Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived enteric neural crest cells repopulate human aganglionic tissue-engineered intestine to form key components of the enteric nervous system

Models for enteric neuropathies, in which intestinal nerves are absent or injured, are required to evaluate possible cell therapies. However, existing options, including transgenic mice, are variable and fragile. Here immunocompromised mice were implanted with human pluripotent stem cell–derived tissue-engineered small intestine 10 weeks prior to a second survival surgery in which enteric nervous system precursor cells, or saline controls, were injected into the human intestinal organoid–derived tissue-engineered small intestine and analyzed 4 weeks later. Human intestinal organoid–derived tissue-engineered small intestine implants injected with saline as controls illustrated formation of intestinal epithelium and mesenchyme without an enteric nervous system. Second surgical introduction of human pluripotent stem cell–generated enteric nervous system precursors into developing human intestinal organoid–derived tissue-engineered small intestine implants resulted in proliferative migratory neuronal and glial cells, including multiple neuronal subtypes, and demonstrated function in contractility assays.

Disruptive Innovation and Refractive IOLs: How the Game Will Change With Adjustable IOLs

The light-adjustable lens is the first Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved product from an entirely new category of intraocular lenses (IOLs). The 3-piece foldable silicone light-adjustable lens is implanted through a small incision after phacoemulsification. A slit-lamp-based digital light delivery device is used to adjust and then lock-in the IOL power during the first postoperative month. Up to 4.5 diopters (D) of cylindrical or spherical adjustment can be achieved. This should offer significant advantages in difficult IOL power calculation cases, such as postrefractive eyes. In addition to achieving better refractive accuracy, an adjustable IOL will now allow patients to test and elect a different refractive target postoperatively. This paradigm shift will change how cataract patients choose their refractive objectives, and how ophthalmologists will be able to achieve them. For example, adjustable IOLs may increase the popularity of pseudophakic monovision and bilateral same-day sequential surgery. For those electing adjustable IOL, preoperative patient counseling will change and certain pre- and intraoperative technologies, such as intraoperative aberrometry and digital astigmatic axis marking, would become superfluous.

A Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing Hydrus and iStent Microinvasive Glaucoma Surgery Implants for Standalone Treatment of Open-Angle Glaucoma: The COMPARE Study

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy of different microinvasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) devices for reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) and medications in open-angle glaucoma (OAG).

DESIGN

Prospective, multicenter, randomized clinical trial.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred fifty-two eyes from 152 patients aged 45 to 84 years with OAG, Shaffer angle grade III-IV, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) 20/30 or better, and IOP 23 to 39 mmHg after washout of all hypotensive medications. Eyes with secondary glaucoma other than pseudoexfoliative or pigmentary glaucoma, angle closure, previous incisional glaucoma surgery, or any significant ocular pathology other than glaucoma were excluded.

INTERVENTION

Study eyes were randomized 1:1 to standalone MIGS consisting of either 1 Hydrus Microstent (Ivantis, Inc, Irvine, CA) or 2 iStent Trabecular Micro Bypass devices (Glaukos Inc, San Clemente, CA). Follow-up was performed 1 day, 1 week, and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Within-group and between-group differences in IOP and medications at 12 months and complete surgical success defined as freedom from repeat glaucoma surgery, IOP 18 mmHg or less, and no glaucoma medications. Safety measures included the frequency of surgical complications, changes in visual acuity, slit-lamp findings, and adverse events.

RESULTS

Study groups were well matched for baseline demographics, glaucoma status, medication use, and baseline IOP. Twelve-month follow-up was completed in 148 of 152 randomized subjects (97.3%). At 12 months, the Hydrus had a greater rate of complete surgical success (P < 0.001) and reduced medication use (difference = -0.6 medications, P = 0.004). More Hydrus subjects were medication free at 12 months (difference = 22.6% P = 0.0057). Secondary glaucoma surgery was performed in 2 eyes in the 2-iStent group (3.9%) and in none of the Hydrus eyes. Two eyes in the Hydrus group and 1 in the 2-iStent group had BCVA loss of ≥2 lines.

CONCLUSION

Standalone MIGS in OAG with the Hydrus resulted in a higher surgical success rate and fewer medications compared with the 2-iStent procedure. The 2 MIGS devices have similar safety profiles.

Short-term and long-term human or mouse organoid units generate tissue-engineered small intestine without added signalling molecules

NEW FINDINGS

What is the central question of this study? Tissue-engineered small intestine was previously generated in vivo by immediate implantation of organoid units derived from both mouse and human donor intestine. Although immediate transplantation of organoid units into patients shows promise as a potential future therapy, some critically ill patients might require delayed transplantation. What is the main finding and its importance? Unlike enteroids, which consist of isolated intestinal crypts, short- and long-term cultured organoid units are composed of epithelial and mesenchymal cells derived from mouse or human intestine. Organoid units do not require added signalling molecules and can generate tissue-engineered intestine in vivo.

