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Eugene Appenteng Osae,1,2 Reynolds Kwame Ablordeppey,1 Jens Horstmann,2 David Ben Kumah,1 Philipp Steven2,3 1Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Division for Dry-Eye and Ocular GvHD, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; 3Cluster of Excellence: Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, GermanyCorrespondence: Eugene Appenteng OsaeDepartment of Optometry and Visual Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Private Mail Bag, Kumasi, GhanaTel +233 200 466 637Email osaeappen@gmail.comAim: To compare differences in clinical dry eye features and meibomian gland health status between dry eye patients from rural and urban populations in Ghana.Methods: We examined 211 (rural=109, urban=102) participants with subjective dry eye symptoms. Tear film break -up time (TBUT), Schirmer’s test and ocular surface staining (OSS) were assessed. Symptoms were evaluated using the SPEED II questionnaire. Meibomian glands (MG) in the right eye upper (UL) and lower lids (LL) were imaged using a custom meibographer. MG area was determined by intensity threshold segmentation using Image J software. MG loss (MGL) was also graded based on Pult’s grading scheme. Mann–Whitney, Spearman correlation, chi-square and odds analyses were performed; p< 0.05 was considered significant.Results: Rural participants showed greater SPEED scores, reduced TBUT, and lower Schirmer scores, p < 0.05. The proportion of rural participants with MGL were significantly more (82.3%) than urban participants (63.3%), p < 0.05. They also showed greater MGL than urban participants, p < 0.05. Chi-square test revealed significantly different meiboscale distributions (UL: χ2=13.58, LL: χ2=15.29) between the groups, p < 0.05. Overall significant relationships were observed between MGL and age [rs= 0.61], OSS [rs= 0.35], TBUT [rs= − 0.52], and Schirmer scores [rs= − 0.40], p < 0.05.Conclusion: The data suggest that the participants from the rural population have worse dry eye and meibomian gland health status than those from the urban population. The significant relationships between the various clinical variables suggest important links between MGD and DED. Subtle differences in the everyday working and living environment could likely account for the differences in the severity of DED and MGD between the two groups. And considering the increased pattern of urbanization, industrialization and modernization and the related environmental effects in Africa, future longitudinal studies on specific environmental risk factors or mediators of DED and MGD are necessary to ascertain the MGD and DED situation in Ghana and Africa at large.Keywords: dry eye, meibomian gland dysfunction, ocular surface, dysfunctional tear syndrome

Corneal wound, associated with pain, impaired vision, and even blindness, is the most common ocular injury. In this study, we investigated the effect of a novel ferroptosis inhibitor, UAMC-3203 (10 nM–50 µM), in corneal epithelial wound healing in vitro in human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells and ex vivo using alkali-induced corneal wounded mice eye model. We evaluated in vivo acute tolerability of the compound by visual inspection, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and stereomicroscope imaging in rats after its application (100 µM drug solution in phosphate buffer pH 7.4) twice a day for 5 days. In addition, we studied the partitioning of UAMC-3203 in corneal epithelium and corneal stroma using excised porcine cornea. Our study demonstrated that UAMC-3203 had a positive corneal epithelial wound healing effect at the optimal concentration of 10 nM (IC50 value for ferroptosis) in vitro and at 10 µM in the ex vivo study. UAMC-3203 solution (100 µM) was well tolerated after topical administration with no signs of toxicity and inflammation in rats. Ex-vivo distribution study revealed significantly higher concentration (~12–38-fold) and partition coefficient (Kp) (~52 times) in corneal epithelium than corneal stroma. The UAMC-3203 solution (100 µM) was stable for up to 30 days at 4 °C, 37 °C, and room temperature. Overall, UAMC-3203 provides a new prospect for safe and effective therapy for corneal wounds.

An emerging male market within the spa industry is causing practitioners to consider if men and women differ in their service preferences at spas. This study explored the question via a self-administered survey instrument distributed to individuals located in resort communities along the Gulf Coast of the Florida panhandle. Analysis of the responses of 107 subjects indicated significant gender differences on the importance ratings of 12 out of 18 common spa services: aromatherapy, body scrub and exfoliation, facial, fitness facilities, lymph drainage, manicure, mud or seaweed wrap, pedicure, Pilates, Shiatsu, sport massage, and yoga. The services that men and women rated similarly in decreasing order of importance were Swedish massage, nutritional counseling, steam and sauna, hydrotherapy, spa cuisine, and reflexology.

CD4+T (helper) cells migrate in huge numbers through lymphoid organs. However, little is known about traffic routes and kinetics of CD4+T-cell subsets within different organ compartments. Such information is important because there are indications that CD4+T cells may influence the function of microenvironments depending on their developmental stage. Therefore, we investigated the migration of resting (naïve), activated, and recently activated (memory) CD4+T cells through the different compartments of the spleen. Resting and recently activated CD4+T cells were separated from thoracic duct lymph and activated CD4+T cells were generated in vitro by cross-linking the T-cell receptor and CD28. The present study shows that all three CD4+T-cell subsets selectively accumulate in the T-cell zone of the spleen. However, only activated T cells induce the formation of germinal centers (GCs) and autoantibodies in rats and mice. Our results suggest that in a two-step process they first activate B cells independent of the T-cell receptor repertoire and CD40 ligand (CD154) expression. The activated B cells then form GCs whereby CD154-dependend T-cell help is needed. Thus, activated T cells may contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases by activating autoreactive B cells in an Ag-independent manner. European Journal of Immunology published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA Weinheim.

CD4+T (helper) cells migrate in huge numbers through lymphoid organs. However, little is known about traffic routes and kinetics of CD4+T-cell subsets within different organ compartments. Such information is important because there are indications that CD4+T cells may influence the function of microenvironments depending on their developmental stage. Therefore, we investigated the migration of resting (naïve), activated, and recently activated (memory) CD4+T cells through the different compartments of the spleen. Resting and recently activated CD4+T cells were separated from thoracic duct lymph and activated CD4+T cells were generated in vitro by cross-linking the T-cell receptor and CD28. The present study shows that all three CD4+T-cell subsets selectively accumulate in the T-cell zone of the spleen. However, only activated T cells induce the formation of germinal centers (GCs) and autoantibodies in rats and mice. Our results suggest that in a two-step process they first activate B cells independent of the T-cell receptor repertoire and CD40 ligand (CD154) expression. The activated B cells then form GCs whereby CD154-dependend T-cell help is needed. Thus, activated T cells may contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases by activating autoreactive B cells in an Ag-independent manner. European Journal of Immunology published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA Weinheim.