Composite materials: Tungsten disulfide and WS2 /reduced graphene oxide (WS2 /rGO) nanosheets were fabricated by hydrothermal synthesis using tungsten chloride, thioacetamide, and graphene oxide (GO) as starting materials. The WS2 nanosheets are efficiently templated on the rGO layer. The WS2 /rGO hybrid nanosheets show much better electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction than WS2 nanosheets alone.

Overall intraocular pharmacokinetic properties of ranibizumab in vitrectomized eyes were similar to those in nonvitrectomized eyes. Our data do not support the use of different dosing regimens of ranibizumab in vitrectomized eyes.

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Despite being one of the most common zoonotic infections worldwide, human toxocariasis has been one of the neglected tropical diseases. Although most human infections are asymptomatic, two main syndromes of human toxocariasis are classically recognized: systemic toxocariasis, which encompasses diseases in major organs; and ocular toxocariasis (OT), disease in the eye or optic nerve, caused by the migration of Toxocara larvae into the eye. OT is usually a unilateral disease, which typically presents as retinal granuloma, a yellowish or whitish inflammatory mass, in the posterior pole or peripheral retina. Granuloma itself or other comorbid conditions such as epiretinal membrane, macular edema, and retinal detachment can lead to permanent retinal damage and visual loss in eyes with OT. OT is diagnosed clinically by identification of clinical signs on ophthalmologic examination. Serological tests, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of serum antibody against the Toxocara larvae, can confirm the diagnosis. In addition, serum immunoglobulin E and detection of ocular fluid antitoxocara antibody by ELISA may give additional aid to the diagnosis. Standard treatment of OT is corticosteroid in patients with active intraocular inflammation. Although the role of anthelmintic therapy is unclear, favorable outcome has been reported by combined corticosteroid and albendazole therapy in eyes with active inflammation. Prevention, by increasing public awareness and reducing the risk of infection, is also important. Recently, the association between ingestion of uncooked meat or liver and toxocariasis was reported, especially in adult patients. Future research on the potential source of infection, diagnosis, and treatment should be performed.

PurposeTo investigate the clinical features, clinical course of granuloma, serologic findings, treatment outcome, and probable infection sources in adult patients with ocular toxocariasis (OT).MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, we examined 101 adult patients diagnosed clinically and serologically with OT. Serial fundus photographs and spectral domain optical coherence tomography images of all the patients were reviewed. A clinic-based case-control study on pet ownership, occupation, and raw meat ingestion history was performed to investigate the possible infection sources.ResultsAmong the patients diagnosed clinically and serologically with OT, 69.6% showed elevated immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. Granuloma in OT involved all retinal layers and several vitreoretinal comorbidities were noted depending on the location of granuloma: posterior pole granuloma was associated with epiretinal membrane and retinal nerve fiber layer defects, whereas peripheral granuloma was associated with vitreous opacity. Intraocular migration of granuloma was observed in 15 of 93 patients (16.1%). Treatment with albendazole (400 mg twice a day for 2 weeks) and corticosteroids (oral prednisolone; 0.5–1 mg/kg/day) resulted in comparable outcomes to patients on corticosteroid monotherapy; however, the 6-month recurrence rate in patients treated with combined therapy (17.4%) was significantly lower than that in patients treated with corticosteroid monotherapy (54.5%, P = 0.045). Ingestion of raw cow liver (80.8%) or meat (71.2%) was significantly more common in OT patients than healthy controls.ConclusionsOur study discusses the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies for OT. Evaluation of total IgE, in addition to anti-toxocara antibody, can assist in the serologic diagnosis of OT. Combined albendazole and corticosteroid therapy may reduce intraocular inflammation and recurrence. Migrating feature of granuloma is clinically important and may further suggest the diagnosis of OT. Clinicians need to carefully examine comorbid conditions for OT. OT may be associated with ingestion of uncooked meat, especially raw cow liver, in adult patients.

Patients who received epiretinal membrane surgery without additional ILM peeling showed better visual and anatomical outcome than those with additional ILM peeling at postoperative 1 month. However, surgical outcomes were comparable between the two groups, thereafter. In terms of visual outcome and photoreceptor integrity, additional ILM peeling may not be an essential procedure.

The IAT treatment may provide early restoration of retinal perfusion and offer functional benefits in the management of incomplete CRAO.

Background and purposeRAO is caused by various etiologies and subsequent vascular events may be associated with underlying etiologies. Our aim is to investigate the etiologies of RAO, the occurrence of subsequent vascular events and their association in patients with RAO.MethodsWe analyzed data from 151 consecutive patients presenting with acute non-arteritic RAO between 2003 and 2013 in a single tertiary-care hospital. The primary outcome was the occurrence of a vascular event defined as stroke, myocardial infarction, and vascular death within 365 days of the RAO onset. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard model were used to estimate the hazard ratio of the vascular events.ResultsLarge artery atherosclerosis (LAA) was the etiology more frequently associated with of RAO (41.1%, 62/151). During the one year follow-up, ischemic stroke and vascular events occurred in 8.6% and 9.9% of patients, respectively. Ten vascular events occurred in RAO patients attributed to LAA and 4 occurred in undetermined etiology. RAO patients with LAA had a nearly four times higher risk of vascular events compared to those without LAA (hazard ratio 3.94, 95% confidence interval 1.21–12.81). More than a half of all events occurred within one month and over three fourths of ischemic strokes occurred ipsilateral to the RAO.ConclusionAfter occurrence of RAO, there is a high risk of a subsequent vascular event, particularly ipsilateral stroke, within one month. LAA is an independent factor for the occurrence of a subsequent vascular event. Management for the prevention of secondary vascular events is necessary in patients with RAO especially with LAA. Large clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.