ABSTRACT

Mouse and human postnatal and fetal organoid units (OUs) maintained in either short-term culture (2 weeks) or long-term culture (from 4 weeks up to 3 months) without adding exogenous growth factors were implanted in immunocompromised mice to form tissue-engineered small intestine (TESI) in vivo. Intestinal epithelial stem and neuronal progenitor cells were maintained in long-term OU cultures from both humans and mice without exogenous growth factors, and these cultures were successfully used to form TESI. This was enhanced with OUs derived from human fetal tissues. Organoid unit culture is different from enteroid culture, which is limited to epithelial cell growth and requires supplementation with R-Spondin, noggin and epidermal growth factor. Organoid units contain multiple cell types, including epithelial, mesenchymal and enteric nervous system cells. Short- and long-term cultured OUs derived from mouse and human intestine develop into TESI in vivo, which contains key components of the small intestine similar to native intestine.

Microinterventional endocapsular nucleus disassembly: novel technique and results of first-in-human randomised controlled study

Aim

To assess the safety and efficacy of microinterventional endocapsular nuclear fragmentation in moderate to severe cataracts.

Methods

This was a prospective single-masked multisurgeon interventional randomised controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02843594) where 101 eyes of 101 subjects with grade 3‒4+ nuclear cataracts were randomised to torsional phacoemulsification alone (controls) or torsional phacoemulsification with adjunctive endocapsular nuclear fragmentation using a manual microinterventional nitinol filament loop device (miLOOP group). Outcome measures were phacoemulsification efficiency as measured by ultrasound energy (cumulative dispersed energy (CDE) units) and fluidics requirements (total irrigation fluid used) as well as incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications.

Results

Only high-grade advanced cataracts were enrolled with more than 85% of eyes with baseline best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/200 or worse in either group. Mean CDE was 53% higher in controls (32.8±24.9 vs 21.4±13.1 with miLOOP assistance) (p=0.004). Endothelial cell loss after surgery was low and similar between groups (7‒8%, p=0.561) One-month BCVA averaged 20/27 Snellen in miLOOP eyes and 20/24 in controls. No direct complications were caused by the miLOOP. In two cases, capsular tears occurred during IOL implantation and in all remaining cases during phacoemulsification, with none occurring during the miLOOP nucleus disassembly part of the procedure.

Conclusions

Microinterventional endocapsular fragmentation with the manual, disposable miLOOP device achieved consistent, ultrasound-free, full-thickness nucleus disassembly and significantly improved overall phaco efficiency in advanced cataracts.

Trial registration number

NCT02843594

Comparison of the Rotational Stability of Two Toric Intraocular Lenses in 1273 Consecutive Eyes

PURPOSE

To compare the rotational stability of the 2 most commonly used toric intraocular lenses (TIOLs).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study in a single private practice.

SUBJECTS

The study included all patients receiving an Acrysof (n = 626) or Tecnis TIOL (n = 647) over an 18-month period from April 2015 to September 2016. Patients were only excluded if their surgery could not be performed using a digital marking system.

METHODS

All patients had cataract surgery performed in the same surgical center with a similar technique. A digital marking system with limbal vessel registration was used to record the axis of the TIOL at the conclusion of surgery. A dilated examination was performed either later on the day of surgery or the next morning, and the postoperative rotation of the 2 TIOL models was compared. Patients who required a return to the operating room for TIOL repositioning were examined to determine risk factors for reoperation and subsequent outcomes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measure was the percentage of eyes with TIOL rotation >5 and >10 degrees. The second main outcome was likelihood of requiring return to the operating room to reposition a rotated TIOL.

RESULTS

The Acrysof TIOL was less likely to rotate postoperatively, with 91.9% of eyes rotated ≤5 degrees at the first postoperative check compared with 81.8% of Tecnis TIOL eyes (P < 0.0001). This difference persisted for rotation ≤10 degrees (97.8% Acrysof vs. 93.2% Tecnis, P = 0.0002) and ≤15 degrees (98.6% Acrysof vs. 96.4% Tecnis, P = 0.02). The mean rotation was 2.72 degrees (95% confidence interval 2.35-3.08 degrees) for Acrysof and 3.79 degrees (95% confidence interval 3.36-4.22 degrees) for Tecnis TIOLs (P < 0.05). The Tecnis TIOL showed a strong predisposition to rotate counterclockwise, unlike the Acrysof. More Tecnis TIOL patients required repositioning (3.1% vs. 1.6%), but this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.10). Refractive outcomes were similar between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The Acrysof TIOL showed significantly greater rotational stability than the Tecnis TIOL.

