The interplay between gut microbiota and retinal health, known as the gut-–retina axis, has gained increasing attention in recent years. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), metabolites produced by gut microbiota, have been identified as key mediators of gut–retina communication. This systematic review explores the role of SCFAs in retinal health and their potential impact on the development and progression of retinal diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and glaucoma. A literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct, to identify studies published between 2014 and December 2024. Studies were included if they investigated the effects of SCFAs on retinal structure, function, or disease pathogenesis in animal models or human subjects. The review included 10 original articles spanning both preclinical and clinical studies. Evidence suggests that SCFAs play a crucial role in maintaining retinal homeostasis through anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective mechanisms. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, leading to altered SCFA production, was associated with increased retinal inflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular dysfunction. Furthermore, reduced SCFA levels were linked to the progression of retinal diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Modulation of gut microbiota and SCFA levels through dietary interventions or probiotics may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing or managing retinal diseases. Further research is needed to elucidate the precise molecular mechanisms underlying SCFA-mediated retinal protection and to evaluate the efficacy of targeted therapies in clinical settings.

Background: The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in human health, and recent research has highlighted its potential impact on ocular health through the gut–eye axis. Dysbiosis, or an imbalance in the gut microbiota, has been implicated in various ocular diseases. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using relevant keywords in major electronic databases, prioritizing recent peer-reviewed articles published in English. Results: The gut microbiota influences ocular health through immune modulation, maintenance of the blood–retinal barrier, and production of beneficial metabolites. Dysbiosis can disrupt these mechanisms, contributing to ocular inflammation, tissue damage, and disease progression in conditions such as uveitis, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye disease, and glaucoma. Therapeutic modulation of the gut microbiome through probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation shows promise in preclinical and preliminary human studies. Conclusions: The gut–eye axis represents a dynamic and complex interplay between the gut microbiome and ocular health. Targeting the gut microbiome through innovative therapeutic strategies holds potential for improving the prevention and management of various ocular diseases.

Background/Objectives: The widespread use of antibiotics in animal husbandry has led to an increase in antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli, particularly strains producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) and AmpC β-lactamases. This study aimed to isolate and characterize such strains from fecal samples of broiler chickens (n = 71) and slaughtered turkeys (n = 31) in northwestern Romania. Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and PCR were used to evaluate phenotypic resistance patterns and detect the presence of resistance genes (AmpC, blaZ, and blaTEM). Results: The results showed that 55% of turkey and 61% of broiler isolates were presumptive ESBL/AmpC producers. Among all isolates, 50% were classified as extensively drug-resistant (XDR), 44% as multidrug-resistant (MDR), and only 6% were fully susceptible. Gene detection revealed an overall prevalence of 44.2% for AmpC, 72.7% for blaZ, and 58.1% for blaTEM, yielding a total penetrance of 51.09%. The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) values, ranging from 0.67 to 81, suggest the efficacy of the antibiotic susceptibility testing method used in detecting the presence of these resistance genes. Conclusion: Overall, these findings highlight a significant burden of antimicrobial-resistant, poultry-associated E. coli strains, warranting stricter antimicrobial stewardship.

The aim of this study was to assess the microbiological and chemical air quality in a municipal solid waste landfill and its inhabited surroundings, in a particular context in which Romania struggles with the incapacity to comply with its environmental commitments. The research was conducted on a landfill near the capital Bucharest between November 2018 and September 2019. To evaluate the chemical (oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and carbon monoxide–MX6 iBrid™ Détector multigas) and microbiological (airborne bacteria and fungi–aspiration method) parameters, eight sampling points were established, located both on the perimeter of the landfill and within its surroundings. CO and CH₄ were not detected in any of the sampling points, during the study period; O₂ was in normal values 20.09–21.05%; CO₂ had a maximum average concentration of 620 ± 215; H₂S had values between 0.1 and 5.0 ppm only in the sampling points inside the landfill; NH₃ was present only once in a single sampling point with values between 1.0 and 3.0 ppm. The microbiological results provide an overview of the total plate count and total fungal count, with no significant differences between the level of contamination inside the landfill and within its surroundings (p > 0.05). Ten bacterial species and fungi from six genera have been identified. It was also found that the number of microorganisms in the air was significantly lower during the winter, spring and early summer months compared with the late summer and autumn months (p < 0.05).

(1) Background: The resistance levels of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus spp., etc., isolated from the nasal cavity and the rectum of Dama dama deer from three hunting grounds in Western Romania were assessed. (2) Methods: The analysis was completed using the diffusimetric method, compliant with CLSI reference standards, and with Vitek-2 (BioMérieux, France), on 240 samples. (3) Results: The results were statistically analyzed (by one-way ANOVA) revealing that in four of the ten E. coli strains isolated from animals, 87.5% (p < 0.001) resistance was found. E. coli strains were resistant to cephalexin (100%); seven strains were resistant to cephalothin and ampicillin; six were resistant to cefquinome and cefoperazone; five were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid; and four were resistant to ceftiofur. However, E. coli was sensitive to amikacin (100%). The most efficient structures were beta-lactams, amikacin, and imipenem, to which all 47 strains studied (100%) were sensitive, followed by nitrofurantoin, to which 45 strains (95.7%) were sensitive, neomycin, to which 44 strains (93.6%) were sensitive, ceftiofur, to which 43 strains (91.5%) were sensitive, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and marbofloxacin, to which 42 strains (89.4%) were sensitive. (4) Conclusions: In wild animal populations, where a human presence is frequently reported, including a constant presence of domestic animals, despite the perceived low risk of emerging resistance to antimicrobials, resistance is likely to develop frequently.

Background: The most widely used contemporary intraocular lens power calculation formulas are the Kane formula, Barrett Universal II formula, Hill–Radial Basis Function, and Ladas Super Formula, each of which was developed to improve postoperative refractive accuracy. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive comparative analysis of these formulas to evaluate their predictive accuracy across diverse biometric profiles. Methods: A total of 210 eyes that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed in this study. This study was designed as a retrospective observational investigation. The biometric parameters of the intraocular lens were evaluated using the ARGOS optical biometer. Refractive intraocular lens power calculations were performed using the formulas, and the resulting values were systematically compared to assess predictive accuracy. In our research, a parametric approach was adopted by applying ANOVA repeated measures analysis. Multiple measurements were evaluated through homogeneity of covariances. Pairwise comparisons between formula-derived values were conducted using the Bonferroni test to identify significant differences. A paired-sample t-test was used to compare the spherical equivalent levels calculated at the first and last controls. Potential correlations were examined using Pearson correlation analysis. Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between formulas. The differences among the formulas were caused by the values obtained from the Ladas Super Formula being significantly higher than the others. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the data obtained from the formulas. The spheric equivalent values were similar, with no statistically significant difference. Conclusions: This study reinforces the notion that modern intraocular lens power calculation formulas exhibit a high degree of accuracy and correlation in predicting postoperative refractive outcomes.