bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Morphogenesis of the optic vesicles – The roots of retinogenesis in amniote embryos
Authors: Grocott Timothy 
Published: December 2022

AbstractEye number varies dramatically across the animal kingdom. We recently discovered a self‐organizing gene network involving eye master control gene Pax6, which casts new light on eye number regulation. In amniote vertebrates, eye number variation manifests as cyclopia – the formation of a single eye in the centre of the head – caused by defects in midline Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signalling. In the developing embryo, the retinas derive from the optic vesicles of the primitive forebrain. Yet how the optic vesicles are themselves generated in amniote embryos, and the molecular pathways that regulate their morphogenesis, is a surprisingly neglected question. During healthy development a pair of vesicles grow either side of the anterior neural tube, contributing cells to the developing forebrain and retinas. In cyclopia a single vesicle grows at the ventral midline, which is widely attributed to a loss of Pax6 inhibition by Shh, yet paradoxically Pax6 is thought not to initiate optic vesicle outgrowth in amniotes. How then is optic vesicle outgrowth initiated and number regulated? Using chick as an experimental model, our recent data suggest that optic vesicles may normally grow from paired growth zones within the anterior neural folds of the amniote neural tube. We hypothesize that cyclopia occurs following ventral fusion of these growth zones in the absence of midline Shh signalling.
Myopia risk factors
Authors: Lanca Carla 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThere have been significant increases in the prevalence of childhood myopia in the past three decades. An earlier onset of myopia may predispose children to high myopia and potential blinding conditions in adulthood, such as myopic macular degeneration. A young child with a low hypermetropic refraction has a greater likelihood of developing myopia, thereby increasing the risk of blindness. Thus, it is important to understand risks factors for myopia to develop appropriate prevention plans, screening programs and treatment strategies to control myopia progression. Both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated in the development of myopia and its progression. Basic birth parameters, such as ethnicity, parental myopia, and gender have been identified as risk factors for myopia and myopia progression. Although, there is mix evidence on gender predilection and myopia. In populations of European ancestry, genetic variation accounts for about 12% of the variance in mean spherical equivalent (SE). Furthermore, the increases in myopia prevalence in the last years do not seem to be primarily due to genetic variation, but rather environmental changes. Strong evidence on the association between environmental factors and myopia has been provided by mendelian randomization studies, randomized clinical trials and meta‐analysis. Major environmental factors, include level of education and time spent outdoors. Other environmental factors include near work, screen time and urbanization. However, evidence on the associations between near work, screen time and myopia have been mixed. Modifiable environmental risk factors provide an important basis for the design of preventive interventions. Further research on the interactions between genetic and environmental factors is necessary to better understand the pathophysiology mechanisms of myopia.
Contrast polarity and myopia
Authors: Schaeffel Frank 
Published: December 2022

AbstractTo transmit the visual information detected by 125 Million photoreceptors in the retina through the optic nerve, with only about 1 Million ganglion cell axons, the retina has to compress information down to about 1 percent. Aside of receptor pooling, a major trick is to form receptive fields with ON/OFF structure which compare brightness in the center with the brightness in the periphery and reduce the information to spatial–temporal differences, while absolute luminances largely ignored. Two major types are found: ON center, which are activated by light in the center and inhibited by light in the periphery and OFF center with the inverse response patterns. Such receptive fields are perfectly suited to detect defocus which represents low pass filtering of the spatial frequencies in the image. It was found in animal models that suppression of ON pathways is generally related to more axial eye growth and can enhance deprivation myopia while suppression of OFF has little or an inverted effect. Analysing the ON and OFF input strength in our visual environment, we found that reading text with conventional contrast overstimulates OFF channels while reading with inverted contrast strongly stimulates ON channels. After reading for one hour, we found that the choroid becomes thinner with conventional text, but thicker with contrast‐inverted text. Since there is considerable published evidence that choroidal thickening is a precursor of myopia inhibition, reading text with inverted contrast may be beneficial against myopia progression. We have also tested different text sizes. The effect was not observed with a letter height of 0.25 deg (like on a smart phone) but prominent at 0.5 deg (like in a book). Interestingly, choroidal thickening was induced both in emmetropic and myopic subjects, suggesting that the approach should also work in myopes. We have previously found that myopic subjects show a reduced choroidal response, compared to emmetropes, when positive defocus was imposed for 30 min. The functional deficit in the myopic retina appears limited to the detection of defocus while the activity of ON and OFF pathways is not affected. A major question for future research is whether and how ON/OFF processing may be linked to the detection of the sign of defocus by the retina.Research supported by IOB.No proprietary interest.
Benefits and limitations of the low dose atropine use
Authors: Grzybowski Andrzej 
Published: December 2022

