Regulation of the mechanisms of fibrosis is an important goal in the treatment of liver cirrhosis. One mechanism is the participation of hepatic stellate cells in fibrogenesis when activated by catecholamines. Consequently, α/β adrenoblockers are proposed as an alternative treatment for chronic liver lesions such as fibrosis and/or cirrhosis and for possible liver regeneration. We herein analyzed the effect of doxazosin and carvedilol treatments during the regeneration of tissue in a hamster model of liver cirrhosis. Tissue samples were examined by H&E and PAS to evaluate tissue damage and with Sirius red to assess collagen fiber content. ALT, AST, albumin, and total proteins were examined by spectrophotometry. Determination of the levels of α-SMA and TGF-β in hepatic tissue was examined by Western blot and of the expression of TIMP-2, MMP-13, α-FP, HGF, CK-7, and c-Myc was examined by qPCR. Treatment with doxazosin or carvedilol prompted histological recovery and reduced collagen fibers in the livers of cirrhotic hamsters. The expression of TIMP-2 decreased and that of MMP-13 increases in animals treated with adrenoblockers with respect to the group with cirrhosis. Additionally, the concentration of α-SMA and TGF-β declined with both drugs with respect to placebo p<0.05. On the other hand, each drug treatment led to a distinct scenario for cell proliferation markers. Whereas doxazosin produced no irregularities in α-FP, Ki-67, and c-Myc expression, carvedilol induced an increment in the expression of these markers with respect to the intact. Hence, doxazosin and carvedilol are potential treatments for the regression of hepatic cirrhosis in hamsters in relation to the decrease of collagen in the hepatic parenchyma. However, at regeneration level we observed that doxazosin caused slight morphological changes in hepatocytes, such as its balonization without affecting the hepatic function, and on the other hand, carvedilol elicited a slight irregular expression of cell proliferation markers.

To analyze binocular vision of individuals aged 18 to 35 years diagnosed with keratoconus, utilizing spectacles and rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses. Research was led by the Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, México and Fundación Universitaria del Área Andina Pereira, Colombia. A single center, prospective non-randomized, comparative, interventional, open-label study, in which the differences in binocular vision performance with both spectacles and RGP contact lenses was carried out from December 2018 to December 2019. Sampling was performed according to consecutive cases with keratoconus that met the inclusion criteria until the proposed sample size was reached. Rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses notably enhanced distance and near visual acuity in keratoconus patients compared to spectacles. Visual alignment analysis shows exophoria at both distances and is slightly higher with RGP contact lenses. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.05), with 82.5 % presenting compensated phoria with spectacles and pnly 42.50% with RGP contact lenses. Stereoscopic vision improved while wearing RGP contact lenses (42.59 %), although accommodation and accommodative flexibility remained within normal ranges. Patients with keratoconus fitted with RGP contact lenses have improved binocular vision skills such as visual acuity, stereopsis, and accommodative flexibility. However, even when the vergence and motor system is decompensated with respect to normal ranges, the range between break and recovery points for both fusional reserves and the near point of convergence (NPC) improves with the use of RGP contact lenses, giving indications of an adaptive condition of the motor system from the medium to the long term.

Acanthamoeba griffini is known to cause amoebic keratitis (AK); its main causes are inadequate hygiene when contact lenses are handled and/or its prolonged use at night, as well as the use of contact lenses during underwater activities. The most used treatment for AK is the combination of propamidine isethionate combined with polyhexamethylene biguanide, which disrupts the cytoplasmic membrane, and damages cellular components and respiratory enzymes. We proposed an immunoconjugate treatment obtained from Acanthamoeba immunized rabbit serum combined with propamidine isethionate; the corneas of hamsters inoculated with A. griffini (MYP2004) were treated with the combined, at 1, 2, and 3 weeks. Propamidine isethionate is frequently used for AK treatment, in vivo study we are found IL-1β and IL-10 expression and caspase 3 activity is significantly increased with respect to the group that was inoculated with the amoeba without receiving any treatment, suggesting that it may be an effect of the toxicity of this drug on the corneal tissue. Application of the immunoconjugate showed enhanced amoebicidal and anti-inflammatory activities, with comparison to propamidine isethionate only. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of the immunoconjugate of propamidine isethionate and polyclonal antibodies as a treatment of AK in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus).

