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1.	Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:492150. doi: 10.1155/2015/492150. Epub 2015 Feb 18. Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography for monitoring the lower tear meniscus in dry eye after acupuncture treatment. Lin T1, Gong L1, Liu X2, Ma X3. Author information:  1Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University, No. 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China. 2Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China. 3Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, No. 650 Wanping South Road, Shanghai 200030, China. Abstract Dry eye is highly prevalent and has a significant impact on quality of life. Acupuncture was found to be effective to treat dry eye. However, little was known about the effect of acupuncture on different subtypes of dry eye. The objective of this study was to investigate the applicability of tear meniscus assessment by Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography in the evaluation of acupuncture treatment response in dry eye patients and to explore the effect of acupuncture on different subtypes of dry eye compared with artificial tear treatment. A total of 108 dry eye patients were randomized into acupuncture or artificial tear group. Each group was divided into three subgroups including lipid tear deficiency (LTD), Sjögren syndrome dry eye (SSDE), and non-Sjögren syndrome dry eye (Non-SSDE) for data analysis. After 4-week treatment, the low tear meniscus parameters including tear meniscus height (TMH), tear meniscus depth (TMD), and tear meniscus area (TMA) in the acupuncture group increased significantly for the LTD and Non-SSDE subgroups compared with both the baseline and the control groups (all P values < 0.05), but not for the SSDE. Acupuncture provided a measurable improvement of the tear meniscus dimensions for the Non-SSDE and LTD patients, but not for the SSDE patients.  Free Article
	PMID: 25788963 [PubMed]
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2.	Optom Vis Sci. 2015 Mar 17. [Epub ahead of print] Long-term Rebamipide and Diquafosol in Two Cases of Immune-Mediated Dry Eye. Yamane M1, Ogawa Y, Fukui M, Kamoi M, Saijo-Ban Y, Yaguchi S, Mukai S, Kawakita T, Simmura S, Tsubota K. Author information:  1*MD †PhD Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan (all authors). Abstract PURPOSE:  Two new drugs with mucin-inducing and secretion-promotive effects, rebamipide and diquafosol, were recently approved as topical dry-eye treatments. We report two cases in which the long-term use of mucin-inducing eye drops improved chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD)-related dry eye and ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP)-like disease. CASE REPORTS:  Case 1. A 61-year-old woman had cGVHD-related dry eye that resisted traditional medications. Next, we use topical diquafosol in addition to conventional treatments. The patient used diquafosol for 6 months without experiencing any side effects. The symptoms, including dry-eye sensation, ocular pain, foreign body sensation, and photophobia, as well as ocular surface findings including fluorescein and rose bengal scores and tear break-up time (TBUT), partly improved. To further improve the clinical signs and symptoms and decrease chronic inflammation, rebamipide was added to diquafosol. The symptoms, TBUT, and fluorescein and rose bengal scores markedly improved after long-term dual treatment without any side effects for 6 months. Case 2. A 77-year-old woman had OCP-like disease with dry eye. The patient did not improve using the currently available conventional treatments. Next, we use topical rebamipide in addition to conventional treatments. Symptoms including asthenopia, dry-eye sensation, ocular pain, and dull sensation, as well as fluorescein and rose bengal scores and TBUT, partly improved. Specifically, functional visual acuity was markedly improved after commencement of rebamipide. To further improve the clinical signs and symptoms and increase tear film stability and tear film volume, diquafosol was added to rebamipide. The combination of diquafosol and rebamipide worked for the patient. Improvements were seen in several symptoms, fluorescein and rose bengal scores, Schirmer test value, and TBUT without any side effects for 12 months. CONCLUSIONS:  Long-term treatment with topical rebamipide and diquafosol can improve dry eye in patients with cGVHD or OCP-like disease.This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License, where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially.
