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Human activities catalyse risk avoidance behaviours in wildlife across taxa and systems. However, the broader ecological significance of human‐induced risk perception remains unclear, with a limited understanding of how phenotypic responses scale up to affect population or community dynamics. We present a framework informed by predator–prey ecology to predict the occurrence of non‐consumptive effects (NCE) and trait‐mediated indirect effects (TMIE) of anthropogenic disturbances. We report evidence from a comprehensive review of the different types of human‐induced behavioural and physiological phenotypic changes and their influence on vital rates and population parameters in wildlife. Evidence for human‐induced NCEs and TMIEs is mixed, with half of published studies finding a relationship between human activities, phenotypic change and population outcomes. The net effects of anthropogenic NCEs and TMIEs depend on the mismatch between the phenotypic response and the lethality of human activity. However, strong research biases in taxa, systems, human disturbance types and demographic measures prevent unified inference about the prevalence of population responses to human activities. Coexistence with and conservation of wildlife requires additional research linking human‐induced phenotypic change to population and community outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterised by intraocular inflammation, non‐infectious uveitis includes a large group of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases that either involve the eye alone or have both ocular and systemic manifestations. When non‐infectious uveitis involves the posterior segment of the eye, specifically the retina, there is substantial risk of vision loss, often linked to breakdown of the inner blood‐retinal barrier. This barrier is formed by non‐fenestrated retinal vascular endothelial cells, reinforced by supporting cells that include pericytes, Müller cells and astrocytes. Across the published literature, a group of inflammatory cytokines stand out as prominent mediators of intraocular inflammation, with effects on the retinal endothelium that may contribute to breakdown of the inner blood‐retinal barrier, namely tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐17 and chemokine C‐C motif ligand (CCL)2. This article reviews the function of each cytokine and discusses the evidence for their involvement in retinal endothelial barrier dysfunction in non‐infectious uveitis, including basic laboratory investigations, studies of ocular fluids collected from patients with non‐infectious uveitis, and results of clinical treatment trials. The review also outlines gaps in knowledge in this area. Understanding the disease processes at a molecular level can suggest treatment alternatives that are directed against appropriate biological targets to protect the posterior segment of eye and preserve vision in non‐infectious uveitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prey often induce antipredator behaviors when balancing food acquisition against safety. The starvation–predation hypothesis (SPH) posits that, during food shortages, the risk of starvation requires prey to forego antipredator behavior to increase feeding rates. Such shifts in antipredator behavior may further increase the risk of predation and therefore kill rates by predators. We tested the SPH and its consequences for kill rates in a single large prey, single large predator system. In the Argentine Andes, we evaluated whether risk avoidance by vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) decreased during periods of food scarcity. From three years of GPS relocations collected simultaneously from vicuñas and pumas (Puma concolor), resource selection functions revealed that vicuñas increased their exposure to pumas during nongrowing seasons by reducing the avoidance of canyons and increasing selection for meadows, both of which offer more food of higher quality than relatively safe plains. However, and despite vicuñas becoming more risk‐prone during nongrowing seasons, kill rates by pumas did not change between growing and nongrowing seasons. Contrary to evidence from mesocosm experiments, relaxation of antipredator behavior by prey did not translate into increased kill rates by predators. Our results enhance understanding of the interplay between food limitation and predator–prey interactions within ecosystems and may improve ecologists' ability to predict when and where behaviorally mediated trophic cascades are more likely to occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite growing evidence of widespread impacts of humans on animal behaviour, our understanding of how humans reshape species interactions remains limited.Here, we present a framework that draws on key concepts from behavioural and community ecology to outline four primary pathways by which humans can alter predator–prey spatiotemporal overlap.We suggest that predator–prey dyads can exhibit similar or opposite responses to human activity with distinct outcomes for predator diet, predation rates, population demography and trophic cascades. We demonstrate how to assess these behavioural response pathways with hypothesis testing, using temporal activity data for 178 predator–prey dyads from published camera trap studies on terrestrial mammals.We found evidence for each of the proposed pathways, revealing multiple patterns of human influence on predator–prey activity and overlap. Our framework and case study highlight current challenges, gaps, and advances in linking human activity to animal behaviour change and predator–prey dynamics.By using a hypothesis‐driven approach to estimate the potential for altered species interactions, researchers can anticipate the ecological consequences of human activities on whole communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of predation risk on prey populations have been studied extensively; yet, how risk is manifested in a trophically linked guild—scavengers—has been overlooked. Risk could be particularly consequential for obligate scavengers that are vulnerable while foraging and rely on carrion provisioned by, and shared with, apex predators. We investigated whether Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) respond to predation risk in a landscape where the main source of carrion are camelids killed by pumas (Puma concolor). We hypothesized that condors would exhibit different behavioral responses to predation risk while they search, encounter, and exploit carrion. We explored condor habitat selection while flying by tracking nine birds with satellite transmitters and monitored via camera traps 41 natural carcasses and 25 experimental carrion stations. We found that condors searched for carrion in areas with a high probability of occurrence of puma