AbstractAtropine is an anti‐muscarinic agent and can be used as a monotherapy or as a combination to slow the progression of myopia. It has been advocated as the first line of treatment in children with lower cost compared with other therapies, and it is a good option for children intolerant to contact lenses and when other treatment options are rejected by parents. The major limitations of topical atropine therapy include the adverse effects with higher concentrations (0.1% and higher), such as reduced amplitude of accommodation and photophobia, and the need for daily dosing. Efficacy of low‐dose atropine treatment has been confirmed by several meta‐analysis showing reduced SE progression and decreased axial elongation. The results from the Low‐Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) study (3‐year RCT results) in Chinese children showed that 0.05% atropine conferred the best efficacy compared with 0.025% and 0.01%. However, it was postulated that the use of 0.05% topical atropine in Caucasian children may lead to more side effects compared to 0.01%, which can compromise parent's acceptance or children's compliance. The efficacy and safety of 8 atropine concentrations for myopia control in children was reported in a recent network meta‐analysis, in which the 0.05% was found the most beneficial for control of overall myopia progression. It is generally believed that the atropine dose should be adjusted based on the risk factors and progression.
Optical methods in myopia control
Authors: Bremond‐Gignac Dominique 
Published: December 2022

AbstractAs myopia increased dramatically in Asia and all over the world, the use of myopia control devices is proposed in evolutive forms. An initial ocular check‐up is performed to adapt the best system to control myopia evolution. Optical correction are based on defocus system to control myopia. Defocus glasses with different systems (DIMS, HALT…), defocus soft contact lenses with systems (dual concentric ring, EDOF), and orthokeratology are proposed to treat myopia and must be customized to children and parent needs.
Alternatives for corneal endothelial tissue engineering
Authors: Thuret Gilles 
Published: December 2022

AbstractCorneal endothelial diseases are common almost everywhere in the world and have 3 main origins: primary diseases, largely dominated by Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), iatrogenic diseases which mainly complicate lens surgery, whether cataract or clear lens, but also other surgeries. The frequency of these complications is very low but the number of these surgeries being gigantic (probably around 50 million cases/year/worlwide), the number of post‐surgical bullous keratopathy remains important. Post‐keratoplasty endothelial failure (early or late) is the 3rd cause.All these diseases “consume” 50% of corneal grafts in the world and a large part of the population does not have access to any graft. The number of corneal donors is absolutely insufficient to meet the world demand and corneal bioengineering appears to be a realistic solution to complete the offer. Because of its relative simplicity and the demonstrated effectiveness of endothelial keratoplasty, endothelial bioengineering is logically the first to be developed. The Japanese team of 2 Kyoto universities (Prof. S. Kinoshita, N. Koizumi and N. Okumura) is a pioneer in this field and has demonstrated the effectiveness of injection therapy, which consists of cultivating mature endothelial cells from a small number of corneas from young donors, then injecting them into the anterior chamber of patients. The industrialization of the process is underway in 2 different start‐ups, one in the United States, the other in Japan. In addition to injection therapy, the bioengineering of endothelial grafts (Tissue engineered endothelial keratoplasty, TEEK), which consists of cultivating endothelial cells on a “corneo‐compatible” carrier to exactly reproduce a DMEK or a DSAEK, has passed the preclinical stage. This presentation will detail these different processes, their current limitations and the short, medium and long term perspectives. These Advanced Therapy Medicinal products (ATMP) are clearly revolutionizing corneal transplantation. By offering a new treatment for endothelial diseases, they will make it possible to redirect donor corneas to other corneal diseases that have no therapeutic alternative. Finally, this paper will also discuss the prospects of medical and medico‐surgical treatments for FECD, which are at the frontier of endothelial bioengineering.
Acanthamoeba keratitis – Specific conservative treatment or surgery?
Authors: Szentmary Nora 
Published: December 2022