Antibiotic prophylaxis practice patterns for cataract surgery in India - Results from an online survey

Purpose:

The aim of this study is to assess the current antibiotic prophylaxis practice patterns for cataract surgery in India.

Methods:

This was a questionnaire-based E-survey carried out at a tertiary eye care center in India. An E-mail invitation to complete an online 20 point questionnaire survey was sent to all members of the All India Ophthalmological Society with valid E-mail addresses using a digital E-mail service. Duplicate entries were prevented.

Results:

Out of 1228 total respondents (8.2%) who completed the survey 38% reported using routine intracameral (IC) antibiotic prophylaxis. Another 7% place antibiotics in the irrigating solution. Of those using IC antibiotic prophylaxis, 91% adopted this practice within the past 2 years; 92% are using moxifloxacin with 56% using a commercially available moxifloxacin formulation. Those predominantly performing phacoemulsification (43% vs. 25% performing mostly manual small incision cataract surgery, P < 0.001) and more than 500 cataract surgeries annually (45% vs. 33%, P < 0.001) reported greater use of IC moxifloxacin. Self-reported endophthalmitis rates were statistically significantly greater in those not using IC antibiotics (0.045% vs. 0.036, P = 0.04). Although a majority of respondents believe that IC antibiotics are an important option (54%) and that it is important to have a commercially available solution (68%), many believe that other antibiotic prophylaxis methods are sufficient (31%).

Conclusion:

IC antibiotic prophylaxis for cataract surgery has sharply increased in India. In contrast to the West, intraocular moxifloxacin, which is commercially available in India, is preferred by the vast majority of users.

Zepto precision pulse capsulotomy: A new automated and disposable capsulotomy technology

Despite the appeal of an automated method of creating a perfectly circular anterior capsulotomy, global adoption of femtosecond laser capsulotomy (FSLC) has been limited by its high acquisition and per case cost. In addition, the femtosecond laser's large size and the need for eye docking create surgical efficiency and workflow challenges. The Zepto precision pulse capsulotomy (PPC) technology creates a circular anterior capsulotomy of a precise diameter using a disposable handpiece and tip that are used in the normal surgical sequence. Extensive preclinical and clinical testing has resulted in the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the technology. Zepto PPC holds promise for complicated eyes such as those with intumescent or brunescent lenses, zonulopathy, or small pupils. This paper and the accompanying videos describe and demonstrate the technique and review the published studies.

Prevalence of visual impairment and outcomes of cataract surgery in Chaonan, South China

Purpose

To estimate the prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment (VI), and report the outcomes of cataract surgery in Chaonan Region, Guangdong Province, southern China

Design

Cross-sectional population-based survey

Participants

A total of 3484 participants including 1397 men (40.1%) and 2087 women (59.9%) aged ≥50 years were examined (94.2% response rate).

Method

A two-stage cluster sampling procedure was used to select 3700 participants aged ≥50 years from 74 clusters of Chaonan Region. Participants were examined according to the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) method. Blindness and visual impairment (VI) were defined by the World Health Organization criteria. Participants with visual acuity (VA) < 6/18 in either eye were examined by ophthalmologists. The primary causes of blindness and VI were reported with reference to the participant’s better eye.

Main outcome measures

Prevalence and main causes of blindness, severe visual impairment (SVI), VI and the outcomes of cataract surgery

Results

The standardized prevalence rates of blindness, SVI, and VI were 2.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9–2.9%), 1.0% (95% CI, 0.7–1.4%), and 6.4% (95% CI, 5.6%– 7.1%), respectively. The principal cause of blindness and SVI was cataract, accounting for 67.1% and 67.6% respectively, and the principal cause of VI was refractive error (46.9%). One hundred and fifty five out of 3484 (4.4%) people (211 eyes) had cataract surgery. Of the 211 eyes that had cataract surgery, 96.7% were pseudophakic. 67.2% of the 211 operated eyes had a presenting visual acuity (PVA) of 6/18 or better.

Conclusions

The prevalence of blindness, SVI, and VI was high among rural residents in Chaonan. Cataract remained the leading cause of avoidable blindness. Outcomes of cataract surgery performed in rural private clinics were suboptimal. Quality-control initiatives such as hands-on training program should be introduced to improve cataract surgery outcomes.

Endophthalmitis Prophylaxis for Cataract Surgery

Endophthalmitis after cataract surgery is a rare but potentially devastating complication. There is great variability in endophthalmitis prophylaxis practice patterns worldwide. Treatment varies globally and is based on the microbiological profile and availability of formulations. Periocular povidone-iodine antisepsis is universally adopted and considered the standard of care in most practices. Perioperative topical antibiotics are also very popular despite the lack of level 1 evidence confirming efficacy. Based on growing observational evidence, routine intracameral antibiotic prophylaxis is increasing, especially where approved commercial intraocular preparations are available. This review updates recent trends and evidence regarding endophthalmitis prophylaxis and the preferred choice of intracameral antibiotics.