kills. However, condors avoided exploiting carrion in areas featuring tall vegetation and steep slopes—selected by pumas to stalk prey—suggesting that condors manage risk primarily through the identification of safe foraging sites prior to landing. Our finding that condors avoided foraging near stalking cover for pumas highlights the importance of risk effects beyond predator–prey interactions, particularly for obligate scavengers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A narrative in ecology is that prey modify traits to reduce predation risk, and the trait modification has costs large enough to cause ensuing demographic, trophic and ecosystem consequences, with implications for conservation, management and agriculture. But ecology has a long history of emphasising that quantifying the importance of an ecological process ultimately requires evidence linking a process to unmanipulated field patterns. We suspected that such process‐linked‐to‐pattern (PLP) studies were poorly represented in the predation risk literature, which conflicts with the confidence often given to the importance of risk effects. We reviewed 29 years of the ecological literature which revealed that there are well over 4000 articles on risk effects. Of those, 349 studies examined risk effects on prey fitness measures or abundance (i.e., non‐consumptive effects) of which only 26 were PLP studies, while 275 studies examined effects on other interacting species (i.e., trait‐mediated indirect effects) of which only 35 were PLP studies. PLP studies were narrowly focused taxonomically and included only three that examined unmanipulated patterns of prey abundance. Before concluding a widespread and influential role of predation‐risk effects, more attention must be given to linking the process of risk effects to unmanipulated patterns observed across diverse ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predation risk, the probability that a prey animal will be killed by a predator, is fundamental to theoretical and applied ecology. Predation risk varies with animal behavior and environmental conditions, yet attempts to understand predation risk in natural systems often ignore important ecological and environmental complexities, relying instead on proxies for actual risk such as predator–prey spatial overlap. Here we detail the ecological and environmental complexities driving disconnects between three stages of the predation sequence that are often assumed to be tightly linked: spatial overlap, encounters and prey capture. Our review highlights several major sources of variability in natural predator–prey systems that lead to the decoupling of spatial overlap estimates from actual encounter rates (e.g. temporal activity patterns, predator and prey movement capacity, resource limitations) and that affect the probability of prey capture given encounter (e.g. predator hunger levels, temporal, topographic and other environmental influences on capture success). Emerging technologies and statistical methods are facilitating a transition to a more spatiotemporally detailed, mechanistic understanding of predator–prey interactions, allowing for the concurrent examination of multiple stages of the predation sequence in mobile, free‐ranging animals. We describe crucial applications of this new understanding to fundamental and applied ecology, highlighting opportunities to better integrate ecological contingencies into dynamic predator–prey models and to harness a mechanistic understanding of predator–prey interactions to improve targeting and effectiveness of conservation interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one would expect, reports on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy dominate among these articles. The 2023 I Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology i Special Issue shines the spotlight on retinal diseases. Retina-focused papers beyond AMD and diabetic retinopathy have also been published. [Extracted from the article]

Disease outbreaks induced by humans increasingly threaten wildlife communities worldwide. Like predators, pathogens can be key top‐down forces in ecosystems, initiating trophic cascades that may alter food webs. An outbreak of mange in a remote Andean protected area caused a dramatic population decline in a mammalian herbivore (the vicuña), creating conditions to test the cascading effects of disease on the ecological community. By comparing a suite of ecological measurements to pre‐disease baseline records, we demonstrate that mange restructured tightly linked trophic interactions previously driven by a mammalian predator (the puma). Following the mange outbreak, scavenger (Andean condor) occurrence in the ecosystem declined sharply and plant biomass and cover increased dramatically in predation refuges where herbivory was historically concentrated. The evidence shows that a disease‐induced trophic cascade, mediated by vicuña density, could supplant the predator‐induced trophic cascade, mediated by vicuña behaviour, thereby transforming the Andean ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media is being widely used across ophthalmology. Its communication tools have been employed more often by ophthalmologists in private practice than academia, although academic institutions may be more impactful influencers. There are opportunities to promote ophthalmic services and to augment traditional clinical care. Social media provides a medium to disseminate peer‐reviewed literature in ophthalmology, and to expand conference experiences. It is used for teaching ophthalmology at medical schools and attracting medical students into ophthalmology training, and for research in ophthalmology. Important considerations when using social media include the required time commitment and the public nature of interactions. The high level of misinformation in medical social media remains a challenge for both ophthalmologists and their patients, and the ophthalmologist can play an active role in addressing the issue. This review considers the role that social media is playing in ophthalmology today, including impact on ophthalmic practice, applications in ophthalmic education and training, and patient‐focused networking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Special Issue is dedicated to highlighting women in ophthalmology in celebration of International Women's Day. While the number of women ophthalmologists and trainees has been increasing globally, women are still underrepresented in leadership positions and academic output. The issue features seven reviews on various topics, including the status of women in academic ophthalmology, pregnancy and the eye, and optical coherence tomography biomarkers in age-related macular degeneration. The journal aims to promote gender equality in ophthalmology and encourages women authors to propose new review topics. [Extracted from the article]