AbstractClinical signs of acanthamoeba keratitis are in early stages grey‐dirty epithelium, pseudodendritiformic epitheliopathy, perineuritis, multifocal stromal infiltrates, ring infiltrate and in later stages scleritis, iris atrophy, anterior synechiae, secondary glaucoma, mature cataract, and chorioretinitis. Our finding emphasizes that pre‐testing the in vitro susceptibility of the AK isolate with the non‐nutrient E. coli agar plate assay against the anti‐amoebic drug intended for treatment will give valuable information on whether the drug is likely to be active on the Acanthamoeba isolate in vivo. In therapy resistant cases, surgical treatment options such as corneal cryotherapy, amniotic membrane transplantation, riboflavin‐UVA cross‐linking, and penetrating keratoplasty are applied.
Mycotic keratitis – Experience in Europe
Authors: Daas Loay , Hamon C. Sourlis L. , Seitz B. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractMycotic keratitis is a rare but severe ophthalmological illness, which has to be taken very seriously with a potentially sight‐threatening outcome. Over the last two decades, an increase of cases with mycotic keratitis has been noticed, which has possibly caused an increased use of soft contact lenses. Therapy is often lengthy and difficult. In a lot of cases, surgical therapy, i.e. corneal transplantation is indicated. For this reason, it is essential to discuss during the clarification process the necessity of a keratoplasty during the course of treatment. In this talk, we would like to give an overview on the typical clinical signs, symptoms, diagnostics and therapy options as well as confocal microscopy for diagnosis of mycotic keratitis.
Epidemiology and risk factors for myopia development
Authors: Grzybowski Andrzej 
Published: December 2022

AbstractMyopia due to high prevalence in recent years gained importance in epidemiological studies. It is estimated that 1.4 billion people were myopic in 2000, and it has been predicted that by 2050 the number will reach 4.8 billion. It is known that children with early onset and/or rapid progression are at risk of complications associated with high myopia in the future, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataract, optic disk changes and maculopathy.The myopia prevalence ranges from 0.7% in Saudi Arabia to 65.5% in the Haidian district of Beijing; with the highest prevalence in schoolchildren in East Asia and Singapore, urban areas of China, Taiwan and South Korea. In Europe the prevalence rates reached 42.7% in a 10–19‐year French cohort. Interestingly, the majority of the studies reporting on myopia prevalence with non‐cycloplegic measurements compared with cycloplegic measurements reported much higher prevalence rates.The major risk factors for myopia onset and progression include parental myopia, ethnic differences, less time outdoors, increased near work and reading distance less than 30 cm, population density and socioeconomic status.
Work up of paediatric uveitis
Authors: Willermain Francois 
Published: December 2022

AbstractAlthough children represent a minority of uveitis patients, their management represent a clinical challenge. Indeed, their visual prognosis is poorer, their examinations and investigations more difficult and there are more idiopathic cases. Some etiologies are specific of childhood uveitis, others are common between adult and paediatric uveitis, but differently distributed in these two groups. Certain, like birdshot, are never found in children (or exceptionally). The work up of uveitis in children is thus relatively different that the one performed in adults patients. These particularities of paediatric uveitis work up will be illustrate in this presentation.
TINU syndrome
Authors: Makhoul Dorine 
Published: December 2022

AbstractTubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome is defined as the association of tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) and uveitis in a patient without any other systemic disease that can cause this overlap of ocular and renal inflammation. Commonly, ocular involvement consists in a sudden‐onset bilateral non‐granulomatous anterior uveitis. However, it is becoming clear that non‐granulomatous anterior uveitis is not the only uveitis phenotype associated with TINU syndrome. It is likely that this uveitis aetiology is underestimated as nephritis is most of the time self‐limited. Although a reliable diagnosis of TIN can be made from clinical and laboratory findings, renal biopsy is required for its definitive diagnosis. On the other hand, the increase of urinary β‐2 microglobulin and serum creatine level has been proposed as a potential tool to screen and follow nephritis in TINU syndrome. The main purpose of this presentation is to clarify the assessment in case of TINU syndrome suspicion, to describe the associated uveitis as well as the management.
How to best take care of young patients with glaucoma
Authors: Sacchi Matteo 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPaediatric glaucoma is a potentially sight‐threatening disease and is considered the second leading cause of treatable childhood blindness. Paediatric glaucoma is a clinical entity including a wide range of conditions: primary congenital glaucoma, glaucoma secondary to ocular (e.g., aniridia, Peter's anomaly), or systemic disease (e.g., Sturge Weber) and glaucoma secondary to acquired condition (pseudophakic, traumatic, uveitic glaucoma). The treatment algorithm of childhood glaucoma is a step‐by‐step approach, often starting with surgery, as in primary congenital glaucoma cases. Medical therapy is also crucial in the management of paediatric glaucoma.Here we discuss the approach to a child with glaucoma, from the diagnosis to the medical and surgical treatment. Efficacy and side effects of each approach will be discussed.In the talk it is emphasized that paediatric glaucoma is one of the most challenging ocular disorder, requiring a step‐by‐step approach, several examinations, often multiple surgeries, and lifelong care and that a strong alliance between eye care staff and family is of paramount importance in this challenging but also rewarding journey.
VEGFA165‐induced persistent impairment of the retinal endothelial cells' barrier only transiently depends on the growth factor's action
Authors: Deissler Heidrun L. , Rehak Matus 
Published: December 2022

AbstractRetinal endothelial cells (REC) form a stable barrier persistently disrupted by exposure to 1.2 nM VEGFA165 at least for up to 9 days. Such impairment – associated with persistently low cell index values assessed as a measure of permeability and low expression or loss of plasma membrane presence of tight‐junction protein claudin‐1 – can be completely prevented by binding VEGFA or by preventing VEGFA‐driven signal transduction. When added to REC exposed to VEGFA165 for 1 day, VEGF‐binding proteins or inhibitors of VEGF receptor 2 completely but only transiently revert these disturbances induced by the growth factor not improved by addition of a second portion of the VEGFA antagonist. This inhibition is – if ever – only partially successful after addition of the inhibitors to cells exposed to VEGFA for 3 or 6 days. VEGFA concentrations in the supernatant of VEGFA‐exposed cells decline from 0.6 nM 2 days after addition to 0.1 nM after 9 days which is below the threshold necessary to induce a barrier disturbance. Free VEGFA is also not present in the supernatant of cells exposed to the growth factor and its antagonists, and other permeability‐inducing cytokines, i.e. TNFalpha, IL‐6 or IL‐8, are also not secreted during exposure to VEGFA165 for 9 days. Taken together, disturbances of para‐ and transcellular flow can be prevented or reverted by blocking VEGFA‐driven signal transduction only early during exposure, because persistent changes no longer depend on the growth factor's action.
The impact of Müller cells on development and resolution of macular edema
Authors: Rehak Matus 
Published: December 2022