Efficacy of two trabecular micro-bypass stents combined with topical travoprost in open-angle glaucoma not controlled on two preoperative medications: 3-year follow-up

Purpose

To evaluate the long-term intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect and safety parameters following treatment with two trabecular micro-bypass stents and topical prostaglandin in phakic eyes with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) not controlled on two preoperative medications.

Methods

This prospective, single-arm, unmasked study enrolled 39 qualified phakic eyes with OAG not controlled on 2 medications, preoperative medicated IOP of 18–30 mmHg, and IOP following medication washout of 22–38 mmHg. Two trabecular micro-bypass stents were implanted as a standalone procedure, and travoprost was started on postoperative day 1. Evaluations included IOP, best-corrected visual acuity, medication use, fundus and slit-lamp examinations, visual field, cup:disc ratio, central corneal thickness, and ocular complications. Data through 18 months were summarized previously. Thirty-seven of the original 39 subjects have been followed for 3 years postoperatively; follow-up is continuing for 5 years.

Results

At 3 years postoperative, 97% of eyes had achieved an IOP reduction of ≥20% from baseline with a reduction of 1 medication. Eighty-six percent of eyes had IOP of ≤18 mmHg with a reduction of 1 medication. Mean medicated IOP decreased to 14.0±2.6 mmHg on 1 medication versus 22.4±2.3 mmHg on 2 medications preoperatively. The mean unmedicated IOP decreased to 17.7±1.7 mmHg at 37 months from 25.3±1.9 mmHg preoperatively. Long-term postoperative adverse events included cataract surgery in 3 eyes due to cataract progression, and trabeculectomy in 1 eye due to uncontrolled IOP of 23 mmHg. No intraoperative or device-related adverse events occurred.

Conclusion

Significant and sustained reduction in IOP and medications with a favorable safety profile was shown through 3 years after implantation of 2 trabecular micro-bypass stents combined with postoperative travoprost in phakic OAG eyes uncontrolled on 2 preoperative medications. These findings demonstrate the long-term performance and safety of trabecular bypass stents in combination with topical prostaglandin for OAG patients.

Endophthalmitis Reduction with Intracameral Moxifloxacin Prophylaxis: Analysis of 600 000 Surgeries

PURPOSE

To compare the postoperative endophthalmitis rate before and after initiation of intracameral (IC) moxifloxacin prophylaxis for both phacoemulsification and sutureless, manual small-incision cataract surgery (M-SICS), as well as in patients with posterior capsular rupture (PCR).

DESIGN

Retrospective, clinical registry.

PARTICIPANTS

All cataract surgeries (617 453) performed during the 29-month period from January 2014 to May 2016 at the 10 regional Aravind eye hospitals were included.

METHODS

The electronic health record data for all study eyes were analyzed. Endophthalmitis rates before and after moxifloxaxin were statistically compared for all eyes and separately for both phacoemulsification and M-SICS, and for the eyes complicated by PCR.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The postoperative endophthalmitis rates before and after initiation of IC moxifloxacin prophylaxis.

RESULTS

Overall, 302 815 eyes did not receive IC moxifloxacin and 314 638 eyes did, and there was a significant decline in the endophthalmitis rate, from 0.07% (214/302 815) to 0.02% (64/314 638) (P < 0.001), with moxifloxacin. For the 194 252 phacoemulsification eyes, the endophthalmitis rate was 0.07% (75/104 894) without IC moxifloxacin prophylaxis, compared with 0.01% (11/89 358) with moxifloxacin (P < 0.001). For the 414 657 M-SICS eyes, the endophthalmitis rate was 0.07% (135/192 149) without IC moxifloxacin prophylaxis, compared with 0.02% (52/222 508) with moxifloxacin (P < 0.001). Approximately half of the 8479 eyes that had PCR received IC moxifloxacin, and half did not. Without IC moxifloxacin, PCR increased the endophthalmitis rate nearly 7-fold to 0.48% (20/4186); IC moxifloxacin reduced the endophthalmitis rate with PCR to 0.21% (9/4293) (P = 0.034). No adverse events were due to IC moxifloxacin.

CONCLUSIONS

Routine IC moxifloxacin prophylaxis reduced the overall endophthalmitis rate by 3.5-fold (3-fold for M-SICS and nearly 6-fold for phacoemulsification). There was also a statistical benefit for eyes complicated by PCR, and IC antibiotic prophylaxis should be strongly considered for this high-risk population. These conclusions are strengthened by the high volume of cases analyzed at a single hospital network over a comparatively short time frame. Considering the association of hemorrhagic occlusive retinal vasculitis with vancomycin and the commercial unavailability of IC cefuroxime in many countries, moxifloxacin appears to be an effective option for surgeons electing IC antibiotic prophylaxis.