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Competing Interests: Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.

Corneal nerves and dendritic cells are increasingly being visualised to serve as clinical parameters in the diagnosis of ocular surface diseases using intravital confocal microscopy. In this review, different methods of image analysis are presented. The use of deep learning algorithms, which enable automated pattern recognition, is explained in detail using our own developments and compared with other established methods., Competing Interests: Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht./The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a common complication after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) and causes immunological rejection of host tissues, which can occur both acute or chronically. Approximately 40 - 80% of patients with the diagnosis of chronic GvHD (cGvHD) also develop ocular GvHD. For these patients, immediate and uncomplicated access to interdisciplinary patient-centred care is important. We performed this survey to improve understanding of the structure of patient-centred care in Germany., Methods: The GvHD working party of the Cornea Section of the German Society of Ophthalmology sent the "Survey of ocular GvHD 2016" to all university and specialised hospitals in Germany. We evaluated the data and compared the information with survey results from 2014, in order to draw conclusions about the structure and process of patient-centred care in ocular GvHD. Besides the questions from 2014 on the numbers of allo-SCT, frequency of examinations, etc. there were additional questions on the prescription of ciclosporin and autologous serum eye drops. The question on frequency examination was further expanded to include examinations of paediatric patients., Results: Of 30 participating hospitals, 22 had already taken part in the first survey. According to the information they provided, approx. 1860 allo-SCTs were performed in the transplantation units of the participating eye hospitals in 2016. This was more than half of the transplantations performed in Germany. Ophthalmologists examined between 2 and 250 Patients per year per centre. Eight clinics provide a specialised outpatient clinic for ocular GvHD. Nearly all the participating clinics prescribe ciclosporin eye drops. About ⅔ provide autologous serum eye drops, seven obtain them from external sources. Overall approx. 125 - 140 children were examined in 2016., Conclusions: Due to the potential severity of ocular GvHD with immobilisation of the patients and the imminent loss of sight, further improvements in eye care are required. For example, offers such as special consultations, with expertise located close to any transplantation unit are recommended. This requires in particular ophthalmologists to participate in the patient care to enhance quality of life after allo-SCT. In summary, we conclude that the present structures are not sufficient to treat all patients suffering from ocular GvHD in Germany, but the situation has evidently improved., Competing Interests: Die Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Purpose Aging is an important factor in dry-eye disease that has not been studied in the context of therapeutic measures. Aging-associated modifications of the ocular immune system implicate that anti-inflammatory therapies may act differently among younger individuals in terms of onset and effect of different substances. The goal of this study was to determine differences in clinical phenotype and topical anti-inflammatory therapy using a desiccating stress mouse model. Methods An experimental dry-eye disease (desiccating stress model) was induced in 12-week and 12-month-old female BALB/c mice. Topical therapy included 0.05% cyclosporine/F4H5 (Novaliq), F4H5, 0.05% cyclosporine (Restasis ® , Allergan) and dexamethasone (Monodex ® , Thea Pharma) for 3 consecutive weeks. A control group received no therapy whatsoever. Readout parameters included tear secretion, corneal fluorescein staining at 5 timepoints and histological analysis of goblet cell count at the end of the experiments. Results The older mice demonstrated a significantly stronger dry eye phenotype than the younger mice. Following therapy, the older mice responded to topical anti-inflammatory therapy significantly later than the younger individuals. Regarding the different substances used, cyclosporine/F4H5 showed a significantly faster decrease in corneal fluoresceine staining after only 1 week of therapy in comparison to all other groups. This substance was also superior regarding tear secretion and goblet cell count in age matched groups and in comparison to younger mice. Conclusions These experimental data support the implication that aging should be considered as an important factor in daily clinical practice. Furthermore, the differences found between substance classes, such as calcineurin antagonists and steroids, as well as different drug formulations, should be considered in future pre-clinical and clinical trials., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background Ophthalmology, principally, is a very successful subdiscipline in medicine. Nonetheless, there are still unmet medical needs which necessitate translational research. Methods The funding instrument of a Research Unit (RU) of the German Research Foundation (DFG) is presented as exemplified by the RU 2240 at the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Cologne. Results The Research Unit integrates different research groups working on pathologic ocular inflammation, macrophages/microglia and (lymph)angiogenesis to collaborate in a synergistic way. Rotation positions allow young clinicians to rotate into research labs for a defined period of time. A Research Unit is also a powerful strategic tool to strengthen clinical and experimental ophthalmology at individual medical faculties. Conclusions The funding instrument of a Research Unit is highly suitable for fostering translational research in a medical subdiscipline such as ophthalmology, supporting the next generation of (clinician) scientists in ophthalmology and finding new cures for our patients., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Competing Interests: Interessenkonflikt: Die Autoren bestätigen, dass kein Interessenkonflikt vorliegt.