Eye Examination Kit) puts a number of standard tests on a standard smartphone. The phone&rsquo (Read more...)
A 62-Year-Old Man With Pain and Photophobia
This patient was initially treated for bacterial conjunctivitis, but what other eye condition could he still be suffering from? Medscape Optometry