This study determines the sensitivity and specificity of a screening test to detect perceptual abnormalities and whether there are differences between gender. Vision is a complex process involving visual perception. Any alterations can affect learning, so having a screening test in Spanish that is easy to use and reliable for timely diagnosis will reduce the percentage of visuo-perceptual interference during learning process. A total of 200 subjects participated, aged between 8 and 15 years old, with good visual acuity, and no strabismus, amblyopia, ocular pathology, or neurological damage. The Petrosyan questionnaire (screening test) was employed to identify symptoms associated with perceptual impairment, and a subsequent assessment was conducted to evaluate perceptual abilities. The mean age was 11.5 years (57% male; 44% female). The screening test indicated that 30% of the subjects were suspected of having perceptual alteration, while 24% were diagnosed with a real alteration in perceptual abilities. The sensitivity was 1 and the specificity was 0.92. The Spanish version of the Petrosyan questionnaire has high sensitivity and specificity values and is therefore considered very accurate for identifying the need for a perceptual assessment. There are statistically significant differences in perceptual abilities according to gender. The female group shows more symptomatology and a higher percentage of alteration in perceptual skills.

El trastorno del espectro autista (TEA) se caracteriza por una alteración generalizada del desarrollo cerebral, que afecta la socialización, comunicación, imaginación y reciprocidad emocional y se evidencia mediante conductas repetitivas e inusuales. El uso de prismas gemelos estimula una reorganización neurológica y provoca cambios en la percepción visual. El objetivo del presente artículo fue evaluar las habilidades visuales y determinar el efecto de los prismas gemelos en la atención, postura y comportamiento de los niños con TEA. Se elaboró un estudio de intervención con muestras pareadas antes-después; se incluyeron 20 niños con diagnóstico de TEA en edades de 4 a 16 años, y se realizó una evaluación optométrica basal, aplicando un cuestionario para identificar síntomas y otra posterior al uso de un anteojo con prismas base superior, durante 4 meses. El análisis estadístico se realizó con prueba t de Student para muestras no independientes. Se halló que la media de edad fue de 10,05 años, 90 % sexo masculino, 45 % hipermetropía, 30 % insuficiencia de convergencia, 90 % fusión y 85 % estereopsis gruesa. El promedio de aciertos en el cuestionario inicial fue de 18,50 ± 7,64 y en el final de 13,20 ± 7,53 p = 0,000. Finalmente, se concluye que la hipermetropía se presenta en el 45 % de los casos; un 30 % presenta insuficiencia de convergencia, y el 85 %, estereopsis gruesa; asimismo, el uso de prismas gemelos de 3 dioptrías base superior produce cambios estadísticamente significativos en la postura, atención y comportamiento, por lo que se propone como alternativa de manejo adicional en niños con TEA

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), recognized as a progressive neurovascular and microvascular complication of diabetes, remains one of the leading causes of visual disability worldwide, within the context of a sustained increase in ophthalmic diseases and retinal vascular disorders that compromise vision. This study aimed to characterize the progression of diabetic retinopathy in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced Wistar rat model. A single dose of 65 mg/kg body weight was administered, with follow-up periods at 2, 4, 8, and 10 weeks, compared to healthy controls. STZ-induced rats exhibited reduced weight gain compared to the control group. They also showed markedly variable hyperglycemia, with glucose concentrations ranging from 250 to 530 mg/dL. Histological analysis of retinal tissue at week 4 revealed early signs of vascular compromise, including early indications of a microenvironment conducive to neovascularization and edema. By week 8, retinal damage had progressed to hemorrhage, persistent edema, and layer-specific vascular disruption. At week 10, intensified neovascularization and exacerbated edema indicated advanced microvascular deterioration. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated a temporal accumulation of CD8⁺ T cells in the retina, correlating with photoreceptor degeneration. The coordinated dynamics of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells suggested transient immune activation during STZ-induced retinal degeneration. Gene expression profiling revealed a proinflammatory and pro-oxidative retinal microenvironment, characterized by the overexpression of angiogenic pathways and proliferative signals. Simultaneously, the antioxidant response appeared partially impaired. Collectively, these findings provide mechanistic perspective on the multifactorial nature of diabetic retinopathy. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and angiogenesis converge to disrupt retinal homeostasis. This experimental model may serve as a reliable platform for future studies aimed at elucidating disease pathophysiology, identifying novel therapeutic targets, and evaluating emerging ophthalmic antidiabetic interventions.