	PMID: 25785527 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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3.	Br J Ophthalmol. 2015 Mar 17. pii: bjophthalmol-2014-306327. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2014-306327. [Epub ahead of print] The treatment of carcinoma in situ and squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva with fractionated strontium-90 radiation in a population with a high prevalence of HIV. Lecuona K1, Stannard C2, Hart G2, Rice J1, Cook C1, Wetter J2, Duffield M3. Author information:  1Department Ophthalmology, Groote Schuur Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. 2Department Radiation Oncology, Groote Schuur Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. 3Department of Anatomical Pathology, Groote Schuur Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. Abstract BACKGROUND:  This study explores the safety and efficacy of strontium 90 (Sr-90) brachytherapy as the sole adjuvant therapy for carcinoma in situ (CIS) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the conjunctiva in a high HIV prevalent area. METHODS:  This is a retrospective case review of patients treated with 60 Gray Sr-90 brachytherapy in four divided doses after resection with a 2 mm margin and histological confirmation. Cryotherapy or alcohol debridement was not performed at the time of excision due to limited resources. Two plaque sizes, 8.5 mm and 18 mm, were used. RESULTS:  Sixty-nine patients were treated and had a median follow-up of 27 months (range 6-127). Thirty-three (47.8%) were HIV-positive. CIS was present in 40.6% and SCC in 59.4%. The surgical margins were positive in 39 (56.5%). Twenty patients (29.0%) were treated with the 18 mm plaque and 49 (71.0%) with the 8.5 mm plaque. Eight (11.6%) patients developed a recurrence at a median of 5 months (range 2-40). Recurrences only occurred in patients treated with the 8.5 mm plaque (p=0.094). There was no significant effect of HIV status, positive margins or staging on the number of recurrences. Treatment side effects were a dry eye in five patients which was successfully managed with topical lubricants, and induced astigmatism of 1 dioptre of cylinder in one patient. CONCLUSIONS:  Sr-90 brachytherapy is safe and effective in preventing recurrences in ocular surface squamous neoplasia in a high HIV prevalent setting. The 18 mm plaque size is superior to the 8.5 mm plaque size. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
	PMID: 25784215 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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4.	Cornea. 2015 Mar 13. [Epub ahead of print] Concordance Between Patient and Clinician Assessment of Dry Eye Severity and Treatment Response in Taiwan. Yeh PT1, Chien HC, Ng K, Tseng SH, Chen WL, Hou YC, Wang IJ, Chu HS, Kao Yang YH, Hu FR. Author information:  1*Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; †Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medical College, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; ‡Regional Market Access (Asia Pacific), Allergan Singapore Pte Ltd, Singapore, Singapore; and §Sung-Huei Tseng Ophthalmology Clinic, Tainan, Taiwan. Abstract PURPOSE:  Accurate diagnosis and early recognition of dry eye symptoms are important in the management of dry eye disease (DED). This study aimed to evaluate concordance between patient and clinician assessment of DED severity and treatment response. METHODS:  This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2 ophthalmology clinics in Taiwan. Clinicians assessed severity based on the Dry Eye Workshop severity grading (levels 1-4; where 4 = most severe), whereas patients completed the Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire. To evaluate the treatment response, patients completed the Subject Global Assessment scale, and clinicians independently assessed patients using the Clinical Global Impression scale. RESULTS:  A total of 466 patients were included. Clinicians graded 88.3% of patients as level 1/2, 9.0% as level 3, and 2.7% as level 4 Dry Eye Workshop severity, whereas 44.9% of patients reported normal/mild symptoms, 17.1% with moderate severity, and 38.0% with severe DED. Patients were primarily treated with artificial tears. The clinician assessed 10.3% of patients as unchanged on disease severity after treatment and 88.0% as improved, whereas 49.2% of patients reported dry eye symptoms being almost the same after treatment and 34.6% reported improved symptoms. There was low agreement between clinician and patient assessments in terms of disease severity (rho = 0.17, P < 0.001) and treatment response (rho = 0.22, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:  There were marked differences in the degree of DED severity and treatment response between patient and clinician assessment. Clinicians may underestimate DED severity and persistence of dry eye symptoms after treatment with artificial tears.Clinical Trial Registration-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01942226.
	PMID: 25782401 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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5.	Curr Pharm Des. 2015 Mar 16. [Epub ahead of print] Mouse models of primary Sjogren's syndrome. Park YS, Gauna AE, Cha S1. Author information:  1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diagnostic Sciences University of Florida College of Dentistry Gainesville, FL32610, U.S.A. scha@dental.ufl.edu. Abstract Sjogren's syndrome (SjS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by immune cell infiltration and progressive injury to the salivary and lacrimal glands. As a consequence, patients with SjS develop xerostomia (dry mouth) and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eyes). SjS is the third most common rheumatic autoimmune disorder, affecting 4 million Americans with over 90% of patients being female. Current diagnostic criteria for SjS frequently utilize histological examinations of minor salivary glands for immune cell foci, serology for autoantibodies, and dry eye evaluation by corneal or conjunctival staining. SjS can be classified as primary or secondary SjS, depending on whether it occurs alone or in association with other systemic rheumatic conditions, respectively. Clinical manifestations typically become apparent when the disease is relatively advanced in SjS patients, which poses a challenge for early diagnosis and treatment of SjS. Therefore, SjS mouse models, because of their close resemblance to the human SjS, have been extremely valuable to identify early disease markers and to investigate underlying biological and immunological dysregulations. However, it is important to bear in mind that no single mouse model has duplicated all aspects of SjS pathogenesis and clinical features, mainly due to the multifactorial etiology of SjS that includes numerous susceptibility genes and environmental factors that appear to play a role in SjS onset and progression. As such, various mouse models have been developed in the field to try to recapitulate SjS. In this review, we focus on recent mouse models of primary SjS xerostomia and describe them under three categories of spontaneous, genetically engineered, and experimentally induced development of SjS-like disease. In addition, we discuss future perspectives of SjS mouse models highlighting pros and cons of utilizing mouse models and demands for improved models.
	PMID: 25777752 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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