Sustained and rebound effect of repeated low-level red-light therapy on myopia control: a 2-year post-trial follow-up study. In his engaging 2020 editorial in I Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology i - I Register your interest i [1] - Gillies outlined the high merits of observational outcomes registries in ophthalmology, highlighting three articles[[2], [4]] in the same issue that used this approach to generate "information that is useful for the management of our patients". Both arms were effective in controlling IOP without the need for reoperation, but patients who underwent the double procedure were significantly less likely to need glaucoma medications post-operatively. [Extracted from the article]

Research on the ecology of fear has highlighted the importance of perceived risk from predators and humans in shaping animal behavior and physiology, with potential demographic and ecosystem‐wide consequences. Despite recent conceptual advances and potential management implications of the ecology of fear, theory and conservation practices have rarely been linked. Many challenges in animal conservation may be alleviated by actively harnessing or compensating for risk perception and risk avoidance behavior in wild animal populations. Integration of the ecology of fear into conservation and management practice can contribute to the recovery of threatened populations, human–wildlife conflict mitigation, invasive species management, maintenance of sustainable harvest and species reintroduction plans. Here, we present an applied framework that links conservation interventions to desired outcomes by manipulating ecology of fear dynamics. We discuss how to reduce or amplify fear in wild animals by manipulating habitat structure, sensory stimuli, animal experience (previous exposure to risk) and food safety trade‐offs to achieve management objectives. Changing the optimal decision‐making of individuals in managed populations can then further conservation goals by shaping the spatiotemporal distribution of animals, changing predation rates and altering risk effects that scale up to demographic consequences. We also outline future directions for applied research on fear ecology that will better inform conservation practices. Our framework can help scientists and practitioners anticipate and mitigate unintended consequences of management decisions, and highlight new levers for multi‐species conservation strategies that promote human–wildlife coexistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This August issue of I Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology i includes two studies of surgical outcomes for quite different paediatric eye diseases. Our paediatric ophthalmology Section Editors hope that this short survey provides you with a useful update on an important subspecialty within our discipline. They found that the most common type of acute strabismus was concomitant esotropia (50%), but that intracranial pathology could be causative: the odds ratio of abnormal findings in patients presenting with isolated strabismus was 0.082, compared with 2.4 for those presenting with non-isolated strabismus (associated with neurological symptoms). [Extracted from the article]

Migratory ungulates are thought to be declining globally because their dependence on large landscapes renders them highly vulnerable to environmental change. Yet recent studies reveal that many ungulate species can adjust their migration propensity in response to changing environmental conditions to potentially improve population persistence. In addition to the question of whether to migrate, decisions of where and when to migrate appear equally fundamental to individual migration tactics, but these three dimensions of plasticity have rarely been explored together. Here, we expand the concept of migratory plasticity beyond individual switches in migration propensity to also include spatial and temporal adjustments to migration patterns. We develop a novel typological framework that delineates every potential change type within the three dimensions, then use this framework to guide a literature review. We discuss broad patterns in migratory plasticity, potential drivers of migration change, and research gaps in the current understanding of this trait. Our result reveals 127 migration change events in direct response to natural and human‐induced environmental changes across 27 ungulate species. Species that appeared in multiple studies showed multiple types of change, with some exhibiting the full spectrum of migratory plasticity. This result highlights that multidimensional migratory plasticity is pervasive in ungulates, even as the manifestation of plasticity varies case by case. However, studies thus far have rarely been able to determine the fitness outcomes of different types of migration change, likely due to the scarcity of long‐term individual‐based demographic monitoring as well as measurements encompassing a full behavioral continuum and environmental gradient for any given species. Recognizing and documenting the full spectrum of migratory plasticity marks the first step for the field of migration ecology to employ quantitative methods, such as reaction norms, to predict migration change along environmental gradients. Closer monitoring for changes in migratory propensity, routes, and timing may improve the efficacy of conservation strategies and management actions in a rapidly changing world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key points: In January 2016, the three journals of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) transitioned to gold open access.Increased author charges were introduced to partially offset the loss of subscription revenue.Submissions to the two established journals initially dropped by almost 15% but have now stabilized.The transition has not impacted acceptance rates and impact factors, and article pageviews and downloads may have increased as a result of open access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance Australian‐ and New Zealand‐based, uveitis‐specialized ophthalmologists have produced recommendations for the management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)‐type chronic anterior uveitis. Background: Historically, the visual prognosis of JIA‐type chronic anterior uveitis has been poor. New medical advances are likely to improve outcomes, but recently published guidelines are tailored for ophthalmic care in Europe and the United States. Design This work involved a consensus survey and a panel meeting. Participants: The Australian and New Zealand JIA‐Uveitis Working Group (29 ophthalmologists) participated in the work. Methods: The Delphi technique was used to achieve consensus. Main Outcome Measures: This work yielded consensus statements. Results: The Working Group achieved