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Despite decades of experience with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, we are still faced with the delicate equipoise of achieving stable ocular health post-transplantation. This is because ocular graft-versus-host disease (oGvHD) following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation frequently occurs (>= 50%) among transplant patients. To date, our understanding of the pathophysiology of oGvHD especially the involvement of the meibomian gland is still limited as a result of a lack of suitable preclinical models among other. Herein, the current state of the etiology and, pathophysiology of oGvHD based on existing pre-clinical models are reviewed. The need for additional pre-clinical models and knowledge about the involvement of the meibomian glands in oGvHD are emphasized.

Background: Dyslipidemia may be linked to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and altered meibum lipid composition. The purpose was to determine if plasma and meibum cholesteryl esters (CE), triglycerides (TG), ceramides (Cer) and sphingomyelins (SM) change in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity where mice develop dyslipidemia. Methods: Male C57/BL6 mice (8/group, age = 6 wks) were fed a normal (ND; 15% kcal fat) or an obesogenic high-fat diet (HFD; 42% kcal fat) for 10 wks. Tear production was measured and meibography was performed. Body and epididymal adipose tissue (eAT) weights were determined. Nano-ESI-MS/MS and LC-ESI-MS/MS were used to detect CE, TG, Cer and SM species. Data were analyzed by principal component analysis, Pearson's correlation and unpaired t-tests adjusted for multiple comparisons; significance set at p <= 0.05. Results: Compared to ND mice, HFD mice gained more weight and showed heavier eAT and dyslipidemia with higher levels of plasma CE, TG, Cer and SM. HFD mice had hypertrophic meibomian glands, increased levels of lipid species acylated by saturated fatty acids in plasma and meibum and excessive tear production. Conclusions: The majority of meibum lipid species with saturated fatty acids increased with HFD feeding with evidence of meibomian gland hypertrophy and excessive tearing. The dyslipidemia is associated with altered meibum composition, a key feature of MGD.

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 relationsh

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is the leading cause of dry eye disease and loss of ocular surface homeostasis. Increasingly, several observational clinical studies suggest that dyslipidemia (elevated blood cholesterol, triglyceride or lipoprotein levels) can initiate the development of MGD. However, conclusive evidence is lacking, and an experimental approach using a suitable model is necessary to interrogate the relationship between dyslipidemia and MGD. This systematic review discusses current knowledge on the associations between dyslipidemia and MGD. We briefly introduce a diet-induced obesity model where mice develop dyslipidemia, which can serve as a potential tool for investigating the effects of dyslipidemia on the meibomian gland. Finally, the utility of lipidomics to examine the link between dyslipidemia and MGD is considered.

Angela Ofeibea Amedo, Kwadwo Amoah, Nana Yaa Koomson, David Ben Kumah, Eugene Appenteng Osae Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana Abstract: To investigate which of two tunnel incision forms (frown versus straight) in sutureless manual small incision cataract surgery creates more corneal astigmatism. Sixty eyes of 60 patients who had consented to undergo cataract surgery and to partake in this study were followed from baseline through >12-week postoperative period. Values of preoperative and postoperative corneal astigmatism for the 60 eyes, measured with a Bausch and Lomb keratometer, were extracted from the patients’ cataract surgery records. Residual astigmatism was computed as the difference between preoperative and postoperative keratometry readings. Visual acuity was assessed during the preoperative period and at each postoperative visit with a Snellen chart at 6 m. Fifty eyes of 50 patients were successfully followed-up on. Overall, the mean residual astigmatism was 0.75±0.12 diopters. The differences in mean residual astigmatism between the two different incision groups were statistically significant (t [48]=6.33, P<0.05); frown incision group recorded 1.00±0.12 diopters, whereas the straight incision group recorded 0.50±0.12 diopters. No significant difference was observed between male and female groups (t [48]=0.24, P>0.05). Residual corneal astigmatism in the frown incision group was significantly higher than in the straight incision group. Fisher’s exact test did not reveal a significant association between incision forms and visual acuity during the entire postoperative period (P>0.05). Keywords: cataract, residual corneal astigmatism, frown incision, straight incision