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Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is characterised by intraocular inflammation due to Toxoplasma gondii infection. Studies have found that interleukin 17 (IL-17) plays a central role in the pathology of OT. However, nucleotide variability in IL17 and interleukin 17 receptor (IL17R) genes has not been characterised in OT. As cytokine gene polymorphisms may influence the expression of these molecules, the aim of this study was to verify whether IL17A (rs2275913), IL17F (rs763780), IL17RA (rs4819554) and IL17RC (rs708567) polymorphisms are associated with OT in a Brazilian population. This study enrolled 214 patients seropositive for T. gondii (110 with OT and 104 without) and 107 controls. Polymorphisms were identified by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, validated by DNA sequencing with chi-square and multivariate analyses being used to assess possible associations between polymorphisms and OT. Logistic regression under the dominant model revealed a protection factor against OT of the C mutant allele of the IL17F (rs763780) polymorphism. The T/C-C/C genotypes were significantly more common in patients without OT compared to those with OT (p value = 0.0066) and controls (p value = 0.014). Findings from this study suggest that the IL17F polymorphism may have an influence in the immunopathology of OT in Brazilian individuals.

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Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a type of phototherapy that employs light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or low-power lasers to selectively administer specific wavelengths of visible light, ranging from 500 to 1000 nm, including near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths. LEDs are advantageous compared to lasers due to their ability to treat large areas at a lower cost, lack of tissue damage potential in humans, and reduced risk of eye-related accidents. The ophthalmology community has recently taken interest in PBM as a promising novel approach for managing various retinal conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, retinopathy of prematurity, retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, amblyopia, methanol-induced retinal damage, and potentially others. This review critically assesses the existing body of research on PBM applications in the retina, focusing on elucidating the underlying mechanisms of action and evaluating the clinical outcomes associated with this therapeutic modality.

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ABSTRACT A 7-week-old male delivered by cesarean section presented with a positive serology for dengue along with preretinal and retinal hemorrhages, vitreous opacities and cotton wool spots. The patient and his mother had positive serologies for Non Structural Protein 1 (NS1) by ELISA. Retinal and vitreous findings improved over a sixteen-week period. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed preserved macular architecture. In this case report, we suggest that retinal and vitreous changes may be the ocular presenting features of vertically transmitted dengue in newborns, and that those findings may resolve with no major structural sequelae.

RESUMO Neonato de 7 semanas, do sexo masculino, nascido de parto cesárea, apresentou sorologia positiva para dengue com hemorragias retinianas e pré-retinianas, opacidades vítreas e manchas algodonosas. O paciente e sua mãe haviam apresentado sorologias positivas para Non Structural Protein 1 através de ELISA. Achados na retina e no vítreo melhoraram em um período de dezesseis semanas. O exame de tomografia de coerência óptica de domínio espectral demonstrou arquitetura macular preservada. Neste relato de caso, sugerimos que alterações na retina e no vítreo podem ser os achados oculares aparentes em neonatos com infecção vertical por dengue, e que estes podem se resolver sem maiores sequelas estruturais.

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ABSTRACT Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the vascular effects of photobiomodulation using a light-emitting diode on the chorioallantoic embryonic membrane of chicken eggs grouped into different times of exposure and to detect the morphological changes induced by the light on the vascular network architecture using quantitative metrics. Methods: We used a phototherapy device with light-emitting diode (670 nm wavelength) as the source of photobiomodulation. We applied the red light at a distance of 2.5 cm to the surface of the chorioallantoic embryonic membrane of chicken eggs in 2, 4, or 8 sessions for 90 s and analyzed the vascular network architecture using AngioTool software (National Cancer Institute, USA). We treated the negative control group with 50 μl phosphate-buffered-saline (pH 7.4) and the positive control group (Beva) with 50 μl bevacizumab solution (Avastin, Produtos Roche Químicos e Farmacêuticos, S.A., Brazil). Results: We found a decrease in total vessel length in the Beva group (24.96% ± 12.85%) and in all the groups that received 670 nm red light therapy (2× group, 34.66% ± 8.66%; 4× group, 42.42% ± 5.26%; 8× group, 38.48% ± 6.96%), compared with the negative control group. The fluence of 5.4 J/cm2 in 4 sessions (4×) showed more regular vessels. The number of junctions in the groups that received a higher incidence of 670 nm red light (4× and 8×) significantly decreased (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Photo-biomodulation helps reduce vascularization in chorioallantoic embryonic membrane of chicken eggs and changes in the network architecture. Our results open the possibility of future clinical studies on using this therapy in patients with retinal diseases with neovascular components, especially age-related macular degeneration.

