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Clinical Relevance: Scientific evidence on the burden of visual impairment, its causes, and associated factors are essential to monitor progress in eye health, identify priorities and develop strategies and policies that meet the needs of the population, towards the eradication of preventable blindness., Background: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of visual impairment, its causes and associated factors in adults living in suburban communities in Nampula., Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted from November 2019 to February 2020. Eye examinations were performed on adults aged ≥18 years covered by the Lúrio University program, 'one student, one family'. The odds ratio (OR) and adjusted odds ratio (aOR) were calculated to study the association between the dependent variable (presenting visual impairment) and independent variables (gender, age, school level, residence, family income and systemic diseases), with a 95% confidence interval., Results: Distance and near presenting visual impairment had a prevalence of 16.3% and 21.1%, respectively, and were statistically associated with the age groups between 45-65 (OR:4.9) and >65 years (OR: 29.1), illiterate (OR:13.8), primary (OR:4.8) and secondary (aOR:37.5) school level, farmer (OR:32.8) and retired (OR:14.3) occupation, and presence of systemic diseases (OR :3.3). The main causes of presenting visual impairment were uncorrected refractive error and cataract., Conclusion: The prevalence of presenting visual impairment is relatively high, given the enormous effort undertaken within the framework of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight global initiative. There is a need to develop intervention plans targeted at the highest risk groups, with a view to achieving the 'one student, one family' program goals with respect to eye health.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting the breakpoint cluster region-ABL fusion protein, such as imatinib (Gleevec), have revolutionized targeted cancer therapies. However, drug resistance and side effects, particularly those affecting hemostasis, continue to pose significant challenges for TKI therapies. As tyrosine kinases serve pivotal roles in platelet hemostatic function, we investigated the potential impact of both established and emerging ABL TKIs on human platelet activities ex vivo. Our study included standard-of-care agents (eg, imatinib and nilotinib) and second-generation ABL inhibitors, including ponatinib and bosutinib, designed to mitigate drug resistance. Additionally, we explored the effects of allosteric inhibitors targeting the myristoyl pocket of ABL (eg, asciminib and GNF-2) and novel agents in preclinical development, including ELVN-919, which uniquely exhibits high specificity for the ABL kinase active site. Our findings reveal that while ABL inhibitors such as ponatinib and bosutinib impede platelet activity, highly specific new-generation ABL inhibitors, including first-in-class therapeutics, do not impact platelet function ex vivo. Overall, these new insights around the effects of ABL TKIs on platelet function could inform the development of targeted therapies with reduced hematologic toxicities. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This study examines the effects of clinically relevant small molecule breakpoint cluster region (BCR)-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) on platelet activity. This analysis includes first-time assessments of agents such as asciminib and ELVN-919 on human platelet function ex vivo, alongside established therapies (eg, imatinib, ponatinib) with well characterized effects on platelet function, to discern potential antiplatelet and other effects of BCR-ABL TKIs and inform clinical safety., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest Joseph J. Shatzel serves as a medical consultant for Aronora, Inc. This potential conflict of interest has been reviewed and managed by the Oregon Health & Science University Conflict of Interest in Research Committee. Joseph P. Lyssikatos and Stefan D. Gross are employed by Enliven Therapeutics, Inc, a company that may have a commercial interest in the results of this research. All other authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)