consensus around 18 statements related to clinical evaluation, use of topical and regional corticosteroids, use of systemic corticosteroid and non‐corticosteroid immunomodulatory drugs, and management of secondary cataract and glaucoma in childhood JIA‐type uveitis. Conclusions and Relevance: Recommendations of the Australian and New Zealand JIA‐Uveitis Working Group provide current and regionally applicable advice for managing chronic anterior uveitis in children with JIA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predator–prey games emerge when predators and prey dynamically respond to the behavior of one another, driving the outcomes of predator–prey interactions. Predation success is a function of the combined probabilities of encountering and capturing prey, which are influenced by both prey behavior and environmental features. While the relative importance of encounter and capture probabilities have been evaluated in a spatial framework, temporal variation in prey behavior and intrinsic catchability are likely to also affect the distribution of predation events. Using a single‐predator‐single‐prey (puma‐vicuña) system, we evaluated which factors predict predation events across both temporal and spatial dimensions of the components of predation by testing the prey‐abundance hypothesis (predators select for high encounter probability) and the prey‐catchability hypothesis (predators select for high relative capture probability) in time and space. We found that for both temporal and spatial analyses, neither the prey‐abundance hypothesis nor the prey‐catchability hypothesis alone predicted kill frequency or distribution; puma kill frequency was static throughout the diel cycle and pumas consistently selected a single habitat type when hunting, despite temporal and spatial variation in encounter rates and intrinsic catchability. Our integrated spatiotemporal analysis revealed that an interaction between time of day and habitat influences kill probability, suggesting that trade‐offs in the temporal and spatial components of predation drive the probability of predation events. These findings reinforce the importance of examining both the temporal and spatial patterns of the components of predation, rather than unidimensional measures of predator or prey behavior, to comprehensively describe the feedbacks between predator and prey in the predator–prey game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camera trap technology has galvanized the study of predator–prey ecology in wild animal communities by expanding the scale and diversity of predator–prey interactions that can be analysed. While observational data from systematic camera arrays have informed inferences on the spatiotemporal outcomes of predator–prey interactions, the capacity for observational studies to identify mechanistic drivers of species interactions is limited.Experimental study designs that utilize camera traps uniquely allow for testing hypothesized mechanisms that drive predator and prey behaviour, incorporating environmental realism not possible in the laboratory while benefiting from the distinct capacity of camera traps to generate large datasets from multiple species with minimal observer interference. However, such pairings of camera traps with experimental methods remain underutilized.We review recent advances in the experimental application of camera traps to investigate fundamental mechanisms underlying predator–prey ecology and present a conceptual guide for designing experimental camera trap studies.Only 9% of camera trap studies on predator–prey ecology in our review use experimental methods, but the application of experimental approaches is increasing. To illustrate the utility of camera trap‐based experiments using a case study, we propose a study design that integrates observational and experimental techniques to test a perennial question in predator–prey ecology: how prey balance foraging and safety, as formalized by the risk allocation hypothesis. We discuss applications of camera trap‐based experiments to evaluate the diversity of anthropogenic influences on wildlife communities globally. Finally, we review challenges to conducting experimental camera trap studies.Experimental camera trap studies have already begun to play an important role in understanding the predator–prey ecology of free‐living animals, and such methods will become increasingly critical to quantifying drivers of community interactions in a rapidly changing world. We recommend increased application of experimental methods in the study of predator and prey responses to humans, synanthropic and invasive species, and other anthropogenic disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitreoretinal lymphomas are rare ocular cancers, and the subset of primary central nervous system lymphomas that are based in the posterior eye. These tumours are challenging to treat, and today management generally involves a multispecialty team coordinating a treatment protocol that may include intraocular chemotherapy, ocular irradiation, systemic chemotherapy and/or autologous stem cell transplantation. The ophthalmologist has specific responsibility for the intraocular chemotherapy, which is delivered to the eye by intravitreal injection. The most commonly injected drugs are methotrexate—an anti‐metabolite—and rituximab—an anti‐human B cell monoclonal antibody. A range of intraocular chemotherapy treatment schedules have been described in the medical literature, although to date there have been no randomized clinical trials of these schedules. In this article, we review the development and current status of intraocular chemotherapy for vitreoretinal lymphoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the disruption of the retinal endothelial cell barrier by direct contact with retinal Müller glial cells (RMGCs) in vitro. The inner blood-retinal barrier plays a crucial role in protecting the neural retina by restricting the passage of solutes and microbes. The study aimed to develop a model for investigating the interactions between human retinal endothelial cells (RECs) and RMGCs to understand the breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier. The results showed that direct contact between RMGCs and RECs led to an activated and leaky retinal endothelium. This model could be useful for studying diseases like diabetic retinopathy and posterior uveitis and evaluating targeted treatments. [Extracted from the article]