RESUMO Objetivo: investigar os efeitos vasculares da foto-biomodulação com diodo emissor de luz utilizando membrana embrionária corioalantóide de ovos de galinhas em grupos com diferentes tempos de exposição e detectar as alterações morfológicas por meio de métricas quantitativas promovidas pela luz na arquitetura da rede vascular. Métodos: Um aparelho de fototerapia com diodo emissor de luz no comprimento de onda de 670 nm foi usado como fonte de fotobiomodulação. A luz vermelha foi aplicada a uma distância de 2,5 cm da superfície da membrana embrionária corioalantóide em 2, 4 ou 8 sessões de 90 s a arquitetura da rede vascular foi analisada por meio do software AngioTool (National Cancer Institute, USA). Usamos um grupo controle negativo tratado com 50 µL de solução salina tamponada com fosfato (PBS) pH 7,4 e um grupo controle positivo (Beva) tratado com 50 µL de solução de bevacizumabe (Avastin, Produtos Roche Químicos e Farmacêuticos S.A., Brasil). Resultados: Uma diminuição no comprimento total do vaso foi detectada para o grupo Beva (24,96 ± 12,85%), e para todos os grupos que receberam terapia de luz vermelha de 670 nm, 34,66 ± 8,66% (2x), 42,42 ± 5,26% (4x) e 38,48 ± 6,96% (8x) em comparação ao grupo controle. A incidência de 5,4 J/cm2 em 4 sessões (4x) mostrou vasos mais regulares. A redução foi mais intensa nos grupos que receberam maior incidência de luz vermelha de 670 nm (4x e 8x). Conclusão: A fotobiomodulação contribui para a redução da vascularização nos vasos da membrana embrionária corioalantóide de ovos de galinhas e mudanças na arquitetura da rede. Os achados deste experimento abrem a possibilidade de considerar um estudo clínico usando esta terapia em pacientes com doenças retinais com componentes neovasculares, especialmente degeneração macular relacionada à idade.

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ABSTRACT Amyloidosis is a rare disease in which ocular involvement may occur as an isolated event or associated with a systemic disease. This paper describes two clinical cases of ophthalmologic manifestations of amyloidosis: a bilateral eyelid lesion similar to xanthelasma and tarsal conjunctival disease similar to follicular conjunctivitis. The anatomopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis.

RESUMO A amiloidose é uma doença rara que pode ter o acometimento ocular como forma isolada ou estar associada a doenças sistêmicas. Neste relato, são descritos dois casos clínicos de alterações oftalmológicas da amiloidose: um que se manifestou por meio de lesão palpebral bilateral de aspecto similar ao xantelasma. O outro era uma afecção em conjuntiva tarsal, semelhante à conjuntivite folicular. O estudo anatomopatológico confirmou o diagnóstico.

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Introduction: Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is an intraocular inflammation caused by Toxoplasma gondii infection that affects the retina and choroid, giving rise to posterior uveitis. Genetic polymorphisms in cytokine genes may exert influence in the expression of these molecules and play a significant role in inflammatory responses and susceptibility to OT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of polymorphisms rs16944 (-511 C > T) of the interleukin (IL) 1ß gene and rs1800896 (-1082 G > A) of the IL10 gene on OT in Brazilian individuals with a serologic diagnosis of T. gondii and after conducting fundoscopic exams. Methods: Participants with a positive serology were classified into two distinct groups according to the presence (G1; n = 110) or absence (G2; n = 104) of OT. The control group (G3) consisted of individuals without the infection (n = 108). Results: It was observed that the C/C genotype of the IL1ß gene polymorphism was a protective factor for OT (p = 0.02, OR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.08-0.78 for G1 vs. G2; p = 0.03; OR = 0.29, 95% CI 0.09-0.82 for G1 vs. G3), according to the recessive inheritance model. Conclusions: The -511C.T polymorphisms of the IL1ß gene seems to play an important role in the pathogenesis of OT in Brazilian individuals.

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A 7-week-old male delivered by cesarean section presented with a positive serology for dengue along with preretinal and retinal hemorrhages, vitreous opacities and cotton wool spots. The patient and his mother had positive serologies for Non Structural Protein 1 (NS1) by ELISA. Retinal and vitreous findings improved over a sixteen-week period. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed preserved macular architecture. In this case report, we suggest that retinal and vitreous changes may be the ocular presenting features of vertically transmitted dengue in newborns, and that those findings may resolve with no major structural sequelae.

