Purpose:To correlate the severity of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) with the serum lipoprotein levels.Methods:The study was conducted as a prospective observational study over a period of 18 months. Ninety patients diagnosed with MGD were enrolled after they gave their informed consent according to the inclusion–exclusion criteria. Meibomian gland status was evaluated by meibum quality, expressibility, and numerical scoring. Lipid profile was done from an overnight fasting blood sample and evaluated for total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides (TGs).Results:Patients with higher stages of MGD more often had serum TGs >150 mg/dL, total cholesterol >200 mg/dL, an LDL >130 mg/dL, and serum HDL >40 mg/dL, and there exists an association between increasing stage of MGD, and age, female sex, and increasing values of all the lipid profile components.Conclusion:A very strong association exists between increasing age and increasing severity of stage of MGD. A positive association exists between female sex and increasing severity of stage of MGD. A positive association exists between increasing severity of MGD and increasing levels of all the components of lipid profiles, namely LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides.

Though overall incidence of ROP has remained the same over the last decade at the authors' centre, absolute number of severe forms of ROP has decreased. Multiple gestations may be taken as an independent risk factor for ROP causation. Sicker the twin infant is, the more are the chances that he/she will develop ROP.

Background:Increase in the survival of preterm neonates has led to increased incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Among various risk factors, only prematurity is well-established and role of others is still not clear. Effect of antenatal betamethasone on ROP severity is also controversial. Available literature from India has a paucity of information.Objectives:(a) The primary aim of the following study is to find the incidence and risk factors of ROP and (b) secondary aim is to assess the effect of antenatal betamethasone on ROP.Design:prospective, observational cohort study.Setting:Tertiary level neonatal care unit.Materials and Methods:A total of 148 infants ≤ 34 weeks gestation at birth, completed the study protocol. Severe ROP was defined as stage II and higher (including plus disease) of ROP. Various perinatal factors including antenatal betamethasone were analyzed by univariate followed by multivariate analysis.Results:overall incidence of ROP (any stage) was 44.6%. Severe ROP was mainly detected in <1200 g birth weight and/or <30 weeks gestational age. Antenatal betamethasone was associated with non-severe form of ROP (P < 0.05) on univariate analysis, but could not pass multivariate logistic regression analysis. Among other perinatal factors studied, low birth weight (<1200 g) (odds ratio [OR]: 19.699, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.42-160.17, P = 0.005), low gestational age (<30 weeks) (OR: 36.52, 95% CI: 3.76-354.3, P = 0.002), acidosis (OR: 6.932, 95% CI: 1.16-41.33, P = 0.034) and blood transfusion (OR: 14.11, 95% CI: 1.494-133.5, P = 0.021) were associated with babies in severe ROP in an independent manner.Conclusions:Low birth weight and low gestational age emerged as independent significant risk factors along with blood transfusion and acidosis. Antenatal betamethasone may be preventive for severe ROP. More studies are however recommended.

No abstract

No abstract