This article from Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology discusses the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in ophthalmology, specifically in the analysis of optical coherence tomography (OCT) images for various eye diseases. The authors highlight the potential benefits of AI, such as saving time and providing valuable expertise, but also acknowledge the lack of real-world datasets to train AI systems. The article also mentions other reviews and studies that explore the use of AI in ophthalmology, including its application in glaucoma management, telemedicine, and the detection of keratoconus. The authors emphasize the increasing presence of AI in the field and encourage researchers to follow best practice guidelines for using AI-generated content tools. [Extracted from the article]

In this issue of I Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology i , Jani et al[1] present the findings of a valuable prospective observational study that enrolled 70 children with mild periorbital cellulitis to evaluate an ambulatory management approach. Rana et al[12] addressed the issue of prophylaxis against exogenous endophthalmitis following manual small incision cataract surgery. The investigators found no statistically significant difference in the risk of endophthalmitis between the two groups, supporting their move away from using postoperative antibiotic eye drops following routine cataract surgery. [Extracted from the article]

Recently recognized forms of uveitis include intraocular inflammations that occur during or following one of several emerging infectious diseases: chikungunya fever, dengue, Zika virus disease and Ebola virus disease. Anterior, intermediate, posterior and pan‐uveitis have been described in individuals infected with chikungunya virus. Persons who contract dengue or Zika viruses also may develop different types of uveitis in the course of the infection: maculopathy is a common manifestation of dengue eye disease, and Zika eye disease may cause hypertensive anterior uveitis or mimic a white dot syndrome. Up to one‐third of Ebola survivors develop aggressive uveitis, which is frequently associated with vision loss and complicated by cataract. There are no specific anti‐viral drugs for these forms of uveitis, and thus treatment is largely supportive. In this article, we summarize the systemic infectious diseases and virology, and describe the clinical presentations, outcomes and management of emerging viral forms of uveitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While often sold on its "quick read" value, the Letter to the Editor is a special form of communication that is supported by most peer-reviewed scientific journals. Elevated intraocular pressure was no more likely in the injected eye than in the fellow eye, unless the patient had pre-existing glaucoma, and the complication did not associate with any one retinal pathology. They presented a retrospective case series of 1086 eyes of 543 patients treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections for a range of retinal diseases, representing 20 886 injections and 4350 person-years of data. [Extracted from the article]

Extra-ocular involvement differs between these cancers: ocular adnexal DLBCL may be associated with systemic lymphoma, while vitreoretinal DLBCL is a subset of central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma. Survival outcomes of ocular DLBCLs in Australians were consistent with those observed in US persons, including longer survival time for ocular adnexal DLBCL versus vitreoretinal DLBCL (Ahmed et al., [1]). Ocular diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) are rare cancers based in the adnexae (ocular adnexal lymphoma) or inside the eye (intraocular lymphoma) (Ahmed et al., [1]). [Extracted from the article]

The current edition of I Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology i includes three new papers that report on different aspects of screening in ophthalmology. A large portion of evidence-based literature on screening in ophthalmology is dedicated to glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. [Extracted from the article]

Summary: The tomato PROCERA gene encodes a DELLA protein, and loss‐of‐function mutations derepress growth. We used CRISPR/Cas9 and a single guide RNAs (sgRNA) to target mutations to the PROCERADELLA domain, and recovered several loss‐of‐function mutations and a dominant dwarf mutation that carries a deletion of one amino acid in the DELLA domain. This is the first report of a dominant dwarf PROCERA allele. This allele retains partial responsiveness to exogenously applied gibberellin. Heterozygotes show an intermediate phenotype at the seedling stage, but adult heterozygotes are as dwarfed as homozygotes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitreoretinal lymphoma, which most commonly is diffuse large B‐cell non‐Hodgkin in type, is a rare cancer with high morbidity and high mortality. Making a tissue diagnosis of vitreoretinal lymphoma is a major challenge for clinicians due to biological and technical factors. Yet, the delay in start of treatment may have vision‐ and life‐threatening consequences, and there is considerable interest in the application of molecular assays to improve the accuracy of the diagnostic process: detection of a clonal immunoglobulin heavy‐chain rearrangements in lymphoma cells by polymerase chain reaction; measurement of vitreous or aqueous interleukin‐10 protein levels in ocular fluids; and identification of mutations in the myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 in tumour cells. In this article, we review the historical development and current application of each of these molecular methods. We also discuss future opportunities for the molecular diagnosis of vitreoretinal lymphoma through next‐generation sequencing technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Over‐production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and resulting oxidative stress contribute to retinal damage in vascular diseases that include diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and major retinal vessel occlusions. NADPH oxidase (Nox) proteins are professional ROS‐generating enzymes, and therapeutic targeting in these diseases has strong appeal. Pharmacological inhibition of Nox4 reduces the severity of experimental retinal vasculopathy. We investigated the potential application of this drug approach in humans. Methods: Differential Nox enzyme expression was studied by real‐time‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction in primary human retinal endothelial cell isolates and a characterized human retinal endothelial cell line. Oxidative stress was triggered chemically in endothelial cells, by treatment with dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG; 100 μM); Nox4 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFA) transcript were measured; and production of ROS was detected by 2′,7′‐dichlorofluorescein. DMOG‐stimulated endothelial cells were treated with two Nox1/Nox4 inhibitors, GKT136901 and GKT137831; cell growth was monitored by DNA quantification, in addition to VEGFA transcript and ROS production. Results: Nox4 (isoform Nox4A) was the predominant Nox enzyme expressed