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PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the vascular effects of photobiomodulation using a light-emitting diode on the chorioallantoic embryonic membrane of chicken eggs grouped into different times of exposure and to detect the morphological changes induced by the light on the vascular network architecture using quantitative metrics. METHODS: We used a phototherapy device with light-emitting diode (670 nm wavelength) as the source of photobiomodulation. We applied the red light at a distance of 2.5 cm to the surface of the chorioallantoic embryonic membrane of chicken eggs in 2, 4, or 8 sessions for 90 s and analyzed the vascular network architecture using AngioTool software (National Cancer Institute, USA). We treated the negative control group with 50 µl phosphate-buffered-saline (pH 7.4) and the positive control group (Beva) with 50 µl bevacizumab solution (Avastin, Produtos Roche Químicos e Farmacêuticos, S.A., Brazil). RESULTS: We found a decrease in total vessel length in the Beva group (24.96% ± 12.85%) and in all the groups that received 670 nm red light therapy (2× group, 34.66% ± 8.66%; 4× group, 42.42% ± 5.26%; 8× group, 38.48% ± 6.96%), compared with the negative control group. The fluence of 5.4 J/cm2 in 4 sessions (4×) showed more regular vessels. The number of junctions in the groups that received a higher incidence of 670 nm red light (4× and 8×) significantly decreased (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Photo-biomodulation helps reduce vascularization in chorioallantoic embryonic membrane of chicken eggs and changes in the network architecture. Our results open the possibility of future clinical studies on using this therapy in patients with retinal diseases with neovascular components, especially age-related macular degeneration.

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Objective: To evaluate the short-term result of retinal functional behavior in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) corrected by photobiomodulation (PBM) with 670 nm light-emitting diode (LED) light. Materials and methods: Ten patients with dry AMD underwent a treatment consisting of nine PBM sessions with LED light of 670 nm with two cycles of 50 mW/cm2, producing 4 J/cm2 per dose in 88 sec. The studied eye was compared with the baseline (before therapy), and after nine PBM sessions, the following aspects were evaluated: best-corrected visual acuity (VA), retinal sensitivity, and characteristics of the correction area by the fundus automated perimetry using the Compass system. A functional and structural assessment of the retina was also performed using the multifocal electroretinography (ERG), optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescence retinography (FR), and autofluorescence (AF). All examinations were performed 1, 4, and 16 weeks after the therapy. The Chi-square and Student's t-tests were used for comparisons. The analyses followed the 95% confidence level (p-value ≤0.05). Results: The BCVA significantly improved, from an average of 1.1 to 0.98 LogMAR (p = 0.01). The visual field examination, according to the parameters of mean deviation, standard deviation, and index of deviation of background perimeter, showed a significant improvement of -12.6% to -10.6%, 10.54% to 9.89%, and 56% to 60%, respectively (p = 0.02, 0.03, and 0.02, respectively). No participant had an adverse effect during the follow-up period; neither did any participant experience abnormalities in OCT, ERG, FR, and AF findings. Conclusions: In this short-term study, the PBM technique in patients with dry AMD showed the potential to improve VA and macular perimetry without causing significant adverse events. A larger number of patients and a longer follow-up will be necessary to further assess the success of this technique in these patients.

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Duffy blood group phenotypes [Fy(a + b-), Fy(a-b+), Fy(a + b+), Fy(a-b-)], characterized by the expression of Fya, and Fyb antigens, are present in red blood cells. Therefore, we hypothesize that the non-hematopoietic expression of these antigens might influence cell invasion by T. gondii. 576 consecutive patients from both genders were enrolled. The presumed OT clinical diagnosis was performed. Duffy phenotyping was performed by hemagglutination in gel columns and for the correct molecular characterization Fy(a-b-) phenotype, using PCR-RFLP. Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were detected by ELISA. Chi-square, Fisher's exact tests were used to compare the proportions. OT was present in 22.9% (n = 132) and absent in 77.1% (n = 444) of patients. The frequencies of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were higher in OT (127/132, 96.2%) than those without this disease (321/444, 72.3%) (p < .0001). None of the Duffy antigens or phenotypes were associated with T. gondii infection (χ2: 2.222, GL: 3, p = .5276) as well as the risk of OT (χ2: 0.771, GL: 3, p = .8566). Duffy blood group system phenotypes and their antigens do not constitute risk factors for infection by T. gondii infection and the development of OT.

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