Search Results (6)

The impact of prematurity has been reported to affect ocular development during infancy and childhood. Research into long-term ocular outcomes in adults born preterm is highly relevant due to a possible impact on the development of age-related ocular diseases such as macular degeneration. The aim was to review the currently available literature regarding outcomes of prematurity on ocular morphology in adults to provide a summary of the long-term effects of prematurity and associated factors such as low birth weight (BW) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and its treatment. Adults formerly born preterm have a higher prevalence of refractive error, lower visual acuity, a higher prevalence of strabismus, shorter axial length, a steeper corneal radius, increased macular thickness, and a thinner peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL), as well as changes in vessel anatomy and the foveal avascular zone. Adults who suffered from ROP have a high risk of myopic refractive error, amblyopia, shallower anterior chambers and thicker crystalline lenses, higher corneal aberrations, thinner RNFL thickness, and foveal hypoplasia. Individuals with advanced ROP requiring treatment also have higher rates of astigmatism, an increased temporal RNFL thickness, altered macular curvature, and reduced visual acuity. Prematurity leads to lifelong ocular morphological and functional changes, suggesting that fetal origins may contribute to age-related ocular diseases. This could have implications for ophthalmologic monitoring and the frequency of check-ups in adulthood. Full article

Cryptosporidium, a protozoan parasite affecting the gastrointestinal system, is primarily known for causing diarrhea, especially in those with weakened immune systems. However, there is increasingly persuasive evidence that it may be directly involved in tumorigenesis. This review examines some of the potential mechanisms through which Cryptosporidium infections can induce cancer, specifically chronic inflammation, manipulation of the immune system, and alteration of cell signaling pathways. Persistent inflammation with immune system changes due to chronic infection, particularly among immunocompromised hosts, leads to a microenvironment that facilitates tumorigenesis. Cryptosporidium manipulates important cellular pathways such as PI3K, NF-κB, Wnt, and p38/MAPK to promote cell survival, regulate immune responses, and foster tissue remodeling, all of which contribute to a tumor-friendly microenvironment. Moreover, Cryptosporidium virulence factors such as ROP1, sPLA2, and microRNAs disrupt host cellular stability and significantly alter host cellular gene expression, which also exacerbates inflammation and tissue damage. Epidemiological data have indicated higher rates of Cryptosporidium infection in cancer patients, especially patients with gastrointestinal cancers. This, among other observations, raises the possibility that the infection may be connected to cancer progression. In animal models, especially studies with C. parvum-challenged rodents, chronic inflammation, immune repression, and genetic mutations related to neoplasia have been reported. While this has provided us with valuable information, we still have a long way to go to fully understand the long-term ramifications of Cryptosporidium infection. These cover aspects such as the contribution of latent infections and the genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium strains in cancer. Further investigation is urgently needed to understand the molecular processes by which Cryptosporidium might contribute to carcinogenesis and explore potential strategies for therapy and prevention especially among immunocompromised populations. Full article

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a proliferative vascular ailment affecting the retina. It is the main risk factor for visual impairment and blindness in infants and young children worldwide. If left undiagnosed and untreated, it can progress to retinal detachment and severe visual impairment. Geographical variations in ROP epidemiology have emerged over recent decades, attributable to differing levels of care provided to preterm infants across countries and regions. Our understanding of the causes of ROP, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and associated risk factors continues to advance. This review article aims to present the pathophysiological mechanisms of ROP, including its treatment. Specifically, it delves into the latest cutting-edge treatment approaches targeting hypoxia and redox signaling pathways for this condition. Full article

Introduction: Global predictions indicate that the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is increasing, but the lack of current epidemiological data on the occurrence of ROP in Europe prompted the authors to update these data. Methods: European studies related to the presence of ROP were analyzed, and the reason for the differences in the percentage of ROP and different screening criteria were checked. Results: The study presents results from individual and multiple centers. Current ROP incidence data varies from a low of 9.3% in Switzerland to the highest values of 64.1% in Portugal and 39.5% in Norway. The national screening criteria are used in the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, and Sweden. Uniform criteria—Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health guidelines are used in England and Greece. American Academy of Pediatrics screening guidelines are used in France and Italy. Conclusions: The epidemiology of ROP in European countries varies significantly. The increase in the diagnosis and treatment rate of ROP in recent years correlates with the narrowing of diagnostic criteria in newly issued guidelines (which include the WINROP and G-ROP algorithms), a higher number of less developed preterm infants, and a lower percentage of live births. Full article

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of childhood blindness. Not only do the epidemiologic determinants and distributions of patients with ROP vary worldwide, but clinical differences have also been described. The Third Edition of the International Classification of ROP (ICROP3) acknowledges that aggressive ROP (AROP) can occur in larger preterm infants and involve areas of the more anterior retina, particularly in low-resource settings with unmonitored oxygen supplementation. As sub-specialty training programs are underway to address an epidemic of ROP in sub-Saharan Africa, recognizing characteristic retinal pathology in preterm infants exposed to unmonitored supplemental oxygen is important to proper diagnosis and treatment. This paper describes specific features associated with various ROP presentations: oxygen-induced retinopathy in animal models, traditional ROP seen in high-income countries with modern oxygen management, and ROP related to excessive oxygen supplementation in low- and middle-income countries: oxygen-associated ROP (OA-ROP). Full article

Background: The epidemiology of retinopathy of premature infants (ROP) in Poland is a topic rarely discussed in the literature. Single publications (Pubmed) concern only specific regions of Poland and date back to 2000–2006, which prompted the authors to update Polish epidemiological data. Methods: Data from the 2012–2021 screening tests were analyzed for: diagnosis of ROP, severe ROP and the percentage of ROP undergoing treatment (laser-diode, anti-VEGF, and complications such as retinal detachment). The Polish results were compared with the available data from Europe in the same period. Results: The analysis of the GOCC data confirmed that the prevalence of ROP in Poland for 2016–2019 was 15.1%; in 2012–2021 (15.6%). Polish epidemiological data shows a lower percentage of ROP diagnosis compared to other European countries (15.6% vs. 23.8% in Portugal, 28.3% in the Netherlands, 25.1% in Genoa, Italy, 38% in Florence, Italy). Conclusions: In order to obtain and create an epidemiological database, it is important to undertake activities aimed at a detailed verification of the analyzed parameters and the collection of similar or the same data from all centers in Poland. There is no economic data available on the cost of caring for a child with ROP. Full article