by human retinal endothelial cells. Treatment with DMOG significantly increased endothelial cell expression of Nox4 over 72 h, accompanied by ROS production and increased VEGFA expression. Treatment with GKT136901 or GKT137831 significantly reduced DMOG‐induced ROS production and VEGFA expression by endothelial cells, and the inhibitory effect of DMOG on cell growth. Conclusions: Our findings in experiments on activated human retinal endothelial cells provide translational corroboration of studies in experimental models of retinal vasculopathy and support the therapeutic application of Nox4 inhibition by GKT136901 and GKT137831 in patients with retinal vascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic disturbances can constrain the realized niche space of wildlife by inducing avoidance behaviors and altering community dynamics. Human activity might contribute to reduced partitioning of niche space by carnivores that consume similar resources, both by promoting tolerant species while also altering behavior of species (e.g. activity patterns). We investigated the influence of anthropogenic disturbance on habitat and dietary niche breadth and overlap among competing carnivores, and explored if altered resource partitioning could be explained by human‐induced activity shifts. To describe the diets of coyotes, bobcat, and gray foxes, we designed a citizen science program to collect carnivore scat samples in low‐ (‘wildland’) and high‐ (‘interface’) human‐use open space preserves, and obtained diet estimates using a DNA metabarcoding approach. Habitat use was determined at scat locations. We found that coyotes expanded habitat and dietary niche breadth in interface preserves, whereas bobcats and foxes narrowed both niche breadth measures. High human use was related to increased dietary niche overlap among all mesocarnivore pairs, increased coyote habitat overlap with bobcats and foxes, and a small reduction in habitat overlap between bobcats and foxes. The strongest increase in diet overlap was among coyotes and foxes, which was smaller in magnitude than their habitat overlap increase. Finally, coyote scats were more likely to contain nocturnal prey in interface preserves, whereas foxes appeared to reduce consumption of nocturnal prey. Our results suggest that dominant and generalist mesocarnivores may encroach on the niche space of subordinate mesocarnivores in areas with high human activity, and that patterns in resource use may be related to human‐induced activity shifts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent clinical reports indicate that infection with dengue virus (DENV) commonly has ocular manifestations. The most serious threat to vision is dengue retinopathy, including retinal vasculopathy and macular edema. Mechanisms of retinopathy are unstudied, but observations in patients implicate retinal pigment epithelial cells and retinal endothelial cells. Human retinal cells were inoculated with DENV-2 and monitored for up to 72 hours. Epithelial and endothelial cells supported DENV replication and release, but epithelial cells alone demonstrated clear cytopathic effect, and infection was more productive in those cells. Infection induced type I interferon responses from both cells, but this was stronger in epithelial cells. Endothelial cells increased expression of adhesion molecules, with sustained overexpression of vascular adhesion molecule-1. Transcellular impedance decreased for epithelial monolayers, but not endothelial monolayers, coinciding with cytopathic effect. This reduction was accompanied by disorganization of intracellular filamentous-actin and decreased expression of junctional molecules, zonula occludens 1, and catenin-β1. Changes in endothelial expression of adhesion molecules are consistent with the retinal vasculopathy seen in patients infected with DENV; decreases in epithelial junctional protein expression, paralleling loss of integrity of the epithelium, provide a molecular basis for DENV-associated macular edema. These molecular processes present potential therapeutic targets for vision-threatening dengue retinopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How animals respond to anthropogenic disturbances is a core component of conservation biology and how they respond to predators and competitors is equally of central importance to wildlife ecology. Camera traps have rapidly become a critical tool in wildlife research by providing a fully automated means of observing animals without needing an observer present, permitting data to be collected on rare or elusive species and infrequent events. Snapshots from camera traps revealing a species' presence have been the principal data used to date to gauge behaviour; but, lacking experimental controls, such data permit only correlational analyses potentially open to confounding effects. Playback experiments provide a powerful means to directly test the behavioural responses of animals, enabling strong inferences and rigorous conclusions not subject to the potential confounds affecting the interpretation of snapshot data; the principal factor to date limiting the use of playback experiments being the need to have an observer present., We developed an Automated Behavioural Response system (ABR) comprising a custom-built motion-sensitive speaker system that can be paired with any commercially available camera trap, providing the means to conduct playback experiments directly testing the behavioural responses of any species that can be 'caught' on a camera trap., We describe field tests in Uganda, Canada and the USA, experimentally testing the effects of anthropogenic disturbances and interactions among large carnivores, in species as diverse as elephants, black bears, chimpanzees and cougars; experiments that would be completely infeasible without the ABR. We evaluate factors affecting the rate of successful data collection in the experiments in Uganda and Canada, and detail how we maximized the system's performance in the USA experiment., By integrating the power playback experiments provide to directly and rigorously test behavioural responses with the capacity camera trapping affords to study virtually any animal anywhere, the ABR can both greatly expand the range of research questions addressed by conservation biologists and wildlife ecologists and qualitatively improve the rigour of the resulting conclusions. We discuss various ways to optimize the ABR's performance in any circumstance, and the many novel research opportunities made available by this new methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the diagnosis of viral anterior uveitis. Topics discussed include herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and rubella virus. Also being discussed are the topics like ebola virus, arthropod-borne viral infections, and dengue, zika, west nile and chikungunya viral infections.