AbstractMüller cells support physiological neuronal activity and the integrity of the blood‐retinal barrier. A major function of Müller cells is the fluid absorption from the retinal tissue, which is mediated by transcellular water transport coupled to currents through potassium channels. In various disorders as retinal ischemia, ocular inflammation and /or retinal detachment, it was shown that Müller cells decrease the expression of the potassium channel (Kir4.1) which leads to an impairment of the water transport across Müller cell membranes, and induces the cellular swelling. Osmotic swelling of Müller cells is also induced by oxidative stress and by inflammatory mediators. The data suggest that a disturbed fluid transport through Müller cells is (in addition to vascular leakage) a pathogenic factor contributing to the development of retinal edema. Pharmacological re‐activation of the retinal water clearance by Müller cells may be used for treatment of macular edema. Intravitreal steroids as triamcinolone acetonide prevent osmotic swelling of Müller cells and induce the release of endogenous adenosine and subsequent A1 receptor activation which results in the opening of ion channels. Apparently, steroids resolve the edema by both inhibition of vascular leakage and stimulation of retinal fluid clearance by Müller cells.
Diabetic macular edema
Authors: Grzybowski Andrzej 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe main diabetic macular edema (DME) treatment options include intravitreal injections of anti‐VEGF agents and intravitreal injections of corticosteroids. In the past, macular laser photocoagulation (LP) was a standard of DME treatment, however, now it is utilized as an additional treatment. Two most important techniques of LP in patients with DME include focal photocoagulation and the grid laser. According to European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA) guidelines focal or grid laser should be utilized mainly for non‐center involving DME. In recent years anti‐VEGFs were found superior over typical laser treatment in DME patients. However, new tissue‐sparing technique, subthreshold micropulse laser (SML), avoids protein coagulation and prevents retinal scars, allowing retinal anatomic and functional preservation. It helps to improve or stabilize visual function and decrease macular thickness in treatment of DME.Corticosteroids are often used as an alternative therapy for eyes with insufficient response to anti‐VEGF treatment because they act on different targets than anti‐VEGF agents leading to by inflammation reduction, decrease in the disruption of the blood‐retinal barrier, and retinal angiogenesis. The major steroids used in the treatment of DME include triamcinolone acetonide (TA), dexamethasone (DEX) and fluocinolone acetonide (FA). It is known, however, that steroids frequently increase the intraocular pressure, and are related with the risk of cataract development.
The bread and butter: Structural OCT and OCT‐A in uveitis
Authors: Burke Tomas 
Published: December 2022

AbstractOCT has been transformative in the diagnosis, follow‐up and management of patient with uveitis. OCT‐Angiography (OCT‐A), as a further evolution in OCT technology, has shed new light on the pathogenesis and assessment of uveitides.In this session, there will be a discussion of how OCT and OCT‐A are used in the diagnosis and follow‐up of uveitis; how these imaging modalities relate to each other; as well as how they relate to other modalities in the multimodal imaging sphere.
Meeting and old friend: Fundus autofluorescence in uveitis
Authors: Follonosa Alejandro 
Published: December 2022

AbstractFundus autofluorescence (FAF) represents a relatively new imaging modality that has been investigated in a variety of uveitic disease processes. FAF relies on the presence of innate fluorophores within ocular tissues, which can be induced to emit light when stimulated with specific frequencies of light.Autofluorescence in the RPE depends on the outer segment renewal and can be affected by the RPE's ability to clear lipofuscin. Hence, an increased autofluorescence is seen with RPE dysfunction and a decreased autofluorescence is seen with loss of photoreceptors or the RPE.Abnormal autofluorescence patterns have been described in a number of infectious and non‐infectious uveitides. Most reports of abnormal FAF in patients with uveitis belong to the spectrum of white‐dot‐syndromes. In the present course we will review the main autofluorescence abnormalities in disease like Serpiginous and Serpiginous‐like choroiditis, multifocal choroiditis, punctate inner choroiditis, multiple evanescent white dot syndrome and AZOOR. The recognition of theses abnormalities (in combination with other imaging techniques like optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography‐angiography) is extremely helpful for understanding their pathogenesis and monitoring the inflammatory activity.
Watching the cell: The future of imaging in uveitis
Authors: Chu Colin 
Published: December 2022

AbstractBeing able to image individual immune cells and their live behaviour in the retina will be critical to improving our understanding and management of patients with posterior uveitis. While we can observe cells in the anterior chamber and vitreous, this often does not always reflect retinal inflammation. Many of our measures of inflammation also are indirect, such as vascular leakage, macular oedema or deterioration in the electroretinogram. I will discuss our pre‐clinical work towards this goal, efforts across the wider field and the translational pathway forward for application to uveitis patients.