ABSTRACT Understanding how anthropogenic development affects food webs is essential to implementing sustainable growth measures, yet little is known about how the spatial configuration of residential development affects the foraging behavior and prey habits of top predators. We examined the influence of the spatial characteristics of residential development on prey composition in the puma ( Puma concolor). We located the prey remains of kills from 32 pumas fitted with global positioning system (GPS) satellite collars to determine the housing characteristics most influencing prey size and species composition. We examined how differences in housing density, proximity, and clustering influenced puma prey size and diversity. We found that at both local (150 m) and regional (1 km) spatial scales surrounding puma kill sites, housing density (but not the clustering of housing) was the greatest contributor to puma consumption of small prey (<20 kg), which primarily comprised human commensals or pets. The species-specific relationships between housing density and prey occupancy and detection rates assessed using camera traps were not always similar to those between housing density and proportions of diet, suggesting that pumas may exercise some diet selectivity. The influence of development on puma diet may affect puma disease risk, energetics, and demographics because of altered species interactions and prey-specific profiles of energetic gain and cost. Our results can help guide future land-use planners seeking to minimize the impacts of development on wild species interactions and community dynamics. © 2016 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeting the endothelial adhesion molecules that control leukocyte trafficking into a tissue has been explored as a biological therapy for inflammatory diseases. However, these molecules also participate in leukocyte migration for immune surveillance, and inhibiting the physiological level of an adhesion molecule might promote infection or malignancy. We explored the concept of targeting endothelial adhesion molecule transcription during inflammation in a human system. Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) mediates leukocyte migration across the retinal endothelium in noninfectious posterior uveitis. We observed an increase in the transcription factor, nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells 1 (NF-κB1), in parallel with ICAM-1, in human retinal endothelial cells treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and identified putative binding sites for NF-κB1 within the ICAM-1 regulatory region. We targeted induced NF-κB1 expression in endothelial cells with small interfering (si)RNA. Knockdown of NF-κB1 significantly decreased cell surface expression of ICAM-1 protein induced by TNF-α but did not reduce constitutive ICAM-1 expression. Consistently, NF-κB1 knockdown significantly reduced leukocyte binding to cell monolayers in the presence of TNF-α but did not impact baseline binding. Findings of this proof-of-concept study indicate that induced transcription of endothelial adhesion molecules might be targeted therapeutically for inflammatory disease in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data sets on wetlands required for the representation of aquatic ecosystem biodiversity and systematic wetland conservation planning are typically not available or are inadequate, particularly at country-wide scale, which hinders conservation planning. The improvement in hierarchical classification systems and increased availability of broad-scale data sets offers new opportunities to overcome these limitations., This study demonstrates replicable methods for classifying wetland ecosystem types and condition country-wide using broad-scale data sets in data-scarce countries., A country-wide data set, compiled primarily using remote sensing techniques, was combined with regional and landscape-setting data sets to reflect the ecological and geomorphic biodiversity of wetlands. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) were employed to model wetland types, disturbance indices and identify priority wetlands through threatened faunal species associations using existing data. Accuracy of the national data was assessed through a congruency with two local data sets., Most of the 1 680 306 ha of inland wetlands were classified as Natural (80%), of which the majority were located on Valley Floors (68%). However, the national data were found only to represent 54% of wetlands mapped at a local scale, and comparison with local data showed inaccuracies in the types and condition classifications., Problems regarding spatial data quality and scale are discussed and suggestions for improvement are provided. The desktop classification steps can be reproduced easily for other data-scarce countries. Data sets on freshwater ecosystems can assist in raising awareness and influence policy at a national scale., Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Great leaps forward in scientific understanding are often spurred by innovations in technology. The explosion of miniature sensors that are driving the boom in consumer electronics, such as smart phones, gaming platforms, and wearable fitness devices, are now becoming available to ecologists for remotely monitoring the activities of wild animals. While half a century ago researchers were attaching balloons to the backs of seals to measure their movement, today ecologists have access to an arsenal of sensors that can continuously measure most aspects of an animal's state (e.g., location, behavior, caloric expenditure, interactions with other animals) and external environment (e.g., temperature, salinity, depth). This technology is advancing our ability to study animal ecology by allowing researchers to (1) answer questions about the physiology, behavior, and ecology of wild animals in situ that would have previously been limited to tests on model organisms in highly controlled settings, (2) study cryptic or wide-ranging animals that have previously evaded investigation, and (3) develop and test entirely new theories. Here we explore how ecologists are using these tools to answer new questions about the physiological performance, energetics, foraging, migration, habitat selection, and sociality of wild animals, as well as collect data on the environments in which they live. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy has altered the course of disease for persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus by elevating CD4+ T-lymphocyte levels. Changes in the spectrum of systemic diseases encountered in human immunodeficiency virus-positive individuals are reported in the general medical literature. Design Retrospective case series. Participants Sixty-one individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus, who presented with uveitis when the peripheral CD4+ T-lymphocyte count was over 200 cells/μ L. Methods Standardized data collection at seven tertiary-referral inflammatory eye disease clinics. Main Outcome Measures Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature anatomic classification and descriptors, cause of uveitis, and visual acuity Results Peripheral CD4+ T cell counts varied between 207 and 1777 (median = 421) cells/μ L at the time of diagnosis of uveitis. Uveitis was classified anatomically as anterior (47.5%), intermediate (6.6%), anterior/intermediate (16.4%), posterior (14.8%) and pan (14.8%). Specific causes of uveitis included infections (34.4%), with syphilis responsible for 16.4% of all cases, and defined immunological disorders (27.0%); no cause for the inflammation was identified in 34.4% of persons. Visual acuity was better than 6/15 in 66.7% and 6/60 or worse in 11.8% of 93 eyes at presentation, and better than 6/15 in 82.4% and 6/60 or worse in 8.8% of 34 eyes at 1 year of follow-up. Conclusions Both infectious and non-infectious forms of uveitis occur in individuals who are infected with human immunodeficiency virus and have preserved or restored peripheral CD4+ T cell levels. Individuals who are human immunodeficiency virus-positive and present with uveitis should be evaluated in the same way all patients with uveitis are assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bstract The term, ocular toxoplasmosis, refers to eye disease related to infection with the parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. Recurrent posterior uveitis is the typical form of this disease, characterized by unilateral, necrotizing retinitis with secondary choroiditis, occurring adjacent to a pigmented retinochoroidal scar and associated with retinal vasculitis and vitritis. Multiple atypical presentations are also described, and severe inflammation is observed in immunocompromised patients. Histopathological correlations demonstrate focal coagulative retinal necrosis, and early in the course of the disease, this inflammation is based in the inner retina. For typical ocular toxoplasmosis, a diagnosis is easily made on clinical examination. In atypical cases, ocular fluid testing to detect parasite DNA by polymerase chain reaction or to determine intraocular production of specific antibody may be extremely helpful for establishing aetiology. Given the high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in most communities, serological testing for T. gondii antibodies is generally not useful. Despite a lack of published evidence for effectiveness of current therapies, most ophthalmologists elect to treat patients with ocular toxoplasmosis that reduces or threatens to impact vision. Classic therapy consists of oral pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, plus systemic corticosteroid. Substantial toxicity of this drug combination has spurred interest in alternative antimicrobials, as well as local forms of drug delivery. At this time, however, no therapeutic approach is curative of ocular toxoplasmosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bstract Ocular toxoplasmosis results from retinal infection with the protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite, which exists as multiple clonal subpopulations and in three stages, is capable of replication in any nucleated cell of its primary feline or multiple paratenic hosts. Human seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis is high across the globe, but with geographic variation. While prevalence of ocular toxoplasmosis is not well documented, toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis is the commonest form of posterior uveitis in many countries. Correlation of parasite genotype with disease is an important area of new research. Ocular infection with T. gondii often follows ingestion of bradyzoites in undercooked infected meat. Oocysts may survive for an extended period in the environment, and water contaminated with oocysts is an important source in toxoplasmosis epidemics. Ocular toxoplasmosis is preventable by a combination of community activities and personal measures. Public health action is well justified by the considerable burden of congenital and postnatal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinal infection is the most common clinical manifestation of toxoplasmosis. The route by which circulating Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites cross the vascular endothelium to enter the human retina is unknown. Convincing studies using murine encephalitis models have strongly implicated leukocyte taxis as one pathway used by the parasite to access target organs. To establish whether tachyzoites might also interact directly with vascular endothelium, we populated a transwell system with human ocular endothelial cells. Human retinal endothelial monolayers permitted transmigration of tachyzoites of RH and three natural isolate strains. Antibody blockade of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 significantly reduced this migration, but did not impact tachyzoite movement across an endothelial monolayer derived from the choroid, which lies adjacent to the retina within the eye. In demonstrating that tachyzoites are capable of independent migration across human vascular endothelium in vitro, this study carries implications for the development of therapeutics aimed at preventing access of T. gondii to the retina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To develop a set of core outcome measures for use in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and longitudinal observational studies in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis. Methods The literature relating to outcome measures used in studies of uveitis in childhood and adolescence was reviewed. A set of core outcomes and domains was established using the Delphi process. This was reviewed by a representative multinational interdisciplinary working group. Nominal group technique consensus was reached on face and content validity of the range and content of the domains. The outcomes and the appropriate instruments for uveitis trials were adapted to the age ranges of patients with JIA-associated uveitis. Results Consensus was reached that data should be reported at defined time points in longitudinal studies with patients stratified by prognostic markers. Visual acuity testing should be age appropriate. The severity of uveitis (measured as anterior chamber cell grade) and duration of active inflammation should be documented. Visually significant structural complications should be recorded and quantified with standard measures. The responses to treatment and corticosteroid-sparing effects of treatment should be documented. Patient-reported disease activity and age-specific uveitis-related quality of life should be reported using appropriate questionnaires. Conclusion The proposed outcome measures in JIA-associated uveitis should aid in the standardization and comparison of future RCTs of the treatment regimens for this disease. The proposed outcome measures will be verified in a prospective validation study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of peer-reviewed ophthalmology and vision science journals limit themselves to one branch of research: clinical or laboratory-based. In a second published study, Gu et al5 used the white light-induced retinal degeneration model, also in rats, to show that a synthesized bioactive peptide called "glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper" - or GILZ - protected the retina from degeneration caused by light. Haydinger et al13 describe the special process of aerobic glycolysis, which is essential for normal retinal function, and thus may be impacted by cancer treatments that target glucose metabolism. [Extracted from the article]

The era of biologic medical therapies provides new options for patients with treatment-resistant inflammatory eye disease. In this review, the authors summarize current published experience in a rapidly progressing clinical field, including the use of biologics, such as the tumour necrosis factor blockers, daclizumab and rituximab, and related agents, interferons and intravenous immunoglobulin, for the treatment of uveitis, scleritis and orbital inflammation. Reports of dramatic recoveries in patients with recalcitrant ocular inflammation who have received such therapies must be balanced against the high cost of biologics and the potential for serious, and at times unanticipated, complications of this treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]